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Home / New Zealand

<i>Sideswipe:</i> Wh@t @ p@in!

Ana Samways
By Ana Samways
Sideswipe - ana.samways@nzherald.co.nz·NZ Herald·
5 Mar, 2009 03:00 PM3 mins to read

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The one that got away? (Snapped in Norfolk Island)

The one that got away? (Snapped in Norfolk Island)

Ana Samways
Opinion by Ana SamwaysLearn more

Customer on the phone: "I know you aren't tech support, but I have an easy question."
Call Centre Worker: "OK ..."
Customer: "How do you make the @ symbol... You know, for the email?"
Call Centre Worker: "You hold the shift key and press 2."
Customer: "Won't that just make a capital 2?"
(anecdotes from
notalwaysright.com)

* * *

Spotted on the back of a school bus outside St Cuthbert's College in Auckland yesterday: an ad for the new TV3 programme Million Dollar Catch. Says our observant commuter: "The ad for the show normally reads, "They will either drown at sea or in money." With the school bus sign opened up on the back of the bus, it now reads, "They will either drown at school or in money!"

* * *

A lady friend drove into a parking building in Auckland, writes Alan. "The only space was in a corner. She drove in, opened the door a fraction against the wall, squeezed out and slammed the door. Then noticed keys in ignition. Phoned AA, who turned up an hour later. Mechanic squeezed himself alongside, reached through the open driver's window and handed lady friend her keys."

* **

Odd Names: "Some years ago our daughter was going out with a handsome, charming and generous man, who would have been a great asset to our family had she married him. We were quite sad when they parted, but there was an upside. Had she married him, she would have been instantly transformed into a Gaye Mann."

- Lisa says she went to high school in Palmerston North in the 1980s with a boy called Ben Dibble and his father's name was Ed.

- "A couple who are friends of my family in Perth were going to call their newborn daughter Courtney until it was pointed out what a bad idea that would be. Their surname is Salmon."

- Rebecca Starr worked as a junior doctor in the UK. "My colleague and I were Dr Starr and Dr Moon."

- My sister was set on naming her daughter Holly," says Karen, "until she married Mr Gram."

- "You think Sandy Beach is bad," writes a reader. "I was at a wedding a few years ago talking to the groom about his bride taking his name. He told a story about his cousin, who was also called Sandy, who married a guy with the surname Dick. If ever a reason to keep your maiden name surely this is it!

- Anthony Booth writes: "When I was a youngster living in Titirangi we had a rather personable boarder who was very proud of his Maori heritage. However, he was a little disappointed that he had been given an English first name. His father had called him Dunn. Dunn claimed that his father had given him this name because he was so excited when he was born that he had, "done me a Haka"... His family name? Mihaka! A little side note: I am led to believe that this is the same Dunn Mihaka who bared his buttocks to the Queen!"

* * *

See today's Herald cartoon

* * *

Today's Webpick: America’s Funniest Home Videos Grand Prize winner Chester the incredible peeing dog! View here.

These are the very best online videos from Ana's online magazine Spare Room.

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