Sideswipe: One way to get the washing dry

"My wife insisted I hang the washing outside on the deck to make the most of the windy conditions," writes Kerry. "Last seen on a power line in St Heliers - eventually blown down, now retrieved and none the worse for wear."

It's a dog's life being a tenant

Why it sucks to be a renter: A reader writes about her landlord, who drew up a formal agreement for the tenants to sign after they asked to install a cat door at their own expense. The document reads: "The tenant agrees to be liable for any damage that occurs to the door or surrounding area during installation or subsequently as a direct result of the installation ... This would include but not be limited to: leaks, any subsequent cracks in the glass, damage to the interior due to rain coming through the cat door ..."

Killer blames caffeine high

A Kentucky man accused of strangling his wife is is claiming that excessive caffeine from sodas, energy drinks and diet pills left him so mentally unstable he couldn't have knowingly killed her. He was drinking five or six soft drinks and energy drinks a day, along with taking diet pills; it all added up to more than 400mg of caffeine a day which he claims rendered him temporarily insane. (Source: Yahoo.com)

World Cup? It's in the boot

As chairman of junior rugby for the newly formed North Harbour Union in 1988, Ted Wilson created a mini road show, promoting the game around schools on the Shore. "The idea was to take a couple of burly players and some trophies to impress the kids. Our trophy cabinet was pretty bare so I approached the Auckland union to borrow a couple of theirs ... What a great day - I'm sure these days I wouldn't be able to spend the day going around local schools with the World Cup and Bledisloe Cup in the back of my car."

Today's Webpick: Is gift wrapping a cat tantamount to putting one in a wheelie bin? Go here and discuss.



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