Sideswipe: February 17: Fishy love

Opinion

Fishmonger love.

Spin ... giving it to you straight

The Oxford English Dictionary added the term "spin doctor" in their 1993 draft addition, and defines it as: "A political press agent or publicist employed to promote a favourable interpretation of events to journalists." But it was in common use much earlier. In 1986, a column for the New York Times Magazine says this: "It is based on the slang meaning of the verb to spin, which in the 1950s meant to deceive, perhaps influenced by 'to spin a yarn'. More recently, as a noun, spin has come to mean 'twist', or 'interpretation'; when a pitcher puts a spin on a baseball, he causes it to curve, and when we put our own spin on a story, we angle it to suit our predilections or interests." (Via Calling Dr Spin by William Safire.)

Double take

This from Farmers Weekly made Craig Prichard do a double take.

Staff carry our thanks

A reader writes: "Thank you to the sensible people during the Heroic Garden Festival at the Kelmarna Gardens and the Sanctuary Gardens at Unitec who didn't endorse this when they let us in with our 11- and 8-year-olds: 'Please observe the following courtesies: Children under 12 cannot be admitted (unless carried)'."

Keeping kindness afloat

"I was swimming at Takapuna Beach on Saturday," writes Seti Afoa. "Halfway through my routine I noticed my car key was not in my wetsuit. I swam to the beach and looked, but after a while gave up. Some kind strangers gave me a lift home to get my spare key. I decided to have one last look at the beach and noticed a blue plastic bag I had seen earlier was still there. It was attached to my car key which was pushed into the sand. Some kind person found it and tied it to a visible plastic bag so the idiot who lost it could find it three hours later."

Harking back to the good and quiet old days

"I think back to the days of cricket on BBC TV. The ground was quiet except for the sound of ball hitting bat, followed by a short delay and some genteel clapping," writes Allan. "Commentators rarely spoke, unlike the non-stop drivel today, and when they did there were gems like Brian Johnston's 'The bowler's Holding, the batsman's Willey' and 'There's Neil Harvey standing at leg slip with his legs wide apart, waiting for a tickle'. Somehow a rowdy element slipped in and although some think it 'livens up the game', to me it distracts from what should be a peaceful leisure-time occupation, like watching paint dry."

What our city council is now calling cleaners

A reader was amused to see what our city council is now calling cleaners. "I wonder if the posh title means it will pay them more than the minimum wage?"

One-liners: Fifty Sheds Of Grey Twitter account is the kindest and most amusing way to ridicule....

Picture this: Kevin has an unusual job...

Video: A single life nominated for an Oscar...http://vimeo.com/107468212

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Got a Sideswipe? Send your pictures, links and anecdotes to Ana at ana.samways@nzherald.co.nz