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How to pick the right course for you

The benefits of keeping your mind busy are endless but deciding to undertake study requires some commitment. Follow these steps to ensure you are picking the right course for you. Pick something you love A good way to narrow this down is by making a list of things you like doing, subjects you enjoy reading about and your hobbies. Next, jot down the courses you think you’re interested in and that align with your list of interests. If you find any crossover, look more into those courses. Do some research Always make sure you look into something before you commit yourself. The best resources are the internet and the people around you. More often than not you will find information on the institution’s website. Speak to people Speak to your friends and family who have studied and find out what they have and haven’t liked about the courses and places they have studied. You will gain the best insight from someone who has studied a course himself/herself. Trust your instincts When you start looking into subject options, you should trust your feelings when picking a course or place to study. If there’s something you’re not comfortable with ask about it, if you’re not satisfied with the answer then perhaps it’s not the right course for you. Review course content Ensure you have a close look at the subjects or modules you will cover in a course you want to study. If you know the types of things required of you before you enrol and you’re comfortable with what’s ahead, it’s a great sign. Consider course durations Courses vary in time commitments and duration, and some courses even offer you the flexibility to choose. Image credit: Shutterstock

Mind

“Truly grotesque”: Ivana Trump’s golf course burial may help Trump get tax breaks

Ivana Trump, who <a href="https://www.oversixty.co.nz/news/news/ivana-trump-s-cause-of-death-revealed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">passed away</a> aged 73 in her New York home in mid-July, has been buried on the grounds of her ex-husband Donald Trump’s golf club - and the choice of burial plot may grant the former US president some long-sought tax breaks. Ivana is the first person known to have been buried at Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, New Jersey, a state where land taxes are notoriously high. But, cemetery land is exempt from all taxes, rates and assessments, with the <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/jul/31/donald-ivana-trump-cemetery-golf-course-taxes" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Guardian</a> reporting that Ivana’s grave would therefore have “advantageous tax implications”. According to <a href="https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/465718872" target="_blank" rel="noopener">documents</a> published by ProPublica, the Trump family trust has previously sought to classify a nearby property in Hackettstown, New Jersey, as a cemetery company. Brooke Harrington, a professor of sociology at Dartmouth College, tweeted that she investigated claims that the placement of Ivana’s grave would benefit Trump. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> As a tax researcher, I was skeptical of rumors Trump buried his ex-wife in that sad little plot of dirt on his Bedminster, NJ golf course just for tax breaks. So I checked the NJ tax code & folks...it's a trifecta of tax avoidance. Property, income & sales tax, all eliminated. <a href="https://t.co/VDZBlDyuhQ">pic.twitter.com/VDZBlDyuhQ</a> — Brooke Harrington (@EBHarrington) <a href="https://twitter.com/EBHarrington/status/1553533320469905409?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 31, 2022</a></blockquote> “As a tax researcher, I was skeptical of rumors Trump buried his ex-wife in that sad little plot of dirt on his Bedminster, NJ golf course just for tax breaks,” she tweeted. “So I checked the NJ tax code & folks...it's a trifecta of tax avoidance. Property, income & sales tax, all eliminated.” In 2012, <a href="https://www.npr.org/2012/02/03/146342330/fairway-to-heaven-trump-eyes-a-golf-course-burial" target="_blank" rel="noopener">US radio station NPR reported</a> that Trump planned to build a mausoleum on the property, with the proposal later expanding to potentially containing 1000 possible graves. The plan, which attracted local objections, was later dropped and replaced with a design for a 10-plot private family cemetery” in the same spot before changing again into a proposal for a commercial 284-plot cemetery. Images of Ivana’s final resting place have begun circling online, with many calling out her family for its plain appearance in comparison to memorials to everything from Richard Nixon’s dog to Internet Explorer. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Internet Explorer got a nicer burial than Ivana Trump. <a href="https://t.co/tm5T1hX1bH">pic.twitter.com/tm5T1hX1bH</a> — Thomas (@tarnished_usa) <a href="https://twitter.com/tarnished_usa/status/1553121815517601794?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 29, 2022</a></blockquote> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Top: Richard Nixon’s dog ‘Checkers’ grave. Donald Trump’s first wife Ivana’s on his golf course. <a href="https://t.co/Rh9q96B8H0">pic.twitter.com/Rh9q96B8H0</a> — Hoodlum 🇺🇸 (@NotHoodlum) <a href="https://twitter.com/NotHoodlum/status/1553490177120681985?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 30, 2022</a></blockquote> “Not sure which is more shocking - - that Trump had Ivana buried on his golf course for a tax write-off or that her three kids thought this was okay,” investigative journalist Victoria Brownworth <a href="https://twitter.com/VABVOX/status/1554049715184062465" target="_blank" rel="noopener">tweeted</a>. “You don’t have to be an Ivana fan to find this truly grotesque.” “You should be ashamed of yourself. This is a public display of your complete disgrace towards your own mother,” another person <a href="https://twitter.com/keraz37/status/1553538090609827842">tweeted</a>, along with a photo of Ivana’s plot surrounded by patchy grass and a golf court in the background. Image: Twitter

