Ashamed

Story: Expert: Fast-track ISO bid for OOXML is fairTotal Replies: 29
Author Content
Sander_Marechal

Mar 25, 2008
7:48 AM EDT
It's people like this that make me feel like I have to apologize for being Dutch when I'm in a foreign country.
jdixon

Mar 25, 2008
8:12 AM EDT
Relax Sander, there are far more U.S. idiots than there are Dutch ones. :(
dinotrac

Mar 25, 2008
8:28 AM EDT
jdixon -

Ever been to Amsterdam?

Seriously, idiots per capita is probably pretty much the same anywhere you go in the world.
jdixon

Mar 25, 2008
8:44 AM EDT
> Ever been to Amsterdam?

No. I've been to Hawaii, the Caribbean, and Canada, but never farther. I do hope to visit Australia and New Zealand sometime in my life.

> Seriously, idiots per capita is probably pretty much the same anywhere you go in the world.

Yes, but I'm afraid we have the larger population, which gives us a larger overall number. :(
dinotrac

Mar 25, 2008
8:55 AM EDT
>which gives us a larger overall number. :(

Yes.

For the record, the Netherlands is on my "hope to go again someday if I every have money again or another employer willing to send me over (not coach, btw)." list.
herzeleid

Mar 25, 2008
8:58 AM EDT
> Seriously, idiots per capita is probably pretty much the same anywhere you go in the world.

"In my country, Russia, there are no idiots. This is a known fact" -- "Notes from the underground" by Fyodor Dostoyevsky
tracyanne

Mar 25, 2008
12:22 PM EDT
Quoting:I do hope to visit Australia and New Zealand sometime in my life.


If you do, I'm in Queensland.
dinotrac

Mar 25, 2008
12:58 PM EDT
You don't mind if I make a note of that myself, do you?

Australia is at the top of my go-to if the $$$ present themselves list. I would emigrate if I had the $$ and any valuable skills.
tracyanne

Mar 25, 2008
1:13 PM EDT
How do you know you don't have any valuable skills?
dinotrac

Mar 25, 2008
1:26 PM EDT
It's the $8.00 an hour offer from the local grocery store, I think!!

Seriously, though, there is something about looking for work that is designed to make you feel useless...
GDStewart

Mar 25, 2008
2:29 PM EDT
Back in the early 90's I spent a month in Wellington installing a database system hardware/software upgrade for the New Zealand telephone company Telecom. Even though it was a rough install sometimes requiring 18 hour days starting at 12 AM (after the daily backup) I very much enjoyed what little I remember of my stay there. I hope to go back one day with noting else to do but enjoy it.
montezuma

Mar 25, 2008
5:20 PM EDT
I was in FNQ (Far North Queensland) last August and was amazed at the huge shortage of people with basic technical skills. A plumber was commanding $50-$100 per hour. Mind you the houses were on the pricey side....
tracyanne

Mar 25, 2008
6:21 PM EDT
@GDStewart I left Wellington to return to Australia in Jan 91.
GDStewart

Mar 25, 2008
6:33 PM EDT
@tracyanne

I'd also very much like to check out Australia while I'm in the "neighborhood" !
ColonelPanik

Mar 25, 2008
7:12 PM EDT
How long does it take to drive to Australia? No matter where I have gone in this world I have run into Australians. They never go "native". They are always Australians, they always fit in, get along and are accepted by the locals.

Every Linux forum has at least one Aussie. It may be a conspiracy.
dinotrac

Mar 26, 2008
3:07 AM EDT
CP -

At last!!

Somebody else who recognizes the Great Australian Conspiracy, AKA GAC.

First it was movies, then Foster's, then wines.

Now it's Australians.

I don't know what their mission is, but I suspect it is to wrench both "Sheila" and "Barbie" out of the catlog of names for girls. I think it has something to do with wallabies.

Think of how many times you've heard somebody say, "Wallaby darned!"



jacog

Mar 26, 2008
3:23 AM EDT
I just hope the language never catches on...

They say things like: "Nice toilet on that Sheila!"
dinotrac

Mar 26, 2008
4:59 AM EDT
>They say things like: "Nice toilet on that Sheila!"

