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The sky’s the limit: A brief history of in-flight entertainment

<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/olusola-adewumi-john-1490381">Olusola Adewumi John</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-regina-3498">University of Regina</a> As the winter holidays draw near, many of us are already booking flights to see friends and family or vacation in warmer climates. Nowadays, air travel is synonymous with some form of in-flight entertainment, encompassing everything from the reception offered by the aircrew to the food choices and digital content. These services all add value to flying for customers. Passengers are now so familiar with in-flight entertainment that to travel without it is unthinkable. <a href="https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2023/10/19/2762903/0/en/In-Flight-Entertainment-Connectivity-Market-to-Worth-21-03-Bn-by-2030-Exhibiting-With-a-15-9-CAGR.html">The in-flight entertainment and connectivity market grew to US$5.9 billion as of 2019</a>, a testament to its economic impact on both the airlines and the GDP of countries with airline carriers. In-flight entertainment is so ubiquitous that, even if all other airline services were offered, <a href="https://travel.stackexchange.com/questions/19427/will-airlines-compensate-me-if-my-entertainment-system-is-not-working">the airline ensures a refund is made to the passenger affected</a> if television content cannot be accessed. <h2>A brief history</h2> In-flight entertainment has evolved significantly over the years. Before in-flight entertainment media was introduced, passengers entertained themselves by reading books or with food and drink services. The original aim of bringing in-flight entertainment into cabins was to attract more customers, drawing inspiration from a variety of sources, including the theatrical and domestic media environments. It was not initially for the comfort and ease of travelling, as it is today. <a href="https://www.academia.edu/5023683/A_History_of_INFLIGHT_ENTERTAINMENT">Inflight entertainment began as an experiment</a> in 1921, when 11 Aeromarine Airways passengers were shown the film Howdy Chicago! on a screen hung in the cabin during the flight. Four years later, another experiment was carried out in 1925 when 12 passengers on board an Imperial Airlines flight from London were shown the film The Lost World. <a href="https://www.smithsonianmag.com/air-space-magazine/when-did-inflight-movies-become-standard-on-airlines-180955566/">It wasn’t until the 1960s</a> that in-flight movies became mainstream for airlines. Trans World Airlines became the first carrier to regularly offer feature films during flights, using a unique film system developed by <a href="https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/1962/06/02/inflight">David Flexer, then-president of Inflight Motion Pictures</a>. Starting in 1964, in-flight entertainment evolved to include various media types like 16-mm film, closed-circuit television, live television broadcasts and magnetic tape. In the 1970s, for example, airplanes might feature a large screen with a 16-mm projector in one part of the plane, while small screens hung overhead in another section. <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/traveller/reviews-and-advice/when-did-airlines-install-seatback-entertainment-20190711-h1g51b.html">Seatback screens were introduced in 1988</a> when Airvision installed 6.9-centimetre screens on the backs of airline seats for Northwest Airlines. They have since morphed into the larger screens we are familiar with today, which are found on nearly every airline. <h2>In-flight entertainment today</h2> Most airlines nowadays have personal televisions for every passenger on long-haul flights. On-demand streaming and internet access are also now the norm. Despite initial concerns about speed and cost, in-flight services are becoming faster and more affordable. In-flight entertainment now includes movies, music, radio talk shows, TV talk shows, documentaries, magazines, stand-up comedy, culinary shows, sports shows and kids’ shows. However, the rise of personal devices, like tablets and smartphones, <a href="https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/comment/the-weird-and-wonderful-history-of-in-flight-entertainment/">could spell the end for seatback screens</a>. A number of U.S. airlines, including American Airlines, United Airlines and Alaska Air, have <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-10-09/airline-seatback-screens-may-soon-become-an-endangered-species">removed seatback screens from their domestic planes</a>. This decline is par for the course. To arrive at the complex system used by aircraft today, in-flight entertainment went through a number of different stages, <a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-0641-1_10">as identified by aviation scholar D.A. Reed</a>. It started with an idea phase, which saw the conception of the idea, followed by an arms race phase where most airlines adopted some form of it. Currently, airlines are facing challenges in the final — and current — phase of evolution, and are dealing with failures linked to business concept flaws or low revenue. Now that most air travellers carry electronic devices, fewer airlines are installing seatback screens. From an economic standpoint, this makes sense for airlines: removing seatback screens <a href="https://mobile.nytimes.com/2018/01/01/business/airlines-travel-entertainment.html">improves fuel costs</a> and allows airlines to <a href="https://www.flightglobal.com/systems-and-interiors/united-ups-757-density-with-new-slimline-seats/126574.article">install slimmer seats</a>, allowing for more passengers. <h2>More than entertainment</h2> At some point in the evolution of in-flight entertainment, it started to serve as more than just a form of entertainment or comfort. Now, it’s also a competitive tool for airline advertisements, and a form of cultural production. In-flight entertainment has become an economic platform for investors, business people, manufacturers and entertainment providers, especially Hollywood. It also plays a key role in promoting the national culture of destination countries. However, the evolution of in-flight entertainment hasn’t been without its challenges. As a form of cultural production, it often reflects the interests of advertisers, governments and business entities. It also follows that <a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-0641-1_10">certain ideas, products and cultures are sold to passengers</a> via in-flight entertainment. The lucrative practice of capturing and selling passengers’ attention to advertisers was not limited to screens, either. In-flight magazines have always been packed with advertisements, and by the late 1980s, these advertisements had spread to napkins and the audio channels. Despite its shortcomings and precarious future, in-flight entertainment still offers passengers a sense of comfort, alleviating concerns about being suspended over 30,000 feet above sea level. If you end up flying during the holidays, remember your comfort is partly thanks to this innovation.<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/218996/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/olusola-adewumi-john-1490381">Olusola Adewumi John</a>, Visiting Researcher, Centre for Socially Engaged Theatre, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-regina-3498">University of Regina</a> Image credits: Shutterstock 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/the-skys-the-limit-a-brief-history-of-in-flight-entertainment-218996">original article</a>.

Travel Tips

A guide to pairing wine and food

When it comes to selecting wines for to go with your meals, there are no absolute rules – the only expert opinion that matters is your own. That said, there are definitely choices that pair better with certain dishes. Pairing wines to a rich, complicated supper is not as difficult as it may seem. In fact, choosing wines to go with your winter meals can be among the most enjoyable and more relaxing stages in planning the dinner. At a minimum, you want to provide refreshment – water and wines – that flatter the meal's flavours. In many cases, a good-quality, medium-bodied red wine is a great choice with a lot of winter dishes. Welcoming guests and relatives with flutes of crisp, sparkling wine always creates a nice sense of occasion, whether your hors d'oeuvres are just some biscuits and dips or a lavish selection or meat and cheeses. And if you’re thinking of serving bubbles throughout an entire meal, you might be onto something. Although a soup or shellfish starter might be its ideal partner, the sparkling's bubbly assertiveness allows it to hold its own with more robust dishes. A traditional roast dinner – a popular meal choice in winter – that comes with baked vegetables, tests the liveliness of a single wine, and so often it makes sense to offer two or more that way guests can sip from whichever glass suits what they are eating. A red wine made substantially from pinot noir grapes is a fine partner for the distinctive taste of dark meat, and the black cherry-like character of many pinot noirs, will evoke the yummy berry, rich sauces that are popular throughout the cooler months of the year. With the broad range of flavours in your meals, you may want to consider introducing maturity and complexity in your wines. Try either the sun-baked earthiness you find in an shiraz or a rioja, or a hint of mellow age, such as that found in many wines older than four or five years. A well-crafted white wine can be a star of a winter dinner table, especially if it picks up on the citrus tones that are often present in sauces and garnishes of meals. Rich, concentrated white wines, such as a viognier or a chardonnay, with higher alcohol and a wisp of butterscotch sweetness, can enhance white meat. If the white is elegant and floral enough, it can be the perfect chaser for more herbal dishes, too. With very little legwork, you can find wines like these in every price range, so once you’ve decided on your menu and before you commit to certain wines, sample a few options. Image credit: Shutterstock

Food & Wine

A horse died on the set of The Rings of Power: more needs to be done to ensure the welfare of horses used in entertainment

