Sideswipe

Brad covers from the same week: who to believe?

Send in the cones: Someone at Auckland cleaning company OCS thought this was a good idea. "Subject: Orange Cone Alert.

As we have an open-plan office and no opportunity to 'close the office door', we have introduced an orange cone alert. This can be used when you require concentration or have an urgent project/deadline to meet and do not wish to be disturbed. Place an Orange Cone on your desk in a visible position [available in the utilities area]. This then indicates to other staff you are in 'do not disturb' time.

If you wish to see someone who has an orange cone on their desk, please do not disturb them unless it is extremely urgent and it cannot wait. Come back later or send them a brief email. Please note this is not an opportunity to place an orange cone on your desk 24/7; it is only intended for those times when you really need it."

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Petrus van der Schaaf heard on Radio Pacific early one morning last week: "I know you're listening Your Excellency ... er ... shouldn't that be Your Royal Highness? And don't you believe all those communists from the print media; here at Radio Pacific, we, the Radio Pacific family, the Radio Pacific Family ... we wish you the very best with your marriage to Mrs Camilla Parker-Jones ... "

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To the reader whose son failed his driving test because his warrant had the wrong date: a reader says go to the testing station that issued the warrant and give them a bill for the failed driving test, his time, and the cost of sitting the retest. "All perfectly legal under the Consumer Guarantees Act. It's called a consequential loss due to their mistake, he can claim the costs from them."

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Health chiefs in Bangladesh have launched a drive to evict some 200 cats living in a public hospital. For years the cats have roamed freely about the hospital, establishing a "mini-kingdom" and growing fat on food meant for patients. A team of ward assistants armed with traps and sacks has swung into action to eject the invaders after patients complained that the hospital had been overrun by hundreds of cats. The 1700-bed Dhaka Medical College Hospital is the country's top state-owned hospital.