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How do I tell my kids we are currently short on money – without freaking them out?

<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/rachael-sharman-96073">Rachael Sharman</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-the-sunshine-coast-1068">University of the Sunshine Coast</a> I was a teenager during Australia’s 1990s “<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/business/2019/nov/17/remembering-the-recession-the-1990s-experience-changed-my-view-of-the-world">recession we had to have</a>”, and remember clearly a friend asking his dad for some money to go to the movies. With equal parts frustration and resignation, the dad explained he’d been retrenched and wasn’t certain employment was on the horizon in his near future. So he really didn’t have any spare money for cinema tickets. Rather than being scary or upsetting, as rather clueless teenagers this felt like something of a lightbulb moment. Many kids learn about their parents financial difficulties this way. Something they’ve always been able to have is suddenly denied them. The penny drops. But it’s not easy talking to your kids about the cost-of-living crunch. Many fear worrying their kids or leaving them with a lifelong “scarcity mindset”, where a person is forever cursed with a feeling spending money is always wrong. So how can parents communicate the financial realities to their children? And how might the messaging be different with younger kids versus teens? <h2>For younger kids, keep things calm and simple</h2> Most primary-aged children are oblivious to macro conditions outside their home and immediate community. They haven’t yet developed the ability to put sudden changes into perspective. The key here is not to have your own anxieties rub off on your kids. Children this age look to their parents as beacons of information and will very much <a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2794157">mirror</a> any fear or anxiety you express. They may even blow things out of proportion. Keeping things calm and simple is key. Provide a basic explanation that things cost money, and you don’t have as much money as normal right now, so as a family there are certain things you just can’t afford. Very young children can be relentlessly narcissistic in their outlook – this is developmentally normal. They might even demand you work more or harder so they can afford their desired items and activities. The best you can do is laugh it off and offer to try – but explain that for now, the kids will have to come up with something else to do. Consider a plan to substitute their previous activities with free ones. For example, explain they can’t play their usual sport this season, but you are going to head to the local park every week to kick the ball around and have a picnic instead. <h2>Ask teens for their opinions and ideas</h2> Depending on their intrinsic interest in the news and understanding of maths, finance and economics, a sudden and unexpected drop in finances may also come as a shock to teenagers. But at around 12 years of age, children undergo somewhat of an explosion in <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3621648/">frontal lobe function</a>. Their capacity to comprehend and process even complex information increases quite markedly. So teens may not only understand your current situation, but be able to help out. Giving teens a “role” to play in assisting the family builds a sense of competence and offers a team-based problem-solving approach to the emotional concerns they may be feeling. In other words, they’ll feel less powerless. This approach is underpinned by what psychologists and researchers call “<a href="https://selfdeterminationtheory.org/theory/">self-determination theory</a>”. This well-studied concept posits that most humans have an innate need to: <ul> <li> experience and demonstrate autonomy (making your own choices, acting on your own volition) </li> <li> competence (feeling like you’re good at something, have achieved something worthwhile) </li> <li> relatedness (working well with others, especially people important to you). </li> </ul> So working as a team towards a common goal is a great way for a family to pull together and help each others’ mental wellbeing. Discuss with your teens what activities, events and items might need to go on the backburner or be discontinued. And don’t forget, teens have a very well-honed hypocrisy radar – there’s no point suggesting they cut back on recreational activities, for example, if you are not willing to do the same. Use this as an opportunity to discuss the difference between “wants” and “needs” and ask them to sort family spending into those categories. Discuss points of disagreement calmly. Ask your teens to brainstorm ways to improve your financial efficiency – and help you in doing so. They might enjoy coming up with ideas such as grocery shopping with a strict meal plan in cheaper stores, looking for specials, riding or walking to school where possible, getting a part time job or helping out with childcare. Rather than fixating on what we have to go without, work with your teenagers to come up with proactive ideas on what you can do differently. Frame it as working together to achieve the same aim. Teach your kids there can be challenges in life, but how you go about managing them is the key. This will help them develop into resilient adults.<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/208008/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/rachael-sharman-96073">Rachael Sharman</a>, Senior Lecturer in Psychology, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-the-sunshine-coast-1068">University of the Sunshine Coast</a> Image credits: Getty Images This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/how-do-i-tell-my-kids-we-are-currently-short-on-money-without-freaking-them-out-208008">original article</a>.

Money & Banking

Short naps can improve memory

Rather than distracting you from the task at hand, naps can improve your memory function, a new sleep study has found. Scientists at the Saarland University in Germany have found that taking a 45 to 60 minute power nap can boost a persons’ memory by up to five-fold. The study, published in the journal Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, showed participants 90 words and 120 unrelated word pairs. The group was then split into two: one group took a nap and the other group watched a DVD. When the participants were tested again, the group who had napped were able to remember the words as accurately as they could after they learn them. Professor Axel Mecklinger, who supervised the study, said: “A short nap at the office or in school is enough to significantly improve learning success. Wherever people are in a learning environment, we should think seriously about the positive effects of sleep.” He added: “Even a short sleep lasting 45 to 60 minutes produces a five-fold improvement in information retrieval from memory.” Image credit: Shutterstock Related links: <a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/health/mind/2015/12/positive-thinking-and-mental-health/">Can positive thinking improve your mental health?</a> <a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/health/mind/2015/12/health-benefits-of-turmeric/">Turmeric boosts mood and mind</a> <a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/health/mind/2015/12/definition-of-happiness-changes-with-age/">Your definition of happiness changes with age</a>

Mind

9 medical reasons your short-term memory is getting worse

What is short-term memory? Short-term memory is the type of memory you need to accomplish your immediate goals, explains Dr Patrick Lyden, chair of the department of neurology at Cedars-Sinai Hospital. That may be working your way through tasks during the workday, remembering someone’s name, email, or phone number, or recalling where you tossed your keys when you got home. Where is it located in the brain? When someone rattles off their phone number, you file it away in brain circuits that include the hippocampus (your memory centre) and the amygdala (your emotional hub). Depending on how important the short-term memory item may be (your address, someone you call all the time), it can be converted into long-term memory, says Dr Lyden. How does short-term memory work? Short-term memory isn’t just about being able to quickly recall new info; there are three phases. “You have to register the information, store the information, and retrieve the information,” says Dr Lyden. Registering means that you’re paying attention in the first place. Storing the info means you’ve filed it away in your brain. Retrieval is the ability to access the memory again. Any of these steps can break down, he says. Is your memory okay? Many people assume they have a memory problem when the explanation is something else entirely, says Dr Lyden. Maybe you’re not paying attention because you’re gazing at your phone or texting, for example. The first step to figuring out if something is going on is to “pay closer attention,” he says. Repeat the new information three times to commit it to memory. When it may be time to worry If you can’t pass the “pay attention test” despite repeating the information, your next step, advises Dr Lyden, is to determine if your problem is storing new memories or retrieving them. If you’re having a problem remembering a new acquaintance’s name, ask them to give you three choices – like Carrie, Lauren, or Janet. If your problem is storing new memories, you won’t be able to remember. But if your problem is retrieval, you’ll remember that her name is Janet once you hear the correct name. Having trouble with retrieving a short-term memory isn’t as serious as being unable to store them. “The storage problem is a serious problem, and you should see a neurologist,” he says. Inactivity Blood flow is good for your brain – it keeps it young. “Exercising boosts blood flow to your brain. If you stay active, you’ll have a better memory,” says Dr Daniel G. Amen, author of Memory Rescue: Supercharge Your Brain, Reverse Memory Loss, and Remember What Matters Most. Dr Lyden suggests daily exercise and it doesn’t have to be intense. “A one-kilometre run daily is better than a 10-kilometre run one day a week,” he says. Substance abuse According to Dr Amen, marijuana a toxin that impairs memory. “Marijuana lowers every area of the brain and ages it. On average, pot smokers have brains three years older than non-smokers,” he says. Alcohol abuse can also harm your memory. Mental health conditions People tend to miss their own depression. But if you’re suffering from depression, anxiety, or chronic stress, get help or your memory can also pay the price. “These conditions may all hurt the brain,” says Dr Amen. Getting relief will not only improve your life and outlook but save your brain. Lack of sleep When considering short-term memory loss causes, poor sleep is a big one. “If you don’t sleep seven hours a night or more, you’ll be in trouble. Your brain cleans itself at night. When you don’t get enough, it’s like the garbage collectors didn’t come to clean up,” says Dr Amen. Dementia Before you panic, there’s some good news: “The vast majority of people who are healthy will not have a degenerative neurological condition causing short-term memory loss,” says Dr Lyden. But dementia or Alzheimer’s is a possibility in some groups. If you’re over 60 and have risk factors like diabetes, high blood pressure, or obesity, then you may be more prone to problems and need to be evaluated, he says. Medication If you lead a healthy lifestyle, eat right, exercise, and go easy on alcohol and other substances that can harm memory, yet you still feel like your memory if failing, talk to your doctor about your medications – prescription and over-the-counter, advises Dr Lyden. Cholesterol drugs, painkillers, high blood pressure pills, and sleeping pills are among the drugs that can trigger memory issues. Hypothyroidism When you have an under-active thyroid, everything in your body runs slower. Your digestion will slow and you can become constipated; cell growth slows and can lead to hair loss; your metabolism becomes sluggish, triggering weight gain. And you may be plagued by muddied thinking or forgetfulness. Often, medication to restore thyroid hormones can help alleviate symptoms and help you feel better all over. A poor diet Inflammation is bad for your body and your brain. “The higher the inflammation levels in your body, the worse your memory will be,” says Dr Amen. Eating an anti-inflammatory diet, like the Mediterranean diet, and avoiding foods that increase it (highly processed foods, loads of sugar) is key. He also recommends taking fish oil and probiotics. Lyme disease Lyme disease is transmitted through a tick bite, and causes early symptoms like fever, chills, headache, and fatigue, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Later on, without treatment, some people also may notice short-term memory problems. Dr Amen points out this may include trouble with attention, focus, and organisation. Keep in mind that the types of tick that carry the bacteria are not native to Australia and it’s not likely you can catch Lyme disease in Australia. When to seek help Along with the self-test mentioned earlier, think about how you perceive your short-term memory. Ask yourself: Is it getting progressively worse? Is it worse than 10 years ago? Are other people noticing a problem? “Those are things you should take seriously,” says Dr Amen. Image credits: Getty Images This article originally appeared on <a href="https://www.readersdigest.co.nz/healthsmart/9-medical-reasons-your-short-term-memory-is-getting-worse-2?pages=1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reader's Digest</a>.

