Even though there are technically no rules here, I would be very grateful if everyone showed some respect and did not mention the fact that the Australian Dollar is worth more than the Canadian dollar ... or that Australia has won more Commonwealth Games Gold Medals than Canada.

That might upset my darling Meron, Stitch-Bitch extraordinaire ... and I'm not having it. :)

LMFAO!!! Our own little corner with no rules ... I LOVE IT : )

• If Meron is being really annoying somewhere else, everyone can just write, "Meron, go to the CORNER, please". Simple yet effective; one could even add a link to this thread if so desired so she doesn't get lost.

hmmm, wonder how many times I get sent to "my" corner ... that hasn't happened for many a year. Well that's not completely true, I've been sent I've just not gone :D Maybe we could turn this in to a fundrasier ... if you want me to go to 'my' corner then you have to donate to some worthy cause!

Hello Ms. Linda!!

Mmmmmm - yeeees, but do you have "special" information other than that found here ?

This whole "corner" thing is a mine-field; I so want to make "Hochelagander" jokes (see link) but suspect it will lead to 450 convict jokes in return from Miss Maple Leaf ... and to be honest, it would be much more fun to be total infants and just gang up on Mark :)

If I recall correctly the story goes something like this:

When naming Canada they couldn't come up with anything everyone could agree on so they decided to draw letters out of a hat. The letter picker called out as each card was drawn C 'eh N 'eh D 'eh ... :D

I can't even say "Hochelagander" so instead lets be total infants and just gang up on Mark :)

Maybe she was referring to the "here, nothing" reference. (Oh what would the Spanish know!!!)

And MAYBE, Miss Linda completely tricked me with that Thailand, Buddhist, Economics, Angel-Guru routine and was really doing that American/Canadian thing. Mmmmmm - I wonder!

Now - back to Mark :)

yeah...I had heard the C eh, N eh D eh....I have to tell you I still laugh at it even just thinking about it!

Not being Canadian OR Aussie, I will tell you that my maiden name was Eggleston....I am told that means something to the convicts in Oz.

Linda Nowakowski - I can't believe that you WERE doing the American/Canadian thing on a thread I started.

~Gayle said: Now I just need to recruit a few New Zealanders to NeD so any jokes involving sheep and gumboots will have a ready made target :)~

Ahem ... I live on SaltSpring Island darlin', those kind of jokes already have a target :D

There were at least 2 Eggleston convicts in the first year.

There are also a couple of Eggleston Libraries...I like to think I am associated with the libraries even if I am somehow related to the convicts too!

As far as picking on the Aussies....never underestimate the Thais. I have heard some great great Aussie stories here!

Linda - I will look further into the Eggleston name with great interest - cool! And yeah, yeah - Thai jokes about Australians - big yawn :)

And Meron - that is so terrible about the "target" thing; who knew?

I think anyone who makes fun of your little spot and it's inhabitants is a bit of a baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaastard really. (We do have New Zealanders for a reason you know!)

Okay, I'm sitting in "the corner" having a dysfunctional, socio-political, identity crisis sort of moment thanks to The Queen!

I am a Republican. Not the sort akin to the US Political Party but rather of The Australian Republican Movement variety.

I still don't think I have fully recovered from the disapointment of 1999 when the "Yes" vote didn't get up. (In Australia's referendum regarding the ditching of the Queen as our head of state and having our own.... republic rather than constitutional monarchy)

And yet, conditioning is a very strange thing.

The Queen has launched the YouTube "Royal Channel" and the Christmas Message will actually be broadcast on YouTube in real time!!!!!!!!!

Part of me screamed "NO .. she'll become cool and trendy and more popular and we'll NEVER get rid of her". :)

But another part became strangely upset. YouTube??? No No No.

If we MUST have another country's Queen as ours then I want something comforting, familiar and reliable ..... hideous outfit, pearls, too much hairspray, corgis under foot, dim lighting and a completely out of touch Christmas message sweetly delivered with delightful care and sincerity ... and only VIA THE BBC!!!

I have to stop typing ... I'm freaking myself out.

(edit for typo)

Politics is strange lately in the world.

Here, the elections were yesterday and it looks like the party of the ousted Prime Minister will win...this after the coup leaders published lots of "evidence" that the people of the country by some absurdly huge majority wanted the PM to be ousted and welcomed the coup.

Then there is the wisdom of the election organizers.

Merry Christmas all...that is assuming that saying that is not celebrating...I would hate to break the law.

Strange doesn't start to cover it, darlin'.

And regarding the breaking of laws - well, if the law is seriously stupid and illogical, then I've always thought there is ample room for a bit of civil disobedience!

That written, does Thailand use the rattan like Malaysia?

Easy to advocate disobedience from a country that doesn't have capital or corporal punishment!

First thought legal defense? You were being polite not celebrating :)

There is no seamless way to move from flesh shredding instruments of punishment to the wishes and hopes of the season of peace, so - with impending clunkiness acknowledged.....

Merry Christmas, everyone

May the next week be filled with tenderness, love, laughter and generosity of spirit and may that set the tone for all that happens in 2008.

with lots of love, Gayle xxxx

Cool. While you pout, I'll entertain the masses with a fabulously informative tidbit.

Did you know that it is not possible to tickle yourself.

The cerebellum, a part of the brain, warns the rest of the brain that you are about to tickle yourself. Since your brain knows this, it ignores the resulting sensation.

Meron, you'll have company shortly because of this!

Play nice with the other kid :)

~Linda said: (pssst..... Meron? I know a willllllllly bad 5 letter word for the lady with the whip....)~

Do tell! Don't keep it a secret : )

Oh this was a mistake!!!

Meron, move away from Linda immediately please ... she's evil!!!! :D

And Cyn ... you made tea come out of my nose this morning - LMFAO - thank you :)

(Meron ... _ I _ _ _ ... your turn!)

Hey, nasty lady .... leave Meron alone. She comes from good ANCESTORS.