Australia Day

[mite5255]

On today the 26th of January 1788 the first fleet arrived in Sydney harbour full of people (convicts ) the mother country( England ) didn't want , and so started the settlement of this fine country http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jD3SkTyX ... re=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PKxBT94bWfQ

Mike

[Rocco]

Hope you had a good one mate!

[mite5255]

Hope you had a good one mate!

Yea mate it was ok, still had to work last night tho

Mike

[F.C.]

The only difference between the US and Australia is that with Australia the whites that settled there were pre-sentenced convicts and were relocated due to over crowding of Europe's jails and had no choice (albeit turned out to be a good thing).... in the US, the whites that arrived here were lucky enough to get out of Europe before they, too, ended up dead or sent to Australia for having dared to attempt living "free" as a state of mind and god given right. I love the Aussie mentale.... eliminate the accent and some colorful speech (from either side of the pond) from Alaskans and Aussies you'd never know the difference between the two. I've lived all over the world in my life and can justify that comparison i just described. HAPPY Australia Day, MATE!! I would dearly love to sit and visit with you some day and tip a few pints of brew in the process. CHeers!!

[mite5255]

The only difference between the US and Australia is that with Australia the whites that settled there were pre-sentenced convicts and were relocated due to over crowding of Europe's jails and had no choice (albeit turned out to be a good thing).... in the US, the whites that arrived here were lucky enough to get out of Europe before they, too, ended up dead or sent to Australia for having dared to attempt living "free" as a state of mind and god given right. I love the Aussie mentale.... eliminate the accent and some colorful speech (from either side of the pond) from Alaskans and Aussies you'd never know the difference between the two. I've lived all over the world in my life and can justify that comparison i just described. HAPPY Australia Day, MATE!! I would dearly love to sit and visit with you some day and tip a few pints of brew in the process. CHeers!!

Thanks Frank , when you say you have lived all over the world does that mean you have been down in this part of the world. I myself would love to be able to travel from Vancouver to Alaska through all the wilderness areas BUT in summer. Frank if ever you or any other member of this forum ever visit down this way I'd love to have a few coldies each and everyone of you, now if only we all lived closer together I would think a cast-in would be a great way to spend some time

Mike

[Jammer]

I wish I could have dropped down for Aussie Day. It's cold, wet and snowy here.

[mite5255]

I wish I could have dropped down for Aussie Day. It's cold, wet and snowy here.

Come on down Jammer its only wet here at the moment, which is stopping me from getting anything done

Mike

[F.C.]

Australia is one of the "FEW" places I've never been (sadly). I came close to relocating there when I was fresh out of college (at age 40). I had three children and a wife at the time and was fed up with the way our government was turning out. My plan was to apply there and see what else it took to get in the front door. If I could manage it, I had every intent to start up a foundry beginning with statuary art then branch into utilitarian castings for a bread and butter income. Further research, however, gave me the impression I'd be giving up some inherent rights I seem to take for granted here that wouldn't be afforded me there by your government which is why I opted, instead, moving back to Alaska. Alaska is about the last stronghold in America where a man can still live relatively free of bullshit government rules, taxes and whatnot. It's changing, though, for sure... but, for now, at least, it's still very much a stronghold of free will, entrepenure'ism (sp?) and the right to speak your mind against the government without fear of retribution. Alaskan's have a saying... "we don't give a shit what they do in the lower 48 states, THIS IS ALASKA! Live here 10 years THEN speak your mind how you "THINK" things ought to be done up here." Ninety percent of those that flop here from down south come here because of the income potential, the lack of taxes, the freedoms and after a year residency you can partake in the oil lease profits granted to all residents of the state. Basically, it's free money divided amongst every man woman and child equally. This is something my parents generation established when they first began drilling for oil up here. In a sense, families with several kids get several thousands of dollars annually due the oil profits. Every dividend check since the mid 80's has been in excess of a thousand bucks. Families with lots of kids don't take long to buy a house and pay it off long before anyone could attempt down south. Ninety percent of the ninety percent that come here end up leaving Alaska within a year or two strictly because of the vastness of this land and it's unforgiving climate, not to mention it's excessivley loooooong winters and seemingly endless nights all winter long. Summers are a mere 3 months brief. Spring happens within two weeks as does Fall. It's phenominal how fast it happens. One has to be prepared in this land for any and all contengencies either due to weather or earthqake... or... the wildlife. The limp wristed librals that come here are agast at the level in which every man, woman and child is armed in this country, not to mention the intensity of weather changes that occur. Alaskans learn to work together and help one another as much as possible, a trait that's forign to outsiders, thus outsiders head strong in stick'n to their old customs soon become outside that protective embrace. Within two years they drop everything, and literlly leave here traveling as light as possible to afford to make the 2800 mile trek back south. And everything they leave behind ends up at auction, or at the thrift stores from deposits left by their landlords cleaning out the homes they rented and once occupied. This we call a tail-gate party... pennies on the dollar value of everything up for sale. To Alaskans, it's "GOOD RIDDENCE!" "DOn't let the door hit you in the ass on the way out." Because most that leave spent their time here attempting to re-create Alaska in some fashion they were accustomed to where they once came from. Interesting how they hated where they once were enough to make the move here then wasted their time trying to re-create the existence they were so accustomed to that they hated for so long. Dumb asses....

Mite, it would be a dream come true to take a vacation there in your neck of the woods some day and experience Australia first hand with a native friend at my side. Likewise, I offer the same in kind, not just for you and your family but to all here on this forum as well should you desire to see what Alaska is like. We always have a spare bedroom handy for company, another Alaskan tradition i favor and love. Mite, I'm going to look into how much it costs for me and the Mrs to fly there. Our kids are all grown and moved out on their own, now, so we've been sort'n out what we're going to be doing with our spare time from here on out. It would sure beat going on some lame assed Carnival cruize that's nothing but a floating bar and smorgassboard. I'd drink myself stupid if I had to endure one of them cruises. If the cost is reasonable enough, I'll be get'n back with you on that invite.

Cheers.

[mite5255]

You and your wife are more then welcome Frank, the invitation is also extended to other forum members

Mike