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Charlotte Parsons

Lai See  just heard from Douglas Johnson of Top Five.com.

He says they're planning a humorous list based on a recent medical breakthrough.

Word of it was published on the Web site 'Independent Online'.

The article says that surgeons in the Caucasus republic of Georgia had succeeded in replacing a cancer patient's amputated, um, manhood with a working substitute.

The new organ was crafted from the man's left middle finger (which was surgically removed) wrapped in some grafted arm skin.

The clinic's director, one Dr Ivan Kuzanov, was quoted as saying that the middle-aged patient 'is not married, but has two girlfriends who are very satisfied with the results'.

Lai See  eyed the article cynically.

An aura of urban mythishness clung to the tale.

Top Five Guy thought the same thing.

But yesterday he called up Georgia to check it out.

And it sounds as though it may actually be true.

He spoke to someone at the Georgian Society of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery.

He also took a look at their membership list.

And Dr Kuzanov's name was indeed on it.

Another doctor from the society even offered to send Mr Johnson information and photos of the procedure.

'Yes it's a true story,' the helpful Georgian assured him.

'And also all male functions are very good nowadays.'

Apparently the newly recovered patient just gave his doctors the thumbs up.

Well. Figuratively, anyway. Technically he gave them the finger.

Fine point betwixt bunnies: In the murky world of copyright infringement, even bunnies aren't safe. Yesterday we discovered that Peter Rabbit has been lured over to the dark, dark side.

That's how it looks to Lai See, at any rate.

One of our colleagues just showed up at work with a bunny-covered lunch box.

It starred a cutsie rabbit in a kitchen.

The image was beautifully rendered in true Beatrix Potter style.

But the text raises some suspicions about whether all due rights have been obtained. It says: 'Petty Rabbit by Bettyix Botter.'

Touch of online grace: Singapore has decided to save the world from nastiness.

Said nastiness is spreading about via the Internet.

Singapore Government officials yesterday announced that vicious rumours and pornography are causing 'pain and violence'. Enter the Kindness Movement Council.

Associated Press tells us it's urging citizens to set up 'kindness Web sites' to counter the negativity.

'In the Internet, where pornography, violence, hatred and other such material are mixed with good and useful information, the presence of kindness and inspirational content gives a little added balance to the Net,' according to council chairman Noel Hon during a prize-giving ceremony for a kindness Web site competition.

Lai See  wonders why Hong Kong doesn't have its own Kindness Movement Council.

It sounds as though we could use one.

Members of the government body go around encouraging people to smile, flush toilets and turn their mobile phones off in movie theatres.

The council's stated aim is to promote goodness and to create a 'gracious society' in Singapore.

They've obviously succeeded. Because when people think 'Singapore society', they think 'goodness gracious'.

Graphic: whee28gbz



Tall tale checks out in scrutiny