Author Topic: strange in a stranger land.  (Read 3567 times)

Biscuit Gravy

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  • Posts: 78
strange in a stranger land.
« on: December 07, 2014, 10:55:57 PM »
hello (g'day)..

it only took me 14 years to find the Best Show, and it took moving to Australia to do so.  admittedly, I may be slow, but I can't be blamed for not having good taste.   

As a sign of goodwill, I've attempted to condense my first post into an easy-to-read list:
  • I've just plowed through a year and a half of the back-archive.
  • I have to constantly explain to my Aussie wife "why it's funny when all he does is hang up on people"
  • I think hanging up on people is funny, but now question my wife's taste in "funny".
  • I cry at my desk at least twice a day, with the last being over talk of Robert Plant's sexually harassing trousermonster.
  • I've somehow convinced myself to post my allegiance on an internet message board, a dying medium if there ever was one (see also: tears).
  • my forum-name is designed to confuse and annoy Australians.
  • I say I'm from Texas, but really, it might be Southern California.
  • I'm quite certain that The Best Show is/was/and will always be the best show.
so, yeah, hi 'n stuff.

Biscuit Gravy

  • Policemans heel
  • Posts: 78
Re: strange in a stranger land.
« Reply #1 on: December 07, 2014, 11:03:30 PM »
also, if it helps, I'm quite certain I too have achilles tendon bursitis.   :-[

PS: O, GOD, THE CAPTCHA

fonpr

  • Space Champion!
  • Posts: 4099
Re: strange in a stranger land.
« Reply #2 on: December 08, 2014, 08:30:32 AM »
Nice first post. Captcha will be gone soon.
"Like it or not, Florida seems dedicated to a 'live fast, die' way of doing things."

Biscuit Gravy

  • Policemans heel
  • Posts: 78
Re: strange in a stranger land.
« Reply #3 on: December 08, 2014, 03:31:56 PM »
typically, I'm ok with robot-control, but this captcha appears to be designed by Skynet, and made to filter out the humans.  I keep requesting another image, but I swear that it just gives me a more messed up version on the same letters that I cannot make out...

I'd also like to avoid the plantar fascitiis that appears to be going around this board; the last time I swore it would kill me.  NEEDLES IN MY FEET.


euphoriafish

  • Plantar Fasciitis
  • Posts: 42
Re: strange in a stranger land.
« Reply #4 on: December 22, 2014, 07:47:24 PM »
hello (g'day)..

it only took me 14 years to find the Best Show, and it took moving to Australia to do so.  admittedly, I may be slow, but I can't be blamed for not having good taste.   

As a sign of goodwill, I've attempted to condense my first post into an easy-to-read list:
  • I've just plowed through a year and a half of the back-archive.
  • I have to constantly explain to my Aussie wife "why it's funny when all he does is hang up on people"
  • I think hanging up on people is funny, but now question my wife's taste in "funny".
  • I cry at my desk at least twice a day, with the last being over talk of Robert Plant's sexually harassing trousermonster.
  • I've somehow convinced myself to post my allegiance on an internet message board, a dying medium if there ever was one (see also: tears).
  • my forum-name is designed to confuse and annoy Australians.
  • I say I'm from Texas, but really, it might be Southern California.
  • I'm quite certain that The Best Show is/was/and will always be the best show.
so, yeah, hi 'n stuff.

I'm new too.  So is Australia being good to you?  Is there anything you miss from Texas or SoCal?
Looking for keyboard lute bandmates in Lord of the Rings Online to play songs from Spaced Out (Shatner and Nimoy) and any other greatest hits.  Find Percabald on Brandywine server most days 9-12 US cst, O to friend, IM to IM.  30 min maybe to new hobbit minstrel with lute.

Biscuit Gravy

  • Policemans heel
  • Posts: 78
Re: strange in a stranger land.
« Reply #5 on: December 22, 2014, 09:44:07 PM »
Australia is beautiful, and the people are nice.  Somedays, I feel like I'm in some sort of Bizarro Texas though.  Country Victoria looks a lot like the Lone Star State, but with hills, and the people are often just as hard to understand.

I'd say, other than friends, the things I miss are well-made Mexican food, cheap margaritas, and a car.  ubiquitous public transportation is a blessing, but when it's pissing down rain (which is often, here in Melbourne), the walk to the store is a drag.

