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Doting dad sells everything he owns to develop cure for son's "incurable" condition

A dedicated father has drained his life savings to help find a cure for his son's "incurable" disorder. Terry Pirovolakis, a 44-year-old IT director, was hellbent on finding a cure for his six-year-old son Michael after he was diagnosed with Spastic paraplegia 50 (SPG50): a degenerative neurological condition that affects less than 100 people worldwide. SPG50 affects children's development, leading to cognitive impairment, muscle weakness, and paralysis over the course several years, often ending in death usually before a patient reaches the age of 30. "They said he'd never walk or talk, and would need support for the rest of his life," he recalled of the 2018 diagnosis. "They told us to just go home and love him - and said he would be paralysed from the waist down by age 10, and quadriplegic by age 20," he continued. Determined to save his son, Terry drained his life savings to start researching potential cures rooted in gene therapy, after reading countless journals on the subject and meeting with experts around the world. Terry said, "We then liquidated our life savings, refinanced our home and paid a team at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center to create a proof of concept to start Michael's gene therapy." The father soon signed a contract to start a gene therapy program, consisting of injecting cerebral spinal fluid into the patient's back, and after years of lab work, the treatment started to take, and on December 30th 2021, the government <a id="mol-70453400-6948-11ef-9b54-1d20db350cbd" href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/canada/index.html" target="_self"></a>moved it forward. "On March 24, 2022, my son was the first person to ever get treated with gene therapy at SickKids in Toronto," Pirovolakis, a father of three, told Fox News in detailing his medical odyssey. Michael was the first to receive his father's one-time treatment, after Pirovolakis quit his job and started a nonprofit in California to devote himself to the cause. The company, named Elpida Therapeutics, after the Greek word for 'hope', now has five employees and 20 consultants, with Michael now on the mend. Since being treated, the youngster's condition seems to have stabilised, and he is now able to use a device to communicate with his family and caregivers. Another three children who were able to receive the remaining doses from Pirovolakis' first batch, as the drug still costs about $1million to make for each child, are also seeing positive results. "When I heard that no one was going to do anything about it, I had to - I couldn't let them die," Pirovolakis said. "We decided that we had to help other kids." Despite it being approved, big pharmaceutical companies have been slow to manufacture the drug, with several firms rejecting the prospect when proposed, Pirovolakis said "No investor is going to give you money to treat a disease that is not going to make money," he said. "That's the dilemma we're in." Pirovolakis said that when his son was diagnosed, he was told the boy would be paralysed from the waist down by the age of ten and quadriplegic by the age of 20, forcing the father to do everything he can. "We were told he would never speak or walk, and that he will have severe developmental delays. I just couldn't accept that fate for my child," he said. "The technology to cure our children is already here. I hope that someone with immense wealth - and more importantly, the vision and influence - will step in." Image credits: Facebook

Money & Banking

Everything you need to know about tipping in the US

There are few social customs in the US more confusing to travellers than tipping. To most Americans, gratuities are normal, like adding sales tax at the register. To foreign visitors, though, the very idea can induce anxiety or panic. We're notoriously poor tippers. Partly this is accidental ignorance, but partly it is self-righteous rejection of an institution many of us see as unfair. I once had a meal in New York with a woman from Brisbane who refused to tip "on principle." I nodded in agreement ... and then tipped for both of us. The truth is, federal minimum wage for adults in the US is just US$7.25 an hour. In industries where tipping is routine, employers are legally allowed to pay wages as low as US$2.13 an hour. So while travellers may stage a quiet rebellion, refusing to tip, the bereaved party is never going to be the restaurant owners (who earns their profit through the itemised bill), but the poor waiters. Until the US government raises minimum wages to Australian levels (something that will probably never happen), tipping is here to stay. Which means travellers need to accept it, then learn the rules. First rule: After clearing immigration get your hands on a stack of "singles" (US$1 bills). You're going to need them. Getting around In theory, tips should only go to people who are helpful; the more helpful, the more bountiful their reward. In reality, tips are par for the course, and to "stiff" somebody is tantamount to slapping them in the face. If a airport porter helps you with your bags, give them US$1-2 per bag. If they meet you at the gate with a wheelchair, give them US$3-5. For most travellers, the first real test comes with transports away from the airport. If you're lucky enough to have a hotel worker collect you from Arrivals, give them US$10-15 for the effort. If you take a taxi, a little more thought will be required. Many taxis now have seat-back displays that offer "default tipping" amounts at the end of a journey: in New York, 20, 25, and 30 per cent. You should only really tip 30 per cent if the taxi turns out to be the Batmobile, getting you to your destination in record time. Even 20 per cent can sometimes feels a little high. Tipping is subjective: I often manually override the default, leaving 15-20 per cent, or a few extra dollars if I'm paying in cash. If you hire a car and take advantage of valet (all but mandatory in Los Angeles), be prepared to tip the worker US$3-5 upon pick-up, depending on how ritzy the establishment is. A quick rule of thumb: more ritz equals more tip. Hotels If you arrive at the hotel and somebody opens the door for you, that's on the house. If they carry your bags, that is not on the house. Give them US$2-3 a bag. If the hotel has a concierge, their friendliness isn't contingent on your generosity. But if they perform a service for you - book a trip, hire a car, charter a private jet to the Bahamas - acknowledge this effort with US$10-20 at the end of your stay, presented with a handshake. One case where tipping can have a direct impact on the quality of service you receive is housekeeping. Each morning, leave US$2-5 on your pillow with a thank you note. This ensures different cleaners get their due, and it also means cleaners will be extra diligent for the rest of your stay. If you think this is a little rich, keep in mind that these people are picking up your dirty towels, so spare change for a cup of coffee is the least you can do. One point of confusion with hotel tipping is the in-room dining. Some hotels include a default tip on their dining bills; some include a "service charge," which goes to the hotel, and should not be treated as a tip. If there's no obvious tip included on the bill, slip the server 15-20 per cent when they knock on your door. Dining and drinking Nobody can force you to tip in a restaurant, though they can try to counteract your miserliness by stating on the menu that tips are automatically added to the final charge. This is increasingly common in areas catering to large numbers of foreign travellers; it's also pretty standard when your table has more than six people. If tips have been added by the time you come to hand over your card, no further gratuity is needed. If no tip has been included, you might need to leave some money on the table. How much exactly depends on what kind of table it is. If it is a fast food table, no tip. If it is a table at a restaurant ranging from modest diner to upmarket eatery, 15-20 per cent for the waiter is standard (err on the high side in major cities like New York and San Francisco). If you leave less than 15 per cent, staff will assume you weren't happy with their service. If you leave two pennies on top of the bill - a code - they will know you were very unhappy, and feel bad even as they silently loathe you for being a Scrooge. It is almost never okay to withhold a tip; if you're considering doing that, you should also be considering complaining to the manager. If it is a very fancy restaurant, perhaps one with Michelin stars, prepare to hand over 25 per cent of the bill (before tax) to the waiter, who will divide it up among his or her support staff. You should also tip the sommelier if they suggest wine, and perhaps the maitre'd, if they gave you a fabulous table. Always, without exception, tip a bartender a dollar for every drink; bigger tips can mean stronger second cocktails in my experience. As for coffee shops, despite the increasing prevalence of tip jars, and "suggested tips" when paying with a card, this is cheekiness and should only be taken seriously if the barista goes out of their way, like the man who once drew Darth Vader in my cappuccino crema. Everything else This guide covers the most common situations a traveller will have to contend when in the US, though the list is not exhaustive. For example, do you tip a massage therapist? Yes, 10-20 per cent. A hairdresser? Same. Tour guide or hiking leader? 15-20 per cent of the total charge, depending on their performance. That Elvis impersonator who officiated your wedding in a Las Vegas chapel? Same. Tip anyone, in fact, that provides you with a service: 15 per cent is a good default to keep in mind. Just remember, nobody is affronted by the offer of a gratuity, so you shouldn't feel bashful about giving one. Written by Lance Richardson. First appeared on <a href="http://Stuff.co.nz" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Stuff.co.nz</a>. Image credits: Shutterstock

