Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Again: Is everyone okay?

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  • Russell Brown, in reply to Greg Dawson,

    Oh that is more reassuring. There’s definitely an upside to massively improved communications abilities, but it comes with a hefty downside of miscommunication.

    Indeed. Newstalk ZB and TVNZ both reported that incorrect bad news, but I tweeted it when Stuff seemed to have an official word on it. Apparently not.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Bart Janssen,

    The 15 people in a pocket of the CTV building is apparently a false report :(

    The fireman? being interviewed said they were transferring resources to the PGG building where they were more confident of finding survivors.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 4461 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Steve Barnes,

    Also the “Auto Quote” function is a bit erratic when you copy and click reply sometimes it works, sometimes it don’t.

    You don't have to copy, just select.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • nzlemming, in reply to Matthew Poole,

    but if this is an “aftershock” six months after the event and it’s done so much more damage (to people and property) than the original event

    I think someone said yesterday on the TV that this was officially a separate event, certainly for EQC claims. Different fault, etc.

    Waikanae • Since Nov 2006 • 2937 posts Report Reply

  • nzlemming, in reply to Steve Barnes,

    It is quite easy to click the “Reply” button of the previous poster by mistake I have found, done it a couple of times myself and maybe more that I have not noticed.

    Good point. Puts it into the usability bucket, rather than the technical.

    Waikanae • Since Nov 2006 • 2937 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to recordari,

    You’ve perhaps been reading the same tirade I have. No comment.

    I/S? Yeah.

    Say it once, fine. Over and over? Move away from the keyboard, dude.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Che Tibby, in reply to Russell Brown,

    agreed.

    when the police start arresting people in whangarei we'll all admit he was right.

    the back of an envelope • Since Nov 2006 • 2042 posts Report Reply

  • Lex Miller,

    The earthquake is receiving extensive and sympathetic coverage in Japan.

    The folk here have a soft spot for Christchurch which is thought of as a safe, beautiful city. It is also a popular destination for students to study English, and a number of students were in the CTV building - Several are still out of contact.

    I heard an expert talk about how advanced NZ is in constructing buildings to withstand earthquakes, but Japan also well knows that this is no guarantee.

    Japan • Since Nov 2006 • 10 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia, in reply to nzlemming,

    Is it just me or perhaps it’s a job for CactuslabMan to investigate?

    Nope – it’s what happens when you hit reply and quote from a preceding post. I’ve had to apologise for that quite a bit, but the issue isn’t with PAS but the defective meatdrive between my ears. It will take, eventually. :)

    You’ve perhaps been reading the same tirade I have. No comment.

    @recordi: Ah, yes… fair point that you don’t declare local or national states of emergency lightly – and you can legitimately question the reasoning behind it. But Darth Brownlee taking another pony ride on the maggot-ridden corpse of democracy? No. Just no.

    Oh, and unless I'm very much mistaken a state of emergency (and any subsequent extensions) automatically lapses after seven days -- to be quite cynical, that's a well I suspect you wouldn't want to go back to too many times before prickly questions were asked.

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report Reply

  • George Darroch,

    when the police start arresting people in whangarei we'll all admit he was right.

    You know what, I almost tweeted a response identical to that, using Whangerei too. Then I thought better.

    Cause, y'know, when the 2nd city is on its knees, there might because to use civil defence powers outside the boundaries of Canterbury. I appreciate his defence of the rule of law, but the good and perfect aren't always on the same page. Things are far from perfect this week.

    CERRA has problems, and reconstruction will need to be done right. But this is an emergency on a huge scale.

    WLG • Since Nov 2006 • 2264 posts Report Reply

  • Rich Lock, in reply to Lex Miller,

    A colleague has a Japanese friend who is studying in ChCh who was skyping her parents in Japan when it hit, and lost the connection.

    Colleague eventually managed to get through to Japanese friend to make sure she was alright, but couldn't immediately call her parents because of the language barrier. Done now, fortunately.

    Any word from Ian or Joe Wylie yet?

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

  • nzlemming, in reply to Craig Ranapia,

    Nope – it’s what happens when you hit reply and quote from a preceding post. I’ve had to apologise for that quite a bit, but the issue isn’t with PAS but the defective meatdrive between my ears. It will take, eventually. :

    heh, it's not just you, but Steve's point about the position of the reply link is a good one. Might be one for the PAS 4 focus groups ;-)

    Waikanae • Since Nov 2006 • 2937 posts Report Reply

  • recordari, in reply to Martin Lindberg,

    Or do this.

    As a former BMX racer, I think that would be empathy.

    Say it once, fine. Over and over? Move away from the keyboard, dude.

    Apart from disagreeing, too soon, surely? The ‘abuse of power’ meme usually takes more than 24 hours to come up, doesn’t it?

    AUCKLAND • Since Dec 2009 • 2607 posts Report Reply

  • Andre Alessi, in reply to George Darroch,

    But this is an emergency on a huge scale.

