Saturday Morning with Jack Tame

Elemeno P erupted onto the New Zealand music scene in the early 2000’s, making waves with their pop-rock singalong anthems like Fast Times in Tahoe, Verona, and Every Day’s a Saturday.    They remain one of the country’s biggest-selling rock acts, having graced the stage at nearly every venue in New Zealand at least twice.  This summer, the group is reuniting to take on Rhythm and Alps down in Wānaka.  The members are a bit spread around, with frontman Dave Gibson basing himself stateside in New York.  He told Jack Tame that nowadays when they need the band back together, they set out the bat signal.  “We all congregate, you know, in our headquarters which is located in a cave in Kingsland,” he joked.  “We get the whole band back together and we, you know, do a few a rehearsals.”  “We sound like a terrible Elemeno P covers band for the first two, and then by three, you know, it just seems to come back.”  Gibson told Tame they have a WhatsApp group chat, and every couple of years they jump back on the horse.  “We just really love each other and we love playing and we feel very grateful that there are still people want to come and see us play.”  “We feel very lucky all these years later.”   LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There’s a new addition to the Milne family.   Kevin and his wife recently adopted a new puppy - a four month old golden retriever.   He told Jack Tame it’s just like having a new baby in the house, and he’s wondering whether it was a wise choice for a man of his age.  LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kiwis seem to be getting lonelier.  Recent research from Age Concern revealed the extent of the loneliness and social isolation felt amongst older New Zealanders – with 59% of respondents feeling lonely or isolated recently, and a third feeling like this most of the time.  Main points:  It’s rated as having a similar impact on our health as smoking and obesity   Multiple causes for loneliness including the impact of pandemic, the ageing population, rising cost of living, increasing health concerns and unaffordability, and the trend for families to move overseas   In the UK and Japan, they have established ministers for loneliness within the government to focus on this area – in NSW they launched a parliamentary inquiry into loneliness earlier in the year       What can help?   Addressing underlying causes   Community-based initiatives such as groups, volunteer programmes,   Interestingly social media doesn’t help – 75% of those with social media access reported loneliness and were more likely to report than those without social media, which emphasises the importance of face-to-face connection      What can we do?   Make it your Christmas gift to someone —look around in your family and neighbourhood— loneliness is silent so unlikely people will reach out for help, you need to reach in. If you can’t do it in person (e.g., because living in another part of the country) can you get someone else to connect with your older relatives while you do the same in your neighbourhood?  Try and make it a long-term connection rather than a one-off    LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"Plan a summer escapade to the hot-tub of southern hospitality in irrepressible Dunedin. You’d struggle to find a comparably sized city that serves up such a spoil of fabulously distinctive visitor experiences. Fanning out from the city, the long, plumped and ranging finger of Otago Peninsula, fringed with beaches, scalloped by bays, carpeted in lush pastures, furnished in dry stone walls and studded in volcanic peaks is a world unto itself. Bountiful, bucolic, an urban escape-hatch. Richly blessed with flippered and feathered possibilities, the wildlife alone is a perennial banner attraction, but the peninsula and harbour also abound with invigorating trails." Read Mike's full article here. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

No-Mow November started a few weeks ago. For me it started on the grounds of Tekapo Primary School, where we had a decent discussion about pollinators… especially bumblebees!   Mating season!   The kids love bumblebees! They are gentle and very active – even in the coldest months of the year. They can warm themselves up through wing-beating action while having the wings set to “neutral”.   I told the kids that we have four different species of Bumblebee in New Zealand – all four imported from the UK (in the 1800s), to help with the pollination of plants, crops and trees from all sorts of parts of the world. Mostly to do with the various lengths of their tongues, which pollinate different sized flowers.   Three of the four species are quite easy to find in New Zealand, but the fourth (the short-haired Bumblebee – Bombus subterraneus) is quite rare. It occurs largely in the Mackenzie country and in a few patches of inland of Otago.   When I told the kids that Tekapo Region is where they are found every now and then, the kids pricked up their ears. They wanted to know what it looks like and what sort of flowering plants it gets its nectar and pollen from.   But when I revealed that this bumblebee is now considered extinct in the UK, the interest grew a notch or two. And so did the development of serious questions…   Can we grow the favourite plants in the school grounds? Could we raise their population density in the Tekapo area? And if that is successful: can we ship some fertile queens back to the UK to translocate them to their country and habitat of origin?   A few weeks ago we dug some gardens on the edge of the school grounds and playing field. We sowed some seeds – lots of seeds, provided by the New Zealand Bumblebee Conservation Trust and specialist seed merchants such as Kings Seeds.   Most Gardeners will know these names… Wild Flower World and Geoff and Liz Brunsden… there was an army of support   Zonda sent them a live Bumblebee hive, just to get the kids completely engaged with the Bumbles and the Bees, in anticipation of luring this rare species back to the Mackenzie country – HeadQuarters: Tekapo Primary school!   The Zonda Live BumbleBee hive – my goodness they really have a go at pollinating tomatoes!    The kids learned how to get rid of weeds, fertilise the soil and sow the seeds in patches for the future of these pollinators. There was talk about creating a huge edge around the Sports Field where the grass would be taken off the field and replaced by a colourful melange of flowering plants for the bumble bee whanau.   Now, THAT reminded me of the No-Mow-November we talked about many times before: A monocultural grassland replaced by a colourful meadow of wildflowers for our nectar and pollen eating invertebrates!   There’s even a list of students signing up for the watering duty during the summer Holidays…   I bet Simon (the principal), Maria, Libby, Angela, and Jane will be chuffed.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

