*The picture, the baby on the Internet and the Leprechaun lawyer (I'll explain later in the post).

It's April 25th and ANZAC day in Australia. First, I should explain that ANZAC stands for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps. The events giving rise to this national holiday occured during WWI. Today is the day that Aussies honour the soldiers who were thrown to the wolves, by the British (or "pommies"), on the Gallipoli Peninsula (near Troy). It goes like this, according to acn.net.au:

"Instead of finding the flat beach they expected, they found they had been landed at the incorrect position and faced steep cliffs and constant barrages of enemy fire and shelling. Around 20,000 soldiers landed on the beach over the next two days to face a well organised, well armed, large Turkish force determined to defend their country - and led by Mustafa Kemal , who later became Atatürk, the leader of modern Turkey. Thousands of Australian and New Zealand men died in the hours and days that followed the landing at that beach. The beach would eventually come to be known as Anzac Cove. "

The Brits, however, landed on the "flat beach" and left the Aussies to bear the brutal Turkish assault. 8,000 of these volunteer soldiers died before the order was given to withdraw.

I felt so very completely in awe watching some of the images on the big screen at the RSL. And I felt a special sort of feeling towards the men 'of a certain age' (this is Hollywood's new phrase) there at the club who were proudly wearing their medals and badges. I'm so very glad that no one decided to hold any protests today. It would have been so wrong and it shows a deep respect for the men and women who bravely go where their country asks them to defend it; whether it's right or wrong.

"What's an RSL?", the Yanks ask. An RSL is like a VFW except nicer and with gambling (ergo more money coming in which is why they're nicer). They have food and drink, as well, which is usually very reasonably priced. On ANZAC day _and no other day**_ it's legal to play/gamble on a game called "two-up". It basically amounts to "heads or tails" with a lot of hollering and hoopla and very set rules. So, we went to our RSL today so I could see two-up live. I'd only seen a very small game of it on television. T'was interesting. I can see why it's not allowed as a normal game. It's nearly out of control at all times and looks like a) it would be near impossible to regulate and b) would start lots of fist fights.

OK, now on to the "Title Too Long" title.
So we saw this couple on TV who were in court cuz they were trying to sell their baby on the Internet. They show this pic of the couple. I go "what the fuck was that???" Then they describe the case. We look at each other. Then their lawyer is shown. and I swear he looks like a fucking Leprechaun! Like a real living-breathing Leprechaun! But the picture... oh my god... you take one look at it and you think "Yep. Whack-ass crazy fuckers". They looked like they were trying to come off as movie stars or royalty... in some $25 Olan Mills portrait. I wish I could find it... you'd be all like "Ohhhhh yeah. Those are crazy baby sellers alright..."

As to my whereabouts lately, I'm really trying to finish up this programming project and ended up wayyyy behind (and with some flaws that needed immediate fixes) so that's where I am; bustin my ass to finish. :)

** http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2002/04/25/1019441278736.html
*** For the record, they got off as there was no sale and she had changed her mind, etc.