Sideswipe

Must be a pet shop in the City of Sails.

A reader shares his experience with the ANZ call centre. "I wanted to query a credit card charge so rang the number on my statement. After waiting on hold for seven minutes - and being told my call was important to them - I hung up. I tried another four times and waited for nine, then 13 and 14 minutes (twice) still without getting to a live person, but was reminded each time that I was important to them. This is when I tried some lateral thinking. I rang the number where you apply for a card and guess what - action after only two rings from a live person. I explained why I was ringing. The person on the other end then wanted to debate with me whether Telecom would be worse than ANZ to try to get through to. He was convinced they would be. Anyway, he took all my details, put me on hold and 17 minutes later I hung up. Would ANZ care to inform their customers how they may be contacted or maybe our calls are really not important to them at all."

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A reader doesn't realise that being "feminist" and "fashionable" are not mutually exclusive for the modern woman. He writes: "You realise that something has changed in the feminist cause battling for women's issues in the professions when the May issue of the Auckland Women Lawyers Association newsletter devotes an entire page to whether boots are an essential winter wardrobe item. The item goes on to debate such weighty matters as whether or not ankle boots go better with skirts or pants, and gives tips for those with 'generous calves'. Serious stuff." (Legal ladies: I don't know what the article said, but you really have to have good legs to wear ankle boots and those with cankles should try a cowboy-boot style.)

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Sell not spell: After his drug conviction and his break-up with Aja, the wide boy from Invercargill who used TV3's 60 Minutes to promote his turning over a new leaf, has another crack at money-making. He sent the following email out to his contacts. "Murdoch Media Marketing and Management (4M) is the place you go when you want something or someone SOLD! I can make you or your product FAMOUS or IMFAMOUS, your choice. I have 28 years experience and if I cant deliver on what I say DONT PAY ME! Our fees are based on preformance and results, my partners are based all over the world, their combined talents should leave you with no doubt that WE will DELIVER! While your sleeping we will increase your net worth or rasie the interest in what your doing, we have friends in all the right PLACES. I hope your smiling, I am peace luvs and hugs MURDOCH. ps. the jerk is dead."

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A Swedish court has ordered a kennel owner to pay $2600 to a woman for refusing to sell her a puppy. The kennel owner reportedly refused the sale after learning the woman was a lesbian, said Sweden's discrimination ombudsman, who filed the suit. (Source: Reason.com)