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"Embarrassing" travel pillow frequent flyers swear by

When it comes to travelling in economy, looking glamorous usually takes a back seat, with many people prioritising comfort over anything else. Travelling in cattle class presents its own issues with getting comfy on a plane, especially when sitting in the middle seat. However, a committed frequent flyer has discovered the "travel hack of the year" with an unusual looking travel pillow that means you can get comfy anywhere. “When you got the middle seat for a 13-hour plane ride,” wrote adventurer Annie Wright, 23, in the captions of a viral TikTok testimonial dedicated to the strange-looking, yet in-demand inflatable travel pillow. In the video, which has racked in a whopping 26.6 million views, Ms Wright, a law student in the US, shared footage of herself puffing into the plushy prop that’s offered by <a href="https://www.kmart.com.au/product/inflatable-front-travel-pillow-43238989/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Amazon</a>. For Aussies, you can snag the innovative travel pillow from <a href="https://www.kmart.com.au/product/inflatable-front-travel-pillow-43238989/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kmart</a> for a breezy $18. “I wasn’t sure if I’d like it and omg SO worth it!” cheered Ms Wright in the clip’s caption. “Total upgrade.” This new pillow puts the round-the-neck pillows to shame, as the expandable cushion, designed with an ergonomic 45-degree angle, offers support to the head and neck and inflates in just seconds. Once inflated, users are meant to position the pillow — created with a face cutout at its apex and two arm holes on its sides — on their passenger tray tables and lean forward into a relaxed position. The hot commodity’s details also noted that it can “help you stay away from injury and insomnia, make you rest more comfortable during the journey, easier to fall asleep, and sleep longer,” according to Amazon. According to the online Kmart reviews of the product, one traveller said it was “awkward looking” but “really comfortable” and perfect for long-haul flights. Folks under the #InflatableTravelPillow TikTok hashtag have hailed the headrest the “travel hack of the year.” However, haters of the portable bedding have deemed it an “embarrassment.” “My back just hurts watching this,” said one commenter beneath Ms Wright’s post. “Yeah I have social anxiety I would be too embarrassed to use it,” penned another. But in response to the criticisms, Ms Wright wrote, “People keep saying this [pillow] is embarrassing, but what’s more embarrassing is being caught with your mouth open just knocked out.” Image credits: TikTok

Travel Tips

Dad swears at teacher for overstepping the line

A father snapped at a teacher after she insisted he invite all the students in her class to his son’s birthday. Taking to Reddit, the father asked if he took it too far by swearing at the teacher who kept pestering him to invite the 24 children instead of only nine to his son’s sixth birthday party. He said he explained to the teacher that he could not host 24 children and their parents and it was his choice to do whatever he wanted in his house. “I get a call from my son’s teacher and she tells me that she understands he is having a birthday party and that he invited a few of his friends from class, but not everyone,” the post begins. “I said yeah, there are a few kids in there that he has problems with and also I don't think we can really handle hosting 24 kids and their parents. “She then tells me that there is a rule that if any kids in the class are invited that all kids in the class are invited. “I told her it is an event off school hours on private property in my home. She can no more tell me what I do there and who I can and can't invite anymore than I can decide who is invited to her Thanksgiving dinner.” The teacher however kept insisting the rule was in place to stop kids from getting their feelings hurt to which the father then asked if he should invite the students from his son’s other classes. “She then said ‘He is in my class. He is under my supervision. This is my rule’. “I then told her that my son is only under her supervision while he is in class. I am the one throwing the party, and she doesn't get to make rules for my house or me. She then said if it involves her class, she does.” The pair went back and forth on the touchy subject before the father snapped and told her to go f**k herself. “I said, ‘Lady, it's pretty clear that you're too used to bossing around kids who have to listen to you and that you don't seem to understand that your little fiefdom ends at the end of the school day and doesn't go further than schoolhouse gates. I am not a 6 year old in your class. I'm a 38 year old union electrician planning a private event in my own home, off school hours. If you think you're the one to make the rules for me, in my home on which I pay the mortgage on, you can go f**k yourself and there isn't a goddamn thing you can do about it. She then kind of stammered and I ended the call.” The husband said that his wife agreed that the teacher had no business telling them who to invite to their home but that he may have taken it a step too far for swearing at her. He did confess that he wished that he didn’t swear at the teacher but stood firm on his decision that the teacher had no right to do what she did. Reddit users sided with the father who said the teacher overstepped the mark by getting involved in a matter that did not involve her. “The gall of this woman is laughable and her thought process simply defies logic,” someone wrote. “She was out of line for calling you in the first place, and then had the audacity to double down and insist that literally anything that involves students in her class is her business. Out-freaking-rageous! Tell the principal, and if you aren't satisfied with that result, call up the superintendent's office,” another comment read. “This teacher got out of her lane and you forced her a** back into it. Exactly what you should have done. NO ONE gets to tell you who to have at your own damn house. Frankly I would be talking to her supervisor as well. That is not ok, and she has OBVIOUSLY gotten away with this before,” someone else wrote. “Unless she's paying for the party she has ZERO say,” another commented. Image: Shutterstock