BOB’S BEST BUYS   Wine: No.1 Family Cuvee Assemblage Cuvee Marlborough Methode Traditionelle, $36     Why I chose it:   French winemaker Daniel Le Brun and his family pioneered Methode winemaking in Marlborough and have made some of NZ’s best bottle-fermented sparkling wines – always with a French accent.   It’s a blend of three grape varieties; pinot noir, chardonnay and pinot meunier.   It has been cellared for 3-5 years.   This is truly a truly stylish sparkler that offers great value at this price. Perfect Christmas wine – everyone will love it. If it survives Christmas, enjoy it on New Year’s Eve.   What does it taste like?   It tastes like champagne with citrus, apple, and freshly baked baguette crust. It has a seductively creamy texture.     Why it’s a bargain:   It is one-third the price of good champagne but it is certainly not one-third the quality.     Where can you buy it?  Whisky and More, Waikato $34.99  The Hamilton Beer and Wine Co $35.99     Food match?   Freshly shucked oysters               Will it keep?   A few years if stored well (write the date of purchase on the bottle)    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Saturday Morning with Jack Tame Full Show Podcast for Saturday 14th December 2024, Jack chats with Dave Gibson, lead singer of legendary Kiwi band Elemeno P, about their upcoming summer and playing at Rhythm and Alps.  Jack tells us of his immense struggles trying to hang wall decals.  Chef Nici Wickes prepares us for Christmas with some tips on how to make the best out of your turkey.  And, Estelle Clifford gives her thoughts on the newest album for Australian Artist Beckah Amani.  Get the Saturday Morning with Jack Tame Full Show Podcast every Saturday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

GM is pulling out of the self-driving taxi business   General Motors is getting out of the RoboTaxi business, instead focusing on bringing autonomous driving technology to its range of personal and commercial vehicles.   Its "Cruise" cars were taking rides in Houston, Dallas, Phoenix, and the Bay Area. It's been pumping billions into the business, and now says the time and resources needed to scale the business isn't worth it. It says instead it wants to use the team to bring 'semi-autonomous' (known in the industry as L3) to the masses. This would allow your Chevrolet or Cadillac to be able to drive itself on highways or at slow speeds.     If TikTok is banned, what happens next?   “Get ready” is the message from two US lawmakers. Google and Apple must be ready to remove TikTok from their app stores on January 19, they wrote to their CEOs. What does that mean for those who already have it downloaded? It doesn't seem that it'll need to be removed from devices, or that traffic to the app will be blocked. The app will continue to 'work', but because TikTok won't be able to provide support, it will eventually stop working. TikTok says it's "one of the nation’s most popular speech platforms" with 170 million monthly users.   It seems the only thing now to stop the ban is the Supreme Court, or if President Biden or Trump grants a 90-day extension of the January 19th deadline to force a sale.   LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fake   Magazine features writer Birdie Bell meets successful grazier Joe Burt on a dating app and believes she's found her perfect match, but as the relationship intensifies she begins to feel her boyfriend isn't all he has led her to believe (ThreeNow).     No Good Deed   Three very different families compete to buy the same 1920s Spanish-style villa, which they believe will solve all their problems (Netflix).     Elton John: Never Too Late   Elton John looks back on his life and the early days of his 50-year career. As he prepares for his final concert in North America at Dodger Stadium, Elton recounts his struggles and shares how he overcame them to become the icon he is today (Disney+).    LISTEN ABOVE   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

That Christmas    A blizzard hits a seaside town, setting off entwined tales of family, friends, love and loneliness - and Santa making a big mistake (Netflix).      Better Man    The true story of the meteoric rise, dramatic fall, and remarkable resurgence of British pop superstar Robbie Williams.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I’m still stuck on turkey for Christmas! I never think we’ll include it in the menu but in the end it just screams ‘festive season’, and I can’t resist.      How to keep the darn thing from drying out?   Stuff stuff under the skin of the breast – herb butter, chopped spinach, sausage, bacon.   Consider using a large oven bag to cook it in.   Rest the cooked bird on its breast so that the juices all run into the white meat.   Brining can work too, but who has the time or fridge space to do it!       Stuffing:    Breadcrumbs as a base with herbs, onions etc – make sure you soak the crumbs in milk.    Sausage or ground meat   Rice & mushrooms   Chorizo and corn bread    Consider a punch of sweetness like currants, apples or cranberries.      Gravy:    The roasting dish scrapings are your best friend, so always add in some halved onions and oil at the start of the cooking.    Once cooked, remove the turkey and set aside to rest. Sprinkle ¼ cup plain flour into the roasting dish, mix to a paste with the fat and pan scrapings. Add a splash of wine or bubbles and simmer for 1 minute then add in stock, vege water or plain water and seasoning and whisk or stir for 5-6 minutes until you have a dark, lump free gravy.         Leftovers:    Make a pie.    Fry turkey meat and leftover veges in a pan, drizzle in some pomegranate molasses and once a little crispy scatter over some lettuce or baby spinach leaves for a fab salad.    Serve lettuce, warmed turkey and gravy in soft white rolls.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The obvious question is why?  Why would you do it? Why put yourself through it?    No one was compelling us. No one had a gun to our heads. We weren’t competing for a million dollars on a reality TV show.    So why, two weeks before Christmas, with all of the stress and pressure of the silly season, in the midst of that heavy, humid, tropical Auckland heat, with Mava seven months pregnant, why would we decide that now was the time to put up wall stickers in our baby’s room?   To be accurate, I’m not sure if they were wall stickers or wall decals. I don’t really know the difference. All I know is they were two enormous trees —three metres high— that each came in multiple parts needing to be perfectly stuck to the wall. Different branches and shrubbery had to be placed together perfectly, lest one half of the tree sit lower than the other. One mistake, and your eye gets drawn immediately to the error: a tiny gap of wall in the seam where the pieces should connect, or a lump of bunched up sticker creased together, a permanent reminder of stress and incompetence.    My first experience with them was when I bought a four-metre-wide vinyl world map for my old apartment wall. The map was exquisite, but it required two giant sheets to be perfectly aligned. I nailed the first —level, with no creases or lines— but tilted the second sheet by just one or two degrees. When you’re sticking them to the wall, you start at the top, so by the time I’d worked my way down to the Tropic of Capricorn it was obvious I was in trouble. For years afterwards I stared at the wall, consumed by the overlap which cut out three quarters of the territory between Adelaide and Perth, and a crease which created an unexpected mountain range east of the Falkland Islands. Trust me when I say this: even if visitors don’t notice it, you notice it.  I know what you’re thinking. Wall stickers are tacky? Well, you’re certainly right in the literal sense of the word. Given they would be the predominant visual features in our baby’s room, Mava had decided it wasn’t the sort of thing you for which she wanted an el-cheapo job from Temu. And given she is two people at the moment, we figured I should be the one on the ladder.  Looking back at those few hours though, I think the fact the tree wall stickers were expensive only added to the pressure.    As I teetered on the step ladder:  “A little to the left!”    Hands out-stretched to the wall,   “A little to the right”     I felt beads of sweat run down the bridge of my nose.    “No, not like that! Smooth with the palm of your hand.”   