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Post by templeton on Jun 23, 2015 1:04:11 GMT -5
Well, richard, I believe our constitution still makes room for a kiwi-kanga joint venture - plenty of land over here where it never snows - it never rains either, but you can't have everything  T |
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Post by richardw on Jun 23, 2015 22:50:05 GMT -5
Just dont like the idea of those bush fires you fella's get hammered with at times though.
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Post by templeton on Jun 23, 2015 23:28:34 GMT -5
and there was me thinking you would mention snakes, spiders, jellyfish, crocs and cricket...  T |
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Post by steev on Jun 24, 2015 0:10:29 GMT -5
Bush fires; well, there's something we've not to worry about in Cali; oh, wait; yes. we do; cricket, not so much (although the Indians are coming in).
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Post by richardw on Jun 24, 2015 17:03:33 GMT -5
Oh bugger.. forgot to mention snakes, spiders, jellyfish, crocs but we wont talk about the cricket
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Post by rowan on Jun 24, 2015 19:02:17 GMT -5
You forgot about the drop bears Gregg
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Post by steev on Jun 24, 2015 19:38:54 GMT -5
"Drop bears"?
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Post by Joseph Lofthouse on Jun 24, 2015 19:53:22 GMT -5
The southern hemisphere's version of a Chupacabra. |
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Post by steev on Jun 24, 2015 20:16:11 GMT -5
Oh. So it isn't just some imaginary bogey-beast.
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Post by rowan on Jun 24, 2015 21:07:02 GMT -5
Shhh, it is what we use to scare overseas visitors into pooping themselves when we take them out in the bush (don't tell, lol)- well that and the snakes and irukandji...and the blue ring octopus, scorpions, sharks, spiders..... crocodiles, paralysis ticks.....
At least we don't have lions and bears though, that would scare the life out of me.
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Post by rowan on Jun 24, 2015 23:22:59 GMT -5
Oh, and I suppose I should mention the stinging trees which hurt so much if you brush against them that you go mad and want to commit suicide - which people have done when they couldn't stand the agony any longer. I love this country.
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Post by steev on Jun 25, 2015 0:24:14 GMT -5
We all have our favorite mythical and real dangers. Oooo!
As a zoologist, I love all our cousins (even those I can't stand; gophers, ticks, mosquitoes, you know who you are). Blue-ringed octopus, goannas, such wonderful creatures! Those that can hurt us are to be known and respected, not feared or eradicated; they so often have seniority, and who is more dangerous and threatening to the whole ecosystem than we?
What a wonderful world we have; may we relate to it with humility and appreciation of the marvels it contains.
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Post by templeton on Jun 25, 2015 2:41:35 GMT -5
As a colleague of mine remarked (in reference to north america) "we might have the worlds 10 most venemous snakes, but we don't have 1 tonne toplevel predators that can smell last years shampoo from miles away, then wander into camp and peel you from your sleeping bag like a banana...
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Post by templeton on Jun 25, 2015 2:47:17 GMT -5
Oh. So it isn't just some imaginary bogeys beast. Strangely, only ever heard by first time campers, and gullible backpackers. But the giant stinging trees are real. Theres a well documented report in Everist's 'Poisonous plants of australia' of horses running themselves to death after falling into one. Be careful what you wipe your ass with in those rainforest edges. No, i dont mean donkey. t |
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Post by steev on Jun 25, 2015 4:15:53 GMT -5
Yeah, well, poison oak for poo-paper, too. Every environment has its dangers; it's all a learning opportunity. Those who don't learn, don't prosper.
I will return to my point about the importance of precise language, as a medium for the transmission of knowledge; if we have to re-invent the wheel each generation, we're never going to be able to cruise down the road, stereo blasting, on a Saturday night. If not, we might as well still be living in caves.
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