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Vinegar and baking soda: a cleaning hack or just a bunch of fizz?

<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/nathan-kilah-599082">Nathan Kilah</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-tasmania-888">University of Tasmania</a> Vinegar and baking soda are staples in the kitchen. Many of us have combined them in childhood scientific experiments: think fizzy volcanoes and geysers. But people also frequently mix vinegar and baking soda to produce a reportedly effective household cleaner. Unfortunately, the chemistry behind the bubbly reaction doesn’t support the cleaning hype. The fizzy action is essentially <a href="https://theconversation.com/six-surprising-things-about-placebos-everyone-should-know-220829">a visual “placebo</a>”, formed by the combination of an acid and a base. So, how does it work, and is it worth using these chemicals for cleaning? To understand all this, it helps to know a little more about chemistry. <h2>What’s an acid?</h2> Foods with a sour taste typically contain acids. These include citric acid in lemon juice, malic acid in apples, lactic acid in yoghurt and <a href="https://theconversation.com/kitchen-science-everything-you-eat-is-made-of-chemicals-56583">phosphoric acids in soft drinks</a>. Most vinegars contain around 4–10% acetic acid, the rest is water and small amounts of flavour chemicals. There are other naturally occurring acids, such as formic acid in ant bites and hydrochloric acid in our stomachs. Industrially, sulfuric acid is used in mineral processing, nitric acid for <a href="https://theconversation.com/what-is-ammonium-nitrate-the-chemical-that-exploded-in-beirut-143979">fertiliser manufacturing</a> and the highly potent hydrofluoric acid is used to etch glass. All of these acids share similar properties. They can all release hydrogen ions (positively charged atoms) into water. Depending on their potency, acids can also dissolve minerals and metals through various chemical reactions. This is why vinegar is an excellent cleaner for showers or kettles – it can react with and dissolve mineral deposits like limescale. Other common acidic cleaning ingredients are oxalic acid, used for revitalising timber decks, hydrochloric acid in concrete and masonry cleaners, and sulfamic acid in potent toilet cleaners. <h2>What’s a base?</h2> In chemistry, bases – the opposite of acids in many ways – can bind, rather than release hydrogen ions. This can help lift and dissolve insoluble grime into water. Bases can also break apart fat molecules. Baking soda (also known as sodium hydrogen carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, or bicarb) is a relatively weak base. Stronger common bases include sodium carbonate (washing soda), sodium hydroxide (lye) and ammonia. <a href="https://theconversation.com/spill-at-a-nuclear-facility-shows-potential-burn-risks-from-a-household-chemical-112763">Sodium hydroxide</a> is a potent drain cleaner – its strong base properties can dissolve fats and hair. This allows blockages to be broken down and easily flushed away. <h2>Mixing a base and an acid</h2> Mixing vinegar and baking soda causes an immediate chemical reaction. This reaction forms water, sodium acetate (a salt) and carbon dioxide – the fizzy part. The amount of carbon dioxide gas that is produced from baking soda is remarkable – one tablespoon (around 18 grams) can release over <a href="https://www.chemedx.org/JCESoft/jcesoftSubscriber/CCA/CCA8/MAIN/8/06/2/4/movie.html">five litres of gas</a>! But only if you add enough acid. Reactions in chemistry often use equal quantities of chemical reagents. A perfect balance of acetic acid and baking soda would give you just water, carbon dioxide and sodium acetate. But the majority of vinegar and bicarb cleaner recipes use a large excess of one or the other components. An example from TikTok for a DIY oven cleaner calls for one and a half cups of baking soda and one quarter cup of vinegar. Crunching the numbers behind the chemical reaction shows that after the fizz subsides, over 99% of the added baking soda remains. So the active cleaning agent here is actually the baking soda (and the “elbow grease” of scrubbing). Ovens can be cleaned much more rigorously with stronger, sodium hydroxide based cleaners (although these are also more caustic). Many modern ovens also have a self-cleaning feature, so read your product manual before reaching for a chemical cleaner of any sort. <h2>What about the sodium acetate?</h2> Devotees of vinegar and baking soda mixtures might be wondering if the product of the fizzy reaction, sodium acetate, is the undercover cleaning agent. Unfortunately, sodium acetate is an even weaker base than baking soda, so it doesn’t do much to clean the surface you’re trying to scrub. Sodium acetate is used in <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vABpel-11Nc">crystallisation-based heating packs</a> and as a concrete sealant, but not typically as a cleaner. Fun fact: sodium acetate can be combined with acetic acid to make a crystalline <a href="https://theconversation.com/busting-the-myth-that-all-food-additives-are-bad-a-quick-guide-for-label-readers-82883">food additive</a> called sodium diacetate. These crystals give the vinegar flavour to <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0hEutu_goY">salt and vinegar chips</a> without making them soggy. <h2>Sorry to burst your bubbles</h2> There are a few rare cases where mixing vinegar and baking soda may be useful for cleaning. This is where the bubbling has a mechanical effect, such as in a blocked drain. But in most cases you’ll want to use either vinegar or baking soda by itself, depending on what you’re trying to clean. It will be less <a href="https://theconversation.com/visually-striking-science-experiments-at-school-can-be-fun-inspiring-and-safe-banning-is-not-the-answer-195362">visually exciting</a>, but it should get the job done. Lastly, remember that mixing cleaning chemicals at home can be risky. Always carefully read the product label and directions before engaging in DIY concoctions. And, to be extra sure, you can find out more safety information by reading the product’s <a href="https://theconversation.com/a-new-tiktok-trend-has-people-drinking-toxic-borax-an-expert-explains-the-risks-and-how-to-read-product-labels-210278">safety data sheet</a>.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/225177/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/nathan-kilah-599082">Nathan Kilah</a>, Senior Lecturer in Chemistry, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-tasmania-888">University of Tasmania</a> Image credits: Shutterstock This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/vinegar-and-baking-soda-a-cleaning-hack-or-just-a-bunch-of-fizz-225177">original article</a>.

