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Hospice nurse reveals six unexplainable "death bed phenomena"

<p>Hospice nurse Julie McFadden has lifted the lid on six unexplainable "death bed phenomena" that occur within a person's last weeks of life. </p> <p>The LA-based nurse, who specialises in end of life care, explained that as a person nears the end of their life, they will experience a range of unusual things, including hallucinations, random bursts of energy and even choosing when they're going to die. </p> <p>McFadden once again took to her YouTube channel to educate people on what happens when you're on your death bed, detailing each of the six strange occurrences. </p> <p>Julie explained that patients often experienced "terminal lucidity", "hallucinations", "death stares", and more in their final weeks. </p> <p>She began by explaining the first wild thing that happened at the end of life was terminal lucidity, in which people get a "burst of energy" in the days before they die, sharing that it happens "very often". </p> <p>She said, "Just enjoy it and expect that maybe they will die soon after because that's the kicker with terminal lucidity, it looks like someone's going to die very soon then suddenly they have a burst of energy."</p> <p>"They maybe have a really great day, they're suddenly hungry, they're suddenly able to walk, they're suddenly very alert and oriented, and then shortly after usually a day or two they will die, so that can be the hard part if you're not ready for it, if you don't know what's coming you can think they're getting better and then they die, which can be very devastating."</p> <p>Julie then described how most people in their final days will encounter "death visioning" or "hallucinations", as many people describe seeing the ghosts of loved ones in their final days. </p> <p>"I wouldn't have believed it unless I saw it for myself over and over again," the nurse admitted. </p> <p>"Number three, this is really crazy - people choosing when they're going to die. I have seen some extreme cases of this, people just saying, 'Tonight's when I'm going to die I know it, I can feel it,' and they do. There's also a time when people will wait for everybody to get into town or get into the room arrive at the house whatever it is and then they will die," the nurse explained. </p> <p>The fourth phenomena is known as the "death reach", according to Julie. </p> <p>She explained, "It's when the person's lying in bed and they reach up in the air like they're seeing someone or they're reaching for someone either to hug them or to shake their hands. A lot of times they'll hold their hands up for a long time, like they're seeing something that we're not seeing and they're reaching for someone that we can't see."</p> <p>Julie then listed "number five is the death stare," explaining that the death stare and the death reach often "go together". </p> <p>"It usually looks like someone is staring off into the corner of the room or the side of the room basically looking at something intently, but if you're snapping your finger in front of their face or trying to say their name to kind of snap them out of it, they won't," she said.</p> <p>The last wild thing the nurse has seen is known as a "shared death experience" and is "most impactful", according to Julie. </p> <p>She explained, "A shared death experience is when someone who is not dying feels or sees or understands what's happening to the person who is dying."</p> <p>"It's kind of like the dying person gives you the sensation of what they're going through. From what I experienced, it was a very good feeling. It was like the person was giving me these feelings of freedom and joy and kind of telling me that they were okay."</p> <p>"At the time, I was shocked, I didn't know what was happening, but I've come to find out that that's called a shared death experience."</p> <p><em>Image credits: YouTube / Instagram </em></p>

Caring

Six surprising things about placebos everyone should know

<p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/jeremy-howick-250620">Jeremy Howick</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-leicester-1053">University of Leicester</a></em></p> <p>Placebos have been studied more than any treatment in the history of medicine, yet they remain mysterious.</p> <p>I’ve been studying placebos for 20 years and I’ve done some of the <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6288933/">key studies</a> that have <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3655171/">advanced the scientific knowledge</a> in this area. Here are six facts about this strange effect that still fascinate me.</p> <h2>1. Placebos have a dark cousin: nocebos</h2> <p>A 29-year-old builder went to the hospital after having jumped onto a <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5471339/">15cm nail</a> that pierced his boot. Moving the nail was so painful he had to be sedated with powerful drugs (fentanyl and midazolam) to remove it. But when he took off his boot, the medics discovered that the nail had gone between his toes. The builder’s pain was caused by the wrong belief that the nail had penetrated his foot.</p> <p>The detrimental effects of negative expectations are called nocebo effects. For evolutionary reasons (survival depends on avoiding danger), nocebo effects are larger than placebo effects.</p> <p>Unfortunately, patients are often told more about the bad things that might happen than the good things, which can result in a self-fulfilling prophecy. For example, learning that a drug has a possible side-effect of nausea or pain can actually <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7368797/">cause nausea or pain</a>.</p> <h2>2. Placebos work even if people know they are placebos</h2> <p>Linda Buonanno suffered so badly from irritable bowel syndrome that she often couldn’t <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2017/may/22/knew-they-were-sugar-pills-felt-fantastic-rise-open-label-placebos">leave the house</a> for weeks. She signed up for a trial of “honest” (open-label) placebos, which is a placebo that patients know is a placebo.</p> <p>The Harvard doctors in the trial <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3008733/">told her</a> the pills were “placebo pills made of an inert substance, like sugar pills, that have been shown in clinical studies to produce significant improvement in [irritable bowel] symptoms through mind-body self-healing processes”.</p> <p>The honest placebos worked so well that she was able to resume a normal life.</p> <p>Honest placebos have <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28452193/">worked in other trials</a> for treating depression, back pain and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).</p> <p>Honest placebos work because of our subconscious expectations. Our past experiences of doctors and hospitals can generate subconscious expectations that activate our body’s inner pharmacy, which produces morphine (endorphins) and other beneficial drugs.</p> <h2>3. Honest placebos are ethically acceptable</h2> <p>It is often considered unethical for doctors to give placebos to patients because this supposedly <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11724-014-0400-1">involves lying</a> (telling patients that a sugar pill is a powerful medication). But honest placebos do not involve lying, so there is no ethical barrier.</p> <p>In one <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34805194/#:%7E:text=Introduction%3A%20Open%2Dlabel%20placebos%20have,label%20placebos%20in%20acute%20pain.">ongoing trial</a>, doctors asked patients whether they would be willing to try a mix of real painkillers and honest placebos. Patients in this trial have the same level of pain relief following surgery, but are less likely to become dependent on painkillers.</p> <h2>4. Placebo effects are part of most treatment effects</h2> <p>When a doctor prescribes ibuprofen for back pain, the effects are due to the ibuprofen and the patient’s beliefs and expectations, which can be influenced by the doctor’s communication. Doctors who offer positive messages in a warm, <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6047264/">empathic manner</a> will increase the effect of the drugs.</p> <p>The <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2359128/">size and colour</a> of the pill can also influence the effect. A large, orange pill can reduce pain more than a small, red one.</p> <p>By contrast, blue pills generally have a sedative effect – except for Italian men, for whom blue pills have an <a href="https://www.amherst.edu/system/files/media/1601/moerman_explanatory%20mechanisms%20for%20placebo%20effects.pdf">excitative effect</a>), probably because their revered football team wears blue.</p> <p>Doctors’ ethical duty to benefit patients suggests it is an ethical duty to maximise the placebo effects of all treatments they provide.</p> <h2>5. You don’t need placebos to have placebo effects</h2> <p>In one trial, patients were given morphine <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15488461/">via an intravenous line</a> following surgery. However, only half of the patients were told they were receiving morphine. The patients who were told this had 50% more pain relief than those who were not told they were receiving morphine. This is an example of a placebo effect without a placebo.</p> <h2>6. You can generate placebo (and nocebo) effects in yourself</h2> <p>All communication can have a beneficial or harmful effect. One study found that teaching communication skills to families <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4915212/">reduced anxiety and depression</a>. On the other hand, couples who dwell on problems and negative aspects of their relationships were shown in a study to have <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0306453022003304?via%3Dihub">weaker immune systems</a>.</p> <p>Acts of altruism, focusing on a brighter future, or gratitude are proven ways to reduce the effect of negative communication. An easy way to generate positive placebo effects for yourself is by performing a <a href="https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/explore-mental-health/kindness-and-mental-health/random-acts-kindness">random act of kindness</a>, such as making a colleague a cup of tea, or simply smiling and saying hello.</p> <p>You can learn more about the amazing effects of placebos and nocebos in my <a href="https://www.press.jhu.edu/books/title/12830/power-placebos">latest book</a>, The Power of Placebos: How the Science of Placebos and Nocebos can Improve Health Care.<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/220829/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /></p> <p><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/jeremy-howick-250620"><em>Jeremy Howick</em></a><em>, Professor and Director of the Stoneygate Centre for Excellence in Empathic Healthcare, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-leicester-1053">University of Leicester</a></em></p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</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/six-surprising-things-about-placebos-everyone-should-know-220829">original article</a>.</em></p>

