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Bees have appeared on coins for millennia, hinting at an age-old link between sweetness and value

<p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/adrian-dyer-387798">Adrian Dyer</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/monash-university-1065">Monash University</a></em></p> <p>In 2022, the Royal Australian Mint issued a $2 coin decorated with honeybees. Around 2,400 years earlier, a mint in the kingdom of Macedon had the same idea, creating a silver obol coin with a bee stamped on one side.</p> <p>Over the centuries between these two events, currency demonstrating a symbolic link between honey and money is surprisingly common.</p> <p>In a recent study in <a href="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/assets.mmxgroup.com.au/ACR/Bee+Article.pdf">Australian Coin Review</a>, I trace the bee through numismatic history – and suggest a scientific reason why our brains might naturally draw a connection between the melliferous insects and the abstract idea of value.</p> <figure class="align-center "><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/536400/original/file-20230709-15-2u5ywn.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/536400/original/file-20230709-15-2u5ywn.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=600&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/536400/original/file-20230709-15-2u5ywn.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=30&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=600&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/536400/original/file-20230709-15-2u5ywn.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=15&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=600&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/536400/original/file-20230709-15-2u5ywn.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=754&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/536400/original/file-20230709-15-2u5ywn.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=30&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=754&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/536400/original/file-20230709-15-2u5ywn.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=15&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=754&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=3 2262w" alt="" /><figcaption><span class="caption">A Royal Australian Mint 2022 two-dollar coin representing 200 years since the introduction of the honeybee to Australia.</span></figcaption></figure> <h2>What is currency and why is it important?</h2> <p>Money is a store of value, and can act as a medium of exchange for goods or services. Currency is a physical manifestation of money, so coins are a durable representation of value.</p> <p>Coins have had central role in many communities to enable efficient trade since ancient times. Their durability makes them important time capsules.</p> <p>Ancient Malta was famous for its honey. The modern 3 Mils coin (<a href="https://en.numista.com/catalogue/pieces1775.html">1972-81</a>) celebrates this history with images of a bee and honeycomb. According to the information card issued with the coin set,</p> <blockquote> <p>A bee and honeycomb are shown on the 3 Mils coin, symbolising the fact that honey was used as currency in Ancient Malta.</p> </blockquote> <figure class="align-center "><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/536403/original/file-20230709-23-drk2lj.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/536403/original/file-20230709-23-drk2lj.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=582&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/536403/original/file-20230709-23-drk2lj.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=30&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=582&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/536403/original/file-20230709-23-drk2lj.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=15&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=582&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/536403/original/file-20230709-23-drk2lj.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=732&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/536403/original/file-20230709-23-drk2lj.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=30&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=732&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/536403/original/file-20230709-23-drk2lj.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=15&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=732&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=3 2262w" alt="" /><figcaption><span class="caption">A circulating 3 Mils coin from Malta showing a honeybee on honeycomb.</span></figcaption></figure> <p>In ancient Greece, bees were used on some of the earliest coins made in Europe. A silver Greek obol coin minted in Macedon between 412 BCE and 350 BCE, now housed in the British Museum, shows a bee on one side of the coin.</p> <figure class="align-center "><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/536411/original/file-20230709-182252-v4evxr.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/536411/original/file-20230709-182252-v4evxr.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=293&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/536411/original/file-20230709-182252-v4evxr.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=30&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=293&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/536411/original/file-20230709-182252-v4evxr.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=15&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=293&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/536411/original/file-20230709-182252-v4evxr.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=368&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/536411/original/file-20230709-182252-v4evxr.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=30&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=368&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/536411/original/file-20230709-182252-v4evxr.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=15&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=368&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=3 2262w" alt="" /><figcaption><span class="caption">An ancient obol from Macedon, dated between 412 BCE and 350 BCE, shows a bee one side.</span></figcaption></figure> <p>Bees also feature on coins minted elsewhere in the ancient Greek world, such as a bronze coin minted in Ephesus dated between 202 BCE and 133 BCE.</p> <figure class="align-center "><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/536407/original/file-20230709-27-a2jvo3.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/536407/original/file-20230709-27-a2jvo3.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=546&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/536407/original/file-20230709-27-a2jvo3.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=30&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=546&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/536407/original/file-20230709-27-a2jvo3.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=15&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=546&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/536407/original/file-20230709-27-a2jvo3.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=686&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/536407/original/file-20230709-27-a2jvo3.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=30&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=686&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/536407/original/file-20230709-27-a2jvo3.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=15&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=686&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=3 2262w" alt="" /><figcaption><span class="caption">A bronze coin minted in Ephesus, dated between 202BCE and 133BCE, featuring a honeybee.</span></figcaption></figure> <p>The use of bees on ancient coins extended for many centuries including widely circulated bronze coins, and new varieties <a href="https://coinweek.com/bee-all-that-you-can-bee-honeybees-on-ancient-coins/">continue to be discovered</a>.