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Homesick for ourselves – the hidden grief of ageing

<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/carol-lefevre-1341823">Carol Lefevre</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-adelaide-1119">University of Adelaide</a> Anyone parenting young children will be familiar with the phrase “there’ll be tears before bedtime”. But in a quieter, more private way, the expression seems perfectly pitched to describe the largely hidden grief of ageing. Not the sharp grief that follows a bereavement (though bereavements do accumulate with the years), but a more elusive emotion. One that is, perhaps, closest to the bone-gnawing sorrow of homesickness. Sarah Manguso <a href="https://www.panmacmillan.com.au/9781509883295/">evokes</a> this sense of having travelled further from our younger selves than we could ever have imagined: "Sometimes I feel a twinge, a memory of youthful promise, and wonder how I got here, of all the places I could have got to." Historically, the phenomenon of homesickness was identified in 1688 by the Swiss medical student <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2013/08/when-nostalgia-was-a-disease/278648/">Johannes Hofer</a>, who named it nostalgia from the Greek nostos, meaning homecoming, and algos, meaning an ache, pain, grief and distress. It was the disease of soldiers, sailors, convicts and slaves. And it was particularly associated with soldiers of the Swiss army, who served as mercenaries and among whom it was said that a well-known milking song could bring on a fatal longing. (So singing or playing that song was made punishable by death.) Bagpipes stirred the same debilitating nostalgia in Scottish soldiers. Deaths from homesickness were recorded, but the only effective treatment was to send the afflicted person back to wherever they belonged. The nostalgia associated with old age, if it occurs, appears incurable, since there can be no possibility of a return to an irrecoverable youth. But as with homesickness, how badly those afflicted suffer seems to depend on how they manage their relationship with the past. <h2>The phantom was me</h2> American writer Cheryl Strayed <a href="https://cherylstrayed.substack.com/p/what-you-know-changes">describes</a> deciding to transcribe her old journals. On reading one of them from cover to cover, she is left feeling: "kind of sick for the rest of the day, as if I’d been visited by a phantom who both buoyed and scared the bejesus out of me. And the weirdest of all is that phantom was me! Did I even know her anymore? Where did the woman who’d written those words go? How did she become me?" I’ve experienced a similar rush of bafflement and grief upon opening a letter I’d written some time before I turned 50. My mother had saved it and returned it to me 20 years later. Within its pages I found a younger, more energetic and vibrant self. The realisation this woman who inhabited the letter so vividly was no longer available to me came with a jolt of emotion that felt like a bereavement. I was so knocked off-kilter by this ghost-like encounter that the letter (along with others I had been planning to transcribe) had to be set aside for a day when I might be able to muster the necessary courage and detachment. Whether that day ever comes will depend, I suppose, on how I navigate my own relationship with time, and on reaching a calm acceptance of the distance travelled. Disbelief at the distance between the young self and the old self is one of the factors in this late-life grieving. At its root, perhaps, is an internalised ageism: innate, or else massaged into us by the culture we spring from. In a series of recent conversations with people over 70, I encouraged them to tell their stories and to reflect on the effects of time on their lives. Childhood sometimes emerged as a place they were pleased to have left behind – and occasionally, as a place to be held close. Trevor emigrated alone to Australia when he was just 18. I asked him how often now, at 75, he thinks about his childhood. “Do you have a sense of who you were back then, and is that person still part of who you are?” “I think about my childhood quite a lot, especially putting some distance between where I was then and where I am now,” he told me. “I didn’t have a really happy upbringing, and coming to Australia was a way of getting away from home and experiencing a new culture.” In response to the same question, Jo, at 84, led me to a framed photograph, enlarged to poster-size, which has hung on the wall of both his homes. It shows him aged three, in a garden – a radiant child wearing a plain white shirt and dark shorts, arms out-flung as if to embrace the natural world. He bursts with exuberance, curiosity, and joy. "I relate to that as an idea, as a concept of my life. I want to maintain that freshness, that child-like freshness. You’ve got no responsibilities; every day is a new day. You’re looking at things in a different light, you’re aware of everything around you. That’s what I wanted to maintain, that feeling through my life – I’m talking age-wise. My concept of my ageing is there in that photograph.“ While older voices are often absent in the media, and in fiction they are too often presented as stereotypes, in conversation what arises can both surprise and inspire. <h2>‘How can I be old?’</h2> As I approached my own 70th birthday, I realised I was about to cross a border. Once I was on the other side, I would be old – no question. Yet the word "old”, especially when coupled with the word “woman”, is carefully avoided in our culture. Old is a country no one wants to visit. <a href="https://www.penguin.com.au/books/metamorphosis-9780241514771">Penelope Lively’s</a> novella-length story Metamorphosis, or the Elephant’s Foot, written when Lively was in her mid-eighties, explores this evolution from youth to old age through the character of Harriet Mayfield. As a nine-year-old, Harriet is reprimanded by her mother for not behaving well on a visit to her great-grandmother. “She’s old,” says Harriet. “I don’t like old.” When her mother points out that one day Harriet, too, will be old, like her great-grandmother, Harriet laughs. “No, I won’t. You’re just being silly,” says Harriet “how can I be old? I’m me.” Towards the end of the story, Harriet is 82 and must somehow accept that she is “in the departure lounge. Check-in was a very long time ago.” With her equally elderly husband, Charles, Harriet ponders what they can do with the time remaining. Charles decides “it’s a question of resources. What do we have that could be used – exploited?” Harriet replies, “Experience. That’s it. A whole bank of experience.” “And experience is versatile stuff. Comes in all shapes and sizes. Personal. Collective. Well, then?” If distance travelled is a factor in late-life grief, so too is a sense of paths not taken: of a younger self, or selves, that never found expression. In Jessica Au’s recent, much-awarded novella <a href="https://giramondopublishing.com/books/jessica-au-cold-enough-for-snow/">Cold Enough For Snow</a>, there is a scene where the narrator explains to her mother the existence, in some old paintings, of a <a href="https://www.britannica.com/art/pentimento-oil-painting">pentimento</a> – an earlier image of something the artist had decided to paint over. “Sometimes, these were as small as an object, or a colour that had been changed, but other times, they could be as significant as a whole figure.” <figure class="align-right zoomable"><figcaption></figcaption></figure> Art historians, using X-rays and infrared reflectography, have identified pentimenti in many famous paintings, from the adjusted placement of a controversial off-the-shoulder strap in <a href="https://www.virtualartacademy.com/madame-x/">John Singer Sargent</a>’s Portrait of Madam X, to the painted-over figure of a woman nursing a child in Picasso’s <a href="https://www.pablopicasso.org/old-guitarist.jsp">The Old Guitarist</a>, and a man with a bow-tie concealed beneath the brushwork of his work <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Blue_Room_(Picasso)">The Blue Room</a>. Singer Seargent’s adjustment was his response to an outcry at the perceived indecency of Madame X’s lowered shoulder strap, which both the public and art critics of the time declared to be indecent. By contrast, the model’s icy pallor caused only a ripple of interest. Picasso’s hidden figures <a href="https://www.singulart.com/en/blog/2019/10/29/pablo-picassos-blue-period-and-the-old-guitarist/">are assumed</a> to be the outcome of a shortage of canvas during his <a href="https://www.pablopicasso.org/blue-period.jsp">Blue Period</a>, but shortages aside, the word pentimento, which derives from the Italian verb pentirsi, meaning “to repent”, brings to these lost figures a sense of regret that resonates with the feeling in old age of having lost the younger self, or of carrying traces, deeply buried, of other lives one might have lived. In Cold Enough for Snow, Au’s narrator remarks of her mother that, "Perhaps, over time, she found the past harder and harder to evoke, especially with no-one to remember it with." The mother’s situation references another source of grief: that of the person who becomes the last of their friends and family still standing. In childhood games of this nature there would be a prize for the survivor. But for those who reach an extreme old age, having lost parents, siblings and contemporaries who knew them when they were young, even the presence of children and grandchildren may not entirely erase this “last man standing” loneliness. There is, too, the darkness of a projected future where there is no one still living who remembers us. In Jessica Au’s book the narrator occasionally speaks of the past as “a time that didn’t really exist at all”. And yet in my recent conversations with people in their seventies and above, every one of them admits to feeling a vivid sense of the past, and of the continuing presence of a younger self. As one of them wistfully remarked: “Sometimes she even seeps through.” <h2>Memory and detail</h2> Perhaps part of the problem is the mass of ordinary detail that disappears from memory on any given day. Life is made up of so many small moments that it’s impossible to hold onto them all – and if we did it might even be damaging. Imagine someone casually asking how your day had been, and responding with the tsunami of detail those hours actually contained. After opening your eyes at first light, you’d describe your shower, your breakfast, and how you slipped your keys into your handbag as you left the house; in the street you’d passed two women with a pram, a child with a small white dog on a lead, and an elderly man with a walking stick. And so on. If our minds swarmed with the trivia of daily life, more important events might be forgotten, and possibly the neural overload would even make us ill. Yet with the realisation of the loss of these minutes and hours arises the anxiety that in time, the things we do want to remember will slither away from us into the dark. I imagine this fear is what compels people to fill social media with photographs of their