T1B

Tomorrow I board My flight bound for Los Angeles Woot!!!
2 weeks of Partying, Shopping & a side trip to Disney
& hopefully Catching up with My old friends the Harsh Family while I'm there
I can't believe it's been almost 10 years since my first visit to the States & this will be my 3rd trip in the last 4 years
My shopping list is long & I will be doing my best to help stimulate the US economy
thank goodness Qantas allows me 2, 23kg suitcases & 8kg in hand luggage!!

Did Wolfman die and come back as a ditzy Australian chick?

Not this time Chip, I couldn't be apart from James for any longer than 2 weeks lol
it's just a quick trip this time staying in LA with my best girlfriend & hanging out with all my American lesbigirlfriends ;)
the Harsh's are coming to LA while I'm here so we are trying to Co-ordinate a catchup
if anyone else is in LA the next 2 weeks I'd be happy to try & catch up, I'm staying in Marina Del Ray

Aren't you a hairdresser or something like that? How does a cosmetologist manage to afford all your seemingly nonstop galavanting around the globe?

Van wrote:How does a cosmetologist manage to afford all your seemingly nonstop galavanting around the globe?

missjo wrote:James

Some hairstylists make a lot of money. Missjo is a high end stylist working at a posh hotel, I believe.

And isn't 'James' a tattoo artist or something?

Just doing tats and cutting hair allows people to show up on Robin Leach's radar? Shit, there are only about four million barely employed tat guys and hairdressers in California.

I guess living in Oz really must rule.

Probably not as much welfare in Oz either.

missjo wrote: hanging out with all my American lesbigirlfriends ;)

Sounds like some carpet munching is on the agenda.

Van wrote:And isn't 'James' a tattoo artist or something?

Just doing tats and cutting hair allows people to show up on Robin Leach's radar? Shit, there are only about four million barely employed tat guys and hairdressers in California.

I guess living in Oz really must rule.

You're fairly chatty for a guy that just dropped vikes.


Guess there's a first time for everything.

Van wrote:And isn't 'James' a tattoo artist or something?

Just doing tats and cutting hair allows people to show up on Robin Leach's radar?

A friend of mine from Minnesota makes around $200,000 a year and only works around 6 months a year.


Here's some of his work










http://www.myspace.com/skitch666/photos ... 9048560%7D

How much do you make selling your windchimes?

Your friend is a douchebag.

Sorry you had to hear it from me.

Martyred wrote:Your friend is a douchebag.

Sorry you had to hear it from me.

Yes he is. Does he have anything original or does he just steal others' art like a douchbag.

Van wrote:And isn't 'James' a tattoo artist or something?

Just doing tats and cutting hair allows people to show up on Robin Leach's radar? Shit, there are only about four million barely employed tat guys and hairdressers in California.

I guess living in Oz really must rule.

They aren't Americans, meaning they sock their earnings away for things like traveling and not big houses, cars, boats and other ego-driven purchases.

MgoBlue-LightSpecial wrote:
They aren't Americans, meaning they sock their earnings away for things like traveling and not big houses, cars, boats and other ego-driven purchases.

At just over 22 million people...

Australia is the world's thirteenth largest economy and has the fifth highest per capita GDP at $66,984.

Which is much higher than that of the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Canada, Japan, and New Zealand.


I don't think they have a problem buying big houses, cars, boats and other ego-driven purchases.

trev wrote:How much do you make selling your windchimes?

Sorry, I'm not interested.

M2 wrote:

trev wrote:How much do you make selling your windchimes?

Sorry, I'm not interested.

More stolen pics and less commentary, Milton.

M2 wrote:

trev wrote:How much do you make selling your windchimes?

Sorry, I'm not interested.

You don't make enough for me. Plus you're a piss-ant.

M2 wrote:

MgoBlue-LightSpecial wrote:
They aren't Americans, meaning they sock their earnings away for things like traveling and not big houses, cars, boats and other ego-driven purchases.

At just over 22 million people...

Australia is the world's thirteenth largest economy and has the fifth highest per capita GDP at $66,984.

Which is much higher than that of the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Canada, Japan, and New Zealand.


I don't think they have a problem buying big houses, cars, boats and other ego-driven purchases.

missjo can correct me if I'm wrong, but I sincerely doubt there's a culture of obsessive materialism in Australia which rivals that of America. No, we are the clear #1 in that regard, and whoever's #2 is very, very distant.

Van wrote:Aren't you a hairdresser or something like that? How does a cosmetologist manage to afford all your seemingly nonstop galavanting around the globe?

Our house is paid off, my credit card balance is zero & I own my car outright
No Kids = No debt
I earn about $50,000 a year that's about $51,408 in USD ;)
I don't buy designer unless it's massively on sale, I don't smoke, rarely drink anymore & these days my idea of a big night out
is walking up King St to our favourite Vietnamese restaurant for dinner & if we're feeling splashy we'll have Gelato & hit the all night book store.

We don't replace anything unless it's irreparably broken, eg our TV is 18 years old but works fine so why upgrade to a LCD or plasma shelling our big bucks when for the amount of TV we watch our one does us fine.

So that's how I can afford my gallivanting ways these days!

MgoBlue-LightSpecial wrote:

M2 wrote:

MgoBlue-LightSpecial wrote:
They aren't Americans, meaning they sock their earnings away for things like traveling and not big houses, cars, boats and other ego-driven purchases.

At just over 22 million people...

Australia is the world's thirteenth largest economy and has the fifth highest per capita GDP at $66,984.

Which is much higher than that of the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Canada, Japan, and New Zealand.


