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Woman who died in office cubicle found four days later

The body of an employee at one of America's biggest banks was in her office cubicle four days after she passed away, according Arizona police officials. Denise Prudhomme, 60, had used her ID to scan into the building on August 16 at 7am, four days later her dead body was found slumped over in her cubicle at the bank's office in Tempe. “To hear she’s been sitting at the desk like that would make me feel sick,” an employee at Wells Fargo told local news outlet K12News. “And nobody did anything. That’s how she spent her last moments.” The employee told the outlet that several workers had complained of a foul smell when they came back to work after the weekend, but thought it was just bad plumbing. K12News reported that another employee found Prudhomme dead at her desk in a cubicle while walking around the building, and the security guards then alerted police. One employee said that the building's security guards should have found her body earlier. “That’s the scary part. That’s the uneasy part,” they said. “It’s negligence in some part.” Prudhomme’s cause of death has not yet been released, though officials have said that based on the preliminary investigation there was no sign of foul play. The investigation is ongoing. Wells Fargo shared a statement with several other news outlets saying that they were “deeply saddened by the tragic loss of our colleague” and will be providing counsellors to support office employees. They are also co-operating with police in their investigation. Image: Larry Zhou / Shutterstock.com

Legal

Biggest box office bombs revealed

The biggest box office bombs for 2023 have been revealed, with Disney dominating the list. New data from <a href="https://deadline.com/2024/05/biggest-box-office-bombs-2023-lowest-grossing-movies-1235902825/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Deadline</a> reports that four Disney films ranked topped the list of movies with the highest studio net loss for 2023. While the outlet reported that Disney typically “owns a majority of the year’s top 10 most profitable films thanks to Marvel movies,” that was not the case for 2023. According to their calculations, superhero film The Marvels had a studio net loss of $A358 million, after only earning the franchise $71 million at the box office in its opening weekend, their lowest number to date. In November 2023, Disney CEO Bob Iger addressed the box office blunder at The New York Times’ Dealbook Summit, saying that because the film was shot during covid, “there wasn’t as much supervision on the set, so to speak, where we have executives [that are] really looking over what’s being done day after day after day.” Deadline claimed that another reason why the film flopped was because it "was trying to thread storylines from Disney+ shows like Ms. Marvel," which wasn't as well-received by fans compared to other series like Loki and WandaVision. Iger shared the same belief, saying that Marvel’s mass of content on Disney+ "diluted focus and attention," contributing to the franchise's failure at the box office. The Marvels was followed by The Flash, a Warner Bros. and DC production with a $234 million studio net loss. Three other Disney films also made the list, with Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny coming in third place with a $216 million net loss, followed by Wish with a $198 million loss and Haunted Mansion with a $117 million loss. Image: Getty

Movies

"Absolute original": The Office star dies aged 50

The Office star Ewen MacIntosh has passed away at the age of 50. The comedian shot to fame for his portrayal of oddball character Keith Bishop in the UK version of the sitcom, starring alongside Ricky Gervais. Tributes have flooded in for the star, led by his co-star Gervais. He wrote, “Extremely sad news. The very funny and very lovely Ewen Macintosh, known to many as ‘Big Keith’ from The Office, has passed away. An absolute original. RIP.” Stephen Merchant, who co-wrote The Office with Gervais, said he was “so very sad” to hear of the death of MacIntosh, who he described as a “lovely and uniquely funny man”. “I fondly recall we asked him to improvise an out-of-office message, and he was so hilarious we started writing more and more dialogue for him,” Merchant said in an Instagram tribute. “He soon stole every scene he was in. A total one-off. A tragic loss.” Ewen’s management team announced his passing, writing, “With great sadness we announce the peaceful passing of our beloved comedy genius Ewen MacIntosh." “His family thank all who supported him, especially Willow Green Care Home." “There will be a private cremation for family & close friends soon & a celebratory memorial later in the year.” His pal Ed Scott wrote, “I am completely devastated by the loss of my very good friend Ewen MacIntosh. “He may have had a famous face known by millions as Keith from The Office but the person inside is what I will most remember.” Away from the popular sitcom, Ewen struggled to get roles and went bankrupt in 2016. MacIntosh teamed up with Gervais once more for a small role in After Life, and also had minor roles in Little Britain and Miranda. He also opened up on his health battles, revealing in 2022 he had been admitted to hospital, saying it was a "Bad times for me I’m afraid chums," while urging his fans to "Stay strong out there.” Image credits: BBC

Caring

Ex-Finnish Prime Minister’s rebrand after divorce and leaving office

The former Finnish Prime Minister is living her best life after filing for divorce and leaving her position in office. Sanna Marin, the youngest ever female world leader, has kicked off her single girl summer by attending a three-day music festival in Helsinki, leaning into her love of partying. The 37-year-old shared photos from her summer adventures on Instagram, flaunting her relaxed politics-free new life. “This summer I’ve had a proper summer vacation for the first time in a while,” Marin wrote on Instagram while sharing snaps of her fun-filled days. “It has included, among other things, being busy with [5-year-old daughter] Emma, sports, friends, good food, and unforgettable trips.” Most of her followers applauded the change in her lifestyle, and were happy she was taking some quality time for herself. “You look AMAZING. Thank you for showing the world that you can fill the chair as a president and dress as you like at the same time,” influencer Dr. Caecilie Johansen commented. “Pretty sure we would’ve achieved world peace already if most world leaders were as chill as Sanna,” wrote one. Another agreed, “A politician having fun and looking really cool. This gives a really good example to young people and you give Finland great PR.” Marin’s drastic lifestyle change comes after she officially left her post as Finland’s prime minister three weeks earlier, when the National Coalition Party’s Petteri Orpo took office. As well as being out of a job in politics, Marin is also going through divorce proceedings with her ex-husband of three years and partner for 19 years Markus Raikkonen. The pair announced their separation in May, and said they would still remain best friends and happy co-parents to their daughter Emma despite jointly filing for the separation. Image credits: Instagram / Getty Images