Money & Banking

Cruise ship abandons course to avoid arrest warrant

After an arrest warrant was issued for a cruise ship vessel, the ship has diverted its destination path from Miami to the island nation of the Bahamas. According to <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/us/cruise-ship-diverts-bahamas-miami-unpaid-fuel-bills">Fox News</a>, the arrest warrant was in response to over $1 million in unpaid fuel bills. “The U.S. marshal will be there with the arrest warrant if the ship shows up in Miami,” J. Stephen Simms, the lead lawyer representing Peninsula Petroleum Far East Pte. Ltd, told Bloomberg. “My good money is that it’s not landing in Miami, from what we’ve been told. Our client is determined to recover.” The luxury cruise ship known as Crystal Symphony was due to arrive in Miami on Saturday after a two-week voyage in the Caribbean. However, they diverted their course at the last minute with about 300 passengers and 400 crew members on board. The ship is operated by Genting Hong Kong Ltd., which has reportedly been struggling financially since the beginning of the pandemic. A British musician who was performing on the ship said passengers were scrambling to reschedule their flights after diverting to the Bahamas, but “there’s no panic”. “Every one of these people are trying to reschedule their flights,” musician Elio Pace told the Daily Mail. “There's no panic, there's no tantrums going on, they're taking it in their stride.” Crystal Cruises president Jack Anderson announced in a statement that all Crystal Cruise operations would be suspended until at least April, due to their billion dollar losses felt through the duration of the Covid pandemic. Elio Pace said the passengers on board the Crystal Symphony were shocked at the announcement, but he has carried on performing for the travellers. “That was quite extraordinary, to be in a position to have to perform to people, with them knowing the cruise line has gone into liquidation,” he said. “For me it’s a headache, but for the crew, for the staff, the brilliant staff of this gorgeous luxury liner, I feel more sorry for them,” Mr Pace said. “I'm put out, but they've lost their jobs for the foreseeable future.” Image credits: Getty Images

Cruising

Harry Potter star speaks about "scary" collapse

Harry Potter star Tom Felton has taken to social media to update fans on his condition after suffering a “scary” health related incident. The 34-year-old actor assured his followers that he was “on the mend” after collapsing during a celebrity golf match at the Ryder Cup in Wisconsin last week. “Hello everyone, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls. Just wanted to say a huge thank you for all the lovely well wishes as of recent,” Felton said in the video. “Bit of a scary episode, really – but on the mend, people have been taking really good care of me. So thank you very much to anyone who has sent messages of get well soon because I am on the mend, officially.” Switching into a singing voice he added: “Don’t you worry ‘cause Tom will be doing fine…So don’t you worry, Tom will be doing fine.” Tom was loaded onto a stretcher on the golf course on Thursday after reportedly collapsing at the 18th hole, and driven off for medical attention. <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7844428/new-project-1.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/d35583503cf7435bbf3d5fe3d6735134" /> Image: Getty The PGA of America confirmed the incident in a statement to CNN shortly afterwards. “In today’s Ryder Cup Celebrity Match, actor and Musician Tom Felton experienced a medical incident on the course while participating for Europe,” A spokesperson said. He was transported to a local hospital for treatment. No further details were available. Felton is best known for playing Draco Malfoy in the Harry Potter franchise – a role he landed at 14 years old. He went on to appear in all eight Harry Potter movies.

