Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: 2011: The Year Of What?

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  • Lara,

    181 people (not 163) died in Chch.

    I have to say that I will be glad when this year is over. For me its highs do not match its lows. Although it has still got a few more months to run, and who knows what they may hold? Good things, I hope.

    Christchurch • Since Jul 2009 • 82 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Lara,

    181 people (not 163) died in Chch.

    Thanks. Amended.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    Dan Satherly has also pointed out to me that 2011 has also been The Year of Planking.

    Of course. That'll be the one.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    and snow - great shots for those end o year round-up stories

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Robert Urquhart,

    By the end of February I was already thing of this as "The year of Storms". Political, geological, familial. The snow only added "literal" to that list.

    Christchurch • Since Mar 2009 • 163 posts Report Reply

  • James Butler,

    We're not even 3/4 of the way through yet!

    Auckland • Since Jan 2009 • 856 posts Report Reply

  • LegBreak,

    The snow will have to compete with Happy Feet in closing the end of year round-up piece

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1162 posts Report Reply

  • Rich of Observationz,

    It's only August. There's four more months to go.

    Anyway, lots more happened in 1945. Or 1963.

    Back in Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 5550 posts Report Reply

  • Bart Janssen,

    It's over?

    Who won?

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 4461 posts Report Reply

  • Graeme Edgeler,

    The United States of America got close to soveriegn default.

    Did it? It could still spend money, and was taking in far more money than needed to service its debts. Why would it have defaulted even if the debt ceiling wasn't raised?

    Wellington, New Zealand • Since Nov 2006 • 3215 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to James Butler,

    We're not even 3/4 of the way through yet!

    the year of impatience

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Tom Beard,

    today, Gadaffi is gone

    Is he? The best summary I've seen so far (from @ChasLicc) is "BREAKING: Gaddafi captured for ninth time today, after being killed six times."

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1040 posts Report Reply

  • recordari,

    The charges against Arie Smith and Michael Davis have been dropped by Christchurch police.

    That is great news. I hope there is some sort of soul searching and inquiry that makes this a learning experience for those in blue. And that Michael and Arie are able to resume their lives, with whatever support they may require.

    On the year, the space shuttles being decommissioned was sure an end to something big. I liked Shatner's Discovery farewell.

    And, lest we forget, a New Zealand SAS soldier lost his life in defence of something I still don't fully understand.

    AUCKLAND • Since Dec 2009 • 2607 posts Report Reply

  • Hilary Stace,

    Don't forget about the disruptive volcanoes around the world, with the latest one currently erupting in Russia, and some worrying shallow earthquakes around Taupo.
    Or the environmental fights, such as our own sea battle off the east coast, and growing mass protests around the world to new exploitation such as fracking and today's high profile protest arrests in Washington.

    There is a new agey theory that we are in a time of rapid change and are reaping what has been sewn, or karmic accountability, not just individually but collectively. But we are free agents and have a choice whether to act more ethically and respectfully, or more destructively.

    2011 has a long way to play out yet.

    Wgtn • Since Jun 2008 • 3229 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Hilary Stace,

    Don’t forget about the disruptive volcanoes around the world, with the latest one currently erupting in Russia, and some worrying shallow earthquakes around Taupo.

    The idea of Taupo erupting makes a global financial meltdown seem like a pleasant distraction.

    2011 has a long way to play out yet.

    That's sort of what I'm afraid of.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Sacha,

    Actually, it's not just the snow, but a year of unprecedented weather extremes.

    Including a massive La Nina event that swamped Queensland and brought Auckland its warmest February and May on record. And that's just in this neck of the woods.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Lucy Stewart,

    The year of not being able to go back.

    It's mostly the Christchurch earthquake, and also my age, but I've never had a year before where it was quite so obvious that the future was not going to be quite like anyone had predicted. And, more bluntly, that the future of my childhood - we all have one of those, the way we thought the world was going to be when we were figuring out what we wanted to do in it - was definitely not going to happen. The only thing I'm sure about any more is that I have no idea what might happen next.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 2105 posts Report Reply

  • Wammo,

    I'll pop the cherry... 2012 anyone? dum dum duuummmmmmm

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 42 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Wammo,

    been hanging out with Jason Kerrigan again, haven't you?

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Campbell,

    surely it's just a a case of 2012, off by one, there was no year 0 , sort of thing?

    Dunedin • Since Nov 2006 • 2623 posts Report Reply

  • pcorrect,

    Of course, it will all be academic when everying ends in 2012. That's why they're showing the movie first; be pointless trying to run "2012: The Movie" after total armageddon, eh? No power for the projectors.

    Auckland • Since Jun 2009 • 5 posts Report Reply

  • Rich Lock, in reply to Hilary Stace,

    reaping what has been sewn

    2011: the year we all had to get our coats.

    back in the mother countr… • Since Feb 2007 • 2728 posts Report Reply

  • Robyn Gallagher, in reply to Hilary Stace,

    Don't forget about the disruptive volcanoes around the world, with the latest one currently erupting in Russia, and some worrying shallow earthquakes around Taupo.

    Is this amateur speculation or is there something actually worth being worried about here? I.e., citation required.

    Since Nov 2006 • 1946 posts Report Reply

  • Wammo, in reply to Sacha,

    I'll be the first Zombie banging on the compound gate

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 42 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Robyn Gallagher,

    Is this amateur speculation or is there something actually worth being worried about here? I.e., citation required.

    A GNZ vulcanologist said in 2009 that small earthquakes around Taupo the previous year were an indication the volcano is “slumbering, not dormant”.

    Earthquakes would be a part of the build-up to an eruption, but they don’t in themselves mean an eruption is imminent.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

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