Saturday Morning with Jack Tame

I clearly remember Maggie Barry, John Key and Nick Smith, Steven Joyce and Nathan Guy launching Predator-Free NZ in July 2016, 7 years ago! This was a big gig; and it’s still going. If you think about it, it’s a huge task and incredibly collaborative, with scientists, DOC and heaps of New Zealand Volunteer trappers. Make no mistake, the army of ordinary kiwis and backyard engineers are really contributing to the reduction of exotic pests in our ecosystems. I can see the improvements in our biodiversity simply by looking from my window on the Port Hills in Christchurch! The most important predators we are targeting are mice, rats, stoats, ferrets, weasels, Possums, hedgehogs and – oh yes – feral cats! Add domestic dogs kept off lead in kiwi habitat and you’ve got the line-up we’re aiming for. I realise this is a little bit more than the original target line-up, but I have my own reasons for including mice, hedgehogs and uncontrolled dogs. Mice: they’re everywhere and actually (kind-of) do the ecological job of a tree weta. Mice are predominantly seed and nuts eaters. Walnuts, hazelnuts, etc. Fatty materials allows them to successfully overwinter in your garden. They also eat a heap of insects and they are important food for rats! (Mice keep rat numbers up) Simple mouse traps are a great idea around the house – cheap traps, baited with peanut butter or Nutella or hazelnut spread. Shelled walnuts work well too. Contrary to popular belief they don’t really go for cheese! I have them all around my house and even in the ceiling. I set my traps near the wall – that’s where they run to keep “out-of-sight”. Rats do a lot of damage to birds and lizards. They raid nests and eggs. Most people are not aware that they also go for juicy, large insects (weta and other large, native critters). Rat traps are a large version of mouse traps and they can be used on their own around the house, or inside a wooden tunnel, which gives the rat some cover and shelter as it explores the smell of the delicious bait in the trap. Great baits are peanut butter and Nutella, as well as fish and moldy cheese. One thing that rats are keen on is a trajectory that leaves them unnoticed. Traps near a wall or along a fence line seem to be working best. Make sure you don’t “contaminate” the lure with your bare hands – good idea to wear gloves so the rat doesn’t… well… smell a rat (I mean a human!!). Stoats are a lot trickier again – they really will avoid open spaces. And they are clever. You’ll also need a much heavier artillery (trap) than rats, as stoats are able to survive the smack of a rat trap; they also have the ability to escape from these traps by wriggling out. A “DOC 200” is the heavy duty trap to use here. These metal traps are usually built inside a wooden box with attractive lures (salted rabbit meat or fresh rabbit cuts, eggs, and believe it or not: mayonnaise!). Eggs are often a visual attractant to these mustelids. I have always been disappointed by the clever stoat’s ability to avoid my traps. I rarely trap these buggers. Stoats can kill young kiwi (up to 800 gram body-weight) and they are ferocious hunters. DOC 200 stoat trap. Photo / Supplied Ferrets are another step up in the predator game – they’ll kill adult kiwi and large prey; you won’t find them in urban areas – they are creatures of the farm and forest edges. They also require some serious knowledge to trap, plus an even heavier gauge of trap. Just so you know: I am a member of the stoat and ferret conservation society… In the Netherlands! That’s where they are native and that’s where they are in ecological trouble due to the declining populations – how ironic! I actually used to have a pet ferret in Holland – wonderful animals! Possums are the last species I’ll mention in this segment. We have about 70 million of them in our forests and gardens. They mainly feed on fruits, shoots, and leaves: 21,000 tonnes each night, which is about the same as the weight of the sky tower. They alter the composition of our native forests. Possums get protein from eating birds (and nestlings). Possums really need a Timms Trap, baited with apple, cinnamon and such delights. I often use flour and icing sugar mix and smear that on the tree near the trap – it really “lures them in” Timms Trap. Photo / Supplied The modern form of the old Timms Trap is the Flipping Timmy. This trap can be attached to a tree trunk, so the possum climbs up and ends up in the trap Great websites exist on trapping the pests; have a look and join the team of New Zealanders keeping their gardens and local reserves and parks predator free. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s important to know what you mean so you’re clear on what you’re aiming for. Wellbeing could be defined in at least one of 3 ways: Feeling good, happy, satisfied with life (sometimes called hedonic wellbeing) Having meaning & purpose in life, leading a fulfilling life, accepting who you are (eudaimonic wellbeing) Leading a life full of rich & varied experiences – doesn’t mean you will necessarily feel positive in the moment but leads to longer term broader view of life incorporating different perspectives LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Microsoft wants you to use its AI so badly, it'll cover you if you get sued Copyright, and infringing it, is one of the biggest concerns many corporates have about diving into the AI game. There are so many open questions that they're not prepared just yet to take the risk. It's a huge departure from most 'terms and conditions' of services, where companies do almost everything they can to distance themselves from the user. They don't want to be held liable! But Microsoft says if you use the filters and guardrails they've implemented, then they'll back you. That's quite the commitment, especially as Microsoft and OpenAI are already being sued for allegedly recreating licensed code without crediting the engineers. If you're a Google fan, you'll soon be able to visit the Mountain View campus Add this to your San Franciso travel itinerary. Google is turning 25, and to celebrate they're opening a visitor center on its famous campus in Silicon Valley. Like any good American tourist attraction there'll be a store, where you can explore and purchase Google products - like their phones, tablets and laptops. There'll also be a community space for events, a cafe and public art. BMW is pulling the handbrake on its heated seat subscription Ahead of its US launch, BMW has shelved plans to offer this service in your brand-new car on a subscription plan for $18 a month! It actually launched in some places, including NZ. It seems buyers weren't impressed - a BMW board member says: "People feel that they paid double – which was actually not true, but perception is reality, I always say. So that was the reason we stopped that.” Typically these types of features are available as 'upgrades' when you order your car for hundreds or sometimes thousands of additional dollars. