Sideswipe: Outrageous makeover

Maggie Barry's new image for her drive-time slot on Radio Live is very Cheryl West, and a long way from the country-cottage styling of Maggie as gardening guru.

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A Texas man and his family rushed to the hospital when they heard his mother-in-law was dying. But in the hospital parking area, a Dallas police officer confronted them and drew his gun, accusing them of going through a red light. For 20 minutes, the policeman ignored the pleas of nurses and a colleague to let the man go, while he told him off and demanded paperwork from him. By the time the man made it to the emergency room, his mother-in-law had died. (Source: Reason.com)

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A reader writes: "Before The Killers' concert on Wednesday, the crowd was ambling into the Vector Arena. All of a sudden three exuberant young men burst out on to the floor, probably full of pre-concert refreshment. They entertained us with some impromptu - if not very co-ordinated - back-spins and handstands of the break-dancing kind. But 'Mr Over-Zealous Security Man' was having none of that and with finger- waving efficiency and some dramatic exit pointing told them no more ... The no-fun police are alive and well in Auckland."

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Gary Parkes of Palmerston North asks: "So are passengers supposed to take a flying leap to board the passing bus?" Sign on the bus shelter at RNZAF Base Ohakea.

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Dawn says Terry's letter about the can of corn prompted her to check the larder. "I had Home Brand coconut cream containing 32 per cent coconut milk, pear halves 55 per cent pears (product of South Africa), and spaghetti in tomato sauce containing 49 per cent spaghetti (product of Italy). Also Watties baked beans 61 per cent beans and whole corn 65 per cent corn (product of NZ). Don't feel bad, Terry, they all rip you off."

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Authorities in Michigan say a man fathered 14 children with 13 different women and owes more than US$530,000 ($912,000) in unpaid child support. Thomas Frazier, 42, was jailed late last week and court records say he hasn't made a support payment for six years. He could be held for 90 days unless he finds US$27,900. Frazier thinks he fathered only three of the children, and says it's unrealistic for authorities to expect him to pay child support that at one stage reached US$3000 a month.

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See today's Herald cartoon

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