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Longing for the ‘golden age’ of air travel? Be careful what you wish for

<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/janet-bednarek-144872">Janet Bednarek</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-dayton-1726">University of Dayton</a> Long lines at security checkpoints, tiny plastic cups of soda, small bags of pretzels, planes filled to capacity, fees attached to every amenity – all reflect the realities of 21st century commercial air travel. It’s no wonder that many travelers have become nostalgic for the so-called “golden age” of air travel in the United States. During the 1950s, airlines promoted commercial air travel as glamorous: stewardesses served full meals on real china, airline seats were large (and frequently empty) with ample leg-room, and passengers always dressed well. After jets were introduced in the late 1950s, passengers could travel to even the most distant locations at speeds unimaginable a mere decade before. An airline trip from New York to London that could take up to 15 hours in the early 1950s could be made in less than seven hours by the early 1960s. But airline nostalgia can be tricky, and “golden ages” are seldom as idyllic as they seem. Until the introduction of jets in 1958, most of the nation’s commercial planes were propeller-driven aircraft, like the DC-4. Most of these planes were unpressurized, and with a maximum cruising altitude of 10,000 to 12,000 feet, they were unable to fly over bad weather. Delays were frequent, turbulence common, and air sickness bags often needed. Some planes were spacious and pressurized: the <a href="http://everythingnice.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/PanAm-cutawayS.jpg">Boeing Stratocruiser</a>, for example, could seat 50 first class passengers or 81 coach passengers compared to the DC-3’s 21 passengers. It could cruise at 32,000 feet, which allowed Stratocruiser to fly above most bad weather it encountered. But only 56 of these planes were ever in service. While the later DC-6 and DC-7 were pressurized, they still flew much lower than the soon-to-appear jets – 20,000 feet compared to 30,000 feet – and often encountered turbulence. The piston engines were bulky, complex and difficult to maintain, which contributed to frequent delays. For much of this period, the old saying “Time to spare, go by air” still rang true. Through the 1930s and into the 1940s, almost everyone flew first class. Airlines did encourage more people to fly in the 1950s and 1960s by introducing coach or tourist fares, but the savings were relative: less expensive than first class, but still pricey. In 1955, for example, so-called “bargain fares” from New York to Paris were the equivalent of just over $2,600 in 2014 dollars. Although the advent of jets did result in lower fares, the cost was still out of reach of most Americans. The most likely frequent flier was a white, male businessman traveling on his company’s expense account, and in the 1960s, airlines – with young attractive stewardesses in short skirts – clearly catered to their most frequent flyers. The demographics of travelers did begin to shift during this period. More women, more young people, and retirees began to fly; still, airline travel remained financially out-of-reach for most. If it was a golden age, it only was for the very few. <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/bKqQgNZylLw?wmode=transparent&start=0" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe><figcaption>Jet planes were introduced in the late 1950s, resulting in shorter flight times. But their ticket prices out of reach for the average traveler.</figcaption></figure> People also forget that well into the 1960s, air travel was far more dangerous than it is today. In the 1950s and 1960s US airlines experienced at least a half dozen crashes per year – most leading to fatalities of all on board. People today may bemoan the crowded airplanes and lack of on-board amenities, but the number of fatalities per million miles flown has dropped dramatically since since the late 1970s, especially compared to the 1960s. Through at least the 1970s, airports even prominently featured kiosks selling flight insurance. And we can’t forget hijackings. By the mid-1960s so many airplanes had been hijacked that <a href="http://www.latinamericanstudies.org/hijackers/flying-high.htm">“Take me to Cuba”</a> became a punch line for stand-up comics. In 1971 <a href="http://nymag.com/news/features/39593/index2.html">D.B. Cooper</a> – a hijacker who parachuted from a Boeing 727 after extorting $200,000 – might have been able to achieve folk hero status. But one reason US airline passengers today (generally) tolerate security checkpoints is that they want some kind of assurance that their aircraft will remain safe. And if the previous examples don’t dull the sheen of air travel’s “golden age,” remember: in-flight smoking was both permitted and encouraged.<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/34177/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/janet-bednarek-144872">Janet Bednarek</a>, Professor of History, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-dayton-1726">University of Dayton</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/longing-for-the-golden-age-of-air-travel-be-careful-what-you-wish-for-34177">original article</a>.

Travel Trouble

Aussie actresses clean up at the Golden Globes

Awards season has officially kicked off in Hollywood, with A-listers flocking to the Los Angeles Beverly Hilton Hotel on Monday for the 81st annual Golden Globes. With the very best of the best in the entertainment industry nominated for the best film and television moments of 2023, some of our own Aussie talent walked away with some of the biggest awards of the night. Aussie actress Elizabeth Debicki emerged as an early winner for the TV categories, taking home the award for Best Supporting Actress for her portrayal of Princess Diana in The Crown. She beat out the likes of Meryl Streep (for her role in Only Murders in the Building) and Hannah Waddingham (for her role in Ted Lasso) for the award, as she has long been praised by royal fans for her touching portrayal of the late Princess of Wales' last years. Also coming out on top in another television category was Aussie actress Sarah Snook, who was the recipient of one of the biggest honours of the night, Best Actress in a drama, for her incredible performance in the final season of Succession. Meanwhile for outstanding achievements in film, Margot Robbie and the whole Barbie team took home the inaugural Cinematic and Box Office Achievement award, following the global hype of Barbie mania back in July. Margot was also nominated for Best Actress in a musical or comedy for Barbie, but was ultimately pipped by Emma Stone for her incredible performance in Poor Things. Elsewhere in the awards, Oppenheimer came out on top with Cillian Murphy taking home the award for Best Actor for portraying scientist J. Robert Oppenheimer in the three-hour long epic, with the film also being crowned Best Picture and Christopher Nolan taking home the Best Director award. Image credits: Getty Images

“I run on bananas and coke cola": Kyrgios wades into doping debate

Nick Kyrgios has raised eyebrows over his out-of-pocket comments on the recent doping scandal surrounding the world of tennis. The Aussie champion spoke over current testing protocols in the wake of Romanian tennis player Simon Halep being slapped with a four-year ban from the game for doping offences. Naturally, many tennis champions from around the world have put in their two cents on the recent ban, as Greek player Maria Sakkari called out the measures for being "scary". She told a tennis news site, “One thing I can tell you for sure is the way they’re handling every situation with any player, any athlete, it’s just scary.” “We’re gonna get to a point where we’re not even gonna be taking electrolytes. Thankfully, I haven’t been in that position. I never want to be. I’ve been very careful with everything that has to do with supplements. But I don’t know what the process is, how things are done behind closed doors." Nick Kyrgios was quick to jump in to the debate, responding to Sakkari's comments on Twitter saying, “Ehhhh not really lol.” “I run on bananas and coke cola in 5 set battles. And my record in them speaks for itself." “Maybe players should just stop taking shady sh*t. Look yourself in the mirror at the end of the day and say yep I did it right. Not hard.” Fans soon came after Kyrgios, but he doubled down. Kyrgios responded to one Twitter user’s sledge by posting, “I’d imagine if I was taking similar things to be banned for 4 years I’d have about 5 slams. Potato”. Kyrgios has had a difficult season as he has been forced to take time off to recover from injuries to his wrist and knees. He has urged his fans to be patient as he works on his recovery, as he is determined to get back on the court. "To my millions of fans out there, I guess we just have to be patient,” Kyrgios wrote in an Instagram story, accompanied by a picture of him in the gym. “Trust me, I still have some fire left in the tank, my body just needs time to recover and get back.” Image credits: Getty Images

