Oct 24 2012

Our Australian beachhead is expanding

Categories:

We have now secured NonStampCollector as a blogger on FtB, in addition to Token Skeptic: two down, twenty-two million to go. I’m sure the rest of the continent will tumble into our grasp soon.

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27 comments

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1

John Morales

24 October 2012 at 10:22 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment

Wow.

NonStampCollector is the first Vlogger coming here with whose videos I am familiar.

(Good one)
2

RahXephon, Waahmbulance Driver for St. Entitlement's Hospital

24 October 2012 at 10:27 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment

Was this one properly vetted this time? I’m not sure I can take another Thunderfoot debacle.
3

Sophia, Michelin-starred General of the First Mediterranean Iron Chef Batallion

24 October 2012 at 10:31 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment

Huzzah for us Aussies getting another (non thunderous) foot in the door.

Here’s to reason and advancing the causes :)
4

John Morales

24 October 2012 at 10:33 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment

RahXephon, after the thunderp0d’s fiery crash-and-burn, it was indicated that vetting standards would be imposed, so the answer is “probably yes”.
5

PZ Myers

24 October 2012 at 10:38 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment

Yeah, we got a committee and protocols and everything, and I wrote myself completely out of the loop, which probably helps more than anything.
6

otrame

24 October 2012 at 11:12 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment

My son had told me that he had injured his back while he was in Iraq the first time. It’s one of those things that is relatively minor now, but he was told that he will almost certainly need surgery younger than most people who have disc problems do. He told me about it several years ago,

A coup,e of days ago he told me exactly how it happened: while in a convoy the vehicle he was in got hit with an anti-tank weapon. It exploded under the vehicle, throwing it about 8-10 ft into the air and then coming down and that’s was when he was hurt.

You have to understand that I have heard much worse stories about things that happened to him there. Like the time he was dozing on a long convoy, heard a CRACK at the window near his head and looked up to see a bullet stuck in the glass. The first time he needed to be a medic it was before he even got to his first aid station. One of the gunners didn’t duck fast enough when his truck rolled (road was mined), and got a traumatic amputation of his arm. That was my kid’s “welcome to Iraq”.

What I am saying is that though he was not seriously injured (at least not physically) he definitely had some “adventures”.

So tell me why, a couple of hours after he told me how he hurt his back, now, after he’s been out of the army for two years, I found myself playing Guild Wars 2 with tears running down my face, and ever since then, every time I think about it I have to fight back the tears?
7

ginckgo

24 October 2012 at 11:49 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment

Memo to self: must start actually blogging and not just in my head; maybe one day I’ll be a real boy and increase the Aussie contingent by another 50%.
8

FossilFishy (Νεοπτόλεμος's spellchecker)

25 October 2012 at 12:00 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment

Oh yes, yes please! Take me in your tender, tenticular embrace…er, what were we talking about?
9

John Morales

25 October 2012 at 12:14 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment

[meta]

otrame, ?

Did you mean to post that in the Lounge, or am I missing the connection to the subject of this post?
10

mildlymagnificent

25 October 2012 at 12:14 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment

ginckgo, me too.

Glad to see an Aussie. Good to see someone with their act more together than mine.

(One question. Is it culture or age or idiosyncrasy or what?
I detest audio presentations or news items. Passionately, won’t click on a link given, really irritated if a link turns out to be audio. (Happy with car radio though.)
I hardly ever look at vlogs, though I’ll happily watch TED or a video of a lecture or other sciencey thing.
It’s much faster and easier to read stuff. Though that’s true for a lot of people who don’t feel as I do.)
11

ginckgo

25 October 2012 at 12:37 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment

@mildlymagnificent
I’m originally German, and they’re supposed to be productive and efficient. Not sure if I’m just a runt, or if the proverbial Aussie slacker mindset has trumped (not that I agree with the cartoonish portrayal of lazy Aussies anyway).
12

John Morales

25 October 2012 at 12:57 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment

[meta]

ginckgo:

… maybe one day I’ll be a real boy and increase the Aussie contingent by another 50%.

Two things:

1. There are already at least two Aussies blogging here on FTB.

(Kylie is another)

2. Just blogging ain’t sufficient for your purpose (given context) — you also need to blog here.

(Good luck with that)
13

Kylie Sturgess

25 October 2012 at 2:30 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment

*waves hello as the Token Skeptic / Other 50% / The female Australian FTBlogger*

I was kind of instrumental in getting Mr “Collector” here, so feel free to blame me if required.

As for blogging here, yes there is kind of a back-log of people who are being asked / being inquired after but I certainly encourage Australian bloggers and bloggers in general. You might like to help out the Young Australian Skeptics, for example, they are looking for contributors?
14

John Morales

25 October 2012 at 2:33 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment

[meta]

Kylie, I shan’t blame you, rather I thank you.

You’re alright in my books.

(Note I have never darkened your comments since you told me I was unwelcome there.)
15

ednaz

25 October 2012 at 2:38 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment

So tell me why, a couple of hours after he told me how he hurt his back, now, after he’s been out of the army for two years, I found myself playing Guild Wars 2 with tears running down my face, and ever since then, every time I think about it I have to fight back the tears?

Because for you, otrame, it just happened.

I don’t have military experience, but I do have a grown son. If I were in your shoes I’m sure I would feel the same way.
16

Lofty

25 October 2012 at 3:17 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment

Thank Glod, someone FTB blogging while I’m awake… ;-)
17

bytee

25 October 2012 at 4:13 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment

Hey PZ, What do you mean “2 down and 22 million to go” How many of us were at the World Atheist Conference in March? Or can’t you good ‘ol boys count? :)
18

rorschach

25 October 2012 at 5:02 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment

Not me, I’m on blogging long service leave. But NSC is a great addition to the team I think.
19

StevoR

25 October 2012 at 6:35 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment

Excellent news.

Love NonStampCollectors youtube series.

Didn’t even know xe was an Aussie.
20

Kel

25 October 2012 at 6:42 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment

I’m an Aussie, and I’ve been known to blog. Give me the power so I can rant about nonsense – I’ll even use the word “crikey”!!!
21

Charlie Foxtrot

25 October 2012 at 8:11 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment

I’d settle for the 22 million just *reading* FTB, let alone contributing…
22

blf

25 October 2012 at 10:33 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment

I’d settle for the 22 million just *reading* FTB…

You’re gonna need a bigger server…
23

echidna

25 October 2012 at 4:55 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment

Kel,
I’ll see your “Crikey”, and raise you a “G’day”.
24

Wowbagger, Antipodean Dervish

25 October 2012 at 5:51 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment

Yeah, it’s you taking over us. You just keep thinking that…
25

Charlie Foxtrot

25 October 2012 at 7:46 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment

I’d settle for the 22 million just *reading* FTB…

You’re gonna need a bigger server…

Naw, our cruddy broadband infrastructure means that we wait in patient queues for our turn on the intertoobs.
Crikey!

Also – on matters of interest Australian, TV presenter Tracy Spicer (who’s done some good work demolishing anti-vaxxers) has written an opinion piece about sexism in The Age today. The comments section is following a predictable trend.
(but, she does blow a toe off with her parting comments, IMO)
26

Kel

26 October 2012 at 3:02 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment

Kel,
I’ll see your “Crikey”, and raise you a “G’day”.

Call that a raise? This is a raise. I’ll make every blog post title a pun on something said in Crocodile Dundee.
27

Markita Lynda—threadrupt

26 October 2012 at 6:22 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment

What StevoR said:

Excellent news.

Love NonStampCollectors youtube series.

Didn’t even know xe was an Aussie.