Sideswipe: Sep 28 - Don Brash and the Wailers

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This mock-up of a famous album cover is doing the rounds. Dr Brash's propensity for fast food consumption all makes sense now...

Beggar's belief

A beggar from Serbia got so fed up with being ignored by passers-by that as an act of protest the 42-year-old tossed his cap and shoes down on the street with a handwritten sign saying Invisible Beggar. "When I returned I was astonished to find a crowd and my cap was full of money. Now I just put down the sign, a pair of shoes as a prop and wait for the donations to roll in while I have a coffee over the road."

Tricky guessing game

Anne French writes: "Recently, on a long car trip, my youngest granddaughter wanted to play 'I Spy'. Reluctantly her parents agreed and since it was her idea, she insisted on going first. 'I spy with my little eye, something beginning with W,' she said. For some time the other members of the family guessed; window, windscreen, wipers, until they gave up. 'Okay, what is it?' they asked. 'Grass,' she said proudly."

Shameful spectator behaviour

I feel for the person with the rude fan experience with the cone hat guy, says a reader. "While at the Ireland v Russia game I had the misfortune of sitting next to two old NZ farmer types and their three sons, who looked about 7 to 10. During the game the sons started throwing their fathers' crushed beer cans at Irish supporters. What made it worse was that the fathers, instead of telling off the kids, started directing their throws at Irish women, telling them the Irish men were big and might beat them [the fathers] up. When told off by the surrounding fans they just laughed."

Judge's misjudgment

The Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals has overturned a murder conviction after the court found that the trial judge improperly tried to influence the jury by telling them to reach a quick verdict and not be "hard heads". (Source: reason.com)

Let's clear the air

A message to Mindy who said she felt sorry for smokers' lungs, skin and teeth ..."Smoker's bodies are (contrary to her belief) the property of not her, not the Government nor anyone else for that matter. If a jogger wants to destroy their hips, knees and feet by pounding the road, should I harangue and harass them? If she and her ilk were so concerned about air quality, they would stop using their cars to get everywhere and complain to companies with smoky diesel vehicles."

Proud to be foul

Smoking analogy: "I am a considerate farter, but I have a lot of gas," writes a reader. "When with company I stand downwind, if it's a smelly one I am always the first to say, 'Wow, what is that smell?!' and look around me for the culprit. Nevertheless, I still get dirty looks and judgmental comments. Come on people! It's my choice and perfectly legal."