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Home / New Zealand

<i>Sideswipe:</i> Nice try...

Ana Samways
By Ana Samways
Sideswipe - ana.samways@nzherald.co.nz·NZ Herald·
24 Jun, 2010 04:00 PM3 mins to read

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Photo / Supplied
Photo / Supplied

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Ana Samways
Opinion by Ana SamwaysLearn more

An angry reader wrote in to spread his outrage at this billboard outside St Matthews-in-the-City ... but the protest appears to be a bid to stir up faux controversy to publicise a play. The biggest clue to this attempt to get one over the media is that the guy on the billboard is one of New Zealand's most recognisable actors, Scott Wills. So before you get outraged, please realise that it is a stunt to promote the play Eulogy opening next week at the Maidment which obviously doesn't have a large publicity budget!

Devil's database

Rob from Mt Wellington got an "Appointment Card" in the mail today, asking him to fill in the date of his death. "On the back of the card there is a load of Biblical ranting ... saying basically, I'm due to go to Hell ... Beware of Surrendered Life ... The only way to find out more, is to give them all your details. Not likely. See you in Hell, Surrendered Life!"

Insight knowledge

A reader writes: "The prize for 'snake oil speak' must surely go to IAG insurance. I had to have words with it about my hugely increased annual premium. It wrote back to me saying my complaint had been referred to 'Customer Insights and Services Division' for a response. How did my complaint miraculously change into a customer insight?"

Too much salt

Marion writes: "Now that the Half Moon Bay ferry ramp has been resurfaced with non-slip material, it seems ludicrous that they continue to also cover the ramp in rock salt. Salt spreading is a practice in areas where temperatures drop below freezing - the salt sticks to the ice, giving a firm surface to walk on. It's not freezing in Half Moon Bay, and the salt offers a surface as slippery as a layer of ball bearings ... "

Look under A for Arsonist

A Florida woman was sentenced to nine months in jail, and five years of probation, for starting an office fire so she could get out of work early. Michelle Perrino, 40, drew suspicion when she mentioned the fire's origin - a filing cabinet - during an employee meeting. Employees had not been told where the fire started.

Crash! Now we know

On a trip from Silverdale to Albany Jim Duncan saw on the other side of the road a mower, a ute and two warning trucks. I commented "what a waste of money". On the way back, we saw a car embedded in the rear warning truck's buffer! The driver must have been blind, but now I know why the two buffer trucks."

Today's Webpick: Tammy Davis (aka Outrageous Fortune’s Munter) channels a lip-snarling Andrew Fagan from his Radio With Pictures days. Go here. Plus, check out the wild cards for New Zealand’s Next Top Model…Best use of an Automotive Accessory goes to... Go here.

Follow Ana Samways on Twitter.

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