Search

Elmo's chat about grief with famous actor goes viral

A heart-warming conversation between actor Andrew Garfield and Elmo has gone viral for their candid conversation about grief. While on a press tour to promote his new film We Live in Time, the English actor stopped by Sesame Street for a chat about his mourning journey after his mother died from pancreatic cancer in 2019. Sitting on a stoop beside Elmo, Garfield began the vulnerable conversation, that has been praised for being so open about the taboo of grief and death. “Elmo’s going around Sesame Street checking in on everybody,” Elmo told a smiling Garfield. “So, Elmo wants to know how Andrew’s doing?” With some encouragement from the Muppet, Garfield revealed that he’s been thinking about his mother, as he said, “She passed away not too long ago, and you know, I just miss her. Miss her a lot.” <iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/EVlXbiP4x2E?si=fFYYt5DJDiGAawXJ" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> After Elmo responded apologetically, Garfield reassured Elmo that there’s no need to say sorry, and that “it’s actually kind of OK to miss somebody,” even if it invokes feelings of sadness. “That sadness is kind of a gift. It’s kind of a lovely thing to feel, in a way, because it means you really loved somebody when you miss them,” Garfield said, adding: “When I miss my mum, I remember all of the cuddles I used to get from her, all of the hugs I used to get from her.” Garfield finished his thoughts by saying that he can miss and celebrate his mother at the same time, as Elmo thanked Garfield for sharing his emotions, saying, “You know what, Elmo is gonna think about and celebrate your mommy, too.” The video quickly racked up millions of views and comments, with many saying how Andrew's thoughts were so poignant, and that they resonated with their own personal stories of grief. Many people called it a "touching conversation" that was "absolutely beautiful", while another person added, "I didn't expect a talk with Elmo to get this deep." Image credits: Sesame Street - YouTube

Mind

World famous gay penguin dies

One half of the world famous gay penguin couple at Sydney's SEA LIFE Aquarium has died. In 2018, Gentoo penguin Sphen made international headlines when he coupled up with another male gentoo penguin, Magic. Shortly after meeting, the two male penguins began making a nest together out of pebbles ahead of breeding season, so the aquarium staff gave them a foster egg to care for. Sphen and Magic raised two foster chicks, Sphengic (Lara) in 2018 and Clancy in 2020, and are among the most strongly bonded gentoo penguin pairs at the aquarium. The penguins have inspired books, documentaries, new studies in the NSW syllabus and even featured on a float at the Sydney Mardi Gras parade. Earlier in August, Sphen passed away at the age of 12, which is considered a long life for a gentoo penguin. In order to help process the loss, the aquarium staff took Magic to see his partner's body to help with the understanding that Sphen would not be returning. He immediately started singing, which was reciprocated by the colony. "The loss of Sphen is heartbreaking to the penguin colony, the team and everyone who has been inspired or positively impacted by Sphen and Magic's story," SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium's general manager, Richard Dilly, said in a statement. "Sphen and Magic's love story captivated the world and it's been an honour to welcome local and international fans, some of which travelled long distances to see them in real life." "The team's focus is now on Magic, who will soon prepare for his first breeding season without Sphen." Image credits: SEA LIFE Aquarium Sydney

Relationships

Brand Olympics: do the famous rings deliver value to host countries?

