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"Stuff youse": Pensioner who's never owned a phone fights mobile detection camera fine

A pensioner from New South Wales has disputed a fine he was issued for using his phone while driving, despite never owning a phone. Frank Singh, 77, was captured on a mobile phone detection camera while driving on the Pacific Motorway last September, and was issued a fine for $362. Mr Singh has refused to pay the fine, claiming that he was holding his wallet when the image was captured. He also claims to have never owned a mobile phone or a computer in his life, wondering how the camera made such a mistake. The senior man decided to appeal and take Revenue NSW to court, despite the risk of paying thousands in legal fees if he lost the case. "Looks like I'm guilty on it, but I'm not," he told A Current Affair. "I thought, what the bloody hell is this all about, I don't own a mobile phone. I've never used a mobile phone. What a load of s***." When questioned what the item could be, he said, "I think it could be my wallet." While Mr Singh admitted he can't specifically remember what he was doing at the time, he believes he was possibly placing his wallet on the passenger seat after paying for fuel. Unfortunately, the review of the fine was rejected and Frank was ordered to pay the $362, but he has not given up. "Then I thought stuff youse, I'm not guilty, I don't own a bloody phone," he said. While preparing to appeal the fine once more, Revenue NSW revoked the fine after issuing a letter to Mr Singh saying he would not be required in court following an investigation by the government body. "We have decided to cancel the fine," the letter read. "You little bloody beauty, how good's that," Mr Singh said on hearing the news, before planning to celebrate the win with a beer at his local pub. Image credits: A Current Affair

Legal

“The stuff of nightmares”: Baked to imperfection

Some people are destined for the kitchen, while others may be better suited to a career in comedy, if these cake decorating disasters are anything to go by. Even armed with a visual guide and the world’s best intentions, some bakers are just in for a wild time - and thanks to some good-natured social media posts, we can all enjoy the colourful consequences right along with them. Lucy was one such baker to face a betrayal from her cake. Posting to the Facebook page Woolies/Coles Mudcake Hacks, she shared her experience trying to follow professional baker Tegan ‘Tigga’ Maccormack’s Bluey birthday cake tutorial. Needless to say, their end results weren’t exactly mirror images. "Enjoy this absolute abomination - it looked easy on TikTok," Lucy wrote, attaching a picture of her hilarious creation. Fellow Facebook users loved her attempt, with some even trying to make Lucy feel better. One informed her that although it was nothing like the inspiration picture, it was “very cute”. “OMG I genuinely love it!” another declared. “It made me smile, thank you for sharing.” Meanwhile, one mum wrote that her seven-year-old encouraged Lucy to “keep trying!”, before stating that “it looks so bad she should probably eat the whole thing.” On Reddit, someone had another unfortunate cake story to share - though this time they weren’t the baker responsible, simply the customer who got something they certainly hadn’t paid for. “The ice cream cake we ordered vs what we received,” they wrote, sharing the image of two monkey cakes. One, the ‘expectation’ image, was a smoothly iced monkey head. The second, the ‘received’ product, was at least discernible as a monkey, even if the ‘smooth’ icing job left a lot to be desired. “This was an ice cream cake from Baskin Robbins," it was explained. “They usually come out exactly as pictured online, but this time was truly spectacular." And while many thought this particular approach to replicating the vision was hilarious, most were of the opinion that this had not actually been a failure, but instead an improvement. According to the majority in the comments, “frosting tastes much better than fondant” anyway. Another Reddit user referenced a tweet they’d seen of another cake disaster, this time of a Minnie Mouse cake that someone had purchased for their niece, and the nightmare they’d gotten in return. “I saw that it was posted in Arabic on Twitter, and it was pretty funny,” the Reddit user said, “so I just wanted to share it with a wider audience!" “The cake's shininess is the stuff of nightmares,” was all one had to say about it. “I would not have paid for that abomination,” another said. Thankfully for the individual who had dealt with the cake firsthand, they were able to return it for a full refund. "The cake was for my sister for her birthday," they told TODAY. "In the beginning, it was a horrible shock for us, but after I posted the picture on Twitter, I was laughing because of people's reactions." Images: Instagram, Facebook, Reddit, Shutterstock

Food & Wine

Stuff-up or conspiracy? Whistleblowers claim Facebook deliberately let important non-news pages go down in news blackout

