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Flight attendant reveals why planes have tiny holes in their windows

<p>Have you ever wondered why there are tiny holes at the bottom of a plane window? </p> <p>Flight attendant Henny Lim has revealed the reason why they are there, and why it is such an important feature on planes. </p> <p>The tiny hole, otherwise known as a “bleed hole” serves as a major safety function to help balance the pressure difference between the cabin and the outside air.</p> <p>“If you’ve ever sat in the window seat on a flight, you’ve probably noticed the tiny hole at the bottom of the window,” she said.</p> <p>This is because cabin windows on commercial planes are usually made up of three layers of glass and acrylic to keep them strong and insulated.</p> <p>The bleed hole allows for a controlled flow of air between the layers, equalising the pressure and reducing stress on the window panes.</p> <p>It also helps prevent condensation as the temperature changes at higher altitudes, allowing a small amount of dry air to flow between the three layers, which keeps the windows clear. </p> <p>“It also has another purpose, which is to release moisture and stop frost or condensation from blocking your view,” Lim added.</p> <p>Lim has grown a following on social media for sharing insider tips and knowledge on planes and flying, including why  flight attendants sit on their hands during take-off and landing. </p> <p><em>Images: TikTok</em></p> <p> </p>

Travel Tips

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Why there is a tiny hole in your airplane window

<p><em>Image: Getty</em></p> <p>Next time you fly in the window seat, take a closer look and you might spot a tiny hole in the glass pane.</p> <p>But don’t panic – not only is that normal, but without them, there could be huge problems on-board, <em><a href="https://www.thesun.co.uk/travel/17277588/plane-window-holes-explained-secret/">The Sun</a></em> reports.</p> <p>The strange design helps the aircraft to withstand the changing air pressure outside.</p> <p>Even though it may look like there’s a hole, the small gap doesn’t go through the entire pane.</p> <p>Each window is made up of three different acrylic layers, and it’s only the middle one that contains the breather hole.</p> <p>The small gap helps to regulate the high pressure environment on the plane, making the experience far more comfortable for passengers.</p> <p>Pilot Mark Vanhoenacker previously revealed: “The outer two cabin windows are designed to contain this difference in pressure between the cabin and the sky.</p> <p>“Both the middle and the outer panes are strong enough to withstand the difference on their own, but under normal circumstances it’s the outer pane that bears this pressure — thanks to the breather hole.”</p> <p>As well as being vital for passenger safety, the breather hole has another important function.</p> <p>The small gap allows moisture to escape the aircraft, preventing fog from forming on the window</p> <p>It isn’t the only strange thing you might spot on planes.</p> <p>Keen-eyed passengers may notice tiny black triangles on the walls of their plane.</p> <p>These indicate the position from which the wings can best be seen by staff from inside the aircraft.</p> <p>They can then quickly check the position of the flaps or slats if required from the appropriate window.</p> <p>There are also tiny yellow hooks on the wings which help staff evacuations over the wing and are used to secure and tether life rafts to the plane.</p> <p>Passengers walk across the wing using ropes attached to the hooks in emergencies.</p>

Domestic Travel

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Young HERO with autism jumps out Maccas drive-thru window to save choking customer

<p><em>Image: Kare11</em></p> <p>A 15-year-old McDonald’s worker potentially saved a customer’s life by jumping through the drive-thru window after she noticed the woman choking on a chicken nugget.</p> <p>Sydney Raley was working a shift at McDonald’s in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, handing customers their orders in the drive-thru when she realised something was wrong with the person she was serving.</p> <p>“I noticed that she was coughing profusely, and her daughter just had this look on her face like sheer terror,” she told the local news station KARE11.</p> <p>“I could tell, oh crap, she’s choking!’ Just seeing that visceral reaction I knew I had to act fast.”</p> <p>Sydney had done first-aid training when she was 11 years old, so she immediately jumped out the drive-thru window and told the customer to get out of the car and instructed her daughter to call for help.</p> <p>The Heimlich manoeuvre didn't work the first few times, so she called upon another customer who was waiting for his food to come and help.</p> <p>The other customer was able to dislodge the chicken nugget stuck in the woman's throat.</p> <p>“It could’ve ended a lot worst but I am super thankful for that bystander who helped so much,” she said.</p> <p>Police officers from Edina Police Department arrived at the scene to assist the woman and rewarded Sydney with $100 – from the fund police use to give back to those who do good in the community.</p> <p>Just after emergency services had arrived at the McDonald's, Sydney's parents arrived to pick her up. Her father Tom told CNN they saw the ambulance and police car out the front and for a moment were worried they were there for something to do with Sydney.</p> <p>He told the station he is extremely proud of her.</p> <p>"I always tell her she has a gift, because she's autistic," said Tom.</p> <p>"She can remember anything – do anything."</p> <p>The police Sergeant was also proud of the 15-year-old.</p> <p>"We’re very proud of Sydney. She’s a great example of how all of us – no matter our age or position – can make a difference in our communities," Sergeant Scott Mittelstadt said, according to the department's Facebook post.</p>

