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Freddy Krueger at 40 – the ultimate horror movie monster (and Halloween costume)

<div class="theconversation-article-body"><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/adam-daniel-301018">Adam Daniel</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/western-sydney-university-1092">Western Sydney University</a> Movie monsters have captivated audiences since the days of early cinema. They evoke fascination and terror, allowing audiences to confront their fears from the safety of the movie theatre or living room. Arguably one of the most enduring and captivating of these monsters is Freddy Krueger, the villain of the <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0087800/">A Nightmare on Elm Street</a> series who celebrates his 40th screen birthday this November. Memorably played by Robert Englund, Freddy quickly became a cultural icon of the 1980s and 1990s. Beyond his burned face and iconic bladed glove, Freddy’s dark humour and acidic personality set him apart from other silent, faceless killers of the era, such as Michael Myers in <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0077651/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_2_tt_6_nm_0_in_0_q_halloween">Halloween</a> or Jason Vorhees in <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0080761/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1">Friday the 13th</a>. Written and directed by horror maven <a href="https://theconversation.com/wes-craven-the-scream-of-our-times-46915">Wes Craven</a>, 1984’s A Nightmare on Elm Street garnered positive reviews for its innovative concept: Freddy stalked and attacked his victims in their dreams, making him inescapable and allowing him to tap into their deepest fears. The series (seven films plus a 2010 remake and <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0329101/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1">Freddy vs. Jason</a> spin offs) blended supernatural horror and surrealism with a dark and twisted sense of humour. <h2>Scary … but funny</h2> Humour was key to Freddy’s “popularity”. Both sinister and strangely charismatic, Freddy’s psychological torture of his adolescent victims often oscillated between terrifying and amusing. A famous kill scene from 1987’s <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0093629/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1">A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors</a> demonstrates this paradox. Aspiring actress Jennifer drifts off to sleep while watching a talk show on TV. In her dream, the host of the talk show suddenly transforms into Freddy, who attacks his guest before the TV blinks out. When Jennifer timidly approaches the TV set, Freddy’s head and clawed hands emerge from the device, snatching her while delivering an iconic one-liner: “This is it, Jennifer – your big break in TV!” Freddy turns his victims’ fears or aspirations – their dreams – against them. <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/dCVh4lBfW-c?wmode=transparent&start=0" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe><figcaption>‘Whatever you do, don’t fall asleep.’</figcaption></figure> <h2>Creating a monster</h2> Craven has shared how the character of Krueger came to life in <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1510985/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1">Never Sleep Again: The Elm Street Legacy</a>, an oral history of the series. He described a childhood experience of seeing a strange mumbling man walking past his childhood home. The man stopped, he said, and looked directly at him “with a sick sense of malice”. This deeply unsettling experience helped shape Freddy’s menacing presence. The character’s creation also emerged from the filmmaker’s interest in <a href="https://www.iflscience.com/nightmare-on-elm-street-was-inspired-by-a-real-life-medical-mystery-60527">numerous reports of Southeast Asian refugees dying in their sleep</a> after experiencing vivid nightmares. In the film, Krueger’s origin story reveals him as a child murderer who was apprehended but released due to a technicality in his arrest. Seeking justice, the parents of his victims take matters into their own hands, and form a vigilante mob. They corner him in his boiler room and burn him alive. But Freddy’s spirit survives to haunt and kill the children of his executioners. <h2>Cultural repression, expressed on film</h2> Film critic and essayist <a href="https://www.cineaste.com/summer2019/robin-wood-on-horror-film-collected-essays-and-reviews#:%7E:text=Freudian%20theory%2C%20a%20crucial%20theoretical,the%20horror%20film%20perpetually%20enacts.">Robin Wood argued</a> horror films often bring to the surface elements society has repressed. These fears, desires, or cultural taboos are not openly acknowledged. But movie monsters act as manifestations of what society suppresses, such as sexuality, violence or deviant behaviour. American academic <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/01956051.1995.9943696">Gary Heba</a> argues Freddy is: <blockquote> an example of America’s political unconscious violently unleashed upon itself, manifesting everything that is unspeakable and repressed in the master narrative (perversion, child abuse and murder, vigilantism, the breakdown of rationality, order, and the family, among others), but still always present in the collective unconscious of the dominant culture. </blockquote> <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/UBrl4H0Uzng?wmode=transparent&start=0" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe><figcaption>Actor Robert Englund calls Freddy Krueger ‘the gift that keeps on giving’.</figcaption></figure> <h2>The monster decades</h2> The 1970s and 1980s marked a golden era for the creation of horror film nasties like Krueger, Myers, <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0072271/?ref_=fn_al_tt_3">The Texas Chainsaw Massacre</a>’s Leatherface and <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0094862/?ref_=fn_al_tt_19">killer doll Chucky</a>. Since then, the landscape of horror has shifted, with fewer singular monsters emerging. The diversification of horror sub-genres (zombie virus horror, anyone?), the rise of psychological horror (<a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7784604/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_2_tt_4_nm_2_in_0_q_heredi">Hereditary</a>), and an emphasis on human-driven terror (<a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0416315/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_1_tt_7_nm_0_in_0_q_wolf%2520creek">Wolf Creek</a>) or supernatural forces all contribute to this shift. While modern horror continues to thrive, few characters have achieved the same iconic status as Freddy – although some would argue Art the Clown from the recent <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4281724/">Terrifier</a> franchise and the reinvigorated Pennywise from <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1396484/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_1_tt_6_nm_1_in_0_q_it">IT</a> could join this exclusive group. <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZuYoEtEI_go?wmode=transparent&start=0" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe><figcaption>‘Five, six, grab your crucifix.’ A 2010 Nightmare on Elm St reboot failed to fire.</figcaption></figure> <h2>Happy Halloween!</h2> Despite a <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1179056/">failed reboot in 2010</a>, the legacy of A Nightmare on Elm Street is strong, having influenced numerous filmmakers with its skilful mix of surrealism and slasher horror. However, it’s the orchestrator of the titular nightmares whose legacy is perhaps the strongest. With each Halloween, new fans choose Freddy for their costume. All it takes is a tattered striped sweater, a brown fedora hat, and a glove with sharp, finger-lengthening blades. Don’t forget makeup to re-create Krueger’s grisly facial burns. Sweet dreams!<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/240905/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/adam-daniel-301018">Adam Daniel</a>, Associate Lecturer in Communications, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/western-sydney-university-1092">Western Sydney University</a> Image credits: New Line Cinema - IMDB 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/freddy-krueger-at-40-the-ultimate-horror-movie-monster-and-halloween-costume-240905">original article</a>. </div>

