Sideswipe: That better be cheese

'I hope that's cheese they're selling,' says Fraser after he snapped this sign outside Nosh on Ponsonby Rd. Photo / Supplied

About 90 per cent of Pet Dignity's business, the owner told USA Today, simply involves respectful disposal, but 10 per cent comes from full-scale funerals honouring the deceased "family member" (mostly dogs, cats and birds). Casket plus viewing plus burial plus headstone runs from $500 to $3000, including a chaplain, special chapels accommodating 100 or so mourners, and cemeteries with a gazebo. (Source: News of the Weird)

* * *

Readers feel quite strongly about the futility of the printed yellow and white pages: "May I suggest that Yellow Pages print on small rolls with perforations at 100mm centres. It will then become a thoroughly absorbing 'read'," writes Matt Hancock. And Ann Yandall says she uses the telephone books to prop up the head of her bed. "I have a medical condition that requires my head to be elevated by 10-15cm, and the telephone books come in handy, so thanks White Pages."

* * *

A reader writes: "The Yellow and White pages might be made from left-over wood products but it still takes energy, oil and production to make them, and they still have to be distributed via trucks using valuable resources. Yellow and White Pages would be better off fixing their pathetic search engine, and introducing a model that allows people to order online if they want to get the books, and then people can go to nominated pickup points."

* * *

To the person who was pointing out the misuse of the word "lend" in the CSL radio ad. "I'm pretty sure if you listen properly you will discover they are saying "LAND" a container. There's the sound effect of a container landing too."

* * *

A leading Melbourne fashion designer, who took part in this week's L'Oreal Melbourne Fashion Festival, will never make clothes bigger than a size 14 because she believes it would send an unhealthy message. With the average Australian woman estimated to be a size 14 to 16, an increasing number of mainstream fashion labels are looking to expand their size offerings. But Rosemary Masic, from label Nevenka, said: "We don't make anything larger than a size 14 as I don't want to endorse unhealthy living."

* * *

Want a thriving home garden? Prime TV is looking for "gardening guinea pigs" for a new series of Get Growing. Ideally you'll know little or nothing about growing your own food but are willing to learn and let the cameras document your every success (and the odd failure) over a 10-week period. People interested in being in series two can contact the producers on 0800 377-677 or by email at grow@top-shelf.co.nz

* * *

See today's Herald cartoon