Trouser Snake

Only in New Zealand would you find THIS headline. Almost makes me miss living there. Almost....

Boy Racers

The term "Boy Racer" refers to a phenomenon that has spread through out New Zealand in the past few years. Boy Racers are teenage or twenty-something boys who modify their cars and drive irresponsibly, illegally, and generally disturb the local community through noise and vandalism.

The cars driven by Boy Racers are extremely modified and extremely ugly. Typical modifications for a boy racer include:

• Hideous paint jobs, often including patterns, words or images
• Ridiculously large spoilers
• Huge, earth-shattering exhaust pipes
• Engine modifications
• Neon lights underneath the car (this is my favorite)
  
• Lowering
  
• Wide race tires
  
• Loud sound systems

In fact, Boy Racers have become such a problem in New Zealand that 5 % of road deaths are caused by Boy Racers. In 2003 the Land Transport (Unauthorised Street and Drag Racing) Amendment Act, also known as the "Boy Racer Act," was signed into law. The Act is aimed at street racing and burnouts in public places.

Under the law, illegal activities include driving a car in an illegal street race or accelerating in an unnecessary way. Other infractions include wheel spins, "donuts" or driving a car in a way that causes the car to lose traction. There are heavy penalties for breaking the law, such as jail time, car impoundment, and fines.

Apparently, the law has helped police collect and impound many cars, but the Boy Racers continue to be a problem. A hospital in Christchurch has to move their patients on the weekends because the noise caused by Boy Racers on the street below is so bad. In January, a Christchurch policeman was ambushed by 300 Boy Racers who threw bottles at his car and shot at him with air rifles. The policeman just drove away, leaving the Boy Racers to their own destructive devises.

After the incident city officials and the public called for more aggressive laws to deal with the Boy Racer problem, including crushing their seized cars to get them off the road. The Boy Racers responded by threatening the Christchurch Mayor for his tough stance against them. They parked their cars outside his home, yelling and revving their engines.

Hmmm, so much for law enforcement.

Dunedin definitely has its share of Boy Racers. A walk down George St (the main street downtown) is not complete without engines revving, tires screeching, and music blasting from tinted windows. Grassy areas and parking lots often have tire marks from a cars doing donuts. The other night, I laid in bed listening to Boy Racers driving all over Dunedin until the wee morning hours. Every time I see these cars I have to shake my head and laugh. The cars are so ridiculous looking! And then I sprint across the street to avoid getting run over.

Shrek

This is an old story but I just can't get enough of this guy!

Shrek is a Merino sheep that managed to evade his farmers for 6 years until he was found in 2004, hiding in a cave in Central Otago on the South Island. Normally, Merino sheep are shorn every year, and after 6 years without a shave, Shrek's wool was incredibly long and thick. He was finally shorn on National Television, his wool weighing over 60 lbs!!!


Shrek is now a national icon. In 2004 he was taken to Parliment in Wellington to meet then-Prime Minister Helen Clark. Two years later Shrek celebrated his 10th birthday by having a shave on an iceberg floating off the coast of Dunedin.

Anyway, I just think this is a hilarious story and the pictures of Shrek after he was found hiding are even funnier!

Extra, Extra! Read All About It!

Just for fun, here is a sampling of recent New Zealand headlines:

Winning Cherry Pip Spitter Reveals his Secrets
(Finally! I've been trying to figure out his secrets for years!)

Frog Ambassador Pays Visit
(From the country of Frog?)

Crowds Turn Out to See Damn Spills
(They do say three's a crowd)

Idea of a Pet Cemetery is Being Considered
(NIMBY)

School Garden Now Bunny-Proof
(Phew! I was getting so worried)

Girl Wins Model Aircraft Hat Trick
(Darn, I was perfecting my model submarine toe-flip kick)

Success for 71-year old Power Lifter
(You think Viagara had anything to do with it?)

Ban on Israelis Opposed
(Extreme Protest-the newest extreme sport to be introduced in the adventure capitol of the world)

Nerds Come to the Rescue
(What exactly were they rescuing...lost pocket protectors?)

Woman Catches Neighbor Going Through Underwear
(A knicker snatcher!)

Qualified Embalmer Back in Business
(You mean there was an un-qualified embalmer doing business at some point?)

Gifted Shooter Wins NZ Deerstalking Association Award
(Apparently it was a slow day in the newsroom...)

Department Of Conservation Arms Bats Against Rats
(What, with teeny tiny snap traps and cans of poison?)

Lego Olympics Spawn Lego Fever in NZ
(On your mark, get set, LEGO!)

French Horn Fun for Family
(This one time, at Band Camp....)

Cash for Bald Head Billboards
(No joke, Air New Zealand wanted to temporarily tattoo heads for new advertisements)

Lizards Not at Risk From Wind Farms
(Referring to those lizards flying in V-formation?)

Skater Boobs on Ice
(Video included!)

Goodbye Bush
(A new add for Veet hair removal product. BRILLIANT!)

New Zealanders Apply to Test Condoms
(Crickey Dick!)