New Zealand Quake--You can help (and I wish you would)

I may (or may not) have mentioned in the past that I lived for about 4 months in Christchurch, NZ in 1976 while I was part of the US Antarctic Research Program.  Anyway, the people of New Zealand were/are wonderful even if they do suffer from mediocre food (the 2 most memorable foods I can recall were creamed mushrooms on toast and asparagus sandwiches, both of which I took a liking to).  And the small city of Christchurch was wonderful.
 
Now it seems like it is nearly destroyed, or at least some of the outstanding parts of it like its beautiful cathedral.  It seemed to an American like a very English place, with afternoon tea, Bermuda shorts with knee socks and stores closing for "the (horse) races".  Beautiful too, as anyone who has seen the Lord of the Rings movies knows.
 
After a bit of Googling, I found that anyone anywhere can make a contribution to the New Zealand Red Cross for earthquake relief at http://www.redcross.org.nz/donate .  I did and I hope more Americans will--I think it would be nice for the New Zealanders to know people over here care.  And remember, the NZ dollar is worth only 70-some cents US so you are giving less than you think (your credit card company will handle the currency exchange).

BT,
Thanks for your concern, mate.
It's nothing short of a disaster around the Christchurch area at the moment.
I'm a volunteer Fire officer who has been amongst the vast number of rescue staff helping to
try and find survivors amongst the wreckage and co-ordinate some sort of a recovery mission.
 
Oh and BTW,
I can assure you, food here has come a long way since 1976, as has our fashion sense!
 

Your trout fishing and red deer hunting isn't bad either.

Mike_NZ


I can assure you, food here has come a long way since 1976, as has our fashion sense!

 
At Scott Base the food seemed to consist mainly of fermented byproducts of grain and hops.  But I made sure a certain sled dog was fed better (to the consternation of your countrymen).  It seems they kept the dog team chained outside and fed them seal meat, but one in particular kept getting loose somehow, and when he did, he'd find his way over the hill to McMurdo to my door.  I'd let him in (must admit he smelled rank) and feed him beef tenderloin (we had thousands of pounds of it frozen in perpetuity after buying it from the Aussies as a diplomatic gesture--used it for everything requiring meat including grinding it up for hamburger).
 
Americans are suckers for animals . . . which reminds me that those especially afflicted with that problem can contribute to the Canterbury (Christchurch) SPCA at http://www.spcacanterbury.org.nz/ .  I'm sure there are more than a few homeless critters right now.  I know that in the US disasters I'm most familiar with  (the 1989 SF quake and Hurricane Katrina) there were lots of them, mainly because US shelters wouldn't let their owners bring them.  In spite of being more practical about their working dogs, maybe Kiwis are more enlightened about disaster aid.  Don't know, but money is always useful.

Michael Hoffman


Your trout fishing and red deer hunting isn't bad either.

See this is where everything is going wrong over here, Michael.
Not that long ago a hunter like myself could go and shoot a half decent stag or pull a reasonably sized salmon out of the river here.
These days, if you want to be a hunter, you have to put a permit in to go and hunt on a certain part of the country.
When you head out to hunt the dangerous peaks and mountains, you will be met with the odd animal-righteous brigade member.
Carrying a rifle is one thing, telling them to bugger off is another.
 
Same side of the coin, during a fishing competition on the banks of the Rakaia river here, we have been told how cruel fishing is, as in
how would you like a hook through the side of your mouth?
Ahh, but the taste of smoked salmon, from your own smoker makes it all worth-while.
 

I really wish we had a BK here in AshVegas, it would relieve us from the crap that Macca's is selling us.
A BK here would put McDonalds out of business, maybe that is why we haven't got one.
 

Mike_NZ

Michael Hoffman


Your trout fishing and red deer hunting isn't bad either.

See this is where everything is going wrong over here, Michael.
Not that long ago a hunter like myself could go and shoot a half decent stag or pull a reasonably sized salmon out of the river here.
These days, if you want to be a hunter, you have to put a permit in to go and hunt on a certain part of the country.
When you head out to hunt the dangerous peaks and mountains, you will be met with the odd animal-righteous brigade member.
Carrying a rifle is one thing, telling them to bugger off is another.

Same side of the coin, during a fishing competition on the banks of the Rakaia river here, we have been told how cruel fishing is, as in
how would you like a hook through the side of your mouth?
Ahh, but the taste of smoked salmon, from your own smoker makes it all worth-while.

Oh, we have the lamebrained animal rights nuts here, too. But mostly they lock them up when they attempt to interfere with hunting or fishing. They do, though, spend lots of donated money trying to make the sports illegal.

Mike_NZ


I really wish we had a BK here in AshVegas, it would relieve us from the crap that Macca's is selling us.
A BK here would put McDonalds out of business, maybe that is why we haven't got one.

 
Uh oh.  I guess my Kiwi is fading.  So are you wishing for a Burger King?? (Ouch!  Thought the food had improved!)  And AshVegas??
 
As for Macca, had to Google that one:
 

Macca (or "Macker" in Ireland) is a common British nickname for somebody whose surname begins with the Gaelic prefix Mac or Mc (meaning "son of").

 
Here in North America we usually call 'em "Mickey D" or some such.  But still, besides being quaked all to h*ll and gone, you've got to wish for Burger King?  SAD!  If you are going to wish, wish for maybe In 'N Out or something:  http://www.in-n-out.com/

Donations sent.

MikeS.


Donations sent.

 
Thanks, Mike.