Quoth the Raven

Crikey, I can't believe Steve Irwin is gone...

I still recall watching Steve Irwin in a South Park episode when I lived in Sydney, Australia. Of course, I didn't know the character was Steve Irwin at the time; it would take many, many miles and a relocation to the USA before I learned the facts. With the excessive amount of programs on cable in this country you would think that maybe we could have missed seeing the Croc man - but that's wasn't the case. I saw Steve while channel surfing one day. I was actually trying to find something decent to watch on day time television and all I could come up with was the Crocodile Hunter! That is until I stumbled onto Court TV with Nancy Grace (before she hit the big time with her own show) but that is another post altogether.

I initially though the Croc man was a freak! Well, you have to admit that it takes a freak to mess around with a crocodile that could easily devour him. So I didn't really get too attached to the Croc Hunter but Joel sure did. It seemed that every time I turned around Joel was sitting watching Steve exhibit courage - or lunacy - with another wild animal. In the end I really had to put my foot down and tell Joel that I am not watching another Steve Irwin show.

But then something changed.

In time the man started to grow on me, and it wasn't because of the dreadful accent - it was his love for animals. This man adored animals, and not only that but he made it his mission to show the world just how important it is to protect them and preserve their habitat. I must also admit that it was also refreshing to see a fellow aussie in action - just being himself.

Well, it has been just over a week since we heard the news that our Aussie mate is now gone. I cannot express the sadness I felt when I heard the news. Maybe it is because he was such an Australian icon here in the US, or maybe the fact that he was only 44yrs old and had his whole life ahead of him. I think it is all of these things, and the fact that his absence will leave a deep void with his wife, his children and the numerous fans who loved him.

RIP Steve Irwin

"Where the bloody hell are you?"

That is the title for the latest Australian Tourism ad campaign - but maybe it should read 'Where's your bloody sense of humour?" It appears that the poms (aka people who reside in England) have lost what little sense of humour they had, or maybe it was swept away with all those torrential rains they get over there? 

Hey, to be honest I love the poms! My parents are Irish and I have many relatives and friends that are English, or just happen to live in England. What seems bizarre to me is that the English actually have a wickedly funny sense of humour, which is why I mostly watch the American BBC. So what the hell is wrong with you pommys? Why the complaints about using the word 'bloody?' I have to give the poms the benefit of the doubt and assume that just like in America a few uptight individuals control the media are often heard, not because they say what the major populace feel, but because they say it the loudest.

So why am I even commenting on this commercial, well I just happened to read the Sydney Morning Herald online and saw this article:

By Julian Lee Marketing Reporter
March 10, 2006

TRUST the bloody Poms - they can dish it out but they can't take it. More than four centuries after the word "bloody" first appeared in English, British authorities have rejected its use in an advertising campaign to promote Australia as a tourist destination.

The controversial ad campaign, which asks tourists "where the bloody hell" they are, has hit a snag in Britain after regulators deemed the ad too blue to go to air.

Australia's peak tourism body will be forced to take the word out of TV ads and posters before its debut next week, a move that has delivered Tourism Australia something of a publicity coup.

It is taking out full-page ads in the British press directing readers to the website where the full "uncut" version can be seen. Such is the anticipation around the ad that Tourism Australia is already claiming 100,000 British visitors to its website. More than 700,000 Brits visited Australia last year, spending $3.4 billion, making Britain the most valuable market.

But the agency behind the ad, M&C Saatchi, is less amused. One of its partners, Bill Muirhead, has pointed out that the Broadcast Advertising Clearance Centre - which vets all British TV ads - has allowed ads from companies such as FCUK to go to air.

"It's bloody pathetic," said Mr Muirhead, an Australian. "When you look at what's on air generally [in programming] then look at the sort of ads that get through then it's ludicrous. We are going to see if we can take legal action."

Next week he will join tourism executives to put pressure on the British TV networks to override the clearance centre's decision. Australia's high commissioner, Richard Alston, has already complained to the body.

In Australia the ad has attracted some complaints on which the Advertising Standards Bureau will deliberate soon. At least four ads with the word bloody are on air in Australia. The bureau's chief, Fiona Jolly, said: "We've never upheld a complaint before but we look at each ad on its merit."

The publisher of the Macquarie Dictionary, Susan Butler, said bloody's origins in English dated back to 1676, when it referred to someone who was a "drunk as a blood" - colloquial for a noble.

"Now that variations of the F-word have taken over from bloody it's now considered mild and quaint," she said.

* I have seen the ad and think that it is bloody brilliant. A big applause to the clever executives at M&C Saatchi for creating such a wonderful ad that really does capture the good natured personalities of the average Australian. Oh, and lets not forget to mention the amazing images from the great downunder. So if you are game, and the use of the word bloody will not harm your senses - then you can view the add here

Sun, Surf & Shark

Oh, how I miss living near Bondi Beach but I don't miss this - Aaaaarghhh - Shark!

I stumbled upon this article in Aquabumps

Read on...