Body

“I need a future”: New details on boy kidnapped for six years

<p>When concerned motorist Fabien Accidini <a href="https://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/family-pets/missing-boy-found-alive-after-six-long-years" target="_blank" rel="noopener">happened upon Alex Batty</a> walking along a road in the foothills of the Pyrenees in France, he had no idea of the mysterious and tragic situation he had uncovered. </p> <p>“I said to myself, ‘That’s strange. It’s 3am in the morning, it’s raining, he’s all by himself on the road between two villages,’” Accidini told French news outlet BFMTV.</p> <p>Batty had gone missing from his home in England at the tender age of 11 back in 2017. Now 17, new details have emerged about the extraordinary six-year journey that unfolded since his disappearance.</p> <p>British and French authorities confirmed on Friday that the teenager discovered by Accidini was, indeed, Alex Batty. The initial family holiday to Spain turned into a six-year odyssey across Morocco, Spain and southwest France, as Alex and his family embraced a nomadic, off-the-grid lifestyle.</p> <p>French authorities revealed that Alex and his family moved from house to house, carrying their own solar panels, growing their own food, and living with other families in what the teenager described as a “spiritual community". However, last Wednesday marked a turning point as Alex suddenly appeared on a remote road in rural France, having parted ways with his mother.</p> <p>According to French prosecutor Antoine Leroy, Alex decided to strike out on his own when his mother expressed a desire to move yet again, this time to Finland. Leroy stated at a news conference in Toulouse, “When his mother indicated that she intended to leave for Finland with him, this young man understood that this journey had to stop.”</p> <p>Undeterred by the challenging circumstances, Alex walked for four nights, resting during the days and sustaining himself with whatever he could find in fields or gardens. It was during this solitary journey that Accidini spotted him on the rain-soaked road.</p> <p>Accidini offered assistance, and despite initial suspicion and a false name, Alex eventually opened up during the deliveryman's rounds. “He’d had enough. He said, ‘I am 17. I need a future.’ He didn’t see a future for himself there,” Accidini recounted.</p> <p>In an interview with La Depeche, Accidini shared more details about Alex's arduous journey: “He told me that he had been walking for four days, that he’d left from the mountains. He didn’t really know where.”</p> <p>Showing kindness, Accidini provided the thirsty teenager with water and allowed him to use his mobile phone to send a message to his grandmother.</p> <p>The message read, “Hello grandma, it is me, Alex. I am in France, Toulouse. I really hope that you receive this message. I love you. I want to come home.”</p> <p>Back in the UK, Greater Manchester Police confirmed that Alex had spoken with his grandmother, Susan Caruana, via video call. Assistant Chief Constable Chris Sykes stated, “Whilst she is content that this is indeed Alex, we have further checks to do when he returns to the United Kingdom.</p> <p>“Our main priority now is to see Alex returned home to his family in the UK.”</p> <p>Alex is expected to return to the UK in the coming days, as the investigation into the full circumstances of his disappearance continues.</p> <p><em>Images: Greater Manchester Police</em> </p> <p> </p>

Family & Pets

Missing boy found alive after six long years

<p>A 17-year-old British boy named Alex Batty, who went missing in Spain in 2017 at the age of 11, has been found after six long years.</p> <p>On a Wednesday morning, a concerned motorist discovered Alex walking along a road in the foothills of the Pyrenees. This Good Samaritan, Fabien Accidini, picked up the young lad, offering water and kindness. Little did Fabien know, he was playing a crucial role in reuniting a family torn apart.</p> <p>Alex, who had been living in the remote Pyrenean valleys, was shy at first but eventually opened up to Fabien about his incredible journey. He revealed that he had been in France for two years, leading a nomadic life in an itinerant commune. His dream was to find a big city with an embassy to seek assistance.</p> <p>The touching part of the story was how Alex, carrying a backpack and skateboard, asked Fabien if he could borrow his phone. He then used the phone to send a message via Facebook to his grandmother back in England, Susan Caruana, telling her that he was fine and longing to see her.</p> <p>Susan Caruana, Alex's legal guardian, received the unexpected message, bringing tears of joy to her eyes. "I am so happy," she told The Sun newspaper. "I have spoken to him, and he is well. It is such a shock."</p> <p>The news of Alex's discovery spread like wildfire. A<span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">s authorities worked diligently to unravel the mystery, it became apparent that Alex's mother, Melanie Batty, and grandfather, David Batty, who did not have parental guardianship, were still missing – and </span>are still wanted by police in connection with his disappearance.</p> <p>The reunion also brought together international cooperation, with British police and consular staff rushing to France to bring Alex back home. Greater Manchester Police confirmed their collaboration with French authorities to ensure the safety and well-being of Batty. "This is a complex and long-running investigation," they said in a statement, "and we need to make further enquiries as well as putting appropriate safeguarding measures in place."</p> <p>The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) issued a statement, affirming their support for the British national in France and their ongoing communication with local authorities.</p> <p><em>Images: Greater Manchester Police</em></p>

Family & Pets

Supernatural star has six heart attacks and dies four times

<p><em>Supernatural </em>star Mark Sheppard recently shared a harrowing experience that left fans and well-wishers in disbelief.</p> <p>The 59-year-old actor disclosed that he had faced six massive heart attacks over the weekend, defying the odds by surviving – despite dying and being revived four times during the ordeal.</p> <p>Sheppard recounted the dramatic incident in an Instagram post from his hospital bed, detailing how he collapsed in his kitchen at home. Urgently rushed to the hospital, medical professionals discovered a "100 per cent blockage" in his left anterior descending artery (LAD), a vital blood vessel supplying the front of the left side of the heart, according to John Hopkins Medicine.</p> <p>The actor expressed profound gratitude to his wife, the Los Angeles Fire Department at Mulholland, and the dedicated staff at Providence California St Joseph's, saying that without their prompt intervention, his chances of survival would have been "virtually nil".</p> <p>Despite the severity of the situation, Sheppard's resilience shone through. In his Instagram post, he shared the astonishing news of being resuscitated four times after experiencing the six massive cardiac events. The actor, best known for his role as the demon and King of Hell Crowley in <em>Supernatural</em>, acknowledged the miracle of his survival and thanked the medical professionals who played a crucial role in his recovery.</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" 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);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/C0XZqCtSYeO/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <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> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </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;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C0XZqCtSYeO/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Mark Sheppard (@realmarksheppard)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>In the midst of his health crisis, Sheppard took a moment to express his gratitude for the support and care he received. His fans, too, flooded the comment section with well-wishes and messages of relief. One fan, acknowledging the actor's miraculous survival, commented, "All the best to you and your family!" Another, an experienced emergency room nurse, exclaimed, "As a 20-year ER nurse, you are a miracle!"</p> <p>Sheppard wrapped up his post on a positive note, announcing that he is on the mend, soon to be heading home, and "feeling great".</p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

Caring

Six of the best wildlife cruise destinations

<p>Cruises allow nature lovers to get close to wildlife with small ships, unique itineraries and practical shore excursions. Here are six of the best places to see wildlife from the water.</p> <p><strong>Sea of Cortez, Mexico</strong></p> <p>Legendary oceanographer Jacques Cousteau called the Sea of Cortez, off the coast of Baja California, the aquarium of the world. Where the sea meets the Pacific Ocean tidal currents create an ideal environment for sea life and you’ll see everything from tiny fish right up to sperm whales. Watch huge Pacific manta rays leap out of the water or grab a snorkel and dive with playful sea lions. California gray whales are one of the biggest drawcards, coming to the region to calve during the winter, and you’ll have the opportunity to get up close in a Zodiac.</p> <p><strong>Galapagos Islands </strong></p> <p>There’s nowhere in the world like the Galapagos Islands, a volcanic archipelago around 1,000 kilometres off the coast of Ecuador in the Pacific Ocean. Look out for giant tortoises, iguanas, penguins, seals, sea lions and a spectacular array of birds, including the dancing blue-footed booby, albatross, pelican, heron and egret. Charles Darwin visited the islands in 1835 and developed much of his evolutionary theory based on the adaptations of Galapagos bird species, especially finches.</p> <p><strong>Alaska</strong></p> <p>America’s 50<sup>th</sup> state is a true wilderness with wildlife to be seen in the ocean, on the land and in the air. Humpback and killer whales, dolphins, porpoises, seals, sea lions, otters and leaping salmon can be found in the water, seen either from the main cruise ship or on Zodiac excursions. Grizzly bears wander the shore alongside caribou, moose, beavers and even wolverines. The American national bird, the bald eagle, is a regular in the sky with a population of more than 30,000 – in fishing towns like Ketchikan you’ll even see them swooping around the docks for fish.</p> <p><strong>Antarctica</strong></p> <p>Penguins, penguins, penguins. From the cute little rockhopper penguins in the sub-Antarctic islands to the huge, 1.15 metre tall emperor penguins in continental Antarctica, not a day will go by on a cruise here that you don’t see a penguin. If you get penguined out, there are also killer and sperm whales, elephant seals, leopard seals and a huge number of sea birds like albatross, petrels and skuas. For a close encounter, jump in a kayak and paddle amongst the wildlife in the freezing waters.</p> <p><strong>Southern Africa</strong></p> <p>This is a safari with a difference. Small river ships cruise along the Chobe River through Botswana and Namibia carrying just a handful of passengers. The river runs through the Chobe National Park, which has one of the highest concentrations of wildlife in Africa. Elephants and buffalo can be seen right from the decks, splashing along the edges of the river just metres from the ship. Cruises here include early morning game drives that take passengers further into the national park to see lions, giraffe, leopards, antelope and plenty of birds.</p> <p><strong>Peruvian Amazon</strong></p> <p>Think dolphins only come in gray? Think again. A very rare breed of pink freshwater dolphin swims in the waters of the Amazon River, one of only a couple of places in the world that they can be seen. Small, specially designed river ships sail along the Peruvian section of the river where squirrel monkeys swing through the trees, sloths laze about in the branches and brightly coloured macaws squawk from the canopy. Passengers even have a chance to catch and eat the flesh-eating piranha.</p> <p><em>Images: Getty</em></p>