breakfasts, and of their relentless selfie-taking. It is surely the impulse behind keeping a journal. The anxiety of losing even the passing moments in a day afflicts the author of <a href="https://www.panmacmillan.com.au/9781509883295/">Ongoingness: The End of a Diary</a>. In it, the American writer Sara Manguso describes her compulsive need to document and hold onto her life. “I didn’t want to lose anything. That was my main problem.” After 25 years of paying attention to the smallest moments, Manguso’s diary is 800,000 words long. “The diary was my defense against waking up at the end of my life and realizing I’d missed it.” But despite her continuous effort, "I knew I couldn’t replicate my whole life in language. I knew that most of it would follow my body into oblivion." Is it possible that women experience grief around ageing earlier, and more emphatically than men? After all, by the age of 50, the bodies of even those women who remain fit send the implacable signal that things have changed. In Alice Munro’s story Bardon Bus, from her collection <a href="https://www.penguin.com.au/books/the-moons-of-jupiter-9780099458364">The Moons of Jupiter</a>, the female narrator endures dinner in the company of a rather malicious man, Dennis, who explains that women are. "forced to live in the world of loss and death! Oh, I know, there’s face-lifting, but how does that really help? The uterus dries up. The vagina dries up." Dennis compares the opportunities open to men as opposed to those available to women. "Specifically, with ageing. Look at you. Think of the way your life would be, if you were a man. The choices you would have. I mean sexual choices. You could start all over. Men do." When the narrator responds cheerfully that she might resist starting over, even if it were possible, Dennis is quick to retort: "That’s it, that’s just it, though, you don’t get the opportunity! You’re a woman and life only goes in one direction for a woman." In another story in the same collection, Labor Day Dinner, Roberta is in the bedroom dressing for an evening out when her lover George comes in and cruelly remarks: “Your armpits are flabby.” Roberta says she will wear something with sleeves, but in her head she hears the, "harsh satisfaction in his voice. The satisfaction of airing disgust. He is disgusted by her aging body. That could have been foreseen." Roberta thinks bitterly that she has always sought to remedy the least sign of deterioration. "Flabby armpits – how can you exercise the armpits? What is to be done? Now the payment is due, and what for? For vanity. Hardly even for that. Just for having those pleasing surfaces once, and letting them speak for you; just for allowing an arrangement of hair and shoulders and breasts to have its effect. You don’t stop in time, don’t know what to do instead; you lay yourself open to humiliation. So thinks Roberta, with self-pity […] She must get away, live alone, wear sleeves." As with most emotions that arise around our ageing, it can usually be traced back to a fraught relationship with time. French philosopher and Nobel Prize winner <a href="https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/bergson/">Henri Bergson</a> <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org/files/56852/56852-h/56852-h.htm">says</a>: “Sorrow begins by being nothing more than a facing towards the past.” For Roberta, as for many of us, it was a past in which we relied on those “pleasing surfaces”, perhaps even took them for granted, until they no longer produced the desired effect. But the truth is that our bodies are capable of more severe betrayals than mere flabby armpits. In time they may cause us to be exposed in skimpy, front-opening or back-opening hospital gowns under the all-seeing eye of the CT scanner; they may deliver us into the skilled, ruthless hands of a surgeon. Our very blood may speak of things we will not wish to hear. <h2>Glimpsing our mortality in middle age</h2> Middle age is sometimes referred to as The Age of Grief. It’s when we first glimpse our own mortality; we feel youth slipping away into the past, and the young people in our lives begin to assert their independence. We have our mid-life crises then. We join gyms, and take up running; we speak for the first time of “bucket lists” – the term itself an attempt to diminish the sting of time’s depredations. None of this will save us from the real Age of Grief, which comes later and hits harder because it is largely hidden. And we’ll be expected to endure it in silence. In my conversations with people aged 70 and older, grief has surfaced from causes other than what might be called “cosmetic” changes. Following a severe stroke, 80-year-old Philippa describes the pain of having had to make the decision to relinquish her home and move into residential care. "It’s when you lose your garden, which you’ve loved, and you’ve got to walk away from that. I’ve got photos of the house, and I look at them and think, oh, I just love the way I did that room, decorated it, things like that. But change happens." “Somehow change always comes with loss, as well as bringing something new,” I said. “Yes,” she replied, “I just had to say to myself: you can’t worry about it, and you can’t change it. That sounds hard, but it’s my way of dealing with it.” Tucked away in residential care homes, largely invisible to those of us lucky enough to still inhabit the outside world, elderly people like Philippa are quietly raising resilience to the level of an art form. In her poem, <a href="https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/47536/one-art">One Art</a>, the Canadian poet Elizabeth Bishop advises losing something every day. <blockquote> Accept the fluster of lost door keys, the hour badly spent. Lose something every day. The art of losing isn’t hard to master. </blockquote> Bishop goes on to list other lost items – her mother’s watch, the next-to-last of three loved houses, lovely cities, two rivers, even a continent. While the losses elderly people commonly accumulate are less grand, they are no less devastating. One by one, they will relinquish driver’s licenses. For many there will be the loss of the family home and their belongings, save for whatever will fit into a care home’s single room. Perhaps they have already given up the freedom of walking without the aid of a stick, or walker. There may be the dietary restrictions imposed by conditions such as diabetes, and the invisible disabilities of diminished hearing and eyesight. A failing memory, one would think, must be the final straw. And yet, what seems to be the actual final straw is the situation, reported time and again, where an old person feels “unseen”, or “looked through”, and for indefensible reasons finds themself being “missed” in favour of someone younger. It might, for example, be a moment when they are ignored as they patiently wait their turn at a shop counter. In my conversation with Philippa, she remarked that old people are often looked through when they are part of a group, or when they are waiting to be served. “I have seen it happen to other older people, as if they don’t exist. I have called out assistants who have done that to other people.” Surely the least we can do, as fortunate beings of fewer years, is to acknowledge the old people among us. To make them feel seen, and of equal value. <h2>‘Age pride’ and destigmatising ‘old’</h2> <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7246680/">Ageism, Healthy Life Expectancy and Population Ageing: How Are They Related</a> is a recent survey conducted with more than 83,000 participants from 57 countries. It found that ageism negatively impacts the health of older adults. In the United States, people with a negative attitude towards ageing live 7.5 fewer years than their more positive counterparts. In Australia, the National Ageing Research Institute has developed an <a href="https://www.nari.net.au/age-positive-language-guide">Age-Positive Language Guide</a> as part of its strategy to combat ageism. Examples of poor descriptive language include terms such as “old person”, “the elderly”, and even “seniors”. That last term appears on a card Australians receive shortly after turning 60, which enables them to receive various discounts and concessions. Instead, we are encouraged to use “older person”, or “older people”. But this is just another form of age-masking that fools no one. It would be better to throw the institute’s energy into destigmatising the word “old”. What, after all, is wrong with being old, and saying so? To begin the process of reclaiming this word from the pejorative territory it currently occupies, old people need to start claiming their years with pride. If other marginalised social groups can do it, why can’t old people? Some activists working against ageism are beginning to mention <a href="https://www.nextavenue.org/how-to-swap-ageism-for-age-pride/">“age pride”</a>. If we become homesick for who we once were as we age, we might remind ourselves of the meaning of nostos and consider old age as a kind of homecoming. <h2>Narrative identity</h2> The body we travel in is a vehicle for all the iterations of the self, and the position we currently inhabit is part of an ongoing creative process: the evolving story of the self. From the 1980s, psychologists, philosophers and social theorists have been calling it <a href="https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2011-21882-005">narrative identity</a>. The process of piecing together a narrative identity begins in late adolescence and evolves across our entire lives. Like opening a Russian doll, from whose hollow shell other dolls emerge, at our centre is a solid core composed of traits and values. It’s also composed of the narrative identity we have put together from all our days – including those we cannot now remember – and from all the selves we have ever been. Perhaps even from the selves we might have been, but chose instead to paint over. In Metamorphosis, or the Elephant’s Foot, Harriet Mayfield tells her husband, “At this point in life. We are who we are – the outcome of various other incarnations.” We know our lives, and the lives of others, through fragments. Fragments are all we have. They’re all we’ll ever have. We live in moments, not always in chronological order. But narrative identity helps us make meaning of life. And the vantage point of old age offers the longest view. The story of the self carries us from the deep past to the present moment. And old age sets us the great life challenge of maintaining balance in the present, while managing the remembered past – with all its joys and griefs – and the joys and griefs of the imagined future.<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/202754/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/carol-lefevre-1341823">Carol Lefevre</a>, Visiting Research Fellow, Department of English and Creative Writing, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-adelaide-1119">University of Adelaide</a> Image credits: Getty Images 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/friday-essay-homesick-for-ourselves-the-hidden-grief-of-ageing-202754">original article</a>.

