It’s a good week for ... honesty
Scottish Power is trying to trace someone over an unpaid bill ... but not in the way you might think. The energy firm is looking for Daniel, who returned a 10p gift shop souvenir by post after realising it hadn’t been paid for.
The object in question was a wee yellow stretchy man. Daniel sent the toy back to Whitelee Windfarm visitor centre in East Renfrewshire along with a letter explaining the mix-up.
“Dear sir/madam,” it read, “I was in the shop and picked up the enclosed thinking that my mum had paid for it. Unfortunately, she had not so I am returning the item.”
Praising the boy for “admitting his mistake, and for his sincerity”, centre manager Ian Parkinson added: “Unfortunately we don’t have Daniel’s return address to send him back our own gesture of thanks, but I do hope he gets touch or visits us again with his mum.”
So there you go, Daniel ... an open invitation to enjoy another fun-filled day at a windfarm, possibly in the rain.
It’s cheering to know, though, that a kid can still buy a treat for 10p that doesn’t encourage dental decay.
It’s been a bad week for ... verbs
Specsavers’ plan to trademark the use of “should’ve” and “shouldve” has been approved by the UK Intellectual Property Office (IPO).
A trademark would prevent other companies using the key word in the “should’ve gone to Specsavers” slogan, and rivals have until October 12 to object.
Trademark lawyer Tania Clark from Withers and Rogers described IPO’s approval as “astonishing”, adding: “They [Specsavers] have a very powerful monopoly in this word ... which is a verb in common usage.”
Last time I looked, “should have” was a compound verb made up of two words. But let’s not split hairs.
This isn’t the first instance of language being shackled by corporate branding. McDonald’s trademarked the phrase “i’m lovin’ it” and Nestle has done the same for “Have a Break” for its KitKat biscuits. Carlsberg safeguarded the word "probably", though only has the right to exclusive use in relation to beer and related alcohol products.
Specsavers has a broader remit for “should’ve”. Probably the best compound verb in the world.
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