Saturday Morning with Jack Tame

Comedian Rhys Darby has been incredibly busy: he's just wrapped up filming season two of TV show Wrecked, is starring in a sequel to Jumanji and is heading to New Zealand for a 19-show tour.
Rhys joined Jack Tame from Los Angeles to talk about his new live show 'Mystic Time Bird' which sees him "turn to the world of ancient mysticism to find answers to the world’s problems" and discover he was a bird in a past life.
Find dates and tickets to Mystic Time Bird here.
LISTEN ABOVE: Rhys Darby speaks to Jack Tame

Kevin Milne doesn't think there was enough attention paid to the launch of a rocket from New Zealand into space - something he finds much more exciting than watching coverage of the Budget.
LISTEN ABOVE
WATCH: Rocket Lab makes history with successful launch

Catherine Raynes joins Jack Tame to discuss See You in September by Charity Norman (Allen and Unwin $33) and Since We Fell by Dennis Lehane (Hachette $33).

LISTEN ABOVE

Technology correspondent Paul Stenhouse joins Jack Tame to talk about Google's latest development, Google Lens, which turns your phone camera into a search box.
He also talks about a company that's released a smaller, more affordable drone which can be controlled through a cellphone and is optimised for selfies.
LISTEN ABOVE: Paul Stenhouse speaks to Jack Tame

Without optimal sleep, we cannot be our best physically or mentally. If you’re having trouble winding down at the end of the day, try one of herbs.
Valerian – Be careful, it has the opposite effect on some people. Typically, if you have a hot constitution (you're always in t-shirts when the rest of us are wearing sweaters), you might not be able to take valerian.
Plants in the mint family – Lavender, lemon balm, catnip, holy basil, sweet marjoram and skullcap are well known for their sedative properties.
Hops – Use the female hops.
Passionflower – Dry the leaves, crush them and use them in a tea
Chamomile – Very calming, particularly when stressed. If growing your own, you must pick when the flowers are about to open, or have just opened, otherwise they will taste bitter. Dry the flowers before using.
Lavender – Inhale the scent. You need to inhale it for at least 20 minutes for it to have any effect.
You can download Jane's 10 tips for a better night's sleep from her website.

Film reviewer Francesca Rudkin joins Jack Tame to talk about Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales starring Johnny Depp and Javier Bardem.

She also discusses the Australian film My Pet Dinosaur - a welcome change from the constant stream of animated children's films.

Read more of Francesca's reviews at the NZ Herald.

LISTEN ABOVE: Francesca Rudkin speaks to Jack Tame

Comedian Rhys Darby has been incredibly busy: he's just wrapped up filming season two of TV show Wrecked, is starring in a sequel to Jumanji and is heading to New Zealand for a 19-show tour.
Rhys joined Jack Tame from Los Angeles to talk about his new live show 'Mystic Time Bird' which sees him "turn to the world of ancient mysticism to find answers to the world’s problems" and discover he was a bird in a past life.
Find dates and tickets to Mystic Time Bird here.
LISTEN ABOVE: Rhys Darby speaks to Jack Tame

Kevin Milne doesn't think there was enough attention paid to the launch of a rocket from New Zealand into space - something he finds much more exciting than watching coverage of the Budget.
LISTEN ABOVE
WATCH: Rocket Lab makes history with successful launch

Whitcoulls' Catherine Raynes Jack Tame with her top books of the week.
She reviews Jack Reacher: No Middle Name by Lee Child (Penguin $37) and Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman (Harper Collins $35).

Sage and Thyme
There has been a lot of concern in the news lately about the increasing rate of antibiotic resistance. For a natural and effective alternative, try herbal antibiotics. Before antibiotics became widely available, herbs were the main medicine of choice for treating infectious diseases.
Many herbs have antimicrobial properties; they inhibit the growth of or eradicate microscopic pathogens.
For example, sage and thyme are two common garden herbs that have antibacterial and antiviral properties. We can easily use these two herbs to halt or soothe the symptoms of a sore throat, for example. A simple herb tea can be drunk throughout the day or gargled with at the first sign of a sore throat. Infuse a handful of fresh sage or thyme in boiling water for 8-10 minutes.
Note: Sage should not be taken if pregnant or breast-feeding.
Thyme Syrup
Steep ¼ cup fresh thyme leaves in 300ml boiled water, covered, for 15 minutes. Strain out the leaves and add ¼ cup honey and 1 teaspoon lemon juice. Store in the fridge and keep no longer than a week.
For children 1 year or older, give 1-2 teaspoons every 2-3 hours. Teens and adults can take 1-2 tablespoons at a time.
A sage gargle is very effective for sore throats.
Steep 1 tablespoon fresh sage leaves (2 teaspoons dried sage leaves) in 1 cup freshly boiled water, covered. Strain into a new cup, add ¼ teaspoon of salt and stir. Gargle with this every 1-2 hours.
Growing sage
Some people have difficulty growing sage (Salvia officinalis). It likes full sun and a limey soil (add some lime to your soil if necessary) that’s on the dry side. Soil does not need to be highly fertile. This plant is drought and frost resistant.
Growing thyme
Thyme (Thymus vulgarus) likes a sunny spot in free-draining soil. It doesn’t like wet feet, so add pumice or horticultural grit to improve drainage if required. If planting in pots, use a potting mix that’s low in nutrients. Rich soil encourages softer growth and diminishes flavour. Plants in the garden also have low fertiliser requirements. Drought and cold hardy.
Ginger
Ginger has antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties that help to soothe sore throats and destroy viruses that cause upper respiratory infections. A simple ginger tea with lemon and honey is delicious and can be taken at the onset of a cold.
Put 2 ½ cm (1 inch) fresh ginger, sliced, in a saucepan with 1 ½ cups water. Cover and simmer on a low heat for 15 minutes. Strain and add 1 teaspoon lemon juice and 1 teaspoon honey. You can make and drink this up to 3 times a day. Children aged between 1 and 12 can drink ¼ to ½ cup, 1-3 times a day.
Essential oils
Studies have also shown that essential oils can halt airborne microbes, which are easily spread by coughing, sneezing, even talking or turning the pages of books. A trial at Wythenshawe Hospital Burns Unit in the UK found that using a vaporiser to diffuse a blend of oils (clove, cinnamon bark, eucalyptus and rosemary) into the air combated certain bacteria, including MRSA, a contagious and antibiotic-resistant staph bacteria. In the nine-month study, in-air bacteria diminished by more than 90%.
Eucalyptus Oil
Eucalyptus has anti-viral and other antimicrobial properties. Use 3-7 drops in a steam bath (steam inhalation) to clear stuffy noses. Also, use at the first sign of a sore throat – it will stop it coming to fruition.
Cover head with towel and breathe through the nose. Keep your eyes closed.
Visit Jane's website at flamingpetal.co.nz.