The Sydney Morning Herald reports the discovery of some new dinosaurs in Australia that lived about 100 million years ago, or up to 7,000 years ago if the Creationists are right.
Two of the dinosaurs were a species of giant plant eater and the other was a fierce and agile raptor dubbed a Banjosaurus.
The name Banjosaurus got my hopes up that a Ukulelesaurus might soon be unearthed or, more terrible yet, a Trombonesaurus.
But as it turns out the Banjorsaurus was named for A.B. "Banjo" Paterson, the famous bush balladist, writer and journalist who did as much as anyone to shape the notion of the Australian character. His face is on the side of the Aussie $10 bill.
Apparently, the dinosaurs were found near Winton in western Queensland, which happens to be my home state, although in saying this I don't want to leave the impression that all dinosaurs come from there.
According to the Herald story, Paterson composed "Waltzing Matilda" in Winton in 1885 and it was first performed there.
No doubt you remember "Waltzing Matilda," which at one stage was being suggested as Australia's national anthem. The problem was that it celebrates a suicide. A swagman (hobo) is camped by a billabong (a creek) and spies a jolly jumbuck (a sheep), which he wants to put in his tucker bag (food bag). Rather than be taken by the cops for stealing sheep, he prefers to jump into the billabong, where now his ghost may be heard.
But it's time to return to the great nation of the United States and the present era, where the only dinosaurs are in Congress.
In my tucker bag this weekend, I have hot dogs and hamburgers and American condiments.
Happy Independence Day to you all.
Posted
Jul 03 2009, 04:24 PM
by
Reg Henry