<div class="theconversation-article-body"><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/steven-greenland-2064">Steven Greenland</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/charles-darwin-university-1066">Charles Darwin University</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/robert-joseph-gill-1530152">Robert Joseph Gill</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/swinburne-university-of-technology-767">Swinburne University of Technology</a> The cost of hosting Paris 2024, the 33rd Olympics, is predicted to be <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/paris-lean-olympics-wont-blow-any-budgets-credit-rating-firm-sp-says-2024-03-11/">more than A$14 billion</a>. So what’s in it for the French? Will this oldest of sporting events shine for them, or as has happened with some previous Olympics, will it prove to be <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-08-07/what-japan-learned-from-olympic-white-elephants/100329488">a massive white elephant</a>? <h2>The power of the five rings</h2> The Olympic brand is <a href="https://olympics.com/ioc/news/the-olympic-brand-maintains-its-global-strength-and-recognition">massively powerful</a> and gives the host nation a global platform to strengthen their international reputation and standing. The Olympic brand heritage goes back 2,800 years to southern Greece, when games were held to honour the Greek god Zeus at Olympia. Starting in 776 BC, these ancient games were held every four years and continued for more than 1,000 years. <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/VdHHus8IgYA?wmode=transparent&start=11" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe><figcaption>The Olympics began as part of a festival honouring Zeus in the rural Greek town of Olympia.</figcaption></figure> The modern Olympics began in 1896 in Athens. Since then, the games have been hosted in 23 cities and 20 countries. Paris 2024 will welcome around 10,500 athletes from more than 200 countries <a href="https://olympics.com/en/paris-2024/sports">competing in 32 different sports</a>. Around <a href="https://www.euromonitor.com/press/press-releases/nov-2023/olympic-games-2024-set-to-boost-tourism-spending-in-paris-by-up-to-eur4-billion-euromonitor-international">4 billion people will watch on</a> around the globe. The Olympics’ five rings (<a href="https://discover.sportsengineplay.com/olympics/history-of-they-rings#:%7E:text=They%20first%20appeared%20in%201913,to%20accept%20its%20fertile%20rivalries.">created by Frenchman Pierre de Coubertin 110 years ago</a>) is one of the most recognised logos on the planet. It represents unity across the five continents (Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe and Oceania). It is this familiarity and <a href="https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/INTR-07-2018-0324/full/html">positive Olympic brand associations</a> – which include excitement, fairness and being elite – that some argue justifies the billions spent. Host nations hope this Olympic sparkle rubs off on their nation’s reputation – but that’s not always the case. <h2>Benefits of hosting an Olympics</h2> Broadcast rights, sponsorships and advertising from organisations that want to be associated with the Olympic brand can <a href="https://olympics.com/ioc/funding">generate huge revenue streams</a>. The Olympic brand adds considerable value for sponsors and advertisers, and there are also benefits that France (and the world) will gain long after the event. Responsible marketing and attracting sponsors that complement Olympic brand values can <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/0965254X.2023.2230487">promote positive, sustainable attitudes and behaviour</a>. Examples of this include promoting unity, a sense of national pride, and social and health gains from <a href="https://theconversation.com/does-sports-participation-boom-during-or-before-or-after-the-olympics-227773">increased sports participation</a>. The event also generates huge revenue from domestic and international tourism – 15 million spectators are anticipated for Paris 2024. Most are locals and domestic day trippers but <a href="https://www.euromonitor.com/press/press-releases/nov-2023/olympic-games-2024-set-to-boost-tourism-spending-in-paris-by-up-to-eur4-billion-euromonitor-international">around 3 million additional visitors</a> are expected in Paris during the games. Increased infrastructure and updated civil works as a result of the city getting ready for the Olympics provides many lifestyle benefits: a reinvigorated host city can benefit from upgraded transport, accommodation, hospitality, sports facilities and streetscapes. Other significant benefits relate to strengthening the host country’s geographic and cultural brand. For France, this includes reinforcing and promoting many of its registered geographic indicator products that relate mainly to wine, agricultural products and foodstuffs, as well as spirits and beers. Champagne is perhaps the most widely recognised geographic indicator product. It illustrates how connection to its place of origin assures consumers about regional and French cultural values and <a href="https://theconversation.com/whats-in-a-name-quite-a-lot-if-its-prosecco-parmesan-or-mozzarella-209505">the products’ characteristics and quality</a>. <h2>What about the pitfalls?</h2> Many Olympics have failed to turn a profit, meaning countries and citizens are <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/02665433.2019.1633948">left to pay off debts</a> for decades after the event (for example, Rio, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2016/jul/06/40-year-hangover-1976-olympic-games-broke-montreal-canada">Montreal</a>, Beijing and Athens). Also, many cities are left with <a href="https://theconversation.com/looking-back-at-the-olympic-venues-since-1896-are-they-still-in-use-229606">purpose-built infrastructure</a> created specifically for the games but left idle afterwards, including athlete accommodation, aquatic centres and major stadiums. What will determine the success of Paris 2024 and justify the massive investment in hosting the event? <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_m1x5JaC37E?wmode=transparent&start=0" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe><figcaption>Is hosting the Olympics worth the investment?</figcaption></figure> The success of the Olympics for the host is often determined by the financial revenue it can generate. The Olympic brand plays a significant role in generating this financial support. However, the brand’s reputation can be tarnished by issues leading up to and during the games, which may reduce the positive impacts. The Olympic brand’s reputation can be affected by issues like: <ul> <li> high-profile athletes and national teams cheating or doping </li> <li> world sporting authorities placing restrictions on competitors <a href="https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1143198/restrictions-transgender-paris2024-games">based on gender and status</a> </li> <li> incompatible sponsors jumping on the Olympic bandwagon. For example, manufacturers of harmful products whose negative brand associations could tarnish the Olympic brand, such as <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/0965254X.2023.2176532">soft drink and alcohol sponsors</a> </li> <li> negative publicity associated with unethical practices of host and participating countries <a href="https://www.adweek.com/brand-marketing/sports-politics-brands-volatile-mix-olympic-games/">with human rights issues</a>. This includes others using the event to publicise these </li> <li> politicising the event – including “<a href="https://theconversation.com/is-saudi-arabia-using-sportswashing-to-simply-hide-its-human-rights-abuses-or-is-there-a-bigger-strategy-at-play-208468">sportswashing</a>”, protests, boycotts and image protection, as seen with <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/13216597.2017.1347101">China</a>, <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/kidspost/2021/12/16/us-protest-olympics-is-nothing-new-politics-have-been-mixed-with-sports-decades/">the United States</a>, and <a href="https://olympics.com/ioc/news/declaration-by-the-ioc-against-the-politicisation-of-sport">Russia</a> </li> <li> unforeseeable events – the COVID pandemic delayed the Tokyo games and <a href="https://www.reuters.com/business/media-telecom/money-money-money-cost-tokyos-pandemic-delayed-olympics-2021-06-10/#:%7E:text=Organisers%20said%20last%20December%20that,has%20risen%20to%20%243%20billion">pushed the cost to A$18 billion</a> </li> <li> other negative associated risks for the host city such as <a href="https://theconversation.com/will-the-paris-olympics-be-a-terrorist-target-these-three-factors-could-be-key-229110">terrorism</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/extreme-heat-is-a-killer-for-outdoor-sporting-events-lets-plan-properly-to-keep-everyone-safe-229998">heat waves</a>, and civil unrest. </li> </ul> <h2>Fingers crossed for France</h2> With close to half the world watching Paris 2024, France’s National Olympic Committee will be anxiously hoping for positive outcomes to ensure a strong return on the A$14 billion invested. But since Sydney 2000, virtually every games host has suffered <a href="https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/economi">significant financial blowouts</a>. For their sake, and the Olympics’ reputation, let’s hope the Paris games sparkle - or we may be left with a very limited number of potential future hosts with very deep pockets.<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/228497/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/steven-greenland-2064">Steven Greenland</a>, Professor in Marketing, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/charles-darwin-university-1066">Charles Darwin University</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/robert-joseph-gill-1530152">Robert Joseph Gill</a>, Associate Professor in Media and Communication, Swinburne University of Technology, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/swinburne-university-of-technology-767">Swinburne University of Technology</a> Image credits: Artur Widak/NurPhoto/Shutterstock Editorial 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/brand-olympics-do-the-famous-rings-deliver-value-to-host-countries-228497">original article</a>. </div>

Money & Banking

Beloved author slams Carrie Bickmore for “schoolyard bullying”

New Zealand author and poet Jessica Urlichs has voiced her extreme displeasure with Carrie Bickmore and Tommy Little for her radio program "Carrie & Tommy", claiming that she experienced what amounted to "schoolyard bullying" during a recent segment. Bickmore read one of Urlichs’ poems on air recently while speaking to her co-host, Tommy Little. Urlichs, who has nearly half-a-million followers on Instagram, felt that her work was shamefully mocked during the broadcast. "I don’t have any words left to truly articulate the schoolyard bullying you displayed in your recent segment across multiple radio stations," Urlichs wrote in an Instagram post on Sunday. She continued, "You used my heartfelt poem (without permission) as your very weak punchline. Your co-host wasn’t allowing a voice for post-partum women, nor you for that matter, and as a woman who was once post-partum it was very disappointing to see you reduce yourself to his childlike behaviour on such an important topic." In her caption, Urlichs explained she wrote the poem for herself and for mothers who might be offended by the radio segment. She also mentioned that her requests to have the content removed had been ignored. During the radio segment, Bickmore explained to Little that the poems, written from the perspective of a baby to its mother, frequently appeared in her social media feed. Little responded with skepticism and humour, questioning the premise that a baby could write such a poem. Bickmore defended the work, identifying Urlichs as the author and stressing the poem's emotional significance for mothers dealing with sleepless nights. Despite this, Little continued to mock the poem, suggesting it was written by a middle-aged man pretending to be a baby. The segment continued with Bickmore reading the poem aloud, accompanied by background music, while Little laughed and interjected. This tone persisted throughout the reading, leading to further comments from Little that questioned the poem's authenticity and meaning. <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/C8Q8DaXPMd9/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C8Q8DaXPMd9/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by J E S S I C A U R L I C H S (@jessurlichs)</a> </div> </blockquote> Following the broadcast, a video clip of the segment was posted on Instagram, where Urlichs expressed her disappointment in the comments. "If you’d asked for my permission to post this and I’d seen how it was mocked throughout I would have said no," she wrote on the post that has now been removed. She added that while she appreciates people sharing her work to support other mothers, she felt her writing was treated as a punchline in this instance. The full text of the remarkable poem can be read below. <iframe style="overflow: hidden; border: initial none initial;" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fjessurlichs%2Fposts%2Fpfbid02jzy9gwBKnMAAX12NYp7XiZ1CpWsgxfd2zyhRaHVQfgLJ3NoB1kCcGXNbhJucZcYNl&show_text=true&width=500" width="500" height="666" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>

