Sideswipe: Mr Popular

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Kaushik wonders if 4992 friends will be enough for John Key come election time.

Blessed are the Blues Brothers

The Blues Brothers have received an endorsement from the unlikeliest of quarters - the Vatican. On the 30th anniversary of the cult film's release, the official newspaper, L'Osservatore Romano, has declared it a "Catholic classic". It points out that Jake and Elwood Blues battled police, a psychotic ex-girlfriend and neo-Nazis to raise enough money to prevent the closure of the church-run orphanage. The newspaper, once devoted to weighty matters of theology, has recently embraced popular culture. Its approval of the 1980 film, starring John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd, is all the more surprising given some of the much-quoted lines, including: "Curtis, I don't want to listen to no jive-ass preacher talking to me about heaven and hell."

Understanding Aucklanders

Pete moved to Northland five years ago after living most of his life in Auckland. "I tell everyone (especially Cantabrians) Aucklanders are, by and large, really friendly ... they just won't let you change lanes on a motorway."

West is best

Eddie writes: "I was travelling for sales and support and when I introduced myself I'd say I was from Blah, Blah Ltd in Auckland. Most of the time I'd be met with indifference or the typical attitudes bestowed upon Jafas. As I am a native Westie, I discovered if I identified myself as Eddie from Waitakere, from Blah, Blah Ltd, I'd be received with courtesy, respect and friendliness - and this before Outrageous Fortune was screened."

Marvellous Mary

Marvellous lady that Mary. Adrian Lamont of Pukekohe would like to give a big thank you to Mary Bleakley of Huntly who, after finding the revolting singlet which I had dropped somewhere near the finish line of the Huntly half marathon, went beyond the call of duty in returning it to me, a total stranger. "She gathered it up, took it home, carefully removed the race number and safety pins, washed it, called the organisers with the number to ascertain my name and address and posted it back to me with safety pins, race number and all. Thank you, Mary."

Kindly Ken

Top bloke that Ken. "We would like to thank Ken of Mairangi Bay who helped my mother after she became disorientated after going to a funeral on Tuesday. She became separated from my father who had gone to get the car. She had been wandering the streets of Mairangi Bay for more than two hours when she knocked on Ken's door to ask to use his phone. Ken quickly offered to give her a lift home to Torbay and would not accept any money for petrol. Thank you, Ken, you are a wonderful person."