Beauty & Style

Firefighter adopts baby girl found in drop-off baby box

When a US firefighter answered an alarm from within his own station, he could never have predicted the outcome. The man - who has chosen to remain anonymous - was working an overnight shift at his Florida station, Ocala Fire Rescue Station 1, when he was woken around 2am on January 2 by the noise. He recognised it straightaway as the alarm designed to notify first responders that a baby had been placed in their station’s Safe Haven Baby Box - a drop-off point specifically designed to allow someone to both safely and anonymously surrender a child. But as he confessed to Today, he “thought it was a false alarm” until he opened the box and discovered who was inside: a healthy baby girl swaddled in a pink blanket. “She had a little bottle with her and she was just chilling,” he said. “I picked her up and held her. We locked eyes, and that was it. I’ve loved her ever since that moment.” And he meant every word of it, with he and his wife going on to welcome her into their family, and to adopt her as their own. According to the firefighter, who is also a trained paramedic, he and his wife had been having trouble conceiving for more than a decade, and immediately he had started connecting the pieces. However, he hadn’t called his wife the second he found their future-daughter, hoping to avoid waking her, but that he’d known “she’d be on board” with his plan to take the baby to the hospital and ask about the likelihood of adopting her. He’d then gone through with that plan, writing a note to leave with the baby that “explained that my wife and I had been trying for 10 years to have a baby. I told them we’d completed all of our classes in the state of Florida and were registered to adopt. "All we needed was a child." It was then that he got in touch with his wife, filling her in on what had transpired that evening, and requesting that she not get too excited, as he himself was afraid the note might have been separated from the baby, and that “she’d be gone.” The days to follow were stressful for the hopeful couple, but just two days later on January 4, their dreams came true, and baby Zoey went home with her forever family. Three months later, they adopted her. The firefighter revealed that it was difficult not to become emotional when sharing their stories, and that he believed a higher power had been “helping us out” with the way she’d come into their lives. And as for why they’d chosen to share their story, he said it was in the hope that it would give young Zoey’s biological mother “some closure”, as they just wanted her to know that Zoey was “taken care of and that she’s loved beyond words.” Images: CBS News

Family & Pets

“Lunch-box-mum queen”: Woman goes viral over 2 ingredient cake mix

One Coles shopper has taken the internet by storm, revealing a “snack hack” with just two ingredients. Aussie mum-of-three Claudia creates content on TikTok on cheap Kmart buys, a day in the life of her family, and her most popular videos, her “snack hacks”. For her most recent hack, only two ingredients are required. “Snack hack! Again!” she said in the video, which has attracted more than 70,000 views on TikTok. “So, this one, I’m looking forward to. “This is not healthy. This is two ingredients — Nutella and eggs — and it’s supposed to make the gooiest, chocolatiest, yummiest cake ever. “I have not tried this before so let’s get to it.” Claudia didn’t have Nutella in her pantry, but she bought the Coles version, which she claims tastes very similar. “I’m a big believer in using what you have, but a few people said ‘check this out, make this, it’s delicious’ so I just had to,” she continued. “I did go and buy the Coles one, and it was very cheap, and I’m sure a lot of people do have Nutella in their cupboard.” For the snack hack, Claudia used one cup of the chocolate spread and four eggs to create a gooey cake mix. “If ‘trust the process’ had a cover photo, it would be this,” she said, visibly grossed out by the gooey batter. “It is safe to say I won’t be trying any of this cake mix.” Claudia instructed viewers to put the cake in the oven for 20-25 minutes at 180 degrees Celsius. “Do you know how good this smells?” she said as she took the cake tin out of the oven. She was even more excited by the time she tried it. “That is so good. So, so good. Like no exaggeration. So freaking good,” she said. People flooded the comments, applauding Claudia for another great “snack hack”. “I’m soooo trying this,” one person wrote. “Thank you, lunch-box-mum queen,” another added. “I honestly thought it was going to come out looking like chocolate scrambled eggs,” a third said. Claudia is renowned on TikTok for making snacks that are easy on household budgets, so people were grateful she used the cheaper Coles chocolate spread. “The Coles Nutella is just as good in my opinion,” one wrote. Image credit: TikTok

Food & Wine

Room to Move: Desperate renters forced into backyard boxes

Victorian tenants have taken desperate measures in their hunt for a home in the midst of a housing crisis, turning to portable rooms set up in their parent’s driveways and backyards. The portables - described as ‘stand-alone separate rooms’ - have been seen across Facebook Marketplace for up to $180 per week, in a time when Melbourne’s median rent has reached $460 each week. The company behind the Room to Move initiative have advertised a 7.2sq m room for $150 per week, and for those seeking a little more wiggle room, a 10.1sq m room is available for $180. However, a minimum hire period of six months applies to both, as well as a bond of $500, and a one-month written notice to end the lease. And for anyone just outside of Melbourne who might be interested, the rooms can be delivered within a three-to-four hour drive from the city - for a fee of $250. The spaces don’t come with bathrooms, but do feature weatherproof electrical sockets that power two double power points, two internal downlights, and a reverse cycle air conditioner. “There’s plenty of demand for people looking for a short term solution for accommodation,” Room to Move co-founder Nick Nottle said of the decision to launch the spaces. “Typically people place [the rooms] in their backyard or on their driveway back off the street a bit.” He noted that the spaces attracted the most attention from renters who were moving back in with family in a bid to save enough for their own house deposit, and that he and business partner Mike Rose launched Room to Move when they noticed a gap in the market, and saw an opportunity for portables that weren’t an eyesore in a residential environment. “Neighbours don’t really complain because people like the look of it,” he said, “it doesn’t look like you’ve just dropped a big shipping container in your backyard.” Beyond desperate renters, however, Nick believes the ‘properties’ also appeal to parents who want something self-contained to get their teenagers out of their hair, as well as having somewhere to house visitors coming from a long way away. And last but not least, according to Nick, “the other group is people using them as an office to work from home, or for studio-type businesses like a lash salon, tattoo parlour or hairdresser - things you can do from home rather than renting a space elsewhere.” Images: Facebook, realestate.com.au

