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How much time should you spend sitting versus standing? New research reveals the perfect mix for optimal health

<div class="theconversation-article-body"><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/christian-brakenridge-1295221">Christian Brakenridge</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/baker-heart-and-diabetes-institute-974">Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute</a></em></p> <p>People have a pretty intuitive sense of what is healthy – standing is better than sitting, exercise is great for overall health and getting <a href="https://theconversation.com/could-not-getting-enough-sleep-increase-your-risk-of-type-2-diabetes-225179">good sleep is imperative</a>.</p> <p>However, if exercise in the evening may disrupt our sleep, or make us feel the need to be more sedentary to recover, a key question emerges – what is the best way to balance our 24 hours to optimise our health?</p> <p><a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00125-024-06145-0">Our research</a> attempted to answer this for risk factors for heart disease, stroke and diabetes. We found the optimal amount of sleep was 8.3 hours, while for light activity and moderate to vigorous activity, it was best to get 2.2 hours each.</p> <p><iframe id="dw4bx" class="tc-infographic-datawrapper" style="border: none;" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/dw4bx/" width="100%" height="400px" frameborder="0"></iframe></p> <h2>Finding the right balance</h2> <p>Current health guidelines recommend you stick to a <a href="https://www.health.gov.au/topics/physical-activity-and-exercise/physical-activity-and-exercise-guidelines-for-all-australians/for-adults-18-to-64-years">sensible regime</a> of moderate-to vigorous-intensity physical activity 2.5–5 hours per week.</p> <p>However <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacc.2019.02.031">mounting evidence</a> now <a href="https://doi.org/10.2337/dc14-2073">suggests</a> how you spend your day can have meaningful ramifications for your health. In addition to moderate-to vigorous-intensity physical activity, this means the time you spend sitting, standing, doing light physical activity (such as walking around your house or office) and sleeping.</p> <p>Our research looked at more than 2,000 adults who wore body sensors that could interpret their physical behaviours, for seven days. This gave us a sense of how they spent their average 24 hours.</p> <p>At the start of the study participants had their waist circumference, blood sugar and insulin sensitivity measured. The body sensor and assessment data was matched and analysed then tested against health risk markers — such as a heart disease and stroke risk score — to create a model.</p> <p>Using this model, we fed through thousands of permutations of 24 hours and found the ones with the estimated lowest associations with heart disease risk and blood-glucose levels. This created many optimal mixes of sitting, standing, light and moderate intensity activity.</p> <p>When we looked at waist circumference, blood sugar, insulin sensitivity and a heart disease and stroke risk score, we noted differing optimal time zones. Where those zones mutually overlapped was ascribed the optimal zone for heart disease and diabetes risk.</p> <h2>You’re doing more physical activity than you think</h2> <p>We found light-intensity physical activity (defined as walking less than 100 steps per minute) – such as walking to the water cooler, the bathroom, or strolling casually with friends – had strong associations with glucose control, and especially in people with type 2 diabetes. This light-intensity physical activity is likely accumulated intermittently throughout the day rather than being a purposeful bout of light exercise.</p> <p>Our experimental evidence shows that <a href="https://diabetesjournals.org/care/article/39/6/964/29532/Benefits-for-Type-2-Diabetes-of-Interrupting">interrupting our sitting</a> regularly with light-physical activity (such as taking a 3–5 minute walk every hour) can improve our metabolism, especially so after lunch.</p> <p>While the moderate-to-vigorous physical activity time might seem a quite high, at more than 2 hours a day, we defined it as more than 100 steps per minute. This equates to a brisk walk.</p> <p>It should be noted that these findings are preliminary. This is the first study of heart disease and diabetes risk and the “optimal” 24 hours, and the results will need further confirmation with longer prospective studies.</p> <p>The data is also cross-sectional. This means that the estimates of time use are correlated with the disease risk factors, meaning it’s unclear whether how participants spent their time influences their risk factors or whether those risk factors influence how someone spends their time.</p> <h2>Australia’s adult physical activity guidelines need updating</h2> <p>Australia’s <a href="https://www.health.gov.au/topics/physical-activity-and-exercise/physical-activity-and-exercise-guidelines-for-all-australians/for-adults-18-to-64-years">physical activity guidelines</a> currently only recommend exercise intensity and time. A <a href="https://www.uow.edu.au/media/2023/why-adults-need-to-move-more-stop-sitting-and-sleep-better-.php">new set of guidelines</a> are being developed to incorporate 24-hour movement. Soon Australians will be able to use these guidelines to examine their 24 hours and understand where they can make improvements.</p> <p>While our new research can inform the upcoming guidelines, we should keep in mind that the recommendations are like a north star: something to head towards to improve your health. In principle this means reducing sitting time where possible, increasing standing and light-intensity physical activity, increasing more vigorous intensity physical activity, and aiming for a healthy sleep of 7.5–9 hours per night.</p> <p>Beneficial changes could come in the form of reducing screen time in the evening or opting for an active commute over driving commute, or prioritising an earlier bed time over watching television in the evening.</p> <p>It’s also important to acknowledge these are recommendations for an able adult. We all have different considerations, and above all, movement should be fun.<!-- Below is The Conversation's page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --><img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/228894/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /><!-- End of code. If you don't see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https://theconversation.com/republishing-guidelines --></p> <p><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/christian-brakenridge-1295221"><em>Christian Brakenridge</em></a><em>, Postdoctoral research fellow at Swinburne University, Centre for Urban Transitions, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/baker-heart-and-diabetes-institute-974">Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute</a></em></p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images </em></p> <p><em>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/how-much-time-should-you-spend-sitting-versus-standing-new-research-reveals-the-perfect-mix-for-optimal-health-228894">original article</a>.</em></p> </div>

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"What a legend": Michael J Fox receives emotional standing ovation

