KEY POINTS:
Gareth Pert, a New Zealand contractor working in southern Afghanistan, needed to replace some of his machinery with locally hired equipment. This is what he got - all the way from Tirau.
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Graeme Tremlett writes: "I find it ironic that in these spells of heavy rain and bad weather, virtually every service in Auckland carries on. Hospitals, schools, offices, public transport, shops all keep going but the one big exception is the MetService's 'rain radar', which as soon as last week's rain appeared promptly broke down for the week and could not be fixed 'until the weather improved'."
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Australians should be more appreciative of the influx of Kiwis across the Ditch, writes expat Rebecca Millar of Bondi in a letter to the Sydney Morning Herald. "As a New Zealander who migrated to Australia 20 years ago, I never cease to be amazed that Australians aren't more grateful for this influx. Think about it. New Zealand paid to raise me. It educated me through primary and secondary level and paid for me to do a science degree, and half a law degree. It paid for my childhood vaccinations and medical expenses, removed my appendix, did my teeth (not all that well, as it turned out), and who knows what else. Then, when I reached the age at which I could usefully contribute to the country, I left for Australia and took up citizenship here.
For the price of the second half of a law degree (something no longer immediately available to incoming New Zealanders), Australia has had the benefit of all my taxpaying years, without any of the costs of producing a new taxpayer."
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More gore please: Petrus van der Schaaf is furious with TVNZ for cutting away too quickly from the beheading of Cardinal Fisher in its Sunday night screening of The Tudors. "While the sound of the crowd is still ringing, we go to a commercial break," he complains. "Not even a 10-second freeze of the dreadful moment. Sir Thomas More, ditto, except for a brief aftermath before the break! Who are these 'programming' or 'continuity' morons?"
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Anne Greer filed a lawsuit last month against Florida dentist Wesley Meyers over the death of her father last year during procedures to secure his dentures with implants. During the October 2006 visit, Meyers had accidentally dropped a screwdriver down the patient's throat, which required a colonoscopy to remove. The patient returned the following year (against his daughter's wishes) to give Meyers another chance. During that procedure, Meyers accidentally dropped a torque wrench down his throat, creating problems that ultimately proved fatal. (Source: News of the Weird.)
Today's Webpick: Techno Chicken would be a great guy to take clubbing. Watch ithere.
These are the very best online videos from Ana's online magazine Spare Room.
