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An X-Files expert on the show’s enduring appeal – 30 years on

<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/bethan-jones-1345648">Bethan Jones</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-york-1344">University of York</a> On September 10 1993 the pilot episode of The X-Files aired. Thirty years later to the day, I was at a <a href="https://www.twincities.com/2023/04/17/moa-30th-anniversary-x-files-convention/">convention centre in Minneapolis</a> with 500 other fans and the show’s creator, Chris Carter, celebrating its legacy. Ostensibly a show about aliens, The X-Files swiftly became part of the cultural lexicon and remains there to this day. In part its success was down to the chemistry of its two leads – David Duchovny, who played FBI Special Agent Fox Mulder and Gillian Anderson, who played FBI Special Agent Dana Scully. After all, it was the X-Files fandom that invented the term <a href="https://www.vox.com/2016/6/7/11858680/fandom-glossary-fanfiction-explained">“shipping”</a> (rooting for characters to get together romantically). But, as I argue in my new book, <a href="https://www.tuckerdspress.com/product-page/the-x-files-the-truth-is-still-out-there">The Truth Is Still Out There: Thirty Years of The X-Files</a>, what really made the series successful was its ability to tap into contemporary cultural moments and ask us to really think about the times we’re living in. When the series began in 1993, the US was still grappling with the effects of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/event/Watergate-Scandal">Watergate</a> and the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/event/Vietnam-War">Vietnam war</a>, but concerns were also rising about the approaching millennium and the economic and cultural divisions within US society. It also coincided with Bill Clinton becoming president – marking the end of more than a decade of Republican leadership. It’s little surprise that fears about immigration, globalisation, national identity and technology emerged and were adopted – and sometimes foreshadowed – by The X-Files’ writers. Several episodes throughout the first nine seasons dealt with artificial technology, for example, and <a href="https://x-files.fandom.com/wiki/Eve">Eve</a>, an episode in season one about clones, came four years before the birth of <a href="https://dolly.roslin.ed.ac.uk/facts/the-life-of-dolly/index.html">Dolly the Sheep</a>. Critical theorist Douglas Kellner <a href="https://www.jstor.org/stable/432310?casa_token=44PnlIC58_oAAAAA%3AyDF-53m8WsQCfec-VrVjlF8nav_Q2y24s9ldHo7bFPUvAwUrbcieUZoEk7DZe6R3Mma-WcaUNskkC4CR4baLoAHz7EdFEqcAONLgeI4SiU85I-LPIjNk">argued in 1994</a> that The X-Files “generated distrust toward established authority, representing institutions of government and the established order as highly flawed, even complicit in the worst crimes and evil imaginable”. Though I’d argue it was less that the show generated this distrust and more that it leveraged the growing number of reports about the government’s secretive activities to inspire its storylines. As the public became more aware of the government’s role in – and surveillance of – public life, so too The X-Files considered the ways in which technology could be used as a means of control. In the season three episode <a href="https://x-files.fandom.com/wiki/Wetwired">Wetwired</a>, for example, a device attached to a telephone pole emits signals that tap into people’s paranoid delusions and lead them to kill. And in the season six episode, <a href="https://x-files.fandom.com/wiki/S.R._819">SR 819</a>, a character’s circulatory system fails because he has been infected with nanotechnology controlled by a remote device belonging to a shadow government. These themes reflected growing concerns about government agencies using technology to both spy on and influence the public. <h2>The X-Files’ enduring appeal</h2> During my X-Files research, carried out with viewers after a revival was announced in 2015, it became clear that the show has remained part of the cultural lexicon. As one fan explained: “The cultural context of conspiracy theories has changed since the beginning of X-Files. Nowadays, every pseudoscience documentary uses similar soundtrack and narrative.” Of course, the X-Files didn’t invent conspiracy theories, but as one of the show’s writers and producers, Jim Wong, <a href="https://www.straitstimes.com/lifestyle/how-x-files-brought-conspiracy-theories-into-mainstream-culture">points out</a>, it did “tap into something that was more or less hidden in the beginning when we were doing it”. <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-P-07yN806A?wmode=transparent&start=0" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe><figcaption>The trailer for The X-Files revival.</figcaption></figure> The focus on the rise of the alt-right, disinformation and fake news in seasons 10 and 11 seemed like a logical angle from which to approach the changing cultural context the revival came into. Carter and his co-writers dove straight in to what Guardian critic <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/tvandradioblog/2016/feb/09/your-government-lies-why-the-x-files-revival-is-just-right-for-our-climate-of-extreme-scepticism">Mark Lawson calls</a> “a new era of governmental paranoia and public scepticism”, fuelled by the 2008 financial crisis, the fall out of the war on terror and scores of political scandals. Season 10 saw the introduction of a right-wing internet talk show host who argues that 9/11 was a “false flag operation” and that the mainstream liberal media lie to Americans about life, liberty and the right to bear arms. The parallels to conspiracy theorists like Alex Jones and Glenn Beck were obvious. Carter’s incorporation of topics like surveillance, governments’ misuse of power and methods of social control meant that seasons ten and 11 were very much situated in the contemporary moment. This is perhaps most obvious in the season 11 episode, <a href="https://x-files.fandom.com/wiki/The_Lost_Art_of_Forehead_Sweat">The Lost Art of Forehead Sweat</a>, which deals with the disinformation of the Trump era head on. The episode’s protagonist, Dr. They, tells Mulder that “no one can tell the difference anymore between what’s real and what’s fake”. While The X-Files’ search for the truth in the 1990s may have ultimately been a philosophical endeavour, in the 21st century it is a commentary on how emotion and belief can be more influential than objective facts. Watching the show again while researching my book, I was struck by how it was dated predominantly by its lack of technology, rather than the ideas it expresses. In the second season episode <a href="https://x-files.fandom.com/wiki/Ascension">Ascension</a>, Mulder pulls a phone book off a shelf in his search for Scully – now we’d use Google. But in other aspects the show remains as relevant today as it was in the 1990s, encouraging us to think about the big questions relating to faith, authority and truth. <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/bethan-jones-1345648">Bethan Jones</a>, Research Associate, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-york-1344">University of York</a> Image credits: Getty Images This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/an-x-files-expert-on-the-shows-enduring-appeal-30-years-on-213610">original article</a>.

