There’s lots of people who believe it’s political correctness gone mad and say changing traffic lights isn’t going to change lives.

But it’s interesting that other countries have also messed with pedestrian lights.

The Dutch city of Utrecht has banished blokes for Miffy, a beloved Dutch cartoon character of a rabbit. The city has also embraced a figure called Sophie who hits her stride in high heels when the lights go green.

In the Danish town of Fredericia the lights feature soldiers with guns. Maybe pedestrians who cross when they shouldn’t can be shot.

Ulan Bator, the capital of Mongolia, has horses on its traffic lights, while Berlin has its hatted cult-status ampelmännchen, or little traffic light men.

So what about Orange? We could have red and green cherries, or maybe a bottle of wine. Full to walk or half empty for don’t walk.

What do you think?

NOW that Orange people in their unlikely wisdom will vote for a popularly-elected mayor, the race opens up for all sorts of candidates.

There’s your friendly plumber who has always given you good, prompt service when you’ve needed him to fix a dripping tap. And he can tell a few good jokes.

And what about your hairdresser? She’s a fountain of knowledge when it comes to talking about everything and everyone while you’re having a cut or a colour put in your hair. That’s a good quality for a mayor.

Of course, highway patrol police are out because they win few friends handing out blueys to erring drivers.

But remember the time your car broke down in the rain and a friendly delivery driver stopped to help you get it going? He’d make a good mayor, wouldn’t he?

Your kid’s soccer trainer is another option. He gets on well with everybody, is always smiling and has won a couple of premierships to boot.

So it’s endless. If candidates for the prestigious job have the necessary qualifications of being able to kiss a few babies, open a couple of flower shows and shout a few beers at the pub now and then, what more could you ask for?

THE press several days ago made a big thing about a jail in Berlin now serving up Maccas to its prisoners after a food supply contract fell through. Besides, it was available around-the-clock.

But prisoners locked up in the slammer at Orange police station have been getting meals from McDonald’s ever since the new hospital opened because its kitchen was too far away for police to pick up meals.

Just imagine what they might have. For breakfast a tomato relish brekkie roll, an English wrap or a sausage and egg muffin.

For lunch, what about a gourmet Angus truffle and cheese burger, which McDonald’s describes as delicious Angus beef, rasher bacon, shaved parmesan, spinach leaves and a hint of truffle.

A special treat for dinner could be a gourmet home style Angus beef burger with rasher bacon and caramelised onions.

It almost makes you want to get arrested so you can savour some of Maccas best at taxpayer’s cost.