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Hunter Valley bus driver breaks silence

<p>Brett Andrew Button, 59, who allegedly caused a fatal bus crash that <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/finance/legal/hunter-valley-bus-driver-hit-with-new-charges" target="_blank" rel="noopener">killed 10 people</a> and injured 25 others has broken his silence over the incident for the first time.</p> <p>Button appeared before Newcastle Local Court on Wednesday as he faces almost 90 charges associated with the horror crash. </p> <p>In a statement read by his lawyer, Chris O’Brien, Button said that there was “not a day that goes by that I don’t think about what happened that night”.</p> <p>“There isn’t an hour that goes by that I’m not thinking of the families that have been affected by the crash.</p> <p>“I truly feel for anyone involved, including the emergency services.</p> <p>“I am devastated by what has occurred and I am truly deeply sorry.”</p> <p>Button was the bus driver in charge of driving wedding guests to a Hunter Valley venue when the vehicle allegedly lost control and crashed.</p> <p>Husband and wife Andrew and Lynan Scott were killed in the crash and farewelled in ceremonies weeks later. </p> <p>Nadene and Kyah McBride who were among the ten wedding guests killed in the crash, were also <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/health/caring/a-moving-time-hunter-valley-bus-crash-victims-honoured-at-aflw-grand-final" target="_blank" rel="noopener">honoured with a tribute</a> at the AFLW grand final in December. </p> <p>Zach Bray, Angus Craig, Darcy Bulman, Tori Cowburn and Rebecca Mullen were the other victims of the horror crash. </p> <p>Button faces 89 charges including nine counts of negligent driving occasioning death and 16 counts of driving a motor vehicle furiously doing or causing harm.</p> <p>He has not entered any pleas. </p> <p><em>Image: Getty</em></p>

Legal

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Police raid Hunter Valley bus crash depots

<p>Police have issued defect and infringement notices to the transport company involved in the Hunter Valley bus tragedy after conducting raids on two depots.</p> <p>The crash on June 11 was the deadliest seen on Australian roads in over 30 years, <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/news/news/more-than-we-can-bear-hunter-valley-bus-crash-victims-identified" target="_blank" rel="noopener">leaving 10 dead and nine in hospital</a>.</p> <p>Police and National Heavy Vehicle Regulator inspectors checked 20 buses at Linq Busline depots in Wyong, on the NSW Central Coast, and East Gresford, near Newcastle, on June 15.</p> <p>Seven defect and two infringement notices were issued after a cracked windscreen, oil leaks, inoperative seatbelts and vehicle lights, and insecure seats were discovered.</p> <p>A defect notice is issued when a problem needs to be fixed before the vehicle can be deemed safe to drive.</p> <p>“The joint operation involved a comprehensive audit of documentation relating to fatigue, driver management, vehicle servicing and maintenance records, and safety management systems,” police said.</p> <p>Linq said “one major defect identified in the fleet has been rectified” and minor defects were being rectified in accordance with the timelines set by the regulator.</p> <p>The evening of June 15 saw heartbroken family and friends of the victims gathered near the crash site to mourn their loved ones and thank frontline workers.</p> <p>Most of the 25 survivors sent to hospital following the crash have since been discharged.</p> <p>The nine who remain in hospital are in stable condition, with seven at John Hunter Hospital and two at Sydney’s Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, according to NSW Health.</p> <p>Over 900 donations have been made since June 14 to fund survivors and victims’ families, with almost $500,00 raised.</p> <p>The tragedy has shaken the Singleton community, with seven locals among the 10 people killed when the bus crashed on its way back from a wedding.</p> <p>Cessnock mayor Jay Suvaal said the community came together to support the loved ones of those lost in the crash and pay tribute to the first responder.</p> <p>“We’re a really tight-knit community that does come together and support each other in times of need,” he told AAP.</p> <p>Locals have offered accommodation and support for victims’ families.</p> <p>“People are just dropping in things like cake and biscuits to our crisis centres to make sure there’s food available for the people there,” Suvaal said.</p> <p>Devastated friends and family continue to visit a makeshift memorial at the crash site, which is strewn with flowers, cards and teddy bears.</p> <p>Counselling and support is being offered at centres in Singleton and Branxton.</p> <p>Health Minister Ryan Park said mental health services would remain available as long as necessary.</p> <p>“What I do know about these types of traumatic and devastating events is that often it’s not in the hours and days afterwards when people need additional support — it’s often in the weeks and months,” he said.</p> <p>“They’ve been through unimaginable grief and suffering.”</p> <p>The insurer managing the crash compensation claims is being urged to ensure that extended family and friends of the victims receive support.</p> <p>Under the state’s compulsory third-party scheme, only those directly involved in the crash or who had suffered psychological trauma due to the death or severe injury of a close relative are eligible for support.</p> <p>Slater and Gordon layer Doug Williams urged the insurer to show compassion to those who have suffered due to the cash regardless of their ties to the victims.</p> <p>“It’s (the scheme) so limited that the close friends and the extended family as well as members of the small community where many of those killed lived would be ineligible to claim treatment,” Williams said.</p> <p>Many of the victims were heavily involved with the Singleton Roosters AFL club and the AFL Central Coast has cancelled its senior matches the weekend following the crash out of respect.</p> <p>Sydney Swans players will be bearing black armbands ahead of their next game against the Lions in memory of the victims.</p> <p>“We are deeply saddened by the horrific events over the weekend,” Swans chief Tom Harley said.</p> <p>The bus driver, Brett Button, 58, <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/finance/legal/hunter-valley-bus-driver-faces-court" target="_blank" rel="noopener">faced Cessnock Local Court</a> on June 13 charged with 10 counts of dangerous driving causing death.</p> <p><em>Image credit: Getty</em></p>

