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

*damnhooligan* · 11-05-2006, 05:11 PM

Haha, suckers.

*Katie* · 11-05-2006, 05:30 PM

Right on DH. (and nice to see ya again)

**ThirdMarioBro** · 11-05-2006, 05:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by damnhooligan

Haha, suckers.

YAY! I've missed you

*Ecto Jedi* · 11-05-2006, 05:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by damnhooligan

Haha, suckers.

Wow, welcome back damnhooligan!

*Raph's Girl* · 11-05-2006, 05:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anarky

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.

*Hannah* · 11-05-2006, 06:24 PM

Sorry, I live in AMERICA.

lawlawl got him

*Sewer Bull* · 11-06-2006, 01:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anarky

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.

Quote:

Originally Posted by damnhooligan

Haha, suckers.

Now who the hell are you?

*KROW* · 11-07-2006, 09:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anarky

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

*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

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

*iris* · 11-07-2006, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Katie

It'll be over tonight at least

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.

11-05-2006, 02:50 PM	#1
Anarky Outlaw Hero Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Tannhauser Gate Posts: 4,867	The European Mega-Blackout 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. __________________ Because it's... I dunno... brutal.

11-05-2006, 03:21 PM	#2
Raph's Girl Dierna Soul, Reporter Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Jakku Posts: 10,831	There was a blackout??? odd... I didn't hear it on the news.... __________________

11-05-2006, 03:36 PM	#3
Anarky Outlaw Hero Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Tannhauser Gate Posts: 4,867	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". __________________ Because it's... I dunno... brutal.

11-05-2006, 03:51 PM	#4
discordiatookie facehugger Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Aberdeen, Scotland Posts: 2,817	well i live in scotland and we aint heard anything about this yet... __________________ Oh Discordia! Charyou Tree! Come, Reap! Don't tell us to grow up and out of it I got my cloak and dagger in a bar room brawl You actually trying to read this tiny text? Damn, you're dedicated! This is all just for effect you know... original TMNT art collection

11-05-2006, 04:10 PM	#5
Anarky Outlaw Hero Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Tannhauser Gate Posts: 4,867	You're too far north, I guess, and you probably didn't bother watching/reading the news. And Italy's already complaining. BBC News __________________ Because it's... I dunno... brutal.

11-05-2006, 05:11 PM	#6
damnhooligan Mad Scientist Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Dorksville, USA Posts: 1,745	Haha, suckers.

11-05-2006, 05:30 PM	#7
Katie Just...way too serious. Join Date: May 2005 Location: purgatory Posts: 3,519	Right on DH. (and nice to see ya again) __________________ THE WORLD IS JUST AWESOME

11-05-2006, 06:24 PM	#11
Hannah Once more, with feeling! Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 4,111	Sorry, I live in AMERICA. lawlawl got him __________________

11-07-2006, 10:15 AM	#14
Katie Just...way too serious. Join Date: May 2005 Location: purgatory Posts: 3,519	...and the elections....don't forget that. I'll be glad when today is over with __________________ THE WORLD IS JUST AWESOME

11-07-2006, 10:18 AM	#15
Anarky Outlaw Hero Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Tannhauser Gate Posts: 4,867	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... __________________ Because it's... I dunno... brutal.

11-07-2006, 10:23 AM	#16
Katie Just...way too serious. Join Date: May 2005 Location: purgatory Posts: 3,519	yeah...same old stuff different country 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 __________________ THE WORLD IS JUST AWESOME

11-07-2006, 11:12 AM	#18
Mecha Cow Gorgeous and modest too Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 3,699	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. __________________