Sideswipe: Bad taste

When copywriting goes wrong.

Atomic reaction

Merlyn Berthelsen writes: "An Auckland Airport aviation security person at departure was not born when I was a member of 14 Squadron RNZAF and spent two years, 1946-47, stationed at a Japanese seaplane base at Iwakuni, south of Hiroshima City (for a tour of occupation duty six months after the atomic bomb explosion in August 1945). As I passed through security departure for a direct flight to Japan, my cabin bag was swabbed and tested for explosives. Was the security check a coincidence or has Air New Zealand had me tagged?"

Pedestrian safety tips

A small glossy brochure by NZ Transport Agency and the Cycling Advocates Network is titled: Safety tips for cyclists and truck and bus drivers. Tip #1 for cyclists: "Stay alert and look out for buses and trucks." Another useful tip: Anticipate that a bus will often stop at marked bus stops.

Which way is up?

Your reader from Westmere has either not been watching or not paying attention to Mikey's Are You My Tribe? says another reader. "In the show, he discussed the difference between the Maori "up" and European "up". For Europeans, up is north as drawn by the map-makers. For Maori, up is towards the dominant features in their map - the night sky towards the Southern Cross and celestial south."

Black uniforms a hot topic

Your reader Tony is incorrect about the black Commonwealth Games uniforms, says Chris, a Year 12 physics student. "He states dark colours absorb light but reflect heat. However, black objects are always hotter in the sun. The reason is simple. When black clothing absorbs light (it appears black because no light is reflected), the light energy has to go somewhere, so it is converted into heat, which makes it hotter. This contrasts with white clothing, which does not absorb any colours, simply reflecting the light back off, and as no light is absorbed, no heat is produced."

Sick humour

"Shame on you," says Mike . "I just saw the 'backseat driver' picture of the cow. I consider it sick to publish what is most likely blatant cruelty. Most beasts are transported to the freezing works and those displaced can end up forced into the position where they are at the mercy of the elements while travelling hundreds of kilometres. In one of your very first Sideswipes you portrayed a mother duck who lost a duckling down a storm drain and it was then that I thought you had a sick sense of humour."

Today's Webpick: Man interrupts live TV current affairs show to ask directions to the toilets... Go hereto see the footage.



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