Mind

Life is too short - it's time to choose a Life List over a Bucket List

Author Kate Christie has rejected the idea of creating a Bucket List and instead has had a mental shift that allows her to now fully embrace the joy of creating a Life List. Here’s why… A month after I turned 50 my ex-husband was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Eleven months later he was gone. He was 54. He left behind our three beautiful children to try to come to terms with a chasmal loss that they don’t yet fully appreciate. Life is too short. With the diagnosis of a terminal illness there is no hope. There is just a decline - sometimes slow and sometimes devastatingly quick, where you have to bear witness to the process of death. You are forced to grieve the loss of someone before they have even gone. It is brutal and life changing. The paramount decision I made after my husband’s death was to stop putting ‘life’ off until later on the assumption that I have all the time in the world. I rejected the idea of creating a Bucket List and instead I have fully embraced the joy of creating a Life List. What is a Life List and why choose it over a Bucket List? A Life List is a long list of everything you want to achieve or experience while you are still young enough to fully achieve, experience, and enjoy it. It is the exact opposite of a Bucket List - which is generally defined as a list of the things you would like to experience before you die — that is, before you ‘kick the bucket’. It’s time to embrace a Life List over a Bucket List if: • You are not focused almost exclusively on travel and adventure. What about everything else that’s important to living a many-faceted brilliant life such as learning, being of service to others, and nurturing your relationships? • When it comes to travel, you don’t necessarily want to just experience crazy adventures that might actually hasten you kicking the bucket - such as swimming with sharks dressed in a wetsuit looking like a very edible seal. • You are not simply looking to create a list of obligations — the things you never, ever made time for in your life but which now you need to get through lickety-split and tick them off the list before you die … from exhaustion. • You are not interested in asking: What do I want to do before I die? Instead, you want to ask: What do I want to do while I am still young enough to enjoy it? 3 Steps to Creating Your Own Life List 1. Pick up a pen. The act of writing your Life List will significantly increase your chances of achieving your goals. 2. Include 3 types of goals on your Life List: • Go Big Goals - The big, hairy, outrageous goals that take planning, or are new experiences, or will take you outside your comfort zone (for example, last year I walked The Larapinta Trail in Central Australia; and I have been cold water swimming almost every single morning for 2 years…) • Go Small Goals - Include a range of smaller, life-affirming, inspiring goals that provide the daily fuel that makes your soul sing. Go Small or short-term goals can be implemented in the near future and generally without extensive planning. • Go Now Goals - Seize the day! Engage in acts of spontaneity to keep you on your toes. Because life is too short. It is too short to the point that we need to live it every single day. We need to think deeply about what is most important to us and we need to prioritise those things - today. We need to purposefully plan to invest our time for the greatest possible joy. We need to invest our time in the people we love most. We need to invest our time in creating memories, in being of service to others, in generating happiness and fulfilment and wonder. And we need to start doing this right now. Because later might be too late. Kate Christie’s book ‘The Life List: Master Every Moment and Live an Audacious Life’ is available from Booktopia and Amazon Image credit: Shutterstock

Mind

Subway falls a foot short for one customer

A woman has run into some trouble with her Subway sandwich after taking to it with a measuring tape. The irate customer had been suspicious about the supposed dimensions of her “6-inch sub”, and decided the only thing to do was to find out for herself if she was on to something or not. However, the woman didn’t succeed in putting her fears at rest, instead proving them to be right. The sandwich, advertised as being six inches long, measured up to be just over five. In her annoyance, she told the company that they should be doing better - in her words, “to up your game” - if they expected to be charging extra for what customers weren’t actually receiving. “Usually I wouldn't really care,” she noted, and then explained in some of the world’s most relatable terms, “but I was super hungry today.” To add insult to injury, she also revealed how she’d gotten "one less piece of salami and pepperoni” than usual, and noted that this was simply not up to standard, and that she had inside intel to prove it - her sister had been a Subway manager for years. This wasn’t the first time Subway had run into trouble over the size of their sandwiches - a customer in Australia once took their anger straight to court, going so far as to sue the company in 2013. His photo, posted to Facebook, showed that his footlong sandwich was not the promised 12 inches, but instead 11. That case was settled for a staggering $525,000 (approximately $798,042.00 AUD), and in 2015, Subway introduced new in-store regulations towards ensuring their products measured up, as well as additional disclosures for their consumers. At the time, Subway acknowledged that the media buzz surrounding the case had motivated its decision to settle the case, while the judge was firm in his belief that the smaller sandwiches actually contained no less food in terms of weight. “The settlement acknowledges as much when it says that uniformity in bread length is impossible,” he said, “due to the natural variability of the bread-baking process.” To many, however, this was not - and seemingly never will be - good enough. And to others, it’s a tale as old as time that they’d tired of hearing. “It's clearly a ‘SUBWAY 6 INCH’ and meant as a description rather than a measurement of length,” wrote one fed up individual on yet another related story, this time posted to Reddit. “In that case,” mused another, “there should be a new policy wherein every Subway employee should be required to do air quotes when using the term ‘Footlong’.” Images: Reddit

