KEY POINTS:
The media are being blamed for using the emotive and biased-sounding "anti-smacking" bill and thereby misinterpreting its meaning. But a reader of David Farrar's blog (and keen press release hoarder) points out that Sue Bradford's press release (pictured) in October 2003 started it all. Yet in March this year the Green MP said in another press statement: "I have never called it an anti-smacking bill. My opponents did, and the media adopted the phrase." (Source: Kiwiblog.co.nz)
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Keith couldn't keep his mouth shut: "So there I was ... in a local library, minding my own business when from behind the shelves I heard a young child having a hell of a tantrum - screaming, kicking and giving her poor mother a terrible time. You knew she wanted to give the child a smack, but instead she picked up the child and raced out the door with her hand clamped firmly over the offending mouth, red and obviously embarrassed. "Give her a smack," I called flippantly. She gave me a filthy look as she raced past, then two minutes later headed straight for me and punched me in the mouth!"
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Property developer Cornerstone gave first-home buyers false hope yesterday by marketing the penthouse at the top of its Sentinel development - dubbed New Zealand's best apartment, with sea and city views, hand-crafted carpet and solid wood flooring, Gaggenau built-in kitchen appliances, Philippe Starck freestanding bath tubs and a landscaped rooftop with lap pool and spa - for a mere $10,000. Of course it was a typo in Cornerstone's email newsletter and despite a few investors making an offer at the reduced price, the actual price remains a less modest $10 million.
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True Mom Confessions is a website confessional for mothers who can anonymously make comments about their parenting frustrations (and their relationships). It feels voyeuristic reading these admissions, some of which all parents can relate to and others which are a little frightening. Here are some examples:
1. Sometimes I just don't know how to make it through another Dora or Spongebob episode.
2. I really don't like my son. I love him but I can't stand his personality.
3. It is positively infuriating that my kids hate napping so much when I would kill for one! Just one a month or even a year! They are so lucky and get to take one every day.
4. I pretend I don't want any more kids when the truth is I am just terrified one more will be what it takes to push me over the edge.
5. I didn't know until I had a kid how mad you can get at them. Even if it is only for doing kid stuff.
(Source: TrueMomConfessions.com)