Movies

Woman “bullied” on plane over budget seating trick

A young woman has recalled a flight from hell when she was “bullied” by a couple who were trying to utilise a seating hack that went viral on TikTok. The solo traveller took to Reddit to recount the story and ask social media users if she was in the wrong for her action. The woman began by saying she usually pays more to select her plane seat ahead of time, but a medical emergency on another plane had her waiting on standby and left with no option other than to sit in a middle seat. When she was finally able to board, she was greeted by a couple who had purchased both the window and aisle seats in a bid to have more space, utilising a travel “trick” that has been popular on TikTok. The method, which has been dubbed the 'poor man's business class', usually leaves travellers with an empty middle seat and more space, and few travellers opt to pick a middle seat. “When I got to my row the man and woman were chatting and sharing a snack... it was obvious they were together. I mentioned to the man that I'm in the middle, and he got up to let me in,” the unsuspecting traveller wrote on Reddit. “I asked them if they would prefer to sit together, I said I was totally okay with that. The woman reacted rudely to this and said ‘you're not supposed to be sitting here anyway’.” After noticing how the plane was full, she offered to show the pair her new ticket with the correct seat number on it. “She flicked her hand at my ticket and made a disgusted sound. I offered again if they wanted to sit together to which she didn't reply, her partner said it's okay and... made some small talk,” she continued. The man’s girlfriend then interrupted their conversation to ask,”'Did you use one of those third party websites to book your flight? It's so frustrating when people cheap out to inconvenience others.” The American woman explained that she had booked her flight directly and she had been placed on standby like everyone else and didn't choose the middle seat - she was assigned it. She then tried to keep the peace by refusing to engage with the furious woman. “I was so done with her attitude, I put my headphones on and attempted to do my own thing,” she explained. But the “entitled” girlfriend wasn't letting it go, as the woman explained, “This woman kept reaching over me and tapping her partner and trying to talk to him in a way that was super intrusive.” “I could tell even her partner was trying to engage her less so that she would hopefully stop, but she didn't.” “I think they tried to pull that tactic where they don't sit together on purpose...hoping no one will sit between them. But on full flights it doesn't work. And even so - it's not the other person's fault.” The traveller's post was met with hundreds of comments slamming the girlfriend’s behaviour, as one person wrote, “It's like a toddler having a tantrum.” “She was disappointed and a total a**hole. Gross entitled people,” another added. Another person applauded the traveller’s level-headed behaviour, writing, “Wow! You are my hero for keeping it classy - I’m afraid I would not have been as kind as you.” Image credits: Shutterstock

Travel Trouble

Beloved author slams Carrie Bickmore for “schoolyard bullying”

New Zealand author and poet Jessica Urlichs has voiced her extreme displeasure with Carrie Bickmore and Tommy Little for her radio program "Carrie & Tommy", claiming that she experienced what amounted to "schoolyard bullying" during a recent segment. Bickmore read one of Urlichs’ poems on air recently while speaking to her co-host, Tommy Little. Urlichs, who has nearly half-a-million followers on Instagram, felt that her work was shamefully mocked during the broadcast. "I don’t have any words left to truly articulate the schoolyard bullying you displayed in your recent segment across multiple radio stations," Urlichs wrote in an Instagram post on Sunday. She continued, "You used my heartfelt poem (without permission) as your very weak punchline. Your co-host wasn’t allowing a voice for post-partum women, nor you for that matter, and as a woman who was once post-partum it was very disappointing to see you reduce yourself to his childlike behaviour on such an important topic." In her caption, Urlichs explained she wrote the poem for herself and for mothers who might be offended by the radio segment. She also mentioned that her requests to have the content removed had been ignored. During the radio segment, Bickmore explained to Little that the poems, written from the perspective of a baby to its mother, frequently appeared in her social media feed. Little responded with skepticism and humour, questioning the premise that a baby could write such a poem. Bickmore defended the work, identifying Urlichs as the author and stressing the poem's emotional significance for mothers dealing with sleepless nights. Despite this, Little continued to mock the poem, suggesting it was written by a middle-aged man pretending to be a baby. The segment continued with Bickmore reading the poem aloud, accompanied by background music, while Little laughed and interjected. This tone persisted throughout the reading, leading to further comments from Little that questioned the poem's authenticity and meaning. <blockquote class="instagram-media" 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);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/C8Q8DaXPMd9/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <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> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </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;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C8Q8DaXPMd9/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by J E S S I C A U R L I C H S (@jessurlichs)</a> </div> </blockquote> Following the broadcast, a video clip of the segment was posted on Instagram, where Urlichs expressed her disappointment in the comments. "If you’d asked for my permission to post this and I’d seen how it was mocked throughout I would have said no," she wrote on the post that has now been removed. She added that while she appreciates people sharing her work to support other mothers, she felt her writing was treated as a punchline in this instance. The full text of the remarkable poem can be read below. <iframe style="overflow: hidden; border: initial none initial;" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fjessurlichs%2Fposts%2Fpfbid02jzy9gwBKnMAAX12NYp7XiZ1CpWsgxfd2zyhRaHVQfgLJ3NoB1kCcGXNbhJucZcYNl&show_text=true&width=500" width="500" height="666" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>

Family & Pets

Little House on the Prairie star passes away

Hersha Parady, renowned for her role in Little House on the Prairie, has passed away at the age of 78. According to a statement provided to The Hollywood Reporter by her son, Jonathan Peverall, Parady passed away at her residence in Norfolk, Virginia on Wednesday August 23. Her son had been actively seeking financial assistance before her demise, as Parady had been diagnosed with meningioma, a prevalent type of brain tumour. Peverall initiated a <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/helping-hersha" target="_blank" rel="noopener">GoFundMe campaign</a> with the intention of aiding his mother's escalating medical expenses. In a heartfelt plea on the fundraising page, he recounted how the illness had depleted her vitality, memory and vibrant demeanour, rendering her predominantly bedridden and struggling with day-to-day tasks. Relocating his mother to his own home, Peverall worked diligently to ensure she received the necessary medical attention. He emphasised that the associated costs extended beyond medical procedures, encompassing aspects such as moving expenditures, at-home nursing care and medical equipment. "While we contemplate a surgery to potentially ameliorate her condition, the path to recovery is an arduous one," he stated, acknowledging the substantial financial burden posed by these circumstances. Balancing a full-time job and caring for his three children added to the challenge, yet he reassured that they were providing the best care they could, regardless of external contributions. "Rest assured, we are taking care of her to the best of our ability, and we will continue to do so, regardless of any contributions made here," Peverall wrote. "This GoFundMe is about improving my Mom’s quality of life and giving her the support she needs during this difficult time. It's also about showing her that she is not alone in her fight. "Her family and friends have been here supporting her through everything, but there is only so much help she is willing to accept from the people she loves. My Mom has always been a fiercely independent woman, and asking for help isn't in her nature. That's why I'm stepping in to do it on her behalf." Peverall expressed his gratitude and urged supporters to rally around Parady, demonstrating that her on-screen "Little House" family was united in this battle, just as she had been a presence in their lives through the show. In an update dated August 1, Peverall shared that his mother had undergone a "successful" surgery. However, complications arose as Parady developed pneumonia during her recovery, leading to her admission to the intensive care unit. Unfortunately, her condition deteriorated to a point where she couldn't regain full consciousness. The medical team at the hospital launched an investigation into her condition. Peverall maintained ongoing communication with the medical professionals, seeking insights to guide the best decisions for her care. Despite the trying circumstances, he expressed hope and called upon others to remain optimistic. Parady embarked on her career in theater after graduating from Berea High School in 1963. Her journey took her to Los Angeles, where she secured a role opposite Jon Voight in a production of A Streetcar Named Desire. Subsequently, she transitioned to the silver screen, featuring in an episode of Bearcats!. However, it was in 1977 that Parady achieved widespread recognition for her portrayal of school teacher Alice Garvey in the fourth season of Little House on the Prairie. Appearing in 35 more episodes, her character, Alice, met a tragic end in season six, perishing in a fire. The actress also appeared in other shows including Kenan & Kel, The Phoenix, and The Quest, and movies like The Break and The Babysitter's Seduction. Parady is survived by her son Jonathan Peverall and her three grandchildren. Images: GoFundMe / Instagram

