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Why we need to stop being so judgemental – and the 4 steps to do it

As a society, we've become increasingly judgmental. We tend to judge not only others but ourselves as well. From a person's physical appearance to their actions, we criticise and judge everything. Everyone is too fat, too thin, too old, or too young, creating an environment where nothing seems to be good enough. This constant pattern of judgment is now harming our mental, emotional, and physical well-being. When we judge, we compare ourselves to others, leaving us emotionally vulnerable. Through this judgement, we seek to establish a sense of security and control over our lives and surroundings, often without even realising it. However, by increasing our emotional resilience and sense of control, we become consciously aware of this behaviour and can take steps to change it. So, is it possible to become less judgemental? As an educator and researcher, I developed an Emotional Resilience language (ER). It introduces simple changes that can reduce judgment, foster empathy, compassion, and personal responsibility, and bolster emotional intelligence and resilience when integrated into everyday life. Using a driving metaphor, ER simplifies the intricate world of emotions, providing an innovative way to integrate emotional vocabulary into daily life. It enhances understanding and establishes new neural pathways and healthier thought patterns. The following outlines the initial steps of ER, which can effectively manage judgement towards yourself and others. Though the changes may appear simplistic, they are instrumental in establishing lasting transformation. 1. Removing judgement towards how you or others may feel: Instead of labelling emotions as good or bad, view them as rough or smooth emotional roads. Just as roads serve different purposes, so do emotions. Rough emotions build resilience, while smooth emotions promote well-being, removing the need to lift everyone off a rough road. This makes it easier to recognise and accept emotions without feeling like a failure when things aren't going smoothly. You don’t know why someone is on a rough road, so resist the temptation to judge them. 2: The metaphorical steering wheel in ER represents emotional control and the power of choice in navigating life's challenges. As in a car, you should be the only one controlling your emotional steering wheel. Rather than judging yourself and others, this logical approach empowers you to regain control over your focus, emotions, and destination. Just because someone else is on a rough road doesn’t mean you must join them, fostering resilience and responsibility. 3. Shifting judgement and blame to responsibility involves removing phrases such as "You are making me angry, " which inadvertently hands your emotional steering wheel to others. Replace it with, "I am choosing to feel angry in response to this situation." This subtle alteration, substituting "making" with "choosing," helps reclaim ownership of your steering wheel rather than relinquishing control to external factors. Assigning blame—"It's your fault, it's the government's fault, it's my partner’s fault"— leaves you feeling like a victim, and you then resort to judgement and retaliation to regain control. 4. The importance of taking control: Understanding that judgement cannot be contained nor emotional resilience built when you are out of control on either road is crucial. Out-of-control scenarios activate the amygdala, the brain's fight, flight or freeze mode, disabling the prefrontal cortex, which is responsible for thinking and creativity. It is only possible to discuss a situation once the involved parties have regained control and can access the thinking part of their brain. Therefore, regaining control is essential for reducing judgement, as then you can have productive discussions that help maintain emotional well-being. This includes your conversations with yourself, which can often be the harshest! ER helps reduce judgement by developing your emotional resilience. Awareness of the emotional state of yourself and others fosters emotional intelligence, while learning to regain control builds resilience. Recognising that navigating rough emotions is crucial for growth alleviates the pressure from always needing to be on a smooth road and judging yourself and others if they aren’t. It shifts focus from dwelling on challenges and comparing yourself to others to being able to understand and manage your responses. Incorporating language changes into daily life builds new neural pathways, creating new thought patterns that reduce judgment and blame. By avoiding the tendency to judge yourself or others, you take back control of your reactions to people and circumstances. This leads to better mental and emotional well-being and fosters positive relationships with yourself and others. Does this mean you will never judge again? Of course not. You’re human. It’s what you do with the judgment that can make all the difference. Dr Jane Foster is a leading educator, researcher, presenter and author of It’s In Your Hands; Your Steering Wheel, Your Choice. Combining her educational skills with neuroscience and positive psychology, Jane equips people with strategies to help build emotional resilience and manage their daily stresses, successfully changing perspective and creating new neural pathways. For more information, visit <a href="https://www.emotionalresiliencetraining.com.au/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">www.emotionalresiliencetraining.com.au</a> Image: Getty

