When I was a little kid, I loved the Find-A-Word puzzles in the paper.  As with any puzzle, you start to intuitively develop an algorithm of logic to quickly and systematically attack the challenge.  The most successful strategies with Find-A-Word, by the way, is to search for letters by their frequency (like Z, K, Q, etc) or double letters (OO or LL). [Read Column]

Things are a bit different in Australia.  Maybe its too much sun, too little ozone, too much salt water, too much beer … whatever it is things are different.  For instance, we have rednecks, they have boguns.  We have Al Capone, they have Chopper Read (pictured).  We have a Puritanical Founders.  They were founded by the chorus line from Cell Block D.  We drink too much beer, they … well, somethings are the same.

With the drought of original ideas and stories coming out of Hollywood, Bollywood, and Asian porn, you’d be surprised to find that a great deal of movies released into Australia from the States have their names changed.  As if this quick smoke-n-mirrors changeroo will actually change the box office totals.  Or maybe its because they fear that Australians, who have 23.5 hours of solid Law & Order reruns on public television and this crazy new invention called the Internet, won’t catch the subtle Americanish references.  For instance, should they have renamed Shaft (2000) to One Bad Mother-Rooter?

Here then are some movies that were inexplicably released under different titles Down Under and my guesses as to why. [Read Column]

When I arrived in Australia in March 2005, I didn’t have much interest in national politics.  Why should I be?  I was only mildly interested in US politics and a seasoned cynic and pessimist.  I’ll admit I got really excited to see the Shock & Awe of Iraq II: the Revenge live in technicolor.  But with all of the build-up from talking heads like Geraldo and Shepherd Smith, anything less than trannosauruses with shoulder mounted rocket pods and bionic limbs crashing through the walls of the presidential palace with a Republican Guard in its mouth would have been a let down. [Read Column]

I’m an American (proud Oklahoma in fact) living in Australia.  I’m married to an Aussie (Vietnamese as well) and live with her family on the weekends.

I’ll be the first to admit that I assumed the role of whiny Yank early and often in my 3+ years here. During my life I’ve traveled to Mexico a few times and Vietnam as a tourist in each instance. I’d like to share my wisdom of living overseas and how to enjoy it. Before we start, let’s just clear some things up about Australia which I am routinely asked by my friends back home. [Read Column]

Australia. Land of Genius Money.

Early on in my days here, I came to realize how brilliant the Aussies are in how they mint their coins and dollars compared to the US for a variety of reasons. It’s like someone sat down, threw away all of the old traditions, and said how can we make our money as easy and useful as possible. Imagine that. [Read Column]