News

Terminally-ill rugby player carried across marathon finish line by his best mate

There wasn’t a dry eye in the crowd when best friends Rob Burrow and Kevin Sinfield crossed the finish line of the inaugural Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon. The two Leeds Rhinos players have been raising money and awareness for people with Motor Neurone Disease since Burrow’s 2019 diagnosis, with the two raising an impressive total in the millions. And now, the pair have raised spirits and warmed hearts with Sinfield’s act at the end of their Leeds race, when he picked Burrow up from his chair and carried him over the finishing line. Before that, Sinfield had been pushing Burrow’s chair for 26.2 miles (42.2 km). The moment was met with cheering and applause as the wo concluded their marathon just after the 4 hour 22 minute mark, both from those who were there to witness it in person and from those who saw footage later when it circulated online. One Twitter user even went on to dub Burrow an “absolute gem of a human”, while another was certain that they were a “pair of absolute heroes”. “What a mate! Unbelievable in a world full of cr*p at the moment there are some genuinely lovely moments. These lads have been into battle together on the pitch for club and country,” one wrote. “It’s choked me up, I’m not going to lie.” “A bunch of legends,” someone else declared. “I’ve properly welled up watching this, this is what friendship is, to the ends of the earth and back.” <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Beautiful. Kevin Sinfield carried Rob Burrow over the finish line at the end of the first Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon 🥹 <a href="https://t.co/JFdd9XGgV4">pic.twitter.com/JFdd9XGgV4</a> — BBC Sport (@BBCSport) <a href="https://twitter.com/BBCSport/status/1657736670458916865?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 14, 2023</a></blockquote> Prior to the event, Sinfield had spoken about the race to The Sun, and its 12,500 reported participants, as well as the thousands lining the streets to watch, and what it meant to be undertaking the marathon together. “Even if it was just Rob and I, we’d have a great time,” he said, “there’s no better way to do it than with your mate. The fact people want to share in it and do their own little bit is incredible. “This will be with mates, for mates and alongside mates, absolutely. Look across the world at big cities where marathons are run, there’s nothing like this. “We’ve not done any training. We ran a 10km together last July and that’s part of the challenge, doing something neither of us have done before. The unknown adds to the fun of it. “He’s in a custom-made chair but it could be a bumpy ride. I’ll try and find him the safest, comfiest route but if there are hills, there are hills. If it rains, it rains.” And as Burrow himself said to The Guardian, when asked about the seven marathons in seven days that Sinfield had run on behalf of Burrow, his family, and their fight against MND, “we all need a friend like Kevin.” Images: Getty

Caring

Carrie Fisher finally receives star on Hollywood Walk of Fame

The late star Carrie Fisher is finally being honoured with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Best known for her role as Princess Leia in original Star Wars films, Fisher was an icon in the industry. Fisher sadly passed away on December 27th 2016, following a sudden cardiac arrest, but is making news again after being honoured with a well-deserved star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. She will be honoured on the most appropriate of dates, May 4th, which is unofficially known as Star Wars Day. The actress’ daughter, Billie Lour, will accept the star on her behalf. "Fans will be over the moon to know that their favourite movie princess Carrie Fisher will be honoured with her star on the iconic Hollywood Walk of Fame," Anna Martinez, producer of the Hollywood Walk of Fame said in a statement. “Carrie will join her Star Wars costars and fellow Walk of Famers Mark Hamill and Harrison Ford on this historic sidewalk.” Fisher’s star will be just a few feet away from her fellow Star Wars actor and on-screen brother Mark Hamill, and across the street from her mother Debbie Reynolds. Hamill shared the news on his Twitter, saying “Long overdue & so well-deserved,” <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Long overdue & so well-deserved.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CarrieOnForever?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CarrieOnForever</a>❤️ <a href="https://t.co/0pWxcfjoRB">https://t.co/0pWxcfjoRB</a> — Mark Hamill (@MarkHamill) <a href="https://twitter.com/MarkHamill/status/1650615522344710144?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 24, 2023</a></blockquote> Her star will serve as a reminder that although she is gone, her influence will remain for years to come. Image credit: Getty

Movies

106-year-old tattoo artist becomes Vogue’s oldest cover star

Apo Maria ‘Whang-Od’ Oggay has made history as the oldest woman to have featured on the cover of Vogue. Regarded as the last mambabatok of her generation, Whang-Od was born in the remote village of Buscalan in the northern Philippines’ province of Kalinga in 1918, and entered the world of tattooing at just 16 years old. As Vogue Philippines’s editor-in-chief Bea Valdes explained of their decision to feature her on the cover, “we felt she represented our ideals of what is beautiful about our Filipino culture. "We believe that the concept of beauty needs to evolve, and include diverse and inclusive faces and forms. What we hope to speak about is the beauty of humanity.” And Whang-Od was the perfect choice. Vogue Philippines’ demonstrated as much when they wrote on Twitter that “the symbols of the Kalinga tribe signifying strength, bravery & beauty” are imprinted on her skin, and that Whang-Od embodies the “strength and beauty of the Filipino spirit”. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Apo Maria “Whang-Od” Oggay symbolizes the strength and beauty of the Filipino spirit. Heralded as the last mambabatok of her generation, she has imprinted the symbols of the Kalinga tribe signifying strength, bravery & beauty on the skin. Read more on <a href="https://t.co/2F1mJ5iQWG">https://t.co/2F1mJ5iQWG</a>. <a href="https://t.co/urVcA3g2Ek">pic.twitter.com/urVcA3g2Ek</a> — Vogue Philippines (@vogueph) <a href="https://twitter.com/vogueph/status/1641276503433572353?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 30, 2023</a></blockquote> As tattoo anthropologist Dr Lars Krutak found out for Vogue, it was through Whang-Od’s father’s mentorship that she launched her career in tattooing. She was the first - and only - mambabatok of her time, and would spend her time visiting neighbouring villages - and beyond - to “to imprint the sacred symbols of their ancestors on individuals who have crossed or about to cross a threshold in their lives.” Her own life story can be found on her skin - featuring everything from her accomplishments to her ailments, and even the names of past lovers - in a story of beauty, bravery, and the heritage of the Kalinga tribe. For men, tattoos reflected them as “a headhunting warrior”, while women were typically tattooed for “fertility and beautification”. As Vogue reported, the elder women of Kalinga say that “when they die, they can’t take their beads and gold with them to the afterlife. They only have the markings on their body.” As Vogue went on to cover, decades of colonial erasure had a significant impact on batok - in Kalinga, village girls had to cover their arms, while many others abandoned the art. But through Whang-Od and her descendants, the ancient art of batok will continue - both in Buscalan and the rest of the world. Batok itself, as explained by the Vogue team who had the honour of receiving a tattoo from Whang-Od, involves “an unused gisi, a bamboo stick with a thorn attached to one end” and a pattern traced “using a length of grass dipped in the soot and charcoal mixture”. The process then sees Whang-Od hold the inked gisi in one hand, while she “uses a larger stick to whack it with her right hand, driving it over a hundred times per minute into the flesh until the three dots are filled and oozing with blood and ink. She dabs at them with a wet wipe before deciding to go over the freshly wounded spots again for good measure.” And now, Whang-Od has been teaching her craft to her grand-niece, Grace Palicas. Under Whang-Od’s mentorship, the thousand-year-old tradition will live on, as the next generation of stick-and-thorn artists strive to preserve their craft, and share it with the world. As for Whang-Od herself? Her plans are quite simple, with the artist explaining that “when visitors come from far away, I will give them the tatak Buscalan, tatak Kalinga for as long as my eyes can see.” Images: Instagram