Mind

"Beyond excited": Graham Norton announces Aussie TV show

Graham Norton, the beloved Irish television presenter and talk show host, is set to bring a wave of nostalgia to Australian screens with the revival of the iconic game show, Wheel of Fortune. While Norton is best known for his charismatic chat show, he's expanding his horizons and diving into the world of game shows, and fans are in for a treat. In a recent announcement from Channel 10, it was revealed that Norton would be the new face of Wheel of Fortune Australia, making its return in a primetime slot as part of the network's 2024 schedule. For those unfamiliar with the game, Wheel of Fortune is centred around a colossal carnival wheel. Contestants spin the wheel in hopes of landing on a lucky segment, which could lead to a life-changing cash prize. The show is a perfect blend of skill, luck and, of course, plenty of surprises. Interestingly, the revival of Wheel of Fortune also coincides with the news that Norton will be hosting a UK reboot of the same show, while Ryan Seacrest takes on hosting duties in the United States. In a statement, Norton expressed his excitement, saying, "I’m beyond excited to be bringing such an iconic American show to Australia with Network 10. "Hosting game shows is brilliant fun, and even more so when you have a giant wheel to spin! This show has it all, mixing skill, luck, and lots of surprises, and I hope the Australian audience loves it." This is not the first time that Wheel of Fortune has graced Australian screens. The game show was last seen in 2008 when it aired on Channel 7 under the name Million Dollar Wheel of Fortune, hosted by Tim Campbell. Sadly, the show met an untimely demise, being cancelled after just a month due to poor ratings. The decision to bring it back, albeit in a different form, indicates the enduring popularity and appeal of this classic game show. One noteworthy change in this revival is the location. Unlike its previous iteration, the new Wheel of Fortune Australia will not be filmed down under. Instead, it will be produced in the United Kingdom, with the charismatic Norton taking the helm and a variety of Aussie expats appearing on the show. But that's not the only exciting game show news for Australian viewers. Channel 10 also announced that the beloved Australian host, Grant Denyer, will be bringing back the iconic Deal or No Deal. The show, which had a global following and was beloved in 325 countries, will make a comeback in 2024, airing at 6pm on weekdays. Denyer expressed his excitement about the return of the show, saying, "In this time of the high cost of living, I can't wait to be a hyperactive 'human ATM,' handing out big cash and sending Australians off into the sunset with their pockets bulging and their lives changed. It's a magical feeling and a real privilege. I'm so damn excited." Additionally, the popular wildlife conservationist Robert Irwin is set to host I'm A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! alongside Julia Morris (who has <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/entertainment/tv/julia-morris-promises-a-little-less-shameless-flirting-with-new-co-host" target="_blank" rel="noopener">promised to behave herself</a>) for the show's 10th season, taking over from former host Dr Chris Brown. And for fans of cooking shows, there's a reboot of Ready Steady Cook primed for Friday nights, featuring former The Living Room star and chef Miguel Maestre as the show's host. With these exciting announcements, Australian television is set to have a fantastic lineup of game shows and entertainment in the coming year. Whether it's spinning the iconic wheel or choosing between those elusive briefcases, the fun and thrill of these game shows are set to captivate viewers once again. Image: BBC One

A heated steering wheel for $20 a month? What’s driving the subscriptions economy