Home & Garden

Gen X dad’s odd punishment for four-year-old son sparks debate

A self-proclaimed Gen X dad has sparked a furious debate after a video clip of him punishing his four-year-old son went viral on TikTok. Wisconsin-based dad Derek Longstreth said he had no other choice but to make his young son, Truman, heave massive jugs of water across the yard because he hit his mum. “All right little man, let's go, you've got all these jugs to carry,” he told his son, as he showed five water jugs. “He hit his mom today, so, spanking is out of the question because you liberals made it so we can’t spank our children any more,” he explained. The father-of-one recorded his son struggling to carry the water jugs, but offered him words of encouragement as the boy tried to carry it across the yard. “Let's go, young man. I love you just so you know, but you're not going to hit your mom,” he said. “You can do it. I love you son but we don't hit women in this family.” Longstreth then explained why he chose to punish his son this way, and said that spanking your child is not allowed in Wisconsin. “He's four. We're not allowed to spank in the state of Wisconsin because some liberals are saying there are better ways.” “'Well liberals, what's the better way?” <div><iframe title="tiktok embed" src="https://cdn.embedly.com/widgets/media.html?src=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tiktok.com%2Fembed%2Fv2%2F7256440921728863530&display_name=tiktok&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tiktok.com%2F%40hamburgerjones23%2Fvideo%2F7256440921728863530&image=https%3A%2F%2Fp19-sign.tiktokcdn-us.com%2Fobj%2Ftos-useast5-p-0068-tx%2Fc29492b9251f41139161e469b64b4d0e%3Fx-expires%3D1689789600%26x-signature%3DRnuVqM3A6bo1miOskT3JdYiBlWA%253D&key=5b465a7e134d4f09b4e6901220de11f0&type=text%2Fhtml&schema=tiktok" width="340" height="700" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></div> After the father complained about the liberals, he continued to try and teach Truman a lesson, despite the child complaining that he “can’t do it” multiple times throughout the video. At the end of the clip, Longstreth asks his son: “Are you going to hit your mom again?” “No,” the four-year-old responded. Longstreth also made his son apologise for hitting his mum. The nine-minute clip has racked up over 1.9 million views, while many applauded the father for his “gentle” ways of parenting and disciplining his son, others slammed him for “abuse”. “Big respect to this dad. He gave the kid a hard job with encouragement and reassurance that he loves him as well as why the kid had to do it,” wrote one person. “This is honestly probably the best and most effective way to discipline your child. Every moment they do this they are thinking about what they did,” commented another. “Good dad, raising his son right, teaching him to never lay his hands on any women especially his momma. Very good,” agreed a third. “This is like so gentle yet so disciplining in all the good ways,” wrote a fourth. However, other viewers disagreed with the father’s method. “This is abuse.... I said what I said. I'm sorry he hit his mom though, talking it out is fine. He's too little for this,” commented one person. “Lol. When people ask what the next traumas will be, it’ll be every moment being a phone in their face. Did you need to post this? Pathetic,” wrote another. “You don't want him to associate work as punishment. how about no tv, no sweets, something that is usually a privilege. work is something that is good,” added another user. Images: TikTok

Family & Pets

How ‘ugly’ fruit and vegetables could tackle food waste and solve supermarket supply shortages

The world is facing a significant food waste problem, with <a href="https://www.fao.org/3/i4068e/i4068e.pdf">up to half of all fruit and vegetables</a> lost somewhere along the agricultural food chain. Globally, around <a href="https://www.fao.org/3/ca6030en/ca6030en.pdf">14% of food produced</a> is lost after harvesting but before it reaches shops and supermarkets. Alongside food prices (66%), food waste is a concern for 60% of people that participated in a <a href="https://www.food.gov.uk/research/food-and-you-2/food-and-you-2-wave-5">recent survey</a> published by the UK Food Standards Agency. <a href="https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201617/cmselect/cmenvfru/429/429.pdf">Other research</a> suggests that as much as 25% of apples, 20% of onions and 13% of potatoes grown in the UK are destroyed because they don’t look right. This means that producers’ efforts to meet stringent specifications from buyers can lead to <a href="https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201617/cmselect/cmenvfru/429/429.pdf">perfectly edible produce being discarded</a> before it even leaves the farm – simply because of how it looks. Aside from the ongoing environmental implications of this food waste, UK shoppers currently face <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/mar/04/food-tsar-blames-shortages-on-uks-weird-supermarket-culture">produce rationing in some supermarkets</a> due to <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2023/02/28/british-supermarkets-are-rationing-fruit-and-vegetables-amid-shortages.html">shortages of items like tomatoes, cucumbers and raspberries</a>. Any solutions that increase locally grown produce on shop shelves could improve the availability of fresh food, particularly in urban areas. When imperfect fruit and vegetables don’t make it to supermarket shelves, it can be due to <a href="https://cases.open.ubc.ca/insistence-on-cosmetically-perfect-fruits-vegetables/">cosmetic standards</a>. Supermarkets and consumers often prefer produce of a fairly standard size that’s free of blemishes, scars and other imperfections. This means fruit and vegetables that are misshapen, discoloured, or even too small or too large, are rejected before they make it to supermarket shelves. In recent years there has been a growing trend of selling such “ugly” fruit and vegetables, both by <a href="https://my.morrisons.com/wonky-fruit-veg/">major</a> <a href="https://www.waitrose.com/ecom/content/sustainability/food-waste">supermarket</a> <a href="https://www.tescoplc.com/news/2021/wonky-veg-5th-anniversary/">chains</a>, as well as <a href="https://wonkyvegboxes.co.uk/">speciality</a> <a href="https://www.misfitsmarket.com/?exp=plans_rollback">retailers</a> that sell <a href="https://www.oddbox.co.uk/">boxes</a> of <a href="https://etepetete-bio.de/">wonky produce</a>. And research has shown that 87% of people say they would <a href="https://www.thegrocer.co.uk/fruit-and-veg/nearly-90-of-consumers-would-eat-wonky-fruit-and-veg-according-to-new-survey/670155.article">eat wonky fruit and vegetables if they were available</a>. But other research indicates consumers can still be picky and difficult to predict. One study <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0950329316302002?via%3Dihub">showed</a> consumers are likely to throw away an apple with a spot, but would eat a bent cucumber. <h2>Getting ugly produce into baskets</h2> So how can producers and retailers boost the amount of non-standard fruit and veg that not only reaches our shelves, but also our plates? <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0377221723000668">Our recent research</a> suggests a separate channel for selling ugly produce would increase profits for growers, lower prices for consumers and boost overall demand for produce. For growers, a dedicated channel – either independent or set up by a supermarket – to supply wonky fruit and veg creates a new line of business. For retailers, this provides an opportunity for further revenue over and above current sales of standard produce to shops. When selling both types of product to a single retailer, the ugly items might be undervalued compared with the standard-looking products. Our research also shows that selling the ugly produce through a dedicated channel is likely to increase total demand for fruit and vegetables, while also decreasing on-farm loss. Having two parallel channels for selling produce (the main one and the dedicated “ugly” channel) would increase competition. This benefits shoppers by lowering prices for regular and ugly produce, versus selling both types of products alongside each other in one shop. On the other hand, the growing market for ugly fruit and vegetables could be an economic threat to traditional retailers. It encourages new entrants into the market and could also limit the availability of “regular” produce because growers could become less stringent about ensuring produce meets traditional cosmetic standards. But there is a way for traditional retailers to add ugly produce into their product offerings alongside other produce without affecting their profits. By building on existing consumer awareness of the environmental benefits of ugly food, they could also compete in this growing segment. This would benefit their bottom lines and help consumer acceptance of misshapen fruit and vegetables, possibly leading to less food waste and shortages like those UK shoppers are experiencing right now. Boosting demand for imperfect fruit and vegetables across the supply chain will require all participants to get involved – from grower to seller. Here are some steps the various parties could take: <h2>1. Educating consumers</h2> Education about the environmental and economic impact of food waste could happen through marketing campaigns, in-store displays and even social media. <h2>2. Reducing cosmetic standards</h2> Supermarkets and other major food retailers could revise their cosmetic standards to accept a wider range of produce, including imperfect fruit and vegetables. This would help reduce food waste by making sure more produce is able to be sold. <h2>3. Direct sales</h2> Farmers and growers could sell non-standard produce directly to consumers through farmers’ markets or subscription services. This allows consumers to purchase fresh, locally grown produce that might not meet cosmetic standards for supermarkets but that is just as nutritionally beneficial. <h2>4. Food donations</h2> Supermarkets and growers could donate produce rejected for how it looks to food banks, shelters and other organisations that serve those in need. This would help reduce food waste while also providing healthy food to those who might not otherwise have access to it. <h2>5. Value-added products</h2> Produce that doesn’t meet cosmetic standards could also be used to create other products such as soups, sauces and juices. In addition to reducing food waste, this would create new revenue streams for growers and retailers. <h2>6. Food composting</h2> Anything that cannot be sold or otherwise used should be composted. This would help reduce food waste while also creating nutrient-rich soil for future crops. By implementing these solutions, the supply chain can reduce the amount of ugly or imperfect fruit and vegetables that are wasted, while also providing consumers with healthy, affordable produce, even in times of supply chain shortages. This article originally appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.com/how-ugly-fruit-and-vegetables-could-tackle-food-waste-and-solve-supermarket-supply-shortages-201216" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>. Images: Getty

