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     paddy
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Username: paddy
Post Number: 113
Registered: 03-2008Rating: N/A
Votes: 0
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| | Monday, June 02, 2008 - 02:35 am: |  
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Sway : Thought I would open a thread where one can talk about " Near Visits to the Other Side or as you put it NDEs.
I'll start with a "blasting" incident . Some years back I was on a trip visiting certain mines in the southwest USA. We had a rental 4x4 and had a day to kill before next scheduled visit . We decided to take a scenic route - showed as "road of sorts" on topo map . It was a scenic route but road quickly became non existent . Eventually we reached a sign of civilization - a paved road . We proceeded down the road and came to a Mine sign .
On the off chance we turned onto the gold mine road and arrived at the mine office . Talked to folks in office and turned out that the mine geologist had free time and would give us a tour of the mine . So off we went in a mine company pickup to the pit . We drove to a bench face for an overview of the geology of the deposit . At one point the geologist asked if we wanted to try and collect a specimen of free gold . Of course we did and "gold fever" saved our lives . The location of the free gold mineralization was at the pit wall of the above bench . We got out of the pickup and I noticed that the bench was dotted with numerous percussion holes with bright orange B-line connecting the holes . I asked the Mine geologist if they were going to blast as we were very close - almost too close to area to be blasted . He said yes they were but that there would be a check of the pit complete with warning sirens - the whole nine yards so to speak. Well he had no sooner finished speaking when there was a very loud noise with lots of smoke, dust and flying fragments of mineralized rock. In retrospect it was an experience to watch chunks of blasted rock rising like rockets on trajectories that passed over us . That is most of them did. There were three very lucky geologists that day who were standing in the right places so that not one of us got hit by flying rock . The "hits" were confined to the canopy of the pickup . Judging by the damaged I believe that a flying rock would have passed right through one of us .
As I said "gold fever" saved our lives . If we hadn't left the the bench to go search for free gold they probably would have had a hard time finding all the small parts of three people standing in front of a face of a bench that was blasted .
We got in pickup and proceeded to get the hell out of the pit . Met the foreman of the mining contractor. He was very surprised to see us . The idiots in the mine office thought it was a funny thing and had a good laugh . Took considerable restraint not to beat the hell out of them engineers and pencil pushers .
We reported the incident to State agency but as I understood it " nobody got hurt " so it was not a noteworthy incident .
It is a good example that many of the "incidents / accidents / deaths " in underground and open pit mines are the result of Safety lapses .
Regards,
Paddy
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paddy
Member
Username: paddy
Post Number: 132
Registered: 03-2008Rating: N/A
Votes: 0
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| | Sunday, June 08, 2008 - 12:51 am: |
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dug : In answer to your question re buying and selling real things I can say that I have participated in the selling side .In acquiring small land positions [ mineral claims ]where, based on sound geologic principles and presence of potentially economic mineralization, sold concept and joint ventured with junior and major mining companies .
The other endeavour I called "geo-real estate" . Learned of a very interesting mineral find . Along with a prospector who was very knowledgeable of the area we plotted the trend of the favorable geology on topographic maps . I then laid out blocks for staking . Minimum size of block was 100 claims . Then with a list of names and companies I proceeded to sell the land positions . Once company selected area my partner contacted staking crews that were standing by in the area . They staked the claims and sent us the papers after filing . We collected the monies and split with them . On this occasion, which was the best, we sold several thousand claims in very short period of time . I'd say that most of the buyers ended up "mining the public[investors]" .
As the years have gone by I have collected, not that I wanted them, more than enough "hair raising experiences" . Have you ever seen a door "abruptly" leave an aircraft while at 10,000 feet ? Tell you about it some day .
You all have a good one.
Paddy
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paddy
Member
Username: paddy
Post Number: 139
Registered: 03-2008Rating: N/A
Votes: 0
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| | Tuesday, June 10, 2008 - 08:14 am: |
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dug : First, I'll accept the compliment that I'm an ex-auz but I come from a place that is much closer to the North Pole than the Land of Tidalick. Yes I spent time in your fair continent and besides d'pubs [ do you still have the "supper hour closing"?] I got to know critters like King browns, Taipans and Tiger Quolls.