On Friday, the Wall Street Journal published information from Facebook whistleblowers, alleging Facebook (which is owned by Meta) deliberately caused havoc in Australia last year <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/facebook-deliberately-caused-havoc-in-australia-to-influence-new-law-whistleblowers-say-11651768302">to influence the News Media Bargaining Code</a> before it was passed as law. During Facebook’s news blackout in February 2021, thousands of non-news pages were also blocked – including important emergency, health, charity and government pages. Meta has continued to argue the takedown of not-for-profit and government pages was a technical error. It remains to be seen whether the whistleblower revelations will lead to Facebook being taken to court. The effects of Facebook’s “error” The <a href="https://theconversation.com/in-a-world-first-australia-plans-to-force-facebook-and-google-to-pay-for-news-but-abc-and-sbs-miss-out-143740">News Media Bargaining Code</a> was first published in July 2020, with a goal to have Facebook and Google pay Australian news publishers for the content they provide to the platforms. It was passed by the House of Representatives (Australia’s lower house) on February 17 2021. That same day, Facebook retaliated by issuing a <a href="https://about.fb.com/news/2021/02/changes-to-sharing-and-viewing-news-on-facebook-in-australia/">statement</a> saying it would remove access to news media business pages on its platform – a threat it had first made in August 2020. It was arguably a reasonable threat of capital strike by a foreign direct investor, in respect to new regulation it regarded as “harmful” – and which it believed fundamentally “misunderstands the relationship between [its] platform and publishers who use it to share news content”. However, the range of pages blocked was extensive. Facebook has a label called the “News Page Index” which can be applied to its pages. News media pages, such as those of the ABC and SBS, are included in the index. All Australian pages on this index were taken down during Facebook’s news blackout. But Facebook also blocked access to other pages, such as the page of the satirical website <a href="https://www.betootaadvocate.com">The Betoota Advocate</a>. The broadness of Facebook’s approach was also evidenced by the blocking of its own corporate page. The <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2021/feb/18/time-to-reactivate-myspace-the-day-australia-woke-up-to-a-facebook-news-blackout">most major harm</a>, however, came from blocks to not-for-profit pages, including cancer charities, the Bureau of Meteorology and a variety of state health department pages – at a time when they were delivering crucial information about COVID-19 and vaccines. Whistleblowers emerge The whistleblower material published by the Wall Street Journal, which was also filed to the US Department of Justice and the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), includes several email chains that show Facebook decided to implement its blocking threat through a broad strategy. The argument for its broad approach was based on an anti-avoidance clause in the News Media Bargaining Code. The effect of the clause was to ensure Facebook didn’t attempt to avoid the rules of the code by simply substituting Australian news with international news for Australian users. In other words, it would have to be all or nothing. As a consequence, Facebook did not use its News Page Index. It instead classified a domain as “news” if “60% [or] more of a domain’s content shared on Facebook is classified as news”. One product manager wrote: <blockquote> Hey everyone – the [proposed Australian law] we are responding to is extremely broad, so guidance from the policy and legal team has been to be over-inclusive and refine as we get more information. </blockquote> The blocking approach was algorithmic and based on these rules. There were some exceptions, that included not blocking “.gov” – but no such exclusion for “.gov.au”. The effect of this was the taking down of many charity and government pages. The whistleblower material makes it clear a number of Facebook employees offered solutions to the perceived overreach. This included one employee proposal that Facebook should “proactively find all the affected pages and restore them”. However, the documents show these calls were ignored. According to the Wall Street Journal: <blockquote> The whistleblower documents show Facebook did attempt to exclude government and education pages. But people familiar with Facebook’s response said some of these lists malfunctioned at rollout, while other whitelists didn’t cover enough pages to avoid widespread improper blocking. </blockquote> Amendments following the blackout Following Facebook’s news blackout, there were last-minute amendments to the draft legislation before it was passed through the Senate. The main change was that the News Media Bargaining Code would only apply to Facebook if deals were not struck with a range of key news businesses (which so far has not included SBS or <a href="https://twitter.com/ConversationEDU/status/1440562209206128653?s=20&t=FsviAWBLX7mKumr80Qiwzg">The Conversation</a>). It’s not clear whether the amendment was as a result of Facebook’s actions, or if it would have been introduced in the Senate anyway. In either case, Facebook said it was “<a href="https://about.fb.com/news/2021/02/changes-to-sharing-and-viewing-news-on-facebook-in-australia/">satisfied</a>” with the outcome, and ended its news blackout. Facebook denies the accusations The definitions of “core news content” and “news source” in the News Media Bargaining Code were reasonably narrow. So Facebook’s decision to block pages so broadly seems problematic – especially from the perspective of reputational risk. But as soon as that risk crystallised, Facebook denied intent to cause any harm. A Meta spokesperson said the removal of non-news pages was a “mistake” and “any suggestion to the contrary is categorically and obviously false”. Referring to the whistleblower documents, the spokesperson said: <blockquote> The documents in question clearly show that we intended to exempt Australian government pages from restrictions in an effort to minimise the impact of this misguided and harmful legislation. When we were unable to do so as intended due to a technical error, we apologised and worked to correct it. </blockquote> Possible legal action In the immediate aftermath of Facebook’s broad news takedown, former ACCC chair Allan Fels <a href="https://www.news.com.au/technology/online/social/facebook-could-face-lawsuits-for-unconscionable-conduct-over-nonnews-wipe-out/news-story/b312cef33b8e2261e8b5743f9bf87ca6">suggested</a> there could be a series of class actions against Facebook. His basis was that Facebook’s action was unconscionable under the <a href="http://classic.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/cth/consol_act/caca2010265/toc-sch2.html">Australian Consumer Law</a>. We have not seen these actions taken. It’s not clear whether the whistleblower material changes the likelihood of legal action against Facebook. If legal action is taken, it’s more likely to be a civil case taken by an organisation that has been harmed, rather than a criminal case. On the other hand, one reading of the material is Facebook did indeed overreach out of caution, and then reduced the scope of its blocking over a short period. Facebook suffered reputational harm as a result of its actions and apologised. However, if it engaged in similar actions in other countries, the balance between its actions being a stuff up, versus conspiracy, changes. The Wall Street Journal described Facebook’s approach as an “overly broad and sloppy process”. Such a process isn’t good practice, but done once, it’s unlikely to be criminal. On the other hand, repeating it would create a completely different set of potential liabilities and causes of action. <hr /> Disclosure: Facebook has refused to negotiate a deal with The Conversation under the News Media Bargaining Code. In response, The Conversation has called for Facebook to be “designated” by the Treasurer under the Code. This means Facebook would be forced to pay for content published by The Conversation on its platform.<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/182673/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/rob-nicholls-91073" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Rob Nicholls</a>, Associate professor in regulation and governance, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/unsw-sydney-1414" target="_blank" rel="noopener">UNSW Sydney</a> This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/stuff-up-or-conspiracy-whistleblowers-claim-facebook-deliberately-let-important-non-news-pages-go-down-in-news-blackout-182673" target="_blank" rel="noopener">original article</a>. Image: Getty Images

Technology

"This is serious stuff": Kochie's on-air clash with PM

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has been involved in an on-air spat with Sunrise host David Koch over Australia's unemployment rate. During a segment, Kochie ended the chat with ScoMo by asking about a “lighthearted story” of a Sydney council threatening not to empty the rubbish of a resident who has plastered anti-ScoMo stickers on his bins. The stickers show Mr Morrison holding a lump of coal in parliament with the phrase "bin him". When the Sunrise host asked the Prime Minister what he thought of the stickers, the PM immediately tried to deflect the question. “I will leave that to the mayor of Hornsby,” Mr Morrison said, before he continued on. “What I’m focused on is ensuring our economic plans continues to work, unemployment down four per cent …,” he said. Koch then spoke over the top of him, saying “yeah yeah yeah”. “No David, not yeah, yeah yeah. This is serious stuff,” Mr Morrison retaliated. Kochie fired back saying, “It is serious, but you’d made the point earlier on that. We’re trying to finish with something a bit light hearted.” “I’ll let him [the Hornsby mayor] deal with taking the bins out. I’ll get on with strengthening the economy,” Mr Morrison said in response. Koch made one parting remark as he farewelled the Prime Minister, saying, “We all have to keep smiling.” Philip Ruddock, the mayor in question from Hornsby Shire Council, defended his council's decision not to empty the bins on Wednesday. He told 2GB that stickers of any form weren’t allowed “on public furniture”. “Political advertising should be done on private property,” he said. Image credits: Sunrise