Food & Wine

10 odd emotions you may have experienced

We all experience a wide range of emotions each day. But did you know that there are actually names for some very specific feelings? See how many of these you identify with. 1. Opia Have you ever had a feeling of arousal when you lock eyes with another person (even a stranger on the bus)? That’s opia. Naturally it depends on the circumstances, as a mutual gaze with someone who looks like they want to steal your wallet is not a good feeling. But when it is between two people who feel attracted to each other it can be very pleasant indeed. 2. Déjà vu Many of us have experienced this one. It is a feeling that you’ve done something or been somewhere before, while you are doing it. It can be really specific too – for instance you might just be stepping off a train and see someone drop their coffee on the platform and this can trigger the feeling. 3 out of 4 people say they have experienced déjà vu so it’s a very common emotion. 3. Ellipsism This is the specific sadness that comes from knowing that you won’t live to see what happens in the future. For instance you may feel sad knowing that you won’t live long enough to see your children start a family of their own. 4. Chrysalism This is the feeling that you get when looking out the window at driving rain and feeling warm and secure inside your warm house. It’s based on the idea that you feel safe as you did inside the womb. 5. Adronitis If you’ve ever met a new person who you’d like to be good friends with, and felt frustrated when you realised that it will take some time to develop the friendship – you’ve experienced adronitis. In order to get close to someone it takes time to share experiences and information, so it’s not something that can be rushed. 6. Liberosis When you wish you could be a kid again, without all the rules and responsibilities of adulthood. In general it means you wish you could stop caring so much about things. 7. Enouement We spend so much time worrying about the future, and more often than not it turns out just fine. Enouement is wishing that you could go back to your past self and tell yourself that everything will work out well. 8. Jouska This is when you imagine a conversation in your head where things work out well for you – such as winning an argument or asking for a promotion. 9. Exulansis If you’ve ever tried to talk about something important with other people and you give up on it as they don’t seem to understand – you’ve experienced exulansis. 10. Fugue state Generally reserved for people who have had too much alcohol or drugs, this related to being able to move and speak without being consciously aware that you are doing it. The person has no memory (a blackout) of the time. Image credits: Getty Images