Had a hand at investing in company that I worked for in WA. Treading softly in the Twilight Zone they were - Jimberlana Minerals. I bought [ don't remember how many thousand ] at 2 cents and sold at market [ 12 to 16 cents ] . Had read an damning answer to a question in the Australian Miner and called broker to sell at any price . Back at camp I was asked about the article by workers who had invested in the shares. I told them that I had sold at market . Those words got me fired as there was some very fine print in my contract that forbade me uttering damning words re the companies . Hell we couldn't go into Norseman as the principal didn't want us talking to the locals as he was from the local. Moved on to another company that was seeking my services and moved across the continent to Queensland I used to wear holes in toes of me boots walking through bloody spear grass. Had many a conversation with ranchers complaining about the roos eating all the grass No shade because they had ring barked all the trees . Most hair raising experience came at the time of the year when the ranchers burned the grass just before the rains . This one day came back to the Land Rover ute . Smelled smoke as I came to top of ridge [ like no roads ] . Down below was a "sea of flames" . In 4WD I drove as fast as I could through the flames [ at least 100+ m ] as there was no where else to go . Mystery as to why the ute did not catch fire but very happy it didn't. Missed the fence opening and a considerable amount of barb wire and posts that I carried down to the station house . Manager was very apologetic about the burn that got away .
=======
Next post I'll tell you about the other Pot.
Regards,
Paddy
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dug
Member
Username: dug
Post Number: 3229
Registered: 07-2005Rating: N/A
Votes: 0
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| | Tuesday, June 10, 2008 - 07:21 pm: |
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your hair raising experiences all seem to be facing Natural Disasters,Random Acts of God and Man.
Blasting thru a Bush Fire "stuff".
Me?I've had hair losing events that I walked right into,like often "planned".
I'm born'n'bred Brisbane.Recently moved further north to Bundaberg.
but paddy,I been and still am a Perpetrator.
Social Wild Fires,Having a Blast
like when I was 5/10 years old
I hung with Bodgies'n'Widgees.
Brisbane was a real Den for Bodgies,paddy.It was because we'd had Yank Army Bases during WW2.The Yanks didn't actually all pack up and depart til the 50's and all the late depression/ war kiddies and first wave Baby Boomers 1937 to 50,well they got into d'Bodgies.Teddy Boys kinda thing but crossed with Brando to d'dash of Smiley Petersen and Chips Rafferty.
Our Bodgie King was called Wayne.He was about 14 when I was 7.He had a Widgee sister called Carol,then a Gary about my age and a youger sister Glenyis.
Now their dad had done the Kokoda Track and he used to sit in his dim lounge on Saturday Afternoon,drinking beer,not smiling much while he sort distraction.
Anyway,I ramble.Valderi Valder Ra!
See those names up there of d'Bodgie Family down d'Parade?They were ALL named after Movie Stars.
Carol Baker Glenyis Johns etc.
That's how their mother picked names,paddy.
Movie Stars like
even their dog was called Lassie!!!
gotta go,
later.
Even 'til Jaded.
Dig for the sake of it.
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paddy
Member
Username: paddy
Post Number: 142
Registered: 03-2008Rating: N/A
Votes: 0
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| | Wednesday, June 11, 2008 - 11:14 am: |
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Dug: So you were/ still are a bad bugger - so to speak. Me I have always been a "boat rocker" . Some might use the words sh_t disturber .
I wandered in your part of the continent from Monto up to near McKay. For a while I worked with a bloke that I called a white Abo . His hobby was learning to identify all 600 [ I believe] species of eucalyptus .He was one with the land.
My memorable experience with eucalyptus occurred while I was in WA. I went out from camp to cut down an eucalyptus for logs to place some gear on at the camp. A prospector , in the camp, came after me when he found out what I was up to . Good thing he did as I was about to cut down a "type specimen" . Hell the plaque was covered so how was I to know?
In Queensland I was amazed at the prickly pear cactus TREES that almost destroyed your homeland. Here they are 'bonsai" in comparison.