World Cup star files official complaint over "unsolicited kiss" with Spanish football boss

Jenni Hermoso has filed an official complaint against Luis Rubiales over an "unsolicited kiss" at the Women's World Cup final. Following Spain's victory of England in the final, Rubiales, the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) chief, kissed Hermoso on the lips while congratulating the team. The Spanish footballer is accusing Rubiales of sexual assault, as she said the kiss was not consensual. Despite this, Rubiales has defended his actions and is refusing to step down. The official complaint, which was filed on Tuesday, is key for a preliminary investigation into the incident, which prosecutors at Spain’s top criminal court have opened for the alleged crime of “sexual assault”, to move forward. In the days after the incident, Hermoso said the unwanted kiss had left her feeling “vulnerable and like the victim of an assault”, with a statement on social media describing it as “an impulsive, macho act, out of place and with no type of consent on my part”. Rubiales has apologised for his conduct but insists the kiss was consensual, as he has refused to quit his role despite both the RFEF and FIFA calling on him to do so. In a display of solidarity, <span style="caret-color: #212529; color: #212529; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif, 'Apple Color Emoji', 'Segoe UI Emoji', 'Segoe UI Symbol', 'Noto Color Emoji'; font-size: 16px; background-color: #ffffff;">56 national team members have <span style="caret-color: #212529; color: #212529; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif, 'Apple Color Emoji', 'Segoe UI Emoji', 'Segoe UI Symbol', 'Noto Color Emoji'; font-size: 16px;">condemned the government for what they deemed to be "<a href="https://oversixty.com.au/finance/legal/impunity-for-macho-actions-is-over-why-the-entire-spanish-world-cup-team-has-quit" target="_blank" rel="noopener">macho actions</a>". <p style="font-size: 16px; box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; caret-color: #212529; color: #212529; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif, 'Apple Color Emoji', 'Segoe UI Emoji', 'Segoe UI Symbol', 'Noto Color Emoji';">A collective statement, issued through their union, was signed by all 23 members of the winning squad, including Hermoso, as well as 32 other team members. In the statement, they declared their refusal to participate in international matches as long as Rubiales remains at the helm of the RFEF. After the official complaint was lodged, the RFEF sacked the head coach of the Spanish women’s team, Jorge Vilda, after he was the only member of the women’s national team coaching staff not to resign in protest at Rubiales’s behaviour. Vilda’s dismissal was confirmed amid accusations he had repeatedly backed Rubiales and saw no issue with his behaviour. In addition to the complaint from Hermoso, Spain’s Sport Administrative Tribunal (TAD) opened a case against Rubiales for “serious misconduct”. Image credits: Getty Images <figure class="sc-11i7hbm-0 eUyOEq" style="margin: 0px; font-family: Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></figure>

Legal

Kevin Costner’s wife files for divorce

Kevin Costner’s wife, Christine Baumgartner, has filed for divorce after 18 years of marriage, citing “irreconcilable differences”, according to TMZ. The designer filed for divorce on Monday, however an inside source has revealed that Costner reportedly did not want to split from his wife. "It was not anything that he wanted or sought, and if he could change the situation, he would," the insider told People Magazine. After the divorce was filed, The Bodyguard actor’s rep shared a statement announcing the split. "It is with great sadness that circumstances beyond his control have transpired which have resulted in Mr. Costner having to participate in a dissolution of marriage action," the statement read. “We ask that his, Christine’s and their children’s privacy be respected as they navigate this difficult time.” According to Page Six, Baumgartner asked for joint custody of their three kids: Cayden, 15, Hayes, 14, and Grace, 12, in her filing. The Dances with Wolves actor filed his response on Tuesday, also asking for joint custody of their three children. The couple began dating in 1999 and dated on and off in the early 2000’s before finally tying the knot in September 2004. Image: Getty