Legal

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Laser hack of self-driving cars can ‘delete’ pedestrians

<p>Although a city filled with entirely self-driving cars is still in the realm of science fiction, more and more cars are <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tesla_Autopilot" target="_blank" rel="noopener">coming with ‘self-driving’ features so</a> it’s a little alarming to learn that there are ways to use lasers to mess with the technology the cars use to detect its surroundings.</p> <p><a href="https://arxiv.org/abs/2210.09482" target="_blank" rel="noopener">In a study uploaded to arXiv</a> by a team of researchers in the US and Japan, researchers were able to trick the ‘victim vehicle’ (their words not ours) into not seeing a pedestrian or other object in its way.</p> <p>Most self-driving cars use LIDAR to be able to ‘see’ around them by sending out a laser light and then recording the reflection from objects in the area. The time it takes for the light to reflect back gives the system information about how far away the object is.</p> <p>This new ‘hack’ or spoof works because a perfectly timed laser shined onto a LIDAR system can create a blind spot large enough to hide an object like a pedestrian.</p> <p>“We mimic the LIDAR reflections with our laser to make the sensor discount other reflections that are coming in from genuine obstacles,” <a href="https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/969698" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said University of Florida cyber security researcher professor Sara Rampazzi.</a></p> <p>“The LIDAR is still receiving genuine data from the obstacle, but the data are automatically discarded because our fake reflections are the only one perceived by the sensor.”</p> <div class="newsletter-box"> <div id="wpcf7-f6-p221287-o1" class="wpcf7" dir="ltr" lang="en-US" role="form"> <form class="wpcf7-form mailchimp-ext-0.5.62 spai-bg-prepared init" action="/technology/laser-hack-lidar-self-driving-cars-delete-pedestrians/#wpcf7-f6-p221287-o1" method="post" novalidate="novalidate" data-status="init"> <p style="display: none !important;"><span class="wpcf7-form-control-wrap referer-page"><input class="wpcf7-form-control wpcf7-text referer-page" name="referer-page" type="hidden" value="https://cosmosmagazine.com/technology/" data-value="https://cosmosmagazine.com/technology/" aria-invalid="false" /></span></p> <p><!-- Chimpmail extension by Renzo Johnson --></form> </div> </div> <p>Although the technology is relatively simple, the attack isn’t an easy one. The team demonstrated the attack up to 10 meters away from the car, but the device must be perfectly timed, and move with the car to be able to keep the laser pointing the right way.</p> <p>The researchers have already told manufacturers about this potential exploit and have suggested ways to be able to minimise the problem. Manufacturers might be able to teach the software to look for the tell-tale signatures of the spoofed reflections added by the laser attack.</p> <p>“Revealing this liability allows us to build a more reliable system,” <a href="https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/969698" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said first author, University of Michigan computer scientist Yulong Cao.</a></p> <p>“In our paper, we demonstrate that previous defence strategies aren’t enough, and we propose modifications that should address this weakness.”</p> <p>This unfortunately isn’t the first time that researchers have found <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/news/tricking-driverless-car-sensors/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">vulnerabilities with LIDAR sensors on self-driving cars</a>, but as more of these problems are uncovered and fixed, the technology will hopefully end up safer in the long run.</p> <p>The research is to be presented next year at the <a href="https://www.usenix.org/conference/usenixsecurity23" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2023 USENIX Security Symposium</a>.</p> <p><!-- Start of tracking content syndication. Please do not remove this section as it allows us to keep track of republished articles --></p> <p><img id="cosmos-post-tracker" style="opacity: 0; height: 1px!important; width: 1px!important; border: 0!important; position: absolute!important; z-index: -1!important;" src="https://syndication.cosmosmagazine.com/?id=221287&amp;title=Laser+hack+of+self-driving+cars+can+%E2%80%98delete%E2%80%99+pedestrians" width="1" height="1" /></p> <p><!-- End of tracking content syndication --></p> <div id="contributors"> <p><em><a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/technology/laser-hack-lidar-self-driving-cars-delete-pedestrians/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">This article</a> was originally published on Cosmos Magazine and was written by Jacinta Bowler.</em></p> <p><em>Image: Getty Images</em></p> </div>

Technology

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“Benjamin Button” mice could pave way for reverse ageing