Legal

6 ways to make your bananas last longer

Is there anything more delicious than fresh fruit? Fresh fruit is definitely up there, and it’s hard to beat the taste of a ripe banana. If you’re like us, you’re always trying to keep bananas fresh, especially if you’ve bought a bunch but only want to eat one at a time. Here are some of the most effective ways you can keep bananas from browning too quickly. Hang them Turns out there’s a scientific reason you should be hanging your bananas from a hook. Bananas start ripening as soon as they’re picked from trees – ethylene gas releases from the stems as soon as they’re picked, but when you hang bananas from a hook, the gas works more slowly. Hanging bananas also prevents them from bruising, which they’re more prone to do as they continue ripening. Buy a fruit basket with a built-in hook or a small under-cabinet hook made specifically for bananas. Either way, keep your bananas at room temperature while they ripen on the hook. Buy green bananas The easiest way to prolong your bananas’ shelf life is to buy the greenest bananas you can find. They’re picked while still green, then slowly ripen over time to reach that bright yellow we love. Instead of grabbing perfectly ripened bananas you’re eyeing, grab a green bunch you can hang from your hook and watch ripen. Wrap banana stems Remember that ethylene gas that makes bananas ripen? It comes from the stems, which means you can wrap those stems – with plastic or aluminium foil – to slow down the ripening process. For best results, take your bananas apart and wrap their stems individually. Place ripe bananas in the fridge One of the cardinal rules of banana storage is to never store them in the fridge. But rules are meant to be broken, especially when it comes to bananas. You should keep green bananas out of the fridge, but once your bananas have completely ripened, you can move them to the fridge where the cool temperatures will keep them from ripening further (for a few days at least). Freeze your bananas Freezing bananas is one of the easiest ways to keep them preserved for future use. But how you freeze bananas could have a big impact on how well they thaw. Freezing the entire bunch will darken the peels, and they’ll thaw poorly. Instead, consider freezing peeled, individual bananas or banana slices in resealable airtight bags. Buy a banana storage container Bruising can wreak havoc on your bananas. It leads to squishy parts and faster ripening, which is where hard cases built specifically for bananas come in handy. You can now buy reusable containers designed to hold one banana at a time, which are a great way to keep ripe bananas ready for lunch (or for your afternoon snack). Image credits: Getty Images This article originally appeared on <a href="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/food-home-garden/6-ways-to-make-your-bananas-last-longer" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reader's Digest</a>.

Food & Wine

2023 Logie hot favourites revealed

The nominees for the 2023 TV Week Logie Awards have been announced, just weeks out from the night-of-nights for Aussie television and its stars. It’s the 63rd event of its kind, set to take place at Sydney’s The Star on July 30 for the first time in 27 years, with comedian and presenter Sam Pang at the helm, marking the first time in over a decade that a host has flown solo. “It’s a huge honour to be asked to host the Logies and while it will be weird not having a buzzer or beer in front of me, hopefully I’m up to the challenge,” Pang told Media Week of his upcoming role. “I feel very lucky to be a part of this industry and can’t wait for July 30 in Sydney to celebrate Australian television on its night of nights and guide viewers at home through the entire four hour broadcast.” Pang will be joined by some of the biggest stars in Australian television as audiences all across the nation look to see who’ll be taking home the coveted statues, and who’ll secure their place in the history books with this year’s Golden Logie. Nominated for the latter, the Gold Logie for Most Popular Personality on Australian Television, are Julia Morris, Osher Günsberg, Leigh Sales, Mark Coles Smith, Shaun Micallef, Sonia Kruger, and last year’s Golden Logie winner, Hamish Blake. A number of those same personalities are up for the Bert Newton Award for Most Popular Presenter, too, with Julia Morris, Hamish Blake, Shaun Micallef, Sonia Kruger, Tony Armstrong, and Scott Cam vying for the title. Meanwhile, the Silver Logie for Most Popular Actor is in the sights of James Stewart, Ray Meagher, Sam Neill, Patrick Brammall, Lincoln Younes, and Mark Coles Smith. And striving for the Silver Logie for Most Popular Actress are Ada Nicodemou, Emily Symons, Lynne McGranger, Celeste Barber, Kitty Flanagan, and Julia Zemiro. Amy Shark, Kween Kong, Ayesha Madon, Chloe Hayden, Lilliana Bowrey, and Flex Mami are up for the Graham Kennedy Award for Most Popular New Talent. And when it comes to the award for Most Popular Drama Series, Miniseries or Telemovie, the likes of Home and Away, Mystery Road: Origin, Savage River, Underbelly: Vanishing Act, The Twelve, and Heartbreak High are in with a shot. For Most Popular Entertainment Program, it’s Australia’s Got Talent, Gruen, Hard Quiz, The Voice, LegoMasters Australia, and Gogglebox Australia. For Most Popular Current Affairs Program, 60 Minutes, 7.30, A Current Affair, Australian Story, Four Corners, and Foreign Correspondent. Fisk, Shaun Micallef’s Mad as Hell, The Front Bar, Wellmania, Have You Been Paying Attention?, and The Hundred with Andy Lee are up for Most Popular Comedy Program. Hunted Australia, Married at First Sight, The Block, Farmer Wants A Wife, MasterChef Australia: Fans & Favourites, and I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! are the nominees for Most Popular Reality Program. And for Most Popular Lifestyle Program, the hopefuls are Back Roads, A Dog’s World With Tony Armstrong, Better Homes and Gardens, Selling Houses Australia, Gardening Australia, and Travel Guides. The ‘Most Outstanding’ awards are voted from within the industry itself, and feature their own lists of nominees. The Silver Logie for Most Outstanding Actor is within reach for Mark Coles Smith, Patrick Brammall, Sam Neill, Tim Draxl, Tim Minchin, and Richard Roxburgh. Meanwhile, Claudia Jessie, Harriet Dyer, Claudia Karvan, Milly Alcock, Marta Dusseldorp, and Kate Mulvany are up for Most Outstanding Actress. For Most Outstanding Support Actor, Alexander England, Clarence Ryan, Arka Das, Luke Arnold, Hamish Michael, Thomas Weatherall, and Luke Arnold are nominated. For Most Outstanding Supporting Actress, Brooke Satchwell, Hayler McElhinney, Pallavi Sharda, Miranda Otto, Yerin Ha, and Virginia Gay have received nominations. For Most Outstanding Drama Series, Miniseries or Telemovie, Black Snow, Mystery Road: Origin, In Our Blood, Five Bedrooms, Significant Others, and The Twelve. For Most Outstanding Entertainment Program, Hard Quiz, Gruen Nation, RuPaul’s Drag Race Down Under, Lego Masters Australia, The Masked Singer Australia, and The Cheap Seats. For Most Outstanding Comedy Program, Colin from Accounts, Have You Been Paying Attention?, Fisk, Summer Love, Shaun Micallef’s Mad as Hell, and Taskmaster. For Most Outstanding Reality Program, Australian Survivor: Heroes v Villains, I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!, Married at First Sight, Hunted Australia, Masterchef Australia: Fans & Favourites, and The Block. Up for Most Outstanding News Coverage or Public Affairs Report are 7NEWS, Foreign Correspondent, Four Corners, and A Current Affair. For Most Outstanding Sports Coverage, broadcasts of the 2022 AFL Grand Final, the 2022 MelbourneCup Carnival, the 2022 FIFA World Cup, the 2023 Australian Open, State of Origin, and the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games. For Most Outstanding Children’s Program, Crazy Fun Park, Barrumbi Kids, Surviving Summer, Turn Up The Volume, Ultimate Classroom, and Bluey. And last but not least, for Most Outstanding Factual or Documentary Program, Australia’s Wild Odyssey, Old People’s Home For Teenages, Alone Australia, Revealed: Trafficked, The Australian Wars, and Todd Sampson’s Mirror Mirror: Love & Hate have received nominations. Images: @Channel7 / Twitter