</p> <h2>Why we might like bees on coins</h2> <p>Why have bees appeared so often on coins? One approach to this question comes from the field of neuro-aesthetics, which seeks to understand our tastes by understanding the basic brain processes that underpin aesthetic appreciation.</p> <p>From this perspective, it seems likely the sweet taste of honey – which indicates the large amount of sugar it delivers – promotes positive neural activity <a href="https://brill.com/view/journals/artp/10/1/article-p1_2.xml">associated with bees and honey</a>.</p> <p>Indeed, primatologist Jane Goodall once proposed that obtaining high-calorie nutrition from bee honey may have been <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0066185668800032">an important step</a> in the cognitive development of primates.</p> <p>Our brain may thus be pre-adapted to liking bees due to their association with the sweet taste of honey. Early usage of bees on coins may have been a functional illustration of the link between a known value (honey) and a new form of currency: coins as money.</p> <h2>The bee on modern coins</h2> <figure class="align-center "><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/536393/original/file-20230709-17-jywq3f.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/536393/original/file-20230709-17-jywq3f.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=588&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/536393/original/file-20230709-17-jywq3f.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=30&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=588&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/536393/original/file-20230709-17-jywq3f.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=15&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=588&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/536393/original/file-20230709-17-jywq3f.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=738&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/536393/original/file-20230709-17-jywq3f.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=30&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=738&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/536393/original/file-20230709-17-jywq3f.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=15&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=738&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=3 2262w" alt="" /><figcaption><span class="caption">A 1920 Italian bronze ten-centesimi coin featuring featuring an Italian honeybee on a flower.</span></figcaption></figure> <p>The use of bees as a design feature has persisted from ancient to modern times. A honeybee visiting a flower is shown on a series of ten-centesimi bronze coins issued in Italy from <a href="https://en.numista.com/catalogue/pieces1960.html">1919 to 1937</a>.</p> <p>(As an aside, the world’s last stock of pure Italian honeybees is found in Australia, on Kangaroo Island, which was declared a sanctuary for Ligurian bees by an <a href="https://www.legislation.sa.gov.au/home/historical-numbered-as-made-acts/1885/0342-Lingurian-Bees-Act-No-342-of-48-and-49-Vic,-1885.pdf">act of parliament</a> in 1885.)</p> <figure class="align-center "><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/536416/original/file-20230709-15-60yst8.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/536416/original/file-20230709-15-60yst8.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=586&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/536416/original/file-20230709-15-60yst8.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=30&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=586&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/536416/original/file-20230709-15-60yst8.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=15&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=586&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/536416/original/file-20230709-15-60yst8.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=737&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/536416/original/file-20230709-15-60yst8.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=30&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=737&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/536416/original/file-20230709-15-60yst8.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=15&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=737&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=3 2262w" alt="" /><figcaption><span class="caption">A coin from Tonga showing 20 honeybees emerging from a hive.</span></figcaption></figure> <p>More recently, a 20-seniti coin from the Pacific nation of Tonga shows 20 honeybees flying out of a hive. This coin was part of a series initiated by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations to promote sustainable agricultural and cultural development around the world.</p> <p>Bees are relevant here because their pollinating efforts contribute to about one-third of the food required to feed the world, with a value in excess of <a href="https://zenodo.org/record/2616458">US$200 billion per year</a>, and they are threatened by climate change and other environmental factors.</p> <h2>Bees on coins, today and tomorrow</h2> <p>Public awareness of bees and environmental sustainability may well be factors in the current interest in bee coins. The diversity of countries using bees as a design feature over the entire history of coins suggests people have valued the relationship with bees as essential to our own prosperity for a long time.</p> <p>In Australia, the 2022 honeybee $2 coin is part of a series developed by the <a href="https://www.ramint.gov.au/about-mint">Royal Australian Mint</a>. In 2019, the Perth Mint in Western Australia also released coins and stamps celebrating native bees.</p> <figure class="align-center "><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/536405/original/file-20230709-15-iditcb.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/536405/original/file-20230709-15-iditcb.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=373&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/536405/original/file-20230709-15-iditcb.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=30&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=373&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/536405/original/file-20230709-15-iditcb.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=15&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=373&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/536405/original/file-20230709-15-iditcb.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=469&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/536405/original/file-20230709-15-iditcb.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=30&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=469&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/536405/original/file-20230709-15-iditcb.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=15&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=469&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=3 2262w" alt="" /><figcaption><span class="caption">Australian native bee coin and stamps released in 2019 by the Perth Mint.</span></figcaption></figure> <p>Despite the decline of cash, bee coins still appear to be going strong. The buzzing companions of human society are likely to be an important subject for coin design for as long as coins continue to be used.<!-- Below is The Conversation's page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --><img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/208912/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /><!-- End of code. If you don't see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https://theconversation.com/republishing-guidelines --></p> <p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/adrian-dyer-387798">Adrian Dyer</a>, Associate Professor, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/monash-university-1065">Monash University</a></em></p> <p><em>Image credits: Australian Royal Mint / NZ Post Collectables</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/bees-have-appeared-on-coins-for-millennia-hinting-at-an-age-old-link-between-sweetness-and-value-208912">original article</a>.</em></p>

