View Full Version : What's with all the Australians?
moebius
09-03-2006, 10:49 PM
Is it just me, or are there a lot of Australians on this board?
1. Is it just sampling error, and the Aussies here happen to just be more vocal?
2. Was there one to start, and they told their friends so there was a nice networking-effect?
3. Is there some sort of Aussie predaliction for comics, like Great Britain over-producing in terms of comics talent the last 25 years?
So, what makes those of you born "Down Under" post on CBR, and is there something I should know about Australia, RE: comic books?
Obviously, I enjoy the participation of our Australian brethren...I'm just surprised about the numbers.
Dan Apodaca
09-03-2006, 10:51 PM
Post Removed
jaguarshark
09-03-2006, 10:55 PM
What Dan said is true. I just started living the lie, you know? You tell one little white lie, like, "oh, I live in Ipswich", and then all of a sudden, one thing leads to another, you're thrown into a sitcom-esque situation where you don't want to lose any face and have to keep the lie going, and then BAM!, you live in Ipswich. In Australia.
... Or do I?
Tadhg
09-03-2006, 10:55 PM
Post Removed
Dan Apodaca
09-03-2006, 11:01 PM
Post Removed
jaguarshark
09-03-2006, 11:48 PM
Post Removed...nothing to see here.
jaguarshark
09-03-2006, 11:51 PM
In response to the original post, yeah, I think we Aussies just have a love of comics. Put it down to all the Murray and Federal black-and-white reprints we got fed as kids, I don't know.
I do know that in south-east Queensland, we have a hell of a lot of comic shops. Whenever I hear about the impending death of the industry, I think of all the specialty stores within an hour or so from my house, and I find it hard to get too worried.
Nikita
09-04-2006, 12:03 AM
Post Removed...no one knows too much
Donald M.
09-04-2006, 12:36 AM
What Dan said is true. I just started living the lie, you know? You tell one little white lie, like, "oh, I live in Ipswich", and then all of a sudden, one thing leads to another, you're thrown into a sitcom-esque situation where you don't want to lose any face and have to keep the lie going, and then BAM!, you live in Ipswich. In Australia.
... Or do I?
He actually lives in Ipswich, Mass. We've met. Nice guy. He does a lousy Austrailian accent though. It's kind of embarrassing.
jaguarshark
09-04-2006, 12:40 AM
He actually lives in Ipswich, Mass. We've met. Nice guy. He does a lousy Austrailian accent though. It's kind of embarrassing.
I don't know what you're talking about, you drongo. What are you, a sheila? Go throw another shrimp on the barbie! That's not a comment. This is a comment.
So, you know, my Aussie accent is totally natural.
Spike-X
09-04-2006, 12:42 AM
Post Removed....no conspiracy here
kmeyers
09-04-2006, 12:59 AM
How dare they be so australian.
Rachel Grey
09-04-2006, 01:15 AM
Yeah, I'll fess up too...
I'm actually Brain Cronin.
Iangould
09-04-2006, 01:24 AM
Yes, it's all a lie.
We are not the spearhead of an Australian invasion.
Everyone go about your normal business - while you still can.
moebius
09-04-2006, 08:56 AM
Assuming that Dan's premise is false, and you are actually all Australian, did you know one another beforehand and talk about joining the board? Are there just, as jaguarshark suggested, a per-capita crapload of comic shops in Australia?
Are Aussies just loud, so it just seems like there are more of you than there really are?
spoon_jenkins
09-04-2006, 09:17 AM
No Conspiracies Here!
Mike Pothier
09-04-2006, 06:00 PM
Post Removed - NOT due to any conspiracy!
Valmore
09-04-2006, 06:06 PM
Australia is a myth - like Avalon and Fiscally Responsible Republicans. It doesn't exist, but there are some nice stories about it. Like how Britian sent all of its convicts there. Never happened - they sent them to France.
Cam63
09-04-2006, 07:13 PM
I just drink like an Australian.
...Yeah, through the mouth.
Cam63
09-04-2006, 07:15 PM
Except the drop bears aren't a joke, right!?!?
Big rum drinking polar bears that live in gums trees ?
Yeah, bloody oath we got 'em !
Wesley Dodds
09-04-2006, 09:20 PM
Samurai reminded me:
It's awesome having American conservatives around because they're always telling you that Plan X can't work and will lead to the downfall of Western Civilisation. You know, things like universal health care and preferences.