I don't think I was quite prepared for the level of socialism here.  not that it's a bad thing, just that I work in a public hospital and I'm paid the same as someone who's been here for 30 years.  it kind of destroys the need/desire to bust your ass for a raise (because there's not one coming, unless the union gets it for you).  that said, 'free' health care is a wonderous thing.

euphoriafish

  • Plantar Fasciitis
  • Posts: 42
Re: strange in a stranger land.
« Reply #6 on: December 27, 2014, 08:02:15 PM »
Australia is beautiful, and the people are nice.  Somedays, I feel like I'm in some sort of Bizarro Texas though.

Ha!  I've always wanted to go there. More for the weird animals than the weird people though.  And I already know I couldn't live there if it's all sand and mud.

I'd say, other than friends, the things I miss are well-made Mexican food, cheap margaritas, and a car.

That sounds like my experience the year I studied abroad in Japan.  Technically we were able to get ingredients for Mexican food by going to Costco, but it wasn't great, and quality guacamole was impossible. And the Tokyo metro was wonderful except for all the long stair rails in and out of each station, like NYC or Philly but cleaner.  Why can't it be more like the Caltrain in San Francisco or the light rail in Minneapolis, with maybe one ramp up to the platform?  Sure there were elevators, but sometimes they were hidden and sometimes seemingly nonexistent.

I don't think I was quite prepared for the level of socialism here.  not that it's a bad thing, just that I work in a public hospital and I'm paid the same as someone who's been here for 30 years.  it kind of destroys the need/desire to bust your ass for a raise (because there's not one coming, unless the union gets it for you).  that said, 'free' health care is a wonderous thing.

I guess THAT is why the conservatives here argue against socialism.  I always thought, "Don't we want that too?" but yeah, I suppose the one great thing about capitalism is that competition for achievement based raises improves quality of goods/services produced.  I hope I understand correctly that we're moving toward a hybrid system of socialist/capitalist healthcare.  Pharma commercials here still bother me, but I love that everyone has a basic insurance plan now.
Looking for keyboard lute bandmates in Lord of the Rings Online to play songs from Spaced Out (Shatner and Nimoy) and any other greatest hits.  Find Percabald on Brandywine server most days 9-12 US cst, O to friend, IM to IM.  30 min maybe to new hobbit minstrel with lute.

Biscuit Gravy

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  • Posts: 78
Re: strange in a stranger land.
« Reply #7 on: December 28, 2014, 06:11:14 PM »
the habitable zone of Oz is lush and green, and full of ferns that belong in dinosaur documentaries, while the bowl-shaped center is a wasteland of red dirt and rocks, much like Oklahoma, and Mad Max movies.

America has a strange fear of socialism going back to the 50's.  in fact, during my wife's green card interview at the Dept. of Homeland Security, the very first question she was asked was "are you a communist?", and the next was "are you a sexual deviant?" (a question my too-expensive lawyer coached me not to explore for further explanation).  "why, no and no, sir, or course!" [wink wink]

although I'm loathe to use internet message boards as a means for serious discussion, I have 15 years experience in medical practice management, specializing in billing medical insurance claims, and I'm sad to say that America got played right into the abyssal pockets of Big Insurance.  it's easy to fear the pharmaceutical companies, but at least they are (relatively) up front about what it is they have to offer (even if it's mostly in small-print). 

I voted for Obama (twice), and had great hopes that he might bring about the change that was needed to fix the system. a one-payor system, like they have in the Commonwealths should have been what we got.  it works.  instead, the people who were least likely to be able to afford insurance in the first place (take service industry folks, for example), are now subject to taxation should they fail to secure a plan.  even the apparent boon of not being denied for pre-existing conditions is offset by the fact that you'll be placed into a "high-risk pool" (read: $$$$$ premium costs).

if it wasn't for the red scare, people might have been really able to rely on medical care not driving them to the poor house, a job at which I was often made to play the conductor.

[/rant]

so, are you a pisces, or into kinky fish?

(protip: don't answer if you have a pending US immigration case)

bigginsjp

  • Achilles bursitis
  • Posts: 122
Re: strange in a stranger land.
« Reply #8 on: December 30, 2014, 12:36:33 PM »

  • I have to constantly explain to my Aussie wife "why it's funny when all he does is hang up on people"


This is virtually impossible to explain (as has been well documented around here). IMO it comes down to 'getting' Tom and his style. It helps to have some contextual background too, like (in terms of influences on TBS) Howard Stern (e.g. using the phone line(s) as a comedic device).

Biscuit Gravy

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  • Posts: 78
Re: strange in a stranger land.
« Reply #9 on: December 30, 2014, 05:00:08 PM »
I completely agree, even if I shudder at comparing Mr. Sharpling to Howard Stern in any sort of context; I mean, he's more of an Art Bell.

I just cackled.