International Travel

Everything you need to know before you travel to Vietnam

So you’ve booked your flight to Vietnam to experience the best of south-east Asia. When travelling to Vietnam, and other Asian countries, there are a handful of tips and tricks to be aware of to ensure you have a smooth sailing travel experience. In comparison to travelling around Western countries, exploring Vietnam comes with a unique set of circumstances, and being prepared for every situation will make sure your trip is one to remember. Cash is king When it comes to planning your trip to Vietnam, other than booking your flights, hotels and travel insurance, one of your first priorities should be getting your hands on cash. The Vietnamese Dong is a unique currency to get used to, given that $5 AUD is equal to approximately $82,000 VND. Most of the restaurants, cafes and tourist attractions you’ll be heading to will only accept cash, so make sure you seek out an ATM (most ATMs will let you translate to English) and always have a decent amount of cash on hand. Go off the beaten track Vietnam has so much more to offer than the major cities. While Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City have a lot of interesting history, tourist attractions and unique cultural experiences, staying in these cities for the entirety of your Vietnam trip is limiting. Make sure you explore coastal towns such as Hoi An, Hue and Phu Quoc, explore the rolling rice fields of Sapa, and don’t forget to book your cruise around the picturesque Ha Long Bay. Don't be afraid of the food While Vietnamese food is maybe not what you’re used to eating everyday, part of experiencing a different culture is immersing yourself in the food scene. One of the best things you can do when you arrive at your destination is to book a food tour with a local guide (there are many available through TripAdvisor), to take you around and show you a variety of dishes to become accustomed to. Your food tour guide will also help ease your anxiety over ordering food in different places. Another top tip: Restaurants will often be called the name of the dishes they serve. For example, places that sell the delicious Bahn Mi bread rolls will have “Bahn Mi” in their name. Google Translate is your friend While your hotel staff will often speak good English, other vendors at restaurants or markets may not be as fluent. Downloading the Google Translate app on your phone will allow you to communicate with locals quickly and easily, by typing in what you want to say in English, and letting the app read out the sentence in Vietnamese. Also, the app’s camera feature lets you hover your smartphone camera over something written in Vietnamese, before translating it into English in seconds. Beware of scams One of the most common scams in Vietnam is taxi scams. Some people will claim to be a taxi and then jack up the prices once they take you to your destination. To avoid this, only get in registered taxis (that actually look like taxis and not just a random car), and download Grab, which is the Vietnamese version of Uber and is just as easy to use. Another common scam is for market vendors to hike up prices for food and souvenirs, so be ready to barter for a better price. Make friends with the locals The Vietnamese people are some of the loveliest, kindest and most accommodating in the world. People on the street, hotel staff and restaurant workers are always happy to help you with queries or concerns, so make the most of their local knowledge and don’t be afraid to approach people with a smile. Image credits: Getty Images

International Travel

How can I stop overthinking everything? A clinical psychologist offers solutions

<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/kirsty-ross-1513078">Kirsty Ross</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/massey-university-806">Massey University</a> As a clinical psychologist, I often have clients say they are having trouble with thoughts “on a loop” in their head, which they find difficult to manage. While rumination and overthinking are often considered the same thing, they are slightly different (though linked). <a href="https://www.apa.org/monitor/nov05/cycle">Rumination</a> is having thoughts on repeat in our minds. This can lead to overthinking – analysing those thoughts without finding solutions or solving the problem. It’s like a vinyl record playing the same part of the song over and over. With a record, this is usually because of a scratch. Why we overthink is a little more complicated. <h2>We’re on the lookout for threats</h2> Our brains are hardwired to look for threats, to make a plan to address those threats and keep us safe. Those perceived threats may be based on past experiences, or may be the “what ifs” we imagine could happen in the future. Our “what ifs” are usually negative outcomes. These are what we call “<a href="https://ccbhc.org/hot-thoughts-what-are-they-and-how-can-you-handle-them/">hot thoughts</a>” – they bring up a lot of emotion (particularly sadness, worry or anger), which means we can easily get stuck on those thoughts and keep going over them. However, because they are about things that have either already happened or might happen in the future (but are not happening now), we cannot fix the problem, so we keep going over the same thoughts. <h2>Who overthinks?</h2> Most people find themselves in situations at one time or another when they overthink. Some people are <a href="https://www.apa.org/monitor/nov05/cycle">more likely</a> to ruminate. People who have had prior challenges or experienced trauma may have come to expect threats and look for them more than people who have not had adversities. Deep thinkers, people who are prone to anxiety or low mood, and those who are sensitive or feel emotions deeply are also more likely to ruminate and overthink. Also, when we are stressed, our emotions tend to be stronger and last longer, and our thoughts can be less accurate, which means we can get stuck on thoughts more than we would usually. Being run down or physically unwell can also mean our thoughts are <a href="https://healthify.nz/hauora-wellbeing/m/mental-health-and-your-body/">harder to tackle</a> and manage. <h2>Acknowledge your feelings</h2> When thoughts go on repeat, it is helpful to use both emotion-focused and problem-focused <a href="https://link.springer.com/referencework/10.1007/978-1-4419-1005-9">strategies</a>. Being emotion-focused means figuring out how we feel about something and addressing those feelings. For example, we might feel regret, anger or sadness about something that has happened, or worry about something that might happen. Acknowledging those emotions, using self-care techniques and accessing social support to talk about and manage your feelings will be helpful. The second part is being problem-focused. Looking at what you would do differently (if the thoughts are about something from your past) and making a plan for dealing with future possibilities your thoughts are raising. But it is difficult to plan for all eventualities, so this strategy has limited usefulness. What is more helpful is to make a plan for one or two of the more likely possibilities and accept there may be things that happen you haven’t thought of. <h2>Think about why these thoughts are showing up</h2> Our feelings and experiences are information; it is important to ask what this information is telling you and why these thoughts are showing up now. For example, university has just started again. Parents of high school leavers might be lying awake at night (which is when rumination and overthinking is common) worrying about their young person. Knowing how you would respond to some more likely possibilities (such as they will need money, they might be lonely or homesick) might be helpful. But overthinking is also a sign of a new stage in both your lives, and needing to accept less control over your child’s choices and lives, while wanting the best for them. Recognising this means you can also talk about those feelings with others. <h2>Let the thoughts go</h2> A useful way to manage rumination or overthinking is “<a href="https://www.getselfhelp.co.uk/docs/Options.pdf">change, accept, and let go</a>”. Challenge and change aspects of your thoughts where you can. For example, the chance that your young person will run out of money and have no food and starve (overthinking tends to lead to your brain coming up with catastrophic outcomes!) is not likely. You could plan to check in with your child regularly about how they are coping financially and encourage them to access budgeting support from university services. Your thoughts are just ideas. They are not necessarily true or accurate, but when we overthink and have them on repeat, they can start to feel true because they become familiar. Coming up with a more realistic thought can help stop the loop of the unhelpful thought. Accepting your emotions and finding ways to manage those (good self-care, social support, communication with those close to you) will also be helpful. As will accepting that life inevitably involves a lack of complete control over outcomes and possibilities life may throw at us. What we do have control over is our reactions and behaviours. Remember, you have a 100% success rate of getting through challenges up until this point. You might have wanted to do things differently (and can plan to do that) but nevertheless, you coped and got through. So, the last part is letting go of the need to know exactly how things will turn out, and believing in your ability (and sometimes others’) to cope. <h2>What else can you do?</h2> A stressed out and tired brain will be <a href="https://mentalhealth.org.nz/resources/resource/stress-and-how-to-manage-it">more likely</a> to overthink, leading to more stress and creating a cycle that can affect your wellbeing. So it’s important to manage your stress levels by eating and sleeping well, moving your body, doing things you enjoy, seeing people you care about, and doing things that fuel your soul and spirit. Distraction – with pleasurable activities and people who bring you joy – can also get your thoughts off repeat. If you do find overthinking is affecting your life, and your levels of anxiety are rising or your mood is dropping (your sleep, appetite and enjoyment of life and people is being negatively affected), it might be time to talk to someone and get some strategies to manage. When things become too difficult to manage yourself (or with the help of those close to you), a therapist can provide tools that have been proven to be helpful. Some helpful tools to manage worry and your thoughts can also be found <a href="https://www.cci.health.wa.gov.au/Resources/Looking-After-Yourself/Anxiety">here</a>. When you find yourself overthinking, think about why you are having “hot thoughts”, acknowledge your feelings and do some future-focused problem solving. But also accept life can be unpredictable and focus on having faith in your ability to cope. <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/223973/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/kirsty-ross-1513078">Kirsty Ross</a>, Associate Professor and Senior Clinical Psychologist, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/massey-university-806">Massey University</a> Image credits: Getty Images 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/how-can-i-stop-overthinking-everything-a-clinical-psychologist-offers-solutions-223973">original article</a>.

