Prejudice, political correctness and absurdity ruled the news this week.

This is what we do, when faced with potentially the worst recession since
WWII and the spectre of man-made climate change and rising sea levels… get ourselves really worked up about matters of complete trivia.
It started with a Palmerston North motelier banning everyone from Wainuiomata. 'They're nothing but trouble,” he says. This riled Trevor Mallard (of Wainuiomata) who said it was very unfair and showed 'the sort of blind prejudice I thought we didn't have in New Zealand anymore.”
Trevor then went on, to apparently confirm that he in fact epitomises 'blind prejudice” by saying: 'I'm not surprised the [motel owner] is Australian.”
Unbelievable. All we need now is the Aussie motel owner to point out it's open season on mallards next weekend, and the circle will be complete.
In other news this week, a native Inuit from Canada has taken exception to a classic Kiwi confectionary, the Eskimo.
The marshmallow treat, which has been around as long as tooth decay, is now not PC and controversy has erupted.
The name and shape are considered 'derogatory to her people.”
Where will the PC nonsense stop? Elsewhere in the world they're smoking Maoris and eating Kiwis! I've seen it in the markets in France and the streets of San Francisco. Are we jumping up and down about it?
Here at RR, we are ashamed to admit we never knew 'Eskimo” was a derogatory term. I will try to remember, next time I'm upside down in my kayak and manoeuvring the paddle into position for self-righting*, that's it's not an Eskimo Roll, but an Inuit Roll. Or is that an Aleut Roll? Hell, does it really matter, whether it's an Eskimo roll, a native North American Continent Roll or a Filled Roll; the result is the same – and I thank Eskimos everywhere for teaching me to avoid a long swim home.
If you follow this PC logic, our cousins the Australians will have to find a new name for their chilly bins, since clearly Eskie is no longer permissible. Strewth, you trying breaking the bad news to the Ockers that their VBs and Fosters are going to get bloody warm, Digger!
There's been a flurry of response to the RR mailbox on this issue.
Remember 'flurry” is a media word for 'two”. It doesn't become a 'landslide” until there's three.
Concerned reader John, is worried that we will now have to re-brand Chocolate Chippie biscuits because they could be considered throwing-off at our Maori carpenters.
'Also those little pink lollies, Smokers, will be giving cigarette consumers trauma. What about Jelly Babies? Are they for paedophiles?”
Jet Planes must surely be banned, after 9/11. Afghans must also be revolting.
Another reader, Trevor, is concerned that we not only eat Eskimos, but Lifesavers. He says surf clubbies have enough to worry about, keeping our beaches safe without the threat of cannibalism.
'And to think all these years I've been enjoying putting my tongue in the hole of one.”
When asked about anything made of licorice, Reader Trev would not comment.
'Putting anything black in your mouth is getting far too risqué now.”
Which really has us concerned for consumers of Black Balls.
Will gay rights activists now demand we cease sucking on Oddfellows? Or gleefully demand more?
But the greatest fear, with this new wave of Confectionary Consternation is for our friends north of the Bombays – the movie theatre favourite, the Jafa. Not only have we been happily sucking them till they melt, but tossing them down the aisle.

Out in the field
Here at RR, we decided to conduct our own Field Trial. Then we found that there was already a Field trial in progress; 12 charges for corruption and bribery as a MP and 23 counts of wilfully perverting the course of justice.
Okay, not that sort of Field trial. A lolly field trial…..
So, on the bike, pedalled up Devonport Rd to our friendly local store and with the assistance of Elaine Bunker (at left) sifted through the Snifters and got reacquainted with the Oddfellows.
And I can tell you, it's a long time since I got on my bike and went for a ride to the dairy to buy lollies. (Like the dog, I do all my own stunts.) For starters, bikes these days have two less saddle bags and 20 more gears, so you need all hands free for changing up and down; there's nowhere to stash the goodies and it's not that easy to keep your corduroys out of the sprocket.
It was therefore nearly impossible to ride back to the office with two bags of lollies. So I decided to conduct a snap street poll on the Eskimo situation.
The only answer was to stand on a street corner with my trouser legs tucked into my socks, and offer sweeties to boys and girls.
Little did I know, that along with Raleigh 20s and saddle bags, that too has become an outdated practice.
A horrified woman passer-by yelled angrily 'You can't do that! Get out of here before I call the cops.”
'Thanks for the advice, lady,” and I quickly pulled my trouser legs out of my socks. I never knew it had become so unfashionable.
Anyway, back to the field trial. Elaine and I discovered that, if you really look carefully, most products on the shop shelves these days could be considered derogatory to someone or something. It really depends on how uptight you want to get.
We should stop eating Dinosaurs before they're extinct.
Persil washes whiter – but who said white was better? Isn't that derogatory to all dark people? Should we ask Paul Holmes?
Shouldn't we stop eating Girl Guide biscuits? Surely biscuits made of little girls in uniforms is derogatory.
Fish Fingers? There must be some animal cruelty in that process!
Next week's investigation: What really went into the Eskimo Pie.
*Self-righting, as in 'self-righteous”.