Busytown by Jolisa Gracewood

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Busytown: The art of seismography

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  • Fooman,

    From the Eruptions volcano blog (bloody good blog) came:

    highly allochthonous

    which is a good ripping technical discussion of the earthquake. Followed it to:

    dotearth at NY Times

    which has a, er, interesting discussion on the sociology of earthquake struck NZ compared to earthquake struck Haiti. Is pointed out in the comments (by Peter Metcalfe - is nz.general still around?) that the Haitian earthquake was considered more destructive by the USGS as the Haitian building standards are (were?) lower.

    Cheers,
    FM

    Lower Hutt • Since Dec 2009 • 87 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    Lastly, for the tiniest taste of how abrupt and upsetting the continuous, random aftershocks can be, see this security-cam footage of the staff of C1 Espresso sussing out the shop (link courtesy of Cheryl Bernstein).

    I salute their choice of background music.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Lilith __,

    Seismography, n. 1. the science of detecting, measuring and recording ground vibrations, especially those from earthquakes.

    True enough, but I'd like to propose a new sub-definition:

    2. writing about earthquakes and their aftermath.

    :-D

    Given that blogs aren't handwritten, perhaps it's Seismotypography? [or does that just sound like shaky typesetting?] :-)

    Love the C1 clip.

    Dunedin • Since Jul 2010 • 3895 posts Report Reply

  • ChrisW,

    The timing on the "Sussing out the shop" video emphasises just how extraordinary this was - not just that the aftershock struck within seconds of them opening the door, but that it was Wednesday the 8th at 7.49 am - so this was by far the most dramatic of the aftershocks felt in Chch, the Mag. 5.1 one only 6 km deep under the southeastern edge of Christchurch itself.

    Just when they thought it was safe to go back in the water ...

    Gisborne • Since Apr 2009 • 851 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Barnes,

    <pendant>

    True enough, but I'd like to propose a new sub-definition:

    2. writing about earthquakes and their aftermath.

    No, that is Seismology

    Seismology (from Greek σεισμός, seismos, "earthquake"; and -λόγος, -logia, as a whole "Talking about earthquakes")

    </pendant>

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • Isabel Hitchings,

    Wouldn't seismology be what you do over a few drinks and seismography be what you do in your diary or blog?

    Christchurch • Since Jul 2007 • 719 posts Report Reply

  • Sam F,

    The New Seismographers

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1611 posts Report Reply

  • Megan Clayton,

    As one who will only occasionally use a single word when a noun phrase would be more fun, I'd take seismological epistolarity.

    Thank you Jolisa for the link (and for pointing out I was the "Christchurch writer" cited in Philip Matthews' account).

    One of the curious features of this life online in the last week has been waiting to see what others would write about what we've experienced of late. It has been both flattering and comforting to have the same expectation extended to me.

    Christchurch • Since Feb 2007 • 51 posts Report Reply

  • Jolisa,

    Steve, I'll see your <pendant> and raise it (a <pennant>?). Isabel is right: -logy is talking, -graphy is writing. But we do write in a very talkative way, so Megan is maybe even righter:

    seismological epistolarity

    Nice! I did toy with "seismological autobiography", but I think epistolarity captures the vernacular, dialogic nature of it all.

    The New Seismographers

    Dammit, Sam, where were you when I was struggling to come up with the perfect title this morning?

    Auckland, NZ • Since Nov 2006 • 1472 posts Report Reply

  • Jolisa,

    Isabel, this phrase made me shudder:

    and when we peered outside there was a chimney across our driveway

    It has the quotidian surreality of a fairy tale.

    For ChrisW, on aftershocks, this just in from Adrienne Rewi: there have been over 556 aftershocks in 9 days. I'm too stunned to do the math!

    Auckland, NZ • Since Nov 2006 • 1472 posts Report Reply

  • Jolisa,

    Seismotypography? [or does that just sound like shaky typesetting?] :-)

    P'raps that refers to this controversial T-shirt (no longer in production?)

    Auckland, NZ • Since Nov 2006 • 1472 posts Report Reply

  • Ian Dalziel,

    my size-mometer is running...

    I'll see your <pendant> and raise it (a <pennant>?). Isabel is right: -logy is talking, -graphy is writing.

    whichever way you flag it
    (and at the risk of suffixation)
    as usual - it's all about seis (mo) ...


    My seismosaurus is running...
    The definitive source of shaky & scaly words!
    er no:

    seismosaurus (noun)
    a huge late Jurassic dinosaur known from only a few bones, probably the longest ever animal with a length of up to 115–150 feet (35–45 m), and one of the heaviest at up to 110 tons. [Genus Seismosaurus, infraorder Sauropoda, order Saurischia.]

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report Reply

  • Lilith __,

    Dunedin • Since Jul 2010 • 3895 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Barnes,

    logy is talking, -graphy is writing.

    Aha! but..
    When we are writing and having a discussion, as we are here, we are talking in the sense depicted by the suffix -logy. You would be correct if you were referring to the "Graphics" of writing, as in calligraphy as the suffix -graphy refers to images and pictures rather than meaning and discussion.

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    The New Seismographers

    Stay Places

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Jolisa,

    Oh, Steve. You are so -logical!

    Auckland, NZ • Since Nov 2006 • 1472 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Barnes,

    Oh, Steve. You are so -logical!

    Tell me about it...
    ;-)

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • Jake Pollock,

    So how is a biography about fonts, Steve? Or historiography, for that matter?

    ETA: especially seeing as 'seismology' is taken by, um, seismologists.

    Raumati South • Since Nov 2006 • 489 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Barnes,

    A biography is a picture or image of a person using words it is not a discussion or analysis. Similarly Historiography is a factual representation of a body of work pertaining to a historical topic and as such can be regarded as an image.
    As for...

    'seismology' is taken by, um, seismologists.

    Indeed, although I am not quite clear as to your use of the term "taken" unless you mean as taken as a subject or study and if so, then I agree, seismologists do seismology by the means of seismography using such tools as a seismograph.
    I could argue about this until the cows come home and that is about twenty minutes from now, so keep it brief.

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    I predict some aftershocks from that one..

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Jake Pollock,

    I wouldn't think so Sacha. The original quake was so weak most Wellingtonians wouldn't even wake up for it.

    Speaking of images though, last week the NYT featured photos of the aftermath of the Haiti earthquake that almost have dimensions of religious iconography to them.

    Raumati South • Since Nov 2006 • 489 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    I was talking about Steve's final sentence :)

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca,

    I predict some aftershocks from that one..

    hmmm :)

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Barnes,

    Help, somebody call a seismologist...

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    Or a dogbox assembler :)

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

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