Relationships

“She could’ve been protected that day”: Gabby Petito’s family files lawsuit

The family of Gabby Petito, whose boyfriend admitted to killing her last year, have launched a wrongful death suit against Utah’s Moab Police Department, claiming officers’ negligence led to her death. Ms Petito and her boyfriend Brian Laundrie were stopped by officers in Moab last year after a bystander allegedly saw Mr Laundrie hit Ms Petito and reported the incident to police. The couple were ultimately not cited for domestic violence, and Ms Petito’s body was found weeks later after she had been strangled. On Thursday local time, Ms Petito’s parents and other family members announced their intent to sue the department for $US 50 million ($AU 77 million). The suit claims that police officers failed to effectively intervene in a domestic violence situation between Ms Petito and Mr Laundrie by failing to issue a domestic violence citation, claiming that officers disregarded signs of violence they should have been trained to notice. “She could’ve been protected that day,” Nicole Schmidt, Ms Petito’s mother, said. The suit also claims that police officers “coached Gabby to provide answers that the officers used to justify their decision not to enforce Utah law", with the family claiming that officers “egregiously misinterpreted Gabby’s extreme emotional distress, seeing it as the cause of the domestic violence rather than its result”, per AP. “Despite the witness’s report, the officers treated Brian as if he were the victim of domestic abuse rather than the perpetrator,” the lawsuit reads, per Fox News. “In fact, the officers never directly questioned Brian about whether he hit Gabby or how she ended up with scratches on her face. “The purpose of this lawsuit is to honour Gabby’s legacy by demanding accountability and working for change in the system to protect victims of domestic abuse and violence and to prevent such tragedies in the future.” Moab police officer Eric Pratt is also alleged to have been “fundamentally biased” in his investigation by “choosing to believe Gabby's abuser, ignoring evidence that Gabby was the victim and intentionally looking for loopholes to get around the requirements of Utah law and his duty to protect Gabby", The family’s complaint is based on the claim of an unnamed woman referred to as “Witness 1”, who alleged that Officer Pratt threatened to kill her after their relationship ended while he was the police chief in the rural town of Salina, Utah. In a statement after the lawsuit was filed, the city of Moab said Ms Petito’s death was tragic but not the fault of the police department. "Our officers acted with kindness, respect and empathy toward Ms Petito," city spokesperson Lisa Adams said. "No one could have predicted the tragedy that would occur weeks later and hundreds of miles away, and the City of Moab will ardently defend against this lawsuit." In a statement, the Moab Police Department said the 22-year-old’s death was a “terrible tragedy” that no-one could have predicted. “The death of Gabrielle Petito in Wyoming is a terrible tragedy, and we feel profound sympathy for the Petito and Schmidt families and the painful loss they have endured,” it read. “The death of Gabrielle Petito in Wyoming is a terrible tragedy, and we feel profound sympathy for the Petito and Schmidt families and the painful loss they have endured. “The attorneys for the Petito family seem to suggest that somehow our officers could see into the future based on this single interaction. “In truth, on August 12, no one could have predicted the tragedy that would occur weeks later and hundreds of miles away, and the City of Moab will ardently defend against this lawsuit.” The suit comes after a notice of claim was filed in August, and after an independent investigation found that police made “several unintentional mistakes”, including not issuing a domestic violence citation, in January. Image: Instagram

Legal

Sylvester Stallone's wife files for divorce

After 25 years of marriage, Sylvester Stallone's wife has filed for divorce. Jennifer Flavin, a 54-year-old model, filed the paperwork on Friday in Palm Beach County, Florida, according to <a href="https://www.closerweekly.com/posts/jennifer-flavin-files-for-divorce-from-sylvester-stallone/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Closer Weekly</a> magazine. Flavin cited the reason for their split as "the marriage between the parties is irretrievably broken". In the paperwork obtained by the British magazine, Flavin is seeking "exclusive use and occupancy of the marital residence" and requesting that certain assets and liabilities they've accumulated during their decades-long marriage be "equitably distributed". In the documents, Flavin also claimed that "the Husband has engaged in the intentional dissipation, depletion and/or waste of marital assets which has had an adverse economic impact on the marital estate". Sylvester Stallone, 76, has since released a statement about the split, saying, "I love my family. We are amicably and privately addressing these personal issues." According to <a title="TMZ" href="https://www.tmz.com/2022/08/24/sylvester-stallone-divorce-jennifer-flavin-dog-dwight-fight/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">TMZ</a>, the couple reportedly split after they fought over buying a new dog. The outlet claimed Stallone wanted to buy a new Rottweiler for "protection for their family", and despite Flavin's apparent opposition, the actor got the dog anyway. It was their supposed "heated argument" over the dog that "brought up other issues" in their marriage that allegedly sparked Flavin to file for divorce. The news of the divorce comes after rumours began to swirl over the couple's relationship status, due to their suspicious social media activity. Both Stallone and Flavin had recent posted family photos while noticeably snubbing their spouse in the heartfelt captions. Image credit: Getty Images

Relationships

1,500 secret CIA and FBI JFK assassination files released

The US National Archives <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-12-16/1000s-jfk-john-f-kennedy-documents-released-assassination/100706500" target="_blank">has released</a> nearly 1,500 documents relating to the government’s investigation into the assasination of former president John F Kennedy in 1963. The documents, including secret cables and internal memos, were released in line with federal statute, which has called for records relating to the assassination by gunman Lee Harvey Oswald to be made public. Though there was no indication that the files revealed any new information, historians who are skeptical that Oswald was solely responsible for the assassination have eagerly anticipated the release. Cables and memos from the CIA discussed Oswald’s visits to the Soviet and Cuban embassies in Mexico City, as well as discussions of Cuba’s potential involvement in Kennedy’s death. One memo described how Oswald called the Soviet embassy while in Mexico City to ask for a visa to visit the Soviet Union. He also visited the Cuban embassy to obtain a travel visa to visit Cuba and wait there for his Soviet visa. One month before Kennedy’s death, Oswald re-entered the US through a crossing point at the Texas border. Another memo, dated one day before the killing, said Oswald had communicated with a KGB officer while at the Soviet embassy that September. After Kennedy died, Mexican authorities arrested a Cuban embassy employee who had communicated with Oswald and said he had “professed to be a Communist and an admirer of Castro”. Fidel Castro, then the leader of Cuba, was an adversary of Kennedy’s administration and appeared in a CIA document that detailed what is said were government plots to assassinate him. The document, labelled “Secret Eyes Only”, mentioned one scheme that “involved the use of the criminal underworld with contacts inside Cuba”. Another document contained considerations by the US government about whether Oswald had been swayed by one of Castro’s newspaper interviews, where he warned of retribution if the US helped take out Cuban leaders. Other files included several FBI reports on the agency’s efforts in investigating and surveilling major mafia figures, including Santo Trafficante Jr and Sam Giancana. These files also revealed that the agency regularly kept tabs on anti-Castro groups in southern Florida and Puerto Rico in the 1960s. In 2017, then-president Donald Trump blocked the release of hundreds of records, after the CIA and FBI raised concerns of “potentially irreversible harm”. Despite these concerns, about 2,800 other records were released. Images: Getty Images