I don’t know how hanging wall stickers compares to hanging wallpaper, but it was a team effort in the end. From the peeling of the stickers to the spirit-levelling, to rubbing out the creases and bubbles against the wall.    In the end though, the real measure of success isn’t the fact the trees look fantastic (although they do).    The real success is that somehow our relationship survived. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Black Seeds have been jamming for over a quarter of a century.  They’re famous for their part in shaping the modern Kiwi music scene, and have been blending funk, soul, dub, with South Pacific influences to develop a uniquely Kiwi sound since beginning in 1998.  To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the album that gave them their breakthrough, The Black Seeds are doing a special release of ‘On The Sun’.  Singer, percussionist, and founding member Daniel Weetman joined Francesca Rudkin to discuss the anniversary and the band’s extensive history and influence.  LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There are many organisations that rely on donations or volunteering from the community in order to achieve their goals – but which one should a person be doing?  Ed McKnight joined Francesca Rudkin for a chat about what the best ways to give back are, and how much you should give if you plan on giving financially.   LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Up and coming Tāmaki Makaurau band Corrella returns with their new album, Skeletons.  The 11-track collection is filled with soulful roots reggae, with touches of funk, gospel, pop, soul, and even a bit of country. The band rose to prominence in 2023 with their single ‘Blue Eyed Māori’, which holds the record for most weeks ever spent at the top of the NZ Singles Chart.  Estelle Clifford joined Francesca Rudkin to give her thoughts on Skeletons.  LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

To Die For by David Baldacci   Travis Devine has become a pro at adapting to any situation to accomplish the mission set in front of him. Whether it’s a high-powered corporate setting or small-town community, Devine will become the man for the job. His time as an Army Ranger and on the financial battlefields of Wall Street gave him the skills he needed, and he’s put them to good use. But this time it’s not his skills that send him to Seattle to aid the FBI in escorting orphaned, twelve-year-old Betsy Odom to a meeting with her uncle, who’s under investigation for RICO charges. Instead, he’s hoping to lie low and keep off the radar of an enemy that he evaded on a train in Switzerland and who has been after him ever since—the girl on the train.  But as Devine gets to know Betsy, questions begin to arise around the death of her parents. Betsy is adamant that they had never used drugs, but the police in the small rural town where they died insist the Odoms died of an overdose. Devine starts digging for answers, and what he finds points to a conspiracy bigger than he could’ve ever imagined. The question is, how do Betsy, her uncle, and various government agencies all fit into it.  It might finally be time for Devine and the girl on the train to come face-to-face, and when that happens, Devine is going to find himself unsure of who are his allies and who are his enemies. And in some cases, they might well be both.     Inside Mercedes F1: Life in the Fast Lane by Matt Whyman    With exclusive and unprecedented access to the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team, award-winning writer Matt Whyman charts the journey of the Silver Arrows as they face their greatest challenge: the race back to the front. Once untouchable, the winner of seven Drivers' World Championships and eight consecutive Constructors' World Championships confront the reality of no longer being F1's top dog.  Whyman, fully embedded across the 2023 and 2024 seasons, follows decorated drivers Lewis Hamilton and George Russell, Team Principal Toto Wolff, and the extraordinary men and women that design, build and race the team's cars as they fight back – on and off the track.  From the tension of pre-season testing to the thrill and glamour of race weekends – including blue riband events such as Silverstone, Monaco, and the first-ever Las Vegas Grand Prix – the book provides fascinating insight into the world of the fastest sport on earth and one of its most successful teams. Whyman reveals the pressure cooker environment of elite competition, shares the secrets of teamwork and high performance, and foregrounds the remarkable individuals who push to the limits in their quest for victory. The book will also include never-before-seen photographs of life inside the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team.    LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"Ōamaru is undeniably one of New Zealand’s greatest towns, with its stately and seductive good looks, stirring local wildlife, astonishing heritage treasures, and alluring artisan verve. And it’s all anchored with a striking sense of community pride and passion. Eye-catching sights and an embracing spirit are what Ōamaru is all about (don’t miss a selfie with the beloved Humpty Dumpty statue in the stupendous public gardens). Whether you’re travelling as a couple, or enjoying a happy family holiday, Ōamaru delivers ins spades with a wealth of enticing experiences." Read Mike's full article here. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kevin Milne recently made an investment into a local art piece – a work called ‘Black Beard’ by Simon Kerr.  The former leader of the notorious Hole in the Wall Gang, Kerr has shifted focus from crime to painting.  He also recently saw the huge Banksy exhibition at Wellington’s Tākina exhibition centre, and it got him thinking about the contrast in his and Kerr’s circumstances.  LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This year, Kate Hall has been participating in a challenge.   At the beginning of the year she set out to only eat food products that were created in New Zealand, and with 2024 coming to a close, she decided to reflect on how it went.   She joined Francesca Rudkin for a chat about the wins, surprises, and failures, and has created a blog so those interested in eating local know where to shop.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Saturday Morning with Jack Tame Full Show Podcast for Saturday 7th of December 2024, Francesca Rudkin chats with Dan Weetman of the Black Seeds as the band celebrate the 20th anniversary of the album that helped them break through, ‘On the Sun’.  Francesca questions whether our local airlines are being less reliable or if we are just complaining more.  Hugh Grant is back in a film role completely opposite to how we've seen him before - Chris Schulz balances two very different vibes with his film picks.  And if you could fit summer in a sentence it might sound something like 'mangoes and ice cream'. Chef Nici Wickes drops a delicious recipe for a seasonal treat.  Get the Saturday Morning with Jack Tame Full Show Podcast every Saturday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is the moment when adult Huhu Beetles emerge from their rotting logs. If you are nearby a forest (especially a pine forest) you will be familiar with the sharp collision noises on your kitchen window when preparing dinner. Those huhu beetles fly towards the light and crash audibly.   They’ve spent a few years as huhu grubs in dead wood, where they help with the decomposition – ashes to ashes, dust to dust!   The grubs, of course, are a famous New Zealand delicacy: massive bits of protein can be quickly fried in a pan with a bit of salt and pepper (or even other fancy condiments). Just be prepared to prick a few holes in the body of this massive grub so that you won’t get any exploding internal body segments! Happened to me – just look at my kitchen ceiling!   