Busytown by Jolisa Gracewood

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Busytown: The shakes

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  • Rob Stowell,

    There are thermal springs near Tai Tapu & Governers Bay. I don't buy the extinct line.

    I've heard of these, but never found 'em. Any clues!? A thermal spring would be a grand way to spend a winter's evening.

    Whakaraupo • Since Nov 2006 • 2120 posts Report Reply

  • ChrisW,

    There are thermal springs near Tai Tapu & Governers Bay. I don't buy the extinct line.

    There are many thermal springs not associated with volcanoes ancient or modern – Morere hot springs for example near Gisborne, nothing significantly volcanic within 100 km.

    It’s the geothermal gradient – those trapped Chilean miners are sweating because it’s 30-something degrees down there 700 metres underground. In a few quirky places, heated water from such and greater depths makes its way to the surface. In most the flow and the temperature aren’t enough for a good winter soak, but there are splendid exceptions.

    Volcanoes too have their entrances and their exits, and 5 million years is a long time dead even on the lifespan of a big volcano. The world has kind-of literally moved on since then. If there's another in the Banks Peninsula family of volcanoes in the next few million years, it will probably pop up somewhere else.

    Gisborne • Since Apr 2009 • 851 posts Report Reply

  • richard,

    @Steve MARK QUIGLEY’S HOMEPAGE

    Wow -- that has to be in the running for the prize for "fanciest webpage for an academic scientist who does not also have a book contract".

    It even has a login and registration box (although I am not sure why).

    HTML handcoded in emacs won't cut it these days, by the look of things.

    [I am not being snide about this -- he (or someone else) has done a really nice job]

    Not looking for New Engla… • Since Nov 2006 • 268 posts Report Reply

  • Ian Dalziel,

    canny...

    The rising sun Edmonds symbol was a hint.
    subversion in every kitchen

    we keep our powder dry,
    the people are sure to rise...


    Spring loaded...

    There are thermal springs near Tai Tapu & Governors Bay.
    I don't buy the extinct line.
    I've heard of these, but never found 'em. Any clues!? A thermal spring would be a grand way to spend a winter's evening.

    Hanmer Springs are not volcanic, heated by fault/plate pressure
    as I understand it (so maybe not so reassuring)...


    Ticking off the boxes...

    stashed inside a nice insulted box.

    I must try this, what are the best insults to use?
    - "Chill out ya square!"
    - "Call your self white ware?"
    - "You are frigid dear!"

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report Reply

  • Ross Mason,

    "a"????

    Hmmph.....Insulting bastard.

    Insulting!
    InSUlting!!
    InSULTING!!
    INSULTING!!!!
    What a billy bunt.

    Heh. I wondered what the hell you were going on about. Now what do I do? Keep insulting other's spelling mistakes or now leave it alone?

    Nah. Keep it up!

    We're picky pricks aren't we.

    Upper Hutt • Since Jun 2007 • 1590 posts Report Reply

  • Ian Dalziel,

    Word swerve...

    Now what do I do?
    Keep insulting other's spelling mistakes
    or now leave it alone?
    Nah. Keep it up!
    We're picky pricks aren't we.

    Indeed, come join us hangers-on in the secret hangar of
    The League of Extraordinarily Well Hung Pendants
    [sic]:- )

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report Reply

  • Lucy Stewart,

    There are many thermal springs not associated with volcanoes ancient or modern – Morere hot springs for example near Gisborne, nothing significantly volcanic within 100 km.

    Or, hey, Hanmer Springs - anyone worried about volcanoes there?

    (Also, it's a curious inversion of priorities, volcano-wise, to make sceptical noises about Banks Peninsula when, well, Auckland.)

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 2105 posts Report Reply

  • Ross Mason,

    Indeed, come join us hangers-on in the secret hangar of
    The League of Extraordinarily Well Hung Pendants

    Ian, are you a...member? I heard rumours.

    Upper Hutt • Since Jun 2007 • 1590 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Barnes,

    [I am not being snide about this -- he (or someone else) has done a really nice job]

    It is, indeed, a well built site and Hosted, it seems, in the cloud. These guys are behind it. More bloody Aussies for us to "Catchup" with.

    And on the subject of members...

