KEY POINTS:
William writes: "Lost and found - pet Orca the Killer Whale. At 6pm on a January day between North Shore/Whangaparaoa and Rangitoto. Decided to test our man overboard skills - oh dear it took us four passes! If the owner wants it back how about telling Ana what day you lost it & we will try & return it."
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Text log conversation between a dad and his daughter on departure of Auntie back to Perth.
Daughter: Tell Auntie Sal, sorry I couldn't say a proper goodbye and to keep in touch!
Dad: Phone her @ home
Daughter: Can't - I'm driving!
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Although content owners claim piracy is killing their business, last year Monty Python created their own YouTube channel, making much of their material available free online. They said: "We're letting you see absolutely everything for free. So there! But we want something in return. None of your drivelling, mindless comments. Instead, we want you to click on the links, buy our movies & TV shows and soften our pain and disgust at being ripped off all these years." And it seems to have worked out well for the British comedy icons, with a 23,000 per cent increase of Monty Python DVDs sold on Amazon.
(Source: Slashfilm.com)
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In response to the disgruntled wine buyer, a reader writes: "Supermarkets are able to buy wine and thus sell wine at much cheaper prices than restaurants, and when you buy a wine at a restaurant they generally give you a standard pour (usually 150ml). If the glass is big it looks like less. Also at a restaurant you are paying for the staff and the ambience. If you aren't willing to pay their prices then don't dine there."
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Big Al of Mission Bay says the design of the cycle seats is for safety reasons. "Cyclists often need to suddenly brake and loudly warn motorists who haven't seen them. The shape of the bike seat in conjunction with the sudden forward motion of the cyclist, under severe braking, allows the rider immediate access to a very high tone of voice essential for ensuring clear delivery of chosen warning language to vehicle drivers."
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Theo writes: "Last January I bought a bike, was able to test it for a day and found that the seat was nothing more than a strip of aluminium covered with a piece of thin plastic. I complained and said that I wanted it replaced. The bicycle mechanic said to his offsider; 'hey this guy wants a woman's seat. Have we got one for him?' If you look at cycling pants, the crotches for them are thickly padded."
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Today's Webpick: The embedded video today is a cheesy 80s video about phone manners, but make sure you check out the link to a melodramatic educational video warning of the dangers of the New Zealand bush, Such A Stupid Way To Die from 1971. Watch them both here.
These are the very best online videos from Ana's online magazine Spare Room.