Tropical banana cake with salted peanut caramel sauce

If you’re really looking to go all out, this tropical banana cake with salted peanut caramel sauce is a striking dessert that tastes as good as it looks. If there are any leftovers of, they will keep for a few days in the fridge. Serves: Six to eight Ingredients: Banana cake <ul> <li>125g butter, softened</li> <li>1 cup brown sugar</li> <li>1 teaspoon vanilla extract</li> <li>2 tablespoons rum</li> <li>2 eggs</li> <li>3 ripe bananas, mashed</li> <li>1/4 cup coconut milk</li> <li>1/2 cup desiccated coconut</li> <li>1/2 cup chopped tropical dried fruits, plus extra for garnish</li> <li>2 cups self-raising flour</li> </ul> Salted peanut caramel sauce <ul> <li>200g caster sugar</li> <li>60ml (4 tablespoons) water</li> <li>60g butter, cut into small cubes</li> <li>1/2 cup cream</li> <li>1 teaspoon soy sauce</li> <li>80g salted roasted peanuts, roughly chopped</li> </ul> Filling <ul> <li>300ml cream</li> <li>1 tablespoon icing sugar</li> <li>250g sour cream, whisked</li> <li>2 bananas, sliced, tossed in a little lemon or lime juice to prevent browning</li> </ul> Method: <ol> <li>Heat oven to 180°C. Grease and line the base of a 22cm spring-form tin.</li> <li>Cream butter and brown sugar together. Add vanilla and rum, beating to combine. Beat in eggs, mashed bananas and coconut milk. Add desiccated coconut and dried fruits, sift the flour over and gently fold to combine. </li> <li>Spoon into prepared tin and bake 45-50 minutes or until a skewer inserted in the middle comes out clean. Allow to cool. The cake can be made the day before it is needed.</li> <li>For the sauce, place caster sugar and water in a small saucepan and swirl the pan over a medium-high heat until sugar dissolves.</li> <li>Bring to the boil and cook, swirling the pan occasionally, until a rich caramel colour. Add butter carefully (mixture may spit) and whisk to combine.</li> <li>Add cream and soy sauce, whisking to combine.</li> <li>Add half the chopped peanuts. Serve immediately or leave covered on the bench (the sauce will become solid if refrigerated). </li> <li>For the filling, whip cream with icing sugar then mix into whisked sour cream.</li> <li>Keep chilled until needed. </li> <li>To assemble, split the cold cake and cover the bottom piece with a layer of sliced banana. Top with half the cream mixture then add the other layer of cake.</li> <li>Cover the top with remaining cream and garnish with remaining peanuts and extra dried tropical fruits. Pour over the caramel sauce and serve.</li> </ol> Written by Bernadette Hogg. First appeared on <a href="http://www.stuff.co.nz/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Stuff.co.nz</a>. Images: Shutterstock

Food & Wine

00-No: US traveller puts border security to the test with a golden gun

A 28-year-old traveller from the United States has been arrested after Australian Border Force officers allegedly discovered a firearm in her luggage. According to a report on the ABF website, the weapon - a 24-carat gold-plated handgun - was unregistered, and the passenger was not in possession of “a permit to import or possess the firearm in Australia.” If convicted, she will face up to 10 years of imprisonment. And while she was arrested and charged, she was released on bail at Downing Centre Local Court, and is expected to face court again in a month’s time. She remains subject to visa cancellation, and faces the likelihood of being removed from Australia. As ABF Enforcement and Detained Goods East Commander Justin Bathurst explained, the discovery was made with a combination of ABC officer skills and detection technology, one that served to prevent a dangerous weapon from entering the Australian community. “Time and time again, we have seen just how good ABF officers are at targeting and stopping illegal, and highly dangerous, goods from crossing Australia's border," he said. “The ABF is Australia's first and most important line of defence. ABF officers are committed to protecting our community by working with law enforcement partners to prevent items like unregistered firearms getting through at the border." Photos distributed by the ABF present the image of the gun in its case, as well as a scan of the passenger’s luggage, with the gun clearly visible among the rest of her possessions. While travellers on domestic flights within the United States are able to carry firearms in their checked luggage - granted they are unloaded and securely locked away, and the proper authorities have been informed - Australia has much stricter laws surrounding firearms. In the wake of a 1996 Tasmanian tragedy, in which 35 people lost their lives to a gunman, all automatic and semi-automatic weapons were outlawed in the country. Meanwhile, in the United States, a frightening sum of 6,301 were confiscated at checkpoints as of December 2022, according to the Transportation Security Administration. For many, the news was broken on social media, with comments sections reflecting the shock - and disapproval - of the masses, with the occasional 007 reference thrown in. “Smuggling firearms into Australia is a serious offence,” wrote one on Twitter, “and should be met with the full force of the law as it endangers citizen safety.” “That’s a fantastic bit of security work by our airport staff,” someone commended. Another had one very important question, asking “how did she get it out of the US to begin with...??? TSA should have caught that at the airport before she even left. Even if it was in a checked bag, it still had to be declared.” Images: Australian Border Force

