Sideswipe: January 23: Hidden chrysalises

A reader writes: "My father-in-law suggested we send in a photo of the monarch butterfly chrysalises we have under our deck as he has been reading a lot in the Herald about the shortage of monarch butterflies. We have about 100 chrysalises around our deck and in other odd spots. This picture is only a quarter of what we have! I hope this may allay fears for these beautiful butterflies."

Breeders hop to defence of rabbits

The Association of German Rabbit Breeders says that Pope Francis' injunction to Catholics not to breed "like rabbits" is inaccurate. "He should really think harder about giving up expressions like that and allow people to use contraception instead," president Erwin Leowsky said. Not all rabbits had a high level of sexual activity and the stereotype mostly applied to rabbits living in the wild, he said. (Source: BBC.co.uk)

Past expiry date

"Oh dear, are they past their use-by date?" wonders Vera Gleadell, who spotted this sign in Glen Eden.

Tasters to get a skin full

Anatomical whisky tasting. In London on Valentine's Day there will be a whisky tasting event like no other. Participants will sip their chosen whisky from a prepared crevice on the assigned performer's body - a 25-year-old whisky "paired" with a 25-year-old performer, a 30-year-old with a 30-year-old whisky, and so on up to rare 50-year-old drams. Food and events outfit Bompas and Parr said: "The spirits will be drunk from the natural contours of the performers' bodies, each born the same year the liquid was put in a cask. There are gustatory and intellectual benefits to the practice, the heat of the body will raise the temperature of the whisky, helping to showcase the flavours as guests form a uniquely intimate bond with the performers." (Source: The Drinks Business)

Embarrassing accidents

1. Sylvia writes: "When I was a teenager I had my legs crossed in front of me on a chair and then put my feet back on the floor. Two hours later everyone finally believed I couldn't walk and took me to A&E. Dislocated kneecap! And did it hurt to put back in!

2. A reader writes: "My husband [at the time] thought it a fun game to continually flick me on the forehead right between the eyes, while keeping me at arm's length. I lost my cool, kicked him in the shin and broke my big toe. I am a petite young blonde, and explaining how I did it over and over to the nurse, the doctor, the radiologist and the physio got a lot of dropped jaws and hysterical laughing. The best bit? The kick didn't even leave a mark on husband's leg."

A reader writes: "My father-in-law suggested we send in a photo of the monarch butterfly chrysalises we have under our deck as he has been reading a lot in the Herald about the shortage of monarch butterflies. We have about 100 chrysalises around our deck and in other odd spots. This picture is only a quarter of what we have! I hope this may allay fears for these beautiful butterflies."

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Got a Sideswipe? Send your pictures, links and anecdotes to Ana at ana.samways@nzherald.co.nz