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Five ways to take advantage of rising interest rates to boost your savings

<p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/fredrick-kibon-changwony-234363">Fredrick Kibon Changwony</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-stirling-1697">University of Stirling</a></em></p> <p>With the Bank of England base rate <a href="https://theconversation.com/how-the-bank-of-englands-interest-rate-hikes-are-filtering-through-to-your-finances-210344">currently the highest</a> it has been since early 2008, you may have a valuable opportunity to increase your earnings on pensions, investments and savings accounts. After all, when the central bank raises its main rate – the base rate, which is typically used as a benchmark for loans as well as savings accounts – it is trying to encourage people to spend less and save more.</p> <p>But UK banks and building societies have <a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/money/martin-lewis-savings-rates-mortgage-crisis-b2362955.html">recently been accused</a> of letting their savings rates lag the recent rapid rise in the base rate. UK regulator the Financial Conduct Authority has urged these financial firms to offer “<a href="https://www.fca.org.uk/news/press-releases/action-plan-cash-savings">fair and competitive</a>” savings rates in response to the increasing interest rates.</p> <p>Many financial institutions do offer accounts with <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/money/2023/jul/15/uk-savings-accounts-interest-nsi-building-societies-banks-deals">rates of 6% or more</a>. This is good news for avid savers – but only if you keep an eye on the market so you can switch from less competitive products. This is why it’s important to establish a regular savings habit, but many people are unsure about what that should involve.</p> <p>My colleagues and I have studied the <a href="https://dspace.stir.ac.uk/handle/1893/32240">correlation between people’s savings goals</a> (if they have any) and how they invest their money. We also looked at how seeking financial information advice, and being “good with numbers”, both influence this correlation.</p> <p>We analysed data from more than 40,000 individuals in 21,000 UK households from five waves of the Office for National Statistics Wealth and Assets Survey (WAS), conducted between 2006 and 2016. This data captures comprehensive economic wellbeing information and attitudes to financial planning.</p> <p>Our research shows the importance to your finances of setting multiple savings goals, keeping up with financial news, and seeking professional advice. Based on this, here are five research-based ways to make the most of your money.</p> <h2>1. Set specific savings goals</h2> <p>Establishing personal savings goals is one of the first steps most financial institutions and advisers will recommend to their customers, because it’s a good idea to <a href="https://www.investopedia.com/terms/c/compoundinterest.asp">save regularly</a>. Plus, our study shows that total financial assets increase in line with the number of savings goals you have, and that setting specific, rather than vague, goals leads to higher performance.</p> <p>Specific savings goals should have an end date, target figure, and even a meaningful name – for example, “£1,000 for 2024 trip to Asia” or “£250 for 2023 Christmas present fund”. This will create tangible reference points that encourage self-control and increase the pain you feel if you fail to meet your goal.</p> <h2>2. Seek professional financial advice</h2> <p>Rather than relying on friends, family and social media for financial advice, speak to an expert.</p> <p>Our research shows households that access professional financial advice were more likely to allocate a higher share of their wealth to stock portfolios than those that rely on friends, family and social media for financial advice. This result was consistent even across different wealth and income levels, with lower earners possibly using products like ISAs to make investments in stocks and shares. Other <a href="https://academic.oup.com/qje/article/134/3/1225/5435538">research shows</a> stock portfolios outperform most other types of investment in the long term.</p> <p>We also found that access to professional financial advice can substitute for setting goals, because your adviser should help you to determine the kinds of products to invest in (which is called asset allocation) for specific timelines and aims.</p> <h2>3. Brush up on your maths</h2> <p><a href="https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1475-5890.2007.00052.x">Several studies</a> show numerical skills affect how households gather and process information, <a href="https://psycnet.apa.org/doi/10.1037/a0013114">set goals</a>, perceive risks, and <a href="https://heinonline.org/HOL/P?h=hein.journals/fedred89&amp;i=791">decide to invest</a> in various financial assets. So, by brushing up on your basic numeracy and financial literacy skills – even with free online videos – you could boost your savings for the long term.</p> <p>Our study shows that individuals with high confidence in their numerical skills tend to have better financial planning habits – such as investing more in stocks and bonds than cash, which carries more risk but also the potential for greater returns. This trend is particularly evident among households with no savings goals, suggesting that numerical ability could compensate for failing to set such goals.</p> <h2>4. Adopt appropriate savings strategies</h2> <p>Diversified stock market portfolios generally outperform bonds and cash savings <a href="https://doi.org/10.1093/qje/qjz012">over longer periods</a>. However, stock markets can be volatile, so putting savings into less risky assets like bonds and cash is wise for savings goals of less than five years.</p> <p>In the longer term, investing across different global stock markets for more than five years can help counteract inflation. And you can access low-cost, diversified investment portfolios via financial products based on indices of stocks or other assets, such as exchange traded funds.</p> <h2>5. Set, monitor and adjust your plan</h2> <p>Free financial planning and budgeting apps can help you save money by tracking your spending and savings goals, and encouraging you to adhere to a budget.</p> <p>Most importantly, once you set savings goals and create a budget, don’t forget about them. Check regularly to see how your savings are building up and to monitor for any spending changes. A growing array of fintech tools can prompt and encourage this kind of long-term planning.</p> <p>Keeping an eye on savings rates is also important. As banks change rates or create new accounts, consider switching to get a better deal if you can do so without falling foul of account closure fees.</p> <p>It’s important to make sure your savings are working for you at any time, but its crucial in the current economy, when finances are tight but interest rates are rising.<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/208853/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /></p> <p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/fredrick-kibon-changwony-234363">Fredrick Kibon Changwony</a>, Lecturer in Accounting &amp; Finance, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-stirling-1697">University of Stirling</a></em></p> <p><em>Image credits: Shutterstock</em></p> <p><em>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/five-ways-to-take-advantage-of-rising-interest-rates-to-boost-your-savings-208853">original article</a>.</em></p>

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5 interesting facts about how we hear

<p>The cochlea is the most complex part of the ear, responsible for turning sounds waves into what we perceive as “hearing”. Here are five more facts about this amazing organ.</p> <p><strong>1. The cochlea turns sounds into “hearing”</strong></p> <p>The cochlea receives sounds in the form of vibrations and converts them into nerve impulses. These impulses are sent to the brain to be translated into sounds that we recognise and understand.</p> <p><strong>2. The cochlea is the size of a pea</strong></p> <p>Located in the inner ear, the cochlea looks like a snail shell (cochlea is Greek for snail) and is only the size of a pea. Yet within the small pea is everything needed to turn sound vibrations into hearing.</p> <p><strong>3. There are over 20,000 nerve cells in the cochlea</strong></p> <p>There are approximately 24,000 hair fibres in the cochlea, which are essential to hearing. If these hair cells become damaged, hearing impairment occurs.</p> <p><strong>4. Cochlear implants directly stimulate auditory nerve</strong></p> <p>A cochlear implant bypasses damaged hair cells in the cochlear to provide direct stimulation to the auditory nerve.</p> <p><strong>5. The cochlea can’t heal</strong></p> <p>The cochlea cannot heal so damage done to your ear when younger can affect you later in life. It can be damaged by immune reactions, disease, drugs, chemicals, toxins, loud sounds, physical impact and ageing.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

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I’m considering an interest-only home loan. What do I need to know?