I assume you meant the Kokoda Track Campaign . I think that survivors of that campaign would enjoy a quiet beer or two or three on any afternoon.
I used to sing the words to the Happy Wanderer while traversing in Mexico . It was to let the guardians know that I was coming there way .
I love to go awandering,
Along the mountain track,
Through plantations of "grass" or as I called it Mexican Welfare .I walked softly and made sure I didn't touch or step on any plants. There were times when it was very tense until the growers got to know that I was really a geologist and not with DEA. After they got to know me they told me that I was right crazy working alone and without a weapon . Guns were/are illegal but in the hills just about everyone had a 45 or 9mm . Wherever there was a source of water there was a crop in some stage of growth.
We had to cross a reservoir on a wood planked "steel tank" with an inboard-outboard diesel engine. There were times when the "mafia" said the unit was broken and it became broken . It was their way of stopping the police or soldiers from coming into the area. The alternate route involved a three day drive . Only once was I able to bribe the crew and get them to take us across . After that they wouldn't take us for any amount of money. Reckon they had a talkin to by the "mafia".
So did you, in your younger days, wear, as we called them, "sh_t catchers" ?
Me, have been and always will be, as the song goes "Forever in Blue jeans".
Must go see how the other POTs fared today.
Take care,
Paddy
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dug
Member
Username: dug
Post Number: 3231
Registered: 07-2005Rating: N/A
Votes: 0
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| | Wednesday, June 11, 2008 - 12:03 pm: |
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Nah I'm not forever in Blue Jeans.
When I was 11,1964,my elder sister took me to see the Beatles in Brisbane.By 13/14 I was a Mod in winter and a Surfie in Summer.By 1966 your basic bodgie was old.Over 21 let one into the Pubs but still in the City there were all these TeenAge NightClubs,Sound Lounges.No grog just orange juice and "alternatives".
These weren't some Do Gooder Christian Blue Light Nightclubs,paddy.No they were doing d'Business,making their mark,setting a Scene.
These Teen ones developed into Grog Serving,Slease Pits that eventually developed into NightClub Wars with one of them being FireBombed killing 20 or so people.That was about 1974 in Brisbane's Red/Blue Light District Fortitude Valley.
Anyway by 1974 I was IN the Resistance.Did ya meet any Qld Cops during your visit,paddy?Did you get d'Gist as to Why Qld is called the Deep North?[as opposed to yank Deep South]
Ohh paddy I went over the cliff at the 1971 Tower Mill demo.Got a real taste for being Anti Authoritarian but so as to not get picked on too much just walking down d'street I,paddy,took up wearing hand made 3 piece suits and sometimes carried a shiv/even a razor in me boot.Only for peeling fruit,ya understand,opening wrappers down Elisabeth Arcade and d'like.
Yeah I was urbane not some tree hugging,whale loving scaredy cat going peacefully about this place.I'm proud of my File but now I'm retired and retiring.
cheers.
Even 'til Jaded.
Dig for the sake of it.
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paddy
Member
Username: paddy
Post Number: 143
Registered: 03-2008Rating: N/A
Votes: 0
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| | Wednesday, June 11, 2008 - 01:17 pm: |
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Dug : I was there in the early 70's ,
First I was in WA . There I saw the worst case of a 'caste system" which did not sit well with me . The camp was segregated : Owners Numero Uno
Degree geologists
Diploma geologists
Surveyors
Technicians
Lowest of low - drillers
Not sure where Prospector[good bloke but owners brother] and the cook [ex soldier -from a Scandinavian country - good bloke] fit in JM caste ladder. Tell you how bad it was . One Sunday the Prospector took us out to an old Aboriginal site . During the day I told some of the techies to stop calling me Mr and just call me by my first name . Next day I got a big, serious talking to by the owner . He told the techies that anyone who didn't use Mr would be fired . I was glad to get fired and leave that place .