Mind

PINK sky at night?! Odd reason for unearthly glow over Aussie town

Residents in the northern Victorian town of Mildura experienced an intriguing Wednesday night when the night sky was lit up with an eerie pink glow. “It was very bizarre,” said Tammy Szumowski. “I was on the phone to my mum, and my dad was saying the world was ending.” Though it looked like aliens or a portal to another universe could be behind it, the explanation for the mysterious light is firmly within reality. Pharmaceutical company Cann Group confirmed that the lights originated from its local medicinal cannabis facility, which had left its blackout blinds open. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Mildura?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Mildura</a> and surrounds were treated to a spectacular sight tonight when a red light appeared in the sky. Was it aliens? An aurora? No, it appears to have been the hydroponic lights from a medicinal cannabis farm reflecting off cloud which is somehow the most Mildura answer ever. <a href="https://t.co/Wfy63tRrng">pic.twitter.com/Wfy63tRrng</a> — Sarah Tomlinson (@sarah_tomlinson) <a href="https://twitter.com/sarah_tomlinson/status/1549381096587964416?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 19, 2022</a></blockquote> “Cannabis plants require different spectrums of light in order to encourage their growth,” said Rhys Cohen, senior communications manager at Cann Group Ltd. “A red spectrum light is often used. Normally the facility would have blackout blinds that come down at night, and will in the future block that glow.” Dr Anne Webster, the federal member for Mallee, was driving home in the dark when she noticed the pink light. “I thought that is weird. There is no city out there … What is it?” she said. “When I understood the Cann processing site is there – but it still was the first time I’ve seen that pink glow. It was quite strange.” Photos of the lights quickly spread on social media, with ABC Chief of Staff Sarah Tomlinson describing the fact it came from a medical cannabis facility as “somehow the most Mildura answer ever”. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Hey <a href="https://twitter.com/JaneBunn?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JaneBunn</a> any reports of this scary but brilliant sky over Mildura tonight ?? <a href="https://t.co/3WZ7FZj1zp">pic.twitter.com/3WZ7FZj1zp</a> — Tim Green (@Tim_Green78) <a href="https://twitter.com/Tim_Green78/status/1549326548502970369?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 19, 2022</a></blockquote> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Mildura, Australia: Is it a plane.. an UFO... Superman? Turns out someone forgot to close the blinds at a Cannabis farm. <a href="https://t.co/HaokIwJn2c">pic.twitter.com/HaokIwJn2c</a> — Jürgen "jkr" Kraus (@jkr_on_the_web) <a href="https://twitter.com/jkr_on_the_web/status/1550201444699017216?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 21, 2022</a></blockquote> La Trobe University also joined in on the fun, tweeting: “We can neither confirm, nor deny, that the mysterious lights over Mildura were Aurora marijuanis.” The Mildura facility gathered its first commercial harvest of marijuana crops in June, after Cann Group - the first Australian company licensed to grow the crop for medicinal and research purposes - acquired the site in 2019. Dr Webster described it as “quite an exciting site”, though its exact location is a secret and isn’t open to the public due to the nature of its business. “Propagation of cannabis is really interesting and the way they use lights … to increase the growth cycle and speed up the whole process is quite amazing,” she said. “I look forward to many other innovative producers coming to the region and bringing their glows with them.” Image: Twitter

Caring

“Australia wanted us out”: 501 deportee defies odds to return to Australia

A New Zealand man deported from Australia under the controversial 501 section of the Australian Migration Act will be allowed to return, in a victory that he hopes will be a source of hope for others affected by the same scheme. Gavin Doré was a successful motorcycle salesman in Australia until 2018, when he was convicted for drug offending after his life was upended by a relationship break-up and losing his job. Desperate to stay in his mortgaged home, the 33-year-old began accepting boarders to help him cover his bills, and who brought with them exposure to the drugs scene. He was sentenced to three years and three months in prison after his costly dependence on methamphetamine pushed him to start dealing, prompting his visa to be cancelled under Section 501, which then resulted in his deportation once his sentence was complete. By then, Doré had undergone much of a drug rehabilitation program and became the father of a baby girl to his former partner. He then worked hard to appeal his case and have his visa reinstated, with the Australian Administrative Appeals Tribunal only recently allowing his return and for his visa to be reinstated. “Four plus years it took,” he told <a href="https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/501-deportee-overturns-visa-cancellation-so-that-he-can-go-back-to-visit-daughter/XAQWP7DAJ363CPR6PV6ER3F4B4/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Open Justice</a>. The tribunal said the combination of financial shock from losing his job and the emotional difficulty from the relationship break-up led to a “psychological malaise” and depression. It found that Doré had a “low to negligible risk” of reoffending in Australia and that it was in the best interest of his now four-year-old daughter that he be able to return. “A lot of 501s arrive (in New Zealand) without hope and, as a result, turn to crime,” he said. “I’d like people to know that this is possible (to reinstate an Australian visa), and that there is a better way.” Doré added that he was “one of the lucky ones”, having joined a group in prison who were given advice on how to appeal the decision, including what to say and not say. “When I joined the group we were given the information that the process was possible, where to find the application, who to send it to,” he explained. “We actually also got given the details of how to get in touch with an immigration lawyer.” With Australia tightening the rules since he started his appeal, Doré said people are “losing hope in the process” of appealing. “I do a bit of work with a church here (in Auckland) … and do quite a bit of work with the 501s. Anyone beating it is unheard of, really,” he said. “Australia wanted us out, no matter what. “On the surface they wanted it to look as though there was a legitimate process for an appeal to occur, but … the process itself was so difficult for everyone, really, that a lot of people can’t see a way.” With most deportees arriving with “literally a backpack” and nothing else, Doré said he was fortunate to have the support of his parents when he arrived in New Zealand. According to Open Justice, 192 Kiwi deportees have applied to have their deportations revoked since July 2020. Out of those, only 61 people were successful. Image: NZ Herald

Legal

5 household jobs to do over summer

Though Christmas may be over, many still on holidays have a chance to not only spend time together, but to finally tackle some of those niggly jobs around the house that you have been meaning to get done. Whether the pool is looking a bit murky or you’re looking to make some small improvements, here are five odd jobs around the house to tick off your to-do list this summer. 1. Treat your garden to a little TLC While mowing the lawn and edging the driveway are done on a more regular basis, the summer holidays are a perfect chance to tidy up your garden and show some love to your plants with some pruning. In particular, the start of the year is a good time to prune gardenias and other plants that have finished flowering, cut back herbs that have run to seed, and inspect plants for mildew, petal blight, or signs of being eaten. For help with your garden, Stuart Tucker, the Chief Customer Officer at hipages, recommends using the Yates My Garden app. “Consider it your ‘personal trainer’ of the garden world. The app gives you access to qualified horticulturalists that can talk you through anything that’s happening in your garden,” he told <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.bhg.com.au/summer-household-jobs?category=garden" target="_blank">Better Homes and Gardens</a>. “You can take a picture and share via the live chat and the team will help ID and provide further details on what you need to do.” 2. Refresh your interiors with paint For a cost-effective way to change the look of your home, a fresh coat of paint can refresh your interiors and make your walls look cleaner without costing an arm and a leg. However, it’s recommended that you put the paintbrushes down on especially <a rel="noopener" href="https://trimaco.com/blog/5-tips-for-interior-painting-in-the-winter/" target="_blank">humid days</a> as the heat can affect how the paint dries. 3. Get your pool in tip-top shape Maintaining a pool during winter months can seem like an unrewarding task, so the summer break can be a perfect time to give it some of the attention it may have missed during the rest of the year - especially so you can finally enjoy it. “If your pool filter or equipment needs attention, see to it now before your friends and family start commenting on the murky pool water,” Stuart said. If you’re in need of a helping hand, Stuart said there’s an app for that too. “Try using an app like Blue Connect - Pool Care to track and analyse your pool water by measuring the temperature, pH, the disinfectant concentration and salinity,” he explained. “The app will also notify you in case of any problems.” 4. Service your air-con unit A must for staying cool when the mercury rises, air-conditioning units often work their hardest during summer - meaning it;s important to check that they’re still in good shape. “If you have an internal unit, clear any dust to prevent it (from) performing poorly,” Stuart said. “External units need to be cleared of leaves and other debris.” 5. Tidy up With many of us visiting and receiving family during most of the holidays, it can be tricky to keep our homes clean. But, giving your home a deep clean can make maintaining it that much easier - though you don’t have to do it all on your own. “Before you welcome any visitors, consider hiring a local on-demand cleaner who can give your home a deep clean from top to bottom, including all floors, surfaces and windows,” Stuart said.