Beauty & Style

The hidden dangers of household products

The materials, fabrics and fragrances contained inside our homes are host to thousands of chemicals that may pose a threat to human health. Healthy home expert Nicole Bijlsma says there simply aren’t enough regulations to ensure the products and materials in our homes are safe for consumers. “We have this incredible, unregulated, chemical onslaught in our household products, personal care products, building materials and cleaning products which is why the burden of chemicals is increasing with each generation,” Bijlsma says. “Just because it’s on the supermarket shelf doesn’t mean it’s been tested.” The largely unregulated cleaning product industry is often placed under scrutiny in the fight against chemicals but Bijsma says this issue extends to all areas of the home. “What happens is we wait for the disease to occur in the general population before we look back and realise [the harm]…It’s a stupid system; it doesn’t protect consumers and it certainly does not protect the most vulnerable in our society– our children and the unborn fetus.” Only through thorough research can consumers determine where their products are being sourced, under what conditions they’ve been made and the impact they may have on health. Even then there are gaps. Imported items are not under the same regulations as those made in New Zealand. “A lot of the products, especially furnishings, you can’t load with formaldehyde but if you import them from Asia as most people do, they’re going to be loaded with chemicals…Bijlsma says. Bijlsma advises going back to basics when selecting materials and products, reducing the chemical load, choosing natural fibres and buying home made. “The big problem is most chemicals in building materials and household products have never been tested for their impact on human health,” Bijlsma says. Creating a healthy home is of the utmost importance to homeowner Irena Bukhshtaber, who has recently extended her home to be 100 per cent sustainable and hypoallergenic. “Because our industry standards are so high, usually it’s a local product too…Watch out for imports, from floorboards to air-conditioning, as there’s no way to guarantee what they say on the label unless the seller can guarantee provenance or knows the company.” Despite the time-consuming research process (three years) of renovating the home to a healthy standard Bukhshtaber says the outcome has been worth the effort. “How difficult is it to live with sick or tired family members? How hard is it to live your values? If the outcome is positive then it’s not difficult, but it is time consuming and does require you to spend time researching, calling and discussing with suppliers.” To keep her costs down when renovating, Bukhshtaber advises determining the elements of a home that matter most to you, whether this be using recycled materials, limited chemicals, high-quality design, ethical manufacturing or buying New Zealand made. “None of these things are mutually exclusive but you do need a hierarchy in mind as no one has unlimited budget,” Bukhshtaber says. Written by Amelia Barnes. First appeared on <a href="http://www.domain.com.au/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Domain.com.au.</a> Images: Getty

Home Hints & Tips

5 TV shows with hidden meanings in their names

Sometimes you’ll hear a TV title and think that it sounds cool, but not really pause to think about what it means. Sure, creators could go the more obvious route and call a show what it’s about (some excellent shows with such monikers include Desperate Housewives, CSI, Boston Legal, and Friends), but where’s the fun in that? We like a title that needs a little digging to uncover a new layer of meaning to the show you’re currently binging. Here are some of our favourites. 1. Mad Men If you weren’t paying attention to Mad Men’s pilot, (and it seems as though many of us weren’t), “Mad Men” are the advertising men working on Madison Avenue. Throw those words together and what do you get? I’ll wait. 2. Black Mirror If you haven’t yet experienced this eerie anthology series about the myriad potential dark futures humans face because of our obsession with and dependence upon technology, you should add it to your list. In 2014, the show’s creator, Charlie Brooker, explained to the UK’s Channel 4 that “black mirror” refers to how any kind of screen looks once it’s been turned off. Try it now – pick up your phone without pressing any buttons. Can you see your face staring back at you from a dark, reflected world? 3. Grey’s Anatomy This is one of those punny titles that plays on the lead character’s name, but it works so deliciously that I’m willing to let it slide. Lead character Meredith Grey has her life and inner workings on display for the whole world to see each week, but what you might not realise is that Gray’s Anatomy is a popular medical textbook published over 150 years ago. 4. Breaking Bad This one is a little obscure, and many people never gave it a second thought – so wrapped up were they in the spectacular downward spiral of Walter White. “Breaking bad” is a <a href="https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Break%20Bad" target="_blank" rel="noopener">colloquial term</a> that means you challenge conventions, skirt the edges of the law, or defy authority. Pretty much sums up all of Walt, right? 5. The Wire This subversive, subtle classic is so engrossing that it’s easy to skip straight past the simple name without giving it a second thought, so you might not notice that these aren’t the typical police you’re used to seeing on television. These cops use tactical methods to get their work done – usually surveillance and wire taps. Image credit: Instagram / Shutterstock

Hidden jokes in your favourite TV shows

Creating a television show has to be one of the most stressful jobs in Hollywood. Not only do you have to come up with compelling characters, plots, and stick them in the perfect setting, you also have to manage things like budgets, actor availability, and notes from networks. But even though the schedule is always tight, and despite the ever-present threat of cancellation, TV writers, designers, and cast members often find ways to insert hidden references and inside jokes for the most eagle-eyed viewers. Colloquially known as “Easter eggs”, these gags are hard to spot unless you know what you’re looking for. So, we’ve assembled a list of some of our favourites so you can keep an eye out next time you’re bingeing. 1. The West Wing Fans of Aaron Sorkin’s beloved West Wing will no doubt remember the episode when CJ is gifted a goldfish by reporter and admirer Danny. The goldfish bowl (and its inhabitant) became a feature of CJ’s desk throughout the entire series, and would often feature a deep-sea decoration pertaining to the episode’s theme. Christmas trees, Presidential podiums, and ballot boxes all featured as decorations over the years. 2. Arrested Development Fans of this hysterical family comedy will no doubt remember the fateful episode when Buster Bluth loses his arm to a runaway seal. If you go back and watch the second season again, you’ll notice visual gags aplenty that foreshadow poor Buster’s fate. Perhaps the boldest is when Buster sits on a bench, obscuring the perfect amount of letters so that all viewers can see are the words “arm off”. 3. Community With a cult following to rival any, Community packed its laughs anywhere they could. The show’s creators played a long game with a gag to summon the titular character from Tim Burton’s 1988 Beetlejuice. According to the film’s lore, Beetlejuice can be summoned by saying his name three times. Characters said “Beetlejuice” once in season one, again in season two, and for a third time in season three. When Annie says his name for the third time, Beetlejuice himself can be clearly seen walking in a hallway outside. Gold. 4. Battlestar Galactica Fans of Joss Whedon’s beloved, short-lived space western Firefly will be delighted to know that the space ship featured in the series (a “Firefly” class named Serenity) had a cameo in the 2003 Battlestar Galactica miniseries. Blink and you’ll miss this one. Pause it at the right moment and marvel in the glory. Shiny. Image credit: Shutterstock

