A reader writes: "Is the end of the world coming? Has the polarity of the earth shifted? Yes, it is happening - I have proof. For 30-plus years I have eaten my Marmite on toast, until the shortage. I hunkered down, located as much of the product as I could and prepared to weather the storm. I eventually ran out, held out for as long as I could, and then finally swallowed my pride, followed by some Vegemite. Then, the other day my son asked for some Marmite toast soldiers for dipping in his boiled eggs. I gave him Vegemite. 'This is not Marmite,' he grumbled. 'Same thing', I said without thinking. There, it's happened. I have been converted. Sanitarium, it's too late, the world has turned upside down."
Burden of junk mail
Stewart Lind reckons, in the seven days from Sunday, December 9, he received 1.63kg of unsolicited "junk" mail at his Auckland address. "If all of Auckland's 450,000-plus homes received this, that would amount to over 700 tonnes of useless junk mail in a single week."
Putting it right
This correction appeared in The Atlantic newspaper: "This post originally referred to Jennifer Grey as 'Ferris Bueller's sister'. As commenters have pointed out, her role alongside Swayze in Dirty Dancing is clearly the more relevant. We regret putting Baby in a corner."
Beware the paperclips
In England, the Manchester NHS Trust has banned paperclips because staff keep cutting themselves. The trust sent a memo telling employees that any paperclips should be carefully disposed of and replaced with plastic fasteners.
Free trees for battlers
Good Corporate Citizen: Andersen Accountants in Auckland are giving away Christmas trees. The trees are potted living Christmas trees. Spokeswoman Kristina Andersen says that, "The firm wants to reach out to those who have had a hard year and those who have made a real difference." If you would like to nominate any deserving recipients in the Auckland area please contact the company on tree@andersen.co.nz and include your contact details, the contact details of the person you are nominating and the reasons for nominating that person.