Deborah Hutton gives rare update: “Don’t stuff around with your health”

Deborah Hutton has shared a rare update on her battle with skin cancer, one year on. The 59-year-old underwent an incredibly invasive surgery to remove facial Basal Cell Carcinoma, a type of skin cancer. 12 months on since the terrifying ordeal, the star has shared a side-by-side before-and-after shot to her Instagram page. "I can't believe it's been 12 months since surgery. But LOOK 👀 😁#nomakeup over scar!" the television host wrote. "Message is clear and simple...don't be afraid, don't put it off, don't delay...If you haven't had your skin checked with a professional in the last 12 months, it's time to get an appt. 🙏🏼 <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/CPUtz1VDP2h/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="13"> <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/CPUtz1VDP2h/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Deborah Hutton (@deborahhutton)</a> </div> </blockquote> "If I'd jumped on it sooner than I did I might have avoided such an invasive surgery. "Just goes to show 🙄" Hutton revealed in 2020 that her skin cancer diagnosis had come. She urged fans to get their skin checked before it was a little too late. "I have ummed and aahed about posting this but after having the stitches out from another major surgery to remove 2 skin cancers, and being extreme grateful they've got it all, I feel it's only right to remind you to get your SKIN CHECKED! Please 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼," she captioned her post. <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/CA4dT-bDNES/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="13"> <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/CA4dT-bDNES/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Deborah Hutton (@deborahhutton)</a> </div> </blockquote> "Early detection is everything!! Don't delay. To look at the area around my nose prior to surgery, nothing was visible to the naked eye. "Only my dermatologist flagged it months earlier...So don't stuff around with your health!" Hutton also revealed that she had previously been diagnosed with skin cancer one time previously. "My skin will heal and in the coming months you'll hardly see the scar,” she said. “I've been here before 9 years ago. Skin heals beautifully but only if you give it the chance before it's too late. "Extremely grateful to my surgeon and the nurses who looked after me 🙏🏼💙 huge thanks 🙏🏼 💙"

Caring

“It’s just a stuff-up”: Kerri-Anne Kennerley defends magazine amid racism furore

Kerri-Anne Kennerley has defended Who magazine after the publication used the wrong photo in a feature spread about a South-Sudanese Australian model. Adut Akech said she felt “very disrespected” after Who illustrated her interview story with a picture of another model, Flavia Lazarus. “Not only do I personally feel insulted and disrespected, but I feel like my entire race has been disrespected,” Akech wrote in an Instagram post. “It goes to show that people are very ignorant and narrowminded that they think every black girl or African people looks the same. I feel as though this would’ve not happened to a white model.” <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/B1lk21lhek_/" 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> <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/B1lk21lhek_/" target="_blank">I’ve have given some deep thoughts the past few days on how to approach this situation that isn’t sitting well with me. For those who are not aware, last week @whomagazine (Australia) published a feature article about me. In the interview I spoke about how people view refugees and peoples attitude to colour in general. With the article they published a large photo saying it was me. But it was of another black girl. This has upset me, has made me angry, it has made me feel very disrespected and to me is unacceptable and inexcusable under any circumstances. Not only do I personally feel insulted and disrespected but I feel like my entire race has been disrespected too and it is why I feel it is important that I address this issue. Whoever did this clearly the thought that was me in that picture and that’s not okay. This is a big deal because of what I spoke about in my interview. By this happening I feel like it defeated the purpose of what I stand for and spoke about. It goes to show that people are very ignorant and narrowminded that they think every black girl or African people looks the same. I feel as though this would’ve not happened to a white model. My aim for this post is not to bash Who Magazine -they have apologised to me directly - but I feel like I need to express publicly how I feel. This has deeply affected me and we need to start an important conversation that needs to happen. I’m sure that I’m not the first person that’s experienced this and it needs to stop. I’ve been called by the name of another models who happens to be of the same Ethnicity, I find it very ignorant, rude and disrespectful towards both of us simply because we know that this doesn’t happen with white models. I want this to be somewhat of a wake up call to people within the industry it’s not OK and you need to do better. Big publications need to make sure that they fact check things before publishing them especially when its real stories and interviews and not just some made up rumors. To those who work at shows and shoots it’s important that you don’t mix up models names. Australia you’ve a lot of work to do and you’ve got to do better and that goes to the rest of the industry</a> <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/adutakech/" target="_blank"> Adut Akech Bior</a> (@adutakech) on Aug 25, 2019 at 5:34am PDT </div> </blockquote> In response to the news, Kennerley said the mistake had nothing to do with racism. “I think [Akech]’s just taking this way too far, if she thinks it’s all about racism … somebody made a mistake,” Kennerley said on Studio 10. She explained that she had been mistaken for 60 Minutes journalist Liz Hayes on several occasions. “It’s a big mistake, but it’s happened to me before … It’s just a stuff-up.” Fellow presenter Angela Bishop challenged Kennerley, asking whether her mix-ups were comparable to Akech’s case. “Was yours in a social page’s snap … as opposed to an entire article about Adut, featuring on her success, the fact that she’s the face of Melbourne Fashion Week, currently the hottest model in the world?” Akech said in the Who feature article, she spoke about the public perception of refugees and “people’s attitude to colour in general”. The 19-year-old model said while the magazine has apologised to her for the incident, she still felt the need to address the issue. “This is a big deal because of what I spoke about in my interview,” she wrote. “By this happening I feel like it defeated the purpose of what I stand for and spoke about. “I’m sure that I’m not the first person that’s experienced this and it needs to stop. “Australia you’ve a lot of work to do and you've got to do better and that goes to the rest of the industry.” The magazine said the public relations agency OPR, which sent the pictures on behalf of Melbourne Fashion Week, “supplied us with the wrong photograph to accompany the piece”. A spokesperson for Who told <a href="https://10daily.com.au/news/australia/a190826quogc/it-was-another-black-girl-aussie-supermodel-slams-photo-mixup-20190826">10daily</a> that it “sincerely apologises for the incorrect image that appeared in this week’s magazine”. OPR said in a statement to <a href="https://mumbrella.com.au/this-doesnt-happen-with-white-models-opr-and-who-magazine-under-fire-for-misidentifying-adut-akech-595305">Mumbrella</a> that the agency sent photos of model images, including those of Akech, to the magazine. “Regardless of where the administrative error was made, we sincerely regret any upset it has caused to the models involved, and our client the City of Melbourne.” In a statement on its Instagram page, the Melbourne Fashion Week said it was “extremely disappointed” of the mistake on the magazine. <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/B1nNdHbphIo/" 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/B1nNdHbphIo/" target="_blank">A post shared by Melbourne Fashion Week (@melbfashionweek)</a> on Aug 25, 2019 at 8:48pm PDT </div> </blockquote> “Both Adut and Flavia have expressed their disappointment and we support them. This error is unacceptable, and both Who Magazine and our public relations agency, OPR, have apologised,” the statement read. Akech is the 2019 ambassador of the Melbourne Fashion Week. She was one of the 15 women handpicked by Duchess Meghan for the cover of British Vogue’s September issue. Last year, she was also voted Model of the Year in Models.com’s industry vote.

