predict when the miners will get out - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

dlish · 05-04-2006, 02:43 AM

i was just thinking this morning..its been what.. 4 days or so (since sunday night) that we all heard about the miners down in tassie being found alive in the mine after 5 days prior. initially they said they'd have em out in 48hrs max..its been 4 days now..and we dont look any closer....

so im putting my money on sunday night. fifty bucks say sunday night. what about you guys?

oh yeah..and btw.. hope they get out safely too!

aKula · 05-06-2006, 05:06 AM

Looks like your prediction is going to be pretty close dlishguy.

dlish · 05-07-2006, 04:41 AM

damn.. i think im wrong about the date and time.. i was so excited last night when i heard they were only 1m away....now it seems like they are 1.5m away.. funny how it keeps to-ing and fro-ing. first its 10m, then 11m then 16m then back to 10 then 1 , now 1.5...shows you the accuracy of news reporting i guess.

since no one was willing to out a fifty on the line, i guess i cant lose it

maleficent · 05-08-2006, 03:24 PM

Rescuers free Australian gold miners

Quote:

BEACONSFIELD, Australia (CNN) -- Rescuers have freed two Australian gold miners who had been trapped underground for two weeks after a cave-in that killed a co-worker, the mine's manager said Tuesday.

Todd Russell, 35, and Brant Webb, 37, had been trapped in a steel cage since April 25, when a small earthquake triggered a rock fall in the Tasmanian gold mine where they worked. Rescuers had been working for more than a week to free them.

"It's fantastic that these men are out," Bill Shorten, secretary of the Australian Workers Union, told reporters.

The miners were freed about 5 a.m. Tuesday (7 p.m. GMT Monday), and about an hour later emerged from the mine. The bearded men appeared in good condition, smiling and receiving hugs.

They were driven slowly away in separate ambulances with the doors open, flashing thumbs-up signs and waving.

Townspeople summoned by sirens that had announced the rescue lined the road outside the mine's entrance, applauding as the vehicles passed by.

The men, who had been trapped in a prone position, were examined in an underground chamber before being brought to the surface, mine manager Matthew Gill said.

Webb and Russell have been getting oxygen, food, water and items such as magazines and iPods through a plastic pipe since they were found April 30.

A third miner, 44-year-old Larry Knight, was killed in the quake. Knight's family said they would hold his funeral Tuesday in Launceston, Tasmania.

Protected by the steel safety cage they were working in, Webb and Russell were reported to have suffered little more than scratches in the rock fall.

Rescuers had to drill upwards through the rock to reach them. The miners were asked to help in the rescue effort by preparing the cavity in which they were stuck.

They were asked to solidify any loose rocks they could reach and to prepare an area on the floor where the rescuers would eventually break through.

Rescuers reached the men on Thursday through a 16-meter (52-foot) pilot tunnel, but it was not large enough for the miners to fit through. (Watch how the men are awaiting rescue in the gold mine -- 3:08)

Concerns that large vibrations could dislodge more rock and cause another cave-in forced rescue specialists to use hand tools, including jackhammers and a chainsaw, to work towards the men. (Watch how rescuers are trying to make it to the miners -- 3:05 )

The rescuers also used low-impact explosives to split the rocks so they could chisel them away.

Rescue organizers described the final section of rock being removed as being "five time harder than concrete".

Shorten said earlier Monday that workers were shoring up a rescue tunnel to avoid a cave-in when they drilled through to the men.

"If you dislodge this fill in the wrong way all of a sudden a whole lot of other dirt can fall into this tunnel and you could dislodge the rocks which led to the fatality of Larry Knight," Shorten told Australian television's Nine network.

Before the rescue, the miners were described as being in good spirits. One of the men has joked that he is resigning from the mine, and asked for a newspaper so he could check the help-wanted ads.

Rescuers joked the operation could be complicated by the size of the men, who have been eating five meals a day, including omelets and soup passed through the narrow pipe.

"They are big blokes," mine spokesman Michael Lester told The Associated Press. "They have been joking that if they keep eating as well as they have, the tunnel will have to be greased to get them out."

The frantic efforts to rescue the miners have captivated Australia.

you were pretty close dlish... and very cool that tehy got them out..

spindles · 05-08-2006, 04:20 PM

I'm actually quite amazed that they were able to walk out at all. Amazing after being stuck in very cramped conditions for 2 weeks...

dlish · 05-08-2006, 04:38 PM

congrats to the two miners.

i heard that the rescuers were instructing the on different exercises they could do while they were down there so that their muscles stay strong.

ChistledStone · 05-14-2006, 03:57 PM

I honestly don't care. Great, they got stuck for two weeks. I'm sure I probably couldn't have taken that. They survived to walk out - fan-freaking-tastic. Wow! iPods with Foo Fighters. Wow, Jelly Beans! Super cool, video footage!

