Sideswipe: Oct 3: I've seen it all

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The 'I've seen it all' department

"I enjoy your Sideswipe column and never thought I would have anything worth sending to you," says a reader who doesn't want to be named. "I spotted this sign at a railway station in Greater Auckland."

Vetting the rules

Matt Northin writes: "I was driving along The Strand in Parnell and spotted a small army of dogs dressed as All Blacks. More curious than worried about [advertising infringements], I found out it was a local vet's rugby fever, kicking off their own Ani Blacks XV canine team with names like Richie McClaw and Spaniel Carter. I wonder what the powers-that-be think of this possible breach. See them on www.facebook.com/TheStrandVet."

Fair sex the sexist sex

Mothers are most to blame if their children develop sexist attitudes, say scientists. A Spanish study of almost 1500 children, published in Psicothema, the journal of the Psychological Association of Asturias, found the woman of the household was responsible for the development of discriminatory behaviour - even though she herself was more likely to be a victim of sexism. This could be explained by children spending more time with her, the household chores she encourages them to do, the gifts they are given, the roles they infer and the important role she plays in the transference of values. Dr Maite Garaigordobil, of the University of the Basque Country in Spain, said: "If we bear in mind women are the main victims of sexism, it is paradoxical they are the ones who have a greater influence when it comes to the transference of such damaging attitudes". The study analysed the sexism levels of 1455 sons and daughters aged between 11 and 17 along with 764 mothers and 648 fathers.

Thanks, TVNZ, you're all heart

Peter Lyons would like to thank TVNZ. "My elderly father, who recently suffered a stroke, has watched Coronation St religiously. We even bought him a [big] TV because he's partially sighted and had his nose halfway up Emily Bishop's backside while watching the show. At 7.25pm, his gnarled hand would reach for the remote. People had learned not to call. Coro at 7.30pm has been a constant in his twilight years. Replacing it with some mindless Aussie BBQ show is a form of elder abuse."