Travel Trouble

5 golden rules for safe shore excursions

While safety is paramount on any holiday, there are a few key things you can do to stay safe when disembarking your cruise for a trip to shore. These are our top tips for staying safe on excursions. 1. Do your research As with all travel, safety can vary hugely between destinations when you’re cruising. On cruises around Australia, in the South Pacific or New Zealand you’ll feel as safe as you do at home and shouldn’t need to take any extra precautions. For other destinations, do some research online before you go, looking at sites like Smartraveller that list any official government warnings in place. You can also chat to your cruise director or some of the shore excursion team to see if there are any specific details you should be aware of. 2. Minimise your risk Generally, the best advice is to try to blend in and avoid looking like an obvious tourist. Don’t wear lots of jewellery or carry an expensive camera around your neck. Always keep your belongings with you and be particularly careful in crowded places like markets. Try to travel in groups rather than on your own and keep alcohol intake to a minimum – a drunk target is an easy target. 3. Only take the essentials If the worst should happen and you are robbed, you don’t want to be carrying all of your money and every credit card. Only take what you need and leave the rest in your cabin safe. You shouldn’t need your passport to reboard the ship, so never take it ashore with you. Mobile phones are one of the most commonly stolen items from tourists, so unless you desperately need it this is another one to stick in the safe. 4. Join an organised tour If you’re nervous about exploring a port on your own, then book a shore excursion through the cruise line. That way you’ll be travelling with a group of other passengers and at least one guide, most likely a local. Cruise lines only work with reputable companies so you can feel confident that you won’t be ripped off or left in danger. 5. Check the safety gear Many cruise ports offer exciting excursions like hiking, ATV tours, diving or zip lining. Unfortunately, not everywhere is as strict with their safety standards as Australia and you may arrive at your excursion to find out of date equipment, no protective gear or a route that makes you feel uncomfortable. Use common sense – if you don’t feel safe, don’t do it. You also need to be aware of your own physical limits. Don’t push yourself too hard, especially in the heat, or you could quickly find yourself in the local hospital. Image credits: Getty Images

Cruising

All the best moments from the star-studded Golden Globes

The 80th Annual Golden Globe Awards took place on Wednesday, with the who's-who of Hollywood coming out in droves to celebrate their TV and movie achievements of the last year. From iconic fashion, historic wins, powerful speeches and Jennifer Coolidge stealing the show, the award show had some incredible moments. Fashion On the red carpet, there were several contenders for best dressed. Australia's own Margot Robbie shone in a light pink Chanel gown, complete with a halter top and fringed hemline. Jessica Chastain, Salma Hayek, Jennifer Coolidge and Michelle Yeoh all opted for sequins, while Heidi Klum made a daring statement in feather. Red carpet icon Billy Porter wore a velvet pink tuxedo, that trailed behind him in a gown-line train that had everyone talking. Jamie Lee-Curtis and Aussie actress Milly Alcock went for black gothic looks, while Michelle Williams went for an all white gown. On stage highlights Australian House of the Dragon actress Milly Alcock went viral for appearing seemingly tipsy while on stage with her co-stars to accept the award for Best Television series. Throughout director Miguel Sapochnik's speech, Alcock held onto her co-star Emma D’Arcy and giggled, while pointing at people in the audience. Fans took to Twitter to break down the star's antics, with one person saying “Milly Alcock wasted at the Golden Globes is top tier.” <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Milly Alcock wasted at the golden globes is top tier <a href="https://t.co/vE2YJt1fKy">pic.twitter.com/vE2YJt1fKy</a> — quincy (@qlou112) <a href="https://twitter.com/qlou112/status/1613025501701967873?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 11, 2023</a></blockquote> The night began with host Jerrod Carmichael calling out the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA)'s lack of diversity, saying, "I'm only here because I'm Black." He said, "I'll catch everyone in the room up. This show, the Golden Globe Awards, did not air last year, because the HFPA – I won't say they were a racist organisation, but they didn't have a single Black member until George Floyd died." His honesty resulted in his name trending on Twitter after his monologue as fans praised him. Jerrod Carmichael also took an opportunity to roast Tom Cruise while hosting, as he took to the stage with three awards that Cruise returned in 2021 amid the HFPA controversy. Carmichael said, "Backstage, I found these three Golden Globe awards that Tom Cruise returned..." he said. "I think maybe we take these three things and exchange them for the safe return of Shelly Miscavige." Shelly is the wife of Scientology leader David Miscavige, who is reportedly a close friend of Cruise. She was last seen in public in 2007, and there has long been speculation about her wellbeing and whereabouts. Winners The Banshees of Inisherin was the most nominated film of the night, taking home the award for Best Picture, Musical or Comedy. The final award of the night — Best Motion Picture Drama — went to Steven Spielberg's semi-autobiographical film The Fabelmans. For the TV awards, House of the Dragon, Abbott Elementary and The White Lotus all came out on top. Jennifer Coolidge won the award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for her work on The White Lotus, with her emotional and chaotic speech quickly going viral. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Jennifer Coolidge delivers an epic <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GoldenGlobes?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GoldenGlobes</a> acceptance speech that makes <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TheWhiteLotus?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TheWhiteLotus</a> creator Mike White cry. <a href="https://t.co/m069JEKekW">https://t.co/m069JEKekW</a> <a href="https://t.co/WBWx9H6BCj">pic.twitter.com/WBWx9H6BCj</a> — Variety (@Variety) <a href="https://twitter.com/Variety/status/1613016340650151942?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 11, 2023</a></blockquote> She thanked the show's creator Mike White for "killing me off" at the end of the second season, a major spoiler for any viewer who hasn't yet finished the series. Coolidge spoke of how the iconic role has brought her back into the public zeitgeist, after saying her 1990s career has "fizzled". "Mike White, you have given me hope. You've given me a new beginning. Even if this is the end, you changed my life in a million different ways. My neighbours [are] speaking to me and things like that. I was never invited to one party and now everyone's inviting me." Australian icon Cate Blanchett won a Golden Globe for her performance in the psychological drama Tár, while Michelle Yeoh took home the award for Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy for her role in Everything Everywhere All At Once. Image credits: Getty Images

Beauty & Style

“Such intimacy is rare in everyday life”: The benefits of playing music can’t be understated