Real Estate

Gaming 'loot boxes' linked to problem gambling

Gamers who purchase 'loot boxes' - digital treasure chests filled with random items that you buy in games using real-world currency - are more likely to have a problem with gambling, according to new research. A study published in <a href="https://doi.org/10.1080/16066359.2022.2141717" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Addiction Research & Theory</a> has found that 57 percent of adults surveyed who had bought loot boxes had gambled in the same year, compared to 37 percent of a control group who hadn't bought the virtual items. While previous studies have found a link between loot box purchasing, gambling and problem gambling, this study explored whether this link was due to psychological risk factors for gambling, such as childhood neglect, emotional distress, and the tendency to act rashly when upset. After analysing the purchase history and questionnaires of 1,189 Canadian university students, along with 499 adults recruited from the community, they found that a similar proportion of the students and adults had bought loot boxes, with an average spend between $90.63 and $240.94 respectively. Among the students, 28 percent of loot box-purchasers also gambled, in comparison to 19 percent of those who hadn't bought any loot boxes. Students who reported buying more loot boxes and other 'riskier' habits were also more likely to have a gambling habit. While this wasn't seen in the adult group, the authors argue this may be due to the small sample size. "Findings indicate that loot box purchasing represents an important marker of risk for gambling and problem gambling among people who play video games," Sophie Coelho, a PhD student at Toronto’s York University, said. "The persistent associations we observed between loot box purchasing and gambling may provide preliminary support for the role of loot boxes as a 'gateway' to gambling and eventually problem gambling. "Loot boxes may prime people to gamble and increase susceptibility to problem gambling." As for the role of gambling risk factors, the authors found that adverse childhood experiences, like abuse and neglect, were "most consistently associated with an increased likelihood of past-year gambling and greater problem gambling". They concluded that those with troubled upbringings have a "heightened vulnerability" to develop a gambling problem. “This may be compounded by engaging with gambling-like features embedded in video games, such as loot boxes," they added. Loot boxes, also called loot or prize crates, have become the subject of controversy recently, with concerns that their use of random chance to give players randomised weapons, armour, and items they can use to customise their character could be a form of gambling. In some games, loot boxes became a way to “pay to win”, with items that can affect gameplay and offer a competitive advantage, driving players to pay for more loot boxes to get items that allow them to compete with other players. Some countries have begun to introduce laws to regulate loot boxes, with Belgium and the Netherlands banning loot boxes altogether. In Australia, a law to restrict the use of loot boxes in games aimed at children has been proposed which could see games with loot boxes given a rating of R18+ or RC (“Refused Classification”, so they can't be sold in Australia) and carry warning labels. Image: Sameboat, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

Money & Banking

Office worker sent home for “distracting” outfit

An office worker has claimed she was sent home from work for wearing a “distracting” dress. US woman Marie Dee wore a black figure-hugging dress with a high neckline to her office on a standard work day, but a human resources employee allegedly deemed her outfit inappropriate. The mother-of-two secretly filmed herself being confronted by the “HR girl” who dubbed her dress “way too revealing and distracting” for the office. “Guys it happened again, I’m getting sent home for my outfit,” Marie said in the viral TikTok video. “This is getting ridiculous.” The footage shows Marie walking over to the HR employee’s office to ask what was wrong with her outfit. “I’m sorry you still can’t wear that. It’s way too revealing and distracting,” the HR woman can be heard saying. Confused, Marie responded, “It’s distracting?” to which the HR staff member replied, “Very.” The video has been viewed more than 20 million times, with thousands of commenters jumping to Marie’s defence. “I’m an HR leader and I think your outfit is professional and polished,” one said. Another wrote, “You look very professional, I think the HR girl is a bit jealous that you are so beautiful.” One suggested, “I’m an HR manager and I would wear that myself!” Another added, “You look great and very professional... I don’t understand. There’s nothing wrong with that.” Another person said, “HR seems to be overstepping here. I don’t think anything is wrong here.” Image credits: TikTok

Beauty & Style

Woman arrested after sword attack on Jacinda Ardern’s office

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern's electoral office in Auckland was damaged and staff evacuated after the front door was smashed and a sword was found lying nearby. Emergency services arrived at the office in Morningside shortly after 8 am on Thursday, with what appeared to be a samurai sword photographed on the ground outside. A neighbour, who wished to not be named, said he saw someone walking down the road towards the office and smashing the doors with an implement, as reported by <a href="https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/300721972/woman-arrested-after-prime-minister-jacinda-arderns-auckland-electoral-office-damaged" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Stuff</a>. He said he saw the person throw something through the hole in the door, with smoke coming from the building shortly after. Stuff also reported receiving an email from someone claiming responsibility for the incident at 9.03am. “At 8.20 this morning I smashed a hole in her electoral office door and dropped the bomb in [sic],” the email said. The <a href="https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/woman-arrested-after-sword-attack-on-prime-minister-jacinda-arderns-electorate-office/B6RITWFWPLQKD7VGYPLKXB5ZEA/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NZ Herald</a> reported receiving a call to their newsroom on Thursday morning from a woman who claimed she used an interlocking sword to smash the window ten times before shoving a smoke bomb in the office. She said she had long-standing grievances with the Prime Minister's office and government departments in relation to the "palming off" of health and living issues. The woman also claimed she warned staff before the incident. A journalist at the scene also reported seeing smoke and heard firefighters warning the owner of a nearby shop to not touch “the machete handle”. Four fire trucks attended the scene and plain-clothed police were seen placing the blade into an evidence bag. "No injuries have been reported and the building was unoccupied at the time," police said. "A scene examination will be conducted and inquiries remain ongoing." Prior to the attack, CCTV footage captured a person holding a long object and walking towards the office, before walking in the opposite direction a short while later without the object. Police have since arrested a 57-year-old woman and are not seeking anyone else in relation to the incident. "The woman is currently assisting Police with our inquiries into the matter and we are not currently seeking anyone else," a police spokesperson said. Ms Ardern is currently in Antarctica for the 57th anniversary of Scott Base, and a spokesperson said the prime minister would not comment on the arrest as it is now a police matter. Image: Stuff

