Search

13 fascinating facts about the world’s oceans

The reason it’s blue The ‘deep blue sea’ – and our ‘blue planet’ along with it! – owe their iconic colour to the light of the sun. When the sun shines on the ocean, the water absorbs the longer red and orange wavelengths of light while reflecting blue light back. This will only happen, though, with a large amount of water; the more water you have, the bluer it is. This is why the water you drink out of a glass doesn’t appear ocean-blue. This process of light absorption and reflection is also the reason the sky is blue – but the blue colour of the ocean is not because it’s reflecting the colour of the sky, as many people believe. The ocean is full of gold The phrase ‘liquid gold’ was never so applicable. Believe it or not, every drop of ocean water contains a teeny-tiny bit of real gold. It’s such an inconsequential amount that you’re not going to get rich by scooping up seawater – there are about 13 billionths of a gram of gold in every litre of seawater. But when you consider just how much ocean water there is on the entire planet, that does add up to a lot of gold. About 20 million tonnes of it, to be specific! Considering that that amount would be worth hundreds of trillions of dollars, the ocean’s hidden gold is truly an unattainable fortune. It comprises 99 per cent of the planet’s habitable space Wait, what happened to only 70 per cent? Well, there’s a difference between the amount of the Earth’s surface covered by ocean (that’s 70 per cent) and the total amount of space. With the depths of the oceans taken into account, the ocean comprises a whopping 99 per cent of all habitable space on the planet. Despite all that open space, though, the ocean isn’t as populated as the land is, in part because the deepest parts of the ocean are inhospitable to all but a few life forms. Someone once free dived 253 metres into the ocean Compared to the actual deepest point of the ocean (the Mariana Trench stretches down nearly 11 kilometres), 253 metres may not seem that deep. But when you consider that this intrepid diver was accompanied only by a wetsuit, a weighted sled and an air balloon to help him float back to the top – without even scuba gear – his accomplishment seems a lot more noteworthy. It’s the deepest part of the ocean ever reached by a free-diving human (as opposed to a human inside a machine). The diver, Herbert Nitsch, completed his historic feat in 2012, and he currently holds 33 separate world records in free diving. Through rigorous training, he’s been able to increase his lung capacity to more than twice the usual amount of air. The pressure at the bottom of the ocean is extreme… …it’s like being-crushed-under-a-pile-of-elephants extreme. At the bottom of the Mariana Trench, the pressure is about eight tonnes per 6.5 square centimetres, the equivalent of about 100 fully grown elephants. It’s so intense that, while we do have machines capable of withstanding it, equipment has simply imploded under that amount of pressure. It helps power the internet The next time you’re watching a funny cat video or enjoying a Netflix binge, make sure you thank the ocean. The vast majority of the cables that power the internet, allowing access to it across the entire globe, are underwater. Wires called ‘submarine communications cables’ crisscross the ocean floors and were put in place by boats built solely for that purpose. To ensure that the cables remain undisturbed, they have to be placed on relatively flat stretches of the ocean floor, away from ocean ecosystems or shipwrecks. Some of the cables even have a coating that protects them from being damaged, should a hungry shark come across them. The biggest waterfall in the world is underwater… It might seem counter-intuitive to think that there are bodies of water within the oceans, but it’s true! Deep within the ocean, caverns and fissures on the ocean floor form when water oozes through the layers of salt beneath it. This water, filled with dissolved salt, is denser than the water around it and settles into the fissures. It’s this type of dense water that forms the Denmark Strait, a massive cascade of water that plummets 3500 metres. This is because the colder water of the strait sinks when it collides with the less dense water around it. …and so is the world’s tallest mountain (partly, at least) With 70 per cent of Earth’s surface covered by oceans, it makes sense. But that doesn’t make it any less mind-boggling to learn that in Hawaii, there is a mountain that would make Mount Everest look like a bunny hill if they were side-by-side. Mauna Kea is half under the water and half above it, and, from top to bottom, it stretches a whopping 10,000 metres. That’s more than a kilometre taller than Mount Everest! We consider Mount Everest the tallest mountain because it reaches the highest distance above sea level, but in terms of height from top to bottom, this half-submerged Hawaiian volcano is the champion. There’s a spot in the Pacific where you’re closer to space than anywhere on Earth This unique spot, the furthest on the entire planet from land, goes by the name ‘the oceanic pole of inaccessibility’, or, more concisely, ‘Point Nemo’. We know what you’re thinking – its name does not come from a cartoon fish but from the hero of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. It’s located smack in the southern Pacific Ocean, and you’d have to travel 1600 kilometres from even the closest points of land to reach it. Those points of land are Motu Nui, far off the western coast of Chile; Ducie Island, one of the Pitcairn Islands between South America and Australia; and Maher Island, off the coast of Antarctica. And it’s at least 1600 kilometres from each of them. That’s so far that the closest people to Point Nemo are often up in space! The International Space Station orbits just 400 kilometres above Earth’s surface. Now that gives ‘finding Nemo’ a whole new meaning. Most of Earth’s oxygen comes from the oceans And no, it’s not the ‘O’ of H2O. When it comes to ocean facts, most people don’t know about 70 per cent of our planet’s entire supply of oxygen is a waste product created by marine-dwelling plankton. These minuscule creatures take in carbon dioxide and produce oxygen during photosynthesis, and this oxygen plays a vital role in the life of every oxygen-breathing creature on the planet. According to National Geographic, one type of plankton called Prochlorococcus produces so much oxygen that it’s most likely responsible for one of every five breaths we take. No one knows for sure what made this mysterious undersea noise In 1997, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration detected a mysterious undersea sound – incredibly loud and at a very low frequency – and puzzled for years over its origin. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZA2wY5-yiGY">Take a listen here</a>. It may sound a little bit like your stomach when you’re hungry, but scientists have theorised that everything from a massive marine animal to a shifting iceberg is responsible. Icebergs cracking and shifting on the ocean floor produce a similar sound, so that’s the most likely explanation, but there’s no definite answer yet as to what it is. A rubber duck accident helped researchers understand ocean currents We’re used to ‘spills’ in the ocean having disastrous effects, but this one proved to be something of a happy accident. In 1992, a crate of bath toys on its way from China to the United States broke, spilling thousands of rubber ducks and other floating toys into the Pacific. Oceanographers seized the opportunity to learn more about the movements of the ocean. Oceanographer Curtis Ebbesmeyer headed up the research efforts, asking beachgoers all over the world to report sightings of the ducks and their floating friends. The ducks travelled far and wide, ending up everywhere from Europe to Alaska to Hawaii and continuing to be spotted well into the 2000s. The fleet of toys became affectionately known as ‘the Friendly Floatees’. Antarctic-dwelling fish have a protein that keeps them from freezing Unsurprisingly, the water around the poles can get pretty chilly. Yet there are still plenty of fish that make their home there. A group of fish called notothenioidei comprises over 120 species all native to the Southern Ocean near Antarctica. The water in that area hovers around temperatures of -2° and 10° Celsius. Even when it’s technically below freezing, the dissolved salts in the seawater keep it from doing so. But how does marine life possibly stay alive there? Well, these fish have a biological component called a glycoprotein that allows them to live where they do; it acts as a natural antifreeze, essentially. The protein prevents ice crystals from forming in their blood, allowing it to flow normally. Written by Meghan Jones. This article first appeared in <a href="https://www.readersdigest.co.nz/true-stories-lifestyle/science-technology/13-fascinating-facts-about-the-worlds-oceans" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reader’s Digest</a>. For more of what you love from the world’s best-loved magazine, <a href="http://readersdigest.innovations.co.nz/c/readersdigestemailsubscribe?utm_source=over60&utm_medium=articles&utm_campaign=RDSUB&keycode=WRA87V" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here’s our best subscription offer.</a> Image: Getty Images