Beauty & Style

12 items you shouldn’t carry in your handbag

Passwords If you have trouble remembering passwords, you might be tempted to carry them with you in your bag. “Some people feel passwords are safer in their bag than at home because it’s always on them, but nothing could be further from the truth,” says Eva Velasquez, CEO and president of Identity Theft Resource Center. “You’re much more apt to lose your purse or wallet than have a break-in.” Memorising all your login information is the safest, but if that’s not practical, she recommends storing your passwords in a passcode-protected smartphone app. Debit card Without the same protections as credit cards, debit cards put you at higher risk when making purchases. “I’m not a huge fan of always having a debit card with you, because the cash disappears from your account and you have to prove it was you before you get it back, unlike a credit card, where you can stop the charges and the money never leaves your account,” says John Sileo, CEO of cybersecurity group Sileo Group. Swipe a credit card for most purchases, and use an ATM-only card with a PIN to get cash, he recommends. Laptop A computer is probably the heaviest thing in your bag. The weight of a laptop can strain your shoulder, causing imbalanced posture, or even neck, spine, and shoulder injuries, says chiropractor Dr Steven Shoshany. If you need to have your laptop on hand, use a messenger bag or a backpack, which will distribute the weight more evenly, Shoshany suggests. Receipts A crook won’t be able to steal your identity with receipts alone, but pairing them with other documents could make it easier to pretend to be you. “It’s giving a thief a great picture of who you are and where you shop,” Velasquez says. “All fraud analytics look for anomalies in behaviour, and your receipts show where you shop.” With your old receipts, a thief might be able to make more purchases before you can cancel the card, so empty them from your bag once you’re home. Unprotected phone “A lot of people think of their smartphone as a phone instead of a mobile computer that happens to make calls,” Sileo says. Leaving your phone unprotected makes it easy for strangers to access any information you have stored in your apps. Even a four-digit password can be easy for thieves to crack, so use a longer code, or log in using fingerprint, face, or voice recognition, Sileo says. Umbrella You might be prepared for that 30 per cent chance of rain, but a bulky umbrella adds unnecessary weight. “Keep an umbrella in your car, or keep one at work and one at home,” Shoshany says. Cheque book Depending on your bank, getting your money back from cheque fraud could take anywhere from a day to four months, Sileo says. He recommends finding an alternative way to pay because cheques are so easy to steal. If you can’t bear to give up cheque writing, keep just a couple of cheques in your bag, not the whole book. Full-size beauty products Don’t weigh down your back by lugging around big bottles of hairspray. Over time, the repetitive strain of that added weight could start pulling your shoulder out, Shoshany says. “Downsize from full sizes to travel sizes to lighten the load,” he says. Work badges Giving a stranger access to your workplace could cause major problems in your job, Sileo says. Have a separate bag for the weekend or take your work ID out when you leave the office. Gift cards Like cash, you won’t get gift cards back if you lose them, so keep them with you only if you plan to use them in the store, Sileo says. If you’re afraid you’ll forget them when you do get around to shopping there, leave gift cards in your car in a disguised container like a breathmint tin, he says. Medicare number “Your medicare number is the critical piece of information a thief needs to carry out identity theft,” Velasquez says. Unless you need a copy for a new employer or are heading to a medical appointment, leave your medicare card at home in a secure place. Passport Because passports are hard to forge, a real one will be accepted more easily than other stolen documents, Velasquez says. Only carry it when absolutely necessary if it’s your primary identifier. Image credits: Getty Images This article originally appeared on <a href="https://www.readersdigest.co.nz/healthsmart/tips/12-items-you-shouldnt-carry-in-your-handbag?pages=1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reader's Digest</a>.

Beauty & Style

Fiddler on the Roof star passes away

Chaim Topol has passed away at the age of 87. The Israeli actor, known around the world for his role as Tevye the Milkman in Fiddler on the Roof, died at home with his loved ones at his side. He is survived by his wife and three children. Topol’s son had previously confirmed that the actor had been diagnosed with dementia in 2022, while The Times of Israel reported that the 87-year-old had been battling with Alzheimer’s for years. Israel’s president Isaac Herzog announced Topol’s death in a statement, describing him as a “gifted actor who conquered many stages in Israel and overseas, filled the cinema screens with his presence, and most importantly entered deep into our hearts.” <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> President <a href="https://twitter.com/Isaac_Herzog?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Isaac_Herzog</a> mourns the passing of Chaim Topol: <a href="https://t.co/PXWYUKq8iY">pic.twitter.com/PXWYUKq8iY</a> — Office of the President of Israel (@IsraelPresident) <a href="https://twitter.com/IsraelPresident/status/1633716213925724160?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 9, 2023</a></blockquote> Topol was just 30 years old when he first stepped into the role of Tevye in 1996 for the stage musical Fiddler on the Roof. At the time, he was required to wear makeup and special costuming to make him look older than he was, but by the time he finished performing in 2009, he had to act younger, as he was then in his 70s. It has been estimated - and claimed by Topol himself in 2014 - that he had portrayed Tevye in the stage play over 4000 times. His credits weren’t limited just to the stage, however, with the actor also diving in as the beloved character for the 1971 screen adaptation. For this work, he secured himself nominations for both an Academy Award and a Golden Globe. While he did not win the Oscar, he did go home with the Golden Globe award. He also received a Tony Award nomination in 1991 for the Broadway revival. Throughout his career, Teyve was the first character people recognised him for, though Topol didn’t seem to mind. In a 2015 interview, he said “how many people are known for one part? How many people in my profession are known worldwide?” Production took him across the globe with Fiddler on the Roof, and saw him visit everywhere from Australia to Europe, Asia, and Israel. “Sometimes I am surprised when I come to China, or when I come to Tokyo, or when I come to France, or when I come to wherever, and the clerk at immigration says ‘Topol, Topol, are you Topol?’” he said, “many people saw [the play] and it’s not a bad thing.” Topol also starred in the likes of Galileo, Flash Gordon, and For Your Eyes Only, as well as providing his voice for Hebrew dubs of both The Jungle Book and two Harry Potter films. His later years, however, saw him turn to writing and illustrating books. And in 2015, the actor was awarded The Israel Prize by the State of Israel, something that is considered to be one of the state’s top cultural honours. Images: Getty

News

TV host humiliated live on air by 9-year-old daughter

A TV host has been left mortified after her 9-year-old daughter embarrassed her live on air. Jenna Hager Bush, one of the hosts of the US morning show Today with Hoda & Jenna, had her daughter Mila on the show to chat about fashion. The 9-year-old then shocked her mum by telling viewers that Hager “never wears underwear.” She continued, “She is not wearing it right now! I saw her change!” The little one’s confession came one month after the journalist first confessed that she often skips underwear for a “more pretty silhouette” after co-host Hoda Kotb called her out. Hager, who also shares daughter Poppy, 7, and son Hal, 3, with husband Henry Hager, explained that her controversial wardrobe choice makes her life “easier.” “You don’t have to pack as much,” she pointed out last month. “There [are] a lot of pros to it.” While Mila wasn’t the first to out her mother’s lack of underwear, she did continue to embarrass Hager with another story on Tuesday. “One time she was laughing in our living room and she peed her pants!” Mila said, noting that Hager had to “change [her] pyjamas” at the time. Hager was a good sport, sarcastically thanking Mila before saying, “I think Hoda is trying to get the truth bombs out [of you] but no more.” <div id="ad-hybrid-banner-1" data-type="unruly" data-ad-size="4x4" data-device-type="web"> <div> </div> </div> When Mila showed no signs of keeping quiet, Hager abruptly concluded, “OK, goodbye! Goodbye, I love you!” As Mila exited the stage, Kotb gushed, “What a great kid. … You and her are very similar because you’re both just exactly who you are.” Image credits: Today with Hoda & Jenna

