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Home / New Zealand

<i>Sideswipe:</i> Thursday

Ana Samways
By Ana Samways
Sideswipe - ana.samways@nzherald.co.nz·NZ Herald·
7 May, 2008 05:00 PM3 mins to read

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Ana Samways
Opinion by Ana SamwaysLearn more

KEY POINTS:

Road works in the Greenlane area never seem to end, moans Tom. "The photo shows cones warning of the work. They have been there so long, the sign has rusted and fallen off its support and the grass has grown up through the cones."

* * *

A reader tries to reduce his carbon footprint, but in the end decides to reduce his expenditure instead: "Last week four of us were trying to reduce our carbon footprint by catching Auckland public transport from Ponsonby to Silvia Park. Including waiting time, the trip took us about 1hr 45 min each way and at total cost of $43.20. Heck, if I used my old trusty Toyota it would take about 20 minutes each way and roughly 3 litres of fuel. At $1.89 per litre of petrol, we would save $37 and 2hr of our time. We could have offset our carbon emission by buying a dozen native plant seedlings for our local reserve and still have some money left over for a few drinks. Go Auckland Public Transport!"

* * *

Bad Taste: "I note Sky TV Crime & Investigation Channel 71 has strategically chosen to premiere its new programme Fatal Fathers, which is about men who kill their pregnant wives, to start this Sunday, Mother's Day," says Trent of Hamilton.

* * *

A Queensland family has been told to get rid of their pet fish - or face eviction from their rented home. After an inspection, Rick, Fiona and their three children were issued with a notice saying they were in breach of their tenancy agreement because they had a tank with 15 South American fish in it. The landlord is also demanding they get rid of their son's pet parrot. Queensland is in a rental property crisis, says the local Tenants Union and landlords now routinely ban animals. And the local SPCA says that as a result, it is being inundated with pets, often from distraught owners, because landlords would not allow them. The RSPCA suggests animal-owners provide written references from previous landlords attesting to their pets' behaviour and cleanliness. But demand for rental properties meant some agents and landlords were using pet ownership as a screen to reduce the number of applicants. (Source: Courier Mail)

* * *

People who are scared of chainsaws should get a grip," writes a reader. "When was the last time you heard of a real life Texas Chainsaw Massacre? Should we not allow people to walk around with golf clubs because of Grand Theft Auto: Vice City where you attack someone with a golf club? (It probably happened in The Sopranos as well). You should be more scared of an accident every time you ride in a car than of someone borrowing his mate's chainsaw so he can prune his tree."

* * *

Today's Webpick: If Grand Theft Auto IV was toned down, it would go something like this... Watch it here.

These are the very best online videos from Ana's online magazine Spare Room.

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