Sideswipe: July 14: My home is not a drive-thru

Drive-through rubbish, mate? Photo / Supplied

Getting to the bottom of obesity
Flavio from Hamilton happened to be reading an article about obesity and diabetes in New Zealand when he heard this car, pictured, revving, trying to climb up the curb. When the driver finally got there he inched closer to the rubbish bin and chucked out his fast food rubbish without getting out of the car, then drove away. "At least he didn't put his rubbish on the street," he said.

Talking up the red zone

Renting in Christchurch: "This delightful townhouse is a hidden retreat. Away from the broken roads down the lane, you will find this 3 bedroom home" reads the rental ad for the Avondale, Christchurch property. "Nestled in a gorgeous garden setting. Spacious sunny living with heat pump and adjoining dining area, gives a welcoming feeling." What the Ireland Property Management ad listed on Trade Me doesn't mention is that the house is in the red zone.

Strange but true

1) According to a research paper presented at a Glasgow conference last week, pigeons' facial-recognition software is so sophisticated that they'll correctly dive bomb an old human enemy even if you try really hard to disguise that enemy as friendly. (Source: News of the Weird)
2) A Colorado man was badly burned when he attempted to create bigger fireworks from the innards of smaller ones ... by using a coffee grinder to rip the smaller ones open. (Source: The Denver Post)

Smelly socks combat malaria

Scientists in Tanzania are developing a new trap for malaria-spreading mosquitoes using the odour of human feet to lure them. Scientists came up with the idea after seeing how mosquitoes were drawn to smelly socks. Volunteers donated socks they had worn for at least 10 hours which were put inside boxes hung with insecticide-laced drapes. A health worker said mosquitoes work through smell rather than sight. "In their attempts to get blood from these devices, 74 to 95 per cent of mosquitoes were killed."

Phone insurance a waste

David Morris of Hillsborough writes: "Tony is a mug if he paid $10 a month for phone insurance. First rule of insurance: If you can afford the loss, don't insure. Insurance is a wager. Insurance companies run at a profit (handsomely so) which means, on average, the customers lose out on the bet. But the simple mathematics should have told Tony it was a sucker bet. $120 a year to insure a $149 phone? Hey, Tony, give me a call - I'll insure your next phone for $7 a month with no excess."