KEY POINTS:
Like the Runaway Alarm Clock on wheels previously featured in Sideswipe, the Puzzle Alarm Clock requires a little extra excursion to turn it off. This one forces you to solve a basic shape puzzle to stop the noise. (Source: BoingBoing.net)
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Mathew was quite disturbed after reading Wednesday's Herald article on the increasing use of P by teenage girls. "Tell-tale signs mentioned to identify probable users include having 'dodgy-looking friends', being 'out all the time', 'making excuses about where they have been', 'will appear a bit hyperactive' and (my personal favourite) 'will probably get a bit snaky'. Yikes! Sounds like most of the teenage female population."
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When Peter Mumby sits at the traffic lights watching the black gold disappear from his petrol gauge he notices that the windscreen washer guys are on the increase. "About two weeks ago I pulled into a dairy in Mt Wellington when a figure suddenly emerged and cleaned my windscreen while I was parked on the side of the road. When I handed over some of my ever diminishing loose change I received a languishing look from the "service" provider. And the "Albion" in Hobson St are clear where they stand on the issue, they have a sign out front which reads, "Don't Pay the Windscreen Washer Man!"
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Humour aloft: Nick recalls landing in Edinburgh from London. "The captain welcomed us to Edinburgh with this 'If you are here on business, I hope it's a pleasure and if you are here for pleasure, I hope you get the business', not bad for a pilot." Rida Vivier thinks the Pacific Blue flight attendants are great. "I couldn't help but chuckle: 'Please switch off any electronic equipment, if you have trouble please turn to the nearest 9-year-old to help you.' And, 'the lights will be dimmed for take-off, if you feel scared please hold the hand of the person next to you.' " And Ted Ure remembers, after a hard landing at O'Hare, Chicago, on a United flight, the cabin attendant announced, "Will the passengers please remain seated while Captain Kangaroo bounces us to the terminal."
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Kathryn of Remuera writes: "About 30 years ago Germany's Lufthansa staff were reprimanded for adding a second bird to the airline's logo, on top of the other, and changing the name to 'Lusthansa'. ('Luft' means 'air', but 'lust' means what you think it does.) The modified logo sticker was internationally circulated before it was hastily withdrawn. My copy, alas, came to bits when I eventually peeled it off the door of my office."
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Lingerie maker Triumph this week unveiled in Tokyo its environmentally friendly "solar power bra" which can generate enough power to charge a mobile phone. The bra has a solar panel worn around the stomach and requires light to generate electricity. But it's only a concept bra at this stage and will not be in stores any time soon, said spokeswoman Yoshiko Masuda. "People usually cannot go outside without wearing clothes over it." But it does send the message of how lingerie could possibly save the planet, Masuda said. (Source: Reuters)
Today's Webpick: Fox News' Bill O'Reilly, having a major meltdown in his young days, has made it big on the web this week, so here's a nice compilation of other newsreaders losing it, including O'Reilly's. Frequent NSFW language). Watch it here. Scroll down.
These are the very best online videos from Ana's online magazine Spare Room.