Sideswipe: Jan 3: Come on, be honest

5:30 AM Thursday Jan 3, 2013

Something to LOL at. Photo / Sideswipe

Great, now how about a realistic alternative to ROFL (rolling on the floor, laughing)?

Professions for a psychopath

Which professions have the highest percentage of psychopaths and which has the lowest? No surprise to see journalists on the more likely list, but chefs? Psychopathy is defined as a personality disorder characterised by shallow emotions (in particular reduced fear), lacking empathy, coldheartedness, lacking guilt, egocentricity, superficial character, manipulativeness, impulsivity and antisocial behaviours such as parasitic lifestyle and criminality. An explanation: "Most of the professions on the right require human connection, dealing with feelings and most of them don't offer much power. Psychopaths, by their very nature, would not be drawn to or be very good at these things. On the other hand, most of the roles on the left do offer power and many require an ability to make objective, clinical decisions divorced from feelings. Psychopaths would be drawn to these roles and thrive there." (Source: Via BoingBoing.net)

Distracting jazz hands

A reader from Te Atatu writes: "I do like Miriama Kamo - she's easy on the eye and seems smart, warm and funny, but watching her fill in on the news over the silly season, I have to say she has a serious case of jazz hands! They are continually flapping about distracting me from what she's actually saying. Can someone please tell her to sit on them maybe?"

Eye test failings

Peet Dowrick writes: "Anyone who has one eye significantly dominant cannot pass the AA eye tests. A few months ago, I sought a New Zealand driver's licence after years away. I happily read all eight letters in two columns of the designated row and was quite perplexed when expected to continue. The third column was completely invisible to me - and a significant percentage of the driving public. These are the only machines authorised by NZTA, and they cannot test all eyesight. NZTA knows this, and has three choices: Authorise a better viewer, allow AA to use a wall chart as back-up, or send people to optometrists at $70 a pop."

By Ana Samways

Kiwi Keith II (New Zealand) | 03:27PM Thursday, 03 Jan 2013

Having read numerous recent reports of failed driver license eye tests, only to later and at additional unnecessary expense have an optometrist find no fault, I would have thought that a few trips to the Disputes Tribunal would make the AA / NZTA sit up and provide a more accurate service.

Ian Wrigley () | 03:28PM Thursday, 03 Jan 2013

Regarding eye test machines - i have stigmatisms in both eyes and couldn't see the third row either. Been driving 20 years without a single insurance claim or incident but according to this machine I suddenly needed to wear my glasses to drive.

Kevin (New Zealand) | 03:28PM Thursday, 03 Jan 2013

Everyone complaining about the cost of eye tests for driving licensees are being ripped off by their opticians. My son is about to get his learners and we knew he would not pass the standard test as he has reduced vision in one eye. Called in at our local Specsavers and they did the test there and then without an appointment, only took about five minutes and charged us $20. You do not need a full eye test, just a test to see if your eyesight is good enough to drive and if it is they give you a certificate to prove it.