News

"Revolving door of chaos": UK PM quits after 44 days in office

Liz Truss has resigned as UK Prime Minister after just 44 days in the top job. Ms Truss was sworn in as prime minister on September 6 by Queen Elizabeth II. She has now become the shortest-serving prime minister in Britain's history. Previously, this record was held by George Canning, who served for 119 days in 1827. She explained that she tried to deliver on the "vision for a low-tax high-growth economy" but was unable to continue her role following pressure from members of her party. A leadership election will be held in the next week to find Truss’ replacement but until then she will remain Prime Minister. Speaking in front of Number 10 Downing Street, Ms Truss accepted that she was unable to deliver her promises as leader of the Conservatives Party. Opposition Leader Keir Starmer said the Tory "soap opera" was damaging the country's economy and the issue needed to be sorted. "We can't have a revolving door of chaos," he told the BBC. "We can't have another experiment at the top of the Tory party. "There is an alternative and that's a stable Labour government and the public are entitled to have their say, and that's why there should be a general election." Liz Truss’ Full Speech “I came into office at a time of great economic and international instability,” she said. “Families and businesses were worried about how to pay their bills. “Putin's illegal war in Ukraine threatens the security of our whole continent. “And our country had been held back for too long by low economic growth. “I was elected by the Conservative Party with a mandate to change this. “We delivered on energy bills and on cutting national insurance. “And we set out a vision for a low tax, high growth economy – that would take advantage of the freedoms of Brexit. “I recognise though, given the situation, I cannot deliver the mandate on which I was elected by the Conservative Party. “I have therefore spoken to His Majesty The King to notify him that I am resigning as Leader of the Conservative Party. “This morning I met the Chair of the 1922 Committee Sir Graham Brady. “We have agreed there will be a leadership election to be completed in the next week. “This will ensure we remain on a path to deliver our fiscal plans and maintain our country's economic stability and national security. “I will remain as Prime Minister until a successor has been chosen. “Thank you.” Image: Getty

News

Your home, office or uni affects your mood and how you think. How do we know? We looked into people’s brains