Caring

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Understanding the “window of tolerance” in trauma recovery

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">For survivors of trauma, recovering involves learning how to cope with distress and how to increase the capacity for positive and enjoyable experiences.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A common framework psychologists use while working with trauma survivors is called the “window of tolerance”.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Understanding our personal windows of tolerance can help us respond to demands of daily life and utilise different strategies to return to it during stressful moments.</span></p> <p><strong>What is the window of tolerance?</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Coined by psychiatrist Dan Spiegel, the </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychpedia/window-of-tolerance" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: 400;">window of tolerance</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> describes a state of arousal where a person can function well and respond to stimuli with much difficulty.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In this state, a person is likely able to think rationally, reflect, and make decisions without feeling overwhelmed.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">When a person experiences extreme stress, they can leave this window and enter a state of hyper- or hypo-arousal.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Hyper-arousal is also known as the fight or flight response, with a person usually experiencing hypervigilance, anxiety or panic, and racing thoughts.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In contrast, hypo-arousal is the freeze response, where someone may feel emotionally numb, empty, or paralysed.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Being in either of these states can mean that a person is unable to effectively process stimuli.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">They may be unable to think as rationally and can feel dysregulated.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Everyone’s window of tolerance is different and can be affected by their environment - such as how supported they feel - and trauma.</span></p> <p><img style="width: 386.4533965244866px; height: 500px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7844316/nicabm-infog-window-of-tolerance-revised.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/82982d740495463a868203412a0187d2" /></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Image: NICABM</span></em></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">When a person feels supported and safe, they are generally able to stay in their window of tolerance.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">For those who have experienced trauma, the experience may “push” a person out of their window of tolerance, or make it much more narrow or inflexible.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This can result in someone responding to even minor stressors with extreme hyper- or hypo-arousal, or believing the world is unsafe.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Frequently staying outside the window of tolerance can result in an individual experiencing mental health issues such as depression and anxiety.</span></p> <p><strong>Manage mental health with the window of tolerance</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">People who feel dysregulated and often stay outside of their window of tolerance can return using a few different techniques.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Practicing grounding and mindfulness skills can often help people be present and in the moment.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">With the help of a mental health professional, it is also possible for a person to expand their window of tolerance, feel a greater sense of calm, and become better equipped to deal with stress.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Therapy can provide individuals with a safe space to process trauma and other painful memories, as well as a place to practice emotional regulation.</span></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Image: Getty Images</span></em></p>

Mind

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1-year-old girl dies in hot car after father allegedly refuses to break window

<div class="post_body_wrapper"> <div class="post_body"> <div class="body_text "> <p>A Las Vegas father has been arrested after he refused to break the window of his new car to save his dying toddler, according to authorities.</p> <p>Sidney Deal, 27, got the attention of officers after he left his one-year-old daughter in the car with the keys inside on a hot Monday afternoon.</p> <p>The officers offered to break the window, call a tow truck or get a locksmith but Deal declined and asked to call his brother.</p> <p>After a few minutes, officers decided to smash the window, pulled out the unresponsive girl and she passed away at the scene.</p> <p>The cause of death is pending, but authorities believe that she had been trapped in the car for more than a hour.</p> <p>Detectives also interviewed Deal's brother who he called and the brother explained he was confused by the call and quickly headed to Deal's house.</p> <p>Deal described in the call saying that he accidentally locked Sayah in the car and claimed that he had the airconditioning running.</p> <p>After Deal's brother arrived, he immediately wrapped his shirt around his hand and offered to punch out the window, but Deal stopped him as he claimed he didn't have enough money to fix a broken window.</p> <p>He instead asked his brother to call their mum to have her insurance company to send a locksmith.</p> <p>Deal's girlfriend told police she also called the insurance company for him, but he told her to hang up after he didn't agree with the price quoted for a tow truck.</p> <p>He was booked in the Clark County Detention Centre on one count of child abuse or neglect causing substantial bodily harm and is being held on $20,000 bond.</p> <p><em>Photo credits: Facebook</em></p> </div> </div> </div>

Travel Trouble

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The touching moment bride visits her grandmother through care home window on her wedding day