Food & Wine

Court short over Serena's final flourish

Margaret Court has called out Serena Williams following her retirement after losing against Aussie Alja Tomljanovic. The US tennis champion’s career came to an end after she lost to Ajla Tomljanovic 7-5 6-7 (4-7) 6-1 in the third round of the US Open. This means Court will hold onto her grand slam record that Williams has tried besting for a long time. Despite the win for Court, she didn’t hold back when she called out the US player who she says should have spoken more about her opponent following her loss. “Serena, I’ve admired her as a player, but I don’t think she has ever admired me,” Court told The Telegraph UK. “I thought it was bad that Williams didn’t mention her opponent more when she spoke. “We were taught to be role models for the young, in how we behaved. We were taught to honour our opponent. You learned from your losses. We respected one another.” In her retirement speech, Williams mentioned Court and slammed those who said she doesn’t deserve to be the GOAT (greatest of all time) because of her loss. “There are people who say I’m not the GOAT because I didn’t pass Margaret Court’s record of 24 grand slam titles, which she achieved before the ‘open era’ that began in 1968,” Williams said. “I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want that record. Obviously I do. But day to day, I’m really not thinking about her. If I’m in a grand slam final, then yes, I am thinking about that record. Maybe I thought about it too much, and that didn’t help. “The way I see it, I should have had 30-plus grand slams.” Court went on to single out tennis organisers who she claims completely ignored her at Wimbledon, and the lack of invitations for other big tennis events. “It’s very sad, because a lot of the press and television today, particularly in tennis, don’t want to mention my name,” she said. “It’s only when they have to, because I still hold so many records. In 2020, I was meant to be coming to Wimbledon for the 50th anniversary of my calendar grand slam. “But then Covid hit, so the honour never happened. The French Open didn’t invite me, the US Open didn’t invite me. Rod Laver had won the slam and I was going to be honoured in the same way, but no. “I didn’t lose any sleep over it. But the honour has not been there for what I did do. In my own nation, I have been given titles, but they would still rather not mention me.” Images: Getty

Retirement Life

News of Bali bomb-maker's sentence cut short sparks fury

The bomb-maker behind the devastating 2002 Bali bombings has been released early from Indonesian prison only days after his sentence was reduced by a further five months. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has declared this decision will add trauma to the victims’ families and says his diplomats are lobbying the Indonesian government regarding the reduction. This decision means that Umar Patek, the man who made the explosives that killed 200 people, including 2 kiwis and 88 Aussies in 2002, will have served only half of his original 20-year sentence. Indonesian authorities insist he has been ‘deradicalised’ but Mr Abanese has described him as ‘abhorrent’. The sentence had already been reduced by 18 months on a previous occasion, meaning his total reduction is now one year and 11 months. He would have been eligible for parole in January 2023 after serving two thirds of his sentence. Patek admitted making the suicide vests that went off at Sari Club and Paddy's Pub in Kuta but claimed he did not know what they would be used for. After nine years on the run in the Philippines and Pakistan, he was caught in 2011 and spared the death sentence after co-operating with police and apologising to victims' families. This coming October marks the 20th anniversary of the bombings. Images: Australian National Museum / Getty

Legal

Don’t look a GIF horse in the mouth: Short, shareable animations have been delighting humans for centuries

They are a popular feature of social media and text messaging in 2022, but many people are surprised to discover short sharable animations or videos, like GIFs have been around in digital format for 35 years, but in analogue for nearly two centuries. Today many have become internet memes, added for emphasis, and mostly played on continuous loop. GIFs (short for Graphics Interchange Format) Steve Wilhite, a computer scientist working at CompuServe is <a href="https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/brief-history-gif-early-internet-innovation-ubiquitous-relic-180963543/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">acknowledged as the creator</a> of the Graphics Interchange Format, or GIF in 1987. A GIF is a small image file that can support short animations or videos. GIFs work by stringing together several frames or images into a single file, which plays like a short clip. Compressed they are small file sizes; GIFs are easily shared on email and social media. While most can share in the delight of a well-chosen GIF, there is a long-running heated disagreement over how to pronounce the acronym, tracked <a href="https://time.com/5791028/how-to-pronounce-gif/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">by Time</a> (this COSMOS journalist had been pronouncing GIF with a hard ‘g’, while Wilhite apparently preferred the softer version, like ‘JIF’). But long before the GIF there were various forms of short sharable animation made in analogue. Here we flick through a few. <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-photo is-provider-giphy wp-block-embed-giphy"> <div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> <div class="entry-content-asset"> <div class="embed-wrapper"> <div class="inner"><img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/08/giphy1.gif" alt="" width="500" height="337" /></div> </div> </div> </div><figcaption>Ghost GIF / Credit: Matthias Brown</figcaption></figure> Thaumatropes (from the Greek for ‘wonder turner’) Dating back as early as 1827, a thaumatrope is a two-sided disc which creates a simple animation when spun. The device is a disc with different but related pictures on each side and strings attached at opposite ends. When those strings are wound up tightly, and then released, the disc spins creating a simple animation. While the idea was described and popularised by John Ayrton Paris, the inventor of this wonder turner is not known. Phenakistoscopes (from the Greek for ‘deceitful viewer’) <div class="newsletter-box"> <div id="wpcf7-f6-p202287-o1" class="wpcf7" dir="ltr" lang="en-US" role="form"> </div> </div> In 1832 an analogue form of the modern GIF was made by spinning a circular card on its centre. In that year, two scientists Joseph Plateau from Belgium and Simon von Stampfer from Austria independently created looping animations called phenakistoscopes. The phenakistoscope creates the illusion of moving images by slicing the circle into segments and placing a sequential image at slightly shifting locations within each slice, using vector graphics. Each slice of the circle acts like a frame in an animation. Between each slice is a black radial slit. When the circle is spun on its centre, and its reflection viewed using a mirror, the effect creates the illusion of smoothly moving images like a short, repeating video. Zoetropes (from the Greek for ‘life turn’) Two years later, mathematician William Horner <a href="https://collections.museumsvictoria.com.au/articles/2908" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">created the zoetrope</a>, an idea based on the phenakistoscope but able to be viewed by more than one person at a time. A larger cylinder like a drum has slits cut into the sides for viewing. Strips of sequential images spin inside the cylinder so that the viewer sees one after the other. The technology was popularised by American business magnate, game pioneer and publisher, Milton Bradley in 1866 who sold zoetropes as a toy with replaceable picture strips. Several animation studios have built three-dimensional versions of the zoetrope using sequentially posed figurines instead of pictures. Visitors to the Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI) in Melbourne can experience a <a href="https://www.acmi.net.au/stories-and-ideas/acmis-cuphead-zoetrope-cool/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">3D zoetrope</a> of video game character Cuphead. Meanwhile visitors to the <a href="https://www.ghibli-museum.jp/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ghibli Museum</a> in Tokyo, can see a zoetrope of skipping and running totoros built using figurines from the Studio Ghibli movie My Neighbour Totoro. Find out more about phenakistoscopes and GIFs on the 2022 SCINEMA International Science Film Festival For more on the history and science of the phenakistoscope (and instructions on how to make one) watch the 2022 SCINEMA International Science Film festival entry, Animated GIFS: Celebrating Scientific Genius, by <a href="https://scinema.org.au/register" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">registering</a> to view it for free on the SCINEMA website. Follow the prompts on the email you receive and you’ll find Animated GIFS: Celebrating Scientific Genius in the Animation / Experimental playlist. You can watch all the films until August 31 2022 when the festival ends. <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-photo is-provider-giphy wp-block-embed-giphy"> <div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> <div class="entry-content-asset"> <div class="embed-wrapper"> <div class="inner"><img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/08/giphy-1.gif" alt="" width="480" height="480" /></div> </div> </div> </div><figcaption>GIF based on a phenakistoscope / Credit: Sanni Lahtinen on GIPHY</figcaption></figure> <img id="cosmos-post-tracker" style="opacity: 0; height: 1px!important; width: 1px!important; border: 0!important; position: absolute!important; z-index: -1!important;" src="https://syndication.cosmosmagazine.com/?id=202287&title=Don%26%238217%3Bt+look+a+GIF+horse+in+the+mouth%3A+short%2C+shareable+animations+have+been+delighting+humans+for+centuries" width="1" height="1" /> <div id="contributors"> <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/technology/computing/dont-look-a-gif-horse-in-the-mouth/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">This article</a> was originally published on <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Cosmos Magazine</a> and was written by <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/contributor/petra-stock" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Petra Stock</a>. Petra Stock has a degree in environmental engineering and a Masters in Journalism from University of Melbourne. She has previously worked as a climate and energy analyst. Image: Getty Images </div>

