Sideswipe: Logo lookalike

Photos / Supplied

TVNZ celebrates 50 years of TV (pictured, top left) and Happy 50th Nasa (bottom left).

Nature

Joni thinks this RAV4 spare wheel cover (pictured right) is ironic considering Toyota is a Japanese car manufacturer. "It states 'Preserve Nature' and pictures a whale's tail."

Message for meter readers

Jules Douglas-Smith of Titirangi wonders if there are any other dog owners out there tired of the monthly recorded phone messages telling them that a meter reader will be on their property in the next three days and to please keep their dogs inside. "I'm sorry but I am not locking my dog up for three days on the off-chance someone might come in. At least narrow it down to one day and sure I'll oblige."

New Zealand history 101

Flying back from Dunedin recently, Simon Fordham was looking at the questions on the Air New Zealand Trivia Quiz displayed on the overhead monitors. "I was astounded by one question: 'Abel Tasman, the first man to see New Zealand, came from which country?' I am sure I read somewhere that there was a race of people here before him ..."

Died twice and still going strong

Theresa Frazier died twice in a five-month span. Well, the Canadian Government thought she had and declared the 77-year-old woman dead twice. Her problems started when a woman with the same name passed away, and the Government thought that it was her and cut off her pension. Frazier thought she'd resolved the problem only to have the Government declare her dead again. (Source: Reason.com)

Israel apologises for spoof

The Israeli Government has been forced to apologise for circulating a spoof video mocking activists aboard the Gaza flotilla, nine of whom were shot dead by Israeli forces last week. The clip, set to the tune of the 1985 charity single We Are the World, features Israelis dressed as Arabs and activists, waving weapons while singing: "We con the world, we con the people. We'll make them all believe the IDF [Israel Defence Force] is Jack the Ripper." Press office director Danny Seaman said the video did not reflect official state opinion, but in his personal capacity he thought it was "fantastic". (Source: TheGuardian.co.uk)

Uneasy rider

Peter Offer writes: "Could you put a note in the paper for the person on the motorcycle riding northbound over the Auckland Harbour Bridge this morning? Being a learner motorcyclist weaving across all lanes at speeds of up to 30 km/h above the speed limit with no lights on in the dark will at least guarantee I won't have to watch out for you much longer."

From woe to go

Metrowater reads Sideswipe: "Thank you Ana for publishing the photo of my driveway. What a great sight when I got home to see a dry driveway! Yes, the good folks from Metrowater had been during the day, and had fixed the leak."

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Today's Webpick: Disappointed with the clips celebrating 50 years of TV? Check out the first episode of creepy children's series Under the Mountain and the awful local drama Peppermint Twist. Go here.

Follow Ana Samways on Twitter.