*promote Christchurch lunacy

With another Christchurch video on the front of the Sift, it reminded me of this video *beg .

When we were considering moving to New Zealand, Christchurch was on the short list...

A lot of Americans yearn for New Zealand.... So beautiful there. I may yet make it. Just sent in my passport application!

In reply to this comment by ChaosEngine:
In reply to this comment by bareboards2:
So where are you, Chaos? (Just saw your Yosemite post.... )


Christchurch, New Zealand. It's another beautiful part of the world (well, Christchurch itself is somewhat messes up since the earthquake last year, but the south island is pretty special).

You have been awarded 1 Power Point for fixing the embed code for Dead Pool video Skaters making the most of Post-quake Christchurch. Thank you for helping maintain VideoSift's reliability.

Are you affiliated with the video?

http://videosift.com/video/Skaters-making-the-most-of-Post-quake-Christchurch

How so?

That's highly impressive organisation, automated live TV messages. Our national TV station was still playing a daytime soap opera 5-10 minutes after the Christchurch earthquake had happened.

The buildings are supposed to do that. All the new ones in Christchurch do the same, its a hell of a ride inside, but the building is left standing and safe. But there is only so much you can do to reduce the damage.

I think I see what you mean: It's hard to compare Mercalli readings from different places due to the differences in structural integrity, population density, etc. ie: a mercalli intensity of VI in one place could be read as II for an earthquake of the same magnitude in a less populated area.

Similarly, an earthquake with magnitude 7 may not even cause any damage (though unlikely in a populated area).



>> ^DerHasisttot:

I mean: The Scales are almost meaningless at the point when human beings are in danger: The released energy denoted in the antiquated Richter scale can have immensely different effects from place to place. The Mercalli-scale measures damages at one specific point, if referred to in the media. (And the media often forgest to say which scale is being used.)
For example, the Christchurch earthquakes: The first earthquake had the same amount of points as the catastrophic Haiti earthquake, and was compared by the NZ media, which enraged me at the time: The quake's proximity to densely populated areas, the geology, ground water-levels and building-density+height were not taken into account. Additionally, for example, paved roads, gas-lines and other infrasctructure weigh immensely on the aid-efforts and damages.
To give accurate information using the Mercalli-scale, the media would have to tell the exact place and radius of the referred number. If they tell the Richter scale, it's only relevant for seismologists and scientists, the actual damages and consequences vary too much.

I mean: The Scales are almost meaningless at the point when human beings are in danger: The released energy denoted in the antiquated Richter scale can have immensely different effects from place to place. The Mercalli-scale measures damages at one specific point, if referred to in the media. (And the media often forgest to say which scale is being used.)

For example, the Christchurch earthquakes: The first earthquake had the same amount of points as the catastrophic Haiti earthquake, and was compared by the NZ media, which enraged me at the time: The quake's proximity to densely populated areas, the geology, ground water-levels and building-density+height were not taken into account. Additionally, for example, paved roads, gas-lines and other infrasctructure weigh immensely on the aid-efforts and damages.

To give accurate information using the Mercalli-scale, the media would have to tell the exact place and radius of the referred number. If they tell the Richter scale, it's only relevant for seismologists and scientists, the actual damages and consequences vary too much.

>> ^residue:

what do you mean by "soil, humidity and other factors outweigh the scale accuracy?" the richter scale is just the quantitative product of readings from seismometers. mercalli scale records qualitative damage from structures
>> ^DerHasisttot:
My news-sources say 8.8, previously 8.9. Although the (I guess) mercalli-scale is not sooo good either. In the end, soil, humidity and other geological factors outweigh the accuracy of such a scale any day. AS seen here vis-vis tsunami. But if you give me a source i'll change it of course.

I live in Wellington, north of Christchurch by about 300km (~190 miles), and we felt the quake here. I feel that it would be impertinent of me to try and do justice to what has happened to the city, given that I haven't directly experienced the devastation. All the footage I have seen has been horrific, except for the poignant shots of people being rescued from beneath rubble.

This is a picture of Christchurch moments after the quake hit: http://i.imgur.com/0vZbD.jpg

The ground acceleration was measured at the force of gravity. There are some truly impressive and terrifying pictures and videos of the destruction. The entire city is going to have to be rebuilt.

>> ^dystopianfuturetoday:

Glad you are OK. I'd be curious to hear more about your experience, if you've got the time.

Not to be callous and my best wishes go out to all who were affected by this disaster, but isn't a bit of an ironic fail of religion for this to occur in a place called Christchurch?

Christchurch was on the short list of places to live in if I could move to New Zealand. Sadly can't (only a 2 year degree in a field not in demand)... but I was considering it, and still check out Christchurch Daily photo from time to time.

Just last week I had an oral exam about the first Christchurch earthquake and discussed it with my Kiwi lecturer; one point being that the first earthquake had luckily been during the night, and not during the day when people agglomerate in higher rising buildings in larger numbers. And now this...
>> ^bareboards2:

Just heartbreaking.

Actual footage from today:



http://videosift.com/video/Graphic-newscoverage-of-TODAY-s-Christchurch-Earthquake



http://videosift.com/video/Aerial-footage-of-TODAY-s-Christchurch-earthquake

Gee, Christchurch NZ is pretty in winter.

And yes... under NZ law, he should be wearing a bike helmet. That's a $55 fine right there. And another $55 for being on the pavement. And another $55 for that turn without indicating. Tut, tut.