Some kids would be keen to help you out in the kitchen – it’s practical curricular topic to discuss the necessary search for alternative proteins in our country.   Talking about alternative proteins: Slugs and Snails are a real pest in the garden at this time of the year – moisture and new plant growth encourages them, and eggshell barriers don’t work at all   Control measures that work:    Weed control will expose them to predators (thrushes). Give your local song thrush (which might be nesting in or near your garden) an “anvil” to smack the shells of snails on – a large flat (decorative!) rock is perfect.  Using Bait pellets in a pottle dug into soil. A take-away container with lid on and bait inside, with holes cut in the side of the container to let slugs and snails in but prevent dogs and cats from getting at the bait.  An alternative version is to use some off cuts (15-30 cm long) of plastic wastepipe with a diameter of 50 to 75mm, which allows access to slugs and snails, but not to birds. Put some bait in the pipes and anchor them down with a heavy brick. They also love to hide in half grapefruit skins (upside-down).  Encourage Carabid beetles (Ground beetles) – they often feed on slugs and snail juveniles and eggs.  “Hunt-and-kill evening” with the kids (at full moon?) – always a good excursion after dinner. Grab a headlight torch and a bucket to collect them in… night sleuthing! Remember: these hermaphrodites can produce a few hundred eggs each, so reducing populations now makes good sense.   Trapping under cloth, planks, and other artificial cover. Slugs and snails love that cover as it increases relative humidity and stops them from drying out.  Around the wooden outside of raised beds, put a strip of copper foil, almost all the way around, plus a sizeable 6 Volt battery providing power to both ends of the copper strip. This creates a nice current that they are reluctant to cross, and it protects your vegies/seedlings.  But... why not eat them?   In France, the brown garden snail (originally from North Africa) is the second-preferred species of escargot for human consumption.   Collect the fattest ones and eat them! That will make you an invasivore!     Escargot - pourquoi pas?   Cantareus aspersus is, to us, an exotic species of snail. It is commonly accepted that it was introduced to New Zealand by the French around the early 1860s. The reason for this is really simple: the brown garden snail is highly prized as escargot in the Mediterranean region. In fact, it has always been the preferred back-up for the slightly larger, but closely related vineyard snail (Helix pomatia).   Recently I read that European populations of Cantareus have become depleted as a result of non-sustainable over-harvesting of wild specimens. These days the species is the subject of heliciculture, the captive rearing of these delicacies, also known as snail farming.   I suppose there may be a few people out there who can set aside the horrific idea of eating invertebrates (quelle horreur!) and who would like to be part of the latest ecological craze of harvesting a truly wonderful resource that yields fat-free, cholesterol-free protein from the comfort of your own back yard.   I have tried this recipe many times and demonstrated it on live television with consenting adults (Good Morning show) and absolutely wildly enthusiastic kids (What Now?).   Snail control á la Gourmet involves collecting the finest, fittest and fattest garden snails from the threatened garden areas. Put them in big jars and "starve" them for 4 to 5 days on old white bread. This "starving" is an important procedure.    As you will undoubtedly remember from experiments, carried out at your primary school's nature table, the snails have a habit of excreting dark, stringy poopy-plops. I think it's time to inform you of the fact that these dark, stringy poopy-plops will have to be evacuated from the snail's gut system before cooking, simply because they taste like… yes, they taste rather bad!   White bread will slowly replace the dark excrement, and it improves the ta

TikTok set to be banned in the US after losing appeal   TikTok may be banned in the United States from early next year. An appeals court has upheld a law requiring ByteDance to divest TikTok in the country by early next year, or be banned. The company hoped the court would agree with its argument the law was unconstitutional, and impacted the free speech of its 170 million US users. Unfortunately for ByteDance, the court upheld the law, saying it "was the culmination of extensive, bipartisan action by the Congress and by successive presidents".      AI can now accurately predict the weather   DeepMind, a Google company that develops A.I. applications says they've found a way to create reliable 15 day weather forecasts, saying these could be life-saving because they give people more time to prepare for extreme weather. What's more, it can create the 15-day forecast in minutes, compared to hours with a super-computer.  One of the senior researchers at DeepMind says it's like they've “made decades worth of improvements in one year".    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Black Doves   When a spy posing as a politician's wife learns her lover has been murdered, an old assassin friend joins her on a quest for truth — and vengeance (Netflix).     Sight Unseen   Homicide detective Tess Avery is forced to quit the job she loves after nearly killing her partner and being diagnosed as clinically blind. Reluctant to accept help, Tess uses an assistance app and connects with Sunny Patel, a professional seeing-eye guide and agoraphobe living 3,000 miles away. Haunted by the unsolved cases she left behind, Tess uses a hidden camera and earpiece, while Sunny remotely steers Tess through life's obstacles —and crimes— as the two challenge preconceptions about ability, trust and where to draw the line (ThreeNow).     Man on the Inside   A retired professor gets a new lease on life when a private investigator hires him to go undercover inside a San Francisco retirement home (Netflix).    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Heretic   Two young missionaries become ensnared in a deadly game of cat and mouse when they knock on the door of the diabolical Mr. Reed. Trapped in his home, they must turn to their faith if they want to make it out alive.      Our Little Secret    After discovering their significant others are siblings, two resentful exes must spend Christmas under one roof while hiding their romantic history.     LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The magic of ice cream in a cone is never lost on me and with this vegan version you can keep everyone happy this summer.    The mangoes are perfect right now – pricewise and ripeness. Get them while you can and make this creamy ‘ice cream’.      Ingredients:  1 cup chopped & frozen mango    1 large banana, chopped and frozen     2 tbsps. coconut cream or milk   Coconut to serve    Passionfruit syrup to serve         Method:  You do need a blender to make this recipe, though a food processor may do the trick too.   Place your ingredients into the blender and pulse until it is smooth and creamy (it’s the banana that gives it this gorgeous texture), then either serve immediately or freeze in containers. It will freeze to quite hard so give it 30 minutes to soften for optimal scooping.     