News

“Stuff the lot of them!”: Karl Stefanovic's harsh words

Former Today host Karl Stefanovic has defended his Channel 9 colleague Deborah Knight after she revealed that she spends part of everyday “just dealing with trolls”. Knight was being interviewed by Stefanovic on radio station 2GB when she revealed just how bad the trolls are. “I don’t want to beat up the impact that the trolls are having on me because I’m a tough cookie and I’m in the public eye,” she started off. “I’ve got to work to make a living and I shouldn’t have to apologise for that. I’m flabbergasted that working hard is something that is considered a negative. “Mummy guilt is a vicious thing. I beat myself up about it enough as it is. I’d love to spend more time at home and not have to work to make a living. “But since when did working hard to create a future for my kids become something to criticise?” she finished. Stefanovic was in disbelief that his colleague had to deal with “mummy guilt”. “I can’t believe you have to deal with this," Stefanovic told her. “You are an incredible broadcaster, a great mum and a good person. Stuff the lot of them.” <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/B0e7hASBf3E/" 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> <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/B0e7hASBf3E/" target="_blank">Rare to have the TV face on for radio.. in the chair for @steveprice7571 on @2gb873 and @newstalk4bc</a> <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/deborah_knight/" target="_blank"> Deborah Knight</a> (@deborah_knight) on Jul 28, 2019 at 7:06pm PDT </div> </blockquote> Stefanovic said he had also felt the wrath of Facebook and Twitter trolls. “Sometimes it can get you at the wrong time of day, or you’re having a tough week and you take real offence to it,” he said on 2GB. “There are people out there who aren’t used to it who are really going to be bullied. “They’re called keyboard warriors, but I like to refer to them as keyboard cowards.” Knight agreed. “People who hide behind the keyboard need to lay off the pile on mentality. It’s so boring.” WSFM breakfast host and Channel 10 personality Amanda Keller came to Knight’s defence as well and said that she had been “triggered” by online abuse. “I get defensive when people say to me, ‘God, could you be any busier?’ or ‘When are you ever at home?’ because they’ve seen me on a show that was recorded in the middle of the day, two months ago,” she said on WSFM’s Jonsey and Amanda show yesterday morning.

Technology

Who wants your parents' stuff?

Helping your parents clean out the family home or, even worse, taking on the task after they’ve died can be heartbreaking – layers of history to be sorted through; decisions to be made about what should be saved and what to do with the rest. While no one wants to look on the exercise as a money-making venture, taking the time to sell items that have some value not only helps cover the costs involved with moving, but also has the benefit of being more environmentally friendly than sending everything to the tip. The first step is to work out how much time you have. If you and your siblings already have full plates, you can call in an expert team to do the clearance, once you’ve removed items – keepsakes, photographs, documents – you want to keep. Rebecca Mezzino operates Adelaide-based company <a href="http://clearspace.net.au/">Clear Space</a>, which offers downsizing and estate clearances. She works with local dealers and auction houses to sell whatever has value, donates usable goods to charities and disposes of any rubbish. She also has some tips for doing the job yourself. “Most of the services you need are quite separate,” says Rebecca. “So, you can get a second-hand dealer to come and take what they want, you can get a skip to put rubbish in, and you can take things to the Salvo’s, but it’s quite difficult to get it all done in one go.” Of course, the average person won’t know whether a piece of furniture will be worth anything to someone else. Auction houses, advises Rebecca, will look at photos of your goods and tell you whether it’s worth selling them. Second-hand dealers, too, will visit and take away what they think they can sell. “Anything that’s mid-century vintage is in demand,” says Rebecca. “Things like Dad’s old tools that are 50 or 60 years old will sell at auction, too. People will say to me, ‘It’s rusty and it’s old,’ but it should be sent to auction. There are often surprises.” Of course, with all sorts of information at your fingertips, you can use Google to get an idea of what people are paying for certain items. For instance, stamps on the bottom of vintage dinner sets or a silver tea set can help you date them, which is helpful when you’re talking to auction houses. Bids on sites like eBay (“not what sellers are listing them as a Buy Now price,” warns Rebecca) are also a good indication. For anything that isn’t considered a collectable – furniture and working white goods, for example – you can use a website such as Gumtree, where you’ll often get a better price than if you sell it at auction. “At auction houses you’ll get a bargain basement price,” says Rebecca, “but you do need to put effort into Gumtree. We always tell people not to throw anything away because you’d be surprised at what can be sold or what people will collect for free. Free stuff on Gumtree goes really quickly.” If your family has specific types of collections, it’s often worth contacting a specialised dealer. Nicole Jenkins from <a href="http://circavintageclothing.com.au/">Circa Vintage Fashion</a> in Melbourne often assesses collections during house clearances. “Many vintage fashion items are valuable not for their age, but for their quality, uniqueness and how favoured they are by the current market,” she explains. “There are a lot of points to consider, so if you think you’re handling a collection that might have exceptional value, it’s best to call in the experts for advice. It should be remembered that age does not necessarily equate to value, especially if it's in poor condition.” Nicole says couture labels, such as Chanel, Dior and Balenciaga, and garments from the 1960s and 70s – Australian labels such as Tullo, Prue Acton and House of Merivale, as well as Biba, Thea Porter, Pucci and Halston – are particularly sought after at the moment: “As a general rule, if it was expensive when originally purchased and it’s been maintained in excellent condition, then it should retain an element of that value – subject to the vagaries of fashion.” Similar experts can be sought out if you find a number of what could be rare vinyl records, antiquarian books or other well-maintained collections. As for sentiment, Rebecca says you should keep what means something to you and can’t be replaced. “I always say to clients, ‘What emotional need is this meeting?’ then ask how much is enough so they have all their emotional needs met. “Another good idea is to take photos of rooms and everything that leaves the house, then to put together a photo album of memories of the house. A lot of people can have their emotional needs met with just that.” Written by Carrie Hutchinson. Republished with permission of <a href="https://www.wyza.com.au/articles/lifestyle/wyza-life/who-wants-your-parents-stuff.aspx">Wyza.com.au.</a>

