KEY POINTS:
Skateboard, only covered Australia once. Sentimental attachment but may sell. British skateboarder Dave Cornthwaiteis contemplating putting his custom-made yellow skateboard Elsa up for sale. Mr Cornthwaite says he's become "incredibly sentimental" about Elsa after riding a world-record 5823km from Perth to Brisbane. The 27-year-old raised more than A$40,000 ($45,677) for three charities during the five-month journey, averaging 65km a day.
He says he made the "heartbreaking" decision to put Elsa up for sale if it helps reach his trip's charity fundraising goal of A$100,000.
"I know she's just a skateboard but we are very, very close. I've spent more time with this board than I have spent with a girl, put it that way."
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Private Eye has noticed a remarkable likeness between a book by eminent New Zealand writer C.K Stead and British author and disgraced politician Jeffrey Archer. It reads: "Last year the distinguished New Zealand novelist C.K. Stead published My Name Was Judas, a fictionalised memoir in which Judas Iscariot defended himself against the charge that he betrayed Jesus for 30 pieces of silver. In Stead's version, Judas didn't kill himself after the crucifixion but lived to a ripe old age and with a clear conscience. Now, with loud fanfare, Jeffrey Archer reveals the startlingly original premise of his next book. The Gospel According to Judas Iscariot is, er, a fictionalised memoir dictated by Judas Iscariot to his son, defending himself against the charge that he betrayed Jesus for 30 pieces of silver. In Archer's version, Judas didn't hang himself after the crucifixion but lived to a ripe old age and with a clear conscience."
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An eyewitness account: "Friday 4pm, heavy traffic, between The Base and Burger King Te Rapa, Hamilton, an elderly lady on a mobility scooter travelling south on SH1 in the northbound lane. Elderly gent in a 4WD stops and tries to move her onto the grass verge. She was having none of it and continues on against the traffic flow, around the Burger King roundabout still in the northbound lane, but going south. She then hangs a right towards the overbridge. At this stage all traffic has stopped and it's almost gridlock. The lady then does a sharp left and pops into Burger King. The most amazing thing was that no one beeped their horn or yelled, just totally stopped and gave her the space to do her thing. I think most people were, like me, gobsmacked."
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The free hugs movement (offering hugs to strangers on the street) started in Australia as a video for local band Sick Puppies - and turned into the best PR ever. Thanks to YouTube, people around the world have embraced the concept. But in China, some people were baffled by the offer. In fact, Beijing police briefly detained and questioned four people offering hugs on the streets. (Source: Reason.com)
