KEY POINTS:
Might be a good idea for Radio Sport to amend its website.
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Katie has discovered a rash of yellow plastic spots infecting footpaths in the central city, which in the rain become overwhelmingly slippery. "After falling over on my way to work, to the amusement
of the workmen on a building site, I made some inquiries and apparently they are put there solely to discourage skateboarders. I hope this draconian decision on behalf of the council was worth it. Perhaps we should ask the jogger who fell over and fractured his neck on Friday night on the corner of Quay and Tapora Sts."
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The longest recorded piece of graffiti was painted by a student in the toilets of his college at Changsha, China, in 1915. It consisted of more than 4000 characters criticising his teachers and the state of Chinese society. After completing this masterpiece the student handed himself in and was threatened with expulsion.
The student was a 22-year-old Mao Zedong , who later founded the People's Republic of China and as Chairman Mao was responsible for the deaths of more than 30 million people.
(Source: Chieh Fang, Chinese Army Magazine, Dec 1968)
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Nik Grimmett writes: "Regarding croissants and their curved or crescent shape representing a French victory over the Turks. This is a common myth and was originally attributed to Hungary or Poland defeating the Turks, then being adapted to Vienna, and finally France. The story of the brave baker has no historical reference and this story has been mentioned only in cookbooks. There is a similar story about pretzels being made to celebrate brave bakers in the same battle as well. There is no definite source of the croissant, except that it possibly originated in Vienna, although this then links to another story about Marie Antoinette craving a Viennese specialty."
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Jamie Wong found a birthday card under a seat in an Auckland taxi and wants to pass it on to the giver or receiver. "It looks like it's from an older lady, because the handwriting is older-lady style. There was a $100 gift voucher and a lotto ticket inside. I would love to get it back to the birthday girl, named Beverley."
Email Sideswipe with the name of the person the card was from to claim it.
Today's Webpick: A sneak peek at the US version of Australias foxiest morons, Kath and Kim. Does it translate? Watch it here.
These are the very best online videos from Ana's online magazine Spare Room.