Family & Pets

Flight attendants swear by these packing hacks

There are many so-called hacks floating around the internet to determine how to best pack a suitcase for your holiday. There’s the rolling-folding debate, how to avoid overpacking unnecessary items and what to put in your carry-on luggage instead of your suitcase. To debunk some of these myths and give actual fool-proof advice, <a href="https://travel.nine.com.au/recommended/7-packing-hacks-flight-attendants-swear-by/1d80bd51-2361-4f9f-87c4-b0693267bb4a">9Honey</a> caught up with Michelle*, a cabin crew member with years of experience. She revealed her travel must-buys and nifty travel tips, to share her seven holy grail packing hacks. 1. Invest in a packing cube These nifty packing cubes are a must for any suitcase to stay clean and organised, as the small, sealable bags help to compartmentalise your luggage. "It helps keep me organised, especially if I only have a carry-on," Michelle says. “Nothing worse than opening your suitcase in the airport and having all your clothes fall on the floor - this helps avoid that.” These simple packing tools can be bought for just $14 at Kmart, showing that organisation doesn’t have to cost a fortune. 2. The roll vs. fold method It’s the age-old debate over how to save space in your suitcase: to roll or fold your clothes. According to Michelle, all travellers should consider moving to the rolling method to save both time and space. "Roll your clothes, don't fold. Trust me when I say this is a huge space saver," Michelle says. 3. Double your chargers Device chargers are one of the most commonly forgotten items when packing for a holiday. Michelle’s advice is to double up in case one goes missing or someone forgets to pack them. "I have doubles of all my chargers, and I carry them in my carry-on luggage," she says. "This way I don't have to worry about forgetting all my important chargers and they're easily accessible." 4. Make a list With so many things to pack and airport guidelines to adhere to, writing down a list is the easiest way to make sure everything goes to plan. This also eliminates packing unnecessary items that just end up taking up valuable space. "If you're only packing a carry-on, pack smart and only pack the things you need," Michelle advises. "Writing lists when packing does actually help." Michelle also says investigating the weather in your destination can greatly help your packing schedule. "Wear your biggest and heaviest items on the days of travel so you save space in your bag." 5. The shower cap trick In order to keep dirty shoes off clean clothes for your trip, Michelle recommends investing in cheap plastic shower caps to slide over the soles of your shoes to keep everything in order. "This will help to protect your clothing and keep everything clean," she explains. Michelle also suggests stuffing your shoes with personal items "to really maximise space." 6. Make it spill-proof Some pesky liquid containers can be prone to spilling and ruining items in your suitcase when not stored upright. To avoid this, Michelle shared a genius precaution you can take. "When travelling with liquids, put some cling wrap on the opening and then put the lid on, to save any potential spills," Michelle says. 7. Choose your suitcase thoughtfully A commonly overlooked part of precision packing can often be the weight of the actual suitcase itself. This can result in travellers being stung with unexpected overweight baggage fees on airlines, prompting Michelle to think of a solution. "Most airlines only allow a 7kg carry-on – try getting yourself a bag that is lightweight yet sturdy," Michelle suggests. *Name has been changed. Image credit: Shutterstock