Caring

“Do you think I give a stuff about you?” Clive Palmer explodes on Today show

Clive Palmer, the United Australia Party leader, has made a bizarre appearance on the Today show saying his wealth is “four thousand million dollars” and that “do you think I give a stuff about what you personally think, or anyone else thinks?” He was on Today addressing his preference deal with the Liberal Party. Palmer wasn’t a fan of host Deborah Knight’s line of questioning, repeatedly shouting her down and accusing her of not listening to what he has to say. However, things took a turn for the worse when Knight reminded him of the time he fell asleep in parliament when serving as a member for Fairfax. “My wealth is $4000 million (sic),” Mr Palmer said. “Do you think I give a stuff about you, what you personally think or anyone else (thinks)?” <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"> “My wealth is four thousand million dollars, do you think I give a stuff about what you personally think?” <a href="https://twitter.com/CliveFPalmer?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CliveFPalmer</a> to <a href="https://twitter.com/deborah_knight?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Deborah_Knight</a>. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/9Today?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#9Today</a> <a href="https://t.co/JsAvt1eRLU">pic.twitter.com/JsAvt1eRLU</a> — The Today Show (@TheTodayShow) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheTodayShow/status/1122615758570131456?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 28, 2019</a></blockquote> Palmer continued on his rant, going on an odd tangent about how his family served in the First World War. “My members of my family have died in the First World War. Served at Tobruk and Kokoda … they have done more for this country than you or I can do. We are not going to let them down, the Anzacs down, who fought for this country.” Palmer also went on to describe opinion polls as “fake news”. “Do you think there would be all this fuss if we were polling five per cent? Of course we are not. We are polling much higher than that. And there is 28 per cent of Australians that have yet to make their decision.” <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"> Seriously? Newspoll is a conspiracy? The “real” support for the UAP will see it elected to govern? Now this really is unhinged. We’re told money can’t buy happiness but it seems an ability to make obscene amounts of it does not even require a loose grip on reality. <a href="https://t.co/kwS1g5zrDY">https://t.co/kwS1g5zrDY</a> — Mark Kenny (@markgkenny) <a href="https://twitter.com/markgkenny/status/1122629202291740674?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 28, 2019</a></blockquote> Knight listened to Palmer speak and ended the interview thanking him for his time. Palmer ended the segment with “God bless Australia”. Did you see the segment on Today this morning? What do you think of Clive Palmer's policies? Let us know in the comments.

News

Is this Australia’s worst road stuff-up?

It’s one of Sydney’s prime locations with a regular stream of major concerts and events, but good luck trying to get there. Sydney Olympic Park is the notorious location of what has been dubbed Australia’s most hated roundabout. Located at Australia Avenue and Underwood Road, the intersection had the dubious honour of being the state’s most complained about roundabout in 2015, according to Transport for NSW records. And just a few hundred metres away is a spot that’s been named the worst merging location for accidents in NSW — the intersection of Homebush Bay Drive and the M4 Motorway. <img width="417" height="313" src="http://cdn.newsapi.com.au/image/v1/b5a2f55b40485b911130f51343f55faf" alt="The area of concern." style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/> The location frequently experiences traffic congestion caused by the roundabout, making it a “disaster” spot when trying to change lanes. NRMA research head Robert McDonald told the <a href="https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/">Daily Telegraph</a>: “The Homebush Bay Drive intersection with the M4 is one of the busiest routes heading west. “It also has to contend with traffic from Flemington Markets, a major factory outlet (DFO) and Olympic Park.” The area is also the main access route for the nearby suburbs of Wentworth Point and Newington, so even if there are no events on at Olympic Park, the roads are often jammed with traffic. <img width="437" height="328" src="http://cdn.newsapi.com.au/image/v1/6ee2a84250da32589ca35b79d4ac0c36" alt="The G-Loop on-ramp connecting Homebush Bay Drive with the westbound lanes of the M4 Motorway." style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/> A new “g-loop” was installed last year to alleviate the problem – an access ramp funnels traffic that had previously built up while waiting to turn right from Homebush Bay Drive on to the M4, off to the left and around without the need to stop at traffic lights. However, this has simply caused confusion for motorist with many not realising they have to be in the left lane of the multi-lane road in order to turn right. Some realise too late and end up taking risks cutting across the lanes to make the turn-off. There is still confusion over while lane goes where, leading some drivers to ignore the road markings to make their exits.

Legal

Grant Denyer’s “X-rated” Sunrise stuff-up

Being the Sunrise weatherperson has got to be one of the top gigs in morning TV, but as a recent, secret admission from Grant Denyer proves, it’s also one of the easiest to lose. The 40-year-old one-time Sunrise weatherman has lifted the lid on the “X-rated” segment that cost him the plumb gig and led to him being temporarily booted from air. Denyer, who currently co-hosts Today FM radio show Em, Grant and Ed, revealed the secret from the first time to his co-hosts Em Rusciano and Ed Kavalee. “I was doing a weather cross from a pole dancing studio, for fitness ... I got kicked off halfway through the show on air. The hosts of the show I was working at didn’t really like the subject of the material,” Denyer explained. According to Denyer, a phone call from the hosts had him sent home. “I got a phone call saying, ‘Mate that last cross was a little too X-rated’... they said no more, thanks, go home… Three crosses in and I had six to do, they cut me.” “I was focusing on fitness, good athletes hard at it, showing body tone and core strength. And for that I got full disciplinary action.” What are your thoughts? Do you think this punishment was fair?