International Travel

New study reveals fascinating fact about gender balance in books

Characters in books are almost four times more likely to be male than female, according to a new artificial intelligence study on female prevalence in literature. Researchers at the USC Viterbi School of Engineering used artificial intelligence to examine more than 3,000 English-language books with genres ranging from science fiction, to mystery and romance, including novels, short stories, and poetry. The team used Named Entity Recognition (NER), a prominent NLP method used to extract gender-specific characters. Lead researcher Mayank Kejriwal was inspired to research the topic and was surprised to find that gender bias was prevalent in the books. “Gender bias is very real, and when we see females four times less in literature, it has a subliminal impact on people consuming the culture,” she said. “We quantitatively revealed in an indirect way in which bias persists in culture.” Co-author of the study Akarsh Nagaraj discovered the four to one ratio which showed male characters were more common in books. “Books are a window to the past, and the writing of these authors gives us a glimpse into how people perceive the world, and how it has changed,” she said. “It clearly showed us that women in those times would represent themselves much more than a male writer would.” Using the technology, the team found the most common adjectives used to describe gender specific characters. “Even with misattributions, the words associated with women were adjectives like ‘weak,’ ‘amiable,’ ‘pretty,’ and sometimes ‘stupid,’” said Nagaraj. “For male characters, the words describing them included ‘leadership,’ ‘power,’ ‘strength’ and ‘politics.’” Image: Shutterstock

Books

Trivia test: how many of these fascinating facts do you know?

Test yourself today! How many of these 5 unusual tidbits do you know? Scroll through the gallery above to go through the test. (Answer is on next slide) Republished with permission of <a href="https://www.wyza.com.au/articles/entertainment/trivia-test-how-many-of-these-fascinating-facts-do-you-know.aspx">Wyza.com.au.</a>

Art

Ellen DeGeneres reveals fascinating new details about baby Archie

Since he was born in May and made headlines around the world for being the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's first child, the public hasn’t been able to see much of baby Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor. While we have seen a few portraits of the family, both Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan have been particular about what information and photographs to share with the world. <blockquote 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);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/BxNGOrbAldR/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <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> <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;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BxNGOrbAldR/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by 𝐀𝐫𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐞 𝐇𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐌𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐛𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐧 🇬🇧 (@babysusexroyal)</a> on May 8, 2019 at 7:19am PDT </div> </blockquote> Well, we’ve just gotten our rare dose of baby Archie from none other than TV show host Ellen DeGeneres. On the latest episode of The Ellen Show, the host revealed she and wife Portia de Rossi got some cuddle time with Archie while on a trip to Europe and the UK. "I just want to say, it was an honour for them to meet me," DeGeneres joked. "Seriously, they are so amazing." <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> This summer I got to meet Prince Harry and Meghan’s son Archie in England. Would you like to see the picture? <a href="https://t.co/gdNpYwrsXv">pic.twitter.com/gdNpYwrsXv</a> — Ellen DeGeneres (@TheEllenShow) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheEllenShow/status/1171116512108670976?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 9, 2019</a></blockquote> The couples both divulged into an in depth conversation about wildlife conservation and the work Duchess Meghan and hubby Prince Harry had been undertaking in Botswana and Rwanda. “They were the most down-to-earth, compassionate people. Imagine being attacked for everything you do, when all you’re trying to do is make the world better,” she added. Ellen made clear it wasn’t the only topic they talked about however. The 61-year-old admitted she didn’t feel right asking the couple for a picture of little Archie, so instead took to drawing him. <img style="width: 500px; height: 280.87986463620985px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7830577/image.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/4818a677ba884bbe881f92a6c8e08ef8" /> "I can't tell you how sweet [Harry and Meghan] are, but the most important thing is I got to hold little Archie. I fed Archie, I held Archie," DeGeneres said. "He does have a body, but I just did the face for y'all. He has a perfectly circular head," she joked. "He looks just like Harry, and he had more hair than I did at the time."

