Sideswipe: October 9: Cutting remarks

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Jo has a possible explanation for the half-mowed berm. She writes: "Perhaps the neighbour has had enough of mowing the section due to the lazy neighbour not caring about the look of their property. I am a home owner and our neighbour was a renter, I was always mowing and trimming their side of the fence in order to keep the lawn and fence line tidy. There is nothing worse than having a neighbour who doesn't give a toss about how their property looks especially when all the other neighbours do. Thankfully the renters have gone. People have become so lazy nowadays especially renters who have no pride in the area and properties in which they live, if they can't be bothered they should just get someone in to do the job for them."

How New Zealand's binge drinking culture began

Fifty-one years ago today six o'clock closing in pubs ended after a referendum changed the law. NZ History explains: "Originally introduced as a 'temporary' wartime efficiency measure in December 1917, 6pm closing for pubs was made permanent the following year. The 'six o'clock swill' became a part of the New Zealand way of life - between the end of the working day and closing time at the pub, men crowded together to drink as much beer as they could before bar service ended and the 'supping-up' time of 15 minutes was announced. A mood for change began to emerge in the 1960s. The growing restaurant and tourism industries questioned laws that made it difficult to sell alcohol with meals, while members of sports clubs and the Returned Services' Association also sought a change. When the government held a national referendum in late September 1967, nearly 64 per cent of voters supported a move to 10 o'clock closing."

I, robot bones

Winning number scores free hotel brekkie

While on holiday in Bali last month, Bruce Woodley realised how easy it would be to score a free breakfast. "Nearly all hotels provide a full breakfast in the room tariff and the only check is to give a room number ... To prevent unauthorised entry, cruise liners now have a foolproof system where a passport is produced and matched against a passenger name on board. This also provides evidence of a possible missing passenger who fails to return before the ship's departure."