Legal

Sean Penn's Aussie wife files for divorce after just one year

Actor Sean Penn’s Australian wife has filed for divorce after just one year of marriage. Leila George, whose father is American actor Vincent D’Onofrio, married Penn in a Zoom wedding in July 2020. The actress filed for divorce in Los Angeles Superior Court on Friday. Penn told late night talk show host Seth Meyers that he and George, 29, tied the knot in an intimate ceremony attended only by Penn’s two children and George’s brother, with a county commissioner officiating over Zoom. Though the couple made their red carpet debut in 2016, a close friend told People that they had reunited early in 2020 after an on and off romance. "They got together and then they broke up, and Sean won her back," the source told People. "He realised he had made a mistake and when he felt he might lose her, he worked hard to get her back." This is the third time Penn, 61, has been divorced. He was previously married to Robin Wright from 1996 to 2010, and he shares two children with her: daughter Dylan, 29, and son Hopper Jack, 26. Prior to that, he was married to Madonna from 1985 to 1989. George, whose full name is Leila George D’Onofrio, is the American-Australian daughter of Law and Order: Criminal Intent actor Vincent D’Onofrio and Italian-Australian actress Greta Scacchi. She studied at the Sydney Film School and started out in Hollywood as a camera operator before trying her hand at acting. Since then, she’s appeared in several films, including Mortal Engines, The Long Home, and Mother, May I Sleep with Danger? In an interview with W Magazine, George said of her decision to pursue acting, "Growing up, I'd sit on my mum's sets or my dad's sets for hours and hours and not get bored. "That's always where I wanted to be." Image: Kevin Winter/Getty Images

Relationships

X-Files star makes X-rated confession

Actress Gillian Anderson has revealed she has well and truly given up on wearing a bra any longer. The Crown star shared an hilarious Instagram Live video on Monday, where she daringly admitted her bra-wearing days are gone for good. “I can’t wear a bra, I’m sorry,” the 52-year-old revealed. “I don’t care if my breasts reach my belly button. “I’m not wearing a bra, it’s just too f****** uncomfortable.” <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/tv/CRPrrERlKou/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="13"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/tv/CRPrrERlKou/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Gillian Anderson (@gilliana)</a> </div> </blockquote> Fans took to the comments to share their thoughts on the matter. “I never wear a bra and I get a lot of distasteful comments about it, so knowing Gillian Anderson doesn’t wear a bra anymore is information most pleasing to me!” one person said. Another added: “If two-time Golden Globe and Emmy-winning actress Gillian Anderson says no more bras, who are we to disagree?” Anderson has just landed a sixth Emmy nomination, for Outstanding Supporting Actress. Her role as Margaret Thatcher in The Crown was behind the honourable recognition, but it is not the only prize she’s received for her hard work. She has already won a Golden Globe for the role. In 1997, Anderson won an Emmy and a Golden Globe for her work as Dana Scully in The X-Files.

Beauty & Style

Police release shameful Richard Pusey file that reveals disturbing truth

A man accused of filming dying police officers had been trying to get his Porsche sports car up to 350 km/h before he was pulled over. Police have released the shameful file of 41-year-old Richard Pusey, and what it has revealed is disturbing. Pusey allegedly made the claims through text messages that were uncovered from his phone after the tragedy that saw the death of four officers. The court was informed that Pusey allegedly removed two phones and a bag of meth from his Porsche before filming the crash aftermath. Leading Senior Constable Lynette Taylor, Constable Glen Humphris, Senior Constable Kevin King and Constable Josh Prestney were all brutally killed when a truck ploughed into them while they were arresting Pusey. The court heard Pusey had previously been caught a month before on dash cam rocketing along the Eastern Freeway before he was pulled over along the same stretch of highway. Detective Senior Constable Aaron Price said a check of Pusey’s phone had shown that he had bragged about him speeding. <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7836038/porsche.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/97c4406ed6f744f2a3023bd77fedd136" /> “I did 300 on the Eastern. It was amazing,” he allegedly texted a month before the crash to a mate. “Apparently it can do 350 and it's coming.' Pusey allegedly had traces of cannabis and MDMA - ecstasy - in his system when the crash occurred. Senior Constable Price said Pusey appeared to get pleasure from tormenting people, particularly police. “He takes disturbing pleasure in causing other people fear,” he said. The court heard Pusey taunted police while they laid dying and crying for help after being hit by a truck on the Eastern Freeway. “There you go. Amazing. Absolutely amazing. All I wanted to do was go home and have my sushi,” he said as he filmed Leading Senior Constable Lynette Taylor clinging to life. “And now you f**ked my f**king car.” Pusey had avoided the crash himself when he jumped over the railing to urinate. It was an act of fate that was not sanctioned by police, the court was told. Senior Constable Price said that bodyworn camera footage taken off Leading Senior Constable Taylor revealed Pusey was told he could not to relieve himself on the side of the road. He had asked Constable Humphris, who told him to stay put. “He's just gone off for a piss. I told him no,” he told Leading Senior Constable Taylor seconds before disaster struck. “Just make sure he doesn't run on the road or anything stupid like that,” she responded. A decision has been adjourned until Thursday.

