Obscure Box

What to do when writing about an organisation that has a z in its spelling where you would normally use an s if following the correct spelling adopted buy your country or news organisation?

The Aussie pop-diva is busy plugging her new album Aphrodite so it’s natural then to take a look at her website to check out her past. Plunge in to the About section and there’s some interesting reading about her career. Those of a certain age will remember her most for her character of the blonde [...]

British author Cressida Cowell may know a thing or two about dragons but her knowledge of Vikings might need a little updating. Her series of children’s books are the basis for the new 3D animated blockbuster How to Train Your Dragon. It’s a fascinating movie that’s entertaining for all ages and I confess I shed [...]

It’s a brave sub that opts for a headline with so much potential for mispronunciation. So it was that the ABC posted a story it headlined “Cup punt not child’s play” on Melbourne Cup day (Tuesday November 3, 2009). I’m sure the linguists have a name for it; that move from the first word to [...]

Who hasn’t cursed at the automated telephone answering systems that have infected many organisations today? Press 1 for rage, press 2 for even more rage and press 3 if you would like to swear at our automated response system in another language. “I just want to talk to someone,” a very forward UK bank advert [...]