<p>Michael J Fox, who has Parkinson's disease, made a surprise appearance at the BAFTA Awards in London. </p> <p><em>The Back to the Future</em> actor came onstage in a wheelchair, but he insisted on standing up at the podium to present the Best Film award. </p> <p>The star-studded audience all rose to their feet and gave the actor a standing ovation.  </p> <p>When presenting the award, Fox described cinema as "magic" which can "change your life".</p> <p>"Five films were nominated in this category tonight and all five have something in common. They are the best of what we do," he said. </p> <p>He added that films can bring people together "no matter who you are or where you're from".</p> <p>"There's a reason why they say movies are magic because movies can change your day.</p> <p>"It can change your outlook. Sometimes it can change your life."</p> <p>Fox, who was diagnosed with Parkinson's in the 1990s, rarely makes public appearances. </p> <p>Many fans were pleasantly surprised at his appearance as he presented the night’s biggest award, Best Film, to <em>Oppenheimer</em>.</p> <p>"I was in tears the moment Michael J Fox came on the stage," one fan wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.</p> <p>"THE MAN IS A LEGEND"</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">i was in tears the moment Michael J Fox came on the stage 😥😥😥</p> <p>THE MAN IS A LEGEND <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BAFTAs?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BAFTAs</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BAFTA2024?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BAFTA2024</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EEBAFTAs?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#EEBAFTAs</a> <a href="https://t.co/Uud368S9gb">pic.twitter.com/Uud368S9gb</a></p> <p>— RanaJi🏹 (@RanaTells) <a href="https://twitter.com/RanaTells/status/1759323180060299726?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 18, 2024</a></p></blockquote> <p>"Michael J Fox. Absolute hero. What a legend," wrote another. </p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Michael J Fox. Absolute hero. What a legend. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BAFTAs?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BAFTAs</a> <a href="https://t.co/62lxpCy3mn">pic.twitter.com/62lxpCy3mn</a></p> <p>— Jules 🌼 (@JulesItsjules) <a href="https://twitter.com/JulesItsjules/status/1759320058583568638?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 18, 2024</a></p></blockquote> <p>"All those stars in the room, and still the biggest and most affectionate reaction is for Michael J Fox, because the man is a legend," added a third. </p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">All those stars in the room, and still the biggest and most affectionate reaction is for Michael J Fox, because the man is a legend. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EEBAFTAs?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#EEBAFTAs</a></p> <p>— Declan Cashin (@Tweet_Dec) <a href="https://twitter.com/Tweet_Dec/status/1759319831696855281?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 18, 2024</a></p></blockquote> <p>"He's a total legend and wonderful human," wrote a fourth. </p> <p>The actor has spoken <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/health/caring/i-m-not-gonna-be-80-michael-j-fox-s-tragic-admission" target="_blank" rel="noopener">candidly</a> about his experience with Parkinson's over the years, and has said that he has made peace with the degenerative nature of the disease. </p> <p>In a previous interview with AARP magazine profile, the actor admitted that he did not fear death. </p> <p>“I am genuinely a happy guy. I don’t have a morbid thought in my head — I don’t fear death. At all," he told the publication. </p> <p><em>Images: Getty</em></p>

TV

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"That was so good!" Pink shocks local theatre group with standing ovation

<p>The magic of theatre collided with the star power of Pink in an unforgettable moment that left the Sydney community buzzing with excitement this week.</p> <p>The community theatre group PACA Sydney received the surprise of a lifetime as the iconic American singer, Pink, graced their final performance of "In The Heights" at Chatswood Concourse.</p> <p>Accompanied by her husband Carey Hart and their kids Willow and Jameson, Pink's presence sent shockwaves of delight through the theatre. What's even more heartwarming is that the global superstar reportedly purchased her own tickets, embodying humility and genuine support for the arts.</p> <p>As the curtains closed, the real show began backstage, where Pink mingled with the performers, leaving them star-struck and overjoyed. A video capturing their ecstatic reactions flooded social media, showcasing the sheer disbelief and elation of the theatre group as Pink showered them with praise and admiration.</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/C3POaWjJ5jg/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/C3POaWjJ5jg/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Pan Academies of Creative Arts (@panacademies)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Expressing her admiration for the performance, Pink shared her own struggles to stay seated, confessing, "I want to dance too!" </p> <p>In a touching moment, Pink's genuine appreciation for the show was evident as she applauded the cast with a standing ovation. The impact of her visit resonated deeply with the performers, who were left speechless by her kind words and support.</p> <p>Choreographer and event coordinator Janina Hamerlok captured the essence of Pink's visit, <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-13077395/Pink-shocks-Sydney-theatre-group-surprise-visit-Australian-tour.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">describing her as</a> "completely lovely and extremely down to earth". Pink's recognition of the production's homage to the Latino community, on which "In The Heights" is based, really showed her genuine appreciation for the arts.</p> <p>Despite her superstar status, Pink opted for tickets in the upper level dress circle. However, her presence inevitably led to a well-deserved upgrade to house seats.</p> <p>Pink's surprise visit clearly uplifted the spirits of the theatre group. As she continues her Summer Carnival tour across Australia, her impromptu visit shows her unwavering support for the arts and her genuine connection with fans – especially in Australia!</p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

Music

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Christina Applegate's Emmy’s appearance moves audience to tears

<p dir="ltr">Christina Applegate has moved audiences to tears after making a courageous appearance at the Emmy Awards. </p> <p dir="ltr">Applegate announced at the beginning of 2023 that she would be taking a step back from acting after being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS), with the disease making a drastic impact on her life. </p> <p dir="ltr">Now, the 52-year-old took to the stage, supported by a cane, at the Peacock Theatre in downtown Los Angeles on Monday night, with the crowd rising to their feet in a round of applause. </p> <p dir="ltr">Applegate immediately began to tear up as she leaned on host Anthony Anderson for support, telling the audience, “I’m gonna cry more than I’ve been crying.”</p> <p><iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/jOJNgHgKnFs?si=Y8K-e2H8gFq1Pr0u" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p> <p dir="ltr">Keeping her sense of humour, she said to the sea of celebrity faces, “Thank you so much! Oh my God! You’re totally shaming me (and my) disability by standing up.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Applegate presented the award for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series, with the award going to Ayo Edebiri for her role in <em>The Bear</em>. </p> <p dir="ltr">The heartfelt moment of the standing ovation was shared on X, with fans saying, “She deserves that ovation and more.”</p> <p dir="ltr">The iconic actress has been candid about her battle with MS since she was first diagnosed in 2021, keeping her fans updated as her illness progressed. </p> <p dir="ltr">In 2023, Applegate told <em>Vanity Fair</em> that her work on the hit Netflix TV show <em>Dead To Me</em> would be her last as an actor, saying “I can’t even imagine going to set right now.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“I’m probably not going to work on-camera again,” Applegate said at the time, adding that while she loved her cast and crew, working had been a “struggle.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p> <p> </p>

Caring

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"I stand here with you as a survivor": Delta Goodrem's emotional tribute