Cruising

Six towns you recognise from every movie

<p>Think you recognise that film location? Think again. Filmmakers have a long history of using classic “small town USA” locations for their imagined communities or substituting other cities to stand in for more famous (and expensive) locals – often with a bit of digital trickery on the side.</p> <p><strong>Kanab, Utah</strong></p> <p>If you’ve ever seen a movie about the Wild West, then you’re familiar with Kanab. Hollywood discovered the small town just north of the Arizona border way back in 1924 and classic films like Stagecoach, Union Pacific, Buffalo Bill and Fort Apache were all filmed here, as well as the TV series The Long Ranger and Gunsmoke. It’s the quintessential cowboy town and enthusiastically embraces its movie heritage with memorabilia displayed just about everywhere and even a Kanab Walk of Fame.</p> <p><strong>Wilmington, North Carolina</strong><strong><em><br /></em></strong></p> <p>This coastal city of less than 100,000 people is sometimes referred to as “Wilmywood” in recognition of the 300 or so films and TV series that have been shot here. Frank Capra started the trend in 1983 when he filmed part of Firestarter in the town and since then movies as diverse as Weekend at Bernie’s, Cape Fear and The Jackal have all made use of the mild climate, ocean views and picturesque scenery. There’s a good chance that your kids (or grandkids) were fans of the 90s teen series Dawson’s Creek, which was also filmed in the town.</p> <p><strong>Vancouver</strong></p> <p>It’s a bit of a Hollywood secret, but the Canadian city of Vancouver is used as a stand in for lots of American cities, from New York to San Francisco and everywhere in between. Production costs are much lower than in the United States and directors have found that the city and its surrounds can pass for plenty of places south of the border. Jackie Chan’s Rumble in the Bronx, the Scary Movie series, Juno, I, Robot and Rise of the Planet of the Apes are just a few you might recognise.</p> <p><strong>Astoria, NYC</strong></p> <p>Everyone has heard of Brooklyn and the Bronx in New York City, but how about Astoria? This small Queens neighbourhood frequently stands in for its more famous cousins in some of the most iconic gangster movies of all time. Goodfellas, A Bronx Tale and Serpico were all filmed here and you can have a drink or a meal at one of the real establishments that feature in the movies.</p> <p><strong>Budapest, Hungary</strong></p> <p>Want a top-notch European location without the hefty price tag? Then head to Budapest. The eastern European capital has stood in for Moscow, Munich and Buenos Aires in all sorts of films. While undeniably beautiful, Budapest’s skyline and monuments aren’t as recognisable as many European cities so it is easier for filmmakers to be elusive about the destination. The city has starred in A Good Day to Die Hard, Evita, The Raven and Underworld.</p> <p><strong>Taipei, Taiwan</strong></p> <p>When filmmakers want a generic Asian backdrop, they are increasingly turning to the Taiwanese capital of Taipei. Traditionally, cities like Bangkok or Hong Kong would be used but savvy filmgoers are becoming familiar with what these cities look like so it is harder to pretend. Local boy Ang Lee shot his Oscar winning Life of Pi here as well as Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. Expect to see many more films featuring Taipei – Martin Scorsese is shooting there right now.</p> <p><em>Images: Getty</em></p>

International Travel

“Once-in-a-lifetime find”: Man discovers gold nugget worth six figures

<p>A man from Victoria has struck gold armed with his budget metal detector.</p> <p>The man, who wishes to not be named, discovered a 4.6kg rock in Victoria’s “Golden Triangle” which stretches between Ballarat, Bendigo and up to St Arnaud.</p> <p>Unsure of whether it was worth anything, he brought the rock to Lucky Strike Gold in Geelong for evaluation where Gold trader Darren Kamp discovered it contained a staggering 2.6kg of gold worth $240k.</p> <p>“He said, ‘Oh, do you think there’s $10,000 worth in it?’, and as soon as it hit my hand I looked at him and said: ‘Try a $100,000’,” Kamp told <em>9News</em>.</p> <p>"And he said, 'Oh wow, the wife's going to be happy with that," said Kamp.</p> <p>Funnily enough, the man had only brought in half of the rock and left the other half “at home”.</p> <p>“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime find,” said Kamp.</p> <p>Small nuggets of gold are worth up to $1000, but the value of gold has soared due to inflation.</p> <p>“You’ll hear the term, ‘if it’s got your name on it, you’ll find it’,” Kamp said.</p> <p>“You just need some luck and persistence. It’s like a Tattslotto ticket, you’re never going to win it unless you’ve got a ticket,” he added.</p> <p>The gold nuggets from this region were famous for their quantity, size and purity, and were mostly found in streams or river beds.</p> <p><em>Image: Nine News</em></p>

Money & Banking

Dad’s horror at six-year-old’s massive bill

<p>A young boy from Michigan has learned a tasty lesson in money management.</p> <p>Six-year-old Mason Stonehouse had been playing on his dad’s phone when he discovered his soon-to-be favourite app - food delivery service Grubhub. </p> <p>After putting his son to bed, Mason’s father Keith was shocked to find delivery drivers began to frequent their doorstep, one after the other leaving something behind. Keith likened the strange evening to a<em> Saturday Night Live</em> skit, and in doorbell camera footage he could be heard asking one of the drivers “what the hell is going on?” </p> <p>A look at his phone confirmed that Mason had pulled off a parent’s nightmare - the boy had ordered almost $2,000 (AUD) of food from restaurants all across their town. </p> <p>Speaking with <em>TODAY.com</em>, Keith explained that the two were having father and son time in front of the TV when Mason asked to use Keith’s phone. Mason often uses his dad’s phone to play educational games, so Keith thought nothing of it, allowing Mason 30 minutes with the device. </p> <p>Keith recalled how Mason made his way downstairs to play, and went to bed without a fuss when his half hour was up. </p> <p>“A 6-year-old going to bed is not normally an easy thing but he was surprisingly really good,” he said. “There was no fight, no ‘I’m hungry’, or making up stuff to stay up. He just went to bed, and I was like, ‘Wow, this is amazing, I wish Mom was here to witness this’. And all of a sudden I hear the doorbell.”</p> <p>To various news outlets, Keith has mentioned how it was “car after car” that kept “coming and coming” to the family’s home in Chesterfield Township. In his own Facebook post about the incident, he shared Mason’s shopping list, telling his friends “if you’re hungry and you’re in the mood for 5 orders of jumbo shrimp, salad, grape leaves, rice, 3 hanis, several orders of chilli cheese fries, chicken shawarma sandwiches, and plenty of Ice cream - swing on by SMH.”</p> <p>Keith saw Mason’s delectable adventure to an end when his bank declined an order of $635 (AUD) for pepperoni pizza. As he told <em>Good Morning America</em>, this “would’ve been on top of the $1,000 worth of food that was piling in my kitchen.”</p> <p>This wasn’t even Mason’s first order of the evening from the same establishment - Happy’s Pizza for a happy Mason - with a sizable jumbo shrimp delivery already having made it to their doorstep. </p> <p><em>MLive.com </em>heard from Keith that he tried to speak to Mason about what had happened, but soon discovered that their priorities weren’t exactly aligned, “I was trying to explain to him that this wasn’t good and he puts his hand up and stops me and says, ‘Dad, did the pepperoni pizzas come yet?’”</p> <p>“I had to walk out of the room. I didn’t know if I should get mad or laugh,” he admitted. </p> <p>Whether the entire situation prompted more amusement or exasperation from the Stonehouses, they assured everyone that none of Mason’s bouncy went to waste, with the food going to their neighbours, and their phones well away from Mason’s sneaky shopping. </p> <p><em>Images: Facebook </em></p>