Caring

Discover the fascinating history behind 6 superstitions

Ever wondered about the origins of common superstitions? Discover why raw onion is believed to ward against baldness, why four-leafed clovers are considered lucky and much more. Author <a href="http://t.dgm-au.com/c/185116/71095/1880?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.booktopia.com.au%2Fsearch.ep%3Fauthor%3DMax%2520Cryer">Max Cryer</a> investigates in the fascinating book <a href="http://t.dgm-au.com/c/185116/71095/1880?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.booktopia.com.au%2Fsuperstitions-max-cryer%2Fprod9781925335170.html">Superstitions and we we have them</a> from <a href="http://www.exislepublishing.com.au/Superstitions.html">Exisle Publishing</a>. 1. The superstitions behind umbrellas The name is descended from the Latin diminutive umbra,meaning shade or shadow. For many centuries umbrellas were soley for protection from the sun. It wasn’t until the 1700s that it seemed to occur to anyone they could also protect from rain. Naturally superstition gathered around them. The most common of them was not to open an umbrella inside the house - something bad will come of it. Nor must it ever be laid - even unfurled - on a bed or table. And any woman yet unmarried who drops her umbrella must wait for someone else to pick it up. If she retrieves it herself, she will never wed. 2. The superstition behind our beds For those who are unmarried, a suspicion might offer some help. It concerns ‘turning’ or ‘making’ a bed each day: If one day you would be wed, Turn your bed from foot to bed. Married or not, the susperstitious abide by the belief that whatever side of the bed you get into a night is the side you must get out of in the morning. Not doing so will cause disruption. In fact, the belief resulted in the saying that someone disgruntled ‘got out the wrong side of the bed’. (However, any potential disruption caused by inadvertently getting out on the ‘wrong’ side can be adverted by putting one’s socks on the right foot first, then the left.) The jury is still out on the ancient and vexed superstition regarding getting out of bed ‘backwards’. One school of thought decrees it is to be back luck, but the opposition says it is good luck. It’s probably best avoided by getting out of bed frontwards. 3. The superstitions behind baldness In spite of extensive advertising claims to the contrary, most men afflicted by baldness find the condition irreversible. An American superstition claims that baldness can be delayed by cutting the existing hair very short, then singeing the cut ends. Another superstition claims that when a man starts to go bald, he can slow the process by stuffing cyclamen leaves up his nose. And sprinkling parsley seeds on the head three times a year is also believed to help. Three other cures have come to us from ancient traditions - albeit two of them might be rather difficult to obtain: <ul> <li>Rubbing with raw onion might help, but it is best done when you’re going to be alone for a while. After rubbing, smear with honey.</li> <li>Believed to be more effective is a poultice of goose dung.</li> <li>Best of all - if you can get it - herbalist William Bullein’s Bulwarke of Defence against all Sickness(published in 1562) offers the best preventative: poultices made of fat from the body of a bear. </li> </ul> 4. The superstitions behind peas If your peas don’t come from frozen in a bag from the supermarket, but are actually shelled out of their pods within the household,watch out for any pod which contains either just one pea - or nine, for good luck will then come to you. And if the pod which housed nine peas is rubbed on a wart, it will cure it. . . or so the superstition says. 5. The superstitions behind garlic As far back as Ancient Egypt, garlic has been credited as a protection against a wide range of problems - and not just for its notable flavour. At least two versions of its origin ignore that it is just a plant, allium sativum, a tasty and aromatic member of the onion family. Early Egyptians perceived garlic as a gift from the gods, but post-biblical mythology decreed that it grew where Satan’s left food trod as he was evicted fom the Garden of Eden (the print of his right foot gave rise to ordinary onions). Supstition has credited garlic with various powers: protecting sailors from storms and shipwreck; giving soldiers courage; protecting miners from evil underground demons; if placed under the pillows of babies, protecting them overnight; and as a household garlands to protect against illness, witches, robbers and vampires. The perceived connection between vampires and garlic was slow in reaching the English language. The first vampire story in English, The Vampyre by John Polidori (1819) makes no mention of garlic. Irish author Bram Stocker’s later vampire novel, Dracula (1897), introduced the powerful effects between vampires and what they greatly fear: daylight - and garlic. But as a protection it had been widely used for long before that - against toothache, sunstroke, leprosy, even bed-wetting. Medical research can identify a genuine physical condition called alliumphobia - a powerful dislike, even fear of garlic. And there is a medical theory that some people simply must not each garlic because it causes disorder in certain blood types. Scholars point out that this condition, and its necessary repudiation of anything to do with garlic, may be a contributing factor to the legend of vampires and their avoidance of garlic. The vampire legends were believed historically in southern Slavic countries and Romania, where an eye was kept on those who rufused to eat garlic. Consequently, superstition decreed that cloves of garlic be placed in the mouths of the deceased before they were buried, to ward off any passing vampies.Do you avoid walking under ladders because you think it is bad luck? 6. The superstitions behind four-leafed clover A four-leafed clover has superstition going into a spin. Find one, and you’ll be able to see fairies and recognise evil spirits, which will give you the ability to tell who is secretly a witch. Carry it with you and evil spells will bounce right off you, and in your house the milk won’t turn sour. If a young woman puts the precious leaf inside her shoe, the first man she meets after stepping out will be her future husband, or (this suspicion has a let-out clause) if that’s not the case, it will be someone of the same name. It has been estimated that in nature, there may be one four-leaf clover approximately 10,000 three-leaf clovers. When found, each of the four leaves has a duty to fulfil; the first is for faith, the second is for hope, the third is for love, and the fourth is for luck. Note: It is perhaps worth adding that in recent years horticulturalists have successfully developed a clover plant with four leaves exclusively, so the purchase of a ‘four-leave-clover kit set’ will enable you to grow as many as you like. This is an extract from Max Cryer's <a href="http://www.exislepublishing.com.au/Superstitions.html">Superstititions and why we have them, Exisle Publishing</a>. <a href="http://t.dgm-au.com/c/185116/71095/1880?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.booktopia.com.au%2Fsuperstitions-max-cryer%2Fprod9781925335170.html">Get your copy here!</a> Written by Max Cryer. Republished with permission of <a href="https://www.wyza.com.au/articles/entertainment/discover-the-fascinating-history-behind-6-superstitions.aspx">Wyza.com.au.</a>

Art

10 fascinating wedding traditions from around the world

1. Connecting with all five senses in the Andes Mountains of Peru “Traditional Andean weddings take place outdoors, and are meant to elicit the natural world. At each ceremony, a small offering is given to Pachamama – a Mother Earth goddess, revered in Andean culture,” explains global wedding experts <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://2people1life.com/" target="_blank">Alex Pelling and Lisa Gant</a>, who have gotten married 71 times in 65 countries during the past five years, including in the Andes Mountains of Peru. The Pellings’ Andean wedding was illustrative of local customs. The bride and groom entered a garden from opposite sides, to represent the coming together of people from different villages. A shaman awaited their arrival, while chanting a blessing. There was also intense, rhythmic music playing. “There was a scent of burning herbs, and the shaman poured oil down the backs of our necks, to elicit physical sensation. Everything that occurs at an Andean wedding ceremony is designed to overwhelm the senses – sight, hearing, touch, scent, all of it. The ceremony is not just someone talking to you about your union,” he explains. The Pellings gave offerings to each other, and buried a joint offering to Pachamama, which is meant to be there waiting for her, underground, until the end of time. 2. Searching for Ms Right in Germany In some small villages in Germany, grooms aren’t guaranteed that their brides will make it to the altar on time – or at all. <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://germanculture.com.ua/german-traditions/german-wedding-traditions/" target="_blank">Kidnapping the bride is an old custom</a>, beloved by pranksters and friends of the betrothed. After the bride’s friends kidnap her, the groom is tasked with looking for his one true love. The best hunting grounds (of course) are pubs. There, the locals might provide clues, provided they are invited to the wedding. If the invite isn’t forthcoming, custom demands that the brideless groom pick up the bar tab – for the entire pub. 3. Showing them the money in Cuba Since it is still a communist country, weddings in Cuba are nonreligious, civil ceremonies. Even so, they can be extravagant affairs, earmarked by interesting customs, such as the money dance. Meant to help fill the newlywed’s coffers, this interactive tradition is also tonnes of fun for guests. After the formal ceremony’s pomp and circumstance has been completed, men who wish to dance with the bride must first pin money to her dress. This (highly profitable) custom is also common in parts of the southern United States, Poland and Greece. 4. Stretching out the ceremony in Pakistan Pakistani wedding ceremonies are comprised of many rituals, which take place over days, weeks, or even months. Pelling and Gant’s wedding here was their most exciting, and fun, to date. “In Pakistan, there aren’t many social outlets, like ice skating, rollerblading and socialising. Weddings are one of the top social events here, so they are extremely elaborate,” explains Pelling. The colourful, flower-filled extravaganzas often start with the Nikkah, or signing of the wedding contract. Then comes the Mooh Dikhai. For this ceremony, the bride’s face is completely covered, and ceremoniously revealed to her groom as he gently removes her veil. If this is not a deal breaker (many ancient weddings were arranged), other ceremonies will follow over many days, including the Mehndi, or henna ceremony, where henna and oil are applied to the bride and groom by their families and friends. The Mehndi is great fun, and features lots of dancing and sweets. After many more days of rituals, which include music, dancing and the presenting of scarves filled with sweets to important members of the family, the Baraat, a processional walk by the groom to the bride’s home, takes place. This typically includes the groom’s clan, and features drumming and fireworks. Finally, the Shaadi, or bride’s reception, arrives. Unlike the white weddings so customary in many parts of the world, Pakistani brides typically attend this ceremony in red or purple. The final wedding ceremony is the Walima. It is often the most extravagant of all the events, and takes place after the couple has already consummated their vows and are technically husband and wife. For this ceremony, Western dress is sometimes worn. 5. Stringing it together in Thailand Weddings in Thailand are filled with Buddhist rituals, meant to honour the bride and groom’s ancestors and to sanctify their union. During the ceremony, the couple kneels next to each other in a prayer position. A trusted, beloved elder of their choosing (preferably one known to have had a happy marriage) places a traditional headpiece on their heads. The headpiece, called a Mong Kol, is made from a single piece of string, which has been blessed by monks. The bride and groom wear the Mong Kol for the rest of their wedding ceremony, to symbolise their union and oneness. 6. Live long and prosper in Sweden In Sweden, brides are decked from head to toe in tradition. They often wear crowns, made of myrtle flowers, to symbolise virginity, marital fidelity and good luck on their heads. In their shoes, they tuck one coin each – silver in the left shoe from their father, and gold in the right from their mum. The coins symbolise hope for the couple’s marital prosperity. 7. Dancing till dawn in France Joyful, weekend-long French weddings bring new meaning to the phrase ‘dancing the night away’. If you love kicking up your heels, you’ll want to nab this custom for yourself. Eimear Lynch, author of Bridesmaids: True Tales of Love, Envy, Loyalty, and Terrible Dresses, reported in <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://nymag.com/thecut/2014/05/french-weddings-are-more-fun.html" target="_blank">New York Magazine</a> that French weddings feature non-stop dancing all night long, which doesn’t stop until the guests fall down, or it’s time to go to work. French marriages must have a civil ceremony in order to be legal, so French brides and grooms often opt for two events over a long weekend – one civil service and one religious ceremony. Either or both may be followed by a fabulous, champagne-filled fete, complete with a disc jockey, band and foot-tapping rhythms that keep guests on their feet for seven hours or more. 8. Jumping the broom in Ghana According to the <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://www.aaregistry.org/historic_events/view/jumping-broom-short-history" target="_blank">African American Registry</a>, this joyful tradition, strongly associated with American slavery, has its origins in the West African country of Ghana. The broom was used to symbolise the sweeping away of evil spirits and past wrong doing by the bride and groom. Sometimes it was waved over the heads of the betrothed couple. Other times the bride and groom would jump over it at the end of the ceremony, and whoever jumped the highest was deemed the head of the household. 9. Tying the knot in South Africa South African weddings are steeped in ancient tradition. Twelve symbols, meant to represent the couple’s life together, must be present at every ceremony. These include wine, wheat, a broom, honey, bitter herbs, salt, pepper, a spoon, spear, a cooking pot and a shield, plus a holy book, such as a Bible or Koran. In addition to the <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://www.african-weddings.com/12_symbols_of_life_/" target="_blank">12 symbols of life</a>, the bride and groom ceremoniously have their wrists tied together with grass to symbolise their coming together as a couple. 10. Finding harmony in Bali Balinese weddings, called pawiwahans, are meant to generate harmony and create balance between the material and spiritual realms. The sacred ceremony provides a chance for the bride and groom to testify before the gods, creatures of the underworld, and their community. The ceremony also solidifies the couple’s citizenship in their village. The ceremony includes gift giving and a procession through the streets. The couple undergo a purification ceremony, to clear their hearts and minds of negative thoughts and energy, and are then deemed ready to be married, in view of all of their neighbours, family, and friends. Written by Corey Whelan. This article first appeared in <a href="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/travel/activities/10-fascinating-wedding-traditions-around-world">Reader’s Digest</a>. For more of what you love from the world’s best-loved magazine, <a rel="noopener" href="http://readersdigest.innovations.co.nz/c/readersdigestemailsubscribe?utm_source=over60&utm_medium=articles&utm_campaign=RDSUB&keycode=WRN93V" target="_blank">here’s our best subscription offer.</a> <img style="width: 100px !important; height: 100px !important;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7820640/1.png" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/f30947086c8e47b89cb076eb5bb9b3e2" />