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What are gallstones? Gall bladder: sits under the liver. Stores and concentrates bile: fluid made in liver which helps digest fats. This bile clumps together to form ‘stones’: From sand to small pebbles. Who is at risk? 10% New Zealanders have gallstones, 80% have no symptoms. Most at risk: Women are twice as likely as men. Ages 20 to 60. If you’re carrying too much weight, have a family history of them, have diabetes, or experience rapid weight loss. What are the symptoms? 80% have no symptoms. Can be severe pain, ‘colic’ - often pain in the right upper abdomen, through to your back between shoulder blades. Often after eating a large, fatty meal. They can cause nausea, vomiting, and indigestion. May mimic a heart attack. If it’s more severe it becomes infected or inflamed: fever, sweats, jaundice – turning yellow. How do we diagnose? History and exam, blood tests. The doctor will order an ultrasound to look for stones, sometimes an MRI scan. What do we do about them? Avoid fatty foods, drink plenty of fluids, slow weight reduction - not rapid. May need surgery ‘laparoscopic’ keyhole surgery to remove the gallbladder. We don’t need the gallbladder – get by very well without it. Often see ads for remedies such as lemon juice or large amounts of oil. These don’t work! No evidence at all! If you have pain in abdomen – see your GP. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3 Members of the Portokalos family reunite in Greece for a hilarious and heart-warming trip full of love, twists and turns. The family gather in Athens after the passing of Gus, honouring his final wish that they visit his birthplace, reconnect with his old friends, and discover their family roots. Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre Elite spy Orson Fortune must track down and stop the sale of a deadly new weapons technology wielded by billionaire arms broker Greg Simmonds. Reluctantly teamed up with some of the world's best operatives, Fortune and his crew recruit Hollywood's biggest movie star, Danny Francesco, to help them on their globe-trotting mission to save the world. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

BBQ mussels are just the best! When they pop open their shells on the grill you can sneak all manner of interesting flavours into them – in this recipe it’s butter, soy sauce and a splash of sake that gives them that authentic Japanese BBQ house taste. Once cooked, pluck ‘em out of the shells, tuck them into a small soft bun, or pop them on a mound of rice, with shredded cabbage and plenty of sesame dressing and eat. I guarantee you’ll be in heaven! Makes 8-12 sliders Ingredients: 16-24 mussels in shells 1 lemon, halved 8-12 sliders or small soft white rolls 50g butter, softened ¼ cup tamari soy sauce ¼ cup sake ½ cup store bought sesame salad dressing 2 cups finely shredded cabbage Method: Give mussels a quick scrub and remove hairy beards by gripping firmly and pulling towards the rounded tip of the shell. Place mussels on grill plate of BBQ and cook until the shells begin to pop open. Place lemon cut side down to grill also. As each mussel pops open, sneak a small knob of butter into each, as well as a teaspoon of tamari soy sauce. Allow to cook for a few minutes then douse in sake and toss on the grill. Remove from grill. Liberally butter tops of each bun and grill each until butter is foamy and tops have turned golden – watch them as they like go from golden to burnt rather quickly! TO SERVE: Set all ingredients out on a board for diners to build their own buns stuffed with mussels and cabbage and drizzled in sesame dressing and a squeeze of warm lemon juice. MAKE IT YOUR OWN: Add in a little slice of daikon radish into each bun for extra crunch Flag the buns and serve with little bowls of slaw and rice Use softened butter blended with lemongrass and lime leaves instead of sake for a Thai-inspired flavour Make it Spanish with olive oil in place of butter and a thin slice of chorizo tucked into each mussel No mussels? Make little foil parcels of using snapper instead, cooking them on the bbq for about 10-15 minutes See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This morning watched the first Rugby World Cup match of 2023 play out, the All Blacks versing France at Stade de France. France beat the All Blacks 27-13, ending their run of 31 straight wins in the pool stage. Newstalk ZB’s rugby correspondent Elliott Smith told Jack Tame that it was a real testament to their game management. He said that in the first half it seemed like the All Blacks had all the momentum, but the French never let them in in that second half. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Auckland based pop-duo Foley have finally released their highly anticipated album ‘Crowd Pleaser.’ They released their EP ‘Crowd Pleaser Pt. 1’ in February of 2023, with the full album releasing on August 25th, six months later. The duo have over 100k monthly listeners on Spotify. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week Mike Yardley went adventuring through the beautiful Sofia, capital of Bulgaria. Read Mike’s full article here. