Frugal baby names

Good to see forward thinking from some parents.

In the birth announcements on Saturday there was a notice for Shakoda, a sister for Shakaya. There were also notices from her niece Shakira and cousin Shakylah.

This is obviously a thoughtful and well planned exercise. They will be able to abbreviate each name to "Shak" and reuse birthday and Christmas cards.

Inspirational stuff

I hope I can still think as smart as this when I am a pensioner.

PARAMEDICS responding to emergency Triple-0 calls in Sydney's west are instead being used as de facto taxi drivers to local shops.

Older residents are the main offenders - using their pensioner entitlements to secure a free ride in an ambulance instead of paying a taxi fare to go shopping, ambulance sources have confirmed.

An ambulance ride to Mt Druitt Hospital costs $290, but the fee is waived for pensioners and other entitlement card holders.

Paramedics have watched in horror as patients miraculously recover from headaches and other feigned ailments to go shopping across the road, The Daily Telegraph reports.

"You get them to the emergency department and they walk out the door. They are the same patients, you know who is going to do it," a source said.

"Once the ambulance (crew) has cleared paperwork, they leave and see the person crossing the road and going to the shopping centre. An ambulance is an instant free taxi with a pension (entitlement) card."

Rats found in McDonald's restaurant

From The Mercury:

A MCDONALD'S restaurant which had rats in the food-handling area has joined a NSW government list of "named and shamed" establishments which have breached food laws.

The McDonald's at Jilliby on the NSW central coast, which was fined $660, is one of eight new additions to the Government list.

Poor rats.

Spending money on pets

Just how much money do people spend on their pets?

Way too much on pet clothes and food.

Whatever happened to pet rocks?

More public service bans

The state public service is on a go slow campaign at the moment.

I hope no one has been inconvenienced.

Discount services

From The Sunday Tasmanian yesterday - if anyone is considering these services then please call me instead. I will beat these prices by $5! $10 off for pensioners.

Saving (making) money in New Zealand

You have to admire the initiative!

From The New Zealand Herald:

Shopkeepers are being fleeced by counterfeit $100 notes featuring a sheep in a tiara in place of the Queen.

Police in Rodney District, north of Auckland, say the crude forgeries were accepted by at least three businesses last November and another case emerged last month.

The latest victim is a Silverdale landscaper who even helped the offender load some rocks he bought with the note into his car.

A local man was charged with last year's offences and fined $100.

Sergeant Mark Smith, from Orewa police, said the man usually used a fake note to buy a low-value item. In one case he bought batteries for $2 from an Orewa shop and left with $98 change. The notes all bear the serial number BK99580630 but the most distinguishing feature is the sheep's head in the transparent window where the Queen is normally found.

"They still seem to be floating around, which tends to suggest there are a few out there," said Smith.

"It's obvious people are not checking notes. This is a friendly reminder they need to check the legitimacy of money."

Police said they were following strong lines of inquiry.

Frugal Friday - Crispy Potatoes

A great companion dish to go with home made chicken nuggets - or a meal on its own for a family of four.

Ingredients
1.2kg King Edward or pontiac potatoes (or whatever else is cheap or can be dug up if you live near a farmer), peeled, thinly sliced
80ml (1/3 cup) extra virgin olive oil (can substitute lard if cheaper)
2 garlic cloves, crushed (onions if cheaper)
1 lemon, juiced (only 9 cents at Island Markets - bargain!)

Method
Preheat oven to 180°C. Grease a large baking dish with olive oil.
Place potato, oil, garlic, juice and seasoning in a large bowl, toss to combine. Layer potato in the dish (don't make layers too deep, as potato won't become crispy). Bake for about 45 minutes, turning halfway through cooking, until golden.

Cheap and delicious!