Wednesday, December 07, 2005

Different morning down at Bondi today. No waves. Zip. Barely anyone in the water...no swimmers doing laps of the bay, very few shore paddlers. What's up?

Well we had a special guest last night at Bondi - not Rasta, not Taj... just a large shark around the south headland at 6pm. The shark faffed about, headed into Mackenzie's Bay, had a sniff around before being disturbed by a brave Anthony Carroll on the beachies jetski. Around 50 onlookers from the cliff witnessed the special visit...thanks to Dan Matthewson for snapping a few shots for the bumps.

Rod Kerr has been a lifeguard down at Bondi for ten years. Rod reckons it's the biggest he's seen in Bondi for a decade ...calling it around 12 foot...Bronzer or Tiger. It's said the attraction was a spearfish man burleying up off the south headland. No one hurt...the big fish headed back out to sea in search for a snack. The beachies evacuated the beaches nonetheless...

Food! Glorious Food!

Sydney is definitely the place to find it.

Sydney is the hub of fine dining, a city surrounded by picturesqe scenes, aswell as absolutely gorgeous people.

One such restaurant to find all this and more is Cafe Sydney. Don't be fooled by the name, this restaurant is in no way to be compared to a cafe.

With views overlooking the famous Sydney Harbour Bridge, that alone is worth reserving a table for, but add to that the fine dining, and the attentive staff, and you have Cafe Sydney.

If you get the chance to visit the land downunder, and find yourself wandering around the Rocks in Sydney, get yourself to Cafe Sydney - you won't be disappointed.

Lets look at some Australian exports

Well I desperately had to make some time to add another post. I, seriously could not go another day looking at Mister Creepy from the previous post. Every time I opened my blog there he was looking back at me....ooooh so gross!

You may have seen this guy around, gazing down at you from a Times Square billboard, or in any number of magazines. Let me introduce you to Calvin Klein model Travis Fimmel; also an Australian.

Travis is a humble lad, handpicked from a farm just outside Echuca, Victoria. When asked to do the Calvin Klein underwear ad he responded with distaste ""No way mate, I'm not wearing jocks." Yes, I always said good things come out of Australia. So here is his bio...

Name: Travis Fimmel aka Travis
Nickname: Rangi
Date of Birth: July 15, 1979
Birth Place: 40km outside Echuca, Victoria, Australia
Star sign: Cancer
Height: 6'0" (183 cm)
Suit: 40R
Shirt: 15 1/2-33
Waist: 32
Inseam: 33
Shoe: 10
Hair: Dark Blond
Eyes: Blue-green
Hobbies: Snow skiing, footy, guitar, motorcycles
Residence: Los Angeles
Parents: Chris, a cattle farmer, and Jennie, a nurse
Education: Attended RMIT University in Melbourne
Agency: New York Model Management

The Great Ocean Road

This is the Twelve Apostles, part of the beauty of the Great Ocean Road in Victoria, Australia. I was born in Melbourne and decided to move to Sydney after I got married. But as much as I absolutely adore Sydney, with every visit to Melbourne, I must return to the Great Ocean Road.

The Great Ocean Road is 160 miles (or 400 kms) of scenic coastline that seems to go on for eternity when you are driving along it. I think the most challenging part of the drive is trying not to look at the views while driving! That is a task in itself. If you are a surfer this is definitely the place to be, and to be seen. The main area between Torquay and Lorne is known as the Surfcoast. This area is made up of many beaches; Bells Beach, Jan Juc, 13th Beach, Breamlea, the list goes on.

Growing up I still recall my first experience along the Surf Coast. I must have been about 12 years old and my sister decided to let me go away with her for the weekend. She was 17 and was dating a surfer dude who had a really cool Sandman panel van. I thought it was all so fantastic, being young and getting to hang out with my older sister and her surfer friends.

We stopped at the beach and while laying out my beach towel, I heard a commotion down by the waters edge. Some guys and their girlfriends had just arrived and were getting ready for a swim. Sounds simple enough, except the girls were resisting? It wasn't long before I found out what all the resisting was about. The guys had stripped down to nothing and were playing jump frog! Yes I am not exagerating - jump frog start naked!

I guess you could say I was a little shocked? I then looked over to my sister to see her and her friends in fits of laughter. They knew from the beginning that this particular beach was a local nude beach but thought it would be funny to see my reaction.

I am sure I must have had frequent nightmares involving naked guys playing leap frog. And yes the memory remains......eww.

I still call Australia home

I have decided to randomly include bits and pieces of information about my homeland, Australia. It may be a great cafe, photos of a particular event in my life, or a newsworthy item that just may interest the blogging masses, or not.

Either way this is my story and I will tell it which ever way I please. But I invite you to come with me and see Australia through my eyes. Maybe you can take a little piece of the land downunder away with you?

Some topics that will be covered:

• Australian models/actors/friends
• Restaurants/cafes/arts
• The great outdoors
• Australian bands
• Hot news

Let the journey begin...