Hello from New Zealand

[dominic]

Hi everybody,
My name is Dominic and I live in Auckland, New Zealand.

I am currently building a D4 sailing dinghy (when I get the time) and trying to document the builing process on my website (when I get the time).

Cheers

[safewalrus]

Dominic, hello and welcome to the party - guess you've read a bit before you started writting and have a vague idea about what we're about so again a hearty welcome to the part (please note that for some of us the main aim in life is to take the pee out of the Yanks - whilst this is a laudable thing to do [no matter how you spell wiskey, whiskey or even whisky, it is tooooo easy and gets boring at times! Incidentally there are even some Yanks who take the pee outof the Yanks - mostly ex Navy men who seem to have developed the same sense of humour as the rest of us! guess you can figure that out yourself, I can't!!!) Any way you'll soon get the hang of it!

[Bergalia]

Hey Walrus - to us 'Aussies' - Kiwis are also fair game for piss-taking, so Dominic will be a welcome addition...

[gonzo]

The only thing we know about your Navy is that you keep a crowbar to separate the men from the boys

[safewalrus]

As opposed to your Navy, which is All boys! Sorry Gonzo closed season on Yanks I know (because of the festivities) but you did ask for that

[gonzo]

NO NO, the US Navy is don't ask, don't tell.

[boltonprofiles]

Hello Dominic, you will enjoy these forums, just avoid the odd reprebate and you will be ok. I will leave you to make up your mind as to who they are........

[safewalrus]

Please note 'most of the so called reprobates' tend to come from the north of the countrys they hail from! Except the antipodeans who are, as we know upside down!

[safewalrus]

hey Gonzo allways believed that US stood for USeless - you've just confirmed that - "don't ask, don't tell, don't know"

[artemis]

Originally Posted by safewalrus

hey Gonzo allways believed that US stood for USeless - you've just confirmed that - "don't ask, don't tell, don't know"

More Yank bashing again! That's political! We have been told by some who consider themselves experts that there is to be NO politcal commentary in this forum. So stop it!

[CDBarry]

Please note the upcoming HPYD 2006 at University of Auckland http://www.hpyd.org.nz , since it is in your neighborhood.

[safewalrus]

Artemis - please be aware 'Yank bashing' is NOT political, it's good clean entertainment! and in some parts of the world (Cornwall, New South Wales and others) it's compulsory. May I thank you for your consideration and please remain well and truly 'bashed'! You'll get used to it, and may even get to enjoy(?) it!

[artemis]

Originally Posted by safewalrus

Artemis - please be aware 'Yank bashing' is NOT political, it's good clean entertainment! and in some parts of the world (Cornwall, New South Wales and others) it's compulsory. May I thank you for your consideration and please remain well and truly 'bashed'! You'll get used to it, and may even get to enjoy(?) it!

I guess my biggest problem with comments like "USeless" is that I am a natural born citizen of the United States of America and PROUD of my country, even if not its elected officials. "My country right or wrong, but my country" means a great deal to me. I'm not thin skinned, but I do not appreciate outsiders making comments which are clearly (to me at least) derogatory. I don't bash "The Royals" but do feel that any member of The Commonwealth who wishes to do so may. I am fully aware that many in this world do not think kind throughts about the USA (and possibly with good reason) but would prefer constructive criticism. If this isn't possible, then my only recourse to such a demonstration of crass ignorance as "USeless" is to say: "Turn it (the geographic location, in this case Cornwall) into a fused glass parking lot"!

[safewalrus]

Artemis, of course your PROUD of your country, so you should be - and rightly so after all America (United States of) HAS a lot to be proud of! The world would be a poorer place had we not let you become this country (It could be the English/Scottish/Welsh/Ulster backbone that helps) America!

Having said that, if you can't take the piss out of your friends and allies who can you take it out of? Remember there are certain countries who stand shoulder to shoulder against the tyrannies of the world, with the same beliefs (I don't need to tell you who they are do I) and like all families they squabble, fight take the piss and generally call each other names! Until some outsider tries to barge in that is then the outsider has a small(? ) shock. Your part of that family so stand by to have the.......

[safewalrus]

Oh! and incidentally Cornwall is already a parking lot - full of Yanks waiting to be fleeced (bless em)