Family & Pets

Famous Queen Elizabeth lookalike dies at age 96

Jeanette Charles, a famous lookalike of Queen Elizabeth, has passed away. Charles died at her care home in Great Baddow, Essex on June 6th at the age of 96: the same age the late Queen was when she passed away. The news was confirmed by her daughter Carol Christophi in a statement to UK media. "Mum was a real character and a force of nature. She had an amazing life," Christophi said. "She was always respectful of the queen and adored the royal family." Charles first stepped into the spotlight in the 1970s and became known for her iconic portrayals of Queen Elizabeth in famous film and television roles. The lookalike played the queen in an episode of Saturday Night Live in 1977 before landing one of her most recognisable appearances in the National Lampoon franchise. She played Queen Elizabeth in National Lampoon's European Vacation in 1985, before against stepping into the role of the monarch for a scene in The Naked Gun: From the Files of the Police Squad! in 1988. Charles continued to double for the Queen onscreen into the early noughties with another notable performance in the 2002 film Austin Powers in Goldmember, before she retired from acting in 2004. "Ever since I can remember I have been told I looked like the young Princess Elizabeth and this carried on as we both grew up," she once <a title="said in an interview" href="https://www.sodor-island.com/sts-interview-jeannette-charles" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said in an interview</a>. Writing for <a title="The Guardian" href="https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2022/may/27/experience-lookalike-for-50-years" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Guardian</a> in 2022, Charles recalled the first time she was recognised as the Queen from someone aside her agent. "On a trip to Greenwich when I was 11 or 12, a photographer asked if he could use me in some shots, saying, 'She looks like Princess Elizabeth'," he star wrote. "Later, I'd draw crowds, especially abroad, and sometimes had to run away." "I don't think anyone else had earned a living by resembling someone famous before – now there's a whole industry," she wrote. Image credits: Shutterstock / New Line Cinema

Caring

Best-selling author diagnosed with "aggressive" brain cancer

Best-selling author Sophie Kinsella has shared that she has been fighting "aggressive" brain cancer since the end of 2022. The British writer took to Instagram to reveal she was diagnosed with glioblastoma 18 months ago, and shared why she chose to keep the devatstsing news out of the spotlight. The 54-year-old said she wanted to "make sure my children were able to hear and process the news in privacy and adapt to our new normal" before going public with her diagnosis. "I have been under the care of the excellent team at University College Hospital in London and have had successful surgery and subsequent radiotherapy and chemotherapy, which is still ongoing," she told her followers on Instagram. "At the moment all is stable and I am feeling generally very well, though I get very tired and my memory is even worse than it was before!" Kinsella said she is "so grateful to my family and close friends who have been an incredible support to me, and to the wonderful doctors and nurses who have treated me." She also thanked her readers for their "constant support", adding how the reception of her latest novel The Burnout, released in October 2023, "really buoyed me up during a difficult time." She ended her statement by saying, "To everyone who is suffering from cancer in any form I send love and best wishes, as well as to those who support them." "It can feel very lonely and scary to have a tough diagnosis, and the support and care of those around you means more than words can say." Image credits: Getty Images

Caring

"What a life I’ve had": Author announces own death after years of battling dementia

Wendy Mitchell has died aged 68 after documenting her brave battle with dementia. The author from Walkington, East Yorkshire, became the best-selling writer after she was diagnosed with early onset vascular dementia and Alzheimer's in July 2014. She shared her philosophical outlook on living with the condition in her acclaimed 2018 memoir Somebody I Used To Know and in her 2022 book What I Wish I Knew About Dementia. In an <a href="https://whichmeamitoday.wordpress.com/2024/02/22/my-final-hug-in-a-mug/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">open letter</a> shared online, the author announced her death and revealed that she had refused to eat or drink towards the end of her battle. "If you’re reading this, it means this has probably been posted by my daughters as I’ve sadly died," she began. "Sorry to break the news to you this way, but if I hadn’t, my inbox would eventually have been full of emails asking if I’m OK, which would have been hard for my daughters to answer… "In the end I died simply by deciding not to eat or drink any more," she wrote. She added that the last cup of tea she had, her "final hug in a mug" was "the hardest thing to let go of". "Dementia is a cruel disease that plays tricks on your very existence. I’ve always been a glass half full person, trying to turn the negatives of life around and creating positives, because that’s how I cope." Mitchell said that the language used by doctors can "make or break" how someone copes with dementia, and instead of saying there's "nothing they can do" it is better to tell them they will have to "adapt to a new way of living". "Well I suppose dementia was the ultimate challenge. Yes, dementia is a bummer, but oh what a life I’ve had playing games with this adversary of mine to try and stay one step ahead," she wrote in her final blog post. She also said that she had always been resilient, which has helped her cope with whatever life throws in her way. Mitchell has been an advocate for assisted dying in the UK, and said that "the only legal choice we shouldn’t have in life is when to be born; for everything else, we, as humans, should have a choice; a choice of how we live and a choice of how we die." She added that the way she died was an active choice as she doesn't want "to be an inpatient in a hospital, or a resident in a Care Home," as "it’s just not the place I want to end my years." "My girls have always been the two most important people in my life. I didn’t take this decision lightly, without countless conversations. They were the hardest conversations I’ve ever had to put them through. "This was all MY CHOICE, my decision. So please respect my daughters' privacy, as they didn’t choose the life I chose, of standing up to and speaking out against dementia." She then thanked everyone for their support and left with a touching final message. "So, enjoy this knowing that dementia didn’t play the winning card – I did." Images: Daily Mail

