Oprah in Australia

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Originally Posted by Grumpy John

That's gotta be a violation of "The Code" :D.

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But i have photo shopped a tool belt and Domino onto her so i figure its ok:)

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Originally Posted by silentC

....... but then I remembered we are talking about Oprah Winfrey's audience, so yes I take your point :D

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Apparently these are big sellers in Europe :D, my son brought one back for me.

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So far everything seems to have been positive with Oprah's visit. She has a good impression and her guests seem to be enjoying themselves.

Whatever your personal thoughts about the lady this is probably going to be better for the tourism industry than anything that has happened in the country so far - save perhaps the Olympics.

I wonder if Eddy will get a photo of her in a filthy Magpie jumper:?

Age Green guide had an article on her.
Cheers,
Jim

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Whatever your personal thoughts about the lady this is probably going to be better for the tourism industry than anything that has happened in the country so far - save perhaps the Olympics.

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I'm so glad you mentioned the olympics. As a matter of fact, the Auditor General found in 2003 that the net cost to the public purse of the games was somewhere between $1.7 and 2.4 billion. That's after extra income tax revenue etc was taken into account. Far from making us money, it cost us billions. We're left with infrastructure that nobody uses and that costs millions to maintain, and the tourist bubble that was supposed to follow never happened. In fact growth of tourism into NSW was less than for the country as a whole in the years that followed. So as a financial growth strategy, it was a marked failure. That's not to say we shouldn't have done it, but let's not muddy the waters by claiming it boosted the economy, because it clearly did not.

Oprah Watch - She is now at Healesville Sanctuary. I suppose as I type this, some lucky Koala will be getting a nice ol feel :wink::)

And I couldn’t believe when I heard that women with sleeping bags and thermoses are already camping at Fed Square in Melbourne.

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Originally Posted by Lignum

Oprah Watch - She is now at Healesville Sanctuary. I suppose as I type this, some lucky Koala will be getting a nice ol feel :wink::)

...

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Am I seeing the dangling of the prawn in the pond - just to see who will rise to it? :o

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Originally Posted by Bob38S

Am I seeing the dangling of the prawn in the pond - just to see who will rise to it? :o

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It's all just a ploy to spam his new web site.

I feel so used :D

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Originally Posted by Woodwould

It's all just a ploy to spam his new web site.

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Why would I use Oprah to spam my site? It’s the same people reading and replying and they already know its there. Once she leaves Vic I could care less.

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Originally Posted by Lignum

Why would I use Oprah to spam my site?

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It's a very popular/controversial news item.

Google this: oprah winfrey australia woodwork

:D:D

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Originally Posted by Woodwould

It's a very popular/controversial news item.

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I posted that i reckon it would be great if i could get her to buy or get something from me as it would be great. Their wouldnt be a woodworker (apart from you and 2 or 3 others) who wouldnt. Wasnt my fault it went onto a tourism debate.

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Originally Posted by silentC

Google this: oprah winfrey australia woodwork

:D:D

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Again, who would google that? what connection would her fans think she has with wood work?

How bout googleing "Collingwood joke woodworking forum" How many people would google a wood forum for a collingwood joke? about the same amount as Oprah the woodworker

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Originally Posted by Lignum

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How bout googleing "Collingwood joke woodworking forum" How many people would google a wood forum for a collingwood joke? about the same amount as Oprah the woodworker

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Hey whaddya know one of my posts came up :D.

You would be surprised at what people Google. But see the smileys? They're meant to convey a light-hearted tone, so don't get your Collingwood knickers in a knot there Lignum.

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Originally Posted by silentC

You would be surprised at what people Google. But see the smileys? They're meant to convey a light-hearted tone, so don't get your Collingwood knickers in a knot there Lignum.

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Fair enough. :D

But i just googled Oprah in Australia and i scanned the first 8 pages and no mention of this thread. So if it was a spaming ploy like wouldwood said, then it was a massive failure and waste of time. :rolleyes:

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a massive failure and waste of time

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Just like the tourism potential of Oprah's visit then ;)

OK, I'll stop now...:p

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Originally Posted by silentC

Just like the tourism potential of Oprah's visit then ;)

OK, I'll stop now...:p

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So will I :)

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Originally Posted by silentC

Just like the tourism potential of Oprah's visit then ;)

OK, I'll stop now...:p

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A quote from this article.

