Latest news with #toast
News.com.au
2 days ago
- News.com.au
‘Ew': Aussies horrified over ‘mysterious' find in Vegemite
A Melbourne shopper's disappointment over their morning toast has sparked both a corporate investigation and a wave of online banter after they claimed to have received a jar of Vegemite with a mysterious fingerprint in it. Posting to r/melbourne, the user shared a photo of the jar with its lid unscrewed, revealing what appears to be an imprint embedded in the spread. 'Was really looking forward to some Vegemite on toast,' the post was captioned. ' Woolies just dropped off my order, and the Vegemite opened a little too easily with the ring intact … I looked in thinking it would be fine and there's a fingerprint!' the person continued. However, they obviously weren't too upset by it, as they jokingly added: 'Obviously, it will be taken to the police for fingerprint analysis immediately, I can't let a crime like this go unpunished'. 'Now I have to have strawberry jam on toast, and that's just not the same,' the post concluded. Commenters weighed in The post's tongue-in-cheek tone did leave a few commenters confused, with one asking, 'Is this real?' and another declaring it 'fake news'. But the original poster insisted it was real, prompting a variety of commenters to weigh in on what they'd do in that situation. Half admitted they'd probably eat it anyway. 'There's enough salt in there to kill any germs I reckon,' claimed one. 'Get into it,' urged another. 'It's extra flavour,' joked a third person, while a fourth advised the user to 'just scrape off the top layer,' and someone else said, 'there's worse things than fingerprints when you go out and eat'. However, others were horrified: 'I wouldn't eat it, it's kind of gross and you don't know what else they've done with it,' said one. 'Ew, get your money back,' someone else urged. The original poster then updated the thread, saying they strongly believe this was a product defect, as 'upon returning to the store, two out of three jars I bought, the lids just came off without any effort, and one had marks in it already'. They also mentioned that they reported this to Woolworths, Vegemite, and the ACCC. Vegemite responds Vegemite shared a statement with that read: 'We are in contact with the author of a recent post shared by a Melbourne Reddit user concerning a jar of Vegemite which they believed to have been tampered with. We take such matters seriously and are committed to ensuring the safety and quality of our products. 'There is no evidence to suggest a widespread problem. We are actively investigating the case and remain dedicated to upholding the high standards that Vegemite is known for.'
Forbes
21-05-2025
- Business
- Forbes
It Takes Guts To Seek Glory. Tips for Talking From Pulpit or Podium
As someone who helps other people communicate more effectively, I have had the privilege over the years to guide leaders in a wide array of professions on how to connect best with their audiences. As a Catholic, I have been inspired over the years when many of the priests in my parish have asked for and been open to coaching regarding their sermons. That takes guts. Upon reflection, I realize that much of that guidance is applicable to a broad array of business audiences as well. Here are some thoughts I have shared with my local priests that I thought you might find helpful in your business communication. In 2023, the first of my four children got married. It was a wonderful event. My daughter and her now husband had been together for eight years, so I had plenty of time to work on the wedding toast. It meant a lot to me to get this speech right. After my toast, one of my brothers-in-law whom I greatly respect, approached me and said, 'GREAT speech.' I swelled with pride…for about three seconds. Then he added, '7 ½ minutes! Great speech!' His priority, rightly so, was, 'Say something nice and let us get back to partying.' When you're delivering a talk at a business function, always ask yourself, 'Am I sharing this because it's relevant or helpful, or because I have the stage and love the sound of my own voice?' When you are a leader, you often have a relatively captive audience. Since they are captive, your job is to captivate them, not hold them hostage. Keep it short. The same is true every time someone uses their own business jargon in a presentation. Whether we are in operations, finance, marketing, or HR, we all get sucked into our own jargon, and assume everyone else speaks our language. They don't. Share your content from your audience's perspective. That's not, 'dumbing it down.' Instead, that's being smart enough to make your complex ideas understandable to everyone. Whenever you are about to use any term that could even remotely be considered jargon, specific to your niche of expertise, use 'preface language,' that highlights that you know the term you are using may not be known to all. Say: 'This is what's called….' 'This is what's known as….' 