This week's compost

T1. The good earth: Boneo Leptic Tenosol and parsnips

“Not everyone likes parsnips. Some people may be sensitive to the high concentrations of psoralens. These chemicals are toxic, photoactive, mutagenic and photocarcinogenic, so perhaps it’s no wonder some people are put off.”

Sensitivity and hence avoidance I can understand, but not liking them? What’s not to like from their creamy rumpledness to that subtle sweetness, one of winter’s highlights for me.

http://bit.ly/1dOtyVr

22. City cafe in development

“During the two centuries (1650-1850) the coffee houses of London served Englishmen as a composite office, club and post box. Unlike the cafés of Continental Europe, the English coffeehouse served business as well as social purposes. Within these establishments conversations and debate would be conducted promoting: scientific thought, skepticism and intellectual interchange; and opposing: superstition and intolerance. The coffee houses had a major impact on the culture and politics of the Western world, and played a significant role in the Enlightenment of the 17th and 18th Centuries.

Fast forward to the 21st Century … and the need for renewed enlightenment and the propagation of good ideas has never been greater. There is an opportunity for City Café by General Thinking (powered by the people and energy of TEDxSydney) to play a leading role in this reinvigoration of civic life within cities.”

I love the idea of a modern take on the coffee house.
  
http://bit.ly/1bEQQjR

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3. Aussie burger buyers abandoning McDonalds 

" “Australia is another one of those markets that at this point in time we see from their perspective you're seeing some softer – clearly a softer economy," Mr Thompson said during a presentation for McDonald's second-quarter earnings.

"Youth unemployment in Australia is about 25.5 per cent. So they're facing something; unemployment for 

them has risen."

According to recent figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics there were 116,500 unemployed 15- to 19-year-olds, equating to 14.5 per cent of those in the labour force. The ABS reported the youth unemployment rate in May was 11.6 per cent.”

I blame Master Chef, myself. Why not, it’s as likely as a bullshit figure on youth unemployment. 

http://bit.ly/12hSxAB

4. Would you like real food with that? Or why your bread tastes funny.

         

“Had Coles used any other words in their promotion other than the ones they have I think they would have escaped any ACCC attention. It goes to show just how important the JND is to food brands at the moment in turning your bread into more bread, or money.”

 

http://bit.ly/18ArWy1







5. Secret strategy to keep Tim Tams tip top.

"The iconic Australian Tim Tam will undergo a revamp including new flavours and packaging to fight off increasing competition from rival chocky biscuits that have taken some of the gloss off the much-loved biscuit and threatened its slice of the consumer dollar.

It is believed a new Tim Tam flavour will involve the term "chocolicious", but like the highly secretive Willy Wonka, Tim Tam's American owners are keeping mum about their plans for the Aussie classic however Fairfax Media has learned that two new flavours to be launched will be Chocolate Brownie and Luscious Strawberry."

Worst. Idea. Ever!!!!

http://bit.ly/11folUb

6. After the fish are gone.

Beautifully filmed and photographed with a quietly evocative narration that asks what of the fisher after the fish are gone and suggests disturbing answers.

http://vimeo.com/61661665