BS: Did the earth move for you?

Subject: RE: BS: Did the earth move for you?
From: Penny S.
Date: 04 Mar 08 - 11:24 AM

I didn't see wry humour. I saw a version of something that generalises and insults and which, if it had been aimed, for example, at New Orleans, might justifiably called racist.

I was taught in my youth to ask "Is it true, is it kind, is it necessary?" before making statements like that. I think it failed. "Is it funny?" doesn't excuse applying those standards.

I'm sure a genuinely funny version of that could be produced with a bit of tweaking.

It seems very odd to me that both in this case and in the case of Folkestone, the opportunity was seized by people (mostly on the BBC)to be nasty.

Penny

Subject: RE: BS: Did the earth move for you?
From: Flash Company
Date: 04 Mar 08 - 09:54 AM

The innards of my central heating boiler obviously moved, An intermittent fault which started up at the weekend was caused by a connection being displaced by the vibration.

FC

Subject: RE: BS: Did the earth move for you?
From: Little Hawk
Date: 03 Mar 08 - 01:16 PM

"Thousands are confused and bewildered, trying to come to terms with the fact that something interesting has happened in the UK."


LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   Funniest damn thing I've read all week!

You could say the same thing, I guess, if something unusual like that happened in Blind River, Ontario. Or in Mimico (a notoriously featureless suburb of Toronto).

Only in the case of Bind River it would be more like "Hundreds are confused and bewildered, trying to come to terms with the fact that something interesting has happened in Blind River. Hundreds of others were, like, too drunk to notice, eh?"

Subject: RE: BS: Did the earth move for you?
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 03 Mar 08 - 06:55 AM

100 (while the mods are asleep)!

Subject: RE: BS: Did the earth move for you?
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 03 Mar 08 - 06:26 AM

Ray, last time I saw that one, it was about the floods in Doncaster and Hull last summer. Only the children's names had been changed (presumably to protect the innocent!).

Critics of wry humour should spend time in the areas at which it's aimed. They might change their minds.

Subject: RE: BS: Did the earth move for you?
From: Penny S.
Date: 03 Mar 08 - 05:30 AM

"Please send cheques made out to Charity Ameliorating Seismic Hardship" by initials might have improved its amusement slightly.

There were gas leaks at Folkestone, and a band of doughty gas men looking for all the world like Ghostbusters...

There, I was very impressed by the efficiency of the services follow-up. The logistics were in place. Admittedly, they were in place for an attack on the Channel Tunnel, but they were up and running fast.

One thing - the chimneys in Lincolnshire seem to have been affected differently from the Folkestone ones. I don't know if the construction varies.

Penny

Subject: RE: BS: Did the earth move for you?
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 02 Mar 08 - 04:27 PM

I agree with you, Penny, about the post above yours.

'Apparently though, begging, thieving, and grovelling did carry on as normal.' So do sneering and refusing to think.

The so-called EARTHQUAKE APPEAL is notable for its complete lack of intellectual content. Here's a significant quake in what's supposed to be a stable part of the world, and the author doesn't have an iota of curiosity about it.

Also, a quake of 5 could hurt or kill someone. Broken water pipes have been mentioned. A little thought raises the possibility of broken gas pipes, a very real danger.

To the unknown author - may a heavy picture leap from the wall and smash your telly.

Subject: RE: BS: Did the earth move for you?
From: Penny S.
Date: 02 Mar 08 - 10:48 AM

Didn't feel it in Cirencester, though in a wakable state. Friend a short distance from reports in London, though working on a paper involving earthquakes in SE England, and so primed.

That last post was a bit unnecessarily nasty, wasn't it?

I'm surprised no-one has started parodying...

As I was sleeping quietly in famous Lincolnshire,
I found my bed a-shaking and woke with sudden fear,
The wardrobe it was rattling, and deep rumbling I did hear,
Oh, twas such a fright on that Wednesday night in the springtime of the year.

Penny

Subject: RE: BS: Did the earth move for you?
From: BanjoRay
Date: 01 Mar 08 - 09:15 PM

Got this today:
URGENT - UK EARTHQUAKE APPEAL   
At 00:54 on Wednesday the 27th February, an earthquake measuring 5.1 on the Richter scale hit the UK, causing untold disruption and distress:

Many were woken well before their giro arrived.

Several priceless collections of mementos from the Balearics and Spanish Costas were damaged.