The WhatsApp bug that lets hackers access your files

WhatApp users are being urged to update their app to avoid a security bug that compromises user chat history and files. The hack allows hackers to take over the app when a user opens a malicious GIF image as an attachment or through other channels. When the user opens their WhatsApp Gallery, the bug in the malicious GIF will be triggered and the hacker will have access to their WhatsApp messages, files, photos, videos and more. Tech blog <a href="https://awakened1712.github.io/hacking/hacking-whatsapp-gif-rce/">Awakened</a> reported that devices running Android 8.1 and 9.0 were vulnerable to the attack, while versions of the operating system below 8.0 were not. In response to the report, WhatsApp’s owner Facebook released a vulnerability patch in the messaging app’s new 2.19.244 version. “This issue was reported and quickly addressed,” a WhatsApp spokesperson said in a statement. “We have no reason to believe this affected any users, though of course we are always working to provide the latest security features to our users.” To update WhatsApp to the latest version, iPhone users should go to the App Store, select updates and then tap update next to the messenger icon. Android users should go to the Play Store, tap on menu and then select “My apps & games” before picking WhatsApp and clicking on the Update button.

Technology

8 revealing everyday documents you never knew you should shred

1. Boarding passes Shred them after you land: Your boarding pass has your name, your travel plans, and a bar code that free websites can decipher. This code often reveals your frequent flier number, which crooks can use to log in to airline accounts to view upcoming travel plans, check in to flights, and even cancel trips. 2. Prescription labels Whether stapled to the bag or on the bottle, these labels may list your name, the date of initial dispensing, the name and strength of the drug, and the dispensing pharmacist’s name. Thieves may use this info to refill prescriptions or steal your identity. 3. Receipts Shred all receipts you don’t save. Those from credit card purchases reveal the last digits of your card number and possibly your signature. Crooks can also use receipts for fraudulent returns and benefit from your store credit. If you really want to play it safe, switch to paperless receipts wherever you can – you'll be helping the environment, too! 4. Pet medical papers Keep records of major events, and shred the rest. Papers from a vet visit show a pet’s name – which a Google Apps survey of 2,000 people found is the most common password choice. 5. Return labels Shred free return labels you receive in the mail, along with any envelopes with your name and address. Thieves often pair this with what you post on social media (family member names, work history) to piece together your identity. When writing your return address on an envelope, omit your name. 6. Resumes Don’t toss resume copies or drafts without shredding. Resumes hand crooks your name, phone number, address, email address, employment past and education history in one convenient piece of paper. 7. Extra birth announcements Children are 51 percent more likely to be victims of identity theft than adults. Shred birth announcements you don’t save, which typically have the child’s name, birth date, weight, eye colour and other personal identifiers. 8. Extra funeral pamphlets Thieves use the identities of millions of deceased people every year to apply for loans, open credit card accounts or file tax returns, collecting billions of dollars in refunds. Shred extra funeral pamphlets or obituaries you don’t save. If a loved one passes, list age in the obituary but not the birth date or mother’s maiden name – these personal identifiers are handy for ID thieves. Did you know you should shred these documents? Let us know in the comments below.

Legal

The awkward moment you missed between Sam Armytage and David Duchovny

Sunrise host Samantha Armytage has been left in an embarrassing situation after offending X-Files star David Duchovny with a question about his longevity. The actor was a guest on the breakfast show yesterday morning, when Armytage asked “how much longer” he’d be able to do the show for. The popular sci-fi drama, starring Duchovny and Gillian Anderson, first aired from 1993-2002, before making a comeback in 2016. Replying to Armytage’s question, the actor simply stared at her and said: “I don’t know.” “So you’d just keep going?” she pressed. “You say that like it’s a bad thing — ‘You just keep going?’” Duchovny mimicked back. Armytage was left awkwardly trying to explain herself, insisting, “No, I don’t mean it like it’s ... No, I think it’s great!” before adding: “No, but 25 years ...” Duchovny cut her off, telling her: “You’re making it worse and worse. ‘Twenty-five years’ — when are you going to stop?” “But how long do you want to do it for?” Armytage continued. “I don’t know, if I can find a challenge in it, and people want to watch it ... I can’t sit here and answer that right now.” <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> How much longer can <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TheXFiles?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TheXFiles</a> star <a href="https://twitter.com/davidduchovny?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DavidDuchovny</a> play Mulder for..? <a href="https://t.co/3MzKIoWfk1">pic.twitter.com/3MzKIoWfk1</a> — Sunrise (@sunriseon7) <a href="https://twitter.com/sunriseon7/status/968601003862798336?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 27, 2018</a></blockquote> The interview didn’t get any better when Duchovny also refused to say whether he believed in aliens — as per the theme of X-Files.. “I’m not going to answer that right now,” he said, telling the hosts he’d answered spoken about this too many times over the years. “I’ve probably answered that a million times so — and I’ve given 500,000 yes’s and 500,000 no’s.”

