Sideswipe: June 26: All's fair in sailing

All's fair in sailing.

Vicky bought this shirt on the wharf in San Diego an hour or so after Black Magic won the America's Cup. "Reading today that the rules committee might have received a protest from Oracle USA regarding the Emirates Team New Zealand boat has me sending this to Sideswipe. The more things change the more they stay the same."

Admitting flaws desireable

People who bring up their flaws in job interviews are more likely to be successful, because it makes them stand out from others who are just blowing their own trumpet. Researchers from University College, London found that teachers who had a strong urge to be honest about their strengths and weaknesses were rated as having a 73 per cent chance of getting the placement they wanted, compared with the average 51 per cent. In comparison, candidates who tried to portray a perfect version of themselves came across as unauthentic. Those who used words such as "think", "sense", and "feel" were found to come across like they knew themselves better, and using words like "see" and "look" made employers more likely to believe the candidate wasn't hiding any of their flaws.
(The Independent)

Stone the crows

Can birds read? Crow experts in Japan have worked out a way to stop crows from ripping insulation material from pipes for their nests. The researchers simply hung signs that read "Crows do not enter". The crows seem to be obeying the signs. At least, they abruptly stopped attacking the pipes. This has now been working for three years. Professor Katsufumi Sato thinks the signs work because passers-by see the signs then look up into the sky for the birds, and when the crows realise they're being observed they fly away.

Full range of emotions

This question being asked at Auckland Airport seemed a bit too personal, says Sharon.

Prank turns into three-way

A reader writes: "On a work site, I was on one side of a wall that had been lined on the other side, but not mine. I saw an electrician's hand reach through a flushbox hole from the other side searching for a cable and being a joker I grabbed his hand. He got a fright and withdrew his hand faster than I could release it. The result of three hands going through a hole the size of a powerpoint was pretty impressive. Lucky the chippies had a sense of humour."

Diversity much?

Muldoon's Cabinet 1981 (Via Talia Marshall @touched78)

Video: Is there an alternative to political correctness?

Got a Sideswipe? Send your pictures, links and anecdotes to Ana at ana.samways@nzherald.co.nz