Dog found hidden in carry-on bag at airport security

A US Transportation and Security Agency (TSA) officer has discovered a small dog stashed in a traveller's carry-on luggage. The animal was found in a backpack when going through the X-ray machine at the Dane County <a title="Airport " href="https://www.9news.com.au/airport" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Airport</a> in Wisconsin. TSA told a local news outlet that the passenger was unaware of the screening protocol and did not tell security officers about her dog. After an officer explained the proper process and confirmed she disclosed she was travelling with a pet to the airline, she proceeded to her gate to board her flight. TSA Great Lakes confirmed that the woman's error was an accident on social media, while alerting people to the proper flying rules. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Video: Here’s the proper way to travel with your pet. Note: This is a <a href="https://twitter.com/TSA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TSA</a> PreCheck passenger traveling with a cat. If you think your pet will attempt an escape, ask to speak with a supervisor before removing the animal. Alternative screening options may be available. (2/2) <a href="https://t.co/NL2jNjni2l">pic.twitter.com/NL2jNjni2l</a> — TSA_GreatLakes (@TSA_GreatLakes) <a href="https://twitter.com/TSA_GreatLakes/status/1600210121136537600?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 6, 2022</a></blockquote> "A dog was accidentally sent through the X-ray @MSN_Airport this week," it tweeted. "When travelling with any animal, notify your airline and know their rules." "At the checkpoint, remove your pet from the bag and send all items, including the empty carrier, to be screened in the machine." It then uploaded a video showing "the proper way" to travel with pets. Image credits: Twitter

Travel Trouble

Cruise ships are back and carrying COVID. No, it’s not 2020. But here’s what needs to happen next

Cruise ships carrying passengers with COVID are back in the news. The Coral Princess, with an unconfirmed number of people testing positive on board, is <a href="https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/7959796/virus-infected-cruise-ship-to-dock-in-wa/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">set to dock</a> at Fremantle, Western Australia. The Quantum of The Seas, with passengers reportedly testing positive, <a href="https://twitter.com/9NewsQueensland/status/1585194230825246721" target="_blank" rel="noopener">is heading for</a> Brisbane. There have been similar situations at other ports in <a href="https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/477429/cruise-ship-with-covid-19-cases-failed-to-follow-current-isolation-guidelines" target="_blank" rel="noopener">New Zealand</a> and <a href="https://www.cruiselawnews.com/2022/10/articles/disease/covid-cruise-ships-return-down-under-with-hundreds-of-infected-guests/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the Pacific</a>. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> FIRST ON 9: A COVID-riddled cruise ship is heading for Brisbane, with passengers reporting hundreds of people are confined to their rooms. <a href="https://twitter.com/Anna_Rawlings?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Anna_Rawlings</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/9News?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#9News</a> <a href="https://t.co/ygLdE5FlqG">pic.twitter.com/ygLdE5FlqG</a> — 9News Queensland (@9NewsQueensland) <a href="https://twitter.com/9NewsQueensland/status/1585194230825246721?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 26, 2022</a></blockquote> But this isn’t 2020. The cruise ship industry and health authorities have learned much from large outbreaks linked to the Ruby Princess and Diamond Princess cruise ships early in the pandemic. Yet, there’s even more we can do to limit the impact of SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID) spreading from cruise ships to communities on land. Why are we worried about cruise ships? Cruise ships can have epidemics of a variety of infectious diseases, <a href="https://theconversation.com/cruise-ships-can-be-floating-petri-dishes-of-gastro-bugs-6-ways-to-stay-healthy-at-sea-this-summer-126351" target="_blank" rel="noopener">not just COVID</a>, facilitated by large numbers of people in close proximity, especially during indoor social activities. We know SARS-CoV-2 is spread mainly by <a href="https://theconversation.com/the-pressure-is-on-for-australia-to-accept-the-coronavirus-really-can-spread-in-the-air-we-breathe-160641" target="_blank" rel="noopener">inhaling contaminated air</a>, so indoor activities may pose a risk if ventilation is poor. Cruises typically last at least a week, which covers the incubation period for infections such as influenza and COVID. So all it takes is for one infected person to be on the ship to set off an epidemic. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> More than 130 passengers and crew on the first cruise ship to arrive in the country in two years have tested positive for Covid-19.<a href="https://t.co/tA73LTzQad">https://t.co/tA73LTzQad</a> — RNZ (@radionz) <a href="https://twitter.com/radionz/status/1584959572342878208?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 25, 2022</a></blockquote> Staff stay on ships much longer than passengers, and can continue to infect new passengers, perpetuating a cycle of outbreaks. But <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-020-0869-5#Fig1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">almost half</a> of infections are transmitted asymptomatically. So, without testing everyone on board (before they board and during outbreaks), infectious people can board a ship without being aware they are infected and cause an epidemic. Infected staff can also infect new passengers, and passengers can infect communities they visit on land. What happened with cruise ships and COVID in 2020? Early in the pandemic, large outbreaks on ships, such as the <a href="https://theconversation.com/yes-australians-on-board-the-diamond-princess-need-to-go-into-quarantine-again-its-time-to-reset-the-clock-131906" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Diamond Princess</a> made the headlines. Some 634 of 3,711 (17%) people on board <a href="https://www.eurosurveillance.org/content/10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2020.25.10.2000180" target="_blank" rel="noopener">tested positive</a> for COVID. The ship was quarantined for two weeks. An <a href="https://elifesciences.org/articles/58699?utm_source=content_alert&utm_medium=email&utm_content=fulltext&utm_campaign=26-August-20-elife-alert" target="_blank" rel="noopener">estimated 69%</a> of transmissions on board were transmitted asymptomatically. The Ruby Princess had a COVID outbreak in March 2020 with <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-10-12/nsw-ruby-princess-class-action-trial-covid-19-testing-sydney/101527156" target="_blank" rel="noopener">around 700 cases</a>. Yet health authorities allowed passengers to disembark in Sydney without testing, who then dispersed around the country at a time we had no vaccines. Our research <a href="http://www.ijtmgh.com/article_119534_550421b9e1139603f85c3fc9af97d25a.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">showed</a> this resulted in growing community clusters for weeks afterwards. But it’s not 2020 We now have vaccines. But vaccination rates vary globally (and cruise passengers are often from many countries). Some vaccines are <a href="https://pmj.bmj.com/content/postgradmedj/98/1159/389.full.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">less effective than others</a>, not everyone is up-to-date with their <a href="https://theconversation.com/millions-of-australians-still-havent-had-their-covid-boosters-what-message-could-convince-them-now-190482" target="_blank" rel="noopener">booster shots</a>, <a href="https://www.bmj.com/content/377/bmj-2022-071113" target="_blank" rel="noopener">vaccine immunity wanes</a> (even after having a booster), and current vaccines are generally <a href="https://theconversation.com/whats-the-difference-in-protection-against-omicron-between-2-doses-and-3-doses-of-vaccine-176447" target="_blank" rel="noopener">less-effective</a> against currently circulating Omicron subvariants. This means people can be infected and infectious despite being vaccinated. Many of us have also had COVID, especially in 2022. But our immunity following infection (whether or not we’re also up to date with our vaccines) wanes too. People who were infected with older variants may also have a <a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.abq1841" target="_blank" rel="noopener">dampened immune response to Omicron</a>, which means limited protection. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Australia’s COVID vax program has lost all momentum: booster rates are going nowhere. The $11 million winter booster communication campaign had no impact. An updated Omicron vaccine is on the way, but have we lost the motivation to get a shot? <a href="https://twitter.com/GrattanInst?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GrattanInst</a> <a href="https://t.co/DjHeW59ssT">pic.twitter.com/DjHeW59ssT</a> — #UnhealthyIndustries (@WePublicHealth) <a href="https://twitter.com/WePublicHealth/status/1575705478461419520?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 30, 2022</a></blockquote> Cruise ships and health authorities have also tightened up their COVID protocols. The New South Wales government, for instance, publishes on its website <a href="https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/travel/cruising-rules" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the COVID risk</a> of in-coming vessels. It places ships in one of three categories according to a number of factors, including the number of COVID cases on board. Cruise ships also have <a href="https://cruisepassenger.com.au/news/coral-princess-covid-outbreak/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">strict protocols</a> for controlling and managing outbreaks. This includes masks for close contacts, mandatory isolation for infected passengers for five days, and testing of anyone with symptoms. The problem is that transmission can continue because of asymptomatic infections. The ship may need medical evacuations or assistance for severely ill people. There is also the problem of infection being transmitted to communities on shore after people without symptoms disembark. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> .<a href="https://twitter.com/PrincessCruises?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PrincessCruises</a> Majestic Princess had at least 116 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/cruise?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#cruise</a> guests with <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/COVID19?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#COVID19</a> when it arrived in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Tahiti?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Tahiti</a>, according to a local newspaper. <a href="https://t.co/LtvDaVKIaR">https://t.co/LtvDaVKIaR</a> — James (Jim) Walker (@CruiseLaw) <a href="https://twitter.com/CruiseLaw/status/1585389753591279616?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 26, 2022</a></blockquote> We can do more People disembarking and unknowingly spreading the virus is especially a problem for small towns. The itinerary of the Coral Princess, which has since been modified, included the Western Australian towns of Broome and Geraldton, both of which have large Aboriginal communities, and other towns, such as Albany and Busselton. Small towns may not have a hospital, may have limited access to health care, and would not have capacity to deal with many severely ill patients. Capacity for medical evacuations are also limited. In the map below, we can see how hospitals are distributed in rural areas around Broome. Most hospitals are near Perth and the southwest coast. Broome has one hospital with about 40 beds. Large hospitals in Perth and Darwin are about 2,000 kilometres away, which would be the destinations for medical evacuations of severely ill patients. <figure class="align-center zoomable"><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/492085/original/file-20221027-36452-5tqk25.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/492085/original/file-20221027-36452-5tqk25.png?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/492085/original/file-20221027-36452-5tqk25.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=849&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/492085/original/file-20221027-36452-5tqk25.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=849&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/492085/original/file-20221027-36452-5tqk25.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=849&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/492085/original/file-20221027-36452-5tqk25.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=1067&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/492085/original/file-20221027-36452-5tqk25.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=1067&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/492085/original/file-20221027-36452-5tqk25.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=1067&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" alt="Map showing distribution of hospitals in Western Australia" /></a><figcaption>Most major hospitals are near Perth, which is about 2,000 kilometres from Broome. Samsung Lim, author provided</figcaption></figure> So it’s important to monitor for outbreaks in Broome after the Coral Princess docked there this week, and ensure availability of testing to enable early intervention (such as antiviral drugs) to control outbreaks. Cruises with outbreaks on board should ideally <a href="https://ozsage.org/working_group/regional-rural-and-remote/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">avoid</a> small towns or remote locations with limited health services or vulnerable populations, as the impacts on these communities may be much greater than in a large city. Visiting small towns during an on-board epidemic <a href="https://ozsage.org/media_releases/ozsage-position-statement-cruise-ship-epidemic-and-risk-to-small-towns-in-western-australia/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">would be safer</a> if everyone who disembarks is tested first, is negative, and wears a mask on shore. What else could we do? The cruising industry has acknowledged the reality of COVID being a continuing threat. This could be improved by recognising the role of asymptomatic transmission in testing policies. For instance, all passengers and crew should have a negative rapid antigen test at the start of the cruise, and during an outbreak. All close contacts and all disembarking passengers should be tested for COVID, regardless of symptoms. The cost of testing would be much less than the lost costs of large epidemics. During a cruise epidemic, companies also need to consider the locations being visited, how much COVID is already present there (some remote towns have very little COVID) and available health-care systems for locals. Rapid use of antivirals may also help to control epidemics on board as these allow passengers testing positive to <a href="https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473-3099(22)00644-2/fulltext" target="_blank" rel="noopener">clear the virus faster</a>. The aviation industry <a href="https://www.ashrae.org/file%20library/technical%20resources/covid-19/12-19_walkinshaw.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">does well</a> in providing safe air in-flight. The cruise industry has also started <a href="https://www.cruisecritic.com.au/articles.cfm?ID=5474" target="_blank" rel="noopener">changing ventilation</a> to add fresh air instead of recirculated air indoors. But there is still some way to go before we can say the threat of COVID is over, on-board or on land.<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/193384/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> Writen by C Raina MacIntyre. Republished with permission from <a href="https://theconversation.com/cruise-ships-are-back-and-carrying-covid-no-its-not-2020-but-heres-what-needs-to-happen-next-193384" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>. Image: Getty Images

