Sideswipe

Park and ride? Outside the Whangamata RSA.

Washington police insist Charles Atherton was conscious when they gave him a $5 ticket for jaywalking. But witnesses insist he was unconscious and struggling to breathe, and no wonder, since he was lying in the street after being struck by a car. Atherton died soon after of his injuries. (Source: Reason.com)

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Reima Lulham of Papakura was confused (then amused) when she received this letter from Tower Insurance after making a claim for a missing bracelet. The letter kicked off with ... "Dear Mrs Lulham, RE: Claim - Car, urinated on laptop." 

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Alison McMorran received an email from her local United Travel agent advertising "The Glories of Turkey - Earlybird offer" and asks, "don't they read the news?"

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The head of Qantas was suspected of being a terrorist and duly frisked at Los Angeles airport. Among Qantas chairwoman Margaret Jackson's documents were detailed plans of new aircraft, including cross-section diagrams showing seat layouts. "The guy said 'Why have you got all of this?'," she told the Herald Sun. Jackson replied: "'I'm the chairman of an airline. I'm the chairman of Qantas.' And this black guy, who was, like, eight foot tall, said: 'But you're a woman."'

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Fiona McLaren of Milford writes: "On January 3, the kids and I departed for holiday - destination, Tolaga Bay. Arrival Opotiki, with many hot and winding hours behind us including the wonderful Coromandel ... and my wallet. On a public holiday, petrol near empty and and only $13.05 produced from drift-netting handbag, glovebox and car floor. This was fast adding up to an overnighter in the car, dining on coke and Cocoa Pops. Enter our hero: John (surname unknown) from the Shell Service Station, Opotiki, who risked the ID-less cheque of a dishevelled stranger and contributed his own $10 towards our petrol. A Lotto ticket is on its way."