Not worth a fig

A FEW things happened while this Strewth correspondent was off wandering about in the desert (not a metaphor), but few snagged our attention quite as emphatically as last week's Strewth report about an ad revealing the role of yoghurt in Kevin Rudd's grip on power.

A FEW things happened while this Strewth correspondent was off wandering about in the desert (not a metaphor), but few snagged our attention quite as emphatically as last week's Strewth report about an ad revealing the role of yoghurt in Kevin Rudd's grip on power.

Apparently, Rudd's fall came about after he switched from yoghurt to imported Chinese figs; surely a hypothesis worth exploring. In the meantime, Rudd offered Strewth his reflections on the matter, but his words went astray for a day or two; here they now are, none the worse for wear after their cyber cellaring: "Like you I was a little perplexed by the recent yoghurt advertisement in a fine Sydney daily featuring a slightly grumpy looking mugshot of yours truly. I wish to assure you I have no particular fondness for imported Chinese figs and find it unlikely they bear any responsibility for my career. The powers of yoghurt, however, can scarcely be overestimated and I am honoured to be recognised as a famous yoghurt eater and trust the certificate (trophy even?) is in the mail."

Lodged in memory

WHILE Kevin Rudd waits for official recognition on that front, we hope he can take some satisfaction from knowing that in the hearts of the good folk at Australians for a Constitutional Monarchy, that ghastly day of long knives and short(en) factions never happened and he's still prime minister. Here's a burning question posed on the main page of the ACM website: "Should republicans be required to agree on precisely what changes to the Constitution they want before Mr Rudd calls another referendum?" Careless, sentimental, or prescient? We can't imagine David Flint ever being careless. And surely he wouldn't be led astray by sentimentality, which leaves only . . . (Cue spooky music. No, not Justin Bieber.)

Wishful thinking

IT'S one of those small things that strikes you initially as an amusing slip of the keyboard but then, at second glance, prompts a niggling little suspicion that it could be a sly, subversive insertion. For example, this line from an article in yesterday's The Punch about a posh private school on Sydney's north shore: "The immaculately clipped lawns and gentile sandstone buildings left me wishing I'd either become a banker or married one." Perhaps the writer actually meant genteel, but for now we'll stick with the original version.

Maiden allusions

IT'S nice to see a freshly minted backbencher hit the ground running. For example, Andrew Leigh, the member for Fraser, was yesterday spruiking his maiden oration, distributing copies of the speech a few hours ahead of its delivery in the house and alerting recipients to "one highlight amongst many: 'A century on, it is hard to escape the conclusion that if [Alfred] Deakin were in this parliament today, he and his brand of progressive liberalism would find a natural home in the Australian Labor Party.' " As displays of false modesty and humility tend to bring Strewth out in a rash, we are greatly taken with Leigh's approach. One highlight among many, indeed. Plenty of light, no bushel; this is how it should be. Here's another highlight: "I was born in the year that Gough Whitlam won office, and when my mother's pregnancy reached the nine-month mark, she pinned an 'It's Time' badge on to the part of her shirt that covered her belly." All good stuff, if not quite up there with Julia Gillard's warning to Tony Abbott about the perils of "sloganising"; now that's what we call moving forward.

Racetrack miracle

THE upcoming Melbourne Cup and the canonisation of Mary MacKillop bring together a sort of coincidence in the mind of former Daily Mirror journalist Dick Scott. He recalls the days when Catholic priest Denis Madigan wrote a column for The Sunday Telegraph. Scott says Madigan had got to know cup king Bart Cummings in Adelaide, a fact known to his newspaper colleagues. Cummings gave Madigan a tip in 1974 which he passed on: Think Big, which duly won at 12-1. Next year the hacks pestered Madigan to obtain another tip from the great man, who offered Think Big again. The gelding won a second cup, this time at 33-1, having not won a race since his 1974 win. "See?" says Scott. "Miracles do happen."

Foley's minder

HACKS in the Adelaide press gallery are lamenting the frontline departure of Rann government media unit manager Rik Morris, who, in notable contrast to Premier Mike Rann's media adviser Jill Bottrall, enjoys a respectful and cordial relationship with the state media (true story!). Morris has been appointed chief of staff to colourful and ever quote-worthy Treasurer Kevin Foley, following the departure of Stephen Mullighan. Some are viewing Morris's appointment as a move to re-style Foley ahead of a push by his dominant Right faction for him to take over from Rann, who is widely tipped to stand down in mid-2012, possibly so he can spend more time with his Twitter account. (No, we have no evidence, yer honour.) Now we will retire to contemplate the prospect of anyone trying to restyle Foley. We may be gone a while.