World Affairs

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Well, everyone hope that good old Gaia is asleep, and these things are just stirings as she dreams, but watch out if she ever wakens.  Predicting siesmic events is something like trying to predict a pregnancy before coitus.  We know they will happen, and after they have happened we can usually predict the after-shocks, but we can only guess at what may be going on in the fault zones.  They are very deep, and we really have no way of testing them that doesn't have the possibility of setting something in motion.  Setting dynamite charges in holes and bouncing shock/sound waves around is not my cup of tea.

Anything that can examine things deep in the earth always involves sound waves or some kind.  If you yell loud enough, you might just get a P and S waves back.

The one I am waiting for before I shuffle off this mortal coil is the Cascadia event that will happen off the Vancouver/Seattle coast.  I am curious to see how much of the land mass west of the Rockies survives.  This is a subduction zone, so we are really looking at the products of a collision between the immovable object and the irresistable force.  There should be lots of interesting results, interesting in the context of "May you live in interesting times", which is an ancient Chinese curse.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Well, everyone hope that good old Gaia is asleep, and these things are just stirings as she dreams, but watch out if she ever wakens.  Predicting siesmic events is something like trying to predict a pregnancy before coitus.  We know they will happen, and after they have happened we can usually predict the after-shocks, but we can only guess at what may be going on in the fault zones.  They are very deep, and we really have no way of testing them that doesn't have the possibility of setting something in motion.  Setting dynamite charges in holes and bouncing shock/sound waves around is not my cup of tea.

Anything that can examine things deep in the earth always involves sound waves or some kind.  If you yell loud enough, you might just get a P and S waves back.

The one I am waiting for before I shuffle off this mortal coil is the Cascadia event that will happen off the Vancouver/Seattle coast.  I am curious to see how much of the land mass west of the Rockies survives.  This is a subduction zone, so we are really looking at the products of a collision between the immovable object and the irresistable force.  There should be lots of interesting results, interesting in the context of "May you live in interesting times", which is an ancient Chinese curse.

[RV1428 0]

The Indonesians were unlucky to have two disasters at the same time... I was wondering, do you guys ever hear something from Belgium? The formation of our governement has been going on for 130+ days and still no results. Tensions between Flanders (Dutch-speaking) the part were I live, many Canadians fought and died here in WW1; remember Flanders fields) and Wallonia (French-speaking) were higher than ever the past weeks. There even are rumours about a separation. What do you think/know about this?

And if we ever have a governement our retirement age will move from 65 to 67...

[RV1428 0]

The Indonesians were unlucky to have two disasters at the same time... I was wondering, do you guys ever hear something from Belgium? The formation of our governement has been going on for 130+ days and still no results. Tensions between Flanders (Dutch-speaking) the part were I live, many Canadians fought and died here in WW1; remember Flanders fields) and Wallonia (French-speaking) were higher than ever the past weeks. There even are rumours about a separation. What do you think/know about this?

And if we ever have a governement our retirement age will move from 65 to 67...

[Barbarossa 51]

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  Edited September 8, 2012 by Barbarossa  

[Barbarossa 51]

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  Edited September 8, 2012 by Barbarossa  

[DocRorlach 25]

A fault under NYC? I mean, other than the visible presence of the Bloomberg City government? Of course, if a quake ever were to hit Manhattan, the devestation would be apocalyptic: 8 million commuters concentrated on a mere speck of an island.

As for Belgium (a nation for since less than 200 years) the simplest solution would be to hand the North back to the Netherlands, the south to France, and to establish the central area around Brussels as a neutral territory under EU administration. We could then move the EU parliament from Strassburg to Brussels, retire the rmaining (and rather less than useful) monarchies in both Holland and Belgium, and maybe move step closer to the idea of a United States of Europe. As it runs now, Belgium will never have a viable government - the population/language split is sim[;y too evenly matched.

Oh yes, and Indonesia's misfortune consisted of three disasters: tsunami, earthquake, plus a volcanic eruption (which appears to be on-going).