<p>An <a href="https://moneysmart.gov.au/home-loans/interest-only-home-loans" target="_blank" rel="noopener">interest-only home loan</a>, as the name suggests, is where you only pay the interest on a loan and not the principal (the original amount you borrowed).</p> <p>While authorities such as the Reserve Bank often <a href="https://www.rba.gov.au/speeches/2018/sp-ag-2018-04-24.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">see</a> them as risky, interest-only loans can be helpful in some circumstances.</p> <p>If you’re considering an interest-only loan, here’s what you need to know.</p> <p><strong>How long do they go for?</strong></p> <p>These loans are typically last for five years at most, before reverting back to principal and interest (where you have to pay back, through regular payments, both interest and the initial sum you borrowed).</p> <p>You could potentially apply for another interest-only loan after your first one winds up, perhaps by refinancing (where you take a new mortgage to repay an existing loan). But you might not get it – and you’d still have to pay off the principal eventually.</p> <figure class="align-center zoomable"><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/480309/original/file-20220822-18038-nyikjs.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/480309/original/file-20220822-18038-nyikjs.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/480309/original/file-20220822-18038-nyikjs.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=401&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/480309/original/file-20220822-18038-nyikjs.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=30&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=401&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/480309/original/file-20220822-18038-nyikjs.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=15&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=401&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/480309/original/file-20220822-18038-nyikjs.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=503&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/480309/original/file-20220822-18038-nyikjs.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=30&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=503&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/480309/original/file-20220822-18038-nyikjs.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=15&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=503&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=3 2262w" alt="" /></a><figcaption><em><span class="caption">Interest-only loans can cost you a lot more in interest over time than a regular principal and interest loan.</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">Photo by Andrew Mead on Unsplash</span>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">CC BY</a></span></em></figcaption></figure> <p><strong>What are the upsides of an interest-only loan?</strong></p> <p>An interest-only loan means you’ll have more cash available to cover other costs, or invest elsewhere.</p> <p>You can use a <a href="https://moneysmart.gov.au/home-loans/mortgage-calculator" target="_blank" rel="noopener">mortgage calculator</a> to work out how much extra cash you’d have if you switched from a principal and interest loan to an interest-only loan. It’s typically hundreds of dollars per week.</p> <p>This may get you a bit more wriggle room for daily expenses. Or, some people use the extra cash to invest in other things – such as shares – in the hope they can make more money overall and pick up some tax benefits along the way. That’s why interest-only loans are often popular among <a href="https://moneysmart.gov.au/home-loans/interest-only-home-loans" target="_blank" rel="noopener">investors</a>. Of course, this strategy comes with risk.</p> <p>An interest-only loan may also have a redraw facility, allowing you to add extra payments into the loan (above and beyond the interest) if you want, and withdraw money later when you need cash. This can allow people to avoid a personal loan, which usually has a much higher interest rate.</p> <p>Regular principal and interest loans may also have a redraw facility but the regular payments of principal are unavailable for redraw. That means less flexibility for the borrower.</p> <figure class="align-center zoomable"><em><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/480311/original/file-20220822-64666-y67vz3.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/480311/original/file-20220822-64666-y67vz3.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/480311/original/file-20220822-64666-y67vz3.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=408&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/480311/original/file-20220822-64666-y67vz3.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=30&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=408&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/480311/original/file-20220822-64666-y67vz3.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=15&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=408&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/480311/original/file-20220822-64666-y67vz3.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=512&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/480311/original/file-20220822-64666-y67vz3.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=30&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=512&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/480311/original/file-20220822-64666-y67vz3.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=15&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=512&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=3 2262w" alt="" /></a></em><figcaption><em><span class="caption">What’s right for one borrower won’t be for the next.</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">Image by Pfüderi from Pixabay</span>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">CC BY</a></span></em></figcaption></figure> <p><strong>What are the downsides?</strong></p> <p>The interest rates on interest-only loans are generally higher than principal and interest loans.</p> <p>For example, the RBA July 2022 <a href="https://www.rba.gov.au/statistics/tables/xls/f05hist.xls" target="_blank" rel="noopener">indicator rate</a> for owner-occupier interest-only rates is 6.31%.</p> <p>But the equivalent variable rate for principal and interest loans is 5.77% (the indicator rate is just a guide; the actual difference varies from bank to bank).</p> <p>Interest-only loans can cost you a lot more over time than a regular principal and interest loan.</p> <p>This means a borrower needs to manage their finances well to ensure they can cover the interest payments now and still have enough to pay down the principal eventually. So you’ll need a plan for how you’re going to do that when the interest-only loan ends.</p> <p>There is also a risk of a shock – such as job loss, personal crisis or housing crash – causing the borrower to default on the loan altogether.</p> <p>If the borrower defaults on an interest-only loan, they may lose the house and the bank is left with a debt that was not substantially repaid (because the borrower had not yet made a dent in the principal). It’s a lose-lose situation.</p> <p><strong>Are interest-only loans common?</strong></p> <p>Interest-only loans represent <a href="https://www.apra.gov.au/news-and-publications/apra-releases-quarterly-authorised-deposit-taking-institution-statistics-11" target="_blank" rel="noopener">11.3% of all home loans</a> in Australia.</p> <p>This figure has been <a href="https://www.rba.gov.au/publications/fsr/2017/apr/box-b.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">trending down</a> over the past five years, due in part to tighter <a href="https://www.apra.gov.au/news-and-publications/apra-to-remove-interest-only-benchmark-for-residential-mortgage-lending" target="_blank" rel="noopener">lending restrictions</a> and the fact low interest rates have made principal and interest loans relatively cheap recently.</p> <figure class="align-center zoomable"><em><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/480312/original/file-20220822-65738-za6ht2.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/480312/original/file-20220822-65738-za6ht2.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/480312/original/file-20220822-65738-za6ht2.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=399&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/480312/original/file-20220822-65738-za6ht2.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=30&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=399&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/480312/original/file-20220822-65738-za6ht2.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=15&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=399&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/480312/original/file-20220822-65738-za6ht2.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=501&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/480312/original/file-20220822-65738-za6ht2.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=30&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=501&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/480312/original/file-20220822-65738-za6ht2.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=15&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=501&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=3 2262w" alt="" /></a></em><figcaption><em><span class="caption">Interest-only loans represent 11.3% of all home loans in Australia.</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">Image by sandid from Pixabay</span>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">CC BY</a></span></em></figcaption></figure> <p><strong>What does the research say?</strong></p> <p>One Dutch <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11146-013-9453-9" target="_blank" rel="noopener">study</a> found “households that are more risk-averse and less literate are significantly less likely to choose an interest-only mortgage”. This partly due to lower initial repayments and wealthy households preferring the financial flexibility.</p> <p>Interest-only borrowing has also been found to <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/journal-of-housing-economics" target="_blank" rel="noopener">fuel</a> <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.regsciurbeco.2018.06.004" target="_blank" rel="noopener">housing</a> <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1094202520300776?via%3Dihub" target="_blank" rel="noopener">speculation</a> and reduce housing affordability.</p> <p>A US study found borrowers also tend to <a href="https://doi.org/10.1093/rof/rfy016" target="_blank" rel="noopener">default</a> more.</p> <p>A Danish <a href="https://doi.org/10.1162/rest_a_01146" target="_blank" rel="noopener">study</a> found that once the interest-only lower repayment period is over and the loan reverts to principal and interest, those who didn’t make principal repayments suffered a large drop in disposable income.</p> <p><strong>Financial flexibility comes with a catch</strong></p> <p>With rates rising, interest-only loans may sound like an appealing way to have more cash available to cover other costs in life.</p> <p>But just remember financial flexibility comes with a catch. An interest-only loan could be more expensive in the long run.</p> <p>For some people, that cost will be worth it if it allows them to hold onto the house during a brief tough period or make more money investing elsewhere. But it’s a risk.</p> <p>And when the interest-only loan ends, you’re still stuck with the task of paying off the money you borrowed from the bank in the first place (with interest).<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/188817/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /></p> <p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/adrian-lee-94688" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Adrian Lee</a>, Associate Professor in Property and Real Estate, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/deakin-university-757" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Deakin University</a></em></p> <p><em>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/im-considering-an-interest-only-home-loan-what-do-i-need-to-know-188817" target="_blank" rel="noopener">original article</a>.</em></p> <p><em>Image: Getty Images</em></p>

