Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: 2011: The Year Of What?

222 Responses

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  • Tom Beard, in reply to Russell Brown,

    “slumbering, not dormant”

    Which is an etymologically confusing distinction.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1040 posts Report Reply

  • Rich Lock, in reply to Robyn Gallagher,

    Googling earthquakes+taupo+today brings up some interesting results.

    However:

    GNS volcanologist Brad Scott said today's earthquake was fairly typical movement:

    "We would typically have maybe two or three events around maybe 5.5 and 6 (magnitude) at about 150-200km depth a year under the North Island. It's slightly larger than average but it's kind of what we really expect."

    You're no fun, Brad, raining on our incipient hysteria with your facts and statistics.

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

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Tom Beard,

    Which is an etymologically confusing distinction.

    Quite. But you sorta got what she meant ...

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Rich Lock,

    You’re no fun, Brad, raining on our incipient hysteria with your facts and statistics.

    But reassuring all the same. Depending on which way the wind blows, a Taupo eruption is pretty much game over for New Zealand.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Andy Pickering,

    >this highly lucid and utterly bleak assessment of the global economy

    Boom. Well, that's today's mood well and truly darkened, thanks!

    Auckland • Since Jun 2011 • 4 posts Report Reply

  • Hilary Stace,

    Well I would worry about any earthquake at 2 kms deep, which is what the latest 2.0 sized one at Taupo was (in the last 24 hours). And we haven't even considered the Auckland cones.

    Wgtn • Since Jun 2008 • 3229 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Andy Pickering,

    Fashion should hold up as folk try to make sense of/express their angst at the economy's demise. Not sure about kittehs though.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Hilary Stace,

    And we haven’t even considered the Auckland cones.

    Or more precisely, the prospect of a new Auckland cone -- the existing ones won't re-erupt. Which would be disastrous but not actually the end of Auckland.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Hilary Stace,

    But I think that what will make 2011 memorable will be some human events, and the Arab Spring, the Chilean student protests, the Wisconsin workers' anger, the Greek riots, and the English uprising (wait for the Tory Party conference protests in Sept) are only the start. But it could come down to the actions of one or two brave people to provide the spark. I think we could see some major 'the emperor has no clothes' moments that will positively change our way of thinking.

    Wgtn • Since Jun 2008 • 3229 posts Report Reply

  • Bart Janssen,

    Volcanic eruptions are sometimes preceded by frequent shallow small earthquakes, presumably as magma moves beneath ...

    And sometimes there are no preceding earthquakes ...

    And sometimes there are earthquakes typical of an eruption without any actual eruption ...

    We are somewhat on a learning curve here :).

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 4461 posts Report Reply

  • Bart Janssen, in reply to Russell Brown,

    the existing ones probably won’t re-erupt

    you forgot the weasel word

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 4461 posts Report Reply

  • Rich Lock, in reply to Russell Brown,

    You’re no fun, Brad, raining on our incipient hysteria with your facts and statistics.

    But reassuring all the same. Depending on which way the wind blows, a Taupo eruption is pretty much game over for New Zealand.

    Just got to this 2006 article in the google stats:

    Rotorua, Taupo and Whakatane are set to be wiped out in a massive overdue earthquake, say geologists.

    The shocking prediction has been made at a Natural Hazards Management Conference in Christchurch.

    Geology experts Tim Davies and Mauri McSaveney have predicted that an alpine fault earthquake is overdue, and would result in the East Cape ripping away from New Zealand, destroying the plateau that Rotorua is based on and taking Taupo and Whakatane with it.

    The pair say the earthquake will strike "out of the blue" and cause widespread death, shut down power generators, create tsunamis within New Zealand and overwhelm emergency services.

    "The most likely time [for the quake] is now. The next most likely time for it to happen is tomorrow," Associate Professor Davies, of Canterbury University, told the conference.

    The Chch connection makes that...actually not all that funny.

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

  • Lucy Stewart, in reply to Bart Janssen,

    Volcanic eruptions are sometimes preceded by frequent shallow small earthquakes, presumably as magma moves beneath …

    And sometimes there are no preceding earthquakes …

    And sometimes there are earthquakes typical of an eruption without any actual eruption …

    We are somewhat on a learning curve here

    The other day I read a truly entertaining 1836 pamphlet for people considering settling in New Zealand, which informed them that "earthquakes are not known to occur in New Zealand".

    There were, naturally, a number of other egregious flaws - particularly the bits about Maori - but that one was, um, special.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 2105 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Lucy Stewart,

    There were, naturally, a number of other egregious flaws – particularly the bits about Maori – but that one was, um, special.

    Indeed. Especially given that there were major earthquakes in
    1848 (Marlborough, destroyed nearly every brick or stone building in Wellington), 1855 (Wairarapa, 8.2 mag, tsunami in Wellington Harbour) and 1888 (North Canterbury, took the spire off Christchurch Cathedral).

    The long list includes many more, including two biggies around the Whanganui River in 1838 and 1845. The former caused landslides and a backwash so large it left waka stranded up on cliffs.

    I’d be feeling a bit brassed off with whoever wrote that pamphlet had I rocked up in 1836.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • andin,

    From Macca.....

    On the positive side, adversity can breed great leaders.

    So thats the get out clause?
    Oh shit!

    raglan • Since Mar 2007 • 1891 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca, in reply to recordari,

    I hope there is some sort of soul searching

    They have souls? Thought it was absence of, that caused this in the first place.

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report Reply

  • Lilith __,

    Worried about losing everything if the economy tanks? Quick, swap your gold for kittehs.

    Dunedin • Since Jul 2010 • 3895 posts Report Reply

  • David Cormack,

    Well I had a great weekend, and was feeling very positive. Then I read this thread. Goodness me, talk about the Public Address-men of the Apocalypse.

    Suburbia, Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 218 posts Report Reply

  • Matthew Poole, in reply to Russell Brown,

    brought Auckland its warmest February and May on record

    To be followed, three months later, by only the second confirmed instance of snow in suburban Auckland in the last 75 years and the lowest daily high on record.

    Auckland • Since Mar 2007 • 4097 posts Report Reply

  • Rich Lock, in reply to David Cormack,

    Well I had a great weekend, and was feeling very positive.

    Can't be having that sort of behaviour now, can we?

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

  • Danielle, in reply to Rich Lock,

    Bloody dystopians, ruining it for everyone.

    Charo World. Cuchi-cuchi!… • Since Nov 2006 • 3828 posts Report Reply

  • Bart Janssen, in reply to Sofie Bribiesca,

    They have souls? Thought it was absence of, that caused this in the first place.

    Of course they have souls, but they are taught to ignore them in the first year of their BCom.

    Actually that isn't being facetious, they've done studies comparing BCom. students with other degrees and shown that one year of a commerce degree is enough to make people significantly more greedy and selfish. Apparently they learn that everyone else is selfish too so they should be selfish first ...

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 4461 posts Report Reply

  • Rich Lock, in reply to Danielle,

    Bloody dystopians, ruining it for everyone.

    I'm more of a dyspeptian, generally.

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

  • Rob Stowell,

    they’ve done studies comparing BCom. students with other degrees and shown that one year of a commerce degree is enough to make people significantly more greedy and selfish.

    Sorry to put you on the spot- but do you have a reference for this? (I read something similar- can't locate it.)

    Whakaraupo • Since Nov 2006 • 2120 posts Report Reply

  • 3410,

    Auckland • Since Jan 2007 • 2618 posts Report Reply

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