KEY POINTS:
A reader writes that he is receiving a lot of emails from businesses and others wanting to comply with the Unsolicited Electronic Messages Act, which came into force last week. But he is less than impressed with David Bennett, MP, who sent out an email offering an unsubscribe option for his Hamilton Bulletin, with 91 addresses visible in the Cc: line. "Does the National Party not understand basic data security? And does David Bennett have only 91 people across New Zealand interested in what he says?"
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On September 11, 2001, Seth MacFarlane, the creator of television animation for grown-ups Family Guy, was due to fly out of New York on American Airlines Flight 11, the first jet to hit the World Trade Centre. "Through a combination of me being hung over and being late the next day," MacFarlane once told an interviewer, "I missed it by 10 minutes. It was very, very fortunate." In the same interview, MacFarlane said he would never make a gag out of 9/11. But his Wikipedia entry cites at least six Family Guy jokes referring to the terror attacks, often at George W. Bush's expense. (Source Adfreak.com)
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According to Reason.com the Afghanistan Government may not have the Taleban licked, but it has already set its sights on another target: smokers. The Government has banned smoking in schools, hospitals and government offices, and officials say they plan to expand the ban to restaurants and hotels.
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A dad writes: Here's a conversation with my 2-year-old daughter. I don't think we speak the same language.
Me: "Time for bed."
Her: "I want some ice-cream."
Me: "What's the magic word?"
Her: "Now."
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A reader writes: "My daughter and I went swimming at the Olympic Pool in Newmarket on the weekend. The pay & display machine just north of the entrance stated that the fee was $3 for a maximum one-hour stay. I put 2 x $2 coins in, thinking I would get change. But no. It looks like Dick and Co are clipping the ticket. No change and the fee went from $3 an hour to $4."
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A hungover groom arrived at his wedding in the nick of time but then fainted, as did his best man. The previous night Gavin Jackson was in Prague at his bachelor party. The pair were so drunk when they turned up to catch the plane home that airport staff refused to let them board until they had sobered up. The pair finally arrived home just four hours before Gavin's wedding to Michelle Robins, in West Sussex. The best man added: "I know the episode in the church angered and upset Michelle. She didn't speak to me at all during the reception and refused a kiss goodbye when they left for the airport for their honeymoon. Her parents Christine and John also ignored me. I don't recall them speaking to Gavin at the reception either. It wasn't the wedding ceremony they had wished for." (Source: Sunday Mirror)
Today's Video Webpick: With the World Cup bearing down upon us it's time to become reacquainted with the pre-match ritual which so scared the Italians, they had to have a big group cuddle. In this clip Jonah Lomu, Jeff Wilson, Buck Shelford, Taine Randell and Michael Jones, Kees Meeuws explain what the haka means to them, while Ian McKellan camps it up nicely in the voiceover. Watch it here. These are the very best online videos from Ana's online magazine Spare Room.