Bindi Irwin breaks down on camera about health condition

Bindi Irwin has shown her vulnerable side in an emotional new video shared with fans about a personal ordeal. The 24-year-old spoke candidly to the camera for 15 minutes with guest appearances from husband Chandler Powell and their daughter Grace Warrior. In the video, Irwin recalled the “insurmountable” pain she experienced due to endometriosis before finally <a href="https://www.oversixty.co.nz/health/caring/how-did-you-live-with-this-much-pain-bindi-irwin-hospitalised" target="_blank" rel="noopener">undergoing surgery</a>. The wildlife warrior announced her diagnosis in March 2023, but the new video explains her symptoms - which started when she was just 14 - that left her with “extreme fatigue, nausea and pain”. “I had pain every single day of my life. No matter where we went, where we were going, I would be falling asleep. I felt like I constantly had the flu,” she said. The conservationist confessed she tried everything to solve the issue, undergoing CT scans, MRIs and ultrasounds. “I was always in pain. We tried for a year, and finally a doctor told me it was just part of being a woman.” Irwin said it was that comment from a doctor that led her to suffer in silence. However, after giving birth to her daughter in 2021, the pain “magnified” to a point where it was “out of this world”. “I remember countless times of Grace needing me, and me crawling to her cot at night,” she revealed, becoming emotional. “I can remember being with Grace and lying on the floor in agony. I had a stabbing pain in my side, I couldn’t get up or I would throw up, and I was scared I would pass out. “I was so scared because I was worried if I was alone with Grace, something would happen to me, and she would be on her own.” Irwin dubbed the pain “insurmountable” and something that “would knock me over”. <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/reel/Cr31hQDANTp/?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/reel/Cr31hQDANTp/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Bindi Irwin (@bindisueirwin)</a> </div> </blockquote> She said that after returning to new doctors, she was diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome and chronic fatigue. It was not until she spoke to a friend, Leslie Mosier, who recently had endometriosis surgery that she realised they shared similar symptoms. “Leslie said the only way to diagnose for sure is through exploratory surgery.” Irwin said she decided to undergo surgery in the US as her daughter would have Powell’s parents, who live in Florida, nearby for support while she recovered. At this point in her video, Grace woke up and joined her mum on camera. “Mama went for surgery and they found 37 lesions and a chocolate cyst on my ovary,” she said in a child-like tone for the sake of her daughter. “Ovary!” Grace chirped. “After surgery mama feels a lot better hey? I had to recover for quite a while, and mama feels so much better, and she can run around with you!” Irwin went on to share what she has learned being a part of the endometriosis community. She revealed that excision surgery is considered the “gold standard” for the disease, where lesions and cysts are removed. “Everyone says we need to educate the public, but there also needs to be a shift in health care. Doctors need more information because endometriosis has myriad symptoms. Doctors need the right tools to diagnose.” She explained that her own endometriosis has been classified as severe, which means she may have to undergo more surgeries in the future to keep symptoms at bay. “I feel like. I got a second chance at life... I feel like a new woman.” In a final message of encouragement, Irwin said, “If you’re in pain, it’s so hard to get up every day and forge ahead. “Keep searching for those answers and never give up on you.” Image credit: Instagram

Body

1 in 4 households struggle to pay power bills. Here are 5 ways to tackle hidden energy poverty

<a href="https://energyconsumersaustralia.com.au/news/how-increases-in-energy-prices-are-impacting-consumers#:%7E:text=Energy%2520affordability%2520is%2520not%2520just,in%2520the%2520past%252012%2520months.">One in four Australian households</a> are finding it hard to pay their gas and electricity bills. As winter looms, <a href="https://www.aer.gov.au/news-release/default-market-offer-2023%25E2%2580%259324-draft-determination">energy price rises</a> will make it even harder. Cold homes and disconnections resulting from energy poverty threaten people’s health and wellbeing. <a href="https://www.acoss.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/ACOSS-cost-of-living-report2-March-2023_web_FINAL.pdf">Income support for welfare recipients</a> and retrofitting homes to make them more thermally efficient – by adding insulation, for example – can ease the burden. And when homes are not too cold or hot, <a href="https://theconversation.com/fuel-poverty-makes-you-sick-so-why-has-nothing-changed-since-i-was-a-child-living-in-a-cold-home-201787">people’s health benefits</a>. This in turn <a href="https://apo.org.au/node/319556">eases pressure on the public health system</a>. However, many people are missing out on assistance as programs often do not recognise their difficulties. Their energy vulnerability is hidden. <h2>What forms does hidden energy poverty take?</h2> <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214629623000737">Our newly published study</a> has revealed six aspects of hidden energy vulnerability. These are: <ol> <li> underconsumption – households limit or turn off cooling, heating and/or lights to avoid disconnections </li> <li> incidental masking – other welfare support, such as rent relief, masks difficulties in paying energy bills </li> <li> some households disguise energy poverty by using public facilities such as showers or pooling money for bills between families </li> <li> some people conceal their hardship due to pride or fear of legal consequences, such as losing custody of children if food cannot be refrigerated because the power has been cut off </li> <li> poor understanding of energy efficiency and the health risks of cold or hot homes adds to the problem </li> <li> eligibility criteria for energy assistance programs may exclude some vulnerable households. For example, people with income just above the welfare threshold are missing out on energy concessions. Energy retailer hardship programs also ignore people who have voluntarily disconnected due to financial hardship. </li> </ol> <h2>5 ways to help these households</h2> Our studies suggest trusted intermediaries such as people working in health, energy and social services can play a vital role in identifying and supporting such households. First, energy efficiency and hardship initiatives may be <a href="https://www.rmit.edu.au/about/schools-colleges/property-construction-and-project-management/research/research-centres-and-groups/sustainable-building-innovation-laboratory/projects/care-at-home-system-improvements">integrated into the My Aged Care in-home care system</a>. Energy poverty risk identification, response and referral could be built into the national service’s assessment form. This could leverage existing client screening processes. The system’s front-line staff could connect at-risk householders with energy counsellors. These counsellors could help people access better energy contracts, concessions, home retrofits and appliance upgrade programs. A new Commonwealth “energy supplement” could help pay for essential energy-related home modifications. This would help avoid My Aged Care funds being diverted from immediate healthcare needs. Second, general practitioners and other health professionals could help identify energy vulnerability among patients with medical conditions of concern. They could also provide letters of support emphasising renters’ health-based need for air conditioners or heaters. Third, energy providers could use household energy data to identify those that seem to be under-consuming or are often disconnected. They could also identify those that are not on “best offer” deals. They could be proactive in checking struggling householders’ eligibility for ongoing energy concessions and one-off debt relief grants offered by states and territories. Energy providers could also make it easier for social housing providers to ensure concessions for tenants renew automatically. Fourth, local councils could use their data to identify at-risk householders. They might include those with a disability parking permit, discounted council rates or in arrears, on the social housing waiting list, Meals on Wheels clients and social housing tenants. Maternal and child health nurses and home and community care workers making home visits could call attention to cold or hot homes. Councils could employ in-house energy counsellors to provide assistance and energy literacy training. Council home maintenance teams could develop bulk-buying, insulation and neighbourhood retrofit programs. Strategies to reduce vulnerability to energy poverty should be part of municipal public health and wellbeing plans. Under these strategies, net-zero-carbon funds set up by states and local councils to reduce emissions could finance targeted housing retrofits. We also suggest setting up a central helpline to improve access to energy assistance via local referrals. Fifth, residential energy-efficiency programs could become more person-centric. For example, we already have <a href="https://www.homescorecard.gov.au/">Residential Efficiency Scorecard</a> audits to assess the thermal quality of a home. These audits could also explore whether concessions and better energy deals are available to the household. <h2>Building capacity at all levels</h2> <a href="https://cur.org.au/cms/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/tackling-hidden-energy-final.pdf">Capacity-building strategies</a> are needed at all levels – individual, community and government – to overcome the <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214629623000737">challenges</a> of reducing energy poverty. Current obstacles include the competing priorities of service providers, lack of time and resources, and <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2214629622003553">poor co-ordination between siloed</a> programs and services. Access to essential energy services should be part of state and local governments’ strategic health plans. Housing, energy and health departments could work together to include housing retrofits in preventive health programs. A comprehensive approach is needed to overcome hidden energy poverty. It must include public education, integrated services and well-funded energy-efficiency programs. Regulatory reforms and ongoing funding are both needed to improve the availability of energy-efficient, affordable homes for tenants. Our suggested strategies start with improving the skills and knowledge of trusted intermediaries. Doctors, social workers, housing officers, community nurses and volunteers can play a central role. Using these front-line professionals to help identify and act on energy poverty offers a novel, cost-effective and targeted solution. This article originally appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.com/1-in-4-households-struggle-to-pay-power-bills-here-are-5-ways-to-tackle-hidden-energy-poverty-204672" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>. Images: Getty