Think of a time when you felt vulnerable. Perhaps you were in a hospital corridor, or an exam hall, about to be tested. Now, focus on the building you were in. What if, without you knowing, the design of that space was affecting you? We study <a href="https://psychology.org.au/community/advocacy-social-issues/environment-climate-change-psychology/psychologys-role-in-environmental-issues/what-is-environmental-psychology" target="_blank" rel="noopener">environmental psychology</a>, a growing field of research investigating the relationship between humans and the external world. This includes natural, and human-made environments, such as buildings. Researchers could just ask people what they feel when inside a building – how pleasant or unpleasant they feel, the intensity of that feeling, and how in control they feel. But we use neuroscience to see how the brain is stimulated when inside a building. The idea is for people to one day use that information to design better buildings – classrooms that help us concentrate, or hospital waiting rooms that reduce our anxiety. Why study buildings this way? We spend <a href="https://www.health.vic.gov.au/chief-health-officer/healthy-indoor-environments" target="_blank" rel="noopener">at least 80% of our lives</a> inside buildings. So it is critical we understand whether the buildings we occupy are affecting our brain and body. Buildings – hospitals, schools, offices, homes – are often complex. They can have various contents (fixtures, fittings and objects), levels of comfort (such as the light, sound, and air quality). Other people occupy the space. There are also a range of design characteristics we can notice inside a building. These include colour (wall paint, chair colour), texture (carpet tiles, timber gym floor), geometry (curved walls or straight, angular ones), and scale (proportions of height and width of a room). What did we do? We wanted to see what effect changing some of these characteristics had on the brain and body. So we asked participants to sit in the middle of a virtual-reality (VR) room for 20 minutes. We designed the room with a door (to show height) and chair (to show depth), keeping it empty of other cues that might influence people. We modelled the room using dimensions set by the local building code. Other studies have compared <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2019.101344" target="_blank" rel="noopener">complex environments</a>, which are more realistic to everyday life. But we chose to use a simple VR room so we could understand the impact of changing one characteristic at a time. To measure brain activity, we used a technique called electroencephalography. This is where we placed electrodes on the scalp to measure electrical activity as brain cells (neurons) send messages to each other. <figure class="align-center zoomable"><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/485808/original/file-20220921-13-7qqec9.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/485808/original/file-20220921-13-7qqec9.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/485808/original/file-20220921-13-7qqec9.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=429&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/485808/original/file-20220921-13-7qqec9.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=429&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/485808/original/file-20220921-13-7qqec9.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=429&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/485808/original/file-20220921-13-7qqec9.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=539&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/485808/original/file-20220921-13-7qqec9.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=539&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/485808/original/file-20220921-13-7qqec9.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=539&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" alt="Fitting cap of electrodes" /></a><figcaption>Participants wore a cap covered in electrodes to detect electrical activity in the brain. Donna Squire, Author provided</figcaption></figure> We also monitored the body by measuring heart rate, breathing and sweat response. This could reveal if someone could detect a change to the environment, without being consciously aware of that change. Lastly, we asked participants to report their emotions to understand if this matched their brain and body responses. What did we find? We published a series of studies looking at the impact of room size and colour. Making the room bigger resulted in brain activity usually linked to <a href="https://doi.org/10.1523/ENEURO.0104-22.2022" target="_blank" rel="noopener">attention and cognitive performance</a>. This is the type of brain activity we would see if you were doing a crossword, your homework or focusing on a tricky report you were writing for work. A blue room resulted in brain activity associated with <a href="https://doi.org/10.1111/psyp.14121" target="_blank" rel="noopener">emotional processing</a>. This is the pattern we’d typically see if you were looking at something that you felt positive about, such as a smiling face, or a scenic sunset. Changing the size and colour of a room also changed <a href="https://doi.org/10.1002/hbm.26061" target="_blank" rel="noopener">brain network communication</a>. This is when different parts of the brain “talk” to one another. This could be communication between parts of the brain involved in seeing and attention, the type of communication needed when viewing a complex scene, such as scanning a crowded room to spot a friend. The rooms also changed the participants’ autonomic response (their patterns of breathing, heart activity and sweating). <hr /> <figure><iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/dPHOQvLOCD4" width="100%" height="400" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe><figcaption>Your brain and body give away what you feel and think about different rooms, even if you can’t tell us yourself.</figcaption></figure> <hr /> Despite these brain and body responses, we found no change in what participants told us about their emotions in each of these different conditions. This suggests the need to shift from just asking people about their emotions to capturing effects they may not be consciously perceive or comprehend. What does this mean for designing buildings? This work tells us that characteristics of buildings have an impact on our brains and our bodies. Our next steps include testing whether a larger room affects brain processes we use in everyday life. These include working memory (which we’d use to remember our shopping list) and emotion recognition (how we recognise what different facial expressions mean). This will enable us to understand if we can design spaces to optimise our cognitive performance. We also want to understand the implications on a wider population, including people who may be experiencing poor mental health, or diagnosed with an underlying condition where the environment may have a larger impact on their response. This will help us to understand if we can change our built environment for better health and performance. Why is this important? Architects have long claimed buildings <a href="https://theconversation.com/build-me-up-how-architecture-can-affect-emotions-22950" target="_blank" rel="noopener">affect our emotion</a>. But there has been a lack of brain-based evidence to back this. We hope our work can help shape building planning and design, to support the brain processes and emotions we might require under different circumstances.<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/189797/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> Written by Isaballa Bower. Republished with permission of <a href="https://theconversation.com/your-home-office-or-uni-affects-your-mood-and-how-you-think-how-do-we-know-we-looked-into-peoples-brains-189797" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>. Image: Getty Images

Mind

Five things to keep in your car's glove box

Whether it’s a long drive to visit family or a quick trip to the local shopping centre, your car should always be equipped with a few essential items. Does your car have all of these items? While many of today’s new cars feature the latest gadgets and technologies for comfort and safety, many don’t come with other useful everyday items which are vital in case of emergency or an unforseen event. For example, a flashlight would come in handy if you need to change a tyre in the evening or an in-car phone charger for when your battery has gone flat. By storing these types of essential items in your glove box, you’ll always be prepared for when life takes an unexpected turn. 1. Important documents wallet One item that should always be stored away in the glove box is a plastic folder or wallet with your vehicle documents, such as owner’s manual, emergency contact numbers and proof of insurance. A spare pen and paper will also come in handy. The owner’s manual should always be left in the car so you never lose it and should be the first point of reference for when experiencing car trouble. 2. Plastic bags and tissues You would be surprised at the number of times you’ll need a plastic bag or some tissues. There could be a spill, a car mess or a passenger may not be feeling well. All good reasons for keeping a few plastic bags handy. The same can be said for tissues or wet wipes, which will be useful if your hands get greasy from having to change a tyre or lift up the hood of the car to check the oil and water levels. 3. First aid kit Always a good inclusion no matter where you go. A basic first aid kit can be purchased from your local pharmacy. Along with the basic contents, such as bandages, antiseptic cream or solution, and a pair of tweezers, make sure you include any items specific to you. If your first aid kit won’t fit in the glove box, pop it under the front passenger seat so it’s easily accessible, if needed. 4. Torch For long trips, it’s a good idea to have a torch stowed away. You never know when you might need to change a tyre or inspect your vehicle for unusual sounds that might occur whilst driving at night. A small LED flashlight would do the trick – and remember to keep a spare pack of batteries in the glove box too. 5. Mobile phone charger Back in the days before we all had mobile phones, we actually remembered phone numbers! However, nowadays, many of us have these important digits stored away in our phones. This makes having a spare phone charger very important, especially when you need to contact someone and your phone has run out of battery. There are phone car charges which you can plug into the power outlet in your car to then charge the battery on your mobile phone. Image: Getty Images

