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29 March 2024

Best of Web: Buy a plot on moon for $20...

Published
By Staff & Agencie

Buy a plot on moon for $20

(AFP)

NEW ZEALAND: Kenneth Sewell was startled to find an out-of-this-world offer on the back of his Pak 'n Save receipt this week.

The New Plymouth man was scanning the back of his docket for good deals when he discovered, amid the vouchers for cheap pizza and accommodation, an advertisement encouraging him to buy an acre of land on the moon for $20.

"I thought, `what the heck's this?' and wondered if it was a scam," he said.

"It says it's filed with the United Nations so it seems bona fide."

But he still was not keen on investing in a piece of prime moon real estate. "If you can't plant a tree on it, walk on it, stand on it or even get to it, what would you do with it? Stake it out with a piece of string?"

The advertisement directs potential buyers to the website redeem.co.nz, where they are informed that because of a legal loophole, the sale of moon land is legitimate and filed with the UN.

"So unless someone currently lives there it's yours. There are no ongoing charges and taxes and unless you borrowed the $20, no mortgage," the website says.

This is, however, followed by a quick disclaimer.

"While all this is ratified it is a novelty gift. So don't get bent out of shape if you do visit it and some shack is there."

Superdockets, who are responsible for much of the advertising and vouchers on the back of supermarket receipts, did some research on the deal before running it and were satisfied it was not bogus, promotions manager Perrin Reilly said.

"It makes a good gift. You get a nice framed certificate to put on your wall – it's not 100 per cent guaranteed, but I think people understand that," he said.

"As long as the consumer sees value in the advertisement, we're happy to run it."

Missing: The parrot that sings the Pink Panther theme tune

(AP)

UK: Tino, a parrot who sings the Pink Panther theme tune, has left his owner in a puzzle after going missing.

The mystery of the missing parrot is surely a case for the Pink Panther himself, Inspector Clouseau.

Owner Joan Huskisson, 59, said the bird was startled into flight by the sound of a bin lid falling to the ground.

The hunt is now on in Whitley Bay, North Tyneside, for Tino and his owner is offering a reward to anyone who finds him.

'The house is so quiet without him,' said Joan.

The pet African Grey parrot is also known to whistle the tune of Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life, as well as the music from the A-Team.

African Grey parrots are usually found in the rainforests of West and Central Africa and, if looked after well, can live to up to 70 years old in captivity.

Suspect who escaped police handcuffed to chair is caught

(AGENCY)

NEW YORK: John Caesar, who escaped police custody in New York while handcuffed to a chair, has been caught.

Red-faced police managed to track down and recapture Caesar after he broke out from the police station before questioning.

He was said to have been recaptured while riding a bike with the remains of his handcuffs still attached.

The 58-year-old had slipped out through a back door while still attached to his chair by handcuffs.

He was being held under suspicion of stealing money from restaurant the Anchor Bar in Buffalo, New York.

The restaurant is famous for being the home of Buffalo chicken wings.

An investigation into the debacle is to take place to find out how the police managed to allow the man to escape.

Police spokesman Mike DeGeorge said: 'There was a mistake made and the department isn't gonna run from the fact, or hide from the fact that a mistake was made'.

Charles calls Kate the daughter he never had

(AFP)

Calling Kate Middleton as the daughter he never had, an emotional Prince Charles raised a toast to the new bride, declaring "we are lucky to have her".

These were the words Charles used to portray his daughter-in-law Kate in a touching speech before a select 650 guests at the lavish champagne reception thrown by the Queen for the royal couple at Buckingham Palace.

Prince William married his longtime girlfriend Kate on April 29 at a glittering ceremony at the Westminster Abbey.

Charles and late Princess Diana have two sons, William and Harry.

He wished the couple a long and happy life together. In between, Charles also found time to crack jokes about his eldest son and his famously thinning hairline, Daily Mail reported.

Kate's former primary school headmaster Robert Acheson, who attended the reception said, "William spoke very well but it was Charles who really gave high praise to his daughter-in-law. He said they were really lucky to have a daughter like her."

"I think Kate will be a wonderful role model, he added.

"The speech really brought a tear to the eye. She was a delightful child and is now a delightful young woman."

Susie Lea, a friend of the Middleton family, described the moment that Charles brought the house down. "The Prince of Wales made a few jokes about his bald patch and his son's bald patch, saying it must be hereditary," she said.

One attendee who said his son was a school friend of Prince William said: "Kate looked immaculate, she was beaming the whole time. It was a fantastic reception, everyone was very relaxed. William thanked everyone involved in the organisation of the wedding."

An astonishing 10,000 canapes were served during the two-hour reception, prepared by Buckingham Palace's 21-strong team of kitchen staff.

Guests toasted the happy couple with a 200 pound Pol Roger NV brut reserve champagne and a selection of other soft and alcoholic drinks.