Whether you’re driving in the car, riding in a lift, or attending a concert, music is everywhere. For many, our involvement in creating music stopped outside of high school music classes and attempts to learn the recorder, keyboard, guitar, or to sing. Or it might have included playing in the school band, taking music lessons as a child, or maybe even continuing to play at university. But playing music is something that often falls to the wayside as we get older, with the demands of work, home and family taking priority. Given that playing music has benefits for our mental health, including easing anxiety and depression, feelings of satisfaction with life and health, and even reduced alexithymia - a dysfunction affecting emotional awareness, social attachment and how we relate to others - it’s an activity that many of us can reap benefits from. For Stephen O’Doherty, the conductor and musical director of Golden Kangaroos Concert Band, music has been an outlet for expressing himself creatively and maintaining his wellbeing - and he has seen similar effects in many of the players he works and plays with. “Having outlets to express myself creatively through musical performance has been absolutely essential in maintaining my wellbeing and having a stable quality of life,” he tells OverSixty. “The (Golden Kangaroos) have many members who have joined later in life. For some it is a chance to take up the same opportunity they gave their children, encouraging them to learn music at school and wishing they could have done the same. “For others it is the idea that playing music will help them to keep their brains active as they enter later life. For others, or perhaps for all of the above, joining a community band is a way of finding their tribe, their people, a safe place where people of a like mind can learn, grow, and contribute together. “Knowing the many life stories of our members, I can say with absolute alacrity that band contributes to their identity and self-fulfilment in ways that may never be explicitly known but are formative and extremely significant.” <img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/12/gks0.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /> With the benefits of playing music established, taking music into a community environment brings with it additional benefits to our wellbeing. In a study <a href="https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1163211.pdf">published</a> in the London Review of Education, Dr Debra Rodgers, whose PhD focused on community music and mental health-related stigma, argued that community music can be beneficial in helping both to distract participants from their personal worries and as a place where they can interact without fear or judgement. O’Doherty agrees, adding that playing in a group is a way for many to truly be themselves. “We know that learning music has beneficial effects intellectually and emotionally. Learning or performing with others adds a social dimension that, I think, is critically important,” he says. “At its best, playing in a well-run musical group helps us to express our emotions in a safe and structured way, and that is good for the soul. We are part of something bigger than ourselves and, when we play for an audience, we are (hopefully) gifting them a great experience. Enriching others also enriches us. “For many, band is the place where they are most fulfilled. Where their contribution matters. Where they will be missed if absent. Where they are safe when expressing their creativity. “To play music alone is good. It is personally satisfying and should not be underrated. But to play with others and achieve a pleasing outcome for an audience is a whole new level. It both fosters and requires a level of interpersonal communication between performers that is beyond words. “Such intimacy is rare in everyday life. It enriches the human experience in a unique and very special way.” <img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/12/gks2.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /> For O’Doherty, playing music has had added benefits when it comes to his own mental health, including managing the symptoms of depression. “Depression is a serious and debilitating condition which, untreated, will attack our self-worth and seriously affect our quality of life. I have lived with this condition for my entire life,” he explains. “... if I can’t perform music I am not being fully me. I am somehow less than whole. Music is a way I find wholeness, an acceptance of who I am and of what I can contribute to the world around me. “When a black mood sets in and starts attacking my self-worth, playing music is one of the few things that can restore me, and I find joy and purpose in seeing the beneficial impact on the members of our group.” As for those who may have played music in the past or have always wanted to learn, O’Doherty suggests finding a safe place to give it a go. “Many people go through the stage of leaving their earlier musical learning behind. After school or Uni life gets busy!” he says. “I want to encourage people however to think about this: when you were the best version of yourself, was performing music part of the equation? If the answer is yes (or even maybe) then do you not owe it to yourself and your loved ones to return? And if you’ve not yet tried to learn an instrument but have a yearning desire to express your creative instincts in this way, what do you have to lose? “Find a safe place to explore your interest and give it a go! Creative expression is part of what it is to be truly human. Perhaps music is your pathway to a more fulsome life.” Images: Stuart Coster (Supplied)

Mind

Strawberry and banana smoothie

Smoothies are a great way to start the day as well as up your fruit and vege intake. They'll also give you a good boost of vitamins and minerals in something that's easy to drink, refreshing and delicious. Ingredients: <ul> <li>1 banana (pre-frozen) </li> <li>5 medium-sized strawberries </li> <li>1/2 teaspoon vanilla essence or extract</li> <li>1/2 cup natural yoghurt</li> <li>1/2 cup milk (cow's, almond, or soy)</li> <li>1 tablespoon ground LSA</li> <li>1 teaspoon runny honey (optional)</li> </ul> Method: <ol> <li>Place all ingredients in a blender or food processor and blend until smooth.</li> <li>If you don't have frozen bananas, use fresh bananas and a small handful of ice cubes.</li> <li>To serve, pour into glasses.</li> </ol> Written by Nadia Lim. First appeared on <a href="http://www.stuff.co.nz/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Stuff.co.nz</a>. Image: Getty