Caring

Hugh Jackman's first outing with his famous friends after bombshell split

Hugh Jackman has been spotted rubbing shoulders with his famous friends in his first public outing since announcing his divorce. The actor was joined by Hollywood A-listers Ryan Reynolds, Blake Lively, Sophie Turner, Taylor Swift and many more famous mates at an NFL game in New York. The celebrity group showed up at the game in support of their friend Taylor Swift, who was barracking on for her rumoured new boyfriend, NFL player Travis Kelce. Jackman snapped a series of selfies with his pals, sporting a beaming smile. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Shawn Levy shares new photo with Taylor Swift, Hugh Jackman, Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively. <a href="https://t.co/8XkYlm1Uqj">pic.twitter.com/8XkYlm1Uqj</a> — Pop Base (@PopBase) <a href="https://twitter.com/PopBase/status/1708928938448232854?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 2, 2023</a></blockquote> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Hugh Jackman, Ryan Reynolds and Shawn Levy tonight at New York Jets football game 📸 <a href="https://t.co/d5T55C4BpH">pic.twitter.com/d5T55C4BpH</a> — Deadpool Updates (@DeadpoolUpdate) <a href="https://twitter.com/DeadpoolUpdate/status/1708636773629182395?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 2, 2023</a></blockquote> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> 📷| <a href="https://twitter.com/taylorswift13?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TaylorSwift13</a> with Blake Lively, Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman <a href="https://t.co/7X6DND2VQV">pic.twitter.com/7X6DND2VQV</a> — The Swift Society (@TheSwiftSociety) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheSwiftSociety/status/1708816628471812467?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 2, 2023</a></blockquote> Despite Hugh's happy smile when posing for cameras, while being snapped in candid moments, fans were quick to point out that he seemed downcast while watching the game. “Poor Hugh looks miserable,” one person wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. “Hugh doesn’t seem himself,” said another. “I’m glad Hugh Jackman is out and supported by friends, poor thing,” a third wrote. One person wrote light-heartedly, “Hugh Jackman in his single era let’s gooooooo.” Jackman's public outing comes just weeks after announcing he and his wife Deborra-Lee Furness are getting a divorce. The Hollywood couple <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/lifestyle/relationships/hugh-jackman-devastated-after-marriage-split" target="_blank" rel="noopener">shocked the world</a> on September 15th when they released a statement confirming their separation after being married for 27 years. “We have been blessed to share almost three decades together as husband and wife in a wonderful, loving marriage,” Jackman and Furness told <a href="https://people.com/hugh-jackman-and-deborra-lee-jackman-separate-exclusive-7970286" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-link-type="article-inline">People</a>. “Our journey now is shifting and we have decided to separate to pursue our individual growth." Image credits: Getty Images / Instagram

Beauty & Style

Billionaire throws star-studded party for most famous names on the planet

The most famous names on the planet have all gathered for an exclusive party with billionaire Michael Rubin to celebrate the American independence day weekend. Congregating at a luxurious mansion in the Hamptons, the businessman and philanthropist hosted his annual white party, sharing a highlights reel of the star-studded day on Twitter. Among the famous faces were Leo DiCaprio, Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck, Beyonce and Jay-Z, Tom Brady, Kevin Hart and a plethora of Kardashians. The 350 A-listers in attendance were treated to musical performances by Usher and Ne-Yo, and $700 bottles of champagne and tequila as they partied from the 5pm kick-off all the way through until 4am. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> A literal movie - white party 2023 recap <a href="https://t.co/1D3vlpCNBq">pic.twitter.com/1D3vlpCNBq</a> — Michael Rubin (@michaelrubin) <a href="https://twitter.com/michaelrubin/status/1676363041288462338?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 4, 2023</a></blockquote> The famous guests were spotted pulling up in style in their parade of expensive cars and helicopters, and being escorted into the party by armies of valets and security guards. Among them was Affleck and Lopez, who brought along the actor’s 17-year-old daughter, Violet, whom he shares with ex-wife Jennifer Garner. Kevin Hart and his wife, Eniko Parrish, were spotted among the many celebrity couples drinking and dancing the night away, along with Justin Bieber and his model wife, Hailey. Rubin, 49, and his girlfriend, Camille Fishel, 32, hosted the star-studded event, sparing no expense when it came to looking after their guests, as they do each year. Rubin has an estimated fortune of more than $16 billion, making him one of the richest men in America. Image credits: Twitter

Beauty & Style

Tourist busted for carving name into world's most famous Roman relic

An Irish tourist has run himself headfirst into trouble in Rome after he was reportedly caught carving his name - and his girlfriend’s - into the Colosseum. It is said that he had been making his carvings, which were six-centimetre-tall initials, with a metal point - possibly his keys - and gouged into a pillar of the 2000-year-old historic monument. The inscription, dedicated to himself and his partner, reportedly read “Ivan+Haley 23”. The Carabinieri police have claimed that the 32-year-old man was caught by private security at the World Heritage Site, and that social media videos of the incident alerted police to the alleged crime. The man has been accused of damaging the historical landmark, the Carabinieri confirmed to CNN, with the act considered to be a crime under Italian law. The Colosseum is one of the seven wonders of the modern world, and also a World Heritage Site, and Italy’s Minister of Culture has called for the tourist to be “identified and sanctioned”. “I consider it very serious, unworthy and a sign of great incivility that a tourist defaces one of the most famous places in the world, the Colosseum, to engrave the name of his fiancée,” he tweeted, along with footage of the incident. “I hope that whoever did this will be identified and sanctioned according to our laws.” He later uploaded another video, accompanied by the scathing caption “Tourist scars the Colosseum.” <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Reputo gravissimo, indegno e segno di grande inciviltà, che un turista sfregi uno dei luoghi più celebri al mondo, il Colosseo, per incidere il nome della sua fidanzata. Spero che chi ha compiuto questo gesto venga individuato e sanzionato secondo le nostre leggi. <a href="https://t.co/p8Jss1GWuY">pic.twitter.com/p8Jss1GWuY</a> — Gennaro Sangiuliano (@g_sangiuliano) <a href="https://twitter.com/g_sangiuliano/status/1673318742057525248?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 26, 2023</a></blockquote> If the man is convicted, he faces a penalty of at least €2,065 (~$3,370.7) and up to one year in prison, according to CNN. And it isn’t the first time the Colosseum has been defaced by those seeking to carve out their place in history, with a Russian tourist facing a fine of €20,000 for carving the letter “K”. It’s a serious offence in the hearts of many, with archaeologist Federica Rinaldi - who is responsible for the ancient amphitheatre - telling the publication that “the Colosseum, like any monument that represents the history of all of us, must be preserved and handed over to future generations.” “It is a monument that deserves everyone’s respect because it belongs to everyone, and it must remain so,” Rinaldi added. “Carving one’s initials, in addition to being a crime, seems to be a gesture of those who want to appropriate the monument. Better take a selfie!” Images: Twitter