Money & Banking

The six stages of cruise ship eating

<p>Ah the cruise ship buffet. Faced with all that food, available all the time, many people tend to go a little… crazy. So how can you identify the early signs of waterborne gluttony and then practice some mindful restraint? Read on.</p> <p><strong>Easy does it</strong></p> <p>Do you launch yourself at the first buffet station you see, piling the plate high with whatever is within arm’s reach? Step back and take a deep breath. There’s plenty of food to go around, so you can do a lap around the buffet to decide what you feel like before you dive in.</p> <p><strong>Leave room for seconds</strong></p> <p>Some cruisers look like they are trying to balance one of everything on the buffet onto a single plate. It’s impressive both for sheer volume and for the (frankly unappetising) variety of foods all jostled together. Remember – you can make as many trips to the buffet as you’d like, so there’s no need to grab everything in one go. Eating your meal in a series of courses will give you a better idea of when you’re full and also cut down on wastage.</p> <p><strong>Take a seat</strong></p> <p>It’s not uncommon to see people walking around the ship clutching plates piled high with buffet goodies. Ask yourself – do you really need to be eating a bunch of cheeseburgers as you walk up to the pool deck? Probably not. There’s nothing wrong with grabbing an ice cream or biscuit on the go, but it’s a better idea to sit down in the dining room to eat your meals. It prevents you from mindlessly gorging on the go and it’s also a lot neater for the crew.</p> <p><strong>Plan your day</strong></p> <p>Many days onboard (especially sea days) seem to revolve entirely around eating. Get involved in some of the other activities to avoid spending the day snacking. You might even burn off a few of those extra calories you’ve been putting away.</p> <p><strong>Check out the other options</strong></p> <p>The buffet is easily the most famous onboard option, but most large ships will have up to a dozen other restaurants onboard. Venture away from the shiny lights and endless rows of desserts and try some of the other dining venues. The main dining room will serve a multi course a la carte menu that changes every night, and it’s included in your fare. For just a few dollars extra you can dine in a specialty restaurant serving Italian, Japanese, seafood or prime steak.</p> <p><strong>Get your hands dirty</strong></p> <p>Many ships now give you the option to work for your meal. Passengers can participate in a cooking class led by one of the chefs, before sitting down to enjoy a meal they’ve prepared themselves. On shore days, they can visit local markets or producers with an onboard chef to learn about the provenance of their food. There’s a lot more to the cruise dining experience than just the eating.</p> <p><em>Image: Getty Images</em></p>

Cruising

Looking for transformative travel? Keep these six stages in mind

<p>After a cooped-up few years, Americans are hungry to travel. Passport offices <a href="https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/how-apply/processing-times.html">are overwhelmed</a> with applications. In July, airlines scheduled and operated <a href="https://www.bts.gov/newsroom/air-travel-consumer-report-july-2021-numbers">the highest number of flights</a> since the pandemic began, according to the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics. <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2021/08/22/national-parks-are-booming-that-may-ruin-your-next-trip.html">Record numbers</a> of travelers visited the U.S. national parks this summer, after <a href="https://www.nps.gov/subjects/socialscience/annual-visitation-highlights.htm">a nearly 28% drop</a> due to the pandemic. </p> <p>But why do we travel in the first place? What is the allure of the open road? </p> <p>As a professor of <a href="https://divinity.vanderbilt.edu/people/bio/jaco-hamman">religion, psychology and culture</a>, I study experiences that lie at the intersection of all three. And in my <a href="https://www.fortresspress.com/store/product/9781506472065/Just-Traveling">research on travel</a>, I’m struck by its unsolvable paradoxes: Many of us seek to get away, in order to be present; we speed to destinations, in order to slow down; we may care about the environment, but still leave carbon footprints.</p> <p>Ultimately, many people hope to return transformed. Travel <a href="https://doi.org/10.1080/02508281.2017.1292177">is often viewed</a> as what anthropologists call a “<a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Arnold-van-Gennep">rite of passage</a>”: structured rituals in which individuals separate themselves from their familiar surroundings, undergo change and return rejuvenated or “reborn.”</p> <p>But travelers are not just concerned with themselves. The desire to explore may be a defining human trait, as I argue <a href="https://www.fortresspress.com/store/product/9781506472065/Just-Traveling">in my latest book</a>, but the ability to do it is a privilege that can <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2017.11.002">come at a cost</a>to host communities. Increasingly, the tourism industry and scholars alike are interested in <a href="https://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/cog/tri/2012/00000016/F0020003/art00003">ethical travel</a>, which minimizes visitors’ harm on the places and people they encounter. </p> <p>The media inundate tourists with advice and enticements about where to travel and what to do there. But in order to meet the deeper goals of transformative, ethical travel, the “why” and “how” demand deeper discernment.</p> <p>In writing “<a href="https://www.fortresspress.com/store/product/9781506472065/Just-Traveling">Just Traveling</a>: God, Leaving Home, and a Spirituality for the Road,” I studied travel stories in sacred scriptures and researched findings from psychologists, sociologists, ethicists, economists and tourism scholars. I argue that meaningful travel is best understood not as a three-stage rite but as a six-phase practice, based on core human experiences. These phases can repeat and overlap within the same journey, just as adventures twist and turn.</p> <h2>1. Anticipating</h2> <p>Traveling begins long before departure, as we research and plan. But anticipation is more than logistics. The Dutch aptly call it “voorpret”: literally, <a href="https://www.wordsense.eu/">the pleasure before</a>.</p> <p>How and what people anticipate in any given situation has the power to shape their experience, for better or worse – even when it comes to prejudice. Psychology experiments, for example, have shown that <a href="https://doi.org/10.1037/xge0000899">when children anticipate greater cooperation between groups</a>, it can reduce their bias in favor of their own group.</p> <p>But <a href="https://iep.utm.edu/phenom/">phenomenology</a>, a branch of philosophy that studies human experience and consciousness, emphasizes that <a href="http://ummoss.org/gall17varela.pdf">anticipation is also “empty”</a>: our conscious intentions and expectations of what’s to come could be fulfilled or dashed by a future moment. </p> <p>With that in mind, travelers should try to remain open to uncertainty and even disappointment.</p> <h2>2. Leaving</h2> <p>Leaving can awaken deep emotions that are tied to our earliest experiences of separation. The attachment styles psychologists study in infants, which shape how secure people feel in their relationships, <a href="https://theconversation.com/what-is-attachment-and-how-does-it-affect-our-relationships-120503">continue to shape us as adults</a>. These experiences can also affect how comfortable people feel <a href="https://www.proquest.com/openview/cdd5594c53a7864881fb71e54a7422f1/1?pq-origsite=gscholar&cbl=1819046">exploring new experiences</a> and leaving home, which can affect how they travel.</p> <p>Some travelers leave with excitement, while others experience <a href="https://doi.org/10.1177/0047287520966392">hesitation or guilt</a> before the relief and excitement of departure. Mindfulness about the stages of travel can help people <a href="https://web.a.ebscohost.com/abstract?direct=true&profile=ehost&scope=site&authtype=crawler&jrnl=1931311X&asa=Y&AN=31381043&h=nduDC2UXNGxscORELrBj%2fjZ6b4Xdbo4r5mkTwNhY2n2D7Oi0KAOPOw%2fsqhqshijmc4%2bMd%2fLjR2%2b3rONsdCopzg%3d%3d&crl=c&resultNs=AdminWebAuth&resultLocal=ErrCrlNotAuth&crlhashurl=login.aspx%3fdirect%3dtrue%26profile%3dehost%26scope%3dsite%26authtype%3dcrawler%26jrnl%3d1931311X%26asa%3dY%26AN%3d31381043">manage anxiety</a>.</p> <h2>3. Surrendering</h2> <p>Travelers cannot control their journey: A flight is canceled, or a vehicle breaks down; the weather report predicts sunshine, but it rains for days on end. To some extent, they have to surrender to the unknown.</p> <p>Modern Western cultures tend to see “surrendering” as something negative – as hoisting a white flag. But as a <a href="https://doi.org/10.1080/00107530.1990.10746643">therapeutic concept</a>, surrendering helps people let go of inhibiting habits, discover a sense of wholeness and <a href="https://doi.org/10.1215/10407391-2005-006">experience togetherness</a> with others. The perfectionist learns that a changed itinerary doesn’t mean a diminished travel experience and lets go of their fear of failure. The person with a strong sense of independence grows in vulnerability as they receive care from strangers.</p> <p>In fact, some psychological theories hold that the self longs for surrender, in the sense of liberation: letting down its defensive barriers and <a href="https://doi.org/10.1177/0022167820975636">finding freedom</a> from attempts to control one’s surroundings. Embracing that view can help travelers cope with the reality that things may not go according to plan.</p> <h2>4. Meeting</h2> <p>Meeting, traveling’s fourth phase, is the invitation to discover oneself and others anew. </p> <p>All cultures have unconscious “<a href="https://www.routledge.com/The-Location-of-Culture/Bhabha/p/book/9780415336390">rules of recognition</a>,” their own ingrained customs and ways of thinking, making it more difficult to forge cross-cultural connections. Carrying <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Serene-Tse-2/publication/347739970_Assessing_explicit_and_implicit_stereotypes_in_tourism_self-reports_and_implicit_association_test/links/60ad92f1299bf13438e82cbe/Assessing-explicit-and-implicit-stereotypes-in-tourism-self-reports-and-implicit-association-test.pdf">conscious and unconscious stereotypes</a>, travelers may see some people and places as uneducated, dangerous, poor or <a href="https://doi.org/10.3390/su12229405">sexual</a>, while hosts may see travelers as rich, ignorant and exploitable. </p> <p>Going beyond such stereotypes requires that travelers be mindful of behaviors that can add tension to their interactions – knowing conversational topics to avoid, for example, or following local dress codes.</p> <p>In many parts of the world, those challenges are intensified <a href="https://doi.org/10.1177/1468797603049658">by the legacy of colonization</a>, which makes it harder for people to meet in authentic ways. Colonial views still influence Western perceptions of nonwhite groups as <a href="https://hrcak.srce.hr/index.php?show=clanak&id_clanak_jezik=80794">exotic</a>, <a href="https://doi.org/10.1080/14616688.2012.762688">dangerous</a> and inferior.</p> <p>Starting to overcome these barriers demands an attitude known as <a href="https://melanietervalon.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/CulturalHumility_Tervalon-and-Murray-Garcia-Article.pdf">cultural humility</a>, which is deeper than “cultural competence” – simply knowing about a different culture. Cultural humility helps travelers ask questions like, “I don’t know,” “Please help me understand” or “How should I…” </p> <h2>5. Caring</h2> <p>Caring involves overcoming “<a href="https://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/mono/10.4324/9781003070672/moral-boundaries-joan-tronto">privileged irresponsibility</a>”: when a traveler does not recognize their own privilege and take responsibility for it, or does not recognize other people’s lack of privilege.</p> <p>[3 media outlets, 1 religion newsletter. <a href="https://theconversation.com/us/newsletters/this-week-in-religion-76/?utm_source=TCUS&utm_medium=inline-link&utm_campaign=newsletter-text&utm_content=religion-3-in-1">Get stories from The Conversation, AP and RNS.</a>]</p> <p>Travel becomes irresponsible when tourists ignore injustices and inequities they witness or the way their travels contribute to the <a href="https://doi.org/10.1108/TR-03-2017-0066">unfolding climate crisis</a>. Ethically, “empathy” is not enough; travelers must pursue solidarity, as an act of “<a href="https://www.fortresspress.com/store/product/9781506472065/Just-Traveling">caring with</a>.” That might mean hiring local guides, eating in family-owned restaurants and being mindful of the resources like food and water that they use. </p> <h2>6. Returning</h2> <p>Travels do end, and returning home can be <a href="https://doi.org/10.4337/9781786438577.00025">a disorienting experience</a>. </p> <p>Coming back can cause <a href="https://www.jstor.org/stable/90015633">reverse culture shock</a> if travelers struggle to readjust. But that shock can diminish as travelers share their experiences with others, stay connected to the places they visited, <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijintrel.2016.05.004">deepen their knowledge</a> about the place and culture, anticipate a possible return trip or get involved in causes that they discovered on their trip.</p> <p>I believe that reflecting on these six phases can invite the kind of mindfulness needed for transformative, ethical travel. And <a href="https://www.scielo.br/j/aabc/a/76CfqdL5pPBZLcQy9FdWwxn/?lang=en&format=html">amid a pandemic</a>, the need for thoughtful travel that prioritises host communities’ well-being is clear.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p> <p><em>This article originally appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.com/looking-for-transformative-travel-keep-these-six-stages-in-mind-167687" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>. </em></p>