Cruising

Camilla’s ex-husband carries out official duty on her behalf

Queen Consort Camilla's ex-husband, whom she shares two kids with, has carried out an official duty on her behalf. Brigadier Andrew Parker Bowles formally represented the Queen Consort at his cousin John Bowes-Lyon’s funeral at the London Oratory. This is the first official duty he has performed on behalf of his ex-wife and it is believed that it won’t be the last time the 82-year-old former Army officer would represent the Queen Consort. “Andrew is happy to do anything he is asked. He still enjoys a warm relationship with Camilla,” a source told Daily Mail. Camilla and Andrew married in 1973 before they separated in the 1980s and divorced in 1995. They share two children, Tom and Laura. Earlier this year, the Queen Consort spoke candidly about cooking for her children despite not being a great in the kitchen. “I always cooked for the children growing up, and they were good eaters, but I was never the most adventurous of cooks,” she said. “I was sent on a cooking course in Sussex when I was young but, really, I learnt from my mother. I’ve never followed a recipe in my life... “I could fill a book with all my cooking disasters. I’m not a natural baker, to say the least. “As for baked potatoes… many a poor, incinerated specimen has been found in the bottom of the Aga, put in, then forgotten about.” Camilla married King Charles III in 2005 following a whirlwind romance and affairs dating back to when Charles was married to Diana. Image: Getty

Family & Pets

The best way to carry travel documents

If something happens overseas and you need to produce an important travel document, you want to be able to do so without having to empty half your suitcase. Keeping your travel documents organised can save you quite a lot of stress when you’re abroad. But what’s the best way to do so? We’ve taken a look at the options for getting your travel documents together, and provided some tips and tricks to do so. Organising ahead of time might be the difference between passing a border easily, and having to deal with an irate customs official. Travel folder There is a range of specialised travel folders on the market at the moment, but even something as simple as a standard A4 folder can do the job well enough, protecting your important documents from the elements while ensuring they all remain in the same place. The advantage of using a travel folder is that it’s a relatively inexpensive solution, but at the same time if it’s not specifically designed for travel, some bulkier items like your passport can be loose. Travel wallet These items are becoming increasingly popular and it’s easy to see why, as they provide a neat little way to store all your important documents. They can also provide a stylish accessory, as we can see in this video which shows how anyone can make their own <a href="../travel/travel-insurance/2016/03/how-to-make-a-diy-travel-wallet/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">great DIY travel wallet</a>. Travel wallets are lightweight, easy to carry and reliable. The only disadvantage is that they are not really suitable for larger documents like booking confirmations. Money belts Another neat way to carry travel documents around, money belts are generally pretty discreet. Strapped around your stomach, it can be a great way to carry around your important travel documents without running the risk of them being nabbed by pickpockets. That being said, money belts are only so big, and might not be suitable for all of your travel documents. Additional hints and tips <ul> <li>Before you go, take time to make copies of your travel documents such as your passport and airfares, and be sure to carry these around in a separate place.</li> <li>Consider making digital copies of your travel documents as well. Save these on a USB, in an email or on an <a href="https://www.tripit.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">itinerary storage website such as TripIt</a>.</li> <li>Review the <a href="../travel/travel-insurance/2015/11/destinations-you-need-a-visa/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Visa entry requirements</a> of the destination you’re visiting.</li> <li>Be wary when a hotel or travel company asks you to <a href="../travel/travel-tips/2015/12/handing-your-passport-to-a-hotel/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">hand over your passport</a>.</li> </ul> Image: Shutterstock

