Hard News by Russell Brown

Read Post

Hard News: Slumpy Cashflow

214 Responses

First ←Older Page 1 3 4 5 6 7 9 Newer→ Last

  • andrew llewellyn,

    Oops - this bit came in quotes

    I'm considering running a sweepstake for when trailerparks get recommended & by whom.

    Since Nov 2006 • 2075 posts Report

  • BenWilson,

    Emma, perhaps the dosage is hard to control...but how strong is it really?

    Not that I actually drink it anymore. It didn't do anything, in pill or tea. Probably cause I'm not depressed or anxious...

    I'm just amused at how much people pay for the stuff when it grows like a weed. Makes quite pretty ground cover.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report

  • andrew llewellyn,

    I'm just amused at how much people pay for the stuff when it grows like a weed.

    I used to feel the same way about actual weed.

    Since Nov 2006 • 2075 posts Report

  • BenWilson,

    I used to feel the same way about actual weed.

    It may grow like a weed but it gets harvested like ... gold?

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report

  • andrew llewellyn,

    you can use a yoghurt maker to make cultured buttermilk too. Which tastes like cheese.

    Cultured buttermilk... I imagine the uncultured buttermilk has an ocker accent.

    Since Nov 2006 • 2075 posts Report

  • Emma Hart,

    Emma, perhaps the dosage is hard to control...but how strong is it really?

    Not that I actually drink it anymore. It didn't do anything, in pill or tea. Probably cause I'm not depressed or anxious...

    I'm just amused at how much people pay for the stuff when it grows like a weed. Makes quite pretty ground cover.

    Smells like turps, but.

    It takes a long time to build up to an effective level in the body - a couple of months. After that it seems pretty effective, and is a lot more widely-prescribed in Germany than it is here. If you're genuinely interested, its Wikipedia page has details of studies and results. It's effective for mild depression (up to a 17), but not so much for severe.

    But. The effectiveness of particular anti-depressants varies wildly from person to person. SSRIs make some people worse. People still take lithium, despite the side-effects, because it's always a matter of finding the right treatment for a particular individual.

    Brain chemistry is just something you shouldn't feck with. Something isn't 'safe' because it's 'natural', or harmless because it's just a herb and herbs are ineffective. It's known to contain a chemical that's known to have a particular effect.

    Christchurch • Since Nov 2006 • 4651 posts Report

  • samuel walker,

    Community service for wombat rape claim

    off topic, but this just hit the Nelson Mail. Its proof that some reporters CAN do a good job.

    "I'll retract the rape complaint from the wombat, because he's pulled out,'' Cradock told the operator at the communications centre, who had no idea what he was talking about, Mr Stringer said.

    worth reading for the quotes. its worthy of python.

    Since Nov 2006 • 203 posts Report

  • Che Tibby,

    and you get to grow whatever kind of tomatoes you like. Not that I've tried it, I'm just frustrated that the ugly, lumpen, butter-ily yummy variety that was at the LHutt market last year seems to be missing. Just the 'normal' small medium and large ones.

    we've been getting reasonably good fruit and produce from the local market in waitangi park. some of it is out of the same wholesalers as the supermarkets, but is *a lot* cheaper.

    and some is actually home-grown.

    but comparing taste. we drove the sth island this past feb and stopped in alexandria for stone fruit. the better half described the nectarines as being like "eating sunshine" (and promptly ate 2kg...).

    one survived the trip and i took it to work. i displayed it to an isreali workmate, and stated my intention to devour it. he asked to smell it, to see if it was 'authentic' (and not just a supermarket con-job).

    his eyes misted over, and he stated, "that smells like my childhood".

    how was i not going to share half with him?

    the back of an envelope • Since Nov 2006 • 2042 posts Report

  • Che Tibby,

    Nutmeg..one experience, a friend, she actually turned green. and wernt too happy for a few hours, coulnt leave the hallway for some reason.

    like i say, "ur doin it wrng".

