Originally Posted by Irish Guinness

Read the post again , I think you have read it wrong !!!!!!!! that's not what ARKON SAID !!!!!

Originally Posted by arkon

LOL, I didn't think it was you. I just guessed your hubby had logged in as you and posted it. It did seem way out of character to be yours.

Originally Posted by BadgeIsBack

Arkon, if we are going to talk about excuses, how come some Brits are so ignorant despite all the travel opportunities open to them?

I think you're getting all excited again in that little world of yours. Hang in and sell that farm(!)...........

Originally Posted by denver

You might like this Arkon - in todays paper there was a newspaper article about a US report listing countries quality of life rankings. Things like economy, culture and leisure, infrastructure, climate, freedom, health service etc. The country you love to hate was 2nd! France was first. Guess where the UK finished - 37th! Not that I am rubbing your nose in it of course.

Originally Posted by kiwi_child

Means little without further info. Who commissioned the report? for what purpose? What questions were asked? To whom ?(eg cross section of respondents) What were their answers based on? (eg; visited/ done business in/lived in/had rellies in these countries) What measurements were put in place? Methodologies used? How were comparisons made and conclusions reached? Were there any other similar recent reports from other organisations? Was empirical evidence used and if so what? etc, etc

C'mon you're a teacher supposedly...you should know all this stuff.

Originally Posted by kiwi_child

Actually Denver, to be fair, just a web link to the report or info about it would be good. Then hopefully those who were interested could further reseach it. Just saying some paper said this or that and not even naming the paper or name of the report that was being commented on is very poor for an educator in my opinion.

Originally Posted by arkon

Hutch, how about a thread, telling us what it's like in your region. Arn't you in Kiama or near to it? We almost bought a property in Kiama when we first got here.

Originally Posted by St.Georges Girl

...and this (well it's too hot out to do much else) 42C's here now!!

International political organisations count about 193 countries. Which ones set the best examples to the rest of the world? Which ones would we do best to copy, to emulate and to admire for their foresight, hard work and long-term conscience? Which countries would have humanity survive gleaming into a clean, happy, bright future? Who are tardy on humanitarian issues, science or development? Compiling relevant statistics on a wide range of issues, and constructing rankings, I've arrived at a shortlist of countries that beat all the others.Be the best!

The Best Countries Q
#1 Sweden 1263 points x15
#2 Denmark 1082 points x14
#3 Finland 997 points x15
#4 Netherlands 970 points x14
#5 Norway 914 points x12
#6 Canada 818 points x13
#7 UK 861 points x16
My database-driven algorithmn calculates points on the basis of positions and ranks.

Human Development Index (Norway, Iceland)
Gender Equality (Sweden, Norway)
Life expectancy (Japan, Hong Kong)
Quality of Life (Ireland, Switzerland)
Most Competitive Economy (Switzerland, Finland)
Economic Freedom
Gay Rights (Sweden, Norway)
Obesity (Japan, Korea)
Adults at High Literacy Level (Sweden, Norway)
Environment
Open Access to Research (Sweden, Netherlands)
Asylum Seeker Acceptance Rates (Denmark, Canada)
Aid to Developing Countries (Norway, Luxembourg)
Computer Piracy Levels (USA, New Zealand)
Secularisation (Czech Republic & France)
Sweden
Denmark
Norway
Finland

Originally Posted by BadgeIsBack

Arkon, if we are going to talk about excuses, how come some Brits are so ignorant despite all the travel opportunities open to them?

I think you're getting all excited again in that little world of yours. Hang in and sell that farm(!)...........

Originally Posted by arkon

Is Australia not listed on a few of those because it wasn't tested or because it scored so low it didn't rank?

Originally Posted by St.Georges Girl

Hey Arkon, I didn't post that, I was just quoting a post by MD09.

Originally Posted by arkon

Just got to be a wind up, but I can't refuse a good whinge so here goes...
- Cherry Ripes
(That was really worth emmigrating for)

- A winning cricket team
(I'd rather watch paint dry)

- No class system
(LOL, Ok so no toffs and scoffs, but plenty of have and have not's. The class system is alive and well here but just not the kind of class you're used to)

- A work ethic
(Yeah right, It's a well known Australian trait that they are very proud of, the laid back lifestyle and work attitude. Translated means can't be arsed to do a good job. I don't doubt they work long ours or hard, but quantity isn't everything. The work ethic here is a couldn't give a rat's arse ethic)

- Non-corrupt politicians
(Oh my, what can I say, Non corrupt!! Just must be some other country you were refering to)

- Police who carry guns
(Great, and they are not affraid to use them either, just don't park the wrong way in the street)

- Beautiful asia on our doorstep
(You can keep that, give me Europe anyday)

- Affordable housing
(Year right, if you want a tree house or shed maybe, but if you want to live somwhere remotely un chavvy and near civilisation or by the coast your in for a shock)

- Beaches with sand
(I come from Cornwall where all the beaches had sand, so you must be on about another country)

- Affordable grocery prices
(Yep, very affordable, and they keep the price rises to a very low 20-30% a year. I can't give a hoot what they say the RPI is here. Where I am and my life I've seen my grocery bill double in the 2 years I've been here, and petrol has gone up 50%+ (I'm pretty sure it hasn't gone up that much back home))

- Quality restaurants
(Ho Hum, none near me)

- fresh seafood
(What was it back home then? Always seemed mighty fresh to me)

- Fair salaries for all
(If you want to be the man who checks your docket and lifts the barrier at bunnings then maybe you are right)

- A sense of humour (the abilty to laugh at ourselves and others).
(Yeah but a sense of humour that is so unsophisticated and toilet based as to be tottaly un-funny to me. Give me a British sense of humour anyday rather than the "it gets funnier the louder you shout the joke" type)

- Here, you're better off being down on your luck than up yourself.
(No idea what you mean here)

Ok I'm off out to work and get some skin cancer and cataracts!

Originally Posted by St.Georges Girl

My hubby??? hahahaha, now that is funny 'cos he's rarely here. He's a sodding workaholic!