Body

The Ocean Decade: how the next ten years can chart a new course for the blue planet

When birdsong was filling the muted days of the first lockdown, marine scientists were noticing something similar in the world’s oceans. Container vessels, cruise ships and drilling platforms had fallen silent, and so the oceans grew quieter than at any other time in recent memory. Researchers are trying to understand how the lull affected ocean life, but there are already stories of whales seizing the chance to sing and dolphins venturing into coastal areas they’d avoided for decades. The year of the quiet ocean is over, and noise pollution is roaring back to pre-pandemic levels, drowning out the sounds that marine species depend on to communicate and make sense of their surroundings. Sadly, that’s just one problem among many. The UN has declared that the next ten years will be <a href="https://www.oceandecade.org/">the Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development</a>, recognising the enormous challenges facing our blue planet. The Conversation has been keeping an eye on some of these as part of our <a href="https://theconversation.com/uk/topics/oceans-21-96784">Oceans 21 series</a>. Already, we’ve heard from experts about how chemical pollution in the ocean <a href="https://theconversation.com/why-ocean-pollution-is-a-clear-danger-to-human-health-152641">threatens human health</a>, how the ocean economy is dominated by <a href="https://theconversation.com/blue-economy-how-a-handful-of-companies-reap-most-of-the-benefits-in-multi-billion-ocean-industries-153165">a handful of mega-rich corporations</a> and why global warming is <a href="https://theconversation.com/the-ocean-is-becoming-more-stable-heres-why-that-might-not-be-a-good-thing-157911">making the ocean more stable</a> – with surprisingly worrying results. But we’ve also heard informed reasons for hope. From the geographer studying <a href="https://theconversation.com/the-hopeful-return-of-polar-whales-151487">the recovery of polar whale populations</a> and the team of physicists learning how to track the journey of <a href="https://theconversation.com/where-does-plastic-pollution-go-when-it-enters-the-ocean-155182">each plastic particle</a> when it reaches the shoreline, to the anthropologist documenting the role that <a href="https://theconversation.com/how-scottish-gaelic-is-helping-protect-scotlands-seas-155660">Scottish Gaelic plays in conservation</a> in Outer Hebridean fisheries.

Cruising

Prince Charles admits he has watched the Australian bushfires take its course in “appalling horror”

Prince Charles has released an emotional video message for Australians as the country battles bushfires all over the nation - revealing that he has been watching “the appalling horror… in despair”. The royal has long made an effort to warn about the effects of climate change, and in this statement said the scope of the loss was “not to be believed possible”. He went on to say that both he and the Duchess of Cornwall had kept the “remarkable, courageous, determined firefighters who have done much and worked ceaselessly to exhaustion” in their thoughts. In a heartfelt tribute recorded at Birkhall, the Prince’s home in Scotland, he praised the resilience of the Australian people and expressed confidence that “despite the horror” they would “find a way to face it all and win through.” Intense blazes have ruined and destroyed 8.4 million hectares – an area larger than Scotland - of Australian bushland. <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/m8FnorbkJS4" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen=""></iframe> The drought and record high temperatures that have contributed to ravage Australia, and have been since the start of its summer have led to the deaths of as many as half a billion wild native animals. To address Australia directing, the Prince said: “I fear this is a hopelessly inadequate way of trying to get a message to all of you that both my wife and myself are thinking of you so very much at such an incredibly difficult time and in such impossible and terrifying circumstances. “Both of us have been in despair the last several weeks watching this appalling horror unfolding in Australia and witnessing so much of what you are having to go through from this distance. “Those of you who have tragically lost your properties, your houses, everything.. to me it is, and to both of us, not to be believed possible. And I know how many houses have been lost.” He added: “Above all, we wanted to say how much we have been thinking of all those remarkable, courageous, determined firefighters who have done much and worked ceaselessly to exhaustion. “We feel so deeply for the families of those who have been lost and lost their lives in the course of carrying out their remarkable duties as only they can do. “We also think of all the Australian wildlife that is destroyed in these appalling infernos, let alone everything else. “We both know how incredibly special and resilient the Australian people are. So I know at the end of the day, despite all this horror, you will find a way to face it all and win through. “All I can say is we are thinking of you and praying from you in the most determined way. I’m very proud to know you all.” Prince Charles is launching a new aim sometime throughout January to find solutions to the carbon emissions issue the world is facing. The Sustainable Markets Council will bring together leading international figures from the private, public and philanthropic sectors to identify ways of “decarbonise the global economy” and make the transition to sustainable markets. Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall last visited Australia in April of 2018, where they travelled throughout the Northern Territory and Queensland. Scroll through the gallery to see the royal couple’s travels through Australia in 2018. OverSixty, its parent company and its owners are donating a total of $200,000 to the Vinnie’s Bushfire Appeal. We have also pledged an additional $100,000 of product to help all those affected by the bushfire crisis. We would love you to support too! Head to the <a rel="noopener" href="https://donate.vinnies.org.au/appeals-nsw/vinnies-nsw-bushfire-appeal-nsw" target="_blank">Vinnie's website</a> to donate!

