KEY POINTS:
According to Variety the sequel to Oliver Stone's 1987 hit Wall Street, starring Michael Douglas as the money-grabbing stockbroker Gordon Gekko, is being fast-tracked because the real-life events in the financial markets will make it more marketable. The film, Money Never Sleeps, will again centre on Gordon Gekko, who has recently been sprung from prison and re-emerges into a much more tumultuous financial world than the one he once lorded over.
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Anyone who has travelled overseas since 9/11 has been subjected to ever-increasing security checks, writes Claire from St Heliers. "The list includes not leaving your bag unattended and not to carry any bag/object given to you by a stranger. Imagine our shock, horror as we checked into Air NZ at San Francisco for a flight to NZ only to be approached by two elegant, well-spoken women asking if we could take a very large bag back to be given to a relative of theirs on arrival. We refused and told the receptionist at check-in. I don't know what we expected - alarm bells to be rung, security descending on the miscreants who would then be taken away and searched along with their very over-weight bag but no, nothing. Just a raised eyebrow from the receptionist. Airline security is a joke."
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NZ Post has just launched its "what's your postcode?" campaign to remind people about using postcodes, writes Paul. "My wife went to post a parcel at the Victoria St post office in Auckland's CBD and although the parcel was correctly addressed including the postcode, for Kaiwaka in Northland, the staff at the counter were unable to locate the code on their system and consequently informed her that they couldn't accept the parcel!"
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Here's a new definition of supreme optimism in retailing, says Tony Marks. "A shop in Milford today is selling 2008 diaries at $11.99 and a superyacht owner's guide to Croatia's coastline for $5. I wish them all the best at any time let alone in today's economic climate."
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Thieves who stole 300kg of hazelnuts in Germany have been urgently warned not to eat them. A Hamburg police spokesman said the sacks containing the nuts were full of poisonous hydrogen phosphate gas, used to extend their shelf life. The nuts must first be treated to make them safe for consumption. The gas is lethal if inhaled. (Source: Reuters)
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Today's Webpick: An hilarious montage of pageant mothers as they gesture madly to their little princesses on stage. Watch it here.
These are the very best online videos from Ana's online magazine Spare Room.