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11 of the longest bridges in the world - not including the Harbour Bridge

<p><strong>Human feats of wonder</strong></p> <p>While most of the longest bridges in the world exist in Asia and the United States, engineering marvels that allow travellers to pass over large bodies of water and/or kilometres of tricky terrain, on a train or in a car, exist across the globe.</p> <p><strong>The Danyang-Kunshan Grand Bridge</strong></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/B0k3Ik2gU9k/?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/B0k3Ik2gU9k/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by PlayDay Live! (@playdaylive)</a> on Jul 31, 2019 at 2:23am PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>At 164.8km in length, China’s Danyang-Kunshan Grand Bridge is the world’s longest bridge. Built at a cost of approximately $8.5 billion dollars, per Britannica, this link between Shanghai and Nanjing opened as a viaduct on the Beijing-Shanghai High-Speed Railway in June 2011. As of publication, this bridge remains in the <em>Guinness Book of World Records</em> as the longest bridge in the world.</p> <p><strong>Zhangjiajie Glass Bridge</strong></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/Bzc35aXoB0u/?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/Bzc35aXoB0u/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by MyExpatCommunity (@myexpatcommunity)</a> on Jul 3, 2019 at 3:24am PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Also in China is the longest bridge in the world made of glass where pedestrians pay high prices for what <em>Business Insider</em> calls a “colossal waste of time.” That’s thanks to a sea of people and their shoes which scuff the glass beneath feet, despite the fact that booties are mandatory to, in theory, protect the 99 panels of 60cm thick glass. Tourists flock to walk the 427m long glass bridge that sits 299m above China’s Grand Canyon.</p> <p><strong>Hong Kong Zhuhai Macao Bridge</strong></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/Bp2EgdvhGgd/?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/Bp2EgdvhGgd/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by L U (@voyconlu)</a> on Nov 6, 2018 at 8:06am PST</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>=What does $20 billion get you in the 21st-century bridge market? A huge 54.7km bridge connecting Hong Kong and Zhuhai/Macau. Commuting between those cities would previously have required an hour-long ferry ride, according to CNN. The newest world’s largest sea-crossing bridge, with immigration offices and border control at either end (because Hong Kong and Macau are governed under different laws), took nine years to build and opened in the autumn of 2018.</p> <p><strong>Lake Pontchartrain Causeway</strong></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/BBD35ejPsLZ/?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/BBD35ejPsLZ/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Fisk - Centro de Ensino (@fiskoficial)</a> on Jan 27, 2016 at 3:13pm PST</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Per the Telegraph, “Lake Pontchartrain Causeway in southern Louisiana is an epic structure that crosses one of the most famous bodies of water in the United States; a lake that has inspired literature, music and film.” This nearly 39km-long bridge is the longest bridge in the world that’s not in Asia. It’ll cost you $5 to go southbound on the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway.</p> <p><strong>The Vasco da Gama Bridge</strong></p> <p>The longest bridge in Europe, found east of Lisbon, Portugal, took more than 3,000 workers 18 months to build. Heavy cloud cover on its inauguration day during the 1998 Lisbon World Exposition meant that travellers couldn’t see the other side. Spanning an impressive 17km over the Tagus River, “the Vasco da Game was named after the famous Portuguese explorer to commemorate the fifth centenary of his arrival from India in 1498. Gama was the first European to reach India by sea, from the Atlantic Ocean,” reports Civitatis’ Lisbon travel guide.</p> <p><strong>Charles Kuonen Suspension Bridge, Switzerland</strong></p> <p>In Switzerland, you’ll find a 494m suspension bridge that is the longest bridge in the world exclusively for pedestrian use. According to the Telegraph, the Charles Kuonen Suspension Bridge crosses “a valley between Grächen and Zermatt, and offers scenic views of some of Switzerland’s highest peaks, including the famed Matterhorn.”</p> <p><strong>Millau Viaduct, France</strong></p> <p>At 2460m, the Millau Viaduct is not even close to being one of the longest bridges in the world. Instead, this engineering marvel often seen cutting through the clouds on the A75 highway between Paris and Barcelona is the tallest bridge and, remarkably, is even higher than the Eiffel Tower.</p> <p><strong>Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel</strong></p> <p>Part bridge, part tunnel, this 28.3-mile marvel of engineering opened for automotive traffic way back in 1964. By the following year, it had been designated as “One of Seven Engineering Wonders of the Modern World,” according to Travel Trivia. The site goes on to explain that the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel “connects the Delmarva Peninsula with southeastern Virginia, spanning across open waters around the Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic Ocean.”</p> <p><strong>Atchafalaya Basin Bridge</strong></p> <p>The twin bridge that spans the largest river swamp in the country opened in 1973 and at the time “was the longest bridge in the United States,” reports the Advertiser. Drivers and passengers alike are afforded stellar views of Louisiana’s wetlands from Interstate 10 during the 30km stretch.</p> <p><strong>Bang Na to Bangpakong Expressway</strong></p> <p>Is a bridge still a bridge if it doesn’t cross over water? The six lanes of The Bang Na in Thailand span a whopping 53.9km, including a run through Bangkok, with only a relative drop of the Bang Pakong River flowing beneath. Structurally this bridge, which ranks as the longest road bridge in the world, was made with over a million cubic metres of concrete, according to Road Traffic Technology, and instead of a sea or lake, rises nearly 30.4 metres above another stretch of road, National Highway Route 34.</p> <p><strong>Akashi Kaikyo Bridge</strong></p> <p>Rising high above the Akashi Strait, and connecting the city of Kobe with Awaji Island in Japan’s Hyogo Prefecture, is the longest spanning suspension bridge in the world. At 3,911m in length, its length is only part of the story. According to PBS, the two towers of the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge, rising 283m, “are higher than any other bridge towers in the world.”</p> <p><em>Written by Jeff Bogle. This article first appeared in </em><em><a href="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/travel/destinations/11-of-the-longest-bridges-in-the-world?slide=all">Reader’s Digest.</a> For more of what you love from the world’s best-loved magazine, </em><span><em> </em></span><a href="http://readersdigest.innovations.co.nz/c/readersdigestemailsubscribe?utm_source=over60&amp;utm_medium=articles&amp;utm_campaign=RDSUB&amp;keycode=WRN93V"><em>here’s our best subscription offer.</em></a></p>