Gack, et, GAC!!!

I'm going to be living with that image all day.

Thanks a ton.
tracyanne

Mar 26, 2008
5:39 AM EDT
Quoting:They say things like: "Nice toilet on that Sheila!"


WHAT!? Where did that come from. Take it from me we never say that.

Quoting:First it was movies, then Foster's, then wines.


The truth is we export Fosters cos no one in Australia will drink the stuff. That's no furfie.
dinotrac

Mar 26, 2008
5:50 AM EDT
>The truth is we export Fosters cos no one in Australia will drink the stuff.

Ah ha!!

I knew it!!

Is that similar to us getting Paul Hogan, but not Kylie Minogue?
jacog

Mar 26, 2008
7:29 AM EDT
Quoting:WHAT!? Where did that come from. Take it from me we never say that.


I should hope you never say such a thing. :)

Here's a bit of useless tri-nation unifying history for you all:

During the American Civil war, the Confederate naval campaign featured a ship known as the CSS Alabama. It had a phenomenal record, and sank, captured, burnt and bountied more than 100 Union ships during its career.

At some point, that boat had a notable sea battle off the coast of Cape Town, of which there was a folk song written. One crew member died and was buried here.

In another visit to Cape Town, they escorted some Australian troops here.

From the captain's journal:

"I regret that Aussie troops, some of whom swam ashore from their anchored troopships, created mayhem within the town, stopping horse drawn carts loaded with beer to confiscate and quickly dispose of their freight.

Carrying little old ladies complete with their small cars to the top of the Post office steps, and leaving them stranded. Entering large department stores and suggesting that the shop girls might leave work and join the soldiers elsewhere. I am afraid the good name of Australian Servicemen was somewhat tarnished on that occasion."

:)

Ref: http://ahoy.tk-jk.net/MaraudersCivilWar/CSSAlabama.html

softwarejanitor

Mar 26, 2008
8:23 AM EDT
Y'all Aussies don't even export Foster's to the US anymore... the Stuff sold here the past 10+ years comes in a smaller can than it used to and is made by Molson (Coors) in Canada...

FWIW, Cooper's is pretty good...
tracyanne

Mar 26, 2008
1:18 PM EDT
Quoting:Is that similar to us getting Paul Hogan, but not Kylie Minogue?


Wouldn't know, you're welcome to Kylie.

Quoting:I should hope you never say such a thing. :)


First we'd say dunny not toilet, second we would never use Sheila and dunny in the context of that sentence. We might say arse in that context.
montezuma

Mar 26, 2008
4:23 PM EDT
Beauty Trace our clever plan for world domination is succeeding! See how much they are yacking about Oz.... Hooked!
tracyanne

Mar 26, 2008
5:37 PM EDT
@ montezuma, I love it when a plan comes together.
NoDough

Mar 26, 2008
6:37 PM EDT
As a native of Kansas, I've always wondered how Australia became Oz.
tracyanne

Mar 26, 2008
7:33 PM EDT
Because it's where Dorothy went.
jacog

Mar 26, 2008
11:29 PM EDT
Quoting:First we'd say dunny not toilet, second we would never use Sheila and dunny in the context of that sentence. We might say arse in that context.


During a recent rugby tournament, a local radio station had a guest from some Australian radio station, and he said they do say "toilet" as a euphemism for "butt". Perhaps a regional thing? Or something you just never hear in decent company.

EDIT: THe word euphemism implies that the replacement word sounds less crass... just realised that it has the opposite effect.

Anyway... enough derailing of the topic. :) Perhaps we need a pointless bollocks topic elsewhere. ;)
tracyanne

Mar 27, 2008
12:38 AM EDT
Quoting:During a recent rugby tournament, a local radio station had a guest from some Australian radio station, and he said they do say "toilet" as a euphemism for "butt". Perhaps a regional thing? Or something you just never hear in decent company.


Sounds like a furfie to me.
NoDough

Mar 27, 2008
6:51 AM EDT
Quoting:Because it's where Dorothy went.
Wow! That's one #$^% of a tornado!

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