Sideswipe: July 2: Hand towel hang up

Bathroom unrest

A mother writes: "One hand towel pictured here has been used by a normal functioning human being. The other has been used by a pre-teen boy after being told to "flush" and "wash your hands" from the next room. Can you guess which is which?"

Minimum donation leaves sour taste

"Can anyone advise why some charities collecting outside supermarkets now have a minimum donation amount?" a reader asks. "At my local supermarket today two very nice young men were collecting for a charity. I had $4 in gold coins which I had out ready to donate, but they had no bucket and explained the donation amounts that ranged from $40 to $100. I was in a slight hurry and asked if they no longer took 'actual money' - they only had a wireless Eftpos machine on their table. One of them said they did but at a minimum of $10. I felt embarrassed I didn't have $10 in cash and I didn't want to use my Eftpos card and donate, so ended up saying sorry and walking away."

Road safety campaign could do without the distraction

A reader is not impressed with the road safety campaign launched by Auckland Transport and the NZ Transport Agency. "In Quay St I saw a person dressed up as something (an icecream cone or a peanut) dancing on the footpath right beside an intersection. The wording on their costume read, 'Don't pay any attention to me, focus on the road ahead' (or something similar). Surely this is completely counter-intuitive to the point of the campaign? 'I know, let's purposely distract drivers so they all look at me, and then tell them off for looking at me and not the road. Yeah, that'll learn them.'"

Teacher goes beyond the call

The Humans of South Auckland Facebook page profiles locals, challenging stereotypes and giving a glimpse into the real lives of people who live southside, such as teacher Timo Fotuali'i Rea Morisa (below).

Timo Fotuali'i Rea Morisa, teacher

"It really annoys me when people say, 'You're so lucky to be a teacher, you get heaps of holidays!' It amazes me how people have no idea what goes on behind the scenes for us. Teaching is a 24/7 job. I work around the clock. My students are always on my mind. Even in the middle of the night I'll be resting and suddenly come up with an idea and sit up and work at it. I sacrifice my family time for my kiddies. I spend a lot of my own money on stationery, lunch for kids, spare shoes, hats and bus money. I give up time with my wife in the weekends to visit students' families, work on school projects and attend rugby games, productions and prizegivings. Now you definitely can't tell me that MY job is an 8am to 4pm, Monday to Friday job can you? Think twice before you say something like that to a teacher. lol."

Picture this: If you don't know just ask...

Quick read: Nicole Kidman's husband, Keith Urban, vastly overestimating the size of his own celebrity...

Picture this: One of the signs that my Dad is visiting...

Video: An air purifier company in China is hammering home the country's dire air pollution problem (and hoping to flog a few million units) by projecting images of bawling babies onto clouds of smoke emanating from evil factory towers in this ham-fisted ad campaign...

Herald app users tap here for today's video.

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