Back to the Yippie convention currently taking place in Sydney....
The NSW government has some pretty draconian laws to make sure Benedict is not offended during his Oz sojourn.
The most publicised measure is the ban on offensive T-shirt slogans -- "Ferk the Pope!" etc.
But if you look a little deeper at the legislation, you'll also see that there's a ban on spitting in any public space as the Head Yippie is passing.
This is inspired either by NSW trying to out-do Singapore in tyranny, or by a fear that Oz-only bugs will be carried back to the Vatican.
Anyway ... merely spitting in the Holy Presence carries a $10,000 penalty.
If it's a greenie, it's regarded as a crime against the state and punishable by 3 years in prison.
Our snot -- treason? -- why?

Sledge