Sideswipe: Cases dismissed

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A video filmed at Christchurch International Airport, showing staff putting suitcases into a rubbish truck, has caused a stir on YouTube. The traveller who shot the video watched in horror as the bags were loaded from an Air New Zealand luggage trolley on the tarmac into a rubbish truck on Tuesday. "Christchurch International Airport unclaimed baggage being destroyed," wrote the traveller who uploaded the video. Others chimed in with their outrage until a rep from Christchurch International Airport explained. "This was luggage that was used to test our integrated terminal baggage system. Approximately 700 bags were donated from around New Zealand ... When we no longer needed to test the baggage system, the bags were destroyed."

Baring the sole

Barefoot and unclean? Simon responds to Martin, who has an aversion to the shoeless. He writes: "Martin, 'these people' you speak of, including myself, see no issue with hygiene or safety. I and many of my counterparts are educated and successful individuals who would just rather not wear shoes if not 100 per cent necessary. I rarely wear shoes and find it to be comfortable and liberating ... If it doesn't affect you it doesn't matter. Another reader writes: "Martin must have had a very sad childhood if he was always forced to wear shoes everywhere. There is nothing immoral, disgraceful, or even improper about going barefoot in public. It's not like you walk around with no clothes on. Your feet are bare and just like your hands, they are not private parts ...". Bare feet are not unhygienic, at least not as unhygienic as filthy work boots direct from some sewer worksite, or the footwell of your car, writes yet another reader. But Morag totally agrees with Martin: "I find it even more offensive to see adults in their 50s or 60s barefoot. Is this left over from the hippie era or just an 'I'm a Kiwi' attitude? As an immigrant, I was horrified to see this vagrant look being adopted by the supposed elders, who should be setting examples to a rather sloppy generation of youngsters. Sends shudders through me, every time."

It's just a jelly baby

Update: Yesterday's "Prolife jelly babies" that Jean saw at Countdown in Greenlane are made by a company called Prolife Ltd in Hamilton ... It is a bulk food company and a representative told Jean it did not represent the "pro-life" anti-abortion movement. "So just an unfortunate name for fetus-looking sweets," she says.