Domestic Travel

How to take Yale's personal happiness online course for free

As the new year unfolds, you may find yourself with a list of things you want to achieve within the next 12 months. If any of these goals includes looking after your wellbeing or working on more productive habits, then you are in luck – Yale University can help you get there at no charge. In 2018, Professor Laurie Santos unveiled a psychology course titled “Psychology and the Good Life” at the university. It became the most popular class in Yale University’s <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/coursera-yale-science-of-wellbeing-free-course-review-overview/?r=AU&IR=T">317-year history</a>, with a quarter of the student body enrolling in the course. When a free online version of the course – “The Science of Well-Being” – launched on learning platform Coursera last year, a whopping 255,000 people signed up. Many went on to praise the class as “<a href="https://www.inc.com/betsy-mikel/this-guy-took-yales-most-popular-class-ever-for-free-learning-1-key-habit-made-him-happier.html">life-changing</a>”. Now the course is back for the new year. In <a href="https://www.coursera.org/learn/the-science-of-well-being?action=enroll">the ten-week class</a>, Santos is set to share “misconceptions about happiness, annoying features of the mind that lead us to think the way we do, and the research that can help us change”. The whole course – which includes video lectures, readings and quizzes – is estimated to take 20 hours to complete. The first class kicked off this week, but you can still catch up and do the tasks on your own pace. Students can sign up and observe the class for free, but an optional completion certificate will cost about NZ$73.5.

Mind

89-year-old becomes tech-savvy master to connect with family across the globe

Technology seems to be moving at such a breakneck pace these days, keeping up with it all can sometimes feel like a fruitless exercise. But, if today’s story is anything to go by, with a little bit of gumption it’s never too late to learn (and master) a new skill. Neville Hewitt, an 89-year-old former engineering pattern maker in Glenroy, is currently top of the class in a digital literacy and online social skills course. Hewitt signed up to the course at his local Neighbourhood Learning Centre two years ago to reboot his computer skills, and he hasn’t missed a single beat. Hewitt initially signed up to help him communicate with family around the world, telling <a href="http://www.heraldsun.com.au/" target="_blank">Herald Sun</a>, “Communication is the thing I was interested in... that was my first thought.” He now uses Skype to talk to his brother in New Zealand and is regularly in contact with his cousin in Wales and his nephew in England that he reaches through email. “It’s good to be able to reach them regularly and easily,” Mr Hewitt said. Hewitt has also combined his newfound computer skills with his natural talent for craftsmanship, building an American-style steel guitar from a design he researched online. “I’m in a senior citizens’ choir and they told me to stop bringing my other ones and just bring the steel one in because they liked it so much,” he said. Glenroy Neighbourhood Learning Centre teacher Shruti Malavde said seniors were increasingly reaping the benefits of computer literacy, “The best thing they find is finding their own friends (on social media) and talking to them. It brings back a lot of memories, which they really enjoy.” Have you taken a course to increase your computer literacy? Would you be in anyway interested in doing so? Let us know in the comments. Related links: <a href="/news/news/2016/07/photo-of-ghost-in-car-crash/">Ghost appears at site of car crash</a> <a href="/news/news/2016/07/grandparents-share-secrets-to-a-happy-marriage/">Grandparents share their adorable 5 secrets to a happy marriage</a> <a href="/news/news/2016/07/watch-this-toddler-flawlessly-mimic-a-rocky-training-montage/">Toddler perfectly mimics Rocky training montage</a>

