Around the world...

[TullyBascombe]

Exactly how does Australia qualify as one of the oldest continually existing democracies? Australia became a Dominion in 1907.

I don't know--ask the article cited by Wikipedia (a report from the Canberra Times)...it's not the oldest democracy, but fourth-oldest continually existing democracy.

Hmmmm.......... Let's see. There's the US(1783), UK(1688?,1832?), Canada(1867), Netherlands(1848), Sweden(1848), Switzerland(1815), New Zealand (1865 or 1907) and Norway(1905). You could throw in France, Denmark, and Belgium depending on how you view their temporary occupation during WW2. Note that even though Norway and the Netherlands were occupied, their legitimate governments escaped and continued to lead resistance in exile. Costa Rica could be included if you forgive a brief civil war.

[kjackson83]

Exactly how does Australia qualify as one of the oldest continually existing democracies? Australia became a Dominion in 1907.

I don't know--ask the article cited by Wikipedia (a report from the Canberra Times)...it's not the oldest democracy, but fourth-oldest continually existing democracy.

Hmmmm.......... Let's see. There's the US(1783), UK(1688?,1832?), Canada(1867), Netherlands(1848), Sweden(1848), Switzerland(1815), New Zealand (1865 or 1907) and Norway(1905). You could throw in France, Denmark, and Belgium depending on how you view their temporary occupation during WW2. Note that even though Norway and the Netherlands were occupied, their legitimate governments escaped and continued to lead resistance in exile. Costa Rica could be included if you forgive a brief civil war.

'Australia was the fourth-longest continuously operating democracy in the world and many other countries copied much of Australian parliamentary procedure.'
-- David Hawker, Speaker of the Australian House of Representatives, January 2008

I'm not vouching for his accuracy, but it is what he, a Speaker of the House, said...you can take that or leave it; after all, our own democracy demonstrates that often the most idiotic members of the legislature are elected as Chair.

Yorkie: ohhh I couldn't say

[kjackson83]

The Parliament House in Canberra, Australia.

Damn! I actually looked at New Zealand (the flag got me thinking) - never considered Aus with a virtually identical flag!

talk about British offspring--c'mon now!

[Yorkie]

The Parliament House in Canberra, Australia.

Damn! I actually looked at New Zealand (the flag got me thinking) - never considered Aus with a virtually identical flag!

talk about British offspring--c'mon now!

Well, we don't like to credit the Aussies with doing anything worthwhile

[whitetail1985]

Victoria Memorial. Calcutta India

[TullyBascombe]

The Parliament House in Canberra, Australia.

Oh, and BTW, that has to be the ugliest seat of government, ever.

It reminds me of the Vietnam Veterans memorial in Washington, which is sorta supposed to be depressing. Was the Australian Parliament House designed by somone nostalgic for the good old days before the 6 colonies federated?

[kjackson83]

Victoria Memorial. Calcutta India

Victoria Memorial, Calcutta (Kolkata). Whitetail1985 leads with 2 pts

:: NEXT :: ...something a little less difficult--


Clue:
I'm NOT Westminster Abbey.

[kjackson83]

The Parliament House in Canberra, Australia.

Oh, and BTW, that has to be the ugliest seat of government, ever.

It reminds me of the Vietnam Veterans memorial in Washington, which is sorta supposed to be depressing. Was the Australian Parliament House designed by somone nostalgic for the good old days before the 6 colonies federated?

It's a 1.1bil (AUS$) building designed to look like two boomerangs from the air...it looks a little better on the inside, but still comes across as a curiously unaesthetic blending of traditional styles with some kind of bizarre post-modernist abstraction...no, I can't say I like it, either: better the Gothic style of the Houses of Parliament in London, or even the Federal style of Washington, D.C...

The House of Representatives:


Doesn't this feel a bit like the Court of Secrets for the Global Secret One-World Conspiracy (ie, the Priory of Sion )?

[libera36]

The Parliament House in Canberra, Australia.

Oh, and BTW, that has to be the ugliest seat of government, ever.

It reminds me of the Vietnam Veterans memorial in Washington, which is sorta supposed to be depressing. Was the Australian Parliament House designed by somone nostalgic for the good old days before the 6 colonies federated?

It looks to me kind of like it was modern architecture gone bad... Which is really quite common! The front part reminds me of the World War II memorial in Washington...

[Yorkie]

Victoria Memorial. Calcutta India

Victoria Memorial, Calcutta (Kolkata). Whitetail1985 leads with 2 pts

:: NEXT :: ...something a little less difficult--


Clue:
I'm NOT Westminster Abbey.

Now bit of a long shot because it's so long since I've been, but that sky looks like it might be Kent so I'll take a guess at Canterbury Cathedral

[Yorkie]

Actually I've just Googled Canterbury and I don't think it is. Back to the drawing board......???

[Yorkie]

Another stab - could it be a Cathedral built in the English Gothic style but built in another country? Say America? Say Washington D.C?

That woman in the photo doesn't look English so it got me thinking........

Go on, give me a point

[kjackson83]

Another stab - could it be a Cathedral built in the English Gothic style but built in another country? Say America? Say Washington D.C?

That woman in the photo doesn't look English so it got me thinking........

Go on, give me a point

oh OK! I think you know it's...

Washington National Cathedral--the sixth largest cathedral in the world (and Episcopalian, I might add ).

One of the more interesting gargoyles from the cathedral:


::: Leaderboard :::

Yorkie and Whitetail1985: 2 pts
libera36: 1 pt
tcernt: 1 pt
tcliffy: 1 pt

Geez, you people are pretty good at this--I'll have to step it up here...

:: NEXT ::



Clue:
'I am the new home for something old and priceless.'

[kjackson83]

That woman in the photo doesn't look English so it got me thinking........

And why is this, please do tell?

[Yorkie]

That woman in the photo doesn't look English so it got me thinking........

And why is this, please do tell?

She was smiling.