<p>Ever since the coronavirus pandemic hit, the world has had to adjust their lifestyles, and with the elderly at high risk from COVID-19, one bride from the US found a way to make sure her grandmother was a part of her wedding day.</p> <p>Shauna Varner married Travis Scepaniak in Sartell, Minnesota on April 25.</p> <p>The aged care facility, Country Manor, where her grandma Janis currently stays has been on strict lockdown since mid-March due to the virus. This forced Varner and Scepaniak to get creative.</p> <p>On the morning of the couple’s special day, staff at Country Manor helped dress Janis up.</p> <p>"With our salon services being shut down, it took some joint effort from us non-professionals to get her hair fixed, but she was pleased with the final product, which is all that matters," Emily Frericks, the facility's director of public relations and marketing told <em>Good Morning America</em>.</p> <p>"She felt beautiful, which was a rewarding feeling for staff."</p> <p>Before walking down the aisle, Varner and Scepaniak stopped at the facility to “visit” Janis from the other side of her window, leaving her overjoyed.</p> <p>In footage of the moment, Varner is seen showing off her wedding dress and two blew kisses to one another through the glass.</p> <p>"You got to see [the dress] first," said Varner.</p> <p>"Good," replied Janis, adding, "Your hair looks nice. Everything looks nice. You're beautiful."</p> <p>Even with the pandemic sweeping across the globe, people are finding ways to stay connected with their loved ones.</p>

Relationships

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New York wedding officiated from fourth-floor window amid social distancing

<p>As weddings around the world are being cancelled or postponed due to the ongoing coronavirus outbreak, a New York couple has found a way to carry on with their nuptials – by having a friend officiate the ceremony from a fourth-floor window.</p> <p>Reilly Jennings and Amanda Wheeler tied the knot on Friday on a small sidewalk in the city. Their friend Matt Wilson, who is a licensed marriage officiant, led the ceremony from his fourth-floor apartment window as part of social distancing efforts. The couple exchanged their vows as a few friends stood witness from several metres away.</p> <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/tv/B9_98yxpw7Z/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/tv/B9_98yxpw7Z/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Reilly Jennings (@reillyjennings)</a> on Mar 21, 2020 at 7:47am PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Jennings and Wheeler initially planned to wed in October, but decided to have a quick courthouse wedding amid concerns “that things weren’t going back to normal for quite a while”.</p> <p>Jennings said Wilson texted them on group chat, letting them know he was ordained by the county clerk of New York and could help them “get hitched”.</p> <p>“We texted, ‘Wanna marry us outside your window in the next 24hrs?’ and he said ‘YES!’” Jennings told <em>CNN</em>.</p> <p>“To that I replied, ‘How about in 90 minutes?’ We both finished up work meetings, got dressed, picked up some flowers, and headed to his apartment around the corner.”</p> <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/B9-kCC8Jfca/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B9-kCC8Jfca/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Reilly Jennings (@reillyjennings)</a> on Mar 20, 2020 at 6:39pm PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>The wedding came as businesses were closed and residents of the US city were told to keep their distance and stay indoors where possible.</p> <p>Speaking to <em><a href="https://www.eonline.com/au/news/1133191/couple-marries-on-new-york-street-as-friend-officiates-wedding-from-3-floors-up">E!News</a></em>, Jennings said she and Wheeler will remember “the overwhelming sense of joy and love amidst a scary and uncertain time”.</p>

Relationships

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Coronavirus in Wuhan: Residents shout ‘stay strong’ from windows