    1 whole nutmeg. grated. mixed with a lot of sugar and warm milk.

    i think i did three... but... hey.

    the back of an envelope • Since Nov 2006 • 2042 posts Report

  • BenWilson,

    Brain chemistry is just something you shouldn't feck with

    LOL, this on a page about consuming nutmeg and absinthe?

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report

  • Tom Semmens,

    "...one survived the trip and i took it to work. i displayed it to an isreali workmate, and stated my intention to devour it. he asked to smell it, to see if it was 'authentic' (and not just a supermarket con-job).

    his eyes misted over, and he stated, "that smells like my childhood".

    how was i not going to share half with him?"




    You should have eaten it in front of him and with great relish, and then asked if he felt closer the Palestinians...

    Sevilla, Espana • Since Nov 2006 • 2217 posts Report

  • tussock,

    Ah gardening.

    Y'all know compost helps hold water in the soil, right? Also regular hoeing or good ground cover. Windbreaks too. Good free soil to help young plants quickly grow tap roots.

    If you want more winter variety, you can keep your excess with preserves or a big freezer. Not really a cheap option, other than just pitting or boxing things, but quite satisfying to go the whole year even in part. There's also some pretty good winter veg, of course, yams and so on, mostly much stronger taste than summer stuff.

    Oh, and always have something growing if you can, green compost over winter if nothing else. Anything deep-rooted and drought tolerant through the summer dry. Bare soil loses fertility and grows weeds.

    Since Nov 2006 • 611 posts Report

  • Mark Thomas,

    wombat

    OMFG

    nice to finish the blog for the day with some light-hearted news.
    truly, the web is taking over from TV

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 317 posts Report

  • Maureen Gallie,

    ahhhh taste,and Alexandra and cox's apples!!

    Russell/Hamiltonxtra • Since Mar 2008 • 11 posts Report

  • Russell Brown,

    but comparing taste. we drove the sth island this past feb and stopped in alexandria for stone fruit. the better half described the nectarines as being like "eating sunshine" (and promptly ate 2kg...).

    Mmmmm.

    It is quite noticeable how good farmers' market produce can be compared to stuff that's come through a supply chain. Even vege places up the Hibiscus Coast that source locally are different. Yum.

    Just a word though for supermarket tomatoes. This has been the best year *ever* for them. Remember how awful they used to be, and how Kim Hill complained? This summer, decent truss tomatoes were as cheap as $4kg. And Fruitworld just had deals on tomatoes.

    (My response, regrettably, was usually to erase any saving by buying craft mozzarella and laying on the good olive oil. I like buying good food, even when it's not cheap ...)

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • Sue,

    Some wit in the WCC Parks & Garden's department has taken to planting the boarders of traffic island flower beds with fancy lettuces (and very attractive they are too...)

    they have them in the botanical gardens as well
    and like everything in the botanical gardens if you are visiting on days when they are digging up beds a nice hello and a smile will get you whatever they are digging up, or pruning.

    I filled a whole flat garden with garden tulips over the space of a couple of years and i know someone who has had sucess with the rose trimmings .

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 527 posts Report

  • Sofie Bribiesca,

    I get a big bag of sundried tomatoes from Khyber Spice in Sandrigham. I collect jars throughout the year and add herbs ,olive oil (rice bran is pretty cheap) and said tomatoes, bit o' garlic ,bit o' chilli . Do similar with feta cheese from the same place. Can get the feta for $8 kg.Different choices there. And their olives are mmmm. That is what I give for xmas presents. Not expensive, promise, Anyone can grow 1 or 2 herbs,and wont need alot of space for veges . The tomatoes are $3 and I make 3 500g jars.It means feta,sundried toms and olives all year long.mmmm

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report

  • Geoff Lealand,

    ...and whilst we are on the pleasures of the garden..the feijoas have started dropping (the first on the very same day the first dropped last year!) Fruit is smaller than last year (hasn't been getting the benefits of the sprinkler on the nearby vege garden) but a pretty big crop. Two years ago I had one fruit which weighed more than half a kg!
    We have one big old tree and when that finishes, two other trees kick in.