Mind

"She was everything": Beach Boys' Brian Wilson shares devastating news

The Beach Boys singer-songwriter Brian Wilson has shared that his wife of nearly 30 years has passed away. The 81-year-old musician broke the news on Instagram on Wednesday morning, saying that his "heart is broken" after his wife Melinda Ledbetter Wilson died aged 77. "Melinda, my beloved wife of 28 years, passed away this morning. Our five children and I are just in tears. We are lost," he wrote in his post, underneath two pictures of his wife. "Melinda was more than my wife. She was my saviour. She gave me the emotional security I needed to have a career," he said. "She encouraged me to make the music that was closest to my heart. She was my anchor. She was everything for us. Please say a prayer for her. Love and Mercy, Brian." <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-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/C2vSn-zO_32/?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/C2vSn-zO_32/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Brian Wilson (@brianwilsonlive)</a> </div> </blockquote> In his post, he also shared a tribute that appeared to come from their five children collectively, which read, "It is with a heavy heart that we let everyone know that our mum, Melinda Kay Ledbetter Wilson passed away peacefully this morning at home." "She was a force of nature and one of the strongest women you could come by. She was not only a model, our fathers [sic] savior, and a mother, she was a woman empowered by her spirit with a mission to better everyone she touched. We will miss her but cherish everything she has taught us," the statement read. "How to take care of the person next to you with out expecting anything in return, how to find beauty in the darkest of places, and how to live life as your truest self with honesty and pride." They added, "We love you mum. Give Grandma Rose and Pa our love." Brian and Melinda first met in 1986 and married in 1995, before adopting their five children. Their love story and relationship was portrayed in the 2014 biographical drama film Love & Mercy, which starred John Cusack and Elizabeth Banks. Image credits: Getty Images

Caring

5 satisfying ways to de-clutter and get rid of everything you don’t want

Instead of letting your old belongings gather dust in the spare room, why not make it a priority to remove those old things that you don’t use anymore. Follow our tips below where we show you five different ways to get rid of unwanted items (and maybe even make a little money in the process). Sell, sell, sell eBay is a great place to start for items such as stereos, CDs, vinyl, mobile phones, or clothing (even better if it is a well-known brand). When it comes to books, try checking out Amazon as they have a huge market for second hand items. It’s best to use this for quality books or rare items that have people looking for them. Old cookbooks or romance novels are best offered to the charity shop. You can easily move your quality pieces of furniture through antiques stores or local second hand shops. Most offer a pick-up service for larger items that they want to sell. If you have lots of odds and ends, a garage sale can be a good option. If you’re not sure that you have enough, consider asking a friend or neighbour if they want to host a sale with you. Give a gift If you’re holding onto things because they are worth something, but you don’t actually need or want them – why not give them away as a gift? Your old record collection or suitcase full of toy cars may be just gathering dust but would be well received by the right person. The only exception is an item such as artwork which has appreciated significantly in value while you owned it. In this case the recipient would owe capital gains tax if they sold it later. Make a donation Your local charity shop will always be happy to take donations of good quality clothing, blankets, shoes, toys and homewares. You can feel good knowing that you are helping needy people in your local area. Some charity stores can’t accept electronics or large pieces of furniture, so it’s best to check before you arrive with a loaded up trailer. You can also donate books and recent magazines to your local library or hospital. Liquidate It If you want to get rid of all of the furniture (for instance if you are selling a house of a deceased relative) you could consider using a liquidator. These businesses take care of the sale of each item and then take a percentage of the sales. Be sure to ask around for any recommendations before you choose one, as it’s always advisable to go with a liquidator with a good reputation. Toss It If it’s not really something that you can sell or donate, the last stop is to throw it out. Be sure to recycle anything that you can – and check with your local council as most offer a free clear up service at least once a year to save you a trip to the local tip. Images: Getty

Home Hints & Tips

Everything you’ve always wanted to know about the inner workings of your cruise ship

When it comes to life on board a cruise ship, travellers will usually look for features like great food options, fun shows, activities to keep busy, and a comfortable bed. What many don’t think about, however, is the thought and precision that goes into building and designing a cruise ship. Charlie, a cruise ship designer from Florida, has worked in the industry for over a decade and had a hand in helping put together the design for two huge cruise ships. Charlie said that the main mission is to make guests feel comfortable and safe by any means necessary. Speaking to <a href="https://travel.nine.com.au/cruising/cruise-ship-designer-what-travellers-should-know-exclusive/b1c6f650-cb17-408d-9b91-9c67282c54b5" target="_blank" rel="noopener">9Honey Travel</a>, Charlie said, "If you notice things, we're not doing our job correctly." "Our job is to make you feel at ease with the space." A cruise ship takes several years to design, with a lot of planning, care and thought going into the most intricate details. "Cruise ships are so large scale and that even though a lot of the designs are replicated from each room or ship, you have to ensure that the design fits each area and it's not just copy paste." There are four main things Charlie says to keep an eye out for on your next cruising adventure, which make all the difference to your journey. Safety first Above all else on a cruise ship, the safety of the passengers and the crew must come first. Aside from the practical elements such as bullet-proof glass and lounges that have the potential to turn into flotation devices, there are psychological considerations as well. "Everything when it comes to cruise ship design comes from a safety standpoint, and how you make sure guests feel safe at all times," Charlie says. "Like the fact there's handrails almost everywhere you look. Down to whether the height of a table will be at a height where if you need to lean down, it's probably a little bit taller than the average table, just so that you have something to grab onto." Nothing moves unless it’s supposed to Due to the constant movement on a cruise ship, everything onboard the vessel must be secured, which can make design aspects difficult. "You have to keep in mind how things function within a space. So if you go to a restaurant, you can't join tables, or move tables because they're literally secured to the floor. "And it's one of those things where it actually becomes very difficult in planning. The lighting plan, for example, also has to incorporate that because the lights overhead can't move. So your interior designers and your lighting designers have to be working together probably at least three to four years before you would actually install any of those." So you're less likely to see things like pendant lights, unless they are on a rod fixed to the ceiling. "You don't want to have that ability to see something in motion, because then that gives you the idea that you aren't safe," Charlie adds. Quick repairs are a rarity Charlie shared that longevity needs to be considered when designing a cruise ship, as repairs can often take a long time to complete. "What's the lifespan and what's the duration of time it would take for someone to repair it. And are you able to store that stuff on a ship? "Nothing is off the shelf. Nothing is just 'oh, I can go to the store and get that'. A manufacturer would produce that specifically for them. So if something does break, getting it replaced is going to be a lot more difficult.” Long hallways are a big no "Guest flow and how people move through a space is very key," Charlie points out. "In most modern day ships, you wouldn't directly have a linear path except down your guest room hallway. Nowadays, you'd have little jogs (or alcoves) so that you can't just see all the way to the end of a floor.” And the reasoning for this design choice is two-fold. "Being able to have an end point or something to focus on helps to establish equilibrium. You have something to focus on if the ship starts to move a little bit," he explains. Image credits: Getty Images

