Thread: Here's some Australia questions:

One other thing to remember when visiting Australia...

The beer here WILL f#&k you up if you treat it like the American stuff

Gentlemen, I had the privilege to visit your country in late July 1969 for a week. I'm sure there are still stories about the crazy Americans on R&R, or as we called it I&I (intoxication and intercourse) Winter in the Southern Hemisphere, but very pleasant.
I confess to spending my time in Sydney, mostly in bars in the vicinity of the El-Alimain (?) fountain. And yes, the beer did have an effect, as did the ladies.
I mostly ate crab imperial, lobster and shrimp, which I enjoyed to the fullest and to this day have fond memories of the sea food. I'm the type that seeks out the local clubs or the hole-in-the-wall joint with good food instead of going to the 'American Club'. I enjoy local culture. More than likely fortunate I didn't get my head bashed in being a Yank with money to burn and a 'to hell with it all, we're all going to die anyway' attitude. What can I say, I was 21, a paratrooper/cav. scout with a purple heart. I thought I was tough.
I arrived on a Sunday, and the bellhop was kind enough to procure a 5th of blended whiskey, for a price (what did I care what the cost was, I doubted I would live to see the end of the year). I took a long hot shower, ran my feet through the shag carpet, sipped blended whiskey, and watched the moon landing. In the morning I went to the top floor and ordered steak and eggs for breakfast while looking over the Sydney skyline.
And then there was the young lady from New Zealand. But, enough of old memories. I enjoyed your country, blurry though it was.

John, now that's a memory.



Justin

Some day I'll tell you about my other out-of-country I&I. A GI was only to have one, but, through good fortune, I ended up with two.

Good story John,

I can remember what a fun place Sydney was in those days.

John

The Poms weren't first after all?

Originally Posted by johnmw1

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

Yeah, well would you look at that. I'll be looking out for that one. Thanks for the info.

X

X,

Since that post of mine about the new Sweeney Todd in production, I have since heard that things have stopped on the set, as Johnny Depp has rushed home to be with his very ill daughter. She apparently stepped on a rusty nail or something, then became severely infected by it. Has lost some high percentage of liver or kidney function(I forget which) So production has been put on hold for the moment. I hope the little girl makes a full recovery though.

John

What's the most dangerous snake in Australia? I think the Brown is the most poisonous but not very aggressive ---I've also seen stuff on Jumper ants and some other spider related to Black Widows --anyway just regurgitating this thread to get it rolling again.

Justin

Justin,

Something for you to read and chuckle about

Australian snakes

Only eyes for the stupid

Many English people won't holiday in Australia for fear of snakes. Perhaps this fear is understandable considering that Australia has the ten most venomous snakes in the world and the most intimidating wildlife a Pom has ever encountered is a ruminating cow.

But although Australian snakes are venomous, they are not dangerous unless someone does something silly like try to catch or kill them. They are timid creatures that flee if a human gets within about five meters of them. If they are accidentally stepped on, their first reaction is to escape, and second is to bite. If they do bite after being startled, they usually don't inject venom.

But like every country, there are silly people in Australia and so snakebites do occur. One example of such sillyness occurred when a Darwin man was having a few beers with his mate (as you do)while driving home from Mandorah. Along the side of the road he spotted a King Brown and decided to catch it for the Mandorah Pub's fish tank. As his right hand was being used to hold his beer, he grabbed it with his left and was subsequently bitten. He threw the snake in a plastic bag but for some reason, then decided to stick his hand into the bag and was duly bitten another eight times.

As the poison went to work, his mate applied first aid by pouring beer over his head and whacking him across the face. It wasn't an effective treatment as he ended up in a coma for six weeks. His left arm withered and died and had to be amputated. On the positive side, he still kept the use of his right arm for holding his beers in the future.

Yet despite such would-be Steve Irwins wanting to see their life flash before their eyes, and many drunk Aussies taking off their clothes and running naked through the bush(as you do) after a B&S ball, only 0.13 of every million deaths in Australia are the result of a snake bite.

Snake myths that have fooled gullible people

The Death Adder has a sting in its tail.
Snakes hypnotise their prey.
Tiger Snakes chase people.
Snakes milk cows.
If you kill one of a pair of Tiger Snakes, its mate will hunt you down to take its revenge.
In Australia, there is a Hoop Snake that takes its tail in its mouth and then goes bowling merrily along.

Quick bites

Most toxic venom - The most toxic snake venom on mice is the Inland Taipan (Fierce Snake). Maximum yield recorded (for one bite) is 110mg. That would probably be enough to kill over 100 people or 250,000 mice.
Taipan size - The Taipan's average length is 2.5 meters, although they have been known to grow to 3.3 meters.
Most venomous yield - Australia's most venomous (yield) snake is the King Brown. The snake is believed to have been involved in 22 of the past 38 deaths attributed to snakebite.
Most venomous Australian snakes - Fierce Snake, King Brown, Taipan, Eastern Tiger, Riesvie Tiger, Beaked Sea Snake, Western Tiger Snake, Giant Black Tiger Snake, Death Adder, Western Brown snake.

Icon

1) A NBL team is known as the Cairns Taipans

2) The Dreaming- In Jewish, Christian and Islamic culture, the snake is a bad guy who tempted Eve in the Garden of Eden. But in Aboriginal cultures, the Rainbow Serpent is the creator of life. The serpent emerged from beneath the earth and as she moved, winding from side to side, she forced her way through soil and rocks, making the great rivers flow from her path. From her body sprang the tribes, the animals and the birds of Australia.

In some myths, a woman can't conceive unless the Rainbow Serpent enters her body. In other myths, the Serpent is vengeful upon those who damage the land.

The serpent is sometimes depicted as a man, other times as a woman and sometimes as a man with breasts.

Industry

1)Zoos - Snakes are the prime attraction at reptile parks.

2) Meat - Although sea-snake is available for consumption and said to be delicious, it is illegal to hunt and eat land snakes.

John