See more art by Randy Lewis here.
DNR doesn't mean DNR
The Journal of General Internal Medicine reported that in October 2012, a 59-year-old man with diabetes, vascular disease, hypertension and high cholesterol was admitted to the hospital for a below-the-knee amputation due to chronic non-healing wounds of his lower extremity. A physical examination revealed a "DNR" tattoo on his chest. Reviewing this, the patient indicated he would want resuscitative efforts initiated in the event of a cardiac or respiratory arrest. Asked why his tattoo conflicted with his wishes to be resuscitated, he said he had lost at poker while drunk in earlier years; the loser had to tattoo "DNR" across his chest.
Smile and say cheese for the drone
A reader sent a picture of a drone buzzing over Takapuna beach, suggesting it was owned by a voyeur. A photographer responds: Yes, there is a great way to protect your privacy: find somewhere private. Public places are not private places. The clue is in the name. There could be many reasons for the drone flying that day, none of which were about being a voyeur. Maybe it was the start of a beach-safety programme to spot stingrays, sharks, jellyfish or other such potential dangers. Maybe it was a council-funded aerial demography survey. Or just maybe it was an early Christmas present being tested out in a safe and public environment. If the buzzing is unnecessarily annoying, or if it is flying over people or harassing or endangering them, then fair enough, that is an actionable complaint. But if it is the thought that you are being photographed or videoed in a public place then, of course, you can have no reasonable expectation of privacy when you're in public. People, buildings, children, elderly, police officers and anything and anyone else that can be seen in public can be photographed. It's a right. After all, the person complaining used that same inalienable right to photograph that drone.
Saved when seven bells knocked out of you
Brendan O'Gorman writes: "Saved by the bell is a boxing expression, whereby a fighter having been knocked down by his opponent toward the end of a round and being under a 10-second count, is 'saved' by the bell sounding to end the round. The expression is not from buried people having strings attached to their toes or from Robin Gibb's 1970s album."
Quick links
1. Cats crashing nativity scenes.
2. Historical New Zealand Christmas Cards.
3. A Bad Lip Reading of Stranger Things, which is also a retro sitcom like The Wonder Years.
Video pick
French artist Benedetto Bufalino made the rotating drum of a cement mixer into a giant disco ball! He parked his truck on the streets as part of an installation in Montreal, Quebec, Canada…a good soundtrack and some well-aimed lights and a good time was had by all.
Got a Sideswipe? Send your pictures, links and anecdotes to Ana at ana.samways@nzherald.co.nz