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Opinion
Home / New Zealand

<i>Sideswipe:</i> New friend requests

Ana Samways
Opinion by
Ana Samways
Sideswipe - ana.samways@nzherald.co.nz·NZ Herald·
14 Dec, 2008 03:00 PM2 mins to read

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Aaron Hochwimmer reckons the price of tomatoes is out of control in some places. This in a fruit shop in Mt Eden, Auckland.

Aaron Hochwimmer reckons the price of tomatoes is out of control in some places. This in a fruit shop in Mt Eden, Auckland.

KEY POINTS:

Amateur Christian billboard uses social networking websites to get the message across.

* * *

As well as the 9 per cent price rise announced last week, Genesis Energy has introduced "Powerpoints", a reader notes. "Subscribers earn points based on electricity and gas usage coupled with bonuses for
prompt payments. We have calculated this a few times to be sure, and yes, if we are eligible for all bonus points and spend $8600 a year we will receive a $20 Farmers voucher each year."

* * *

A birthday party in Palmerston North was closed by police at 4.30am last Sunday. Nothing unusual there, you might think, but the guest of honour, Anne Wilcox, was 90. And the party had started at 6pm on Saturday. To be fair, the noise was not so much "doof doof"' as grandchildren playing guitars and singing Kumbaya and other folk classics.

* * *

Stingy stories: Allan got some prints done at the Kodak Express at St Lukes. "Because I had spent over a certain amount, they gave me a 'scratch and win' card. 'Oh well, give it a go,' I thought. And I won the amazing prize of 'the Free [sic] fill of a frame purchased from this store'. Hmm, so I thought about that for a second or two, then asked if my interpretation was correct: 'So, if I buy a frame, you will put my photo in it for free?' The assistant had that look of 'yeah, I know it means nothing' and confirmed my understanding.

* * *

Doug of Dannemora writes: "To the person who left their dog and cat tethered outside Pak 'n Save at Botany, with half a mallowpuff shoved in front of the cat, please leave the poor creature at home. Dogs, OK, they don't mind, but a cat is not equipped for this sort of gross stimulation and exposure. And do not feed either of them chocolate. It's toxic, and possibly lethal. It was me who put the mallowpuff into the bin. If I see the cat there again, I will confiscate it and call the SPCA."

* * *

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