The Chaser’s War on Everything – 110 – Free Money Test
You know those people on the street and outside of supermarkets etc who try hand you fliers, advertising their product or service? I admit that I try to avoid them if possible, and making eye contact with them is a big mistake LOL. The Chaser Team conducted a test to see if people would take notice when it was actual Money being handed out instead.
The Chaser’s War on Everything – 110 – Surprise Spruiker – Medibank Private
The Surprise Spruiker goes to an organisation and sets up his portable microphone system, and starts to “sell” their product or services to the public walking by. This is the Chaser, so of course it is full of sarcasm and satire, regarding any issues they are having at the moment! This time it is the Australian government owned health insurer, Medibank Private. What the hell is a Spruiker? – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spruiker
The Chaser’s War on Everything – 110 – Supermodel Food Drop
We all know that many supermodels are way too skinny, and just have a negative impact on women, creating ridiculous, imaginary standards on what the “normal” or “ideal” woman should look like. Ok, not enough time to keep ranting! The Chaser team decide to do something about it, and try help these walking skeletons with a charity food drop!
The Chaser’s War on Everything – 109 – What Have We Learned From Current Affairs This Week? – Insight & Cross Promotion
In this regular segment, the Chaser team analyse Current Affairs programs, A Current Affair & Today Tonight. It is from a satirical point of view of course, but it does make you think of how lame and tacky these programs can be, and seem to be more for cheap entertainment, rather than professional journalism. This episode concentrates on how insightful they are, and the cross promotions they stealthily and obviously put into their shows. Enjoy!
Milo
I mentioned Milo in my previous post, and figured most people outside of Australia would have no idea what it is. Well it is a chocolate, malt, powder, granular product you usually add to cold or hot milk. I’ve had milo since I was little, to this day. I brought a huge tin of it over from Australia, as I couldn’t live without it! I guess it is similar to Ovaltine, if that helps. Many days I would come home from school and have a nice cold glass of Milo milk. In winter, a hot cup of Milo warms you up nicely. Milo has also expanded into other forms such as cereal and chocolate bars.
Milo is a milk beverage with chocolate and malt, produced by Nestlé and originating from Australia. It was developed by Thomas Mayne in 1934. Milo is also manufactured in other countries, including Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, Vietnam, New Zealand, Hong Kong, India, Japan, South Africa, Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago, Chile, Colombia, Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana and Syria.
Malaysia consumes 90% of worldwide consumption of Milo. The name derives from the famous Greek athlete Milo of Crotona, after his legendary strength.
It can actually be found in America and other countries, if you look hard enough I guess. If you can, give it a try! It is delicious!
The Chaser’s War on Everything – Crazy Warehouse Guy – Asking For Directions
This video refers to those annoying ads for warehouse clearances, that have a guy yelling, repeating, and generally being really annoying, talking about the sale and their supposed amazing deals. They are particularly based on the clearance sales held at the city convention center, with the voice over guy yelling fast and non-stop, and also the infamous rug sale guy who had a “closing down” sale every month. I don’t know how this guy could think people would continue to trust him, considering how many times he has supposedly closing down, it is ridiculous. It just doesn’t seem legal that he can keep false advertising like that on TV. Anyways, the video below, and similar ones I will post in the future, put the Crazy Warehouse Guy into other real life situations, where he will talk loud and crazy like in his ad. In this case, he is asking for directions. Enjoy!
Flicking Gene Switches
TWO CSIRO researchers who discovered how to switch off genes in plants have won the Prime Minister’s Prize for Science, worth $300,000.
The revolutionary technology is being used in more than 3000 laboratories worldwide to create new plant varieties ranging from blue roses to virus-resistant cereals and nutritionally improved crops. Peter Waterhouse and Ming-Bo Wang said their gene silencing technique could also lead to the development of new drugs to treat diseases in people and animals. The researchers hit upon the method, which involves inserting a piece of genetic material into the plant’s DNA, a decade ago. “We knew we were onto something big,” Dr Waterhouse said.
American researchers who worked out a similar method of switching off genes in animal cells about the same time were awarded the Nobel prize in medicine last year.
Turning off one gene in a plant or animal allows scientists to discover the gene’s function. It also opens the door to making genetically modified designer plants. To produce a blue rose, for example, the first step is to turn off the gene that makes it a rosy pink. Then genes for blue colouring can be added.
The CSIRO team has used gene silencing to develop cereals that are resistant to barley yellow dwarf, a virus which can reduce yields by up to 25 per cent.
Other projects include making oilseeds with high omega-3 content and wheat with high levels of resistant starch.
“Both are important for human health,” Dr Wang said.
Dr Waterhouse said their process, known as double-stranded RNA-induced gene silencing, could also help combat climate change. “For example, we are working to create plants that could produce biofuels customised for different engines.”
He said he hoped state moratoriums would be lifted on genetically modified plants: “I believe we’ve got some serious challenges in climate change and sustainable agriculture and this technology is a powerful way of getting some solutions.”
The discovery is expected to reap many millions of dollars for the CSIRO from licensing deals.
The Chaser’s War on Everything – 109 – Public Divorce Methods
You know how people think up unique, romantic, and public ways to propose to their loved one? Well this would be the opposite, as the topic here is divorce. Don’t worry, I am pretty sure this is all set up and nobody actually got hurt!
The Chaser’s War on Everything – 109 – Sandra Sully Cricket Puns
This next Chaser video is making fun of Sandra Sully, who hosts the Australia’s Brainiest series. It started out as Australia’s Brainiest Kid, then it expanded to celebrities like Australia’s Brainiest Comedian, Footballer, TV Star, and in this case, Cricketer. The whole point of this video though is, in each episode, when she reads off the auto-queue obviously, there are always really lame puns relating to the night’s theme. You need to be a cricketer or fan to understand a lot of these though, but rest assured they are ultra lame!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australia’s_Brainiest