Money & Banking

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Have you been using expired beauty products this whole time? Here’s when to toss them

<p><strong>Let go of your loofah every few weeks</strong></p> <p>We all have our beauty besties. Whether it’s a love connection with brushes or a match made in heaven with mascara, saying goodbye is never easy. But it’s important – especially when we’re talking about spoilage, expiration dates, or skin infections. One potential hotbed of bacteria is the loofah you use in the shower, which collects your dead skin cells and literally redeposits them – dirt, grime, and all – right back onto your body the next time you use it. </p> <p>Be prepared to replace that body sponge every few weeks, or sooner if it smells or changes colour. Or skip the loofah entirely and just apply a cleanser with a chemical exfoliant, such as glycolic acid, using your fingers, advises cosmetic dermatologist, Dr Anjali Butani.</p> <p><strong>Mix up your mascara every three months</strong></p> <p>As much as you love your lengthening, feathering, dramatically lash-boosting mascara, you have only one pair of eyes and you can’t afford to lose them. That’s why you’ll need to chuck your mascara every three months, or face risks from contamination with bacteria and cold viruses. </p> <p>“Anything moist that’s touching wet parts of the body – eyes, lips, open skin – lasts a shorter period of time,” explains dermatologist, Dr Joshua Zeichner. A good rule to follow: if the product can’t be sterilised, toss it.</p> <p><strong>Swap your beauty sponge every three to four months</strong></p> <p>“If these disposable sponges are not replaced every few months, or if there are any colour changes, they could be a breeding ground for mould,” Dr Zeichner says. Always wash and thoroughly dry your beauty blender after each use to minimise the bacterial build-up that could cause breakouts. </p> <p>And definitely chuck the sponge sooner than three to four months if it starts to crack or crumble, or if you used it when you had a bad cold or an infection.</p> <p><strong>Re-up your eye cream every three months</strong></p> <p>Once you open a jar of any cosmetic product, the active ingredients are exposed to air and begin to break down. You’re also inviting contamination with every dip of your finger, which is probably not sterile even if you just washed it. </p> <p>Expect to switch out your eye cream every three months – unless it comes in a pump. Dr Zeichner says pumps are a better option because they can last several months to years due to the lower likelihood of contracting bacteria.</p> <p><strong>Turn over your toothbrush every three months</strong></p> <p>To keep up with your dental hygiene, you need your toothbrush to be in good working order. “When bristles are not standing straight anymore, they don’t clean as well, so you should throw it out,” says Dr Zeichner.</p> <p><strong>Kiss lip balm goodbye every six months to a year</strong></p> <p>Licensed aesthetician Jennifer Aimi, cautions lip balm lovers to part with their lip treatments every six months to a year, especially if they come in a pot that you dip your finger in (see eye cream). “Follow the instructions that come with the product,” Aimi urges, “and always resist the urge to share it – especially during cold season.”</p> <p><strong>Zap those zits for six months at a time </strong></p> <p>If your acne cream seems to be losing its pimple-fighting power, it may be a sign to pop it in the wastebasket. Dr Zeichner says that if the product is used past the expiration date, its active ingredients may not work as well.</p> <p><strong>Slather on that sunscreen for two years</strong></p> <p>Sunblock is not something you can take chances on, especially when you’re holidaying at the beach and there’s a real possibility of getting fried. Look to a sunscreen’s expiration date for guidance, or figure you’ll need to toss it two years after opening. </p> <p>But don’t abandon common sense. If a formula looks, smells, or feels different than when it was originally purchased, Dr Zeichner says to dump it.</p> <p><strong>Give your eyelash curler two to three years</strong></p> <p>It’s a good idea to consider replacing an eyelash curler every two to three years, according to Aimi. And if the rubber part starts to crack or look old, replace that part sooner. The good news is that they’re sold separately. Don’t forget to wipe down the curler with rubbing alcohol between uses.</p> <p><strong>Spritz on perfume for two years (or more)</strong></p> <p>The longevity of a perfume will depend on how you care for it over time. “Keep the bottle out of heat, humidity and sunlight,” Aimai says, “and don’t shake it, because that causes a chemical breakdown that can alter the scent quickly.” </p> <p>Expect to enjoy a fragrance for about two to three years, and obviously bin it sooner if the colour changes or if it starts to smell a tad like vinegar (obviously you won’t want to wear that).</p> <p><strong>Clip and snip for under five years</strong></p> <p>Even nail clippers and scissors have a shelf life – and it’s two to four years. Of course, the lifespan of these beauty necessities depends on their quality and how often you use them, according to beauty experts behind the brand Japonesque. Definitely don’t use tweezers, clippers or scissors if they’re nicked, dented, misshapen, misaligned, or rusted.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p> <p><em>This article originally appeared on <a href="https://www.readersdigest.co.nz/healthsmart/beauty/have-you-been-using-expired-beauty-products-this-whole-time-heres-when-to-toss-them?pages=1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reader's Digest</a>. </em></p>

Beauty & Style

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7th century gold coins found hidden in wall

<p dir="ltr">A collection of coins have been found concealed in a wall at a nature reserve in what has been described as an "extremely significant archaeological find".</p> <p dir="ltr">During an excavation at the Hermon Stream (Banias) in Israel, archaeologists found 44 gold coins dating back to the 7th century.</p> <p dir="ltr">Weighing in at about 170g, experts estimate that the hoard was hidden during the Muslim conquest in 635 CE.</p> <p dir="ltr">They say the discovery sheds light on this significant moment in history which saw the end of the Byzantine rule in the area.</p> <p dir="ltr">"We can imagine the owner concealing his fortune in the threat of war, hoping to return one day to retrieve his property," Yoav Lerer, the director of the excavation, told the <em><a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-63122180" target="_blank" rel="noopener">BBC</a></em>.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-e2de019e-7fff-f560-1b33-b05e0737cf0b"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">"In retrospect, we know that he was less fortunate."</p> <p dir="ltr"><img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/10/ancient-coins1.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /></p> <p dir="ltr">Numismatic (currency) expert Dr Gabriela Bijovsky of the Israel Antiquities Authority said some of the coins were minted by Emperor Phocas (602-610 CE), while the majority were of his successor, Emperor Heraclius, with the latest coins the latter minted dating back to 635 CE.</p> <p dir="ltr">Eli Escusido, the director of the Israel Antiquities Authority, said it was a significant find and that the public could soon see the coins for themselves.</p> <p dir="ltr">"The coin hoard is an extremely significant archaeological find as it dates back to an important transitional period in the history of the city of Banias and the entire region of the Levant," he said.</p> <p dir="ltr">"The Israel Antiquities Authority, together with the National Parks Authority, will work together to exhibit the treasure to the public."</p> <p dir="ltr">Along with the coins, Israeli authorities said the excavation also uncovered remains of buildings and bronze coins, as well as water channels and pipes.</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-1fc84529-7fff-21de-638e-0c0babadf54e"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Israel Antiquities Authority (Facebook)</em></p>

Money & Banking

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King Charles III's new coin effigy finally unveiled

<p>The first coins to feature the effigy of King Charles III have been unveiled.</p> <p>The Royal Mint in the UK released the first look at the official effigy of the new monarch on Friday, announcing the coins will start to circulate in the coming months.</p> <p>The design was personally approved by the King himself and was sculpted by Martin Jennings. It will appear on commemorative 50 pence pieces and on the five pound note.</p> <p>Chief executive officer of The Royal Mint, Anne Jessopp said they were honoured to keep the effigy tradition going for more than 1000 years.</p> <p>“The Royal Mint has been trusted to make coins bearing the monarch’s effigy for over 1,100 years and we are proud to continue this tradition into the reign of King Charles III. Although technology has progressed, we continue to honour British craftsmanship passed down through the centuries,” Ms Jessopp said.</p> <p>“Her Late Majesty ruled with heart and devotion for 70 years, and this memorial collection commemorates her remarkable legacy as Britain’s longest-serving monarch.</p> <p>"To ensure everyone can hold a piece of history in their hand, the 50p will also enter circulation in the UK.”</p> <p><em>Read more: The Royal Mint</em></p> <p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; outline: none !important;"> </p>

