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View Full Version : The European Mega-Blackout

Anarky
11-05-2006, 02:50 PM
It happened yesterday. It happened almost everywhere and now here's the annoying part: I wasn't directly affected. I mean, I can sit around with candles burning and stuff, but it just isn't the same. I would have enjoyed a couple of minutes or hours in absolute darkness.

So, what did happen? Germany apparently screwed up something with their power grid. And then there was a huge chain reaction: parts of France, Germany, Italy, Spain and Austria sat in the dark for about thirty minutes.

So were you affected? What did you do while you were without power? Over here, I got some internet issues. I couldn't connect to a server outside Europe for a while, but that's it.

I remember a couple of months ago Switzerland had a blackout of similar proportions. Every train in the country stood still for almost two hours. And it happened a rush hour. After the emergency protocols kicked in and the doors opened, I went out of the train and took a stroll on the tracks. The traindriver of course told us first that we were without power and that it happened everywhere and that we should remain calm until help or whatever arrived. It's amazing the kind of talks you can have with people when you don't have any electrical interference or a clear target for a while, when you don't have to be waiting for your stop to be announced. It was as if time froze. Nice feeling...

Now, your turn.
Raph's Girl
11-05-2006, 03:21 PM
There was a blackout??? odd... I didn't hear it on the news....
Anarky
11-05-2006, 03:36 PM
Of course you didn't. US-news only cares about US-things. The news-threads you start are either of such magnitude that they can't possibly be ignored or they're taking place in the US. That's the way it is. News business is far from the point of "We tell you everything".
discordiatookie
11-05-2006, 03:51 PM
well i live in scotland and we aint heard anything about this yet...
Anarky
11-05-2006, 04:10 PM
You're too far north, I guess, and you probably didn't bother watching/reading the news. And Italy's already complaining. BBC News (http://news.bbc.co.uk/)
damnhooligan
11-05-2006, 05:11 PM
Haha, suckers.
Katie
11-05-2006, 05:30 PM
:lol:

Right on DH. (and nice to see ya again)
ThirdMarioBro
11-05-2006, 05:36 PM
Haha, suckers.

YAY! I've missed you :D :D
Ecto Jedi
11-05-2006, 05:45 PM
Haha, suckers.

Wow, welcome back damnhooligan!
Raph's Girl
11-05-2006, 05:47 PM
Of course you didn't. US-news only cares about US-things. The news-threads you start are either of such magnitude that they can't possibly be ignored or they're taking place in the US. That's the way it is. News business is far from the point of "We tell you everything".

The last Europe blackout was all over the news tho. I guess I just haven't been paying much attention to the news lately. :P
Hannah
11-05-2006, 06:24 PM
Sorry, I live in AMERICA.


lawlawl got him
Sewer Bull
11-06-2006, 01:52 AM
So were you affected? What did you do while you were without power? Over here, I got some internet issues. I couldn't connect to a server outside Europe for a while, but that's it.

Nothing here. That's because our communist power stations never break down and are better than yours, you capitalist scum.

Also, our magnanimous media decided not to mention that petty incident in the news, because yesterday everyone was so preoccupied with "Dancing with the Stars" semi-finals anyway.

Haha, suckers.

Now who the hell are you?
KROW
11-07-2006, 09:28 AM
Of course you didn't. US-news only cares about US-things. The news-threads you start are either of such magnitude that they can't possibly be ignored or they're taking place in the US. That's the way it is. News business is far from the point of "We tell you everything".
I haven't heard or read anything concerning this because the only news I read is about America's "War of Terror." Basically, that's the only topic of interest around here, sad to say.
Katie
11-07-2006, 10:15 AM
...and the elections....don't forget that. I'll be glad when today is over with :ohwell:
Anarky
11-07-2006, 10:18 AM
This is probably because elections are in front of you. I don't know about the US, but over here, it's usually only about what this or that politician said when elections are coming up. Then it's "education" this and "attractivity of small towns" that and, most importantly, "Elect me and I'm going to change everything for the better", which is of course bollocks, but they still seem to get away with it.

EDIT: This is what you get when you get interrupted while writing a post...
Katie
11-07-2006, 10:23 AM
yeah...same old stuff different country :D

and I'm in one of those states where the two parties consider the position up for grabs to be super important. all the advertisements have been those negative, horrible, mud-slinging ones. I stood in line for 3 hours today to vote....will things change? probably not.

It'll be over tonight at least :D
iris
11-07-2006, 10:45 AM
It'll be over tonight at least :D

I hope so! I actually cast my ballot last week by mail. I am unbelievably sick of the mainstream media's so-called election coverage. They never talk about anything important. :p
Mecha Cow
11-07-2006, 11:12 AM
I thought it was Belgium that screwed up as usual? For some reason the power didn't seem to go down here, I wasn't even aware of a blackout until I heard it on the news.