The recent <a href="https://variety.com/2023/tv/news/rings-of-power-horse-death-lord-of-the-rings-peta-1235564884/">death of a horse</a> on the set of Amazon’s <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7631058/">The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power</a> is the latest incident raising questions about how humans use horses for entertainment and sport. While a statement from producers said the horses’s cardiac arrest occurred before the day’s filming began, animal rights activists PETA used the death to call on all screen producers to replace on-set horses with CGI and mechanical rig alternatives. The incident feeds into growing public concern about horse welfare on film and TV sets, at the track and in equestrian sports. But improving horse welfare is about more than just reputation repair – too often it’s about survival for horses and humans. <h2>Horse welfare in film and TV</h2> The riding of a horse over a cliff to its death for the movie Jesse James (1939) led to the establishment of <a href="https://humanehollywood.org/about-us/">American Humane</a>, which now oversees around 100,000 animals on more than 1,000 productions each year. While things have improved since the early days of film and television, deaths and mistreatment of horses still occur. In 1987, on the set of <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/118307194">The Man From Snowy River II</a>, a seriously injured horse was killed using the blunt end of an axe. More recently, the high-profile series <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/the-real-story-behind-hbos-cancellation-of-luck">Luck</a>, starring Dustin Hoffman, was cancelled following the deaths of three horses. <h2>The good and bad of unprecedented global exposure</h2> In 2021, the Tokyo Olympics beamed to a global audience the excessive <a href="https://7news.com.au/sport/olympics/peta-calls-for-abusive-equestrian-events-to-be-axed-from-olympics-c-3703388">whipping and punching</a> of modern pentathlon horse Saint Boy and show jumper Kilkenny’s <a href="https://www.chronofhorse.com/article/kilkenny-suffers-nosebleed-during-olympic-individual-final">spectacular nosebleed</a> during the controversial show jumping program. While the bleed must have been obvious, officials did not intervene to stop the ride. Confronting images, and the perceived failure of organisers to protect the horses involved, brought into clear and global focus the indisputable welfare issues faced by horses competing at the elite level. The global outcry led to <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-9892093/Name-price-Kaley-Cuoco-offers-buy-horse-cruelly-punched-Olympics.html">actress Kaley Cuoco offering to buy Saint Boy</a> and the <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2021/nov/02/modern-pentathlon-votes-to-ditch-horse-riding-after-tokyo-olympic-turmoil">withdrawal of the equestrian phase from modern pentathlon</a>. <h2>Risk to humans and horses</h2> Horse welfare does not just impact animals. Since the 1840s, 873 jockeys are known to have <a href="https://www.thoroughbredracing.com/articles/2062/facts-and-figures-jockey-fatalities-australia/">died in race falls</a> in Australia. Internationally, the sport of eventing (where competitors complete three phases: dressage, show jumping and cross-country) reported 38 rider and 65 horse fatalities during or after competition between 2007-15. Riding horses is considered one of the most <a href="https://beva.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/evj.13934">dangerous of all sporting pursuits</a>, and the deaths of riders and jockeys, usually from falls, are common. Public concern about risk to horses and humans through horse racing and equestrian sports, as well as screen production, also <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/12/15/1987">threaten these industries’ social licence</a>. <h2>Better horse welfare is related to better rider safety</h2> Our research offers hope for the horse industry and for those passionate about riding horses. Last year, we <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0168159121003269">published a paper</a> demonstrating the link between horse welfare and rider safety. We asked riders how they cared for their horses and how their horses behaved when ridden – for example, we wanted to know how often horses were bucking or rearing. From this information, we calculated a relative welfare score for each horse. We also asked riders about their accidents and injuries. After analysing the data from over 400 riders, we found the higher the horse welfare score, the fewer accidents and injuries a rider reported. In a <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/08927936.2023.2176589">subsequent study</a>, we found horses with better welfare scores are more enjoyable to ride, most likely because they perform better and riders feel more in control, creating a win-win for horses and riders. <h2>Good horse welfare means more than good health</h2> Often good welfare is thought of in terms of an animal being healthy. While this is part of good welfare, good health alone is not enough – especially for a horse competing at the elite level or taking part in a film. Horses are <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0168159117300710?casa_token=5E77h_TYKGEAAAAA:EUBGz7BTnACvpvB_3iYM-urXpBxJbS95G0-05yMRJEbMTg_SEeb_VnSoVgn35su8_aNOZEpSqctL">neophobes</a> – this means they find new things frightening – so most horses are likely to find a movie set or travelling to a new location stressful. The most up-to-date <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/10/10/1870/htm">understanding of welfare</a> tells us that stress and poor mental health means poor animal welfare. When a horse is stressed or in pain they <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0168159117300692">behave in a very predictable way</a> – they run away, panic, kick out or buck and rear. Yet, anecdotally and in the media, people seeing a horse behaving in this way often claim the horse is crazy, unpredictable or just plain mean. More likely, an “unpredictable” horse is suffering from poor welfare. As part of our research program, we have developed a <a href="https://hub.rspca.org.au/attachments/88">new framework</a> to help horse owners identify aspects of their care and training that diminish horse welfare. This information can be used to make modifications to improve horse welfare, and, importantly, can be applied to horses in any equine sector, including racing, sport and film and television. <h2>Investing in the future of horses in entertainment and sport</h2> Although a veterinarian assessed the recent horse death on the set of The Rings of Power as “unlikely to be associated with the horse’s participation in the film”, more can be done to protect horses and the industry. In Australia, <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/11/7/1986">no specific standard exists for the use of animals</a> in filmed media, and each state and territory has differing risk management guidelines. An opportunity now exists for the industry to set a new standard for horse care and training. An easily executable first step for the industry could be to insist a scientifically trained and credentialed equine behaviour expert be involved in the recruitment and supervision of horse actors and their trainers at all stages of production. This would ensure horse actors are appropriately trained to be on set and that horses are trained using the most up-to-date ethical methods. Horse behaviour experts could also help in scene design to minimise horses’ exposure to stressful situations and identify tasks that are incompatible with good horse welfare. If these suggestions were to be adopted, the film and television industry would be setting the benchmark for horse welfare – and pressure other horse industries to follow suit. This article originally appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.com/a-horse-died-on-the-set-of-the-rings-of-power-more-needs-to-be-done-to-ensure-the-welfare-of-horses-used-in-entertainment-202939" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>. Images: The Rings of Power / Amazon

"Someone give them a raise": Hilarious way ground crew entertained trapped passengers

Two very creative ground-crew air marshalls have enjoyed a brush with instant viral fame after hilarious footage of them entertaining passengers stuck on a delayed plane was shared to TikTok. Fortunately for the poor passengers stranded on the British Airways plane last month due to engineering issues, two nearby air marshalls were determined to pass the time and distract them following the tediously long delay, using their glowing marshalling wands to put on an entertaining performance. Air Marshall Quinten Moshy posted a video of his antics on TikTok, which quickly racked up close to 1 million views. "Put this in every ramp agent's job description," he joked in the caption. The video showed the two airport workers using their marshalling wands as if they were light sabres and acting out dramatic battle scenes. Committed to the performance, the marshalls ducked and weaved, while one pretended to die after he was 'struck'. Other antics included creating glowing smiley faces and hearts on the tarmac and dancing the moves to the song 'Y.M.C.A'. <blockquote class="tiktok-embed" style="max-width: 605px; min-width: 325px;" cite="https://www.tiktok.com/@quintenmoshy/video/7117811535212301614" data-video-id="7117811535212301614"> <section><a title="@quintenmoshy" href="https://www.tiktok.com/@quintenmoshy?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">@quintenmoshy</a> Put this in every ramp agent’s job description <a title="airport" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/airport?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#airport</a> <a title="airplane" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/airplane?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#airplane</a> <a title="travel" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/travel?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#travel</a> <a title="rampagent" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/rampagent?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#rampagent</a> <a title="pilot" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/pilot?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#pilot</a> <a title="bayarea" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/bayarea?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#bayarea</a> <a title="california" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/california?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#california</a> <a title="london" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/london?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#london</a> <a title="787" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/787?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#787</a> <a title="vacation" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/vacation?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#vacation</a> <a title="work" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/work?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#work</a> <a title="fyp" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/fyp?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#fyp</a> <a title="ymca" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/ymca?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#ymca</a> <a title="minions" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/minions?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#minions</a> <a title="starwars" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/starwars?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#starwars</a> <a title="lightsaber" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/lightsaber?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#lightsaber</a> <a title="happy" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/happy?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#happy</a> <a title="aviation" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/aviation?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#aviation</a> <a title="love" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/love?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#love</a> <a title="♬ Y.M.C.A. - The Minions" href="https://www.tiktok.com/music/YMCA-6795407731260917762?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">♬ Y.M.C.A. - The Minions</a></section> </blockquote> TikTok users really enjoyed the goofy act and one person said they should find a video from someone stranded on the plane so we could see what THEY were seeing out their windows. "Someone find the passengers POV," they wrote. Sure enough, fellow viewers pulled through and pointed to TikTok user Abi Smith, who had created her own video of the dramatic antics of the air marshalls. "POV: [Point of View]: Your plane gets delayed so the marshalls put on a performance." she captioned the video. <blockquote class="tiktok-embed" style="max-width: 605px; min-width: 325px;" cite="https://www.tiktok.com/@abi_smithxxx/video/7117374061935676678" data-video-id="7117374061935676678"> <section><a title="@abi_smithxxx" href="https://www.tiktok.com/@abi_smithxxx?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">@abi_smithxxx</a> <a title="britishairways" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/britishairways?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#britishairways</a> <a title="delayed" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/delayed?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#delayed</a> <a title="marshallers" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/marshallers?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#marshallers</a> <a title="♬ Angeleyes (Sped Up Version) - april aries bae (SVT)" href="https://www.tiktok.com/music/Angeleyes-Sped-Up-Version-7089425867910236954?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">♬ Angeleyes (Sped Up Version) - april aries bae (SVT)</a></section> </blockquote> People commented, saying the entertaining pair deserved a reward for their dedication. "Give the performers an applause," wrote one person. "Someone give them a raise," another added. Image: TikTok

