July 03, 2003

NEWS ROUNDUP

Spin Starts Here reports an advertising campaign aimed at the jaded:

Today, my favourite Australia Square cafe has a tray of pastries with a big sign reading "Pastries, all $1! Fresh, healthy, and good for you. Eat up! That should please your cynical heart."

Elsewhere today, Tasmanians Ron Smith and Jack Russell are involved in unseemly court proceedings, the salty greatness of Vegemite is under threat, and a tattooed guy from Melbourne’s western suburbs is on the verge of making Wimbledon’s semi finals. Go, Scud! And via Roger Bournival, news that a record seven Australians will compete in this year’s Tour de France. Eight if you include Lance Armstrong, which you really can’t do, because he’s American.

Posted by Tim Blair at July 3, 2003 05:00 PM
Comments

Just because Lance was born in the US is no reason to disown him, Tim. We claim Russell "Fightn' round th' world" Crowe.

Lance falls under the "claim them if they're succesful" catagory.

I want Valentino Rossi and Neil Hodgeson given passports quick-smart.

A heavy-weight boxer would round things out nicely. Aussie Joe Bugner (born in the UK) is getting past his prime for the big ones.

Posted by: Jake D at July 3, 2003 at 05:26 PM

Ron and Jack aren't related by blood- a clear act of perversion by Tasmanian standards.
(It's a Jack Russell terrier for fucks sake- I hope he had plenty of duct tape).

Posted by: paul bickford at July 3, 2003 at 05:37 PM

Ya'll can have Lance if we get Naomi Watts in return. Throw in Nicole Kidman and you can have Tom Cruise, too. Hell, you can have Tom Cruise for nothing at all.

Posted by: Matt Moore at July 3, 2003 at 06:50 PM

They can have my Vegemite® when they pry it from my cold, brown-stained fingers!

Posted by: BruceT at July 3, 2003 at 07:04 PM

I thought Bugner.A.J was born in somewhere like Hungary or Czechoslovakia or where-ever.

Posted by: Tony.T at July 3, 2003 at 08:10 PM

can any of you recomend where i can get some vegemite in the states? as a full member of the Coalition Of The Swilling (C.O.T.S.) i want to add to my australian intake. oddly enough, outback steakhouse doen't have it on the menu...

Posted by: Mr. Bingley at July 3, 2003 at 10:10 PM

Aussie Joe is a former Hungarian citizen who moved here with the help of the lovely Marlene, a former barmaid at the Commercial hotel in Chinchilla.
Makes him a Queenslander by my books.

Posted by: paul bickford at July 3, 2003 at 11:14 PM

Tim,
Make some news in Australia with some of these great gift ideas.

Posted by: Bob Carter at July 4, 2003 at 01:23 AM

Sorry, here's the link.
http://store.yahoo.com/victorystore00/buwotot.html
Bob

Posted by: Bob Carter at July 4, 2003 at 01:25 AM

Poo ruined my Wimbledon. I love you, Andre!

Posted by: Donnah at July 4, 2003 at 09:51 AM

I stand corrected on the Aussie J Bugner place of origin question(damn my know-nothing family!). Can we trade Tom Cruise back for some swim-suit models?

Posted by: Jake D at July 4, 2003 at 11:59 AM

Hey Mr. Bingley -- here's one company in the US selling Vegemite:

http://www.simplyoz.com/products/aussie_food/groceries/vegemite

They've got Milo and Passiona too ... and marty sauce!!

Posted by: BruceT at July 4, 2003 at 12:38 PM

bruce t,

you, sir, are a true gentleman and a scholar.

kindest regards

Mr. Bingley

Posted by: Mr. Bingley at July 5, 2003 at 12:25 PM