Travel Tips

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5 science facts you never learned in school

<p>The world has many strange but amazing true facts making it a really marvellous and mysterious place. </p> <p><strong>The human stomach can dissolve razor blades</strong></p> <p>On the rare occasion that you swallow a razor blade, don’t fret. The human body is more capable than you think. Acids are ranked on a scale from 0 to 14 – the lower the pH level, the stronger the acid. Human stomach acid is typically 1.0 to 2.0, meaning that it has an impeccably strong pH. In a study, scientists found that the “thickened back of a single-edged blade” dissolved after two hours of immersion in stomach acid.</p> <p><strong>A laser can get trapped in water</strong></p> <p>Yes, really. A cool thing called total internal reflection is applied when pointing a laser beam through a container of water. When light travels through water, it’s slowed by the heavier particles in water, as described here. Thus, the laser beam effectively gets “trapped” in the water.</p> <p><strong>Earth’s oxygen is produced by the ocean</strong></p> <p>Ever stopped to think where oxygen comes from? Your first thought may be a rainforest, but marine organisms take the bait. Plankton, seaweed and other photosynthesisers produce over half of the world’s oxygen.</p> <p><strong>Animals use Earth’s magnetic field for orientation</strong></p> <p>Lost land animals may not be able to find their way home, but sea animals might. According to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), “there is evidence that some animals, like sea turtles and salmon, have the ability to sense the Earth’s magnetic field and to use this sense for navigation.”</p> <p><strong>A cloud can weigh over a million pounds</strong></p> <p>Your childhood dreams of floating on a weightless cloud may get rained on with this fact: the average cumulus cloud can weigh up to a million pounds. A million pounds! That’s about as heavy as the world’s largest passenger jet.</p> <p><em>Written by Claire Nowak. This article first appeared in </em><a href="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/true-stories-lifestyle/science-technology/25-science-facts-you-never-learned-in-school?slide=all"><em>Reader’s Digest</em></a><em>. For more of what you love from the world’s best-loved magazine, </em><span><em> </em></span><a href="http://readersdigest.innovations.co.nz/c/readersdigestemailsubscribe?utm_source=over60&amp;utm_medium=articles&amp;utm_campaign=RDSUB&amp;keycode=WRN93V"><em>here’s our best subscription offer.</em></a></p> <p><img style="width: 100px !important; height: 100px !important;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7820640/1.png" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/f30947086c8e47b89cb076eb5bb9b3e2" /></p>

Retirement Life

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10 conversation starters that make you instantly interesting

<p><strong>1.Perfect conversation starters</strong></p> <p>Whether you’re working up the courage to talk to an attractive stranger of feeling awkward at a social or business event, the conversation topics will get you off to a winning start</p> <p><strong>2.Conversation Topic: Ask for a helping hand</strong></p> <p> “Helping questions are great conversation starters because when a person helps you it forms natural bonds. When you help another person to figure what an item is on the buffet or locate the bathroom, it lowers your defences. For example, if you’re at the supermarket, ask ‘Do you know how to tell if this fruit is ripe?’ It makes you look open to learning more and will help the conversation flow naturally.” – Dawn Maslar, MS, author of <em>Men Chase, Women Choose: The Neuroscience of Meeting, Dating, Losing Your Mind, and Finding True Love</em>.</p> <p><strong>3.Conversation Topic: Compliment something other than someone’s looks</strong></p> <p> “Instead of complimenting something generic like their eyes, highlight something that shows their personality, like their purse or a book. This is simple, elegant and great if you are interested in someone or anytime you want to boost their likeability toward you for business or social reasons.” – Paul DePompo, PsyD, ABPP, psychologist</p> <p><strong>4.Conversation Topic: Bring up a shared interest</strong></p> <p> “Many people think they have nothing in common with a stranger but if someone is at a supermarket, restaurant or bar they are there for a reason – one which is likely similar to yours. You’re both there so you both share a common interest. Ask questions to find out what that interest is. For instance, ask about what their experience at that venue has been like or why they chose it.” – Shannon Battle, licensed professional counsellor</p> <p><strong>5.Conversation Topic: Go simple… yet bold</strong></p> <p> “Give a genuine smile and say, ‘Hi.’ It sounds too simple but people are so used to other people staring at their phones that a simple smile and hello can be a very bold move. It shows the other person that you’ve noticed them and you’re interested in getting to know them better. And you’ll almost always get a hello back. (If you don’t, let it go. You don’t want to date a rude person anyway.)” – Suzanne Casamento, dating expert and the creator of Fantasy Dating</p> <p><strong>6.Conversation Topic: Ask for their honest opinion</strong></p> <p> “Asking ‘I’ve been really thinking deeply about something and wondering if I can share it, and get your feedback?’ shows your interest in the other person and solicits new and interesting information that is fun to discuss. Pretty much anyone will want to share their opinions with an interested party and they will think you are nice and fun to be with, as well.” – Melissa Orlov, therapist and author of <em>The Couple’s Guide to Thriving With ADHD</em>.</p> <p><strong>7.Conversation Topic: Tell a bonding joke</strong></p> <p> “Jokes work well because they are disarming and work on a biological level. If a woman laughs at a man’s joke, he feels assured that she has a level of comfort with him. For her, laughing releases oxytocin, the ‘bonding hormone.’ These two things together create an opening for more conversation.” – Dawn Maslar</p> <p><strong>8.Conversation Topic: Give an out-of-the-blue compliment</strong></p> <p> “I always tell my clients to try out a compliment. It breaks the ice and these days it’s completely unexpected! You can test out doing this by just giving people walking down the street a compliment and see their reaction, most times people will give you a smile and possibly engage in more conversation. After all, who doesn’t like to be complimented?” – Stef Safran, a matchmaking and dating expert in Chicago and owner of Stef and the City.</p> <p><strong>9.Conversation Topic: Get (pop) cultured</strong></p> <p> “Make a comment or joke about something big in pop culture that most people would be familiar with – something light, NOT political. If you need ideas look at what’s trending or are hot topics on Twitter or Facebook.” – Stef Safran.</p> <p><strong>10.Conversation Topic: Ask a fake favour</strong></p> <p> “People love to help so asking for a small favour is a great conversation starter. If you don’t have a favour to ask for, just make one up. Ask the person you find attractive to help you reach something on a high shelf or hold something while you look through your wallet. At the very least you’ll end up with a fun story to tell your friends.” – Suzanne Casamento</p> <p><em>Written </em>by <em>Charlotte Hilton Andersen.</em> This<em> article first appeared in </em><a href="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/true-stories-lifestyle/relationships/37-conversation-starters-that-make-you-instantly-interesting/"><em>Reader’s Digest</em></a><em>. For more of what you love from the world’s best-loved magazine, </em><a href="http://readersdigest.innovations.co.nz/c/readersdigestemailsubscribe?utm_source=over60&amp;utm_medium=articles&amp;utm_campaign=RDSUB&amp;keycode=WRN93V"><em>here’s our best subscription offer.</em></a></p> <p><img style="width: 100px !important; height: 100px !important;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7820640/1.png" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/f30947086c8e47b89cb076eb5bb9b3e2" /></p>