    Mayoral candidate Colin Craig said Mr Banks had a vocal, one-eyed support team who constantly interrupted Mr Williams.

    "It was extremely childish. There were no punches or anything physical involved other than the two were right in each other's face.

    "It was like two cocks in a cock fight."

    Well, you are what you eat, as they say.

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Barnes,

    And whilst we're on that subject...
    One of Nationals little, well actually not that little, rather chubby, helpers
    The Oily one may have his uses.

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • amanda peter,

    just slightly before 7 days to the minute and
    [http://www.geonet.org.nz/earthquake/quakes/recent_quakes.html]

    NZST: Fri, Sep 10 2010 10:04 pm# Magnitude: 4.3 and once again we watched each other to see if we needed to develop our response into something more protective.

    one 14y one 17 & 2 parents one concious & one exhausted...

    everyone has a torch a phone, 2-3 hiding places, 2 escape routes and a safe house if out when another mean one hits. Mostly someone awake...
    Wonder about leaving again the city... bailing think about going back to school on Monday...

    Just thought I'd say don't have to know you to tell you this is not pleasant

    Otautahi-the flat city • Since Sep 2008 • 11 posts Report Reply

  • amanda peter,

    Sorry... effective posting inhibited by amount of glass embedded in floor, spooky rolling nature of walls and amount of wine/tonic used, sad about our provincial town...

    The thing is we should not live here!! is the overriding feeling.
    Once again waiting to see if girls settle... the most interesting thing for me is when that 7.1 hit for the first time in my life I knew we were it...

    Otautahi-the flat city • Since Sep 2008 • 11 posts Report Reply

  • ChrisW,

    Effective nevertheless Amanda - but I'm sorry you got no sympathetic response in the night, instead from an early riser from where the birds have already finished greeting the new dawn.

    If your house is OK enough now I guess that means you're not in the worst liquefaction zones. The aftershocks seem to be tailing off implying much reduced likelihood of fundamentally bigger ones to come (a credible expert yesterday said now only 10% likelihood), so soon your Christchurch will return to the 'somewhat lower risk of catastrophic earthquake damage than many other places' sort of place that it was.

    But I guess that 'always darkest before the dawn' crap doesn't help with the stress of living through it day by day. Best wishes to your family for the days to come.

    Gisborne • Since Apr 2009 • 851 posts Report Reply

  • amanda peter,

    tks for that Chris, perspective it seems is harder to keep than chimneys:) beautiful spring day here

    Otautahi-the flat city • Since Sep 2008 • 11 posts Report Reply

  • Hilary Stace,

    Last couple of days been at a conference at Te Papa - where the prominent display of what you need in an emergency kit is very very, popular.

    Wgtn • Since Jun 2008 • 3229 posts Report Reply

  • Kim_Wright,

    Hi All. Here are some great fact sheets in plain English from a disaster psychologist (Dr Sarb Johal) that give great tips on how to work through the huge range of emotions and behaviours that are normal following extreme events such as the CHCH Earthquake and aftershocks. Recognises that everyone processes these things differently and some people need a bit more help to feel better.

    Great for helping yourself, children, teenagers, friends, other relatives etc. Just scroll to the bottom of the homepage on the link below and you will see a list of fact sheets (only a couple of pages each) to download with great tips that explain clearly why and how people process the stress caused by disasters and ways to work towards feeling better. Separate ones for dealing with children's stress, for volunteers, for helping yourself and so on. please pass on to anyone you know who needs a bit of support. Cheers

    http://disasters.massey.ac.nz/

    Wellington • Since May 2009 • 57 posts Report Reply

  • Jolisa,

    There's a really great article by Philip Matthews in the Press, on how the quake news unfolded. Manages to be informative, funny, and humane at once.

    I'm a wee bit embarrassed at being so thoroughly name-checked, for what was just an accident of timing and geography -- but glad to see such a coherent account. And HarvestBird gets the last word :-)

    Amanda, thank you so much for checking in - sorry more of us weren't around for a midnight chat. I hope things are brighter in the daytime and/or that your escape plan pans out.

    And Kim, that is a very useful link, thank you. So much of what's emerging from Chch is an echo of what it was like to be in NYC nine years ago; the rolling trauma, the jumpiness, the determined coping, the fiercely energetic mucking-in, the falling apart. It's useful to have a set of emotional roadmaps for what is (normally, for most of us) unfamiliar territory.

