Sideswipe

Labour's new underground campaign? In the true spirit of guerrilla marketing, a series of stickers have sprung up around Auckland and Wellington. Coincidentally, Helen Clark trotted out a similar line at her post-Cabinet press conference the following day. "[Iraq] is certainly an election issue because it is very clear to everyone that had there been a National government in power, New Zealanders would have been sent into combat in Iraq." (Bet Labour is gutted it spent so much money getting Saatchi & Saatchi to dream up the party's dismal billboards).

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Geoff Levick of Kumeu writes: "We have all heard of the NIMBY (Not in my Backyard) syndrome. The Economist magazine suggests the new syndrome is BANANA (Build Absolutely Nothing Anywhere Near Anybody). Think objections to wind farms, pylons, power stations, dams."

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A reader who travelled on business to the high-security Maghaberry Prison in Northern Ireland was impressed to see that a competition was held to name the colourful newsletter that goes to inmates, their families and friends. The winning idea, from the 8-year-old daughter of a prisoner, was The Jaily News. Among the 124 entries were these suggestions: Con Text, Con Script, Jail Scale, Time Will Tell, The Con-Junction, The Lag's Rag and Con Quest. Needless to say, I'm a Prisoner Get Me Out of Here! was among the unsuccessful entries.

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Christian Bale, the latest bat suit inner in Batman Begins, has been barred from driving the Batmobile in any future publicity outings after he had an accident with it on the way to the film's Canadian premiere. The disappointed star said: "The best part of the job is to be allowed to drive the Batmobile. But it's safe to say the locals were bemused to see it cruising down the street. Unfortunately, one guy saw the Batmobile and completely freaked out. He must have thought aliens were coming to land and smacked into the side of it. That was the last time I was allowed to drive it on a public highway. It really flies. I asked if I could keep it but they wouldn't let me!"


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Ileana Valdez was stopped at Boston's Logan International Airport when a metal detector went off as she passed through. Security officials didn't find any weapons on her, but they found she was carrying US$46,950 in cash. Valdez told them she was going to Texas for plastic surgery on her buttocks and breasts. She says a male Drug Enforcement Administration agent told her she had a "nice body" and didn't need surgery. Then he seized her cash, saying it was drug money. Valdez, who has no criminal record, is suing to get her money back from the Government. (Source: Reason.com)