<p>If the three blind mice from the iconic nursery rhyme were living in molecular biologist Dr David Sinclair’s lab at Harvard Medical School, they might not be blind for very long.</p> <p>Dr Sinclair and his team at Harvard Medical School have been using proteins that can turn adult cells into stem cells - a kind of cell that can be turned into any of the specialised cells our bodies need.</p> <p>These stem cells have been helping restore the sight of old mice with damaged retinas, essentially making them younger versions of themselves.</p> <p>“It’s a permanent reset, as far as we can tell, and we think it may be a universal process that could be applied across the body to reset our age,” Dr Sinclair said about his research, which was published in late 2020.</p> <p>The Australian scientist has spent the past 20 years studying ways to reverse the effects of ageing - including the diseases that can afflict us as we get older.</p> <p>“If we reverse ageing, these diseases should not happen,” he said.</p> <p>During a health and wellness talk at Life Itself, Dr Sinclair said the technology is available and it’s only a matter of when we decide to use it.</p> <p>“We have the technology today to be able to go into your hundreds without worrying about getting cancer in your 70s, heart disease in your 80s and Alzheimer’s in your 90s,” he said.</p> <p>“This is the world that is coming. It’s literally a question of when and for most of us, it’s going to happen in our lifetime.”</p> <p>Whitney Casey, an investor who has partnered with Dr Sinclair to create a DIY biological age test, said the researcher wants to “make ageing a disease”.</p> <p>“His research shows you can change ageing to make lives younger for longer,” she said.</p> <p>Dr Sinclair said that when it comes to how modern medicine addresses sickness, it doesn’t tackle the underlying cause, which is usually “ageing itself”.</p> <p>“We know that when we reverse the age of an organ like the brain in a mouse, the diseases of ageing then go away. Memory comes back, there is no more dementia,” he continued.</p> <p>“I believe that in the future, delaying and reversing ageing will be the best way to treat the diseases that plague most of us.”</p> <p>Dr Sinclair’s research comes amid a global effort by scientists working to reprogram adult cells into stem cells, started by Japanese researcher Shinya Yamanaka, who won a Nobel Prize for reprogramming adult skin cells into behaving like embryonic (or pluripotent) stem cells.</p> <p>These “induced pluripotent stem cells” became known as “Yamanaka factors”, with later research finding that exposing cells to four of the main Yamanaka factors could remove signs of ageing.</p> <p>Since their original study, where they discovered that damaged cells were able to be rejuvenated by injecting three of these factors into the eyes of mice, Dr Sinclair and his lab have reversed ageing in mouse brains and muscles, and are now working on a mouse’s whole body.</p> <p>Dr Sinclair said their discovery indicated that there is a “back-up copy” of youthful information stored in the body, which he calls the “information theory of ageing”.</p> <p>“It’s a loss of information that drives ageing cells to forget how to function, to forget what type of cell they are,” he revealed.</p> <p>“And now we can tap into a reset switch that restores the cell’s ability to read the genome correctly again, as if it was young.”</p> <p><em><span id="docs-internal-guid-5569962c-7fff-455b-2538-0661dd2d0f60">Image: Getty Images</span></em></p>

Body

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5 must-have items for the cooler months

<p>As we head into the cooler months, the time of hearty soups and snuggly sleep-ins, let’s opt for fashions that make us feel cozy, warm and comfortable – all while still looking good. <a href="https://www.suzannegrae.com.au/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Suzanne Grae</a> will make the transition effortless with fabulous clothes that are both easy to wear and easy to care for. You’ll be confidently tackling your day and ticking off your to-do list with clothes that are subtly elegant and sophisticated. Here are the five must-have items from Grae’s collection that celebrates all women, from petite to plus-size. </p> <p><strong>The Wear-With-Everything Knits</strong></p> <p>You can’t beat a cozy textured knitted jumper as the temperature drops. </p> <p>Grae’s collection of <a href="https://www.suzannegrae.com.au/clothing/knitwear" target="_blank" rel="noopener">knitwear</a> effortlessly teams up with any outfit. You’ll be wearing your favourite knits on repeat as they’re available in all the trendy season colours like creams, pinks, blues, lilacs, and white. And you’ll be able to get one in each colour, with Grae’s knitwear starting from the budget-friendly price of $39.95. </p> <p>With a knit and denim combo, you can never go wrong. Or layer a knit cardigan over the top of a basic tee or blouse for a smart casual look that doesn’t skimp on warmth, comfort or style. Grae’s breathes fresh life into the knitted jumper with ombre prints and modern stripes that you’ll love season after season. </p> <p><strong>Love-Your-Body Pants </strong></p> <p>Yes, pants season is here. And Grae’s newest styles fit so perfectly that you’ll be loving your body all day, everyday. You’ll be living in Grae’s elasticated cropped pants while out and about. And keep yourself looking fresh and chic with their <a href="https://www.suzannegrae.com.au/clothing/pants" target="_blank" rel="noopener">wide-leg pant</a>, which gives you plenty of room to move while you’re on the go. </p> <p>Autumn dressing isn’t complete without the perfect pair of corduroys, and Grae’s are top-class. Their cord jeans come in pink, green and camel and hug the body in all the right places. Pair them with your favourite knit and a loafer, and you’re all ready for a day of fun. You’ll find trousers that look good on you, whatever your shape, with all Grae's styles available from sizes 6-24. They’ll fit just right. You’ll be wearing them time and time again. </p> <p><strong>Everyday Shirts </strong></p> <p>Grae’s everyday <a href="https://www.suzannegrae.com.au/clothing/shirts-tops-clothing-szg" target="_blank" rel="noopener">cotton button-down shirts</a> are fresh, light, and the finishing touch your outfit needs. No styling is required. Simply throw on, and you’re dressed and ready to tackle your day with confidence and ease. Or wear them unbuttoned over a basic fitted tee, that starts from $19.95 and delivers a two-for-one outfit. </p> <p>With the fluctuations in temperature the autumn months bring, you can roll the long sleeves up or down however you need. The breathable, flowing fabric creates a flattering silhouette on the body and looks good on every woman. It’s also for all women to embrace with shirts available in petite to plus-size. </p> <p><strong>Classic Shirt-Jacket</strong></p> <p>A classic shirt-jacket is always in style. And just enough to ward off a nippy breeze but not too bulky that it will weigh you down while you’re on the go. Grae’s <a href="https://www.suzannegrae.com.au/clothing/jackets" target="_blank" rel="noopener">lightweight shirt-jacket</a> styles are ultra comfortable and will carry you through all the seasons with a bit of layering. Sitting at the waist, jackets have the perfect balance of structure and a loose fit to show any figure in the best light. Grae’s has options for every women’s body in every style and for every budget, starting from $59.95. </p> <p>A shirt-jacket will be the go-to item in your wardrobe and always be on rotation. Throw it on over a fitted singlet and be office-ready. Or take a more swanky approach with a skirt and jacket combo and enjoy a day out at the winery. </p> <p><strong>Relaxed-Fit Jean </strong></p> <p>A fabulously fitting denim never goes old. Grae’s <a href="https://www.suzannegrae.com.au/clothing/denim" target="_blank" rel="noopener">relaxed-fit jean</a> styles are designed to flatter every body and make you feel fabulous while you’re out and about. Dress up a jean easily with a pretty blouse and a wedge heel or boot, and you’re ready for dinner with friends in your smart-casual look. </p> <p>Be stylish every day with a relaxed-fit denim crafted from a soft cotton blend that makes moving around on the go super comfortable. It’s available in a range of modern washes and on-trend colours that you’ll be wearing from season to season. A pair of Grae’s denim that you’ll be wearing on repeat can be yours, starting from $39.95 and will make you feel good about every dollar spent.</p> <p><em>This is a sponsored article produced in partnership with <a href="https://www.suzannegrae.com.au/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Suzanne Grae</a>.</em></p> <p> </p>