International Travel

7 annoying habits and the fascinating scientific reasons for them

Why does your co-worker constantly clear her throat? What's behind your best friend's Facebook oversharing? Science has the answers to these annoying habits. 1. Constantly clearing throat Ahem, ahem! Someone who constantly clears his or her throat could have a nose and sinuses problem, called chronic rhinitis, which results in excessive mucus production. It occurs when an irritant (typically allergies) inflames the membrane in the upper respiratory tract. People with year-round allergies, like house dust mites, may have a constant build-up of mucus in their throat, which leads to that non-stop clearing. It can usually be treated with a few weeks of a strong anti-allergy medication. Another potential cause: acid reflux. When acid passes from the stomach upward into the esophagus, the throat swells. Mucus sticks to the swollen tissues, causing hoarseness and a cough. If over-the-counter heartburn medications don't resolve the issue, a doctor may be able to prescribe stronger treatment. 2. Always saying, "you know" or "like" There's always, like, one not-so-brilliant movie character who talks this way, you know? Don't write off their intelligence: Research suggests that those who often say "like" and "you know" may be especially thoughtful. In a study published in the Journal of Language and Social Psychology, researchers examined more than 260 transcriptions of normal conversations. They discovered people who used these "filler words" tend to be more conscientious than people who don't. Researchers say discourse markers imply a desire to thoughtfully share opinions with others, and may give someone more time to phrase something just right. 3. Oversharing on Facebook A minute into checking social media, you find out your high school lab partner is potty training her 6-week-old Labradoodle puppy ... unsuccessfully. You may roll your eyes when you get too much detail, but these oversharers reap a neurological reward when they spill their TMI news. Harvard researchers used an MRI machine to track 212 participants' brain activity as they answered questions about their own opinions or others' opinions. Researchers found that talking about oneself activates brain regions associated with reward (the nucleus accumbens and the ventral tegmental area). Only about 60 percent of real-life conversations typically revolve around an individual's personal thoughts and stories, compared to 80 percent of social media communication. 4. Biting nails Distracted by a pal who just can't sit still? Perfectionism may be an underlying cause of nail biting, skin picking, or eyelash pulling, according to a study published in the Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry. Researchers asked 48 participants questions about how often they experienced certain emotions, including boredom, anger, and anxiety, and put them in situations meant to trigger feelings such as boredom or relaxation. People with fidgety habits reported greater urges to pick at themselves when bored compared to when in relaxing scenarios. Researchers say perfectionists are more likely than others to become bored easily, and that behaviors like picking at nails deliver a form of reward in unsatisfying situations. 5. Complaining about ailments It may be tiresome to comfort a hypochondriac (they have a sore stomach on Monday, a swollen lymph node on Tuesday, an achy back on Wednesday) but your pal could truly believe these abnormalities are serious. This condition may be a sign of what medical experts call illness anxiety disorder (IAD), which involves excessive worry about contracting a serious illness even when no (or only mild) symptoms are present. Even doctors usually cannot calm an affected person's fears. Though it's uncertain what causes IAD, people with major life stress, a history of childhood abuse, or another mental disorder such as depression are at higher risk. The disorder typically appears between the ages of 25 to 35; therapy and certain antidepressant or antianxiety medications may help treat IAD. 6. An ear-shattering sneeze Know someone with a trumpeting sneeze? Blame their anatomy. Irritants, such as bright light or an allergen, stimulate the nasal cavity's trigeminal nerve and trigger a coordinated reflex from the diaphragm to the brain. Many different muscles are involved in building the pressure needed to expel the irritant via a sneeze. Individual differences in anatomy such as abdominal strength, trachea size, and lung volume may cause some sneezers to be especially loud; others may naturally use more muscles in sneezing. Suspect this is you? When you feel a sneeze coming, put your index finger at the base of your nose and slightly push up. This will reduce the severity of a sneeze, or perhaps even completely suppress it. 7. Aggressive driving Road ragers may be prone to making themselves highly visible in other ways, too. In a Colorado State University study, researchers found that drivers of cars with window decals, personalized license plates, and bumper stickers are far more likely that those without personalized cars to use their vehicles to express rage, such as by tailgating or honking. Researchers say both road rage and car markers are signs of territorialism, and that the more markers a car has, the more aggressively someone drives when provoked. The effect remained whether the messages were, for example, "Visualize World Peace," or "My Kid Beat Up Your Honor Student." Territorial people see a car as an extension of themselves, and have a difficult time viewing public property differently from private property ("our road" is "my road" in their minds.) Written by Kelsey Kloss. This article first appeared in <a href="http://www.readersdigest.com.au/true-stories-lifestyle/think-your-sex-life-over-after-40-hardly">Reader’s Digest</a>. For more of what you love from the world’s best-loved magazine, <a href="http://readersdigest.innovations.com.au/c/readersdigestemailsubscribe?utm_source=over60&utm_medium=articles&utm_campaign=RDSUB&keycode=WRA87V">here’s our best subscription offer.</a> <a href="http://readersdigest.innovations.co.nz/c/readersdigestemailsubscribe?utm_source=over60&utm_medium=articles&utm_campaign=RDSUB&keycode=WRN93V"></a> <img style="width: 100px !important; height: 100px !important;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7820640/1.png" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/f30947086c8e47b89cb076eb5bb9b3e2" />

