Blog For The Constantly Frustrated

7.8 Quake in NZ Moves entire continent slightly West

Posted by: catfuraplenty, 6:59 PM GMT on June 24, 2009

A few days ago I posted a story on the NZ quake and that it was felt by the Aussies. It was obviously much more significant than first thought. Check out this new today said:
WELLINGTON, New Zealand – Southern New Zealand has moved slightly closer to the east coast of neighboring Australia as a result of a massive earthquake last week off the country's South Island, a scientist said Wednesday.

The magnitude 7.8 quake, centered in the ocean near Resolution Island in the country's Fiordland region, twisted South Island out of shape and moved its southern tip 12 inches (30 centimeters) closer to Australia, seismologist Ken Gledhill said.

Gledhill, director of government-owned GNS Science's "GeoNet" national earthquake monitoring project, said the island's geographic shift showed the immensity of the forces involved.

"Basically, it's taken us closer to Australia," he told National Radio. "The country is deforming all the time because of being on the plate boundary, but this has done it in a few seconds, rather than waiting hundreds of years."

Last Wednesday's quake was the largest in the world this year and New Zealand's biggest in 80 years. No major damage has been found in the sparsely populated Fiordland region of South Island's west coast.
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Hi all,
Been scanning around overseas, chit chatting with some Aussies, when they came across with this and I thought I would pass it on.

JFlorida and I were just talking about quakes and odd, anecdotal evidence recently saying something was up. I'm wondering if this was it or if there is something worse in the works?

Effects of 7.8 quake felt in Australia

6:39PM Thursday Jul 16, 2009

The effects of the 7.8 earthquake and aftershocks that struck Fiordland last night were felt as far away as Australia.

The quake, which was centred 100km northwest of Tuatapere and 12km deep, struck at 9.22pm and triggered an alert from the Pacific tsunami warning centre in Hawaii.

In Sydney, a performance at Bondi Pavilion was cancelled and the theatregoers were evacuated, while other Sydney residents were warned to keep away from the water's edge.

However, there was only a small surge of water, about 17cm high, and the tsunami warning was cancelled after its size was confirmed on arrival at Bluff at about 10.30pm.

There were surprisingly no immediate reports of major damage from the quake, which was felt widely throughout the South Island and as far north as Taranaki.

It was followed by two sizeable aftershocks, one 19 minutes after the initial quake measuring 6.1, and another at 1.50am measuring 5.9.

The Earthquake Commission (EQC) said they have so far received 223 claims for damage.

More were expected in the coming weeks and months as minor damage was reported, including cracks to wallpaper, bricks and house exteriors, EQC spokesman Lance Dixon told NZPA.

Most of the claims were lodged in Invercargill, Dunedin and around Otago, but some came from as far away as Christchurch and Greymouth.

People had up to three months to lodge claims, and could do so on the Earthquake Commission's 24 hour line, 0800 DAMAGE, or online at www.eqc.govt.nz.

The commission only covers insured residential property.

The quake was felt widely throughout the South Island and as far north as Taranaki, and was followed by two sizeable aftershocks, one 19 minutes after the initial quake measuring 6.1, and another at 1.50am measuring 5.9.

Four more strong aftershocks followed this afternoon.

The first, measuring 5.3, hit Fiordland at 12.24pm. Another tremor, measuring 5.6, was felt 20 minutes later, followed by a 5.1 quake at 1.30pm.

The latest, at 2.13pm, measured 5.1 and was at a depth of 12km, 80km west of Te Anau.

GNS Science said the aftershocks were felt in Alexandra and Invercargill.

A separate 5.4 magnitude quake in Taranaki at 9.38pm yesterday was not thought to be linked to the Fiordland quake, GNS geologist Matthew Stevens said today.

DOC staff flew into Fiordland National Park at first light to check on registered trampers and one-day visitor structures before focusing on the quake's epicentre and surrounding huts and tracks, Te Anau acting area manager Andrew Cudby said.

The trampers were leaving the park on foot and were expected out at some stage today, Mr Cudby said.I hope this doesn't get me kicked off the blogs, but I had to tell someone. This was too good to keep to myself. Too good and too funny.

For more of this story go to:
Link
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Anyway, I can hear you laughing now. Yes, I can. In the dark, there you are, thinking I'm really off my rocker this time. But, I'm not...not really.

I found this powder and I really like it. Okay, at first I bought it because it sounds so goofy and the picture on the front is hilarious. But if you have been following my blog, you know it's been horribly hot here.

