Sideswipe

The future of air travel?

In Florida a woman was arrested after repeatedly calling 911 for help to stop her husband getting a haircut. According to the arrest affidavit, it all started when husband Bruce McQuay asked his wife, Mildred McQuay, to smoke outside instead of in their home. In the third call to 911 Mildred told deputies she was upset because her husband "was going to get a haircut, and she did not think he needed one," the affidavit stated. She wanted deputies to stand by outside her home and follow her husband if he attempted to leave to get the haircut, the affidavit stated. Mildred said she would have followed her husband herself, but admitted she had been drinking.

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Newstalk ZB reports a mistake in the new Christchurch phonebook could cause confusion for those trying to complain about programming or give news tips. The published TVNZ 0800 number will connect callers to TV3 and the state broadcaster's email address is also that of TV3. Listings for TV3 are correct. It is not known if the mistake was made by Telecom or by Television New Zealand.

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A reader from Whangamata was travelling with his girlfriend through Pipiroa when she mentioned the samurai sword incident. "As I know the area well, I pointed out the shed where the attack took place and casually mentioned that it was now a second hand shop. She is usually quick, but it took about 10 seconds before I copped a punch on the arm."

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In a quick and easy mood of the nation exercise, online magazine Mentalfloss.com googled the phrase "four out of five," unearthing these results.

1. Four Out of Five Americans Want Solar Option for New Homes

2. Nearly four out of five marketers surveyed believe that television advertising is less effective than it was just two years ago, according to a study released Wednesday.

3. Experts say four out of five child car safety seats are incorrectly installed.

4. Four out of five ADD sufferers read USAToday (USAToday reports that people who spent a lot of time watching TV as a child have shorter attention spans.)

5. A survey of three million Web sites has found that four out of five are vulnerable to attack.

6. Almost four out of five online shoppers say that free shipping offers are an important factor when deciding where to buy.

7. Four out of five experts say that Osama bin Laden is not dead.

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Welsh-speaking cyclists have been left baffled after a bizarre translation mix-up. Instead of a road sign telling them to dismount, the Welsh translation informs them that 'bladder disease has returned'. The temporary sign, placed in front of the roadworks between Penarth and Cardiff, correctly says 'cyclists dismount' in English, but says'llid y bledren dymchwelyd' in Welsh. (Source: icwales.co.uk)