Home Hints & Tips

5 hidden sugar bombs you should be aware of

It seems like a pretty easy rule to follow – when you’re doing your weekly shop, if an item is packaged, it's likely laden with sugar. We all know that the sweet stuff is absolutely everywhere and that food companies use clever little tricks to disguise this from us when it comes to food labels. So, if you're not careful, sneaky foods packed with sugar will make their way into your home. Here we bring you some tips on how to arm yourself with the knowledge to avoid an accidental sugar binge. Fruit yoghurt It seems innocent enough, but fruit yogurt can be one of the biggest sugar bombs at the supermarket. Have you ever noticed how this popular morning snack feels like it would be more appropriately placed as a dessert option, well that’s because they are loaded with sugar. Opt for natural yoghurt and add cinnamon or berries to naturally sweeten. Pasta sauce Never mind the shortcomings of refined white pasta, it's the sauce that should be of concern. Pasta sauce alone can carry up to 12 grams of sugar for every half cup. Agave Despite it being sold in health food stores and renowned as a healthy alternative to sugar, it doesn’t change the fact that agave is pretty much just sugar dressed up in a healthier looking outfit. As it's 85 per cent fructose, it may be worse for you than cane sugar, which is all sucrose. What does this mean? Well, fructose is metabolised almost exclusively by your liver, which is hard work, and we’re still learning about the way different forms of sugar affect our health. Dried fruit Given it’s fruit it’s not surprising that most people count dried fruits amongst healthy food options, however, in some cases it might as well be like eating lollies. Just one-third of a cup can have 24 grams of sugar. Granola bars A convenient snack that is easy to carry in your bag to enjoy on the run? Yes. But the health factor of these bars depends on the ingredients. Most varieties aren't only made of wholegrain oats. In fact, one bar can pack as much as 12 grams (or much more) of sugar, so be sure to read the label before adding these to your shopping trolly. Image credits: Getty Images

Food & Wine

The hidden health benefits of spices

Spices have a lot more to offer than just adding flavour to your dishes. Many spices have hidden health benefits that you might not be aware of. Add these spices to your diet to aid in anything from digestion to brain function. Turmeric – Found in many mustards and cheeses, turmeric has been known to work as a pain reliever and possesses anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. There is also evidence to suggest that it benefits Alzheimer’s, arthritis, and cancer. Saffron – Saffron contains vitamin C, calcium, magnesium, and potassium. It can be used to treat coughs, insomnia, cancer, gas, depression, Alzheimer’s, heartburn, PMS, and dry skin, to name a few. Cumin – A staple in curries, cumin is a great source of iron and helps aid brain function. Cayenne pepper – Hot and spicy, cayenne pepper helps to stimulate your metabolism and aids in circulation and digestion. Ginger – As well as adding a kick of flavour to your green smoothies ginger helps treat upset stomachs, bloating, and gas. It also helps sooth sore throats, arthritis, colds, and motion sickness. Is there anything it doesn’t do? Cinnamon – An antioxidant that contains iron and calcium, cinnamon has been known to reduce inflammation, reduce blood sugar levels, calm nausea, and aid in the body’s burning of fat. Image credits: Shutterstock

Body

Dog found hidden in carry-on bag at airport security

A US Transportation and Security Agency (TSA) officer has discovered a small dog stashed in a traveller's carry-on luggage. The animal was found in a backpack when going through the X-ray machine at the Dane County <a title="Airport " href="https://www.9news.com.au/airport" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Airport</a> in Wisconsin. TSA told a local news outlet that the passenger was unaware of the screening protocol and did not tell security officers about her dog. After an officer explained the proper process and confirmed she disclosed she was travelling with a pet to the airline, she proceeded to her gate to board her flight. TSA Great Lakes confirmed that the woman's error was an accident on social media, while alerting people to the proper flying rules. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Video: Here’s the proper way to travel with your pet. Note: This is a <a href="https://twitter.com/TSA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TSA</a> PreCheck passenger traveling with a cat. If you think your pet will attempt an escape, ask to speak with a supervisor before removing the animal. Alternative screening options may be available. (2/2) <a href="https://t.co/NL2jNjni2l">pic.twitter.com/NL2jNjni2l</a> — TSA_GreatLakes (@TSA_GreatLakes) <a href="https://twitter.com/TSA_GreatLakes/status/1600210121136537600?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 6, 2022</a></blockquote> "A dog was accidentally sent through the X-ray @MSN_Airport this week," it tweeted. "When travelling with any animal, notify your airline and know their rules." "At the checkpoint, remove your pet from the bag and send all items, including the empty carrier, to be screened in the machine." It then uploaded a video showing "the proper way" to travel with pets. Image credits: Twitter

Travel Trouble

Hidden message in JLo’s engagement ring

Jennifer Lopez has shared a heartwarming detail that her husband Ben Affleck did to her engagement ring. The two lovebirds finally <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/lifestyle/relationships/jlo-and-ben-affleck-finally-tie-the-knot-20-years-later" target="_blank" rel="noopener">tied the knot in an intimate ceremony</a> in Vegas on July 17, just three months after being engaged (for the second time). Affleck first proposed to Lopez, now known as Mrs Jennifer Lynn Affleck, 20 years ago. Now the singer has kept her fans entertained revealing that her engagement ring has a secret message from her husband. “Not.going.anywhere,” the words on her ring read. "That's how he would sign his emails when we started talking again. Like 'Don't worry, I'm not going anywhere,'" Lopez told host Zane Lowe during the interview. The 53-year-old recently revealed that she has decided to take her <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/lifestyle/relationships/jlo-defends-taking-ben-affleck-s-surname" target="_blank" rel="noopener">husband’s last name</a> and that it wouldn’t make much of a difference. “People are still going to call me Jennifer Lopez. But my legal name will be Mrs Affleck because we’re joined together. We’re husband and wife. I’m proud of that,” she told Vogue for the December issue. “I don’t think that’s a problem... it’s not traditional. It doesn’t have any romance to it. It feels like it’s a power move, you know what I mean? “I’m very much in control of my own life and destiny and feel empowered as a woman and as a person. I can understand that people have their feelings about it, and that’s okay, too. “But if you want to know how I feel about it, I just feel like it’s romantic. It still carries tradition and romance to me, and maybe I’m just that kind of girl.” The pair married in a stunning wedding where JLo wore <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/lifestyle/beauty-style/finally-jlo-shares-pics-of-her-three-stunning-wedding-dresses" target="_blank" rel="noopener">three wedding dresses</a>, where each dress cost around $1 million. Images: Instagram

Relationships

Aussie octopuses caught on camera slinging mud

Australia’s <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/people/social-sciences/when-octopuses-dont-want-any-trouble/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">‘Gloomy Octopuses’</a> have been caught throwing things. Sometimes at each other. Underwater footage, from Jervis Bay in New South Wales, shows Gloomy Octopuses (Octopus tetricus) throwing debris. Occasionally the material – mainly silt, shells and algae – was aimed at other octopuses, and even the camera recording them. Throwing is an uncommon behaviour in animals, an activity only observed in a handful, including elephants and chimpanzees. <iframe src="https://players.brightcove.net/5483960636001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6315259579112" width="960" height="540" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> A throw by a female octopus that hits a male attempting to mate with her / Credit: Godfrey-Smith et al, 2022, PLOS ONE, CC-BY 4.0 Twenty-four hours of footage gathered during 2015 and 2016 captures around 100 octopus throws among a group of roughly ten of the animals. Ninety throws were by females, and eleven by males. On 17 occasions, octopuses threw material which actually hit another octopus, often with ‘high vigour.’ In two cases, the throw hit a fish. Twelve meanwhile were directed at the camera. <div class="newsletter-box"> <div id="wpcf7-f6-p222798-o1" class="wpcf7" dir="ltr" lang="en-US" role="form"> </div> </div> One female octopus was recorded throwing 17 times in the space of an hour, with nine throws hits on other octopuses (who sometimes ducked or raised their arms in the direction of the thrower). The gloomy octopus is common in Australian and New Zealand waters. Having gathered their ammunition, octopuses hurled their material by using a jet of water from their siphon (a tube-shaped structure that can eject water at speed) to propel it between their arms. Throwing under water requires greater force than throwing through air, and the octopuses often managed to throw their material several body lengths away. Given the octopuses had to move their siphon into an unusual position to perform the throws, the researchers believe the behavior was deliberate. The study by Australian and US researchers is the first-time throwing behaviour has been reported in octopuses. The research is <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0276482" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">published</a> in PLOS One. <iframe src="https://players.brightcove.net/5483960636001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6315258284112" width="960" height="540" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> A throw by a female octopus, hitting a male. The male ducks just before the material is released / Credit: Godfrey-Smith et al, 2022, PLOS ONE, CC-BY 4.0 <img id="cosmos-post-tracker" style="opacity: 0; height: 1px!important; width: 1px!important; border: 0!important; position: absolute!important; z-index: -1!important;" src="https://syndication.cosmosmagazine.com/?id=222798&title=Aussie+octopuses+caught+on+camera+slinging+mud" width="1" height="1" /> <div id="contributors"> <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/nature/octopuses-caught-slinging-mud/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">This article</a> was originally published on Cosmos Magazine and was written by Petra Stock. Image: Getty Images </div>