Beauty & Style

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Why an edit button for Twitter is not as simple as it seems

<p>Most people who use Twitter have had the experience: you fire off a quick tweet, realise it contains a typo, then get annoyed you can’t click “edit” to fix it. Twitter users have been <a href="https://www.fastcompany.com/90376786/a-brief-history-of-not-being-able-to-edit-your-tweets" target="_blank" rel="noopener">clamouring for an edit button for years</a>.</p> <p>Elon Musk, who has recently been buying up shares in the microblogging platform and has made a <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-04-15/elon-musk-offer-to-buy-twitter-worlds-richest-man/100994580" target="_blank" rel="noopener">US$48 billion offer</a> for the whole company, asked his 82 million followers if they wanted an edit button. His (deeply unscientific) poll attracted 4.4 million responses, with 73% in favour.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Do you want an edit button?</p> <p>— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1511143607385874434?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 5, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <p>Other social media platforms let you edit posts after you’ve sent them. It seems like it would be a simple feature to add – so why doesn’t Twitter do it?</p> <p>Well, the time may at last have arrived. Independent of Musk’s poll, Twitter has confirmed that <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2022/4/5/23011327/twitter-edit-button-blue-test" target="_blank" rel="noopener">an edit button may be in the works</a>. Enterprising users have even dug out some hints of what it <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2022/04/18/twitters-in-development-edit-button-offers-hints-as-to-how-the-feature-could-work/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">might look like</a>.</p> <p><strong>So what’s the fuss about?</strong></p> <p>Why has Twitter been so opposed to an edit button? The answer might be that it isn’t as simple as it appears.</p> <p>The first thing to know about tweets is that, unlike posts on many other platforms, there is fundamentally no way for Twitter to pull them back after they are sent. The reason is that Twitter has what’s called an Application Programming Interface (or API) which allows third parties such as other apps or researchers to download tweets in real time.</p> <p>That’s what powers Twitter clients such as TweetDeck, TweetBot, Twitteriffic and Echofon, which together account for some <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2018/08/17/6-million-users-had-installed-third-party-twitter-clients/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">6 million users</a>.</p> <p>Once third parties have downloaded tweets, there’s no way for Twitter to get them back or edit them. It’s a bit like an email – once I’ve sent it and you’ve downloaded it, there’s no way for me to delete it from your machine.</p> <p>If a user <em>were</em> to edit a tweet, the most Twitter could do is send out a message saying “please edit this tweet” – but the third party could choose whether or not to actually do it. (This is currently what happens when tweets are “deleted”.)</p> <p><strong>Cats and dogs</strong></p> <p>More importantly, an edit button might have unintended consequences, and could be weaponised.</p> <p>Consider this. I, a cat lover, decide to tweet “I love cats!”</p> <p>Then you, being also a cat lover (because why wouldn’t you be), decide to quote my tweet, agreeing “I do too!” (Remember when Twitter used to be this innocent?)</p> <p>Now, what happens if I edit my original tweet to declare “I love dogs”? You are now misrepresented as a dog-lover, and when your cat-loving friends see this (which they will when I reply to your tweet, mentioning them all), they disown you.</p> <figure class="align-center zoomable"><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/459030/original/file-20220421-70799-6mgarp.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/459030/original/file-20220421-70799-6mgarp.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/459030/original/file-20220421-70799-6mgarp.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=192&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/459030/original/file-20220421-70799-6mgarp.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=192&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/459030/original/file-20220421-70799-6mgarp.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=192&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/459030/original/file-20220421-70799-6mgarp.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=241&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/459030/original/file-20220421-70799-6mgarp.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=241&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/459030/original/file-20220421-70799-6mgarp.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=241&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" alt="A screenshot showing a tweet reading " /></a><figcaption><em><span class="caption">A Twitter edit button could be used to change statements after others have retweeted or endorsed them.</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">The Conversation</span></span></em></figcaption></figure> <p>Yes, this is contrived, but it doesn’t take much imagination to see how the edit button might be used in this fashion, particularly by things such as bot armies. Will Twitter users be happy to trade this possibility for the convenience of fixing typos in their tweets?</p> <p><strong>‘Warts and all’: a bug or a feature?</strong></p> <p>Twitter has built its reputation on being the most “real-time” of the social media platforms – the place where <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/ngeo832" target="_blank" rel="noopener">earthquakes are reported quicker than by scientific instruments</a>. However, for many people the “warts and all” nature of Twitter postings is starting to look like a bug, rather than a feature.</p> <p>Will an edit button change Twitter’s unique brand? There may be ways to ameliorate this, such as only allowing edits within a short time of posting, but it is surely a consideration for the company.</p> <p>More generally, the design of media platforms shapes the type of discussion that occurs on them.</p> <p>The presence of the “like” and “retweet” buttons on Twitter encourage users to create content that will entice others to click these buttons, and make their content spread further. This, in turn, shapes the nature of conversation that occurs on the platform.</p> <p>Similarly, websites use algorithms and design to “<a href="https://doi.org/10.1080/1369118X.2018.1476570" target="_blank" rel="noopener">nudge</a>” users in particular directions – such as to buy a product.</p> <p>There is a rich body of research into the ways discourse is shaped by the design of social media platforms, which establishes that every “affordance” a user is given affects the conversation that ends up taking place.</p> <p>This means that beyond the fundamental technological challenges, Twitter must think about the possible unintended consequences of seemingly simple changes – even to the level of a humble edit button. The medium shapes the message, and Twitter must think carefully about what sorts of messages they want their platform to shape.<!-- 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/181623/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /><!-- End of code. If you don't see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https://theconversation.com/republishing-guidelines --></p> <p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/lewis-mitchell-266859" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Lewis Mitchell</a>, Professor of Data Science, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-adelaide-1119" target="_blank" rel="noopener">University of Adelaide</a></em></p> <p><em>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/why-an-edit-button-for-twitter-is-not-as-simple-as-it-seems-181623" target="_blank" rel="noopener">original article</a>.</em></p> <p><em>Image: Getty Images</em></p>