It's good for the ego to be told what a great democracy you are by Americans. And it's funny, too, because we're pretty anti-patriotism in some ways.
jaguarshark
09-04-2006, 10:02 PM
Australia is a myth - like Avalon and Fiscally Responsible Republicans. It doesn't exist, but there are some nice stories about it. Like how Britian sent all of its convicts there. Never happened - they sent them to France.
That's true. If you look hard, you'll find a lot of folks with Irish last names hanging around France.
Cam63
09-05-2006, 07:08 AM
Like O'Pinochet.
Drew Van T.
09-05-2006, 07:20 AM
I just drink like an Australian.
...Yeah, through the mouth.
And being as you are upside down...it all flows straight to the brain.
Cam63
09-05-2006, 07:26 AM
Wha'...you...tawkin' 'bout ?
*Falls over*
Cam63
09-05-2006, 07:27 AM
...and lands on my feet.
TA-DAAAAAAH !
Dan Apodaca
09-05-2006, 04:51 PM
My... my post...?
Gasp!
Hurry, I must tell you the secret of the ---
Sleeper
09-09-2006, 04:39 AM
Wow, flying through this thread presents good quality chance to scratch the head.
On the subject of Australian comics, wouldn't say they sell through well at comics shops. But then that's my place (http://www.thecomicshop.net/), but I've heard they do brisk business in the indy shops for records and such. High quality, non-superhero stuff if you can find it.
Paul Newell
09-09-2006, 06:59 AM
Wow, flying through this thread presents good quality chance to scratch the head.
On the subject of Australian comics, wouldn't say they sell through well at comics shops. But then that's my place (http://www.thecomicshop.net/), but I've heard they do brisk business in the indy shops for records and such. High quality, non-superhero stuff if you can find it.
One day I've gotta try and stop in at your place. :)
Valmore
09-09-2006, 07:06 AM
One day I've gotta try and stop in at your place. :)
Too bad they're all mythical, since they're in the mythical land of Australia! I mean, seriously. Mel Gibson claims to be from Australia, and he was born in New York.
howyadoin
09-09-2006, 10:37 AM
Too bad they're all mythical, since they're in the mythical land of Australia!You might wanna check the expiry date on that joke. It smells like it's done.
Ed Cunard
09-09-2006, 12:35 PM
__________________________________________________ ______________
Last edited by Brian Cronin : 09-05-2006 at 2:34 PM.
Ok, no. Just feeling left out.
FunkyGreenJerusalem
09-09-2006, 03:50 PM
It's good for the ego to be told what a great democracy you are by Americans. And it's funny, too, because we're pretty anti-patriotism in some ways.
I dunno, depends on your idea of patriotism.
If it's the American say a pledge to a flag every morning and love the flag/red, white, blue type patriotsm, then yeah, we hate it.
But we're very patriotic in the sense that most Australians love this country.
Spike-X
09-09-2006, 09:09 PM
Post removed.
Just saving Cronin the trouble of doing it himself later.
Sleeper
09-10-2006, 12:09 AM
... I mean, seriously. Mel Gibson claims to be from Australia, and he was born in New York.
He may have been born in NY, but he was bred in Australia. More years in the big brown land rule over the roost in roots.
Sanagi
09-10-2006, 06:38 PM
And another thing, is it the biggest island or the smallest continent? Make up your minds, you can't have it both ways!
Why not? We're just that good!
Mwa ha ha
jaguarshark
09-10-2006, 06:53 PM
And another thing, is it the biggest island or the smallest continent? Make up your minds, you can't have it both ways!
That reminds me so much of the episode of 'My Name Is Earl' with the world's tallest midget and the world's shortest giant.
We're really just an average size, and it's all a big marketing scam.
Valmore
09-10-2006, 08:14 PM
What's a wooden wombat?
Sleeper
09-10-2006, 09:59 PM
A wooden wombat looks like (http://flickr.com/photos/christop/49925393/) a rather uncomfortable seat.
Until they change the definitions like they did on Pluto, we're both the biggest island and the smallest continent.
howyadoin
09-10-2006, 10:05 PM
Until they change the definitions like they did on Pluto, we're both the biggest island and the smallest continent.Antarctica doesn't count as an island, I assume?