Sensing there may be some backlash from taxpayers, former tourism minister John Brown has implored the media not to be "cynical about the cost."

"We spent hundreds of millions of dollars over 30 years without much effect, I must say that honestly," he said. "The publicity that Oprah will bring to Australia around the world is something you couldn't buy."

Hmmmmmmm

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Originally Posted by Grumpy John

A quote from this article.

Sensing there may be some backlash from taxpayers, former tourism minister John Brown has implored the media not to be "cynical about the cost."

"We spent hundreds of millions of dollars over 30 years without much effect, I must say that honestly," he said. "The publicity that Oprah will bring to Australia around the world is something you couldn't buy."

Hmmmmmmm

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I have to agree 30 years doing what spending it on who and what lets see.:rolleyes:

Paul Hogan and 3 Aussie films
The biggest Bungle Bingle "So where the Bloody Hell did $30 mil get spent
So the American's can't stand Aussies selling their own country they (Australia) have to bring in an American to do it.:doh:

If Murdoch an American citizen ex- Aussie can't what hope have we.

I know we need the likes of "The Chaser" crew to come to the rescue of Oprah and all the people she brought with her, from the terrorists we have here. Poor Hick's he is so damn good.

I wonder if she likes woodwork. :think: Lets google it. :D

I bet she sits down a lot, a chance for you Scott

Greg

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The publicity that Oprah will bring to Australia around the world is something you couldn't buy

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OK, let's analyse this. According to Wikipedia, she has something like 6.2 million viewers each day (we can assume they are roughly the same 6.2m each day). Now to put that into perspective, that is just under 2% of the US population. I can't find figures on other countries, but I assume they're not going to be significantly higher than those in the US. So can someone in advertising tell us if that is a good reach or not? Doesn't seem like as broad a net as we're led to believe.

I'd agree to that. I tried Googling Neilson and rating in the US talk shows but couldn't find anything. I'll keep looking.

I think they also measure newspaper inches and TV new reports across the channels as well as well as mentions on radio programmes and articles in magazines and....

I think the actual numbers are around 45 million US viewers per week.... are they the same viewers per day x 7 days? I don't know

I am glad Wiki provided you with pages of notes and plenty of attachments, it appears to be having a calming affect on your obsession.

I think you all should spend more time in the shed, let Julia do the worrying over Christmas.

Greg

You're a condescending sort of bloke, aren't you Gregory?

You used the phrase "I think" three times there. Are you sure you're not over-taxing yourself, mate? :)

I admit I have a problem.

I don't really like poetry that doesn't rhyme or doesn't have a structure, it appears lazy.

I don't like songs that rhyme words that aren't actual rhymes

I don't like using smilies, believing that words should be able to communicate my thoughts without their use. Perhaps I fail there as well......

Now.... damn, I've used 'I don't' three times as well...... now four

I think I'll go and count the cracks in the tiles in bathroom floor again to see if they are an even number.

Now back to the subject, don't know if you saw the headline in The Daily Telegraph
'Rock Oprah" with a photo of Ulahru... made me smile (sorry can't spell Ularu etiher, I can spell Ayres Rock)

Greg

The Daily Telegraph! Are you serious? Well, that explains everything. :)

(Sorry, the smiley is there so you know I'm pulling your leg. Just force of habit really, because some people aren't as good at picking up on subtlety as you and I.)

Don't pick on me......... It's not nice and I really don't like it.

I only saw the headlines while I was browsing at Macdonalds. I never buy an Australian newspaper.
Normally (naturally) I only read those newspapers I subscribe to on-line, Guardian and the NY Times, and like Kev, the China Daily, in both the Manderin and Cantonese versions.

Perhaps if my son were here, he could teach me how to use those pesky smilies.

Greg

Oprah who...?.:wink:

Play nicely children or the sandpit will be closed.:wink:

Sorry.

Sometimes my mouth causes me problems, sometimes my actions, sometimes I'm just a smart a****

But this time of the year is well known as being difficult if marriage breakdowns and partner separations, murders and fights are measured.

And I shouldn't relieve my stress here.

