Politics and religion.

[wombat2u2004]

What (if anything) is taught in history classes in Australia about the American Revolution and Paul Revere's ride?

And did you do Australian History ???

[Lady's Human]

I didn't do Australian history, I learned all the Aussie history I need to know from Crocodile Dundee and Young Einstein.

I did, however, study Russian history, under the heading of know your enemy.

[wombat2u2004]

I didn't do Australian history, I learned all the Aussie history I need to know from Crocodile Dundee and Young Einstein.

I did, however, study Russian history, under the heading of know your enemy.

There is a guy up in the Northern Territory who they call Crocodile Dundee,
who lives his life like that.
In the 1960's, I worked with a US mining company, and had a Dutch mate who used to help me with the prospecting work. He used to take off every now and again up to the Territory to hunt crocodiles. The last time I seen him was in 1967.
Who knows, maybe he ended up as lunch.....

[phesina]

And did you do Australian History ???

Thanks for the description of your studies, Wom. Very well-rounded! I also admire you for your interests in history and other subjects that you've explored on your own. (But did you ever learn to speak French?)

What with the agricultural concentration in your studies, do you do or have you done agricultural work?.. and/or what kind(s) of work?

Now.. in reply to your question above:

Let's see.. back when I was going to school growing up (1950s-early 60s), we studied American History (starting from Columbus's arrival, and in which we learned that Paul Revere made his famous ride in order to warn the colonists that the British were coming), and World History, which was mainly British and some other European history and touched briefly on other parts of the world.

As I recall, World History started all the way back with Mesopotamia and the Fertile Crescent between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers (now mostly in modern-day Iraq! ).. then the ancient Egyptians.. ancient Greeks and Romans.. the birth of Christ and the spread of Christianity, Crusades (presented as definite Good Guys vs. Bad Guys conflicts) and all.. then the Brits and onward..

Australia?... let me think...: One day someone (Captain Cook?) "discovered" it.. it became part of the British Empire... then the British Commonwealth.. and now it is an independent country. Does that cover it pretty well?

My more recent sources of information on Australia: Those two fine films "The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert" and "Welcome to Woop Woop" (they're documentaries, right?).

And I recently discovered the mystery novels (the kind of non-intellectual trash I mostly read in my free time ) of Garry Disher, following the activities of a team of police officers on the Mornington Peninsula in Victoria. I'm enjoying these very much and am on the library's waiting list for the one I haven't read yet.

[Edwina's Secretary]

Australia?... let me think...: One day someone (Captain Cook?) "discovered" it.. it became part of the British Empire... then the British Commonwealth.. and now it is an independent country. Does that cover it pretty well?

What I remember learning about Australia is that it was used by the British as a place to send the "unwanted" of society - criminals and paupers.

And I believe (thanks to a wonderfully clear video ChrisH posted here) that Australia is still a part of the Commonwealth.

[RICHARD]

Didn't one of the prezidential hopefuls say that there were 57 states in the union?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EpGH02DtIws

I guess we can elect people who are weak in the olde historie department.

[Edwina's Secretary]

I guess we can elect people who are weak in the olde historie department.

Indeed...as well as weak in English language, geography...and oh so many other things...

Bloopers

or...Can't get fooled again... or...

So many to choose from!!

[RICHARD]

Ugh,

What am I doing?
-----------------

What was the deal with Bill Clinton and the definition of "is"?????

[Edwina's Secretary]

Ugh,

What am I doing?
-----------------

What was the deal with Bill Clinton and the definition of "is"?????

Just keep on paddling...

[wombat2u2004]

What I remember learning about Australia is that it was used by the British as a place to send the "unwanted" of society - criminals and paupers.

And I believe (thanks to a wonderfully clear video ChrisH posted here) that Australia is still a part of the Commonwealth.

Wow !!! You know all that ??? I'm impressed.
So....is there anything else you know ???? About anything I mean.

[wombat2u2004]

Thanks for the description of your studies, Wom. Very well-rounded! I also admire you for your interests in history and other subjects that you've explored on your own. (But did you ever learn to speak French?)

What with the agricultural concentration in your studies, do you do or have you done agricultural work?.. and/or what kind(s) of work?

You are most welcome.
No mate, never studied French. Not unless you refer to the first love of my life at age 17........ahhhhhhh Antionette....such memories....hee hee.
The smattering of French that I do know, has been acquired more recently because of my hunt for militaria on French internet sites, also Belgian and German....it pays to be able to roughly decipher a bit of their language.

As for Agriculture, I worked in that field for a little while after I left school, but then got involved in geology pretty heavily, did lots of mineral exploration and geophysical work, stuff like that. Then it was in the army for me, had the family expectations to fill, as each generation has in my family. Spent 3 years in Asia and 3 years here in Aussie, a total of 6 years in uniform.
I then got involved in building, had my own building company and ran that for many years until I decided to slow down a bit and become a building consultant. My last job was a two year stint at the Sydney Olympic Village as building consultant, ran the show down there until completion, just before the games started. Then after that I started a Law degree, and two years later when I was half way through it, I crashed. Crashed big time. I was in and out of veteran clinics for a while, and finally diagnosed with severe PTSD. Stuff that I had been through in Asia that had been buried inside my head started to surface, affecting my EVERYTHING. So Vets Affairs shut me down. I sold up all my property, moved to a quiet country town, so now I take it easy, have a 365 day a year holiday, and spend my time helping war widows, going on fossil digs, collecting militaria, spoiling my dogs and making a nuisance of myself on Pet Talk....hee hee.
And....that's my life.
But yeah, I do read a lot. History, Geology, Paleontology, Anthropology and Art are the main subjects.....and not just Australian, I approach those subjects knowing that the whole world has something to offer.

[wombat2u2004]

Let's see.. back when I was going to school growing up (1950s-early 60s), we studied American History (starting from Columbus's arrival, and in which we learned that Paul Revere made his famous ride in order to warn the colonists that the British were coming), and World History, which was mainly British and some other European history and touched briefly on other parts of the world.

As I recall, World History started all the way back with Mesopotamia and the Fertile Crescent between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers (now mostly in modern-day Iraq! ).. then the ancient Egyptians.. ancient Greeks and Romans.. the birth of Christ and the spread of Christianity, Crusades (presented as definite Good Guys vs. Bad Guys conflicts) and all.. then the Brits and onward..

Australia?... let me think...: One day someone (Captain Cook?) "discovered" it.. it became part of the British Empire... then the British Commonwealth.. and now it is an independent country. Does that cover it pretty well?

Yeah, that sounds about right. I did all that stuff in history to. It's interesting to know about other countries. It's good to travel to, and see first hand what one is interested in. I found the east coast of the USA very interesting, as I did the southern states, and Canada was great to. I had the opportunity of spending some time on the west coast, but opted out of that as I didn't think it had very much to offer.....it's sort of too touristy and Mickey Mouseish.
Australia is good tho. If you ever have the chance to get here, go for it.