KEY POINTS:
How shop owners deter thieves in South America.
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The most frequently looked up word on Merriam-Webster's online dictionary this year is bailout, winning the dubious honour of being the Word of the Year for 2008. Defined as "a rescue from financial distress", bailout surpassed
any other contender by far. Indicating the general global malaise, the words "trepidation", "precipice" and "turmoil" also came up on top. Words from the US presidential campaign also feature: "maverick", "bipartisan" and, coming in at No 2, "vet" - as in vetting a vice-presidential pick. "Socialism" also had many hits, as people debated whether economic help to businesses was socialism. And "misogyny", defined as "hatred of women", was often looked up as Hillary Clinton's supporters questioned whether it had derailed her presidential hopes. (Source: AP)
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A reader shares her experience of service from Stagecoach (now NZ Bus): "My friend, who had been in NZ for less than a week, left his cellphone on the bus and we naturally thought that it had gone for good. The next day I was surprised to receive a text from Stagecoach. (I had been the last person to send a text to the missing cellphone)... asking me to phone their Wiri depot. They had found the phone. I asked when would be best to pick it up and was told that they would courier the phone to a nominated address. The phone arrived by courier the next day much to our relief."
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It's not even December and already a Santa Claus has been fired from his job at a London branch of Selfridges after a grandmother complained that he had invited her to sit on his lap. "I had no intention of offending her," said 32-year-old Andrew Mondia, a part-time actor and promotional worker. "I just wanted to include her in the moment. Christmas is for adults too." According to Selfridges, potential Santas are instructed that no one should sit on Santa's lap and Santas must not "promote or proactively seek" anyone to do so. Selfridges also claims that Mondia had been warned several times by his helper elf. (source www.guardian.co.uk)
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The $3 shop at the top of Queen Street has been hit by the economic crisis, claims Catherine. "It now displays signs saying it is the '$3+GST=$3.40' shop, due to the cost of importing goods. The $3.40 shop doesn't have the same ring!"
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Kevin O'Sullivan writes about cellphone coverage on Great Barrier: "I am no great supporter of Telecom, but fair is fair - I spent a large part of last summer on our boat at Great Barrier, particularly Port Fitzroy, and continued to use my 027 phone and to link laptop to internet through mobile. The other reader's report seems odd because my understanding is the Kaikoura Island cell tower is a joint venture between Telecom and Vodafone so their coverage should be the same. I have always taken the view that when you go to sea, if you get cell coverage it is a bonus rather than a must-have."
Today's Webpick: General Elevator, is a parody of hospital-based soap operas with all the action, including betrayals, amnesia victims and motorcycle riding MDs, happening within the walls of a hospital elevator. Watch them here.
These are the very best online videos from Ana's online magazine Spare Room.