Sideswipe: January 20: Buy two, pay for two

Snapped in Napier by Wayne.

Miami police shoot themselves in the foot

Police in Miami have been caught using the mugshots of exclusively black people for target practice. Sergeant Valerie Deant happened upon a bullet-ridden photo of her brother when she was training soldiers at the Medley Firearms Training Centre. She alerted her brother Woody Deant to the fact that a mugshot from when he was arrested 15 years ago in connection to an illegal drag race when he was 18 was being used to train snipers. Police defended using photos of real people, saying it was standard practice and crucial for facial recognition drills. But the fact that they were using pictures of men arrested by their own police department drew wider criticism. (Source: Death & Taxes)

WoF laws have holes

A reader writes: "Can't believe Auckland Transport issue a $200 infringement because the warrant of fitness did not have the hole punched showing what year. Shouldn't the company who issued the warrant be fined? I paid for the service (not cheap these days) and they didn't punch the hole. Two letters, photos, a trip back to the AA and the fine is waived, although as advised by Auckland Transport if I have a similar offence I will be required to pay in full!" One way to blow $1000.

A Dundee woman has been left counting the cost of the wind after 530 ($1000) she was carrying blew away. Indea Ogilvie was walking to her car when she dropped her purse. The 19-year-old, who was on her way to the bank with takings from the Perfection Beauty Salon, Lochee, said her purse burst open when it hit the ground and the wind swept her cash away in a "tornado of money". Despite scouring the street for almost an hour, she recovered only 10. No one helped her, she said.

Good old days still with us

On Friday, Philip had an appointment at Work & Income in Orewa. "When I arrived I was ushered into a waiting area. As you do, I picked up a magazine. In this case I was amazed to find that the magazine was a National Geographic Volume 132, dated February 1970! Nearly 45 years old. I thought they must be recycling old magazines to save money. It must be just about a collector's item."

Owen spotted someone not happy at Mangawhai.

Picture this: What do most contrived, air-brushed tock photos need? A dose of reality from The Stock Photobomber...
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Video: This loud middle-aged lady-cardigan is not the most mortifying thing in this home shopping spiel...Watch as designer Isaac Mizrahi debates with host if the moon is a star or a planet or cheese. (scroll along 7.20)...

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