Travel Tips

Six tricks to combat air travel sickness

<p dir="ltr">If there’s one thing that's guaranteed to ruin a travel experience, it’s unexpected motion sickness, as there's nothing worse than feeling ill and not being able to escape until you land.</p> <p dir="ltr">Experts at Travel Lens have shared their holy grail tips for people to do before and during their flights to help reduce air sickness travel symptoms. </p> <p dir="ltr">Airsickness, otherwise known as motion sickness, is caused when the body receives conflicting information from the eyes, ears and muscles in regards to movement.</p> <p dir="ltr">This confuses the brain, which can cause nausea, fatigue and dizziness.</p> <p dir="ltr">"Air sickness is very common and with plenty of holidays still to come this year, it's important that people can enjoy them fully without the added stress of feeling ill on the plane," a spokesperson told <a href="https://travel.nine.com.au/latest/travel-advice-tricks-to-combat-airsickness-on-flights-expert/91e42ab8-ae9b-4b5a-a0f2-88525ee38886#1">9Honey</a>.</p> <p dir="ltr">"For some people, sickness may be a persistent problem when travelling, but there are certain things that can be implemented to help ease any symptoms.”</p> <p dir="ltr">"Whilst on the plane it's important to stay as calm as possible and by making small adjustments you can reduce the effects of airsickness."</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>Select your seat mindfully</strong></p> <p dir="ltr">Your position on a plane has a drastic effect on how much movement you can expect throughout your journey. </p> <p dir="ltr">Typically the middle, the wing and closer to the front of the plane are the best places to sit as this is where the journey feels most stable. </p> <p dir="ltr">Try to avoid the back of the plane as seats further back can be subject to more turbulence.</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>Put the book and screens down</strong></p> <p dir="ltr">While reading or watching is a great way to pass the time on a flight, focusing on these forms of entertainment can only exacerbate the feeling of motion sickness. </p> <p dir="ltr">The best thing to do instead of reading or watching something is to try to relax and focus on breathing.</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>Avoid alcohol</strong></p> <p dir="ltr">Many people are inclined to indulge in an alcoholic drink on a plane, however the effects of drinking while travelling are often less than desirable. </p> <p dir="ltr">Alcohol can dehydrate the body quickly and this can exacerbate symptoms, so it may be best to opt for a soda. </p> <p dir="ltr">Wait until symptoms have completely subsided before you consider having a drink or until you land.</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>Use mint and ginger</strong></p> <p dir="ltr">Some studies have suggested consuming ginger before heading off on a flight can help to stop feelings of nausea. </p> <p dir="ltr">Whether it's taken as a supplement, in raw form or even as a can of ginger beer, it's definitely worth a try.</p> <p dir="ltr">The same can be said for peppermint, so taking a packet of breath mints in your carry-on is a must. </p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>Choose your food wisely</strong></p> <p dir="ltr">While plane food is always a bit of a gamble, it's a good idea to eat before boarding. </p> <p dir="ltr">Steer clear of greasy and spicy foods as these can unsettle an already nervous stomach.</p> <p dir="ltr">And make sure you stay hydrated!</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>Get comfortable</strong></p> <p dir="ltr">Instead of staying upright for your whole flight, take advantage of a slight recline in your seats (just don’t forget to talk to the person sitting behind you first!)</p> <p dir="ltr">Consider taking a travel pillow to ease the strain on the neck throughout the flight and put any unnecessary items in the overhead storage to ensure the most comfortable environment for dealing with any sickness symptoms.</p> <p dir="ltr">Use the blankets provided and tune out any noise, and focus on deep breathing until you arrive safely at your destination. </p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

Travel Tips

Six ways to keep your eyes healthy

<p>Eye health is an integral part of your entire wellbeing. While your eyesight changes as you reach more birthdays, regular eye checks together with a few important lifestyle considerations can ensure your vision remains healthy for as long as possible.</p> <p>Whether it’s seeing some of the world’s most iconic attractions in your round-the-world trip in retirement or watching as your grandchildren grow into beautiful human beings, being able to see the world around you is an important part of anyone’s life. </p> <p>It’s one of the five senses that most of us take for granted and therefore, debilitating, if it were to slowly disappear. However, while your eyesight does change as you get older, it doesn’t have to mean significant impaired vision. Here’s some tips to keep your eyesight in tiptop shape.</p> <p><strong>Shade your eyes.</strong> Protect your eyes, along with your skin, from the sun’s rays with good quality sunglasses with a built-in UV filter. Strong light from the sunshine can damage your eyes and may increase your risk of cataracts, which are cloudy areas inside the normally clear lens of the eye. They can develop in one or both eyes.</p> <p><strong>Eat your vegies.</strong> Not only is eating a healthy, well-balanced diet important for you to maintain weight, reduce your risk of disease and ultimately make you feel a lot better, it’s also important for your eyes. A diet high in fruits and vegetables will help protect against some eye conditions, such as cataracts and age-related macular degeneration. Some of the fruits, vegetables and other nutrient-rich food to consider include: leafy greens, salmon or tuna, nuts, dark pigment fruits, such as berries, citrus fruits and avocado.</p> <p><strong>Don’t read in the dark.</strong> If you’re reading in the deepening evening, protect your peepers by using good lighting. In your 60s, your eyes will need three times as much light as they did when you were 20. If reading at night, use direct light, such as a flexible table tamp or book light to illuminate the words you’re reading.</p> <p><strong>Give up smoking.</strong> While this is easier said than done for those who smoke, there really is good reason to try and give up cigarettes. One of these reasons is smoking is one of the major factors for the early development of age-related macular degeneration. It causes the acceleration of atherosclerotic plaques in the walls of arteries, which are collections of cholesterol and fat. This isn’t great for your heart, since these plaques gradually block arteries which limit blood flow, so how does this affect the eye? Well, this can disrupt blood flow to the macular area of the retina. When this blood vessel damage happens, it causes a gradual failure of vision.</p> <p><strong>Keep those scales in check.</strong> Maintaining a healthy weight will reduce your risk of diabetes, which can lead to sight loss. Plus, good circulation and oxygen intake are important for your eye health, both of which are stimulated by regular exercise. Get moving to maintain a healthy weight and promote blood flow!</p> <p><strong>A good night’s sleep.</strong> Give your eyes the rest they deserve by getting a good night’s sleep. Research has shown that a minimum of at least five hours of sleep is needed to properly replenish and rest your eyes. This is the time when your eyes are continuously lubricated and irritants, such as dust, that may have accumulated during the day are cleared away.</p>