Technology

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Is this the future of pedestrian crossings?

<p>Pedestrian crossings in Melbourne have attracted global attention on TikTok, as Aussies are stunned by the new technology. </p> <p>A TikTok user in Victoria has shared footage of lights embedded into the footpath at crossings that change from red to green to reflect whether you can cross the road or not. </p> <p>The tech has been installed to help "phone zombies" from not getting in an accident in street traffic from staring down at a mobile device.</p> <p>The TikTok user Veronica shared footage of the lights she came across saying, "<span>Bro, look how sick Melbourne is."</span></p> <p><span>"The light across the road is red, so the floor flashes red, and when it's green so you can walk - guess what? The floor flashes green!"</span></p> <p><span>The 12 second clip has racked up thousands of likes, with hundreds of comments being shocked by the relatively new technology.</span></p> <p><span>One person said, "I've been living in Melbourne my entire life and have seen none of these."</span></p> <p class="mol-para-with-font">"I literally live in the city and didn't know this, what?" another commented. </p> <p class="mol-para-with-font">A third user pointed out the lights were installed to protect people who were distracted by their mobile phones when crossing the road.</p> <p class="mol-para-with-font">"It's because people are looking at their phones while walking and are not alert while crossing."</p> <p class="mol-para-with-font">Despite the technology being seemingly rare, the in-ground lights, also known as Tactile Ground Surface Indicators (TGSI), have been installed around the globe since 2017.</p> <p class="mol-para-with-font">Places in Sydney and Melbourne have been adapting to the new tech, following in the likes of South Korea to increase safety around being aware on the road. </p> <p class="mol-para-with-font"><em>Image credits: TikTok</em></p>

Travel Trouble

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Try this one pot lamb shanks with button mushrooms

<p>Need some weeknight dinner inspiration? Why not try this tender-to-the-bone lamb shank recipe?</p> <p>Serves: 3 | Cooks in: 3 hours and 10 minutes</p> <p><strong>Ingredients </strong></p> <ul> <li>50g (1/3 cup) plain flour, to dust</li> <li>4 lamb shanks, Frenched</li> <li>1½ tbsp olive oil</li> <li>½ bottle red wine</li> <li>12 eschalots, peeled</li> <li>1 bunch thyme, half trussed, half leaves picked</li> <li>400g Button Mushrooms, cleaned and trimmed</li> <li>Salt and pepper, to season</li> <li>Creamy polenta, to serve (¾ cup with 750ml mix of chicken stock and milk, butter and finely grated parmesan)</li> </ul> <p><strong>Method</strong></p> <p>1. Preheat the oven to 160°C. Place the flour into a large bowl and season well with salt and pepper. Dust the lamb shanks in the flour mixture, shaking off any excess.</p> <p>2. Heat 1 tbsp oil in a large, heavy-based, ovenproof saucepan over medium-high heat. Cook the shanks for 5 minutes, turning, until browned. Remove and set aside.</p> <p>3. Pour in the wine and boil for 5 minutes to cook off the alcohol. Return the shanks to the pan with the eschalots and trussed thyme. Pour in enough water to submerge the shanks and bring up to a simmer. Cover the surface with a piece of baking paper, then cover with a lid and place in the oven for 1.5 hours.</p> <p>4. Carefully remove the pan from the oven and turn the shanks over, topping up with water if necessary. Add the mushrooms and cover with the baking paper and lid, then return to the oven for a further 1.5 hours or until the shank meat is falling from the bone.</p> <p>5. Meanwhile, heat the remaining 2 tsp oil in a small frying pan over medium heat. Toast the remaining thyme until bright green, then remove and set aside.</p> <p>6. Remove the shanks from the pan and place in a bowl, loosely covered with foil and set aside to rest.</p> <p>7. Place the pan over high heat. Reduce the sauce for 10-12 minutes or until thickened and glossy.</p> <p>8. Divide polenta among bowls and top with a shank, mushrooms and eschalots. Spoon over the sauce and scatter with toasted thyme to serve. Season to taste with salt and pepper.</p> <p><em>Republished with permission of <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.wyza.com.au/articles/recipes/one-pot-lamb-shanks-with-button-mushrooms" target="_blank">Wyza.com.au.</a></em></p>

