Colt turns stallion

FOR all Shirley MacLaine's talk in her memoir of taking her then squeeze Andrew Peacock on UFO-spotting tours, there's only one line on the Kooyong Colt that's snagged in our brain: "I thought as long as he's minister for foreign affairs, I might as well give him one he never forgets."

Cripes; that halted our brain as thoroughly as the Sydney telegraph pole that stopped Peacock's Mercedes one festive evening in 2005. Could it put pressure on the newest member for Kooyong, Josh Frydenberg? After all, his 2010 election campaign was launched by the Colt. Is there an obligation to uphold a certain, er, standard? It appears that having married domestically, Frydenberg has given up on foreign affairs of that sort. But there's always the other angle. "I'm keeping my eye on the skies over Kooyong," he tells Strewth, "but I've yet to spot any UFOs." But he sounds hopeful.

The gift of Emmo

RUMOURS of Schapelle Corby's possible release from jail in Bali deserve an expression of gratitude from Australia. Nothing too overt, of course, but it should, for those able to read the subtle language of diplomatic gestures, be clear. So three cheers to Canberra for getting it just right yesterday with this announcement: "Trade Minister Craig Emerson will this week visit Jakarta."

Northern exposure

IT was on ABC1's Insiders yesterday, during a contemplation of Campbell Newman's unusual rise to the Queensland Liberal National Party leadership, that Barnaby Joyce arrived at this thought: "Well, Queensland is known for being unorthodox. I suppose I'm a representation of that lack of deliberation that sometimes comes into things." Things stayed on an unorthodox track when Australian Workers Union national secretary Paul Howes's carbon tax cold feet were canvassed. Said host Barrie Cassidy: "Paul Howes though sounds like he might be signing up to Tony Abbott's revolution. You might find yourself marching alongside his trade union members." At the time, though, Howes had his eye on on Sydney's inner west, tweeting, "Taken the family to [Israeli-owned chocolate cafe] Max Brenner for no reason [other] than Marrickville Council and Fiona Byrne want us to boycott them."

Unholy racket

THE Marrickville situation is one we suspect local rag The Sydney Morning Herald just wasn't taking seriously when it editorialised on the weekend: "[T]he municipality might show a hint of steel by stationing a taskforce comprising the entire waste disposal department off the Israeli coast, ready to bang Israeli bins together at a moment's notice. Services in Marrickville may be disrupted, but ratepayers can be confident they will be keeping the Israelis awake at night."

Timing is all

DESPITE being a confirmed sports numbskull, Strewth has one tiny nugget of wisdom to offer the Nine Network's sports folk: when a team is in the process of scoring a try-goal-hole-run-point-hoop-pheasant-whatever, try to refrain from using that very moment to cut to an ad. Really, it did seem to make a lot of Melbourne Storm supporters cross yesterday.

One for the sibs

DESPITE the loss of Xanadu(Xanadone?), Melbourne musical fans can take some heart from Rock of Ages's success. And judging by the avalanche of enthusiasm in the publicity, no wonder. Post-show vox poppers include Eddie McGuire, who said menacingly the show had inspired him to buy a pair of acid wash jeans, and Kate Ceberano: "'Most fun I've ever had! Unbelievable performance sweaty and sexy!" By happy coincidence, the press release was put out by Kate's sister-in-law, Angela Ceberano. Coming as we do from a spasmodically dysfunctional tribe, we were touched to see such a bond. Alas, it turns out another company does the vox pops, but it still warms the heart.

Stick to puberty

KATHY Lette may have struck a blow against the republican movement with a Fairfax-borne piece on the royals. "Mention 'the Queen' to most Aussie kids," she begins, "and they presume you're talking about Elton John." They do? On she goes -- double entendre ooh er double entendre -- before calling for a "Windsor-ectomy": "How can we ever again allow the Queen's representative to sack our elected government? As a nation, it's time we stood on our own two thongs. I'm thinking Dame Edna for president, or Kylie perhaps? (What woman wouldn't want the job? Imagine being on a stamp and getting licked all day. Now that's what I call job satisfaction!)" This bit of puff preserved in amber could be what puts the wind back in monarchist David Flint's sails after that April Fools fiasco.

Message on a bus

SPOTTED in inner Sydney yesterday: a red double-decker bus bearing the sign"No God? No worries". Fair enough; if you're out to convince people there's no God, there are probably few better places to do it than Sydney's public transport "system".

James Jeffrey