In Chile, it is now hours, not days or weeks, until the first of the miners will emerge.

[Stinky The Clown]

As the time draws near, can you imagine how hopeful, yet anxious and worried the miners and their rescuers must feel?

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20101011/ap_on_bi_ge/lt_chile_mine_collapse

[zipplewrath]

1. I keep thinking about those 4 guys going DOWN

They found 4 guys willing to take the ride DOWN into that cave and assess the health of each miner. Then they have to choose who goes when. Then they have to choose amongst themselves who comes back out LAST. Not sure I could volunteer to be the guy that jumps "into the fire".

[MineralMan]

2. I suspect there were far more volunteers to do that than just

those 4. If I were 20 years younger and was there, I'd be among those volunteers.

[Angry Dragon]

5. Just average people doing their job

How many CEOs would volunteer to do the same??
The average person is the backbone of the world

[chemenger]

13. You can bet that Don Blankenship wouldn't.

n/t

[madmax]

8. You nailed it - that's where that pesky word

courage comes in. I don't know if I could do it.

Hope they've settled on which miner will be the last one out. It's a minor thing but, shit you're all getting out with your lives why care about who's last. I know, it's money and fame but, life alone would be good enough for me.

[Lisa0825]

10. I heard that the foreman would be th elast miner to leave. nt

[madmax]

14. That sounds fair. nt

[pipi_k]

3. I saw pictures of the contraption they'll be using...

sort of looks like very large babies going through a very large birth canal...


virtual re-births...

:)

[Deep13]

4. Cool. It's like Chile's Apollo 13 moment.

Failure is not an option! I was horrified at the thought of those guys having to stay down there all this time, but it seems like all involved have made a heroic effort.

[madmax]

9. I'm glad the used the one day at time approach

from the start.

If the told them maybe by December that wouid have been heartless and cause a lot of stress.

[Nye Bevan]

6. I sincerely hope they end up getting paid for all the time they spent down there.

I remember reading a couple of weeks ago that there was some doubt over this.

[uncommon]

7. Wow, I hadn't even considered that. They should absolutely be

paid. I would even push that they should be paid for 24 hours per day for every day they have been down there.

[Lisa0825]

11. I heard the company is going bankrupt.

If they can't pay them, I hope the government does, or that some wealthy person will do a good deed.

[Stinky The Clown]

12. I believe the company *is* the government

[Lisa0825]

15. Doesnt sound like it based on what I have read...

http://www.ottawacitizen.com/news/First+lawsuit+filed+against+Chilean+mining+company/3447961/story.html

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/families-launch-legal-action-against-mining-company-2064014.html