Thousands are confused and bewildered, trying to come to terms with the fact that something interesting has happened in the UK.

One resident, Donna-Marie Dutton, a 17 year old mother-of-seven said:

"It was such a shock, little Chantal-Britney came running into my bedroom crying.

My youngest two, Tyler-Morgan and Megan-Storm slept through it. I was still shaking when I was watching Jeremy Kyle the next morning."

Apparently though, begging, thieving, and grovelling did carry on as normal.

The British Red Cross have so far managed to import 4000 crates of Sunny Delight to help the stricken masses.

Rescue workers are still searching through the rubble and have found large quantities of personal belongings including benefit books and jewellery from Elizabeth Duke at Argos.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

£2 buys chips, scraps and blue pop for a family of four.

£10 can take a family to Stockport for the day, where children can play on an unspoiled canal bank among the national collection of stinging nettles.

22p buys a biro for filling in a spurious compensation claim.

PLEASE ACT NOW

Simply email us by return with your credit card details and we'll do the rest!

Don't worry; we bank with a reputable UK bank (Northern Rock) so you know your money is in safe hands.

If you prefer to donate cash, there are collection points available at your local branches of Argos, Iceland and Clinton Cards.

Subject: RE: BS: Did the earth move for you?
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 01 Mar 08 - 08:08 PM

My husband, who is a geologist by profession, saya that the quake may have been connected to the North Sea, which is a failed rift. Possibly some rifting still goes on.

Subject: RE: BS: Did the earth move for you?
From: Rasener
Date: 01 Mar 08 - 05:30 AM

It should be Rasen Liz. Trust the yanks, they can't get anything right :-)

Subject: RE: BS: Did the earth move for you?
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 01 Mar 08 - 04:09 AM

Lovely cartoon in the free UK paper 'the Metro' this week...

Two fire fighters in the San Francisco Fire Department are staring aghast at the newspaper that shouts the horrific news of the earthquake with the banner headline 'Chimney falls in Market Raisen'.

Puts it into perspective a bit.

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Did the earth move for you?
From: Rasener
Date: 29 Feb 08 - 06:16 PM

Well its blowing a gail here in Market Rasen. I am so glad we havent got a chimney.

Subject: RE: BS: Did the earth move for you?
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 29 Feb 08 - 05:54 PM

Thanks for the observations, Huw. I certainly hope that the firm with the scaffolding did a very thorough check the next day. I'm sure very few owner's manuals cover the dangers of earthquakes in England.

Isn't it nifty to feel an actual earthquake after doing all that study? Especially one that didn't hurt anyone.
=====
Geordie, you are so funny!

Subject: RE: BS: Did the earth move for you?
From: Geordie-Peorgie
Date: 29 Feb 08 - 05:18 PM

Well! Aah notice that 72 hours later and Pakistan STILL haven't organised any relief for the English earthquake

There's gratitude for yez!

Subject: RE: BS: Did the earth move for you?
From: Catherine Jayne
Date: 29 Feb 08 - 08:38 AM

Didn't feel a thing here in East London. All 3 of us slept through it if it was felt down here.

Subject: RE: BS: Did the earth move for you?
From: theleveller
Date: 29 Feb 08 - 08:32 AM

Not only did the earth move, mrsleveller actually woke up. Can't wait for the next time.

Subject: RE: BS: Did the earth move for you?
From: Bryn Pugh
Date: 29 Feb 08 - 04:05 AM

As far as I know, not since in Northants.

Subject: RE: BS: Did the earth move for you?
From: skarpi
Date: 28 Feb 08 - 03:35 PM

well shake rattle and roll all , this is what I have at my doorstep
everyday of year , from 1 to 4 on richter so I understand if you
are shaky

all the best Skarpi

P.s has there been any aftershocks ??

Subject: RE: BS: Did the earth move for you?
From: paula t
Date: 28 Feb 08 - 03:29 PM

Hi Bryn Pugh,
Thanks for the reassurance. I thought I must have imagined it because no-one else seemed to have felt it. Mind you - no-one else seemed to have stayed awake for hours like me!
I should have been more calm about it,because when we lived in Staffordshire and Cheshire there were quite a few.

Subject: RE: BS: Did the earth move for you?
From: Rasener
Date: 28 Feb 08 - 01:12 PM

Well we in Market Rasen have no water at this moment. Anglian Water says there is a leak but nothing at road surface level. They do notknow where the leak is at the moment. Probably underground.
First reported problem 17:15, now 18:15 no change.
hope the gas hasn't gone that way.

