KEY POINTS:
Hallmark Cards built its empire on schmaltz for life's happier times, but now realises there is money to be made out of the tough times. The company has just launched a 176-card collection called Journeys, described as "encouragement cards to help friends and loved ones through life's most trying times". For illness: "Cancer is a villain who doesn't play fair ... but it can't dim your spirit, and it can't silence prayer." For eating disorders: "All I want is for you to be healthy and happy with yourself. Please take it one day at a time until you are." For depression: "When the world gets heavy, remember, I'm here to help carry it with you." Other cards in the range include quitting smoking, caring for an aged parent, miscarriage, anniversaries of loss, loved ones in the military and traumatic loss, such as someone dying in an accident or homicide. Others are happy or humorous, celebrating a year being cancer-free, nearing the end of chemotherapy or general encouragement for teenagers.
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Oldies are bad for the environment. According to a report called "Greening the Greys", the Stockholm Environmental Research Group has claimed that people aged 50 to 64 are the worst offenders in terms of carbon footprint. This age group recorded a carbon footprint of 13.52 tonnes a head every year, compared with the British average of 11.81 tonnes. Carbon-intensive activities, such as high car dependence, holidays abroad and eating out, are factors which contribute to the size of their footprint. The survey also says this age group is the most concerned about climate change.
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Romie F. Littrell writes: "Concerning your comment and photo of the kiwifruit from Italy ... The kiwifruit (also known as the chinese gooseberry and yang-tao) is native to the Yangtze River valley of northern China and Zhejiang Province on the coast of eastern China. It's grown commercially in New Zealand, the US, Italy, South Africa, Chile, Japan and France. Italy is the world's largest producer (since 1989); New Zealand is the second largest. The first seeds were brought by missionaries from China to New Zealand at the beginning of the 20th century. Early nurserymen in New Zealand, Alexander Allison, Bruno Just and Hayward Wright, recognised the potential of the fruit and it soon became a popular backyard vine. Several plants sent to the Chico Plant Introduction Station in California still exist today."
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The latest City Scene from Auckland City shows before and after images of an Epsom shopping centre. Before shows the shops as they appear now, the after image is an artist's impression of them after the signs ban comes into force. But, according to Ken Neighbours, the two things missing from the after image are "the tumbleweeds blowing down the street, and the jackbooted sign-enforcement officers patrolling the street".
