Boring Is Good

Friday, May. 05, 2006 - 8:29 a.m.

The two Tasmanian miners are still trapped in the mine shaft, but are enjoying the sound of the borer drill as it gets closer and closer, and they were also enjoying the sounds of the music from the iPods that had been sent down to them through the pilot hole that has already been drilled.

An excerpt from the Sydney Morning Herald:

The Foo Fighters' lead singer has sent a message of support to two trapped miners, after learning they were listening to the band on iPods.

Lead singer Dave Grohl heard about the miners' ordeal and how Brant Webb, 37, and Todd Russell, 34, were listening to Foo Fighters tracks on iPods passed to them through a 16-metre length of pipe.

The singer wrote to Beaconsfield mine in Tasmania to wish them good luck and invite them for a beer any time they wanted to catch up.

AWU boss Bill Shorten said the tunnel had progressed more than five metres since drilling started at 8pm last night.

But when asked how long it might take to complete the work, Mr Shorten said: "I would prefer to try and pick the next Melbourne Cup winner than predict how long it would take.''

Mr Shorten said the drill crew had hit softer rock, which was a positive sign. "The vibration's not causing any major concerns, which is good," he said. Mr Shorten said rescue teams were working out how to break through the last one metre "crust" between the rescue tunnel being drilled and the men, and it was not clear how long it would take. He said the rescuers would approach the men from underneath and had to work out how to move all the dirt they excavated.

"That will involve old-fashioned mining with a Tasmanian miner probably using some sort of manual hand-held device in a very confined space," he said.

Mr Shorten said the miners' relatives had spoken with mine management today, but had not gone down the mine to speak to Mr Webb and Mr Russell.

Mine manage Matthew Gill said this afternoon the raise borer drill had got through 5.5 metres of the 15-metre tunnel it must dig to free the two men, who have been trapped since Anzac Day. Their colleague Larry Knight was killed in the rock fall.

Mr Gill, more relaxed and optimistic than he has seemed for 10 days since the drama began, quipped that the mine would reject the resignation of Todd Russell - who had requested a Saturday paper at the weekend to look for new jobs - because he'd been 'lying down on the job'.

In addition to the iPods, the two miners have received a change of clothes, cleaning supplies, a first aid kit, cameras, and of course food and water. Specialty items like a chicken sandwich and numerous IcyPoles have also been delivered. As of this writing, the rescue shaft is being drilled by several of the best 'gun drillers' available. (The term 'gun' is essentially an earned title that means 'the best available'; they're not actually drilling with guns.) If all goes well, the two men should be rescued sometime within the next eight to twelve hours.

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Friday Five:

How do you feel about people who commit suicide? Such as, do you feel that they are too lazy to deal with life, have depression, do you feel sorry for them, etc.?

I think if suicide were less stigmatized in this country and there were more help available, less people would do it. In the matter of taking one's own life due to terminal illness, I think the Netherlands has a very ethical system for self-euthanasia.

What do you think people say about you behind your back?

Not nearly enough.

If you could own and operate any major business, what would it be?

I'd start a church of some kind.

Are you/would you be embarrassed to talk to your friends or family about sex?

Embarrassed? Nope.

In some cultures, young women are married and begin families as soon as they start a menstrual cycle. Do you believe this is right or wrong? Why

That's relative to the culture. In most of the rest of the world, people reproduce and die a whole lot sooner than in the 'westernized' countries.

Friday Five to the left in the Extras column.

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Okay, that's it. Have a good Friday!

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