Caring

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America's most interesting national parks

<p class="">I’ve long been fascinated by US National Parks. At the top of my list are Zion, Bryce Canyon and the Grand Canyon National Parks. </p> <p class="">Here’s why these are my favourite USA National Parks.</p> <p class=""><strong>Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona </strong></p> <p class=""><span>John Wesley Powell, an early explorer of the American West credited with leading the first group of Europeans down the Colorado River through the Canyon, wrote: “The wonders of the Grand Canyon cannot be adequately represented in symbols of speech, nor by speech itself.”</span></p> <p>After cycling for hours down a dusty track to reach a remote viewpoint over the Grand Canyon’s North Rim called Toroweap Overlook I have to agree.</p> <p>The stupendous view leaves me speechless. And to have this jumble of volcanic cinder cones and lava flows on the edge of one of the world’s great natural wonders virtually to myself is especially wonderful.</p> <p>Stratum upon stratum of multi-hued rock lies stacked beneath me. Dating back over two billion years, they reveal more dramatically than anywhere else on Earth how our world was formed, while two miles below, the Colorado River snakes through the gorge, carving ever deeper into this iconic symbol of the American Southwest.</p> <p><strong>Zion National Park, Utah </strong></p> <p>World famous for its massive rock walls of red and white Navajo sandstone that rise over 610 metres from the desert floor, Zion National Park is a canyon oasis of astounding natural beauty.</p> <p>Meaning ‘heavenly city’ in the vernacular of Utah’s predominant Mormons, Zion is a breathtaking blend of high plateaus, sheer canyons, and monolithic cliffs.</p> <p>These sheer walls were carved by decades of wind, rain, ice and the waters of the Virgin River.</p> <p>Once there, I soon discover that getting my feet wet is the best way to explore Zion’s most popular backcountry. In an area called the Narrows, you can explore a slot canyon which is significantly deeper than it is wide.</p> <p>Here, the North Fork Virgin River runs beneath thousand-foot walls of Navajo sandstone sculpted by thousands of years of erosion into some of the most beautiful rock formations in all of the American Southwest.</p> <p><strong>Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah</strong> </p> <p>This park’s spectacular natural amphitheatres contain the world’s largest collection of hoodoos — thin, flame-coloured limestone spires protruding from arid badlands that can rise as high as a ten-storey building.</p> <p>Spread over many miles, they resemble a ‘silent city’ of stone.</p> <p>I discover that the best way to experience Bryce’s natural wonders is on foot. More than sixty miles of trails weave through the canyon’s maze of sunburnt stone hoodoos.</p> <p>As I amble along the popular Navajo Loop Trail, I encounter famous hoodoos with names like Three Wise Men, Indian Princess, The Rabbit and even ET.</p> <p>The Palute Indians who once hunted here were the first to describe Bryce’s Hoodoos in anthropomorphic terms. Bringing fairy chimneys and goblins to mind, they still fire the imagination.</p> <p><strong>Other popular US National Parks:</strong></p> <p><strong>Olympic National Park, Washington </strong></p> <p>From its wild beaches to its lush, mossy rainforest and rugged, glacier-capped mountains, the park’s diverse habitats are ideal for adventurous travellers looking for a little bit of everything.</p> <p>It’s really three parks in one. Lofty mountains offer plenty of snow and glaciers. It’s lush, verdant Hoh Rainforest is home to Roosevelt elk, black bears and other distinctive wildlife. And its rugged coastline has miles of wild, deserted beaches sprinkled with sea stacks and tide pools.</p> <p>Nowhere else in America will you find three such entirely different worlds to be experienced within one park.</p> <p><strong>Glacier National Park, Montana </strong></p> <p>Nicknamed the Crown of the Continent because the water flows from it all the way to the Pacific Ocean, the Gulf of Mexico, and to Hudson’s Bay, Glacier National Park straddles the Canada–United States border.</p> <p>An untouched wilderness of ancient forests, deep valleys and spectacular alpine scenery, the park is a paradise for hikers and trekkers.</p> <p>It also contains more than 130 pristine lakes and hundreds of species of animals, including Grizzly bears, mountain goats and moose, mountain goats, wolverines and Canadian lynxes. Popular activities include backpacking, cycling and camping.</p> <p><strong>Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming  </strong></p> <p>Named for the tallest mountain in the Teton Range, this national park is famous for its distinctive jagged granite pinnacles, numerous lakes, abundant wildlife, and historic barns and homesteads.</p> <p>A popular destination for mountaineering and hiking, Grand Teton is also a world-renowned trout-fishing destination and is one of the few places where anglers can catch Snake River fine-spotted cutthroat trout.</p> <p><strong>Denali National Park and Preserve, Alaska</strong></p> <p>America’s largest national park, Denali is named after America’s tallest mountain, 6,190 metre-high Denali (formerly known as Mount McKinley).</p> <p>It’s six million acres of wilderness includes tundra, spruce forest and glaciers. Denali is home to grizzly bears, wolves, moose, caribou and Dall sheep.</p> <p>In spring, summer and fall you can bike, hike and mountaineer. In winter try snowshoeing, snowmobiling and skiing in the park’s rugged mountains and high Alpine tundra.</p> <p>Denali’s remoteness and strict protection of its wildlife habitat and ecosystems ensure that this arctic gem remains pristine.</p> <p><em>Written by Mark Sissons. Republished with permission of </em><a href="https://www.mydiscoveries.com.au/stories/america-s-most-interesting-national-parks/"><em>MyDiscoveries</em></a><em>. </em></p>

International Travel

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Interesting facts you didn't know about your favourite rom-coms

<p>There are many romantic comedies that are made each year in Hollywood but there are only a few that stand the test of time.</p> <p>Here is some interesting trivia behind some classic romantic comedies that most fans don’t know about.</p> <p>From B<em>reakfast at Tiffany’s</em> to <em>Notting Hill</em>, there was a lot that went on behind the scenes that many don’t know about it.</p> <p>Scroll through the gallery above to find out the interesting facts.</p> <p>Do these facts surprise you? Let us know in the comments below.</p>

Movies

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Robert Wagner named as new “person of interest” in wife Natalie Wood’s death

