John Glaister of Buderim said he thinks the ‘lawn prawns’ are isopods, which have seven pairs of legs, unlike prawns, which have ten; he said they could also be amphipods. Marjie Williamson of Blaxland said toilet rolls retain their inner core size but use some sort of optical illusion to look the same while running out sooner, while Dave Horsfall of North Gosford said the shrinkflation trick has also been applied to Tim Tams. Jim Dewar of Davistown offered a poem in anticipation of the US midterms, ending with ‘Sing Donald, where’s yer troosers?’
Column 8: ‘Lawn prawns’, shrinkflation and US midterm poetry
A former crustacean biologist thinks ‘lawn prawns’ are isopods, though they could also be amphipods; readers muse on Tim Tams, double-barrelled names and midterm poetry
A former crustacean biologist says he thinks ‘lawn prawns’ are isopods, though they could also be amphipods, in the latest edition of Column 8. Other readers contributed thoughts on shrinkflation, the word ‘tickety-boo’, double-barrelled names, and the upcoming US midterm elections.
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Analysis
Why This Matters
- Reader corrections keep the record straight on everyday science and consumer issues.
- The column reflects the breadth of conversation among Australians, from biology to politics.
- Engagement with US politics in an Australian letters column shows the global reach of the midterms.
Background
Column 8 is a reader letters column published in the Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, based on submissions from the public.
What to Watch
- The US midterm elections will be held soon, as referenced in a reader's poem.
- More readers may write in with observations about shrinkflation of other favourite products.
Sources
- Like two crustaceans in a decapod · The Sydney Morning Herald
- Like two crustaceans in a decapod · The Age
Checked
9 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 8 supported.
Show each claim
- Not in the sourcesThe story is presented as the latest edition of Column 8.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: “On the eve of the midterms, Jim Dewar of Davistown provides us with the poetry of politics.”
- SupportedJohn Glaister of Buderim says he thinks the “lawn prawns” are isopods.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: ““Sorry, Mary Carde, but I think your ‘lawn prawns’ (C8) are isopods””
- SupportedGlaister says the creatures could also be amphipods.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: ““They could also be amphipods.””
- SupportedIsopods have seven pairs of legs, while prawns have ten pairs.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: ““are isopods (which have seven pairs of legs) and are a different classification order of Crustacea than prawns, (decapods, which have ten pairs of legs)””
- SupportedGlaister is a former crustacean biologist.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: ““as a former crustacean biologist””
- SupportedMarjie Williamson says toilet rolls retain their inner-core size but look the same while running out sooner.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: ““toilet rolls, while retaining their inner core size, use some sort of optical illusion that looks the same but runs out sooner””
- SupportedDave Horsfall says shrinkflation has also been applied to Tim Tams.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: ““The shrinkflation trick of reducing contents whilst maintaining packaging size and price has also been applied to that other Aussie delicacy: the Tim Tam,” adds Dave Horsfall of North Gosford.”
- SupportedReaders contributed thoughts on “tickety-boo” and double-barrelled names.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: ““It reminded me of the rarely heard expression ‘tickety-boo’.” Peter Miniutti of Ashbury notes that “Charles Davies-Scourfield flags the over-abundance of doublebarrelled names in the Greens””
- SupportedJim Dewar’s poem anticipates the US midterms and ends with “Sing Donald, where’s yer troosers?”Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: “On the eve of the midterms, Jim Dewar of Davistown provides us with the poetry of politics. In stateside bars and boozers, They talk of White House losers, Let’s hope they’re right And Tuesday night, Sing “Donald, where’s yer troosers?””