I don't care.

These guys seem to be good guys, but they got 2 weeks of pure footage, when events like the Darfur conflict is going on, and when a national icon (well, at least that's what I'd say) Richard Carlton dies (on scene, for a unimportant story, when he's risked his life many times before. How ... dare I say.... anticlimatic).

Now they're fighting over who gets paid for the film footage they made inside, and rumours are that they are being paid 3 million each for an interview.

The day these guys are recognised as national heros (for something that was out of their control) is one day closer to when we get Beazley as PM.

Kostya · 05-14-2006, 08:39 PM

Was I the only one who thought this whole fiasco was an appalling confirmation of everything The Simpsons ever said about the skewed values of media and society?

'We're Sendin Our Love Down the Well' anyone?

dlish · 05-14-2006, 11:58 PM

so im not the only one who has a change of sentiment once things have settled down a bit

the comment on footy about the cheque was a bit distasteful and kinda what turned me off them. its now all about the bucks. i figure that the miners' workmates wish it was them..all they really did was go 5 days withoutfood..the rest of the time they had ample supplies of food. apparently i read somewhere today that one of them said that he wouldnt feed the sustagen drinks he was recieving to his dog. so much for gratitude...but then again i duno what to believe when u hear so much bullshit from reporters these days....

Kostya · 05-15-2006, 12:40 AM

Quote:

so im not the only one who has a change of sentiment once things have settled down a bit

I was pretty much cynical from the outset really.

I am glad the miners are alive, but I'm not about to pour praise upon two guys for doing what anyone would do, try to live. I haven't heard one thing from the people who toiled to free them.

This is a story about two men who happened to be caught in a situation that the media could use. Nothing is more revealing of the complete crassness and stupidity of news media than one of these 'unfolding crises/dramas/situations' that crop up every couple of years. They are perfect little packages that you can document, film, cover 24/7 from all angles and present for consumption, because make no mistake information is emphatically not what the news is about. The news is about consumption of whatever sensational crap can be dredged up on any given day. We live in a country where the Palestinian Israeli conflict plays a distant second to the cutesy arcana of suburbia where some old lady's cat got caught in a drain. How fortunate for the industry that every now and then you get a news story that is almost a Godsend for this kind of thing, a long drawn out drama afflicting some Joe everymen that you can 'cross live to' every couple of minutes for updates. You can find out what their favourite foods are, and interview teary acquaintances about their rugged Aussie characters, you can have some perfect hair talking head babbling frenetically about how 'things haven't changed but earlier a spokesperson...' in front of ominous flashing lights.

While hundreds upon hundreds are perishing in diamond mines in Central Africa, we're all glued to the screen to watch Rod Young sing the praises of men he doesn't know, and basically talk out of his arse about how Australia is rallying around these poor battlers. The facts of the matter are completely irrelevant, nobody down at the studio really cares that this event is painfully insignificant, what matters is the spectacle, you can't 'cover' the problem of poverty, or 'put a face' on those daily dropping dead from exhaustion in the Congo, though it is infinitely more important, it's just not photogenic. So we have a news media that prioritises what is spectacular and completely unimportant over what ought to actually be of interest, fan-fuckin-tastic.

More Australians get their news from Channel Nine then from any other source...

They should be watching the fucking Simpsons...

spindles · 05-15-2006, 04:25 PM

pretty much agree with what Kostya said - chances of me watching any interviewing with these guys? About the same as me watching an episode of Big Brother...

I'm happy your out, now shut the f$%^ up!

Ella · 05-19-2006, 02:20 AM

Well, they said it themselves....when asked about their story, they replied (prior to the Nine News story being announced) "how big is your chequebook". They had ample time to consider the magnitude of their story. Who can't blame them for exploiting their tale so they never need to go underground again?

ryfo · 05-19-2006, 06:58 PM

I just wish channel 10 had won the story. As I do not watch that channel for fear of glimpsing big brother I still would have had the choice of 4 other stations. Now on Sunday night there will only be channel 2,7 and sbs to surf.

spindles · 05-21-2006, 03:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ella

Who can't blame them for exploiting their tale so they never need to go underground again?