Scoop into cones and garnish with whatever you fancy, but I love the tropical flavours of mango, coconut and passionfruit but go wild with whatever you like – popcorn, sprinkles, crushed crunchie bars, freeze-dried fruit…      Nici’s note:   By keeping a stash of chopped, frozen fruit in a container in the freezer you’re only ever 10 minutes and a blender away from ice cream!  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I started counting headlines about Air New Zealand two weeks ago after my flight from Nelson to Auckland was delayed by about an hour.    Then last Saturday my partners flight from Napier to Auckland was delayed after a bird strike. Neither delay was hugely consequential – just a little irritating.     But since then, there have been a number of press articles about issues with planes.    On the 30th of November, an Air NZ plane sat on the tarmac in Hong Kong for hours before being canned after a fuel fault and then crew sickness.    An Air NZ flight from Wellington to Sydney was diverted to Auckland on the 1st of December after engine problems.    And a flight from Gisborne to Auckland on the 2nd of December returned to Gisborne after engine problems. The plane landed safely after shutting down an engine shortly after departure.    Investigations are underway for both engine issues.    Anecdotally you don’t have to search too hard to find someone who’ll share a story of a flight delayed or cancelled, often at the last minute.    It got me wondering if we’re experiencing more incidents, delays and cancellations than before; or are we just complaining more? Do we feel we can complain more because quite often we’re paying good money to fly around our little country?    Recent figures released by the Ministry of Transport, which compare Jetstar and Air NZ’s services on the main trunk jet routes they compete on, show that in September Air New Zealand recorded 80.4% for on-time departures (within 15 minutes of schedule), and Jetstar 78.0%.    For on-time arrivals, Air New Zealand recorded 82.1% and Jetstar 80.6%. In January, Air New Zealand was sitting at 88% and it dropped to 77% in March this year. So reliability has fluctuated throughout the year.   Another interesting figure - Air New Zealand’s cancellation rate was 1.4%, more than twice Jetstar’s which was 0.6%.   So yeah, the stats could be better. We all accept airlines can’t control the weather, but Air New Zealand has had other issues to grapple with.     Planes out of action due to high global demand for engine maintenance meant 10 jets were out of service in the first half of this financial year.  It is not expected this will be sorted until 2026.    On top of this, the travel market has been a mixed bag, leading the airline to announce this week they will be running fewer flights on some domestic routes in 2025. Who knows what this will do to prices?    A 1.4% cancellation rate is tiny in the overall scheme of things – but when combined with other disruptions and high prices, Air New Zealand has its challenges cut out for them. For so long they have been a beloved New Zealand brand, but since Covid it’s been like pushing a Dreamliner uphill. Have you run out of patience yet?  The Air New Zealand service and staff may be fabulous, but as long as long as the fleet and financials remain under pressure it looks like it will be difficulty to quiet the headlines. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From NZ Music Commission - Award-winning Aotearoa artist AJA has today shared her timeless, unravelling and hypnotic bilingual debut album KĀWAI. 7 years in the making, today’s body of work from this bona fide talent is a truly authentic display of an artist finding her voice and inviting listeners into the inner-workings of her world. Alongside producer Mara TK (Electric Wire Hustle, Meeting House Records), and a talented network of band members, collaborators, and features, AJA (Ngāti Raukawa, Āti Awa ki Whakarongotai, Ngāti Toa Rangatira, Ngāti Porou) effortlessly blends her ethereal melodies and flexes mesmerizing vocal agility with introspective musings on the world around her. “KĀWAI is a reflection of who I am, who I love, what I have respect for and what I value,” says the artist.”See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Cat who Cracked a Cold Case by LT Shearer A crime gone unsolved for five years . . . The life of Lulu Lewis, a retired police detective, took an unforgettable turn when Conrad first introduced himself to her. Unforgettable because:a) Conrad is a special cat.b) Special because he told her so.Yes, that’s right, he can talk. (For obvious reasons, this ability remains a closely guarded secret while they live together on her canal boat, The Lark.) Visiting an old friend in Manchester, the pair stumble across a chilling news report about a trail of bodies found across the city that echo a string of cold case murders from Lulu’s past in London. Joining forces with the local police, the pair must use every ounce of their intuition to find a connection between the seemingly random killings – and track down a ruthless murderer.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Whooping Cough A national epidemic has just been declared in New Zealand. Reported 260+ cases diagnosed in past four weeks. Whooping cough is potentially a fatal disease especially in younger children and babies less than one year. Three babies died last year in New Zealand from whooping cough when we didn’t have an epidemic! What is whooping cough? Caused by a bacteria called pertussis. Damages lining of throat and lungs causing cough. Cough can go on for weeks or months – called ‘100’ day cough. Very easy to catch – spreads through the air – cough/sneezing - one person can on average spread to 12 others. What are the signs? Depends on age - Younger the child more at risk of becoming very unwell. Starts with runny nose, temp and sneezing 1-2 weeks Cough develops, very irritating, bouts of coughing with gasping for air between coughs, may last minutes and may vomit after cough. Older children typically whoop as they gasp for breath. Younger infants less than 6 months: go blue with cough spasms, stop breathing, not able to feed, get exhausted – may need hospital. Gradually over weeks, up to 3 months cough gets better. In older adults and children – symptoms less severe. Who is at risk? Partially immunized children. Babies too young for their first immunization at 6 weeks. Children with heart or lung conditions. How is it treated? Antibiotics may reduce the severity if given early and can reduce spread. However, there is no treatment for the cough once it starts. Babies: The cough may make the baby difficult to breath and unable to feed. Sometimes will need to go to hospital for oxygen treatment and feeding through a nasal tube. How do you prevent it and when to see your doctor? Immunization is the only protection. In particular pregnant mums after 16 weeks should be immunized as gives protection to baby in first6 weeks of life. Partially immunized children at risk. See your doctor if your child has difficulty breathing or looks unwell. Call ambulance if child or baby goes blue coughing, stops breathing or seizure. Current outbreak The latest ESR data, which covers the four weeks up to 8 November, showed rates were highest among infants less than a year old, those most vulnerable to severe disease, and with a high proportion requiring hospitalisation. It also identified hotspots in in Wairarapa, Southern, Whanganui and Capital and Coast health districts. Wairarapa had 13 cases, which was by far the highest rate at 25.4 cases per 100,000 people. That was followed by Southern at 11.6 (42 cases), Whanganui at 11.4 (8 cases) and Capital and Coast at 10.4 (34 cases).