Travel Trouble

“You bloody fool!” The musk duck that learnt to swear

A small number of animals, particularly birds, can learn to mimic other animals – including humans. The Australian musk duck can now be added to these ranks: a <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2020.0243" target="_blank">paper</a> in Philosophical Transactions B has shown that the ducks can imitate other bird sounds and human sounds – like doors slamming, and one truly Australian phrase uttered by their keepers. “You bloody fool,” agreed Ripper, musk duck and subject of the paper. The paper, written by Carel ten Cate, a researcher at the Leiden University’s Institute of Biology in the Netherlands, and Peter Fullargar, now retired from the CSIRO, analyses two sets of recordings made by two musk ducks. Ripper was a male musk duck, born in 1983 and raised in captivity at the Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve in the ACT. Records at Tidbinbilla were destroyed by the 2003 Canberra bushfires, making aspects of Ripper’s past hazy, but one thing is known for certain: he could imitate human-made sounds. In 1987, some researchers (including Fullargar) made recordings of these sounds, including a door slamming, human speech-like mumbles, and a repeated phrase that sounded like “you bloody foo”: this was a common refrain from his caretaker. Ripper was particularly likely to announce this when humans approached him. In 2000, the researchers also recorded calls from another male musk duck, known simply as “Duck 2”. Duck 2, raised in Tidbinbilla by a captive female, could mimic the sounds of the Pacific black duck. He also made a sound similar to Ripper’s door-slamming noise. “This second duck had been exposed to Ripper, which may have affected this part of the sound,” write ten Cate and Fullargar in their paper. The authors point out that this is the first evidence of vocal learning in a member of the <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anserinae" target="_blank">Anserinae</a> (ducks, geese and swans) family. “The Australian musk duck demonstrates an unexpected and impressive ability for vocal learning,” they write in their paper. They advocate for “a more extensive and systematic study of this and related, or other, species”, saying it could help to further understand how animals learn to make sounds. Check out the video here: <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/MSJsKpKKBaI" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen=""></iframe> Image credit: Image: John Harrison / WikiCommons This article was originally written for <a rel="noopener" href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/nature/birds/you-bloody-fool-the-musk-duck-that-learnt-to-swear/" target="_blank">cosmosmagazine.com</a> by Ellen Phiddian.

Technology

The new iPhone hack allows you to swear with ease

Swearing whilst typing is a part of life. There’s always been one annoying downside for Apple users though. A certain swear word gets changed to “duck” instead of the word you’re wanting to use. Since the invention of autocorrect in 2005, it is now an integral feature of every smartphone. However, that means that a lot of people seem to be facing this problem with being unable to type the right swear words when they want to. Parks and Recreation star Ben Schwartz has realised a hack. He shared it with his Twitter followers below. “When you have had it with spell check turning your curse word into ducking. “Behold, my new contact that my phone now recognises when I text!” His fans were pleased and tried it out for themselves. One user said: “I see a Nobel prize in your future.” Another user was just as thrilled and said “You just might be the smartest man to ever tweet…” What Schwartz has so cleverly done is save the swear word as a contact in his phone so that his phone is forced to recognise that it’s a real word – and viola! You are now able to swear properly on your phone. Are you going to try out this trick? Or are you against swear words? Let us know in the comments.

Technology

The strange $4 ingredient Nigella Lawson swears by for perfect spaghetti

Nigella Lawson is famous for her mouth-watering meals and jaw-dropping desserts. Although, she brought fans to a halt after she presented a plate of pasta containing a strange and unexpected ingredient to the hosts of Today Extra in Australia, David Campbell and Sonia Kruger. Nigella insisted that everyone should use one iconic ingredient when cooking pasta – Vegemite. That’s right, the 58-year-old celebrity chef praised the $4 ingredient revealing on Today Extra, “You know, an Italian introduced me to this [recipe]. What would the Italians say? Well it was an Italian food writer who brought her children up making Marmite pasta.” Nigella shared the simplicity of the recipe, requiring only four ingredients. Salt the water as it boils over the stove, add spaghetti to the pot. Then prepare the mixture of butter, vegemite and parmesan cheese. “Melted butter, tiny bit of the pasta cooking water, get some Vegemite or Marmite melted and some parmesan,” she said. Once the pasta is al dente, stir the mixture through and serve. “You’re welcome,” Nigella added as the hosts forked the pasta into their mouths. “It’s delicious. That flavour that you can’t quite define, it’s amazing,” Kruger gushed. Will you try Nigella Lawson’s Vegemite pasta? Let us know in the comments.