Subject: RE: BS: Did the earth move for you?
From: GUEST,HuwG at work
Date: 28 Feb 08 - 12:36 PM

Glossop, 10 miles east of Manchester, an insomniac HuwG was violently shoved in the back while watching a video. To and fro movements continued for about 10 seconds, maximum amplitude about 2.5 inches.

Somewhere inside me a geology graduate reasoned that, even if I hadn't felt or paid attention to any preceding p-wave event (which is like a single sharp tap with a hammer) this was an earthquake. Also, I realised the direction of movement was N-S, with no vertical component, making it G_s (or "Ground Shake") waves. (Any vertical component means G_r or "Ground Roll".)

Once I'd checked that the scaffolding around the terrace house next to mine (they are fixing the roof and gutters) wasn't likely to totter into the street, I went back inside and listened to the news. The motion of G_s waves is perpendicular to the direction of travel so either Manchester had been very comprehensively feng shui'd or the epicentre was due east of me - which of course was the case.

10km is quite deep for an earthquake focus. I'm prepared to bet that it will be movement within Jurassic sediments on older Hercynian (Devonian and Carboniferous) structures.

Having royally annoyed all 'Catters with my smug demonstration of the "in" terms, I will say I was concerned, though not panic-stricken. Hanging lights swung and car alarms went off but no serious damage.

Subject: RE: BS: Did the earth move for you?
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 28 Feb 08 - 10:55 AM

RE 'Man up, Britain - 5.2 isn't a real earthquake'.

I havent time to do the research, but I'm sure that 5.2 could really hurt somebody. If that quake had shaken my house, I would:

Make sure there are no heavy pictures or mirrors over the head of my bed. Or else make sure they are extremely well secured.

Make sure tall bookcases are securely fastened to the wall.

Make sure precious vases, plates, etc are where they cannot be tipped over or 'walked off' the shelf.

Tie guitars, etc, into their stands with a twist of wire so their top-heavy tuning ends aren't thrown to the floor. (I do this all the time in case romping cats comes too close to the instrument.)

====
Has there been any explanation of the tectonics of this quake? Why a 5.2 in such a stable-seeming area?

Subject: RE: BS: Did the earth move for you?
From: GUEST,Vic at work
Date: 28 Feb 08 - 09:15 AM

No, Emma, but then I'm married.

Subject: RE: BS: Did the earth move for you?
From: GUEST,The black belt caterpillar wrestler
Date: 28 Feb 08 - 07:41 AM

I slept right through the quake in Lancaster but did wake up at about 3:00 am, so could that have been the aftershock?
I've seen the time for the aftershock reported both as 3:00 and as 4:00 so I'm not sure whether it was the effects of excited geography or increasing age!

Subject: RE: BS: Did the earth move for you?
From: Jean(eanjay)
Date: 28 Feb 08 - 07:07 AM

In other words, each local paper tried to claim the quake as their own:-)

It certainly felt like ours here in Harrogate (it will interesting to see the report in our local paper on Friday) :-)

My son was quite disappointed that it wasn't evidence of UFOs, but I suppose you can't have everything - after all we did get the frogspawn!

Subject: RE: BS: Did the earth move for you?
From: Rasener
Date: 28 Feb 08 - 06:56 AM

How dare they George. Its ours at Market Rasen :-)
Les

Subject: RE: BS: Did the earth move for you?
From: George Papavgeris
Date: 28 Feb 08 - 06:54 AM

5.2 is certainly real enough, especially when the epicentre is shallow, as in this case - it feels a lot worse then.

What I found funny is the headlines in many of the local papers:
- "Doncaster hit by earthquake" (Doncaster News)
- "Oxford hit by 5.3 quake" (Oxford Herald)

and so on. In other words, each local paper tried to claim the quake as their own:-)

Subject: RE: BS: Did the earth move for you?
From: Bryn Pugh
Date: 28 Feb 08 - 06:35 AM

Hi, Paula T

We are based in Kettering

(Do you like Kettering ?

I don't know. I've never been kettered.)

I thought it was just me that felt the aftershock just before 3 am.

The familiars, who had dived under our quilt during the first tremor - one pussy cat started yowling at about twenty to three. I evicted her but she scratted at the bedroom door until I was forced to re-admit
her.