Technology

Spotify’s response to Rogan-gate falls short of its ethical and editorial obligations

Audio streaming giant <a href="https://www.spotify.com/au/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Spotify</a> is getting a crash course in the tension between free speech and the need to protect the public from harmful misinformation.The Swedish-founded platform, which has 400 million active users, has faced a hail of criticism over misinformation broadcast on its <a href="https://variety.com/2021/digital/news/joe-rogan-experience-most-popular-podcast-news-roundup-1235123361/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">most popular podcast</a>, the Joe Rogan Experience.Rogan, a former ultimate fighting commentator and television presenter, has <a href="https://variety.com/2021/digital/news/joe-rogan-anti-vaccine-podcast-spotify-1234961803/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">argued</a> healthy young people should not get a COVID vaccination. This is contrary to medical advice from governments all over the world, not to mention the <a href="https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/covid-19-vaccines/advice" target="_blank" rel="noopener">World Health Organization</a>.A recent episode of his podcast, featuring virologist Robert Malone, drew <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2022/jan/14/spotify-joe-rogan-podcast-open-letter" target="_blank" rel="noopener">criticism from public health experts</a> over its various conspiracist claims about COVID vaccination programs.There were widespread calls for Spotify to deplatform Rogan and his interviewees. Rock legend Neil Young issued an ultimatum that Spotify could broadcast Rogan or Young, but not both.Spotify made its choice: the Joe Rogan Experience is still on the air, while Young’s <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/jan/28/joe-rogan-neil-young-spotify-streaming-service" target="_blank" rel="noopener">music</a> is gone, along with <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-01-29/joni-mitchell-take-songs-off-spotify-solidarity-with-neil-young/100790200" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Joni Mitchell</a> and <a href="https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/nils-lofgren-spotify-neil-young-1292480/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Nils Lofgren</a>, who removed their content in solidarity.Spotify’s responseSpotify co-founder Daniel Ek has since <a href="https://newsroom.spotify.com/2022-01-30/spotifys-platform-rules-and-approach-to-covid-19/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">promised</a> to tag controversial COVID-related content with links to a “hub” containing trustworthy information. But he stopped short of pledging to remove misinformation outright.In a statement, Ek <a href="https://newsroom.spotify.com/2022-01-30/spotifys-platform-rules-and-approach-to-covid-19/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>:<blockquote>We know we have a critical role to play in supporting creator expression while balancing it with the safety of our users. In that role, it is important to me that we don’t take on the position of being content censor while also making sure that there are rules in place and consequences for those who violate them.</blockquote>Does it go far enough?Freedom of expression is important, but so is prevention of harm. When what is being advocated is likely to cause harm or loss of life, a line has been crossed. Spotify has a moral obligation to restrict speech that damages the public interest.In response to the controversy, Spotify also publicly shared its <a href="https://newsroom.spotify.com/2022-01-30/spotify-platform-rules/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">rules of engagement</a>. They are comprehensive and proactive in helping to make content creators aware of the lines that must not be crossed, while allowing for freedom of expression within these constraints. Has Spotify fulfilled its duty of care to customers? If it applies the rules as stated, provides listeners with links to trustworthy information, and refuses to let controversial yet profitable content creators off the hook, this is certainly a move in the right direction.Platform or publisher?At the crux of the problem is the question of whether social media providers are <a href="https://socialmediahq.com/if-social-media-companies-are-publishers-and-not-platforms-that-changes-everything/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">platforms or publishers</a>.Spotify and other Big Tech players claim they are simply providing a platform for people’s opinions. But <a href="https://www.zdnet.com/article/scott-morrison-says-social-media-platforms-are-publishers-if-unwilling-to-identify-users/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">regulators</a> are beginning to say no, they are in fact publishers of information, and like any publisher must be accountable for their content.<figure class="align-center "><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/443600/original/file-20220201-19-1kyj1oy.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" alt="Logos of big tech platforms" /><figcaption>Tech platforms like to claim they’re not publishers. Pixabay, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">CC BY</a></figcaption></figure>Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and other platforms <a href="https://www.brookings.edu/blog/techtank/2021/06/01/addressing-big-techs-power-over-speech/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">have significant power</a> to promote particular views and limit others, thereby influencing millions or even <a href="https://www.statista.com/statistics/264810/number-of-monthly-active-facebook-users-worldwide/#:%7E:text=How%20many%20users%20does%20Facebook,the%20biggest%20social%20network%20worldwide." target="_blank" rel="noopener">billions</a> of users.In the United States, these platforms have immunity from civil and criminal liability under a <a href="https://www.eff.org/issues/cda230" target="_blank" rel="noopener">1996 federal law</a> that shields them from liability as sites that host user-generated content. Being US corporations, their actions are primarily based on US legislation.It is an ingenious business model that allows Facebook, for example, to turn a steady stream of free user-posted content into <a href="https://www.statista.com/statistics/277963/facebooks-quarterly-global-revenue-by-segment/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">US$28 billion in quarterly advertising revenue</a>.Established newspapers and magazines also sell advertising, but they pay journalists to write content and are legally liable for what they publish. It’s little wonder they are <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/apr/24/newspapers-journalists-coronavirus-press-democracy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">struggling</a> to survive, and little wonder the tech platforms are keen to avoid similar responsibilities.But the fact is that social media companies do make editorial decisions about what appears on their platforms. So it is not morally defensible to hide behind the legal protections afforded to them as platforms, when they operate as publishers and reap considerable profits by doing so.How best to combat misinformation?Misinformation in the form of fake news, intentional disinformation and misinformed opinion has become a crucial issue for democratic systems around the world. How to combat this influence without compromising democratic values and free speech?One way is to cultivate “news literacy” – an ability to discern misinformation. This can be done by making a practice of sampling news from across the political spectrum, then averaging out the message to the moderate middle. Most of us confine ourselves to the echo chamber of our preferred source, avoiding contrary opinions as we go.If you are not sampling at least three reputable sources, you’re not getting the full picture. Here are the <a href="https://libguides.ucmerced.edu/news/reputable" target="_blank" rel="noopener">characteristics</a> of a reputable news source.Social media, meanwhile, should invest in artificial intelligence (AI) tools to sift the deluge of real-time content and flag potential fake news. Some progress in this area has been made, but there is room for improvement.The tide is turning for the big social media companies. Governments around the world are formulating laws that will oblige them to be more responsible for the content they publish. They won’t have long to wait.<img style="border: none !important;margin: 0 !important;max-height: 1px !important;max-width: 1px !important;min-height: 1px !important;min-width: 1px !important;padding: 0 !important" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/176022/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/david-tuffley-13731" target="_blank" rel="noopener">David Tuffley</a>, Senior Lecturer in Applied Ethics & CyberSecurity, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/griffith-university-828" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Griffith University</a>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/spotifys-response-to-rogan-gate-falls-short-of-its-ethical-and-editorial-obligations-176022" target="_blank" rel="noopener">original article</a>.Image: Getty Images

Technology

A short history of the Aboriginal Tent Embassy – an indelible reminder of unceded sovereignty