Legal

“Where’s Andy Murray?” Famous family fires up over Wimbledon faux pas

The family of Andy Murray are up in arms after the tennis champion was left out of a promotional artwork ahead of the annual Wimbledon competition. On Tuesday, the All England Club unveiled the promotional image to their social media accounts, which shows 15 past tennis champions, past and present, walking down the stairs of the main building at Wimbledon. At the forefront of the image are members of the “next generation of headline acts” Spaniard world No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz and Italian Jannik Sinner, surrounded by sporting legends such as Roger Federer, Rafa Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Martina Navratilova, Chris Evert, John McEnroe, Bjorn Borg, Boris Becker, Stefan Edberg and the Williams sisters Serena and Venus. Despite the image being filled with famous tennis faces, there is no image of Andy Murray, a two-time Wimbledon champion, whose famous victory in July 2013 ended 77 years of waiting for a homegrown British male singles winner. Andy's family and fans reacted with outrage that Murray, who was officially knighted in May 2019, was left out of the composition. Murray’s uncle Niall Erskine tweeted, “Appalling at every level, all about the men in the forefront and your own British history-maker nowhere to be seen. You should be ashamed of yourselves.” Elder brother Jamie – who has won two Wimbledon mixed doubles titles – asked, “Where’s Andy Murray?” LA-based freelance illustrator Grant Gruenhaupt responded to the criticism by saying, “Worry not Jamie, there are more paintings on the way.” He added, “Back with Wimbledon on another fun series celebrating historic moments and players!" “This one featuring the greatest rivalries of the past and present as they make the historic walk through the clubhouse and onto Centre Court." “A lot of nuance in this one. Definitely one of the more challenging scenes I’ve had to tackle.” Image credits: All England Club / Getty Images

Family & Pets

Film stars’ surprising jobs before they were famous

Today, they’re Oscar-winners and household names, but before they were famous, these actors were just like us. From restaurant servers to professional jugglers, we take a look at the surprising jobs Hollywood’s most well-known names had before they hit the big time. <ol> <li>Whoopi Goldberg – Goldberg has had a couple of unexpected professions (including as a bricklayer), but perhaps her most bizarre was her stint as a morgue beautician – yep, she used to doll-up corpses for funerals!</li> <li>Hugh Jackman – Before he was Wolverine, the beloved Aussie actor was known as “Mr. Jackman” – he was a P.E. teacher at Uppingham School while living in the UK during his post-high school gap year. Jackman also worked as a clown for hire at birthday parties!</li> <li>Johnny Depp – Prior to becoming a screen star, Depp was a salesman of sorts! The actor sold personalised pens over the phone to “people who don't want you to call them.”</li> <li>Rachel McAdams – The Notebook star, like many young people, got her start at Maccas. In fact, she worked at the fast food joint for three years, but told <a href="http://www.glamour.com/story/rachel-mcadams-glamour-magazine-cover-interview-ok-we-love-this-girl" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Glamour</a> she “was not a great employee” but that it was “a great place to work”.</li> <li>Helen Mirren – She may have played the Queen, but Mirren’s first job wasn’t exactly the most royal role in the world. As a child, she worked as a promoter for the Kursaal amusement park in the UK.</li> <li>Harrison Ford – Before saving the world as Indiana Jones, Ford was just a regular tradie. Before hitting the big time, the actor was a carpenter. In fact, he was renowned as one of Los Angeles’ best cabinetmakers.</li> <li>Jim Carrey – The Hollywood funnyman worked as a cleaner in a factory before finding fame as a comedic actor. He took up the janitorial job after quitting school at 15 to help provide for his financially struggling family.</li> <li>George Clooney – Heartthrob Clooney had many jobs before becoming a successful actor, including as a door-to-door insurance salesman, tobacco cutter and ladies shoe store sales assistant.</li> <li>Nicole Kidman – She’s one of Australia’s most well-known exports, but prior to breaking into the film industry, Kidman worked as a masseuse! She took up the job at 17 to support her mother, who had been diagnoses with breast cancer.</li> <li>Christopher Walken – The acclaimed actor’s career almost went in a very different direction, after he took up the position of lion tamer in a travelling circus. “I used to go in and have this lion do tricks,” he told <a href="http://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2012/09/christopher-walken-seven-psychopaths-interview" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Vanity Fair</a>. “It was a female named Sheba, and she was very sweet.”</li> </ol> Images: Getty

Movies

The most famous dogs in films

There is an indescribable joy that comes with watching dogs in films. Not only is it impressive these ‘working’ dogs are so well-trained that they can act on cue - where’s the Oscar category for best dog in performance – but their canine ways always bring smiles (and sometimes tears) to anybody who is watching. These are just a few of the dog superstars we love watching so gather the whole family (including your furry friend) to watch some classics dog flicks. Rin Tin Tin (1922 – 1931) Before Lassie, the most famous canine star in Hollywood was Rin Tin Tin (or Rinty as he was nicknamed). Rescued from a World War I battlefield by an American soldier, the German Shepherd appeared in 27 films and was one of the reasons why German Shepherd dogs became popular as a family pet. Lassie from Lassie Come Home (1943) The most famous collie in the world, Lassie showed you exactly why dogs are a man’s best friend. Unquestionably loyal, courageous and brave, Lassie treks from Scotland to Yorkshire to reunite with her true owners. Old Yeller from Old Yeller (1957) A true American classic, the big yellow dog not only manages to ingratiate himself into the family but into the hearts of everyone watching. The friendship between a young boy and his best friend playing and going on adventures comes to a tragic and tear-jerking end when Old Yeller sacrifices himself for the family he loves. Benji from the Benji series (1974 – 2004) With several movies spanning three decades, the lovable fluffy Benji is one famous dog. The first dog to play Benji came from a shelter and his offspring even played Benji in later films. Beethoven from Beethoven (1992) Any child who watched Beethoven begged their parents for a big St. Benard to cuddle but many of the parents had unfortunately seen the slow-motion scene where Beethoven shakes off in the middle of the living room. This gargantuan troublemaker was one of the most lovable canines in screen history and even won over the reluctant dad in the film with his loyalty, protection and love. Winn-Dixie from Because of Winn-Dixie (2005) A lonely 10-year-old-girl, with a fraught relationship with her father, adopts an adorable Picardy Shepherd. With her pooch by her side, Opal meets new friends and connects with her equally lonely father. A beautiful coming-of-age story proving every kid just needs a furry four-legged pal to take on the world. Marley from Marley & Me (2008) From an adorable puppy to rambunctious full-grown dog, Marley is there with the family through all the good times and the bad. The naughty lab provides many hilarious antics – all of them too relatable – but just as many tear-jerking moments. Any dog owner will relate the rollercoaster of the ride that is owning a dog – the happiness, the frustration and the heartbreak when you must eventually say goodbye. Images: Getty