    And it has national implications, hence a "national emergency". Any even that affects voice and SMS services across the country is already major stuff, and plenty of organisations outside Christchurch are heavily impacted by the damage done for a variety of reasons.

    Much better to declare an emergency now and then not have to use the powers implied than to have the rescue efforts hampered by being unable to move resources around the country because all available transport is tied up by non-essential requests, for example.

    Devonport, New Zealand • Since Nov 2006 • 864 posts Report Reply

  • Matthew Poole, in reply to recordari,

    You’ve perhaps been reading the same tirade I have

    Nope. Just something I noticed after hunting the Herald for confirmation of the outcome of the Cabinet meeting at 0930 this morning. I hadn't realised anyone had been "tirading" about it, though seeing the suggested source in the comment on the next page I can't say I'm surprised. For him, everything is a government conspiracy to expand their powers.

    Auckland • Since Mar 2007 • 4097 posts Report Reply

  • Lucy Stewart, in reply to recordari,

    Apart from disagreeing, too soon, surely? The ‘abuse of power’ meme usually takes more than 24 hours to come up, doesn’t it?

    I saw dictator-flees-to-Saudi jokes, mmm, three hours later. I guess people are pre-primed. (If not, sadly, tasteful or funny.)

    Those reports about the Hotel Grand Chancellor are sounding very worrying. It's not a small building, and if it goes...

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 2105 posts Report Reply

  • Matthew Poole, in reply to George Darroch,

    Cause, y’know, when the 2nd city is on its knees, there might because to use civil defence powers outside the boundaries of Canterbury

    Exactly. Requisition of heavy machinery, for starters. Being able to compel commercial operators to take their cranes, trucks and diggers somewhere is a very useful power to have. Likewise protections of employment for people who are required by the emergency to leave their ordinary place of work in order to assist. That cannot kick in until a state of emergency covers their workplace.

    Plus, a state of emergency only lasts a maximum of seven days. It can be extended, but it's not indefinite and the law doesn't provide for any extension or the original declaration to be more than seven days. Fewer than, but never more than.

    Auckland • Since Mar 2007 • 4097 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to nzlemming,

    Steve's point about the position of the reply link is a good one.

    Moving it to the left rather than right side might be interesting - the arrow could even point upwards at the name of the person you're replying to

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Matthew Poole, in reply to Craig Ranapia,

    unless I’m very much mistaken a state of emergency (and any subsequent extensions) automatically lapses after seven days

    You're not mistaken. See my comment above. I can go and hunt the exact section of the CDEM Act if anyone particularly cares.

    Auckland • Since Mar 2007 • 4097 posts Report Reply

  • Matthew Poole, in reply to Lex Miller,

    constructing buildings to withstand earthquakes, but Japan also well knows that this is no guarantee.

    They certainly do, which is why their offer of experts in earthquake rescue could be the most useful of all. If we have the wit to accept.

    Auckland • Since Mar 2007 • 4097 posts Report Reply

  • George Darroch,

    They certainly don't, which is why their offer of experts in earthquake rescue could be the most useful of all. If we have the wit to accept.

    They have, as I understand. California and Taiwan USR teams are also on their way. Singapore, Australia, and UK less earthquake experienced, but very gratefully received.

    WLG • Since Nov 2006 • 2264 posts Report Reply

  • Matthew Poole, in reply to Bart Janssen,

    said they were transferring resources to the PGG building where they were more confident of finding survivors.

    Also reports of fears the Hotel Grand Chancellor may collapse, so a two-block radius has been evacuated which I think encompasses the CTV building. The rule of thumb for impending collapse is one-and-a-half times the height of the structure is the danger area, and in this case they'll also be worried about anything it might collapse onto that could also then collapse.

    Auckland • Since Mar 2007 • 4097 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to recordari,

    Apart from disagreeing, too soon, surely? The ‘abuse of power’ meme usually takes more than 24 hours to come up, doesn’t it?

    Has latest is a foul-mouthed spew at the Queen for daring to send a message of sympathy. He really has lost the plot today. That was unforgivably stupid and self-involved and he doesn't seem to be able to grasp that.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Matthew Poole,

    Likewise protections of employment for people who are required by the emergency to leave their ordinary place of work in order to assist. That cannot kick in until a state of emergency covers their workplace.

    Good point
    (I/S, are you listening?)

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Matthew Poole, in reply to George Darroch,

    Singapore, Australia, and UK less earthquake experienced, but very gratefully received.

    Ultimately USAR is USAR. A collapsed building is a collapsed building, and the training is pretty standardised. More people means more simultaneous rescues, more people to rotate on and off the piles. The standard is for a team to be able to function for 72 hours straight off the plane with no support, so the more teams we get in the more rescue experts we can keep going for weeks before they've been run into the ground.

    Auckland • Since Mar 2007 • 4097 posts Report Reply

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