I am happy that got the money - still doesn't make me want to watch the interview. My wife did watch it though, so I played computer games - we both end up happy

05-04-2006, 02:43 AM	#1 (permalink)
dlish Currently sour but formerly Dlishs Super Moderator Location: Australia/UAE	predict when the miners will get out i was just thinking this morning..its been what.. 4 days or so (since sunday night) that we all heard about the miners down in tassie being found alive in the mine after 5 days prior. initially they said they'd have em out in 48hrs max..its been 4 days now..and we dont look any closer.... so im putting my money on sunday night. fifty bucks say sunday night. what about you guys? oh yeah..and btw.. hope they get out safely too! __________________ An injustice anywhere, is an injustice everywhere I always sign my facebook comments with ()()===========(}. Does that make me gay? - Filthy

05-06-2006, 05:06 AM	#2 (permalink)
aKula Psycho	Looks like your prediction is going to be pretty close dlishguy. __________________ "I am the wrath of God. The earth I pass will see me and tremble." -Klaus Kinski as Don Lope de Aguirre

05-07-2006, 04:41 AM	#3 (permalink)
dlish Currently sour but formerly Dlishs Super Moderator Location: Australia/UAE	damn.. i think im wrong about the date and time.. i was so excited last night when i heard they were only 1m away....now it seems like they are 1.5m away.. funny how it keeps to-ing and fro-ing. first its 10m, then 11m then 16m then back to 10 then 1 , now 1.5...shows you the accuracy of news reporting i guess. since no one was willing to out a fifty on the line, i guess i cant lose it __________________ An injustice anywhere, is an injustice everywhere I always sign my facebook comments with ()()===========(}. Does that make me gay? - Filthy

05-08-2006, 04:20 PM	#5 (permalink)
spindles Mine is an evil laugh Location: Sydney, Australia	I'm actually quite amazed that they were able to walk out at all. Amazing after being stuck in very cramped conditions for 2 weeks... __________________ who hid my keyboard's PANIC button?

05-08-2006, 04:38 PM	#6 (permalink)
dlish Currently sour but formerly Dlishs Super Moderator Location: Australia/UAE	congrats to the two miners. i heard that the rescuers were instructing the on different exercises they could do while they were down there so that their muscles stay strong. __________________ An injustice anywhere, is an injustice everywhere I always sign my facebook comments with ()()===========(}. Does that make me gay? - Filthy

05-14-2006, 03:57 PM	#7 (permalink)
ChistledStone Crazy Location: Australia	I honestly don't care. Great, they got stuck for two weeks. I'm sure I probably couldn't have taken that. They survived to walk out - fan-freaking-tastic. Wow! iPods with Foo Fighters. Wow, Jelly Beans! Super cool, video footage! I don't care. These guys seem to be good guys, but they got 2 weeks of pure footage, when events like the Darfur conflict is going on, and when a national icon (well, at least that's what I'd say) Richard Carlton dies (on scene, for a unimportant story, when he's risked his life many times before. How ... dare I say.... anticlimatic). Now they're fighting over who gets paid for the film footage they made inside, and rumours are that they are being paid 3 million each for an interview. The day these guys are recognised as national heros (for something that was out of their control) is one day closer to when we get Beazley as PM. __________________ A.minor.fall.then.a.major.lift

05-14-2006, 08:39 PM	#8 (permalink)
Kostya Little known... Location: Brisbane, Australia	Was I the only one who thought this whole fiasco was an appalling confirmation of everything The Simpsons ever said about the skewed values of media and society? 'We're Sendin Our Love Down the Well' anyone?

05-14-2006, 11:58 PM	#9 (permalink)
dlish Currently sour but formerly Dlishs Super Moderator Location: Australia/UAE	so im not the only one who has a change of sentiment once things have settled down a bit the comment on footy about the cheque was a bit distasteful and kinda what turned me off them. its now all about the bucks. i figure that the miners' workmates wish it was them..all they really did was go 5 days withoutfood..the rest of the time they had ample supplies of food. apparently i read somewhere today that one of them said that he wouldnt feed the sustagen drinks he was recieving to his dog. so much for gratitude...but then again i duno what to believe when u hear so much bullshit from reporters these days.... __________________ An injustice anywhere, is an injustice everywhere I always sign my facebook comments with ()()===========(}. Does that make me gay? - Filthy

05-15-2006, 04:25 PM	#11 (permalink)
spindles Mine is an evil laugh Location: Sydney, Australia	pretty much agree with what Kostya said - chances of me watching any interviewing with these guys? About the same as me watching an episode of Big Brother... I'm happy your out, now shut the f$%^ up! __________________ who hid my keyboard's PANIC button?

05-19-2006, 02:20 AM	#12 (permalink)
Ella Ella Bo Bella Location: Australia	Well, they said it themselves....when asked about their story, they replied (prior to the Nine News story being announced) "how big is your chequebook". They had ample time to consider the magnitude of their story. Who can't blame them for exploiting their tale so they never need to go underground again? __________________ "Afterwards, the universe will explode for your pleasure."

05-19-2006, 06:58 PM	#13 (permalink)
ryfo Psycho Location: melbourne australia	I just wish channel 10 had won the story. As I do not watch that channel for fear of glimpsing big brother I still would have had the choice of 4 other stations. Now on Sunday night there will only be channel 2,7 and sbs to surf.