How to organise files on your computer

Lisa Du is director of <a href="https://readytechgo.com.au/" target="_blank">ReadyTechGo</a>, a service that helps people gain the confidence and skills to embrace modern technology. We hear lots of stories from clients regarding files on their computer. Where are they and why can't files be located easily?! We always say it's a good habit to file things on your computer in the same way you would with a physical piece of paper. For example, if your telephone bill arrived in the mail, where would you file it? Perhaps in a manila folder labelled "Phone"? Where would this manila folder live? In a draw labelled "Bills"? If so, replicate this filing system on your computer. If you receive your telephone bill electronically, you may decide to file the bills in a folder named "Phone". However when you receive the bill, the name of the file could be long, and makes no sense! Once you have 10 bills, you can't tell which bill is for which month. Let's fix that. To rename all your phone bills neatly, try this: Windows Users: 1. With all your telephone bills filed in one folder, press ctrl + A on your keyboard to select all the files in one go 2. Using the mouse or keyboard trackpad, right click over the selected files, and select Rename from the drop-down menu 3. Type in the new name and press Enter on the keyboard. Windows will automatically rename the batch of files. For example, from Bill_AJ12032017 to Telstra_0001, Telstra_0002 and so on! Mac Users: 1. Have all your telephone bills in one folder 2. Press Command + A on your keyboard to select all the files in one go 3. Using your mouse or keyboard trackpad, right click over the selected files, and choose Rename X items 4. A "Rename Finder Items" tool appears, choose "Replace Text" from the dropdown menu 5. Change the text in the "Find" search to match the text you wish to replace, then change the text in the "Replace with" box to match what you would like the files to be renamed to Example: I want to change anything beginning with Bill to be replaced with TelstraBill

Technology

Woman files the most Aussie insurance claim ever

Insurance companies have <a href="/finance/insurance/2016/05/8-most-bizarre-insurance-claims-ever/" target="_blank">seen it all</a> – from awarding a man $30,000 after a coconut fell on his head to a cruise passenger whose dentures went overboard and claimed it as “lost baggage”. But this has to be the most uniquely Australian insurance claim we’ve ever seen. Fiona Cosgrove was driving home to her farm one night last month when a kangaroo allegedly jumped out of the scrub on Tomkins Road, located 350km north of Perth. The huge roo smashed into the side of her car, causing a decent amount of damage. Cosgrove even backed up her claim with a drawing of the incident, and answered the question of who was to blame and why with, “Kangaroo for jumping out in front from the scrub”. <img width="496" height="280" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/44896/1508977676349_496x280.jpg" alt="1508977676349" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/> Image credit: Fiona Cosgrove. “As you can see from my drawings, which I must add was drawn to scale, he was a huge beast,” she told <a href="http://www.watoday.com.au/wa-news/hopping-mad-the-most-australian-insurance-claim-ever-20171025-gz8hwe.html" target="_blank">WA Today</a>. “My husband let out a shriek but alas it was too late.” Fiona added, “The massive marsupial had done a number on the left-hand side of our Kia Sorrento. He bounced from the front bumper down the side of the car, smashing out the fog light, bending the wheel arch out of place, totalling the mud flap and then destroying the front passenger door. “Luckily I’m an extremely experienced bush rally driver and I was able to complete the rest of the journey without incident, allowing my three children to carry on sleeping and my husband to continue to tell me how to drive.” Have you ever had a surprise encounter while driving? Share your experience with us in the comments below. <a href="https://oversixty.disconline.com.au/car/new_quote.jsp?hSty=EXOS&cgpCde=00272&hCenCde=10737&LinkId=12071&utm_source=over60&utm_campaign=insurance&utm_medium=in-article-banner-car-3&utm_content=car-insurance" target="_blank"><img src="http://media.oversixty.com.au/images/EditorialAddon/201706_CarInsurance_EditorialAddon_468x60_3.gif" alt="Over60 Car Insurance - Get a quote!"/></a>

Insurance

What is inside the secret JFK assassination files?

Secret government documents to be released this week are expected to contain new information on what the CIA knew about Lee Harvey Oswald before he assassinated President John F. Kennedy. US president Donald Trump tweeted on Saturday that he will allow the release of the documents, “subject to the receipt of further information.” Federal law requires the National Archives to release all of its JFK files by Thursday this week, exactly 25 years after President George H.W. Bush signed the JFK Assassination Records Act. The law lets Trump withhold part or all of the documents if he decides “identifiable harm” will occur if the documents are disclosed. Investigative journalist Gerald Posner said the records may reveal what the CIA knew about Oswald’s trip to the Soviet and Cuban embassies in Mexico City weeks before Kennedy was shot in Dallas on November 22, 1963. “There are these glitches in Oswald’s biography in which we don’t know what he is up to. One of those is Mexico City,” said Mr Posner, whose 1993 book Case Closed debunks the conspiracy theories surrounding Mr Kennedy’s assassination. The secret documents may also shed light on ex-CIA officer and Watergate conspirator E. Howard Hunt’s confession to two of his sons that he had knowledge of rogue CIA officers’ plans to kill Mr Kennedy. However, many assassination experts believe Hunt’s confession soon before he died was too vague to really mean anything. “Let’s see what the documents show,” said Posner. The National Archives has five million pages of JFK material. About 88 per cent is already public, wit 11 per cent partly public with sensitive portions removed. Only one per cent of the records remain fully secret. The US government’s conclusion that Oswald shot Mr Kennedy in a bid to attain fame is widely not believed in the US. A 2013 Gallup poll found 61 per cent of Americans believe Mr Kennedy’s assassination was in actual fact a conspiracy. JFK conspiracy theorists offer a suspect list that includes rogue CIA agents, the FBI, the Mafia, pro-Castro Cubans, anti-Castro Cubans, Corsican mobsters, and Lyndon Johnson, Kennedy’s vice president. Mr Posner, whose book was a finalist for a Pulitzer Prize in history, doesn’t believe the new documents will reveal any secret plot though. “If American intelligence had evidence of it, it would have been out a long time ago,” he said. However researchers are nonetheless eager to see the documents. “Things that didn’t look very exciting to them back in 1997 or 1998 might have relevance today,” said Mr Posner.