Travel Trouble

"It was very quick": Children's entertainer dead at 29

Beloved children’s entertainer Chelsie Whibley has died at the age of 29. The actress, best known for her roles in Dani's House and Sadie J, was open about her battle with cystic fibrosis which caused mucus to build up in her lungs and function at 25 per cent. Her heartbroken husband Glyn Whibley shared the devastating news in a lengthy facebook post saying how wrong it felt waking up with her not there. “I cannot put into words the heartbreak I am now feeling without you here,” he wrote. “Waking up without you by my side just feels so wrong and I’m waiting to realise that this is all just a terrible dream… but sadly I know it is not. “From the first time we met I knew that this day would come but I knew you were the one I wanted to spend my life with…and it has been an incredible life…one that I would not change for anything in the world.” Glyn thanked Chelsie for being his inspiration and for bringing happiness into his life saying he would forever treasure their memories together. “You were such an inspiration to me and so many others, with such vigour and determination to prove the doctors wrong and keep living on. “We have made so many memories together that I will treasure for the rest of my life and I thank you for choosing me to share your life with! “You have brought such happiness to me and you will never know the true amount of love I had for you!” Glyn wished there was a different way to help Chelsie with all the suffering but knows she’s at peace “looking down on us”. “You were the love of my life and my bestest friend and I am going to miss you so so much! “I’m sorry we didn’t get the chance to go away in our caravan more and enjoy more times together… but those trips we did take will be sacred to me! “You are my absolute world and you will always be in my heart!! “I will look after your mum and help her through this devastating time along with the rest of your family… but at long last you can finally rest in peace without fear and discomfort. “I love you so much baby and will never forget you!! I can’t believe I’m actually writing all this but I know you’re still with me in spirit looking after me!! “Until we meet again my beautiful wife… I love you!!!!!!!! X x x” Image: Facebook

News

Dear Evan Hansen is an inspiring and entertaining film

When Dear Evan Hansen was released on Broadway over five years ago it became a generation defining Broadway phenomenon. Now we have the film version with Ben Platt reprising the main role and he does this with breathtaking results. Some critics have complained it's not realistic for Platt to play Evan Hansen in the film version because Platt’s now 27 years old and it’s difficult for him to play an anxious, isolated high schooler. But does it matter that he’s a bit older now? Well, from an audience's point of view, it doesn’t and when Platt starts to sing those amazing songs, we can see why he won an Emmy and a Grammy for the Broadway production. As well, we have the song-writing team from La La Land and The Greatest Showman writing the songs and everything works. Plus, the serious nature of this film – the fact it deals with teenage suicide and how hard it is for some people to simply get by – makes it an important film and one which could help a lot of people. This makes Dear Evan Hansen an important and inspiring film. <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/CjA50VxlxAw" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen=""></iframe> The storyline The gist of the story is that Evan Hansen is a high school loner, awkward and inept with his only friend being the equally nerdy Jared (Nik Dodani). He shows up on the first day of school with a cast after breaking his arm, and he’s been instructed by his therapist to write “Dear Evan Hansen” letters to himself in order to work out his issues connecting with other people. Fellow student Connor Murphy (Colton Ryan) has a run-in with Evan and grabs one of said letters from a printer. A few days later, Connor’s mother Cynthia and stepfather Larry (Amy Addams, Danny Pino) show up at Evan’s school with the letter saying that Connor committed suicide, and they’ve determined that the letter “to Evan” was his suicide note. Instead of telling them the truth, Evan concocts an elaborate lie about being friends with Connor in order to sooth his parents’ misgivings about his death. In order to maintain that illusion, Evan continues to lie to them as well as to Connor’s sister, Zoe (Kaitlyn Dever from Book Smart), and his lie just snowballs. Pretty soon, the school’s social justice activist Alana (Amandla Stenberg) has up the Connor Project so that others who feel alone can feel seen and heard, and Evan has become hugely popular at school. But this doesn’t last forever and Hansen has to face up to his lie later on. <img style="width: 0px; height: 0px;" src="/nothing.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/5d05305e536f427786bcdaecf7d7a755" /><img style="width: 500px; height: 359.29432013769366px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7844257/evan-hansen-2-um.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/5d05305e536f427786bcdaecf7d7a755" /> The singing really does work Although a lot of the focus of the singing is on Platt and his quite beautiful voice, each of the other primary cast have some amazing singing moments, whether it’s Stenberg doing a song about feeling anonymous like Connor or the song, Requiem, which shows off the amazing singing prowess of Devo, Pino, and even Adams. Julianne Moore, who plays Evan’s hardworking single mother, even gets an absolutely epic number towards the end which will get the waterworks flowing if nothing beforehand has done that job. The showstopper is You Will be Found The movie’s absolutely showstopper is the number You Will be Found and it’s another great example of how the songs by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul of La La Land fame translate so well to the screen. In fact, this song alone shows you why many people became obsessed with the Broadway version of Dear Evan Hansen. The film is directed by acclaimed filmmaker Stephen Chbosky (The Perks of Being A Wallflower, Wonder).and he shows here he has a strong grasp on social media, cyber bullying, viral videos, and even cancel culture and how it destroys people, including families. <img style="width: 0px; height: 0px;" src="/nothing.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/6a5aa0b50b9b4978b0a9de506110c641" /><img style="width: 0px; height: 0px;" src="/nothing.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/93c5188b8e734808ba1159d8b2176137" /><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.6550348953141px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7844259/evan-hansen-um.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/93c5188b8e734808ba1159d8b2176137" /> Dear Evan Hansen will be in cinemas by December 9 The film brings out many emotions and one of the reasons is because as we watch it, we can relate to so much of what Hansen is going through. The characters and the story feel very real, which is as much a testament to Chbosky as a filmmaker, but also his cast and the people behind the original musical. There’s a good reason why Dear Evan Hansen was such a success on Broadway, and a great deal of that is retained by the movie. Dear Evan Hansen will be showing in cinemas by December 9 and there’ve been no announcements as to whether it will stream. Images: UPI

