What is a Drop Bear?

[Drop Bear]

Well, a Drop Bear is actually a Koala Bear (which are not really bears at all)

Koalas only eat certain kinds of gum leaves. Sometimes after a heavy rain, followed by lots of sun, the leaves ferment. A koala eats the leaves, gets drunk and falls out of his tree.

The term was coined by a Sydney journalist in 1972 after koala landed on an unfortunate British tourist called Albert Pierpoint, from Pimlico, killing him outright. Avoid walking under all gum trees. Although drop bears are uncommon in the suburbs, trees dropping massive branches are not.

A few more facts about Australia for when you visit:

The 'l' in 'Australia' is silent

NO ONE says "crikey!"

If you are called 'mate' through gritted teeth;run.

Very few Australians are eaten by sharks,it's mainly tourists. (Me?I last swam in the sea in 1978)

If you are invited to an Aussie barbecue remember to take about twice the alcohol you intend to drink. Also remember to make a pass at the host's wife. Your host will accept it as a compliment,and the wife will be flattered. DO NOT come on to any of the gaggle of girls who bear a strong resemblance to Elle McPherson;their average age is 12.

Next week;the Bunyip and kangaroo feathers.

[bindeweede]

I read somewhere that there are more venomous things in Australia than on any other continent.

Then there is the wildlife to take into account, of course. :sad:

[Admin]

What's weird about this guy?

http://www.ukskeptics.com/graphics/jake.jpg

Yip......

He's Australian. ;D ;D :eek3:

[Drop Bear]

I read somewhere that there are more venomous things in Australia than on any other continent.

:sad:

That is a vile canard.

Australians are the most friendly, accepting and casual people on the planet, as long as you love sports, especially football and cricket, and are not a politician,clergyman, lawyer, child molestor or some other member of the criminal classes.

Our fauna is mainly cute cuddly and ineffably stupid, making the average sheep appear intellectually gifted. Your greatest dangers are having one urinate upon your person or giving you fleas. In my area,I need only watch out for brown snakes (venomous) and trap door spiders (venomous) during the summer months. Besides,my dogs usually usually kill the snakes and the rats eat he spiders. (the rats are genus ratus ratus,from England)

The only REALLY dangerous little critter is the blue ringed octopus. A shy creature,he likes to hide in shallow rock pools near the beach,which is 10 miles away.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue-ringed_octopus

As I've mentioned, very few people actually get eaten by sharks. Even fewer by crocodiles,victims are the odd Japanese tourist who has tried to pat one. Our crocodiles are really quite tame for reptiles. (see photo)


http://i481.photobucket.com/albums/rr172/Patrick2008_photo/cid_1C2F725C31614C2E9995D56B2068A2A.jpg

[Julia]

Well, that's comforting. You have convinced me, a sports hater of long standing, to visit Australia. All I need now is the money to do so.

*hint hint*

[polomint38]

Well, that's comforting. You have convinced me, a sports hater of long standing, to visit Australia. All I need now is the money to do so.

*hint hint*

If you send me your bank account details, I will happily fund you for your journey after taking a "small" administration fee from your account.

[Drop Bear]

Well, that's comforting. You have convinced me, a sports hater of long standing, to visit Australia. All I need now is the money to do so.

*hint hint*


Terribly sorry my dear,but the privy purse won't stretch to airline tickets. However ,if you make it over I'll be happy to consider offering you accommodation in return for sexual favours.>:D

PS:Seriously.I will show you around Adelaide and take you out to dinner for our local delicacy, a floater

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pie_floater

[Tony Williams]

The term was coined by a Sydney journalist in 1972 after koala landed on an unfortunate British tourist called Albert Pierpoint, from Pimlico, killing him outright.
How curious. Albert Pierrepoint (1905-1992) was one of Britain's last official executioners.

[Drop Bear]

How curious. Albert Pierrepoint (1905-1992) was one of Britain's last official executioners.


Well done! I was wondering if anyone would catch that. (Its actually "Pierrepoint' and he was from Clayton,Yorkshire)

To be pedantic,the UK has never had ANY 'official executioners'. However,Albert did hang over 600 people.(including 200 Nazi war criminals)

There's a very good film out on DVD called 'Pierrepoint' (2005, British) starring the fine actor Timothy Spall.


Albert Pierrepoint (30 March 1905 – 10 July 1992) is the most famous member of the family which provided three of the United Kingdom's official hangmen in the first half of the 20th century. He was born in Clayton (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clayton,_West_Yorkshire),[2] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_Pierrepoint#cite_note-northbierley-1)[3] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_Pierrepoint#cite_note-GRObirth1905-2) in the West Riding of Yorkshire (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Riding_of_Yorkshire), England. During his life, he lived in Bradford (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bradford), Lincoln (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lincoln,_Lincolnshire), Oldham (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oldham) and the seaside resort of Southport (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southport). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_Pierrepoint



Pierrepoint (titled Pierrepoint: The Last Hangman for North American (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_American) release), is a 2005 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2005) British film (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cinema_of_the_United_Kingdom) directed by Adrian Shergold (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Adrian_Shergold&action=edit&redlink=1) about the life of British executioner (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Executioner) Albert Pierrepoint (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_Pierrepoint).
The film premiered at the 2005 Toronto International Film Festival (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2005_Toronto_International_Film_Festival)[1] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pierrepoint_%28film%29#cite_note-0) and was released in the UK on 7 April 2006.[2] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pierrepoint_%28film%29#cite_note-1) In the United States, it had a limited theatrical release at three screens on 7 June 2007, grossing $21,766. It was released on DVD on 30 October 2007.[3] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pierrepoint_%28film%29#cite_note-2)
Originally commissioned as a television film in 2004,[4] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pierrepoint_%28film%29#cite_note-3) Pierrepoint was not broadcast on ITV (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ITV) until 25 August 2008, when it attracted an estimated audience of 3.6 million.[5] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pierrepoint_%28film%29#cite_note-4)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pierrepoint_%28film%29



My goodness,this thread has meandered just a smidge.

[asthmatic camel]

Very pedantic. Pierrepoint and his colleagues were all on the official list of executioners.

Good performances by Spall and others in the film, though.

[asthmatic camel]

Do Drop Bears always STFU when they've been shown to be wrong?

[Drop Bear]

Do Drop Bears always STFU when they've been shown to be wrong?

I have no idea; I'll let you know if and when that happens.>:D


Seriously: I try not to argue the point on forums for more than two posts unless an issue is important to me. I do not conflate losing an argument with necessarily being wrong and have no interest in changing the opinions of others.