Sideswipe: This must be love

Bus advertises the future? Photo / Supplied

Chime of the times

"Yesterday morning our next door neighbour rang to say she was in the bath and the front door bell kept ringing and she was worried it may be something urgent," writes Warren from Papamoa. "She asked my wife, who was in her dressing gown, to go and check. She did so and sent a text back to say no one was there. The neighbour rang back later, embarrassed, to say that earlier she had been trying to adjust the ring volume on her cellphone and had accidentally set a new ring tone, a door bell chime."

Spectacular interview bungles

1. Blair writes: "Once had someone turn up for a job interview for a position in our clothing store in her pyjamas. She said she was running late and didn't have time to get dressed."

2. "A woman in her mid-30s. Part of interview is NZ geography test. She placed Wellington at the bottom of the South Island and Christchurch in the middle of the North Island. Kaitaia was apparently "a made up place" and Auckland was where Wellington should have been. She was Kiwi born and raised."

3. "A young man, immaculately dressed and punctual. Didn't answer a single question ... because his mum did all the talking. ALL the talking. She rang me the next day to ask when her darling boy could start. She threatened me with legal action if I didn't hire her son."

4. "Young woman, 21-years-old. Nice presentation, no experience. Looked me in the eye twice during half-hour interview. The rest of the time was spent looking at her mobile. Held her index finger up in a 'wait - be quiet' gesture while she took a call to arrange lunch with friends after her interview, during her interview."

Put away your in-flight trotters

"Today, I flew on the set of a nightmare," tweeted @jessiechar. Photo / Supplied

Obsolete laws

In 1913, Iowa responded to the burgeoning motor vehicle industry by declaring it illegal to leave a running car unattended. The likely thinking was that the law would prevent thieves from making off with a brand-new Model T. Over 100 years later, it's devolved into being a total nuisance. Iowans battling cold winters often start their cars with remote starters to get them warm enough to enter, making lawbreakers of virtually everyone heading for work on a cold morning. (Mental Floss)

Fundraising stunt gone wrong

Balloonfest '86 in Cleveland, Ohio, ended in tragedy after 1.5 million balloons were launched to set a world record. Adverse weather caused many to land in Lake Erie where they impeded the Coast Guard's search for two fishermen. They were later found drowned, and the balloons were blamed for the Coast Guard's failure to find them in time.

Not eating with the eyes

The Long Story Short cafe in Melbourne's fish and chip dish is like not other...cooked in an activated charcoal batter it may looks like a burnt stick (or something expelled from a very sick person) but it tastes amazing, apparently.

Video pick

100 People Share Their Best Evil Laugh

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