Q. Except for the "crazy chicken" that, it seems, is scary more due to size and mannerisms than aggression, per se, are any of the 'wild' animals you encountered ones that are threats to humans?
A. From all the animals I have encountered so far, there are some that are threats to humans, but within certain categories. Obviously if you threaten most animals that have any mass at all, they can be dangerous, but here are the other interesting ones. In my opinion, emus must be a threat, but since I don't have much info on them, I'll leave them out for now.
Kangaroos and wombats are a threat to drivers. Kangaroos are similar to deer - they come out at dusk, are overpopulated, and can be bad news for your car in a game of chicken on the road. Wombats are a lot smaller, so I was surprised to hear that they also pose significant road risk. They are like mini tanks, I hear, and can cause a car to flip if you hit it right.
Dingos (wild dog-type animals) can be a threat to humans, though they actually pose more of a threat to sheep and similar animals. In fact, the southeast quarter of Australia (primarily Victoria and New South Wales) are protected from dingo invasions by a huge fence that runs through the country and into the Outback to keep the dogs out. Kind of like the Great Wall of China - on a budget. The fence is just post and wires, so don't plan to take many pictures in front of it. So, who let the dogs out? From what I understand, Asians migrating to Australia way back in the day brought some sort of dog across, which mixed with some native dog-like animals producing the dingo.
Now, for what you really want to know - deadly animals. Yes, they are here. I haven't run into many, but they don't have to be far away. Some of the deadliest (if not THE deadliest) snakes and spiders live here. The spiders actually can be nearby here too. And they aren't the big, hairy ones similar to tarantulas (which are also not deadly) - they are ones that sound oddly reminiscent of black widows or brown recluses: medium sized, indicative stripe of red.
Crocs and sharks and stingrays, and deadly fish are also around, but I haven't been to the beaches that much yet, so I don't know much about them right now.
Thursday, September 6, 2007
Thursday, August 30, 2007
Multiculturalism
Question: How have people responded to you as an American? What kind of mix of people is there?
Answer:
The percent people quote is that 25% of people in Australia were not born here, and 40% of people have at least one parent who is a first-generation immigrant.
I think that there must be many places in the rest of Australia where there are no foreigners if that statistic is true, because in Melbourne, everyone is from somewhere else. Malaysia, the UK, the US, South Africa, New Zealand, India, Holland, Greece, Italy, and on and on and on. In fact, they say that Melbourne is second only to Athens in the number of Greek people here.
That's why the food here is so good. It's also why the food that is good here isn't really "Australian" at all, but world cuisine. I love it. The only thing I don't see enough of is Latin American food, and that's not to say it doesn't exist.
There are a lot of Australians here, so don't let me mislead you. But I sometimes have a hard time nailing down the Australian accent because I'm never sure who really has it. What's great is how well everyone gets along. It is truly a melting pot of cultures in Melbourne, with everyone coexisting well. There are places where populations are more concentrated - Chinatown on Bourke Street downtown; Lygon Street for Italians and Greeks - but there is almost always a mix.
The most culturally diverse area of Melbourne is said to be Dandenong (the suburb, not to be confused with the Dandenongs, the mountain range / forest east of Melbourne). I've only been to Dandenong once, and I hear it isn't the place to be, but it is diverse.
What's great also is the blend of cultures. There is an Asia festival starting up in a couple weeks; there are Western musicals and ballets; people playing sytars along wtih guitars on the streets; European markets; American fast food (unfortunately, that must be our claim to fame); etc.
A world apart, and a world city.
Answer:
The percent people quote is that 25% of people in Australia were not born here, and 40% of people have at least one parent who is a first-generation immigrant.
I think that there must be many places in the rest of Australia where there are no foreigners if that statistic is true, because in Melbourne, everyone is from somewhere else. Malaysia, the UK, the US, South Africa, New Zealand, India, Holland, Greece, Italy, and on and on and on. In fact, they say that Melbourne is second only to Athens in the number of Greek people here.
That's why the food here is so good. It's also why the food that is good here isn't really "Australian" at all, but world cuisine. I love it. The only thing I don't see enough of is Latin American food, and that's not to say it doesn't exist.