News

Why hotels don't call you about stuff you accidentally left behind

With the contact details of all their guests on hand, and staff coming in to clean the room straight after you’ve gone, it’s a little strange to think why hotels don’t get in touch if you’ve left something behind. But, as it turns out, there’s a very good reason hotel staff leave your left-behind belongings to gather dust in the lost property bin. According to <a href="https://www.thesun.co.uk/" target="_blank">The Sun</a>, too many hotel staff members have had their fingers burnt by chasing guests who had been using their room to have an affair, blowing their cover. One former innkeeper in the US said her staff were forbidden from calling guests. I was an innkeeper at a 24-room historic inn in Vermont for several years,” Tammy Geist Long revealed on <a href="https://www.quora.com/">Quora</a>. “One of our hard and fast rules was that we never called a guest if they left an item in their room and it was found after they checked out. “We documented and held items, which were usually phone chargers, clothing, sunglasses and occasionally a camera or jewellery, but unless the guest called us looking for their item, it stayed in the lost and found. The reason was that we knew nothing about the private lives of the people who stayed with us.” She continued: “We never knew when Mrs Smith was going to answer the phone and tell us that Mr Smith wasn’t at a quaint Vermont inn last weekend, he was at a dentist convention in Toledo. “Whoops — that lesson was learned the hard way. And only once.” What are your thoughts? <a href="http://www.oversixty.com.au/travel/travel-insurance/?utm_source=over60&utm_campaign=travel-insurance&utm_medium=in-article-banner&utm_content=travel-insurance" target="_blank"><img src="http://media.oversixty.com.au/images/banners/Travel-Insurance_Website_GIF_468x602.gif" alt="Over60 Travel Insurance"/></a>

Travel Tips

Grandmas strut their stuff in China’s senior swimsuit competition

Meet the 2017 Grandbikini contestants. They’ve got bodies that would cause envy in women decades younger, and definitely know how to rock a bikini. Recently, at a water park in Tianjin, China, more than 400 women over the age of 55 donned their best togs and strut their stuff during the fun-filled, colourful day. Organised by the Hetong Elderly Welfare Association, the contest (which is now in its third year) aims to empower older people and promote positive attitudes towards ageing and body image. The oldest participant was 78-year-old cancer survivor Ma Jing (pictured), who told Reuters she was “very honoured” to be able to compete. “If I can take part in a bikini contest at this age, for me it means I’m mentally happy and healthy.” It wasn’t all about bikinis, however. Contestants were welcome to come as covered-up as they wanted, with some donning traditional dresses, gowns and suits for the eveningwear portion of the competition. Take a look at all the incredible photos from the event in the gallery above – trust us, they’ll make your day! Image credit: Damir Sagolj/Reuters.

Beauty & Style

What will all the “stuff” you own mean when you’re older?

The doldrums of the post-Christmas binge is a time for clearing out your drawers, culling that book collection or re-gifting hampers of toiletries to friends who are unlucky enough to have a birthday that gets hoovered up into the holiday season. Staring at a pile of our possessions can make us reflect on what these objects communicate about us and the times we live in. These questions can be intensely personal. Do you ever think: “When I am older, which of these things will I still own? Which will matter to me? Which of my possessions will say something of who I am?” There is a cultural value in objects – a point well-made by Neil McGregor’s <a href="https://www.britishmuseum.org/explore/a_history_of_the_world.aspx">History of the World in 100 Objects</a>. And now a pilot project that I’ve been involved with has sought to document the importance of objects in the lives of individual people. The Lively Project was inspired by a memoir written by novelist Penelope Lively: <a href="https://books.google.co.uk/books/about/Ammonites_and_Leaping_Fish.html?id=y_-zw28c3NYC&source=kp_cover&redir_esc=y">Ammonites and Leaping Fish: a life in time</a>. In the final chapter, she chooses six objects which “articulate something of who I am”. Lively’s objects include two duck kettle-holders from Maine, two ammonites from a Dorset beach, a leaping fish sherd (a fragment of pottery), a Jerusalem bible, an 18th century <a href="http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/articles/h/a-history-of-samplers/">sampler</a> used as a model for embroidery, and a porcelain cat. My colleagues and I were inspired by this and teamed up with visual artist <a href="https://gemmahodge.com/">Gemma Hodge</a> and historian <a href="http://pure.qub.ac.uk/portal/en/persons/leonie-hannan(ae33d50d-5089-400a-b316-384c39905156).html">Leonie Hannan</a> to convince six people, aged between 61 and 80 to each select six objects which offered some insight into their lives. The three men and three women then worked with Hodge to help interpret the meaning of their selected objects, both personally and in terms of how they demonstrate social and cultural changes. Hannan and Hodge used considerable creative flair in threading Lively’s interpretation of the passage of time through interview data and 36 objects to produce an emotional, evocative and <a href="http://artscouncil-ni.org/news/exhibition-celebrating-living-a-long-life-opens-at-the-crescent-arts-centre">inspiring exhibition</a> at the Crescent Arts Centre in Belfast. What matters most The big reveal is that no one submitted an object of particular intrinsic value: there were no diamond rings. Yet we did receive a teddy bear which had had his little face chewed off by a dog 30-odd years ago. It is still much loved by his owner, who explained her attachment to the teddy simply: “It was the only toy I had.” Two of the three men submitted mechanical objects, such as a spare part for a car and a three-foot saw. They felt the culture of material consumption and built-in obsolescence means we may discard old things, but when we do so we are also discarding the expertise and knowledge of how to repair things we own. They felt sad about this. One of those men, who had spent 30 years in the merchant navy, donated a Morse key. The Morse key, used to send messages from ship to shore is now technologically useless, but it represents the advance of 20th century information and communication technology as 4G broadband is <a href="https://www.faber.co.uk/9780571214976-backroom-boys.html">based</a> on the same technology as radio signalling. Marconi, the radio technology company, developed the first mobile cell towers and transmissions, using high-frequency radio transmissions as the basic technology. With a bit of evolution and some bandwidth expansion, that’s the same tech that’s powering your 4G signal right now. The owner of the Morse key is not a heavy smartphone user and for him “new” technology is not so new to him. Rather, it represents a time shift – today’s phones are a re-invention of the Morse key using different materials at a different time. There were lots of family photos, belongings of lost loved ones, objects that told stories of survival, love and surprise about how things worked out alright in the end. The whole project was a very reassuring experience. There is something comforting about knowing that when I grow older I may be viewed as obsolete, but unlike now, it will not bother me, because I will know what matters. The stuff that really has meaning is the stuff that connects you to people or places where you were happy, felt loved, understood your place in the world, or did something for your community. So, when you are having that clear out, remember that while it might be time to pass on some objects to a new owner, others may be worthy of inclusion in an exhibition of the times of your life. Written by Gemma Carney. First appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.com/">The Conversation</a>. Related links: <a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/health/mind/2016/12/sophie-scott-on-why-we-hold-on-to-things-we-no-longer-need/">Why we hold on to things we no longer need</a> <a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/family-pets/2016/09/bad-side-of-decluttering-family-home/">Why decluttering the family home can be a bad thing</a> <a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/retirement-life/2017/01/retirement-checklist/">Checklist to make your retirement years your best yet</a>