Home & Garden

Four questions to ask yourself before dating someone from the office

In the digital age, online dating and swiping right are the status quo for romance. Practically gone are the days of meeting “the one” in a pub. But what about flirting by the water cooler or over Zoom? The consensual office relationship has been both a romance trope and a <a href="https://theconversation.com/why-matt-hancocks-private-life-is-very-much-in-the-public-interest-163444" target="_blank" rel="noopener">taboo</a> for decades. There are many reasons someone might enter a workplace relationship. Research shows that people gravitate towards like-minded people with common personality traits, backgrounds, belief systems and ideas. Proximity and familiarity also influence attraction, something psychologists call the <a href="https://www.neuroscience.org.uk/proximity-mere-exposure-effect-social-psychology/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">mere exposure effect</a>. For better or for worse, offices are a place where like-minded people are in close proximity to each other for many hours, so it’s no surprise that many people are open to love at work. A <a href="https://yougov.co.uk/topics/lifestyle/articles-reports/2020/02/13/how-do-brits-find-love" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2020 YouGov poll</a> found that 18% of Brits met their current or most recent partner through work. If you’re thinking about entering a relationship with your desk neighbour, or even your boss, here are some things to consider. <h2>1. Is it a hierarchical relationship?</h2> Despite their prevalence, office romances are still frowned upon, and more so after the #MeToo movement. Deciding to enter a <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0265407516635285" target="_blank" rel="noopener">hierarchical workplace relationship</a> (when one partner is in a higher position at work than the other) is not something to be taken lightly. Lower-status participants who have coupled up with their boss or senior staff member are sometimes confronted with gossip and career roadblocks because of their relationship. While some may think entering such a relationship could help them get ahead in their career, in reality their relationship status could hinder their progress. <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0265407516635285" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Research has found</a> that the lower-status person in a hierarchical workplace relationship is less likely to be promoted or recommended for training opportunities than their colleagues who are not in such a relationship. <h2>2. How might it affect your work performance?</h2> With love and sex on the brain, is anyone getting any work done? The general stance is that canoodling is bad for business and affects productivity. Studies have found that feelings of passion and love, especially in the early stages of a relationship, can negatively impact productivity because <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/271740194_Reduced_cognitive_control_in_passionate_lovers" target="_blank" rel="noopener">our minds are elsewhere</a> than the task at hand. This is particularly challenging in a professional environment, and when you may have to work alongside your lover. However, there are measures you can take to curb distractions. Minimise communications that are not of a work-related nature, except when essential, and avoid physical touch like kissing or holding hands in the workplace. <h2>3. Does your organisation allow it?</h2> Courtship and dating are <a href="https://core.ac.uk/outputs/161116640" target="_blank" rel="noopener">natural phenomena</a>, whether organisations like it or not. Prohibiting relationships is not the solution, and if anything will only <a href="https://www.ijmra.us/project%20doc/IJMIE_AUGUST2012/IJMRA-MIE1479.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">lead relationships underground</a>. Despite this, many employers (mainly in the US) manage relationships by deploying “love contracts” – written rules and policies which the couple agrees to, confirming that the relationship is consensual and voluntary. This not only designed to protect the couple, but to protect the employer from being sued for harassment if the relationship breaks down. Employees aren’t likely to want to disclose to their direct line of report, HR person or relevant peers, who they are having sexual relations with. Article 8 of the Human Rights Act protects individuals of their right to <a href="https://www.equalityhumanrights.com/en/human-rights-act/article-8-respect-your-private-and-family-life" target="_blank" rel="noopener">private and family life</a>, which might explain why love contracts are <a href="https://www.hrmagazine.co.uk/content/features/legal-ease-relationships-at-work-and-love-contracts" target="_blank" rel="noopener">not used</a> in the UK. Employers have to balance their own business interests with their employee’s privacy rights. However, just as there are policies and training for tackling sexual harassment, discrimination and mental health, there is also a need to address workplace romances. Your employer should have accessible (and reasonable) policies and guidelines about disclosing relationships, particularly when they are hierarchical. <h2>4. What happens if you split up?</h2> While no one plans for their relationship to end, things do happen and it’s best to be prepared. In a non-workplace relationship, a break-up might mean your productivity declines or you need to take a <a href="https://theconversation.com/taking-a-mental-health-day-can-be-good-for-you-heres-how-to-make-the-most-of-one-186493" target="_blank" rel="noopener">mental health day</a>. But if you work with your now-ex partner, there are other things to consider, like if you have to interact or collaborate on a project. Where relevant, it may be possible to request a transfer to a different team or to work remotely until the dust settles. Your company may also offer <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/238318622_How_effective_is_workplace_counselling_A_review_of_the_research_literature" target="_blank" rel="noopener">workplace counselling</a> or <a href="https://www.eapa.org.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">programmes</a> designed to support employees going through tough times, including depression, grief or the aftermath of a relationship. Ultimately, how employers choose to manage romance at work depends on acknowledging that workplace relationships do happen, and understanding that happier and more satisfied employees tend to be <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7120033/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">more productive</a> and collaborate better in teams. It is in employers’ best interests to support their employees’ wellbeing, even (and especially) when those employees fall in love. This article originally appeared in <a href="https://theconversation.com/workplace-romance-four-questions-to-ask-yourself-before-dating-someone-from-the-office-187809" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>. Image: Shutterstock

Relationships

Scotland appoints a man as "period dignity officer"

Local authorities in Scotland have come under fire for appointing a man to the role of "period dignity officer". A group of colleges and local councils in Tay region in eastern Scotland announced the appointment of Jason Grant, who will be responsible for coordinating the region's response to a new law that makes menstrual products free to access in the country. Jason Grant previously worked as a student wellbeing officer at a local college before being appointed to the controversial role, which has caused outrage. Many critics believe a woman would be better suited to the role, and were confused why a man would be considered for the job. Retired tennis star Martina Navratilova commented on the news of his appointment, calling it "f**king ridiculous" on her Twitter account. "Have we ever tried to explain to men how to shave or how to take care of their prostate or whatever?!? This is absurd," she wrote. Barrister Charlotte Proudman also questioned why a man was appointed to the role. "I remember at school, girls used sanitary pads because tampons were unaffordable," she tweeted. "What experience does Jason Grant have of this? I'm all *for* men's support - but let's have women lead on our experiences." Grant's role is the first of its kind in Scotland. "He will coordinate and streamline the approach to 'Period Dignity' across the area by working directly with the colleges and local authorities," Grainger PR said in a press release announcing the appointment. "Jason will lead a regional campaign across schools, colleges and wider communities, raising awareness and understanding of the new Act and ensuring that the Scottish Government funding is allocated appropriately," it said. The Period Products Act came into force earlier this week and means that menstrual products, including tampons and pads, will be made available free of charge in public facilities in Scotland. Image credits: Getty Images / CNN