Shortly after the house shook again. It is a comparatively new build, and when the first tremor started, in rude awakening, I thought the house was "settling", and the roof was coming down about our ears.

Did anyone see the comment of that hard-faced Septic in today's "Times" |?

'Man up, Britain - 5.2 isn't a real earthquake'.

It was real enough to fear me.

Subject: RE: BS: Did the earth move for you?
From: robomatic
Date: 27 Feb 08 - 09:06 PM

Welcome to my world. Well almost, y'need a Volcano in the Channel to complete the picture...

So, howd' that Chunnel thing make out?

Subject: RE: BS: Did the earth move for you?
From: Pistachio
Date: 27 Feb 08 - 08:21 PM

There was a helicopter flying over Beverley when the quake shook us awake - so it took a moment to realise that one was not connected to the other - (Thank goodness). Our wardrobe doors(sliding type) nearly rattled off their rails and the bed really shook. It seemed to go on for 6 or 7 seconds - quite a weird feeling.

My daughter has the misfortune to be in Hospital just now and the 12 storey 50'wide tower rattled and swayed! Ugh.
Anyway it's now over 24 hours since it happened and I'm off to sleep - peacefully. Goodnight all.
Hazel.

Subject: RE: BS: Did the earth move for you?
From: skipy
Date: 27 Feb 08 - 06:38 PM

Several reports that it was felt here in Grove, but not by me! I slept through it.
Skipy
Yet most nights I can't sleep through Kate snoring!

Subject: RE: BS: Did the earth move for you?
From: Rasener
Date: 27 Feb 08 - 04:06 PM

>>Then my wife said she had felt it and was scared too.<<

Are you on about the Earthquake there Greycap :-)

Sal
Make sure you don't ring me LOL :-)

Subject: RE: BS: Did the earth move for you?
From: GUEST,Greycap
Date: 27 Feb 08 - 03:15 PM

Scared the s*** out of me, I thought it was the cheap ASDA whisky I was drinking at the time. Then my wife said she had felt it and was scared too.
I had another Scotch.
Weird.

Subject: RE: BS: Did the earth move for you?
From: GUEST,Appaloosa Lady
Date: 27 Feb 08 - 02:57 PM

"Did the earth move for you?"

No, I'm afraid it didn't.

Subject: RE: BS: Did the earth move for you?
From: Irene M
Date: 27 Feb 08 - 01:42 PM

Did the earth move? It certainly did. And the house jumped up and down too.
Odd thing though. I was awoken a few seconds before what I thought was the DTs started. Similarly, I was awoken a few seconds before the Dudley jolt a few years ago, not woken BY it. How? Do I pick up low frequency vibration? I can certainly empathise with the animals who react before a quake. AND I was still shaking 90 minutes after the event. I can't put it down to "Ohmygad that was terrifying".
Oh well, it saves me having to go to California to see what a quake feels like.

Subject: RE: BS: Did the earth move for you?
From: GUEST,Ms lemon
Date: 27 Feb 08 - 12:30 PM

I was chatting to someone in Southern Italy in Second Life when it happened. First I heard a pheasant in my garden making a racket, I wondered if there was a fox around, then the whole house started to rattle and shake. There was a bit of a 'boom' as well. I wondered how long and how strong it was going to be, then after about 15/20 seconds it was all over. I was telling the person in Italy all about it while it was happening and it was suggested that i cover my head and go under a table! I suppose they are more frequent down there.

We had one about 3 Octobers ago when Otley festival was occuring, cos I was talking to a steward on the phone at that time. That was about midnight if I remember. I was in Shropshire at that moment in time.

Exciting eh?

Sal

Subject: RE: BS: Did the earth move for you?
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 27 Feb 08 - 12:23 PM

"but when the rumbling stopped, all of our instruments continued to vibrate making ethereal music."

Do you keep 'em all in the bedroom Sooz, or were you sleeping on the sofa to escape Mike's snoring? LOL!

Are we sallying forth to see His Bramness on Friday?

Subject: RE: BS: Did the earth move for you?
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 27 Feb 08 - 12:06 PM

Cromer, Norfolk. Pip and I were up watching tv. I thought I became aware of a table lamp shake but when I looked harder, I saw no movement but instead I felt the chair I was on shaking. For a moment, I thought I was going nuts but then it stopped. Talked to Pip who had felt her chair shake but seen nothing and we agreed that there must have been a small tremour which we guess lasted about 3 seconds.

