Sideswipe: Identity crisis

Bond and Wolverine morph into each other, according to one headline.

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The Wisconsin Tourism Federation has changed its name, after being made aware that its acronym WTF had become crude internet slang. The body charged with attracting more visitors will now be known as the Tourism Federation of Wisconsin (TFW), in an attempt to put a stop to the jokes. It seems that the federation was unaware of - or unconcerned by - the modern meaning of WTF until its acronym featured this year on a blog that compiles unfortunate corporate logos. (Source: Telegraph.co.uk)

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I too was approached by "Mr Ran-Out-of-Petrol from Helensville" in my Mt Eden carport with his sob story, writes one of many readers who contacted Sideswipe. "I had my doubts but, based on the slim chance he may be genuine, gave him $5. His ungrateful reaction to the paltry sum offered furthered my suspicion that he may be 'on the take'. This con, however, wasn't nearly as bad as the one my elderly mother encountered. A man turned up on her doorstep offering to clean her gutters and windows. The initial job he did for a reasonable price [gaining trust perhaps?] then suggested lots of other work that needed doing. The next day he returned with a sob story of needing help to pay the bond on a flat 'which he'd repay on Tuesday'. She loaned him the $180 asked for, only to have him phone the next day to ask for more because, 'he had to pay rent in advance also'. Luckily, she refused and, unsurprisingly, he never did repay the 'loan'."

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Disaster tourism: A reader writes: "Yes, we were hit by the Ramarama tornado on Monday. Yes, we did suffer some house damage that could have been a lot worse. Yes, there were trees uprooted and we have been covered like confetti by shards of glass from a neighbouring greenhouse. Though any damage is upsetting, we were not as badly affected as some. We don't mind the rubberneckers driving along the road to have a look. What we do find hard to understand are the nosy rubberneckers who actually drive right into the property and up the drive to have a look and take their photographs and go without so much as a courteous hello! Is there something about human nature that makes us serious about the misfortunes of others without a concern for the privacy of others."

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Internet auction site eBay thwarted a 10-year-old girl's attempt to sell her grandmother, claiming it breached regulations on human trafficking. Zoe Pemberton advertised her gran, Marion Goodall, 61, of Clacton, Essex. The youngster described Mrs Goodall as "annoying" but "cuddly" in her joke listing. But eBay bosses removed the advertisement because the site does not allow humans to be bought and sold.

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View today's Herald cartoon

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