Money & Banking

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Genius idea for leftover foreign coins

<p>Anyone who’s travelled knows how annoying it is to come home with a handful of foreign change.  But it seems as though there’s a solution.</p> <p>An Irish company called <a href="http://www.coindrum.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Coindrum</span></em></strong></a> is hoping to get rid of this lose change by creating a service that will collect this money at airports, where it can be exchanges for vouchers.</p> <p>The vouchers can then be spent at the airport.</p> <p>Coindrum has been successfully trialled at Dublin Airport, with some passengers reportedly depositing up to €300 in coins when taking advantage of the new service.</p> <p>The great advantage is Coindrum not only gives you the full value of the coins you deposit, but throws in a bonus 10 per cent on top, which is a significant mark up!</p> <p>The idea has proven popular not just with visitors who are heading back to countries where they’ve been using different currencies, but also with locals looking to offload their own euro coins.</p> <p>Based on the initial success Coindrum has plants to expand to major airports around the world, and has secured quite a sizeable $US 2 million in its latest round of funding.</p> <p>Coindrum chief executive Lukas Decker told Lonely Planet, “Travellers are currently getting stuck with their leftover coins when they are departing the currency area, so Coindrum offers a simple solution to this inconvenience. Instead of your change turning into dead weight, you get to buy something you love with it. Coindrum should and will be in every international hub airport worldwide as it offers a simple solution to a common problem.”</p> <p>Not only did Coindrum significantly boost shopping levels at Dublin Airport, it also cut down on pedestrian traffic with people spending less time fumbling around with coins at security checks.</p> <p><em>Image: Getty</em></p> <p> </p>

Travel Tips

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Incredible teenage boy cracks coded coin in hours, but he isn’t the first

<p dir="ltr">Within hours of its release to the general public, a 14-year-old boy had cracked the codes hidden on <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/finance/money-banking/coins-covered-in-coded-clues-will-test-your-spy-skills" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a coin released by an Australian intelligence agency</a> - but some had solved them days earlier, due to an unusual legal rule.</p> <p dir="ltr">A 50-cent coin celebrating the 75th anniversary of the Australian Signals Directorate (ASD) was released last Thursday containing four levels of codes with hidden messages.</p> <p dir="ltr">But, the puzzles were already being discussed online ten days earlier, with some codes already being solved by August 20.</p> <p dir="ltr">This was due to requirements on the Australian Government to include the characters featured on the coin in legislation, available online, before the coin was made available to purchase on September 1.</p> <p dir="ltr">As well as a celebration of the agency’s history, it’s hoped the coin will act as a kind of recruitment drive and attempt to raise the profile of the ASD among the general public, with the agency planning to recruit another 1,900 people over the next decade as part of a $9.9 billion expansion. </p> <p dir="ltr">Dr Richard Bean, a research fellow at the University of Queensland who solved the coin’s puzzles within two hours of getting his hands on it, said the move was about attracting those interested in a career with the ASD.</p> <p dir="ltr">"The kind of people who would sit down and solve this kind of code on the coin, they're the kind of people the ASD wants to attract — innovative thinkers to solve difficult problems in cryptography in both an offensive and defensive sense," Dr Bean said.</p> <p dir="ltr">"So solving other nation's codes and protecting Australian government communications security.</p> <p dir="ltr">"It's about attracting the right candidates and putting the ASD in their mind, instead of having to go out in traditional recruitment channels."</p> <p dir="ltr">But let’s go back to our teenage whiz kid.</p> <p dir="ltr">Though the Tasmanian boy’s identity hasn’t been revealed, it’s clear he has talent and instinct according to Distinguished Professor Willy Susilo, who also directs the Institute of Cybersecurity and Cryptology at the University of Wollongong.</p> <p dir="ltr">“[What] is very important is actually not about whether you can crack the code or not, [what] is important is the thinking behind it, how to solve this kind of puzzle,” he told the <em><a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-09-05/how-to-solve-spy-australian-signals-directorate-50-cent-coin/101405266" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ABC</a></em>.</p> <p dir="ltr">“To me, I think to get a person who, especially in this case, is 14 years old, can crack the code within just one or two hours is actually incredible in my opinion.</p> <p dir="ltr">"That really is the kind of skill needed in the Australian Signals Directorate." </p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-3c09a93f-7fff-0213-b8af-6fb92c5ceeed"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: ASD</em></p>

Money & Banking

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If these things are in your freezer, toss them out