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Cinderella Boys - Leo McKinstry The remarkable story of the unsung RAF wing who rescued Britain from Hitler's U-boats and made Allied victory possible. The transformation of Coastal Command from a ramshackle outfit into a vast, formidable organisation provided one of the turning points of the war, keeping Britain in the war and opening the way to D-Day in 1944. But they never received the credit they deserved. Based on a wealth of new sources, including from diaries, log books, official records, archives and interviews, Leo McKinstry shines a new light the courageous pilots, ingenious scientists and political risktakers - many of them outsiders - who defended the freezing Atlantic from Nazi rule. Masters of Death - Olivie Blake Viola Marek is a struggling real estate agent, and a vampire. But her biggest problem currently is that the house she needs to sell is haunted. The ghost haunting the house has been murdered, and until he can solve the mystery of how he died, he refuses to move on. Fox D’Mora is a medium, and though is also most-definitely a shameless fraud, he isn’t entirely without his uses—seeing as he’s actually the godson of Death. When Viola seeks out Fox to help her with her ghost-infested mansion, he becomes inextricably involved in a quest that neither he nor Vi expects (or wants). But with the help of an unruly poltergeist, a demonic personal trainer, a sharp-voiced angel, a love-stricken reaper, and a few high-functioning creatures, Vi and Fox soon discover the difference between a mysterious lost love and an annoying dead body isn’t nearly as distinct as they thought. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Buds and flowering trees – it sometimes feels like Spring, but don’t be fooled for another 4 weeks mistakes can be made! Spring —by the way— starts 23rd of September at eleven minutes to seven in the evening. ;-) Yet slowly —very slowly— the soil starts to warm up a bit and that is a condition that requires us to plant our new crops and ornamentals. First of all, the soils are still quite moist and that is a positive reason to plant anything that lives long: shrubs, trees, fruit-bearing vines, and flowering, perennial beauties. Reason is: the planted trees/shrub etc will not need to “sulk” for a long time – it will ‘wake up’ from its winter slumber relatively quickly to start the growth. And there little need to water these new plants. Because the soil is slowly warming up, the fertiliser you apply will be absorbed relatively quickly – the N-P-K won’t dissolve into the deeper soils where it might get “lost”. The same arguments will go for your food crops: Peas, Broadbeans, Cos lettuce, and spring onions will almost immediately germinate or adapt after planting, giving you the first spring crops of fresh vegetables. Oh, and Carrots, Cauliflowers, and spinach are also on the “NOW” list. For those of you that like “new Potatoes” for Christmas: start chitting and plant your spuds as seed potatoes; Jersey Bennes and such early varieties are probably the best to use before Christmas. That’s all I do this year so I don’t play Russian roulette with solanum pests such as Psyllids, later in the season (AND I WANT TO PROTECT MY MAIN TUNNELHOUSE CROP: TOMATOES!). That brings me to SOWING the tomato varieties for 2023-24. If you do that now, (like inside in a relatively warm room with plenty of light) you’ll find they will germinate quickly, so that you can start “hardening” them off by placing them outside in sheltered areas during the day (take them inside again when the evening coolness comes along after 5 pm). Just get them used to the spring conditions slowly. Mine will go into the tunnel house to provide me with tomatoes from Early December till well into autumn. You can also grow them under “cloches” to help them along during the cooler spring nights. Cloches are miniature glass houses that hold just one plant. They literally reduce the difference between warm day temperatures and cool nights. My fabulous, rich and well-drained bed for Strawberries is ready to be planted. Last year’s crop has been disastrous, probably because I really didn’t have the time to weed well; and I left too many old runners in that bed, which didn’t provide me with too many strawberries. Cama Rosa is my pick of the strawberries and a fine netting will need to be placed on top, so that the birds are not able to access them later this spring. Don’t forget to use some liquid fertiliser (Seafood Soup and Seaweed Tea!!) to give your plants the boost they need! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kate Hall’s been at NZ Fashion Week this week and attended around twenty shows. She decided to share her perspective and thoughts as a sustainable fashion enthusiast: + Kiri Nathan opened (first Māori designer to open with a solo show - incredible representation & move for NZ Fashion). + I’m reminded of the over consumption of fashion: attendees arriving in new outfits (some wearing multiple new outfits a day), outfit after outfit coming down the runway - new seasons. + Excited to see The Graduate show include a lot of repurposed materials and styles. + Slow conscious collection of 3 sustainable designers - though far less attendance at this one! + Diversity of models - not as progressive as I expected it would be in 2023. + Feels incredibly strange to have a fashion week that doesn't mention the makers as predominantly - only a few shows actually had storytelling & meaning in their shows. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Paritua 2020 Stone Paddock Scarlet, Hawke’s Bay $24.99 Why I chose it: - Terrific red at a modest price - Demonstrates the value of mechanical sorting - Terrific wine from an excellent vintage. - Potential to develop well with bottle age. - A blend of merlot, cabernet sauvignon and cabernet franc. What does it taste like? - Intense, almost chewy red with cassis, dark berry, dark chocolate, dried herbs, cedar, vanilla and nutty oak. Good cellaring potential - needs time to mellow. Why it’s a bargain: - Great wine at a great price Where can you buy it? - Vino Fino (Chch) $20.99 - Advintage, Hawke’s Bay $23.99 - Regional Wines, Wellington $24.99 Food match? - Fillet steak, most red meat dishes. Will it keep? - Yes. 5-10 years, possibly more if stored well See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Microsoft's Office bundle in the EU will look different to the rest of the world It'll be missing Teams thanks to an anti-competitive complaint by competitor Slack, made to the European Commission. Microsoft is taking the proactive step of offering a bundle —that's cheaper than the current one— that doesn't include Teams. It'll be €2 less per month or €24 per year, which still makes it a more expensive option to get Office and Slack together. They'll also offer Teams as a standalone product for €5 per month. The Commission is still actively investigating Microsoft, so this may not be the only change we see. Australia has backtracked from forcing age verification on adult websites The options all proved to have a mix of privacy, security, effectiveness and implementation challenges. The Minister