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“My smartphone is turning me into a zombie”

I recently had a terrifying revelation. I realised I was already a zombie, and I didn't even know it. None of us do, because we're too busy being held captive by the technology that was meant to set us free. When Alexander Graham Bell patented the blower back in 1876, naysayers predicted it would destroy civilised society. They were about 150 years and 20,000 generations of device off, but now the telephone's bastard cousin, the smartphone, is turning us all into red-eyed dullards. Zombies are everywhere. They're at the park with their kids, glancing up occasionally to offer a weak grunt of encouragement (after they've Instagrammed and Facebook-lived "Saturday's super-fun park trip! #allthelols #lovethislittleguy"). They're at the bus stop, lurching angrily behind the bus after it drove past because no-one looked up to wave it down. Some of them were probably at the table with you at lunch, staring vacantly at the object in their palms, replying stupidly to your half-heard conversation. The other day I stopped to answer a text on the steps at Auckland Art Gallery. I usually would not think twice before stopping on the street to check my phone. But this time I got an eerie feeling. I glanced up to see two people to either side of me, and one a couple of metres in front, standing stock-still. We were heads-down, mid-step, frozen. We had hit pause on real life. Sometimes, I'm at my computer on my email and I will click on the Gmail icon on my smartphone to check the mail I'm already reading. I feel my phone vibrating in my pocket when it's not ringing. I check it then I want to check it again almost immediately. I try not to use it in front of my toddler, but it is hard. And compared to my friends, my smartphone usage is not abnormal. It's probably bordering on low. Studies <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5076301/" target="_blank">on smartphone usage</a> have found addiction is linked to depression, anxiety, sleep disturbance, and stress. Some signs of addictive behaviour are: "uncontrollable use, in addition to feelings of intense desire or irresistible need, loss of control, inattention to usual activities, the focalisation of interests on the behaviour or activity of interest, the persistence of the behaviour despite its negative effects, and the irritability and malaise associated with abstinence." There's no real data on how common addiction is, because the field of study is so new. But it's pretty obvious, right? Just look around. This week I deleted the Facebook and Twitter apps from my smartphone. I've started bringing a book on the bus. I'm considering making a <a href="https://www.ft.com/content/01ba2970-9e70-11e5-8ce1-f6219b685d74" target="_blank">deliberate switch</a> back to a regular cell phone. I want my kid to know me, not some diluted version. And if some zombies come at me, I'll need my hands free to save him. Written by Michelle Duff. First appeared on <a href="http://www.stuff.co.nz/" target="_blank">Stuff.co.nz</a>.

Technology

5 signs you've stepped into a dodgy restaurant

Here are five signs you’ve stepped into a dodgy restaurant. 1. It’s completely empty It is a brave diner who walks into a completely empty restaurant… This doesn’t necessarily apply if you are in a remote town or a really quiet suburb, but if there’s one restaurant in the middle of a busy strip that has no customers, it’s probably for a good reason. 2. It’s obviously a tourist trap This follows on from point one – it’s much easier to fob a bad restaurant off on tourists. Locals will be burned once and not go back again, but you can draw in a lot of one-time visitors who won’t have to come back. It’s quite easy to spot a restaurant that’s geared just to tourists. Look out for tacky decorations, local ‘themes’, garish drinks specials or the absence of any local diners. 3. Everything looks dirty It’s a pretty simple equation – we like to eat in places that are clean. And if the dining room or bathrooms are obviously dirty, then you don’t even want to imagine what the kitchen looks like. A restaurant should look and smell clean and fresh all throughout. Look for dirty marks on the walls, questionable cutlery or a floor that looks like it’s never seen a broom. 4. There are no prices on the menu Recently, a number of tourists have complained about being ripped off in decent restaurants because there are no prices. This usually happens in countries where they don’t speak the language, and the waiters will rattle off a list of dishes, assure them everything will be reasonably priced and then bring out tonnes of food. At the end, the unhappy customer is presented with a very large bill that they may not even be able to decipher. Make sure you know exactly what you’re getting into. 5. The staff seem disinterested in you When you walk into a restaurant, it’s nice to be greeted with a friendly ‘hello’ (or ‘bonjour’ or ‘ciao’ or ‘ni hau’) and shown to a table. If the staff barely look up when you walk in the door, there’s a good chance you’re in for a substandard experience. The staff should be attentive and helpful (though not over the top), and give you the impression that they actually like working there. Good service can elevate an average restaurant to a great one. Have you ever been to a dodgy restaurant?

