16-year-old Aussie "Party Boy" Cory Worthington could be facing a A$20,000 fine for having a party for hundreds of friends while his parents were on vacation.  As you can see in the video, he's every parents' dream of the perfect son.

This video could well be a hoax, but it's still funny to watch.

[via meshly]

14-year-old Julian Shaw jumped into the train tracks when 54-year-old Mark O'Dwyer fainted and fell two meters from the platform on the tracks below. 

Julian Shaw, who is 180 centimetres tall and weighs 70 kilograms, was travelling home from school with classmates when he saw Mr O'Dwyer,  who is 187 centimetres tall and weighs 110 kilograms, fall. Julian leapt into action.

"I jumped down on to the tracks, lifted him off the ground and put him on my shoulder - he was heavy but there was enough adrenaline rushing through to help me," said Julian, who is in year 9 at Lisarow High School and plays guitar in punk rock band Checkered Fist.

With the train "just a couple of metres away", Julian moved the North Gosford resident to the edge of the track and rolled him under the platform.

But danger was not totally averted.

"[As the train roared past] the noise pierced your ears and there was a suction that pulled us in," Julian said.

"I'd seen that on MythBusters, so I stayed right back and pulled Mark back towards me."

Australian artist, Nike Savvas created an art piece titled Atomix - Full of Love, Full of Wonder consisting of over 50,000 suspended polystyrene balls which 'shimmer' with the wind of 10 fans.  Ms. Savvas was inspired both by French artist George Seurat and her homesickness for the Australian outback.

[via MonkeyFilter]

Last year the girls reunited in Minneapolis to meet Zachary and this year we ventured down to Danville, Virginia for Ruthie's wedding.  It was a whirlwind weekend full of memories and laughs. 

The Thursday before Caroline, Kris and I were to fly out, liquids were banned from all carry-on baggage.  We always have the luck of something going completely wrong, but surprisingly, the liquid ban caused no hiccups in our travels. 

The weekend was full of wedding events and Ruthie arranged transportation for us throughout the entire weekend, which was above and beyond her bridal duties.  (Thanks, Ruthie!)  We got a kick out of one of our drivers because we thought he was feeding us a bunch of lies :)  Robert was telling us about kudzu and dirt daubers, and pointing out the tobacco fields as we were driving through the country roads to Danville.  Turns out kudzu and dirt daubers are real so Robert is probably thinking Midwesterners (or just the three of us) are complete idiots. 

Friday evening we went to the Rehearsal After Party at The Barn, which is a renovated barn where many special events are held.  After 8 years we finally met Ruthie's family and enjoyed catching up with each other.

Saturday morning Ruthie's mom put together a brunch for Ruthie and her closest girlfriends at this gorgeous bed and breakfast in downtown Danville.  The bed and breakfast is set in a classic southern mansion.  The three of us felt a little out of our leagues because we are far from fitting the "southern belle" mold :)

Saturday evening was the ceremony and reception.  We had a good laugh during the ceremony when the minister said the phrase, "social lubrication".  Caroline started laughing histerically and got some looks from people sitting next to us.  Despite Caroline's chuckles, the ceremony was beautiful.  The reception was a blast and the band rocked the house.  Ruthie was absolutely beautiful and looked so happy.

Sunday we packed up our things and then headed over to a family friend's house for brunch.  Ruthie's family and friends were absolutely wonderful.  They were so welcoming and friendly--They treated us like family.  There definitely is some truth to "southern hospitality." 

I sped through the description of the weekend, but sometimes our humor is over the top and just plain obnoxious.  HA! 

Next year's reunion will be in Grand Rapids, Michigan for Kris's wedding.  Can't wait!

Yes... Today is Australia Day: The one day of a year where I can say "I'm an Australian.  Go stuff yourself!"

Now listening to the Hottest 100... If you have the internet, you should too!

The next Aussie Reunion of Ruthie (Ruth), Kristona (Kristina), Doona Booga (Caroline), and I has officially been scheduled for August 5, 2005. It’s hard to believe that three years have gone by since our last reunion. At our last reunion in 2002, my mates came to Minneapolis to join in the wedding festivities of Jason and I, and now in 2005 they are again coming to Minneapolis to visit their new Aussie nephew, Zachary.

Wow! I’m marveled by the fact that the four of us, living in differing states, have stayed so close. In 1997 (or was it 1998… it’s been so long), the four of us met on a 6-month long AustraLearn study abroad trip in Australia and have been friends ever since. One of these days, the four of us will have to take out our Australia journals and write a book about our crazy adventures in Australia.