<p>Delta Goodrem recently looked back on the 20th anniversary of the day she received a diagnosis of Hodgkin's lymphoma at the tender age of just 18.</p> <p>In a touching Instagram post, she revisited photographs and videos from that period, recalling the memories as vividly as if they had happened just yesterday.</p> <p>The songstress reminisced about the time when she was on the verge of making her international debut, only to be confronted with the life-altering news.</p> <p>At the time of her diagnosis, her debut album "Innocent Eyes" had reached the number one spot on the ARIA charts and was steadily climbing the charts in Europe.</p> <p>However, her dreams of global success were abruptly interrupted by the revelation that she had Hodgkin's lymphoma, a form of blood cancer that affects the immune system.</p> <p>"July 8, 2003. I remember that day so clearly and all the mixed emotions that came with the news of being diagnosed with cancer while my album had been sitting at #1 for three months prior, and the third single hit #1 the same day," she wrote in her Instagram caption.</p> <p>"I was meant to be going over to Europe where my album had just debuted at #2 and #1 in all different countries that week to start international promo. One split second and all the plans had changed. That's life."</p> <p>Instead of embarking on her planned promotional tour in Europe, Goodrem swiftly underwent treatment for her cancer. However, she has no regrets about the turn of events, believing that everything happens for a reason.</p> <p>"There is meaning and beauty in facing these challenges from a different viewpoint. There must be a reason this is happening – How can I come out better? What is the lesson?" she expressed.</p> <p>Fortunately, in December 2003, Goodrem announced that her Hodgkin's lymphoma had gone into remission. Now, she views this as a "beautiful full circle moment" and the beginning of a "brand new chapter."</p> <p>"As I type this in London, I am working on the @deltagoodremfoundation's first-ever Gala event," she continued in her post. "I was working on new music and shows all day yesterday. Today, we're throwing a new music party. Being back here after 20 years, on the same date, has been one of the most incredible and meaningful experiences."</p> <p>While "honouring the journey" that led her to this point, Goodrem emphasises that it is the next steps that truly matter.</p> <p>"For those in the fight you are never alone and I stand here with you as a survivor xx.”</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/CubqroeIv0w/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/CubqroeIv0w/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Delta Goodrem AM (@deltagoodrem)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

Caring

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Plane “crime” reignites long standing debate

<p dir="ltr">A travel influencer has reignited the age-old debate over what personal items truly belong in a plane’s overhead lockers, after they called out passengers for filling the compartments with their jackets. </p> <p dir="ltr">Snapping a photo on the on-board “crime”, online observers were quick to chime in with their thoughts on the matter. </p> <p dir="ltr">Given the online discourse around the controversial jacket storage, a poll conducted by nine.com.au found that most people agreed that there was nothing wrong with the action. </p> <p dir="ltr">While most people agreed that filling up the lockers with jackets is a frustrating move, an overwhelming 90% agreed that it was fine to do. </p> <p dir="ltr">"I thought that was exactly what an overhead locker was for???" one reader commented.</p> <p dir="ltr">However, according to globetrotters Matt and Hillary, who posted the original video on TikTok, doing so is a "crime".</p> <p dir="ltr">"If you plan to fly in 2023, please don't be the people who fill up an entire overhead cabinet with your jackets. It's an absolute waste of space. They could sit on your lap or most airlines have hooks."</p> <p dir="ltr">Instead, a more common gripe for travellers, according to the online poll, was the size of some people's 'carry on' luggage.</p> <p dir="ltr">"I think it's time the airlines stamped out some of the sizes of cases that get taken on as hand luggage," one person said.</p> <p dir="ltr">"Jackets and small bags should be the only items in the overhead locker. Too many people bring way too much carry-on luggage and take up the space of others, I might add this is my pet peeve when flying anywhere," another agreed.</p> <p dir="ltr">"It amazes me that folks get on aeroplanes with suitcases or sacks they expect to squeeze into the overhead lockers without any thought or consideration for their fellow travellers," was another frustrated reply.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image credits: TikTok</em></p>

Travel Tips

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Even after his death, Rolf Harris’ artwork will stand as reminders of his criminal acts