Home & Garden

Never been done before: Princess Beatrice and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi reveal odd choice for best man

Princess Beatrice and her fiancé Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi have made royal history after revealing their unlikely choice for best man in their upcoming wedding. It has been confirmed that it will be Edoardo’s three-year-old son Christopher, whom he shares with ex-partner Dara Huang, who will take on the massive role as best man for his dad’s wedding to Princess Beatrice. <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/B23ycotot3y/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B23ycotot3y/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Beatrice and Eugenie (@beatriceandeugenie.ofyork)</a> on Sep 26, 2019 at 3:50am PDT </div> </blockquote> A spokesperson for the couple first confirmed the news to the Daily Mail, citing that the couple wanted the three-year-old to know how important he was to his stepmother. <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/B23zE1yn7Ky/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B23zE1yn7Ky/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by •Cambridge•Sussex•York• (@aboutcambridgesussexandyork)</a> on Sep 26, 2019 at 3:56am PDT </div> </blockquote> The Palace has also confirmed the exciting nuptials will take place on May 29, at The Chapel Royal in St James’s Place, London. Edo and Beatrice got engaged in September 2019 after the property developer proposed while they were holidaying in Italy. <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/BvsUhHjhJAK/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BvsUhHjhJAK/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Dara Huang (@dara_huang)</a> on Mar 31, 2019 at 5:17pm PDT </div> </blockquote> The pair spoke about their exciting news in a statement, saying: "We are both so excited to be embarking on this life adventure together and can't wait to actually be married. "We share so many similar interests and values, and we know that this will stand us in great stead for the years ahead, full of love and happiness." Scroll through the gallery to see Princess Beatrice and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi's engagement pictures.

Relationships

One eyed mare defies the odds and gives birth to twin foals

A horse stud owner has been left stunned after discovering that his one-eyed mare had defied the odds and given birth to live twin foals. The chances of twin goals being born alive are considered 1 in 10,000. <iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fabcnews.au%2Fvideos%2F933297287036597%2F&show_text=0&width=476" width="476" height="476" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe> Spurrs Stud owner Kevin Spurr said that the birth was a complete surprise. “My first thought was ‘don’t tell me another mare has had a foal and run away and left that’,” he said. “A bit after that I realised she’d had twins. I was a little bit stunned, actually, I didn’t know what to think.” Katanning Regional Veterinary Hospital owner John Maxwell has been practicing as an equine vet for more than 50 years and has said he has never seen the successful delivery of twin goals that go on to survive. “I’m surprised, very surprised,” Dr Maxwell said. “I have had a breeder in Wagin that I’ve [aborted] twice because the chances of both surviving were considered almost zero. So this is an exceptional occurrence.” The twin foals, named Snip and Drop, are being well looked after by Mr Spurr and his farmhand Nicole Kumpfmueller. Round-the-clock care is needed for the foals as their mother has one eye and needs to make sure she does not tread on them. "We get out here and they're already waiting and know the routine," Ms Kumpfmueller said. "And you have to give them antibiotics twice a day. "Every now and then we give them an extra milk bucket as well to make sure they have enough milk because we currently don't know how much she can produce for them. "I think it's worth it. If you look at them, they're just too cute not to get up."

Family & Pets

The odd detail you probably never noticed about Duchess Kate

Although the Duchess of Cambridge is known for her sense of style, she can sometimes be seen sporting a less than appealing accessory with some of her outfits. <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/Bp8sP56AtjO/" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Bp8sP56AtjO/" target="_blank">The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge attend the 6th Annual Tusk Conservation Awards 💙 8 November 2018</a> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">A post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/katemiddletonphotos/" target="_blank"> Kate Middleton</a> (@katemiddletonphotos) on Nov 8, 2018 at 9:44pm PST </div> </blockquote> Can you see it? It’s a band-aid on her hand. It’s not the first time she’s been spotted in public with a plaster on her hand either. <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/BNJGeeQj70Q/" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BNJGeeQj70Q/" target="_blank">Catherine, Duchess of Cambridges arrives at the National History Museum to join Oakington Manor school for a special tea party to say goodbye to Dippy, The Natural History Museum’s world famous Diplodocus before he embarks on a nationwide two-year tour on Nov 22,2016.</a> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">A post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/katemiddletonphotos/" target="_blank"> Kate Middleton</a> (@katemiddletonphotos) on Nov 22, 2016 at 10:14pm PST </div> </blockquote> Duchess Kate was spotted wearing one when she arrived at the National History Museum back in 2016. <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/Bu6HOBYHEYM/" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Bu6HOBYHEYM/" target="_blank">The Duchess of Cambridge visits the Henry Fawcett Children’s Centre on March 12, 2019 in London,England.</a> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">A post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/katemiddletonphotos/" target="_blank"> Kate Middleton</a> (@katemiddletonphotos) on Mar 12, 2019 at 5:19am PDT </div> </blockquote> However, it’s not all the time. This was just the other day on May 12, 2019. Buckingham Palace has refused to comment on the issue, especially when <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/kate-wear-many-plasters-duchess-9521028" target="_blank">The Mirror</a> reached out and inquired about the plasters. Buckingham Palace insisted: “We have no comment on the plaster.” For now, many tend to believe that the regular wounds that have appeared over the years is due to the Duchess of Cambridge’s well-established green-thumb. This has been highlighted with her Back to Nature Garden in the RHS Chelsea Flower Show in London that begins this week. “I believe that spending time outdoors when we are young can play a role in laying the foundations for children to become happy, healthy adults,” she said in a statement.