Caring

The fascinating life of Whitney Houston

It is without a doubt that Whitney Houston was one of the greatest entertainers of our time. Her powerful voice and stage presence ensured that she sold out stadiums around the world, as fans flocked to see the legend up close. Now, seven years after her passing, we take a look at the life the singer lived, and while it wasn’t always rainbows and sunshine, this was the legacy she left behind. She came from a family of singers It’s no wonder she was gifted with a beautiful voice, as it’s practically in her blood. Her mother, Cissy Houston was a Grammy-winning gospel singer and also worked with Elvis and Aretha Franklin as a backup singer. Aretha was also Whitney’s godmother. She grew up on the rougher side of town During her childhood, Whitney didn’t live a lavish lifestyle, with the performer recalling ducking from gunfire during the 1967 riots in Newark, New Jersey – her hometown. “I grew up in the ghetto,” she said in her biopic titled Whitney. Those closest to her called her “Nippy” The nickname was given to her at a fairly young age and was later on used as an alter ego for Whitney to get away from the fame and drama that came with being in the public eye. She dated high-profile men In the early years of her career, Whitney was linked to a string of famous men, including Eddy Murphy, restaurateur Brad Johnson, Robert DeNiro and American football quarterback Randall Cunningham. She went on to marry Bobby Brown in 1992, with the couple sharing a daughter together. She was considered to be a beacon of hope for the black community Despite being bullied for being lighter-skinned, Houston was eventually embraced by the African American community after she catapulted to fame. Her defining moment came after she appeared in the movie The Bodyguard alongside Kevin Costner, a film that broke social norms by showing a mixed-race couple at the forefront. "The idea that she was my leading woman seemed to be a very big deal in the black community. I never saw that, I simply saw she was the cutest, most beautiful girl who could sing, and she happened to be black," recalled Costner. "Then I realised that she asked the plane to stop and she ran down the steps that every white woman has run down to kiss Cary Grant or whatever, and the camera went around, the way it went around white people kissing throughout the history of Hollywood and we forgot about what colour everyone was. That did change everything." In 1994, Houston went on to play in post-apartheid South Africa where she dedicated her performance to Nelson Mandela. All proceeds were donated to local children’s charities.

Movies

4 fascinating facts about Turkey

1. Turkey is a Land Bridge Straddling the edges of eastern European and western Asia, Turkey’s largest city Istanbul is divided by the Bosphorus Strait. Formerly called Constantinople, modern-day Istanbul is often wrongly thought of as the capital of Turkey, when in fact Ankara is. Perhaps this is because it was the richest and largest city in Europe from the 4th to early 13th centuries and the capital of both the late Roman Empire and the Byzantine Empire. 2. Home to the First Map Long before Emperor Constantine moved in, nomadic Homo sapiens had settled in Çatalhöyük on the Southern Anatolian plateau. Now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is thought to date back to 7000–6000 BCE. Çatalhöyük is home to the world’s first map, or more accurately, earliest landscape painting, depicting the settlement and mountain backdrop. 3. The Legendary City Homer’s epic poems of Ancient Greece, the Iliad and the Odyssey, both make reference to the legendary city of Troy. But Troy is more than myth: Troia as the Anatolian city we know today, is in fact one and the same city. It was built and destroyed so many times by various rulers that it leaves a variety of artefacts and ruins from many historic periods – from the Troy of Homer, to the Troy of the Roman poet Virgil and beyond. 4. A New Alphabet While Turkish was written in a form of Arabic script (rich in consonants and poor in vowels) for centuries, it didn’t represent the language of the common people. So reform was introduced in 1928, with the adoption of a Latin-based alphabet and an education and literacy drive. This article first appeared in <a href="http://www.readersdigest.com.au/travel/destinations/Four-Fascinating-Facts-About-Turkey">Reader’s Digest</a>. For more of what you love from the world’s best-loved magazine, <a href="http://readersdigest.innovations.co.nz/c/readersdigestemailsubscribe?utm_source=over60&utm_medium=articles&utm_campaign=RDSUB&keycode=WRN93V">here’s our best subscription offer.</a> <img style="width: 100px !important; height: 100px !important;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7820640/1.png" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/f30947086c8e47b89cb076eb5bb9b3e2" />

