Christmas pretension. This contemporary nativity set for $169 taps into "our learned experience from exposure to thousands of images, toys and Christmas cards over the years" apparently.
Juice price sends mum for the door
"I went to Subway to feed the troops and queried the cost of the purchase with the 'sandwich artist'," writes Penny. "How much was the juice, I queried. $4.50, he replied ... this was a Fresh Up junior fruit juice box - the teeny tiny, toddler-sized 125ml one that usually come in an 8 pack at the supermarket. I baulked at the price and he offered it to me for $3.50. No thanks, I said and left with just the sandwiches."
Cancer diagnosis ruffles acquaintance
This woman writes to Dear Abby to share her startling lack of empathy and self-awareness: "One of my boyfriend's close friends is going through his third bout with cancer and the prognosis is not good. He is married with a healthy 3-year-old son. So imagine our surprise when his wife announced she's pregnant. We don't feel it is wise to bring another child into the world who will never know his or her father. Some of her close friends want to throw her a 'sprinkle', and although I am only an acquaintance, I have been invited. Should I attend and keep my thoughts to myself, decline and/or send a small gift in my absence?"
Brother's child out there somewhere
"I'm looking for my brother's child," writes Mandy. "My brother, Michael Noel Dickey [right], was born in 1967 and died in 1991 [aged 24]. Just before he died he told me he had fathered a child when he was about 18 [about 1985], but he was not in contact with the mother or child. I thought we had plenty of time to talk about it but six months later he was gone. I am hoping that one day we can meet his child - he/she would be about 29-30 now. If he looks familiar and you can help me, please email me: mandyvickery@gmail.com"
Christmas spirit alive on Queen St
Donna writes: "To the wonderful manager at Smith & Caughey's who saw how disappointed we were that the Enchanted Forest/Christmas display was closed while the Santa Parade was on last weekend. He took us upstairs, turned on the lights and animations and let us wander around without the crowds. My father passed away a few weeks ago and so I brought my Mum into the store to cheer her up ... you have no idea how much you made our day. Thank you."
Quick clip: It's hard to get your head around the scale, but this short video shows the massive nets on a super trawler, in action. According to non-profit OCEAN DEFENDER, Hawaii a super trawler operation often uses technology like enhanced sonar and even airplanes and helicopters to locate a bait ball. This bait ball is food for an entire ecosystem of fish and oceanic life...
Video: A drone was used to explore Pripyat the abandoned Soviet city, which became famous for the Chernobyl meltdown in1986. The city that has been empty for decades and the decay is eerie......
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Got a Sideswipe? Send your pictures, links and anecdotes to Ana at ana.samways@nzherald.co.nz