<p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/gregory-dale-1441894">Gregory Dale</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/the-university-of-queensland-805">The University of Queensland</a></em></p> <p>Australian entertainer and artist Rolf Harris has died at the age of 93.</p> <p>After a prominent career as an artist, particularly in the UK, in 2014 <a href="https://theconversation.com/rolf-harris-guilty-but-what-has-operation-yewtree-really-taught-us-about-sexual-abuse-28282">Harris was convicted</a> of 12 counts of indecent assault.</p> <p>For his victims, his death might help to close a painful chapter of their lives.</p> <p>However, what will become of the prodigious output of the disgraced artist?</p> <h2>Jack of all trades, master of none</h2> <p>Harris developed an interest in art from a young age. At the age of 15, one of his portraits was <a href="https://www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au/prizes/archibald/1946/">selected for showing</a> in the 1946 Archibald Prize. Three years later, he won the Claude Hotchin prize.</p> <p>These would be among the few accolades he would collect in the art world. In truth, he was never really recognised by his peers.</p> <p>The Art Gallery of Western Australia in Perth, from where he hailed, never added any of his artworks to its collection.</p> <p>Harris rose to prominence primarily as a children’s entertainer and then later as an all-round television presenter. There is a generation of Australians and Britons who grew up transfixed to their TV sets as Harris transformed blank canvases into paintings and cartoons in the space of just 30 minutes.</p> <p>His creativity also extended to music. He played the didgeridoo and his own musical creation, “<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wobble_board">the wobble board</a>”. He topped the British charts in 1969 with the single Two Little Boys. However, he is probably more famous for the song Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport.</p> <p>Perhaps the ultimate recognition came in 2005, when he was invited to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Her_Majesty_Queen_Elizabeth_II_%E2%80%93_An_80th_Birthday_Portrait">paint Queen Elizabeth II</a>. His audience with the queen was filmed for a BBC documentary starring Harris. His portrait of her majesty briefly adorned the walls of Buckingham Palace, before being displayed in prominent British and Australian galleries.</p> <h2>Criminal conviction and the quick retreat from his art</h2> <p>In 2014, Harris was found guilty of 12 counts of indecent assault against three complainants, aged 15, 16 and 19 years at the times of the crimes. These incidents occurred between 1978 and 1986.</p> <p>Before sentencing Harris to five years and nine months imprisonment, the sentencing judge <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/world/the-full-statement-from-the-judge-who-sentenced-rolf-harris-to-jail-20140704-3bee0.html">commented</a>:</p> <blockquote> <p>You took advantage of the trust placed in you, because of your celebrity status, to commit the offences […] Your reputation now lies in ruins.</p> </blockquote> <p>What followed was a public retreat from his artwork.</p> <p>It is worth asking why this was the public response, when the subject matter of his artwork was innocuous and unremarkable. Among his visual artworks were portraits and landscapes. None of them depicted anything particularly offensive or controversial.</p> <p>Nevertheless, many of those who owned his works felt the need to dissociate themselves with Harris. His portrait of the queen <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-28105318">seemed to vanish</a> into thin air. In the wake of his convictions, no one claimed to know of its whereabouts.</p> <p>Harris had also painted a number of permanent murals in Australia. Many these were <a href="https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/rolf-harris-mural-in-caulfield-to-be-painted-over-20140706-zsy3n.html">removed</a> or <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-03-06/rolf-harris-mural-on-theatre-survives-vote-for-destruction/9518358">permanently obscured</a>.</p> <h2>The roles of guilt and disgust</h2> <p>Guilt seems to play a <a href="https://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:d3f7264">prominent role</a> in explaining why owners remove such artworks from display.</p> <p>Art is inherently subjective and so it necessarily forces the beholder to inquire into the artist’s meanings. When an artist is subsequently convicted of a crime, it is perhaps natural to wonder whether their art bore signs that there was something untoward about them.</p> <p>Some artists even promote this way of thinking. In fact, Harris authored a book entitled <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2883465-looking-at-pictures-with-rolf-harris">Looking at Pictures with Rolf Harris: A Children’s Introduction to Famous Paintings</a>.</p> <p>In it, he wrote:</p> <blockquote> <p>You can find out a lot about the way an artist sees things when you look at his paintings. In fact, he is telling us a lot about himself, whether he wants to or not.</p> </blockquote> <p>When facing the artwork of a convicted criminal, our subjective feelings of guilt persist because we have, in some tiny way, shared a role in their rise and stay as an artist. This makes it difficult to overcome the feeling that the artwork contains clues to the artist’s criminality. We can also feel guilty deriving pleasure from a piece of art whose maker caused others great pain.</p> <p>Disgust also plays a central role in our retreat from the criminal’s artwork.</p> <p>Disgust is a powerful emotion that demands we withdraw from an object whose mere presence threatens to infect or invade our bodily integrity.</p> <p>Related to disgust is a anthropological theory known as the “<a href="https://www.latimes.com/science/sciencenow/la-xpm-2014-feb-24-la-sci-sn-price-of-fame-celebrity-contact-boosts-value-of-objects-20140222-story.html">magical law of contagion</a>”. An offensive person leaves behind an offensive trace that continues to threaten us. It is not based on reason but instinct.</p> <p>In essence, the criminal has left their “negative” traces on their artwork.</p> <p>This explains why Harris’ paintings, although of innocuous images, suddenly became eyesores and their market value dropped. Owners of such artwork might also feel compelled to show their disgust openly, to publicly extricate themselves from the artist.</p> <p>No one wants to be seen to condone the behaviour of a sexual offender.</p> <p>Even after his death, Harris’ artwork will continue to stand as reminders of his criminal acts.</p> <p><em>If this article has raised issues for you, or if you’re concerned about someone you know, call <a href="https://www.1800respect.org.au">1800RESPECT</a> on 1800 737 732. In an emergency call 000.<!-- Below is The Conversation's page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --><img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/206282/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /><!-- End of code. If you don't see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https://theconversation.com/republishing-guidelines --></em></p> <p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/gregory-dale-1441894">Gregory Dale</a>, Lecturer, TC Beirne School of Law, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/the-university-of-queensland-805">The University of Queensland</a></em></p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p> <p><em>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/even-after-his-death-rolf-harris-artwork-will-stand-as-reminders-of-his-criminal-acts-206282">original article</a>.</em></p>

Art

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Leo DiCaprio's new film gets 9-minute standing ovation

<p>If a 9-minute standing ovation is anything to go by, then claims that Martin Scorsese’s new project <em>Killers of the Flower Moon</em> is the “film of the year” may just be on to something. </p> <p>The movie - which stars the likes of Hollywood legends Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert De Niro, and Lily Gladstone - received exactly that: 9 whole minutes of applause after its world premiere at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival.</p> <p>Its stars were all in attendance, from Leo who was last present with <em>Once Upon a Time … in Hollywood</em>, to 80-year-old Scorsese, who was returning to the festival for the first time since 1985, when he was there for <em>After Hours</em>.</p> <p>The near-three-and-a-half-hour film - which shares its name with the David Grann book it was adapted from - takes place in 1920s Oklahoma, and shares the story of a dark period in American history, depicting the serial murders of members of the Osage Nation.</p> <p>Prior to its screening, the film had already been dubbed by some as the festival’s “most anticipated film” - it even saw Apple CEO Tim Cook swing by, as the company is one of the film’s distributors.</p> <p>And as soon as it concluded, the applause broke out - with some suspecting that it may have continued on beyond the 9-minute mark, had Scorsese not been asked to address the crowd. </p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Leonardo DiCaprio and Lily Gladstone land a 9-minute standing ovation for ‘Killers of the Flower Moon’ — the biggest and loudest of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cannes2023?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Cannes2023</a> so far. <a href="https://t.co/1Gxp4cED1T">pic.twitter.com/1Gxp4cED1T</a></p> <p>— Ramin Setoodeh (@RaminSetoodeh) <a href="https://twitter.com/RaminSetoodeh/status/1660019896393113602?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 20, 2023</a></p></blockquote> <p>“Thank you to the Osages,” Scorsese said upon reaching the mic. “Everyone connected with the picture. My old pals Bob and Leo, and Jesse and Lily. We shot this a couple of years ago in Oklahoma. </p> <p>“It’s taken it’s time to come around but Apple did so great by us. There was lots of grass. I’m a New Yorker. I was very surprised. This was an amazing experience. </p> <p>“We lived in that world with the Osage, we really did, and we really miss it.”</p> <p>As former Osage tribal leader Jim Gray said of the experience, “the dignity and care for the Osage perspective was genuine and honest throughout the process and the Osage responded with the kind of passion and enthusiasm that met this historic moment.</p> <p>“For those of us who were watching from the sidelines while our best and brightest among us auditioned, sewed, catered, painted, acted and advised the filmmakers, it’s going to be hard not to feel our presence in helping to tell.”</p> <p>Lily Gladstone - who plays an Osage woman betrayed by her husband in the movie - had more to add, telling<em> Variety</em> that “the work is better when you let the world inform the work. That was very refreshing how involved the production got with the [Osage Nation] community. As the community warmed up to our presence, the more the community got involved with the film. </p> <p>“It’s a different movie than the one [Scorsese] walked in to make almost entirely because of what the community had to say about how it was being made and what was being portrayed.”</p> <p>And alongside praise for the film came praise for the performances within it, with many convinced Gladstone is set for attention during awards season for her work, and one reviewer even going so far as to call this “Leonardo DiCaprio’s best performance yet”.</p> <p><em>Images: Getty </em></p>

