back when I was cool

Just had a student on one of our capstone projects tell us we were wasting his time and talents because we weren’t using real data. We are using real data. Finding it is part of the project. I asked him to explain what the project was about so I could understand where the confusion had started. His explanation described a rather different project. So I tried to explain the brief again. He then argued with me about what the project was supposed to involve. As the person who created it, I thought I might have something useful to contribute here. Apparently, that remained open to debate. I’m happy to have students challenge our thinking. That is part of the value of these projects. But understanding the brief is a useful preliminary step before explaining to its author why they have misunderstood it. It was an excellent exercise in self-control. Mine, mainly. I suspect the poor university supervisor is having a stiff drink right now.

28mm overnight at the Farm- now I can IMARC and not worry about the farm burning down....

Propper Hard, The 🇺🇦 soldier who was evacuated by drone for the first time in history had spent 491 consecutive days at his position. A volunteer from Kryvyi Rih, Kostiantyn Vlasenko, held a position inside a concrete drainage pipe. After his comrade was killed, he remained there alone. After suffering severe wounds from drone-dropped munitions and developing gangrene, he amputated both of his own legs with an ordinary knife.

Don't envy a man his medals, all those ribbons on his chest, He did not try to get them, they're not there at his request. They were earned in stinking hell holes, where no man would like to go, Or in cold and wintry places, where there's only ice and snow. He did not know he earned them, till they were awarded at parade,They were bright when he first got them, but in time the colours fade. He was told he had to wear them, and to wear them all with pride, But when the memories come to haunt him, those same medals make him hide. Cause those medals will not bring back, all those friends he left behind, And he would trade them all forever, for a little peace of mind. So don't envy a man his medals, you don't want to take his place,Thinking back to long gone battles, and meeting dead friends face to face. From “Medals” by Lieutenant Commander Roberto J. Prinselaar, United States Coast Guard (Retired), Korean War veteran.

No idea why my bag was so heavy.

Genuinely surprised the Z Special Unit guys could all fit on the Krait, with their giant balls.

Crikey

Heading to Sydney for the Australian Gold Conference.

As a veteran, I expect DVA to protect the medical information entrusted to it. Gordon Legal has commenced a class action alleging that DVA shared sensitive personal and medical information with the University of South Australia without consent through the Veterans’ MATES programme. The programme operated from 2004 to 2024. Approximately 300,000 veterans and family members may have been affected. Medical information can contain some of the most private details of a person’s life: psychiatric conditions, medications, injuries and the consequences of military service. A programme intended to improve health outcomes still needs clear authority, appropriate consent arrangements and accountability for how it uses that information. The Court will determine the allegations. But veterans deserve clear answers now. What information was shared? Who could access it? How was it used? What happened to it when the programme closed? People who have served should be able to seek medical treatment with confidence that their information is handled lawfully and securely. If you held and used a DVA healthcare card between 2004 and February 2024, you can check the group criteria and register for updates here: gordonlegal.com.au/services/…

today’s new feature in Mineral Data Studio: a one-click system for adding “OPEN IN ALL DIRECTIONS” arrows. We identified a serious productivity problem in mineral exploration. Geologists were spending valuable time drawing optimism by hand. We have now automated that process. Features include: • An optimism slider, from “requires follow-up” to “district-scale opportunity”. • Automatic routing around disappointing drill holes. • Pre-raise mode, which increases arrow thickness as the cash balance falls. • Arrows that extend to the edge of your geological knowledge, then continue to the edge of the slide. Premium users can extend the slide. We have also integrated it with Scout AI :“How far does the mineralisation extend?” “What valuation are we working towards?” Early testing added eight arrows and zero drill holes. The project already looks substantially bigger. We considered adding a warning when an arrow travelled beyond the available evidence, but it kept crashing the software. Next release: automatic conversion of “we haven’t drilled there” into “compelling exploration upside” and "hunting Elephants in Elephant County"

RANT TIME. I'll probably get in trouble again and upset some people. And, to be fair, maybe I am missing something. WHY THE HELL do industry associations charge students to attend industry events? Have we forgotten how hard it can be to get by as a student? We talk about attracting more students to geoscience. We want them to engage with industry, build relationships, and understand the career opportunities. Then we charge them to get into the room. For someone established in their career, $120 might not seem like much. For a student, it could be the reason they cannot attend. These are not hypothetical prices. AIG’s two-day Queensland Minerals Round-Up advertises student tickets from $120. AusIMM’s two-day New Leaders Summit listed student tickets at $330 for members and $410 for non-members. That second event targets students and emerging professionals. To be fair, there are good examples too. AIG offered a three-day Core Skills Course for $20, and some AusIMM networking events have provided free entry for student members. Credit where it is due. But a discounted ticket is not necessarily an affordable ticket. Imagine a bright, motivated student missing a conversation that could have led to a mentor, a work placement or their first job. Not because they lack ability or interest, but because they cannot afford to be there. That could change their career direction before it even starts. I understand events cost money. Venues, catering and staff are not free. But in an industry where we can find $15,000 for a conference bar tab, are we seriously saying we cannot cover a few student tickets? Could sponsors fund student places? Could we add an optional contribution to full-price registrations? Could student access simply be part of the event budget? Getting the next generation into the room should be an investment in our industry’s future, not another financial hurdle for them to clear. If I am missing something, please let me know! Yes, I'll put my money where my mouth is and pay for 10 Students' tickets for the AIG event. Fucks sake.