Thread: Here's some Australia questions:

Did I mention that most of our humour is somewhat dry and um... "earthy"?

Originally Posted by Lancer

Did I mention that most of our humour is somewhat dry and um... "earthy"?

I think dead-pan humour is used to describe it ---- my favorite type of humor


See now you Aussies got me confused --- I don't know whether to use humor or humour.

Justin

Message for any Aussies that happen to subscribe to Foxtel, that tonite on Showtime is the movie Sweeney Todd. It may be interesting just to try and see what razors they chose to use for the movie.

John

Yep, I set a reminder for this one on the weekend

What's Canberra Day?


Justin


I also hear you guys have the only waterless regatta in the world?

Originally Posted by johnmw1

Message for any Aussies that happen to subscribe to Foxtel, that tonite on Showtime is the movie Sweeney Todd. It may be interesting just to try and see what razors they chose to use for the movie.

Props I'm sure. I saw that one years ago and it's a recording of the live stage version.

X

Originally Posted by jaegerhund

What's Canberra Day?


Justin


I also hear you guys have the only waterless regatta in the world?

Canberra Day is a public holiday held annually on the third Monday in March in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) to celebrate the official naming of Canberra. Canberra was named at a ceremony on March 12, 1913 by Lady Denman, the wife of the then Governor-General Lord Denman.

On 3 March 2007, ACT Minister Andrew Barr introduced a bill to change the day of Canberra Day to the second Monday in March so it falls closer to the actual birthday of Canberra.

The Henley-on-Todd Regatta (also called the Todd River Race) is a "dry" sand river race held annually in Alice Springs, Australia. It began - and continues - as a joke at the expense of the original British settlers and the formal atmosphere of the British river races which continue today.

Every year in the spring, around September, the town holds a mock regatta which large numbers of locals and tourists attend. Food and drink are sold at stalls, "no fishing" signs are put up, and the celebration takes all day. It's the only dry river regatta in the world; thus, it's the only regatta ever cancelled because it rained and there was water in the river.

"Boats" are made from metal frames and hung with banners and advertisements, and teams of "rowers" run their boats in races through the hot sand. Races are also held in washtubs, human-sized mouse wheels and at the final event, modified trucks decked out as boats are driven by teams armed with flour bombs and water cannon. Many bystanders end up as casualties of the final battle. Traditional teams include Pirates and Vikings, complete with costumes. Who wins the final battle can be difficult to determine; even the announcers occasionally get a blast.

And here's a picture my old dad sent me from a recent fishing trip of his.

Boy, that's a whopper he's got there!

(...big fish, too!...)

-whatever

-Lou

I think ya dad needs to pay more attention to his tackle...

Originally Posted by xman

Props I'm sure. I saw that one years ago and it's a recording of the live stage version.

X

Hi X,

I think this must be a relatively new production made by the BBC.

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This BBC production considers legendary English serial killer Sweeney Todd (Ray Winstone). Following him as he wields his straight razor through the squalid streets of 18th-century London, this film not only looks at the heinous acts of the Demon Barber, but also examines the reasoning behind them.


There is also currently in production a new version with an all star cast due for release in Dec 2007 starring Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter as Sweeney Todd and Mrs Lovett.

The cast also includes Alan Rickman as Judge Turpin, Sacha Baron Cohen (Ali G and Borat) as Signor Adolfo Pirelli and Timothy Spall as Beadle Bamford. Christopher Lee, Peter Bowles, and Anthony Head are rumoured to be appearing as ghosts in the film.

Cheers
John