Retirement Life

Watch these ladies strut their stuff in a senior fashion show

Innovative fashion label “Infinity” wants to remind mature women that they are still stylish through designing fun and fabulous clothing, and holding fashion shows in senior facilities. Many older women feel like the fashion industry ignores their generation. Infinity is combatting this by making clothes that are both vibrant and comfortable. Watch the women strut their stuff in the video above, you won’t be able to help but smile. Where do you shop for clothes that make you feel fabulous? Share your advice with us in the comments below. Related links: <a href="http://www.oversixty.com.au/lifestyle/beauty-style/2016/07/return-of-vintage-clothing/">The return of vintage clothing</a> <a href="http://www.oversixty.com.au/lifestyle/beauty-style/2016/07/tips-for-dressing-for-the-airport/">5 tips for dressing for the airport</a> <a href="http://www.oversixty.com.au/lifestyle/beauty-style/2016/07/tips-on-what-to-wear-to-a-wedding/">6 tips on what to wear to a wedding</a>

Beauty & Style

Why do dogs roll in smelly stuff?

If there's a list of rules about walking a dog, then near the top will be this one: Whatever your dog rolls in, you do not want in the house. For some deeply instinctive reason, dogs love rolling in smelly stuff, the smellier the better. (Warning: if you're of a delicate disposition, you might want to skip the next couple of paragraphs.) At the top of a dog's priority list of things to roll in is anything dead; below that ranks anything organic that's in a process of decay, preferably very late in the process; then comes anything that any animal has expelled from its body; last comes a small range of human-sourced stuff such as pitch-marking paint. Let's be slightly plain, the place that dogs most want to roll in is the place where some creature has pooed. These places are plentiful, especially in parks. My dogs sniff these sites out, digging their snouts in and then backstroking vigorously. If one dog is rolling in something, the other dog runs to investigate and share in the stink. When is the rolling at its most energetic and determined? Why, when the dog has been recently washed. Not for them the perfumes that we humans love around us. Not for them the lavenders and pines of dog shampoo. Those pink scents of the bathroom are to be rubbed off, replaced by the brown smells of the ground. Why do dogs roll in foul stuff? One theory is that the dog is trying to cover the smelly stuff with its own odours - the way cats rub against our legs and furniture to leave a hint of their scent there. Another theory is that dogs are re-enacting their forebears' way of telling pack-mates where they've been and what they've been up to. I love this "stink tells a story" theory. Imagine if we humans did it: Spouse one comes home from work and asks "How's your day been, hon?" Spouse two replies not by saying "Had coffee with Mel," but by standing upwind and wafting the Mel-smell towards Spouse one. A more convincing theory is that the urge to scent-roll recalls when the dog's ancestors needed to mask their own scent so they could stay hidden from prey. Wolves are said to do this when hunting. Stanley Coren, one of my favourite dog-behaviour writers, offers another idea. He wonders if it's a case of dogs asserting the sense that dominates its way of understanding the world - the sense of smell. "Dogs, like people, enjoy sensory stimulation and may well be prone to seeking such stimulation to an excessive degree," says Coren. "Therefore, I believe that the real reason that canines roll in obnoxious-smelling organic manner is simply an expression of the same misbegotten sense of aesthetics that causes human beings to wear overly loud and colourful Hawaiian shirts." Well, wherever the impulse comes from, it's one of those things that makes a dog a dog. We humans can try to be alert for nasty stuff while walking the dog, but the dog's nose is always going to work better than our eyes. A good, strong "stop" command can abbreviate the rolling’s, but the smell will still be there. Looks like we're stuck with the smells - at least till the hose and tub can be used. What does your pooch like to roll in? Let us know in the comments below. Written by Nick Barnett. First appeared on <a href="http://Stuff.co.nz" target="_blank">Stuff.co.nz.</a> Join Four Legs Good on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/4legsgood/" target="_blank">Facebook</a>. Related links: <a href="/lifestyle/family-pets/2016/05/things-you-did-not-know-could-poison-your-pet/">8 things you didn't know could poison your pet</a> <a href="/lifestyle/family-pets/2014/09/9-foods-you-should-never-feed-your-pet/">9 foods you should NEVER feed your pet</a> <a href="/lifestyle/family-pets/2016/06/what-different-cat-meows-mean/">Understanding your cat’s meow</a>