Travel Tips

Photo of ghost-like figure spotted during full moon

Residents from Mexico have sent many into confusion after posting a video of a strange light formation they spotted over the Gulf of California. Yasmin Duarte Valenzuela posted a video and photos of the eerie sight on Facebook and has already amassed over 63,000 views. <div id="fb-root"></div> <div class="fb-post" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/100006467960955/posts/2353439044881671/" data-width="500" data-show-text="true"> <blockquote class="fb-xfbml-parse-ignore"> Alguien me puede decir que es eso?🤔😱♥️ y después se quito 😳 Los barriles bcs. Haydee Duartte Posted by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/dulceyasmin.duartevalenzuela">Yasmin Duarte Valenzuela</a> on <a href="https://en-gb.facebook.com/dulceyasmin.duartevalenzuela/posts/2353439044881671">Sunday, 6 August 2017</a></blockquote> </div> Yasmin said the light hovered next to the moon for a while until it went away. What do you think of this video? Do you think it's a ghost? Let us know in the comments below.

News

Save money by knowing which airport to fly into

Chances are when booking a flight, you already use some sort of online comparison tool to find the best price. But you might be surprised to know, depending on which city you’re headed to, you can save a little extra by flying into the right airport. <a href="http://www.cheapflights.com.au" target="_blank">Cheapflights.com.au</a> has provided a rundown of the destinations where you can save by choosing the right airport. To see the results, scroll through the gallery above. A few extra hundred dollars here or there is nothing to sneeze at! And, as anyone who’s stepped onto the tarmac at Avalon Airport would agree, the right airport choice can make a big difference to the start or end of your trip. Have you ever been to any of the airports listed?

Travel Tips

6 stunning ports of call to cruise into

There is no better feeling than entering a port and having your breath be taken away by the views that surround you. Here are six ports of call that have left us speechless. 1. Santorini, Greece The Greek island of Santorini is so picture perfect that it will leave you rubbing your eyes in disbelief. And the best way to see it in its full glory is to arrive by ship. Shiny white sugar-cube houses topped with bold blue domes tumble down the side of the island, surrounded by the dramatic peaks of the volcanic caldera. All of that is circled by the crystal clear waters of the Aegean Sea. You’ll fall in love. 2. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Sailing into port under the watchful eye of Christ the Redeemer is an experience you will never forget. Rio is one of the world’s most fascinating cities, but the drive from the airport is singularly unimpressive. The cruise port, however, is just outside the city centre and you’ll sail into Guanabara Bay past by golden beaches, glamorous yachts bobbing in marinas and the curved peak of Sugarloaf Mountain. 3. Hjorundfjord, Norway Sailing through the fjords of Norway is a bucket list experience for every cruiser and they are dotted with towns and villages each more charming than the last. The Hjorundfjord is one of the longest in the country, running for 35 kilometres from the sea through steep rock walls and green mountains, past isolated farms and tiny fishing villages. Ships stop in the harbour of Urke for passengers to explore this remarkable destination. 4. St Thomas, US Virgin Islands The Caribbean is the most popular cruise destination in the world and is home to an endless series of beautiful island ports. St Thomas is something special, with a huge natural harbour surrounded by soaring mountains. At night, the town lights up with thousands of sparkling lights, looking like a glittering string of diamonds. Look out for the well-preserved Danish colonial architecture of the capital, Charlotte Amelie. 5. Hong Kong Hong Kong’s Victoria Harbour is a fascinating mix of old and new, with futuristic skyscrapers towering over traditional red-sailed junks floating on the water. The city is backed by the lush green slopes of The Peak and the water hums with passenger ferries, cruise ships and zipping water taxis. You won’t be able to take your eyes away from your window. 6. New York, USA The New York City skyline is instantly recognisable – you’ve seen it in just about every movie and TV show ever made. So you’ll feel an eerie sense of homecoming when you pull into the harbour, right beside the feet of Lade Liberty, even if you’ve never been before. It’s especially stunning at night, when the skyscrapers are lit up in a rainbow of colours. Have you ever visited any of these ports? Let us know in the comments below.

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