Travel Tips

Tips for designing a garden on a budget

Whether you are new to gardening or a garden guru, if you are thinking of redesigning your garden, the process can be a little intimidating and the costs can really add up. But with some planning and research and a little imagination it can be a very enjoyable project. Plan and do it yourself Gardening is a great way to spend a Sunday, but if you’re planning to design or redesign your whole garden, it might be a bit daunting. The trick is to plan what you want to do and pace yourself. You don’t want to exhaust yourself in a single day; and gardening should be fun not a chore. The beauty of planning out your garden design is that you’ll be able to see where you can save money, and where you might need some help from the professionals. Don’t be afraid to ask family and friends for help either; they’ll usually be happy to lend a hand. Gardening can also be a great activity to do with the grandkids. Propagate using cuttings The best way to determine what will grow best in your garden is to look around the neighbourhood. What plants in your neighbour’s garden are thriving? Once you have a list of the best plants for your area, visit some neighbours and ask if you can take some cuttings. Plants that will propagate from a cutting include geraniums, gardenias, camellias, lavender, hydrangea, azaleas, many succulents and native plants, to mention just a few. Often all you’ll need to do is cut away stems and leaves so roots can grow in their place and plant the cutting in the ground. But you can also add growth hormone to help propagate a cutting. Consider native plants As mentioned above, native plants can often be propagated using cuttings, but they are also naturally suited to your area. While you might not want to fill your garden with native plants, you can use smaller native plants and grasses for smaller spaces in your garden and take advantage of their easy manageability. Because native plants have evolved to withstand the climate and can survive with less fertiliser, pesticides and water, a native garden can be easier and much cheaper to maintain. This gives you greater flexibility; if you were to go on holiday, you won’t have to rely on the kids to look after the garden while you are gone. Find uses for common household items When you are designing your garden on a budget you should have a look around the house for ways to save on your garden budget. You can get plenty of ideas on the internet for how to repurpose old and vintage items in your garden. And there are many ways to recycle household items in the garden that you may have been planning to throw out. Newspaper mulching is a prime example of repurposing a household item. Use your old newspapers to smother weeds, allowing your flowers and veggies to grow unhindered. Have your grandkids grown out of their nappies? Use left overs in the place of water hydrating crystals in the bottom of pot plants. They’ll act as a reservoir and will keep the plant moist without drowning it. Egg carton seed storage Egg cartons and toilet rolls can be used as seed starters, while toilet paper makes great seed paper. You could even try your hand at composting. But if that’s a little too much for you, you can just use your tea leaves as a nutritional boost for your plants. So start planning your new garden, enlist the help of family and friends and have a look around your house and online for some inspiration. Did you design your own garden? Share your tips with the Over60 community in the comments below. To find more great tips on gardening and design, please visit the Australian Outdoor Living <a href="https://www.australianoutdoorliving.com.au/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">website here</a>. Image: Getty

Home & Garden

Five tips for successful and safe solo travel

Planning an adventure on your own? Here’s your guide to friend-making, risk-taking and positive thinking while you’re off discovering yourself. Safety Unless you positively invite danger – i.e. strolling around a pitchblack park at 4am with headphones on – travelling alone isn’t actually that risky. The biggest peril is being taken for a ride. Literally, in the case of taxi drivers: always ask for an estimated fare before setting off. Otherwise, try to never look like a tourist; instead, exude assurance. Carry ID and always keep a back-up. Ensure that someone else knows your itinerary and commit to regular contact with them. Plan Being alone means you can’t use your cohort’s phone when yours runs out of juice, or rely on them should you lose your wallet. Put emergency systems in place: write down key numbers (friends, hotels, embassies, emergency services), have change for phone boxes and always keep some back-up money in your bag or, better still, in a locker. Eating Solomangarephobia. That’s the official, medical term for a fear of eating alone – a fear that many single travellers have. If you can get over your fear, it is very possible to enjoy the experience. Bring a book to dodge boredom, sit at counters to be less conspicuous or use the opportunity to practice your French or Filipino on a waiter. And scoff all the bread yourself. Making friends This is another common and very valid worry when travelling alone: what if no-one likes me? Acquiring new companions is always easier than feared, but still a scary proposition. It helps to look approachable – smile at people, have open body language and lose the sunglasses. Read something interesting to spark conversation, or ask strangers a question. More hands-on tactics include visiting expatriate bars, joining tours or using apps designed to help people make friends, such as Meetup. Enjoy it! Without realising it, most of us humans are very co-dependent: we worry whether our partner or friend is having a good time, and always balance their needs in decision-making. The joy of solo travel is that you can be entirely selfish: walk at your preferred pace, eat what and when you want, see the sights that interest you, use the entire hotel wardrobe. If you want to skip that museum of tractor history, you can. Take time to appreciate your independence and revel in that freedom. But, however well you plan in advance, things will go wrong. Missed trains, delayed planes, lost luggage, whatever. The trick is not to over-stress it; roll with the punches, laugh at it all, and draw up a new plan. Who knows: maybe Plan B will work out better anyway? Image credits: Getty Images This article originally appeared on <a href="https://www.readersdigest.co.nz/travel/activities/five-tips-successful-and-safe-solo-travel" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reader's Digest</a>.

Travel Tips

Flight attendant reveals must-have travel items

A seasoned flight attendant has shared the three things she always packs in her carry-on luggage to make every travelling experience a breeze. Rosalie Shaw, who has been a cabin crew member for nine years, says she has learned plenty of travel hacks throughout her career. She says one of the things she always takes is a clear ziplock bag to carry her passport in, in case of unfortunate accidents. “I know it seems like a lot but a damaged passport will literally ruin your holiday,” she said in a recent TikTok video. “The bag protects it from any spills like a water bottle, the rain or in my case a really bumpy boat ride,” she said. The next thing on Rosalie's list is a “good quality clear bag” for shampoo, conditioner and other liquids you want to take in your carry-on. These sturdy cosmetic bags last much longer than zip lock bags and can contain mess if there is a mid-flight spill. Rosalie puts all of her carry-on luggage in the clear bags because “it's easier to find things” on the go, and also adheres to security requirements of keeping things in a see-through bag. The last thing she recommends is to take two or three changes of clothes in your carry-on, in case anything happens to your checked luggage and you are left with no clothes. When choosing what spare clothes to pack, Rosalie recommends packing your favourite or most expensive items that are harder to replace. She said, “That way if your bag does go missing, you aren't stranded for outfits.” Rosalie always has her favourite linen dress in her handheld luggage, a cardigan, a spare pair of underwear, a bikini and a spare pair of shoes. “One time my bag did go missing but at least I had a bag of backup outfits with me so I wasn't as stressed,” she said. Image credits: TikTok