Cruising

Family leave everything behind to start a new life aboard a bus

When Alex and Ashley Morris sold their home to move into a 45-foot Greyhound bus with their two young children, they had thought it would bring the family closer, and give them the precious time with each other that they felt they were lacking. However, the benefits weren’t to stop there for the young family, with the Morrises now reporting that they’ve cut down their living expenses. As Ashley explained in a video to their Instagram account, “it's actually more affordable than living in our house was.” She went on to note that they aren’t paying mortgage, rent, or any of the other fees associated with homeownership. And while they are also saving on electricity and heating, as they live off grid and their home runs on solar power with a 75 gallon (284 L) water tank, she maintains that “you don't have to be rich to live a life of freedom and adventure.” The pair made the decision to move their family into their unique living arrangements in 2019 when Alex lost his job, and they left their home to live in a trailer with their two kids. And despite living the supposed ‘American Dream’ before Alex’s job loss, Ashley told Insider that things were actually far from perfect, and that they “were both working full-time jobs, so our kids were pretty much being raised by a nanny. “We just wanted that time with our kids." It’s time they now have in abundance, after making their new lifestyle permanent in 2020, using Alex’s severance pay to secure their first wheeled abode. As Alex told Insider, “Ashley was like, 'let's go live on the road,' because she'd been trying to convince me for years up until that point.” Alex has since returned to work, but does so from home, with his very own office space near his shared bedroom with Ashley. And while they may cross time zones in their travels, his work days typically end while the sun is still up, and their children are homeschooled, leaving them with plenty of time to experience the world as a family of four. Ashley again circled back to this idea when she explained that “you get such a short window of time while your kids are little, and we felt like we were missing out on it.” “We didn't want to miss out on it anymore,” Alex added. The pair expanded on their decision-making process in another video posted to social media - where they often share life and bus updates with their followers - with the caption “why did we sell everything, leave our ‘perfect’ life, and move into an RV?” The video cycled through snippets of their adventures and day-to-day routine aboard their bus, with text across the screen to detail their journey so far, before they confessed that they knew something needed to change - for their kids. “We wanted to give them the most we possibly could,” they said. “The most of us, the most out of life, and the most experiences possible.” They explained that their family and friends “thought we had completely lost our minds”, but that they jumped in headfirst anyway, and it had all worked out “for the best”. Images: Instagram, Youtube

Real Estate

Everything A-OK? New history shows the way to Sesame Street wasn’t always easy outside US

Associate Professor Helle Strandgaard Jensen based at Denmark’s Aarhus University, says while Sesame Street producers presented their content as both diverse and universal, the underpinning US values and assumptions about children often led to cultural clashes in other countries. <div class="copy"> With children’s culture again at the centre of debates about <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/books/2023/feb/26/censorship-or-context-australian-book-industry-wrestles-with-how-to-refresh-outdated-classics" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">banning or re-writing books</a> and what makes for <a href="https://www.news.com.au/national/politics/abc-accused-of-grooming-kids-after-drag-queen-appeared-on-play-school/news-story/efc1dd82aa4fb6b01a4c575e2f40e589" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">appropriate children’s television</a>, Jensen says a historical approach can provide the opportunity for more informed discussions. Sesame Street debuted on television in the US in 1969 (it came to Australia in 1971) and according to its US website: “…has made a positive impact in children’s lives ever since.” The show says: “Sesame Street brings critical early education to children in 150+ countries”. While Sesame Street’s universality was marketed to international audiences, Jensen says the show is shaped by US assumptions about children’s role in society, cognitive psychology and the role of media in education. In European countries like the UK, Germany and Scandinavia there was a more progressive view about children, she says. As a result, the program was sometimes met with hostility by foreign television producers and broadcasters. In Jensen’s home of Denmark, Danish broadcasters rejected the show outright. Instead adapting their own children’s program Legestue to <a href="https://www.shcy.org/features/commentaries/helle-strandgaard-jensen-on-kermits-chubby-danish-cousin/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">incorporate a frog</a> named Kaj inspired by Kermit, but one that “loves jazz and talks back to adult authority”, she says. In Germany, where <a href="https://muppet.fandom.com/wiki/Sesamstrasse" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">‘Sesamestraße’</a> is celebrating its 50th anniversary, local co-producers made their own content spliced together with US content, and added their own puppets including a piglet Purk, a snail Finchen and Leniemienie the mouse. German produced content portrays the child at the centre, encouraging them to question authority, and often revealing the hypocrisy or flaws of adults, Jensen says. It was an approach that sometimes resulted in pushback from the US based Childrens Television Workshop, she says. For instance, in one local clip, an adult is attending to some flowers in their garden, mowing an area of grass containing different flowers. The children ask, ‘which flowers are the good flowers?’ In another, a woman walks past a child having to do an emergency wee in public. ‘That’s disgusting!’ the woman says. But as she walks further, her dog relieves itself on the pavement, and the woman doesn’t pick it up the waste. German Ministry of Education guides to accompany the show rejected traditional gender roles, taught children about the body and emphasised society based on collaboration, including unions. <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> <div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> <div class="embed-wrapper"> <div class="inner"> <div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 500px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;" data-spai-bg-prepared="1"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" class="" style="display: block; position: static; visibility: visible; width: 400px; height: 656px; flex-grow: 1;" title="Twitter Tweet" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?creatorScreenName=cosmosmagazine&dnt=true&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1612139711304273922&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fcosmosmagazine.com%2Fpeople%2Fhistory-sesame-street%2F&sessionId=6d9a2d118b670e8e312cee283ceca4c065b3acf7&siteScreenName=cosmosmagazine&theme=light&widgetsVersion=aaf4084522e3a%3A1674595607486&width=500px" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-spai-bg-prepared="1" data-tweet-id="1612139711304273922"></iframe></div> </div> </div> </div> </figure> In Europe, children’s television was seen as offering something separate to school, a way to empower children and support their own understanding of the world. The European view was more based in sociology and journalism – asking children directly about what they wanted – rather than cognitive psychology, Jensen says. For example in the UK, television producers would survey children about what they were interested in, their views, and make content based on that. Another key difference was the highly commercial landscape of television in the US, Jensen says. This was different to Europe and places like Australia where public broadcasters could afford to produce content for children that was more experimental. She says reflecting on the past is important as children’s viewing is increasingly dominated by streaming platforms, many of which are based in the US and dominated by American programming. The ABC began broadcasting Sesame Street twice-daily in 1971. While Jensen’s book doesn’t specifically address the response to the show in Australia, she says a lot of her archival research included information shared between the public broadcasters the ABC and BBC, which had a strong co-production tradition. “One of the ways the BBC learned about what happened in the Children’s Television Workshop and making Sesame Street was via their Australian friends in the ABC,” she says. Jensen says as early as 1970 an Australian journalist at The Bulletin was questioning whether the show imposed American culture on children in other countries. In the article, ‘Entertaining Australians to be Americans’, Sesame Street founder Joan Ganz Cooney says she had few reservations about imposing US culture on Australian audiences. “For good or ill the whole world is being Americanised,” she says. Children’s Television Workshop describes the sale of Sesame Street to 26 foreign countries, including Australia, as an opportunity to study the universality of the program, according to The Bulletin. Sesame Street: A Transnational History is set for <a href="https://academic.oup.com/book/45872/chapter-abstract/400828941?redirectedFrom=fulltext" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">release in Australia in May</a>. <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio"> <div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> <div class="embed-wrapper"> <div class="inner"><iframe title="SESAMSTRASSE Folge 1 (Teil 1)" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6-sJKRPuaiM?feature=oembed" width="500" height="375" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></div> </div> </div> </figure> <img id="cosmos-post-tracker" style="opacity: 0; height: 1px!important; width: 1px!important; border: 0!important; position: absolute!important; z-index: -1!important;" src="https://syndication.cosmosmagazine.com/?id=245054&title=Everything+A-OK%3F+New+history+shows+the+way+to+Sesame+Street+wasn%26%238217%3Bt+always+easy+outside+US" width="1" height="1" data-spai-target="src" data-spai-orig="" data-spai-exclude="nocdn" /> <div class="in-content-area more-on"> </div> </div> <div id="contributors"> <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/people/history-sesame-street/">This article</a> was originally published on <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com">Cosmos Magazine</a> and was written by <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/contributor/petra-stock">Petra Stock</a>. Petra Stock has a degree in environmental engineering and a Masters in Journalism from University of Melbourne. She has previously worked as a climate and energy analyst. </div>

