Sideswipe

A sign at a beach in Reay, Scotland, with Dounreay nuclear power station in the background (see picture above). Reader John Donaldson writes: "Many years ago the British Government determined nuclear power was safe and gave the go-ahead for the building of this safe facility as far away from London, within Britain, as possible. Hence it was located next to the lovely little village of Reay in the far north of Scotland. Reay has a beautiful sandy beach with large, unspoiled sand dunes and an adjoining traditional links golf course. Four weeks ago I spent a few days in the area and saw a number of these well maintained signs. If Tui was sold in Scotland I would expect to see the following: Nuclear power stations are safe - Yeah Right (tell that to the Scots)".

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A Barfoot agent intent on spinning the good-news myth of the New Zealand housing market left a flyer in a reader's mail box with an electrifying property on offer: The flyer said "Mt Wellington, 10 years old, 3-bedroom townhouse, low maintenance and handy to power lines ... " The accompanying montage of photos included one of a four-pylon cluster. Weird.

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Who needs books when you've got one of these puppies: Auckland Public Library is running a competition. If you get 10 books out in a month, you go in the draw to win a 42in plasma TV worth $4000.

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Wrigley Mansion, the stately residence built in Phoenix, Arizona, by chewing gum magnate William Wrigley in the late 1920s, has come under fire for hosting an extreme dinner. Catered by renegade chef Kaz Yamamoto, the meal featured such questionable items as saguaro cactus, bichon frise and seal sushi. The Wrigley has fielded hundreds of phone calls from irate individuals, some of whom have even threatened to burn the place down. (Source: slashfood.com)

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Stacy Steel, 38, the former executive director of the Humane Society in Oceanside, California, was arrested last month and charged with fraud for using the organisation's authority to buy 3600 Vicodin tablets (a prescription pain-reliever), which she said were for her dog. (Source: News of the Weird)

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Oops: Last week Sideswipe published an employment ad for the New Zealand Police. The position was for an "Inteligence Clerk", which was just asking to be made fun of. However, the Auckland District Police would like it pointed out that the error was the Herald's version of the ad and not the version the NZ Police supplied.