will now work with the industry to educate parents on how to access filtering services and limit children's access to adult content — so effectively, putting the problem back for parents to solve. Want to feel old? Gen Z apparently doesn't know how to dial phone numbers with letters in them! ZB's sister station ZM had to show a video on their Instagram about how to dial the 0800 number with words! Were they joking? I don't know! LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Following Events are Based on a Pack of Lies An unpredictable thriller that tells the story of two women who have nothing in common - apart from the same conman, who is trying to destroy them both (TVNZ+). Live to 100: Secrets of the Blue Zones Author Dan Buetter travels around the world to visit five unique communities where people live long and exuberant lives, and to discover their secrets to long living (Netflix). Starstruck The third season of the brilliant rom-com series written by Rose Matafeo and Alice Snedden lands on our screens (TVNZ1, Saturday at 8.30pm and TVNZ+). LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dallas Tamaira's been the frontman of the genre-bending seven-piece band Fat Freddy’s Drop for more than 20 years. During the pandemic and unable to tour with his band, Dallas hit a new phase of personal creativity. With nothing to do but write and create, Dallas began working on brand new solo music. 'Stormy' which was released only yesterday, and today he joined Jack Tame to chat about his new creation. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nici Wickes MC'd the NZ Ice Cream and Gelato Awards last night, where medals and trophies were awarded to the best of the best ice cream, gelato, sorbet and frozen desserts in NZ. She joined Jack Tame to run through some of the highlights, plus, she has a very easy, no churn needed, ice cream recipe to share. River Cafe’s Lemon Ice Cream This is the incredibly delicious ice cream from the esteemed River Cafe in London. It’s a magic alchemy of just a few ingredients and no ice cream churn is needed. Try it, you’ll love it! Makes 4 small portions Ingredients: Zest of 1 lemon 1/3 cup lemon juice (about 3 lemons) 135g (about 2/3 cup) caster sugar ½ tsp sea salt 300mls cream Method: In a bowl stir together the lemon juice and zest, sugar and salt. Drizzle in the cream whilst still stirring gently. The mixture will immediately thicken a bit – like magic! – as you keep gently stirring. If it doesn’t thicken at all, add a bit more lemon juice. Pour into a container and freeze for at least 2 hours. No stirring needed. Serve in little scoops, on it’s own. Divine! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Scrapper Living alone in her London flat, 12-year-old Georgie must confront reality when her estranged father, Jason, shows up out of nowhere. Uninterested in a sudden new parental figure, she remains stubbornly resistant to his efforts. As they both adjust to their new circumstances, Georgie and Jason soon find that they still have a lot of growing up to do. The Equalizer 3 Since giving up his life as a government assassin, Robert McCall finds solace in serving justice on behalf of the oppressed. Now living in Southern Italy, he soon discovers his new friends are under the control of local crime bosses. As events turn deadly, McCall becomes their protector by taking on the mafia. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week Kevin Milne joined Jack Tame to chat about a ridiculously hilarious commercial he saw recently. Who knew an ad about free bowel screenings could be so fun? LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

‘Portraits’ is the fifth studio album released by English singer-songwriter Birdy, and takes influence from the sounds of 80’s pop music. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When One of Us Hurts by Monica Vuu The small coastal town has its own ways of dealing with the evil, the foolish, the misled, and it holds tightly to them. But the seams start to split after two deaths occur on the same tragic night: a baby abandoned at the foot of a lighthouse, and a drunken teenager drowned in the storming sea. Lady Tans Circle of Women by Lisa See From a young age, Yunxian learns about women's illnesses, many of which relate to childbearing, alongside a young midwife-in-training, Meiling. The two girls find fast friendship and a mutual purpose—despite the prohibition that a doctor should never touch blood while a midwife comes in frequent contact with it—and they vow to be forever friends, sharing in each other's joys and struggles. No mud, no lotus, they tell themselves: from adversity beauty can bloom. But when Yunxian is sent into an arranged marriage, her mother-in-law forbids her from seeing Meiling and from helping the women and girls in the household. Yunxian is to act like a proper wife—embroider bound-foot slippers, pluck instruments, recite poetry, give birth to sons, and stay forever within the walls of the family compound, the Garden of Fragrant Delights. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week Mike Yardley joined Jack Tame to chat about his adventures through the beautiful Bucharest, capital of Romania. Read Mike's full article here. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A lot of us get “the blues” during winter or feel a little down – for some people this is a more serious disorder called Seasonal Affective Disorder where periods of depression are strongly linked to winter seasons – although interestingly there must be more to it than simply levels of light/winter weather as it’s not so common in people living in polar regions. Tips for keeping mentally well over winter: Keep doing the basics: Try and get some daylight each day, especially if you’re leaving for work in the dark and coming home in the dark Keep up your exercise Keep your sleep in good patterns Kiwis are pretty oriented towards the outdoors and getting out and about, which is more difficult in winter. Maybe rather than trying to fight the winter weather, learn to embrace it – like the Danish concept of “Hygge” where they relish and make the most of winter – think sitting inside toasting marshmallows, having people over for candlelit dinners inside after cooking up a big winter feast, cosying up with a good book on a rainy afternoon etc. