Stunning Mount Etna eruption wows volcano enthusiasts

I currently live within sight of Vesuvius, and once had a spectacular view of Rainer when I was stationed at JBLM. Etna is the most active Volcano in Europe. It is more active then the White Island Volcano in New Zealand. It's last major eruption was roughly 18 months ago. While video and photo's make it seem the towns are really close to it, the truth is there is a huge valley between Etna and the towns, and the towns are much further distant then Pompei and Herculeum were to Vesuvius.

I remember very clearly Mt. St. Helens, not only the original eruption in 1980 when I was a senior in college working on my degree in geology, but later when flying out of NAS Whidbey Island and having to get the ash forecasts. Volcanoes are so cool and so violent, and have such great potential to completely alter our current plans and ideas.