It's been a shocking week in the news, starting with a gunman siege, followed by the polar ice caps melting due to global warming then changing their minds and re-freezing at Papamoa. Then those controversial legs, that go all the way up to the earrings, turned up again on our TV screens.

Following the police siege came the predictable call for tighter gun control laws. Why, everytime there's a shooting by a crazed gunman, do-gooders question the gun control?
No one asks if cars should be more tightly controlled everytime there's a crash.
Or closing the beaches to prevent drownings. Or whether golf should be banned every time an old codger rolls over on the 16th. Or banning two-storey houses because stairs are dangerous.
The problem with guns, cars, knives and ferocious dogs is nearly always the owner.
Lunatics will always find a way to hurt someone else, no matter what is banned, restricted or outlawed.
Also the more unusual the death, the more media attention it attracts.
Federated Farmers point out this week that 20 people died last year farming in New Zealand. Four people died from shark attacks, worldwide.
Guess which gets bigger headlines. Why? Because shark attacks are sensational. Like plane crashes, crocodile attacks and lethal lightening. Rare but spectacular.
Statistically, according to urban myth, we're more likely to be kicked to death by a donkey than perish in a plane crash. Although this is hotly disputed by the American Donkey and Mule Society who say its not proven and what few facts are available relate to donkey versus automobile crashes, which don't count.
Our advice, if you are cornered by a donkey, shark, airplane and a crocodile: Take the plane.

Spending spree
The knives are out for Christine Rankin this week, following her appointment as a Families Commissioner.
While some of the complaints have focussed on her ability to manage, and some questionable decisions made during her time running the Social Welfare Department, some of the criticism has more to do with her looks and attitude than her suitability for the role.
Sure, Christine has shown some tendencies toward excess. We can help her counter those addictions to spending. So she hired a jet for DSW team building exercises? As an alternative to expensive air travel, I'm sure we could come to an arrangement with the Commission for hireage of No.1 The Strand's luxury Mazda Bongo courtesy van for only half the price.
And she might have spent a million dollars on a new logo for the Department of Social Welfare – whereas Sun Media's graphics team are keen to design a new logo for the Families Commission. I know we could come up with something within those budgets, again a half price special of just $500,000.
Those wee management issues aside, her critics' sniping has included the fact that she shows too much leg and tit; and has been married four times. And let's be quite clear about this: Christine's legs are quite remarkable for an old duck. I have not had the pleasure of a close inspection of the cleavage but from television camera angles it certainly seems more than adequate. Should her role with the Families Commission ever extend to the promotion of the natural benefits of breastfeeding, I'm sure she'd be considered quite well equipped.

Left wing snipers
But getting to the point here, if we as a society are subscribing to the PC philosophy, these personal 'attributes” have nothing to do with one's work performance or suitability for a position.
Worse than that, much of the sniping is coming from the left wing – the birthplace of rampant PC-ism. The very people who have been earbashing us for decades that folk should not be judged or prejudiced according to their looks, style, race, gender, genetic deformities, handicaps, haircuts, religions, family situations, IQ, or facial hair.
Yet here we have the worst of the PC Police criticising a person because of their dress sense, physical attributes and sexuality. Ironically, the sniping comes from some quarters of the left wing fringe that are supposedly female yet dress like men in trousers and ties, have short haircuts and first names like Steve.
At least Christine Rankin HAS some sexuality. Could it be that she's just TOO heterosexual for some of the weirdo left wing asexuals and homosexuals, too many who have been over-represented and in powerful positions too long?
If personal attributes such as the amount of hot leg, cleavage expanse or number of marriages is to be taken into account when considering a person's qualifications, it opens up a whole range of factors for those already in positions of influence.
It would mean a reversal of all the PC attitudes that we've been indoctrinated with, over the last several decades.
We'd have to tell all the fat people to resign from health organisations. And all the smokers.

Out of a job
Anyone who has a slightly radical hairstyle would be out of a job.
Imagine if the country had told dopey Nandor that his hair was too long and smelly and his religion too weird for him to be involved in Government!
We'd have banned Helen Clark from taking part in any decisions about families, since she's not had children and talks like a Smackdown wrestler. Peter Dunn, the instigator of the commission, would be out of a job because of a bad haircut. Sue Bradford would be down the road, for being loud, argumentative protester and having been arrested too often.
We'd have to put a stop to weather presenters of dubious sexual orientation from telling us there's a cold isobar approaching from the south.
Children should be slapped regularly, whether they've done anything wrong or not and the cane will be reintroduced to schools. Better than that, it will be retrospective caning, so all those who should have been walloped in the last 40 years but have gotten away with it, will be recalled to their local high school for a good thrashing.
I often dreamt about a little harsh discipline from my third form maths teacher, Mrs Whiteley. But I guess she's moved on from teaching now.
In that event, I'll opt for a surrogate whipping from a present-day teacher. Ms Gatfield: I'm ready to take the punishment.