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Home / New Zealand

<i>Sideswipe:</i> Home brew

Ana Samways
By Ana Samways
Sideswipe - ana.samways@nzherald.co.nz·NZ Herald·
23 Jun, 2010 04:00 PM3 mins to read

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Photo / Supplied

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Ana Samways
Opinion by Ana SamwaysLearn more

Toilet novelty mug that'll leave 'em flushed with laughter.

Driving down California's debt

California is considering using digital car number plates which would switch to advertisements when vehicles were stuck in traffic to try to raise money to tackle its US$19 billion ($27 billion) budget deficit. The electronic plates
would look like standard plates when the car was moving, but when a car stopped for more than four seconds scrolling ads would be displayed. Advertisers would buy space from the US Department of Motor Vehicles and drivers would also be able to have their plates show personal messages - obscene messages not allowed - and a section of the plate would continue to show the registration number at all times. (Source: Telegraph.co.uk)

Verging on madness

Taking safety to an extreme in Lower Hutt: The other day Grant spied two trucks with crash buffers and arrow lane changes flashing, following a small ute, all following a single blade ride-on lawn mower trimming the central grass strip. "Six people and rental for the trucks plus the mower guy cost around $5200 for a day's work to mow the central verge. Mad."

Rate that bus

Bill was telling his 8-year-old son at the bus stop how he pays for the buses to run in Auckland with his rates. Our bus arrives and the boy asks, "Why don't we buy less stinky ones then?"

SPCA-cific details, please

Being pro-animal, and thinking about getting a new credit card, James found the Diners Club SPCA supporters' card, which boasts "a donation with every card and a percentage of every purchase you make with your card" to the SPCA. "Interested, I rang and asked how much goes to the SPCA and was told 'that's confidential' and that 'we don't disclose to our members'. Huh? Guess I'll just stick with my Visa and set up a monthly donation to the SPCA from that."

Doggone - well, almost

Quote of the Day: "It was like the Wizard of Oz" - Owner of a dog which was blown away in a storm, while in its kennel. The pooch was renamed Lucky after being found 30km away in the Hungarian countryside, without the kennel. (Source: BBC.co.uk - Magazine Monitor)

Stroll on down to Sylvia Park

Peter Jeffares writes: "We have had a baby stroller (minus baby) in our storeroom for several weeks now. Contact Phil at Sylvia Park Pak'n' Save, describe the stroller and we will gladly return it."

Today's Webpick: Satirist John Clarke (aka Fred Dagg) fronts to the media on behalf of BP. Go here.

Follow Ana Samways on Twitter.

Discover more

Opinion

<i>Sideswipe</i>: Who are they kidding

17 Jun 04:00 PM
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<i>Sideswipe:</i> Mr Popular

20 Jun 04:00 PM
Opinion

<i>Sideswipe:</i> Hard to swallow

21 Jun 04:00 PM
Opinion

<i>Sideswipe:</i> Nice try...

24 Jun 04:00 PM
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