KEY POINTS:
A calamity occurred as Buster (not his real name) prepared for the brutal K1 cycle race from Whitianga to Thames last weekend, a reader writes:
"The inadvertent application of liniment to his 'tackle' caused instant discomfort. Discreet removal techniques using water and wet wipes proved ineffective in quelling the growing fire below, so he hot-tailed it to the local pharmacy. Delicate inquiry with the female assistant soon revealed he could expect the impact upon his stricken parts to be exacerbated by the heat generated through the ensuing cycling activity. After careful analysis of the current situation and potential future impact, a rinse with methylated spirits was followed up with an application of Johnson's Baby Balm. This allowed the now smiling rider to reach the rear of the group 30 seconds before the race began. He went on to finish the 100km in a very commendable 3h 57m."
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Department stores in the United States are ordering bigger dummies to replace the skinny mannequins that traditionally model clothes of all sizes. "Can't relate to that tall, willowy, perky-breasted model in your favorite store? Fortunately, manufacturers are breaking the mould with fibreglass forms more representative of our curvier proportions and diverse skin tones," writes A.J. Hanley, editor of Fitness magazine. Standard mannequin size is US4, with measurements copied from models like Christy Turlington - a fraction of the average American woman's size, US14. "When you consider that two-thirds of the population is overweight, they're making mannequins look more like real American bodies. An average height of 6 feet 4 inches [193cm] and a 20-inch [50.8cm] waist is not realistic. They should resemble a person," she says. (Source: Fox News)
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Disneyland in California will close down the It's A Small World ride for a year to refurbish. But the real reason is the passengers are getting too big. "The problem, quite simply, is that the flume that the boats ride in, and the boats themselves, were designed and built in 1963 on the assumption that the male adult riders would average 175 pounds [79.3kg] and the women about 135 [61.2kg], which they pretty much did at the time. Alas, those figures are as outdated today as the Rocket to the Moon ride." (Source: Neatorama.com).
Today's Video Webpick: Now there is a great place to store your gun so it is handy at bedtime (Not recommended for households with children). Watch it here. Scroll down. These are the very best online videos from Ana's online magazine Spare Room.