Eye Care

Cleaner shares six structural tips to make your house easy to clean

<p dir="ltr">A professional cleaner has shared six things to avoid when building a house in order to make your home easier to clean. </p> <p dir="ltr">Kacie from The Big Clean Co in Melbourne shared the tips in a TikTok video which racked up over 600,000 views in less than 14 hours. </p> <p dir="ltr">She recommends choosing alternative style solutions rather than opting for blinds with small slats, freestanding bathtubs, square sinks and black tapware. </p> <p dir="ltr">Kacie said that blinds with smaller slats accumulate much more dust, making it a long task to individually clean each one. </p> <p dir="ltr">She also said that while free-standing bathtubs are a chic and modern styling option, it's important to avoid placing them right beside the wall because it becomes difficult to clean the tight gap. </p> <p dir="ltr">“You need to be able to clean in there,” she said. </p> <p dir="ltr">Kacie recommends opting for a round or oval sink in kitchens and bathrooms, as corners of square sinks are “so annoying to clean”. </p> <p dir="ltr">She also suggested not to install “sensitive” black tapware unless you are “really sure it's durable” because over time the black coating fades, exposing the bronze brass underneath.</p> <p dir="ltr">When choosing kitchen cabinetry, Kacie recommends minimising the space between the cupboards and ceiling as she said “it's just a shelf to catch grease on”.</p> <p dir="ltr">Her video was flooded with praise in the comments, with one person writing, “Fellow cleaner here! COMPLETELY AGREE!”</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image credits: TikTok</em></p>

Home & Garden

Woman lives on cruise ship six months each year

<p dir="ltr">An incredibly lucky woman who basically lives half a year on a cruise ship for free has given insight into a week in her life. </p> <p dir="ltr">Christine Kesteloo, a former cruise and travel director for 12 years, said some of the biggest decisions she’s faced with are whether she should lay in the sun, do a wine tasting or teatime. </p> <p dir="ltr">Her husband, Piet, who is a staff chief engineer, has been sailing on and off for 30 years but she was the only one affected when the pandemic hit.</p> <p dir="ltr">Christine then joined her husband as a “wife on board” also known as WOB which is a “privilege often reserved for high-ranking officers”. </p> <p dir="ltr">She revealed that at one point Piet was her “husband on board” when she was working 12-hour days.</p> <p dir="ltr">When they’re not cruising, the pair call Vlissingen, Netherlands, their home. </p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>A week in Christine’s life:</strong></p> <p dir="ltr">Internet</p> <p dir="ltr">To share her experiences with fans on <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@dutchworld_americangirl?referer_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.insider.com%2F&referer_video_id=7074268953295588651&refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">TikTok</a>, Christine pays $20 a week for unlimited internet. </p> <p dir="ltr">Tipping room service</p> <p dir="ltr">Christine already keeps her room clean, but when the room steward comes in, he changes the bed sheets and pillow covers.</p> <p dir="ltr">A $10 tip is given each week or up to $20 if he’s hopping off to enjoy lunch on land. </p> <p dir="ltr">Free laundry </p> <p dir="ltr">The room steward will pop into the room about 7.30 every morning to check if there is a washing bag ready to be taken. </p> <p dir="ltr">The items are written on a piece of paper before they’re returned at the end of the day. </p> <p dir="ltr">Free meals but pay for speciality restaurants and room service</p> <p dir="ltr">Christine revealed that anything you could dream of is available on board and that she is “well fed”. </p> <p dir="ltr">However, she and her husband go a step further and will pay for food when dining at a specialty restaurant which costs up to $20 and $50 a person. They also tip between $5 and $10.</p> <p dir="ltr">Room service is free to order but Christine and her husband tip between $2 and $5 each time.</p> <p dir="ltr">Overall, Christine and her husband are spending about $87 a week for living on board a cruise ship for free. </p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: TikTok and Instagram</em></p>

Cruising

How the Eiffel Tower grew six metres this year

<p dir="ltr">The Eiffel Tower has grown a whopping six metres in just one day, after a new communications antenna was attached to the top by a team of engineers.</p> <p dir="ltr">The digital radio antenna was taken to the top of the Iron Lady by helicopter and fixed on, taking the looming structure from 324 metres to 330 metres tall, as reported by the <em><a href="https://www.nzherald.co.nz/travel/the-eiffel-tower-grows-even-higher-thanks-to-new-antenna/VPMOIA7FBPLYDS2S6S63BE3H7Y/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NZ Herald</a></em>.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-96312ded-7fff-7b9e-5a5b-77cbc3a8d53b"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">Though it may seem like a minor event to tourists, Jean-François Martins, the Eiffel Tower company’s president, said it was a historic moment in the tower’s 133-year history.</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" 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);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CbIesarMOXL/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <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> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </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;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CbIesarMOXL/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Tour Eiffel (@toureiffelofficielle)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr">“It’s a historical moment this morning because the Eiffel Tower is getting higher, which is not so common,” Mr Martins told the Associated Press.</p> <p dir="ltr">“From the invention of the radio at the beginning of the 20th century to right now, decades after decades, the Eiffel Tower has been a partner for all the radio technology.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-eb85e943-7fff-9532-fd9e-955519d87e29"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">But when the Eiffel Tower was first inaugurated in 1889 - when it was just 312 metres high - it wasn’t a hub for tourists or meant to be a permanent attraction.</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" 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);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CbLDZ0uoP_Q/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <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> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </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;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CbLDZ0uoP_Q/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Tour Eiffel (@toureiffelofficielle)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr">Originally built as a main attraction at the 1889 Paris World’s Fair, the structure caused controversy in the art world and was meant to be taken down after 20 years.</p> <p dir="ltr">As Parisians began to welcome its bold design, its creator, Gustave Eiffel, saved it from deconstruction by making it an enormous antenna for wireless broadcasting.</p> <p dir="ltr">According to the Eiffel Tower’s <a href="https://www.toureiffel.paris/en/the-monument/eiffel-tower-and-science" target="_blank" rel="noopener">website</a>, the structure’s creator intended for it to be a hub for science, with barometers, anemometers, lightning conductors and even a meteorology office added to it on the day it was inaugurated.</p> <p dir="ltr">Now, it also broadcasts 45 TV channels and 32 radio stations across the region, thanks to its various emitters and installations.</p> <p dir="ltr">Visitors can also see the names of 72 French scientists engraved on the tower, including the chemist Henry Louis Le Chatelier (the namesake of a principle of thermodynamics) and Léon Foucault (who was credited with naming the gyroscope and demonstrating how the Earth rotates).</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-f75a0536-7fff-afc0-3b45-08076a8c7c19"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: @toureiffelofficielle (Instagram)</em></p>

Technology

London’s “worst tourist attraction” closes after just six months

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A London tourist attraction described as the city’s “worst attraction” </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://travel.nine.com.au/latest/113m-marble-arch-mound-to-close-after-just-six-disappointing-months/5c2b9e30-a534-4724-91a7-c1969dc85c95" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: 400;">has closed</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> after operating for just six months.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Despite costing a reported $11.99 million (£6 million), the Marble Arch Mound closed its doors on January 9 after becoming a source of widespread mockery online.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Tickets - costing up to $16 (£8) - began to sell for free ahead of its impending closure on the Mound’s official website.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In a series of posts on Twitter, journalist Jacob Phillips recounted the attraction’s journey from an exciting premise to an underwhelming, unfinished site.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Construction of the ill-fated attraction on the corner of Hyde Park and Oxford Street was overseen by Westminster Council, who hoped it would bring people back to the area, which was struggling due to COVID-19.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">It promised to have sweeping greenery and views of the city, as well as a light exhibition and cafe inside.</span></p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">In March it was given planning permission with councillors calling the attraction bonkers but it wanted to be bold.<br /><br />Building works started shortly afterwards but by the mound's opening date things weren't looking good <a href="https://t.co/bXKentVISp">pic.twitter.com/bXKentVISp</a></p> — Jacob Phillips (@Jacob_LDR) <a href="https://twitter.com/Jacob_LDR/status/1480501726943887362?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 10, 2022</a></blockquote> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">However, the Mound was still unfinished when it opened on July 26. Scaffolding used to construct the attraction was still visible, plants began dying, and the light installation and cafe were noticeably absent.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Visitors soon began sharing their underwhelming experiences online, including a review written by Dan Barker for </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Critic</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">, who described the Mound as a little soulless.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Barker also compared The Mound to “that famous Christian Ronaldo statue” - referencing the sculpture of the soccer star which failed to capture any of his features - rather than “Michelangelo’s David”.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Another user shared their experience visiting the Mound, writing that it was “the worst thing I’ve ever done in London”.</span></p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">Marble arch mound is the worst thing I've ever done in London <a href="https://t.co/njmpOFxrbf">pic.twitter.com/njmpOFxrbf</a></p> — Emma Franklin-Wright (@emmabethwright) <a href="https://twitter.com/emmabethwright/status/1419932605449969665?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 27, 2021</a></blockquote> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">According to Phillips, the site closed after just two days after council workers attempted to improve the Mound’s appearance - but their efforts “were in vain”.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“At this stage the mound went viral for being pretty much just a slag heap,” he </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://twitter.com/Jacob_LDR/status/1480503442271576064" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: 400;">wrote</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">When news of its closure broke, many bid farewell to the Mound while remarking on its cost to taxpayers.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“So farewell then the Marble Arch Mound, / That cost Westminster taxpayers six million pound,” writer and journalist Andrew Scott </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://twitter.com/Otto_English/status/1479462516690497538" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: 400;">posted</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, under the pen name Otto English.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Cost £6 million. Attracted 250,000 visitors. (But did even ONE visitor come to London because of it?),” author Edwin Hayward </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://twitter.com/uk_domain_names/status/1479559543885635586" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: 400;">wrote</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“So that’s £24 a head. Dire expenditure by the local council, despite their protestations.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Despite the many critics, some tried to defend the Mound before its closure.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Tony Devenish, a Conservative Assembly Member for Hammersmith and Fulham and Kensington and Chelsea, said the attraction helped during a dire time.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“The reality of the Marble Arch Mound is that it drove footfall at a time when the West End was trying desperately to protect jobs and recover from the impact of Covid,” he </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://twitter.com/Tony_Devenish/status/1479404291022544908" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: 400;">said</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Image: @Jacob_LDR (Twitter)</span></em></p>