<p>In Wuhan, China, the epicentre of the coronavirus outbreak, <a href="https://youtu.be/bqXfnN76S-I">residents have been shouting</a> “Wuhan <em>jiāyóu</em>” meaning, “Wuhan, stay strong” out of their windows, from apartment building to apartment building, to <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-51276496">send words of encouragement</a> to fellow citizens, doctors and medical staff at the front lines of the battle.</p> <p>When facing a crisis, <a href="https://doi.org/10.1080/03057240.2011.541774">humans historically seek solidarity</a>. Community solidarity is often seen as a great way for the community to feel alive and charged with energy after facing hard times.</p> <p>This solidarity was seen after <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2015/09/hurricane-katrinas-lesson-in-civics/402961/">Hurricane Katrina</a> in New Orleans in 2005, after <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/typhoon-haiyan-filipinos-use-social-media-ensure-no-victim-goes-flna2D11581515">Typhoon Haiyan</a> in the Philippines in 2013 and after the <a href="https://www.macleans.ca/news/canada/random-acts-of-kindness-during-the-fort-mcmurray-fire/">Fort McMurray wildfires</a> in Alberta in 2016.</p> <p>More recently, there are tales of <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/andie-bulman-pov-bartering-storm-1.5435804">neighbours shovelling each other out of their homes </a> after the historic snowstorm in St. John’s, N.L. Near Manila, <a href="https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1213189/bayanihan-eruption-unaffected-cities-towns-welcome-evacuees?fbclid=IwAR1w0IUcuPh_Z8sCk2MBJgR23bGOVMVfoLWCz6U4Hyyn-kO6Vh5hAzBdKt0">strangers offered up their homes</a> to evacuees of the Taal volcano eruption.</p> <p>But how do you show community solidarity in the face of a crisis when speaking with your neighbours — and coming together — could literally kill you?</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="440" height="260" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/bqXfnN76S-I?wmode=transparent&amp;start=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><span class="caption">‘Wuhan jiāyóu’: chants of solidarity spread across city at epicentre of coronavirus" video from ‘The Guardian.’</span></p> <p><strong>Boost morale</strong></p> <p>As the 11 million citizens in Wuhan entered the nth day under lockdown because of the coronavirus, people have been forced to stay indoors to limit their contact with others. As fears grew, some felt the need to boost morale and create a sense of community solidarity.</p> <p>Soon, social media posts circulated asking residents in Wuhan to go to their windows and shout out “<em>jiāyóu</em>” starting at 8 p.m. local time. The posts were widely shared, leading to the phenomenon that took place.</p> <p><em>Jiāyóu</em> (加油) directly translates to “<a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-asia-45897668/add-oil-the-new-expression-coming-your-way">add oil</a>” in a way that might mean “add gasoline to your car” so you can continue to push hard and do what you need to do. In a general sense, the sentiment is “stay strong” or “keep going.” <em>Jiāyóu</em> is a common phrase used to encourage someone if they are facing a challenge.</p> <p>As the city of Wuhan faces the life and death challenge of the coronavirus, <em>jiāyóu</em> works as a phrase that resonates with residents of a city struggling to survive.</p> <p>“Wuhan <em>jiāyóu</em>” (武汉! 加油!) is now the motto of Wuhan to keep spirits high in the face of this spreading pandemic.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/312746/original/file-20200130-41485-17ocjao.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt="" /> <span class="caption">A comment left on ‘The Guardian’s’ Youtube video of the ‘jiāyóu’ chants.</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">YouTube/The Guardian</span></span></p> <p>In addition to raising morale and giving a strong sign of life to a city that has been rendered a ghost town, the <em>jiāyóu</em> chants have also served another purpose: for the global media audience, it has helped to humanize the citizens of Wuhan.</p> <p><strong>Apocalyptic fear</strong></p> <p>Even with the exceptional stories like the reporting of “Wuhan <em>jiayou</em>” by <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-51276496">the BBC </a> and the <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jan/28/indoor-fishing-and-chanting-battles-how-chinas-quarantined-millions-are-keeping-busy"><em>Guardian</em></a>, western media <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1i4fvH-EFDU_xzP-gt3OxZR0RGAvLqU5J/view">has been shown to</a> inevitably contribute to reducing the people at the core of these stories into numbers and statistics.</p> <p>So far, it seems, with a few exceptions, western mainstream media has focused on medical and scientific stories. The images and videos shared of Wuhan <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/science/2020/jan/27/china-coronavirus-who-to-hold-special-meeting-in-beijing-as-death-toll-jumps">are of a ravaged</a> and scary ghost town. Some include <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/video/world/asia/100000006936419/coronavirus-china-wuhan.html">videos of overflowing hospitals</a> and medical staff in <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2020/jan/30/coronavirus-live-updates-china-death-toll-wuhan-evacuation-foreign-nationals-citizens-latest-news">heavy protective gear</a>. Others have spread stories of <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/bc-rumours-panic-coronavirus-outbreak-1.5443998">apocalyptic fear</a>. Many social media posters have engaged in <a href="https://twitter.com/SimuLiu/status/1222459446799921153?s=20">fear mongering</a>. With all this, it can seem that few have treated the citizens of Wuhan as anything but <a href="https://globalnews.ca/news/6466587/coronavirus-risk-reaction/">potential carriers of the virus</a>.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/312903/original/file-20200130-41516-38tn9c.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt="" /> <span class="caption">Simi Liu, recently cast as Marvel’s first Asian superhero has been speaking out against the racist fear mongering circulating on Twitter.</span> <span class="attribution"><a href="https://twitter.com/SimuLiu/status/1222459446799921153?s=20" class="source">(Twitter/@similiu)</a></span></p> <p>While these videos and images depict the reality of a city dealing with a pandemic, the face masks and crowded hospitals allow viewers to overlook the silent majority — the tens of millions of people in self-isolation at home.</p> <p>The <em>jiāyóu</em> chant and the videos that captured it have since gone viral. It is a way for citizens to reclaim their narrative. It helps to draw attention to the millions of diligent and law-abiding citizens who are doing their job in fighting this pandemic and encouraging others to keeping going in this fight against an invisible virus.</p> <p>I believe the humanization of the Wuhan citizens helped to send a wake up call to the world about the plight of those not infected but isolated in their homes. Many westerners have largely focused on whether the virus will spread in their countries. Few may have stopped to think of those in lock down in Wuhan and other cities in China.</p> <p>Some took to social media to ask why the world is not praying for Wuhan or China. Why are there no Facebook profile filters to show solidarity with those struggling against the virus?</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/312741/original/file-20200130-41554-1q6puo7.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt="" /> <span class="caption">Screenshot of Orlando Uy’s Facebook comment about the lack of Pray for China activities on social media.</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">(Facebook/Orlando Uy)</span></span></p> <p>Most recently, in Wuhan, <a href="https://uk.news.yahoo.com/chinese-premier-inspects-wuhan-supermarket-120000938.html">Premier Li Keqiang’s visited</a> a Wuhan supermarket where the coronavirus allegedly originated. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qPfZmZZ9M0o">In an act of solidarity, he chanted “<em>jiāyóu</em> Wuhan”</a> with a crowd of shoppers to encourage them to continue fighting the coronavirus.</p> <p>While the premier was likely genuine, there is also a small warning in this government official’s act. There is a risk that acts of solidarity like “Wuhan <em>jiāyóu</em>” could be co-opted by government bodies to shift attention or responsibility away from authorities.</p> <p>This type of co-option was observed in <a href="https://odihpn.org/blog/bayanihan-after-typhoon-haiyan-are-we-romanticising-an-indigenous-coping-strategy/">the exaggerated use of “resilience” and “survival” narratives</a> after Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines to paint a picture of a rapidly recovering community doing well by being resourceful and helping each other.</p> <p>These narratives of community resilience pushed forth by official government messages can act to shift responsibility away from the state and international humanitarian organizations that have formal responsibilities in disaster risk reduction and recovery.</p> <p>Thus, Premier Li Keqiang was able to use the peoples’ chant, “Wuhan <em>jiāyóu</em>” to rally support in the grocery store. But he did not create a space for questions about accountability and government action. This is often the double-edged sword of community solidarity: it is powerful, but it can also be misused by the powerful. <!-- Below is The Conversation's page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --><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/130851/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /><!-- End of code. If you don't see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: http://theconversation.com/republishing-guidelines --></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="440" height="260" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/qPfZmZZ9M0o?wmode=transparent&amp;start=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><span class="caption">Premier Li Kequiang shouting ‘Wuhan jiayou.’</span></p> <p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/yvonne-su-742700">Yvonne Su</a>, PhD, International Development and Political Science, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-guelph-1071">University of Guelph</a></em></p> <p><em>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/coronavirus-in-wuhan-residents-shout-stay-strong-from-windows-130851">original article</a>.</em></p>

