Sideswipe: Just a puddle

Given recent events in the city, this scene in Christchurch Airport seemed like an over-reaction, says Andrew. 'I'm not sure if the EQC pays out for damp socks.' Photo / Supplied

TV One makes name-changer

One News on Sunday night reported on the Basin Reserve cricket fundraiser for the victims of the Christchurch earthquake, says Fiona. "They interviewed the organiser of the event, Stephen Fleming, but the text along the bottom of the screen stated his name was Ian Fleming. Before taking up a career in professional cricket, did Stephen write books on James Bond for a living, by any chance?"

Thin blue line saves mum's sanity

The following is a report from the police website: "A family day out ends happily after a 4-year-old child accidentally threw her favourite stuffed dolphin out the window while travelling on the Southern Motorway. Believing they could replace the toy, family members spent part of the day visiting stores to find another dolphin, only to have the child reject these vehemently. As a last resort, the distressed mother contacted police to help save the dolphin and her sanity because the child was inconsolable after the mishap. Enter a Motorways Support officer, who happily made it his duty to save the dolphin. Using his years of training, Officer Hodgetts was able to scoop up the dolphin without incident and return it to a very grateful mother. Police have been informed that 4-year-old and dolphin are happily sleeping, following an eventful adventure. Police are not looking for anyone else in connection with this incident."

Passengers 'face to armpit'

Jason writes: "I find myself arriving ever earlier to the Constellation park and ride (just to fight it out over the last parking spot), only to then be greeted by a line of equally frustrated 'passengers' standing in a queue longer than those experienced outside Studio 54 at the height of its infamy. Once on the bus, if in fact you get on the first or second one that comes along, you are squeezed, face to armpit, on to the most uncomfortable journey imaginable. But at least I get on ... spare a thought for those poor souls at Sunnynook, Smales or Takapuna, who watch overcrowded bus after overcrowded bus trundle by groaning under the weight of all those commuters. In a World Cup year, you have to ask yourself ... how will Auckland cope? Right now, it's not."

Irresistible lasagne key to arrest

He avoided Italian police for a decade, but couldn't resist his wife's lasagne. Police say Giancarlo Sabatini went into hiding in 2000, shortly after receiving a 3-year and 8-month prison sentence for cocaine trafficking. Acting on a tip, police staked out the homes of Sabatini's wife and daughter in Rocca Priora, near Rome. When police spotted the daughter furtively dash from her mother's house to her own home bearing a tray of lasagne, police went in and arrested Sabatini.

(Source: SF Gate.com)