The New Zealand Herald

Sideswipe

- | ana.samways@nzherald.co.nz

Microwaved urine a hot seller

Recreation­al drug users have long tried to beat drug tests by using other people’s urine, but authoritie­s say that nowadays synthetic urine is being used to evade workplace testing instead. Instructio­ns on one brand suggested users microwave it to achieve body temperatur­e. Mississipp­i consequent­ly enacted a bill called the “Urine Trouble Act”, drawing snickers and groans in the State House. But its sponsors and others said that the jokey name belies a real problem: Truck drivers, people who operate heavy machinery and others can use the synthetic liquid to easily thwart a drug test, potentiall­y creating public risks. One politician pointed to instructio­ns on a bottle of fake urine that told users to microwave it to achieve body temperatur­e. He said the substance has been a “hot seller” in truck stops statewide. (Via Boingboing.com)

Good news for overweight men

Why is it a rule that men should always do up the middle button of a three-button blazer but never the bottom button? According to mentalflos­s.com, the tradition goes back to King Edward VII, who as Prince of Wales was so overweight that he had to undo the bottom button of his waistcoat. It became a fashionabl­e look, which has survived to this day.

Romantic advice pulls no punches

A legit letter from Guardian advice column is answered by The Bad Advice columnist . . . “Four months ago I met a great man. We get on famously — we both agree that it is at a very deep, soul-mate level, but he has a long-time girlfriend he lives with, who is the mother of his two kids. We both know the attraction is there, and he has been unhappy for five years now, but I have made it clear to him that I will not do anything that friends would not do unless he finds himself single. I am growing attached to him, though, and he has started making plans for us to do things together — including meeting his kids next week. I’m reluctant, because I know that if I were his partner I would be horrified. But as friends, isn’t meeting the family normal?”

“You are definitely not standing on the precipice of entering into a bad ideas relationsh­ip with a man who is a bajillion per cent gonna do some sex on you at the first opportunit­y!…There is zero chance that all of this is gonna be a nightmare hellscape trash Dumpster shitfire on hot wheels in about six months. Have fun meeting the children who will in no way be negatively impacted by their dad’s dipshit shenanigan­s with you, a person with very strong boundaries.” (The Establishm­ent)

Q: A:

 ??  ?? Dim or smart-arse?
Dim or smart-arse?

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