Movies

Famous movie plots that were stolen from other films

Some films stand the test of time, and you can watch them again and again. But unlike what we’ve been led to believe, the storylines of some famous flicks were ‘heavily influenced’ by other (read: lesser-known) films. Is it plagiarism or just inspiration? You decide. 1. Star Wars & The Hidden Fortress George Lucas appears to be so enamoured with Japanese director Akira Kurosawa’s The Hidden Fortress that he took what he could for his first Star Wars film and used the leftovers in the second. Using two tag-along types (R2D2 and C3PO) to tell the story is probably the most well documented similarity with The Hidden Fortress. In a 2001 interview, George Lucas openly discussed this specific component of his influences for Star Wars, saying “I remember the one thing that really struck me about The Hidden Fortress,” he said, “the one thing I was really intrigued by, was the fact that the story was told from the two lowest characters. I decided that would be a nice way to tell the Star Wars story. Take the two lowliest characters, as Kurosawa did, and tell the story from their point of view. Which, in the Star Wars case is the two droids, and that was the strongest influence. 2. Reservoir Dogs & City on Fire While Reservoir Dogs is not a direct copy of City on Fire, there are definitely similarities in the plot (a group of criminals plan and blow a big job) and a couple of whole scenes that are very similar. Quentin Tarantino’s 1992 hit’s famous scenes echo the Chinese film, for instance both have four men walking in black suits, a tense standoff where three characters point a gun at each other, and shooting cops through a windscreen that shatters. Tarantino admits it too, saying to the Baltimore Sun that City on Fire is "a really cool movie. It influenced me a lot. I got some stuff from it." 3. A Fistful of Dollars & Yojimbo Once again we see Akira Kurosawa’s name pop up, with another of his films being used as inspiration for the Clint Eastwood classic. This time the samurais are replaced with cowboys, and a hero with no name (Eastwood) arrives in a small town where two rival gangs fight for control. Unfortunately for director Sergio Leone, he was sued by Toho Productions due to the similarities, which delayed release of the film for three years. Eventually the two settled out of court and A Fistful of Dollars went on to become a major hit. 4. The Lion King & Kimba the White Lion Besides the obvious similarities between the main characters’ names (Simba and Kimba sound quite alike don’t they?), many more elements of the plot mirror each other. Both the Disney film and the Japanese Manga have a bird, baboon and hyenas as supporting characters in the movies. There is a scene in which both Simba and Kimba stand on the cliff tops overlooking their future kingdoms, and each has an evil lion wanting to claim their stake at the throne (both ’Scar’ and ‘Claw’ have a scar on one eye). Despite having many similar scenes, it seems that the Kimba creators didn’t want to take on the behemoth that is Disney. They are quoted in the LA Times as saying "Our company's general opinion is The Lion King is a totally different piece from [Kimba] and is an original work completed by [Disney's] long-lasting excellent production technique." Images: Jolly Film

Movies

5 authors who hated the film adaptation of their book

Most movies these days are adapted from something – whether it’s a book, a musical, a news story or even another film. However, commercial and critical success doesn’t necessarily guarantee everyone will be happy. Surprisingly, the authors of these 5 movies didn’t think much of the film adaptations of their books. 1. Mary Poppins Author of Mary Poppins P. L. Travers initially had no problem with her book being turned into a film, until she discovered that Disney had disregarded almost all of her edits. When it was released in 1964, then-65-year-old Travers voiced her disapproval at the animated scenes and the downplaying of Poppins’ stricter side. She reportedly spent most of the film premiere crying, and vowed never to let Disney near another of her books. 2. The Shining With such a prolific author like Stephen King, there are bound to be a few hits and misses when it comes to film adaptations. After King put his faith in acclaimed director Stanley Kubrick, whom he greatly admired, he found himself extremely disappointed in the final product, which went on to become a horror classic. “Kubrick just couldn't grasp the sheer inhuman evil of The Overlook Hotel,” the author explained. “So he looked, instead, for evil in the characters and made the film into a domestic tragedy with only vaguely supernatural overtones.” 3. Forrest Gump The 1995 Best Picture winner was a hit with everyone – except author Winston Groom, that is. Angry at the filmmakers for toning down the language and sexual references as well as omitting certain important plot points, Groom got back at Hollywood in the first few lines of the book’s sequel: “Don't never let nobody make a movie of your life's story,” he writes "Whether they get it right or wrong, it don't matter.” Groom sued the producers after failing to receive his promised 3% cut of the profits, and wasn’t mentioned in any of the six Oscar acceptance speeches by the cast and crew. 4. A Clockwork Orange It’s one thing to hate the film adaptation of your book, but to end up hating the book itself? It seems strange, but that’s exactly what happened to Anthony Burgess. Years after the release of the book and the film, Burgess claimed he regretted writing the book, which he wrote in three weeks and only because he was desperate for money, so was unhappy when it was turned into a film that “seemed to glorify sex and violence.” He adds, “The film made it easy for readers of the book to misunderstand what it was about, and the misunderstanding will pursue me till I die.” 5. Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory One of the most beloved films of all time, the adaptation of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory certainly wasn’t beloved by Roald Dahl. He thought the 1971 film was “crummy” and that Gene Wilder’s portrayal of Willy Wonka was “pretentious” and “bouncy”, claiming director Mel Stuart had “no talent or flair”. For this reason, as long as the rights to his work is in the hands of his family, you’ll never see the book’s sequel, Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator, grace the silver screen. Images: Getty

Books

Murder charge levelled at children's book author

Author Kouri Richins wrote a children’s book on grief following the death of her husband in 2022. She is now being charged with his murder. Richins was arrested on May 7 in Utah and is accused of charging documents of poisoning her husband with a lethal dose of fentanyl at their home in Kamas, a small mountain town near Park City. Prosecutors allege Richins called authorities in the middle of the night in March 2022 to report that her husband, Eric Richins, was “cold to the touch”. The mum-of-three told authorities she had made her husband a mixed vodka drink to celebrate him selling a home and then went to soothe one of their children in their bedroom. She later returned and found her husband unresponsive, which prompted her to call 911. A medical examiner later found five times the lethal dosage of fentanyl in his system. Additionally, Richins is facing charges involving the alleged possession of GHB - a narcolepsy drug typically used in recreational settings, including at dance clubs. The charges, which are based on officers’ interactions with Richins that evening and the account of an “unnamed acquaintance” who claimed to have sold her the fentanyl, come two months after Richins appeared on local television to promote Are You With Me, a picture book she wrote to help children cope with the death of a loved one. For a segment called Good Things Utah, Richins referred to her husband’s death as unexpected and explained how it sent her and her three boys spiralling. In terms of children, she said, grieving was about “making sure that their spirit is always alive in your home”. “It’s ... explaining to my kid just because he’s not present here with us physically, doesn’t mean his presence isn’t here with us,” she told the reporters, who commended her for being an amazing mother. Richins’ lawyer, Sky Lazaro, declined to comment on the charges. Image credit: Instagram