    Auckland, NZ • Since Nov 2006 • 1472 posts Report Reply

  • Jolisa,

    And while I'm mentioning excellent writing by Reliable People Actually On the Unreliable Ground Besides Emma and David, these are absolute must-reads:

    Harvestbird writes exquisitely on How to Be Brave.

    Cheryl Bernstein delves into the bittersweet the Aesthetics of Earthquakes.

    Moata Tamaira manifests an enviable sense of humour about the whole darn thing (best read in order). But where is Chewbacca?

    13 Things Mike Dickison Learned from an Earthquake and his droll follow-up Aftershock Diary

    Adrienne Rewi always has amazing combinations of words and images, never more so than now.

    Hopefully Philip M will update his own blog in coming days.

    Who else am I missing? Once assembled, I will fold this list into a new post so the rest of the world can find them more easily.

    Auckland, NZ • Since Nov 2006 • 1472 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    So much of what's emerging from Chch is an echo of what it was like to be in NYC nine years ago

    Although I'm grateful Christchurch will never be accompanied by the chest-thumping uberpatriotism that still infects mentions of 9/11. Even some otherwise reasonable Americans maintaining that the whole world shares their teen angst..

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Lucy Stewart,

    Although I'm grateful Christchurch will never be accompanied by the chest-thumping uberpatriotism that still infects mentions of 9/11. Even some otherwise reasonable Americans maintaining that the whole world shares their teen angst..

    The flag outside my house is the only one I have seen today not at half-mast - and, really, it would be more appropriate if it were; but it's the landlord's flag and I don't think anyone here knows how to lower it. Instead it just looks sort of like the international students don't care.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 2105 posts Report Reply

  • giovanni tiso,

    Can we re-establish the comparison after somebody has actually flown commercial airliners into our buildings, killing three thousand? Until then we just don't know what angst we might be capable of, teen or otherwise.

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report Reply

  • Geoff Lealand,

    The Press piece by Philip Mathews is excellent. Demonstrates once again how PAS is a vital part of national conversations.

    Screen & Media Studies, U… • Since Oct 2007 • 2562 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    Can we re-establish the comparison after somebody has actually flown commercial airliners into our buildings, killing three thousand?

    When we offer plausible motivation to do such things by decades of violently invading other regions, distorting economies in our own interests and exporting our culture, perhaps.

    I'm tired of the braying flag-waving and unreflective, "whole world looked on in anguish" bollocks. US exceptionalism was challenged by someone bloodying their noses in their own backyard and that hurts, yes. But regardless of the empathy we feel for a shocking human event (and let's spare some of that for the hundreds of thousands of Iraqi civilians subsequently killed), assuming 'we' are all Americans is one of the root causes of the problem. It's immature and it lets down the great things about their national character.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Jolisa,

    Thanks, Giovanni, for that bracing point, which I didn't quite know how to make myself without seeming reactionary or an apologist. And Sacha, it's hard to convey how much of a minority those chest-thumpers are, even though I know they look worse from outside.

    The comparisons/echoes I was thinking of were more in the unevenness of the effect, over time and space. Not uneven in the NZ vs. US sense, but in the sense that you could be in one part of Chch (or NYC) and be relatively all right, while other spots were messier and more chaotic; some people are affected more than others; and those effects shift and intensify or diminish over time.

    I'm not meaning to conflate the two events, either. The aftershocks, in particular, are their own horrible thing. As Cheryl Bernstein so eloquently put it:

    When I’ve read about earthquakes previously, like the one in Haiti in 2009 which was, they say, of a similar type, and size, to Christchurch 2010, I’ve imagined the horror of the quake itself, and then the heartbreaking recovery and clean up. But what really happens in the aftermath of a major earthquake is many, many more earthquakes, some almost as big as the initial quake itself. In the past week there have been more than 300 aftershocks, many of which have sent us scurrying into doorways or leaping from bed or diving under the reassuringly solid oak of our dining table. We’ve seen that an earthquake is not a singular event but a series of terrifying revisions of the initial shock, in which you relive that moment over and over again.

    Auckland, NZ • Since Nov 2006 • 1472 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    The Press piece by Philip Mathews is excellent.

    +1

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

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