Body

"You will literally wait for hours!": Frustrated woman vents about husband's odd bathroom habit

A woman has been left wondering whether she was in the right to complain about her husband’s odd bathroom habit. The wife and mother has been left frustrated by her partner, who would take over the house’s bathroom for anywhere from 45 minutes to two hours at a time. Writing on <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AmItheAsshole/comments/bbvgh2/aita_for_getting_pissy_about_my_husbands_bathroom/" target="_blank">Reddit</a>, the woman said the long bathroom breaks often kept her and her young son from using the loo when needed. “Fortunately, my son has a private little corner of our backyard where he can go relieve himself in emergencies, but it can be torture for myself or any other women stuck waiting to tinkle,” she shared. Explaining that the situation had been going on for years, she said the wait would be longer if her husband decided to take a shower after relieving himself. “You will literally wait for hours! I have finally got him to where he will unlock the door before he jumps in the shower so we can at least get in to relieve ourselves.” She suspected that her partner has not been using the bathroom for anything related to bodily functions. “I have to go in after him and a lot of time it doesn’t even smell! Zero evidence that he was ‘using the facilities’,” she vented. “I really don’t want to know what he does with his bathroom time, I just want him to be more respectful of the fact that other people have needs too!” Many people jumped in to reassure the woman that her concerns are valid. “That sounds excessive and rude. Is he reading? Needs a quiet place?” one commented. “Something is up!” Another wrote, “He’s being really inconsiderate ... and honestly it kinda sounds like he’s just chilling in there to avoid his childcare responsibilities.” The woman was also encouraged to address the issue with her husband. “I think you really ought to ask the reason,” one advised. “It’s possible he has a condition he’s embarrassed about that you could help him with. Or it’s possible he needs alone time and tries to get it this way. In any case, I don’t see this getting better without you insisting on getting the reason.” Another user chimed in, saying, “The fact that your son has learned to pee in the yard because daddy monopolizes the bathroom is shocking. That isn’t normal … What you are dealing with is really terrible and this isn’t going to be easy to fix. Counselling would be a good idea.” What do you think of the bathroom dilemma? Share your thoughts in the comments.

Body

Mum defends child’s unusual name after being mocked by critics

A mum has defended her baby’s name after trolls made fun of the parent’s decision. Jade Jeanes told <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/disney-belle-beauty-and-beast-2669541" target="_blank">The Bristol Post</a> that herself and her husband Joshua, both 27, wanted something extravagant for their child’s name as they had been waiting for seven years to conceive. After some debate on whether their child should be called Belle after Jade’s favourite Disney heroine in Beauty and the Beast, the couple settled on Disney. Despite making her choice and having nurses in the delivery room recognise that the name is unique, Jade decided to share her baby’s name with a Facebook page created for parents. She was devastated when mums mocked her baby’s name on the page. Jade couldn’t understand the criticism, saying “it’s just a name.” Jade said: “Friends and family love the name, and I do too. It’s no one’s business what we decided to call her.” Jade also said that Disney loves Disney films, as she’s been described as “transfixed” whenever there’s a Disney movie on TV. “It was more of a fun post that I assumed people would be okay with. In the end, people just either hate it or love it.” What do you think of the unique name? Let us know in the comments below.

Family & Pets

Inside Brady Bunch star Barry Williams’ $10 million Malibu beach house

The Brady Bunch star Barry Williams has listed his 2808-square-foot Malibu beach house in the US for $US6.375 million ($NZD9.3 million), as he plans to part ways with his lavish abode. Located in a gated community, the three-bedroom, four-bathroom home comes complete with magnificent ocean views and also features an expansive outdoor deck to enjoy those summer nights on the beach. The open floor plan is surrounded with a wall of windows, bringing in plenty of natural light and fresh air. Also included is an extravagant stone fireplace and a spacious chef’s kitchen with state-of-the-art steel appliances. <img style="width: 399.13793103448273px; height: 500px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7823639/bb.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/94700db6fd15421ca13a57caa2b58187" /> Heading towards the upstairs area of the home, the master suite comes with two private decks, a number of closets and another fireplace. The beach house is situated in one of only two beachfront streets in Malibu and was predominantly used as a holiday and weekend home for the 64-year-old. Williams, who played the eldest brother Greg Brady in the smash hit sitcom The Brady Bunch, built the house himself in 1974, with his brother Craig lending a helping hand. Scroll through the gallery above to look inside Barry Williams’ Malibu beach house.

Tricky quiz: Can you pick the odd one out?

A tricky general knowledge quiz promises to challenge even the brightest brains. The 15-question quiz asks you to pick the odd word out and although some are fairly easy to spot, others questions are much more challenging. Creator Cody Cross, who shared the quiz on <a href="https://www.playbuzz.com/codycross10/no-one-can-score-10-15-in-this-iq-test-and-its-driving-the-internet-wild#eightieth" target="_blank">Playbuzz</a>, claims it is so difficult that no one will be able to answer 10 correctly – let alone score full marks. Take the test yourself: <div class="playbuzz" data-id="d1c4cad7-d11d-4e83-b8eb-c7f61793da1e" data-show-info="false" data-comments="false" data-show-share="false"></div>