Everything you need to know about the Stone of Destiny

An ancient and controversial block of stone has been sent over from Edinburgh Castle to London for the coronation of King Charles III. The stone arrived in London on April 29 and was carried from Scotland in a special carrier made from Scottish oak. Charles became King immediately following the <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/news/news/queen-elizabeth-passed-away-peacefully-at-96" target="_blank" rel="noopener">death of Queen Elizabeth II</a> on September 8 and was officially proclaimed King by the Accession Council on September 10. However, the coronation on May 6 will see him officially crowned as King — with a stone held captive in England for almost 700 years lending a hand. The Stone of Destiny, or the Stone of Scone, is an oblong block of sandstone standing just 66 centimetres high. Its earliest origins are unknown, but it has a long history spanning at least 1,200 years. The stone was first used to crown a Scottish king in 840 AD when Kenneth McAlpin used it in his coronation in the village of Scone. Since then, around 60 kings and queens have sat upon it during their coronations. It is the world’s oldest artefact still used to make monarchs and represents the ancient roots of the kingdom of Scotland. For centuries, the stone was associated with the crowning of Scottish kings, including Macbeth. However, that changed in 1296, when Edward I, the “Hammer of the Scots”, seized it from the Scone Abbey amid a war north of the border and had it taken back to England. He had the stone built into a special chair which has since been marked the Coronation Chair. It was a blunt message to the Scottish, taking away the stone which had been used to crown generations of their monarchs. Since then, English kings and queens would sit upon the stone and claim the right to rule Scotland as well. The stone of Destiny is usually displayed in the Crown Room in Edinburgh Castle but has travelled far since it was first brought to Scone. Edward I had the stone installed in Westminster Abbey in London, where it remained for almost 700 years, until Christmas Day, 1950. That was when four Scottish students “liberated” the stone from the abbey - sneaking into the church at about 4am, according to BBC. The last of the former students involved in the heist, Ian Hamilton, died on October 3, 2022, aged 97. Mr Hamilton said a piece of the stone broke off as they began to drag it, and he picked it up and ran with it as if it was a rugby ball. The group of students temporarily buried the blocks before driving them to Scotland where they were given to the Scottish Covenant Association and put back together. A few months later, the association decided it should be returned to London. In 1996, the stone was officially returned to Scotland amid a ceremony at Edinburgh Castle. The Stone of Destiny is traditionally used in coronation ceremonies, and King Charles III’s will be no different. It was last used in 1953, after being brought back from Arbroath, for the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. In 2020, Scotland’s then-first minister Nicola Sturgeon revealed plans to relocate the stone permanently in Perth, central Scotland. The stone will only leave Scotland for a coronation in Westminster Abbey. King Charles III will sit upon the stone, within the Royal Throne, for his coronation on May 6. Image credit: Getty

International Travel

Everything You Should Know Before Going Caravanning

If you’re looking for a fun and unique way to see the country, travelling in a caravan or motorhome is an excellent way to go. In a sense, you get to take your house with you, and you can stop anywhere you want along the way. Before you hit the open road, however, it’s a wise idea to make a few preparations. Driving motorhome is different from driving most other vehicles, and being aware of those differences can make your journey safer and more enjoyable. Here are five things to keep in mind before you cruise off into the sunset. <h3>1. Have your vehicle serviced and inspected</h3> No matter what kind of vehicle you’re driving, you need to make sure it is roadworthy before you pull out of your driveway. Whether you own the motorhome or are renting it, always insist on a pre-trip service and full inspection. Once it gets a clean bill of health, you can pack it up and hit the road with confidence. The last thing you want is to have your long-anticipated road trip come to a premature end because of a preventable maintenance issue. <h3>2. Practice driving the motorhome before you hit the road</h3> Chances are you won’t have a lot of problems driving a motorhome on the highway, but navigating smaller streets can be a real challenge in such a large vehicle. Put in plenty of driving practice before you leave home and learn how to use all of your mirrors to determine your position and back the vehicle safely. <h3>3. Consider installing a reversing camera</h3> If your motorhome doesn’t already have one, consider installing a reversing camera. It’s a handy accessory that will make pulling into those tight parking spaces a lot easier and give you additional peace of mind. (Alternatively, if you’re traveling with passengers, you can always ask them to check behind the vehicle before you reverse.) <h3>4. Be aware of handling differences when driving</h3> Driving a motorhome is different from driving a car or even a full-sized utility vehicle, for that matter. The higher centre of gravity means you need to take turns wider, and the large size means you’ll need a bigger turning radius. Again, practicing ahead of time can help you get used to handling such a large vehicle. You will also need to be mindful of the wind speed as you drive. When the winds get strong, it could cause the vehicle to drift unexpectedly. Take a tighter grip on the wheel when it’s windy, and give other drivers more space. <h3>5. Consider forming a convoy!</h3> Chances are you’ll meet other motorhome drivers on your road trip, particularly if you’re traveling down a popular road trip route. If you are all going the same way, consider teaming up with the drivers you meet at campgrounds, local attractions and restaurants, and forming a motorhome convoy. Traveling with other drivers is fun, but it can also enhance your sense of safety: a large convoy of motorhomes will be easier for other drivers to spot. Image credit: Shutterstock This article originally appeared on <a href="https://www.readersdigest.co.nz/travel/camping-caravanning/Everything-You-Should-Know-Before-Going-Caravanning" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reader's Digest</a>.

Domestic Travel

Everything you’ve always wanted to know about Ramadan

Fasting is one of the five pillars of Islam and is a period of time where Muslims fast for a month and commemorate the first revelation of the Quran to Prophet Muhammad. Muslims can enjoy a very early breakfast just before sunrise, known as “Imsaak”, before fasting for the day. When the sun sets, Muslims get together and share their first meal for the day known as “Iftar”. Following the teachings of Prophet Muhammad, Muslims are encouraged to break their fast with a date before enjoying the rest of the meals prepared. So, when does Ramadan actually begin? Muslims rely on the crescent moon sighting to determine the beginning of the holy month. This year, it is expected that Ramadan will begin on March 23, and will last for 30 days. However, some may begin their fasting on March 24. This year, Australian Muslims will fast longer hours for the first 10 days or so due to daylight savings, but when daylight savings ends on April 2, that will shorten the fasting day. While fasting, Muslims are required to abstain from food, drinks, backbiting, swearing and sexual activities. Sex, for example, is prohibited when fasting. Once the fast is broken, sex is allowed to be performed. Fasting is compulsory for Muslims when they reach puberty, however, some individuals are unable to fast due to disabilities, illness, old age, or pregnancy. Women who are menstruating are also not allowed to fast. Some of the holiest nights of the Islamic year also occur in the month of Ramadan, known as Laylat al-Qadr (night of decree). It is the night when Muslims commemorate the first revelation of the holy Quran that was sent down to Prophet Muhammad, and falls in the last 10 days of Ramadan. Once the 30 days of Ramadan are over, Muslims celebrate Eid with friends and family over three days with a large feast (or two), and children are gifted money and new clothing from older relatives. Why does Ramadan fall in different seasons around the world? Due to the northern and southern hemisphere, Muslims around the world fast either in winter or summer. Australians and New Zealanders have been fasting during the winter months for the past few years, which counts to about 12 hours a day. However, those in the northern hemisphere have been fasting during the summertime, which means longer fasting hours. In addition to that, because Ramadan falls on a different day each year based on the Islamic calendar, those in the northern hemisphere will eventually observe Ramadan in winter and vice versa. An extra fun fact is that from 2023, Ramadan begins 10 days earlier – which means those 10 days will be longer fasting days, thanks to daylight savings. What is the most common question fasting Muslims are asked? “Not even water?” “Yes. Not even water.” Image: Shutterstock