International Travel

It's never too late: How I ran away with the circus

As a kid in the bush, John Smyth didn’t have much chance to see the circus in person, but he had a treasured picture book about life under the Big Top. More than 60 years later, Smyth got to become part of the Stardust Circus world, not as a tumbler or lion tamer – but as a teacher. Back in 1999, the career high-school teacher decided it was time to retire and, together with his wife Helen, embark on an epic journey around Australia. They covered 33,000km in six months. When they returned, Smyth found he missed the classroom, so came out of retirement to spend another eight years doing casual teaching – but, eventually, his wanderlust returned and he and Helen headed back on the road. Today, the 75-year-old physics and mathematics teacher slots in time with his grandkids around a packed diary as a volunteer teacher to school students who live in remote locations, under a scheme known as Volunteers for Isolated Students’ Education (VISE). <img style="width: 0px; height: 0px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7825484/rd.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/0460e53155b2483aab144be28e5bdb45" /> VISE pairs up energetic people with educational experience – usually retired teachers, such as John – with children whose schooling is largely done remotely, because they live too far away from towns and cities to attend regular school. With their classes conducted via satellite hook-ups, Skype or whatever other methods are available, the children have virtual contact with a paid teacher for several hours a day. The rest of the time they are given assignments to complete. VISE volunteers go and stay with these remote families for six weeks at a time to provide encouragement and practical help to the students. John grew up in the country and was immediately intrigued when he heard about the scheme. Helen was just as keen. “We love the bush,” he says. While the teacher’s partner isn’t required to contribute, they often help around the home, in the garden or around the property. Since volunteers typically stay for the full six weeks, it’s important for couples to agree on the locations they apply for. “We’d decided we wouldn’t take a placement where we lived in the house with the family,” John says. “We opted for ones where we could take our own caravan or we’d have a ‘donga’ hut or a cottage, so that we had somewhere we could get away.” After eight VISE postings, and encountering some challenging families and students, John is still keen to do more. “Occasionally I have had to take a stand and say, ‘If you want my help, here I am, otherwise I’ll pack up and go home – I’m too busy to be sitting around here if we’re not going to work.’ But it’s always turned out really well.” He remains in fond contact with a number of his former students. He’s racked up stints in some of Australia’s most remote locations, including a 38,000-ha sheep property where they had to meet the mail plane to get school materials, and an 80,000-ha National Park that was 500km from the nearest supermarket. Then John nabbed one of the most sought-after placements in the scheme: a travelling post with Stardust Circus. “It was just wonderful,” he says of the weeks he and Helen spent on the road last year, working with the children in a specially equipped mobile schoolroom. The lesson timetable was built around the kids’ performance schedules. “The eight-year-old I tutored was a fabulous gymnast who was part of the teeterboard act,” he explains. “A big bloke would jump on the other side, he would swing up in the air, do a couple of twirls and land on his uncle’s shoulders ... and his uncle was standing on the boy’s father’s shoulders!” The circus still includes some animal acts, including lions, monkeys, horses, goats and pigs. John and Helen found it extraordinary enough to drift off to sleep to the sound of lions roaring, but then one day the lion-tamer, Matt, accorded them a very special privilege, inviting them in to meet four 13-month-old cubs in person. While it was understandably a little scary at first going into their enclosure, John says it was “an absolutely fantastic, never to be forgotten experience” which just goes to show it really is never too late: “In my 75th year I finally got to realise my boyhood dream of running away with the circus!” IF YOU'RE TEMPTED National Seniors Australia chief executive Michael O’Neill says John’s approach is increasingly common. “We’re seeing more and more people moving from full-time work into other areas of activity that are not traditionally associated with retirement or the later years of life.” In fact, he says, ‘retirement’ is “almost a dirty word now. People want to enter into new experiences, using previous life knowledge, rather than sitting back and ‘retiring’ as we came to know it in previous generations.” As in John’s case, many are keen to continue giving back to society, but O’Neill says the way we do this has also changed. “Many will now say, ‘I’m happy to volunteer and give my time for this particular cause, but let me be clear: I want to contribute my knowledge and skills to your organisation. Don’t think I’m going to be down the back making cups of tea.’?” Written by Hazel Flynn. This article first appeared in <a href="http://www.readersdigest.com.au/true-stories-lifestyle/inspirational/never-too-late-to-run-away-with-the-circus">Reader’s Digest.</a> For more of what you love from the world’s best-loved magazine, <a href="http://readersdigest.innovations.co.nz/c/readersdigestemailsubscribe?utm_source=over60&utm_medium=articles&utm_campaign=RDSUB&keycode=WRN87V">here’s our best subscription offer. </a> <img style="width: 100px !important; height: 100px !important;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7820640/1.png" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/f30947086c8e47b89cb076eb5bb9b3e2" />

Retirement Life

5 fascinating pollination facts

1. Pollination is an essential part of the fertilisation process The movement of pollen from one flower to another flower of the same species is an essential step in the fertilisation of plants and the development of the fruit and seeds needed for reproduction. 2. 75% of flowering plants depend on pollinators for fertilisation An overwhelming proportion of at least 75% of flowering plants depend on pollinators for fertilisation. It’s a good reason to encourage the birds and the bees into your garden to help it flourish. 3. Bees pollinate but so do other animals and insects Birds, bees, bats, butterflies, moths, flies, beetles, wasps and small mammals are all common pollinators. Other animals, as well as the wind, can carry pollen from flower to flower as well. 4. Pollination leads to the creation of everyday essentials like coffee and tequila About a thousand plants we rely on worldwide for the production of goods require pollinators. These include those grown for food, beverages, spices and medicines. Think coffee, chocolate and tequila! 5. Protect pollinators by planting native flowering plants You can protect pollinators by planting native flowering plants, reducing your use of pesticides and telling others of the danger these animals and insects are in through chemical misuse, loss of habitat and diseases. Republished with permission of <a href="http://www.handyman.net.au/5-fascinating-pollination-facts">Handyman Australia</a>.

Home & Garden

Fascinating facts behind Dr Seuss’ most popular stories

Theodor Seuss Geisel is one of the most successful children’s writers in history. Throughout his career he published over 60 books including “The Cat in the Hat” and “Green Eggs and Ham”. Here are the stories behind 5 of his most popular books. 1. The Lorax This book is believed to showcase Dr Seuss’ view on environmentalism and how humans negatively impact nature. After the book was published, groups within the logging industry weren’t happy and created a counter-book called “The Traux”. The book used to contain the line “I hear things are just as bad up in Lake Erie” but after 14 years, Dr Seuss received a letter from the Ohio Sea Grant Program telling him how the conditions had improved and asked him to take out the line. He agreed, and it wasn’t in future editions. 2. The Cat in the Hat Dr Seuss was inspired to write this book after he thought the famous “Dick and Jane” beginner books were boring. He believed that because the books were disengaging, kids were slacking in their efforts to learn to read. He then wrote the book. "I have great pride in taking Dick and Jane out of most school libraries," the author once said. "That is my greatest satisfaction." 3. Green Eggs and Ham Dr Seuss’ editor made a bet with him that he couldn’t write a book using 50 words or less. Not wanting to back down from a challenge, “Green Eggs and Ham” was created, using exactly 50 words. 4. Yertle the Turtle “Yertle the Turtle” follows the story of Yertle who demands that all the other turtles stack themselves on top of each other, so he can survey the land. Mack, at the bottom of the stack, is tired and asks to rest but Yertle ignores him. Then, Yertle notices the moon and is angry that anything is higher than him and just when he is about to get more turtles under his stack, Mack burps. The movement causes the whole stack to collapse, freeing all the turtles. Dr Seuss said that Yertle was a representation of Hitler. 5. And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street The first of Dr Seuss’ books was rejected 27 times according to Guy McLain of the Springfield Museum in the writer’s hometown. It was when Dr Seuss bumped into a friend who’d just been hired by a publishing house that the book was finally published. "He said if he had been walking down the other side of the street," McLain told NPR, "he probably would never have become a children's author." What is your favourite Dr Seuss book?

