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

It's way too hot! I can't think!

How's the current climate?

The winter weather played havoc in Taranaki this week, bursting water pipes in Stratford and Eltham to the delight of local plumbers. Icy conditions on the roads caught out unsuspecting motorists.

For us Northlings it's hothothot! We're not quite used to this, seeing it's been years since we had summer and sun in July!
Titania said something interesting about that, ....hang on .... here it is:


I wonder what's going on with the Earth, the Sun and everything...?

I've recently been remarking (to my co-workers, repeatedly) that the sun has been
behaving a bit differently - sunset much later this summer than last year... even when
I've worked late (like today) my flat still feels like a sauna when I get home, because
the evening sun has been shining all evening... and a square where, last year, the sun
was hiding behind buildings around 7 pm, this year we still have sunshine at 9 pm...

NASA Science News:

'On the 4th of July, Earth will lie at its greatest distance from the Sun - an annual event
astronomers call 'aphelion.' But don't expect any sudden relief from the heat. Indeed,
say researchers, our planet is actually warmer when we're farther from the Sun than at
any other time of year - an earth science curiosity'

...and then I read this...*searches in pocket for piece torn out of newspaper*

'KIRUNA WITHOUT MOON FOR 5 DAYS AND NIGHTS

On Tuesday (July 3rd) the moon set only 16 minutes past midnight in Kiruna (city in
Sweden) and it will be gone until 1.04 on Sunday, July 8th. At the same time the full
moon will be shiningall across the other parts of Sweden.

Later on in July, after the midnight sun has ended, the people in Kiruna will enjoy
constant moon light from 11.30 on July 17th, lasting 3 days and nights.

But then, after finally setting, early in the morning of July 21st, it will rise again after
only 1,5 hours. The moon will travel all across the sky and then set again shortly
before midnight - for the second time withing 24 hours.'

Does anyone know if this is a phenomenon occurring every now and then - or is the
Earth tilting more than usual?

*finds another piece torn out of newspaper*

'ELVIS PRESLEY IN SUMERIAN

Jukka Ammondt from Finland has taken the King back several thousands year in
time. Within shortly there will be a new release with a recording of 'Blue Suede
Shoes' in Sumerian, the language of ancient Mesopotamia.'

*shakes head in astonishment*


She's in Sweden, so it's almost the same, only different...

Kinda like NZ and Australia? Or the US & Canada?

Actually with Norway & Sweden sharing so much history and land, how does one go about "feeling Norwegian"? (Or Swedish?)

Given that Americans have just finished celebrating 4th of July, how do you express your national pride?

Norway as a free nation is relatively young. We have been under Danish (1536 - 1814) and Swedish (1814 - 1905) administration.
Because of this the national feeling is naturally stronger in Norway, than in the two other countries who more want to identify themselves with Europe. Danes are long since forgiven though.
17. mai 1814 the Norwegian constitution got signed. The most important ideas in it were taken from the French revolution and the American decree of independentcy.
The 17th of May is a higly celebrated holiday, with parades and Norwegian flags everywhere. And we're very proud of it.

Waitangi Day - 6 Feb - is the commemoration of when New Zealand came into being. In 1840, representatives of the British Crown and a number of Maori chieftains signed the Treaty of Waitangi/Te Tiriti O Waitangi.

It gave the Brits access to own NZ land and preserved certain Maori rights such as fisheries and other properties.

However, far from being proud of it, the Treaty is a source of heated debate. Waitangi Day in recent years has been marked by protests from Maori, usually over land confiscated illegally by the Crown and demanding the return of sovereignty.

The problem is there were two versions of the Treaty, one in English, the other in Maori. One says Maori ceded governance (ie the Brits are in charge), the other says Maori give the Brits the right to govern their own affairs, the Maori retaining the right to govern theirs. Or so some interpretations go.

International law I believe says the Maori version is the binding one.

Also modern interpretations of the Treaty's provisions lend themselves to controversial headlines. Especially Article the Second, which guarantees "full exclusive and undisturbed possession of their Lands and Estates Forests Fisheries and other properties which they may collectively or individually possess so long as it is their wish and desire to retain the same in their possession." Does this entitle Maori to claim things on or around the lands and properties that weren't known about in 1840? Such as fossil fuels? Or radio frequencies?

