Sideswipe: March 9: New housing measure in NZ

New measure for housing in New Zealand. Photo / Supplied

Can I be of service? Perhaps not

A reader writes: "I'm going to Melbourne in a couple of weeks, specifically for a special dinner," writes a reader. "I wanted to buy a new shirt for the occasion. So I walked into three upmarket menswear shops in Sylvia Park. Two of the shops each had two sales assistants - none of them thought me at all interesting - and the third had one assistant who at least acknowledged me but wasn't prepared to leave his computer to attend to my wants. In each shop I was the only customer. Across the way, Hallensteins was doing a roaring trade, but I was looking for something a bit special. No problem. I will buy my shirt in Melbourne!"

News nostalgia

In 1989 in Illinois a man was reported to be showing up at the door of single women and telling them he was a male stripper hired as a gift by one of their friends. The guy came to the attention of the police after one woman, who had invited him in to do his act, suspected he wasn't on the level because he was wearing "dingy" underwear. She noted, "They were supposed to be white, and in the back the band was torn."

Perth police catch 88-year-old "hoon"

An 88-year-old man in Australia has been charged with reckless driving and had his yellow Porsche Carrera 911 seized under hoon law legislation.

Forrestfield police in Perth said the man was caught doing 122km/h in a 70km/h speed zone by a speed camera. Cars can be impounded for 28 days under hoon offences in Western Australia if a driver is caught exceeding the speed limit by more than 45km/h.

"Every time I drive past this medical centre, I think, 'Yeah, right'," says this commuter. Photo / Supplied

Update on the peeled oranges in plastic cups

"Whole Foods has decided to remove its pre-peeled oranges packed in plastic containers from its stores after the market received backlash from furious Twitter users. It all started with one tweet, sent by London shopper Nathalie Gordon, who picked up the most traffic with her dry observation: 'If only nature would find a way to cover these oranges so we didn't need to waste so much plastic on them.' About three hours later, Whole Foods responded: 'Definitely our mistake. We hear you, and we will leave them in their natural packaging'." One Sideswipe reader pointed out presenting oranges and other fruit in this way is helpful for those who cannot peel them easily - disabled and elderly people.

Read this: This guy found an ingenious way to get his iPhone back from his ex-girlfriend...(NSFW language)...

Picture this: The rooftop car park you can only reach on foot...

Video: This is so cute it'll make you puke...

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