Sideswipe: March 8: Right way to park

Photo / Supplied

A reader writes: "There was one parking space left but I hesitantly bucked the trend. I think I parked on the correct side of the road. Maybe everyone else was from overseas?"

Lethal training manual

This from the declassified CIA manual from 1953, entitled A Study Of Assassination: "The essential point of assassination is the death of the subject. A human being may be killed in many ways but sureness is often overlooked by those who may be emotionally unstrung by the seriousness of this act they intend to commit.

The specific technique employed will depend upon a large number of variables, but should be constant in one point: Death must be absolutely certain. The attempt on Hitler's life failed because the conspiracy did not give this matter proper attention ..."

And this: "It is possible to kill a man with the bare hands, but very few are skilful enough to do it well. Even a highly trained Judo expert will hesitate to risk killing by hand unless he has absolutely no alternative.

However, the simplest local tools are often the most efficient means of assassination. A hammer, axe, wrench, screw driver, fire poker, kitchen knife, lamp stand, or anything hard, heavy and handy will suffice.

A length of rope or wire or a belt will do if the assassin is strong and agile. All such improvised weapons have the important advantage of availability and apparent innocence. The obviously lethal machine gun failed to kill Trotsky where an item of sporting goods succeeded."

Time to get the tubes tied. Photo / Supplied

Dressing up the nether regions

Students have invented "Crown Jewels Underwear" to protect men from mobile phone radiation that could reduce their sperm count.

A recent Israeli study showed electromagnetic radiation from phones can damage male virility. To combat the rays, graduates from Munich Business School in Germany designed boxers with material incorporating silver wire, which blocks the radiation pulses.

Munich-based Professor of high frequency and microwave technology Peter Pau said of the new sperm-saving shorts: "The advantage of silver is that it is gentle on the skin and offers some degree of protection from radiation."
(Source: The Sun)

"Your fingers are yawn-inducingly boring, why not give them a little sole?" reads the copy for these momentarily entertaining bits of plastic on sale at McPhee's.

Video: Norweignen woman thinks she's a cat. "Sometimes I hiss when meeting dogs on the street," she says. "It's because of their behaviour and my instinct reacts by hissing. ...Born in the wrong species. I hate water, water is like the instinct you get to wash yourself. In the face and stuff. It's obvious I'm a cat when I start purring and meowing. ...My psychologist told me I could grow out of it, but I doubt it."

Video: Hurdles? What hurdles?

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