Legal

Rare sighting as famous friends step out in support of Michael J. Fox

Michael J. Fox has been joined by a host of his famous friends for a screening of his upcoming documentary. The new documentary explores the Back to the Future star's ongoing battle with Parkinson's disease, and the changes in his life and condition as he gets older. In a show of support for the actor, his celebrity mates joined together for a screening of Still at New York's Lincoln Center. Among the famous faces was actress Meg Ryan, who has not been spotted in public for more than six months. The former rom-com queen, best known for starring roles in films like When Harry Met Sally, Sleepless in Seattle and You’ve Got Mail, lives a more quiet life outside of the spotlight these days. <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/Cr1TCUeO8e3/?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/Cr1TCUeO8e3/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Tracy Pollan (@tracy.pollan)</a> </div> </blockquote> Ryan hasn’t appeared on screen since the 2015 film Ithaca, which she also directed. However, she is plotting a return to screens later this year, with Ryan starring in and directing the film What Happens Later, which is currently in production. Ryan was among a star-studded group of famous friends supporting J. Fox for the premiere of his doco, with stars including Bill Murray, Denis Leary, Joan Jett, Katie Couric, Mariska Hargitay, and Debra Messing. The screening of the documentary comes after Michael J. Fox <a href="https://oversixty.co.nz/health/caring/i-m-not-gonna-be-80-michael-j-fox-s-tragic-admission" target="_blank" rel="noopener">admitted</a> that his battle with the disease is getting more difficult. <p style="font-size: 16px; box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; caret-color: #212529; color: #212529; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif, 'Apple Color Emoji', 'Segoe UI Emoji', 'Segoe UI Symbol', 'Noto Color Emoji';">“I’m not gonna be 80,” he said in a preview for an upcoming episode of the American current affairs program CBS Sunday Morning, according to Page Six. <p style="font-size: 16px; box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; caret-color: #212529; color: #212529; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif, 'Apple Color Emoji', 'Segoe UI Emoji', 'Segoe UI Symbol', 'Noto Color Emoji';">In the clip, Journalist Jane Pauley tells Fox that he has “not squandered” but that his condition will eventually “make the call” as to when it’s his time to go. <p style="font-size: 16px; box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; caret-color: #212529; color: #212529; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif, 'Apple Color Emoji', 'Segoe UI Emoji', 'Segoe UI Symbol', 'Noto Color Emoji';">“Yeah, it’s, it’s banging on the door,” the actor said. <p style="font-size: 16px; box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; caret-color: #212529; color: #212529; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif, 'Apple Color Emoji', 'Segoe UI Emoji', 'Segoe UI Symbol', 'Noto Color Emoji';">“I’m not gonna lie. It’s gettin’ hard, it’s gettin’ harder. It’s gettin’ tougher. Every day it’s tougher.” <p style="font-size: 16px; box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; caret-color: #212529; color: #212529; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif, 'Apple Color Emoji', 'Segoe UI Emoji', 'Segoe UI Symbol', 'Noto Color Emoji';">Image credits: Instagram

Caring

Aussie author of "Puberty Blues" dies at 64

Gabrielle Carey, co-author of the iconic novel Puberty Blues, has passed away at 64. The news was reportedly broken by Carey’s old friend and co-writer Kathy Lette, who was the other half of the creative powerhouse that brought Puberty Blues to life. In a post to social media, Lette shared a throwback picture of the pair in their younger years, and wrote, “I’m deeply saddened by the tragic news about my old friend Gabrielle Carey. “I have such happy memories of our teenage years. They were halcyon, heady days full of love, laughter and adventure. “We made some mischief and broke some barriers by writing Puberty Blues – our raw, earthy take on the brutal treatment of young women in the Australian surfing scene which is sadly, still so relevant. “My heartfelt condolences to her family and friends.” <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> I’m deeply saddened by the tragic news about my old friend Gabrielle Carey. I have such happy memories of our teenage years. They were halcyon, heady days full of love, laughter and adventure. 1/2 🧵 <a href="https://t.co/2wZZiRf1hd">pic.twitter.com/2wZZiRf1hd</a> — Kathy Lette (@KathyLette) <a href="https://twitter.com/KathyLette/status/1654136967636959234?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 4, 2023</a></blockquote> The groundbreaking book they penned together, which went on to be adapted as both a movie and a hit TV series, was a candid - then-controversial - story of two teenage girls growing up in Sydney’s Sutherland Shire. It pushed boundaries, captivated young audiences while tackling themes many did not expect for said target audience, and is regarded by many as being the first Australian teenage novel to be written by teens. From Puberty Blues, Carey went on to publish memoirs and nonfiction works, with another of her books - her 1984 Just Us, which covered her relationship with rapist and prisoner Terry Haley, who she married while he was imprisoned - also made into a telemovie in 1986. No suspicious circumstances surrounded her death, according to The Australian, though the tragic news comes just months after she wrote about her father’s suicide in The Sydney Morning Herald. At the time, Carey had revealed she was afraid of reaching 64, as that was when he too had passed on. “It was only decades later, when my father died from suicide on the very day he turned 64, that I became terrified of that number,” she wrote. “If I have inherited my father’s disposition for depression, did that mean I would also end up in an early grave? Carey’s early passing is one that has hit her friends and her fans hard, with many joining Lette in sharing their grief and their condolences on social media. “Farewell dear Gabrielle. You were a sister in the cause of mental illness, its impact & our children. I’m enriched for having known you,” one supporter wrote. “Thank you.” “Writer - Reader - Intellectual - Joycean (fanatical) - Elizabeth von Arnim devotee - Avid Gardener - Rose Petal Jam Maker - Football Follower - Kayaker - Yogi - Joker - Irrepressible Spirit - Hobbit - Underground Writer - My Friend,” friend and fellow writer Yumna Kassab wrote. “I will always miss you.” “So sorry for your loss,” one fan said in response to Lette’s tweet. “You have no idea how much as a girl growing up in a coastal town with a surfing scene I understood Puberty Blues. I saw it every day. You & Gabrielle laid it all bare & made girls stand up for themselves. Thank you”. “My deepest condolences Kathy,” another offered. “The two of you wrote something so treasured by Gen X girls. It was our ‘how to say no guide’. Our Teen handbook. But it still let us live our lives & learn as we went. RIP Gabrielle Carey.” Images: Facebook

