Sideswipe: Local lobster

Moreton Bay bugs may need to be explained to some tourists (snapped by Gordon and Jo Thompson in Noosa).

Extra safety measures

A survey has found the top 10 superstitions in Britain. Forty per cent of people are so superstitious they avoid doing the things that they believe will give them bad luck and 60 per cent surveyed said they knew superstitions were unlikely to come to anything, but took precautions anyway "just in case". Top 10 superstitions are:

1. Won't walk under a ladder.

2. Salute a lone magpie.

3. Throw spilt salt over your left shoulder.

4. Put money in a purse or wallet.

5. Don't step on cracks in the pavement.

6. Avoid crossing people on the stairs.

7. Won't put an umbrella up in the house.

8. Won't walk across three drains.

9. Won't put shoes on the table.

10. Say "pinch and a punch for the first of the month".

Dumb and dumber

1.) Shannon Wriska, 34, was arrested for going nuts at her husband and trying to burn his boat, his go-kart and their jacuzzi because he praised the actress Jennifer Lopez while they watched a movie.

2) Mark Smith, 59, entered a bank in California with a holdup note that claimed he had a bomb, and demanded $2000 - he needed to help a friend pay the rent. The teller then persuaded him to take out a loan instead. He had started the paperwork as police arrived. (Source: Weird Universe.net)

Fair's fair in love and parking

Clayton is a regular visitor to Mercury Plaza foodcourt. "The carpark is its private property, not the Auckland City Council's, and it is a free hour for SHOPPERS OF MERCURY PLAZA! There's nothing more annoying than going to Mercury Plaza to eat and you can't park as there are cars there from people not even using the foodcourt. The foodcourt owners watch - if you don't go into the plaza, then your car will be towed. Surely that is fair, and the massive signage in English and Chinese explains that."

Caught out by covert change

"Stories about parking companies (and towing) no longer amaze me as they sit somewhere below pond scum," says Tony. "I parked regularly in a Nelson St carpark as a casual. One night they changed to a fully leased carpark. At 6.30 in the morning in the dark I did not see the tiny signs notifying of the change. I was issued with my normal parking ticket at the vending machine, displayed the valid ticket and returned after work to find my car clamped. Cost me $150 to unclamp my car. The vending machine wasn't changed to not issue tickets until later that morning."

Today's Webpick: Own goal! I don't even understand the game, but I do understand humiliation...Go here and scroll down.



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