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Don’t you love coming across something so unexpected and unusual, on a road-trip? That’s how most visitors feel when they first clap eyes on the bewitching glory and striking landforms of the Paritea Clay Cliffs. It’s one of the most popular geo-sites in the Waitaki Whitestone Geopark, just minutes from Ōmarama, on Henburn Road. It is absolutely worth the 15 minute diversion off the main road to savour this serrated geological wonder, complete with a slot canyon to shimmy through.  Mike Yardley.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A book review in recognition of it being Movember The book I want to discuss is A Life Less Punishing by Matt Heath. I was asked to read the book in preparation for a podcast with Francesca Rudkin. My initial response was lukewarm – was worried it would be another celebrity self-help publication with lots of fridge-magnet quotes about loving life and being the best person you can. I was very pleasantly surprised about how good it was. Was so good I interviewed Matt on a webinar recently that Umbrella held for Movember. Interesting points about the book: Matt wrote it largely to try and help himself and sort his own life out Decided to read a history of world philosophy and see what he could learn – somewhat of an unconventional approach! He draws a lot on the Stoics and does a great job of explaining their philosophy of life, which is quite different to the staunch, unfeeling image often portrayed of them The book goes through a whole range of common emotions that men experience and discusses why we have these feelings and what do we do with them, particularly the difficult ones like shame, anger, guilt, sadness etc Matt is very honest about some of his own less than flattering experiences and some difficult times in his life e.g., relationship break up, death of his mum His level of honesty and self-reflection is itself inspirational for guys My main takeaway points that I believe are really helpful for guys to consider in Movember: Give away your fantasy life – the life that you could have – your imagined life Instead settle and accept that you have this moment – you can learn from the past but you don’tactually live there – you live here and now so pay attention to the here and now You can make choices about your emotions – they’re not inevitable nor uncontrollable, although they are impacted by the past Get yourself an imaginary coach or guide who is setting you challenges and helping you overcome them – for those with religious tendencies this could be a spiritual guide, for those who aren’t of that persuasion choose someone you respect and look up to – matt chose Willie Apiata I’d recommend this book to men over 40 as they’re likely to find it very relatable. I’d recommend it to men under 40 as it gives you some excellent life lessons without you having to live through them. And I’d recommend it to women who have a male partner in their lives – might give you a really good insight into what makes them tick.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

White fluffy pests – Mealybugs One of the rottenest pests gardeners can get on their plants are Pseudococcuslongispinus, or any of its close relatives. Longispinusis derived from the word meaning “with a long spine or tail” – so we’re talking about the Long-Tailed Mealybug. To identify these insects, you’ll need good eyesight. The way to start your identification is to look for dense, white patches of silkall over your plants, especially over the leaves and on the stems. If you scrape off the fluffy white deposits, you’ll get to the insects hiding underneath that fluff. Big ones and smaller ones all living together out of the rain and out of the sun. 1-4mm in size. They eat a massive range of plants, both edibles and ornamentals. The spines and tails give the game away – there are also droplets of honeydew in amongst the mix. These insects feed by plumbing their mouthparts into the veins of the plants where they extract honeydew, a sweet sap that contains Nitrogen which makes the young bugs grow. Ah! Yes … the group of sap-sucking bugs is the only invertebrate cohort that can be called “Bugs” in the naming game of Entomology! They ingest the sap and poop out honeydew. But their numbers and activities on your plants are debilitating for the plants, causing yellowing and ill-thrift, plus black sooty mould all over the place. Control is difficult: the white, fluffy, silky stuff makes the bugs waterproof. Water-based sprays cannot penetrate through their skin, unless you use some systemic insecticide that is taken up by the plants. Groventive is such a systemic spray but read the label and you find it cannot be used on edible crops! Conquerer Oil and Neem Oil are non-systemic treatments that will give the immature Mealybugs a run for their money (suffocation and inhabit their feeding from the plant). But it will require regular spraying (once a week) until all bugs have starved to death or suffocated. Thoroughly cover the infested plant – and don’t forget the underside of the leaves too!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ludwig - (TVNZ+ from Sunday) David Mitchell stars in this British comedy about a reclusive crossword puzzle setter whose life is upended when his identical twin, a detective, vanishes. Taking on his brother’s identity, he hunts for clues in the disappearance. Rebus -(ThreeNow) A BBC drama based on the Ian Rankin series of books about a Scottish detective who is drawn into a violent conflict that turns personal when his brother crosses the linein order to provide for his family.  Beatles 64 - (Disney+)Produced by Martin Scorcese, this new documentary looks at The Beatles’ 1964 US debut and the Beatlemania fan frenzy that followed, as seen through rare behind-the-scenes footage.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Listen to the Saturday Morning with Jack Tame Full Show Podcast for Saturday 30 November. Get the Saturday Morning with Jack Tame Full Show Podcast every Saturday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The sequel to Disney’s smash-hit animation Moana has sailed into cinemas this week. In the first film, Moana was chosen by her wayfinding ancestors and the mysterious forces of the ocean to restore the natural order of things. The new film sees Moana reuniting with demi-God Maui for a new seafaring adventure. Both stories champion Pacific mythology and Moana 2 is making history as the first indigenous-language film to premiere globally alongside its English counterpart – with a Te Reo Māori version released simultaneously this week. Cast members Temuera Morrison, Awhimai Fraser and David Fane join Jack Tame in studio to talk about the film. LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australia passes its under-16 social media ban While this law has good intentions, how it will actually work is unclear. Unfortunately, there's not a good way to verify ages (or even people) online which makes this an almost impossible task for the social media companies.  Credit Cards could be one way to verify those aged over 18, but it also means that only those who can get a credit card can use the service. But this age restriction is 16, so there's nothing that exists. Unless the government wants to roll out a 16+ government issued ID. But the government is already ruling out the use of official documents, such as a passport, due to privacy concerns -- so what on earth do they do?   Meta is building a $10 billion undersea cable that spans the globe When your company accounts for 10% of all fixed internet traffic, and 22% of mobile internet traffic, you know the pipes are important! Reporting from TechCrunch says they are planning to build a 40,000+ kilometre cable network around the world that will take around 10 years to complete.  