Food & Wine

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Garbage truck driver to remain behind bars after killing pedestrian in hit-and-run

<p>A 21-year-old pedestrian was struck and killed by a reversing garbage truck before his body was allegedly moved aside and left at the alleyway.</p> <p>George Yuhan Lin was seen on CCTV footage looking at his phone while walking along Central Street in Sydney’s CBD around 1.30am on Wednesday when a garbage truck hit him from behind.</p> <p>Police allege the driver, 51-year-old Tuiniua Fine, was seen putting on gloves and moving Lin’s body out from under the vehicle before driving off and continuing his garbage run.</p> <p>Fine was arrested at Kings Cross <a rel="noopener" href="https://7news.com.au/news/nsw/man-killed-in-alleged-hit-and-run-in-sydney-cbd-identified-as-accused-faces-court-c-695984" target="_blank">later that morning</a>, with police seizing the truck.</p> <p>The Lakemba man faced Central Local Court on Thursday after being charged with several offences including manslaughter, failing to stop and assist after a vehicle impact causing death, dangerous driving causing death, and improperly interfering with a corpse or human remains.</p> <p>“We managed to get some CCTV which actually shows us quite clearly what happened,” said NSW Police Assistant Commissioner Michael Corboy.</p> <p>“And when those allegations become clear, the public we think will be quite appalled at the behaviour we’re going to allege.”</p> <p>Fine did not apply for bail and will <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/garbage-truck-driver-to-remain-behind-bars-over-sydney-hit-and-run-20200213-p540hz.html">remain behind bars</a> until the case is back in court in April.</p>

Legal

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Shocking fines for pedestrians who break the law

<p>For the most part, pedestrians have the right of way over cars in Australia, but there are rules that they must obey to avoid being slogged with steep fines. Do you know all of these rules?</p> <p><strong>No pedestrian access signs</strong></p> <p>Pedestrians must not walk past areas with signs specifying pedestrian’s must not cross, according to NSW.  These signs are usually spotted on freeways.</p> <p>If you do get caught walking on part of a road where it’s stated you shouldn’t be, you can be hit with a $76 fine in NSW.</p> <p>Breaking the rule in Victoria is much steeper, as you’ll be hit with $289. For Tasmania, it’s $126, $50 in Western Australia, $51 in South Australia and $53 in Queensland.</p> <p><strong>Jaywalking at a crossing</strong></p> <p>“Jaywalking” is where a person crosses an intersection without complying with the road rules.</p> <p>“If the pedestrian lights show a red pedestrian light... the pedestrian must not start to cross until the pedestrian lights change to green,” the NSW legislation says.</p> <p>Sometimes pedestrians cross the road when the lights start flashing red, which is known as jaywalking.</p> <p>If you’re caught jaywalking, you’re hit with a $53 fine in Queensland, $50 in Western Australia, $42 in Tasmania, $83 in Victoria, $51 in South Australia and $76 in NSW.</p> <p><strong>Walking across level crossings</strong></p> <p>Pedestrians can also get done by ignoring warnings and walking through level crossings. Level crossings are where the crossings go down to protect cars and pedestrians from being hit by oncoming trains.</p> <p>It is illegal to walk across train tracks unless a pedestrian crosses at the designated spot where it is safe to do so.</p> <p>According to the South Australian Government, dangerous pedestrian behaviour includes not looking both ways before crossing the tracks, taking shortcuts between train tracks and platforms, running in front of an approaching train and forcing open an active pedestrian barrier.</p> <p>“These behaviours are resulting mainly from impatience, inattention, complacency, distractions and lack of awareness as to the rules, dangers and penalties surrounding rail crossing use,” the South Australian government says on its website.</p> <p>If you get caught, it comes with a $83 fine in Victoria, $126 fine in Tasmania, $76 fine in NSW and $100 in Western Australia.</p> <p>Fines for South Australians are $51, and Queenslanders get hit with a $53 fine.</p> <p>It has also been announced by the NSW Government that pedestrians will be fined for crossing illegally at light rail crossings.</p>

Money & Banking

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Are you able to see what’s wrong with this crossing?

