MiNDFOOD / MiNDFOOD / COMMUNITY

Family time

Admin — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 11:10:49 GMT

Do you eat dinner around the table with your family? Or is your evening meal more of a staggered affair, with family members coming and going?

And how have meal time (and also family time) changed for you?

Self defense debate

Jane — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 13:30:52 GMT

If you found a burglar in your home, what would you do?

A young man died today after he was found stealing from someone's home. See the link below for more info.

http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,24696907-5001021,00.html

Do you think people have the right to defend themselves (and their families) against intruders?

World Kindness Day

Ali — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 12:39:19 GMT

November 13 marks the 10-year anniversary of World Kindness Day.

According to organisers, "The purpose of World Kindness Day is to look beyond ourselves, beyond the boundaries of our country, beyond our culture, our race, our religion; and realise we are citizens of the world."

I'm curious to know what you are doing, what you've done on previous WKDs...or if you're action will be a spontaneous one.

Family finances

Admin — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 12:06:35 GMT

How many people out there share their finances with their partner or family?

How many of you keep separate bank accounts?

Living Well on a Budget

xblondie — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 10:12:41 GMT

It IS possible to live on a budget and enjoy a healthy, fulfilling, and less stressed life. My parents no-frills lifestyle proved it, I carried on the ethic with my daughter, and I continue to live a good life safe in the knowledge that I am realtively unaffected by the current economic downturn. We've never been hungry, cold, or felt hard done by. In fact for generations past we were healthier mind, body and soul due to having far less refined foods, more exercise and a greater respect for what we did have and understanding and appreciations of our parent's love and sacrificies in providing for the family.

It's my opinion that the key is to understand the difference between 'want' and 'need'. Sadly in this society it seems that the ability to diffrentiate has gone out the window. Its all 'take take' and 'I want it at all costs'. Is it any wonder things are as they are?

I know I sound like a geriatric naysayer of the 'in my day' variety, but I am only 42. My dedication to living a good life with little, sharing whatever I have with others (and they with me), has been a lifelong commitment that has given me strength of character, and provided me with travel opportunities, the means to enjoy hobbies, raise a kind and contributing daughter I am immensely proud of, plus give of myself and my time to others less fortunate. I know I can rely upon myself and have a strong faith that my 'needs' will be provided for. So far my expectations have been well exceeded.

So my tip for living well on a budget is - first learn to differentiate and then learn to live according to 'need' and you will truly enjoy the 'wants' when they come your way.

Peer pressure

chronicent — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 23:44:42 GMT

Have ever been under peer pressure?? forced to change you attire, living style, smoking, alcohol?? :w00t:

What are your thoughts about women? and our place in society

RoseM — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 09:06:56 GMT

I've met alot of women lately who are confused about 'who they are and where they fit' at work, at home and in society in general.

Equally so there are a number of cultures who struggle to give women recognition for their value as being of equal worth as their fellow men....

The woman who is to be caned for having an alcoholic drink in this day and age??

An article in the newspaper states her saying something along the lines of... that she knew the consequences and accepts them??

I am not a women libber by any means, but I think we are at times confused about who we are.... our true value and our place in society.

What do you think?

School Violence: Endemic or rare occurrence?

Admin — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 15:25:52 GMT

Following two violent incidents in high schools in both NZ and Australia this week, MiNDFOOD asks: Is violent behaviour in schools becoming endemic? Is it solely the Education Department’s responsibility to create policy to deal with these problems?

Let us know what you think.

INSPIRATIONAL WOMEN

Admin — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 16:22:05 GMT

Tell us about the women who inspire you and why.

SPEND SMART LIVE WELL

Admin — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 11:19:17 GMT

MiNDFOOD is calling on readers to share their tips for living well on a budget.

LIVING WELL ON A BUDGET

NZJJILL — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 04:23:40 GMT

I think we ALL know HOW to budget. But there's not a lot of FUN whilst doing so? Perhaps we should endeavour to plan a budget that wouldn't necessarily cause us to get depressed or cause loss of focus after a short time? Like dieting?!! What about making a "VISION BOARD"; or start something simple like throwing the coins you didn't spend in jar each day. AND there must be allocation for a "hope or dream" - like buying a lotto ticket every week!

RAISE A GLASS

Admin — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 14:34:01 GMT

Australians are being asked to buy a beer in honor of soldiers and sailors deployed to overseas troublespots in a new remembrance campaign designed to raise money for veteran support groups.