Books

This fascinating festival celebrates yesteryear

A remarkable, rare piece of vintage machinery will be the star attraction at February’s Harvest Rally held inWairarapa, New Zealand. Those of a certain generation may remember seeing the Foden Steam Wagon carrying metal for roads, firewood for families and wool from the farm to awaiting trains at the railway station in Wairarapa. For almost three decades, the six ton, C-type wagon with a four and a half nominal horse power compound engine and three way hydraulic hoist (meaning the deck could tip backwards and sideways) was a familiar sight in the region. It was cheap to run, when coal was only three shillings and six pence a hundredweight, but in 1958 it left Masterton, the region’s largest town, after being brought by a private collector. After a 60 year absence, the wagon which has since been completely restored and painted bright yellow will be the star attraction at the Wairarapa Vintage Machinery Club’s Harvest Rally, a fun, family-friendly event held every four years. Allan Familton, the owner of the Foden, says tractors, stationary engines as well as farming memorabilia at the Harvest Rally being held at the Clareville Showgrounds over Waitangi Weekend 2018 (February 3 and 4). <img width="498" height="245" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7267544/foden-steam-wagon-image_498x245.jpg" alt="Foden Steam Wagon Image"/> The rare Foden Steam Wagon will return the Wairarapa in February following a 60-year absence. “I’m really excited about bringing the wagon back home and can imagine the response from people attending the Rally will be incredible,” says Mr Familton. “Those of a certain generation may remember seeing this when it was based out of Cornwall Street in Masterton between 1925 to 1958, and may even have photos in their albums at home of it at various street parades. It’s a rare piece of machinery – in fact the only working one of its type in New Zealand.” Mr Familton, a self-described steam engine enthusiast based near Christchurch, always had an interest in the Foden and knows its history intimately. It was manufactured by Edwin Foden-Sons & Co, of Elworth Works, Sandbach in England and imported by John McLachlan in 1925. For almost three decades it was based in Masterton before being sold for 400 pounds to George Gilltrap, who ran a museum in Rotorua. The Gilltrap’s Museum later shifted to Surfers Paradise in Australia, later purchased by Reg Shuster of Brisbane. During this time, the Foden underwent an extensive rebuild and was painted yellow before being put up for sale in 2013. “I’d seen a lot of photos of the wagon and knew it was a New Zealand vehicle. I always was interested in getting my hands on it as I think it was one of 10 that came to New Zealand and had a rich history,” says Mr Familton. “By a strange stroke of luck it came up in an auction in Australia when I was looking for it, so I brought it.” Since owning the wagon Mr Familton has carried out further mechanical restoration and made it more like it was when it came out of the works in England. “Only people who have been to England or Australia would have seen one of these running so to have it at the Wairarapa Vintage Harvest Rally will be just so, so special,” says Mr Familton. <img width="500" height="375" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7267545/harvest-festival-horses_500x375.jpg" alt="Harvest Festival Horses"/> Visitors to the 2018 Wairarapa Vintage Harvest Rally will be able to see how wheat was harvested 100 years ago with man power and horse power with magnificent draft horses. Mike Slater, the vice-president of the Wairarapa Vintage Machinery Club and convenor of the Harvest Rally, says the two day event will be a celebration of yester-year. He says people will be able to see how wheat was harvested 100 years ago with man power and horse power with magnificent draft horses harvest a wheat crop with a binder and the 1890 Clayton Shuttleworth mill working. There will also be static and working displays of vintage machinery, a showcase of local crafts and at the conclusion of each day, a spectacular grand finale display with vintage fire engines. Food and drinks will also available on site. “This event is only held every four years and attracts people from all around New Zealand,” says Mr Slater. “It’s terrific to see and gives people a fascinating glimpse into our past and how things used to be harvested and how machinery used to work.” Details: What: Wairarapa Vintage Machinery Club’s Harvest Rally Where: Clareville Showgrounds When: 9am – 4pm, Waitangi Weekend – Feb 3 and 4, 2018 Cost: Adults $10, Children under 15 free Free all-day parking For more information visit www.wairarapanz.com/harvestrally Other events happening in the Wairarapa this February: <ul> <li>3 Feb – <a href="http://www.martinboroughfair.org.nz" target="_blank">The Martinborough Fair.</a> New Zealand made goods, fresh produce and delicious food stalls make up this fantastic summer market that radiates out from the Martinborough Town Square. </li> <li>3-4 Feb – Wairarapa Vintage Harvest Rally. A&P Showgrounds, Clareville, Carterton.</li> <li>6 Feb – Interislander Summer Festival of horse racing at Tauherenikau Race Course. Pack a picnic and get set for a day of thrilling racing action, free kids entertainment and live music. Estimated start of first race is 12.50pm. Admission: Adults $20, under 18 free.</li> <li>9 Feb – <a href="http://www.eventfinda.co.nz" target="_blank">The Black Seeds and Kings</a> perform at the Masterton Summer Concert, Solway Showgrounds Masterton. </li> <li>17 Feb – The Masterton A&P Society Show. The Solway Showgrounds. </li> <li>17 – 18 Feb –Enjoy the smell of rubber burning and catch exciting racing at the <a href="http://www.mastertonmotorplex.co.nz" target="_blank">Masterton Motorplex</a> with the “Auckland Invasion – IHRA round. </li> <li>24 Feb – <a href="http://www.tuihq.co.nz" target="_blank">Race to the Brewery.</a> A multisport race from Palmerston North to Tui Brewery in Mangatainoka. </li> </ul> Image credit: Katie Farman

International Travel

The fascinating secrets behind 4 of your favourite books

Books have the power to make us laugh, make us cry and make us think, but often there’s more to our favourite novels than meets the eye. Here, we take a look at some of the fascinating stories surrounding some of our all-time favourite books. 1. The Pale Horse by Agatha Christie You might expect to learn a thing or two from a classic novel, but you never think that knowledge might one day save a life. That’s exactly what happened in 1977, when a 19-month-old girl <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1977/06/24/agatha-christie-to-the-rescue/d1c53130-0885-4f2e-a1f1-0143db81244e/?utm_term=.36892b45a78b" target="_blank">arrived at a London hospital</a> with a condition doctors weren’t able to identify. At the time, one of the girl’s nurses was reading Agatha Christie’s The Pale Horse and upon reading the author’s description of thallium poisoning, she instantly recognised the girl’s symptoms. As a result of her quick identification, doctors were able to save the girl’s life. 2. Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury The title of Bradbury’s famous dystopian novel is believed to be a reference to the temperature at which paper catches fire and burns. The number was right, but not the unit – fire burns at 451 degrees Celsius, not Fahrenheit. It was an honest mistake – the fire security specialist Bradbury had consulted while working on the novel had confused the two temperature scales. 3. Les Misérables by Victor Hugo Hugo was on holidays when Les Misérables was published, so naturally wanted to check in to see how it was going. The author sent a single-character telegram to his publisher: a question mark – “?”. Their response? An exclamation mark – “!” – to indicate the book’s success. 4. Casino Royale by Ian Fleming Fleming began writing his first Bond book while travelling in Jamaica, where he spent much of his time birdwatching. It was at this time that he came across a book titled Birds of the West Indies by American ornithologist, James Bond. According to Fleming, that name was just what he needed – “brief, unromantic, Anglo-Saxon, and yet very masculine.” If you look closely in the 20th Bond film, Die Another Day, you can see the fictional Bond examining the real Bond’s ornithology book while in Havana, Cuba.

Books

Fascinating map reveals which countries have the most trouble sleeping

Have you ever lied awake in bed, <a href="http://www.oversixty.com.au/health/caring/2017/03/tips-to-improve-sleep/" target="_blank">wishing you could fall asleep</a>, but your brain simply won’t shut off? No matter how desperately tired you are, you can’t stop thinking about even the most random things, both petty and deep. What happens when we sleep? What am I going to do this weekend? What are other people around the world doing right now? Well, as <a href="https://www.hillarys.co.uk/the-sleep-loss-map/" target="_blank">a smart new map</a> reveals, you’re not alone. At the time of writing, 225,917 of our international friends were in the exact same position over a 24-hour period, tossing and turning, trying to get that elusive shut-eye. The Sleep Loss Map, designed by UK home interiors company Hillarys, analyses Twitter users’ tweets related to sleeplessness and plots their location on the map, giving us a real-time view of which countries are struggling the most to get some sleep. Among the top five nations with the highest numbers of insomniacs are the US, Brazil, Argentina, UK and Mexico. According to Hillarys, the map was designed to help insomniacs feel less alone. “There’s something about being unable to sleep at night that makes everyone else in the world seem so far away,” a spokesperson Tara Hall told the <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-4256198/Interactive-map-reveals-people-struggling-sleep.html" target="_blank">Daily Mail</a>. “But that’s far from the case. As the Sleep Loss Map shows, not being able to sleep affects most people at times, from the neighbours to strangers in Australia.” The map also includes tips to help people get a better night’s rest, facts about sleeping, and even a helpful animated graphic for people to sync their breathing to, relaxing them and making sleep easier. What methods of beating insomnia have you found effective? Share your story with us in the comments below.