News

Giant alligator strolls onto Florida golf course

Generally when most people hit the greens, the last thing they expect to see is a 4.6 metre long reptile wandering on to the fairway. For one group of golfers, however, that’s exactly what happened when they visited the Buffalo Creek Golf Course in Florida recently. “I didn’t know if we were being punked or something,” golfer Charles Helm told <a href="http://www.abcactionnews.com/news/region-sarasota-manatee/goliath-gator-spotted-at-palmetto-golf-course" target="_blank">ABC Action News</a> after a giant alligator wandered onto the course on his way to a nearby lake. According to a worker at the course’s shop, Wendy Schofield, this isn’t the first time the massive reptile has made an appearance. “He doesn't bother anybody and they don't bother him, he's like a mascot for the course,” she told <a href="http://news3lv.com/news/local/giant-alligator-roams-golf-course-in-florida" target="_blank">News 3</a>. Take a look at the golfers’ stunned reaction in the video above. I think I’d run for it! What’s the most unexpected animal visitor you’ve ever had? Tell us about it in the comments below. Related links: <a href="/news/news/2016/05/alligator-climbs-front-door-of-familys-home/">Alligator climbs front door of family’s home</a> <a href="/news/news/2016/04/alligator-devours-smaller-gator/">Massive alligator devours smaller gator</a> <a href="/news/news/2016/04/fisherman-finds-alligator-at-end-of-his-line/">Fisherman finds gigantic surprise at the end of his line</a>

News

Maggie Beer to take popular aged care food course Australia wide

Maggie Beer is taking her hugely popular ‘Creating An Appetite For Life’ program Australia wide. The two day course is a hands-on experience designed to show aged care cooks and chefs how to create nutritious, full-flavoured low cost meals everyday in their kitchens. A range of experts will join Maggie School, brainstorming ideas around nutritious ingredients, food budgeting, supplier relationships, aged care specific recipes, menus and dining room management. One of the initial program’s participants, Toni Chubb says, “What a fantastic couple of days. I don't know about anyone else, but my mind is running a million miles an hour, trying to get my head around all the wonderful ideas that each and every one of us brought to the table.” “A huge thank you to Maggie and her dedicated and passionate team for giving us the opportunity to experience this journey, and for reigniting the passion in us to know that we can make a difference." Only 30 participants have the chance to attend, making it a unique opportunity. Image credit: Twitter / Maggie Beer Related links: <a href="/news/news/2016/01/grandma-finds-out-granddaughter-having-triplets/">Watch this Grandma find out her granddaughter is having triplets</a> <a href="/news/news/2016/01/man-old-blanket-worth-a-fortune/">Man finds out old blanket is worth a fortune</a> <a href="/news/news/2016/01/baby-elephant-best-friend-dog/">Baby elephant rejected from its herd finds unlikely new best friend in a dog</a>

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How to pick the right course for you

“Truly grotesque”: Ivana Trump’s golf course burial may help Trump get tax breaks

Cruise ship abandons course to avoid arrest warrant

Harry Potter star speaks about "scary" collapse

The Ocean Decade: how the next ten years can chart a new course for the blue planet

Prince Charles admits he has watched the Australian bushfires take its course in “appalling horror”

How to take Yale's personal happiness online course for free

89-year-old becomes tech-savvy master to connect with family across the globe

Giant alligator strolls onto Florida golf course

Maggie Beer to take popular aged care food course Australia wide