Seems we overlooked the item from Chris Commens on naming the new tunnel boring machine (C8) and now find ourselves in a bit of a hole, but here are some belated suggestions. Peter Miniutti of Ashbury thinks “Sloth” would be appropriate “as it ‘emphasises a deliberate, sluggish, or inefficient pace, often to express frustration or impatience’.” Geoff Nilon of Mascot says, “In deference to the then Coalition’s ineptitude, perhaps ‘Malcolm IV’,” while Carole Dawes of Randwick suggests “‘The Chris Commens’, as anyone who knows Chris, knows he’s never boring!” And, for Colin Burns of Lugarno it’s “AUKUS Jr.”
Allan Gibson of Cherrybrook provides some background: “The naming of tunnel boring machines dates back to the 16th century when miners prayed to Saint Barbara for protection. The tradition also serves to honour the contributions of women in the industry, not only in civil engineering, but also in science, arts, politics and social movements. For example, Zelda and Gillian, the TBMs used on the North East Link project in Melbourne, were named after two notable women in Australian history. Zelda D’Aprano was a prominent feminist and labour activist, while Gillian Triggs is a respected human rights lawyer. These days school children are invited to suggest names.”
The discussion on American global awareness (C8) takes on a slightly inward-looking vibe via Stewart Martin of Mangerton: “As a mutual visitor to a urinal in Yellowstone National Park, a friend was asked as to where he was from. ‘Australia’, he replied. ‘Wow!’ exclaimed the American, ‘where in States is that?’”
“In the 1990s, when circuses still involved animals, I procured a trailer load of elephant droppings for use on gardens,” writes Bruce Roberts of Guildford. “Having sated my garden’s needs I took the rest to my school for a teaching colleague. At the ‘end of year’ luncheon I was awarded a gold spray-painted sample which was labelled ‘Best Recycler of the Year’. This might have been an appropriate award for POTUS (C8) except the elephants were cows and not bulls.”
Bruce Spencer of Hope Island (Qld) continues the theme: “My NAGA trophy (National Association of Golfing Aristocrats) a gold-plated toilet would sit proudly on the presidential fire place.”
“The Orange one may be causing consternation by confusing Greenland and Iceland (C8),” says John Weir of Bigga. “But just wait until he discovers that some other parts of his world are not called the Golf States.”
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