quicko: ameristralia

A bit of internet fun these days -- what would happen if America and Australia merged?

quicko: the brisbane line defense strategy

Now I haven't researched this fully (read: one of my friends once told me it was true), but evidently during World War II, Australia had an official government slogan that was "if things get really way too bad, then we're willing concede everything north of Brisbane."

Let's hope this wasn't common knowledge back then.

And, please, if this post incites you to comment overly quickly, think carefully how you phrase your response.  Relax.  Talk it out.  Then go ahead and correct me nicely.

quicko: go left

After years of sidestepping recklessly back and forth between sides of the sidewalk when you're walking down the street, the Australian government has finally decided to do what Americans would have assumed people would have done naturally -- stay on the left!

In America, pedestrians just naturally veer right (since that's the side we drive on) when meeting another oncoming pedestrian.  In Australia, as much as you'd think everyone would just go left, in reality everyone usually just ends up in a bit of an awkward jumble.

But now the Labor (more left-wing) party in New South Wales has actually managed to push an official policy through that requires everyone to "go left."

It's basically going to be one of those laws along the lines of jaywalking -- on the books, but presumably rarely actually enforced.  I find it bizarre they've actually gone and made it official (crazy Australians!), but just in case you need to know, be sure to stay on the left when you're walking in NSW!

quicko: abilities

There's an ad campaign going around (when is there not?) that reads:  don't DIS my ABILITY.  I'm all for the message.  Don't know what they're actually doing besides circulating images, but I'm not really in the know here and I figure every bit helps.  Good, as they say here, on them.  Whoever them is.