[DocRorlach 25]

A fault under NYC? I mean, other than the visible presence of the Bloomberg City government? Of course, if a quake ever were to hit Manhattan, the devestation would be apocalyptic: 8 million commuters concentrated on a mere speck of an island.

As for Belgium (a nation for since less than 200 years) the simplest solution would be to hand the North back to the Netherlands, the south to France, and to establish the central area around Brussels as a neutral territory under EU administration. We could then move the EU parliament from Strassburg to Brussels, retire the rmaining (and rather less than useful) monarchies in both Holland and Belgium, and maybe move step closer to the idea of a United States of Europe. As it runs now, Belgium will never have a viable government - the population/language split is sim[;y too evenly matched.

Oh yes, and Indonesia's misfortune consisted of three disasters: tsunami, earthquake, plus a volcanic eruption (which appears to be on-going).

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Ain't it wunnerful?  I didn't realize there was a fault under NYC.  If a quake happened during business hours on a working day, imagine what a disturbed ant-hill of people would look like?  Have any anti-quake measures been taken to keep buildings like the Empire State and the Chrysler building from breaking in two and falling into the street?  Seems to me that there is rather a lot of wet sand under Manhattan, or is it clay?  If it is thixotropic clay, it would just liquify and swallow the buildings.

As for a few shakes in the mid-west, I'd be a lot more worried about the Yellowstone area, as it is sitting on a super volcano.

{I just had the great pleasure of taking the key cap off my 'n' key, as there was something stuck under it.  Now I get to put it back on.  Looks simple, but ....}

Anyway, the old globe is heating up for the Christmas Season with lots of nasty stuff coming down the pipe.

Belgium hasn't been able to select a government?  I would be happy to give them ours if you want a collection of dithering clowns.  As far as the Dutch speakers and the Walloons go, how did they ever get to be a country anyway?  Was it a treaty settlement?  Not even Hercule Poirot could solve this conundrum.

EDIT: About 10 minutes later.  They key caps just snap back in, but there is an incredible amount of crud in this keyboard.  Its been accumulating in there for years.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Ain't it wunnerful?  I didn't realize there was a fault under NYC.  If a quake happened during business hours on a working day, imagine what a disturbed ant-hill of people would look like?  Have any anti-quake measures been taken to keep buildings like the Empire State and the Chrysler building from breaking in two and falling into the street?  Seems to me that there is rather a lot of wet sand under Manhattan, or is it clay?  If it is thixotropic clay, it would just liquify and swallow the buildings.

As for a few shakes in the mid-west, I'd be a lot more worried about the Yellowstone area, as it is sitting on a super volcano.

{I just had the great pleasure of taking the key cap off my 'n' key, as there was something stuck under it.  Now I get to put it back on.  Looks simple, but ....}

Anyway, the old globe is heating up for the Christmas Season with lots of nasty stuff coming down the pipe.

Belgium hasn't been able to select a government?  I would be happy to give them ours if you want a collection of dithering clowns.  As far as the Dutch speakers and the Walloons go, how did they ever get to be a country anyway?  Was it a treaty settlement?  Not even Hercule Poirot could solve this conundrum.

EDIT: About 10 minutes later.  They key caps just snap back in, but there is an incredible amount of crud in this keyboard.  Its been accumulating in there for years.

[DocRorlach 25]

The gray stuff is (roughly) today's Germany; the odd purple is the odd French; and everything north of the twenty-odd islands (including them) is today's Holland.

Strictly speaking the Belgas were an unruly Gallic tribe (not unlike Quebequians) around Roman times. Until 1830 just about everyone owned what is today Belgium, or used it as a staging point to get at either the Dutch or the French.

When everyone else was revolting in Europe, the normally fracticious northerners and their francophone southern counterparts decided that it was their god-give right to be equally revolting and thus (more or less) the modern-day borders were formed, with Leopold I heading a "democratic" monarchy.