Movies

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4 musical duos who couldn’t stand one another

<p>Working closely with a partner can create tension, especially when you’re working on a creative endeavour. Not all successful partnerships are built on mutual respect and admiration, and to prove it, here are four musical duos who couldn’t stand one another.</p> <p><strong>1. The Everly Brothers</strong></p> <p>Their music may still resonate through the years, but Don and Phil Everly couldn’t stand each other. “We only ever had one argument,” Phil famously said in 1970. “It’s been lasting for 25 years.” At a 1973 California concert, Don arrived drunk and messed up the lyrics to a song, causing an on-stage argument between the brothers. Those close to the Everlys suspect that Don resented Phil for his sweeter, higher voice, while others suggest that the pair’s father was a source of at least some of the tension.</p> <p><strong>2. Paul McCartney and John Lennon</strong></p> <p>According to various reports, McCartney and Lennon would go through periods of ice cold tension, only communicating through lawyers at some stages. But at other times, they were as close as brothers. Lennon <a href="https://www.quora.com/What-was-John-Lennons-relationship-with-Paul-McCartney-like" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">revealed</span></strong></a> that he felt McCartney was subconsciously trying to “destroy my great songs”, saying that Paul would encourage an experimental sound during the recording and producing, while putting in hours of fine tuning on his own tracks. The two were reportedly on good terms before Lennon died, however.</p> <p><strong>3. Sam and Dave</strong></p> <p>This 1960s duo (made up of Sam Moore and Dave Prater) behind some of R&B’s most iconic hits, like “Soul Man” and “Hold On! I’m Comin’” could hardly stand one another. Though they did their best to hide the animosity on stage, their behind-the-scenes relationship was one of animosity, and they split in 1970. A good deal of the tension <a href="http://www.purpleclover.com/entertainment/4628-10-famous-duos-who-couldnt-stand-each-other/item/sam-dave-2/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">reportedly</span></strong></a> stemmed from the fact that Prater shot and wounded his own wife in 1968, while Moore himself suffered from drug addictions. <a href="http://www.purpleclover.com/entertainment/4628-10-famous-duos-who-couldnt-stand-each-other/item/sam-dave-2/)"><br /></a></p> <p><strong>4. Simon and Garfunkel</strong></p> <p>One of music’s most iconic duos, Simon and Garfunkel met at junior school in New York, and began trying to secure a record deal in the early 1960s. Unfortunately, the tensions that simmered between the pair have lasted for decades, eventually breaking up over the release of their seminal album, “Bridge Over Troubled Water” in 1970. The pair staged a reunion tour in 2004, and were due to repeat the act in 2010 until Garfunkel suffered vocal chord damage. Garfunkel reported that Simon “wasn’t particularly” supportive during that time. But time seems to have cooled the quarrel. In a <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3094957/I-created-monster-Art-Garfunkel-45-year-battle-Paul-Simon-remains-one-showbiz-s-bitterest-feuds.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">2014 interview</span></strong></a>, Garfunkel stated that, “I’m used to the fact that we’re just different characters.” </p> <p><em>Images: Getty</em></p>

Music

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"He wants to get in my head": Djokovic takes stand against rowdy fans

<p>Novak Djokovic has spoken out against tennis officials for how they reacted when a group of fans disrupted play at the Australian Open.</p> <p>The Serbian tennis player, ranked world number one, was up against World Number 191 Enzo Enzo Couacaud when he was forced to take his fight from the court to the stands. </p> <p>A group of four young men dressed in <em>Where’s Waldo </em>costumes were responsible for the chaos, and poked at the tennis star’s patience until the fourth set, when Djokovic had had enough. </p> <p>“He’s been provoking all night, the entire night, the entire night,” Djokovic said to the chair umpire, “what are you going to do about it?”</p> <p>The problems began when the group saw fit to shout and taunt during Djokovic’s serves, with their drunken antics leading him to suspect they intended to throw off his game. </p> <p>“The guy's drunk out of his mind, from the first point he's been provoking me,” he told the umpire, gesturing to the trouble in the crowd, “he's not here to watch tennis. He just wants to get in my head.</p> <p>“So I’m asking you, what are you going to do about it? You’ve heard him at least 10 times — I’ve heard him 50 times. What are you going to do about it?”</p> <p>Djokovic called for the expulsion of the disruptive fans, asking officials, “why don’t you get security guards and get him out of the stadium?”</p> <p>A security guard was reportedly sent to speak with the men, and sat in the row before them.</p> <p>The week before, the organisers of the Australian Open stated that anyone who was found to be taunting Djokovic without reason, and disrupting the enjoyment of everyone else, would be removed from the venues. </p> <p>The measure was likely put in place as Djokovic, like Australian tennis star Nick Kyrgios, is frequently the subject of heckling from audiences at these events. </p> <p>Despite the security guard’s presence, the interruptions were ongoing, and eventually the men were escorted from the game - but it may have proven too little too late for the Serbian player. </p> <p>In a press conference about the event, Djokovic told reporters, “it’s just unnecessary because why should we as players be put in a position where we have to always react when it‘s been two hours. It’s not been 10 minutes. This is what I mind, and this is why I felt the need to go out there because I had enough, you know?</p> <p>“I can tolerate five, six times somebody telling me something, but there is a limit. That limit was crossed, and I stepped in and I asked the chair umpire, is he going to do something about it or not? He did, and I thanked him.”</p> <p><em>Images: Getty Images</em></p>

News

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Jeremy Clarkson's daughter takes a stand against her famous dad