Body

‘Everything Everywhere All at Once’ and other Oscars 2023 films show a trend towards linguistic realism in Hollywood

At the 95th Academy Awards, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2023/mar/13/daniel-kwan-and-daniel-scheinert-win-best-director-oscar-for-everything-everywhere-all-at-once">Daniel Scheinert and Daniel Kwan’s</a> Everything Everywhere All at Once took home <a href="https://variety.com/2023/awards/awards/everything-everywhere-all-at-once-oscars-record-1235544633/">wins in acting, editing and directing categories, and also won the coveted best picture</a> award. The quirky and expansive sci-fi action film is famed for its absurdist take on the idea of a multiverse, yet it is still grounded in realness and humanity: In one masterfully choreographed scene in Everything Everywhere, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H2wID9_FFD0">three languages are spoken by three generations of one chaotic immigrant family</a> over dinner. As a linguist, I am interested in how screenwriters and directors use language in film to <a href="https://books.google.ca/books/about/Multilingualism_in_the_Movies.html?id=hfhclpshb8UC&redir_esc=y">do much more than just convey dialogue</a>: Language and subtitles also provide characterization, establish the tone of a scene and ground fictional stories in reality. Increasing use of non-English languages and subtitles demonstrates both a trend toward linguistic realism in Hollywood and also broader acceptance of linguistic diversity in a globalized society. <figure></figure> But filmmakers must negotiate the tension between narrative goals and audience engagement. By <a href="https://www.routledge.com/English-with-an-Accent-Language-Ideology-and-Discrimination-in-the-United/Lippi-Green/p/book/9780415559119">examining different ideologies held by filmmakers and audiences alike</a>, we can also still sometimes find long-standing associations between foreign language and villainy. <h2>Languages breaking through</h2> As South Korean filmmaker <a href="https://www.cjenm.com/en/news/director-bong-joonhos-parasite-wins-the-best-foreign-language-film-at-the-77th-golden-globe-awards/">Bong Joon-ho</a> described in his <a href="https://variety.com/2020/film/awards/south-koreas-parasite-crashes-the-subtitles-barrier-1203488979/">Golden Globes acceptance speech for 2019’s Parasite</a>, when audiences move past the “one-inch tall barrier of subtitles” a richer world of film awaits. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1177/0963947013519551">Telling authentic stories</a> in a modern, globalized and multicultural world means fairly portraying the languages spoken and signed all throughout our society. Hence, at times, the need for subtitles. In another scene in Everything Everywhere, spoken language is eschewed altogether: Two rocks converse silently while gazing over a barren canyon, with black and white subtitles appearing on a bright blue sky. This simple yet <a href="https://twitter.com/Refinery29/status/1635118157206794243">emotionally resonant scene</a> was somehow enough to <a href="https://www.refinery29.com/en-gb/everything-everywhere-all-at-once-review">move many viewers to tears</a>. Although <a href="https://ew.com/movies/movie-reviews/tar-cate-blanchett-todd-field-nina-hoss/">Todd Field’s Tár</a> did not clinch any Oscar wins this year, star Cate Blanchett notched multiple <a href="https://www.vogue.com/article/full-winners-list-golden-globes-2023">other acting awards</a> <a href="https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2023/01/awards-insider-critics-choice-awards-2023-winners">for her role</a> as the titular orchestra conductor. In some of the film’s best scenes, the maestro uses only German during orchestra rehearsals and subtitles are dropped completely. Non-Germanophone audiences might not understand the words Blanchett says, but they are instead encouraged to focus on the visual aspects of the character’s communication: her facial expressions, physical tics and tremors and the building tension, both visible and audible, between her ego and everyone around her. The Oscar performance of “Naatu Naatu,” from the Indian <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-64935389">Telugu-language blockbuster</a> <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-64935389">RRR</a>, which received a standing ovation, was evidence that performances can cross language boundaries by leaning into creative elements far beyond words. <h2>Two sides of language representation</h2> The flip side of positive aspects of linguistic representation is that filmmakers, free to use the tool of multilingualism to provide characterization and establish tone, and even to showcase threatened languages, are also free to use it to entrench certain linguistic stereotypes, namely the association between foreignness and villainy. The <a href="https://screenrant.com/black-panther-wakanda-forever-talokan-lore-phase-5-complicated/">warriors of the underwater Talokan kingdom</a> in Ryan Coogler’s Black Panther: Wakanda Forever never speak a word of English. In this Marvel Cinematic Universe story, the fictional kingdom of Atlantis was <a href="https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-mesoamerican-influences-behind-namor-from-black-panther-wakanda-forever-180981106">repositioned as a Mesoamerican-inspired society</a>. The <a href="https://globalvoices.org/2023/01/05/indigenous-and-proud-a-maya-speakers-reaction-to-black-panther-wakanda-forever/">language of Talokan is the real-world language of Yucatec Maya</a>, spoken by Indigenous people in present-day <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Yucatec-language">Guatemala, Belize and southern Mexico</a>. <h2>Sharing an Indigenous language</h2> Yucatec Maya is stigmatized and marginalized in the geographic areas where it is traditionally spoken, one of the <a href="https://theconversation.com/in-mexico-how-erasing-black-history-fuels-anti-black-racism-175315">long-lasting consequences of colonization</a>. But Coogler’s creative decision to use Yucatec Maya as the language of Talokan, as well as to borrow heavily from Mayan and Aztec cultures for <a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/black-panther-wakanda-forever-ruth-e-carter-oscar-costume-design-1235349112/">visual inspiration</a>, has delighted some <a href="https://globalvoices.org/2023/01/05/indigenous-and-proud-a-maya-speakers-reaction-to-black-panther-wakanda-forever/">Maya-speaking Indigenous moviegoers</a> who say they saw their culture represented and are happy to see the language widely shared. Two strong minor characters, Namora and Attuma, speak only in Yucatec Maya throughout the entire movie, with English subtitles in an elegant blue script. <h2>Archetypes of antagonism?</h2> Yet, these characters are the primary villains of the story, portrayed as powerful and physically otherworldly. Thus, while the characters are not one-dimensional, their language seems to narratively underscore certain archetypes of antagonism, beyond simply showcasing a real Indigenous language of the world. This is especially noticeable when contrasted with the protagonists, the mostly-anglophone Wakandans. Although the <a href="https://screenrant.com/black-panther-movie-wakanda-language-xhosa-explained">language of Wakanda is the real-world language of Xhosa</a>, spoken in South Africa, in Wakanda Forever, it was mostly relegated to greetings and asides. Instead, the protagonists speak a kind of pan-African accented English. Unlike in James Cameron’s <a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/avatar-the-way-of-water-vfx-oscar-2023-1235343383/">Avatar: The Way of Water</a>, viewers are never explicitly told that what the audience hears has been “translated” for us. <h2>Refreshing to see, hear more languages</h2> In Avatar, which took the <a href="https://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/oscars-2023-all-the-kiwis-nominated-at-the-academy-awards-this-year/G7PU6REBKFDRVLTOTUZJ4TEM4A/">Oscar for best visual effects,</a> the protagonists all speak Na'vi, the language of <a href="https://gamerant.com/avatar-creation-human-navi-hybrids-explained/">the species living across</a> the fictional Pandora. Most of the language has been “translated” in the mind of the narrator, Jake Sully. In a neat expositional trick, the main character narrates the beginning of the film and explains that he learned the alien language well enough that it just sounds like English to him. This way, audiences won’t have to read for the entire film, and the heroes (and actors) can speak only English without sacrificing the “realism” of the science-fictional universe. It has been refreshing to see, <a href="https://mashable.com/article/minari-korean-language">in recent years</a>, many productions in film achieve critical and commercial success in the anglophone world despite being in non-English languages and <a href="https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2021-03-04/sound-of-metal-deaf-actors-chelsea-lee-jeremy-lee-stone">using subtitles</a>. There’s much more room for films to highlight both linguistic diversity as well as authentic characterization of characters who speak and sign without resorting to potentially harmful tropes. And I’m sure audiences wouldn’t mind hearing more Na'vi in Avatar 3. Image credit: Getty