    We do swaps with our neighbour--buckets of passion fruit for feijoas, as well as supplying various staff tearooms.

    Screen & Media Studies, U… • Since Oct 2007 • 2562 posts Report

  • John Morrison,

    Hey Geoff , are you the same guy who used to be at Otago Uni - I used to enjoy your lectures ... if you are?

    Cromwell • Since Nov 2006 • 85 posts Report

  • Jason Dykes,

    like everything in the botanical gardens if you are visiting on days when they are digging up beds a nice hello and a smile will get you whatever they are digging up, or pruning.

    For a couple of years in the 90s employees in the Bot Gardens cultivated mushrooms. I observed them having considerably more effect than nutmeg.

    ...and whilst we are on the pleasures of the garden..the feijoas have started dropping

    Same here. Anyone want some? Gave away bags and bags last year.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 76 posts Report

  • Emma Hart,

    LOL, this on a page about consuming nutmeg and absinthe?

    Ha, organic gardening, herbal medicine, and weird drugs. "My body is a temple, here's a cool way to fck it up". It's like a Green Party conference in here.

    But without the dancing.

    Christchurch • Since Nov 2006 • 4651 posts Report

  • InternationalObserver,

    In light of your success with Samsung Russell:

    There are people who have lost their savings, and ...

    Can someone in the media ALERT THE PUBLIC to the latest attempt by Colonial Capital Corporation Ltd a.k.a. David Tweed to convince kiwi investors to part with their shares for MUCH less than market value.

    I have TODAY recieved a set of documents from CCC Ltd that, amongst the gobbledy gook, says it will buy my shares in Rio Tinto for $16,000 - at the same time admitting the current market value of the shares is $26,000! All I need to do is sign the form and send it back and the cash will be in my account in 7 days.

    Tweed has amassed a multi-million dollar fortune through similar offers both here and in Australia. It is important to recognise that what he is doing is not illegal and NOT FRAUD. He simply finds out via the share register who owns the shares he's going after and sends out an official looking document asking people to sign and sell. Within the document he has acknowledged the market price of your shares and suggested you get independent advice before offering to sell.

    If you know of novice, naive or elderly investors who may have recieved this offer from CCC Ltd it would be nice if you alerted them to the low offer he is making. By selling the shares on the open market (most banks can sell your shares via an online account) you will get a much better rate. Even phoning a share broker in the Yellow Pages will still be less expensive than selling to CCC Ltd.

    Whilst people who have sold their shares to CCC Ltd in the past for significantly less than the market value may later feel 'cheated' or 'ripped off' or claim they were 'confused' by the document, the Courts have ruled that CCC Ltd have not broken any laws.

    So whilst most people would presume one would READ ANY PURCHASE OFFER CAREFULLY clearly there are many who don't, given the number who have in fact sold their shares to CCC Ltd for significantly less than market value.

    Righto, thankyou for your time, back to topic ...

    Since Jun 2007 • 909 posts Report

  • InternationalObserver,

    Since Jun 2007 • 909 posts Report

  • Jason Dykes,

    Hell yes, but not from shops. Sounds like a great trade.

    I have to admit that technically the feijoas are not mine (ha ha). There's an old, overgrown and abandoned orchard behind our place. I watched the fruit rot the first year I lived here and in the last two years I've been the only one taking the fruit. I don't eat many feijoas myself but have given them to neighbours and workmates.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 76 posts Report

  • Shep Cheyenne,

    Steven said "On the subject of Auckland's pessimistically perceived accommodation problems, house boats?"

    Not a silly idea.

    The marinas only own a right to the posts so as long as you don't tie up to the post its free to drop anchor in the marina.

    Free accom at the Vaiduct!

    I'm twisting an RMA ruling a bit here. The ruling was that the marina only had to apply for a right for the seabed that the posts took up and not the total area of the marina or water within it.

    Since Oct 2007 • 927 posts Report

First ←Older Page 1 3 4 5 6 7 9 Newer→ Last

Post your response…

This topic is closed.