Movies

Keep your dog entertained with DOGTV

Ever since lockdowns began over a year ago, it’s been made easier by the fact we literally couldn’t watch all the streaming content available if we tried. But what about our four-legged friends? Dogs do get very excited if they see other dogs up on the screen and these days, since COVID, many more people have dogs as pets. When these people find they have to go back to work or go out, they’re often looking for help or some way to keep their pet entertained – so DOGTV couldn’t come at a better time. These days we all have a greater understanding of a dog’s social needs. As Mandi Wright, PETstock’s PETschool State Trainer says: “One of the most prominent trends emerging is the use of technology and gadgets as a way to care for pets, helping them to feel more safe, secure and stimulated throughout the day.” Wright adds: “Technology is a powerful tool that every pet owner can benefit from, as it not only improves the wellbeing of pets both mentally and physically, but also gives owners peace of mind that their pet is being cared for or monitored in their absence. So now, there is even a streaming platform for dogs! DOGTV is one of the most recent technologies to launch in Australia, exclusively to PETstock, that is revolutionising the way we care for our pets.” The DOGTV platform is designed to give dogs a great day, every day. By exposing them to the exciting sights and sounds of other dogs, the platform gives the pets the support and comfort they need at home while their owners are at work or social events. Through the platform, dogs are exposed to real life experiences, such as travelling by car etc. As Wright says: “For any pet owner whose pet is suffering from anxiety, DOGTV is a powerful tool that can help to combat a dog’s emotional stress by exposing them to calming sights and sounds, such as waves softly crashing at the beach.” “The benefits of incorporating DOGTV into your dog’s daily cycle are endless, but it’s still critical to incorporate regular training sessions and social experiences outside of the home,” she added. Already, many pet owners leave the TV or radio on for their pets According to the most recent report from Animal Medicines Australia, 35% of pet owners leave the television or radio on for their furry family members in their absence to help reduce feelings of anxiety and loneliness. (<a href="https://animalmedicinesaustralia.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/ANIM001-Pet-Survey-Report19_v1.7_WEB_high-res.pdf">See info here</a>) Research also shows that about 40% of dogs can suffer from anxiety at any one time. (<a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1558787816300569">See info here</a>) DOGTV General Manager, Beke Lubeach, says she’s seen firsthand how the DOGTV platform can give four-legged friends a better day: “We’re so excited to partner with PETstock to launch the platform in Australia, to give pets the support and comfort they need at home as their owners return to the workplace and social events,” says Beke. She says DOGTV is designed to sync in with a dog’s daily cycle, including how and when they’re most active: “Three programs, including stimulation, relaxation, and exposure, have been scientifically created to keep your dog feeling happy and confident,” Beke adds. “Each program is scheduled throughout the day, exposing dogs to visual stimuli and sounds that positively impacts their behaviour and reduces feelings of anxiety.” PETstock Dog Trainer, Tina Button, says technology such as DOGTV is revolutionising the way that we care for our pets, all for the better: “Not only does DOGTV provide pets with an enriching environment that helps their emotional and behavioural development, but also gives pet owners peace of mind that their dog is comforted and staying active while they’re out,” says Button. “When integrating technology into your pet’s daily regime, it’s important they feel comfortable. Having their favourite bed, blanket and access to water nearby is essential to ensuring a smooth transition,” she adds. “The first time your dog experiences the platform, it’s perfectly normal for them to be extra excited! Be present for your pet’s introduction to DOGTV and set the volume to a comfortable level.” Stress and anxiety affects dogs in a similar way PETstock Vet, Dr Natalie Li., says: “Just like humans, anxiety and stress experienced by dogs can have a severe impact on their mental and physical wellbeing.” “Symptoms of anxiety in pets include yawning, panting and whining, licking of the lips or destruction and digging,” she adds. “When dogs experience stress or fear, their emotional centre called the limbic system is highly aroused, impacting their ability to think and act clearly. Creating an enriching space for pets where they are exposed to comforting sounds and visual aids is a great way for pet parents to help combat their pet’s anxiety.” Monthly and annual subscriptions to DOGTV are available at PETstock stores or online at the <a href="https://www.petstock.com.au/c/dogtv">PETstock website.</a>

Family & Pets

Aussie entertainer Jeanne Little dies aged 82

Lisa Wilkinson has paid tribute to beloved Australian entertainer Jeanne Little who died at the age of 82 over the weekend. Wilkinson worked with Little on panel show Beauty and the Beast in the 90s, “She was such a sweetheart,” Wilkinson said about Little on The Sunday Project. “She was a gorgeous woman. She was gracious. She was kind to somebody who was brand new to television. “She was best known as being able to take a whole stack of green garbage bags and turn them into amazing fashion.” Wilkinson continued to say that Little was the same person on and off screen, saying, “That was one of the many things we loved about her”. According to the Sydney Morning Herald, Little’s daughter Katie took to Facebook to report her passing on Saturday night. This is a huge shock – but I’m so grateful,” she’s reported to have written. “Love you all my friends.” Little made her television debut on The Mike Walsh Show in 1974, and two years later won the Gold Logie for most popular television personality. Starring roles on the stage and small screen followed, and by the 1990s, she was a regular, lively panel member on the talk show Beauty and the Beast, known for her outrageous costumes and hilarious personality. She was diagnosed with rapid-onset Alzheimer’s disease in 2009 and was being cared for in the same Sydney nursing home as her husband Barry, who died last year.

Beauty & Style

Australian law says the media can’t spin lies – ‘entertainment magazines’ aren’t an exception

In a <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/media/2020/feb/17/womans-day-headline-declaring-meghan-and-harrys-marriage-over-blatantly-incorrect">recent ruling</a> the Australian Press Council has given a signal to gossip magazines it is OK to make up and publish rubbish about people, so long as the stories aren’t “blatantly incorrect”. This is despite the council’s own guidelines stating all member publications must strive for accuracy and avoid being misleading. The council, which adjudicates complaints against the print media, has also suggested it’s OK to have less rigorous standards when reporting on royalty and celebrities. And all this happened in a ruling against a magazine for publishing falsehoods. A confused adjudication The council has upheld a complaint about an article published in Woman’s Day on May 27 2019. The cover declared: “Palace confirms the marriage is over! Why Harry was left with no choice but to end it.” The inside story was titled “This is the final straw” and claimed: “Prince Harry has been left enraged and humiliated by a series of shock revelations about his wife’s past” and he “has finally reached breaking point”. In upholding the complaint, the <a href="https://www.presscouncil.org.au/document-search/adj-1773/">Press Council said</a> the headline was “blatantly incorrect” and not supported by the article’s contents. It also ruled the headline “was more than just an exaggeration […] it was misleading”.“ But the council has sent a strong signal it will be lenient with publications that exaggerate. It said: ”[A]n entertainment publication can be expected to use some exaggeration" and “celebrity and gossip magazines are purchased for light entertainment, with readers not necessarily assuming that everything presented is factual”. The phrase “not necessarily” suggests some people might believe what’s presented is factual. But, that aside, why is the Press Council making rulings at odds with its own general principles? The <a href="https://www.presscouncil.org.au/statements-of-principles/">first principle</a> says publications should “ensure that factual material in news reports and elsewhere is accurate and not misleading and is distinguishable from other material such as opinion”. How does it reconcile these two contradictory ideas? It’s a question Marcus Strom, the president of the journalists’ union, MEAA Media, has been considering. He told <a href="https://theconversation.com/australian-law-says-the-media-cant-spin-lies-entertainment-magazines-arent-an-exception-132186">The Conversation:</a> “The Press Council guidelines are clear that all member publications must strive to be factual and not misleading. I’m surprised that falsehoods – where not “everything presented is factual” – are allowed within that definition.” If you’ve walked past a rack of magazines in the supermarket and wondered just how many times the same celebrity can become pregnant, you may have asked yourself why these publications can print falsehoods on an almost industrial scale. You might have concluded they’re just gossip magazines and no one takes them seriously. That same thinking seems to be driving the Press Council’s comments. But is that good enough? The idea these publications have a special exemption from journalistic standards is a concept with almost no foundation in law. There is no special provision under Australia’s defamation laws for this class of magazines. There is no “celebrity” defence that allows the media to make up lies about people. Even the defamation law’s defence of “triviality” offers very little protection. The Rebel Wilson case made that perfectly clear. Lawyer Dougal Hurley, of Minter Ellison, tells The Conversation gossip magazines trade on light entertainment, and readers “can and do expect a level of hyperbole that they would not in news media”. However, he concludes: “This does not mean that the defence of triviality will succeed if these magazines are sued for defamation. Indeed, the rejection of triviality defences by the jury [in the case of] Wilson is evidence of this. Gossip magazines that have not already changed their editorial practices risk being liable for significant defamation payouts.” Out-of-step thinking The other controversial suggestion in the ruling is that the media can apply less rigorous standards when reporting on the royal family and celebrities. “The Council also acknowledges that the reasonable steps required to be accurate and not misleading in an article concerning royalty and celebrities can, depending on the circumstances, be different to those required in respect of other persons, particularly those who are not usually in the public eye.” The council offers little reasoning for this, but is no doubt assuming that, as public figures, they should expect incursions on their privacy and sensationalised coverage. Again, the council’s thinking is looking out of step with the <a href="https://www.afr.com/companies/media-and-marketing/australia-the-defamation-capital-of-the-world-20190904-p52nuh">increased use of the courts</a> to combat inaccurate reporting and false gossip. Hurley says: “Although in many respects gossip magazines are as they ever were, it is also true that they are bearing more risk in circumstances where they purport to report news and publish to a global audience instantaneously.” He continues: “While international celebrities may appear to be easy targets for gossip magazines, our notoriously plaintiff-friendly defamation laws mean that these celebrities can and will sue in Australia. Only a major overhaul of Australia’s defamation laws will prevent the libel tourism that has contributed to Australia becoming the defamation capital of the world.” Perhaps in these circumstances, the Press Council might do its members – and the public – a greater service by insisting proper standards apply to all reporting, and that accuracy and fact checking be the norm, even for the magazines at the supermarket checkout. Written by Andrew Dodd. Republished with permission of <a href="https://theconversation.com/australian-law-says-the-media-cant-spin-lies-entertainment-magazines-arent-an-exception-132186">The Conversation.</a>

