Sideswipe: Hot, hotter, hottest

New Zealand PM John Key and Norwegian PM Jens Stoltenberg. Photos / Getty Images, Kjetil Ree

It seems fitting that our Prime Minister should end up on a "Hottest Heads of State" list - given his love of the lingo to describe the ladies - but he ranks well down the list at 116 out of 210, well below Julia Gillard at spot 59. The least-attractive leaders, according to the list - which is described as "a scientific and unbiased ranking of world leaders in order of hotness" - are Pope Benedict XVI (Vatican City), Kim Jong-il (North Korea) and Muammar Gaddafi (Libya). The hottest? Norwegian PM Jens Stoltenberg. (Source: hottestheadsofstate.wordpress.com)

Grin and bear it

"I realise not everyone likes rugby," writes Colin. "And I also realise not everyone is looking forward to the World Cup. The best thing that the naysayers can do is to provide an environment where visitors feel welcome and keen to spend their money in! Get behind the RWC. It'll probably still make a loss, but as a community we can help to minimise it."

Alternative to RWC tickets

A reader's response to the "truth bomb" about NZ and rugby and the unsold tickets: "Yes, there are many unsold seats at rugby matches, not to mention the ludicrously over-priced World Cup. This is because New Zealanders don't spend more money than they need to. I think you will find a large proportion of the population will tune in with Sky or Prime instead of footing the price of a ticket."

Vladimir the Apostle

Vladimir Putin has become the object of worship for a bizarre all-female sect whose followers believe that the Russian PM is a reincarnation of the early Christian missionary St Paul. "According to the Bible, Paul the Apostle was a military commander at first and an evil persecutor of Christians before he started spreading the Christian gospel," the sect's founder, Mother Fotina, said. "In his days in the KGB, Putin also did some rather unrighteous things. But once he became President, he was imbued with the Holy Spirit, and just like the apostle, he started wisely leading his flock." (Source: Canada.com)