Family & Pets

New discovery: really good violins make hidden, subtle sounds

What makes a good violin sound so good? According to new research, <a href="https://dx.doi.org/10.1121/10.0014600" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">published</a> in The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, at least part of the reason is extremely subtle extra notes the best instruments sounds out. When two musical notes are played, listeners can sometimes hear “combination tones”: an additional, subjective note that comes from the way the <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/health/body-and-mind/explainer-cochlear-implants-function/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">cochlea</a> processes the two sound waves in the inner ear. Some musical instruments can also make combination tones themselves: called “objective combination tones.” These subtle notes are produced in the instrument, rather than the ear. Not all instruments can make these objective combination tones – but this new research shows the surprising news that violins can. “Up to now, the combination tones generated by the violin were considered too small to be heard, and therefore, of no importance in music,” says study co-author Giovanni Cecchi, of the Università di Firenze, Italy. “Our results change this view by showing that combination tones generated by violins of good quality can be easily heard, affecting the perception of the intervals.” The researchers got a professional violinist to stand in the centre of a musical auditorium and play a series of dyads: two notes played simultaneously. The violinist played dyads on five different violins, all of different ages and qualities, and the researchers recorded the tones. Each violin produced combination tones in all of the dyads. The strongest of these notes was at a slightly lower tone than those of the dyads. Each instrument made the combination tones at different volumes (or amplitude), depending on the instrument’s air resonance. “We found that combination tones were much stronger and clearly audible in good violins,” says Cecchi. “The strongest one was found in an old Italian violin, made in Bologna in 1700 by the famous luthier, Carlo Annibale Tononi. “Combination tones were instead negligibly small in violins of poor quality.” Next, the researchers are investigating more violins to see which part of the instrument causes these objective combination tones. Image credits: Getty Images <img id="cosmos-post-tracker" style="opacity: 0; height: 1px!important; width: 1px!important; border: 0!important; position: absolute!important; z-index: -1!important;" src="https://syndication.cosmosmagazine.com/?id=221273&title=New+discovery%3A+really+good+violins+make+hidden%2C+subtle+sounds" width="1" height="1" /> <div id="contributors"> This article was originally published on <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/science/combination-tones-violins/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">cosmosmagazine.com</a> and was written by Ellen Phiddian. </div>

Music

7th century gold coins found hidden in wall

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". During an excavation at the Hermon Stream (Banias) in Israel, archaeologists found 44 gold coins dating back to the 7th century. Weighing in at about 170g, experts estimate that the hoard was hidden during the Muslim conquest in 635 CE. They say the discovery sheds light on this significant moment in history which saw the end of the Byzantine rule in the area. "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 <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-63122180" target="_blank" rel="noopener">BBC</a>. "In retrospect, we know that he was less fortunate." <img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/10/ancient-coins1.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /> 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. 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. "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. "The Israel Antiquities Authority, together with the National Parks Authority, will work together to exhibit the treasure to the public." Along with the coins, Israeli authorities said the excavation also uncovered remains of buildings and bronze coins, as well as water channels and pipes. Images: Israel Antiquities Authority (Facebook)

Money & Banking

10 European villages you haven’t been to

Of course everyone has heard about London, Paris and Rome, but sometimes it’s the hidden gems that provide the most memorable experiences for travellers. Travel + Leisure has put together a 10 of the best secret European villages. They might not be as well known, but they’re just as captivating as a place to visit in their own right. To see the villages, scroll through the gallery below. <ol> <li>Giornico, Switzerland</li> <li>Staufen im Breisgau, Germany</li> <li>Aberdour, Scotland</li> <li>Norcia, Italy</li> <li>Folégandros, Greece</li> <li>Marvão, Portugal</li> <li>Terschelling, The Netherlands</li> <li>Hellnar, Iceland</li> <li>St. Mawes, England</li> <li>Plios, Russia</li> </ol> Have you been to any of these secret villages? Do you have a holiday on the cards, and if so where are you going? Images: Getty Images

International Travel

“A mockery of my tipuna”: Traditional tattoo camera filter sparks outcry

The emergence of social media filters that allow users to project traditional Māori tattoos onto their faces has caused controversy, with concerns raised about the protection of Māori identity and intellectual property. The filters, given names like “Māori Mask” and “Māori Face Tattoo” and projecting mataora, moko kauae, tatua and other traditional tattoos, have appeared on social media platforms such as Snapchat, using open-source Lookery software to enable real-time modification of people’s faces in photos. Anyone can create filters, which are shared openly across the platform, with Instagram offering a similar feature. <img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/09/maori-tattoos1.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /> Filters available on Snapchat that allow users to project traditional Māori tattoos onto their faces have sparked controversy. While two filters (left, centre) have been removed, one (right) is still available Images: RNZ, Author While some see these filters as helping make Māori culture more accessible and revitalise mātauranga Māori (traditional Māori knowledge), others say it is damaging - particularly if they’re created from a non-Māori perspective. "When people wear a fake Prada or Gucci bag, people are quick to call it out. However, when tauiwi (non-Māori people) create Māori art for profit, everyone thinks it's great,” Māori activist Karu Martin said. "There are people who need to take responsibility when they are using Māori culture in an international space or platform to understand that they have consequences and ramifications." In Māori cultures, moko and tatua are unique expressions of a person’s whakapapa (genealogy) and identity, with traditional Māori tattoo artist Julie Paama Pengally adding that the tattoos represent more than what the creators of these filters could fathom. “Those elements are strongly connected to our whakapapa, our atua (ancestors), and our being,” Paama Pengally told the <a href="https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/2018857427/growing-anger-over-use-of-moko-mataora-in-image-filters" target="_blank" rel="noopener">RNZ</a>. "As soon as you take something from a culture without permission and you misrepresent it, and you displace that culture from doing what they want to do with those things themselves, then you're appropriating. "That's a mockery of my tīpuna that you're wearing on your face, just so you can have your two seconds of fun. "For me, it's a long-lasting reminder that if I were to have that on my face, people would look at me sideways." But social media platforms are the only culprits when it comes to the commercialisation and appropriation of moko, with the sequel to Avatar and video games Borderlands 2077 and Grand Theft Auto drawing criticism for depictions of moko. Tūranga Morgan-Edmonds, a Māori musician for the metal band Alien Weaponry who got his mataora last year, said he is weary of the commercialisation of moko. "It's being made by some stranger on the other side of the world to be provided to the masses that don't belong to our culture,” he said. "These ones in the games are blatant rip-offs - they follow the same patterns and all of that. "Places that take inspiration have taken the concepts, and then designed something completely different." Since RNZ approached Snapchat for a comment, the platform has removed the filters. Meta, the company that owns Instagram and Facebook, didn’t respond to questions. Image: RNZ