International Travel

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Protect your online digital privacy by learning about “fingerprinting”

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The ad tech industry is always trying to find ways to monitor your digital activities as the more they know, the more money ends up in their pockets.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This has led to the rise of “fingerprinting”, which has security researchers worried.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Although it sounds harmless, “fingerprinting” involves looking at the many characteristics of your mobile device or computer, such as the screen resolution or operating system.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">According to </span><em><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/03/technology/personaltech/fingerprinting-track-devices-what-to-do.html"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The New York Times</span></a></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">, as soon as they have enough details, they can use this information to pinpoint and follow your online habits, such as how you browse the web and use applications.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Once enough device characteristics are known, the theory goes that the data can be assembled into a profile that helps identify you the way a fingerprint would.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Get enough of those attributes together and it creates essentially a bar code,” said Peter Dolanjski, a product lead for Mozilla’s Firefox web browser, who is studying fingerprinting. “That bar code is absolutely uniquely identifiable.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The bad news? The technique happens invisibly in the background in apps and websites, which makes it harder to combat.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">As it’s a new way of discovering your web habits, the ways to protect yourself are limited as proper solutions are still in development.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">However, Apple users have protections in Safari for computers and mobile devices, which makes your device look the same to a website by sharing the bare minimum of information that the site needs to load properly.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">For Android and Windows users, the safety recommendation is to use the Firefox web browser, as Mozilla introduced fingerprint blocking in its browser this year. However, the feature can prevent some content from loading on certain websites.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Unfortunately, if you’re a Google Chrome user, Google hasn't announced any defence system as of yet, but it has plans to release protections in the future. </span></p>

Technology

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The dangerous 10-minute window you're most likely to have a car accident

