Sideswipe: May 26: They are just friends

Flatmates who share a bedroom for 30 years are just friends. Gareth from Surrey shares his views with the Daily Mail about the wedding cake the Christian bakers in Ireland refused to make. "I'm all for gay marriage but why sexualise a kids' programme by using Sesame Street puppets Bert and Ernie to publicise gay marriage? I always figured they were friends who shared a flat. Let's keep the politics out of kids' lives." (Via Pointless Letters)

Line up ladies, before this one gets away

Dubious dating site introduction: "How would I describe myself? Three words: hard-working, alpha male, jackhammer ... merciless, insatiable. I'm far too busy and care far too little about the meaningless minutiae of your life to explore dead ends. However, I am a staunch proponent of banter and a well crafted deprecating quip."

There, there ... nice sheep

Australian sheep shearers are coming under fire from Peta for verbally abusing sheep. "I think it is conceivable that verbal abuse of an extreme nature against an animal, whether it be human, sheep or otherwise, could constitute an act of violence," says Nicolah Donovan, president of Lawyers for Animals. Peta filed a case with video taken by an undercover operative at Boorungie Station in New South Wales. "I still haven't had a sheep come to me [to complain] - they didn't even look offended after they were shorn," says Ken Turner. "It's sad because there possibly are legitimate cases that should be investigated." Some shearers admit work requires intimidation, and activists say that can amount to cruelty.

Could look better

We have a wonderful facility in Waikumete Cemetery," writes Phil. "Clearly there is no one currently doing Periodic Detention/Community Service otherwise our wonderful cemetery would be better kept!"

Sorting out the scary ones

Confusion generated by the Frankenstein Flowerpot pictured in Sideswipe last week warrants some clarification. From left to right, Frankenstein's Monster (aka Adam), Gomez Addams (played by John Astin from the 1960s TV series, The Addams Family), Herman Munster (in 1960s sitcom The Munsters, played by Fred Gwynne) and Lurch (played by Ted Cassidy from The Addams Family).

Picture this: Politicians gaucheness in the age of social media is as common as a phallic tree, but this time it's the Minister for Social Housing, and Minister of State Services, Paula Bennett who has had a lapse of judgement in tweeting a picture of her extensive six shelf shoe collection to the masses... in response to Heather du Plessis-Allan's column on boycotting high heels...

Local: The terms 'privilege' and 'entitlement' are bandied about a lot these days, but what does it really mean? New Zealand's Toby Morris explains perfectly how advantage in cumulative in his cartoon on The Pencilsword...

Video: "Some farmers were herding their goats, their sheep and passing by my house. Unfortunately for my neighbour they were clearly hungry and stopped for a snack on his hedge. No sheep were hurt during the filming of this video, can't say the same for the hedge."

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