“Further to Craig Forbes’ piece about political chew toys [C8]. I recently found a Donald Trump squeaky dog toy,” reveals Jonathan Vincent of Emu Heights. “My puppy loved it, but within five minutes she had removed both his arms. This silenced Trump’s squeak [Result! – Granny], and the disarmament is great for world peace.” “My siblings and I learnt about antimacassars [C8] very early in life,” says David Pigott of North Parramatta. “The letter ‘A’ was my mum’s favourite when playing I Spy with my Little Eye.” Warren Menteith of Bali describes the antimacassar as “a classic marketing ploy. Create the problem so you can flog the solution”. He also explains that “Macassar, the capital of Sulawesi (Celebes) gave its name to this item. It seems long before Brylcreem and other pomades, ebony oil from Makassar was the top-selling product.” While well aware that former PM Bob Hawke was a bit of a ladies man, Ron Besdansky of Northbridge was still taken aback when viewing Wikipedia’s Born on This Day page: 1929 – Hazel Hawke, Australian social worker and pianist, 23rd Spouse of the Prime Minister of Australia (died 2013). Jeff Stanton of Strathfield has a decidedly European take on signalling (C8) when he says: “using indicators is seen by many as providing information to the enemy”. “Mishaps really do come in threes,” reckons Viv Mackenzie of Port Hacking. “A friend should be enjoying the best snow in ages. However, she has been hospitalised with asthma, her husband has come down with COVID and another member of the party has broken a knee. Otherwise, everyone else is having a great time.” Generational talent Greg Leisner of Blackhead writes: “I’m of an age now where the only comfortable shoes are expensive stretchy sneaker types (black for weddings and funerals) but resist the pejorative term ‘Boomer’, and I am proposing that we be called the INDY generation. As in, ‘I’m Not Dead Yet’, any thoughts?” Column 8’s recent Coldplaygate (C8) headline got Richard Jary of Waitara thinking: “Perhaps at 61, I’m too young to remember, but why does every scandal now have to be somethinggate? What did they call scandals before Watergate?” “I purchased a mood lamp which soon put me in a bad mood as it required an app to set it up,” laments Susan McLaren of Windradyne. “This ‘free’ app was soon asking for my credit card details.” Column8@smh.com.au No attachments, please. Include name, suburb and daytime phone. Read More