Mind

10 Aussie places with odd names (and why you should visit)

Don’t let a strange name scare you off! 1. Dismal Swamp, Tasmania The largest sinkhole in the Southern Hemisphere is more magical than dismal. It’s filled with ancient blackwood trees and you can ride a curvy 110-metre slide right to the bottom, where you’ll find dreamy sculptures and local artworks. 2. Dump Beach, New South Wales It’s doesn’t sound very appealing, but dog lovers will love this stretch of sand close to the town of Yamba on the NSW north coast. It's quiet and unpatrolled, and the local doggy community has claimed it as their own. The perfect place for your furry friend to have a roll in the sand. 3. Success, Western Australia This suburb in southern Perth is named for Captain James Stirling’s ship the HMAS Success that explored the region in 1827. Now, it’s a sleepy, safe suburb that’s surrounded by some lovely parks and is just a short drive to the beach. 4. Mount Misery, Tasmania There are a few Mount Miseries to be found around Australia, which suggests that early explorers must have had a pretty difficult time. This one overlooks Huonville in southeast Tasmania and its slopes are covered in tall eucalypts and small pockets of rainforest. The climb to the summit takes about three hours. 5. Stinky Bay, South Australia This two-kilometre curve of sand on South Australia’s Limestone Peninsula gets its name from the large piles of seagrass that frequently wash up on the beach, giving off a distinctive odour. If you can get past that, lots of inshore holes and gutters make it a great spot for fishing right from the beach. 6. Eggs and Bacon Bay, Tasmania Tassie seems to have more than its fair share of strangely-named places, and Eggs and Bacon Bay is the next one on our list. It’s actually named for the distinctive yellow and red flowers found all over the shore, rather than breakfast, and has gorgeous scenery, deserted beaches and lots of fresh Tasmanian produce. 7. Promised Land, New South Wales With a name like this, you know it’s going to be good. The Promised Land is a delightful valley near the Dorrigo National Park and the bohemian town of Bellingen. Spend your days discovering hidden waterfalls, lush rainforest and crystal clear swimming holes. 8. Yorkeys Knob, Queensland Ahem, take your mind out of the gutter! This picturesque beach village just north of Cairns was named for a Yorkshire fisherman who built his homestead here and the ‘knob’ part refers to the peninsula jutting out from the beach. It’s a charming family holiday spot and famous for kitesurfing. <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/qNZIJmEZ91g" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen=""></iframe> 9. Teddy Bear Gap, Victoria If you go down to the Grampians today, you’re sure of a big surprise… No word if any teddy bears have been known to picnic at their eponymous gap, but the walk itself is quite lovely and well worth the effort. 10. Edge of the World, Tasmania The name here is pretty self-explanatory. The Edge of the World is a desolate, windswept spot in the Tarkine Rainforest on the northwest coast of Tasmania. From here, there’s nothing else to the west except 20,000 kilometres of raging ocean. The nearest landfall is in Patagonia, South America. Have you been to any of these places?

International Travel

Woman defies odds with two huge lottery wins in one day

A lucky punter has done the unimaginable and won two substantial lottery prizes in the same day. Kimberly Morris from the US, bought two North Carolina lottery tickets. Kimberly couldn’t believe her luck when she purchased a ticket during a grocery ticket and scratched off the $10,000 prize. The mother-of-three went to the lottery headquarters in Raleigh to claim her prize when she felt like her lucky streak wasn't over yet. Kimberly made a quick stop to purchase another ticket and this time she won an astounding $1 million. "It felt really great to win, but I really have always dreamed I would win $1 million!" she told North Carolina Education Lottery. Kimberly chose to take the lump sum of the $1 million prize, which left her with $417,012 after taxes. Kimberly plans to give some of her money to her three children and invest the rest.

Retirement Income

The reason wine tastes odd on planes

If you’ve ever asked for a glass of red on a plane to relax (or perhaps calm your nerves) you might’ve noticed how it tastes a little bit different when you’re in the plane cabin. Well, there’s a good reason for this. Writing for <a href="https://www.stuff.co.nz/" target="_blank">Stuff</a>, travel expert Michael Austin explains why this is the case. “That air is being recirculated, and it carries provocative notes of jet fuel, upholstery and carpet, all of which tend to fade the longer you spend in that tube, and maybe that's a good thing for those of us who don't particularly love those smells,” Austin writes. “But the problem is that even the stuff we do want to smell eventually fades. And when the aromas go, the flavours go too. It's all caused by your own aircraft-induced dehydration – the drying-out that afflicts you every time you go wheels-up. “You don't get entirely stripped of your ability to smell and taste, obviously (you can taste well enough to know that you're not wild about the over-salted yet still-kind-of-bland food resting on the tray in front of you), but your senses very quickly begin to operate at a fraction of their normal capacity - and they go downhill from there. “You gradually lose your ability to smell and taste the subtle aromas and flavours you might have been easily able to identify and name in the most creative ways on the ground.” So, there you have it, that’s why wine tastes a little odd on planes.

Travel Tips

What Brady Bunch star Eve Plumb look like now

Most famous for her role in the iconic 1970s sitcom, The Brady Bunch, Eve Plumb played “middle” child, Jan Brady, in the hit series. Here we have a new photo of the actress taken in March this year compared with one of her as Jan Brady taken back in 1971. <img width="500" height="323" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/39341/eve-plumb-in-text_500x323.jpg" alt="Eve Plumb In -text"/> Running from 1969 until 1974, Eve Plumb recently revealed that she hopes that her role on the TV show isn't the only one she’s remembered for. “I’ll always be Jan Brady to so many people,” the now 59-year-old actress told Closer Weekly. “I can’t escape it, but I can do other things,” she added. Having recently starred as Mrs. Murdock in Grease Live! opposite Julianne Hough and Vanessa Hudgens, Plumb admits that while she found success as a child star, adulthood proved difficult for the entertainer. “I had so much success as a child,” she explains. “But once you age out of being the cute kid, then what? If you’re not ready for it, it can be very difficult.” Over the years since The Brady Brunch stopped filming, Eve admits that she still gets recognised as Jan Brady at auditions. “If it gets me in the door [for jobs], then fine!” she said. “If you’re surprised to learn I can do other things, then great! I will audition for anything! Whatever comes my way!”.

Can you spot the odd word out?