The $25 mascara Duchess Meghan swears by

Women around the world fawn over the Duchess of Sussex's natural and glowy everyday look. Now Meghan’s former makeup artist, Lydia Sellers, has recently shared the items the duchess always has on hand, from the $25 mascara to her favourite foundation. The 37-year-old’s long-time favourite mascara is $25 Maybelline Lash Sensational Luscious. Sellers said to <a href="https://us.hellomagazine.com/healthandbeauty/makeup/2018052348879/meghan-markle-favourite-mascara/">Hello!</a>, “Meghan actually introduced me to a drugstore mascara. I keep it stocked in my kit now at all times thanks to her!” <img style="width: 500px; height: 500px; display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7821715/mascara.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/4c8d2fb76c264934bdee06c84f95ce46" /> For her face, the Duchess relies on high end Giorgio Armani’s Luminous Silk foundation. Sellers shares that Meghan uses the shade 6.25 with a few drops of 5.5. Meghan uses a damp original beauty blender sponge to buff out the foundation for a ‘sheer and natural effect’. A YSL product, Touche Eclat Radiance Perfecting Pen, is Meghan’s ultimate concealer. “If you’ve worked a 17-hour day and have nothing else on, you will still look relatively alive,” Meghan said praising the product. This high-end product “brightens underneath the eye and in the inner corners” and has fans around the globe hooked. Sellers revealed the RMS Beauty Magic Luminiser “is a favourite when working with Meghan because of its subtlety”. As well as loving a pop of colour for her cheeks with NARS blush in ‘Orgasm’, Meghan has explained the product gives “the perfect rosy flush tone that brightens the face”. For skincare, Meghan relies on Nivea Q10 Plus firming lotion. “I use this religiously. It’s honestly my favourite lotion on the market, it’s so affordable, and makes my skin look and feel amazing. I would buy a case of this at a time if I could find it,” Meghan told <a href="https://beautybanter.com/banter-babe-meghan-markle">Beauty Banter</a>. Out of these beauty products which ones would you buy and why? Let us know in the comments.

Beauty & Style

The $5 Kmart hack caravanners swear by

There is nothing quite like hitting the open road with your caravan, with endless towns to visit and sights to take in. But no matter where you travel, chances are that you are going to encounter some bumpy roads. After stocking your caravan kitchen cupboards with various tumblers and wine glasses, the last thing you want is to have them break while rolling around in your cupboards. To keep your crockery safe, caravanners recommend purchasing a $5 Kmart product before you start your trip. Caravanners can purchase non-slip matting from Kmart, which can be cut to size depending on the purpose. <img width="500" height="163" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7819689/1_500x163.jpg" alt="1 (169)"/> Another option is to buy small slabs of foam and cut out mug and bowl-sized holes. And if you have any kitchen appliances, pack them in a drawer with towels to avoid any damage. When you are travelling on rocky roads, it is also guaranteed that anything that is not sealed or stored properly will make a mess. To avoid this surprise, put a rubber band around any item that can unravel or pop open, even toilet paper rolls. It is also important to make sure all cupboards and drawers are latched. To save space inside your caravan, also consider buying collapsible homewares that fold into themselves, such as collapsible washing up tubs. What is your best caravan hack? Share it in the comments below.