<p>Jeremy Clarkson's daughter Emily has condemned the actions of her famous father, and his opinions on Meghan Markle. </p> <p>The 28-year-old took to Instagram to defend the Duchess of Sussex against her dad's column, which was published in <em>The Sun</em>, revealing she stands "against everything" the Top Gear host wrote about the former senior royal.</p> <p>"My views are and have always been clear when it comes to misogyny, bullying and the treatment of women by the media," Emily wrote on her Instagram Story.</p> <p>"I want to make it very clear that I stand against everything that my dad wrote about Meghan Markle and I remain standing in support of those that are targeted by online hatred."</p> <p>Clarkson's latest column for the UK publication detailed how much he "hates" Meghan Markle, in the wake of the release of the Prince Harry and Meghan's Netflix documentary series. </p> <p>He went on to describe his hate for the duchess as comparable to notorious serial killer Rose West, writing that he hates the former royal "on a cellular level".</p> <p>"At night, I'm unable to sleep as I lie there, grinding my teeth," he wrote, in part.</p> <p>He added, "Everyone who's my age thinks the same way."</p> <p>Clarkson's daughter was quick to slam his scathing words, along with the publication itself, for its relentless hatred of the Duchess. </p> <p>"This publication, and many like it, are hellbent on destroying this woman," the young podcast host wrote, referring to the newspaper that employs her father.</p> <p>"Love her or hate her, (or like me feel a large amount of ambivalence towards someone who I don't know and who's actions barely affect me), the rhetoric around her ought to scare you."</p> <p>She continued, "I don't wanna hear loads of comments justifying this, trying to prove to me that she is bad or toxic or deserving of this... to my mind, no one deserves this. it is inhumane."</p> <p>"My steadfast defence of them has never been of the individuals I don't know, rather of two people who have, objectively, been treated APPALLINGLY. And I genuinely feel concern for anyone who can look at how she particularly has been written/joked/spoken about and feel that its justified. Its bullying on a mass scale and it drove a new mother to want to end her life."</p> <p>Aside from his own daughter's criticism, Clarkson has also faced a fierce backlash online for his newspaper column about Meghan.</p> <p>Royal fans and social media commentators were quick to blast the ex TV host for adding to the pile-on of Meghan and Harry.</p> <p>"You can not write things like this. It is a blatant appeal to incite humiliation and violence on a woman," one person wrote.</p> <p>"Some have excused it as dark humour. There is no joke here."</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images / Instagram</em></p>

Family & Pets

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Standing ovation for Pink's stirring tribute to Olivia

<p>P!nk has received a standing ovation for her emotional tribute to Olivia Newton-John at the 50th annual American Music Awards. </p> <p>The singer, whose real name is Alecia Moore Hart, took to the stage in front of a monitor flashing images of the late singer and performed a rousing rendition of <em>Hopelessly Devoted to You</em>. </p> <p>The song was originally sung by Newton-John for the hit musical film <em>Grease</em>, and its accompanying soundtrack went on to reached number three on the Billboard Hot 100 and number seven on the Adult Contemporary chart.</p> <p>Melissa Etheridge first came on the the AMA stage to introduce P!nk, but before the pop star came to the stage, Etheridge shared a few sweet sentiments about Newton-John.</p> <p>"From the moment you were in the presence of Olivia Newton-John, you sensed her sweetness, you stood in awe of her welcoming beauty, and you basked in the feeling that she was connecting to you alone," she began.</p> <p>She went on to share how to hear her sing "was to feel the power of art to transform feelings, the feelings we all have of love and elation and disappointment into something sublime."</p> <p>P!nk then took to the stage for her emotional performance, with members of the audience singing along. </p> <p>By the end of the performance, the crowd erupted into a loud applause that quickly transformed into a standing ovation, that was led by Pink's husband Carey Hart, 47, and their two children, 11-year-old daughter Willow and five-year-old son Jameson. </p> <p><iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/dOmHZj8n71w" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

Music

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"This is NOT what I look like": TV star takes a stand against altered pictures

<p>Bethenny Frankel has taken a stand against "deceptive" photos on social media by posting what she really looks like. </p> <p>The <em>Real Housewives of New York City</em> star, 51, shared two images to her Instagram account: both in a bikini on the beach, but one had been clearly photoshopped to make her look slimmer. </p> <p>She shared the photos as a warning of how dangerous Photoshop can be when dealing with your self-image. </p> <p>In the caption, she wrote, "This is NOT what I look like…and you know that because I’m not vain and show you the real me."</p> <p>“But if I posted a version of this every day you might start to believe that it might be. This is just how distorted this has all gotten.”</p> <p><img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/09/Frankel.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /></p> <p><em>Bethenny post-Photoshop (left) vs. all natural (right). Image credits: Instagram</em></p> <p>She pointed out that “filtering is lying” and “deceptive,” which causes women to “feel badly about themselves” and “young girls insecure and obsessed with an unattainable perfection”.</p> <p>Frankel continued, “It makes middle aged women and mothers feel insecure about themselves. This creates a false ideal for men.”</p> <p>She went on to call editing “destructive, irresponsible, insecure and inaccurate”, before concluding her inspirational post by reminding her followers that “there is a line between making an effort to look pretty and an outright falsehood”.</p> <p>Frankel has often pointed out the importance of living filter free, as earlier this year she posted an unedited photo of herself lounging by the pool in a tiny bikini telling fans the key to body acceptance is “balance”.</p> <p>She went on to encourage people to embrace their flaws and live for themselves, rather than their social media perception. </p> <p><em>Image credits: Instagram</em></p> <div class="media image" style="box-sizing: inherit; display: flex; flex-direction: column; align-items: center; width: 705.1837768554688px; margin-bottom: 32px;"> </div>

Body

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“What I say is the truth”: Chris Dawson’s sole witness takes the stand