Movies

‘Thank you Ma’am, for everything’: Paddington Bear joins worldwide tributes

The adorable Paddington Bear himself has paid a touching tribute to Queen Elizabeth II, only a few months after they warmed hearts around the world with a hilarious collaboration during the <a href="https://oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/beauty-style/our-favourite-highlights-of-the-close-of-the-platinum-jubilee-celebrations" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Platinum Jubilee celebrations</a>. Much to the delight of millions of viewers, the Queen herself appeared in the sketch with the famed British bear that no one could have foreseen to kick-start the Party in The Palace concert. The much loved duo tapped out the beat of Queen’s We Will Rock You anthem together on china teacups using silver spoons as a unique way of getting the celebrations under way. The sketch, which the Queen spent half a day filming, was dubbed better than her Olympic opening show cameo with James Bond. Sitting opposite each other at a table, laid for afternoon tea, Paddington began by telling the Queen that he hoped she was “having a lovely Jubilee” before Her Majesty offered some tea. During a special moment shared by the two, the Queen revealed she shares Paddington's love of marmalade sandwiches and keeps an emergency stash in her trademark handbag. Britain's favourite bear took time to congratulate his new friend on her outstanding 70 years of service. Commenting on her record-breaking reign Paddington said: “Happy Jubilee Ma'am. And thank you. For everything” to which she replied, “That's very kind”. Upon The Queen’s passing, Paddington has paid his respects one last time, tweeting: “Thank you Ma’am, for everything”. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Thank you Ma’am, for everything. — Paddington (@paddingtonbear) <a href="https://twitter.com/paddingtonbear/status/1567931094858702850?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 8, 2022</a></blockquote> Image: YouTube

Caring

"He is everything to me": Why Johnny Ruffo is hanging on for Christmas

Beloved former Home and Away star Johnny Ruffo has opened up amid his<a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/health/caring/johnny-ruffo-s-devastating-news" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> terminal cancer diagnosis</a> sharing the emotional reason he is holding out for Christmas. After spending years in the public eye, Ruffo is telling his tragic yet heartwarming story in a memoir. The 34-year-old told 7entertainment in an exclusive interview that his terminal diagnosis has given him a new goal, that being, looking forward to Christmas time. Johnny will reunite with his brother and “best friend”, who has been away in Ireland for the past three years. The siblings share a two-year age gap and fondly says they are “thick as thieves”. Ruffo has also admitted that his greatest hopes in life have changed. “Just time now, I suppose," he said. "More time with loved ones." “My brother lives in Ireland now so I haven’t seen him for three years and he’s coming home for Christmas and I honestly can’t wait to see him.” The singer speaks highly of his brother, stating he is his “closest” confidante, other than girlfriend Tahnee Sims. “We’re thick as thieves. Honestly, he is my hero, he is everything to me. And I cannot wait to see him,” he said. “I don’t know how I’m going to react, I cannot wait, he’s everything.” Ruffo touched on the brothers’ long-distance relationship throughout COVID and his second battle with cancer, calling Michael’s physical absence “the most glaring impact” of it all. Ruffo called his last family Christmas “very quiet and low-key”. "Sadly, the most contact I could have with my brother in Ireland was via WhatsApp. All jokes aside, I miss him a lot because out of all the men in my life, my brother is the one who sees me even better than I can see myself.” Talking about what he plans to do with his remaining time, Ruffo said he “still has so many things that I want to achieve and that I want to do in life”. He revealed that naming the book No Finish Line meant it “wasn’t the end”. Image: Instagram

Caring

Readers respond: If everything in your house had to be one colour, what would you choose and why?

When it comes to our homes, the prominent colours can tell us a lot about our personalities. Some people prefer a neutral scheme of white, beiges and greys, while others prefer a kaleidoscope of rainbow colours. We asked our readers if everything in your house had to be one colour, what would you choose and why? Here's what you had to say. Margie Buckingham - Green-tinged white or pale grey. So calming, cool and goes with everything. Carla Blackburn - Light blue. Very calming and pretty. Jill Harker - Blue! Have a lot of blue in my home. Blue furniture, blue curtains, blue rug and lots of blue ornaments. Plus I have a blue car! Trish Stephenson - Yellow! It's my favourite colour. Valerie King - No doubt, hot pink and purple. The colours of joy and happiness. Sandra Tiplady Schellings - White, so easy to put green plants and other accessories. Wilmi Kruger - Very light grey. I just love it. Annette W Henderson McKean - My fave colour is red but I would choose a blue house as it's a more calming colour. Anita Thornton - White, and then accessorise with colours! Jan Dower - I think a pastel colour, like lavender. Natasha Devereux - Blue, and different tones of blue. It's a soothing and cheerful colour. Vicki Cooper - Blue, any and every shade, love blue so bright and sunny. Image credits: Getty Images

Home & Garden

"Did I do everything I could to save her?" Princess Di's first responder opens up

The first medic on the scene of Princess Diana's fatal car crash said he will always feel responsible for the final moments before she died. Frederic Mailliez, a French doctor, desperately tried to save the Princess of Wales after he found the royal unconscious and struggling to breathe on the floor of the mangled Mercedes in the Alma Tunnel on August 31th, 1997. Now, as the 25th anniversary of her death approaches, the medic says he is still scarred by what happened that night and the realisation that he was one of the last people to see the princess alive. "I realise my name will always be attached to this tragic night," Mailliez, who was on his way home from a party when he came across the car crash, told The Associated Press. "I feel a little bit responsible for her last moments." Mailliez was driving into the tunnel when he spotted a smoking Mercedes nearly split in two but did not recognise the Princess, despite acknowledging she was a "very beautiful woman". "I walked toward the wreckage. I opened the door, and I looked inside," he said. Describing the scene, he said, "Four people, two of them were apparently dead, no reaction, no breathing, and the two others, on the right side, were living but in severe condition." "The front passenger was screaming, he was breathing. He could wait a few minutes. And the female passenger, the young lady, was on her knees on the floor of the Mercedes, she had her head down. She had difficulty to breathe. She needed quick assistance." The doctor ran back to his car to call for emergency services and grab a respiratory bag to help. "She was unconscious," he said. "Thanks to my respiratory bag (...) she regained a little bit more energy, but she couldn't say anything." It was not until later that the doctor realised his patient was the Princess. "I know it's surprising, but I didn't recognise Princess Diana," he said. "I was in the car on the rear seat giving assistance. I realised she was very beautiful, but my attention was so focused on what I had to do to save her life, I didn't have time to think, who was this woman." "It was a massive shock to learn that she was Princess Diana, and that she died," Mailliez said. When he was informed who the injured woman was, the doctor was flooded with self-doubt. "Did I do everything I could to save her? Did I do correctly my job?" he asked himself. "I checked with my medical professors and I checked with police investigators," he said, and they agreed he did all he could. The anniversary is stirring up those memories again, but they also come back "each time I drive through the Alma Tunnel," he said. Image credits: Getty Images

