Sideswipe

Back to school: This sign in the Ferry Building has been offending punctuation purists for several weeks.

Despite headlines declaring our dire shortage of flu vaccine, one large finance company sent out an email urging employees who want the vaccine to get in quick because, as they are probably aware, they're in short supply. Surely the fact that children, the elderly and the infirm may miss out this year would be enough to make companies like this accept the slight dip in productivity a few more sick days might bring and make sure the vaccination goes to those who truly need it. 

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Euphemisms in road signage are getting nuttier. "Accidents" are now "incidents" in Auckland (they're still accidents in Wellington). On State Highway 3 (which does not have a footpath) "roadworks" have apparently turned into "pavement rehabilitation".

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A reader writes: "Just a note to your submitter in SideSwipe who complained about a newsreader who included London and Dublin as "British" cities and claimed offense [sic]. Well, many Irish people might not like the fact that Ireland is a part of Britain, but it is (along with England, Scotland, Wales and the Channel Islands). Your correspondant [sic] is displaying his ignorance and, like far too many people in the world today, leaped to take offense [sic] where none was present. Perhaps he or she was thinking of "England" rather than "Britain"? Final word: Dublin is the capital of the Republic of Ireland and is nowt to do with Britain.

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Trademe weirdness: "Wisdom teeth: My left upper and lower wisdom teeth for sale now! Still in sterilisation pouch for whatever purpose you desire them for ... grind them up and brew some tea to become wise ... Plate them and turn it into a necklace ... Wished you had kept your own? Or that special present for that diehard collector, who admires the finer things in life! The purchase also comes with first right to buy the upper and lower right wisdom teeth when pulled to collect the whole set."