Travel Trouble

Man spends just $200 A YEAR on food

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A California man has used an unusual “hack” to spend only $USD 150 ($NZD 210) on food for an entire year – saving his money to pay off student debt, get married and buy a home instead.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">33-year-old Dylan’s savvy spending saw him purchase an unlimited, year-round pass to Six Flags Magic Mountain, which entitled him to parking and two meals every day.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“You can pay around $150 for unlimited, year-round access to Six Flags, which includes parking and two meals a day,” he explained to </span><em><a rel="noopener" href="https://melmagazine.com/en-us/story/six-flags-dining-pass" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Mel Magazine</span></a></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“If you time it right, you could eat both lunch and dinner there every day.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The theme park offers a “premium season dining pass” which includes lunch and dinner items, a snack, and unlimited drinks during every visit on regular operating days.</span></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-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CVLHkOtLDj6/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <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/CVLHkOtLDj6/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Six Flags (@sixflags)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Dylan has been taking advantage of the deal for the last seven years, after finding out that the deal was being offered minutes away from his internship in 2014.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“One of my coworkers said she spent $1500 a month on eating out. I was like, ‘Yeah, I’m not going down that road!’,” he </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.news.com.au/finance/money/budgeting/electrical-engineer-saves-thousands-and-pays-off-debts-with-theme-parks-annual-dining-pass/news-story/200b813929826ce5c5b3d52a40584631" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: 400;">said</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The electrical engineer estimated that he’s eaten about 2000 meals for around 50 cents each at Six Flags over the last seven years.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“That entire first year, I don’t think I ever went to the grocery store,” he said. “I timed it so I was able to go there during my lunch break, go back to work, then stop back for dinner on my way home.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">As a result, Dylan was able to save his money for other things.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“It was crazy – I was saving money, paying off student loans,” he claimed.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">But, he did admit that the menu “wasn’t healthy” until the recent introduction of some healthier options.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“The first year, the menu was kind of lame – all you could get was a burger and fries, or a pizza and breadsticks, or this pathetic sandwich and a refillable soda cup,” he said. “It wasn’t healthy at all, which was rough.”</span></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-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/B9AyGh8lyyT/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <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/B9AyGh8lyyT/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Six Flags Magic Mountain (@sixflagsmagicmountain)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“They’ve got decent options now,” he explained. “Still a lot of bad food, I mean it’s a theme park so you can’t expect too much from them. But you find the options that aren’t terrible – stuff like tri-tip sandwiches and vegan options like black bean burgers and meatless meatball subs.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">He has also taken to countering his theme-park meals with 5,000-step trips from the Six Flags parking lot to its water park division.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">But since meeting his wife six years ago, Dylan has scaled back his thrifty eating and has started eating three or four lunches at the park each week.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“My wife moved in and I stopped doing dinners and weekends, too, since she’s not as big into roller coasters as I am,” Dylan said.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">His savings also helped the young couple purchase a home in the area, which he said means, “I’m not really going anywhere”.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“As long as they keep changing the menu I’m happy.”</span></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Image: @sixflagsmagicmountain / Instagram</span></em></p>