<p>A city councillor has taken to Facebook to share a “new” pedestrian crossing that is a bit off.</p> <p>Matthew Whitfield, whose a city councillor for the City of Rockingham in Western Australia shared a photo alerting residents about a normal pedestrian crossing.</p> <p>“You will perhaps have noticed that there is a new 'pedestrian crossing' on Makybe Drive between Delta road and Phar Lap Parade, this 'appeared' over the weekend,” Mr Whitfield wrote on Facebook.</p> <p>However, Mr Whitfield went on to explain the crossing isn’t a legal crossing and it wasn’t approved by the City or Main Roads.</p> <p>Mr Whitfield also suggested the crossing was perhaps painted by a “frustrated resident”.</p> <p>“This is not a supervised crossing and it does not comply with any safety standards,” Mr Whitfield said.</p> <p><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fphoto.php%3Ffbid%3D2364076070510254%26set%3Da.1376912919226579%26type%3D3&amp;width=500" width="500" height="720" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allow="encrypted-media"></iframe></p> <p>“Perhaps the city could investigate the need for one here before it’s removed. Save themselves the cost of removing it and just make it comply to standards,” one person commented on the Facebook post.</p> <p>“Good point, however the location is not safe and there is a manned crossing in a much safer location just 30 seconds walk from here mate,” Mr Whitfield replied.</p> <p>Other commenters mentioned that they had considered making a pedestrian crossing themselves.</p> <p>“I honestly considered doing this myself when the council refused to put one outside our busy school as kids safety was in danger”.</p> <p>Mr Whitfield said that he would be keen to hear from anyone who might know anything about who made the illegal zebra crossing.</p>

Domestic Travel

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Heads up! City bans pedestrians from texting while crossing the street

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A new state law in New York would slap stiff fines on pedestrians who text and email on their phones while crossing the street.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“There will be a green light and people will still be texting in the middle of the street,” cabbie Carlos Rodriguez complained to </span><a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Post</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> while waiting near New York’s Penn Station.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“I stop so I don’t hit the person, then I get a $US110 ($AUD160) ticket for stopping at a green light. I’m sick of it!” </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The new law is looking to impose fines of $US25 ($AUD36) to $US50 ($AUD 73) on first-time offenders, while death-wish texters who stride right back into the pedestrian crossing and repeat the offence within 18 months would be hit with fines as high as $US250 ($A364).</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">However, backlash is already in the works as pedestrians believe that texting in traffic is their right.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“What a dumb proposal,” scoffed Chris Werner, 36, who barely looked up from his phone as he crossed West 32nd Street.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“I’m still going to text while crossing.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Alejandro Cerda, 29, agreed as he texted his way across Seventh Avenue at 27th Street.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Can we vote these politicians out of office since they’re brain dead?” said the Lower East Side resident.</span></p>

Technology

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The question on everyone’s mind: Does the pedestrian button do anything?

<p>Picture this: You’re standing at a pedestrian crossing waiting for the red man to turn green. One-minute turns to five and next thing you know you’ve been standing there waiting for an eternity. To speed things up, you decide to press the pedestrian button a number of times but still no luck. Sound familiar? Because according to the latest reports, you may have been getting conned for the past 24 years.</p> <p>The nation is divided on the topic of whether pressing the pedestrian button has any effect on the traffic lights, but the answer is, it’s dependant on which state you reside in.</p> <p>The bad news is mainly for Sydney-siders, because if you’ve been pressing the pedestrian button hoping for the man to turn green between 7 am and 7 pm on Monday to Thursday and from 7 am to 9 pm on Friday – you’ve been conned.</p> <p>According to <em><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/real-life/have-you-been-wasting-your-time-by-pushing-the-pedestrian-button/news-story/b87735fb87ad862c7e6fee6206510edc" target="_blank">news.com.au</a></em>, signals throughout Sydney have been set to “automated pedestrian phases”, which means those buttons have been useless since 1994.</p> <p>Though it does change over the weekend, as on Saturday the automated times are set to run from 8:30 am to 9pm, and Sunday is the when you should really push the button as that’s the day you’ll notice a difference.</p> <p>Every Sunday the automated times are disabled and the effort you put into pressing that button will actually have a direct impact on halting traffic.</p> <p>Speaking to <em><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/real-life/have-you-been-wasting-your-time-by-pushing-the-pedestrian-button/news-story/b87735fb87ad862c7e6fee6206510edc" target="_blank">news.com.au</a></em>, a spokeswoman from Transport for NSW said these automated phases are set in areas where there is a “high level of pedestrian activity, at specific times of the day".</p> <p>“These phases are constantly reviewed against demand profiles of road users and other changes that may affect the network,” she said.</p> <p>“Shorter wait times have kept pedestrians moving and could potentially reduce the risk of jaywalking and pedestrian crashes.”</p> <p>The system also takes into account large events happening around the city, which bring in an influx of pedestrians.</p> <p>Studies show that if pedestrians around the country are made to wait more than a minute to cross the road, there is a high chance they’ll attempt to cross illegally.</p> <p>Due to this, waiting times in the city have been reduced since January, going from two minutes to 90 seconds – which is the most anyone should be waiting before crossing the road.</p> <p>Though for Sydney residents, the results are vastly different. With studies showing that Sydney-siders are willing to wait for 30 seconds before jaywalking.</p> <p>According to Transport for NSW, the automated phases are in place for Sydney CBD, North Sydney and Parramatta. And for all other areas in the state, it is claimed that pushing the button does make a difference.</p> <p>What do you think about the wait times at pedestrian crossings at traffic lights? Let us know in the comments down below.</p>

Legal

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Why this Aussie council is changing its pedestrian crossing symbols to female

<p>A Melbourne council is changing the gender of its pedestrian crossing symbols, replacing he traditional male crossing silhouettes with female figures.</p> <p><a href="http://www.heraldsun.com.au/" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>Herald Sun reports</strong></em></span></a> Brimbank Council in Melbourne’s west has replaced the traditional signs with female walk and don’t walk figures to, “improve gender quality”.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">A Vic council wants to introduce female only pedestrian crossing symbols.<br /><br />They hope removing the male figures will help to ‘improve gender equality’.<br /><br />Does ANYONE like this idea? <a href="https://t.co/LVjDsJHMyn">pic.twitter.com/LVjDsJHMyn</a></p> — Sunrise (@sunriseon7) <a href="https://twitter.com/sunriseon7/status/999760508885467136?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 24, 2018</a></blockquote> <p>Mayor Margaret Giudice said the change could have a larger impact than people think.</p> <p>“We know that improving gender equity leads to very positive outcomes for organisations and for our community … research shows societies with greater gender equity have lower rates of violence towards women and children,” she said.</p> <p>“This council is committed to a community where men and women, and boys and girls, are treated equally.”</p> <p>Perth Ave and Ballarat Rd will be the first crossing to receive the new lights.</p> <p>What are your thoughts?</p>

