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

Hi Roma,

where abouts is azerbaijan? Do you get earthquakes there?

maybe this will help Kea

http://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/europe/az.htm

Frenchbean has gone to stay with friends in Oz for the duration. Been there a week or so.

Thanks, Gosho.

That's a relief

cheers Gosho

Hello again... thank you for wondering what I'm up to..

I got home 10 days ago, having had a few days in Australia. I'm working in the Emergency Operations Centre in Chchch. I'm on 12 hour days, hence no hootoo.

It's good to be useful. The devastation of the city is very upsetting, but after Friday's quake in Japan, even our tragedy is put into some perspective.

Fb

Rod .. please do feel free to go into the Library and shout >>Frenchbean<<, but can you wait until my rdo on Thursday please, when I might actually be there

and shout loudI want to hear it as well

Oh, I can shout loud

"Frenchbean, left right left - you Animal! I said 'Left' first"

Loud, but not that loud.
From Northumberland maybe - but methinks you'd not hear from here.

best use semaphore flags then

Just got back from the library after half an hour - and I'm beanless.

However, from now on, complete strangers from all over town will be asking "Who's that with Rod?"

I too have just got back from town and I'm Rod-less. I even popped into the library to see if there was a spare Press to read, but both were occupied, so I bought my own

Town was packed... especially the supermarket again. Why does everybody believe that shops being closed for one day (tomorrow - Memorial day) means that they'll run out of supplies? I know it's St Patrick's Day too, but from the checkout queues you'd imagine we were going to be on lock-down for a week.

I'm working tomorrow... and am in serious doubt that the Memorial Service will help the people of Chchch. It seems to be more about the celebs and pollies who want to be seen to be sympathetic.

I am an old cynic. One who is happy to be occupied in the EOC all day tomorrow, away from Hagley Park and the memorial.

Fb

celebs & pollies - yes indeed and I imagine quite a few of them won't be too happy either - but it's one of those things that have to be done.

The town was indeed busy but I did manage to park in the council area - just leaving when a red light started moving out in front of me - whee! - & someone else got my space the same way.
All the streets lined with cars.

Anyway, we know you're safe (and well?) so I'll leave it there.

Rod

Yes, well. Thank you Rod

celebs & pollies = free media time etc and "we" have thoughts for those caught up in the events - nah! I'm cynical as well

FB

A Fb strawpole of friends and neighbours about the memorial service has resulted in all but one person expressing the view that it's way too soon to hold such an event.

Yet the media tell us that 180,000+ people are expected to attend. I wonder where they are coming from?

Fb

I am not much in to memorial services either and I would have thought things were too raw this early on.

The organisation my other half worked for wants to do one for him, and I am not crazy about the idea, I would wish they had shown their appreciation of him while he was still alive and working there! It would be rude to refuse though. they mean well.

See, another cynic to add to your list.

The Japanese nightmare is terrifying, it seems to have reduced half the country to third world status, while the rest of the country carries on as usual, according to personal reports I have heard.

Be glad to be corrected on that point.

Websailor

Memorial Service: I'm on the cynical-ish side, too but it is something that has to be done and it does help a lot of people (perhaps more than will acknowledge it) and in that sense it's not too soon, probably about right.
Another one a couple of years down the line, when rebuilding is under way and visible, would be appropriate, too.

- - - - - - - -

>>The Japanese nightmare is terrifying, it seems to have reduced half the country to third world status, while the rest of the country carries on as usual, according to personal reports I have heard.
<<

Here too, it seems (it has to, doesn't it?) - but not *quite* as usual.

The population of our town has increased from 12,000 to 22,000 since Feb 22nd, Rod I was chatting to a policeman in the EOC yesterday and they have allocated us extra police because of the increase in crime.

The memorial served a purpose I think, but for those who are still waiting for relatives/friends to be found or identified, they still have a long road to travel. I do feel that it was too early for most of us: Chchch is far from being able to move forward. The work I'm involved in demonstrates that point - business owners who haven't seen their buildings yet; whose livelihoods are buried under tonnes of rubble and behind cordons; who put their lives on the line to access the buildings (along with USAR/safety personnel). They can't put anything to rest. Far from it.

I don't know if the video of the central city has been in circulation. It was released yesterday and is worth a look. Even if you don't know the city, it's devastating stuff. There are a dozen main streets completely ed http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qbXJJN9ZSFc&feature=player_embedded)