Sideswipe

Damien, seen here in the remake of The Omen, has made many anxious about 06/06/06.

Today is the sixth day of the sixth month of the sixth year. The mark of the beast will be everywhere. And it's not only the world's Christians who are are a bundle of nerves. Thanks to the 1976 film The Omen, about a child called Damien born with 666 tattooed on his skull, even those unburdened by religious theory are feeling it.

A 32-year-old mother-to be from Chicago told the Boston Herald she did not think her child would be born evil, but she was not fond of the ominous set of digits. "These sinister birthdates happen once a century, and I never heard of any evil legions of June 6, 1906-ers menacing the world, so I'm sure we'll all cope just fine."

And in England, another mother who was expecting a child today told the Sun, "I'm terrified the birth will go wrong or the child will have evil in him or her ... even worse my beautiful baby could be the devil himself - the Antichrist."

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A reader writes: "While taking a stroll in Cornwall Park last week, my blood boiled when I spied a mean-spirited creep loading firewood, intended for use at the public barbecues, into his 1985 Laser Hatchback. As I approached, he took off at speed, leaving me fuming in his tracks. To my amazement, I came across the creep three more times, as I explored the park, presumably allowing time for me to go so he could get on with his nefarious activities. Needless to say, he beat a hasty retreat every time we met - eventually out on to Manukau Rd. However, a search for the car's registration provided details that match the vehicle I kept seeing. So if anyone sees a 6ft male with size 14 white sports shoes lurking in the park, please tell him the park staff know all about him and will be keeping a keen eye out."

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Reader John Bean wonders why TV3 insists on making such a meal out of its health correspondent's title of "doctor" even if she is not acting as a health professional. "It is not acceptable etiquette to use one's professional or other title (in this case Dr Lillian Ng) when referring to oneself."

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Retired Associate Professor of Physics at the University of Auckland, Dr J. Brian Earnshaw writes: "Your correspondent Jim Sprott has spent too much time in the Northern Hemisphere where sun dials are directed to point at the Northern (Polar) Star. In the Southern Hemisphere sun dials should point towards the South, and for maximum shadow length should have an angle to the horizontal that relates to the latitude where they are erected. At latitude 35 degrees South the pointer should be elevated at 35 degrees above the horizontal, but for the convenience of manufacture sundials are mass produced with the pointer usually set at 45 degrees above the horizontal."