There are a lot of Australians here, so don't let me mislead you. But I sometimes have a hard time nailing down the Australian accent because I'm never sure who really has it. What's great is how well everyone gets along. It is truly a melting pot of cultures in Melbourne, with everyone coexisting well. There are places where populations are more concentrated - Chinatown on Bourke Street downtown; Lygon Street for Italians and Greeks - but there is almost always a mix.
The most culturally diverse area of Melbourne is said to be Dandenong (the suburb, not to be confused with the Dandenongs, the mountain range / forest east of Melbourne). I've only been to Dandenong once, and I hear it isn't the place to be, but it is diverse.
What's great also is the blend of cultures. There is an Asia festival starting up in a couple weeks; there are Western musicals and ballets; people playing sytars along wtih guitars on the streets; European markets; American fast food (unfortunately, that must be our claim to fame); etc.
A world apart, and a world city.
Monday, August 20, 2007
Politics and Government
Some questions have come in about law here, and I have had some thoughts I wanted to share anyway, so here's my makeshift question:
Q: What is the political / governmental system like in Australia?
A: Now, keep in mind that I don't have a full understanding of things, but I do have a few things I would like to point out.
First, once you are 18, you gain the right to vote. With that right comes another obligation - you are REQUIRED to vote! Not voting in a public election is considered a crime! Now, that's a double-edged sword, since uninformed people are required to vote, but it is a very different concept than we are used to in America.
Second, Australia is a federation - a commonwealth, not a republic. There was a recent referendum on the subject, and the people decided they like the way things are. Among other things, that means they still have some token allegiance to the Crown (which is why the Queen appears on some of the money), and they still get to participate in the Commonwealth Games.
Third, my real topic of discussion: the exchange between the state and federal governments. I have loved following some of the recent political issues here, ranging from water rights to port authorities, where the federal government has tried to take over, coerce, or badger states to do its bidding. States fight back, and with a vengeance! Victoria (VIC, where I live) has been fighting against plans related to water systems along the river where it borders New South Wales (NSW). NSW has already blessed the plan, and what is funny is that NSW actually owns the river itself. VIC only has claim to the southern bank where the water touches. The Federal government (through John Howard, Prime Minister), has claimed rights to the water despite VIC's grumblings, and VIC is challenging that the constitution does not allow the Federal government that power.
In an unrelated matter, the Federal government (once again through John Howard) has expressed displeasure with certain states' abilities to manage their ports, due to increasing demand to/from China over the past couple years. In particular, Queensland has been picked out for some of its slowdowns (Queensland is the state that is most northeastern, and is where the Great Barrier Reef is). Queensland's executive has shot back a salvo of badgering comments against the federal government saying that this is an election year antic that threatens the federation.
Education systems are different among the states as well. I bring this up as a political / governmental matter because of the strong arm the federal government has through tax appropriations in the US, despite the fact that managing education is not reserved as a federal power.
So, my take on it is that I love the preservation of state sovereignty here. The interplay between the bodies of state and federal government shows me that both are strong and hold each other in check. Just as they should.
Q: What is the political / governmental system like in Australia?
A: Now, keep in mind that I don't have a full understanding of things, but I do have a few things I would like to point out.
First, once you are 18, you gain the right to vote. With that right comes another obligation - you are REQUIRED to vote! Not voting in a public election is considered a crime! Now, that's a double-edged sword, since uninformed people are required to vote, but it is a very different concept than we are used to in America.
Second, Australia is a federation - a commonwealth, not a republic. There was a recent referendum on the subject, and the people decided they like the way things are. Among other things, that means they still have some token allegiance to the Crown (which is why the Queen appears on some of the money), and they still get to participate in the Commonwealth Games.
Third, my real topic of discussion: the exchange between the state and federal governments. I have loved following some of the recent political issues here, ranging from water rights to port authorities, where the federal government has tried to take over, coerce, or badger states to do its bidding. States fight back, and with a vengeance! Victoria (VIC, where I live) has been fighting against plans related to water systems along the river where it borders New South Wales (NSW). NSW has already blessed the plan, and what is funny is that NSW actually owns the river itself. VIC only has claim to the southern bank where the water touches. The Federal government (through John Howard, Prime Minister), has claimed rights to the water despite VIC's grumblings, and VIC is challenging that the constitution does not allow the Federal government that power.
In an unrelated matter, the Federal government (once again through John Howard) has expressed displeasure with certain states' abilities to manage their ports, due to increasing demand to/from China over the past couple years. In particular, Queensland has been picked out for some of its slowdowns (Queensland is the state that is most northeastern, and is where the Great Barrier Reef is). Queensland's executive has shot back a salvo of badgering comments against the federal government saying that this is an election year antic that threatens the federation.