News

Seinfeld’s “Soup Nazi” files for bankruptcy

Soupman Inc, the New York City food company made famous by Seinfeld, has filed for bankruptcy protection in the US, weeks after a top company executive was charged with tax evasion. Last month, federal prosecutors charged the company’s former chief financial officer with 20 counts of failing to pay federal income taxes, Medicare and Social Security to employees. Soupman licenses the recipes, likeness and name of Al Yeganeh, the man who inspired the “Soup Nazi” character in the television show. Soupman restaurants operate in the New York area and they also sell soups to grocery stores and online. <img width="496" height="279" src="http://cdn.newsapi.com.au/image/v1/a9690e155854042a6d8751f33bdb8490" alt="Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Larry Thomas in Seinfeld." style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/> “The combination of legacy liabilities and recent company developments have made it necessary to seek bankruptcy protection,” Soupman chief executive Jamie Karson said in a statement. The company has lined up a $US2 million bankruptcy loan to keep its business running during the case. A Soupman representative declined to comment on the bankruptcy case. Yeganeh opened his Manhattan soup store in 1984. His fame spread after the 1995 Seinfeld episode in which an angry soup vendor, played by actor Larry Thomas, yells at customers standing in long lines for his legendary soup. The phrase “No soup for you!” has since become a pop culture reference.

Legal

Back to basics: How to Copy, Paste, and Delete files

Lisa Du is director of <a href="http://www.readytechgo.com.au/" target="_blank">ReadyTechGo</a>, a service that helps people gain the confidence and skills to embrace modern technology. For Windows users There are many different ways to perform these functions on a computer file. We’ll give you the simplest. <ol> <li>Perform a right-hand click of your mouse on the file you wish to copy or delete. This will summon a drop-down menu, which will give you a variety of options of what you can do with the file</li> <li>These options include copy and delete. Simply click on one of these functions with your mouse to perform them!</li> <li>If you click on “Delete”, a window will pop up requiring you to confirm the deletion. After you’ve done so, the file will be deleted</li> <li>If you click on “Copy”, the computer will create a copy of that file</li> <li>To paste this file into another folder, first go to that folder</li> <li>Perform a right-hand click of your mouse anywhere within the window of the folder</li> <li>In the drop-down menu that appears, click on “Paste”. The copied file will then appear in this window.</li> </ol> <img width="294" height="480" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/33187/image-1.jpg" alt="Image 1 (6)"/> For those of you who are looking for an even quicker way to perform these functions, here are some useful shortcuts. <ol> <li>Highlight the file you wish to copy or delete by clicking on it</li> <li>To delete the file, simply press the “Delete” button on your keyboard, and then confirm the deletion. Done!</li> <li>To copy the file, press and hold down the “Ctrl” key on your keyboard</li> <li>At the same time, press and hold down the “C” key, and then let go of both. This will copy the file!</li> <li>To paste this file into another folder, first go to that folder</li> <li>Press and hold down the “Ctrl” key on your keyboard</li> <li>At the same time, press and hold down the “V” key, and then let go of both. The copied file will then appear in this window.</li> </ol> <img width="500" height="200" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/33188/image-2_500x200.jpg" alt="Image 2 (5)"/> For Mac users The process for copying, pasting, and deleting files is much the same for Mac users! <ol> <li>Perform a right-hand click of your mouse on the file you wish to copy or delete. This will summon a drop-down menu, which will give you a variety of options of what you can do with the file</li> <li>These options include copy and delete. Simply click on one of these functions with your mouse to perform them!</li> <li>If you click on “Move To Trash”, the file will be deleted</li> <li>If you click on “Copy”, the computer will create a copy of that file</li> <li>To paste this file into another folder, first go to that folder</li> <li>Perform a right-hand click of your mouse anywhere within the window of the folder</li> <li>In the drop-down menu that appears, click on “Paste Item”. The copied file will then appear in this window.</li> </ol> <img width="240" height="480" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/33189/image-3.png" alt="Image 3 (3)"/> Like Windows users, Mac users have the option to use shortcuts, too. <ol> <li>Highlight the file you wish to copy or delete by clicking on it</li> <li>To delete the file, simply drag the file to the “Trash” icon on the far right-hand side of your Dock. Done!</li> <li>To copy the file, press and hold down the “Command” key on your keyboard</li> <li>At the same time, press and hold down the “C” key, and then let go of both. This will copy the file!</li> <li>To paste this file into another folder, first go to that folder</li> <li>Press and hold down the “Command” key on your keyboard</li> <li>At the same time, press and hold down the “V” key, and then let go of both. The copied file will then appear in this window.</li> </ol> <img width="495" height="245" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/33190/image-4_495x245.jpg" alt="Image 4 (1)"/> For more tech-tips, visit <a href="https://readytechgo.com.au/">ReadyTechGo.</a> Related links: <a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/entertainment/technology/2017/01/how-to-take-a-screenshot/">How to take a screenshot</a> <a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/entertainment/technology/2016/12/internet-tips-to-make-your-life-better/">4 internet tips to make your life better</a> <a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/entertainment/technology/2016/12/what-to-do-to-when-you-lose-unsaved-documents/">What to do to when you lose unsaved documents</a>

