h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I'll be happy with this entry if the following two changes are made:

Add the phrase "at the south end of North Island" just after "tectonic plates".

Change the sentence which starts "Admittedly earthquakes have.." to the following:

"Admittedly, earthquakes have occasionally proved beneficial; while the city was founded in 1839, it was not until the Wairarapa earthquake of 1855 that the present major access route into Wellington was thrust violently out of the sea. (Yes, this is true.)"

Since it appears to be my concerns that were holding it back, go ahead and recommend it, and let the sub-editor make these changes!

(aside)

Wellington is directly opposite Madrid. The closest I've ever been to Wellington is Boston, Massachusetts. It's a big world!

I live about 200 miles from Wellington, the capital of New Zealand, a country roughly the same size as the UK or Japan... not many people know that last bit

Alas, as I have hung up my Scout hat, someone else will have to recommend this.... as I am sure they will.

just take a look at the recommendations page


Er... you have WHAT???

Yes - finally - third time lucky, eh! I'm so pleased, it's been accepted and is on its way to A Sub-Editor.

YAY!

Hallelujah - now we can all get some sleep

Hi all. Er... rather embarrassing, but I'd completely forgotten about this until I got a reminder email this morning. Sorry about that. I am still slightly hesitant about this entry being recommended, however as it is now in the editors' hands, I offer the following comments and suggestions:

- The quip about the earthquake pushing up the major route (or perhaps more accurately "a" major route - it is State Highway #2) to the city is correct; the 1855 earthquake totally changed the topography of the city. Another example was the canal and dock plans for a particular area which, following the earthquake, were converted to cricket grounds (the world famously shoddy Basin Reserve). For more info/proof, see http://www.wcc.govt.nz/news/projects/waterfront/chaffers/history.html.

- The only thing I would add is perhaps a new penultimate paragraph concerning Wellington's recent rise to prominence. Something along the lines of:

"Of course, most recently, the main overseas attention towards Wellington has been directed at the small suburb of Miramar, close to the airport. It is from here that at WETA studios Peter Jackson has created his "Lord of the Rings" film trilogy and, in doing so, become a national and local hero. With much of the filming and post production done in and around the city, "Rings" has affected everyone in some small way - whether it be being asked to make Orc noises for sound recording during half time of the rugby at the Stadium, or all your tall blonde friends being extras as elves and your short fat friends being extras as hobbits. Either way, the city is justifibly proud."

Something like that. Anyway, if anyone with greater powers that I could direct these comments to the editors, it would be greatly appreciated.

Regards
Slug

The Sub-Editor who gets this entry will read through all the thread and it was recommended with the proviso that suggestions in the thread be incorporated, including your last paragraph. (You could, of course, slot that in now - there's usually a couple of days before it is allocated, I understand.)

I would expect that you will be kept updated of progress on the entry.

Congratulations, Slug!

(Where else in the world but h2g2 would those two words go together?)

I'll be your sub-editor for the evening. The new version is at A741962.