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised this article contains names and images of deceased people. Often people think about the Aboriginal Tent Embassy as something historic, dating back to the 1970s. But it should also be thought of as a site of the longest protest for Indigenous land rights, sovereignty and self-determination <a href="https://www.echo.net.au/2021/10/50-years-of-aboriginal-tent-embassy/">in the world</a>. In fact, this year, the Tent Embassy is set to celebrate its <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/national/blackfishing-alt-right-pushes-to-co-opt-aboriginal-tent-embassy-to-cause-20220105-p59lzj.html">50th continuous year of occupation</a>. Demonstrating its significance to Australian history, it was included on the <a href="https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/6068943/the-aboriginal-tent-embassy-has-been-left-off-the-act-heritage-list/">Commonwealth Heritage List</a> in 2015 as part of the Old Parliament House precinct. In this momentous year, it’s worth remembering how the Tent Embassy came to be and what it has continued to stand for since its erection in 1972 – and the significance it still has today. <h2>Aliens in our own land</h2> The Tent Embassy began its public life on January 26 1972. On that day, Michael Anderson, Billy Craigie, Bertie Williams and Tony Coorey left Redfern and drove to Ngunnawal Country (Canberra), where they planted a beach umbrella opposite Parliament House (now known as Old Parliament House). They erected a sign that said “Aboriginal Embassy”. With them on that day was their driver, Tribune photographer Noel Hazard, who captured the event in a series of photos. <img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/440344/original/file-20220111-15-1n5yt6q.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" alt="" /> The establishment of the Aboriginal Tent Embassy on Australia Day in 1972. National Museum Australia The term “embassy” was used to bring attention to the fact Aboriginal people had never ceded sovereignty nor engaged in any treaty process with the Crown. As a collective, Aboriginal people were the only cultural group not represented with an embassy. According to Aboriginal activist and scholar Gary Foley, the absence of an Aboriginal embassy in Canberra was a blatant indication <a href="https://www.naa.gov.au/learn/learning-resources/learning-resource-themes/first-australians/politics-and-advocacy/activists-aboriginal-tent-embassy-lawns-old-parliament-house">Aboriginal people were treated like aliens in their own land</a>. Initially, the protesters were making a stand about land rights following the then prime minister William McMahon’s speech that <a href="https://law.unimelb.edu.au/about/welcome/mls-indigenous/home/mls-classroom-photo-mural-initiative/classroom-photos/tent-embassy">dismissed any hope for Aboriginal land rights</a> and reasserted the government’s position on the policy of <a href="https://australianstogether.org.au/discover/australian-history/a-white-australia/">assimilation</a>. The Tent Embassy was therefore a public display of our disapproval of and objection to the policies and practices of the government. In later years, it has become an acclaimed site of our continued resistance to the continuity of colonial rule. <h2>Demands of protesters</h2> Police who were patrolling the area at the time of the Tent Embassy’s erection asked the protesters what they were doing outside Parliament House. They said they were protesting and would do so until the government granted land rights to Aboriginal people. The police were said to have responded, “<a href="http://press-files.anu.edu.au/downloads/press/p72441/pdf/article0712.pdf">That could be forever</a>”. As it turned out, it was not illegal to camp on the lawns of Parliament House, so the police could not remove them. Later, on February 6 1972, the members of the Tent Embassy issued their list of demands to the government. The demands were clearly about our rights as Aboriginal people to our homelands, regardless of the fact cities were now built on the land or mining companies were interested in the bounties within. Compensation was called for in the instances where the lands was not able to be returned. There were also demands for the protection of our sacred sites. While the McMahon government cared little about negotiating with the protesters, the leader of the Opposition, Gough Whitlam, visited the Tent Embassy and <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2014/oct/21/gough-whitlam-remembered-a-true-leader-for-indigenous-australians">publicly proclaimed a promise of Aboriginal land rights</a> under a future Labor government. There was widespread support for the Tent Embassy from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and allies across the continent, and indeed the world. Media attention also grew as it became obvious the Tent Embassy and protesters were not going to move on. Other Aboriginal activists joined the embassy, including Foley, Isabel Coe, John Newfong, Chicka Dixon, Gordon Briscoe and many others. <h2>Forced removal and revival</h2> The government was not too keen on being reminded Aboriginal people were demanding rights, so it <a href="https://law.unimelb.edu.au/about/welcome/mls-indigenous/home/mls-classroom-photo-mural-initiative/classroom-photos/tent-embassy">amended</a> the Trespass on Commonwealth Lands Ordinance to make it illegal to camp on the lawn of Parliament House. This gave the police the authority to remove the protesters. The ordinance was but a few hours old when <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7j3Rq2Tryo">police attempted to forcibly remove the embassy</a>. They did so to the roar of the crowd chanting “land rights now”. A <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FOIvHE0tJAk">violent confrontation with police</a> ensued. <iframe width="440" height="260" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/FOIvHE0tJAk?wmode=transparent&start=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe> On September 12 1972, the ACT Supreme Court ruled against the use of the trespass laws, and the Tent Embassy was temporarily re-erected before being removed again the following morning. Then, at the end of 1972, the Coalition government led by McMahon lost the federal election to Labor. Whitlam was able to keep his promise in part – he did give the land title deeds to the Gurindji people. This was captured in the <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-07-01/mervyn-bishop-australias-first-aboriginal-press-photographer/8655130">historical photo</a> by Merv Bishop of Whitlam pouring a fistful of dirt into Vincent Lingiari’s hand. While this iconic image has become a demonstration of what might be possible, the work of the embassy is not yet done. Land rights across the continent have yet to be fully achieved. The Tent Embassy was re-established the following year and remained until activist <a href="https://commonslibrary.org/the-aboriginal-tent-embassy/">Charles Perkins negotiated its removal</a> pending the enactment of the Aboriginal Land Rights Act in 1976. In the ensuing years, it occupied several other sites around Canberra, including the site of the current Parliament House. In 1992, it returned to its original site on the lawn of Old Parliament House to mark the 20th anniversary of the original protest. Eleven years later, much of the Tent Embassy was destroyed by fire in a <a href="https://www.culturalsurvival.org/news/end-aboriginal-tent-embassy">suspected case of arson</a>. The police once again attempted to remove protesters from the site under <a href="https://www.greenleft.org.au/content/tent-embassy-under-further-attack">orders from federal government’s National Capital Authority</a>. <h2>An enduring symbol of protest</h2> Today, the Tent Embassy remains on the lawns of Old Parliament House as a reminder of the successive failures of subsequent governments to address the demands for justice represented by the embassy and its people. As <a href="https://www.routledge.com/The-Aboriginal-Tent-Embassy-Sovereignty-Black-Power-Land-Rights-and-the/Foley-Schaap/p/book/9780415839518?gclid=CjwKCAiAz--OBhBIEiwAG1rIOuFlzGCUJvLxLafzUlJZ_D1uyMj0Tz9J_YFIEwcLS0kMzAffvRc_7hoCxwUQAvD_BwE">Foley reflects</a> in his history of the embassy: <blockquote> That it has endured for [five] decades as a potent symbol rejecting the hypocrisy, deceit and duplicity by successive Australian governments is a testament to the refusal of large numbers of Aboriginal people to concede defeat in a 200-year struggle for justice. </blockquote> Nowhere else in the world have we seen such longevity around a site of protest. The Aboriginal Tent Embassy is an impressive achievement that demonstrates the tenacity of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and our continued fight for the reclamation of our lands and sovereign rights as First Nations peoples.<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; text-shadow: none !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/174693/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/bronwyn-carlson-136214">Bronwyn Carlson</a>, Professor, Indigenous Studies and Director of The Centre for Global Indigenous Futures, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/macquarie-university-1174">Macquarie University</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/lynda-june-coe-1305919">Lynda-June Coe</a>, PhD Candidate, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/macquarie-university-1174">Macquarie University</a> 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/a-short-history-of-the-aboriginal-tent-embassy-an-indelible-reminder-of-unceded-sovereignty-174693">original article</a>. Image: Wikimedia Commons