<p dir="ltr">A man who claims to have seen Lynette Dawson after she disappeared has been called as the sole witness by Chris Dawson and his lawyers.</p> <p dir="ltr">Mr Dawson is accused of killing his wife so he could be with the family babysitter, in a trial that has seen the prosecution call on multiple witnesses over the past few months.</p> <p dir="ltr">Having waived his right to give evidence, Mr Dawson’s defence seems to rely on the testimony of Paul Cooper, who claims he saw the missing woman after she ran away from her husband.</p> <p dir="ltr">Mr Cooper told the court about the encounter, which took place 40 years ago at a Warner’s Bay hotel in Lake Macquarie, where he said he saw a woman who looked like Lynette.</p> <p dir="ltr">“She had left her husband … he had been playing up on her … I asked her was she going to go back and she said no,” Mr Cooper told the Supreme Court on Monday.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I said, ‘What about your children? It’s not fair to them’.</p> <p dir="ltr">“She didn’t have any ID … she had money because she had sold something.</p> <p dir="ltr">“She was also waiting to get a passport … she was going to go to Bali and then head off to another overseas country.”</p> <p dir="ltr">As Mr Cooper gave his evidence, Lynette’s family shook their heads in disbelief, having maintained that she would never have abandoned her daughters.</p> <p dir="ltr">Mr Cooper said the conversation continued and that he began to suspect the woman was trying to frame her husband.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I said to her they were going to think he knocked ya … I thought she was setting her husband up.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Mr Cooper came forward with his story in 2018, when he saw photos of Lynnette on an episode of <em>A Current Affair</em>.</p> <p dir="ltr">However, he didn’t go to the police with his story, telling the court that he doubted they would believe him, opting instead to contact Mr Dawson’s solicitor, Greg Walsh.</p> <p dir="ltr">Under cross-examination, Mr Cooper told the court he was “200 percent” sure the woman he met was Lynette.</p> <p dir="ltr">“You don’t forget something like that. No, it was her. 100 percent. I’ll give you 200 percent,” Mr Cooper said.</p> <p dir="ltr">He also said he would not have testified if he believed Mr Dawson had killed his wife, having witnessed his own father kill his mother as a young child.</p> <p dir="ltr">“If I thought this man was guilty, I wouldn’t be sitting here now defending him for the same sort of thing, when I sat through that as a nine-year-old boy, too scared to move off the lounge because I thought I’d get shot in the head,” Mr Cooper said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I’m not here to muck around, I’m here because I believe in what I say. What I say is the truth.”</p> <p dir="ltr">In court, Mr Cooper’s credibility as a witness was called into question. The court heard that Mr Cooper had been in prison for offences including drugs, theft, break and enter, and armed robbery.</p> <p dir="ltr">He also admitted to using cannabis and being arrested for possession of cannabis and heroin in the 1980s and 1990s.</p> <p dir="ltr">However, he said the use of those drugs hadn’t affected his memory.</p> <p dir="ltr">Crown prosecutor Craig Everson told Justice Harrison it was “improbable” that Lynette had walked out on her daughters and family.</p> <p dir="ltr">He argued that Mr Cooper’s evidence was unreliable, given that he couldn’t recall significant details about the woman he met, including her name, the names of her children, or anything about her husband.</p> <p dir="ltr">“The fact he had a seemingly not insignificant drug problem during that period and it was such a long time ago, to be looking at a single photo in the witness box or on the screen of a television program, there is a significant unreliability,” Mr Everson said.</p> <p dir="ltr">The trial is now entering its closing stages, with the crown beginning its closing submissions on Monday.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-f503c9c4-7fff-6a4c-c4d5-aa83ff2b1063"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: 9News</em></p>

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‘Teacher’s Pet’ journalist takes stand in Chris Dawson trial

<p dir="ltr">The journalist whose podcast, <em>The Teacher’s Pet</em>, brought global attention to Lynette Dawson’s disappearance has taken the stand in Chris Dawson’s murder trial, telling the court he wasn’t out to “condemn” Mr Dawson.</p> <p dir="ltr">Hedley Thomas, a journalist with <em>The Australian</em>, is one of the final witnesses the prosecution will call in the Supreme Court trial, during which Mr Dawson has denied killing his wife Lynette 40 years ago, per <em><a href="https://www.stuff.co.nz/world/australia/300562138/the-teachers-pet-chris-dawson-to-face-murder-trial-over-death-of-his-wife-whose-body-has-never-been-found" target="_blank" rel="noopener">news.com.au</a></em>.</p> <p dir="ltr">Ms Dawson’s disappearance from her home on Sydney’s northern beaches in January, 1982, was the subject of investigation in Mr Thomas’ podcast, which was downloaded 60 million times internationally.</p> <p dir="ltr">Mr Thomas began investigating the case in 2017 and spoke with Ms Dawson’s family about seeking “justice”.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Justice for Lyn meant to you, didn’t it, the prosecution of Christoper Dawson?” Pauline David, Mr Dawson’s barrister, asked Mr Thomas on Monday.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Yes, I think that that is a fair call, yes,” Mr Thomas answered.</p> <p dir="ltr">Under Ms David’s questioning, Mr Thomas said he hadn’t met Mr Dawson but had formed an opinion of him after interviewing those close to the case and reading material from the two inquests into Ms Dawson’s disappearance.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I don’t think you need to meet someone to form a view about them,” Mr Thomas said, after the court was told of an interview Mr Thomas had with 60 Minutes where he described Mr Dawson as “despicable”, “severely narcissistic” and “dangerous”.</p> <p dir="ltr">“People can form views about tyrants, for argument’s sake, without ever having met them, study materials, talk to people and form a view.<br />“At that stage it was my view and it hasn’t changed.”</p> <p dir="ltr">However, Mr Thomas denied that the podcast amounted to an attempt to “incite evidence” against Mr Dawson, saying he would have broadcasted evidence that contradicted his theory that Mr Dawson murdered his wife.</p> <p dir="ltr">“There was no doubt from the outset of the podcast it was going to be an exercise in condemning Christopher Dawson?” Ms David asked.</p> <p dir="ltr">“No, I disagree,” Mr Thomas said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“If I had uncovered or received information from anybody that disrupted, changed the narrative, that disputed the findings by coroners or anyone, that would have become a very significant part of the podcast.”</p> <p dir="ltr">As the case draws to a close, the court heard on Monday that Mr Thomas would be one of the final witnesses called by the prosecution, which argues that Ms Dawson was killed on or about January 8, 1982.</p> <p dir="ltr">Mr Dawson argues that on the morning of January 9, 1982, he drove Ms Dawson to a Mona Vale bus stop so she could go shopping, and that she later failed to meet him at the Northbridge baths, where he worked as a part-time lifeguard.</p> <p dir="ltr">According to Mr Dawson, Ms Dawson called him from the baths, telling him she needed time away.</p> <p dir="ltr">His version of events were said to be corroborated by a woman - known for legal reasons as KB - who worked at the baths and was interviewed by former detective Damian Loone in March 2001.</p> <p dir="ltr">Mr Loone didn’t take a statement from her, and told the court that he didn’t turn a blind eye to evidence that supported Mr Dawson’s account.</p> <p dir="ltr">He disagreed that KB told him she remembered the phone call.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I want to suggest your failure to take a statement from (KB) was consistent with your approach to the investigation, which was that if inquiries supported Christopher Dawson you would not take a statement,” Ms David said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“That’s incorrect,” Mr Loone replied</p> <p dir="ltr">The trial continues under Justice Ian Harrison.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-3115052c-7fff-d64e-efd1-950d7f9c7ad2"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Nine</em></p>

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Standing ovations at the Vatican for Abdallah family

