Sideswipe: Take courage my friend

"Which body part is to be kept in the vessel?" wonders Adrienne Harrison.

The British advertising watchdog has banned a Courage beer advert (right) urging a man to "take Courage" when faced with the daunting question: "Does my bum look big in this?" Three ninnies complained it implied beer gives a man confidence to make negative comments about a woman's appearance and potentially take advantage of her. Huh? The ad agency argued that it was a humorous take on an awkward situation many men could relate to. Ultimately the ad was pulled because it implied "the beer would give the man courage, change his mood or give him confidence". Double huh?

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United States scientists are planning to grow vegetables such as brussels sprouts and cabbages on the Moon in an experiment to see if a future colony could produce its own food. Paragon Space Development Corporation in Arizona unveiled plans to land mini-greenhouses on the Moon which would be capable of growing flowers and hardy vegetables from the brassica family. These could ultimately be used to feed livestock. "Colonising the Moon or Mars seems so far away, but it is important that we do this research now," said Jane Poynter, the president of Paragon.

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Need some inspiration? Here are the Top 10 Most Inspirational reads, according to Telegraph.co.uk. Any more you can think of?

1. To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee (1960)

2. The Bible

3. A Child Called It - Dave Pelzer (2001)

4. Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus - John Gray (1993)

5. Diary of Anne Frank - Anne Frank (1947)

6. 1984 - George Orwell (1949)

7. A Long Walk to Freedom - Nelson Mandela (2002)

8. The Beach - Alex Garland (1994)

9. The Time Traveller's Wife - Audrey Niffenegger (2005)

10. The Catcher in the Rye - J.D. Salinger (1951)

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Kerry Rodgers writes: "It is not just Western Springs midnight runners who have the death wish. Try a Titirangi cyclist at 8am on Sunday, dressed all in black, black bike, black helmet, head down, legs pumping up Titirangi Rd in the deep shadow against the black stone wall before the Godley Rd turnoff - a wall suffused by the glare of the rising sun. If she hadn't lifted her head slightly so I caught sight of the pale skin she would be a hospital case now, if she was lucky, maybe a paraplegic. There is nothing I could have done to have missed her ... Cyclists, wear some fluoro yellow gear. Dump your black helmets. Intersections can be deadly for you too."

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