So over to Rocky and I find the same goddamn caste system . This in an office of a major foreign company . It came to light when i went and set up camp on the Stanage Peninsula. Lovely white, sandy beach with sea snakes, boxwork jellyfish but great fishing. The geochem crew came up about a week later and set their camp several miles inland. I left them to get sorted out and a few days later stopped at their camp. At that time there was a Canadian working on the crew. He asked me if I wanted a coffee . Sure . Later found out that the rest of the crew couldn't believe that Dale talked to me without been talked to first . Didn't take much for us to throw the bloody caste system out the window. Of course the other geologists didn't change but that was their problem. Senior management [ from Sydney] learned of the problem when on a visit to me they asked how I could get the geochem crew to do an A-to-P in a fraction of the time that it took for other geos. I told them [ only black & white for me ] that they needed to open their eyes and notice that I didn't make the techies take out and dispose of my garbage .
I used to give rides to Aborigines . I was told to stop doing it . I asked if there was a racial problem and the answer given was " No Problem because they don't exist" .
Never had anything to do with d'cops as I spent my time out looking for mineral deposits .
I see you still have the same problem with the cane toads or at least Rocky and cane growing areas do . Was like driving on grease .
Enough for now
Take care,
Paddy
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dug
Member
Username: dug
Post Number: 3235
Registered: 07-2005Rating: N/A
Votes: 0
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| | Wednesday, June 11, 2008 - 03:12 pm: |
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paddy,the cane toads aren't near as bad/plentiful as they used to be.You might only see one or two on a mile stretch of road,these days.
Being in Bundaberg,Sugar Cane Country I see more native frogs these days than Cane Toads.Oh they're invading the Northern Territory now.It's said they're all the way to the Kimberley in WA these days but it seems to me that Toads invade in Massive Numbers and then cull back,get "manageable" after a decade or so.
It's said down d'Pub that the BackPackers Smoked the Toads into semi-extinction.Ya heard about how licking,smoking a Cane Toad is a Trip,paddy?
People,Adult People have died from drinking water with Cane Toad eggs in it.Kiddies from handling them then sticking their hands in their mouth.Like Cane Toads are Toxic,paddy but it was put around that you could trip out on the blighters and some people were so desperate to get out of it that they Believed.
Ah paddy,you can trip on a King Brown Bite,too.Wonderful effects before it kills ya!!
Same thing on this plant called Datura.It might come from Mexico even?Datura's Common Name is Angel Trumpet because of the flower shape,they say but ohhh paddy Angel Trumpets is what you hear if you drink/smoke the bugger too.
Dreadful stuff.Don't try it paddy.Lots never came back from a Single Dose of Datura.You still see bits in the paper about teenagers swigging it in the school yard and causing all these medical emergencies.
THEY,d Big They seem to have wiped out Mushrooms here now as well.Ya doing any Don Juan over there in Mexico,paddy?
It's pretty much all chemicals here for they who wanna get weird.Like even the pot is bathed in chemicals and never sees the sun no more.[Hydroponics]
but,just remembered you quizzing about Supper Hour Pub Closing.Nah,paddy,Pubs go 24/7 now,as they say.
It's said to be for d'Tourist Trade but if you've been to Queensland Paddy ya know it's to Feed d'TROPPO!!
later.
Even 'til Jaded.
Dig for the sake of it.
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azworkinit
Member
Username: azworkinit
Post Number: 43
Registered: 02-2008Rating: N/A
Votes: 0
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| | Thursday, June 12, 2008 - 09:14 am: |
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Hey Dug,we still got those goldtops down south here in WA.How about that 30 nil thrashing, you'd probably still be in bed as I write, Ay.My flyout date is put back a week so am gonna try get back into GBG and TCM before I go, maybe today. Regards Az.
"Success is a lousy teacher.It seduces people into thinking they cannot lose."BILL GATES.
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paddy
Member
Username: paddy
Post Number: 150
Registered: 03-2008Rating: N/A
Votes: 0
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| | Friday, June 13, 2008 - 07:53 am: |
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Dug : I thought that the cane toad had perhaps been imported from this part of the world . Not such - ones here are just as ugly and deadly but may be more powerful. Your toads came from Costa Rica.
Psychoactive toad
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychoactive_toad
The Sonoran Desert Toad
http://www.erowid.org/archive/sonoran_desert_toad/LaLaw.htm
Regards,
Paddy
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