Legal

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This city has banned pedestrians from texting

<p>A city in the US has become the first place in world to ban pedestrians from texting while crossing the road, with the law coming into effect tomorrow.</p> <p>Honolulu, the capital city of Hawaii, will issue pedestrians $US35 for, “viewing electronic devices while crossing streets in the city and surrounding county”.</p> <p>Other areas in the US have tried to enforce similar bans, but the Honolulu law is reportedly the first time this regulation has been enforceable by a fine.</p> <p>“This is really milestone legislation that sets the bar high for safety,” Brandon Elefante, the City Council member who proposed the bill, told <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/23/business/honolulu-walking-and-texting-fine.html?smid=tw-nytimes&amp;smtyp=cur" target="_blank">the New York Times</a></strong></em></span>.</p> <p>Police in some Australian states can issue pedestrians fines if they are deemed to be walking “without consideration to other roads users”, but there is currently no legislation relating to the use of mobile phones and electronic devices.</p> <p>Pedestrians crossing the road without paying attention is becoming a growing problem, according to a report by the World Health Organisation, which found pedestrians who text and walk are almost four times as likely to “engage in at least one dangerous action”. Distracted people also take 18 per cent more time to cross a road.</p> <p>What are your thoughts? Should we install a similar law in Australia?</p> <p><em><strong>Have you arranged your travel insurance yet? Save money with Over60 Travel Insurance. <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="https://elevate.agatravelinsurance.com.au/oversixty?utm_source=over60&amp;utm_medium=content&amp;utm_content=link1&amp;utm_campaign=travel-insurance" target="_blank">To arrange a quote, click here.</a></span> Or for more information, call 1800 622 966.</strong></em></p>

Travel Insurance

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Strange body part to apply perfume to make it last longer

<p>It seems every day we’re being told something new that we’ve been doing wrong all these years, and this one has to be the strangest yet. Steven Claisse, senior perfumer at fragrance company Takasago, has revealed that to make your perfume last longer, you should apply a few drops to your belly button. Yes, you read that right!</p> <p>While most people opt for a spritz on the wrists and each side of the neck, Claisse claims the navel is the best place to apply fragrance. “Any area on your body that radiates heat will enhance a scent, and your belly button does just that,” he told <a href="http://www.self.com/story/how-to-apply-perfume" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">SELF</span></strong></a>.</p> <p>In addition, Claisse says applying perfume to your hair, the top of your ears, inside the elbows, behind your knees, down your calves or on your ankles will make the fragrance last longer and help you leave a “trail of scent” wherever you go.</p> <p>Tell us in the comments below, would you ever consider applying perfume to your belly button? Have you tried it before?</p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><a href="/news/news/2016/11/107-year-old-man-swears-this-drink-is-key-to-his-long-life/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>107-year-old man swears this drink is key to his long life</strong></em></span></a></p> <p><a href="/news/news/2016/11/how-to-pronounce-scone/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>The correct pronunciation of “scone” revealed</strong></em></span></a></p> <p><a href="/news/news/2016/11/9-foods-that-lower-cholesterol/"><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>9 foods that lower cholesterol</strong></span></em></a></p>

Beauty & Style

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Several killed after van mows down pedestrians in London

<p>A number of people have reportedly been killed after a van collided with pedestrians and worshippers outside a mosque in Finsbury Park, North London.</p> <p>A witness claims around 10 people were mowed down by the van on Seven Sisters Road. Emergency services are onsite.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">Anyone an idea what exactly happened? <a href="https://twitter.com/metpoliceuk">@metpoliceuk</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/finsburypark?src=hash">#finsburypark</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/sevensisters?src=hash">#sevensisters</a> <a href="https://t.co/d4VoQtcJZr">pic.twitter.com/d4VoQtcJZr</a></p> — Thomas Van Hulle (@Thomasvanhulle) <a href="https://twitter.com/Thomasvanhulle/status/876589634515554305">June 18, 2017</a></blockquote> <p>A statement from the Metropolitan Police confirmed they were called to the scene of the incident just after midnight local time.</p> <p>“There are a number of casualties being worked on at the scene,” authorities said. “There has been one person arrested.”</p> <p>The incident is the latest in an unfortunately long list of tragedies for London and the UK as a whole. In March, <a href="/news/news/2017/03/uk-terror-attack-brings-london-to-its-knees/" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Westminster Bridge</strong></span></a> became the scene of a lone wolf terror attack, while <a href="/news/news/2017/05/manchester-rocked-by-suspected-terror-attack/" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Manchester</span></strong></a> and <a href="/travel/international/2017/06/uk-pm-theresa-may-responds-to-london-attacks/" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">London</span></strong></a> were both targeted last month and the latter was just rocked by a <a href="/finance/insurance/2017/06/london-tower-inferno-what-we-know/" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>terrifying inferno</strong></span></a>.</p> <p>A major section of the road has been cordoned off.</p> <p>More to come.</p>

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