Sideswipe: July 10: Is breast always best?

Pastry sexism in Dannevirke.

The wealthy of South China's Shenzhen city are hiring wet nurses to provide them with breast milk to drink as a health tonic, provoking outrage. The wet nurses are provided by an agency, which scouts for poor women who have recently given birth and would be happy with some financial support. The new mothers offer their services for a few days to weeks in a month with prices varying from $2000 to $4000. (Source: The Times of India)

Recyclers dark on lightproof bottles
"Has anyone else had their recycling collectors refusing to take their recycling because they have the new Anchor lightproof bottles in the bin?" asks Robbie. "Twice now I have found my recycling untouched with a green sticker on the bin stating that my recycling hasn't been taken because of the lightproof bottles. My wife has made me swap to another brand."

How to be the perfect party ghost
A reader writes: "Ghosting, it's a great word for doing a disappearing act at parties. I do it usually because I'm leaving early and don't want people to know I'm splitting or sometimes it's because I am too drunk and not sure if I can make a coherent exit. It's OK at a big party, but kind of rude if it's a small one."

Get on to that pruning
Diana writes: "As we are in the depths of winter, could we remind readers to please, please get on to any hard cutting back or removal of hedges, shrubs and trees so they only need a light trim come spring when the birds are nesting. Someone in our street had a large hedge removed last spring and I was too late with my offer to take the nests to the Whitford Wild Bird Care Centre (www.wildbirds.org.nz). There were three nests, but not knowing what else to do they'd gone into the chipper. The crew were as unhappy about it as I was."

News: Sucking the spontaneity (and the excitement) out of the Mile High Club rarity an Ohio airline is giving people who like to plan a chance to book one hour flights with a discreet pilot...

Picture this #1: "So...I got pulled over tonight, I don't think the police officer understood the purpose of the eye colour field..."

Picture this #2: Deep fried everything on a stick...

Picture this #3: Car decoration just got way outta hand...

Video:

Giving bouncers some of their own medicine...

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