Education systems are different among the states as well. I bring this up as a political / governmental matter because of the strong arm the federal government has through tax appropriations in the US, despite the fact that managing education is not reserved as a federal power.
So, my take on it is that I love the preservation of state sovereignty here. The interplay between the bodies of state and federal government shows me that both are strong and hold each other in check. Just as they should.
Friday, August 3, 2007
You're Not From Around Here....
Question: I am curious as to how the "locals" treat a good ol' American kid from the states. Can you tell a difference? Can they tell a difference?
Answer: I think they are pretty used to outsiders (there's a pending blog on multiculturalism). And strangely, things are very "American" here in more ways than I originally expected. I thought it would be very "UK", but I have been surprised by the American influence. Half (or more) of the TV shows on the networks (I don't have "pay tv") are American.
People say that Aussies and Kiwis (New Zealanders) are the most hospitable of all people. That's what I've experienced. People are more than willing to welcome you. We sometimes joke at each others' accents - but when I tell people I'd like to pick up a little bit of Aussie, they tell me not to ruin my American accent - because they like it!
I wouldn't say I get treated any differently, in general, except that people sometimes give me a break on certain things. I've only had one or two times that someone couldn't understand me (thank you American TV). Being an American is just a trait like any other that people use to make conversation, or place a good-humored jab.
Except for my cab driver tonight - who was friendly enough - but went on a tirade about how badly we treated Australian soldiers in WWII. Not sure where that came up, but he seemed to have so much angst about it that the rest of the population certainly doesn't need any.
Answer: I think they are pretty used to outsiders (there's a pending blog on multiculturalism). And strangely, things are very "American" here in more ways than I originally expected. I thought it would be very "UK", but I have been surprised by the American influence. Half (or more) of the TV shows on the networks (I don't have "pay tv") are American.
People say that Aussies and Kiwis (New Zealanders) are the most hospitable of all people. That's what I've experienced. People are more than willing to welcome you. We sometimes joke at each others' accents - but when I tell people I'd like to pick up a little bit of Aussie, they tell me not to ruin my American accent - because they like it!
I wouldn't say I get treated any differently, in general, except that people sometimes give me a break on certain things. I've only had one or two times that someone couldn't understand me (thank you American TV). Being an American is just a trait like any other that people use to make conversation, or place a good-humored jab.
Except for my cab driver tonight - who was friendly enough - but went on a tirade about how badly we treated Australian soldiers in WWII. Not sure where that came up, but he seemed to have so much angst about it that the rest of the population certainly doesn't need any.
Monday, July 23, 2007
The Drought
With the most comments and interesting twists of the entries to date, I've decided the Drought warrants its own Q&A.
Questions: I was not aware fresh water was not abundant. Is it a problem of overuse or insufficient replinishment?
How will the drought affect wineries and prices?
Answers: As I mentioned in the first response, I had a hard time buying into the drought itself, given the rainfall I've seen since I've been here. Apparently, though, it's been an issue for several years. It's measured less by actual rainfall, and aquifers, and more by levels at collection sites. I understand that recently, they were at about 30% of normal, down from 50% a few years ago.
As far as whether it's overuse or a replenishment issue, it seems that based on water restrictions, it is hard to blame overuse. No one is allowed to even wash their cars at this point, and they haven't been able to for a while. I heard that last winter (the rainy season), they were lucky to have had three days of rain for the whole season. People have definitely been considering global warming a possible factor.
More interestingly, there is also another theory about the location of the collection sites themselves. Since there has been some rainfall lately, but not into the reservoirs, there has been some argument that they aren't located in the right places. Not something they can do much about in the short term, but it's an interesting theory.
The good news is that with the recent snow a little beyond the city, they are hopeful that the melt will flow into the rivers and down to the collection sites. At least winter has been more rainy than usual, I suppose.
As for wine prices, there is some question about whether they will go up. Since most people have been bearing the burden with the water restrictions, businesses have been able to survive so far, from what I understand, but as the levels dropped below 30%, it is only a matter of time before prices begin to respond. If, however, the recent rain and snow starts to fill things back up, you may not even know it was going on here.