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Spent a week in one of my favourite regions: Tairawhiti… Wainui, Tolaga Bay, Mangatuna and Tokomaru Bay. The school kids love muckin’ around on beaches, despite all that hideous slash everywhere. Looking for bugs, of course. At Tolaga Bay they found heaps of rather large black scarab beetles, known in the trade as Pericoptus truncatus, or “sand scarab”; moving across the sandy, grassy play area during the day. Captured specimens were digging down into the sand provided in the containers. This was my opportunity to raise the fact that this beetle is related to some rather famous species from the more tropical regions of the world: The “Rhinoceros beetles”. The male sand scarabs actually have a rudimentary “horn” on their head to shows the species “affinities”. Our sand scarabs live on beaches and dunes and are adapted to moving about the sand habitat. The larvae (grubs) are able to actually migrate from the beaches to inland habitats over reasonably long distances; it is presumed they are needing a certain amount or percentage of moisture in the sand. The grubs are “massive” (6 cm long or more), creamy-white, with distinct round stomata (breathing-hole) patches on the side of their bodies. Their larval food is the decaying woody mass of driftwood on beaches and the roots of grasses in dune vegetation. The adult beetles are sturdy insects that can dig into the sand really fast. During the day they will hide in the sand (sometimes at considerable depth: a meter or so deep!), but at night they surface again to go hooning in the dunes and on the beach – they are very noisy flyers and that no doubt helps with locating potential partners. The front legs of these beetles have specially-adapted claws that allow them to dig efficiently. The beetles and the larvae themselves are often coated with populations of mites on their skin. These have always thought to be parasitic mites, but there are suggestions that these tiny critters might actually be feeding on other mites and nematodes, associated with the sand scarabs. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Data shows that mortgage payments are much higher than paying rent – but does that mean it’s not worth owning a home? What are the implications of not owning? What should you be doing with that ‘spare’ money if you opt to rent instead? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Meta's launched AI to produce code Their new "Code Llama" can create working code from natural language prompts, and also debug and explain code pasted into it. So in what is a bizarre turn of events, Meta software engineers have created AI to take their job… or at least parts of it. Meta says this allows its staff to focus on the "most human-centric aspects of their job, rather than repetitive tasks". But they don't go so far as to say what those human aspects are. Microsoft's Github Copilot has similar features but is currently being sued for copyright because the AI can reproduce proprietary code. Donald Trump is back on Twitter/X Back to post an image with his mug shot from his booking in Atlanta, with the words "Election Interference, never surrender" and just a link to his website to fundraise. Trump was banned indefinitely, until Elon bought Twitter and gave him his account back. His return is not a surprise though. According to reports earlier this year, his exclusivity deal with his own Truth Social was due to expire in June and sources said he was eager to get back to Twitter. This post could be the first of many to come. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kin A gritty Irish drama about a small Dublin crime family who take on a gangland war with a powerful international drug cartel after a young boy is killed (TVNZ+). Who is Erin Carter? A British schoolteacher living in Spain finds herself entangled in a supermarket robbery and must fight to clear her name after she is recognised by one of the criminals (Netflix). At Home with the Fury’s Netflix’s new reality series follows the lives of controversial boxer Tyson Fury and his family. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australian surfing legend Owen Wright ranked 5th in the world, earned a bronze medal at the 2020 Olympic Games and was the first surfer to get to two perfect scores in one event. In 2015, he wiped out at the Bnzai Pipeline in Hawaii and suffered a major brain injury, resulting in him needing to relearn how to walk, talk, and surf once more. In early August he released his memoir ‘Against the Water’ chronicling his journey and experiences. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This pie is so perfect as a quick dessert that will thrill anyone lucky enough to be sharing dinner with you, especially served warm with vanilla ice cream and softly whipped cream. Serves 2-4 Ingredients: 1 sheet store-bought puff pastry 1 small egg, lightly beaten 1 teaspoon sugar for sprinkling on top Filling 2 tablespoons cornflour 2 big tablespoons brown sugar 1 teaspoon mixed spice (or just cinnamon will do) ¼ teaspoon nutmeg 2 granny smith apples, peeled and roughly chopped into small pieces ¼ cup sultanas ¼ cup toasted walnut pieces Ice cream and whipped cream to serve Method: Heat oven to 180 C. Line a baking tray with baking paper. Halve the sheet of pastry and roll it out slightly thinner than it comes. I always do this with store-bought pastry as it tends towards being too thick straight out of the packet. Place one piece on the prepared tray and brush the edges with a lightly beaten egg. In a bowl mix the filling ingredients together, tossing it all together to combine. The cornflour will help to thicken the juices once it starts to cook. Pile this filling up on the pastry leaving a 2cm border free of filling. Lay pastry lid over the filling (you may have to stretch it a little to cover) and press to seal it to the base. Make a few cuts in the top to let the air out, brush with egg and sprinkle with sugar. Bake for 40 minutes or until lovely and golden brown on top and crisp on the bottom. Serve warm with ice cream and cream LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pacific Mother In Pacific Mother we see that when women are supported emotionally, physically and culturally, they are more likely to have a positive birth experience. Whether it's in hospital or at home, on land or in the water. “Collaboration” has been key for our Pacific Mother film. Sound of Freedom After rescuing a boy from ruthless child traffickers, a federal agent learns the boy's sister is still captive and decides to embark on a dangerous mission to save her. With time running out, he quits his job and journeys deep into the Colombian jungle, putting his life on the line to free her from a fate worse than death. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today Kevin Milne joined Jack Tame to chat about having passions, specifically a passion for your job. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I had this amazing little moment one afternoon this week, when for the first time this winter... I threw open the doors of my deck, sprawled out on the couch nearby, and basked in the sunshine as it spilled through onto my face and neck. Isn’t it amazing what a difference a few days of sunshine can make? My God. I know that there are parts of the country that have had it a whole lot sunnier than Auckland these last few months but I cannot recall a winter in my part of the World that has felt so wet and so grim. The sunshine brought with it the first blossom of Spring. I’ve got a Taiwan cherry tree in my backyard, and it’s been heavy with red and pink flowers. And as much as I love the blossom, the tūi loved them more. They’re always darting in and out at my place, hopping between branches of the different trees, calling out to their mates before hustling off for the next feed. And tūi really do hustle, don’t you think? They don’t really glide as such. And even when they’re parked up, they always seem have a bit of a boisterous temperament. Tūi are so beautiful. I love how understated and yet sophisticated their colours are, the black and green, and bronze, with that extraordinary irredescent shimmer, as though every feather has been lightly glazed. Tūi almost twinkle. Some of the tūi who turn up at my place are perfectly turned out. Some have that slightly shabby appearance, as though they’ve gone to sleep with wet hair and forgot to check the mirror in the morning. I’ve never heard them sing so much in my backyard as they have been these last few days. There was barely an instance when I looked up at that cherry tree and didn’t see a tūi drinking in the blossom, and calling out to his or her tūi mates. Is this middle age? I dunno. But I’m at the age and stage where I get it. I get it. I get the native birds thing in a really big way. Lying on the couch in the sunshine, watching the tūi drink and sing out to the neighbourhood just made me feel so content. ‘What can I do to steal a few more of these moments?’ I wondered. I can’t do anything about the weather. I can’t compel the sun to shine. I picked up my phone and googled three words. Predator. Free. NZ. My brand new rat trap arrived the next morning. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rolling Up the Welcome Mat (For Good) is an extended version of the second EP from American country-pop artist Kelsea Ballerini. The EP was initially released on the 14th of February 2023, and the extended version was released on the 11th of August 2023. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Keeper of Hidden Books - Madeline Martin From the New York Times bestselling author of The Last Bookshop in London comes a heartwarming story about the power of books to bring us together, inspired by the true story of the underground library in WWII Warsaw. All her life, Zofia has found comfort in two things during times of hardship: books and her best friend, Janina. But no one could have imagined the horrors of the Nazi occupation in Warsaw. As the bombs rain down and Hitler’s forces loot and destroy the city, Zofia finds that now books are also in need of saving. With the death count rising and persecution intensifying, Zofia jumps to action to save her friend and salvage whatever books she can from the wreckage, hiding them away, and even starting a clandestine book club. She and her dearest friend never surrender their love of reading, even when Janina is forced into the newly formed ghetto. But the closer Warsaw creeps toward liberation, the more dangerous life becomes for the women and their families – and escape may not be possible for everyone. As the destruction rages around them, Zofia must fight to save her friend and preserve her culture and community using the only weapon they have left - literature. Tom Lake - Ann Patchett In the spring of 2020, Lara’s three daughters return to the family's orchard in Northern Michigan. While picking cherries, they beg their mother to tell them the story of Peter Duke, a famous actor with whom she shared both a stage and a romance years before at a theater company called Tom Lake. As Lara recalls the past, her daughters examine their own lives and relationship with their mother and are forced to reconsider the world and everything they thought they knew. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week Mike Yardley joined Jack Tame to chat about his recent visit to Transylvania. Read Mike's full article here. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Always interesting! Gardeners love a wide range of plants; often species that are exotic, colourful and bright. But a number of them are pretty invasive and “weedy.” We all know weeds – they grow where we don’t want them to grow. Invasive species have often a larger impact on our planet, our natural gardens, forests, ecosystems and alpine vegetation. It all comes down to interfering with our native systems, pushing out our native critters, plants, and landscapes. They change our Native systems to Exotic systems – Nice curricular exercise for schools: definitions of Native, Endemic, Exotic, Introduced, etc etc Examples: Darwin’s Barberry One of the dirty dozen weeds (a Maggie Barry project when she was Minister for Conservation). Prickles and impossible for humans to get through. Seeds like an idiot and takes over native forests; hard to control and nobody benefits from flowers/nectar, apart from some pollinators. You can see why New Zealand Gardeners like the look of them! Moth catching plant: Araujia An exotic climber that smothers our native trees and shrubs. A pain in the butt in areas where we are trying to restore native vegetation. The seed pods have zillions of fluffy seeds in them that are dispersed on the wind in all directions. The stems and pods ooze a white, toxic sap (the same stuff that comes out of swan plants!) which allows Monarch Butterfly caterpillars to eat the plant. Some monarch aficionados use that horrid vine as “spare food.” But there’s a real weird behaviour to these plants: the white flowers attract these insects with their nectar, and as the butterfly sticks its tongue into the flower it gets trapped. This is followed by distressed movements and flapping of the wings, which pollinates the flower; The butterfly eventually dies, stuck on the flower… A monarch butterfly stuck in Araujia. Please get rid of these horrible exotic climbers – they don’t belong here; they are exotic pests! There are many plant species that catch insects to get some food: Sundews (alpine areas and around wetlands) love to get flies with their sticky leaves – it provides them with Nitrogen and proteins. Venus flytraps also eat bugs… Kids love to observe them and hope a fly will land on the trigger hairs. I have no problem with technologies like that – that’s ecological life, especially in Aotearoa! Parapara plant Here we have a native species that is not terribly common; it occurs in Northern habitats, especially off-shore islands and coastal forests. It looks really lovely with large, almost tropical leaves. Native to NZ and some other areas in the Pacific. Small white flowers and copious amounts of long, sticky seed pods. And with sticky I mean super-glue! It holds insects small and large as well as small birds: silvereyes, grey warbler, fantails and even ruru (all going for the stuck insects, of course). This is New Zealand’s method of “Seed Dispersal.” The trapped bird often succumbs to this sticky situation, and falls down on the ground with seeds attached; the seeds use the decaying bird body as their first meal of fertiliser to germinate and grow up. One of the reasons the Parapara plant is becoming “rare-ish” is because some folk believe that this plant is evil and therefore pull it out… (and many folk believe it is not a Native – well… it is!!). If you want to save your birds in the garden: take the seeds off before they develop their sticky skin. If you find birds that are stuck: don’t pull them off the seeds, but take them, branch and all, to a Bird Rescue place or a vet near you – they have the gear and correct shampoos to give those birds a chance to survive! And please make a donation to the wonderful work they do. More information can be found on the BirdCare Aotearoa website.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

- Bokashi: fermenting system, takes meat and high concentrations of citrus, cheap to make and transport easily. - Cold Compost: microorganisms break things down (worms, bugs etc too). - Hot Compost: more deliberate balance of materials that isn't added to over time (made and then left for 3-6 months), takes garden clippings, branches, hard things, gets up to 65/70 degrees. - Worm Farm: worms do the work, can't put in strongly acidic foods, meat, dairy etc. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What is it? Burning sensation in the lower chest. Sometimes with a sour/bitter taste in mouth - often after big meal or lying Very mild to severe. Can cause you to cough or your voice to become hoarse. Lasts minutes or sometimes hours. What causes it? Stomach full of acid to digest food. Valve at top of stomach – may be weak and not fully The acid in the stomach escapes into oesophagus (tube from the mouth to stomach) and causes a burning sensation. Can things make it worse? Yes - smoking, alcohol, coffee, citrus fruits which are acidic, tomato, chocolate, spicy foods - the list goes on! Lying down after eating, being overweight, and some medicines. How do you diagnose and treat it? Often a careful history will give you the answer. Can be serious sometimes and need further investigation: endoscope - camera in into the stomach to look for ulcers or ‘burning’ oesophagus. Sometimes do a test for a bacteria pylori which can make it worse Treat with ‘antacids’ which neutralise acid, or medication which stops acid in the stomach, or if we have the bacteria, antibiotics. Can help prevent: being careful what you eat, not eating big meals before bed, losing weight, stop smoking, reduce alcohol. If have symptoms see your doctor! LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Typing in your password - it's not as safe as you might think With the help of AI, the researchers could effectively create a unique identifier for how you strike each key, and use that to figure out what you're typing. Each key has an ever-so-slightly different sound based on how we type and where the key is pressed. In their experiment, they only needed the key to be pressed 25 times to create the link. To build this, they need to know what you initially typed as you typed it - which could be done via Zoom chat messages or filling in a form. Once they have that, they just need to listen to your type and they could gather passwords, private messages... anything that you type. How do you get around that? A password manager that automatically copies in the password is a great way! Or having music, key stroke simulators, or white noise. X has relaunched Tweetdeck as X Pro And you guessed it… you now need to pay for it. I'm not surprised. I always thought Twitter should have done this and I think pre-Elon Musk, many social media managers and journalists would have been happy to. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fifteen-Love A British sports drama starring Aidan Turner (Poldark) about an elite tennis player who makes a shocking allegation against her former coach (TVNZ+). Waco: The Aftermath An American drama about the aftermath of the disastrous 1993 standoff at the Branch Davidian compound in Texas (Neon). Men in Kilts Two Scottish stars of time-travelling drama Outlander return for a second season of their travel show - and this time, they’re travelling around New Zealand (Neon). LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Iconic kiwi chef Al Brown is well known for his beloved restaurants Depot and Federal Delicatessen, as well as his Best Ugly Bagel shops. He’s published a number of cookbooks and has recently released a ‘Bach Edition’ of his recipe book ‘Eat Up New Zealand,’ featuring more than 150 recipes and on-location photos from around the country. Al Brown joined Jack Tame to chat about his new book and the stories and recipes within. