I'm in Australia - Ask me anything

[Sapphocrat]

Land of roos, Tim Tams, and refreshingly progressive political attitudes (as long as one avoids the Sydney Morning Herald).

Ask away!

[Lydia Leftcoast]

1. So what's a Tim Tam?

other than the name of a Kentucky Derby winner whose name I remember because his win occurred during my childish "horse crazy" days.

[Sapphocrat]

5. A Tim Tam...

...is a chocky bikkie with caramel -- or, more accurately, an orgasmic delight of chocolate-covered caramel, sandwiched between cookie wedges.

I didn't know about the horsie... If someone had asked me what a Tim Tam was a few years ago, I probably would have said it was some sort of apparel worn with a Scottish kilt. :D

[listenup]

2. Is the Rabbit Fence still there?

figuratively speaking?

[Sapphocrat]

8. Figuratively speaking, no...

It's pretty much the same sort of situation between whites and Aboriginals here (as well as btw whites and all non-whites) as it is between whites and non-whites in the U.S. -- meaning, the cities are well integrated and nobody thinks much about it. I understand that in the rural areas, however, especially around Aboriginal settlements, there's a more marked dividing line.

From my observation, white Australia has gone a lot further, much more quickly, toward trying to make amends to the Aboriginals over just the past three decades than we have to Native Americans in over 200 years. I perceive a definite sense of "white guilt" here, but the difference is that the Aussies feel genuinely guilty and want to effect real change -- i.e., they don't make excuses or try to justify past atrocities. Again, that's just my perception -- and no doubt that's colored by my own dim view of white America and its abominable record with Native Americans, African-Americans, Japanese-Americans...

Literally speaking, yes, there's a real rabbit fence -- except, I am told, it's called the Dingo Fence (and it's thousands of miles long). But it works for rabbits (real ones), too. :)

[SmileyBoy]

3. Can we switch places???

I'ts been my life-long DREAM to go to Australia. I want to see the Outback and Sydney.

What city are you in???

[Sapphocrat]

10. Melbourne...

...which, I suppose, is Australia's Chicago (with Sydney as its NYC) -- but definitely one of the loveliest cities I've ever seen. Scatter San Francisco's Victorian houses around a downtown with a definite European flavor, add clean, tall, glass skyscrapers and the best selection of restaurants outside New York City, put it all on a big, blue bay, and you've got Melbourne.

Oh, and it's the cleanest city I've ever seen, anywhere!

And no, we can't. Switch places, that is. In fact, if I didn't have to come home eventually, I'd stay for good. I can't blame you -- Oz is everything you hope it is, and much more.

[prolesunited]

4. What time is it there now?

And where are you accessing the Internet from?

[Sapphocrat]

11. It's 4:35pm, Saturday 13 September...

...and I'm on my girlfriend's computer. We're housesitting for her sister for a week. And since we got here this morning, I've been bitten by a spider and my gf has murdered a wasp the size of a Buick.

[Dookus]

6. yummmmmmmmm... timtams!

Bring us all back a case!!!

And tell Australia I said Hi.

[Sapphocrat]

12. Will do...

And a case of Cherry Ripes for the choco-allergic!

Oh, and Australia says hi back. (All except John Howard, who hates liberals.)

[Duncan Grant]

7. Wow!

It's like talking to the future :) -- what day is there again? Saturday? Sunday?

Are there surfer babes at Bondi? I *know* there are surfer dudes (if you catch my drift...) :hi:

[Sapphocrat]

13. Babes galore...!

I can't tell which are the surfies because it's still sort of winter right now, so it's not beach time. (Never mind that Aussies still wear short pants when it's practically sleeting outside -- talk about butch!)

It's also hard to tell when just about every babe down here is a blue-eyed blonde... but ohhhhhhh yes, are they ever babes!

Of course, to me, my other half puts even Kylie Minogue to shame... but I'm allowed to look. ;)

[listenup]

9. never mind!

yup

[david_vincent]

14. Tim Tam & the Turn-ons...

was a group from Michigan back in the 60s. They're responsible for the only (to my knowledge) recorded example of what you'd have to call doo-wop punk, the awesome "Wait a Minute."
Quick, can you find a gal who'll marry me?