I'll go and kick the dog next time.

Greg

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Originally Posted by Greg Ward

But this time of the year is well known as being difficult if marriage breakdowns and partner separations, murders and fights are measured.

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And thats just on the Oprah midday tv show:rolleyes:

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Originally Posted by Lignum

Bit harsh. To say she has no talent is a fair way of the mark. To come from poverty as a child, to a billionaire and one of the most influential women in the world takes a fair bit of talent if you ask me. :)

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Agreed she's started out rough and ended up making alot of dough but 50 years after she's gone who will remember her? If you measure success by how much money you've got in the bank then yes shes successful.

My heroes are people like Sir Edmund Hillary.....he didn't end up amongst New Zealand's top 50 wealthiest people but everyone knows his name and what he did to earn his fame. Not a bad efort for a humble bee keeper from Kiwiland. Granted he didnt come from poverty like Ophra but he had other personal tragedies to surmount such as the death of his first wife and one of his daughters in a plane crash in Nepal...an event that led to Ed's black years and a long road to recovery.

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Originally Posted by Greg Ward

I think Qantas is flying them for free, I'm sure most of the trip is paid for in some way or other.

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Qantas is flying the audience.....Oprah is winging around Oz in her $50m private jet.

Twas heart warming to see Joolya being booed at Fed Square.

Hey folks ,
looks like your place is just one big golden arch for Oprofits to flow in through

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Oprah took 300 lucky audience members from her season premiere to Australia and is airing several shows leading up to their trip so her viewers can learn about the land Down Under. As part of one of these shows, an Oprah guest reporter, Carrie Bickmore, informs viewers that "hip" Aussies gather and socialize at McCafes, coffee shops that are part of the McDonald's empire.
Not that there's anything wrong with that. Or is there?
Bickmore, in a segment promoted as a "crash course in Australian lingo and culture" called McCafes "hip hangouts" and used their slogan "It's all a little bit fancy" to describe the chain, claiming it's where "guys come for business meetings [and] girls come for a catch-up over coffee." According to The Australian, McDonald's paid Harpo Industries for the spot.
Let me get this straight: Oprah takes 300 people to Australia, because traveling is part of a "best life" involving exposing oneself to different landscapes and cultures. That's the whole point of leisure travel, right? So in order to acclimate her viewers to the unique cultural offerings that make Australia Australian, she tells them about McDonald's coffee shops.
Four groups of people Oprah seriously off with this really lame conception of a show:
Her Viewers
Oprah gets paid for this. And does not disclose it on the show. A show rep only confesses when questioned by a newspaper. Lame.
Australians
Many Aussies are up in arms. The Oprah visit has been widely hyped by the Australian media, and they resent McCafes being presented as the best of what their country has to offer.
Coffee Makers

Coffee enthusiasts are particularly miffed, as Australia has a thriving coffee culture, due to the large number of Italian and Greek immigrants to the country, that certainly doesn't consider McCafes as their pride and joy.
Australian Restauranteurs
The Australian government, in an attempt to boost tourism to the country, is footing the bill for the trip, to the tune of AUS $5 million. In light of that, I'd be extremely upset that her shows didn't highlight Australia's culinary landscape.

Listen, I don't hate Oprah. She built her empire herself and seems particularly generous in leveraging her power into benefits for her viewers. I wouldn't turn down a free trip to Australia. However, women in American listen to what she has to say. They really listen. And when she insinuates that when you should travel, if you want to be like the locals, head to McCafes (or McDonalds, or any other chain you can experience here in the US) that's both irresponsible and just plain bad advice. Had she taken her viewers to Paris, would she bypass the legendary bistros and brasseries for McDo?
If you are fortunate enough to travel to a foreign country, do yourself a favor: ignore Oprah. Seek out what the locals eat where they eat it. You can visit the Golden Arches any old time ... here in America.
Do you think Oprah took an ethical and public relations nose dive with the McDonald's kerfuffle?

Did Controversial McDonald's Stunt Ruin Oprah's Credibility? | The Stir

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Corporate America will be rubbing its mitts together big time

I love it. $5m (notice how it's gone up from the original $3m they told us they were spending) to tell Americans that Australia is just like the US! What an incentive to travel.