There are no flags and people usually regard Waitangi Day as just another three-day weekend.

how big % is the Maori population? In North Norway and North Sweden there's the Sami people (Lapps)
In norway they count appr. 30 000 - 60 000. The uncertain number is because many Sami denounce their Sami identity.
That again is a result of aggressive misjonery and supression. They got their own flag as late as in 1986. They have just starte to secure and develop their own language, culture and society.

From Statistics NZ:

"In 1996 New Zealanders identifying with the Mäori ethnic group numbered more than half a million, 15.1 percent of the total population."

Maori is an official language of the country, but is not compulsorily taught in schools or kindergarten (although there is Kohanga Reo which does).

There are also seats in Parliament for Maori representatives. There are currently six seats but this can change depending on how many people choose to go on to the Maori electoral roll. A Maori who wants to enter Parliament does not have to stand for a Maori seat, and theoretically the candidate standing for a Maori does not have to be especially Maori. (But it does help to have some standing within the Maori community)

Like the Sami, some Maori choose to go mainstream. Some stick closely to their roots. There is another group referred to as Urban Maori who want to take part in their culture, language and heritage, but don't know their true genealogical background. This is significant because there have been a number of large Treaty settlements ie land returned to Maori, or compensation for said land. These settlements go directly to the tribe or iwi, but if you don't know your iwi then it's hard to reap the benefits.

How does the rest of Norwegian society view the Sami and Sami issues?

I'm not sure..I have to come back to you on that one.
North of Norway is so far away, it's like another country!

There are lots of 'other countries' in NZ, you only have to look at the main centres. Auckland is the heart of big business and high flyers, Wellington is all politics and PR, Christchurch is like England (ie full of skinheads and racial tension) and Dunedin is the Scottish capital of the Antipodes.

How's the thermometer looking at the moment?

Right now, at 14:10, its 18C with 100% Relative Air Humidity outside, 25C and 65% RAH inside. Clammy in other words.

I see what you mean. In large groups even small differences count. Scots vs Poms, profit hunters vs politic posers...
And if you back off only one small step, you see that it doesn't mean one d*mn thing...

Arrgh, I'm getting philosophical again, I need a !

Anthropologists even class the individual as a culture unto itself, because they take on board some of the attributes of the nation, of their local community, of their family, class, etc, but they also have individual agency, the ability to adopt or ignore those traits. Thus creating unique micro-cultures of one.

And that's without a ...

Ah, yes. There's an expression that say that the brain is alone....
Have you studied/read anthropology? I haven't, but I've always found the popular tv-programs/articles/books a bit fascinating.

I studied a bit extramurally as part of the "off campus" requirements of my Fine Arts 3rd Year. Studying culture in its broadest possible contexts.

What is Fine Arts about? Is it at university level? I Norway there's kunst og håndtverk - Art and Handicraft - that is the level before university, and Kunsthøgskolen in Bergen that is the highes form of art-education.
In the new educations plan they have started to teach the kids Art and Handicraft and Arts History already when they start in the 1. grade! It's quite nice to have a kid that can recognise a Munch and a Matisse at a glance..!

Sorry I dissappeard so fast yesterday, there was a sudden thunder storm and the lightning struck not far from here!
I panicked and pulled out all the plugs I could find!

I hope you don't work in a hospital...

It was a 3 year Diploma at a Polytechnic (or Institute of Technology as is the term currently in educational vogue), and I before that I did a year long foundation course (fine arts and design), also at Polytech.

I took Art History in my last year of high school but got interested in the art side of things instead. Rather than do the assignments, I read the excerpts from Da Vinci.

Surely most kids will be able to recognise the most famous Munch - "hey, it's that dude from Scream!"

Yes, of course everybody recognize the Scream..

I wonder what education I would choose if I could start over again...
Before I got the job I'm having now I worked in a psychiatric hospital. Those patients could drive you nuts!
Just kidding. Actually I miss some of them from time to time.

It's never too late to start anew. I was 24 when I did my journalism course.

My journo friend from one of the local radio stations was a pastor and a teacher before taking up journalism.

I'd love to learn some sciences, a bit more about computing perhaps, engineering or welding maybe...

No shortage of options, all you need is the will to try...

Well, come to think of it, I'm in the middle of a learning prossess as it is! - There's constantly new rules added to accounting, and I'm not finished learning the old ones yet! I'm always curious and have never been afraid to try out new stuff. That's why I had so many odd jobs in my youth..

Speaking of which, did I hear correctly that you might be a year older tomorrow?

I think this calls for , and a