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| Australia Day http://www.testycopyeditors.org/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=3596 |
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| Author: | vtuss [ Mon Jan 24, 2005 10:30 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Australia Day |
A long PR release on the advisory wire today: Foster's Calls for a Day Off From Work MILWAUKEE, WI -- (MARKET WIRE) -- 01/24/05 -- While most Americans will not find Australia Day on their 2005 calendars, Foster's is encouraging folks to adopt the laid back Aussie lifestyle and call in sick to celebrate Australia's national holiday on January 26. An Australia Day Survey of 1,000 people released today by Foster's revealed that 81 percent of Americans believe that "taking a sickie'' -- Australian slang for skipping work -- once every few months would improve mental health and productivity. And in the spirit of good health and increased productivity, the Aussie company is asking its friends in the USA to call in sick and observe this national Australian holiday to improve ones "productivity.'' Australia Day, essentially Founder's Day for Australia, commemorates the 1788 landing of Captain Arthur Phillip at Port Jackson in present-day Sydney, thereby settling Australia for the British Empire. According to the survey, 39 percent of Americans admitted to taking a sickie from school or work last year. And while more than one-quarter of those surveyed reported Friday as the best day of the week to call in sick,most agreed (37 percent) that any day is a good day to take off work. So how would Americans spend Australia Day if they were to take a sickie? Thirty-nine percent of those surveyed would want to spend the day with a significant other, while 23 percent would hang out with family. More than one-quarter of those surveyed would sleep until noon while another 25 percent would enjoy the day outdoors at a park, beach or mountain. "Americans work hard and they deserve to play hard,'' said Craig White, Foster's Brand Manager. "There is no better day to kick back and drink a beer with your mates than Australia Day. Just as the Irish have St. Patrick's Day, this is our day of celebration for those of us from Down Under.'' Nearly half of those polled in the survey said they don't believe they get as much time off as they deserve each year. And many Americans (65 percent) think it is okay to take a sickie once in a while. While Americans feel that taking the occasional sickie improves mental health and productivity, the results of the "Everything Australia'' survey reveal that perhaps some Americans may have taken a few sickies too many -- at least in their school days. Examples why Americans may want to bone up on their Aussie knowledge before calling in sick to celebrate Australia Day include: -- In a multiple choice question, more Americans said that Paul Martin, Prime Minister of Canada, or Jacque Chirac, President of France, are running the show in Australia, than were able to correctly name the country's Prime Minister, John Howard. -- Only half of all Americans were able to name the correct hemispheres where Australia lies. Those in their twenties should hang their heads the lowest -- one in ten thought that Australia was in the Northern and Western Hemispheres. Of course, it's actually in the Southern Hemisphere. -- A full third of Americans (36 percent) were unaware that Australia served as a prison colony before serving as the setting for Paul Hogan's Crocodile Dundee movies. In fact, one in five women age 21-39 believe the country was originally founded as a koala preserve and nearly one in ten (nine percent) thought it was an aquatic research center before becoming a country. Maybe Americans couldn't pass an Australian history test, but one thing is clear: Americans love Australia. Some other facts about Americans' feelingsabout Aussies include: -- Thirty-two percent of Americans reported Mel Gibson as the Australian star they would most like to have a beer with; Nicole Kidman came in a distant second with 19 percent and Aussie actor Russel Crowe ranked 5th (9 percent of respondents). The Crocodile Hunter, Elle MacPherson, Hugh Jackman, Heath Ledger and Naomi Watts rounded out the list. -- Ninety-one percent of Americans report that having an Aussie drinking buddy, neighbor, or significant other would be ideal. -- Eighty-two percent of Americans said that Australian rugby players and Australian Rules Footballers are tougher than American football players. The "Foster's Australia Day Survey'' was fielded by Kelton Research in December 2004 to commemorate Australia Day, the country's birthday. The survey of 1,000 Americans explores attitudes and perceptions of the Australian lifestyle. Foster's "Australian for beer'' was first brewed in Melbourne, Victoria, in 1888. Sold in more than 150 countries worldwide, Foster's beer exports the Aussie enjoyment for life around the world. Foster's Lager, Australia's most successful beer brand, is also one of the fastest growing beers in the world. Foster's is imported by Century Importers, Reston, Virginia, and distributed by Miller Brewing Company in the USA. |
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| Author: | paulwiggins [ Mon Jan 24, 2005 10:53 pm ] |
| Post subject: | |
I prefer to call it Invasion Day and will consequently be working tomorrow as I do on Queen's Birthday. Ps I haven't seen anyone drink a Foster's in this state for many a long year, thanks to the weird and wonderful machinations of corporations and marketers. |
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| Author: | Lee [ Mon Jan 24, 2005 11:14 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Australia Day |
vtuss wrote: -- Eighty-two percent of Americans said that Australian ... Rules Footballers are tougher than American football players.
They have to be. Look at those tiny shorts they're forced to wear in public. |
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| Author: | paulwiggins [ Mon Jan 24, 2005 11:35 pm ] |
| Post subject: | |
As shown here |
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| Author: | SuchASlot [ Tue Jan 25, 2005 2:30 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Australia Day |
Lee wrote: vtuss wrote: -- Eighty-two percent of Americans said that Australian ... Rules Footballers are tougher than American football players. They have to be. Look at those tiny shorts they're forced to wear in public. Two words: No pads. |
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| Author: | Oeditpus Rex [ Tue Jan 25, 2005 3:17 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Australia Day |
SuchASlot wrote: Two words: No pads.
Two more: No teeth. If I were in a tough neighborhood, I'd rather have one Aussie footy player with me than the Patriots' entire offensive line. Those blokes are donks. "Oh, ripper mark!" |
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