The "Raise a Glass" appeal, which starts on Wednesday, aims to raise A$1 million to help the families of servicemen and women killed in war.

What do you think? Is alcohol an appropriate way to honor veterans?

Living Well on a Budget

lemonadey — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 19:02:00 GMT

Farmer's markets never have eftpos or visa - its a cash only shopping environment, so its completely easy to stick to a budget: only take what you are willing to spend AND because the produce is picked locally for sale it's in season and therefore at its nutritional peak, you can speak to the grower about their farming methods and the chemicals they use - if any, there is scope to haggle and there is limited food miles. You save $, eat nutrtious food in season and save the planet,

Jail time for tagging

Admin — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 09:26:42 GMT

Cheyene Back, an 18-year-old Australian woman, was sentenced to three months jail yesterday for vandalising a Sydney cafe.

The tag - 30 centimetres high, 50 centimetres long and reading "2shie" - was sprawled on the Hyde Park Cafe on Macquarie Street. It was Back's first offence.

Do you think the sentence was fair?

Paid parental leave in Australia

Cass — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 11:26:33 GMT

The Australian government's productivity commission has issued a draft report for a national paid parental leave scheme.

Have a look at it here: http://www.pc.gov.au/projects/inquiry/parentalsupport/draft/draftreports-media-release

It proposes 18 weeks paid parental leave (shared between mother and father) at the adult min wage of $544 per week. Tax payers will fund the scheme and employers will still have to make superannuation contributions.

What does everyone think?

I think it's still not enough, but it's a start at least. Australia has lagged behind other countries on this issue for too long.

Auckland SUPER city

Admin — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 13:47:47 GMT

There has been speculation that Auckland may soon become a "super city", merging four city councils, three district councils and one regional council, creating a city of over 1.4 million people...the biggest in Australasia.

Tell us what you think: Is this a good thing? How will it affect you?

Brangelina brood

Admin — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 13:45:46 GMT

We received the following letter from one of readers recently:

"Brangelina have mistaken quantity for quality when it comes to the size of their family. Nature spaces children so that parents at least have a chance of giving each precious child the time that they need from their parents. Their large brood cannot possibly be getting the individual love and attention from their parents that they deserve."

Do you agree? Tell us what you think.

Retrenchment

Ali — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 13:30:35 GMT

Earlier this year I was retrenched from my job, and unfortunately I was classed as "casual" so didn't receive the same benefits as everyone else.

I ended up getting a better job as a result, but the experience really hit me for six.

Has anyone else ever experienced retrenchment/redundancy? How did you cope?

Barack Obama

Cass — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 17:53:53 GMT

Obama's pig comment has been completely taken out of context. Why can't politicians just focus on the real issues instead of using spin to get themselves elected? Drives me nuts.

Sarah Palin

Cass — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 13:55:45 GMT

I really hope the public can see through all the hype about Sarah Palin. I hope Obama wins. Do you think he will?

Russell Crowes solution to the US economic crisis

JStamos — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 10:28:39 GMT

We can all be thankful Russell Crowe is not in charge of anything, given the display of mathematical prowess he shows while telling us all how to solve the economic crisis:

===

Russell Crowe has an Oscar and is co-owner of the Sydney Rabbitohs rugby league team, but maybe his next job should be US treasury secretary.

The New Zealand -born actor announced, during a US TV talkshow appearance, a plan to cure America's financial crisis.

"I have been intently watching the political process," Crowe told talkshow host Jay Leno.

Crowe believes the US government should give each American $US1 million ($A1.26 million).

His reasoning is the US has a population of about 300 million, so the $US300 million ($A377.05 million) outlay is a fraction of the $US700 billion ($A879.78 billion) financial bailout package rejected by politicians in Washington DC on Monday.

"I was thinking," Crowe said.

"If they want to stimulate the economy and get people spending so they can look after their mortgage ... give everyone $US1 million."

Crowe is in the US to promote his new spy thriller with Leonardo DiCaprio and director Ridley Scott, Body of Lies, which opens in Australia on October 9.

The actor is preparing for another film with Scott, Nottingham, based on Robin Hood, and has grown his hair past shoulder length.

"I'm going to play Maid Marion," Crowe, twirling his long hair, told Leno.

Crowe will play the Sheriff of Nottingham and Siena Miller has been cast as Maid Marion.

===

I don't know about you, but I'm reasonably sure that 300 million multiplied by 1 million equals a hell of a lot more than 300 million. 1 million times more even.