Travel Tips

Why swearing is actually good for you

If you’ve been minding your p’s and q’s your whole life, it could well be time to relax and loosen up a little. New research shows that swearing can actually be quite beneficial. In a thorough review of the subject, London author Emma Byrne’s <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Swearing-Good-You-Amazing-Language/dp/1324000287/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1516403808&sr=8-1&keywords=Swearing+Is+Good+for+You%3A+The+Amazing+Science+of+Bad+Language&tag=nypost-20" target="_blank">Swearing Is Good for You: The Amazing Science of Bad Language</a>, claims that we shouldn’t be trying so hard to hide the fact that we swear. Speaking to <a href="https://nypost.com/2018/01/20/why-you-should-totally-drop-that-f-bomb/">The New York Post</a>, Byrne says, “We spend so much time saying, ‘Oh, you mustn’t swear in front of this person,’ or ‘I hope my kids don’t swear,’ but at the same time, we all do it.” Bryne adds, “We have this odd relationship of trying to cure ourselves of something that’s obviously so beneficial.” Some of the benefits include pain relief, according to Psychologist Richard Stephens. He conducted an experiment, asking the subjects to hold their hand in ice water as long as possible, twice. In one instance they were allowed to swear, while the second time they were only allowed to say neutral words such as ‘wooden’. The swearing allegedly helped them to keep their hand in the ice longer, while also reducing their perception of pain. You can also use swearing as a way to emphasise your point and appear more commanding. According to <a href="http://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/real-life/good-news/why-swearing-is-good-for-you/news-story/766f49980915cf30a77fe738df1efd30">news.com.au</a> some 1990s research found that public speakers using a well-timed “damn” were considered more persuasive. Furthermore, Byrne notes that workers who swear together succeed together, too. “Research shows that swearing can help build teams,” Byrne reveals. “From the factory floor to the operating room, scientists have shown that teams who share a vulgar lexicon tend to work more effectively together, feel closer and be more productive than those who don’t.” What is your stance on swearing? Are you for or against it? Tell us in the comments below.

Mind

The one thing Jamie Oliver lets his kids do on Christmas

Like many parents and grandparents, celebrity chef Jamie Oliver tries to shield his little ones from bad language as much as he can, but in this modern world of ours, that’s become increasingly difficult. So, he and Jools have come up with a rather unorthodox way of managing swearing in their household. On Christmas Day each year for just one minute, the parents-of-five give their kids (ranging from 16 months to 15 years old) free rein to dish out expletives as much as they want. “I love [swearing] but as a dad, I don’t like it,” he revealed in an interview on The Russell Howard Hour. “I say, ‘How do you know that?’ My boy makes them rhyme as well.” But as it turns out, that’s not the only thing banned in the Oliver household. Speaking on the Lifestyle News Hound podcast, Jamie said he’s banned his 14-year-old daughter Daisy from taking selfies. “I’m going to generalise massively here, but from my observation so far, at 13 to 14, the kind of pictures that girls are putting up, just from what I’ve seen, split off 50:50,” he explained. “[There’s] normal young girls, and then this weird hybrid of – dare I say it – quite porno sort of luscious kind of pouty lips, sort of pushing boobs out.” The Naked Chef also confessed that he doesn’t think he’s a great dad to his teen daughters, giving himself a “six out of 10”. “I don’t think I’m very good to be honest. And they’re girls, which is really hard and they’re not interested in much I’ve got to offer.” Tell us in the comments below, what do you think of Jamie and Jools’ family rules?

Sofia Vergara swears by this $12.50 shampoo

Modern Family star Sofia Vergara might be one of the highest-paid women on television, but when it comes to hair care, the 44-year-old relies on one surprisingly cheap product, and chances are you’ve already got it in your bathroom. “I’ve been using Head and Shoulders shampoo and conditioner every day for 20 years!” she revealed. “It gives me gorgeous hair.” The actress currently stars in the hair care brand’s winter campaign with her 24-year-old son, Manolo. <img width="497" height="440" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/38689/image__497x440.jpg" alt="Image_ (366)" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/> Vergara, who is surprisingly a natural blonde, also spoke about the difficulty in keeping her dyed brown locks looking so natural. “When my hair was very dark, I had to dye my roots every month – it was a lot of maintenance.” The Colombian-born star confessed she switched hair colour early on in her career after experiencing difficulty finding work as a blonde. “When I started as an actor, because of the accent and my body and my personality, it was not what the stereotype of the Latina woman in Hollywood is, so they didn't know where to put me. The blonde hair wasn't matching. The moment I put my hair dark, it was better for my work.” Tell us in the comments below, what hair products do you swear by?