<div class="replay"> <div class="reply_body body linkify"> <div class="reply_body"> <div class="body_text "> <p>Thirty-six years on from actress Natalie Wood’s mysterious death, her husband, TV star Robert Wagner, has been officially named as a “person of interest”.</p> <p>The Oscar-winning actress, known for her roles in <em>West Side Story</em>, <em>Miracle on 34th Street</em> and <em>Rebel Without a Cause</em>, was found dead in the water off California’s Catalina Island, where she had been travelling with husband Wagner, and friend and fellow actor Christopher Walken along with the ship’s captain Dennis Davern.</p> <p>The case was closed two weeks after her body was discovered, with investigators ruling it an accident. However, after being reopened by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department in 2011, Wood’s official cause of death was changed from “accidental drowning” to “drowning and other undetermined factors”.</p> <p>Investigators told CBS’s <em>48 Hours</em> program they are ready to speak to Wagner, now 87 years old, and who has refused to speak with officials about his wife’s death since the case was reopened.</p> <p>At the time of the incident, Wagner, Walken and Davern told authorities that Wood “took off in a dinghy and went ashore,” despite the actress previously saying on a number of occasions that she was terrified of the water.</p> <p>Since the original investigation, Wagner and Davern have both changed their stories. In 2011, Davern said he heard Wagner shouting at Walken, “Do you want to f*** my wife?” before smashing a bottle and demanding Walken “get off my f***ing boat”.</p> <p>Lieutenant John Corina, who has been investigating the case for six years, says the details in Wagner’s story don’t match up with other witnesses. </p> <p>“I think he’s constantly changed his story a little. And his version of events just don’t add up,” Lieutenant Corina said. </p> <p>As for the autopsy of Wood’s body, Ralph Hernandez of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department told <em>48 Hours</em>, “She looked like a victim of assault,” and was covered in fresh bruises.</p> <p>“I think it’s suspicious enough to make us think that something happened,” Lieutenant Corina added, suggesting Wagner knew more about his wife’s death than he had previously let on, as he was the last person to see her alive.</p> <p>Do you remember when Natalie Wood died? Tell us in the comments below. </p> </div> </div> </div> </div>

Movies

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7 interesting facts about Roger Moore

<p>British actor Roger Moore, best known for playing James Bond in the film series, <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://www.oversixty.com.au/news/news/2017/05/roger-moore-dies-at-89/" target="_blank">sadly passed away earlier this year at the age of 89 after a battle with cancer.</a></strong></span> In memory of the actor on what would have been his 90th birthday today, we take a look at some interesting facts about the life of the talented and suave actor and humanitarian.</p> <p><strong>1. He wanted to be an artist</strong></p> <p>Moore initially wanted to be an artist but got into the film industry after becoming an extra in the late 1940s. Moore also served in the British military during WWII. He moved to the US in 1953 and landed a contract with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.</p> <p><strong>2. He had an unlimited supply of cigars</strong></p> <p>Included in his contract for the Bond films was an unlimited supply of Montecristo cigars during filming. The cost of his cigars usually accumulated to thousands of pounds.</p> <p><strong>3. He never ran on screen</strong></p> <p>Every scene that showed Moore running was performed by a body double. Moore thought he looked awkward running, so the producers allowed him not to do it.</p> <p><strong>4. He suffered from hoplophobia</strong></p> <p>Moore had hoplophobia, a fear of firearms, due to a childhood accident. When he was young, he was shot in the leg with an air rifle by his brother.</p> <p><strong>5. He was the first Bond to get help from computer modelling</strong></p> <p>One scene in <em>The Man with the Golden Gun</em> was the first Bond stunt to be calculated by computer modelling. The stunt involves the corkscrew car jumping over a canal and it was captured in one take.</p> <p><strong>6. He had a passion for helping children</strong></p> <p>Moore was Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF from 1991. He worked on behalf of children who were being exploited and in 1996, at the World Congress Against Commercial Sexual Exploit, he revealed how he was a victim as a child. “I was molested when I was a child - not seriously - but I didn't tell my mother until I was 16, because I felt that it was something to be ashamed of," he told The Associated Press.</p> <p><strong>7. He felt “too old” to play Bond</strong></p> <p>Moore was the oldest person to debut as Bond, which he did at the age of 45 when <em>Live and Let Die</em> was filmed in 1973. In 1985, he officially announced his retirement from playing James Bond. The movie star was quoted as saying that he felt embarrassed he was performing love scenes with beautiful actresses who were young enough to be his daughters.</p> <p>What is your favourite movie with Roger Moore? Let us know in the comments below.</p>

Movies

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10 surprising facts you did not know about the Queen

<p>Queen Elizabeth II is the longest reigning British monarch and has been on the throne for 65 years.</p> <p>Over the past six decades, the Queen has remained as a constant figure through many different political and cultural landscapes.</p> <p>These interesting facts about the British monarch will surprise you.</p> <p><strong>1.</strong> Reportedly, the Queen was given an iPod from Barack and Michelle Obama in 2009 when they visited her in England. It has been revealed that the Queen’s music taste lends to musicals, traditional hymns, Scottish Ballads and even the Beach Boys.</p> <p><strong>2.</strong> There is a member of staff in Buckingham Palace who is in charge of breaking in every new pair of the Queen's shoes by wearing cotton ankle socks and walking on carpet to soften the leather. The Queen never has to risk getting blisters.</p> <p><strong>3.</strong> The Queen’s childhood nickname was “Lilibet” because she couldn’t pronounce her name. The Duke of Edinburgh is known to affectionally call her “Cabbage”.</p> <p><strong>4.</strong> The Queen has her own train which is equipped with chefs and lace-trimmed pillows.</p> <p><strong>5.</strong> In 1982, there was an intruder in the Queen’s bedroom. The police arrived in seven minutes which gave the Queen enough time to have a conversation with the man.</p> <p><strong>6.</strong> The Queen has a personal bagpiper who plays for her in the morning to wake her up. She can even tell if someone different is playing.</p> <p><strong>7.</strong> When Queen Elizabeth II was crowned in 1953, it was the first time in British history that the heir to the throne wasn’t single. The queens that preceded Elizabeth that chose to marry, did not do so until they were crowned.</p> <p><strong>8.</strong> The Queen refers to 1992 as her “Annus horribilis” which means horrible year. During that year, there was a fire at Windsor Castle and the marriages of Prince Charles, Prince Andrew and Princess Anne broke down.</p> <p><strong>9.</strong> The Queen goes nowhere without her handbag which she keeps her lipstick in. She isn’t afraid to reapply her lipstick in public and has been photographed many times doing so. When former US president George Bush’s wife, Laura, was spotted reapplying she said, “The Queen told me it was all right to do it!”</p> <p><strong>10.</strong> During WWII, Elizabeth joined the Women’s Auxiliary Territorial Service in 1945. At 18 years old, she traded her royal title for “Second Subaltern Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor". In 1976, she even sent her first e-mail from a British army base.</p> <p>What is an interesting fact you know about the royal family? Let us know in the comments below. </p>

News

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The interesting and fun side of investing

