There's only one story that has truly galvanised the world in recent days and that is the rescue of the 12 Thai boys and their coach from Tham Luang Nang Non cave near Chiang Rai in northern Thailand.
What an incredible feat of heroism to get them out of those claustrophobic, dark, watery caverns.
In related news ...
Meanwhile, TVNZ's Australia correspondent Kimberlee Downs has been in Thailand covering the rescue.
I was extremely concerned for her welfare, though, when the Breakfast newsreader yesterday said we were crossing live to her ''on the ground in Chiang Rai''.
Oh no! That's terrible. I hope someone helped her up.
Did she trip? Was she stretching too far, trying to be ''across all developments'', when she fell?
Speaking of similar language irritants, I was pleased to see a couple of letters to the editor last week haranguing TVNZ about confusing a weather forecast with the actual conditions.
I guess it is still very dark these mornings. But it is indeed irritating when you get told that ''Otago is waking up to a cloudy morning with rain'', which may be the forecast, but in actual fact it hasn't happened yet and it is a beautiful, mild sunny morning.
Grumpy gulls
I almost felt sorry for a seagull I saw in the Octagon yesterday. It was hopping on one leg and was clearly maimed, with some string or something caught around the other leg. I felt pity, that is, until it started screeching truculently at passers-by.
Jenny Longstaff, of Northeast Valley, says I ''got off lightly'' with it only being a seagull that swiped the bacon at St Clair - ''and having generous cafe staff on hand to replace your food'').
''When I was in Australia, an emu grabbed my entire lunch-bun right in front of me off the picnic table. Makes me almost glad moas are extinct in New Zealand.
''Yes, mention of 'baby-sized' was a reference to the infamous Azaria Chamberlain case. I am Australian - though have lived in New Zealand since 1981 - and that event in 1980 polarised the country much like the David Bain case has in New Zealand.
''We were camping at King's Canyon in Watarrka National Park, Northern Territory, which is north of Uluru (Ayers Rock) where the dingo took Azaria (you can see that I believe the mother did not murder).
''Dingoes were prevalent in the area and the historic story felt very real, but it still came as a surprise to see how cleverly the dingo unzipped the tent and exited with the loaf of bread, swinging in its plastic bag and gripped in its teeth.
''One would think, 'what a clever dingo', but apparently it does not take much intelligence to unzip a tent.
''On another occasion we were camping at Wilson's Promontory National Park in Victoria and a wombat unzipped our store tent and was caught licking our frypan!
''Wombats are a bit thick but I guess they learn pretty quickly around campsites where a tasty morsel may be found.''
High-tide mark
A retired ODT journalist strolling around Maori Hill at the weekend was bemused by the sign that he subsequently photographed and sent in.
''It features below a house in Braeview Cres, [where] there is no sign of a wharf or the harbour in this hilltop area overlooking Leith Valley. Nor any sign of cargo.''
If one of those king tides did reach that far - more than 100m up the hill - that would really be something to worry about.
Kotuku visit
Susan Armstrong, of Ashburton, sent us the photos of a white heron, which landed on her mother Janice's roof one day last week.
''It spent the afternoon sitting in her neighbour's tree, where it ate three wee silvereyes, much to the horror of neighbour Dave,who feeds the local native birds with sugar water.
''With its belly full, it flew on to mum's roof where it stayed until dusk. Liz Conley, another neighbour, captured these pics, so full credit to her.''
Gee, does that make the white heron a cannibal?
Police wagon
David L. Harrowfield asks for help.
''In 1957, the Oamaru police and possibly the Dunedin police also, acquired a grey Model CA Bedford Utilcon van, with no side or rear windows.
''I have had no success with locating a photograph of the vehicle, in Oamaru or at the Royal New Zealand Police College Museum near Porirua.
''Although having a fine vehicle collection, museum director Rowan Carroll has advised this particular vehicle is not included.
''The vehicle is of interest as I am assembling information for a biography, which includes Oamaru and Dunedin, to place with the New Zealand Police Archives. I wonder where the vehicle ended up?
''Any assistance with locating a photograph would be very much appreciated.''
Let me know if anyone can assist David with his inquiries.