Caring

Everything you need to know about hosting a wine party

A wine tasting party is a creative and fun alternative to a dinner party or book club night. As well as experimenting with and developing your knowledge of wines, it’s great way to catch up with friends and family. You may even want to make a real occasion out of it and send out invitations. Say goodbye to Tupperware parties and crack open a few bottles of wine instead. We guarantee your friends won’t complain. Here are the essential things to consider: Choose the wine <ul> <li>Opt for five different wines – anymore will overwhelm the palette.</li> </ul> <ul> <li>It’s ok to mix reds and whites, but ensure you serve them from lightest to darkest.</li> </ul> <ul> <li>For every six guests, have two bottles. One for tasting and the other for serving afterwards.</li> </ul> <ul> <li>If you want to theme your tasting, it’s a nice idea to select all the wines from one region. Get suggestions from your local bottle shop.</li> </ul> Chill the wine <ul> <li>As a general rule, 15 to 30 mins before the guests arrive, put the reds in the fridge.</li> </ul> <ul> <li>Take whites and rose out a few minutes before pouring.</li> </ul> Get your glasses ready <ul> <li>Provide each guest with the same number of glasses as wines you’ll be tasting. You don’t want to use one glass and rinse in between the different wines as even a tiny drop of water dilutes the wine.</li> </ul> <ul> <li>Ensure all glasses put out for the tasting are clean and dry.</li> </ul> Prepare some snacks <ul> <li>It’s a great idea to serve snacks to have while you taste. If you don’t want guests to have these during the tasting, at least they are out to enjoy before and or after.</li> </ul> <ul> <li>Things like bread sticks, dried fruits, cheeses, olives, pistachios or a charcuterie platter all go well with wine.</li> </ul> Turn the music on <ul> <li>Music is a great way to set the mood for a wine tasting. Make a playlist or Spotify is another great source for finding good playlists.</li> </ul> Show your guests how to taste Step 1: Show your guests that they should look at the wine. You’ll want to note if the wine is bright (light-bodied) or dark (full-bodied)? Clear (good to drink) or cloudy (put the glass down)? Step 2: Tell your guests to swirl their glasses gently as this will release the aromas. Then put your nose in the glass and work out, is it fruity, floral, herbal or earthy? Step 3: Take a sip of the wine and hold it in your mouth while slowing inhaling. It’s normal to make a slurping sound. It may sound odd but this process aerates the wine and opens up your olfactory sense to enhance the its flavours. Image: Getty

Food & Wine

"We have tried everything": TV host stops cancer treatment

British media personality Deborah James has shared that she had stopped treatment for her bowel cancer in an update she “never wanted to write”. The 40-year-old took to Instagram to update her fans, saying that she will spend her remaining time at home with her family. “The message I never wanted to write,” she began the post. “We have tried everything, but my body simply isn’t playing ball. My active care has stopped and I am now moved to hospice at home care, with my incredible family all around me and the focus is on making sure I’m not in pain and spending time with them.” James was diagnosed with incurable bowel cancer in 2016 and has been keeping her fans updated with her treatment and progress on social media. <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/CdWDrzYo3XM/?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/CdWDrzYo3XM/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Deborah James (@bowelbabe)</a> </div> </blockquote> In her latest update, James opened up about the condition she was in. “Nobody knows how long I’ve got left but I’m not able to walk, I’m sleeping most of the days, and most things I took for granted are pipe dreams,” her post continued. The journalist added that even with “all the innovative cancer drugs in the world or some magic new breakthrough”, her body “continue anymore”. She also reflected on the past five years of documenting her cancer journey, her writing, and her podcast You, Me and the Big C. “In over five years of writing about how I thought it would be my final Christmas, how I wouldn’t see my 40th birthday nor see my kids go to secondary school - I never envisaged writing the one where I would actually say goodbye,” she wrote. “I think it’s been the rebellious hope in me. But I don’t think anyone can say the last six months has exactly been kind! “It’s all heartbreaking to be going through but I’m surrounded by so much love that if anything can help me through I hope that will.” James then announced an initiative called Bowelbabe Fund for Cancer Research to raise funds for several charities close to her, including Bowel Cancer UK. “All I ask if you ever read a column, followed my Instagram, listened to the podcast or saw me dressed as a poo for no reason. Please buy me a drink to see me out of this world, by donating the cost to Bowelbabe Fund which will enable us to raise funds for further life saving research into cancer,” she wrote. “To give more Deborah's more time!” She concluded her post saying that her whole family will be around her and will “dance through this together” and enjoying every moment. “You are all incredible, thank you for playing your part in my journey,” she wrote. “No regrets. Enjoy life, Deborah.” Messages of support poured in from James’ fans, with many thanking her for being an inspiration and teaching others to never take life for granted. "We are all better people for having known you and knowing you today. Sending you and your family love,” one person wrote. "You changed so many peoples lives, you've spread so much joy and kindness," adds another, in reference to James' many social media posts dancing in a 'poo' emoji and holding a catheter bag.” Image: @bowelbabe (Instagram)

Caring

Everything you need to know about starting your own garden

No yard, No problem If you don’t have a yard or your soil is inhospitable, you can still do some fruitful urban gardening in containers. The bigger the pots, the better, says Trail. “The soil will stay wet longer in a large container,” she explains. Gardening has priceless benefits In a 2011 Dutch study, two groups of people were asked to complete a stressful task, then assigned 30 minutes of either gardening or reading. The gardeners’ stress hormones were found to be significantly lower. Starting a garden is expensive Build a thrifty patio garden with containers you find on the kerb – just drill drainage holes. “The only thing you should splurge on is good quality potting soil and seeds,” says gardening writer Gayla Trail. You’ll save later on produce. Dirt has surprising benefits What makes digging in the dirt so satisfying? It might be the dirt itself. M. vaccae, a healthy bacterium that lives in soil, has been found to increase serotonin and provide anxiety relief when inhaled. Gardening has psychical benefits Digging, pulling weeds and planting help strengthen your hands, which is especially important for seniors, whose loss of grip strength worsens arthritis pain and leads to difficulty performing tasks. Maintenance may take as little as five minutes per day “As much time as it takes to walk around your garden and put your finger in the soil up to the second knuckle,” says gardening columnist and broadcaster Mark Cullen. “If it feels moist and cool, there’s no need to water.” Learning your soil type is key Understanding your soil type – sand, silt, clay or loam – is crucial when starting a garden. Your soil type can tell you which plants will do best and which amendments you’ll need to add, such as peat moss for better drainage. “Grab some earth and squeeze it,” Trail says. “Sand feels gritty, clay will stick together in a ball, and loam feels light and fluffy, like cake.” Don't ignore weeds Weeding several times a week provides the best return on your time invested. “Weeds are competition for desirable plants, so you need to get rid of them to maximise the productivity of your food plants and flowers,” says Cullen. Mulch is a gardeners best friend A five- to 10-centimetre layer of straw or shredded leaves around the base of your plants will do double duty holding moisture in and preventing weeds. Don't ignore yellow limp leaves If you’re starting a garden, you might be killing your garden with too much love. “Nine out of 10 plant problems are caused by overwatering,” says Cullen. “If the soil feels cool and damp, don’t water.” Experienced gardeners swear by the soaker hose Keeping water off the foliage will prevent mildew and cut costs on your water bill by delivering the moisture directly to the roots. Fast track your compost A compost pile can be a great source of free fertiliser, but it takes time to brew. Cheat by dropping lettuce leaves, eggshells, banana peels and coffee grounds in a pot, filling with soil and placing plants on top, giving the roots steady access to nutrients. This article originally appeared on <a href="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/food-home-garden/gardening-tips/what-you-should-know-before-starting-a-garden?pages=1">Reader's Digest</a>. Image: Getty

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