<p>The world of investments has been separated from other parts of our lives and assigned to people with academic qualifications. It is often treated as a matter too specialist for untrained people to look into. This is absolute rubbish – especially given that most people deal with far more complex issues such as health problems, relationships with family, getting one’s affairs in order and so on. Life is complex. Life is personal. Life has huge variables.</p> <p>Interestingly, there is a big push in New Zealand to use large organisations to manage your money. Some are very good. Some not so good. The biggest risk for New Zealanders when it comes to entrusting their finances into the hands of someone else is to think “someone else is looking after this for me”. It’s beneficial that everyone take an active role in their finances in the same way they take care of their personal health. For your health, at a minimum you see a doctor and perhaps even specialists for medication, vitamins, diet and exercise. Investments requires this same thought and management – you should take an active interest in your financial wellbeing and your money in the same way you use health professionals you should use financial professionals. There is no need to know everything, but working on building your knowledge will help you understand what the professionals are recommending and allow you to agree or disagree on any particular recommendation.</p> <p>So, how can you arm yourself with more financial information? One of the most important keys to learning is to be interested in a subject. And it’s easier to become interested in a subject by finding an interest that you can relate to. An excellent resource for this is <em>IRG Yearbook</em>. The yearbook offers financial information and includes the interesting background details which makes this often dry subject much more palatable.</p> <p>Top interesting topics in <em>IRG Yearbook</em>:</p> <p><strong>Gentlemen</strong></p> <p>If you’re a gentleman who loves cars, have you ever thought about the financial position of Daimler Benz, BMW, or New Zealand companies like Turners Ltd, Colonial Motor Company? If you want to learn more about these vehicles and the companies, the <em>IRG Yearbook</em> will give you a one-page summary, which allows you to understand more.</p> <p><strong>Ladies</strong></p> <p>If you’re a lady who has an interest in fashion and cosmetics, you have probably seen the New Zealand brand, Trilogy. You probably know Louis Vuitton and Prada. If you go to the <em>IRG Yearbook</em> you get a one-page summary of these companies.</p> <p><strong>Technology</strong></p> <p>If you’re interested in technology, you might want to learn more about companies such as Facebook, Microsoft or New Zealand companies, Xero and Pushpay. As well as finding out which tech companies are the most successful, the one-page summaries in the <em>IRG Yearbook</em> will help you understand more about the ins and outs of these businesses.</p> <p><strong>Investors</strong></p> <p>For most investor matters, like dividend yield, capital growth and risks, the <em>IRG Yearbook</em> has many of these details in an easy-to-read format.</p> <p>To find out more about investing or to become and active investor, take a look at <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://www.sharechat.co.nz/?utm_source=over60s&amp;utm_medium=cpm&amp;utm_campaign=fathersday16" target="_blank">www.sharechat.co.nz</a></strong></span> website. It’s a free service that allows you to see the company’s announcements as they happen or “After the Bell” (end of day summary).</p> <p><a href="http://www.irg.co.nz/?utm_source=over60s&amp;utm_medium=cpm&amp;utm_campaign=fathersday16" target="_blank"><img width="98" height="138" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/26691/yb_1_148x208.jpg" alt="YB_1" style="float: left;"/></a></p> <p>If you want to read up on all things investing and discover how fun it can be to dive into all of the knowledge available, investing in an <em>IRG Yearbook</em> is another good option. You will be able to imbue yourself with fun facts such as, who owns the car brand Jaguar; who owns New Zealand’s largest listed honey business and so much more.</p> <p>For further information on Share Chat or to get a copy of an <em>IRG Yearbook</em>, visit <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://www.sharechat.co.nz/?utm_source=over60s&amp;utm_medium=cpm&amp;utm_campaign=fathersday16" target="_blank">www.sharechat.co.nz</a></strong></span> or <strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://www.irg.co.nz/?utm_source=over60s&amp;utm_medium=cpm&amp;utm_campaign=fathersday16" target="_blank">www.irg.co.nz</a></span></strong> today.</p> <p>THIS IS AN ADVERTORIAL</p>

Money & Banking

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10 things you didn’t know about cruise ships

<p>Everyone loves a trip away, especially when that trip away involves eating, swimming and relaxing to your heart’s content on board a cruise ship. However, there are many misconceptions when it comes to this popular method of travel. Here are 10 facts you might not have known about cruise ships, and they might make you see your next holiday in a new light.</p> <ol> <li>Just like many hotels don’t have a 13th floor, many cruise ships don’t have a 13th deck due to superstitious beliefs surrounding the “unlucky” number.</li> <li>Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas uses more than 9,000 litres of fuel every hour.</li> <li>Cruise ships don’t have any blood stored in the event of an emergency. Instead, they rely on blood donations from the passengers and crew.</li> <li>After spending $30 million on a resort in the Bahamas, Disney had to abandon it because there wasn’t enough room for cruise ships to come close enough to land.</li> <li>Almost 200 people have disappeared from cruise ships since 2000.</li> <li>On older cruise shops (like the Titanic) the fourth chimney doesn’t actually have a function – it’s just to add an air of prestige.</li> <li>The average cruise ship crew consists of around 64 different nationalities.</li> <li>Each cruise ship usually has a morgue with enough room for one to three bodies.</li> <li>Vessels that operate in the Indian Ocean have high-pressure hoses and extra-loud cannons onboard to deter pirates.</li> <li>When the cruise ship Oceanos sunk off South Africa, the crew abandoned ship and it was up to entertainer Moss Hills to lead the rescue effort.</li> </ol> <p>What’s the most bizarre thing you’ve learnt about cruise ships? Share it with us in the comments below!</p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><a href="/travel/cruising/2016/08/5-items-to-never-bring-on-a-cruise/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>5 items to never bring on a cruise (and what to pack instead)</strong></em></span></a></p> <p><a href="/travel/cruising/2016/08/five-facts-queen-mary-2-ocean-liner/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>5 things you didn’t know about the Queen Mary 2</strong></em></span></a></p> <p><a href="/travel/cruising/2016/07/5-juicy-confessions-from-cruise-crewmembers/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>5 juicy confessions from cruise crewmembers</strong></em></span></a></p>

Cruising

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11 interesting facts about flying

<p>For something that’s become such a large part of our lives, there’s still so much most of us (outside the aviation experts of course) don’t know about flying.</p> <p>We’ve put together a list containing 11 of the most interesting facts about air travel.</p> <p>Some of these will provide a real lightbulb moment, some of these will have you wanting to learn a little more and others will leave you scratching your head!</p> <p>1. Qantas is the world’s second oldest airline, having been established in 1920.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><img width="500" height="281" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/17839/shutterstock_388740112_500x281.jpg" alt="QANTAS plane"/></p> <p>2. The world’s oldest airline is KLM, the flag carrier airline of The Netherlands.</p> <p>3. At Chicago O’Hare’s International Airport an aircraft takes off or lands on every 37 seconds.</p> <p>4. Pilots and co-pilots are required to eat different meals in case of food poisoning.</p> <p>5. Each Boeing 747 is made up of six million individual parts.</p> <p>6. Singapore Airlines spends over $700 million on food and wine for passengers every year. </p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><img width="500" height="281" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/17840/shutterstock_380382934_500x281.jpg" alt="Singapore Airlines plane"/></p> <p>7. In the 80’s, the head of American Airlines found out that he could save the company $40,000 a year by removing one olive form each in-flight dinner salad served to passengers.</p> <p>8. In the event of a crash the back of the plane is the safest place<a href="/travel/international-travel/2015/12/safest-place-to-sit-on-a-plane/" target="_blank"></a> to sit. According to a study from Time magazine the middle seats near the rear of the plane seem to be the safest.</p> <p>9. As planes take off the atmosphere inside the cabin dries our nose and as it rises the change in cabin pressure actually <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/11/business/airlines-studying-the-science-of-better-in-flight-meals.html?pagewanted=all&amp;_r=1" target="_blank"><strong><span>numbs around a third of our taste buds</span></strong></a>, which may be part of the reason why you found the in-flight meal is so unappetising!</p> <p>10. The white trail left by a plane can provide a vague predication of the weather. Thin, shorter-lasting trails generally correspond with low-humidity air and fair weather, while thick, longer-lasting tails can be the early indicators of a storm.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><img width="500" height="281" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/17841/shutterstock_367706966_500x281.jpg" alt="plane"/></p> <p>11. Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport is considered the world’s busiest airport with 930,000 take offs and landings registered every year.</p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><a href="/travel/travel-tips/2016/03/airports-you-should-try-and-avoid/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>8 airports you should try and avoid</strong></em></span></a></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong><a href="/travel/travel-tips/2016/03/teen-saves-flying-sheffield-to-essex-via-germany/">Teen saves money by flying from Sheffield to Essex via Germany</a></strong></em></span></p> <p><a href="/travel/travel-tips/2016/02/jetstar-passenger-furious-windowless-window-seat/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>Passenger’s fury over “windowless” window seat on plane</strong></em></span></a></p>