<p>Out of space in your freezer? Make room by ditching these items that are no longer any good to you.</p> <p><strong>Smelly ice cubes</strong></p> <p>There’s nothing refreshing about taking a big gulp of ice water and tasting the garlic you put in the freezer last week. Once ice cubes have taken on the scents around them, they’ll never get rid of them. Toss those and start fresh. </p> <p>If this is a problem you have found yourself facing, it might be time to invest in ice cube trays with lids – they can help preserve the ice cubes’ freshness and keep them odour-free.</p> <p><strong>Forgotten freezer meals</strong></p> <p>Look at you with your freezer full of healthy freezer meals! It’s great to plan ahead but don’t get overambitious with your meal prep. </p> <p>Prepared freezer meals should be eaten within three months. Try a first-in, first-out approach, and keep track of your freezer’s contents using labels.</p> <p><strong>Stale coffee beans</strong></p> <p>Storing ground coffee in the freezer can preserve freshness but be mindful of how long those beans have been sitting in there. </p> <p>Coffee beans absorb moisture, as well as the various tastes and smells around them, so make sure to use them within three months.</p> <p><strong>Freezer-burned veggies</strong></p> <p>How long has that bag of frozen mixed veggies been sitting in the back of your freezer? If it survived your last move, it’s time to toss it. </p> <p>Frozen veggies can be kept in the freezer for about three months – or shorter, if freezer burn has crept in.</p> <p><strong>Thawed meat</strong></p> <p>We love keeping a supply of chicken freezer meals on hand for busy weeknights. Once meat like chicken begins to thaw, though, it starts to grow bacteria. </p> <p>If your freezer isn’t functioning at the optimal freezer temperature, the meat inside can start to thaw without anyone the wiser, which can be unsafe.</p> <p><strong>Freezer-burned meat</strong></p> <p>Most commonly, though, it’s freezer burn you should fear. Given enough time, it will render your meat dry and tasteless. </p> <p>If you notice small ice crystals in the packaging, or can’t remember how long the meat has even been in the freezer, it’s time for it to go. Tightly sealing your meat before freezing it is a good way to ward off freezer burn.</p> <p><strong>Old deli meat</strong></p> <p>Deli meat is one of those items that is very convenient to have on hand, but which spoils quickly. The good news is that you can definitely freeze deli meat. Even with proper preparation, however, it can only last up to two months in the freezer. </p> <p>After that, even if it remains safe to eat, it won’t taste very good. Just as with other meats, deli meat should be tightly sealed and wrapped before it’s frozen.</p> <p><strong>Pastries with creamy filling</strong></p> <p>Once you’ve gone to the trouble of making a heavenly cheese danish from scratch, the last thing you want to do is throw away the leftovers. </p> <p>But pastries and other treats with cheese or creamy filling don’t keep well in the freezer; in fact, many of the foods that cannot be frozen are dairy products. Toss those cheese danishes after a month (or just eat them to avoid this problem altogether).</p> <p><strong>Unrecognisable leftovers</strong></p> <p>We love finding creative ways to repurpose leftovers; they just won’t last in the freezer forever. Most leftover dishes will keep for two to six months in the freezer. </p> <p>If they’ve been sitting for a while and you can’t remember what the food was in the first place, pitch it and start over.</p> <p><strong>Old ice cream</strong></p> <p>Most of us don’t have the problem of ice cream lasting too long in our homes but if you happen to have more self-control, you may find yourself in this predicament. If your tub of ice cream is older than three to four months, it’s time for it to go. </p> <p>So grab a bowl and a spoon before time is up! If you have a new large tub, try dividing it up and storing it in individual serving containers to help preserve that fresh flavour.</p> <p><strong>Freezer-burned bread</strong></p> <p>If you have more fresh bread than you know what to do with, and don’t want it to go stale before you have a chance to enjoy it, then popping it in the freezer is a great idea. But bread only lasts in the freezer for about six months. After that, freezer burn will likely have ravaged its good taste and texture. </p> <p>If you find a loaf in the back of the freezer that’s been there for who knows how long, then it needs to go. To keep it fresh as long as possible, make sure to wrap it tightly in a layer of plastic wrap, and then in a layer of foil or freezer paper. Pro tip: slice your bread before freezing, so you only ever have to remove what you need.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p> <p><em>This article originally appeared on <a href="https://www.readersdigest.co.nz/food-home-garden/home-tips/if-these-things-are-in-your-freezer-toss-them-out?pages=1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reader's Digest</a>.</em></p>

Home Hints & Tips

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Couple flip coin to see which surname they will take

<p dir="ltr">A very fair-minded couple decided that they would flip a coin in the middle of their wedding ceremony in order to see whose surname they would take on.</p> <p dir="ltr">Pearl Lee, 28, and Collin Hansen, 25, got married in March and it was only a few months prior to the wedding that they realised they were both the last to carry their respective family’s surnames. </p> <p dir="ltr">The pair didn’t want to argue about the decision, and so instead they decided to leave it to fate on the day of the wedding.</p> <p dir="ltr">Come the wedding ceremony, the celebrant duly flipped a coin …. hailing Collin as the very lucky winner, and officially making them Mr and Mrs Hansen. </p> <p dir="ltr">A video was shared to <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@diaryofasolotraveler/video/7079776982254226734" target="_blank" rel="noopener">TikTok</a> showing the coin flip, with many sharing their own experiences when it came to taking a surname. </p> <p dir="ltr">“I know a couple whose families had a paintball match to decide! Winning side determined the last name,” someone wrote.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I wanted a random name but they said no. I’m Fischer, he’s Peeples. We got the green light to combine and change our names to fishpeople though,” another revealed.</p> <p dir="ltr">“My maiden name is Back, my husband is Stolhand, I wanted us to be the backhands. He said no,” another shared.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: TikTok</em></p>

Relationships

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Royal Mint unveils the most expensive coin ever

<p>The Royal Mint has revealed a new gold coin as part of its new James Bond collection that is a one-of-a-kind collector’s item.</p> <p>The seven-kilo gold coin has a face value of £7,000 ($13,655) and features an engraving of an Aston Martin DB5 with its famous BMT 216A licence plate surrounded by a gun barrel.</p> <p>Currently, there has been no indication on the retail price of the coin but those interested are being advised to call the mint to discuss.</p> <p>The coin is the largest coin with the highest face value the Royal Mint has ever produced in its 1100 year history.</p> <p>The item is part of a coin and gold bar collection which launched before the 25th James Bond film,<span> </span><em>No Time To Die</em>, with Daniel Craig playing the iconic Brit for the last time.</p> <p>The collection also has a smaller two-kilo gold coin, with a value of £2,000 ($3901) but has a recommended retail price of £129,990 ($253,577).</p> <p>The collection is available to buy from mid-March and also includes three smaller coin designs in gold and silver.</p> <p>The smaller coins are part of a set and when put together reveal the famous 007 motif and feature famous cars from the Bond films including the Aston Martin DB5 and the submarine car from<span> </span><em>The Spy Who Loved Me</em>.</p> <p>According to the Royal Mint, there are 15,017 of the £1 ($1.95) James Bond coins, while 8,517 of the £2 ($3.90) pieces have been minted.</p> <p>The £1 ($1.95) are priced at £65 ($126.80) while the £2 ($3.90) has a retail price of £88 ($171.67).</p>

Money & Banking

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Why this rare $1 Aussie coin could have you pocketing thousands