Body

Top Gun: Maverick surpasses $1 billion worldwide

Tom Cruise’s Top Gun: Maverick has officially surpassed $1 billion at the worldwide box office. Over the weekend, the film saw a huge $30.5 million domestically and $44.5 million in overseas markets. This overall totals to $521 million domestic and $484 million international, putting it just past $1 billion globally. According to Paramount, more than 16 percent of the Top Gun: Maverick audience has seen the film more than once in theatres, while four percent have seen it four times or more. This is only the second time since the pandemic began that a Hollywood title jumped over the $1 billion behind Sony and Disney’s Spider-Man: No Way Home ($1.89 billion). The movie officially became the highest-grossing movie of Cruise’s career when it toppled over $800 million. His 2018 film Mission Impossible: Fallout previously held the highest rank with $791.1 million. Analysts don’t think the momentum will last long with Elvis hitting the screens and Top Gun sitting around the $900 million mark. Image: YouTube

Movies

Police officer called a hypocrite for defect on car

A police officer who pulled over a man riding a defective motorbike has been called a hypocrite for having a smooth tyre. Theo Glibo was stopped by the police officer at a service station in Largs Bay, Adelaide for having an illegal blue light on his motorbike. The 24-year-old then spotted the officer’s front tyre which was “bald” and questioned why he was being ticketed while the car should also be unroadworthy. “I’m copping a defect and this cop has a bald tyre and he’s not even gonna defect his own car,” Theo said in his video. “I’m not going to put a sticker on it for something that’s going to be dealt with tomorrow,” the officer responded. “Why not? That’s what you’re doing with mine, you’re a hypocrite,” Theo continued. ”If this was anybody else’s tyre, you’d defect it. Where’s the wear bar on that?” The officer agreed that Theo was right and that he would deal with his tyre when his shift ended. “You’re absolutely right, so I will defect that when I get back to my office,” the officer said. Theo’s video went viral to the point that South Australia Police had to release a statement to address the incident. “South Australia Police are aware of the social media post relating to an interaction between a SAPOL employee and a member of the public where the police vehicle was identified to have a bald tyre,” the statement read. “SAPOL have taken steps to address this matter.” Images: TikTok

Travel Trouble

Black box from China flight wreckage uncovered

Emergency workers in China have uncovered one of two black boxes from the China Eastern flight that <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/travel/travel-trouble/terrifying-final-moments-of-crashed-passenger-jet-emerge" target="_blank" rel="noopener">crashed</a> earlier this week with 132 people on board. What is believed to be the cockpit voice recorder appeared to have survived the impact, a Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) official said on Wednesday. Flight MU5735 was en route from the southwestern city of Kunming to Guangzhou when it suddenly took a nosedive into the ground and erupted in a fireball on impact. According to the flight data, the plane had almost reached its destination after being in the air for more than an hour when it suddenly dropped from an altitude of 29,100ft to 9075ft in just two minutes and 15 seconds. The search for the second black box is continuing on the ground, while the cause of the crash has yet to be determined. Most of the plane appears to have disintegrated upon impact, although some debris and human remains have been found. “An initial inspection showed that the exterior of the recorder has been severely damaged but the storage units, while also damaged to some extent, are relatively complete,” CAAC official Zhu Tao said. The black box is being sent to a Beijing institute for decoding. Investigators are looking at several possible causes of the crash - including deliberate action, pilot error, or technical issues such as a structural failure or mid-air collision. Image credits: Twitter

Travel Trouble

Man moves into office cubicle in protest

A man who moved into his cubicle at work to protest his employer not paying him enough … has been fired. Simon Jackson shared a video to <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@calm.simon/video/7072608177031859502?is_copy_url=1&is_from_webapp=v1&lang=en" target="_blank" rel="noopener">TikTok</a> showing himself “moving into” his work cubicle. “Check out my new appt [apartment]”, he captioned the video which has since amassed 14 million views. The video shows Mr Jackson unpacking his belongings from multiple suitcases in the design and engineering consultancy firm Arcadis office. “I’m moving from my apartment into my cubicle at work,” Mr Jackson could be heard saying. “They do not pay me enough to do both, so as a matter of protest, I am just going to live at my job, and we’ll see how long I can get away with this.” Mr Jackson confessed that he had to move out of his apartment because his lease was ending and the rent was going up. While waiting for approval for apartments to apply for, Mr Jackson made the decision to move into the downtown office. “When I found my company had an empty office downtown, this was the perfect solution as it was close to all of the venues I frequent and it would be free,” he said. He also explained that the reason he “walks around shirtless” is because most of the employees are working from home due to Covid. Four days later, he was “evicted” in what Mr Jackson says “happened way sooner than I thought”. He recorded himself packing his bags and then with the help of security was escorted out of the building. “This won’t be the last you’ll see of me,” he said. Mr Jackson was fired from his job with HR requesting he remove all TikTok videos documenting his adventure. “I wish they approached the TikToks differently and maybe had a conversation with me about whether there was something more serious going on in terms of money,” he said. “But do I understand their response? 100 per cent.” The videos remain on his channel, with Mr Jackson hoping to work on his romper brand before deciding whether or not he should go back to corporate. Images: TikTok