Travel Tips

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The interesting evolution of the suit through the ages

<p>When we look at suits today, we are spoiled for choice when deciding the cut, style and colours. However, they have a long and rich history of transformation that has solidified them as one of the most character allusive items in a man’s wardrobe.</p> <p>In the 1800s, Beau Brummell’s influence took the dress coats of medieval times and made the extravagant clothes more sombre. From the 1800s onward, it becomes easier to follow trends through the Regency period through the Victorian era, when frockcoats were the rage. We circumnavigated our way in and out of the trends of bright colours, long tails, top hats and tuxedos<span style="text-decoration: underline;">.<strong><a href="http://artofstyle.hucklebury.com/evolution-of-mens-suits/" target="_blank"> The infographic below</a></strong></span> goes into illustrative detail that shows how fashion is shaped by culture and society.</p> <p><img width="500" height="1915" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/16583/suits-infographic_500x1915.jpg" alt="Suits Infographic" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/></p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/beauty-style/2016/02/style-tips-from-james-dean/">Style tips from James Dean</a></em></span></strong></p> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/beauty-style/2015/12/style-lessons-redford-newman-and-mcqueen/">Timeless style tips from Redford, Newman and McQueen</a></em></span></strong></p> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/beauty-style/2016/01/100-years-wedding-dress-video/">100 years of wedding dress styles in three minutes</a></em></span></strong></p>

Beauty & Style

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The most interesting person on Australian TV

<p>You would think a wardrobe worthy of <a href="/lifestyle/beauty-style/2015/10/style-lessons-from-iris/%20%20"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>Iris Apfel</strong></em></span></a> and a serious news anchor would not be a match made in heaven.</p> <p>However Lee Lin Chin is not your average news anchor.</p> <p>In her 20-year tenure on Australia's SBS World News, she has donned some of the most outrageous outfits seen on such a serious TV segment. </p> <p>As on new site reported, the highly regarded reporter has become famous not only for her journalistic talent but also for the weird and wacky outfits she chooses to wear.</p> <p>Some of these include elaborate collars, a safari-styled suit, a top reminiscent of a blue birdcage, and a silver ruffled collared dress. The sharp-witted fashion guru is also known for her sense of humour on social media, with some of her outfits even having their own Facebook page. </p> <p>Chin's 23-year career has seen her look change from a heavy dark bob to a short grey pixie cut, and her round-rimmed glasses have been replaced with rectangular frames.<br /> <br /> Her fashion off-screen also has her winning hearts, with one of her red carpet looks including a large black veil, white dress and lace leggings.</p> <p>On the night she tweeted: "For those asking I'm not nominated tonight. I don't read the news for awards, I do it for the money, fame and babes."</p> <p>The quirky presenter also tweeted she was "Australia's premiere bad b****", and asked to join American pop singer Taylor Swift's "squad".</p> <p>This clip showcases the last 20 years of Chin's career.</p> <p>Chin, we adore you.</p> <p><a href="/video/?bctid=%204759172818001"><img width="561" height="314" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/15739/lee-chin_561x314.jpg" alt="Lee Chin"/></a></p> <p><em><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">First appeared on </span></strong></em><a href="http://www.stuff.co.nz/" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>Stuff.co.nz </strong></em></span></a></p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong><a href="/lifestyle/beauty-style/2015/11/ways-to-style-short-hair/">12 age defying ways to style short hair</a></strong></em></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong><a href="/lifestyle/beauty-style/2015/10/age-defying-hair-tips/">6 tips for healthy hair that defy ageing</a></strong></em></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/beauty-style/2016/02/perfumes-that-defined-a-decade/">The most popular perfumes that defined a decade</a></strong></em></span></p>

Beauty & Style

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Cadbury announce very interesting new flavours

<p>Few things cause Australians to get up in arms but a change to the Cadbury milk chocolate flavours is one of them. The chocolate giant have announced they are innovating with flavours, but their new suggestions of Kale Crème, Wasabi Crunch and Beetroot Jelly is dividing public opinion.</p> <p>Chocolate inventor Dave Shepard says the new flavours are part of the brands goal for “innovation and experimentation. Past innovations have included Nut Crunch and Marvellous Creations bars, both of which were received well. On the other end of the spectrum is Cadbury’s release of Vegemite flavoured milk chocolate, a controversial release.  </p> <p>The new flavour ideas are said to reflect social trends towards new, quirky taste combinations. Kale Crème is believed to tap into a rise in demand for savoury chocolate flavours, will Beetroot Jelly is aimed at superfood-lovers and Wasabi Crunch targets the “popularity of Asian flavours,” according to Shepard.</p> <p>“We like to think of it as akin to the fashion catwalk — we’re experimenting with ideas that won’t actually appear on the shelves,” he said. “Instead you may see new flavours inspired by these further down the line.</p> <p>While you may not see the whacky chocolates in single bars in the supermarket aisle during your next shop, they might make their way into the Cadbury Milk Tray.</p> <p>Tell us: would you try Cadbury’s wacky new flavour innovations?</p> <p><strong>Related links: </strong></p> <p><strong><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/news/news/2015/12/3-ingredient-cheesecake-recipe/">Why are people going crazy for this cheesecake recipe from Japan?</a></strong></p> <p><strong><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/news/news/2015/12/chocolate-slices-invention/">You can now buy slices of chocolate just like cheese singles</a></strong></p> <p><strong><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/food-wine/2015/11/chocolate-chip-blondies/">Chocolate chip blondies</a></strong></p>

News

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How to create an interest list on Facebook

<p>If you’re a frequent user of Facebook, interest lists are a great way to organise and sort your news feed. You can create a list to follow all your family Facebook friends to ensure you never miss an update from them or make a list to follow your particular interests. For example, you could create a recipe list to follow chefs and recipe pages you like. Here’s how to create an interest list on Facebook:</p> <p>To create your own interest list:</p> <ol> <li>Go to your “Interest page”, which is located on your bookmarks bar on the left of your Facebook main page or go to <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://www.facebook.com/bookmarks/interests" target="_blank">www.facebook.com/bookmarks/interests</a></strong></span></li> <li>Click the “Add Interests” button.</li> <li>Click “Create List”.</li> <li>Now you can search for the people or pages you want to add to your list. You can do both or just people or pages. Type in your search term at the box at the top of the page.</li> <li>After you've selected the people and pages you want to include on your interest list, click next.</li> <li>Choose a name for your list.</li> <li>Select a privacy setting and click done.</li> </ol> <p>Your lists will now appear in the “Interests” section of your bookmarks bar, which is located on the left hand side of your Facebook page. Click on the list’s name to see all the recent post and activity from the pages and people on the list.</p>

Technology

Over 60

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