Beer tsunami a divine catastrophe
In 1814, a three-storey high vat holding one million pints of beer ruptured at the Henry Meux and Co. brewery in a poor area of London that was home to many Irish immigrants. The explosion caused a chain reaction, tipping the other vats in the brewery and spilling about 610,000 litres of maturing porter that created a 4.5m black beer tsunami that roared through the streets, destroying two houses and killing eight people, five of whom were attending a wake for a child that had died the previous day. Decrepit hovels flanking the brewery crumbled under the deluge. Two days later a jury convened to investigate the accident and rendered its verdict that the incident had been an "act of God", leaving no one responsible. Not only did the brewery escape paying damages to the destitute victims, it received a waiver from the British Parliament for excise taxes it had already paid on the thousands of barrels of beer it lost. (Via history.com)
Advice for working dads
The @manwhohasitall parody Twitter account is calling out the moronic advice dished out to working mothers by offering the same advice to fathers. Here are the best ones:
1. Working dad? Batch cook meals that you can freeze and use on days when you have no time to cook. Smart dads get ahead!
2. Why do adverts for cleaning products only ever feature men? Isn't it time we saw a woman with a mop in her hand?
3. Today's debate: Should women help out at Christmas?
4. Today's question: Can curvy dads ever be TRULY happy?
5. I love to see a mum play a full part in her child's life. Good on her for being there I say. 10 out of 10.
6. I have absolutely nothing against fathers in the workforce, as long as they can concentrate on the job.
7. Today's debate: Has society forgotten how to value older men?
8. Working father? Struggling to have it all? Why not team up with other local dads for support? Try not to talk about the kids! 'Me time.'
9. If you struggle to get your wife to do her share of the housework, it could be that your standards are too high or you criticise too much.
10. Men! Accentuate parts of your body you like e.g. personality, to draw attention away from problem areas e.g. face.
Picture this:
Realistic-looking
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Got a Sideswipe? Send your pictures, links and anecdotes to Ana at ana.samways@nzherald.co.nz