Paul Newell
09-10-2006, 11:41 PM
Antarctica doesn't count as an island, I assume?
Good question. I have a feeling it doesn't count...In the same way that all the other continents aren't considered to be islands. You bastard! I've got work to do and you're making me go off and search the internet!
howyadoin
09-10-2006, 11:43 PM
Good question. I have a feeling it doesn't count...In the same way that all the other continents aren't considered to be islands. You bastard! I've got work to do and you're making me go off and search the internet!I'll want visual references.
Sanagi
09-11-2006, 12:13 AM
I figured it out. Australia is just three big peninsulas stuck to each other, with no actual mainland.
Michael P
09-11-2006, 05:04 AM
God at Creation: "OK, I think I'll just put the most poisonous shit I can think of (points at Australia) here."
God in the 19th Century: "OK, that did *not* mean I wanted you to use it as a prison. Not cool, people."
God at the birth of Steve Irwin: "Oh, I have a bad feeling about this..."
Paul Newell
09-11-2006, 06:43 AM
I'll want visual references.
This is about the only answer I could find:
Re: Are Antarctica and Australia both considered islands and if not, why not?
Date: Sat Nov 25 02:02:23 2000
Posted By: Steve Williams, Staff, Science Demonstrator, Pacific Science Center
Area of science: Earth Sciences
Message:
Hi Melissa!
You have asked a great question that gets at one of the two basic things scientists do -- take measurements and make definitions. In this case, you identified a problem with a definition: What is an island and what is a continent. Before I researched your question, I thought I knew a good answer to this question, but it turns out there is more to this than first meets the eye.
What we should do is take a look at some definitions, and you can decide for yourself the answer (don't worry, I'll give you my answer too).
An island is a body of land surrounded on all sides by water.
A continent is a body of land surrounded on all sides by water.
Ok, so far, we have gotten nowhere.
A continent is a very, very large body of land, while an island is not. Ok, that helps, but maybe we can find some other clues to help us out.
Islands tend to have less variation (differences) in their terrain. They tend to be just deserts, forests, mountains, etc.
Continents have many types of terrain, including mountain ranges, major rivers, and large plains.
Here's a good one. With islands having only one type of major terrain, we can narrow the field down. This means Greenland is an island, but Australia is not, as it has a couple of tiny mountain ranges, and a few kinda big rivers. But if you were to compare Australia with other continents, it's mountains are really tiny, and it's rivers are pretty small too. Antarctica doesn't have any real rivers and it's terrain is all covered in ice.
Islands tend to be isolated biologically. They have plants and animals found nowhere else or only on nearby islands. Also, many islands have different plants and animals from nearby islands. Continents have large groups of animals of many types, and can share these types with other continents.
Ok, now we have a problem. Australia fits this definition of an island perfectly. You can definitely say Antarctica fits this definition too! It looks like we have a contradiction here. Let's explore further.
Here's the kicker, and the real reason they are continents: Antarctica and Australia have types of rocks in them that are "continental rocks." Islands have rocks that are very different -- normally these island rocks are made of similar stuff as ocean rocks. So here's where we can definitely call them continents. They have drifted around for a long, long time (even before the dinosaurs), and have rocks pretty much similar to how they were back when the dinosaurs roamed the earth. Islands normally are a lot "younger," and they tend to not hang around for super long times like continents.
So here's my answer. Both Australia and Antarctica are "island continents." Not because they are islands in the rock sense, but because they are islands in the plants and animals sense. They are rocky continents, and animal-and-planty islands.
One more thing - the reason Australia is always called an "island continent" has nothing to do with my answer. It has everything to do with tradition. It's been called an island continent for a long time by explorers and early settlers, and the name has stuck. These traditions can be pretty hard to go against. My Microsoft Encarta calls Australia an "island continent" in the first sentence. Antarctica is not called much of anything, mostly because it's so new to us humans. We have only really known it exists since the late 1800s and we haven't really started exploring it until the 1940s. Not much time to make a name for itself. Now that I think of it, I have always heard it called the "Mystery Continent." Maybe in a hundred years someone will ask why some people call it that...
My sources were my college Physical Geography textbook (Introducing Physical Geography by Strahler and Strahler) and Microsoft Encarta.
Take Care and Be Safe,
Steve Williams
Rock Star and Science Demonstrator
Pacific Science Center, Seattle, Washington
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