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Makes one loaf tin cake and is simply gorgeous! Ingredients: 3/4 cup raw sugar Rind of 2 tangerine – avoid the white pith Flesh of one tangerine 2 medium eggs ½ cup rice bran oil ½ tsp salt ½ cup thick natural yoghurt 1 ½ cups plain flour 2 tsps baking powder Method: Preheat oven to 180 C, on fan bake. Grease and line a loaf tin with baking paper. In the bowl of a food processor, blend the sugar and citrus rind until the rind is chopped very small. Add the tangerine flesh. Blend until smooth. In a mixing bowl beat the egg and sugar/citrus mix together until it is thick & creamy. Add the oil and salt and continue beating until mixed. Stir through the yoghurt. Fold in flour and baking powder and combine until just mixed (over-mixing will produce a tougher, drier cake). Scrape the batter into the tin, smooth the top if need be for a better looking loaf cake at the end. Bake for 35-45mins, until a skewer comes out clean. Leave for 10 minutes to cool before turning out of tin. Ice with vanilla and citrus zest frosting, or not. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kandahar An undercover CIA operative gets stuck in hostile territory in Afghanistan after his mission is exposed. Accompanied by his translator, he must fight enemy combatants as he tries to reach an extraction point in Kandahar. Monolith A headstrong journalist's investigative podcast uncovers a strange artefact, an alien conspiracy, and the lies at the heart of her own story. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Northland man was recently charged when his pet dog was caught picking up a kiwi chick and running off with it. The chick was killed, and as a result the owner was fined and the dog was put down. Kevin Milne joined Jack Tame to chat about his first reaction and thoughts about the situation. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The hosts on Fox Sport Australia were bamboozled by a question earlier this week. What’s the biggest winter sport in Australia? Is it Rugby League and the excellent entertainment of the NRL? Is it Aussie Rules? Or could it now, be football? Sadly, it goes without saying that it isn’t rugby, and I’d suggest that even when the Rugby World Cup kicks off, only so many Australians will even realise it’s on. At a time when all sorts of different things are vying for our attention, the Matildas’ semi-final in the FIFA World Cup obliterated TV ratings records. In Australia, it was the most-watched TV event in more than two decades. The key with football is the low barrier to entry. Grassroots participation isn’t totally dominated by one gender. You don’t need money to have a kick around with your friends. And you can explain the key rules in just a few sentences: Your team has to get the ball in the goal and stop the other team from getting it in yours. Only the goalies can use their hands. You can challenge the ball, but you can’t tackle people. That’s it. Sure, there’s an offside rule and passback restrictions but the basic rules are stunningly, beautifully simple. And even the way they’re enforced allows the game to flow. No one agonises over taking a throw-in from the exact mark. I don’t want to pick on rugby, but the contrasts are stark. I’ve watched, played, and loved rugby all of my life. But there are still infringements at the breakdown that leave me totally confused. Sometimes even the commentators don’t understand what’s happened. Football’s making a play at the moment into markets where historically it’s been a bit of a second-tier sport. At the same time as its recording record ratings in Australia, arguably the greatest footballer of all time has chosen to eschew the Saudi clubs to play in the United States. The average ticket to Lionel Messi’s first game for Inter Miami was selling only for $NZ 1200. The crowd included Serena Williams, LeBron James, the Beckham family, and Kim Kardashian. It was more than a football match – it was a cultural event. It’s fair enough to expect that when the World Cup hype has died down a bit, the buzz around football in Australia will die back a bit, too. Personally, I think it’s only a matter of time. It won’t happen overnight. Rugby, rugby league, and netball, will all still hold a special place in New Zealand. Basketball will continue to go from strength to strength. But fast-forward a few decades from now. I reckon football will be the most-played sport, the most-followed sport, the most popular sport in New Zealand, too. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Ballad of Darren is the ninth studio album by English rock band Blur. It was released on 21 July 2023 by Parlophone and Warner Records. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Collector - Daniel Silvia The Collector is a 2023 novel by Daniel Silva in the author's Gabriel Allon series. The book debuted at #2 on the New York Times bestseller list. The book's premise is the current location of Vermeer's The Concert, which has been missing since the painting was stolen from the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. After I Do - Taylor Jenkins Reid From the New York Times bestselling author of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, comes a breath-taking novel about modern marriage, the depth of family ties, and the year that one remarkable heroine spends exploring both. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week Mike Yardley joined Jack Tame to chat about his adventures in Montenegro and Mostar. Read Mike's full article here. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Zoom is ordering people back to work in the office. Is this a good thing and how does your office affect your wellbeing and productivity? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

BOB’S BEST BUYS Wine: Awatere River 2023 Pinot Gris, Marlborough $25 Why I chose it: - 2023 was a good vintage in Marlborough - Pinot Gris is 4th most planted grape variety – growing in popularity - If someone wants a white wine but is not sure what variety, pour them a pinot gris. Good all-rounder. - Delicious thirst-quencher for Spring and Summer months ahead What does it taste like? - Off-dry pinot gris with succulent tree fruit/pear and nectarine flavours. An initial hint of sweetness is perfectly balanced by gentle, fruity acidity. Smooth-textured wine with a deliciously lingering finish. Why is it a bargain: - One of the best 2023’s I’ve tasted. At a moderate price. Where can you buy it? - Best price Countdown $19.99 (check the vintage), just released Food match? - My favorites are crayfish, prawns or shrimps Will it keep? - Good for the next 2-3 years although it is drinking well now. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.