Food & Wine

The value of a banana: understanding absurd and ephemeral artwork

In September 2020, the Guggenheim Museum in New York acquired <a href="https://news.artnet.com/art-world/guggenheim-banana-cattelan-1909179">Maurizio Cattelan’s Comedian</a> by anonymous donation. The work – a banana duct-taped to a wall — was first shown and sold at the <a href="https://www.theartnewspaper.com/news/this-art-is-bananas-maurizio-cattelan-presents-first-new-work-for-an-art-fair-in-15-years#:%7E:text=The%20maverick%20Italian%20artist%20Maurizio,wall%20with%20grey%20duct%20tape.">Art Basel fair in Miami Beach</a> in the autumn of 2019 where it generated attention, derision and <a href="https://wwd.com/fashion-news/fashion-scoops/art-basel-2019-art-banana-memes-1203395572/">innumerable memes</a>. Social media was, for a brief time, overflowing with images of <a href="https://www.news18.com/news/buzz/people-are-coming-up-their-own-duct-tape-art-after-banana-in-art-basel-sells-for-rs-85-lakh-2416655.html">just about anything duct-taped to walls</a>: tamales, beer cans, cabbage, a <a href="https://knowyourmeme.com/photos/1668205-duct-tape-banana">durian</a> fruit, a sandal, someone’s cat. <a href="https://adage.com/article/digital/brands-are-trying-one-art-basel-banana/2221661">Companies quickly countered with online ads</a> where their products, from deodorants to French fries, were shown duct-taped to the wall with a modest price tag. Comedian reignited a set of questions that seem to flare up with some regularity: what makes something a high-priced artwork when another, seemingly identical, object is not? Since the work was shown at an art fair, it is relevant to consider what exactly is being bought when acquiring an artwork like Comedian. The original banana had to be replaced several times during the course of the fair, once after it was eaten as <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-50704136">a stunt by another artist</a>. The collectors who bought and subsequently donated the work to the Guggenheim did not receive an actual banana or a piece of duct tape. Instead, what they got was a document, a so-called certificate of authenticity that granted them the right to recreate the work and instructions of how to do so. <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/18/arts/design/banana-art-guggenheim.html">It stipulated</a>, among other things, that the banana should be hung 175cm above ground and that it should be replaced every seven to ten days. <h2>A banana is a banana is a banana</h2> Although the art world has accepted the idea of <a href="https://www.tate.org.uk/art/art-terms/r/readymade">ready-made</a> everyday objects as art, at least since the mid-20th century, Cattelan’s artwork invited a collective focus on the structure of evaluation of artworks. If anyone can tape anything to the wall — as many did — what is the point of a document granting the legal right to do the same? Let’s compare Comedian to another fruit-based artwork: Zoe Leonard’s <a href="https://www.philamuseum.org/collections/permanent/92277.html">Strange Fruit</a> (1992-1997), a large installation of fruit peels, carefully stitched together by the artist. It was made during the Aids crisis and functioned as a ritualised act of mourning and memorialising. After closely working with a conservator who developed a method of halting material decay at a particular point, <a href="http://contemporary.burlington.org.uk/journal/journal/intent-in-the-making-the-life-of-zoe-leonards-strange-fruit">Leonard decided</a> that it was more in line with the work’s idea to have it turn slowly into dust. In contrast to Comedian, replacing the fruit peels was not an option since the specific acts of stitching as mourning was key to the work’s meaning. The material manifestation of Leonard’s organic objects is far from stable – time passes and they change – but it is crucial that it is these precise pieces of fruit that undergo that transformation. Conceptual artists in the 1960s argued that an artwork’s identity is not to be found in its physical manifestation but in the artist’s idea. That idea can, but does not have to, take material form. Following that logic, the material object is a manifestation of an idea, and it is the idea that is bought and sold on the art market. When the object is reproducible or immaterial, the certificate of authenticity ensures the artwork’s identity as an artwork. Comedian is not dependent on a specific banana, any banana could be used without altering the meaning of the work. That, however, is very different from saying that any banana and piece of duct tape is an artwork by Maurizio Cattelan. <h2>Poking fun at the market</h2> Even though the <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2019/dec/06/maurizio-cattelan-banana-duct-tape-comedian-art-basel-miami">US$120,000 (£92,000) price tag for Comedian</a> was by contemporary art standards fairly moderate, it is obviously a huge mark-up for the act of combining two very cheap and readily available materials. The work’s title hints that it is aware of the comedic absurdity of its own evaluation on the art market. Also, the banana’s upward curve on the wall recalls a stylised smiling face, and the banana peel, as we know, is involved in the most basic of slapstick skits. Comedian was in fact not the first time Cattelan poked fun at the market, art dealers and their place within this system. In 1995, he made his dealer Emmanuel Perrotin (in whose booth at Art Basel Comedian was shown) <a href="https://www.frieze.com/article/maurizio-cattelan">dress up as a giant pink penis-shaped bunny</a> for the duration of his exhibition at Perrotin’s Paris gallery. The piece was called “Errotin le vrai lapin (Errotin the true rabbit). By making Perrotin wear a ridiculous and humiliating phallic costume while carrying out his day-to-day work as a commercial gallery owner, the spectacle of the art market came into sharp view. Comedian is not the only of Cattelan’s works that has drawn attention to the Guggenheim in recent years. In 2016, the artist installed the work <a href="https://www.guggenheim.org/exhibition/maurizio-cattelan-america">America</a> in one of the lavatories of the museum. The 18-karat gold toilet is a tongue-in-cheek commentary on the excesses of America’s rich; a piece of satirical participatory art that welcomes people to actually use it. It has reverberations of <a href="https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/duchamp-fountain-t07573">Marcel Duchamp</a> and <a href="https://whitney.org/media/760">Sherrie Levine</a>’s lavatorial works. It <a href="https://www.vanityfair.com/style/2018/01/the-art-museum-that-offered-donald-trump-a-solid-gold-toilet">could have been President Trump</a>’s after he requested to borrow a Van Gogh from the Guggenheim but was offered America instead – he declined. It then was taken in by Blenheim Palace in Oxford in 2019 where art critic Jonathan Jones <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2019/sep/13/maurizio-cattelan-blenheim-palace-review-hitler-golden-toilet-blenheim-churchill">commented, "</a>How does it feel to urinate on gold? Much like peeing on porcelain. But here, among all the photos of young Winston, it also feels like pissing on British history." Soon after, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/20/arts/design/gold-toilet-america.html#:%7E:text=14%2C%20a%20fully%2Dfunctioning%20toilet,the%20birthplace%20of%20Winston%20Churchill.&text=The%20police%20may%20not%20know,palace%2C%20have%20plenty%20of%20theories.">it was stolen</a>. Its whereabouts remain unknown. Cattelan’s works — like other pieces — must be considered in relation to other artworks and the structures in which it operates. The questions they raise are relevant but in part unanswerable: are we to take Comedian seriously, or is it an elaborate joke? And if it is a joke, who is in on it and who, or what, is mocked? Image credits: Getty Images This article originally appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.com/the-value-of-a-banana-understanding-absurd-and-ephemeral-artwork-147689" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>.

Art

Another delicious way to enjoy the sweet, sweet banana

BANANA DATE AND WALNUT SPELT BREAD <ul> <li dir="ltr">Serves: 8</li> <li dir="ltr">Prep time: 20 mins</li> <li dir="ltr">Cooking time: 55 mins</li> <li dir="ltr">Difficulty: Easy</li> </ul> INGREDIENTS <ul> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> 2/3 cup (100g) dried pitted dates, coarsely chopped </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> 1 cup (100g) walnuts </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> 1 cup (150g) wholemeal spelt flour </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> 1 cup (150g) white spelt flour </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> 3 tsp baking powder </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> ¾ tsp bicarbonate of soda </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> 2 tsp ground cinnamon </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> 4 Ecoganic® Red Tip® bananas, peeled, </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> 3/4 cup (180ml) light olive oil </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> 2 eggs </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> ¼ cup (60ml) date syrup </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> Peanut butter, to serve, optional </li> </ul> METHOD <ol> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> Preheat the oven to 170°C fan forced. Grease and line the base and sides of 6cm deep, 10cmx21cm (base) loaf pan. </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> Place the dates into a heatproof bowl, add 2 tablespoons of boiling water. Cover and stand for 10 minutes. Coarsely chop 2/3 cup (75g) walnuts. Set the remaining 1/3 cup aside for the top. </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> Sift the spelt flours, baking powder, bicarbonate of soda and cinnamon into a large bowl, adding any husks left in the sieve from the wholemeal flour. Stir in the chopped walnuts. </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> Coarsely mash the bananas on a plate with a fork (you should have 11/3 cups). Transfer to a jug. Add the oil, eggs, date syrup and softened dates including any water. Stir to combine. Add to the flour mixture and stir gently until just combined. </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> Spoon the mixture into the prepared pan and smooth the surface. Top with the reserved walnuts. Bake for 45-55 minutes or until a skewer inserted in the centre of the loaf comes out clean. Remove from oven. Stand 10 minutes in the pan then lift onto a wire rack. </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> Slice and serve warm or serve toasted in a sandwich press spread with peanut butter. </li> </ol>