Initial plans show the cable going from the US east coast to South Africa, up to India, down to Australia (Darwin), then up to the west coast of the US - purposely avoiding places of "geopolitical tension" such as the Red Sea, and the South China Sea.    It's enticing for Meta because they'd get to prioritize its own traffic (a win for their customers) and allow Meta to tap into AI infrastructure in India.  LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Goodrich - (in cinemas) Art dealer Andy Goodrich's life gets upended when his younger wife leaves him and enters a 90-day rehab program while also threatening divorce. Andy takes charge of their 9-year-old twins, thrusting him into the world of modern parenthood for which he is deeply unprepared. With his career falling by the wayside, he soon leans on his pregnant daughter for support, ultimately becomingthe father she never had. Absolution - (on Prime Video from December 3) Starring Liam Neeson, who says this will be his last action film at 72 years of age. An ageing Boston gangster tries to reconnect with his family and fix the mistakes from the past, but his criminal lifestyle soon threatens to destroy everything he holds dear.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A cruise ship is offering to take Americans on a world cruise for the entire time Trump is in power. It visits 140 countries over four years. Trump aside – it wouldn’t be a bad way to round off your time on the planet, would it? Or wouldn’t it? Jack Tame speaks to Kevin Milne about the $40,000 a year expedition and whether Trump’s administration could tide New Zealand over the employee shortage. LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Next year, the Auckland Philharmonia will perform an incredible one-night-only performance of ‘Gene Kelly: A Life in Music’.   The show is a mesmerising trip down memory lane, with a combination of film clips, stories and live performance highlighting the legendary dancer, director and choreographer Gene Kelly – who celebrated and popularised dance within mainstream cinema.   Leading the orchestra, is musical conductor extraordinaire Neil Thomson, who has worked with orchestras across the world.   He's currently Principal Conductor and Artistic Director at Orquestra Filarmônica de Goiás (Philharmonic Orchestra of Goiás).  Thomson told Jack Tame he has a personal connection with this show, having done a many of the films live with symphony orchestra around 10-15 years ago.  “I was booked to do Singing in the Rain at the Albert Hall,” he said, explaining that it was the first time the film had been done in that format.  “About a month before the show, I got this email and the title was ‘From Mrs Gene Kelly’,” he revealed.  “And I had this very friendly note just saying she was going to be introducing the show, and it would be nice to meet me, and everything.”  Thomson says that he and Patricia got on rather well, and began to work together more often, leading to this very show highlighting the extent of Gene Kelly’s musical talent.  “The films have been absolutely scrubbed up,” he told Tame.  “You’ve never seen prints like it. I mean, it’s fantastic, they’re so clean. The sound is so clean.”  Tickets for all shows at the Auckland Arts Festival are available at www.aaf.co.nz/  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kevin Milne has an old sign hanging up in his garage.   He picked it up from a garage sale as a curiosity, but it came from an Auckland Pub in the 1980’s.  The sign states that any known gang member or person wearing gang patches or emblems will not be permitted in the hotel.   Kevin’s always found it a bit funny, and he’s wondering why people would feel safer not knowing if there’s a gang member next to them.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Released on November 15th, Shawn is the fifth studio album from Shawn Mendes, and it features him at his most intimate and honest.  The album details everything that’s happened in the two years since his abrupt cancellation of his Wonder world tour, and the public spectacle the unravelling of his relationship with Camila Cabello became.   Estelle Clifford joined Jack Tame to give her thoughts on the release.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From Here to the Great Unknown by Lisa Marie Presley and Riley Keough   Born to an American myth and raised in the wilds of Graceland, Lisa Marie Presley tells her whole story for the first time in this raw, riveting, one-of-a-kind memoir faithfully completed by her daughter, Riley Keough.  In 2022, Lisa Marie Presley asked her daughter to help finally finish her long-gestating memoir.  A month later, Lisa Marie was dead, and the world would never know her story in her own words, never know the passionate, joyful, caring, and complicated woman that Riley loved and grieved.  Riley got the tapes that her mother had recorded for the book, laid in her bed, and listened as Lisa Marie told story after story about smashing golf carts together in the yards of Graceland, about the unconditional love she felt from her father, about being upstairs, just the two of them. About getting dragged screaming out of the bathroom as she ran towards his body on the floor. About living in Los Angeles with her mother, getting sent to school after school, always kicked out, always in trouble. About her singular, lifelong relationship with Danny Keough, about being married to Michael Jackson, what they shared in common. About motherhood. About deep addiction. About ever-present grief. Riley knew she had to fulfill her mother's wish to reveal these memories, incandescent and painful, to the world.  To make her mother known.  This extraordinary book is composed of both Lisa Marie's and Riley's voice, a mother and daughter communicating across the transom of death as they try to heal each other. Profoundly moving and deeply revealing, From Here to the Great Unknown is a book like no other-the last words of the only child of a true legend.     In Too Deep by Lee Child and Andrew Child   Reacher had no idea where he was. No idea how he had got there. But someone must have brought him. And shackled him. And whoever had done those things was going to rue the day. That was for damn sure.  Jack Reacher wakes up, alone, in the dark, handcuffed to a makeshift bed. His right arm has suffered some major damage. His few possessions are gone. He has no memory of getting there.  The last thing Reacher can recall is the car he hitched a ride in getting run off the road. The driver was killed.  His captors assume Reacher was the driver's accomplice and patch up his wounds as they plan to make him talk.  A plan that will backfire spectacularly . . .    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mike Yardley admits he’s a child at heart, and believes that nothing can reawaken your inner child like the escapist innocence, magic, and sparkle of Disney.  On his visit to LA recently, he decided to stop by the Disneyland Resort and swing through the parks.  He joined Jack Tame to discuss the dos and don’ts for those eyeing up a Disney holiday.  Read Mike’s full article here.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Christmas is coming, bringing with it an overabundance of waste.  If you’re interested in making your Christmas celebrations a little more sustainable, Kate Hall has a few tips and tricks, including a list of over a hundred sustainable present ideas.  She joined Jack Tame for a chat about gifts they’ve given and received in the past, as well as explained the “no gift” Christmases her family has done – focusing instead on quality time or acts of service.  LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Saturday Morning with Jack Tame Full Show Podcast for Saturday 23 November 2024, conductor extraordinaire Neil Thomson joins Jack to discuss the world of orchestra, the legacy of dancer and director Gene Kelly and a spectacular one-night-only performance with the Auckland Philharmonia.  Jack shares some very exciting news!  Wicked has landed in cinemas after gaining major pop culture momentum this year - does it deliver?  Plus, chef Nici Wickes shares a recipe dear to her heart.  Get the Saturday Morning with Jack Tame Full Show Podcast every Saturday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A moth or so ago I was walking around the Halswell Quarry, looking for native bees. We have about 28 species of these bees in New Zealand, and the unfortunate thing is that we know very little about these creatures.  A new book by Rachel Weston described how these tiny bees make holes in the ground where their larvae (babies) are raised. The air space around those tunnels is quite busy, with bees coming and going constantly; some air traffic control could well be a useful asset to these tiny habitats!    I didn’t just find a heap of native bees but also a few holes of significant size: conically shaped holes with a diameter of at least 30 millimetres, situated in a dry bit of soil, protected from regular rain fall.   It reminded me of the holes I used to have under the eaves of our old open car port.   In the pit of these holes live a very clever Neuropteran insects, known as Antlions. The cool thing is that this extraordinary species is the only “antlion” endemic to New Zealand – it’s ours and it lives nowhere else in the world.   The fully-grown adult is a sizeable lacewing with beautiful wings, shaped by a multitude of fine veins. It’s not a strong flyer, but elegant when it climbs up the vegetation around the area where it grew up. This insect feeds on pollen and small insects, but it is not very long-lived.     The larvae (young versions) of these antlions are the ones that create those magnificent holes in the soil through clever movement of their bodies. Excavation is a fine art.    They are predators, meat eaters, and the holes are their traps. These predators are equipped with a mean set of jaws.  When an insect ventures into the realm of these antlion babies, they will tumble down the steepish slope, down to the bottom in the centre. That’s where the antlion larva is waiting to grab its prey with impressive, sharp mouthparts that look like pincers.   Their diet is any invertebrate that is small enough to be subdued: crawling caterpillars, small beetles, native bees, ants that made navigation errors, etc.    The coolest part of the antlion’s arsenal is the tactic of making the potential prey lose their footing!   As soon as an ant tumbles down the slope and dislodges some sand or bits of soil, the antlion baby starts tossing some soil, throwing sand uphill in the direction of the prey to make it lose its balance!   And of course I can’t help fuelling the fight by dropping some soil particles into the antlion’s clever trap – now this is a fight to watch!   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

BOB’S BEST BUYS  Wine: Tohu 2024 Rose, Nelson $18.99    Why I chose it:  It tastes as good as it looks. Its pink, white and gold label captures the essence of Christmas. It’s a crowd-pleaser – who could possibly not like this wine?  2024 was a great Nelson vintage.    What does it taste like?  Pale straw-coloured rose with restrained guava, pomegranate, wildflowers and raspberry flavours. Pristine wine with appealing purity and a seamless texture. A hint of sweetness is balanced by gentle, fruity acidity to give a pleasantly dry finish.    Why it’s a bargain An exceptional wine at a great price.    Where can you buy it?       The Good Wine Co, Auckland $15.99 First Glass Wines and Spirits, Auckland $16.99 Blackmarket.co.nz, Auckland $16.99        Food match?   Perfect with the snapper that I plan to catch in the New Year.    Will it keep?    Drink up!    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

WhatsApp's transcribing your (annoying) voice notes  Got a friend who loves a voice note but you don't want to listen to their ramblings? WhatsApp's new AI feature will transcribe the note for you to read. Hurray!  The feature is rolling out globally to Android and iOS users “in the coming weeks”, according to the company.  This is a fun addition because it's faster to talk, but it's quicker to read. Now you get the best of both worlds.    Bitcoin is approaching $100,000  Donald Trump's presidential win and his love for crypto has buoyed the digital currency to reach record highs. It broke $98,000 for the first time on Thursday.  Bitcoin has gained more than 130% so far this year, and 40% just since the presidential election.  A fun aside: in 2010, a programmer named Laszlo Hanyecz made history by purchasing two pizzas for 10,000 bitcoins - a world first real Bitcoin transaction. They were worth just fractions of a cent each. Today those 10,000 bitcoins would be valued at over $980 million.    Amazon is investing $4 billion in ChatGPT's rival  If it feels like deja vu, it's because it is. This is the second $4 billion investment Amazon has made just this year. A condition of the deal is that Anthropic must use AWS for their primary cloud provider and will use Amazon’s AI chips to develop its most advanced models.    Rumours the ChatGPT Web Browser is coming  Reports in The Information suggest you could ditch Google's Chrome browser and use a ChatGPT browser instead to browse and search the web. It could also include partnerships and integrations with a variety of eCommerce websites and apps – I assume these would be almost like super premium sponsored results? OpenAI isn't commenting.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dune: Prophecy   10,000 years before the ascension of Paul Atreides, the Harkonnen Sisters combat forces that threaten the future of humankind and establish the fabled sect known as the Bene Gesserit. From the writer-producer of Haunting of Bly Manor, Diane Ademu-John (Neon).      Say Nothing    Jean McConville, a single mother of ten, is abducted from her home in 1972 and never seen alive again. Through the eyes of various Irish Republican Army (IRA) members, explore the extremes some people will go to in the name of their beliefs, the way a deeply divided society can suddenly tip over into armed conflict, the long shadow of radical violence for both victims and perpetrators, and the emotional and psychological costs of a code of silence (Disney+).      Endurance    Nat Geo documentary telling the story of a legendary feat of leadership and perseverance. Antarctic explorer Ernest Shackleton kept alive his crew of 27 men for over a year despite the loss of their ship in frigid pack ice. Over a century later, a team of modern-day explorers sets out to find the sunken ship (Disney+).    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wicked   Misunderstood because of her green skin, a young woman named Elphaba forges an unlikely but profound friendship with Glinda, a student with an unflinching desire for popularity. Following an encounter with the Wizard of Oz, their relationship soon reaches a crossroad as their lives begin to take very different paths.   Part 1 of the story of how a green-skinned woman framed by the Wizard of Oz becomes the Wicked Witch of the West. A feature film based on the Broadway musical.     Canary Black   Avery Graves, a CIA operative, is blackmailed by terrorists into betraying her own country to save her kidnapped husband. Cut off from her team, she turns to her underworld contacts to survive.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.