New Zealand's most expensive microwaved pie?: "I've just been to a cafe near Warkworth to grab a quick bite to eat to take away. With no prices displayed for the food in the cabinet, I decided on a chicken and cranberry pie, expecting the cost to be somewhere between $4 and $6, as at other cafes. Once I got over the shock of hearing it was $10.90, I heard the lady behind the counter asking me if I wanted it heated or not, so naturally I asked for it heated. I had to wait 10-15 minutes for my pie to arrive. It had been microwaved to a soft pastry lump that fell apart in the paper bag. It was quite tasty, but not worth the $10.90!"
'Whatever' holds its popularity
The most annoying word for the fourth year running is "whatever", according to the annual Marist Poll in the US. Often used when someone has no comeback, the sullen conversation killer was joined by "you know" or "just saying" which when added to the end of a sentence becomes even more exacerbating. Using the word "like" randomly and frequently throughout a sentence is also disliked. Runners-up include "Twitterverse" and "gotcha". (Source: Reuters)
Spectacles do little for appearances
Trevor of Half Moon Bay can sympathise with Pete Dowrick and the Automobile Association eye test: "After 50 years' driving, with no infringements, I now find myself having to wear prescription glasses [which I only ever need otherwise for reading] at all times. The problem is that, in Auckland's harsh summer sun, my reading glasses offer no protection from the sun's glare, and clip-on sunglasses are naff, and look stupid, so I am forced to buy a fresh pair of prescription sunglasses at a cost anywhere from $700 to $1000 to avoid an infringement notice. I have chosen not to and just use my reading glasses with the vehicle's sun shield permanently pulled down to reduce the glare."
Legal ways with acronyms
Regarding the use of the acronym ROFL (rolling on the floor, laughing), a reader writes: "I work in the legal industry, where there are short versions for various words. RIC = remand in custody, ROB = remanded on bail ... One of our junior lawyers came in one day and said, 'What the heck is SLOT?' I think she thought we were being rude. SLOT is "sustained loss of traction". So shortened words get used everywhere."
Local: It's just like the 70s in this sparky's van! This screen grab from 3 News on Thursday shows a nude centerfold stuck to the wall of a work van...