Real Estate

Keep an eye out for these 5 films from the Byron Bay International Film Fest

Though the <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.bbff.com.au/blog/bbff-returns-in-2021-with-a-special-edition-programme-of-inspiring-and-uplifting-films" target="_blank">Byron Bay International Film Festival</a> has ended for this year, that doesn’t mean you missed out on its offerings. The nature of the Aussie film festival means that some films are already out, like <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.oversixty.co.nz/entertainment/movies/how-to-watch-these-5-short-films-from-the-byron-bay-international-film-fest" target="_blank">these five</a>, while others are screened ahead of their airing to the general public. With that in mind, here are five short films in this year’s programme that you’ll want to keep an eye out for. Inner Portraits <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7846493/film-fest7.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/9a774b879fcb43b387b9f36e4c4c7414" /> Image: Supplied Photographic artist RJ Poole has made a rare appearance in front of the camera in Inner Portraits. The short documentary sees the Lismore photographer become the subject, relating his experiences as a soldier in Australia’s SAS regiment during his youth, interspersed with some of his proudest work. Having made its appearances at the Melbourne Documentary and St Kilda film festivals, the public release date for Inner Portraits is yet to be announced. Perfect Storm <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7846492/film-fest5.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/bdcaf3e26bb34370a115bc896af9df84" /> Image: Supplied Set on the wild coast of Auckland, Perfect Storm follows one man’s enforced isolation from his loved ones during the pandemic. With a cast of just two, Perfect Storm shows how coming home to oneself and the environment can be a silver lining amid loneliness. CWA: Judgement Day <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7846495/film-fest11.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/c5d0bf976ef34c1f820e2d901c544d22" /> Image: Byron Bay International Film Festival Step inside the Country Women’s Association, an Australian icon and backbone of rural living, through CWA: Judgement Day. Set in a nondescript Canberra building, it follows a group of women gathering for a secret initiation into the world of judging for the CWA. With its world premiere at the Byron Bay film festival, this is one film to be on the lookout for. The Handyman <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7846491/film-fest3.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/1c8c0bef92754c67b8d253ce9b322559" /> Image: Supplied An Australian drama, The Handyman starts with Evelyn (Alison Whyte, The Dressmaker) about to end her life, until she is interrupted by an awkward handyman (Nathaniel Dean, Alien: Covenant). His need for work collides with Evelyn’s desire to make him leave, and she discovers that he has problems of his own to contend with. The Handyman has been making appearances at film festivals around the world since its premiere in Cairo last year, with its public release date still to be confirmed. Dandelion <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7846494/film-fest10.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/c9a2c329480442c5964d42fd16504ef9" /> Image: Supplied Dandelion takes on the tough subject of loving someone and supporting them on their mental health journey with quirks and comedy, all while replacing the strong female character trope with a more nuanced, vulnerable protagonist.

Movies

How to watch these 5 short films from the Byron Bay International Film Fest

The yearly <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.bbff.com.au/blog/bbff-returns-in-2021-with-a-special-edition-programme-of-inspiring-and-uplifting-films" target="_blank">Byron Bay International Film Festival</a> has returned for 2021, featuring a combination of feature-length and short films from Australia and around the world. With this year’s theme being ‘Shining Light in Darkness’, the festival lineup includes films that reflect life in isolation, processing loss, and finding happiness in unexpected places. The films will be screened at the Palace Byron Bay cinema and the Lennox Head Cultural Centre between December 17 and 21. Luckily, those who can’t make the festival can still catch these five films. Mourning Country <img style="width: 0px; height: 0px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7846411/film-fest1.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/b9ad562690f9491289aba18ea0c0e302" /> ‘Mourning Country’ shares the personal experience of Budawang Elder Noel Butler. Image: Supplied Opening with shots of burnt landscape and charred remains as Budawang Elder Noel Butler calls for animals no longer there, Mourning Country explores the grief felt for the country’s unique wildlife to bushfires. The six-minute film follows Butler as he walks through the ashes of his property - destroyed in the 2019 Currowan fire - where his home and the Aboriginal Cultural Centre once stood. Capturing his mourning for the flora and fauna that once lived there and the life that begins to flourish, the film speaks to the “destructive loss” of life that comes from improper management of the land. Mourning Country is available to watch <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.ryanandrewlee.com/cinematography/mourning-country" target="_blank">here</a>, on cinematographer Ryan Andrew Lee’s website. The Kicked Dog <img style="width: 0px; height: 0px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7846412/film-fest2.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/39189f2a6983404c8d9d704c478c4b79" /> Alan Ford (pictured) stars alongisde Clive Russell in the black comedy 'The Kicked Dog'. Image: Supplied A black comedy from writer and director Max Hemmings, The Kicked Dog stars Alan Ford and Clive Russell (Game of Thrones) as Alan and Terry, two feuding brothers attempting to reconcile over a low-rent heist. As aged East End gangsters from a bygone era, they have limited time to mend their relationship before Terry’s dementia sets in. The Kicked Dog is due to be released online in July, 2022. Mirador <img style="width: 0px; height: 0px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7846415/film-fest9.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/705d33c849ac4e76889a8b6cacab4210" /> Performance artist Angela Goh pushes film equipment through the Phoenix Central Building in a scene from Mirador. Image: Supplied An experimental look at performance art, Mirador follows performance artist Angela Goh as she navigates the winding interior of the Phoenix Central Building, a private performance space in Sydney. The film plays with perspective and distortion as Goh takes us through dark corridors, down stairwells, and along thin beams, showing how buildings can contain mysteries. Watch the film <a rel="noopener" href="https://versusversus.com.au/work/mirador/" target="_blank">here</a>. Our Country <img style="width: 0px; height: 0px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7846414/film-fest8.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/82ff7d376b60479091d640c6e2890239" /> 'Our Country' is filmed on Dunghutti Country and features members of the community sharing their stories. Image: Supplied Though only five minutes long, Our Country explores the connection between people, country and culture for members of the different generations of the South West Rocks community of Dunghutti Country, on the NSW Mid North Coast. Keen to check it out? Head <a rel="noopener" href="https://robertsherwoodfilms.com.au/portfolio/our-country-short-film" target="_blank">here</a> to watch it. Lotus <img style="width: 0px; height: 0px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7846413/film-fest6.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/52bb2b5714cd4ec78762a0aa4ac4d19e" /> Angelika Furstler recreates her near death experience in 'Lotus'. Image: Supplied Filmed almost completely underwater in the Mayan Cenotes, Lotus is inspired by filmmaker Angelika Furstler’s own near-death experience in Mexico while facing her biggest fear. It is a film that explores how one can grow from pain, anxiety and fear to find coherence, harmony and flow. Since Lotus is showing in international film festivals, the film’s <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.angelikafurstler.com/lotus-shortfilm" target="_blank">website</a> says it isn’t publicly available as of yet. It is expected to be launched online, and keen viewers can sign up to be notified when it is released.

Movies

How 5 short intentions can help people recovering from depression stay on track

About <a href="https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/types-of-mental-health-problems/statistics-and-facts-about-mental-health/how-common-are-mental-health-problems/">one in six people in England</a> report experiencing anxiety or depression in any given week, and depression is a <a href="https://www.who.int/en/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/depression">major cause of disability worldwide</a>. Some people have experienced very adverse experiences over their lives, leading to low self-esteem and other vulnerabilities which can make people susceptible to depression. Difficult life circumstances, such as financial problems, loneliness, stresses at work, among family or in relationships, poor physical health and genetic vulnerabilities also contribute. Even long-term depression can be treated, but the lifetime risk that the depression returns has been reported as <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2169519/">about 50 per cent for those experiencing one episode</a> of major depression, with the likelihood increasing with further episodes. Greater numbers of people experiencing mental health problems, and greater awareness of effective treatments, has increased demand for services. In recent years this has led to investment through the <a href="https://www.england.nhs.uk/mental-health/adults/iapt/">Improving Access to Psychological Therapies</a> programme, but because of huge demand, <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-50658007">waiting times can still be a problem</a> and it’s important that we develop new ways of helping people manage and overcome their mental health problems – to prevent problems occurring in the first place, and to prevent them returning. A lot of this comes down to teaching people to help themselves more effectively. To some extent this is already happening, for example with increases in self-help support within mental health services, and the use of self-help websites, online support and apps. Working with NHS staff, we have developed the <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29665889">Self-Management after Therapy intervention</a>, or SMArT, designed to help people to stay well after they have recovered from an episode of depression. Like other relapse-prevention approaches, it assumes that many people continue to remain vulnerable to depression. Recovery is seen as a process that continues after the end of therapy that has its ups and downs. This approach helps prevent someone from feeling they are back to square one if they have a setback, a frame of mind that can increase the likelihood of a return to more severe depression. The approach, first developed by psychologist <a href="https://as.nyu.edu/content/nyu-as/as/faculty/peter-m-gollwitzer.html">Peter Gollwitzer</a> in the 1990s, has been <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0065260106380021?via%3Dihub">found to support changes in behaviour</a>, such as quitting smoking or doing more physical activity, through what are called implementation intentions. It is designed to help people turn an intention to act into a habitual behaviour. We know how hard it can be to make good intentions a reality (such as practically every New Year’s resolution), and when someone’s mood and motivation are low it can be even harder. As one mental health service user said during our research: “I know what to do, but when I’m down I just don’t do it.” Implementation intentions work by linking a specific situation to a specific response. For example: “Every evening between 7pm and 9pm I will write down all the positive things that have happened that day,” or “Every Thursday evening I will go to the pub quiz with my friend Katy”. They often take the form of “if …, then …” statements, such as: “If I feel down, then I will talk to my partner about why this might be.” When the situation comes up, the learned response is brought to mind, and is therefore more likely to be acted out. Using our SMArT intervention, people are encouraged to identify up to five of these implementation intentions. It’s important that they are realistic and that they will have an impact on the person’s wellbeing. The best way of thinking about them is to consider five things you do on a regular basis that are important to you. Then, imagine how you would feel if you didn’t do them. That is what tends to happen in depression, or when a person is at risk of a relapse. The use of the SMArT intervention is supported in mental health services by <a href="https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/psychological-therapies/roles/psychological-wellbeing-practitioner">psychological wellbeing practitioners</a>, and patients are encouraged to share their intentions with friends or family who can support them. SMArT is just one of a number of ways of helping people who are prone to depression to stay well and we’re carrying out more research to see how effective it is. It provides a bridge between the end of therapy and life without therapy and helps people see the importance of setting plans and having routine in their lives. It also emphasises that recovery is a process that includes learning about oneself and self-management strategies. It is something for the long-term – not just for all-too-soon-abandoned New Year’s resolutions.<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; text-shadow: none !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/129046/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/michael-lucock-916922">Michael Lucock</a>, Professor of Clinical Psychology, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-huddersfield-1226">University of Huddersfield</a> This article is republished from <a href="http://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/how-five-short-intentions-can-help-people-recovering-from-depression-stay-on-track-129046">original article</a>.

