Peter photographed this on Anzac Day in Lunn Ave, Mt Wellington. "The driver arrogantly said the price of petrol was crippling him!"
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Andrew is going out on a limb to say this new swine flu will kill exactly the same number of people in this country that
terrorism, Sars, bird flu and the millennium bug have killed in the past 10 years. None. "Meanwhile, 14 died on our roads this weekend, and 5000 a year die from smoking. What is it with the media and scaremongering?"
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Due to my line of work, I'm generally sceptical when it comes to good Samaritan stories, says Steven, a probation officer from Manurewa. That was until this happened: "We had just spent the Wednesday evening at the movies celebrating my son's ninth birthday when my wife became ill. A quick call to the Healthline and they told us to get to hospital as quickly as possible as her symptoms suggested a possible stroke. Unfortunately, we knew our family night out had left us short on funds and, due to the urgency, unable to transfer any money to cover the costs. We went straight to East Care and the doctor did a thorough examination. Luckily, the visit turned out to be little more than a pinched nerve in her neck. However, while attempting to sort out the account, a good Samaritan walked up and kindly offered to pay my wife's $115 after-hours consult fee. He insisted that he wanted to remain anonymous and expected nothing in return. Although my wife declined the offer, the gesture was enough to bring her to tears. So, from the bottom of our hearts, we would love to thank this kind person for restoring our faith in human nature."
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Tim went to the Blockhouse Bay community constable's office to report that his shed had been broken into. "I walked in and no one was there. I called out several times and still no one appeared. I waited about five minutes [then] left, crime unreported. What was interesting was that sitting on the main office desk were a cellphone and a laptop - close by were the pamphlets and brochures telling us to look after our valuables at all times and not leave them visible when no one is around."
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A Brisbane policeman ordered Chad Hastings out of his car, handcuffed him and demanded to know why he had a gun in his car. Hastings didn't know what he was talking about. When backup arrived, they found "the gun" was actually a steering-wheel lock. They freed Hastings, but not before he was told he was lucky the cop hadn't pulled his own gun on him. (Source: Reason.com)
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See today's Herald cartoon
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Today's Video Webpick: Is it time you outsourced your own job? click here. Plus, is there a new way to administer Ventolin to asthmatics? click here.
These are the very best online videos from Ana's online magazine Spare Room.