Technology

Angelina Jolie files for divorce from Brad Pitt after 12 years together

The entertainment world has been rocked by reports that Angelina Jolie has filed for divorce from Brad Pitt, her husband of 12 years. The Hollywood power couple, known collectively as “Brangelina”, have six children together. Entertainment website <a href="http://www.tmz.com/2016/09/20/angelina-joile-files-for-divorce-brad-pitt/" target="_blank">TMZ</a> broke the story, sharing a photo of the document filed by Jolie, who cited irreconcilable differences as grounds for the separation, claiming she was “extremely upset” by Pitt’s parenting methods. According to <a href="http://www.people.com/article/brad-pitt-fled-to-france-fighting-with-angelina-jolie" target="_blank">People</a>, 41-year-old Jolie didn’t agree with Pitt’s “strict” approach to their children. “He has wanted the kids to have more structure,” an insider said. “Brad will get frustrated sometimes and yell at the kids. Angelina always had a more relaxed attitude when it came to the kids. She definitely never yells.” However, sources tell TMZ 52-year-old Pitt’s affinity for “weed and possibly alcohol” as well as “an anger problem” are to blame for the split. <a href="http://pagesix.com/2016/09/20/angelina-dumped-brad-after-private-eye-uncovered-marion-cotillard-affair/?_ga=1.149763967.871978045.1439923894" target="_blank">Other reports</a> suggest Pitt may have been having an affair with his Allied co-star, French actress Marion Cotillard. Cotillard is <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-3798707/Marion-Cotillard-absolutely-devastated-dragged-Angelina-Jolie-Brad-Pitt-s-split-starring-sexually-charged-spy-thriller-actor.html" target="_blank">said to be</a> "devastated" by the accusations. The pair somewhat controversially fell in love in 2005 on the set of their film Mr. & Mrs. Smith, during which time Pitt had been in a seven-year-long relationship with actress Jennifer Aniston (the couple were married for five years). Jolie and Pitt finally married in an intimate ceremony in 2015. “Angelina will always do what's in the best interest to protect her children,” Jolie’s manager said in a statement. “She appreciates everyone's understanding of their need for privacy at this time.” Pitt also released a statement regarding the divorce, saying he is “very saddened” by the developments but that what matters most is the wellbeing of their six children. Jolie’s father, 77-year-old Jon Voight, told <a href="http://www.insideedition.com/headlines/18764-jon-voight-speaks-out-on-daughter-angelina-jolies-divorce-from-brad-pitt" target="_blank">Inside Edition</a> the split is “very sad”, but claims “something very serious must have happened for Angie to make a decision like this.” Our thoughts are with the pair and their beautiful family at this difficult time. Related links: <a href="/news/news/2016/09/jools-oliver-hits-back-at-body-shamers/">Jools Oliver hits back at post-baby body shamers</a> <a href="/news/news/2016/09/prince-william-helps-fallen-elderly-man/">Prince William rushes to the aid of fallen 72-year-old</a> <a href="/news/news/2016/09/mel-gibson-expecting-ninth-child/">Mel Gibson expecting ninth child</a>

News

How to compress large files to send over email

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An X-Files expert on the show’s enduring appeal – 30 years on

World Cup star files official complaint over "unsolicited kiss" with Spanish football boss

Kevin Costner’s wife files for divorce

“She could’ve been protected that day”: Gabby Petito’s family files lawsuit

Sylvester Stallone's wife files for divorce

1,500 secret CIA and FBI JFK assassination files released

Sean Penn's Aussie wife files for divorce after just one year

X-Files star makes X-rated confession

Police release shameful Richard Pusey file that reveals disturbing truth

The WhatsApp bug that lets hackers access your files

8 revealing everyday documents you never knew you should shred

The awkward moment you missed between Sam Armytage and David Duchovny

How to organise files on your computer

Woman files the most Aussie insurance claim ever

What is inside the secret JFK assassination files?

Seinfeld’s “Soup Nazi” files for bankruptcy

Back to basics: How to Copy, Paste, and Delete files

Angelina Jolie files for divorce from Brad Pitt after 12 years together

How to compress large files to send over email

Our Partners

News

Shop

Catalogues

Newspaper

Contests

Entertainment

Travel

Health

Lifestyle

Finance

Property

Compare

Games

Information

Keep up to date

Search

An X-Files expert on the show’s enduring appeal – 30 years on

World Cup star files official complaint over "unsolicited kiss" with Spanish football boss

Kevin Costner’s wife files for divorce

“She could’ve been protected that day”: Gabby Petito’s family files lawsuit

Sylvester Stallone's wife files for divorce

1,500 secret CIA and FBI JFK assassination files released

Sean Penn's Aussie wife files for divorce after just one year

X-Files star makes X-rated confession

Police release shameful Richard Pusey file that reveals disturbing truth

The WhatsApp bug that lets hackers access your files

8 revealing everyday documents you never knew you should shred

The awkward moment you missed between Sam Armytage and David Duchovny

How to organise files on your computer

Woman files the most Aussie insurance claim ever

What is inside the secret JFK assassination files?

Seinfeld’s “Soup Nazi” files for bankruptcy

Back to basics: How to Copy, Paste, and Delete files

Angelina Jolie files for divorce from Brad Pitt after 12 years together

How to compress large files to send over email

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