'What we refer to as….' When you use 'preface language,' you're saying, 'I know this is jargon.' You are telling your audience members who are familiar with the lingo that you, too, are an expert in this field. And you're telling those who are new to the topic that you won't leave them in the lurch but will keep them in the conversation. It keeps those less informed audience members engaged because they feel secure that you are addressing them as well and are going to explain things in a way they can understand. Using preface language is not just effective communicating; it's simply the nice thing to do. 'Nice' goes a long way with any audience. The same is true in a corporate setting. Instead of regurgitating our organization's mission statement or sharing our team's agreed set of values, tell me how I am supposed to act differently because of our mission or values. Make it real. If one of our values is 'Integrity,' tell me what acting with integrity means when I respond to a client's request for a quote, when I miss a deadline, or when I have to acknowledge that our initiative didn't meet the targets we set out. If one of our values is being inclusive, suggest that I ask everyone for their opinion on a matter before sharing my own perspective as the team leader. If we say we value accountability, show me how our promises to help each other succeed were actually carried out. We all need direction, in this life and toward the hereafter. Setting the stage with soaring rhetoric is great, but is more impactful if conveyed with a few specifics to add to this afternoon's To Do list. I've always admired the humility and bravery of my local clergy who have asked for advice on how to connect better with the congregation. They're living their stated values. I've always valued the eagerness and openness of my corporate clients to feedback on their content and delivery. For all of us, whether we are preaching eternal truths or pushing the latest company initiative, it's important to keep it short, keep it simple, and keep it attainable.
News.com.au
15-05-2025
- General
- News.com.au
Aussies outraged by American's Vegemite toast ‘abomination'
Few culinary debates get Aussies riled up as much as the topic of the 'proper' way to eat Vegemite. Fans Down Under consider it a matter of national importance, so any time the issue comes up — be it at the breakfast table or on internet forums — a battle ensues. The main debate, of course, is: 'How much is too much?' Are you the type to generously coat your toast with Vegemite, covering every inch from edge to edge, or do you opt for more of a cautious smear, wary of its intensity? And then, there are the sub-debates: to butter or not to butter? Cheese or no cheese? Should an egg ever be involved? Recently, this timeless discussion was reignited when an American decided to put their own spin on the iconic dish, and bravely share it online. Their creation was deemed 'disgusting' and 'culturally unacceptable'. Taking to Reddit, the Yank asked Australians: 'How's my latest Vegemite toast? 'This time with butter, cheese, and a touch of dill and smoked paprika.' And while it actually looks half decent — with what appears to be two types of melted cheese oozing all over it — people argued that on principle, you shouldn't overcomplicate Vegemite on toast, especially when the core ingredient already packs such a punch. 'Why is dill on the official breakfast of Australia?' one of the top comments read. 'Not once have I ever had a Vegemite sandwich, with or without cheese, and thought, 'flavour's not strong enough – what can I add?'' said another. Another person compared the situation to 'that Italian chef on that British show when the host asked when to add cream to the carbonara'. 'National insult,' someone else declared, as someone else took it a step further and called it an 'international war crime'. Other descriptors included 'abomination' and 'barbaric,' and one user admitted they were pregnant, and therefore used to having weird cravings, but even this made them gag. 'Have you no shame?' another quipped. Meanwhile, some Aussies were slightly kinder to the poster, with one saying, 'Don't let all these weird comments and downvotes affect you. We Aussies don't usually do fancy Vegemite on toast like you've posted, and it appears that a few jimmies have been rustled. You do you'. 'Mate, you tell us! This is something most of us will never have tried. P. S. A simple Vegemite on toast plus avocado is a winner, if you haven't tried,' a second supported. It comes after Vegemite itself responded to another American expat's attempt to enjoy the country's national condiment. In a photo on Reddit, they shared a picture of two slices of bread nearly entirely covered in Vegemite, with only a small amount of bread peeking out from underneath. His bold approach earned a mix of reactions, with most people agreeing it was a 'serial killer' amount of Vegemite. However, the Head of Spreads at Bega, Mary Stafford, told that there's no 'right' amount, and it's entirely personal. 'Feel free to spread more or less on your slice of toast to find the right balance and suit your personal taste!' she said.