Legal

Entertain with ease with a red onion salsa three ways

Explore the different ways to use red onion in salsa with these three recipes. Serves 4 Prep: 15 mins Cooking time 0 mins Red onion, Avocado & apple salsa Ingredients <ul> <li> 1 pink lady, Fuji or Jazz apple, cut into matchsticks </li> <li> 1 avocado, diced </li> <li> 1 small red onion, peeled, halved, finely diced </li> <li> 2 tbs chopped coriander </li> <li> 1 lime, juiced </li> </ul> Method <ol> <li> Combine the apple, avocado, onion and coriander in a bowl. Pour over the lime juice, stir to combine.</li> <li>Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.</li> <li>Serve over sticky pork, kebabs or rissoles. </li> </ol> Red onion, apple & cucumber salsa Ingredients <ul> <li> 1 pink lady, Fuji or Jazz apple, cut into matchsticks </li> <li> 1 large Lebanese cucumber, diced </li> <li> 1 small red onion, peeled, halved, finely diced </li> <li> 2 tbs chopped flat leaf parsley leaves </li> <li> 1 lime, juiced </li> </ul> Method <ol> <li> Combine the apple, cucumber, onion and parsley in a bowl. </li> <li>Pour over the lime juice, stir to combine.</li> <li>Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.</li> <li>Serve over fish, pork, lamb or chicken. </li> </ol> Red onion, chilli mango salsa Ingredients <ul> <li> 1 firm ripe mango, peeled, diced </li> <li> 1 Lebanese cucumber, diced </li> <li> 1 small red onion, peeled, halved, finely diced </li> <li> 1 long red chilli, finely chopped </li> <li> 2 tbs chopped coriander </li> <li> 1 lime, juiced </li> </ul> Method <ol> <li> Combine the mango, cucumber, onion, chilli and coriander in a bowl. </li> <li>Pour over the lime juice, stir to combine.</li> <li>Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.</li> <li>Serve over fish, pork or chicken. </li> </ol> Recipe courtesy of Australian Onions.

Food & Wine

Entertain with ease: Avocado, garlic and cheese pull-apart bread

Impress friends and family with this fabulous and easy pull apart. Time to prepare: 20 minutes Cooking time: 15 minutes Serves: 4 to 6 Ingredients 1 loaf sourdough bread 1 ripe avocado, peeled and halved lengthways 1 tbs olive oil 2 garlic cloves, crushed 1 tbs lemon juice 1½ cups grated 3-cheese mix Salt and pepper to season Directions 1. Preheat oven to 200˚C/180˚C fan-forced. 2. Using a sharp knife, deeply cut the bread into a honeycomb pattern (don’t cut through the base of the loaf). 3. Scoop avocado flesh into a bowl and add oil, garlic and lemon juice and seasoning, and lightly mash with a fork. 4. Gently ease bread open and spoon avocado mixture into the loaf. 5. Repeat using cheese. 6. Place loaf onto a large sheet of foil and loosely wrap. Place on a baking tray and bake for 12 minutes. 7. Uncover and bake for a further 8-10 minutes until hot and golden. Recipe courtesy of <a rel="noopener" href="http://australianavocados.com.au/" target="_blank">Australian Avocados</a>. Republished with permission of <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.wyza.com.au/recipes/avocado-garlic-and-cheese-pull-apart-bread.aspx" target="_blank">Wyza.com.au</a>.

Food & Wine

Vietnam War: Tales from my time entertaining the troops

Over60 community writer John Strange toured South Vietnam in 1965 with Australian entertainment group “The Beaumarks”. Here, he shares a few tales of his time entertaining the Australian troops. The Rex to Dang Dung I was a 20 year old when I first went to Vietnam in 1965 and was pretty much a stereotype of a young bloke at that age. Wide eyed at the wonders of the world and full of adventure and bravado. The first gig we had was working on the roof of the Rex Hotel BOQ for the Yanks in downtown Saigon. We had been housed in a villa at Dang Dung (the street name district 1) with another Australian band, The Rajahs. It was about three or four miles from the Rex in Saigon's suburbs. We would usually get to the gig under our own steam depending on what we had been up to during the day but getting home was a different matter. A curfew at midnight meant everyone had to be off the streets so it was essential we all got home after the gig. Maybe a quick “Bud” and then downstairs to the street to round up three motorized cyclos. Motorized cyclos in those days had a well-worn seat similar to a two-seater lounge chair with a two-stroke motor scooter behind and a driver perched on top. Sitting in the seat out front, always felt dangerous as it seemed you were being propelled through the traffic out in the open with no protection, taking your life into your own hands. And you were! <img width="500" height="333" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7816572/cyclo_500x333.jpg" alt="Cyclo"/> A cyclo in Vietnam. Image credit: John Strange At this point in time, inflation had not hit Vietnam and the normal cost of a motorized cyclo ride between the Rex and Dang Dung was the equivalent of about 20 to 30 cents. We would round up three cyclos and offer the first one to reach Dang Dung the equivalent of $5, and the others would be paid nothing. This would normally take quite a bit of broken English, some French, some Vietnamese and a lot of sign language to get the message across, but the thought of a $5 fare at the end of the night usually had the desired effect. A bloody good quick ride home was assured for us all. We would hop aboard with two in each cyclo and take off. The ride never ceased to be exhilarating to say the least and possibly the best ride I've ever had in anything at any cost. You had to hang on for grim death for fear of hitting something or falling out as the driver swerved in and out of any traffic, pushbikes, pedestrians, motor bikes, horse drawn carts, cars, taxis, other cyclos or anything else that was on the street and in the way. White knuckles and wind swept hair were the norm and quite often a scream, a yell to the other participants or a whoopee of sheer terror or excitement would add to the overall effect. <img width="500" height="338" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7816571/dang-dung-john-1965-saigon_500x338.jpg" alt="Dang Dung John 1965 Saigon"/> Dang Dung John in Saigon, 1965. Image credit: John Strange We usually arrived at the villa with almost a dead heat and all would just about fall out of the cycloes laughing at the release of making it home alive. Most times the drivers were well rewarded for the ride of a lifetime and everyone ended the trip very happy. In 1965, the war was not the only dangerous thing in Saigon! Vietnam Christmas - 1965 In this day and age I feel I could be addicted to Vietnam. I log onto Vietnam sites of a day and I’m always looking for new sites or checking updates. I read books and keep my eye out for things pertaining to the war, and love conversing with Vets and other entertainers who were there, and understand. People who were involved just know and there is an understanding and kinship. It seems like I’m thinking about Vietnam, and my time there, constantly. It may have been triggered off by my first Christmas there and my first Christmas away from my family and home, and the feeling it gave to be able to give back to the people that were there for all of us. <img width="500" height="695" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7816570/christmas-day-menu-2_500x695.jpg" alt="Christmas Day Menu 2"/> Christmas Day Menu. Image credit: John Strange We were the first official Australian entertainers to go to Vietnam to entertain our armed forces and were sponsored by the RSL (Returned Soldiers League). I travelled as a young bloke of 20, and was overwhelmed by the adventure, the excitement and the experience of not only entertaining our own troops, but performing for Americans as well. It never occurred to me that my parents were horrified at the thought of their son going into a war zone or that I would be in any danger. I had my 21st birthday in Saigon and I had a great time. We worked a club on the eve of my birthday and invited a whole bunch of people home to the villa where we stayed downtown, in one of the suburbs. We had a great party, champagne and the works. No official stuff, just a good slap-up party. Slept most of the next day then got up, and did it all again. So, in reality, I had two 21st birthdays, and for me, they were really great and a lot of fun. <img width="500" height="350" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7816569/christmas-lunch-menu-bien-hoa-1965_500x350.jpg" alt="Christmas Lunch Menu Bien Hoa 1965"/> Christmas Lunch Menu at Bien Hoa, 1965. Image credit: John Strange It wasn’t until quite sometime later in my life that it dawned on me that I had robbed my parents of my 21st. I know now, as a parent, that one of my life’s goals is to be with my daughter on her 21st birthday. I wonder what my parents were thinking on December 11, 1965 while I was in Saigon having a great time. It’s something that I can never give back to them. I woke up on the morning of Christmas Day, 1965, and I felt pretty terrible. It was my first Christmas away from my parents and home, and I felt very very melancholy. “What in the bloody hell am I doing here?” was on my mind. It was the little boy coming out in me and it didn’t feel too good. It was the first realisation I had of what I had taken on and what I was doing, and at that point in time, it left me in the doldrums. There were three shows organized for that day: two at Bien Hoa and one at Vung Tau. Three shows in a day is normally a tough call, but this day looked like being the toughest and I felt unsure. As I showered, shaved and had some breakfast, things were pretty quite in the villa and maybe the other guys had similar thoughts and feelings. I had all my things ready to go when the Aussie military blokes arrived (Pick-Up as we called it) to escort us to Bien Hoa. The first Aussie bloke I bumped into as he came into the house, immediately shook my hand and thanked me. I was taken aback when he said, “Thanks for giving up your Christmas to be here with us.” That continued all day. All these guys coming up and thanking me and shaking my hand. <img width="500" height="318" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7816568/lynn-fletcher_500x318.jpg" alt="Lynn Fletcher"/> Our band “The Beaumarks” backing Lynn Fletcher at Bien Hoa Christmas Day. Image credit: John Strange We had three great shows with Don Lane, Lucky Starr, Lynn Fletcher and a bunch of others. Everything went great especially when we joined the officers and served the enlisted men Christmas lunch. We learnt that it is an Australian military Christmas tradition and we had a great time joining in. It turned out to be a fantastic day and the best Christmas I’ve ever had. From being down in the dumps first thing in the morning, to being on top of the world for the rest of the day, was just great.

