Ali Jones: Hoorah for trivia

There's been a large number of the absurd and ridiculous stories reported in our mainstream media this week and at this particular point in the "recovery", it's actually a welcome light relief.

On Monday, it was exploding watermelons in China, where farmers described the mutated melons as "landmines". Pink flesh and seeds everywhere; brilliant!

On Tuesday, Don Gorske, a retired US prison guard ate his 25,000th Big Mac, 39 years after eating his first. But wait, there's more; it takes 16 bites to eat each delicious Big Mac, of which he has at least two a day.

Then there was the naked guy in the ceiling at Middlemore Hospital, not hilarious but definitely odd. Showing a sense of humour, during the search, two cops used a loud hailer to request that if anyone saw a naked guy, to give them a call.

On Wednesday, a children's bedtime story with a difference was making the news. It's called "Go the F ... to Sleep" and has been written for parents who have struggled with their children when they won't go the f ... to sleep.

The story went viral via email and is now number one on Amazon.com, negotiations are under way for the movie rights, and it hasn't even been published yet; in all good book-
stores on June 14 I am told.

For sports fans, the news that Dan Carter has re-signed for four years would have warmed the cockles. The story was near the top of the 6pm TV bulletins which is quite incredible but any opportunity to see the jockey billboard again, gets my thumbs up.

The story that seems to have gained an inordinate amount of coverage is the one about the end of the world predicted by US radio preacher Harold Camping.

It might be a bit close to the bone for us in Christchurch but some Americans have seen the funny side. One car salesman tweeted: "Some guy just rang the dealership to see if we are having a Judgement Day sale on Saturday." Another said "My mom's the devil, her birthday is on Saturday. A coincidence, I think not." If you're reading this, we're all OK.

The most inane story of the week has to be about politician Peter Dunne's hair. One news website headline read, "Peter Dunne Talks About His Hair", reporting the MP is sick of his marvellous mane being described as a dead possum. He's always been such a hoot that Peter Dunne.

Thank you trivia, you made my week.

Email comments to Ali at star.reporter@starcanterbury. co.nz