<p>One minor mistake to a $1 coin could be worth thousands of dollars.</p> <p>The Royal Australian Mint made an error when making the “Mule Dollar” coins meaning small amount of $1 coins from the year 2000 were designed using the wrong print.</p> <p>The Mule dollar has a double rim around the edge while a standard regular $1 coin has just one. </p> <p>A Melbourne mum excitedly revealed the fun find on social media.</p> <p>“We found the famous MULE Dollar” she wrote in a post on Instagram, under the username @melbournewithkidz. </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/B8h1QVzAhCo/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;"><a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B8h1QVzAhCo/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">We found the famous MULE Dollar. 🙌 What's a Mule dollar? It's a small number of the year 2000 $1 dollar coins that had been minted using the incorrect obverse die (heads side) and released into circulation by mistake and only discovered a year or two later. The Royal Australian Mint accidentally minted the coins using the smaller 10 cent obverse die (head side) by mistake. With just a 1.4 millimetre difference in diameter between the 10 cent and $1 coin you can clearly see a double rim circle going around the edges of the coin. These errors are worth anywhere from $500 to $3000! Check your change and empty out the kids piggy bank!!!!!!! You could be sitting on a winner! Let us know if you have found any interesting coins in your change. Disclaimer: for use of images or content please contact us contact@melbournewithkidz.com #australiancoins #coincollecting #rarecoins</a></p> <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 post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/melbournewithkidz/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank"> Tanya / Melbourne With Kids</a> (@melbournewithkidz) on Feb 13, 2020 at 5:20pm PST</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>“Royal Australian Mint accidentally minted the coins using the smaller 10 cent obverse die (head side) by mistake.”</p> <p>How to spot a real Mule Dollar</p> <p>Mule dollars have a unique look and design, including its year make which can only be 2000.</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/BuLtwpTl54n/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BuLtwpTl54n/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Drake Sterling Numismatics (@drakesterling)</a> on Feb 22, 2019 at 3:51am PST</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>For the rare coin to be legitimate it must also have a clear double rim around most or all of the heads side of the coin, about 0.5mm wide, according to<span> </span>Australian Coins.</p> <p>“With just a 1.4mm difference in diameter between the 10 cent and $1 coin you can clearly see a double rim circle going around the edges of the coin.”</p> <p>She said the coins are worth anywhere from $500 to $3000. </p> <p>One commenter left a handy tip to anyone who might find themselves in luck with a real mule dollar, and urged people NOT to wash the coin as it can result in its value decreasing dramatically.</p>

Money & Banking

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British coin sparks grammar controversy

<p>Britain’s new 50 pence coin has sparked debate after a renowned author pointed out the absence of a certain punctuation mark on the piece.</p> <p>On January 31, the Royal Mint launched three million coins with the slogan “Peace, prosperity and friendship with all nations” to mark the United Kingdom’s exit from the European Union.</p> <p>Novelist Philip Pullman called for a boycott against the new coin ahead of its release, citing what he perceived as a grammatical error.</p> <p>“The ‘Brexit’ 50p coin is missing an Oxford comma, and should be boycotted by all literate people,” Pullman wrote on Twitter.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">The 'Brexit' 50p coin is missing an Oxford comma, and should be boycotted by all literate people.</p> — Philip Pullman (@PhilipPullman) <a href="https://twitter.com/PhilipPullman/status/1221365577157087232?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 26, 2020</a></blockquote> <p>The <em>Times Literary Supplement </em>editor Stig Abell also wrote, “The lack of a comma after ‘prosperity’ is killing me.”</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">Not perhaps the only objection, but the lack of a comma after “prosperity” is killing me. <a href="https://t.co/ZCN6Zt45cH">pic.twitter.com/ZCN6Zt45cH</a></p> — Stig Abell (@StigAbell) <a href="https://twitter.com/StigAbell/status/1221405487725453312?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 26, 2020</a></blockquote> <p>According to the Associated Press, Oxford commas should be used whenever necessary to clarify.</p> <p>“We say: If omitting a comma could lead to confusion or misinterpretation, then use the comma. But: If a comma doesn’t help make clear what is being said, don’t use it. ‘The flag is red, white and blue’ is clear.”</p> <p>Writing for <span><a href="https://theconversation.com/comma-again-philip-pullmans-oxford-comma-rage-doesnt-go-far-enough-130699"><em>The Conversation</em></a></span>, Associate Professor Roslyn Petelin of the University of Queensland’s School of Communication and Arts said the absence of Oxford comma is not the coin’s only shortcoming.</p> <p>“Does ‘Peace with all nations’ make grammatical sense? No. Does ‘Prosperity with all nations’ make grammatical sense? No,” Petelin wrote.</p> <p>“As admirable … as Pullman might be in advocating for the use of the Oxford comma on the coin, it’s clear this coin has committed more than one crime against the rules of grammar.”</p>

Retirement Income

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Federer breaks the internet after becoming first person to receive historic honour

