Ask EvilSmurf about Australia
 

If there's anything you want to know about the land down under, well, ask me and I'll do my best to answer it.

Re: Ask EvilSmurf about Australia
 

Where did the word mate come from?

Re: Ask EvilSmurf about Australia
 

is it true that new zealand is like your version of canada?

Re: Ask EvilSmurf about Australia
 

Are female ausie backpackers characteristic of all young australian women?

-SmileyEH

Re: Ask EvilSmurf about Australia
 

What's the chief export?

I don't understand this thread at all.

Re: Ask EvilSmurf about Australia
 

[ QUOTE ]
Where did the word mate come from?

[/ QUOTE ]

It's was used in England in the 15th-18th centuries to describe a fellow sailor or labourer. Many of those who came over here were sailors and labourers, and well, it just evolved into a term meaning "friend".

Re: Ask EvilSmurf about Australia
 

[ QUOTE ]
What's the chief export?

[/ QUOTE ]

Bartenders in London.

-SmileyEH

Re: Ask EvilSmurf about Australia
 

[ QUOTE ]
is it true that new zealand is like your version of canada?

[/ QUOTE ]

If you mean it's worse than us in almost every way, and they take great pride on the rare occasions they beat us at anything, well, the answer is yes.

Re: Ask EvilSmurf about Australia
 

[ QUOTE ]
Are female ausie backpackers characteristic of all young australian women?

[/ QUOTE ]
Largely, yes. I think you will admit that's an extremely good thing, and I will see you moving down here in the not too distant future.

Re: Ask EvilSmurf about Australia
 

[ QUOTE ]
What's the chief export?

[/ QUOTE ]
Coal.

Re: Ask EvilSmurf about Australia
 

[ QUOTE ]
Where did the word mate come from?

[/ QUOTE ]

Don't call me mate, MATE!

Just call me Bruce...

Re: Ask EvilSmurf about Australia
 

Do Aussie chicks prefer it up the pooper?

Re: Ask EvilSmurf about Australia
 

[ QUOTE ]
Do Aussie chicks prefer it up the pooper?

[/ QUOTE ]
Depends on the Aussie girl really. They either love it, or can't stand it. Same as the rest of the world in that respect.

Re: Ask EvilSmurf about Australia
 

Why does Victoria suck at cricket?

Re: Ask EvilSmurf about Australia
 

[ QUOTE ]
Why does Victoria suck at cricket?

[/ QUOTE ]

BUTT Shane Warne is a good spinner amongst udder things!

Re: Ask EvilSmurf about Australia
 

Evil,

I am going to meet some family that live in Australia for the first time and my sister wants to go to central australia. I am 20 years old, do you think this will be a fun way to spend two weeks?

Re: Ask EvilSmurf about Australia
 

[ QUOTE ]
Why does Victoria suck at cricket?

[/ QUOTE ]
They rely on big knocks from Brad Hodge and David Hussey in the batting department, the rest of their batsmen are pretty average, and their bowling (aside from Shane Warne, who's often on International duty) is pretty damn pathetic, Mick Lewis is possibly the worst bowler I have ever seen play for Australia.

Re: Ask EvilSmurf about Australia
 

[ QUOTE ]
I am going to meet some family that live in Australia for the first time and my sister wants to go to central australia. I am 20 years old, do you think this will be a fun way to spend two weeks?

[/ QUOTE ]

If you like the desert, I guess it would be. More rewarding would be a trip to far north Queensland or the Northern Territory in my opinion. Rainforests, beaches, some of the most beautiful scenery in the world. Make sure you do diving at the Great Barrier Reef too.

Re: Ask EvilSmurf about Australia
 

[ QUOTE ]
Evil,

I am going to meet some family that live in Australia for the first time and my sister wants to go to central australia. I am 20 years old, do you think this will be a fun way to spend two weeks?

[/ QUOTE ]


Don't go in January to Ayre's Rock and learn how to throw a boomerang before you try whacking a 'roo.

Actually 2 weeks in OZ if you flying from the USA is barely enough time...

You time be better spent on the beach somewhere where its warm and where thare are plenty of shielahs.

Re: Ask EvilSmurf about Australia
 

(I can't believe nobody's asked this yet)

Does the water in the toilet circle the opposite direction than it does in the norther hemisphere.

Re: Ask EvilSmurf about Australia
 

[ QUOTE ]
(I can't believe nobody's asked this yet)

Does the water in the toilet circle the opposite direction than it does in the norther hemisphere.

[/ QUOTE ]

I though you'd ask why they are called Cyclones and not Hurricanes.


Does it really matter which way the water spins when you're in the dunny???

Re: Ask EvilSmurf about Australia
 

[ QUOTE ]
Does the water in the toilet circle the opposite direction than it does in the norther hemisphere.

[/ QUOTE ]
Nope.
http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a1_161
The Coriolis effect is very small.

Re: Ask EvilSmurf about Australia
 

what is better city and why, melbourne or sydney?

Re: Ask EvilSmurf about Australia
 

What are taxes like? I understand there are none on gambling winnings? How is the cost of living compared to the US (exclude California)?

Re: Ask EvilSmurf about Australia
 

How many cans of Vegemite do you eat a day, on average?

Re: Ask EvilSmurf about Australia
 

[ QUOTE ]
what is better city and why, melbourne or sydney?

[/ QUOTE ]
Melbourne, by a mile.

Re: Ask EvilSmurf about Australia
 

[ QUOTE ]
How many cans of Vegemite do you eat a day, on average?

[/ QUOTE ]

Good question...