Mind

New Jurassic short film released

Jurassic World fans need not wait for the next installment of the movie franchise to hit the screens, as a new short film has been released online. Directed by Colin Trevorrow, Battle at Big Rock takes place a year after Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, focusing on the adventure of a blended family at Big Rock National Park as their family vacation gets disrupted by dinosaurs in the wild. The eight-minute short picks up where the last film ended – in this universe, the beasts are now roaming freely around the world and everyday people lead far more perilous lives, fighting for survival during their daily commutes and wedding ceremonies. Watch the short film here: <div class="embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9"><iframe class="embed-responsive-item" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/C7kbVvpOGdQ"></iframe></div>

Movies

This heartwarming short film teaches you how to pack a suitcase

Need a tip or two on how to pack for your next trip? This short flick might just do the trick – and leave you reaching for the tissues in the process. The award-winning film Negative Space is a stop-motion short based on a 150-word poem by Ron Koertge. Directed and written by Max Porter and Ru Kuwahata, the film tells a story of a father-and-son relationship, complemented with packing tips such as: “Lay out everything. Put back half. Roll things that roll. Wrinkle-prone things on top of cotton things. Then pants, waist-to-hem. Nooks and crannies for socks. Belts around the sides like snakes. Plastic over that. Add shoes. Wear heavy stuff on the plane.” <iframe src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/345922827?color=ff9933&byline=0&portrait=0" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; fullscreen" allowfullscreen=""></iframe> The five-minute video was nominated for the Best Animated Short Film at the 90th Academy Awards, and won more than 100 prizes – so you’re in for a good viewing session.

International Travel

Braised beef short ribs with beans

Try this hearty slow-cooked beef to fill you up on a cold winter's night. Ingredients <ul> <li>4 bone-in beef short ribs (about 800g)</li> <li>2 x 400g cans chopped tomatoes </li> <li>5 carrots, cut into short lengths, halved lengthways</li> <li>1 onion, sliced</li> <li>4 garlic cloves, chopped</li> <li>1 rosemary sprig, leaves finely chopped</li> <li>325g cooked white beans (140g dried)</li> <li>Salt and freshly ground black pepper</li> </ul> Directions 1. Position rack about 12cm from grill and preheat grill. 2. Place short ribs in a roasting tin and grill for 8–10 minutes until well browned on both sides. 3. Preheat oven to 160°C. 4. Add tomatoes, carrots, onion, garlic and rosemary, cover with foil and cook for 3 hours. 5. Stir in beans, cover and cook for another 30 minutes. 6. Using a fork, shred meat away from bones. Season to taste. Image and recipe from <a href="http://t.dgm-au.com/c/185116/69171/1880?u=http://www.booktopia.com.au/one-pan-roasts-molly-shuster/prod9781760522520.html">One Pan Roasts by Molly Shuster</a>, Murdoch Books, RRP $35.00. Republished with permission of <a href="https://www.wyza.com.au/recipes/braised-beef-short-ribs-with-beans.aspx">Wyza.com.au.</a>

Food & Wine

Dolly Parton’s secret revealed: Why you’ll never see her with short sleeves on

Dolly Parton, country singer, has been in the public eye for more than 50 years. In that time, she has never worn a top with short sleeves. For many years, avid fans of the singer have been speculating that her arms are covered in tattoos, but there has never been any proof. However, comedian Rosanne Barr confirmed the rumour in an appearance on Craig Ferguson’s talk show back in 2011. "Do you know who's totally tattooed?" she said, according to <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/news/article.cfm?c_id=1501119&objectid=12257243" target="_blank">The NZ Herald</a>. "I shouldn't even tell this. Dolly Parton is totally tattooed. "She showed me. She's got all these awesome tattoos all over her body — no black or blue lines, all like pastel, gorgeous bows all over everything." The existence of the tattoos was also backed up by Absolutely Fabulous star Jennifer Saunders, who said she saw the artwork after bumping into Parton in a restaurant. "She literally just opened her top," Saunders recalled on <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94a9NNxEYdM" target="_blank">Channel 7's Sunday Night</a>. "And she wasn't wearing a bra. "They were the most beautiful angels and beautiful butterflies and baskets of flowers in pastel-coloured tattoos." Despite Parton asking Saunders not to tell anyone, she wrote about the experience in her autobiography. Parton has denied the existence of the tattoos in the past but confirmed their existence in 2017 to <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.vanityfair.com/style/2017/01/dolly-parton-tattoos-fan-art" target="_blank">Vanity Fair</a>. "I don't really like to make a big to-do of [the tattoos] because people make such a big damn deal over every little thing. "But most of the tattoos, when I first started, I was covering up some scars that I had 'cause I have a tendency to have keloid scar tissue, and I have a tendency where if I have any kind of scars anywhere then they kind of have a purple tinge that I can never get rid of. "So mine are all pastels, what few that I have, and they're meant to cover some scars. I'm not trying to make some big, bold statement." If fans think that they’ll be able to see the tattoos more often, they’d be wrong. Parton performed at the Grammy Awards with her goddaughter Miley Cyrus and despite wearing a sheer top, she kept her tattoos hidden with a flesh coloured material. Scroll through to see Dolly Parton’s long-sleeved looks over the years.