<p>Iconic tennis legend Roger Federer, 38, has made history and become the first living man in Switzerland to be recognised with a commemorative coin.</p> <p>The 20-time grand slam winner has now been honoured with the historical achievement in his home country, which he says is an “incredible honour and privilege”.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en-gb"> <p dir="ltr">Thank you Switzerland🇨🇭and Swissmint for this incredible honour and privilege. 🙏<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DankeSchweiz?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DankeSchweiz</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MerciLaSuisse?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MerciLaSuisse</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GrazieSvizzera?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GrazieSvizzera</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GraziaSvizra?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GraziaSvizra</a> <a href="https://t.co/gNs6qYjOh6">pic.twitter.com/gNs6qYjOh6</a></p> — Roger Federer (@rogerfederer) <a href="https://twitter.com/rogerfederer/status/1201455063941566464?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">2 December 2019</a></blockquote> <p>The Federal Swiss Mint announced that he would be on the 20-franc coin, which shows Federer lining up his iconic backhand.</p> <p>“The Federal Mint Swissmint is honouring Roger Federer and, for the first time in its history, dedicating a Swiss commemorative coin to a living person,” the website read.</p> <p>The demand for the coin, which was released on the 2nd of December, broke the website.</p> <p>“We had 2.5 million clicks. It was too much for the shop to handle,” said Swissmint CEO Marius Haldimann to<span> </span><em><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.atptour.com/en/news/demand-for-roger-federer-coin-crashes-swissmint-website" target="_blank">ATP Tour.</a></em></p> <p>“We expected and planned for high demand, but we never imagined it would be this big. When Roger posted a link on his social media channels the website immediately had problems due to all the traffic. Some fans could access the shop but could not finish the order. Others could not get onto the website.”</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/B5kOeTyFceI/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;"><a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B5kOeTyFceI/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">Thank you Switzerland🇨🇭and Swissmint for this incredible honour and privilege. 🙏 #dankeschweiz #mercilasuisse #graziesvizzera #GraziaSvizra</a></p> <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 post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/rogerfederer/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank"> Roger Federer</a> (@rogerfederer) on Dec 2, 2019 at 2:05am PST</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Out of the 35,000 20-franc silver coins that were offered in the pre-sale window, 15,000 have been ordered. The remaining 20,000 coins are expected to sell quickly once the Mint has recovered from the dramatic spike in traffic.</p> <p>Another 40,000 coins will be released in May, when a 50-franc gold coin will be released.</p> <p>Federer is currently the oldest person to finish a season as the World No 3 at the age of 38. </p>

International Travel

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The world’s strangest coins

<p>Paying for something overseas is much easier in these days of <a href="http://www.oversixty.com.au/travel/mastercard/" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">tap-and-go travel cards</span></strong></a> and instant online transfers. That said, you could still excuse someone for being a little nostalgic for that feeling you used to get when given a handful of change after making a purchase in a foreign country, and finding out just how much their denomination differs. </p> <p>While that feeling was often one of complete and utter bemusement, it was still fascinating to see just how different a coin from the other side of the world could be.</p> <p>With that spirit in mind, as the world increasingly hurtles towards a society where cash is nothing more than a distant memory, we’ve decided to have a look at the weirdest coins in the world. To see them all, scroll through the gallery above.</p> <p>Which coin did you find to be the weirdest?</p>

Money & Banking

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The amount of money tourists throw into the Trevi Fountain is staggering

<p>Tossing a coin over your shoulder and into the Trevi Fountain is as quintessential a part of the Italian holiday experience as getting stomach cramps from too much pasta and gelato, or spending 40 minutes trying to figure out where you are in Venice.</p> <p>But did you have any idea how much tourist’s throw into Rome’s most popular baroque fountain? Well, it turns out all those coins add up together to a small fortune.  </p> <p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/U210dFCSpvg" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></p> <p>NBC News estimates tourists threw a combined $2 million into the fountain in 2016, with the money collected by Rome’s city council workers at the end of each day. The money is clean, weighed, counted and sent to Caritas, a Catholic non-profit that supports various causes including health, disaster relief and ending poverty.</p> <p>Rome’s city council recently passed a law deeming it illegal for thieves to take coins for the fountain and Caritas said this has led to a 20 to 30 per cent spike in its takings.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Z_GhQOr81TE" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></p> <p>And it’s not just coins that make their way into the fountain.</p> <p>"Among the coins often we find other objects, including glasses, religious medals, and even a couple of dentures," the Caritas spokesperson told NBC News.</p> <p>So, there you have it! Did you imagine $2 million would pass through the fountain in just one year? Have you ever been to Italy, and if so how did you find it?</p>

International Travel

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Love and hate are two sides of the same coin

