Digging deep

Australian soldiers currently fighting in Afghanistan are called 'Diggers' when referred to by the media or politicians. When 110 year old World War One 'Veteran' John Campbell Ross passed away recently the tributes that came named him as Australia's Last Remaining Digger. If that is the case does that mean that other veterans will not be able to use that term. It should do but it will not. The term digger is used by the media and politicians to generate specific emotions and ideals and it is a pity that it gets overused and abused.

Interestingly John Campbell Ross was barely a 'digger' anyway; he never left Australia in a military capacity and spent most of his time serving in Broadmeadows, Victoria. Am quite sure there was little digging to be done there...

Puff of Smoke

Big business, through mergers and international expansion, produces unusual company nomenclature. The largest tobacco company in Australia is named British Amercian Tobacco Australia. Gee couldn't they squeeze another country's name in?

Hard Labour

A prison inmate in the United States has endured a 55 hour erection and is suing the nurse who allegedly administered anti-psychotic drugs that allegedly induced the long-lasting erection. Amusingly the accused Nurse, Judith Lovelace shares a surname with Deep Throat porn star Linda Lovelace.






http://www.nypost.com/seven/06072009/news/regionalnews/55_hr__erection_agony_173057.htm

Mile high ego club

Qantas has announced plans to charge AUD160 extra for those who choose to sit in the seats next to the emergency exits, which are prized for their extra leg-room. This plan has been decried in the press by... a 31 year old lawyer and self-promoting wannabe politician from Brisbane who travelled to Russia in 2002 for radically leg-lengthening surgery to gain an extra 8 cms (per leg). Hajnal Ban, who has written a book about her surgery, has recently gone to great lengths (insert chuckle here) to promote herself. Her press release, in defense of tall people everywhere, is a prime example of this. She is not tall. She underwent surgery because she was, in her mind, too short.

In short, she is a complete joke.

On her website (http://www.hajnalban.com/), which promotes her book and the cult of Hajnal she is described as being a high profile Australian politician when she is in fact a mere Councillor for Logan City in Queensland who is barely known outside her own neighbourhood. More amusingly her web page tells us that "Hajnal is as equally known for her unique style and elegance. She has been described by many as a leader in fashion and design. " Eat your heart out Jackie Kennedy-Onassis, step aside Princess Di - let's all admire Hajnal nobody.

The website continues "Even Hajnal's name generates conversation." Somnething along the lines of "Who?" I should think.

I think somebody needs a reality check.

When cricketers do not protect their middle stump...

From the ABC website...

Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar has been ruled out of the Twenty20 World Cup after being diagnosed with genital warts, the Pakistan Cricket Board says.

A statement on the board's website said: "The Medical Board has reported that Shoaib Akhtar was suffering from Genital Viral Warts and Electrofulgration was done on May 12, 2009.

"They further stated that his wound though healing needs further care and treatment for another minimum 10 days for the purpose of healing and to achieve skin cover."

Too much info Pakistan Cricket Board!

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/05/21/2577649.htm