KEY POINTS:
Newborn babies in Japan who can't make it round to visit all their relatives can now send them proxies instead - cuddly bags of rice. A small rice shop in Fukuoka, southern Japan, has been swamped with orders for "Dakigokochi" rice-filled bags shaped like a bundled baby and printed with the newborn's face and name. Each rice bag is tailor-made to weigh as much as the newborn and shaped so the rice fills the bag up. Holding the round-edged bag would feel like holding a real baby.
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I don't know which is more frightening - the following survey results found in the Telecom newsletter," says Kathy Torpie of Sandringham, "or that Telecom actually considers this information positive marketing." A survey of more than 2000 New Zealanders was conducted to find out how Kiwis feel about their mobiles and it turns out those surveyed are prepared to make some big sacrifices to hold on to their phones. "Almost one in five would prefer to lose a finger or toe than be permanently deprived of their mobile," says Kathy. "More than 50 per cent of participants wouldn't stop using a mobile for less than $1 million. A further third said they'd need to be paid $5 million to ditch their devices. Imagine a similar ad from the tobacco or alcohol industries."
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An Eden Park World Cup final, yeah right: Paul and his mate were at the cricket on Friday and were unimpressed with the hospitality. "On arrival I was delayed outside the Terraces while security staff checked whether my bike helmet constituted a "dangerous weapon". At the interval the same security team advised me that if I left the ground I would not be re-admitted and shortly into the second innings full-alcohol beer was banned, although strangely wine continued to be served. Surely if such petty rules are going to be either enforced or threatened then ticket purchasers should be warned."
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Stephen Munro was also at the cricket at Eden Park on Friday, with his very excited 7-year-old son. "He went off by himself to buy some chips and ended up dropping them all over the ground. On seeing this calamity, a man, who was a complete stranger, bought him a replacement tub. You are a gentleman, kind sir."
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Queenstown still has a good shot of making it on to the game board of the new Here & Now: Monopoly World Edition, but only if Kiwis pull their finger out and vote. There are only 10 days left and our alpine tourist boom town has slipped down the field to No 24 (only the top 20 locations will be on the board). Even Sydney is ahead of us at No 11. Show some Kiwi pride and vote now. Do it for Sir Ed, do it for the Black Caps (especially for the big guy who was dissed by Sally Ridge's husband), do it and show some Kiwi pride. Here's how: Go to monopolyworldvote.com/en - NZ/world, find NZ on the map and vote. (There is a brief registration process).
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Today's Webpick: Auckland Blues player Jarek Goebel has a bright future on the field and he looks mighty fly in a skirt and halter-neck bikini top. Watch it here.
These are the very best online videos from Ana's online magazine Spare Room.
