Sideswipe: Computer engineer Barbie

Found hanging out on the footpath on Mt Eden Rd between the Balmoral Rd intersection and Irene Ave, last Tuesday. "We get the impression these little fellows weren't supposed to venture out alone ... We would love to return them to their rightful home," says Emma-Joy Andrews.

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She's been a supermodel, a teacher, a nurse, and many other sexist stereotypes, but now she's a computer engineer. The new Barbie, released at a New York toy fair, wears a T-shirt featuring a binary code, carries a smart phone, a laptop case and tops it off with some stylish pink glasses. The new choice of career was based on a public vote, sought by manufacturers Mattel. (Source: Wired.com)

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A teacher writes: "Being short-sighted in my job is bad enough, but this stifling Auckland heat really zaps you. While teaching a class last week I became increasingly irritated by a student muttering away at the back. Finally I let rip at his impertinence. After my caustic outburst the class erupted in laughter. A young lad at the front told me I had just spent several minutes abusing a wall fan."

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Here's a surreal experience at Foodtown St Lukes, writes Pip. "Armed with a pen and paper, I was walking around the aisles pricing my shopping list in order to plan exactly what I could afford. Twice I was approached by a staff member who told me I was not allowed to do this and then eventually by the manager who threatened me with arrest for trespassing if I did not stop what I was doing and leave. Apparently I was a spy for the opposition checking out the specials. Any other readers experienced this absurd behaviour?

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Following the note left on Katie's Mazda Familia hatch while parked on Meadowbank Rd, claiming it was an eyesore, a reader writes: "I am not surprised for that area that people would leave a note like that. Remuera folk and adjoining neighbourhoods really are a curious breed. Some people have delusions of grandeur and status anxiety. I'm sure they would put their address as Remuera even though they are in the depths of Meadowbank too."

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Another reader writes: "I know of a postie in Remuera, years ago, who was told not to park outside a certain house while he did his delivery because their car wasn't flash enough. LOL at those uptight people."

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Another reader, from an unspecified suburb, writes: "It's no fun waking up for weeks on end to find the ugliest car ever abandoned and parked right outside your front door. That happened to us and eventually we pushed it across our driveway, complained about obstruction, and had it towed. Never heard another word."

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