Food & Wine

Roof roof! Huckleberry welcomes new addition to his family

A golden retriever pup named Huckleberry, who was photographed frequently sitting on the roof of his family home in Austin, Texas has quite the following on Instagram after rising to fame five years ago. Huckleberry's owners, Allie Burnitt and Justin Lindenmuth, became so used to public concern for their dog they installed a framed sign outside their home. "Don't be alarmed," the sign read. "Huckleberry is living up to his name and learned how to jump onto our roof from the backyard." “We appreciate your concern but please do not knock on our door… we know he’s up there. But please feel free to take pictures of him and share with the world." The family then offered the hashtag hucktheroofdog. Next, they had an Instagram account for him with over 3,000 follwers. Allie told a news outlet in the US that Huckleberry gains access to the family home through an almost one-metre-wide clearance between a hill and the family's backyard. "We wondered when he would figure it out. It took him about six months to figure out the roof was an extension of his backyard. He now goes up every single time we let him outside," she told the media outlet in 2017. Fast forward five years and Huckleberry is still enjoying time on the roof as well as close to 40,000 Instagram followers. Huckleberry's family have welcomed a new addition, Bluebell the Golden Retriever puppy earlier this year in April. <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/Ce2ephVD-4C/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/Ce2ephVD-4C/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Huckleberry (@hucktheroofdog)</a> </div> </blockquote> A video posted to Huckleberry's social media account shows Bluebell's excited arrival with the family as well as a sneaky photo of her on the family's roof. Images: Reddit / Instagram

Family & Pets

Here’s how to support farmers and the environment on National Banana Day

Though <a href="https://abgc.org.au/2021/04/30/banana-growers-celebrate-national-banana-day/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">95 percent</a> of Aussie households buy an average of 800 grams of bananas each week, there’s one variety that most of us have seen but don’t know much about: red-wax tipped bananas. Most of us will have seen them in our local supermarket, but research suggests that only 4 percent of us know what the significance of the wax is. For National Banana Day on May 1, members of the Australian banana industry are urging fans of the potassium-packed fruit to show their support for farmers doing their bit for the environment, and all we need to do is pick these eye-catching bananas. The red wax on the ends of these bananas signifies that they’re grown using Ecoganic farming methods, which avoids synthetic and organic fertilisers and is certified by the Great Barrier Reef Foundation. Ecoganic farming explained This style of farming, conceptualised and perfected by Australian growers Frank and Diane Sciaccia, seeks to avoid the environmental impacts that traditional farming has. Since fertilisers can impact the health of soil, waterways, and wildlife, Mr Sciaccia was inspired to develop ways of farming that use products that have a minimal impact and allow the biodiversity and health of the soil to improve, with an overarching goal of having zero impact on nearby waterways. “We wanted to farm differently, with nature at the heart of what we do,” Mr Sciaccia said in a statement. “Nature keeps everything in balance, and understanding the natural capital you have available to you enables you to get rid of all the harmful chemicals. “The result is a farming method that is good for the environment and at the same time produces far superior bananas, just as nature intended." Certified growers are required to undertake fortnightly monitoring of biodiversity levels, as well as audits every six months and annual carbon testing. According to the Ecoganic <a href="http://www.eco-banana.com.au/ecoganic/wordpress/index.php/ecoganics/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">website</a>, growers regularly supply soil samples that are “tested and verified by independent agencies” to verify that growers aren’t using synthetic or organic chemicals. As a result, the red-tipped bananas are guaranteed to be free of harmful pesticides and grown using environmentally-conscious methods. Image: Supplied

Domestic Travel

Big news for Golden Girl Sally Pearson

Sally Pearson OAM has announced she is pregnant with her second child. The 35-year-old Olympic athlete revealed their new addition to their family will arrive in August, joining Sally and her husband Kieran, along with their daughter Ruby. Along with the news of her family expanding, Sally is taking on a new role at the <a href="https://7news.com.au/news/qld/sally-pearson-joins-7news-gold-coast-as-sport-presenter-while-expecting-second-child-c-5768287" target="_blank" rel="noopener">7News</a> Gold Coast desk to present sport alongside Amanda Abate and Steve Titmus. “I have loved my time working with Amanda, Steve and the 7News Gold Coast team in various guest roles and I am excited to make this role a permanent one,” Sally said. “As a proud Gold Coast local, I look forward to delivering the best local sporting news to our viewers." “What better way to kick things off than with some headline-making news of my own! Kieran and I are absolutely thrilled to be bringing another little one into the world, as is Ruby, who is already taking the ‘big sister’ role very seriously.” Sally gave birth to Ruby in 2020, after an incredible 16-year sporting career that saw her win a gold medal at the London 2012 Olympic Games. Undoubtedly one of Australia’s greatest Olympians and the fourth fastest hurdler in history, Sally was later awarded the Order of Australia Medal for her contribution to sport. In the wake of her big news, Director 7News Brisbane and Gold Coast, Neil Warren, said, “Firstly, a big congratulations to Sally on her baby announcement. What wonderful news. Sally will be a great addition to our strong Gold Coast team, joining Amanda Abate, Steve Titmus and Paul Burt on the local news at 5.30pm." “I’ve got great confidence in Sally, who displayed unbreakable drive and determination as an Olympian, and she’s already showing those same characteristics with us.” Image credits: Getty Images

Family & Pets

Healthy banana bread

Image: Getty Ingredients <ul> <li>4 ripe bananas</li> <li>100g Community Co almond meal (use coconut flour for a nut free version)</li> <li>4 eggs</li> <li>1 tbsp Community Co Olive Oil Spread</li> <li>1 tsp baking powder</li> <li>2 tsp cinnamon</li> </ul> <h2>Method</h2> 1.Preheat oven to 180 degrees. 2.Break 3 and a half of the 4 bananas into chunks and place into your food processor with the eggs and blend until smooth. 3. Melt the olive oil spread and blend into the banana/egg mixture. 4. Add the rest of the ingredients into the food processor. 5. Line a loaf tin with baking paper and pour the mixture into the tin. 6. Cut the remaining banana into disks and decorate the loaf with it Serves: 4

Food & Wine

Australia's new golden couple?