Mind

The fascinating history behind these Australian heritage homes

From the outside, these Australian properties might look like average houses but the history behind them is fascinating. 1. Coburg, Victoria This property was once the prison where Ned Kelly was incarcerated. The former prison cells are an exciting lifestyle opportunity that is also conveniently close to the city. 2. Redbank, Queensland This house appears to be just a normal colonial home but it was once the Redbank police station. The property still has the original men’s cell lock-up. Former Governor-General Bill Hayden also lived at this house in the late 1950s when he was stationed in Redbank. 3. Mount Torrens, South Australia This 100-year-old solid stone property is now a spacious family home. For the majority of its lifetime, however, it was the local general store. The lounge room was once the dining room of a popular restaurant. The house has been restored and a new bike track has been added near the property. 4. Cooks Hill, New South Wales This property in the centre of Newcastle was the family home of Arnott’s founder, William Arnott. This house was built for William and his family in the 1870s. Although it has been modernised, it still has a stunning Victorian façade. 5. Kew, Victoria This magnificent estate has a solar-heated pool, gym, library and two tennis courts available to those living it its townhouses and apartments. However, from 1871-1988 the Willsmere Estate was a psychiatric hospital. It was one of the largest psychiatric hospitals built in Australia and treated patients who were classified as insane.

Home & Garden

Fascinated orangutan tries to taste bubbles

Chelsea the Bornean orangutan from Henry Vilas Zoo in Madison, Wisconsin has had quite the morning, investigating the source of some mysterious bubbles just like a curious child would. And, we have to say, it looks like she’s having the time of her life. The video, posted to Facebook last week, has attracted more than 13,000 views, with one commenter pointing out, “they are so human like. How many of us tried to catch bubbles?” Credit: Henry Vilas Zoo via Storyful Related links: <a href="/news/news/2017/02/oddball-warrnambool-penguin-protector-dies-at-15/">Oddball, the Warrnambool penguin protector, has died aged 15</a> <a href="/news/news/2017/02/zookeeper-valentines-day-kisses-from-koalas/">Zookeeper receives Valentine’s Day kisses from two cute koalas</a> <a href="/news/news/2017/02/man-stops-traffic-to-help-a-swan-get-back-home/">Man stops traffic to help a swan get back home</a>

News

Fascinating video shows how giant cruise ships are constructed

Cruising is one of the most luxurious ways to travel and anyone who’ve ever been lucky enough to go on a cruise ship would agree that these ships are incredible pieces of machinery. But what goes into making one of these ocean vessels? Quite a bit of work, as it turns out. In the video above, filmed over the course of five years by time-lapse specialists MKtimelapse, we see the construction of the AIDAprima, a giant cruise liner with a gross tonnage of 124,500t, 1,643 staterooms and a capacity of 3,300 passengers. The footage is simply incredible. You really get a sense of the size and scale of the project, and how much coordination goes into to making these ships. What did you think of the video? Do you have a cruise lined up for your future, and if so where are you planning to go? Let us know in the comments. Video credit: YouTube / Neotorious Cruises Related links: <a href="/travel/cruising/2016/05/5-things-you-must-do-to-avoid-seasickness-on-a-cruise/">5 things you MUST do to avoid seasickness on a cruise</a> <a href="/travel/cruising/2016/05/10-things-you-must-never-do-in-a-cruise-cabin/">10 things you must never do in a cruise cabin</a> <a href="/travel/cruising/2016/05/po-ships-first-new-zealand-cruise/">P&O’s first cruise around New Zealand</a>

Cruising

Fascinating facts about carnivorous plants

Most people can remember the time in their childhood when they discovered the existence of the Venus flytrap. With their razor sharp “teeth” it really looked like they could eat people! (They cannot, by the way). Carnivorous plants have long been an object fascination but how much of the popular imaginations are true? We find out. What is a carnivorous plant? Carnivorous plants are called so when a plant gets some or most of its nutrients from attracting, capturing and digesting small animals, usually insects and bugs but sometimes small rodents and frogs. There are more than 600 species and subspecies of carnivorous plants. How did they evolve? Common to all carnivorous plants is a lack of nutrients in the environment they live. Through time, the plants evolved to trap prey and extract nutrients so they could survive. How do they catch pray? There are several different mechanisms plants use to trap their food. 1. The pitfall trap The simplest of traps, the pitfall uses a bucket-like receptacle containing a pool of digestive enzymes or bacteria that prey fall or slip into. <img width="500" height="510" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/11072/pitcher-plant_500x510.jpg" alt="Pitcher Plant" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/> 2. The sticky “flypaper” trap The most common of traps, these plants have sticky substances on their leaf blades and other parts that trap prey. The plants are often brightly coloured with glistening droplets to lure prey in. <img src="http://33.media.tumblr.com/217b4d3038d8f27512a82dfd62056c28/tumblr_myu1h7pz1H1rpe379o1_500.gif" class="photo" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/> 3. The bladder traps These plants have small bladder-like organs that “suck” in prey.<img width="357" height="268" src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/vqVL92uq1OE/hqdefault.jpg" class="irc_mi" style="margin-top: 17px; display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/> 4. The corkscrew trap These plants are found in wet environments and have a slit-like entrance to a hollow tunnel with inward-pointing hairs. This allows the prey to proceed in one direction only – towards the digestive organ. <img width="400" height="379" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/11074/genlisea-violacea.jpg" alt="Genlisea Violacea" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/> 5. The snap traps The most dramatic example of the trapping mechanism, these plants’ leaves have evolved to resemble a snap trap, with a fold in the middle, trapping teeth on the edge and trigger hairs and digestive glands on the leaf blade. <img width="488" height="400" src="http://www.gifwave.com/media/20375_nature-eat-frog-plants-venus-flytrap.gif" alt="Nature eat frog plants venus flytrap gif" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/>

Home & Garden

Over 60

News

Shop

Catalogues

Travel

Health

Lifestyle

Finance

Entertainment

Property

Information

Keep up to date

Search

13 fascinating facts about the world’s oceans

New study reveals fascinating fact about gender balance in books

Trivia test: how many of these fascinating facts do you know?

Ellen DeGeneres reveals fascinating new details about baby Archie

Discover the fascinating history behind 6 superstitions

10 fascinating wedding traditions from around the world

7 annoying habits and the fascinating scientific reasons for them

The fascinating life of Whitney Houston

4 fascinating facts about Turkey

It's never too late: How I ran away with the circus

5 fascinating pollination facts

Fascinating facts behind Dr Seuss’ most popular stories

This fascinating festival celebrates yesteryear

The fascinating secrets behind 4 of your favourite books

Fascinating map reveals which countries have the most trouble sleeping

The fascinating history behind these Australian heritage homes

Fascinated orangutan tries to taste bubbles

Fascinating video shows how giant cruise ships are constructed

Fascinating facts about carnivorous plants