Retirement Life

Easy crowd pleaser recipes

If you own a Thermomix, you’ll know how quick and easy it is to whip up a restaurant-quality dish in next to no time. Salmon, Asparagus & Potato Salad 15 min prep time | 40 min total cooking time | 2 portions Ingredients: <ul> <li>½ garlic clove</li> <li>3 sprigs fresh dill, leaves only, plus extra for garnishing</li> <li>½ lemon, zest only, no white pith (optional)</li> <li>1 tbsp lemon juice (approx. ½ lemon)</li> <li>80g sour cream</li> <li>1 tbsp olive oil</li> <li>1 pinch salt, to taste</li> <li>1 pinch ground black pepper, to taste</li> <li>900g water</li> <li>250g potatoes (approx. 2-3 potatoes), peeled and cut into pieces (2-3cm)</li> <li>250g fresh boneless, skinless salmon fillets (approx. 2 fillets)</li> <li>1 bunch green asparagus, ends trimmed and cut into quarters</li> <li>20g pickled capers, drained</li> <li>40g mixed baby leaf salad, to serve</li> </ul> Method: <ol> <li>Place garlic, dill and lemon zest (optional) into mixing bowl and chop 10 sec/speed 7. Scrape down sides of mixing bowl with spatula.</li> <li>Add lemon juice, sour cream, olive oil, salt and pepper and blend 10 sec/speed 4. Transfer dressing into a bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and place into refrigerator. Rinse and dry mixing bowl.</li> <li>Place water into mixing bowl. Insert simmering basket and weigh potato into it. Place Varoma into position and weigh salmon into it. Steam 15 min/Varoma/speed 2.</li> <li>Place asparagus onto Varoma tray, insert Varoma tray and steam 3 min/Varoma/speed 2.</li> <li>Remove asparagus from Varoma tray and run briefly under cold water to cease cooking. Remove simmering basket with aid of spatula. Set potatoes, asparagus and salmon aside to cool for approx. 15 minutes.</li> <li>Transfer potatoes, asparagus, dressing and capers onto serving platter and combine. Break up salmon into pieces and place on top of potatoes. Add mixed salad leaves and gently combine.</li> <li>Garnish with extra dill and serve immediately.</li> </ol> <img width="500" height="333" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7815749/corn_coriander_fritters_avocado_tahini_l_j1p2501_opt_500x333.jpg" alt="Corn _coriander _fritters _avocado _tahini _L_J1P2501_opt"/> Corn & Coriander Fritters with Avocado Tahini 20 min prep time | 1 h 15 mins total cooking time | 4 portions Ingredients: For the Avocado Tahini <ul> <li>1 avocado, flesh only</li> <li>2 tbsp tahini</li> <li>20g lime juice (approx. 1 lime)</li> <li>2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil</li> <li>1 pinch salt, to taste</li> <li>1 pinch ground black pepper, to taste</li> </ul> For the Corn & Coriander Fritters <ul> <li>3 spring onions/shallots (approx. 60g), cut into quarters</li> <li>10 sprigs fresh coriander, leaves only</li> <li>100g kale, leaves only, stalks removed</li> <li>140g natural yoghurt</li> <li>2 eggs</li> <li>110g self-raising flour</li> <li>½ tsp salt, to taste</li> <li>½ tsp freshly ground black pepper, to taste</li> <li>500g fresh corn kernels </li> <li>2 pinches cayenne pepper</li> <li>Oil, for frying</li> </ul> Method: For the Avocado Tahini <ol> <li>Place all Avocado Tahini ingredients into mixing bowl and blend 5 sec/speed 5.</li> <li>Scrape down sides of mixing bowl with spatula and mix 3 sec/speed 5. Transfer into a serving bowl and place into refrigerator until ready to serve.</li> </ol> For the Corn & Coriander Fritters <ol> <li>Without cleaning mixing bowl, place spring onions/shallots, coriander and kale into mixing bowl and chop 3 sec/speed 7, with aid of spatula.</li> <li>Scrape down sides of mixing bowl with spatula and chop 3 sec/speed 7. Transfer into a bowl and set aside.</li> <li>Place yoghurt, eggs, flour, salt and pepper into mixing bowl and mix 10 sec/speed 5.</li> <li>Add corn, cayenne pepper and reserved spring onion/shallot mixture and mix 20 sec/spin/speed 3, until combined.</li> <li>Place a large frying pan over medium heat and brush with oil. Working in batches, pour 2 tbsp fritter mixture into pan and cook for approx. 3 minutes on each side or until golden and cooked through. Transfer into a thermal serving bowl or onto a plate and cover to keep warm. Repeat with remaining fritter mixture to make approx. 16 fritters total. Serve fritters with reserved avocado tahini.</li> </ol> <img width="500" height="375" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7815750/summer_icecream_cake_l_j1p5901_opt_500x375.jpg" alt="Summer _icecream _cake _L_J1P5901_opt"/> Ice Cream Cake 10 min prep time | 4 h 50 min total cooking time | 8 portions Ingredients: For the Berry Coulis <ul> <li>50ml coconut oil, plus extra for greasing</li> <li>200g fresh raspberries (can be substituted with 200g frozen raspberries)</li> <li>100g caster sugar</li> <li>20g lemon juice, freshly squeezed (approx. ½ lemon)</li> </ul> For the Ice Cream Cake <ul> <li>230g shortbread biscuits</li> <li>70g blanched almonds, toasted</li> <li>50g raw sugar</li> <li>2 eggs</li> <li>300g pouring (whipping) cream, chilled</li> <li>½ tsp rose water</li> <li>50g dried cranberries</li> <li>50g shelled unsalted pistachios</li> <li>100g green seedless grapes, plus extra for decorating</li> <li>100g red seedless grapes, plus extra for decorating</li> <li>Fresh raspberries, for decorating (optional)</li> <li>Fresh strawberries, for decorating (optional)</li> </ul> Method: For the Berry Coulis <ol> <li>Place all ingredients into mixing bowl and cook 4-6 min/90°C/speed 4, until slightly thickened. Transfer into a small jug and set aside to cool. Clean and dry mixing bowl.</li> </ol> For the Ice Cream Cake <ol> <li>Preheat oven to 180°C. Grease and line a spring form cake tin (20cm) with baking paper and set aside.</li> <li>Place shortbread biscuits and almonds into mixing bowl and mill 10 sec/speed 10. Transfer mixture into base of prepared tin then, using the back of a spoon, press down lightly. Bake for 10 minutes (180°C). Leave to cool completely (approx. 30 minutes).</li> <li>Insert butterfly whisk. Place sugar and eggs into mixing bowl and cook 6 min/60°C/speed 4. Transfer into a bowl and place into refrigerator to cool (approx. 30 minutes). Clean and dry mixing bowl and butterfly whisk.</li> <li>Re-insert butterfly whisk. Place cream and rose water into mixing bowl and whip 10-20 sec/speed 4, until soft peaks form, watching carefully through hole in mixing bowl lid to avoid over-whipping. Transfer cream into chilled reserved custard and using spatula, fold to combine. Add remaining Ice Cream Cake ingredients, excluding fresh raspberries and strawberries, to reserved custard mixture and fold through using spatula.</li> <li>Pour custard mixture into reserved cooled base and then pour half of the reserved berry coulis over custard. Using a wooden skewer, stir berry coulis through custard mixture to create a marble effect. Place into freezer to set for a minimum 4 hours. Once frozen, decorate with raspberries, strawberries and extra grapes. Serve with remaining berry coulis.</li> </ol>