Money & Banking

"We are back to zero": Family speak out after son’s fatal sting

A 14-year-old boy who was stung by a box jellyfish in Far North Queensland has died. Mark Angelo Ligmayo was stung on Saturday at Eimeo Beach in the Mackay region and was taken to Mackay Hospital in a critical condition. He went into cardiac arrest on the beach and succumbed to his injuries about an hour after he arrived at the hospital. A witness told the <a href="https://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/mackay/eimeo-beach-teenager-suffers-reported-cardiac-arrest-after-jellyfish-sting/news-story/d91418b68df167610cd2ecf652b2b5c6" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Daily Mercury</a> that she saw him make it to shore with an “unreadable expression on his face” and his legs “covered in tentacles”. The publication also reported that the screams erupted on the beach from parents calling for their children to get out of the water while others rushed to help him. “We were there as he exited the water, quickly after that he was semi-conscious,” Eimeo Surf Life Saving Club president Ross Gee told the outlet. “We had a defib on him the whole time, he never lost his pulse, there was shallow breathing. “We doused him with approximately 30 litres of vinegar, all the vinegar on the beach.” The beach has been closed until further notice and the public has been urged to stay out of the water. Eimeo Surf Life Saving Club shared their condolences for the family on Sunday, and thanked the members of the public who assisted their volunteer lifesavers in helping Mark Angelo. <iframe style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Feimeo.slsc%2Fposts%2F3137194476599351&show_text=true&width=500" width="500" height="725" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe> Agnes Guinumtad, Mark Angelo’s mother, told <a href="https://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/mackay/mackay-fatal-box-jellyfish-sting-parents-tribute-to-14yearold-boy/news-story/14d5421b775d48f88080528702a266e3" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Mercury</a> the family had been excited to spend the day at the beach together three months after she, Mark Angelo, and his sister joined her husband in starting a new life in Australia. Nick Guinumtad came to Australia nearly a decade ago, working as a boilermaker and taking every opportunity to visit his family in the Philippines, where they waited for visas to join him. After Covid delayed their reunion, they were reunited in December last year and began to settle in. “I could see my son’s face, and I could see the pain,” Mrs Guinumtad said of the moment she saw lifeguards and bystanders attempt to save her son’s life. “I kept praying and praying, I didn’t stop praying. I prayed that he would say something.” With the death of Mark Angelo, his family said they don’t know where to go from here. “We are back to zero,” Mr Guinumtad told the outlet. Mrs Guinumtad has expressed her wish to take her son’s body back to the Philippines so that her parents, who often raised him while she worked, can say a final goodbye. “I don’t know the process, I don’t even know where to start,” she said. The family has asked for anyone in the community who may know how to help to reach out and have started a <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-guinumtad-family-bring-their-son-home" target="_blank" rel="noopener">GoFundMe</a> to raise funds to take him home. They have also thanked the lifeguards and bystanders who worked so hard to save their son and others who cared for their daughter while they went with him to the hospital. Mark Angelo’s death marks the third fatal box jellyfish sting since 2006. Large box jellyfish - which are regarded as one of the world’s most venomous animals - have caused more than 70 fatalities in Australia, according to Queensland Health. “If you don’t have a protective suit and you know there could be stingers or jellyfish in the water, just don’t go in,” Queensland Health has previously <a href="https://7news.com.au/news/disaster-and-emergency/deadly-box-jellyfish-sting-kills-queensland-teen-near-mackay-c-5855865" target="_blank" rel="noopener">warned</a>. “It’s also important that people are familiar with resuscitation methods - early resuscitation after major stings from box jellies has saved lives in the past few years.” Image: Nic Guinumtad (Facebook)

Travel Trouble

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Woman who died in office cubicle found four days later

Biggest box office bombs revealed

"Absolute original": The Office star dies aged 50

Ex-Finnish Prime Minister’s rebrand after divorce and leaving office

Firefighter adopts baby girl found in drop-off baby box

“Lunch-box-mum queen”: Woman goes viral over 2 ingredient cake mix

Room to Move: Desperate renters forced into backyard boxes

Gaming 'loot boxes' linked to problem gambling

Office worker sent home for “distracting” outfit

Woman arrested after sword attack on Jacinda Ardern’s office

"Revolving door of chaos": UK PM quits after 44 days in office

Your home, office or uni affects your mood and how you think. How do we know? We looked into people’s brains

Five things to keep in your car's glove box

Four questions to ask yourself before dating someone from the office

Scotland appoints a man as "period dignity officer"

Top Gun: Maverick surpasses $1 billion worldwide

Police officer called a hypocrite for defect on car

Black box from China flight wreckage uncovered

Man moves into office cubicle in protest

"We are back to zero": Family speak out after son’s fatal sting

News

Shop

Catalogues

Travel

Health

Lifestyle

Finance

Entertainment

Property

Information

Keep up to date

Search

Woman who died in office cubicle found four days later

Biggest box office bombs revealed

"Absolute original": The Office star dies aged 50

Ex-Finnish Prime Minister’s rebrand after divorce and leaving office

Firefighter adopts baby girl found in drop-off baby box

“Lunch-box-mum queen”: Woman goes viral over 2 ingredient cake mix

Room to Move: Desperate renters forced into backyard boxes

Gaming 'loot boxes' linked to problem gambling

Office worker sent home for “distracting” outfit

Woman arrested after sword attack on Jacinda Ardern’s office

"﻿Revolving door of chaos": UK PM quits after 44 days in office

Your home, office or uni affects your mood and how you think. How do we know? We looked into people’s brains

Five things to keep in your car's glove box

Four questions to ask yourself before dating someone from the office

Scotland appoints a man as "period dignity officer"

Top Gun: Maverick surpasses $1 billion worldwide

Police officer called a hypocrite for defect on car

Black box from China flight wreckage uncovered

Man moves into office cubicle in protest

"We are back to zero": Family speak out after son’s fatal sting

"Revolving door of chaos": UK PM quits after 44 days in office