<p>In a survey that analysed accident data of 57,000 vehicles, industry specialist AX discovered that a fifth of road accidents occur during the evening commute. This is between the time of 4 pm and 6pm.</p> <p>However, the data noticed something interesting.</p> <p>There’s a 10-minute window between 5 pm and 5:10 pm where 15 per cent of all rush hour accidents occurred, as people left their places of work during winter time. This is therefore the most error-filled and accident-prone time period for drivers.</p> <p>One in six accidents occur during that 10-minute time period after 5pm.</p> <p>Scott Hamilton Cooper, Director of Sales and Operations at AX, said that the results were of “little surprise”.</p> <p>“It is little surprise to see the majority of accidents take place during the afternoon and evening hours when many of us are busy trying to get home or rushing to pick up our kids,” Hamilton explained.</p> <p>The RAC Foundation backed the findings, saying that three quarters of the extra accidents occur during the afternoon.</p> <p>RAC Foundation director Steve Gooding explained:</p> <p>“Every year at about this time there are calls to abandon the spring forward, fall-back rhythm of daylight saving time, but our work suggests that it's darker days and winter weather together that cause the spike in road safety risk.</p> <p>“Rain, snow, ice, wind, mist and fog are all factors which make driving more challenging and – the data suggests – more dangerous.</p> <p>“Wrapped up snugly in our warm and comfortable cars it's easy to feel immune to the conditions outside, yet year in, year out, they take their toll on thousands of road users.”</p> <p>Have you been in a car accident around this time of day? Let us know in the comments.</p>

Legal

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Why choosing a window seat just got trickier

<p>For many, getting a window seat or an aisle seat whilst boarding a flight is the dream. You either have easy access to the aisle or can get to gaze out the window while the plane continues on its journey.</p> <p>However, for some unlucky passengers, this dream fades fast. They eagerly arrive to their seat to find, well, nothing.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"> <p dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/AmericanAir?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AmericanAir</a>, I am a GOLD status customer (PLATINUM status by next week) and book window seats for a reason. I’ve never felt more claustrophobic in my life! I was told by the flight attendant to contact you via social media, so here I am. Please explain <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/wheresmywindow?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#wheresmywindow</a> <a href="https://t.co/blc0pF9yyr">pic.twitter.com/blc0pF9yyr</a></p> — Christine Castillo (@cristinitac22) <a href="https://twitter.com/cristinitac22/status/1024305330879119360?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 31, 2018</a></blockquote> <p>This is a common occurrence for those who book window seats. They’ve unfortunately chosen to sit where the air conditioning ducts are run through the main body of the aircraft. Although this might keep everyone cool, you won’t be able to enjoy the view you’ve paid for.</p> <p>This is common across a range of planes, including:</p> <ul> <li>Boeing 737</li> <li>Boeing 777</li> <li>Boeing 747</li> <li>Boeing 757 Boeing 737 MAXs</li> </ul> <p>However, don’t think that just because you’ve flown on that type of plane before that you’re avoiding getting a windowless seat. For some plane types, there’s two different versions. This is the case with a Qantas Boeing 747-400.</p> <p>Some frequent flyers end up utilising the<span> </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.seatguru.com/" target="_blank">SeatGuru website<span> </span></a>before booking flights. This website allows you to put in the company of who you’re flying with, the date of your flight and your chosen flight number. This site allows you to see the seating plan on your flight and avoid choosing a windowless seat.</p> <p>Remembering this tip and using this website is bound to save you from disappointment while boarding your flight. If you do end up with a windowless seat though, use the space to try and get some rest. You probably won’t be getting much of it once you land at your destination.</p>

Travel Tips

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Passengers literally forced to "wing it" on horror flight

<p><span>Passengers on a flight from Detroit to Denver were forced to evacuate a Delta Air Lines flight, climbing out of the plane’s windows, because of smoke in the cabin.</span></p> <p><span>The flight, which landed on Tuesday and was carrying 146 passengers, had an emergency evacuation while the plane was taxiing to terminal.</span></p> <p><span>Delta Flight 1854 from Detroit landed around 8:10 pm when smoke started appearing.</span></p> <p><span>Flight attendants instructed passengers to cover their faces and to get down as low as possible.</span></p> <p><span>“We didn’t get any clear instructions, so people were like, hey, smoke,” passenger Paige Armstrong said. </span></p> <p><span>“Someone was whistling, people were yelling, everyone was pressing their buttons and then they opened the cockpit.</span></p> <p><span>“The woman next to me may have been a flight attendant and she said they are checking with the pilot to see what was going on. And I said, ‘Why don’t they let us out?’ Then they did. Then everyone was very orderly and polite.”</span></p> <p><span>All of the passengers exited the plane by using either slides or a window near the wing of the plane.</span></p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">More pictures. We’re all inside waiting for info and our bags. We all keep saying how bad our mouths taste still after breathing it. <a href="https://t.co/urEoi5JiHX">pic.twitter.com/urEoi5JiHX</a></p> — Rachel Naftel (@rachelnaftel) <a href="https://twitter.com/rachelnaftel/status/994056485616353281?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 9, 2018</a></blockquote> <p><span>There were a few reports of passengers who had minor smoke inhalation.</span></p> <p><span>“After arrival in Denver and during taxi to the gate, Delta flight 1854 from Detroit to Denver stopped on a taxiway where customers deplaned via slides and over-wing exits due to an observance of smoke in the cabin,” Delta said in a statement.</span></p> <p><span>“Airport response vehicles met the aircraft out of an abundance of caution and customers were transported to the terminal via buses. The safety of Delta’s customers and crew is our top priority and we apologise for the concern this situation has caused.”</span></p> <p><span>The National Transportation Safety Board will investigate what went wrong. </span></p>

