Sideswipe: September 30: Selfie defense

Just in case a phone camera situation turns dangerous.

Flight of once-proud bird ends in desert

David Campbell of Maketu writes: "While driving across the Mojave Desert in Southern California, I spotted the familiar tail of this once-proud bird that I'm sure has carried me on many trips between NZ and the US. It now rests beside hundreds of cast-offs from airlines throughout the world in this massive aircraft graveyard. A close-up of the tail number (ZK-SUH) reveals that it isn't the last remaining Air New Zealand 747 that made its final flight recently (that aircraft was ZH-NVB). We're told that aircraft is off to a second life. But it will most assuredly find its eternal resting place, if not in the Mojave Desert, in a similar graveyard in some distant land."

'Liquid gold' cocktail a leader in extravagance

The world's most expensive cocktail has gone on sale in London - costing the same as a new family car at nearly $18,845. The "Gigi's" is aimed squarely at the fabulously rich of Mayfair, where property regularly fetches more than £40 million ($83.69 million). It is made with a vintage Champagne and an ultra-rare Armagnac brandy that predates the Boer War. The result is described as "liquid gold" and will set the drinker back £8888. It was created for actress Grace Jones at the star-studded opening of Gigi's restaurant in Mayfair on Thursday which the 007 star attended with her friend Boy George. Cesare Papagna, the restaurant's manager, said he wanted to give the film star something "truly special" to mark the occasion. The Gigi's has the appearance of a traditional Champagne cocktail, which is usually laced with cognac and bitters. However it is made with a bottle of 1990 Vintage Cristal and a bottle of 1888 Samalens Vieille Relique Vintage Bas Armagnac, and topped with "lashings" of gold leaf. The makers claim the Gigi's tops the world's most expensive drinks - beating Melbourne's £8167 "Winston" into second place. The drink must be paid for in advance. (Source: The Telegraph)

One painful tattoo deserves another

Q: "My partner doesn't have any tattoos at all and is thinking of getting one. But he wants to get a tattoo of a tree and on different branches he wants to put his ex-wife and his ex-girlfriend before me on it. He said they are chapters in his life that have helped make him the man he is today. I can understand where he's coming from but I still don't feel very good about it. Am I being too sensitive?"

A: "There are many other ways he could mark his history without doing this. Get a tattoo designed for yourself with some different-sized snakes interwoven into one another. Name each snake head with former lovers' names, make sure his name is next to the shortest, thinnest snake and show him your design, tell him you have been thinking about it and you now realise you would like to do this too, and excitedly suggest you get tattooed together."

(Source: Trade Me Message Board)

Video: Whoever is doing the advertising for Sealord needs a reality check not a US reality name we've all forgotten (I don't get the fish analogy)....

Sell, sell, sell: ANZ has the worst insurance pitch in their direct mail ... (Via Angus Livingston)

Picture this: A high school teacher in China can draw a detailed map of the world freehand, completely from memory...

Video: Re-edit of Jamie Oliver cooking shows...Who knew there was so much innuendo?

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