# Ha! Ha! Hank Johnson thinks Guam could capsize **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [April 1, 2010, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ha-ha-hank-johnson-thinks-guam-could-capsize/534578 "2010-04-01T15:09:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Strassia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e8c25b/32.png) [@Strassia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Strassia)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2010, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ha-ha-hank-johnson-thinks-guam-could-capsize/534578/41 "2010-04-01T21:24:22Z")
I can’t find a cite on line one way or the other, but I remember from my scuba classes on Guam that island is at the top of a pillar that is thinner in the middle (slightly hourglass shaped). I can’t watch the video right now, and it sounds like the guy is just confused, but if any island could capsize, it would be Guam. It would probably take a tsunami, like the one that took out a couple of islands in Indonesia a few years ago, but it could happen. ---
**Author:** ![Michael\_Ellis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/977dab/32.png) [@Michael\_Ellis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Michael_Ellis)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2010, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ha-ha-hank-johnson-thinks-guam-could-capsize/534578/42 "2010-04-01T22:20:29Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > Let’s give credit where credit is due. Being the butt of jokes because of matters of simple reasoning is still a HUGE improvement on his predecessor, Ms McKinney. Now _that’s_ a low bar if ever I saw one. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2010, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ha-ha-hank-johnson-thinks-guam-could-capsize/534578/43 "2010-04-01T23:05:47Z")
Now isn’t everybody going to have egg on their faces if the Marines actually do capsize Guam? ---
**Author:** ![Laudenum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7993a0/32.png) [@Laudenum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Laudenum)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2010, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ha-ha-hank-johnson-thinks-guam-could-capsize/534578/44 "2010-04-01T23:19:01Z")
I have no cite for this whatsoever, but I remember reading something about an island in the Atlantic that is slowly slipping into the sea. When it finally gives way, it may cause a tidal wave - various calls have been made to shore it up. I’ll try and find cites. ---
**Author:** ![Laudenum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7993a0/32.png) [@Laudenum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Laudenum)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2010, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ha-ha-hank-johnson-thinks-guam-could-capsize/534578/45 "2010-04-01T23:22:29Z")
Cite with no credibility: [Canary Island Mega Tsunami](http://www.rense.com/general56/tsu.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Laudenum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7993a0/32.png) [@Laudenum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Laudenum)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2010, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ha-ha-hank-johnson-thinks-guam-could-capsize/534578/46 "2010-04-01T23:23:50Z")
Right: [http://www.lapalma-tsunami.com/](http://www.lapalma-tsunami.com/) Seems that he is referring to a BBC Horizon programme which claims that one of the canary islands is going to collapse into the sea, causing a huge tidal wave. EDIT: [BBC NEWS | Science/Nature | Tidal wave threat 'over-hyped'](http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/3963563.stm) and [Hollywood fantasy? Tidal wave disaster is just waiting to happen | UK news | The Guardian](http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2004/aug/10/science.spain) So islands CAN collapse, he’s just thinking of completely the wrong one. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Tooth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c67d28/32.png) [@The\_Tooth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tooth)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2010, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ha-ha-hank-johnson-thinks-guam-could-capsize/534578/47 "2010-04-01T23:33:05Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > OK, at first I thought it was an April Fools’ joke. > > Because, seriously, who would believe that adding 8,000 people to Guam’s population might cause the island to “tip over and capsize.” Religious people, superstitious people, people who patronize mediums or dowsers, mediums, dowsers, conspiracy theorists. Lots of people believe silly things. ---
**Author:** ![PlainJain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5daacb/32.png) [@PlainJain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlainJain)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2010, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ha-ha-hank-johnson-thinks-guam-could-capsize/534578/48 "2010-04-01T23:33:22Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > Now isn’t everybody going to have egg on their faces if the Marines actually do capsize Guam? Nice, Dio. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2010, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ha-ha-hank-johnson-thinks-guam-could-capsize/534578/49 "2010-04-01T23:38:58Z")
Were they planning on putting more Marines on Guam at one time than they did when they invaded? ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2010, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ha-ha-hank-johnson-thinks-guam-could-capsize/534578/50 "2010-04-02T00:14:16Z")
> [@billfish678](#): > > Man, this could be bad. It would be like Atlantis, except with spicey tobassco spam. Ah, so it will only capsize if 8,000 tabasco-eyed _toddlers_ ran to one side of the island. That makes a lot more sense. ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2010, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ha-ha-hank-johnson-thinks-guam-could-capsize/534578/51 "2010-04-02T00:26:25Z")
> [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > Ah, so it will only capsize if 8,000 tabasco-eyed _toddlers_ ran to one side of the island. > > That makes a lot more sense. Damn, I am even funnier than I intend to be 🙂 The real reason for my tAbasco spam comment is a little know Guamanian factoid. They LOVE spam. They REALLY love the special spam that has tabasco sauce in it. So, the joke is two fer. Its Atlantis with Spam! or Its a cute reference to the BBQ pit thing with tabasco toddlers and parents from hell. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2010, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ha-ha-hank-johnson-thinks-guam-could-capsize/534578/52 "2010-04-02T00:43:48Z")
> [@billfish678](#): > > Damn, I am even funnier than I intend to be 🙂 > The real reason for my tAbasco spam comment is a little know Guamanian factoid. They LOVE spam. They REALLY love the special spam that has tabasco sauce in it. > > So, the joke is two fer. Its Atlantis with Spam! or Its a cute reference to the BBQ pit thing with tabasco toddlers and parents from hell. Fucking Christ! I’ve been had! And by of all things, tabasco-infused Spam! **shakes fist impotently** ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2010, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ha-ha-hank-johnson-thinks-guam-could-capsize/534578/53 "2010-04-02T01:00:02Z")
What they need is 8,000 yogic flyers. Johnson should switch over to the Natual Law Party. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2010, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ha-ha-hank-johnson-thinks-guam-could-capsize/534578/54 "2010-04-02T01:02:51Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > Now isn’t everybody going to have egg on their faces if the Marines actually do capsize Guam? I was just gonna say, we’re going to look awfully stupid if Guam actually tips over. ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2010, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ha-ha-hank-johnson-thinks-guam-could-capsize/534578/55 "2010-04-02T01:53:05Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Now I’m wondering what percentage of other Americans think islands can capsize. Probably the same number that think California could literally “sink into the ocean”. [del]Not even counting the line about Guam capsizing, the guy sounds like he has an IQ of 75.[/del] ETA: just saw the info about his medication. Apologies. ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2010, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ha-ha-hank-johnson-thinks-guam-could-capsize/534578/56 "2010-04-02T02:02:55Z")
> [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > Fucking Christ! I’ve been had! And by of all things, tabasco-infused Spam! > **shakes fist impotently** Just in case anybody thinks I am joking about Guamanians and tabasco spam because its April 1st, its honestly true. Or at least thats what one Guam family has been telling me for years. ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2010, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ha-ha-hank-johnson-thinks-guam-could-capsize/534578/57 "2010-04-04T04:29:33Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > Floating Islands in fiction never seem to come to good ends – they invariably get on a collision course with something and/or sink. Or turn out to be giant turtles. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ha-ha-hank-johnson-thinks-guam-could-capsize/534578.md?page=2)