THE Huffington Post reports that four KFC and Pizza Hut chains in Nepal have suspended their operations after employees reportedly attacked and threatened to kill the store manager. Since 2006, the Nepalese have become increasingly open to foreign goods, but it’s not the first time management at western firms has faced a backlash.

It does seem fried chicken and pizza have become battlegrounds of some ideologically charged disputes recently. The CEO of Papa John’s was met with controversy this month after he complained that healthcare reform in the US would force the chain to raise the price of its pizzas. Chick-Fil-A became the focus of debate after its president confirmed his anti-gay-marriage stance. Since the announcement, customers have either protested or supported the corporation, with employees getting stuck in the middle. As Jon Stewart of the Daily Show would put it, the US is becoming a Fast Feud Nation.

Best of both worlds

THE Insider has been deluged this week by colleagues finding themselves amused by linguistic gaffes or puns. We’re a simple bunch here at Business Day, and find amusement in simple things.

For instance, on a radio talk show this week a reporter noted that at a pretty worrying situation in a part of South Africa, things were "calm but very, very tense". Clearly it is possible for opposite states of feeling to coexist. It’s like, says a colleague, saying the motorist was sober but drunk or, in the business world, the CEO saying that although his company ran up huge losses, it still made a profit.

Perhaps the reporter should ask for a refund of his university fees, while simultaneously making a donation to its library as thanks for such a sound education.

Gems lacking in lustre

ANOTHER colleague noticed that the CEO of De Beers’ Diamond Trading Company is one Varda Shine. He did have the grace to qualify his finding this "kinda funny" as being due to lack of sleep. His humorous insights usually have more lustre after a full eight hours.

Ailing fellow well met

YET another colleague was sent a reminder about "the Labour Market Navigator Q3 2012 report" and its release date. The letter offered an interview about the release date with a certain Mr Ailing. Let’s hope the man isn’t reporting on our labour market because his surname echoes its perilous state so perfectly.

Bad preposition

A STRONGLY worded release was made by the Centre for Constitutional Rights, also known as CFCR, yesterday. Unfortunately, by the time it was reported by a news service it had become a strongly worded release made by the Centre of Constitutional Rights, also, it was stated, known as COC.

This is called a COC-up.

Wise words

"The GOP needs to live the planks of its platform, not just offer lip service."

Sarah Palin, US "politician" (born 1964)

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