Sideswipe

A hardly used tea-towel of a young Muldoon is waiting for an owner in a second-hand shop.

Kevin Kite is impressed. This from his Alabama-based daughter: "A few years ago I registered 'my presence' here in the US with the NZ Embassy in Washington, and recently updated that information to add my husband. A few minutes ago they called to make sure we had not been affected by the hurricane. The embassy representative said they were calling all New Zealanders registered in Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana. Nice to know the system works."

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The sleep-deprived will soon be able to visit a sleep shop and buy a kip. A PowerNap Sleep Centre will open in a Minneapolis mall next month, offering six themed rooms - Asian Mist, Tropical Isle, Deep Space, Key West, 12 Fathoms and Oasis - for the weary shopper. A spokeswoman for the Mall of America says: "We think it would be really good for husbands at Christmas, when their wives are power-shopping." Some shoppers said they would like the chance to rest for a few minutes, but others said the cost (about $1 a minute) was too high and they would rather sleep in their cars. (Source: BBC News)

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Update on Act's fundraising efforts via TradeMe: At the time of filing, bids for some of the items of Act memorabilia mentioned in yesterday's Sideswipe had rocketed. The 1985 Budget information kit has surpassed the $100 mark, a typed copy of a Roger Douglas speech from 1994 has reached $6 and a spin round Viaduct Harbour in Alan Gibbs' Aquada amphibious car sits at $715.