I don't think they have a problem buying big houses, cars, boats and other ego-driven purchases.

missjo can correct me if I'm wrong, but I sincerely doubt there's a culture of obsessive materialism in Australia which rivals that of America. No, we are the clear #1 in that regard, and whoever's #2 is very, very distant.

Oh it is there, amongst the younger generation Y (Whine) mostly
but not quite on the same scale as the US no

trev wrote: Does he have anything original or does he just steal others' art like a douchbag.

He's drawing what his customers request. How does that equate to him stealing others art?

MgoBlue-LightSpecial wrote:

M2 wrote:

MgoBlue-LightSpecial wrote:
They aren't Americans, meaning they sock their earnings away for things like traveling and not big houses, cars, boats and other ego-driven purchases.

At just over 22 million people...

Australia is the world's thirteenth largest economy and has the fifth highest per capita GDP at $66,984.

Which is much higher than that of the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Canada, Japan, and New Zealand.


I don't think they have a problem buying big houses, cars, boats and other ego-driven purchases.

missjo can correct me if I'm wrong, but I sincerely doubt there's a culture of obsessive materialism in Australia which rivals that of America. No, we are the clear #1 in that regard, and whoever's #2 is very, very distant.

Sorry, but, people wanting stuff is universal. The difference is that in the US, the average shmuck has been able to do something about it for quite a long while.

No.

Generally speaking, Europeans, for example, do not value big houses, cars, etc., the way Americans do. Generally, they don't put in the hours and work like we do, because they don't place as much value on acquiring these things. They're perfectly content to work shorter days, while having fewer luxuries.

trev wrote:
Does he have anything original

he creates mazes on peoples faces.....does that count?



I'm almost sure when she hits 50 (assuming she makes it) she'll love it even more

Mazes? Pffffft.
I create maps on the faces of ladies like that. I'm a master at six or seven clustered islands and a lenghty peninsula.

How can you come back to Cali and NOT go see the Conducts? Mark is heartbroken.

Jsc810 wrote:

M2 wrote:A friend of mine from Minnesota makes around $200,000 a year and only works around 6 months a year.

You are fortunate to have such a talented friend. You should get some of his epic work done on you, be sure to post the pics here so we all can see it.

Ask, and ye shall receive:

Yes. Miss C must be in at least round 3 of weight loss surgery by now.

MgoBlue-LightSpecial wrote:Generally speaking, Europeans, for example, do not value big houses, cars, etc., the way Americans do.

What the fuck do you know about it? Have you ever even been there?

Of course, you nitwit. I embarked on a massive ship and sailed the seven seas to find and study these mysterious, foreign lands, as there is literally no other way to learn about them in these times we live in.

Stop acting like this is anything other than common knowledge.

You are totally full of shit. I've been there. I've worked there. You clearly haven't. Anyone who can afford the Benz or the Beemer drives one. Anyone who can afford the big house lives in one. It's no different there than it is here save that some in Europe are more comfortable with lower expectations.

KC Scott wrote:The culture varies from country to country but overall the Euros are far more concerned about their vacations and dinner than they are striving to achieve.

Don't forget about the siestas. I think it's actually somewhat common throughout Europe to nap during the afternoon (or was before the widespread economic crisis?)... but maybe some of you worldly fucks can correct me on this.

Lazy fucking Euros.

You my friend are a pokeaholic :p
Arrived in LAX at 9-10am this morning but it took an hour to get through the customs line arrgh
just kicking back with a Frangelico over ice on the couch after dinner, & tomorrow we start shopping!!

Martyred wrote:Your friend is a douchebag.

Sorry you had to hear it from me.

Wouldn't it be a safe assumption that any "friend" of m2 is a douchebag?

ucantdoitdoggieSTyle2 wrote:

KC Scott wrote:The culture varies from country to country but overall the Euros are far more concerned about their vacations and dinner than they are striving to achieve.

Don't forget about the siestas. I think it's actually somewhat common throughout Europe to nap during the afternoon (or was before the widespread economic crisis?)... but maybe some of you worldly fucks can correct me on this.

Lazy fucking Euros.

Southern Euros do Siesta. Very popular in Spain and Italy. But, they do work until 8 PM or so.

mvscal wrote:You are totally full of shit. I've been there. I've worked there. You clearly haven't. Anyone who can afford the Benz or the Beemer drives one. Anyone who can afford the big house lives in one. It's no different there than it is here save that some in Europe are more comfortable with lower expectations.

Rack.

Euros are "less materialistic" because they realize that most of these materials are out of their reach. Old money Euros have it. Everyone else lives somewhere between poor and lower middle class, by our standards. Really not much point in busting your ass when it is rewarded by ridiculously high income tax rates.

I will give them one thing. If you aspire to be dirt poor, it's a lot nicer to be so there than here.

smackaholic wrote:

mvscal wrote:You are totally full of shit. I've been there. I've worked there. You clearly haven't. Anyone who can afford the Benz or the Beemer drives one. Anyone who can afford the big house lives in one. It's no different there than it is here save that some in Europe are more comfortable with lower expectations.

Rack.

Euros are "less materialistic" because they realize that most of these materials are out of their reach. Old money Euros have it. Everyone else lives somewhere between poor and lower middle class, by our standards. Really not much point in busting your ass when it is rewarded by ridiculously high income tax rates.

I will give them one thing. If you aspire to be dirt poor, it's a lot nicer to be so there than here.

Do they aspire to be poor, or do they have no other choice? Pick an argument and stick to it, idiot.

The cause and effect is irrelevant. Generally speaking, there is not a culture of materialism in Europe which rivals that of suburban America. Period, EOS.

Actually, the culture in Europe is to not buy things with money they don't have (credit).

Wage disparity is also much less in Europe, hence a larger and healthier middle class. All this and social spending without most European states being net exporters.