Family & Pets

From going grey to a changing body, how I learnt not to sweat the small stuff

Have you had one of those moments where it suddenly dawns on you that you’re not as young as you used to be? Fear not, YOU ARE NOT ALONE. While getting older inevitably brings changes – our hair greys, our bodies change and some things require a little more thought – ageing also brings with it incredible gifts such as wisdom, experience, and strength. Albeit, reaching this attitude is no easy feat. In fact, at times it’s bloody challenging, even gut-wrenching. Take solace in the fact that you are not alone. Everyone has obstacles to overcome. The fact remains, however, that in all its shapes and sizes, life is a blessing. Your 60s and beyond are more enjoyable when embraced and enjoyed. Now more than ever you know yourself, you know what’s important and you have strength in ways you can’t even imagine. Just remember, if life is getting you down just look around you – there is strength to be found in shared experiences. After all, we are all in this together. In this spirit, here five Over60 community members wanted to share with you their experiences that have enabled them to learn not to sweat the small stuff. From learning to embrace going grey to keeping a sunny attitude when your body begins to change, these stories will inspire you to love your life, love your age and love yourself. Going grey – Maureen Newman, 68 “For many years, I coloured my hair every colour under the sun from reddish brown with a blonde fringe to purple. My friends always said they loved it, as they never knew what colour I was going to go next! Then last year I thought it was time to see my natural colour. My mum had gorgeous white hair and I hoped my hair would be the same. Mine turned out be a silver colour. I love it, though, and I told my husband that for my next hair change I would have a design shaved into the back of my hair. He just smiled. He did say that he had noticed my hair shining silver hair in the sun, though, and that it looked very nice. Wow, a compliment from my man who finds that kind of thing very difficult! So ladies, why not try grey? I embraced my newfound silver hair and feel free at last.” Having a “senior moment” – Gael MacKenzie, 63 “I remember once I drove to the garage to put petrol in the car. After completing that task and paying the attendant, I went back to the car, got in the passenger side and sat there for about 10 minutes before I realised my husband wasn't with me – I was the driver! I find the main thing is to laugh at these ‘senior moments’ and not get upset by these thing that happen naturally with age. My motto all my adult life is: ‘Good humour makes all things possible’. I have since discovered that now is the time I really need to continue on with that philosophy as getting older is a very challenging time. The ‘senior moments’ have sometimes been hilarious and other times a bit awkward, but I just find it’s better if you don't take these things too seriously. This is all normal and part of the journey and the only way is to move forward happily.” Adjusting to an empty nest – Marie Magriplis, 64 “When the kids first moved out (and that included a soon to be son-in-law who had lived with us since he was 17), I was expecting to feel relief and joy for the quiet house I would inherit. Instead I felt that the house was way too quiet and that I had too much time on my hands. Despite working full-time when the children left home, I was at a loss and felt a part of me had been ripped away. Now I understand that I was grieving for their loss. It took me two years to find a life without children. I took up art again – something I had not done since I had my first baby. I also developed closer bonds with my girlfriends and work mates and found the joy of gardening and babysitting grandchildren. These days I enjoy my empty nest, which gives me the freedom to go on holidays when I feel like it and no need to have time-schedule. I work hard at keeping fit and go dancing once a week so that I can continue to enjoy life.” Changing bodies – Valerie Carey, 62 “I had bowel cancer surgery that left me incontinent. It was really hard to deal with at the beginning – a big shock to the system. For people who suffer bladder or bowel incontinence it is very personal and embarrassing, it’s not talked about much. You just have to stay positive and rely on products and specialists. For me, I just try to stay as positive as possible, even though it can be difficult at times, and look for some humour in the bad moments. Like when you’re in Coles and you’ve lost it and there’s no toilet available. That is embarrassing. But I’m a very determined person so I keep trying to live my life. Sometimes life throws you stones and you have to turn those stones into stepping-stones. I know I still have a lot of life to go. I know it’s a topic that is hard to talk about and most people don’t want to know about it. But it’s a life-changing issue and we need to talk about it. Support and understanding in issues like this is so important.” If you, or someone you know, suffer from incontinence, you are not alone. <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.depend.com.au/" target="_blank">Depend®</a> make a range of incontinence products specially tailored for men and women, designed to be highly absorbent, underwear-like yet comfortable and discreet. <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.depend.com.au/" target="_blank">Click here</a> to read more about the condition and other Depend products. Their website also has some great advice and tips for managing incontinence. <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.depend.com.au/free-sample/" target="_blank">Click here</a> to visit the website and get a free sample. ARTICLE CONTINUES AFTER VIDEO <iframe width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/b1ro7jBZ4Cs?enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe> Wearing age as a badge of honour – Sue McGrath, 72 “I don’t really know when I became aware that I’m now classed as ‘old’. It’s just something that crept up on me. On the outside I’m now a ‘senior citizen’, but on the inside I’m still young. I love turning my rock ‘n’ roll music up loud, I am frequently caught dancing around the kitchen and I try to keep my mind active with improving my computer skills, reading a lot and being aware of what’s happening out there in the world. The lines on my face are from smiling and laughing – nothing to do with age. But there are things that happen when you get older that are hard. My husband of 42 years passed away a few years ago, I have been on my own – and that takes some getting used to. I miss him. But I move forward, towards I know not what, but with a positive attitude that whatever happens, happens. I just have to embrace it. That’s life. Live. Love. Laugh and keep smiling.” THIS IS SPONSORED CONTENT

Beauty & Style

Clever ways to get things for free

While it often seems nothing comes for free these days, a little bit of online searching can reveal plenty of opportunities out there for free stuff. Here are a few for starters:<a href="http://freestuffrewards.com.au/" target="_blank">FreeStuff Rewards</a> – Billed as Australia’s premium source of free offers and competitions the site is Australian owned and operated, and offers free product samples, free competitions, paid surveys, daily deals and more. <a href="http://www.u-exchange.com/memberlist/Australia/state/View-All" target="_blank">U-exchange</a> – This website is affiliated with Barter Australia and membership is free. At U-exchange it is also free to trade, post and contact other members. There are no hidden membership or transaction fees involved. It works by inviting users to post what they have to offer and what they would like in exchange. And it doesn’t have to be items that are swapped - users also swap services. A painter may offer to paint the inside of a home in return for accommodation in a holiday house.<a href="https://www.freecycle.org/browse/AU" target="_blank">The Freecycle Network</a> is a global grassroots and entirely nonprofit movement of people who are giving (and getting) all sorts of products for free in their own towns. It's all about reuse and waste reduction. Most areas in Australia have a dedicated Freecycle group and membership is free. As a member you are notified whenever someone near you has something to give. The Freecycle goal is to reduce items thrown into landfill. It does this by finding people who are willing and able to use items that would normally be discarded. As well as being able to respond to items offered, members are able to ask for something they need.<a style="text-decoration: underline; font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.swapace.com/" target="_blank">SwapAce</a> is a website similar to Freecycle in that it has a strong environmental message. Its point of difference is it enables members to swap item for item. They can also sell goods, buy items or trade. The website offers search choices like ‘free’, ‘swaps’, ‘money-only’, ‘haves’, and ‘wants’.  Its tagline is ‘Swap anything for anything’ and it boasts more than 80,000 items online and more than 200,000 members.<a href="http://www.gumtree.com.au/" target="_blank">Gumtree</a> – Although known primarily as a place for buying and selling there is plenty of free stuff there too. Everyone has a different perception of value and worth. The trick is to find the person getting rid of something because they have bought something better, are moving or may have finished a renovation. To some people, offering something free is actually cost effective for them as it means the item is taken away quickly and saves them the hassle of waiting for a buyer, or having to pay tip fees.Smartphone apps – There is an almost endless range of free apps covering everything from recipes to games available from providers including Google Play and the Apple App Store.<a href="/finance/money/2015/01/supermarket-savings/" target="_blank">Here are some great tips for saving money at the supermarket.</a>

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