News

Chatbots set their sights on writing romance

Although most would expect artificial intelligence to keep to the science fiction realm, authors are facing mounting fears that they may soon have new competition in publishing, particularly as the sales of romantic fiction continue to skyrocket. And for bestselling author Julia Quinn, best known for writing the Bridgerton novel series, there’s hope that “that’s something that an AI bot can’t quite do.” For one, human inspiration is hard to replicate. Julia’s hit series - which went on to have over 20 million books printed in the United States alone, and inspired one of Netflix’s most-watched shows - came from one specific point: Julia’s idea of a particular duke. “Definitely the character of Simon came first,” Julia told BBC reporter Jill Martin Wrenn. Simon, in the Bridgerton series, is the Duke of Hastings, a “tortured character” with a troubled past. As Julia explained, she realised that Simon needed “to fall in love with somebody who comes from the exact opposite background” in a tale as old as time. And so, Julia came up with the Bridgerton family, who she described as being “the best family ever that you could imagine in that time period”. Meanwhile, Simon is estranged from his own father. Characterisation and unique relationship dynamics - platonic and otherwise - like those between Julia’s beloved characters are some of the key foundations behind any successful story, but particularly in the romance genre, where relationships are the entire driving force. It has long been suggested that the genre can become ‘formulaic’ if not executed well, and it’s this concern that prompts the idea that advancing artificial intelligence may have the capability to generate its own novel. ChatGPT is the primary problem point. The advanced language processing technology was developed by OpenAI and was trained using the likes of internet databases (such as Wikipedia), books, magazines, and the likes. The BBC reported that over 300 billion words were put into it. Because of this massive store of source material, the system can generate its own writing pieces, with the best of the bunch giving the impression that they were put together by a human mind. Across the areas of both fiction and non-fiction, it’s always learning. However, Julia isn’t too worried about her future in fiction just yet. Recalling how she’d checked out some AI romance a while ago, and how she’d found it “terrible”, she shared her belief at the time that there “could never be a good one.” But then the likes of ChatGPT entered the equation, and Julia admitted that “it makes me kind of queasy.” Still, she remains firm in her belief that human art will triumph. As she explained, “so much in fiction is about the writer’s voice, and I’d like to think that’s something that an AI bot can’t quite do.” And as for why romantic fiction itself remains so popular - and perhaps even why it draws the attention of those hoping to profit from AI generated work - she said that it’s about happy endings, noting that “there is something comforting and validating in a type of literature that values happiness as a worthy goal.” Images: @bridgertonnetflix / Instagram

Books

New censorship target for "sensitivity readers"

Enid Blyton is known around the world, across all generations, as the author behind the children’s classics The Magic Faraway Tree, The Adventures of the Wishing Tree, Noddy, and The Famous Five. And now, the late Blyton is also known as the latest author to face edits and rewrites at the hands of her publisher, Hodder Children’s Books. They have confirmed that they will be carrying out the work to remove “offensive terms” as part of their “ongoing process”. Such changes have made the news already in 2023 - people had a lot to say about proposed edits to Roald Dahl’s books. Edits like those to Dahl’s work, dubbed by critics as “woke”, see publishers rewriting older texts after feedback from sensitivity readers, and removing certain terms that are deemed to be offensive to modern audiences. According to a report by The Australian, an audiobook version of one of The Famous Five books, a collection of short stories, has undergone edits to remove the words “idiot”, “a**”, and “shut up”. One story sees cousins Julian, Dick, George, Anne, and their canine companion Timmy, investigate lights on the island - Kirrin Island - by George’s home. In a bid to get their adventure started, George wakes her cousin Anne, and Anne tells her “oh George, don’t be an a**.” In the new edition, Anne simply says “oh George.” Meanwhile, in the original text, Anne’s big brother - and George’s cousin - Julian, at one point tells George to “shut up” and “be sensible”. Now, Julian only tells her “George, be sensible.” Additionally, two other instances of characters being told “don’t be an idiot” have been removed. Those particular phrases still feature in a Hodder Children’s Books e-book version of the text, though “a**” remains unseen, substituted in this case with “idiot”. The publishing house previously faced backlash in 2010 when they put out “contemporary” adaptations of Blyton’s books, replacing the likes of “headmistress” with “teacher”. These revisions were seemingly put to rest when Hodder Children’s Books declared that they weren’t working. “The feedback we have had six years on shows that the love for The Famous Five remains intact, and changing mother to mummy, pullover to jumper, was not required,” Anne McNeil, their publishing director, explained to The Guardian in 2016. “We want Enid Blyton’s legacy to go on. Millions of readers have learned to read with her.” However, as a 2023 statement reads, the publisher’s parent company - Hachette UK - consider the edit of Blyton’s books to be an “ongoing process”, as part of their “intention to keep Enid Blyton’s books and stories at the heart of every childhood, as they have been for generations.” “To do so, we work to ensure that there are no offensive terms in the books - changing words where the definition is unclear in context and therefore the usage is confusing, and where words have been used in an inappropriate or offensive sense - while retaining the original language as far as is possible,” a spokesperson for the company said. “This enables a very wide international audience of children to enjoy the books, while also understanding that they were written and set in the past. “In new editions, we do not change language for the sake of modernising it. We retain old-fashioned terms such as ‘bathing-suit’ and references to pre-decimal currency. The books’ period setting is part of their charm and is enjoyed by readers of all ages. “Any historic changes previously made to new editions, which come under the category of ‘modernisation’ in this context, have been or are being restored to the original text at the point of reprint.” Images: Getty

Legal

Over 60

News

Shop

Catalogues

Travel

Health

Lifestyle

Finance

Entertainment

Property

Information

Keep up to date

Search

Elmo's chat about grief with famous actor goes viral

World famous gay penguin dies

Brand Olympics: do the famous rings deliver value to host countries?

Beloved author slams Carrie Bickmore for “schoolyard bullying”

Famous Queen Elizabeth lookalike dies at age 96

Best-selling author diagnosed with "aggressive" brain cancer

"What a life I’ve had": Author announces own death after years of battling dementia

Hugh Jackman's first outing with his famous friends after bombshell split

Billionaire throws star-studded party for most famous names on the planet

Tourist busted for carving name into world's most famous Roman relic

“Where’s Andy Murray?” Famous family fires up over Wimbledon faux pas

Film stars’ surprising jobs before they were famous

The most famous dogs in films

Famous movie plots that were stolen from other films

5 authors who hated the film adaptation of their book

Murder charge levelled at children's book author

Rare sighting as famous friends step out in support of Michael J. Fox

Aussie author of "Puberty Blues" dies at 64

Chatbots set their sights on writing romance

New censorship target for "sensitivity readers"