Travel Trouble

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Horror as window cracks on flight

<p>Terrified passengers were left fearing for their lives when heavy turbulence rocked an Air India flight from Amritsar to Delhi, causing one of the plane’s windows to fall out.</p> <p>This incident, which occurred days after a similar tragedy on a Southwest Airlines flight, was captured on one of the passenger’s camera phones. The 240 people onboard the Boeing 787 Dreamliner look visibly distressed as the flight attendant attempts to force the dislodged window back in its place.</p> <p><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/8HoPjvbE9MI" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></p> <p><a href="http://www.news.com.au/" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>News.com.au reports</strong></em></span></a> the turbulence rocked the plane shortly after takeoff as it reached 15,000ft, and lasted almost half of the journey.</p> <p>At lease three of the passengers onboard were injured.</p> <p>A probe into the incident has reportedly been launched by aviation regulator the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and the Aircraft Accident Investigation Board (AAIB).</p> <p>What are your thoughts? Do you think the aviation industry is dropping its standards?</p>

Travel Tips

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Meet the 76-year-old man behind the most viewed photo in history

<p>Some estimates say that the Windows XP’s wallpaper has been seen by 1 billion people, making it the most viewed photograph in the world.</p> <p>In 1996, Charles O’Rear, on the way to visit his girlfriend, captured the iconic wallpaper “Bliss” in Sonoma County, California.</p> <p>The 76-year-old man behind the image is now producing “the next generation of wallpapers” and they look just as stunning.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img width="500" height="460" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7267411/in-text_500x460.jpg" alt="In Text (2)"/></p> <p>Now, his new projected called New Angles of America is wallpapers targeted for smartphone users.</p> <p>“I am thrilled to create for Lufthansa a sequel to the “Bliss” photo on smartphones so that my views of other beautiful places can continue to be enjoyed by millions of people. After all, smartphones have become the primary place for the world to see new and interesting photography. And, I’m glad to be part of it.”</p> <p>“I am turning 76 and realise how much the Microsoft Bliss photograph has meant to my life. As the photographer of the most viewed photo in history, I have enjoyed every minute of the fame.”</p> <p>Scroll through the gallery above to see his latest images.</p> <p>Do you have the “Bliss” photo as your wallpaper? Let us know in the comments below.</p> <p><em>Image credit: <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=47&amp;v=b414uFIR5RM" target="_blank">Lufthansa</a></strong></span></em></p>

Art

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What Windows users must do to protect themselves from ransomware