<p><em><strong>Margaret Cunningham is a hobby writer who particularly enjoys writing articles with a reflective viewpoint. A lifelong passion of health and fitness means she is known in her community as ‘that lady who runs’.</strong></em></p> <p>Love and hate - the two most powerful feelings in the world. Our emotions are ruled by them. Indeed, every other emotion seems to stem from these two simple four-letter words. Things like jealousy, longsuffering, greed, compassion, despair, and redemption depend on love or hate for existence. And the major themes of <em>love and hate</em> are always active in global news.  More so hate. The bottomless pit of hate and the carnage left in its wake is profitable business for the news industry. Hate generates most of the major newsworthy events around the world. </p> <p>From time to time I become quite overwhelmed at the scale of hate filled crimes - mortified by our seemingly unlimited capacity for human depravity. War, rape, torture, crimes against gender, colour and cultures. Shootings, serial killings, the Holocaust and religious atrocities have littered our history and are still equally prevalent today. And at times the sheer magnitude of hate makes me feel powerless to effect any change. My belief and hope for peace and a better world becomes fragile and tenuous.</p> <p>But every now and then ‘something’ comes along that restores my hope. This happened when I came across two news items published on the same day, on the same website. One the powerful story of love where we read of how one man’s hate, and vow of revenge for his son’s murderer’s, turns to forgiveness. The other story, the brutal consequences of hate, where we see the ruthless shooting of a black man by Dallas police officers and then the retributive slayings of five white police officers. Love and hate, two sides of the same coin, the two most powerful emotions in the world in action.</p> <p>Hate is active in both these stories. That’s not surprising because hate is easy, especially if it feels justified.           </p> <p>In his article <em>The Differences Between Love and Hate</em>, Jeff Campagna says, “Our world’s history is so riddled with hateful people and hateful acts we seem used to it, and when those hateful people act out against other hateful people, and all the hate starts to fly back and forth, it feels as if it is right, as if it is normal. Hate is our status quo. To get to love, one must pass hate. Most people, in their weak and sedated state, just stop at hate. It’s closer.”</p> <p>Iafeta Matalasi describes his anger over his sons murder as ‘frothing fury’. For months it was all about fury and Samoan justice. When he was asked how he travelled from blind fury to forgiveness Matalasi talked of catching a glimpse of what his future would look like if he channelled all his hate into action.</p> <p>“I just looked around and all I could visualise was me, inside a cage, holding bars, and my whole family outside. When I saw that I didn’t like it.”</p> <p>Yes, hate has its own prison. Although he had committed no crime, Matalasi felt he was already behind bars.  Hate imprisons the hater as well as the hated. Thankfully love reasoned and won with Matalasi.</p> <p>But while hate may be the easier of the love/hate emotions, love is by far the hardest, the bravest and most courageous of options. Like hate, ‘love’ is also a highly profitable and marketable business.  People carry such wrong notions about Love. Love has become a two-way street. People forget that love is a one-way street. These days people only love only if they are loved or get something in return.</p> <p>Love cannot be found through external influence. Love does not come in to you; love can only come out of you. We spend a lot of time searching for love. I know I did. We search for it everywhere, in people, power, wealth, beauty and status. But love is not about performance or doing or going anywhere – it is just about being. No one can learn to love by following a manual. Love does not force its will on anybody, we cannot control it, there is no economic value and love is impossible to measure. But love takes guts especially in the face of injustice. It is the greatest weapon we have – yes have, all of us and it cannot be enforced through reforms, legislation or government policy.  You can’t love to order - you have to be the love itself because loves steps are experienced not legislated.</p> <p>Well-known black American civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr dedicated his life to the civil rights movement. And despite his own, and America’s history of hate against black people, he was a man captured by love for his enemies. He said:</p> <p align="center"><em>“Returning violence for violence multiplies violence, </em><br /><em> adding a deeper darkness to the night</em><br /><em> already devoid of stars.</em><br /><em> Darkness cannot drive out darkness:</em><br /><em> only love can do that.</em><br /><em> Hate cannot drive out hate: </em><br /><em> only love can do that.”</em></p> <p>King also said that love is ultimately the only answer to humankind’s problems. He had seen so much hate and found the burden too much to bear so he decided to love. What an incredible man, and it brings the answer to humankind’s problems a lot closer to home. The choice to love or hate belongs to us, as both exist in us - you and me.  Don’t rely on government to fix this. I know this will irk many of you, but we won’t get there without divine help. We won’t get there without God, because God is Love – nothing more – nothing less. The whole alchemy of Love is inside you not outside.</p> <p>I have often thought we do a huge disservice to God. We have blurred the lines between religion and God so successfully they have become one. Mention God and people talk about religion. Our appalling history of crime in the name of religion, has become a good excuse, our ‘proof’ for not believing in God. I see the relationship between God and religion as quite separate. God is love – there is nothing you need to do, belong to, or duties to perform to know God. You know God already.</p> <p>Love and hate – two sides of the same coin. King believed that someone who hates does not know God, but someone who loves has the key that unlocks the door to the meaning of ultimate reality.  Could it be that this ‘love’ will ultimately be the key to peace? Could it be that I can do something to effect change?  That my feelings of powerlessness were my choice not to do anything.  If Love resides inside of me then Love can only come out of me, which means I can do something. Choosing love will be hates inescapable downfall.</p>

Relationships

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12 things you should do before tossing your clothes in the wash

<p>Keep your clothes in top condition for longer with our simple pre-washing tips.</p> <p><strong>Read the labels</strong></p> <p>If you’ve had enough of shrinking or faded clothes, it’s time to stop assuming that everything can just be tossed in the same wash cycle. Many garments are dry-clean only, especially if they are made of wool, cashmere or silk. Placing them in the machine with your shirts and shorts is a sure-fire way to see them get ripped or ruined.</p> <p><strong>Sort it out</strong></p> <p>When our clothes are washed they release some of their dye into the water. This is especially true of things like jeans, which are often designed to fade. So unless you sort your washing into lights and darks, your lights are sure to become dull and coloured from other items of clothing.</p> <p><strong>Use the correct detergent</strong></p> <p>Did you know that although liquid detergents and powders are both suitable for all washable fabrics – you are better of using liquid on spots and stains, and powder for ground in dirt on clothing.</p> <p><strong>Treat stains promptly</strong></p> <p>You will need to act fast if you want to salvage your stained clothing. If it’s a liquid stain, blot it with a cloth from the outside in. If it’s a solid, scoop it up with a knife or spoon. Dab stains with cold water to begin the stain removal process.</p> <p><strong>Remove fiddly bits</strong></p> <p>To avoid rips and pulled threads, always remove belts, zip up zippers, close Velcro and snap fasteners. You’re best not to button up your clothing though as this can lead to stress on the button hole.</p> <p><strong>Empty your pockets</strong></p> <p>Avoid the dreaded tissue through your load of washing by always emptying the pockets on clothing. Pull the pockets out so that they get a wash, undo any folded up socks, unroll cuffs on your trousers – this all gives your clothes their best chance at a good clean.</p> <p><strong>Tie up strings</strong></p> <p>To prevent your load getting into a tangle, tie up any strings or sashes before washing.</p> <p><strong>Separate your delicate items</strong></p> <p>Any delicates such as bras, lace underwear, or tights should be washed in a delicates wash bag so that they don’t get tangled.</p> <p><strong>Turn your clothes inside out</strong></p> <p>If you want to decrease pilling on your clothing, try washing your jumpers and t-shirts inside out. Dark clothing that is likely to fade (such as black jeans) should also be washed inside out.</p> <p><strong>Open any button-down collars</strong></p> <p>Open the buttons on the collars of shirts as this reduces the wear along the creases.</p> <p><strong>Tend to any holes</strong></p> <p>If your clothes have any holes, big or small, they need to be fixed before washing to avoid further damage.</p> <p><strong>Presoak anything heavily soiled</strong></p> <p>Use your laundry tub or a large bucket to presoak anything very dirty, such as muddy trousers. The soaking will begin the stain removal process, and the washing machine will finish it (hopefully).</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Related links:</strong></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong><a href="/lifestyle/at-home/2015/06/home-uses-for-vodka/">4 great ways you should use vodka for around the house</a></strong></em></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong><a href="/lifestyle/at-home/2015/06/how-to-fold-clothes-perfectly/">Timesaving tricks for perfectly folded clothes</a></strong></em></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong><a href="/lifestyle/at-home/2015/06/cleaning-rules-from-mum/">4 cleaning commandments that your mother taught you</a></strong></em></span></p>

Home & Garden

Over 60

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