Actually if you spread a bit on some toast every morning it will keep you tummy in fine order and then it wont hurt when you take a healthy dump....

Xcellent source of Vitamin E

Re: Ask EvilSmurf about Australia
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
what is better city and why, melbourne or sydney?

[/ QUOTE ]
Melbourne, by a mile.

[/ QUOTE ]

This is what I have heard, any reasons why? why is it so much better?

Re: Ask EvilSmurf about Australia
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
what is better city and why, melbourne or sydney?

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Melbourne, by a mile.

[/ QUOTE ]

You would not want to be in Melbourne during winter...
The dampness and wind will send you to the hospital !

Sydney has its good points and bad...

I prefer Perth.

Re: Ask EvilSmurf about Australia
 

Crocodile Dundee.

What's he like......really?

Edited to add: And for a question you can really answer, do most Australians [censored] hate this guy as much as I'm lead to believe?

I think he was great, until he decided to make a sequel.

Re: Ask EvilSmurf about Australia
 

[ QUOTE ]
What are taxes like?

[/ QUOTE ]
Higher than in the states. Around about 28% for the average worker, but you don't have to get health insurance, and you don't have to tip anyone, ever.

[ QUOTE ]
I understand there are none on gambling winnings? How is the cost of living compared to the US (exclude California)?

[/ QUOTE ]
No tax on gambling winnings if you classify it as a hobby (and the Tax Dept. lets you do this so they don't have to cover your gambling losses). The cost of living is relatively low, I know of a married couple who survive fairly well on around $200 US every 2 weeks.

Re: Ask EvilSmurf about Australia
 

[ QUOTE ]
What are taxes like? I understand there are none on gambling winnings? How is the cost of living compared to the US (exclude California)?

[/ QUOTE ]

I left OZ because of the high taxes!

But there could be a reduction soon since OZ is in a supposed prosperity boom and not in any deficit like what the US is heading into. Thanks GWB...

Re: Ask EvilSmurf about Australia
 

[ QUOTE ]
How many cans of Vegemite do you eat a day, on average?

[/ QUOTE ]

It comes in jars, not cans. I go through 1 a month if that. Although I am gonna miss the stuff when I move to the states next month.

Re: Ask EvilSmurf about Australia
 

[ QUOTE ]
Edited to add: And for a question you can really answer, do most Australians [censored] hate this guy as much as I'm lead to believe?

I think he was great, until he decided to make a sequel.

[/ QUOTE ]

I pretty much agree with you. The first movie was fantastic, but then Paul Hogan realised he couldn't play any other character, and decided to make the second one (which was terrible) and the third one (which he should be condemned to the fiery pit of hell for).

Re: Ask EvilSmurf about Australia
 

[ QUOTE ]
Crocodile Dundee.

What's he like......really?

Edited to add: And for a question you can really answer, do most Australians [censored] hate this guy as much as I'm lead to believe?

I think he was great, until he decided to make a sequel.

[/ QUOTE ]


Paul Hogan was a well known comedian in OZ before his CrocDundee movies.
I reckon the locals in OZ lost a bit of respect for him coz he went to international and picked up a blonde polish bombshell at the expense of his OZ wife and 5 kids...

Such is life...

Re: Ask EvilSmurf about Australia
 

[ QUOTE ]
This is what I have heard, any reasons why? why is it so much better?

[/ QUOTE ]

OK, let's start.
1) better roads
2) better public transport
3) better restaraunts (you can find food in Melbourne from pretty much any ethnicity you can imagine)
4) Crown Casino > Star City by an extremely long margin.
5) Melbourne looks like it was kinda planned out, Sydney looks like it was thrown together, if you know what I mean.
Only bad thing is the sport they play down there (Australian Rules Football) isn't a patch on rugby league.

Re: Ask EvilSmurf about Australia
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
How many cans of Vegemite do you eat a day, on average?

[/ QUOTE ]

It comes in jars, not cans. I go through 1 a month if that. Although I am gonna miss the stuff when I move to the states next month.

[/ QUOTE ]

Depends where you end up in the US...

There are OZ stores in Southern California and in NYCity.

Olivia Newton John use to carry vegemite in her Koala Blue store before they folded.

Re: Ask EvilSmurf about Australia
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
This is what I have heard, any reasons why? why is it so much better?

[/ QUOTE ]

OK, let's start.
1) better roads
2) better public transport
3) better restaraunts (you can find food in Melbourne from pretty much any ethnicity you can imagine)
4) Crown Casino > Star City by an extremely long margin.
5) Melbourne looks like it was kinda planned out, Sydney looks like it was thrown together, if you know what I mean.
Only bad thing is the sport they play down there (Australian Rules Football) isn't a patch on rugby league.

[/ QUOTE ]

You forgot 1.1... No riots at the beach....

Re: Ask EvilSmurf about Australia
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Where did the word mate come from?

[/ QUOTE ]

It's was used in England in the 15th-18th centuries to describe a fellow sailor or labourer. Many of those who came over here were murderers and rapists , and well, it just evolved into a term meaning "friend".

[/ QUOTE ]

FYP

Re: Ask EvilSmurf about Australia
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
This is what I have heard, any reasons why? why is it so much better?

[/ QUOTE ]

OK, let's start.
1) better roads
2) better public transport
3) better restaraunts (you can find food in Melbourne from pretty much any ethnicity you can imagine)
4) Crown Casino > Star City by an extremely long margin.
5) Melbourne looks like it was kinda planned out, Sydney looks like it was thrown together, if you know what I mean.
Only bad thing is the sport they play down there (Australian Rules Football) isn't a patch on rugby league.

[/ QUOTE ]

Thanks for the info.