Food & Wine

Can you guess who the tennis star is in this childhood pic?

One of the greatest tennis players of the modern era has taken to Instagram to share a photo of himself as a young child. The rosy-faced boy in the photo below would grow up to win multiple majors and become World Number 1. But can you tell who it is? <img width="494" height="481" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7266458/andy-murray-young.jpg" alt="Andy Murray Young"/> Image credit: Instagram / Andy Murray It's Andy Murray! The British tennis champion shared the photo on the popular social media site Instagram when announcing his withdrawal form the Brisbane International tournament. <img width="459" height="503" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7266459/andy-murray-old.jpg" alt="Andy Murray Old"/> Image credit: Instagram / Andy Murray “I choose this pic as the little kid inside me just wants to play tennis and Compete,” Murray wrote. “I genuinely miss it so much and i would give anything to be back out there. I didn't realise until these last few months just how much I love this game. Every time I wake up from sleeping or napping I hope that it's better and it's quite demoralising when you get on the court it's not at the level you need it to be to compete at this level.” Did you guess who it was correctly? Hero image credit: Instagram / Andy Murray

Art

5 hacks that will make holiday entertaining so much easier

The holidays are a beautiful time of gatherings with family and friends but unfortunately, the pressures of hosting can leave many feeling stressed and exhausted during the festive season. To decrease the load of entertaining, follow these home hacks. 1. Set up a first aid station If there is a clear first aid station, guests can tend to themselves instead of asking you for a product every time an accident happens. Key things to include in your first aid station include band-aids, burn spray, sunscreen and insect repellent. 2. Designate a relaxation room Choose one room in your house that is away from everyone for anyone who needs a break from the hustle bustle or who isn’t feeling well. Make sure there is a fan in the room and a blanket for the guests’ comfort. 3. Tie a bottle opener to the esky To avoid being asked multiple times for a bottle opener, tie it to the esky or drinks tub before the guests arrive. It will be one less thing for you to worry about on the day. 4. Make edible dessert cups There are many recipes to make dessert cups or you can opt for waffle ice cream cones if you don’t have time to make anything. These dessert cups will give you an easy dessert that involves no washing up. 5. Use cupcake liners to keep bugs away If you’re entertaining outside, turn cupcake liners upside down and place them over drinks to keep flies away. You can even punch a hole through them for straws! What are your home hacks for holiday entertaining? Let us know in the comments below.

Home & Garden

Police release "world's most entertaining recruitment video"

In a bid to attract more applicants, police have released a clip they're calling the "world's most entertaining police recruitment video". Sporting <a href="https://www-alpha.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/celebrities/89731679/taika-waititis-best-moments" target="_blank">Taika Waititi-esque Kiwi humour</a>, the fast-paced clip showcases the many different facets of police work; from the air, sea and land. <iframe width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/f9psILoYmCc?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" gesture="media" allowfullscreen=""></iframe> The Armed Offenders Squad, dive and dog squads, Eagle helicopter crews and frontline officers pull the heavy lifting in the video, demonstrating day-to-day police work. Meanwhile comedic relief is provided by the likes of the police's own pipe band, a police cat in uniform and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/w_cribb/?hl=en" target="_blank">Feilding internet sensation William "Waiirua" Cribb</a>. More than 70 police staff put their hands up to be involved in the two-and-a-half minute clip. It features top ranking Police Commissioner Mike Bush all the way down to one of the newest recruits, Zion Leaupepe, who opens and closes the video. "NZ police are striving to increase our overall staff numbers over the next three years to meet our objective of being the safest country, and to deliver on the Government's signalled staffing increase," Bush said. He said the video was targeted at 18- to 24-year-olds, women, Māori, Pacific Islanders, and people from all other ethnicities and backgrounds "to better reflect the communities we serve". We also need recruits who are happy to be based in the Auckland area." Police posted the video on their national, recruitment and district social media channels, which have more than one million followers. The campaign would also run in cinemas, on television and on-demand, and outdoor posters. "We want to attract people who bring their own skill set, like problem solving and working in a team, and who are fit, or prepared to get fit," said Karen Jones, deputy chief executive of public affairs. "There are more than 30 different career paths within NZ police and it was really important to demonstrate the range of options for people who may be considering joining us. "Most importantly we want people who care about making our communities safe," Jones said. What do you think of this hilarious recruitment video? Let us know in the comments below. Written by Nicole Lawton. Republished with permission of <a href="http://www.stuff.co.nz/" target="_blank">Stuff.co.nz</a>.

Legal

How to make your own in-flight entertainment

A flight without some way to keep yourself entertained can feel as much fun as a root canal. But the days of staring mindlessly into the back of the seat in front of you are over! A clever travel expert posting on the popular internet forum Reddit has shared the secret trick to create your own in-flight entertainment display, with your own phone. And all you need is a ziplock bag. <img width="499" height="670" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/43479/flight-in-text_499x670.jpg" alt="Flight In Text"/> Image credit: Reddit Just put your phone in the bag, use the tray table lock to secure it to the seat in front and you’ve got your own hands-free mini movie screen to watch any video from your phone. It works best with wireless headphones, but if you don’t have those simply make a tiny incision and poke your normal headphones through. It just goes to show you how useful ziplock bag can be. Do you think you’ll use this trick?