Questions: I was not aware fresh water was not abundant. Is it a problem of overuse or insufficient replinishment?
How will the drought affect wineries and prices?
Answers: As I mentioned in the first response, I had a hard time buying into the drought itself, given the rainfall I've seen since I've been here. Apparently, though, it's been an issue for several years. It's measured less by actual rainfall, and aquifers, and more by levels at collection sites. I understand that recently, they were at about 30% of normal, down from 50% a few years ago.
As far as whether it's overuse or a replenishment issue, it seems that based on water restrictions, it is hard to blame overuse. No one is allowed to even wash their cars at this point, and they haven't been able to for a while. I heard that last winter (the rainy season), they were lucky to have had three days of rain for the whole season. People have definitely been considering global warming a possible factor.
More interestingly, there is also another theory about the location of the collection sites themselves. Since there has been some rainfall lately, but not into the reservoirs, there has been some argument that they aren't located in the right places. Not something they can do much about in the short term, but it's an interesting theory.
The good news is that with the recent snow a little beyond the city, they are hopeful that the melt will flow into the rivers and down to the collection sites. At least winter has been more rainy than usual, I suppose.
As for wine prices, there is some question about whether they will go up. Since most people have been bearing the burden with the water restrictions, businesses have been able to survive so far, from what I understand, but as the levels dropped below 30%, it is only a matter of time before prices begin to respond. If, however, the recent rain and snow starts to fill things back up, you may not even know it was going on here.
Weather Man
Question (paraphrased): Noticed you in the jacket and hat. What's the weather like compared to back home (Tulsa and Detroit)?
Answer: It's really pretty mild. Probably mid-50s for highs, and lows in the 40s. Occasionally, it's gotten near freezing (3 or 4 celcius at one point). The Docklands (where I live) is a little closer to the water than the central business district (by a block or so), so it's generally a little windier here, or so they tell me.
Generally, I get around in a suit for work, and that's all I need for my commute. When I'm out a little longer, sometimes I layer up and wear a shirt, sweater, and light jacket. I don my beanie if I'm just sitting around for a while, but I find that if I'm walking around, I get hot with it on.
For rain, I know I mentioned the drought, but it's a longer term issue than the current weather. Besides, winter is the rainy season here. It's been cloudy quite a bit, and we've had some light rain. Actually, it's not uncommon for me to head out in the morning and notice that it rained a little bit the night before. A week ago or so (when it was near freezing), they got some snow northwest of here (snow isn't common in Melbourne itself).
Melbourne tends to be one of the colder capital cities, but as I said, it's pretty mild. Reminds me mostly of the early part of winter for Tulsa. For Detroit, it's very much like the fall.
Answer: It's really pretty mild. Probably mid-50s for highs, and lows in the 40s. Occasionally, it's gotten near freezing (3 or 4 celcius at one point). The Docklands (where I live) is a little closer to the water than the central business district (by a block or so), so it's generally a little windier here, or so they tell me.
Generally, I get around in a suit for work, and that's all I need for my commute. When I'm out a little longer, sometimes I layer up and wear a shirt, sweater, and light jacket. I don my beanie if I'm just sitting around for a while, but I find that if I'm walking around, I get hot with it on.
For rain, I know I mentioned the drought, but it's a longer term issue than the current weather. Besides, winter is the rainy season here. It's been cloudy quite a bit, and we've had some light rain. Actually, it's not uncommon for me to head out in the morning and notice that it rained a little bit the night before. A week ago or so (when it was near freezing), they got some snow northwest of here (snow isn't common in Melbourne itself).
Melbourne tends to be one of the colder capital cities, but as I said, it's pretty mild. Reminds me mostly of the early part of winter for Tulsa. For Detroit, it's very much like the fall.
Thursday, July 19, 2007
Q&A&
Welcome to the site. This will be the sister blog to www.australian-annals.blogspot.com, where you can post questions through comments, and I'll try to pick some to respond to in brief. Generally, I envision it to work like this: you post a comment that suggests a new Q&A heading (a new blog entry). I'll post your question and my initial response. That might bring up a bunch of follow up questions, so you can post those as comments to that entry. I'll try to keep responding through comments that I post back to the same entry. If a new question spins off, I'll start an entry for that one, but still check for comments on the existing ones.
That's how I see it today, anyway.... We'll see how it goes.
That's how I see it today, anyway.... We'll see how it goes.
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