Sideswipe

Richard Prebble

Desperate times call for an email from former Act leader Richard Prebble. The 27,000 subscribers of The Letter, the Act party propaganda sheet, have been spammed this week with a liquid incentive to vote for the flailing party. The newsletter says, "With an election on we know that our readership will increase. So we have decided to do our biggest promotion ever. Every reader who refers four or more new subscribers will receive a copy of one of our books valued at $15. But wait, there's more. In addition to receiving a copy of one of our books you will also go in 10 draws for a bottle of Bellamy's Whisky or Port or Gin. The person who refers the most subscribers will receive a bottle of Bellamy's Whisky, Port and Gin ... " Prebble says no taxpayer money is involved in the promotion and an anonymous "fan of The Letter" has paid for the prizes.

* * *

A response to Wednesday's story on the smokeless Nic-Stic: Josephine Randell writes. "This product is exciting news for millions of people, like myself, with chronic obstructive airway disease. People like me who are finding it impossible to stop smoking to save our lives, as the current available treatment only alleviates physical symptoms and does nothing for psychological craving. This new product appears clearly designed to treat both. Our disease is not caused by nicotine, but by smoke inhalation. Quitting smoking cannot reverse damage already done, but will arrest any further damage and thus prevent certain death. Nicotine is indeed a powerful addiction, but is now being researched as a possible drug to treat certain terminal illnesses and in this case in question would perhaps give back some of what it has robbed us of."

* * *


When you type "National Party" into Google, the second address on the results page (after www.national.org.nz) is gop.com, the website of the US Republican Party National Committee. Now that really is an influential American think tank.

* * *

A reader from East Tamaki writes: "My husband was following an Auckland City bus last week with an advertisement on the back for Coastguard. It was depicting an older gentleman, supposedly having a cardiac incident, as indicated by the vessel's name. Unfortunately, he is clutching the right side of his chest, I believe most people would be clutching the left side. Obviously this ad was not checked before posting all over the bus."

* * *

Close Up host Susan Wood has publicly gushed about her pending nuptials and wanted Helen Clark to hurry up and announce the date for the election so she could start planning her wedding. Well Susan, Helen has set a date ... now it's your turn ... many Aucklanders will need to plan around your date.

* * *

Number plate spotted in Auckland: FLOSFR ... as in philosopher.