Body

Hidden Van Gogh self-portrait uncovered

A previously unseen self-portrait of Vincent Van Gogh has been discovered behind another one of the artist's iconic paintings. The self-portrait was found behind Van Gogh's Head of a Peasant Woman when experts at Edinburgh's National Galleries of Scotland x-rayed the canvas before it was put on public display. The artwork is believed to have remained a secret for over a century, as it was covered with layers of cardboard and glue before it was frames in the early 20th century. The Dutch artist was known for painting on both sides of a canvas to save money. The portrait shows a bearded sitter in a brimmed hat, with experts saying the subject was instantly recognisable as the artist himself, and is thought to be from his early work. <img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/07/Van-Gogh-x-ray.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /> Van Gogh's left ear is clearly visible in the painting, leading experts to believe it was created before 1888 when he cut his ear off. Frances Fowle, a senior curator at the National Galleries of Scotland, said the discovery was "thrilling". "Moments like this are incredibly rare," she said. "We have discovered an unknown work by Vincent Van Gogh, one of the most important and popular artists in the world." The gallery said they are evaluating how to remove the layers of cardboard and glue without damaging the original Head of a Peasant Woman artwork. <iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/H6KR2HTPIXI" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> Image credits: National Galleries of Scotland

Art

Super rare car hidden in barn for 40 years set to sell for huge sum

A rare BMW 507 that has spent nearly half a century sitting inside a garage has received a fresh breath of life. The 1957 Series II Roadster will go under the gavel at the Bonhams Audrain Concours action on the 30th of September, expecting to sell for between $1.8-$2.2 million. The 507 is widely considered the most collectible and coveted BMW to date. The German marque made only 252 examples of the flagship sports car throughout the late ‘50s. The glamorous convertible’s exclusivity (and price tag) attracted only the most VIP customers. Notable owners include Elvis and King Constantine II. This particular car was delivered new to Caracas, Venezuela. It was fitted with sought-after Rudge knock-off wheels and an optional hard top. As standard, the 507 was equipped with a V-8 engine and 4-speed ZF manual transmission. The antique piece eventually made its way to Montreal, Canada, and was snapped up by the current owner’s late father in 1979. It was driven straight into a suburban garage in Philadelphia and has been sitting there for the past 43 years. According to the auction house, the two-door was actually part of a fleet of 507s kept by the family and was only started up very occasionally. As for the condition, the BMW was treated to a makeover in the early ‘70s and repainted in Pontiac Bright Blue Metallic. Inside the original leather interior has what Bonhams calls a “lived-in” appearance. You can check out the car below: Images: Bonham

Money & Banking

How to tell if your AirBnb has a hidden camera

While there are a lot of things that come to mind when planning a holiday, worrying about safety in your accommodation is probably at the end of your list. However, with a rise of home-rental services and the easy accessibility to surveillance technology, it's an important thing to consider. More and more travellers have come forward in recent years about their horror stories of discovering a hidden camera in a short term rental, putting out the warning to others. In a now-viral video posted to TikTok by Marcus Hutchins, he outlines how to spot hidden cameras in hotels and Airbnbs. “Take this fire alarm for instance, it is placed right above the bed,” the British backpacker says in the video. “Now one way to see if the device is a camera is to shine a bright light at it. If you hit a camera lens it’s going to get a blue-ish reflection.” Marcus also details how alarm clocks can double as cameras, as he demonstrates in his video by shining his smart phone's flash on a mirrored clock face revealing a tiny camera lens behind the screen on one side of the digital counter. “If we shine a bright light at it, we can shine through the glass, and see there’s a camera there. Now, this technique can also work on two-way mirrors.” The video has racked up over 5 million views, and has served as another reminder to always be cautious when travelling. Image credits: Shutterstock

Travel Tips

The hidden dangers of investing in property

When it comes to investing in property, there are several things that can jeopardise the perfect sale to add to your portfolio. While it's important to be aware of the risks, there are also a few hidden “dangers” that each buyer needs to feel out on an individual basis. In order to make the best decisions, keep a lookout for these secret dangers in investing in property and how to properly manage them. Buying in your local neighbourhood Despite emotional attachment, investing in the neighbourhood you live in may not be the best idea for long-term capital growth. If there are over 10,000 real estate markets across Australia, statistically speaking the odds are very low that the property for sale right next door is your best choice. In order to make the best choices, it’s best to analyse and compare markets from all over the country to make the perfect pick and to minimise risk. Relying on “friendly” real estate agents While a lot of agents are there to guide you through the selling and buying process, it's easy to fall for a real estate agent’s charm. Just remember, they are working for the vendor, and their best interest is maximum profit for their client. The same goes for non-independent buyer’s agents who effectively are just sales agents for developers. Do your own research and comparisons on any investment, or seek the help of a truly independent buyer’s agent to assist you in the process. Not considering the risks in investment Buying property is a risky game, as vacancy, bad tenants or even interest rate rises can throw a spanner in the works. Engaging with professionals can help mitigate the risks, and help you be more aware of the harsh reality of investing. It’s important to embrace these risks and learn how to reduce them, not shy away from them. Short term vs. long term Buyers, investors and estate agents can tend to be reactive to what is happening in the market right now, and focusing on short term gains. The key to success in property is to take a long-term approach and ignore all the short-term noise. Starting with a plan first, then actively seeking out properties that suit your investment criteria will move you away from just being another property speculator to a true investor. Image credits: Getty Images