The native squapple would have not amounted to much on the world stage had it not been for one particular native chap called Schumann - consider him the latter-day Jefferson of European politics. With him spearheading the formation of what has become the EU, Brussel suddenly gained enourmous importance. Besides that the country's only other world-shaking political erruption was the disaster called Belgian Congo. Look up a chap called Lumumba on Google.

If the two sides would simply part ways, errect a fence or something, everything would be fine. That is not as far-fetched as it sounds: the Belgian constitution actually has provisions for such an eventuality and it was even considered as recent as 2006.

As long as the Belgians of either language continue to do what they do best: provide the world with a) the absolute best chocolate confectionions, and b) the best variety of beers (more than any other country in the world, and certainly better), nobody would really mind.

[DocRorlach 25]

The gray stuff is (roughly) today's Germany; the odd purple is the odd French; and everything north of the twenty-odd islands (including them) is today's Holland.

Strictly speaking the Belgas were an unruly Gallic tribe (not unlike Quebequians) around Roman times. Until 1830 just about everyone owned what is today Belgium, or used it as a staging point to get at either the Dutch or the French.

When everyone else was revolting in Europe, the normally fracticious northerners and their francophone southern counterparts decided that it was their god-give right to be equally revolting and thus (more or less) the modern-day borders were formed, with Leopold I heading a "democratic" monarchy.

The native squapple would have not amounted to much on the world stage had it not been for one particular native chap called Schumann - consider him the latter-day Jefferson of European politics. With him spearheading the formation of what has become the EU, Brussel suddenly gained enourmous importance. Besides that the country's only other world-shaking political erruption was the disaster called Belgian Congo. Look up a chap called Lumumba on Google.

If the two sides would simply part ways, errect a fence or something, everything would be fine. That is not as far-fetched as it sounds: the Belgian constitution actually has provisions for such an eventuality and it was even considered as recent as 2006.

As long as the Belgians of either language continue to do what they do best: provide the world with a) the absolute best chocolate confectionions, and b) the best variety of beers (more than any other country in the world, and certainly better), nobody would really mind.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Interesting.  Maybe the Flemings, the Waloons, and the Québecois could all be given a home land at the eastern end of the Mediterranean.  This would put all the stiff necks and stuffed shirts in one place.  It would be a great opportunity for sales of muscle relaxants.  You can call this the A Nonny Moose declaration if you like.

Here is a bit of trivia to keep the pot boiling.  Seems some guard at the DMZ got bored and decided to try out his rifle.

www.nytimes.com/2010/10/30/world/asia/30korea.html

Other than the Hundred Years War, I don't recall any other going as long as this one.

EDIT:  And Doc, you like chocolate coated onions? "confectionions"

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Interesting.  Maybe the Flemings, the Waloons, and the Québecois could all be given a home land at the eastern end of the Mediterranean.  This would put all the stiff necks and stuffed shirts in one place.  It would be a great opportunity for sales of muscle relaxants.  You can call this the A Nonny Moose declaration if you like.

Here is a bit of trivia to keep the pot boiling.  Seems some guard at the DMZ got bored and decided to try out his rifle.

www.nytimes.com/2010/10/30/world/asia/30korea.html

Other than the Hundred Years War, I don't recall any other going as long as this one.

EDIT:  And Doc, you like chocolate coated onions? "confectionions"

[RV1428 0]

Doc, you pretty much nailed it, Belgian Congo when ruled by Leopold II is still the greatest shame of our country. Personally I would like the Flanders+Netherlands scenario, the Flemings have been (and still are!) forced to speak French in their own capital although it's bilingual, if you don't people just ignore you. But if we split we would lose our beer and chocolate .

Korea is the opposite of Belgium: a people split in half instead of two peoples forced together.

[RV1428 0]

Doc, you pretty much nailed it, Belgian Congo when ruled by Leopold II is still the greatest shame of our country. Personally I would like the Flanders+Netherlands scenario, the Flemings have been (and still are!) forced to speak French in their own capital although it's bilingual, if you don't people just ignore you. But if we split we would lose our beer and chocolate .

Korea is the opposite of Belgium: a people split in half instead of two peoples forced together.