Give your brain a workout with this multiple-choice test asking users to pick out the word that does not belong. Created by Playbuzz, the quiz gives you 25 examples of three words. You have to choose the word that has a different meaning to the other two. Scroll down to view the questions and make a note of your answers. View the correct answers by scrolling right in the gallery above. <img width="634" height="89" src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/06/15/12/4170B99600000578-4607194-image-m-31_1497527297986.jpg" alt="Question 1" class="blkBorder img-share b-loaded" id="i-168356feb99c8d6c"/> <img width="634" height="94" src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/06/15/12/4170B99C00000578-4607194-image-m-33_1497527349232.jpg" alt="Question 2" class="blkBorder img-share b-loaded" id="i-b64b10485f3cabd3"/> <img width="634" height="90" src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/06/15/12/4170B9A600000578-4607194-image-m-35_1497527387084.jpg" alt="Question 3" class="blkBorder img-share b-loaded" id="i-dcf194937afce0bb"/> <img width="634" height="92" src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/06/15/12/4170B9AA00000578-4607194-image-m-37_1497527431758.jpg" alt="Question 4" class="blkBorder img-share b-loaded" id="i-9b404c2591dbcfc3"/> <img width="634" height="92" src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/06/15/12/4170B9AE00000578-4607194-image-a-40_1497527547026.jpg" alt="Question 5 " class="blkBorder img-share b-loaded" id="i-25a0c20c9a32882"/> <img width="634" height="113" src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/06/15/12/4170B9B600000578-4607194-image-m-42_1497527570028.jpg" alt="Question 6" class="blkBorder img-share b-loaded" id="i-76b19f9621e2034c"/> <img width="634" height="108" src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/06/15/12/4170B9BA00000578-4607194-image-m-44_1497527598032.jpg" alt="Question 7" class="blkBorder img-share b-loaded" id="i-3579b4d0f6e682c"/> <img width="634" height="101" src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/06/15/12/4170B9BE00000578-4607194-image-m-46_1497527638205.jpg" alt="Question 8" class="blkBorder img-share b-loaded" id="i-7a3657fbeb79fe58"/> <img width="634" height="96" src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/06/15/12/4170B9C200000578-4607194-image-m-48_1497527720491.jpg" alt="Question 9" class="blkBorder img-share b-loaded" id="i-684e68fb4dd811c9"/> <img width="634" height="96" src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/06/15/12/4170B9C600000578-4607194-image-m-50_1497527780449.jpg" alt="Question 10" class="blkBorder img-share b-loaded" id="i-112c66211b27a4dd"/> <img width="634" height="97" src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/06/15/12/4170B9CA00000578-4607194-image-m-52_1497527832716.jpg" alt="Question 11" class="blkBorder img-share b-loaded" id="i-e2979697f2dd0d63"/> <img width="634" height="94" src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/06/15/12/4170B9CE00000578-4607194-image-m-54_1497527934608.jpg" alt="Question 12" class="blkBorder img-share b-loaded" id="i-7d56d74cdaf9f9c2"/> <img width="634" height="103" src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/06/15/12/4170B9D200000578-4607194-image-m-56_1497527974266.jpg" alt="Question 13" class="blkBorder img-share b-loaded" id="i-781784fa32b182d9"/> <img width="634" height="96" src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/06/15/13/4170B9D800000578-4607194-image-m-58_1497528072566.jpg" alt="Question 14" class="blkBorder img-share b-loaded" id="i-ed7dee0992b9afa8"/> <img width="634" height="96" src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/06/15/13/4170B9DE00000578-4607194-image-m-60_1497528116258.jpg" alt="Question 15" class="blkBorder img-share b-loaded" id="i-25d2a5d0776e8871"/> <img width="634" height="93" src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/06/15/13/4170B9E200000578-4607194-image-m-62_1497528185877.jpg" alt="Question 16" class="blkBorder img-share b-loaded" id="i-4a83d6669e903caf"/> <img width="634" height="97" src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/06/15/13/4170B9E600000578-4607194-image-m-64_1497528216489.jpg" alt="Question 17 " class="blkBorder img-share b-loaded" id="i-9f2d1dbdb6bce2f9"/> <img width="634" height="99" src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/06/15/13/4170B9EA00000578-4607194-image-m-66_1497528280763.jpg" alt="Question 18 " class="blkBorder img-share b-loaded" id="i-da101e0b58391b41"/> <img width="634" height="95" src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/06/15/13/4170B9EE00000578-4607194-image-m-68_1497528304262.jpg" alt="Question 19" class="blkBorder img-share b-loaded" id="i-15f9510bf98c5923"/> <img width="634" height="96" src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/06/15/13/4170B9F200000578-4607194-image-m-70_1497528341255.jpg" alt="Question 20" class="blkBorder img-share b-loaded" id="i-4c09cfd1a68351ba"/> <img width="634" height="93" src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/06/15/13/4170B9F600000578-4607194-image-m-72_1497528374247.jpg" alt="Question 21" class="blkBorder img-share b-loaded" id="i-7f06cc6745e7a4a9"/> <img width="634" height="95" src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/06/15/13/4170B9FA00000578-4607194-image-m-74_1497528404819.jpg" alt="Question 22" class="blkBorder img-share b-loaded" id="i-d98b13bc6dad0124"/> <img width="634" height="100" src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/06/15/13/4170B9FE00000578-4607194-Question_23-m-76_1497528474140.jpg" alt="Question 23" class="blkBorder img-share b-loaded" id="i-d18c09a03f74611d"/> <img width="634" height="97" src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/06/15/13/4170BA0200000578-4607194-image-m-78_1497528492195.jpg" alt="Question 24" class="blkBorder img-share b-loaded" id="i-50910c8a26887f83"/> <img width="634" height="95" src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/06/15/13/4170BA0600000578-4607194-image-m-80_1497528540981.jpg" alt="Question 25" class="blkBorder img-share b-loaded" id="i-7529475a7b9c8714"/>

Mind

The odd reason airplane windows are round

Round windows are as synonymous with air travel as peanuts, turbulence and the in-flight safety demonstration. But have you ever wondered why they’re round? Well, there’s a good reason why this is the case. As a recent article in <a href="http://www.travelandleisure.com/" target="_blank">Travel + Leisure</a> explains, early models of airplanes featured designs with square and rectangular windows, not dissimilar to what you’d expect to see in a home or automobile. In the 1950s, as the commercial jetliner started to rise to popularity and prominence, <a href="http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20140414-crashes-that-changed-plane-design/" target="_blank">two tragic incidents</a> would change the face of aviation design forever. The incidents, in which two planes fell apart mid-air, were examined strenuously by scientists and it was found that the cause was square windows. The sharp corners created natural weak spots, concentrating the stress that was further weakened by the pressure in the air, and at high altitudes this spelt absolute disaster. Curved windowpanes distribute this stress evenly, reducing the likelihood of cracks or breaks occurring. They’re also stronger and more resistant to deformations, allowing them to survive the extreme pressure differences on a flight. So there you have it. Did you realise why plane windows were round? Related links: <a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/travel/travel-tips/2017/01/passengers-should-be-weighed-for-flights-according-to-fellow-flyers/">Passengers should be weighed for flights, according to fellow flyers</a> <a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/travel/travel-tips/2017/01/snake-on-a-plane-grounds-emirates-flight/">Snake on a plane grounds Emirates flight</a> <a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/travel/international/2017/01/why-passengers-always-board-planes-from-the-left-side/">Why passengers always board planes from the left side</a>

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The odd reason airplane windows are round