<p><em><strong>Lisa Du is director of <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="https://readytechgo.com.au/" target="_blank">ReadyTechGo</a></span>, a service that helps people gain the confidence and skills to embrace modern technology. </strong></em></p> <p>Windows 10 has some great hidden features! By now, you've probably heard of Ransomware – a very nasty malicious software which infects PCs and encrypts (locks up) your files. Basically holding it at ransom until you pay a ransom. <br /> <br /> To defend yourself against Ransomware, you need to:</p> <ul> <li>Backup your files regularly on a separate system such as a portable/external hard drive</li> <li>Make sure this hard drive is not connected to the internet! </li> <li>You also need to ensure you have strong security and antivirus software installed on your computer</li> <li>Always install updates as companies release software updates for your device in order to fix vulnerabilities that can be exploited to install ransomware. </li> </ul> <p>Today, let's look at a Windows 10 feature you can switch on to protect yourself against this malicious software!</p> <p><strong>Controlled folder access</strong></p> <p>This feature will “protect valuable data from malicious apps and threats, such as ransomware.”</p> <p>As explained by Microsoft, “Controlled folder access monitors the changes that apps make to files in certain protected folders.</p> <p>“If an app attempts to make a change to these files, and the app is blacklisted by the feature, you’ll get a notification about the attempt.</p> <p>“You can complement the protected folders with additional locations, and add the apps that you want to allow access to those folders.”</p> <p><strong>How to enable controlled folder access in Windows 10:</strong></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img width="467" height="" src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/e785dd9ba906ed79fad48bd7e/images/176468db-6a31-423a-9ffc-331b3f1a008f.png" class="mcnImage" style="max-width: 600px; line-height: 100%; outline: none; vertical-align: bottom; height: 290px;"/></p> <p>1. Open the Windows Defender Security Centre.</p> <p>2. Click on the Virus &amp; threat protection icon.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"> <img width="410" height="" src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/e785dd9ba906ed79fad48bd7e/images/d8513731-88d1-44d2-8d46-e84aefbb8d0b.png" class="mcnImage" style="outline: none; text-align: center; max-width: 600px; line-height: 10px; vertical-align: bottom; height: 363px;"/></p> <p>3. On the next page, click the Virus &amp; threat protection settings link.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img width="415" height="" src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/e785dd9ba906ed79fad48bd7e/images/1f338cbe-f5b0-4520-a65a-017a0f489332.png" class="mcnImage" style="max-width: 600px; line-height: 100%; outline: none; vertical-align: bottom; height: 368px;"/></p> <p>4. Enable the option Controlled folder access.</p> <p>Ensure you turn this feature on, and if, for any reason you are attacked, never pay the ransom! Paying the ransom fee encourages attackers and you may not get your files back anyway!</p> <p>If you have a backup of you files on an external hard drive, you can restore your device from your backup.</p> <p>If you have any questions, please get in touch with us!</p> <p>For those of you interested in learning how you can back up files to "Cloud". make sure you come along to our workshop next Wednesday! Only a few places left in this interactive, hands on workshop!</p> <p>Were you aware of this safety feature?</p>

Technology

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What’s the best seat on a plane: aisle, middle or window?

<p>The best seat to be in on a plane is an issue as divisive as whether pineapple belongs on a pizza or not. To some people, the aisle will always be the best option. Others couldn’t bear the thought of not being able to take in the view from the window seat. And there are a few (we suppose) who like feeling snug as a bug in the middle seat.</p> <p>So, what is the best seat to choose, when you’re booking a flight?</p> <p>Well, we put it to the Over60 community on our Travel Club page, and we were overwhelmed with the response. To see some of the best answers, scroll though the gallery above.</p> <p>Where do you prefer to sit on a plane?</p>

Travel Tips

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10 most stunning photos taken from aeroplane windows

<p>The window seat is a much-maligned part of the aeroplane. You always seem a little more cramped than everyone else, it’s hard to get the flight-attendant’s attention and hobbling over knees to get to the bathroom is never a lot of fun.</p> <p>But sometimes the view makes it more than worth it.</p> <p>We’ve scoured the internet and found 10 of the most stunning photographs taken from aeroplane windows. To see them all, scroll through the gallery above.</p> <p>What’s the most amazing thing you’ve ever seen from an aeroplane window?</p> <p><em><strong>Have you arranged your travel insurance yet? Save money with Over60 Travel Insurance. <a href="https://elevate.agatravelinsurance.com.au/oversixty?utm_source=over60&amp;utm_medium=content&amp;utm_content=link1&amp;utm_campaign=travel-insurance" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">To arrange a quote, click here</span>.</a> Or for more information, call 1800 622 966.</strong></em></p>

International Travel

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The new middle seat that's better than the window or aisle

<p>Crammed in on both sides, the toilets an awkward scramble away, it's no wonder everyone hates sitting in the middle seat on a plane trip.</p> <p>But a US company has come up with a new design that could make the middle option the best seat in the house.</p> <p>The "Stagger Seat", by Molon Labe Designs, moves the middle seat slightly behind and below its neighbours.</p> <p>It is also eight centimetres wider than the window and aisle seats, offering a little more space.</p> <p>"If you're in the aisle or window seat, you couldn't possibly steal the entire armrest – your elbows would be behind your back at a weird angle," Mr Scott told Wired.</p> <p>But the new design offers plenty of room for all, as well as more space for a bigger entertainment screen.</p> <p>The design has yet to be approved by the US Federal Aviation Administration.</p> <p>The company is the most recent to take a look at the middle seat conundrum.</p> <p>Air New Zealand also presented a new wider design for the middle seat at this year's Aircraft Interiors Expo.</p> <p>Would you like to try this new airplane seat design?</p> <p><em>Image credit: Stuff / Molon Lab</em></p> <p><em>First appeared on <a href="http://www.stuff.co.nz/" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Stuff.co.nz</span></strong></a>.</em></p>

Travel Tips

Over 60

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