Hilary's Desk

 (royalty free from dreamstime.com)

Gardasil radio advertisements have started with a vengeance, because the MOH is not happy with the low uptake of Gardasil in New Zealand, so have mounted an all out propaganda campaign in an attempt to persuade young girls to say, "Yes" to Gardasil. 

These adverts feature a young woman introducing herself as Portia and telling us all, of the wonderful benefits of this new vaccine out there, called Gardasil.  Blah Blah Blah....

Apart from the irony of expecting girls to say yes, on the basis of a promo by a girl who gives zero meaningful information, perhaps the pressuretainment strategists should have thought about the name "Portia".  Perhaps they think it sounds elegant, upper class, somewhat snobby and ever so brainy?

The name "Portia" struck me as funny on many levels.  A portia, is a jumping spider which happens to get it's kicks out of cannibalising other spiders, and usually manages to demolish mating males before the deed is done. See image number 7.  There are lots of different types of portia, many very colourful - and massively alluring. 

A neat version on the "other one", which is, "come into my parlour, said the spider to the fly..."  "Hairy Legs" would indeed be proud....