Money & Banking

Six ways to transform your travel

<p>After a cooped-up year, Americans are hungry to travel. Passport offices <a rel="noopener" href="https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/how-apply/processing-times.html" target="_blank">are overwhelmed</a> with applications. In July, airlines scheduled and operated <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.bts.gov/newsroom/air-travel-consumer-report-july-2021-numbers" target="_blank">the highest number of flights</a> since the pandemic began, according to the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics. <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.cnbc.com/2021/08/22/national-parks-are-booming-that-may-ruin-your-next-trip.html" target="_blank">Record numbers</a> of travelers visited the U.S. national parks this summer, after <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.nps.gov/subjects/socialscience/annual-visitation-highlights.htm" target="_blank">a nearly 28% drop</a> due to the pandemic.</p> <p>But why do we travel in the first place? What is the allure of the open road?</p> <p>As a professor of <a rel="noopener" href="https://divinity.vanderbilt.edu/people/bio/jaco-hamman" target="_blank">religion, psychology and culture</a>, I study experiences that lie at the intersection of all three. And in my <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.fortresspress.com/store/product/9781506472065/Just-Traveling" target="_blank">research on travel</a>, I’m struck by its unsolvable paradoxes: Many of us seek to get away, in order to be present; we speed to destinations, in order to slow down; we may care about the environment, but still leave carbon footprints.</p> <p>Ultimately, many people hope to return transformed. Travel <a rel="noopener" href="https://doi.org/10.1080/02508281.2017.1292177" target="_blank">is often viewed</a> as what anthropologists call a “<a rel="noopener" href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Arnold-van-Gennep" target="_blank">rite of passage</a>”: structured rituals in which individuals separate themselves from their familiar surroundings, undergo change and return rejuvenated or “reborn.”</p> <p>But travelers are not just concerned with themselves. The desire to explore may be a defining human trait, as I argue <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.fortresspress.com/store/product/9781506472065/Just-Traveling" target="_blank">in my latest book</a>, but the ability to do it is a privilege that can <a rel="noopener" href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2017.11.002" target="_blank">come at a cost</a> to host communities. Increasingly, the tourism industry and scholars alike are interested in <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/cog/tri/2012/00000016/F0020003/art00003" target="_blank">ethical travel</a>, which minimizes visitors’ harm on the places and people they encounter.</p> <p>The media inundate tourists with advice and enticements about where to travel and what to do there. But in order to meet the deeper goals of transformative, ethical travel, the “why” and “how” demand deeper discernment.</p> <p>In writing “<a rel="noopener" href="https://www.fortresspress.com/store/product/9781506472065/Just-Traveling" target="_blank">Just Traveling</a>: God, Leaving Home, and a Spirituality for the Road,” I studied travel stories in sacred scriptures and researched findings from psychologists, sociologists, ethicists, economists and tourism scholars. I argue that meaningful travel is best understood not as a three-stage rite but as a six-phase practice, based on core human experiences. These phases can repeat and overlap within the same journey, just as adventures twist and turn.</p> <p><strong>1. Anticipating</strong></p> <p>Traveling begins long before departure, as we research and plan. But anticipation is more than logistics. The Dutch aptly call it “voorpret”: literally, <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.wordsense.eu/" target="_blank">the pleasure before</a>.</p> <p>How and what people anticipate in any given situation has the power to shape their experience, for better or worse – even when it comes to prejudice. Psychology experiments, for example, have shown that <a rel="noopener" href="https://doi.org/10.1037/xge0000899" target="_blank">when children anticipate greater cooperation between groups</a>, it can reduce their bias in favor of their own group.</p> <p>But <a rel="noopener" href="https://iep.utm.edu/phenom/" target="_blank">phenomenology</a>, a branch of philosophy that studies human experience and consciousness, emphasizes that <a rel="noopener" href="http://ummoss.org/gall17varela.pdf" target="_blank">anticipation is also “empty”</a>: our conscious intentions and expectations of what’s to come could be fulfilled or dashed by a future moment.</p> <p>With that in mind, travelers should try to remain open to uncertainty and even disappointment.</p> <p><strong>2. Leaving</strong></p> <p>Leaving can awaken deep emotions that are tied to our earliest experiences of separation. The attachment styles psychologists study in infants, which shape how secure people feel in their relationships, <a rel="noopener" href="https://theconversation.com/what-is-attachment-and-how-does-it-affect-our-relationships-120503" target="_blank">continue to shape us as adults</a>. These experiences can also affect how comfortable people feel <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.proquest.com/openview/cdd5594c53a7864881fb71e54a7422f1/1?pq-origsite=gscholar&cbl=1819046" target="_blank">exploring new experiences</a> and leaving home, which can affect how they travel.</p> <p>Some travelers leave with excitement, while others experience <a rel="noopener" href="https://doi.org/10.1177/0047287520966392" target="_blank">hesitation or guilt</a> before the relief and excitement of departure. Mindfulness about the stages of travel can help people <a rel="noopener" href="https://web.a.ebscohost.com/abstract?direct=true&profile=ehost&scope=site&authtype=crawler&jrnl=1931311X&asa=Y&AN=31381043&h=nduDC2UXNGxscORELrBj%2fjZ6b4Xdbo4r5mkTwNhY2n2D7Oi0KAOPOw%2fsqhqshijmc4%2bMd%2fLjR2%2b3rONsdCopzg%3d%3d&crl=c&resultNs=AdminWebAuth&resultLocal=ErrCrlNotAuth&crlhashurl=login.aspx%3fdirect%3dtrue%26profile%3dehost%26scope%3dsite%26authtype%3dcrawler%26jrnl%3d1931311X%26asa%3dY%26AN%3d31381043" target="_blank">manage anxiety</a>.</p> <p><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/423194/original/file-20210924-46597-1r365j1.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" alt="Mask-clad passengers pass through an airport arrival hall in Lisbon, Portugal in September 2021 amid the COVID-19 pandemic." /></p> <p><em><span class="caption">Travel has picked up since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. For many people, taking a trip prompts anxiety as well as excitement.</span> <span class="attribution"><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/mask-clad-travelers-and-people-waiting-for-arriving-news-photo/1338516440?adppopup=true" target="_blank" class="source">Horacio Villalobos/Corbis News via Getty Images</a></span></em></p> <p><strong>3. Surrendering</strong></p> <p>Travelers cannot control their journey: A flight is canceled, or a vehicle breaks down; the weather report predicts sunshine, but it rains for days on end. To some extent, they have to surrender to the unknown.</p> <p>Modern Western cultures tend to see “surrendering” as something negative – as hoisting a white flag. But as a <a rel="noopener" href="https://doi.org/10.1080/00107530.1990.10746643" target="_blank">therapeutic concept</a>, surrendering helps people let go of inhibiting habits, discover a sense of wholeness and <a rel="noopener" href="https://doi.org/10.1215/10407391-2005-006" target="_blank">experience togetherness</a> with others. The perfectionist learns that a changed itinerary doesn’t mean a diminished travel experience and lets go of their fear of failure. The person with a strong sense of independence grows in vulnerability as they receive care from strangers.</p> <p>In fact, some psychological theories hold that the self longs for surrender, in the sense of liberation: letting down its defensive barriers and <a rel="noopener" href="https://doi.org/10.1177/0022167820975636" target="_blank">finding freedom</a> from attempts to control one’s surroundings. Embracing that view can help travelers cope with the reality that things may not go according to plan.</p> <p><strong>4. Meeting</strong></p> <p>Meeting, traveling’s fourth phase, is the invitation to discover oneself and others anew.</p> <p>All cultures have unconscious “<a rel="noopener" href="https://www.routledge.com/The-Location-of-Culture/Bhabha/p/book/9780415336390" target="_blank">rules of recognition</a>,” their own ingrained customs and ways of thinking, making it more difficult to forge cross-cultural connections. Carrying <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Serene-Tse-2/publication/347739970_Assessing_explicit_and_implicit_stereotypes_in_tourism_self-reports_and_implicit_association_test/links/60ad92f1299bf13438e82cbe/Assessing-explicit-and-implicit-stereotypes-in-tourism-self-reports-and-implicit-association-test.pdf" target="_blank">conscious and unconscious stereotypes</a>, travelers may see some people and places as uneducated, dangerous, poor or <a rel="noopener" href="https://doi.org/10.3390/su12229405" target="_blank">sexual</a>, while hosts may see travelers as rich, ignorant and exploitable.</p> <p>Going beyond such stereotypes requires that travelers be mindful of behaviors that can add tension to their interactions – knowing conversational topics to avoid, for example, or following local dress codes.</p> <p>In many parts of the world, those challenges are intensified <a rel="noopener" href="https://doi.org/10.1177/1468797603049658" target="_blank">by the legacy of colonization</a>, which makes it harder for people to meet in authentic ways. Colonial views still influence Western perceptions of nonwhite groups as <a rel="noopener" href="https://hrcak.srce.hr/index.php?show=clanak&id_clanak_jezik=80794" target="_blank">exotic</a>, <a rel="noopener" href="https://doi.org/10.1080/14616688.2012.762688" target="_blank">dangerous</a> and inferior.</p> <p>Starting to overcome these barriers demands an attitude known as <a rel="noopener" href="https://melanietervalon.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/CulturalHumility_Tervalon-and-Murray-Garcia-Article.pdf" target="_blank">cultural humility</a>, which is deeper than “cultural competence” – simply knowing about a different culture. Cultural humility helps travelers ask questions like, “I don’t know,” “Please help me understand” or “How should I…”</p> <p><strong>5. Caring</strong></p> <p>Caring involves overcoming “<a rel="noopener" href="https://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/mono/10.4324/9781003070672/moral-boundaries-joan-tronto" target="_blank">privileged irresponsibility</a>”: when a traveler does not recognize their own privilege and take responsibility for it, or does not recognize other people’s lack of privilege.</p> <p>Travel becomes irresponsible when tourists ignore injustices and inequities they witness or the way their travels contribute to the <a rel="noopener" href="https://doi.org/10.1108/TR-03-2017-0066" target="_blank">unfolding climate crisis</a>. Ethically, “empathy” is not enough; travelers must pursue solidarity, as an act of “<a rel="noopener" href="https://www.fortresspress.com/store/product/9781506472065/Just-Traveling" target="_blank">caring with</a>.” That might mean hiring local guides, eating in family-owned restaurants and being mindful of the resources like food and water that they use.</p> <p><strong>6. Returning</strong></p> <p>Travels do end, and returning home can be <a rel="noopener" href="https://doi.org/10.4337/9781786438577.00025" target="_blank">a disorienting experience</a>.</p> <p>Coming back can cause <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.jstor.org/stable/90015633" target="_blank">reverse culture shock</a> if travelers struggle to readjust. But that shock can diminish as travelers share their experiences with others, stay connected to the places they visited, <a rel="noopener" href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijintrel.2016.05.004" target="_blank">deepen their knowledge</a> about the place and culture, anticipate a possible return trip or get involved in causes that they discovered on their trip.</p> <p>I believe that reflecting on these six phases can invite the kind of mindfulness needed for transformative, ethical travel. And <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.scielo.br/j/aabc/a/76CfqdL5pPBZLcQy9FdWwxn/?lang=en&format=html" target="_blank">amid a pandemic</a>, the need for thoughtful travel that prioritizes host communities’ well-being is clear.</p> <div> <p><em><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.ats.edu/" target="_blank">Vanderbilt University Divinity School is a member of the Association of Theological Schools.</a></em><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/167687/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /></p> <em>The ATS is a funding partner of The Conversation U.S.</em></div> <p><em><a rel="noopener" href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/jaco-j-hamman-408106" target="_blank">Jaco J. Hamman</a>, Professor of Religion, Psychology, and Culture, <a rel="noopener" href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/vanderbilt-university-1293" target="_blank">Vanderbilt University</a></em></p> <p><em>This article is republished from <a rel="noopener" href="https://theconversation.com" target="_blank">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a rel="noopener" href="https://theconversation.com/looking-for-transformative-travel-keep-these-six-stages-in-mind-167687" target="_blank">original article</a>.</em></p> <p><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/338598/original/file-20200529-78871-1g5gse5.jpg?w=128&h=128" alt="" /></p> <div> <p> </p> </div>

Travel Tips

The top six benefits of decluttering your home

<p>We all collect a lot of material possessions during our lives and if we don’t declutter at some stage, it can become overwhelming later on down the track when you find you have so much stuff, you can hardly move.</p> <p>So, here are some extra reasons to motivate you to start decluttering your home now.</p> <p>By decluttering your home and you will end up decluttering your life and it doesn’t need to be as painful as you might think.</p> <p>There are many benefits to owning fewer possessions. Even though it can feel tough to move into action, once these benefits reveal themselves, you’ll be so glad you did.</p> <p><strong>1. Less to clean</strong>: Cleaning is already enough of a chore, but having to clean in and around things you have don’t really want or need makes cleaning your home so much more stressful. With less in your home, cleaning will be easier.</p> <p><strong>2. Less to organise</strong>: When you declutter, finding things will suddenly become so much easier. Things won’t just ‘disappear’ anymore. You can actually move around your home and enjoy the space, instead of moving around things which are in your way and cause you stress because you know you don’t need them.</p> <p><strong>3. Less stress:</strong> Looking around at your clutter can be a sickening sight when your home is cluttered. Once you declutter, you’ll be able to look around and enjoy some possessions and feel more relaxed in the home you love.</p> <p><strong>4. Less debt:</strong> When you declutter, you realise you don’t need to shop for so many material possessions and this will keep your wallet and bank accounts fuller. Your credit cards will be used less and your home won’t get filled with costly things you don’t need.</p> <p><strong>5. More financial freedom: </strong>Many of us can live from week to week on our pay cheque or our retirement income. But when you combine decluttering with minimalism, this will help you build up your savings so you have something there in case of an unexpected emergency.</p> <p><strong>6. More energy for your greatest passions: </strong>With less debt, more financial freedom and a clean home, you can now focus your energy on the things you enjoy instead of worrying about what else you need to buy or what else you need to throw out. Ultimately, decluttering will make you happier!</p> <p><em>Photo: Shutterstock</em></p>

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