Every nation has that problem, Tim. We put so called "sports people", actors and etc, a misnomer in many cases, up on pedestals where they then come to believe they are untouchable and often can get away with anything for a time. When they fall, are pushed or just dragged down while screaming the whole way, off that pedestal they just don't understand why. Our media always reports on and encourages the extremes, whether good or bad in our societies. So you in America have a very different idea about Australia than actually exists and we, for our part like the rest of the world, usually have a very distorted view of America. The more perceptive amongst us know that in the real America and real Australia, as with other nations, are very different to their media image when you get to know the 90% of the real people who are the ones that the media never report on. They are just too boring to make hysterical headlines but they ARE the nation, not the flashy mob who are in the news all the time. We, ourselves are also to blame as we have been conditioned to look for and get a kick from the discomfiture of somebody else in those same hysterical headlines. Down here we often get the sense that we are somewhat more tolerant of and have less extremes than you do in the USA but again that is what we see and hear from your media. Your perceptions of OZ are also shaped by the media and are probably much different to reality. NDDan and Ohio Farm Boy [ another Tom ] would probably have a much better idea about Australia now, at least from an American's viewpoint, after visiting OZ so why don't a few more of you guys come on down for a look. NDDan and Ohio Farm Boy will probably be able to give you quite a few tips on what and what not to do. See you some time. Cheers!