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[Quackers]

What is terrifying - what she did, or her apparently lenient sentence?  Ms Benaissa is to undergo counselling for what are deep-seated problems.  Giving somebody a suspended jail sentence doesn't mean they are entirely free (as the article suggests).  Should she commit the same crime, which is extremely unlikely given the case's publicity, as men will avoid her like the plague, she will go to prison for two years.

However, the message is clear - unprotected sex, unless you know your partner is "clean", is foolhardy, but I've no doubt that it won't stop the risk-takers, especially if they're having casual sex while either drunk or under the influence of drugs.   

What she did!!  She should tell people, or not have sex.  Or specifically only have sex with other infected people if she didn't want to use precausions.  Its one thing not knowing but knowing about it is like giving someone a death sentence!!

[Daisy]

This is the earthquake I thought you were talking about ... I had no idea there had been two.

http://www.etaiwannews.com/etn/news_content.php?id=1360967&lang=eng_news&cate_img=49.jpg&cate_rss=news_Society_TAIWAN

[Daisy]

Oh dear .... looting.  Just goes with the territory doesn't it.

[Daisy]

I think it disgusting personally!  You don't do that   If they catch them, then they lock them up for a bloody long time!

I know, but there are always people ready to take advantage of other people's misfortune.   

[Bevc]

Just an update from Christchurch - looting not as widespread as initially reported.  Curfew from 7pm to 7am in the city centre.  Number of strong aftershocks overnight and today they have reports of strong winds heading their way  Work colleagues are reported as being ok (hubby's head office is in Christchurch) though some structural damage to property.  

[invisibleman18]

Unbelieveably noone died considering the damage that's been shown on the news. Also a plane crash on the South Island on the same day - sky diving plane exploded on takeoff killing 9. Apparently the bodies had to be flown to Auckland for the autopsies due to the Christchurch earthquake - Christchurch being the nearest major city where they would have bee taken otherwise.

Parents have a trip to Christchurch booked in a couple of months. The girlfriend and I were also looking into booking a few days there sometime over Jan/Feb but will hold off on that now.

Missed a call from a Christchurch number tonight bizarrely, I don't know anyone there. Probably the phone lines going mental or someone typed a number wrong when trying to get through to a relative or something.

[Bevc]

Do your colleagues have earthquake insurance?  Maybe not something that is generally considered essential in NZ?  If so, I can see lots of wiggle room for the insurance companies ....

I think that if you don't have insurance to cover you can get some assistance from government and/or charity organisations.  Approx 100,000 houses have some kind of damage.

[invisibleman18]

Should be fine by then. You'll have to cross a couple of historic homes off your to do list in Christchurch (ie, they no longer exist!), but other than that it will be all good.