I've always been facisanted with Oceania.

[admin]

I've always wanted to visit Australia and New Zealand but they're so far away.

In 6th Grade, we learned about Australia in Social Studies and I really liked what we learned. That's also when I first found out about Aborigines.

[newman]

My grandfather started trading in the New Hebrides (now Vanuatu) at the age of 13 with a small sailboat. He'd buy copra (coconut 'meat') and trocus shells from the canibals, sell it in Villa at a profit, load up with calico, razor blades, hand tools etc then sell them to the same natives at another profit. In those days canibalism was still in full swing. He survived in those outer islands because he was so damn mean the natives were frightened of him.

[newman]

Americans use the name Oceania to refer to the continent of Australia and the islands of The Pacific, especially New Zealand. How do Australians use the term?

We used to. But since the Hawk/ Keating gov't of the 80s started peddling all the BS about us being "Part of Asia", it's not used as much.

PS: You'd have loved our Island, Malekula. There were 'man-bush' living in the highlands few white men ever saw. They never went to the coast and couldn't swim.

[newman]

Where is that island?

[newman]

We used to. But since the Hawk/ Keating gov't of the 80s started peddling all the BS about us being "Part of Asia", it's not used as much.

I guess it's like the term "Asia-Pacific". Israel actually is in Asia yet The Middle East is usually ignored from being a part of Asia. And politically correct people hijacked the term Asian to refer to Orientals. What is your opinion on the hijacking of the term Asian?

Asia is too broad for such a diverse region. They should specify East Asia, South East Asia, North Asia, Central Asia etc.

[newman]

Why did you call it "your" island?

Malekula.

My Grandfather was Known as the Monarch of Malekula.

[Joe Schmo]

Australia is awesome.  I spent a week and a half in the region of Cairns.

[Joe Schmo]

Australia is awesome.  I spent a week and a half in the region of Cairns.

What state is that in?

Queensland.

We went diving at the Great Barrier Reef, rented a jeep and drove up and down the coast, ate Baramundi and saw a Cassowary.

[newman]

Australia is awesome.  I spent a week and a half in the region of Cairns.

What state is that in?

Queensland.

We went diving at the Great Barrier Reef, rented a jeep and drove up and down the coast, ate Baramundi and saw a Cassowary.

The Cassowary was the one animal even Steve Irwin wouldn't mess with. They kill.

[Joe Schmo]

What's a baramundi?

An absolutely delicious freshwater fish.

[Joe Schmo]

Is it kosher (Fins and scales.)?

I'm not sure.  Newman would know.

[Joe Schmo]

Are cassowary non-kosher fish?

No.  They're huge, flightless birds...like an ostrich, with a beautiful blue and red coloration.

The cassowary is not to be messed with.  They have huge 'claws' and have been known to disembowel a full-grown man when provoked.

[newman]

Is it kosher (Fins and scales.)?

I'm not sure.  Newman would know.

Yes. And it's one of very few really good-tasting freshwater fish in the world.

The cassowarry is a rainforest version of the emu. Like a small ostridge but very agressive. The big middle toe will go right thriugh your skull if they kick you.

[Joe Schmo]

What's disembowel?

The tearing out of guts.

[Joe Schmo]

Look at the claws on that thing.  Yikes!

[newman]

What's disembowel?

The tearing out of guts.

Kangaroos can do that, too.

The large bucks will knock you flat, get on top of you and rip with toes on their massive hind legs.

[newman]

Look at the claws on that thing.  Yikes!

Not a good pic. That middle toe is usually 5-6" long, over 1.5" wide and sharp as a tent peg. Imagine the most powerful Thai boxer in the world with huge tent spike on his boot kicking you.

'Yikes' is what I'd say.

[newman]

Will that bird or kangaroos eat people?

No they're herbivorous, but they will kill in defense.

 Like africa, the most dangerous animals are not the carnivors. The cape buffalo (also found in Australia) kills more people than lions. The hippo kills more people than crocodiles over there, too.

What will eat you in Australia are these huge wild/ feral pigs. They'll run you down and eat you easy. Large boers get well over 500lbs.

Plus the saltwater crocodiles, too. Often 16- 20 feet.

[newman]

Those feral pigs above are descended from domestic stock. Despite centuries of selective breeding to create domestic pigs, after 2 or 3 generations wild they grow armour plating like the wild boers of centuries ago. Nature takes over very quickly.

[Joe Schmo]

Hogzilla!

[Joe Schmo]

Thook at the gun in that kid's hand.  Yikes!

Looks like a Smith and Wesson 500.

[Joe Schmo]

Looks more like a Grizzly Bear than a pig!

[newman]

Looks more like a Grizzly Bear than a pig!

When they come at you at 30+ mph, you make the shot count!

[Joe Schmo]

Looks more like a Grizzly Bear than a pig!

When they come at you at 30+ mph, you make the shot count!

Can you imagine something like that wanting to kill you?

[newman]

Looks more like a Grizzly Bear than a pig!

When they come at you at 30+ mph, you make the shot count!

Can you imagine something like that wanting to kill you?

They're even less fussy about what they eat than a croc'. They're like a Tiger Shark.....eats anything. They're mean as hell, too.