Travel Tips

10 items you MUST carry in your travel medical kit

Health concerns are the last thing you want to be dealing with when on holidays, but unfortunately accidents can still happen when we are travelling. This is why a travel medical kit is one of the most important things you will pack. From simple first aid measures to equipment that will help you in instances where something more serious is occurring, a well-stocked travel medical kit is the hallmark of every sensible traveller. Here are 10 items you must include in your travel medical kit. We’ve also included some additional tips at the bottom of the article. 1. Adhesive dressings (Band-Aids) – When travelling we’re particularly susceptible to minor cuts. Adhesive dressings ensure these nicks and scrapes don’t get infected. 2. Antihistamine – These are essential, especially if you’re someone who suffers from allergies, as they allow you to control allergic reactions in foreign environments. 3. Bandages – Use bandages to create support structures for strained limbs, reduce swellings, hold dressings in place, and even as a makeshift sling. 4. Instant cold pack – These handy devices are especially useful when it comes time to deal with any swelling issues or untoward skin reactions encountered abroad. 5. Antibacterial gel – If you’re in a situation when you need a pair of clean hands, antibacterial gel makes it possible without the need of water access. 6. Oral rehydration salts – Dehydration can quickly turn into a big issues overseas, so having a few oral rehydration salts on hand can get you out of a serious bind. 7. Safety pins – The practicality of safety pins knows no bounds, especially if you find yourself in a situation where you need to keep bandages or slings in place. 8. Thermal blanket – In an emergency situation a thermal blanket can help control body temperature and ultimately avoid the likelihood of someone going into shock. 9. Thermometer – It’s also quite useful to have a thermometer at hand just in case. Go for a digital design that’s easier to read in an emergency situation. 10. Tweezers – If you ever need to remove splinters when you’re overseas or do running repairs to adhesive dressings, a pair of tweezers becomes quite useful. Additional tips and pointers: <ul> <li>Keep you travel medical kit in a dry, cool storage location if possible.</li> <li>Make sure it’s in an easily accessible part of your suitcase or backpack, and make sure everyone you are travelling with knows where to find it.</li> <li>Before you head off, double check the contents of your kit ensuring any creams are up to date, bandages and dressings are properly sealed and all items are working properly.</li> </ul> Image: Getty

Domestic Travel

How to pack your carry-on luggage

Depending on what luggage you travel with, your baggage can determine how easy you find your travels. Savvy travellers, who often pack light, get through security faster and have an easier time on the plane. Carry-ons don’t have to be used as supplementary baggage for your next trip, you can, in fact use it as your primary bag. It will force you to travel light, save you time at baggage collection, any extra luggage fees - plus, your bag cannot be lost by the airline. Here's a guide to not only packing light, but packing right! Choosing a bag: Even for carry-on, size matters. Most airlines now have restrictions on the size and weight of your bag. Check with the airline as to what your allowance is. In any case, opt for a bag that is light and has lots of room inside without being too flimsy. You want something sturdy and durable but that doesn’t weigh you down before you’ve packed it. A bag that has wheels and a handle will allow you to get around with ease and quickly if need be. Getting dressed: Wear your heaviest items on the plane – think denim, heavy shoes and a jacket, if you intend to pack one. Wearable luggage: This sounds strange but if you want to maximise your carry-on packing space – this is especially useful if you are only travelling with carry-on – then you might want to consider buying some wearable luggage like a bum bag or cross-body bag that sits flat against you. You can put items in here like passport, phone, money and cards and a couple of little items which will free up some space in your bag. Every bit counts! What to pack: You’ll want to ensure you pack all of your essential items in your carry-on bag. This is not only important to ensure nothing gets stolen, but if your bag is lost at least when you land you will have enough essential items to comfortably get by until alternative arrangements are made or your bag is returned to you. Essential carry-on bag items include: passport, return flight details, accommodation and transport information, cash and cards, pen, home house key, key electronics such a phone and tablet or laptop along with the chargers, change of clothes, mini bag to house your at-seat essentials so you don’t have to get up and down to the overhead compartment, headphones, medication, glasses and possibly a snack and bottle of water. Perfect packing: Roll your clothes as not only will it allows you to fit them into corners and in between items when packing, but they surprisingly come out almost wrinkle free. Layering is the key technique of master packers. Think of your bag as being divided into three horizontal layers. Place shoes and any other bulky or hard items (like a travel hair dryer) in first as the bottom layer. Fill in the space between these items with smaller things like underwear, T-shirts, toiletries etc. The second layer is for larger clothing items and the third tier is for anything you might to access on your way to your destination. Then the majority of your toiletries (packed in your clear bag) should go in this layer, too. Also anything else that might break or spill – think make-up – should be on top so other items don’t squish them. Image credits: Getty Images

Travel Tips

A list of what you can and can’t take in your carry-on luggage

When it comes to travelling, there are a lot of grey areas when it comes to what you can and can’t take in your carry-on luggage. You often run into inconsistencies with travelling internationally and domestically with the do’s and don’ts of packing, making it difficult to know what you should be taking. When it comes to travelling within Australia on a domestic flight, the rules are slightly more relaxed than on international journeys. According to the <a href="https://www.abf.gov.au/entering-and-leaving-australia/can-you-bring-it-in/bring-on-a-plane">Australian Border Force</a>, there are no restrictions on how much powders, liquids, aerosols and gels you can carry onboard. However, the rules are very different for flights overseas. All liquids, aerosols and gel items must be in containers of 100 millilitres or 100 grams or less. Containers must fit into one transparent and re-sealable plastic bag, like a snap-lock bag, with only one ziplock bag allowed per passenger. However, there is one detail on travelling with liquids that can often catch people off guard at the last minute. Australian Traveller's Quentin Long said, "But the problem that gets us all ... is that it's not based on the actual quantity of liquid, it's based on the container size. So if you have a 120ml size container with liquid in it, that's going to be taken off you." "That has cost me, and a lot of other people, some very expensive fragrances." While you are allowed to take most laptops, tablets and phones in your hand luggage without any worries, you'll need to remove them when going through security. Airport x-ray machine operator Michael Sørensen explained why in a <a href="https://www.quora.com/Why-do-I-need-to-take-my-electronics-out-of-my-bag-at-airport-security/answer/Michael-S%C3%B8rensen">Quora</a> thread, writing, "The main reason that you need to remove laptops especially and tablets sometimes is because the batteries and some electronics are so dense metallic material that they obscure what's beneath.” "So that's why we ask for electronics with large batteries to be next to your bag or in a tray on its own." All batteries must be packed in your carry-on luggage, which includes lithium ion batteries, non-spill batteries like dry cell batteries, and nickel, alkaline, or nickel cadmium batteries. E-cigarettes and personal vaping devices also must be tucked into your carry-on baggage. When it comes to miscellaneous items such as umbrellas, razors and alcohol, Long says, "There's different rules for international and domestic, but the general rule for both is don't take anything sharp." So things like scissors, metal nail files and Swiss army knives are a big no-no. Razor blades are also not allowed, but the <a href="https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/travelsecure-subsite/Pages/Items-you-cannot-take-on-plane.aspx">Department of Home Affairs</a> clarifies that household and personal items such as safety razors are permitted. Umbrellas with metal points are also on the permitted list, along with knitting and crochet needles, perfume, lighter fluid and alcohol. If in doubt about whether an item can be carried onboard, check with your airline prior to arriving at the airport. In some cases, you may be able to pack the item in your checked baggage at the last minute. Image credits: Getty Images

Travel Tips

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Camilla’s ex-husband carries out official duty on her behalf

The best way to carry travel documents

Tips for designing a garden on a budget

Five tips for successful and safe solo travel

Flight attendant reveals must-have travel items

10 items you MUST carry in your travel medical kit

How to pack your carry-on luggage

A list of what you can and can’t take in your carry-on luggage