[Barbarossa 51]

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  Edited September 8, 2012 by Barbarossa  

[Barbarossa 51]

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  Edited September 8, 2012 by Barbarossa  

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Originally posted by: Barbarossa

Originally posted by: RV1428...the Flemings have been (and still are!) forced to speak French in their own capital although it's bilingual, if you don't people just ignore you.quote>

I noticed this in France, as well, except they didn't ignore me, they were just blatantly rude.  I don't know, though, maybe more than language was involved, but France was my least favorite country to visit as a tourist.  Americans have egos, but the French seem to have it down to an art.  I've never encountered such snootiness (or should I say snottiness) as I did there.

Barbarossa

quote>

It must be a genetic trait of the Franks.  Champlain brought it with him to Québec, and it is still there, especially around the Gaspé.  When I was in southern France around the Gironde, the people were a little more forthcoming, especially if you tried to get along in your high-school French.  I had one waiter tell me "Vouz parlez Français comme un Basque Español", however.  This coming from a guy who was speaking Langue d'Oc.  Oh, well, I still live.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Originally posted by: Barbarossa

Originally posted by: RV1428...the Flemings have been (and still are!) forced to speak French in their own capital although it's bilingual, if you don't people just ignore you.quote>

I noticed this in France, as well, except they didn't ignore me, they were just blatantly rude.  I don't know, though, maybe more than language was involved, but France was my least favorite country to visit as a tourist.  Americans have egos, but the French seem to have it down to an art.  I've never encountered such snootiness (or should I say snottiness) as I did there.

Barbarossa

quote>

It must be a genetic trait of the Franks.  Champlain brought it with him to Québec, and it is still there, especially around the Gaspé.  When I was in southern France around the Gironde, the people were a little more forthcoming, especially if you tried to get along in your high-school French.  I had one waiter tell me "Vouz parlez Français comme un Basque Español", however.  This coming from a guy who was speaking Langue d'Oc.  Oh, well, I still live.

[DocRorlach 25]

Albeit late, I would like to insert a difference of opinion vis-a-vis RV1428: In my several years of living in Brussels, I never was under the impression that anyone forced me to stick to French only. It appeared to be a matter of "kwartier" or "quartier" - depending on where you went in the city. I lived both in the centre, near the Opera, as well as in a predominantly French quarter. At all times my mangled approach to languages seemed to find acceptance: I tend to speak whatever dominated the working day (Dutch, French or English). At the first job there, just about 80% of the call-centre employees came from the northern, Flemish provinces (and theirs is a Dutch to bring tears to your ears - they make Afrikaans sound melodious); at home English prevailed (only reasonable language there is), and at leisure French ruled - worked like a treat.

The French, per se, are actually less than snobish, certainly less so than, for example, the Brits. Where most folks get that impression, though, is in Paris - and rightly so. Who could forget the attempt to "rid" the French language of all Anglosaxon traces, back in the early 90ties, when Hotdogs briefly became "chiens chaudes" - known as the "Loi Dubon" after the minister who ended his career with it (has anyone noticed that these political abberations in France are always committed by very short men?)

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

L' Academie Français tries hard to stamp out any imported words in French (Parisian, that is, being the Official Version) but dialects prevail in a lot of places, notably Aquitaine where the Langue D'Oc prevails over the Langue D'Oui.  However, even the Bordelais won't have any truck with the Québecois and their Joual (a corruption of cheval).  One person in Bordeaux told me they have enough problems with separatist Basques without these other guys singing Gens du Pays in the pubs.  Of course I was there in 1972...

[Duke87 1,070]

Originally posted by: A Nonny Moose

Ain't it wunnerful?  I didn't realize there was a fault under NYC.quote>

Yup, there is a minor fault line that runs right through Harlem.

Have any anti-quake measures been taken to keep buildings like the Empire State and the Chrysler building from breaking in two and falling into the street?quote>

No, but I wouldn't be worried about that. Really tall buildings, counterintuitively, tend to be quite safe in earthquakes. The reason? Once you get tall enough, high winds become much more of a concern and start to control the design. I'd be more worried about the Empire State Building blowing over in a huge hurricane than falling over in a huge earthquake.

