Brian Rogers Rogers Rabbits www.sunlive.co.nz

Rogers Rabbits columns are well known for their high standards of in-depth research, perceptive grasp of the topic, and sharp insightful observations; not to mention effective use of humour – but today's is not one of them.

Instead, this column features little or no research, a shallow and flaky interest in the topics and is written by someone more concerned about the tides and wind forecast for the coming weekend.
Fortunately, there are many avid readers out there responding via the intermail, meaning that there is little need for RR to produce a column; and therefore should instead go fishing.
This is from Kathryn Michel who says 'thanks for a great paper” and helps us on a voyeuristic dissection of a young mother's shopping list. But first, we shamelessly accept some accolades lavished upon the Sun:
'You are all on the ball and easy to work with. I've given up with the other paper! I love your editorial and think you are very gifted to see life with such clarity and humour.”
Anyway, that's enough of the glowing tributes. That sort of talk could make this job almost rewarding, so we'll knock it on the head right now.
Kathryn reports this odd situation with a shopping list:
'I was driving behind a car when a folder flew off the roof so I stopped to pick it up expecting it to be a child's school work with a name inside so that I could return it. Well I was surprised to find just a shopping list, but was even more surprised on reading it just how much information I was able to get about the owner from this list.
Very neat printing underlined heading in red told me the person was very young and single with a baby (as nothing for men) then some of the list as follows…
'I hope she managed to shop without her list. What people put in their trolleys must be very interesting for the checkout operators.”
Thanks Kathryn for that fascinating glimpse into the lives of others. Here at RR we note there's no mention of veges, fruit or anything healthy apart from milk. Unless the shopping list author has access to a thriving garden and orchard, poor little Jake won't be growing up with much nutrition in his diet.
It's easy to see why some predict this younger generation will be outlived by their parents.
Also in the news this week, the story of a two year old abandoned at a McDonald's. It was bad enough that the mother didn't show up for a couple of days, but an even more disturbing aspect of this report: Some media describing the fast food outlet as a 'restaurant”.
Isn't a restaurant a place with wait staff, quality food and service?

A day for all occasions
Meanwhile, A few weeks ago we promised to bring you the second half year list of International Days.
Finally, after a few distractions (such as real news) we've managed to bring you the rest of the dates, starting of course, with Second Half of the Year Day.
Conspicuous by its absence is 'Send Editor a Fat Cheque Day”, so if you see an opportunity to slot this in during the year, please feel free. It could even be a weekly occurrence.