Sideswipe: Living Brats doll

It seems no one is immune...

Fashion label Ralph Lauren has come under fire for this ad showing model Filippa Hamilton. To say the ad has been retouched, is an understatement. The company initially responded by accusing websites which published and criticised the image of copyright infringement, but has now apologised. It is incredible the ad even made it into print without someone noticing "her head's bigger than her pelvis," as one Boingboing.net noted.

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Peter Jones recalls a few months ago in London ... "My boss stopped his car, looked up at the sign which he realised said "No stopping at any time" so drove off, never stopping the car or anyone leaving the car. He was stopped for less than 30 seconds, just enough time to read the sign and then drive off. A CCTV camera spotted this, automatically read his licence plate and sent him a £50 ($107) fine. To make it worse it was a company car so the company slapped a £20 processing fee on to this."

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A reader writes: "On a recent trip to Paihia I received a parking ticket for reversing my car into a parking space. Resigned to the fact I had broken some obscure rule, I retreated to a cafe across the road from the car park to lick my wounds. It was then I noticed the bright young fellow who was administering the tickets. Tourist vehicles were ticketed with passion, and the sound of the coffers at the Far North District Council expanding with fines from tourists was almost audible. However, I also observed that vehicles driven by locals were allowed to park for as long as they liked, facing any way they liked, on yellow lines, on the footpath and anywhere there was a space. Clearly there is one rule for tourists and one for locals."

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Last week Chris Aukino complained about police response times to different incidents. A reader responds ... "Police prioritise jobs according to both the crime and the likelihood of catching an offender red-handed. While burglary is obviously more serious, there were no burglars at his uncle's house when the crime was reported. There was an alleged offender [or victim] still present at Chris's house [his little brother riding a pit bike in a quiet cul-de-sac]. I have twice had to report a serious crime in progress and the response times were excellent ..."

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See today's Herald cartoon

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Today's Webpick: The US host of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire embarrasses herself by flirting outrageously with a contestant. You will cringe at this... Go here and scroll down.

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