Travel Tips

A history of in-flight entertainment

In the much-loved comedy The Castle (1997), Tracy (Sophie Lee) and Con (Eric Bana) return from their honeymoon in Thailand, talking excitedly of the highlights. But Tracy's brother, Dale (Stephen Curry), only wants to know one thing: what movies were shown on the plane? He's not the only one. It might not be as crucial as finding a good hotel or the best coffee shop but no matter how many fat novels or sleeping tablets you take, sometimes it requires a good movie to heighten the flight experience. As with airline food and service, however, frequent travellers sometimes have horror stories about airline movies. Perhaps the sound quality is poor (a frequent complaint) or the movie selection is dubious. Even when United Airlines prefaced each movie with a televised assessment from the critics Ebert and Roeper (and to the airline's credit, not all of their critiques were rosy) they couldn't assume that passengers would enjoy The Da Vinci Code. MSNBC travel columnist and former flight attendant James Wysong tells a story of a flight attendant who announced: "Today we have a movie that will surely put you to sleep." Unfortunately the screenwriter was on board and the attendant was fired after the writer complained. Of course, this is less of a concern now that most leading airlines have upgraded to multi-channel video systems for their long-haul flights. The iQ inflight entertainment system being fitted on all new Qantas aircraft includes up to 100 movies and more than 500 television programs. Even on its older aircraft, you're unlikely to get bored, with a choice of 25 movies. As with every other aspect of the movie business, there are even awards for in-flight entertainment: the Avion Awards, presented since 1989. Qantas won the overall award every year from 2002 to 2006, except 2004, when United won. For the past two years, the top award has been won by Emirates, whose in-canin entertainment system has 600 channels, including 50 movies (ranging from Happy-Go-Lucky to Transporter 3), so the passengers' only concern is whether the flight will last long enough. The Avions are awarded by the World Airline Entertainment Association, which keeps abreast of the latest technology and advances. If airlines could afford to update their systems (and for now, many of them can't), they would have no excuse for poor sound quality. Nonetheless, even the antiquated VHS tapes are a distinct improvement on the first in-flight movie screening in 1925, when Imperial Airlines projected The Lost World on a 30-minute flight. (As talking pictures would not arrive for another year, presumably no one complained about the sound quality.) It was not until 1961 that TWA became the first airline to show films on regularly scheduled flights, projected from 16mm film. (For trivia buffs, the film was By Love Possessed, starring Lana Turner.) It was a clunky business, improved somewhat after 1971, when newly invented 8mm film cassettes allowed flight attendants to change movies mid-flight. Twenty years later, the newly launched Virgin Atlantic was the first airline to have seat-back video screens (previously a first-class luxury) in all classes. With its usual mischief, the first movie Virgin showed on these videos was Airplane! (aka Flying High), the 1980 comedy in which crew and passengers are poisoned by in-flight meals, narrowly avoiding a crash. Oh, the hilarity. "I think a good rule of thumb for in-flight entertainment would be to avoid movies in which passengers die in a mass-transportation disaster," writes Wysong. This didn't stop airlines screening Titanic or Air Force One (though nobody has been dumb enough to show United 93). In-flight movies are usually screened two months after their US release, just before their home-video release (though Australian movies on Qantas flights are shown closer to the release date). Most airlines focus on blockbusters and comedies. "Light entertainment with broad appeal is very much the aim for main-screen [movies]," says Qantas inflight entertainment executive producer Michael Freedman. "On personal screens we aim to include these movies within a broader mix of action and drama as well as special interest and arthouse films. Our primary focus is selecting movies which appeal to our business-purpose flyers but [we hope] that there is something for everyone, including children, within the mix." The iQ system was unveiled with Qantas's much-publicised new A380 aircraft last year. "There is no set pattern to IFE [in-flight entertainment] technology upgrades," Freedman says. "The complexity of IFE systems and the regulatory requirements mean that technology moves more slowly than home entertainment systems." Serious film buffs are still unlikely to use in-flight systems to keep au fait with the latest movies. Not only will they miss the big-screen experience but they might not see the whole version. Remember the scene in Rain Man when Dustin Hoffman reels off air-crash statistics, making the famous point that "Qantas never crashed"? That was trimmed by most airlines, with one obvious exception. Most airlines also ruthlessly censor films (on the main screen, if not the personal systems) to make them family-friendly. Bad language is replaced by quaint expressions. Even a character flipping the bird is often pixellated. In the current economic climate, not all airlines are expanding their movie service. In November, US Airways stopped showing movies on US domestic flights, hoping to save $US10 million ($16 million) a year. "We simply can't afford to do it any more," says Travis Christ, its vice president for sales and marketing. Video systems weigh 227 kilograms and increase fuel use. Also, customers often refuse to pay $5 for headsets, as required on most internal flights in the US. (Attendants on these flights seem to have given up pleading with passengers to stop using their own headsets.) This might not be a problem for a short flight but for the six-hour Los Angeles-New York route, you might want to bring a good book. It is not unlikely that other airlines will follow the US Airways' lead but only on short-haul flights. On longer flights, the mantra seems to be "upgrade, upgrade, upgrade". As picture quality improves and the selection expands, frequent travellers might never again need to go to the movies. Are you a fan of in-flight entertainment? What do you do to pass the time on long-haul flights? Share in the comments below. Written by Mark Juddery. First appeared on <a href="http://www.stuff.co.nz/" target="_blank">Stuff.co.nz</a>.

Travel Tips

ABBA to reunite for “entertainment experience”

After almost 35 years since their final public performance, iconic Swedish pop group ABBA are set to reunite once more for “a new entertainment experience” that will allow fans to “see, hear, and feel ABBA in a way previously unimagined”. The digital project will be helmed by music mogul Simon Fuller (the man behind the Spice Girls and American Idol) and will reportedly utilise “the very latest in digital and virtual reality technology,” designed to bring Benny Andersson, Agnetha Fältskog, Björn Ulvaeus and Anni-Frid Lynstad’s music to a whole new generation – as well as to their decades-long fans. “The members of ABBA will be involved throughout the creative process maintaining the authenticity and integrity of the bands original vision within this exciting new realm of entertainment possibilities,” a representative for the band wrote in a statement posted on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ABBA/posts/1645651982127174:0" target="_blank">Facebook</a>. While details are rather scarce at the moment, it’s safe to say the world will be watching closely! Tell us in the comments below, are you excited for ABBA’s new project? Related links: <a href="/news/news/2016/10/the-actor-who-was-supposed-to-play-indiana-jones/">The actor who was supposed to play Indiana Jones</a> <a href="/news/news/2016/10/pop-icon-bobby-vee-passes-away-aged-73/">Pop icon Bobby Vee passes away aged 73</a> <a href="/lifestyle/beauty-style/2016/09/abbas-most-fabulous-outfits/">10 of ABBA’s most fabulous outfits</a>

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The sky’s the limit: A brief history of in-flight entertainment

A guide to pairing wine and food

A horse died on the set of The Rings of Power: more needs to be done to ensure the welfare of horses used in entertainment

"Someone give them a raise": Hilarious way ground crew entertained trapped passengers

"It was very quick": Children's entertainer dead at 29

Dear Evan Hansen is an inspiring and entertaining film

Keep your dog entertained with DOGTV

Aussie entertainer Jeanne Little dies aged 82

Australian law says the media can’t spin lies – ‘entertainment magazines’ aren’t an exception

Entertain with ease with a red onion salsa three ways

Entertain with ease: Avocado, garlic and cheese pull-apart bread

Vietnam War: Tales from my time entertaining the troops

Easy crowd pleaser recipes

Can you guess who the tennis star is in this childhood pic?

5 hacks that will make holiday entertaining so much easier

Police release "world's most entertaining recruitment video"

How to make your own in-flight entertainment

A history of in-flight entertainment

ABBA to reunite for “entertainment experience”

Our Partners

News

Shop

Catalogues

Newspaper

Contests

Entertainment

Travel

Health

Lifestyle

Finance

Property

Compare

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Information

Keep up to date

Search

The sky’s the limit: A brief history of in-flight entertainment

A guide to pairing wine and food

A horse died on the set of The Rings of Power: more needs to be done to ensure the welfare of horses used in entertainment

"Someone give them a raise": Hilarious way ground crew entertained trapped passengers

"It was very quick": Children's entertainer dead at 29

Dear Evan Hansen is an inspiring and entertaining film

Keep your dog entertained with DOGTV

Aussie entertainer Jeanne Little dies aged 82

Australian law says the media can’t spin lies – ‘entertainment magazines’ aren’t an exception

Entertain with ease with a red onion salsa three ways

Entertain with ease: Avocado, garlic and cheese pull-apart bread

Vietnam War: Tales from my time entertaining the troops

Easy crowd pleaser recipes

Can you guess who the tennis star is in this childhood pic?

5 hacks that will make holiday entertaining so much easier

Police release "world's most entertaining recruitment video"

How to make your own in-flight entertainment

A history of in-flight entertainment

ABBA to reunite for “entertainment experience”

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