Sideswipe: Clean clients

An apostrophe could have averted this ambiguity and prevented extra work in the kitchen, says Rex. (Sign spotted at a hall in Kaiapoi.)

Lost in translation

Peter from Westmere can understand that cinemas abbreviate censors' notes to save space. "So we can guess that in the ads for Rialto Newmarket "V" means "violence" and "OL" means "offensive language". But how many parents would realise the SSMSVYC on Rango stands for 'some scenes may scare very young children' until it's too late and the poor little blighters are crying their terrified eyes out?"

Mystery advertising

Ken McIntyre of Half Moon Bay writes: "For months I have kept hearing an ad jingle on NewstalkZB that goes 'the home of home baking is ... ?' That's the problem; I cannot for the life of me work out what the name is. It sounds like Ben-air but even searching the Yellow Pages and Google I can't work out what it is. Does anyone know?"

Coping with the Depression

1. During the worst years of the Great Depression (1933-1934) the overall jobless rate was 25 per cent with a further 25 per cent taking wage cuts or working part time. (Today the typical household has two wage earners, so even a 25 per cent unemployment rate was much worse in the 1930s.)

2. In response to the economic crisis, fashion designers created more affordable fashions with longer hemlines, slim waistlines, lower heels, and less makeup. Accessories became more important as they created the impression of a "new" look.

3. The board game Monopoly, introduced in 1935, became immensely popular.

4. Many couples delayed marriage, and divorce rates and birth rates dropped. Some men also abandoned their families. (Source: facts.randomhistory.com)

Excitement of colour

"In 1974 I was pretty excited when we got a colour TV," says Tony Cooper. "I remember the details - 26-inch Phillips K9 and it cost $1200. That's $11,400 in today's dollars (using the Reserve Bank inflation calculator). I can't believe that we spent that much on a TV! It lasted 20 years though. The colours eventually went a bit purple."