<p>The Abdallah family have received two standing ovations after an emotional speech at the Vatican, saying they forgive the man who killed their three children and niece.</p> <p>Western Sydney couple Danny and Leila Abdallah were invited by the Pope to share their harrowing story with thousands of parishioners at the 2022 World Meeting of Families in Rome on Saturday.</p> <p>Their three children Sienna, 8, Angelina, 12, Antony, 13, and niece Veronique Sakr, 11, were killed by Samuel William Davidson who was drunk and high on drugs while behind the wheel in Oatlands in February 2020.</p> <p>Joined by their children Liana, 12, Alex, seven, Michael, six, and 14-week-old Selina, the Abdallahs spoke to a global audience on the eve of would have been Antony's 16th birthday.</p> <p>Ms Abdallah recalled the devastating moment she was informed of her children's deaths, while Mr Abdallah explained why their family have chosen to forgive the man who caused the accident through the I4Give campaign the family has set up.</p> <p>The family's speech was so moving that the congregation was twice brought to their feet, with Australians in the crowd at the Vatican proudly displaying the national flag.</p> <p>Bishops around the world were so moved by their story that the Abdallahs may also get a face-to-face meeting with the Pope himself, depending on his health.</p> <p>"There's been more than two years and I must choose to forgive myself and the driver every day, to not retreat into hatred," Mr Abdallah told the Vatican and millions watching online.</p> <p>"I choose to forgive myself for telling my kids to go for walk. I choose to forgive the offender in obedience to my Father in heaven."</p> <p>"If my children were here today, they would say 'Dad, forgive him.'"</p> <p>"When you forgive the other person, you start to heal."</p> <p>His wife Leila added, "I would not have imagined we would be in the Vatican on the eve of my son's birthday to speak about forgiveness to the world."</p> <p>"You can't control what happens in life, but you can choose how to respond. We choose forgiveness over hatred, we choose love over revenge and we choose to turn the day of tragedy into a day of forgiveness."</p> <p>You can watch the Abdallah's address to the Vatican below.</p> <p><iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/DiLGPqJUrWs" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p> <p><em>Image credits: Instagram </em></p>

Family & Pets

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Mother with ASL stands to dance with son at wedding

<p dir="ltr">A wheelchair-bound mother has given her son an incredible wedding memory after standing up and dancing with him. </p> <p dir="ltr">Zak Poirier shared a heartwarming video of his mother Kathy, who has ASL, being held up by her other sons Nick and Jake to dance with him at his wedding.</p> <p dir="ltr">An emotional Kathy was wheeled to the dancefloor where Zak whispered something to her and she nodded.</p> <p dir="ltr">She was then lifted from her seat and grabbed onto her son as they danced to “Humble and Kind” by Tim McGraw in front of a crowd of about 130 guests at Ever After Farms Blueberry Wedding Barn in Mims, Florida. </p> <p dir="ltr">Zak shared the footage to his Instagram and it has received almost 59,000 views since it was posted on April 29. </p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/tv/Cc6VH54obVf/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/tv/Cc6VH54obVf/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Zak Poirier (@z_poirier)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr">“We had planned it. The actual dance itself was spontaneous,” Zak Poirier told Fox News Digital.</p> <p dir="ltr">“We were both pretty adamant that we wanted to share a dance regardless of how long it was. By the time we got up there, we weren’t really sure how it would work — but it went perfectly, and it was great.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Kathy said she was extremely nervous to have people watch her being helped but knew it was something she would do for her son. </p> <p dir="ltr">“It’s that this was such a milestone in one of my kids’ lives, and it wasn’t what I had envisioned,” she said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It was really emotional to have to accept the fact that I can’t stand or use my hands. And that people would be watching me. And I felt like I was going to be judged. But I knew I wanted to do it, and I wasn’t going to let anybody tell me I couldn’t.</p> <p dir="ltr">“But to be in the arms of all three of my sons was just beautiful. It just made me feel strong.”</p> <p dir="ltr">When the song was over, the pair received a standing ovation from the crowd. </p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

Relationships

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Craig McLachlan's tearful partner takes the stand

<p dir="ltr">Craig McLachlan’s long-term partner has burst into tears in court as she recalled the moment he told her he was accused of sexual harassing his co-workers.</p> <p dir="ltr">Vanessa Scammell, McLachlan’s partner since 2021, took the stand at the NSW Supreme Court as the second week of the defamation trial begins.</p> <p dir="ltr">McLachlan is suing Christie Whelan Brown and media outlets ABC and Fairfax for defamation claims made in 2018 over reports of assault, indecent assault, harassment and exposing himself to female cast members of the <em>The Rocky Horror Show</em> during the 2014 production of the musical.</p> <p dir="ltr">He has continued to deny the allegations as the media outlets defend their claims on the basis of truth.</p> <p dir="ltr">Ms Scammell told the court that the cast of <em>The Rocky Horror Show</em> were affectionate with each other and would often greet each other with hugs and kisses.</p> <p dir="ltr">She also said that Ms Whelan Brown would “flick the elastic” on McLachlan’s shorts while making “interesting remarks”.</p> <p dir="ltr">“She would make references to what was underneath the boxer pants and would flick him with a towel,” Ms Scammell told the court, <a href="https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/actor-craig-mclachlan-sent-videos-of-himself-pretending-to-masturbate-to-female-costar/news-story/a77110fa715bacd9f68c13fce404fb71" target="_blank" rel="noopener">news.com.au</a> reported.</p> <p dir="ltr">Ms Scammell also revealed that Ms Whelan Brown would “flick Craig in the groin or backside” and saw her give him a “solid slap to the buttocks” backstage at a show in Melbourne.</p> <p dir="ltr">McLachlan’s partner was asked about how the pair felt when the accusations came out from ABC and Fairfax noting that he was “devastated, humiliated and destroyed”.</p> <p dir="ltr">“He was incapable of answering and I was worried about his mental state,” an upset Ms Scammell said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“He was so damaged that I could barely get a constructive sentence out of him”.</p> <p dir="ltr">The court heard that the couple only saw each other a week after the allegations broke.</p> <p dir="ltr">They ran into each other’s arms and fell to the ground where they “didn’t speak for 40 minutes”.</p> <p dir="ltr">McLachlan had earlier finished giving evidence for the fifth day of the trial where he told the court he sent videos of himself pretending to masturbate to Ms Whelan Brown.</p> <p dir="ltr">The actors had most recently worked together on the Network Ten television series The Wrong Girl from 2016 to 2017 and would use crude, sexual nicknames such as “gobbler and blumpkin”.</p> <p dir="ltr">Defence barrister Michael Hodge QC questioned McLachlan if the nicknames prompted him to send the videos.</p> <p dir="ltr">McLachlan once again said in the video he was pretending to masturbate and wasn’t in the toilet.</p> <p dir="ltr">He told the court that he would prank and make sexual jokes on the set of the musical like deep throating bananas, masturbating on crew members’ arms and using the nicknames.</p> <p dir="ltr">Mr Hodge questioned whether he would peel the banana to make it appear as a phallus, to which McLachlan said: “Well the banana is already the appropriate shape, but yes.”</p> <p dir="ltr">The trial continues.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Nine News (2020)</em></p>

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