Sideswipe: July 5: Genetic steak, bad reviews and fake benefits

'Okay, I know it's more schoolboy humour,' writes Stuart, 'but I had to suppress a smirk when I saw this coffee shop's name.' Photo / Supplied

What's your beef?

Somehow, upscale restaurateurs believe diners will soon willingly pay more for a beef dish if it comes with disclosure of the DNA of the actual cow being eaten, according to an Associated Press report. "People want to know where their food is coming from," said one excited chef, lauding the knowledge to be gleaned from a calf's upbringing. (A more practical beef-supply executive added that DNA could help to identify the "multiple animals" whose parts were used in hunks of ground beef - a 10-pound package of which may include contributions from "hundreds" of different cows.) (Source: Newsoftheweird.com)

Sour end to meal review

A court in Taiwan has sentenced a blogger to 30 days in jail and two years probation for writing a negative restaurant review. The blogger, who media identified only by her surname Liu, wrote that the restaurant's noodles were too salty and that it had cockroaches. The court said she should not have said the restaurant's food was salty because she tried only one dish during just one visit. The court also ordered her to pay $8400 to the restaurant in compensation for lost business. (Source: Reason.com)

NZ sports names just as foreign

"The rugby fan mentioning a lot of foreign players named in other teams should perhaps also include New Zealand in his list," writes Dave. "Seven current All Blacks not born in New Zealand plus names such as Sivivatu, Luaki, So'oialo, Rokocoko, Muliaina, Toeava etc. Then there's the netball with Irene, cricket and cycling etc with a few - so be careful of deciding who's the kettle and who's the pot!"

Miracle recovery

A benefits cheat who pretended to need a wheelchair in a manner likened to a sketch from the TV comedy show Little Britain has been jailed. Peter Dixon, 48, was will serve two weeks after he was filmed walking around despite claiming he needed to use a wheelchair. Preston Crown Court was shown film of Dixon being wheeled out of a medical centre ... and later standing outside a pub having a cigarette and walking down a street after visiting an ATM.

Some generosity in real estate

Lyn and Ian Versey have a happier story to counter that of the person complaining about the "penny pinching" real estate agent who gave her an umbrella as a gift when she bought a house from him. "You obviously haven't had our real estate saleswoman," the Verseys write. "We received the odd dinner delivered to our home ready to eat more than once, cafes for coffee, invited to her home for drinks and nibbles and when it was sold we were taken to the French Cafe. [She] also contributed to our advertising."