Body

5 bizarre anti-ageing beauty products celebs swear by

Would you do anything in the name of beauty? What about putting bird poo on your face? These beauty products all contain animal secretions of some sort, and it seems that the industry is booming with celebs and regular folk too. Which one of these would you try? 1. Bee venom Boost your collagen production and regenerate skin cells with bee venom. Also known as ‘nature’s botox’, the venom is easily extracted from the bees and then added to creams. You can also use bee venom as a pain relief for arthritis. Who knew? 2. Pig collagen Grab yourself a facemask packed with pig collagen and enjoy tighter, firmer skin and fewer wrinkles. Pig collagen is similar to human collagen, so it encourages our bodies to produce more of it. 3. Salmon enzyme If you have sensitive skin, you’ll know that exfoliating can lead to redness and irritation. Enter salmon enzyme, which promises to remove dead skin cells but leave the living ones alone. It is thought to improve all over complexion as well as specifically targeting age spots. 4. Bird poo Not just any old bird, but specifically the droppings of the Japanese bush warbler are used to make the ‘Geisha Facial’. Used since ancient times in Japan, the face mask is making a splash all over the world and can help to reduce the signs of sun damage and acne. 5. Snail secretions Collecting the slime from garden snails in the name of beauty sounds odd, but the secretions contain common ingredients already found in many beauty products. It’s very popular in Asia as an anti-ageing product, which can be found as a serum, mask or cream. Have you tried any of these beauty products? Did you notice any benefit? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.

Beauty & Style

Beauty products the Over60 community swear by

Ask any woman about the one beauty product they’ve stayed loyal to over the years and you’re likely to hear a range of different responses, from cheap-and-cheerful lipsticks to expensive and luxurious skin creams. So, to narrow down what it is that over 60s look for in their beauty products, we went straight to the source. Here’s what you had to say. 1. QV night cream and face wash “After years of trying almost every brand of face cream on the market, I now only use QV night cream (even for day) and QV face wash. It's inexpensive and my beautician noted how nice my skin was the last time I had a facial!” – Sue Packer. 2. Clarins “I'm afraid to say that the only products I swear by are Clarins. Yes, I know they cost a fortune and I have champagne tastes and beer pockets, but I have used other products and they have either burnt my skin or stripped it. I have now been using Clarins for 25 years and just love the stuff. You do get value for money and it is pretty comparable to other brands.” – Kathryn Potter. 3. Johnson’s baby lotion “Believe it or not, I use (and have used for years) Johnsons Baby lotion. It has no nasties in it, does not leave a greasy film on your skin and is very cheap compared to the other moisturisers!” – Doreen Buchanan. 4. Ponds “Good old Ponds. Cleanser feels light but really cleans. Moisturiser feels lovely too. You can't beat the originals.” – Sharon Crowe. 5. Vitamin E cream and Revlon “Vitamin E cream with evening primrose oil for my skin and Revlon matte finish lipstick. I also occasionally use Revlon eye shadow and Age Defying make-up now I'm older.” – Suzanne Dawson. 6. Algenist skincare and Tarte make-up “I use Algenist cream and serum – it makes my skin soft – and Tarte for a soft glow on my cheeks.” – Ida Stenzler. What’s your number one beauty product? Let us know in the comment section below!

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"Embarrassing" travel pillow frequent flyers swear by

Dad swears at teacher for overstepping the line

Flight attendants swear by these packing hacks

“You bloody fool!” The musk duck that learnt to swear

The new iPhone hack allows you to swear with ease

The strange $4 ingredient Nigella Lawson swears by for perfect spaghetti

The $25 mascara Duchess Meghan swears by

The $5 Kmart hack caravanners swear by

Why swearing is actually good for you

The one thing Jamie Oliver lets his kids do on Christmas

Sofia Vergara swears by this $12.50 shampoo

5 bizarre anti-ageing beauty products celebs swear by

Beauty products the Over60 community swear by