Comment

Column 8

Full credit to the ATC who emailed members to relax the dress code for Members at Randwick races on Saturday, says Ross Douglas of Artarmon. "Neither the tie nor the jacket is compulsory. In the summer the jacket is normally optional but its the first time men are not required to wear a tie. Contrast this with the stuffy SCG today where for the first day of the shield cricket match there was no relaxation of the compulsory long pants requirement for the Members Stand. Only one other stand is open, the Ladies Stand."

"Is it true that horse races will be held at Randwick on Saturday, a day when temperatures are predicted to be extreme? It constitutes animal cruelty." Stephanie Edwards of Wollstonecraft.

Two observations on the yymmdd format. It is useful for filing because it automatically sorts in date order. Second, it's been standard in China for ages. And I don't know about Monday being too late. Crunch day will come next Friday when it will be 20170217. Steve Davidson of Warrawee.

"Makes sense for an ISO date to not to reflect the way either the US or the rest of the world write dates ... to ensure everybody is equally confused. That is standardisation for you," says Lee Featherby of Chatswood. "Sent from a mobile device with a small keyboard. Please forgive any typos or misspelling as I have fat, dyslexic fingers. B-)"

According to the report on Julia Bishop's dinner for the visiting Chinese foreign minister, he kissed her on both cheeks after dinner and this was an "unprecedented" gesture, comments Pritam Ghosh of Beverley Park. "Is there a department in DFAT that tracks kisses? Is this the new measure of diplomatic intimacy? Will TAB offer odds on number of kisses from the Donald when Ms Bishop visits Washington?" 

"Further to Alleyne Gray's concern about her husband and his doctor (C8), in 2002 following a heart attack the recovery notes said I could resume sexual activity with my usual partner after five weeks but not play lawn bowls until after 10 weeks. Makes you wonder what those bowlers get up to." Chris Wallace of Kingscliff.

Column8@smh.com.au

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