KEY POINTS:
Hold on tight, it could be a bumpy ride: In an effort to further cut costs the airline industry is encouraging travellers to go before they ... er, go. The latest report comes from China, where airline China Southern is urging customers to use the bathroom before boarding their flight. The move is an attempt to reduce the amount of fuel it takes to power the flush of airline toilets at 30,000ft. China Southern calculates that such a flush uses about a litre of fuel. (Source: Reuters)
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Overheard conversations like the one below are reproduced verbatim:
Guy 1: Sounds like she really misses you.
Guy 2: Yeah, she does, but what am I supposed to do? If you're not happy, you're not happy. What? Am I supposed to suffer just to make her happy? I'm not Jesus. (Source: Overhead New York)
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The Sydney Morning Herald published this wonderful correction from a recent issue of Dialogue, a community arts and lifestyle publication: "Apologies to artist Sue Westaway for a spellcheck misprint in the spring 2005 issue of Dialogue, page 10. The words 'high nuisance' should have read 'high renaissance'."
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Unexpected consequences: A Tel Aviv newspaper reported that tighter border security that resulted from the war with Hezbollah guerrillas caused marijuana prices in Israel to jump as much as 800 per cent. And despite their political and religious differences, ultra-orthodox Jews joined militant Palestinian Muslims in fierce opposition to the November gay pride parade in Jerusalem. One activist said, "Only this onslaught of homosexual radicalism could bring together such disparate voices." (Source: News of the Weird)
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New York based Cobra Beer has a new unisex beer champagne drink that's all class. Prestige Champagne Lager is described as the most innovative beer to date, combining a bubbly with a brewski. The label literature says, "This holiday season have your beer and your champagne too!"
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Phil Keoghan's reality TV show No Opportunity Wasted is not exactly living up to its name so far. After just three low-rating episodes it has been demoted from its prime-time 7.30pm slot to go up against the news at 6pm. In the show host Keoghan (right), well-known from his award-winning The Amazing Race, challenges New Zealanders to change their lives through a series of tasks. The episodes attracted an audience share of between 16 and 21 per cent of viewers aged 18 to 39. Even Touchdown's excruciating celebrity buddy school show Top of the Class got 30 per cent.