Music

Steve Martin and Martin Short reveal the secret to their 35-year-long friendship

They’re two of the funniest men in showbusiness and now, they’re making their way Down under to commence their highly-anticipated comedy tour. Sitting down with 60 Minutes reporter Liz Hayes, Steve Martin and Martin Short gave a sneak peak on what the audience can expect when attending their hilarious show. The comedy legends candidly spoke about their success and how they’ve kept their 35-year-long friendship as strong as ever. The show is not only a nod to their outrageous comedy movies, but it will also feature famous stand-up and sketch routines. After crossing paths on the set of Three Amigos in 1986, the pair become inseparable as they went on to make countless films together such as, The Father of the Bride and its sequel. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet tw-align-center" data-lang="en-gb"> Would <a href="https://twitter.com/SteveMartinToGo?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SteveMartinToGo</a> and Martin Short ever make another Father of the Bride sequel? <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/60Mins?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#60Mins</a> <a href="https://t.co/4Gacc8W0zU">pic.twitter.com/4Gacc8W0zU</a> — 60 Minutes Australia (@60Mins) <a href="https://twitter.com/60Mins/status/1122468782478217216?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">28 April 2019</a></blockquote> For them, the secret to their friendship is simple: Laughter. “If you’re people like us, if the other person makes you laugh, I think that’s important,” said Martin Short. The duo considers their working relationship to resemble a marriage and choose to apply the philosophy to their friendship. “I think decency is very important. That's very important in a marriage,” Short says. “But I wouldn't want, for example, my wife to be like we do, banter back and forth all day. I think it would get kind of tiring. “But for some reason, with Marty it gets tiring, but I don't fall asleep.” And despite being in the game for so long, the two aren’t planning on slowing down anytime soon. With a world tour in the works and a new Netflix deal, the funny friends are only going one way – and that’s up. “That’s why we’re doing it because we love doing it. Because we have other options,” Martin tells Hayes. “I'm actually quite happy with where I am now. 73. A happy life. Still working, it's still fun.”

Movies

Two of the coolest places for a short break

Coolest? We don’t mean climate, otherwise we’d be talking about Australia’s High Country and snowfields — depending on the time of year. Or, our wonderful Tassie. No, there’s the more modern meaning of “coolness” — not exactly favoured by those of us who grew up before the ‘60s, when “cool, man” was the statutory ending to every sentence. So, Canberra? Orange? How do they qualify? Each boasts unique attractions which make them a great place for a short break. And, while already easily accessible from Sydney by train, plane or car, Tigerair now offers direct flights from Melbourne and Brisbane to both regional cities. Of course, there’s a huge difference between the nation’s capital and a regional city, but there are similarities as well. The common defining factor may well have something to do with fresh country air, great regional produce and wine, a range of activities from very active to quite passive, and simply a surprising “vibe” — to use another of those ‘60s words that have crept into our language. Let’s see what each city has in store: Canberra If you’ve thought of Canberra as a place for “serious” tourism — Federal Parliament, the Australian War Memorial, the National Gallery, and so on — you’d be right. Those places should be high on every Australian’s bucket list. But you’d only be half-right. There’s another side to the city, which is attracting a new wave of visitors looking for fun, excitement, good food and wine — and lots of activities that will keep you busy with Facebook or Instagram posts for everyone back home to see. It's no wonder it's been ranked the third best city in Lonely Planet's Best in Travel 2018. For example, hot air ballooning on a frosty winter morning is one way to get the pulse racing. It may sound a bit nerve-racking, but ballooning is statistically safer than driving down the street and it’s a lot more fun. In the hands of experienced operators such as Balloon Aloft, you get a wonderful bird’s eye view of the city and the picturesque countryside — a joyflight you won’t easily forget. <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/BgMvxqclT0o/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_medium=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/BgMvxqclT0o/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_medium=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Em (@_capitalgirl)</a> on Mar 11, 2018 at 3:09pm PDT </div> </blockquote> Ballooning is just for starters. Here are more fun things to do in Canberra: <ul> <li>Stay at Jamala Wildlife Lodge at the heart of the National Zoo & Aquarium. Here, you can choose a room or suite “up close and personal” with a lion, tiger, bear or cheetah — or next to a shark tank! Our favourite is the Giraffe Treehouse where you can feed the handsome Humbekhali from your balcony.</li> <li>Take a Segway tour around Lake Burley Griffin — it certainly beats walking and the guides give an amusing commentary.</li> <li>Try your hand at glass blowing at Canberra Glassworks, a unique workspace for glass artists where visitors can get arty and make a glass paperweight under the patient guidance of a professional artist.</li> <li>Visit the new Capital Brewing Company in Fyshwick, an industrial area fast becoming a trendy urban precinct. Enjoy superb craft beers, and tasty food from the famous Brodburger food truck.</li> <li>Spend an hour (or three!) at one of many wineries in the district. The closest to town is Mount Majura Vineyard and if you’re anything like us, you’ll want more than a sip of their excellent Tempranillo.</li> <li>Dine at one of Canberra’s hot eateries like Italian and Sons, ONA Manuka for great locally roasted coffee, or Pialligo Estate on the banks of the Molonglo River which incorporates a vineyard, olive grove, market garden and smokehouse for a true gourmet dining experience.</li> <li>Book well ahead for Floriade in September 2019 — one of Australia’s premier flower and garden shows, now in its 32nd year.</li> </ul> Orange Many may remember the motor events of the past, at the Gnoo Blas car races, which set out to rival Bathurst’s Mount Panorama circuit with famous drivers like Jack Brabham and Bob Jane competing. Today, motor events have given way to food, wine, art, and music festivals, attracting a very different kind of visitor. In addition to the usual procession of Sydneysiders and interstate grey nomads in shiny rigs, direct flights from Brisbane and Melbourne are bringing trendier lifestylers seeking new pastures for grazing and graping. Regional wine is at the forefront of the “New Orange”. This is made apparent by a visit to the Orange Wine Festival, showcasing a huge selection of cool climate varieties from mainly family-owned boutique wineries. The emphasis here is on high quality, limited production, with altitude the key defining attribute, along with the usual variables of terroir: geology, soils, climate, and temperature. According to Justin Jarrett, President of the Orange Region Vignerons Association, the annual Wine Festival has had extraordinary success since it started in 1999; it now runs over ten days and last year’s attendance topped 23,000. That’s a lot of sips at the various venues, translating to the sellout of many vintages on offer. The bubblies were a particular favourite, encouraging the plantings of more grapes for Prosecco — popular with the Surry Hills and Carlton crowd. But the city offers more than wine, of course. The foodie scene in Orange and nearby Millthorpe has been recognised with several Chef’s Hats, and top reviews at places like Charred, the Agrestic Grocer, and The Greenhouse in town; and Tonic, the Old Mill, and Le Billot de Boucher in the quaint Millthorpe village. <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/BsfaaPBh4pf/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_medium=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/BsfaaPBh4pf/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_medium=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by The Agrestic Grocer (@agrestic_grocer)</a> on Jan 11, 2019 at 2:24am PST </div> </blockquote> To top it off, there’s the Origin Organic Chocolate factory where you can make your own bespoke chocolate in a Masterclass, and pair it with local wine, beer, and cheese. The ideal road trip Perhaps the perfect way to spend a week or so would be to combine visits to Canberra and Orange in a single road trip — they’re less than four hours apart by car if you don’t dally along the way. But then, you’d miss some beautiful country scenery and some excellent coffee stops. So, why rush? What's your favourite short break destination? Written by Phil Hawkes. Republished with permission of <a href="https://www.wyza.com.au/articles/travel/two-of-the-coolest-places-for-a-short-break.aspx">Wyza.com.au</a>

International Travel

Braised beef short ribs with beans

Serves: 4 INGREDIENTS: 4 bone-in beef short ribs (about 800g) 2 x 400g cans chopped tomatoes 5 carrots, cut into short lengths, halved lengthways 1 onion, sliced 4 garlic cloves, chopped 1 rosemary sprig, leaves finely chopped 325g cooked white beans (140g dried) Salt and freshly ground black pepper DIRECTIONS: <ol> <li>Position rack about 12cm from grill and preheat grill.</li> <li>Place short ribs in a roasting tin and grill for 8–10 minutes until well browned on both sides.</li> <li>Preheat oven to 160°C.</li> <li>Add tomatoes, carrots, onion, garlic and rosemary, cover with foil and cook for 3 hours.</li> <li>Stir in beans, cover and cook for another 30 minutes.</li> <li>Using a fork, shred meat away from bones. Season to taste.</li> </ol> Image and recipe from One Pan Roasts by Molly Shuster, Murdoch Books, RRP $35.00. Written by Wyza. Republished with permission of <a href="https://www.wyza.com.au/recipes/braised-beef-short-ribs-with-beans.aspx">Wyza.com.au.</a>

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Braised beef short ribs with beans

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Two of the coolest places for a short break

Braised beef short ribs with beans