Worthy, one of the cats was on another chair. He can be nervy and hard to settle down but he wasn't disturbed by this.

Subject: RE: BS: Did the earth move for you?
From: GUEST,Arnie at work
Date: 27 Feb 08 - 12:01 PM

It was round about this time last year that we had the Folkestone earthquake down here on the s.coast - and they're still fixing the chimney pots over that way. No doubt all the builders will now be packing their scaffolding into vans and heading north - it's an ill wind that blows nobody any good, or should that be an ill earthquake?

Subject: RE: BS: Did the earth move for you?
From: Sooz
Date: 27 Feb 08 - 11:50 AM

The leader of West Lindsey District Council's house was damaged - hows that for equality?

It sounded like a lorry going over a cattle grid next to my ear - but when the rumbling stopped, all of our instruments continued to vibrate making ethereal music.

Subject: RE: BS: Did the earth move for you?
From: Mrs.Duck
Date: 27 Feb 08 - 11:43 AM

Geoff and I were woken up by it. Since we'd had high winds we thought something had blown loose but it was only an earthquake lol

Subject: RE: BS: Did the earth move for you?
From: paula t
Date: 27 Feb 08 - 11:34 AM

Yep,
Northamptonshire was shaken. Quite a nasty shock, I couldn't get back to sleep for hours after that.Did anyone feel an "aftershock " at about 2.45 - or was I just imagining it?

Subject: RE: BS: Did the earth move for you?
From: 8_Pints
Date: 27 Feb 08 - 11:17 AM

Yes, we were at the same event and after returning to Cheadle had not yet gone to bed when the whole house began to sway!

Bob

Subject: RE: BS: Did the earth move for you?
From: GUEST,Shimrod
Date: 27 Feb 08 - 10:11 AM

I got back to South Manchester after driving back from West Yorkshire (back roads choked with traffic because of accidents at M1/M62 junction and on M1 - luckily all going in the opposite direction to me). I went to bed at about midnight and was woken from a deep sleep, at about 1:00 am, by the bed shaking. At first I thought I'd had a stroke or something (don't really know what one of those feels like - hope I don't find out!) - then as I came awake I realised that I could hear the front door knocker sort of vibrating very rapidly. I must have fallen back to sleep almost instantly to be awoken a few hours later by my alarm clock radio informing me that I had experienced an earthquake - so that's what it was!

Subject: RE: BS: Did the earth move for you?
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 27 Feb 08 - 09:58 AM

I'd just come home from a gig in Loughborough,   - about 40miles way. Midnight motorway miles - so they don't really count! I was sat in the front room of our bungalow.

About one o'clock, there was a noise like someone tapped on the window, then the whole room seemed to move sideways and I thought it was going to bend in some extraordinary way, but after about three seconds it stopped.

I figured it was osme kind of earth tremor. It was too fast to be really scary.

Loughborough Acoustic Club and an earthquake on the same night! I went to bed before anything else happened.

Subject: RE: BS: Did the earth move for you?
From: Flash Company
Date: 27 Feb 08 - 09:48 AM

Mid Cheshire. I woke from a particularly stupid dream just before one and was just trying to drop off again when the wardrobe started vibrating. I sort of realised it must be an earth tremor, but went downstairs to check that nothing had fallen off the house.
Next door's dog was going bananas, and my new, tempremental central heating boiler had gone into 'fault' mode, otherwise all was well.
Got the story from Ceefax at about 7.30.

FC

Subject: RE: BS: Did the earth move for you?
From: Rasener
Date: 27 Feb 08 - 08:58 AM

The earthquake might have been caused becuase West Lyndsey District Council finally approved a swimming pool for Market Rasen. Only took about 35 years.

BWM my mother used to say if you are not in bed by 11 then come home.

>>I think the earth may have moved for our frogs though, we have loads of frog spawn today! <<

LOL

My warped sense of humour I know, but after the frog spawn bit, it got me wondering if anybody was having sex at 1:00am and did the tremours help :-)

Subject: RE: BS: Did the earth move for you?
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 27 Feb 08 - 08:53 AM

LOL!!

Subject: RE: BS: Did the earth move for you?
From: billybob
Date: 27 Feb 08 - 08:32 AM

Brother Tony in Harwich is a folk musician , usually at one in the morning after a gig he would be having "a belly full of Balti" so toast was quite unusual I agree!