After being spotted looking cosy, Olympic superstars Emma McKeon and Kyle Chalmers are rumoured to be dating. <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/emma-mckeon-and-kyle-chalmers-australian-swimmings-new-golden-couple/news-story/b034ca1f084444dfd71b087a0e064a60" target="_blank">The Daily Telegraph</a> reported that the swimming pair were seen looking smitten with each other while attending an induction session after the Olympic swimming trials in June. Both Emma and Kyle were seen in Naples last week as part of the International Swimming League where both are on the London Roar team, with Luke as the co-captain. The pair are two of the most influential names in Australian sport, with both Emma and Kyle coming out on top at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. Following her incredible show in the pool at Tokyo, Emma became <a rel="noopener" href="https://oversixty.com.au/news/news/emma-mckeon-shines-on-australia-s-best-ever-day-in-olympic-history-very-very-special" target="_blank">Australia's most decorated Olympian</a> ever, with her seven medals bringing up her career total to 11 Olympic awards. The 27-year-old blitzed her competition, winning gold in the 50m freestyle, 100m free, 4x100 women’s medley and freestyle relays, and bronze in the 100m butterfly, 4x100m mixed medley relay and 4x200m freestyle relay. Kyle went on to win a silver medal in the 100m freestyle, when he was unable to defend his 2016 gold position in the race by a small margin. He also won bronze in the men’s 4x100m and 4x200m freestyle races, including breaking the individual 100m world record Following their hotel quarantine, Emma and Kyle headed to Europe which churned the rumour mill, as they giggled and flirted their way through a London Roar podcast last week, speaking of plans to remain in Europe for the remainder of the season. The romance reportedly began after Kyle split with fellow Aussie swim star Madison Wilson, who was McKeon’s relay partner at the Olympics, having dated since 2015. Image credits: Getty Images

Relationships

“Wonder woman on the water”: Jess Fox’s golden moment

For nine years, disappointment has shrouded Australian olympian Jess Fox. But now, she has just become an Olympic gold winner in Tokyo for the first ever women’s C1 Olympic final on Thursday afternoon. Fox is the first slalom paddler to win an Olympic medal of each colour in canoe and kayak events. The world watched on as Britain’s Mallory Franklin initially took an early lead in the final by registering an astonishing time of 108.68. <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CRv6hdDjQV0/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="13"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CRv6hdDjQV0/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Jessica Fox (@jessfox94)</a> </div> </blockquote> Germany’s Andrea Herzog also impressed with a time of 111.13, which earned her a spot in the provisional silver medal position. Brazilian athlete Ana Satila also had a solid time, but she sadly copped a brutal 50-second penalty for narrowly missing Gate 22. Fox quickly passed the first checkpoint more than two seconds ahead of Franklin‘s time. She briefly got stuck at Gate 15, however she showed her talent by quickly escaping from the white water at Kasai Canoe Slalom Centre. Fox secured a historic gold medal with an unbelievable time of 105.04. She was three seconds faster than anyone else. “She is a wonder woman on the water. What a performance!” Channel 7 commentator David Culbert cried. Fox’s mother and coach could be seen embracing the champion moments after she completed her run. Australia has reacted in pure elation, with Australian Paralympian Kurt Fearnley tweeting: “JESS FOX!!!!!!!! You are my freaking hero!!!!! So amazing!!!!” <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> JESS FOX!!!!!!!! You are my freaking hero!!!!! So amazing!!!! 😭😭😭😭 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Tokyo2020?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Tokyo2020</a> — Kurt Fearnley (@kurtfearnley) <a href="https://twitter.com/kurtfearnley/status/1420648484915400710?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 29, 2021</a></blockquote> Channel 7 reporter Tom Browne wrote: “I don’t think there has ever been a more deserved gold medal winner. Jess Fox is a legend. Completely compelling.” Fox Sports presenter Sarah Olle shared her own message: “The Olympics are so cool because you become inexplicably happy for someone you don’t know. Thanks for the ear to ear smile, Jess.” Aussie tennis star Dylan Alcott wrote: “JESS FOX YOU FLAT OUT LEGEND!!! OLYMPIC CHAMPION! Could not think of an athlete more deserving – an incredible athlete but an even better person. YES!” <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> JESS FOX YOU FLAT OUT LEGEND!!! OLYMPIC CHAMPION!! Could not think of an athlete more deserving - an incredible athlete but an even better person. YES! <a href="https://twitter.com/jessfoxcanoe?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@jessfoxcanoe</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/tokyo2020?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#tokyo2020</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/olympics?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#olympics</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/gold?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#gold</a> — Dylan Alcott (@DylanAlcott) <a href="https://twitter.com/DylanAlcott/status/1420648900738699268?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 29, 2021</a></blockquote> Fox promised she would return for the Paris Olympics in 2024. “It was amazing to be a part of this women’s C1 event here in Tokyo for the first time ever,” she told Channel 7. “It was a tough couple of days – mentally, emotionally, it took everything out of me. So to put down a run that I’m proud of, I’m over the moon. “I hope we’ve inspired some girls and boys today … I felt the love over from Australia.”

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Dylan Alcott to defend his Wimbledon title

Dylan Alcott has advanced to the final round of the quad wheelchair singles at the All England Club after defeating long-time rival David Wagner 6-2, 6-2. Alcott has qualified for his 16th grand slam final and will have the chance to defend his Wimbledon singles title against Dutchman Sam Schroder. If he wins, Alcott will still have a chance of winning the ‘Golden Slam’ - where a player wins all four Grand Slam titles and an Olympic gold medal in the same calendar year - after winning both the Australian Open and Roland Garros titles earlier this year. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Great start. Always an privilege to metaphorically step onto the grass at <a href="https://twitter.com/Wimbledon?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@wimbledon</a> 🎾🇬🇧🍓🙏🏼 <a href="https://t.co/q556QWqAm6">pic.twitter.com/q556QWqAm6</a> — Dylan Alcott (@DylanAlcott) <a href="https://twitter.com/DylanAlcott/status/1413240059604701185?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 8, 2021</a></blockquote> “Everyone loves talking about the Golden Slam more than I do,” Alcott told ITFTennis.com. “I didn’t know what it was until everyone started saying it to me the other day. “I had an opportunity to win the Grand Slam in 2019 and I thought about it and talked about it but choked it up hard. “If I win the Golden Slam, how good? If I don’t, the sun still comes up. I have a great family and I’m still out here at Wimbledon breathing in the grass and looking at everyone smashing Pimm’s. I’m a happy guy.” Image: Dylan Alcott / Instagram

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