Real Estate

18 hidden voice memos features you never knew about

Make the most of your voice memo app Your iPhone is packed with productivity tools, but you don’t have to download a dozen apps for your device to become a true time-saver. Apple’s voice memo app alone can add to your productivity, help you keep track of your appointments and reminders, and act as your personal assistant. Use Voice Memos to record conversations, meetings, lectures, and the great idea you had while driving or walking the dog. You can even record a phone call on your iPhone by using the Voice Memos app. The app is easy to locate – you’ll find it in your Utilities folder, though you can move it wherever you’d like, or ask Siri to open it for you. It’s easy to use. It’s available on iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch and Apple computers. And best of all, it’s free. There’s no time limit for recordings (it’s dependent on the internal storage capacity of your device), so you can likely record that entire lecture without worry. Scroll down for tips that take you beyond voice memo recording and to all of the truly cool things you can do with a voice memo app. Record a voice memo There are a whole host of reasons you might make good use of a voice memo app. Maybe your boss loves to have walking meetings, but you’re not quite skilled at walking, note-taking… and not running into a tree. Maybe you’re meeting colleagues for a brainstorming dinner and want to keep track of everyone’s ideas. Or maybe you need a quick way to take down a brilliant idea – for a business, a birthday gift, you name it – during your commute. It’s incredibly easy to use your iPhone’s Voice Memos app. (Just be sure to ask the other person’s permission first!) Here’s how: Open the Voice Memos app. To start recording, tap the red record button. Boom! You’re recording your conversation. Pause a recording While you may often record straight through without breaks, there are times when you may want to pause a recording. For instance, during an important lunch meeting with colleagues, you really don’t need to keep track of your coworkers ordering coffee at the care. This iPhone trick will also be helpful during conversations with long pauses or when you’re put on hold. Here’s how to do it: While recording, tap or swipe up on the recording field at the bottom of your screen to bring it into full-screen view. Tap the pause symbol to temporarily stop recording. Tap Resume to continue. Stop a recording When you’re done recording your conversation, remember to actually stop the recording or you’ll be stuck with a really long voice memo that eats into your storage space. Here’s how to do it: <ul> <li>In partial-screen view: Hit the red square.</li> <li>In full-screen view: Tap the pause button, then hit the word Done.</li> </ul> Delete a recording Not every recording is worth saving. If you decide you don’t need yours, it’s easy to delete. Here’s how to do that: In your All Recordings list, find the voice memo you’d like to delete. Select the recording to expand the field. Tap the trash can. Recover a recently deleted recording If you delete the wrong file, don’t panic. Just as you can recover deleted photos, you can recover recently deleted recordings. Just follow the steps below. Navigate to the main Voice Memos screen. Tap Recently Deleted. Tap the recording you’d like to restore. Select Recover to restore your recording. To recover multiple deleted voice memos, select Edit in the upper-right corner. Tap all of the recordings you’d like to restore, then select Recover All from the lower left-hand corner. One thing to bear in mind: you only have about 30 days to recover deleted files. Save a recording in the Voice Memos app If you’re satisfied with your recording, you’ll want to save it. Thankfully, a voice memo on iPhone saves automatically. As soon as you stop a recording, it’ll save in the Voice Memos app and appear in your All Recordings list. Yep, it’s actually as simple as that. Rename your recording Be sure to give your file a new name so you’ll be able to find it easily in the future. Here’s how to do that: Tap the recording. Tap on the name. Type your new file name. Save a recording to an iCloud folder While Voice Memos automatically saves a recording, you may want to save it to iCloud for extra security – or so you can access it from any device. By following the steps below, you’ll ensure your voice memo remains in the app and in your chosen folder. Tap the recording you want to move. Look for a circle with three dots in it. Tap it. Select Save to Files from the list below. Tap the folder you’d like to add it to. To create a new iCloud folder, tap the folder icon in the top right corner. Organise recordings in Voice Memos folders If you use the voice memo app often, you may want to organise your recordings to make them easier to find, just as you would organise your apps for easier access. You can group them in folders, which you’ll find on the main Voice Memos screen. Here’s how to move a voice memo to a folder: Tap the recording you want to move. Tap the circle with three dots in it (to the right of the recording’s name). Select Move to Folder from the list below. Tap on the folder you want your recording to appear in. To create a new folder, tap the folder icon in the lower right-hand corner. Give the folder a name, then select Save. Select that folder to save your recording there. Crop a recording There are many reasons why you might want to crop your new file. Musicians often use the Voice Memos app and then crop out the bits they don’t want to share. One thing to keep in mind: While the crop icon looks the same as in Voice Memos as it does in other apps, the function is actually called Trim. Navigate to your All Recordings list. Tap the voice memo you want to crop. Tap the button to the right of your recording that looks like three small dots in a circle. Select the Edit Recording option. Tap the crop tool at the top right of the file. Drag the yellow trim handles until the section you want to keep is highlighted in yellow and the section you want to crop is in white. Be sure to check that you’re keeping the part you want. Tap the play button to listen. Click the Trim button to crop everything except the section highlighted in yellow. Tap save and then Done, and you’re good to go. You can also delete an entire portion of your recording. With the section selected (it’ll be yellow), tap the Delete button. Remember, Trim removes everything except the yellow segment, while Delete removes the yellow segment. Replace sections of a recording If you mumbled or coughed in the middle of an important voice memo, fear not! It’s really easy to record over the bits you don’t like. Go to your All Recordings list. Tap the recording you want to fix. Tap the button to the right of your recording that looks like three small dots in a circle. Select Edit Recording. Move your finger over the waveform (the lines that visually represent your recording) until you’re in the section of your recording you want to replace. Tap the red Replace button to start recording. The waveform will turn red while you record. Tap the pause button when you’re done. Check your recording by hitting the play button. If you’re satisfied, tap Done to save your changes. The great news: You can do this in as many places as you like to make sure you’re happy with the entire recording. Speed up or slow down a recording If a fast or slow talker is making your voice memo sound weird, or if you need to speed up or slow down a section of music, you can do that easily with the voice memo app. Navigate to your All Recordings list. Tap the audio file you want to speed up or slow down. You’ll see an icon in the bottom left corner that looks like a synthesizer, or three lines with buttons. Tap the icon. Under Playback Speed, move the horizontal slider to the left (toward the tortoise icon) to slow down the playback speed of your recording. Move it to the right (toward the hare) to speed up your recording. Tap the X at the top right of the box to close the screen. Press play on your recording to test the new speed. If you’re not happy with the way it sounds, return to the Playback Speed function and select the blue Reset option. When you’re happy with the recording, tap the X to close the screen again. Automatically skip silences in a recording Unlike in real life, it’s really easy to remove awkward silences from recordings in your Voice Memos app. Tap the audio file you want to edit. Tap the icon in the lower-left corner that looks like a synthesiser (three stacked lines, each with a knob). Toggle on the Skip Silence button. Tap the X icon. Tap the play button to listen to the recording and see if you like the way it sounds. Enhance a recording While writing this article, I was typing in the background. I also coughed quite a few times, which didn’t sound amazing on my recording. If you have street noises or other background sounds on your voice memo or just want to create a more professional recording, you can easily enhance it, just as I did. Tap the audio file you want to edit. Tap the icon in the lower-left corner that looks like a synthesiser (three stacked lines, each with a knob). Toggle on the Enhance Recording button. Tap the X icon. Tap the play button to listen to the recording and see if you like the way it sounds. Duplicate a recording Before you edit any recording, you probably should make a backup. That way, if you end up hating your edits, you always have a fresh copy of the original. It’s also helpful if you want to compare the original with the edits. Go to your All Recordings list. Tap the recording you want to duplicate. Tap the button to the right of your recording that looks like three small dots inside a circle. Select Duplicate from the list. The copy of your recording will appear directly below the original with the word “copy” added to the file name. Tap the file to change the file name. Copy a recording I like to keep copies of all my important files in several places. If a file becomes corrupted, I can head to my backup and work from there. Here’s how to copy a recording in your iPhone Voice Memos app. Go to your All Recordings list. Tap the recording you want to copy. Tap the button to the right of your recording that looks like three small dots in a circle. Select Copy from the list. From there, you can paste the voice memo into an email or text to send to yourself (or someone else) as a backup. Share a recording There are many reasons why you might want to share your recording. Maybe your colleagues want a copy of that daylong meeting you recorded or you’re sending your audio notes to someone for transcription. The Voice Memos app makes sharing your file super simple; just follow the steps below. Navigate to your All Recordings list. Tap the file you want to share. Tap the button to the right of your recording that looks like three small dots in a circle. Select Share from the options below. Select how you’d like to share this file, such as via email, text, or AirDrop. Record a phone call Maybe you’re speaking with a lawyer and want to catch every last detail. Or maybe you’re interviewing someone. Whatever your reason, it’s helpful to know how to record a phone conversation. Apple doesn’t make that easy – you can’t record a call in Voice Memos while you’re on your phone. But there’s a workaround: Use two devices. Open the Voice Memos app on your iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, or Mac computer. Start recording by tapping the red record button. Make your phone call from a different phone. Be sure to place the call on speaker so Voice Memos captures both sides of the conversation. When your call is over, hang up the phone and stop recording. Written by Rachel Weingarten. This article first appeared in <a href="https://www.readersdigest.co.nz/true-stories-lifestyle/science-technology/18-hidden-voice-memos-features-you-never-knew-about" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reader’s Digest</a>. For more of what you love from the world’s best-loved magazine, <a href="http://readersdigest.innovations.co.nz/c/readersdigestemailsubscribe?utm_source=over60&utm_medium=articles&utm_campaign=RDSUB&keycode=WRA87V" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here’s our best subscription offer.</a> Image: Getty Images

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Homesick for ourselves – the hidden grief of ageing

The hidden dangers of household products

5 TV shows with hidden meanings in their names

Hidden jokes in your favourite TV shows

Bindi Irwin breaks down on camera about health condition

1 in 4 households struggle to pay power bills. Here are 5 ways to tackle hidden energy poverty

5 hidden sugar bombs you should be aware of

The hidden health benefits of spices

Dog found hidden in carry-on bag at airport security

Hidden message in JLo’s engagement ring

Aussie octopuses caught on camera slinging mud

New discovery: really good violins make hidden, subtle sounds

7th century gold coins found hidden in wall

10 European villages you haven’t been to

“A mockery of my tipuna”: Traditional tattoo camera filter sparks outcry

Hidden Van Gogh self-portrait uncovered

Super rare car hidden in barn for 40 years set to sell for huge sum

How to tell if your AirBnb has a hidden camera

The hidden dangers of investing in property

18 hidden voice memos features you never knew about

News

Shop

Catalogues

Travel

Health

Lifestyle

Finance

Entertainment

Property

Information

Keep up to date

Search

Homesick for ourselves – the hidden grief of ageing

The hidden dangers of household products

5 TV shows with hidden meanings in their names

Hidden jokes in your favourite TV shows

Bindi Irwin breaks down on camera about health condition

1 in 4 households struggle to pay power bills. Here are 5 ways to tackle hidden energy poverty

5 hidden sugar bombs you should be aware of

The hidden health benefits of spices

Dog found hidden in carry-on bag at airport security

Hidden message in JLo’s engagement ring

Aussie octopuses caught on camera slinging mud

New discovery: really good violins make hidden, subtle sounds

7th century gold coins found hidden in wall

10 European villages you haven’t been to

“A mockery of my tipuna”: Traditional tattoo camera filter sparks outcry

Hidden Van Gogh self-portrait uncovered

Super rare car hidden in barn for 40 years set to sell for huge sum

How to tell if your AirBnb has a hidden camera

The hidden dangers of investing in property

18 hidden voice memos features you never knew about

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