KEY POINTS:
They got espresso right.
* * *
Better work stories: "I was a hotel salesperson eagerly booking my first event - a large association wanted to reserve the ballroom, all the meeting rooms and hundreds of guest rooms for a three-day conference. At the weekly sales meeting I proudly detailed my success. But then one of my colleagues asked what kind of association it was. 'They're swingers!' I said. 'You know, swing dancing.' Everyone started laughing. Finally one of my colleagues leaned forward and patted my arm. 'No,' she said kindly. 'They're swingers. That means they trade partners - and not for dancing.' The contract was already signed, and for three dizzying days I had to serve as hostess to hundreds of swingers." (Source: Gaffe A Minute.com)
* * *
A reader from Epsom would like to point out the beneficence of Qantas's frequent flyer points system. "If you buy a return ticket to Sydney without points, it'll cost you $424 including extras. If you use points, it'll cost you 36,000 points plus 'applicable taxes, levies and charges' of $274.60 - more than half the actual fare! I've noticed that using Qantas points for short trips around New Zealand costs almost as much in surcharges as buying the fare. Seems somewhat pointless, doesn't it?"
* * *
Shane the cyclist and motorist writes: "In reference to Andrew's comments to Mark the cyclist: I would just like to add that it's not illegal to pass on the left and when was the last time he gave 1.5m clearance when passing a cyclist? Red lights: I've seen cars and bikes run them. Indicating is a double-edged sword. You do when you can but half the time you need both hands on the bars so you can avoid that car pulling out in front of you, and there is no excuse if I'm in a turning lane. Oh, and stopping at an intersection to walk across is just stupid."
* * *
Hans writes: "I am one of those cyclists who do all those things that upset motorists. I do it because it separates me from the cars. When all motorists behave themselves well enough that I feel I can trust them, I will follow the rules. In the meantime, the more distance between us, the better. Motorists should stop treating cyclists like fence posts sticking out of the middle of the road, to be driven around as close as they dare. After all, how much faster than the car in front of me do you want to go? And do you always look back along the road before opening your car door or pulling out?"
* * *
Jeremy of Epsom writes: "Our community magazine Hum arrived in my letterbox the other day and I chuckled when I read the headline, "Newmarket signs fashion contract with Helen Clark". I thought, 'Good on Hum for getting into that well-publicised April Fool's Day prank pulled by Cameron Brewer of the Newmarket Business Association'. However it turned out Hum was not joking - the serious inside story revealed that the editor had in fact fallen for the prank hook, line and sinker. Later that day, when a friend rang the magazine and tried to explain, the editor insisted Hum was right and everyone else had got it wrong."
* * *
Today's Webpick: If you're not one of the 3 million YouTubers who've seen this clip of an elephant allegedly painting a self-portrait, here's you chance. Watch it here.
These are the very best online videos from Ana's online magazine Spare Room.