Today it was 96+ with a heat index of 105F. Believe me when I say, it felt all of 105 and more. Even in the house with the a/c going full blast, you feel the humidity get to you the moment you move.

So, there I was strolling along the aisle of W-mart, looking at the foot powders, etc. And I saw this

I started laughing so hard that people were looking at me oddly. (Not that this is new to me, people often look at me oddly, but--) Anyway, I bought a canister and took it home. I put it in my husband's bathroom and waited. It didn't take long before he came out holding the powder.

"This is a joke?" he asked.
"Nope," I said.

Long story short, he didn't use it at first but I did. Low and behold, the stuff works like a charm. I'm not selling this, nor do I have any stake it in, etc. But I thought for as long as I sit here, driving around in traffic, sweating a pool full every day since the beginning of June, I might as well tell people about something I like and that works.

Now, my husband is using it after I told him. I got my Mom a canister and sent it to her. She said the ladies in her bridge club are going to get a real giggle out of it. I told her laugh all she wants but it does work. So leave it out for the bridge ladies to see it, but also, use it. LOL

I saw Piratelady's blog and see that she is like me, sick to death of this heat. I can't imagine that I'd be hoping for a nice tropical storm to cloud things up a bit, but I am. I've been rooting for every little cloud burst that comes within a hundred miles of here to make it to us and cool things down.

If you live in a state that has plenty of cool air, rain, clouds, etc. Please bottle it and send it to Texas. We need it bad!

Thank you all. And as a side note, the kittens are growing, getting healthier looking every day and tearing the house down. LOL Little buggers. :)

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July 5th and we are still under a ridge of high pressure that seems to have taken up residence over S.E. Texas. On the plus side we don't have to worry about formations of any tropical systems coming out way. This high would block any attempt. But on the bad side, we are baking, broiling and roasting.

Today's temp was 100F here again with a heat index of 105. Personally it felt more like 125F and yes, I've felt it that hot before. LOL It's that kind of heat that fries you from the inside out and there is little to do but endure it.

Fireworks went off last night without any problems, even though we are under a burn ban and most of the crops around are tinder dry. What little rain we've had has been scant and spotty.

Below, in the comment sections are kittens that we are fostering and looking for good homes for. Even if you aren't interested in the wee ones, they are cute to look at.

Please let us know if you or someone you know would like to have a wonderful pet. These little ones are truly adorable. Thank you and enjoy the rest of the evening.

Updated: 6:24 AM GMT on July 23, 2009

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Cold Water Acrobatics

Posted by: catfuraplenty, 11:24 PM GMT on June 22, 2009

Here I am, grousing about the heat and I came upon this performance by a young man from South Africa. Not only is this video cool, but I love the look of that beautiful water! Ahhhhh, waaaaaatttttteeeeeerrrr. Sorry, I think I got a bit coughed up, all this no-rain stuff is wearing on the nerves. :lol: Anyway, enjoy the surf and think cool thoughts. :)

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A Safety Dome Over Houston?

Posted by: catfuraplenty, 5:08 AM GMT on June 18, 2009

In case anyone missed it, the Discovery Channel recently ran a series of engineering marvels that are fanciful to say the least but then that is probably what they said about communicators on Star Trek too. One of the proposals was a clear, protective dome to be built over a 3 mile area of Houston to protect it, literally, from itself. The idea is to make Houston safer from floods, hurricanes, heat and humidity. A working model was shown in the program that is set i...

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Stick a fork in me, I'm done

Posted by: catfuraplenty, 6:27 AM GMT on June 16, 2009

It is hotter than hades here. It's looking like a repeat of five years back. I can't sleep for it. I don't want to eat anything that isn't iced. I can't go out in it and I swear the sun is banging down on the hood of my car every time I try. Web worms are eating the pecan tree. No rain. And I think this is the end of the world as we know it. :P At least it is until it rains again. signed little mary sunshineI want to take a second to tell everyone thank you for your...

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Saving energy in line with summer:A proposal

Posted by: catfuraplenty, 4:40 AM GMT on June 14, 2009

European countries, for the most part(and I know many have changed to a more western way of doing things), had it right. They know how to act during the summer. We talk about saving money, saving energy, saving water, lowering energy bills and gas consumption,yada, yada, yada. But do we? Do we utilize commonsense, going with the flow of the heat rather than acting like everyone lives in San Diego, CA, a comfortable 70ish year around?I hear ya, I'm getting to the poi...

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