Day SeventyNine of being Aflickionless...

Russell is working at Ginger Minx again this evening. They held their first Minx'n'Mingle night this evening and thankfully the dishwasher was working, because man that place was packed!

Maz was invited by JayJay to an event at Space, but because she is so tired from the week that was, Maz decided not to go and hung out at Minx instead.

Many 5-year-olds are starting school unable to count or complete the alphabet, despite years of pre-school education. Many do not know the difference between a letter and a number and some do not know how to hold a pencil, principals say. They worry that the problem is getting worse, just as the Government prepares to introduce national standards in reading, writing and maths, starting in the first year of school.
Rosemary Vivien, head of Edendale School in Sandringham, Auckland, said the Ministry of Education had outlined general expectations of what children should know when they started school. These included being able to count to 20, knowing the alphabet, recognising colours and being able to write their own name. More than half the children who started at Edendale, a decile 5 school, could not do that. "The majority can't count to 20," said associate principal Jackie Procter. "A considerable number can count to five or 10 but some can't count at all." About a quarter could not tell the difference between a number and a letter. (OMG WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO MY OLD SCHOOL!?!)

A man captured on CCTV measuring a cash machine in Dargaville says he became a laughing stock. Gavin Aarons' image appeared on the front page of the Herald after police released the picture concerned at the suspicious activity. "I gasped, then the horror set in," Mr Aarons told Close Up last night. He said he was working for a signage company doing the same job he had done hundreds of times. He had never done a bank job and did not have a criminal record. He said he was now a laughing stock with friends and family.

He brought home the America's Cup in 1995 and 2000 to a hero's welcome, only to suffer the wrath of a nation when he left Team NZ to win the Auld Mug for Alinghi in 2003. But from today, he will officially be known as Sir Russell Coutts. Sir Russell is one of 88 New Zealanders recognised by Helen Clark's Government with the country's highest honours after it abolished titles.

AUCKLAND FORECAST TODAY
Max: 17°C
Min: 8°C (overnight)
Humidity: 90%
Rain to a few showers. Gusty northwest. (Translation: rain, rain, rain...cloudy, rain...yeah rain)

CURRENT WEIRDNESS
40 days to go...

DAILY FOF MOMENT
None. Fail!!!