...but neither is going to happen. The fault in New York is a small one and won't be producing the magnitude of earthquales that places like California see. And New York is too far north to get a hurricane like the ones people down by the Gulf see.

It's also worth pointing in the past few decades engineers have realized that they have to worry about earthquakes everywhere, not just in California - so, newer buildings are designed to withstand them. The standard is typically for it to take more than 500-year quake to damage the structure of a building and more than a 2500-year quake to completely collapse it.

For comparison's sake, the design seismic loads for New York range from a tenth to a quarter of those for San Francisco.

Seems to me that there is rather a lot of wet sand under Manhattan, or is it clay?  If it is thixotropic clay, it would just liquify and swallow the buildings.quote>

Manhattan has the luxury of having some of the hardest bedrock in the world sitting right near the surface, so most of the city doesn't have to worry about that. However, the edges of Downtown are on fill (which is some of the crappiest soil around), and the bedrock isn't quite so close to the surface between Downtown and Midtown.

[Barbarossa 51]

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  Edited September 8, 2012 by Barbarossa  

[DocRorlach 25]

Let's call it down to individual experiences. As you point out, it may well be centred around the language, and being part (albeit only a 1/4) French, it may well be less noticable to me. Besides, my own experiences are always tainted by the fact that to the average european (and don't point out the contradiction in that), I always look more like an Arab due to my paternal origins of American-Moroccan lineage. Having travelled & lived pretty much all over Europe, I would concede that ultimately every country has too much national conceit. Unlike the more fortunate North Americans, we are lumbered, from an early age on, with too much history, most of which is about fighting the neighbors on all sides. And usually for petty slights on what everyone calls the national character - as if there really were such a thing. which is why I wholly disagree with Noose's signature line about learning from history: I still think if you don't know it, you run less of a risk to repeat it. And I think the ongoing wars in this world bear out that view.

You went to regions often flooded with Brits of all shades and sizes who do not always a present good calling card on their romp across the channel. What I experience these days in London (hardly a reference point for the country as a whole) bears out your line about being conceited. Still, on a walk through Kent, from Dover to London, I met nothing but nice, polite and quite unassuming folks every single day. So, let us stick to the old adage that all generalizations are dangerous, including this one.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Well, I was thinking of overhauling that old tag line, so I will.  I am feeling like giving a general curse.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Today is Remembrance Day in most of the British Empire.  (Veteran's Day in the U.S.?).  This is the annual event when we commemorate the uselessness and waste of war.  The theme is "Lest we forget" and in most British Heritage places someone publicly recites John McCrae's poem "In Flander's Fields" which was written in an aid station in the first part of the War to End All Wars.  McCrae was killed and the poem was found in his field book.

If you are curious about this, you can find it on Wiki.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Big doings in Lisbon.  Will NATO be expanded to be a world-wide military presence?

This link is on a network news site.  It may not last forever.

Saturday, 20 November 2010 11:36 AM\\

Things seem more codial than thay have in a long time.  Link

The Russians are probably finding that they need all the help they can get.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

This is the second incident in the last couple of months between the two Koreas.  I can't imagine what they are thinking in Pyongyang, but it sounds more like a cry for attention than an intention of continuation of the existing war.  The North has been trying to break the truce for some time.  I wonder if they think Beijing will rescue them this time?

[DocRorlach 25]

No, Korean War, The Updated Version, is not going to happen, despite the posturing on both side of the DMZ. China on one side & the US on the other will see to that. For the US, there are no troops to be had uness you bring back the draft. And for China, WWIII is an economic one, and its troops are needed locally.

Meanwhile, another "front " surfaced - literally - on the war about Global Warming, just ahead of yet another useless meeting of governments n Cancun in a few weeks time: the methane threat out of Siberia.

Now there is a resurrection of a Cold War front if ever I've seen one..