From gym memberships to music and movies, to razors, toilet paper, meal kits and clothes, there’s seemingly no place the subscription economy can’t go. Having conquered the software market – where it gets its own acronym, SaaS (Software as a Service) – the subscription model is now moving into hardware. Car makers are among the first cabs off the rank, using software to turn on and off optional extras. German auto maker BMW is offering “<a href="https://www.theverge.com/2022/7/12/23204950/bmw-subscriptions-microtransactions-heated-seats-feature" target="_blank" rel="noopener">in-car microtransactions</a>” to access options for car buyers in Britain, Korea, Germany, New Zealand and South Africa. A heated steering wheel, for example, has a monthly cost of NZ$20 in New Zealand, and £10 in the UK. Other markets <a href="https://www.drive.com.au/news/bmw-australia-monthly-subscriptions-detailed/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">including Australia</a> will soon follow. In the UK, seven of 13 “digital services” – from heated seats to automatic high beam and driving assistance – are now available in subscription form. “Welcome to microtransaction hell” is how <a href="https://www.pcgamer.com/welcome-to-microtransaction-hell-buy-a-bmw-pay-monthly-for-the-cars-features/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">one headline</a> put it. But that’s probably overselling the onset of a corporate dystopia where “you will own nothing”. BMW’s motives are pretty straightforward – as is most of what’s driving the subscription economy. What is the subscription model? The subscription model means paying a fee for periodical access to a service or product. Until a decade or so ago, it was largely confined to a few select industries, such as the delivery of milk, newspapers and magazines. <figure class="align-center "><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/474494/original/file-20220718-68552-hvzp5p.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/474494/original/file-20220718-68552-hvzp5p.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/474494/original/file-20220718-68552-hvzp5p.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/474494/original/file-20220718-68552-hvzp5p.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/474494/original/file-20220718-68552-hvzp5p.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/474494/original/file-20220718-68552-hvzp5p.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/474494/original/file-20220718-68552-hvzp5p.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" alt="From milk and magazines, subscription services have proliferated with digital technology." /><figcaption>From milk and magazines, subscription services have proliferated with digital technology. Shutterstock</figcaption></figure> Other business models had similarities – such as rental businesses – but the point of the subscription model was different. It was not about meeting a demand for a service someone only wanted to use temporarily or could not afford to own outright. It was about locking in a continuing relationship, to maximise “customer lifetime value”. As <a href="https://www.investopedia.com/ask/answers/042715/how-do-subscription-business-models-work.asp" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Investopedia puts it</a>, the subscription model’s focus is on customer retention over customer acquisition: <blockquote> In essence, subscription business models focus on the way revenue is made so that a single customer pays multiple payments for prolonged access to a good or service instead of a large upfront one-time price. </blockquote> This in large part explains why subscription services are now being adopted in markets outside their more obvious fit for things such as streaming news and entertainment. In a broad sense, consumers can now be divided into two groups. One group comprises the “transactional shopper”, who interacts with the vendor once or twice, then disappears. The other group comprises customers whose connection and “investment” in the brand is maintained through their subscriptions. <figure class="align-center "><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/474211/original/file-20220715-24-eopgdo.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/474211/original/file-20220715-24-eopgdo.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=338&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/474211/original/file-20220715-24-eopgdo.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=338&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/474211/original/file-20220715-24-eopgdo.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=338&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/474211/original/file-20220715-24-eopgdo.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=424&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/474211/original/file-20220715-24-eopgdo.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=424&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/474211/original/file-20220715-24-eopgdo.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=424&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" alt="The subscriptions model emphasises customer retention over customer acquisition." /><figcaption>The subscriptions model emphasises customer retention over customer acquisition. Shutterstock</figcaption></figure> E-commerce and access Part of the growth in the subscription economy has come from companies riding the e-commerce wave, delivering goods such as meal kits, wine, coffee, baby supplies, pet food, cleaning products, razors and toilet paper. Consultant firm McKinsey has estimated the subscription e-commerce market is <a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/technology-media-and-telecommunications/our-insights/thinking-inside-the-subscription-box-new-research-on-ecommerce-consumers" target="_blank" rel="noopener">doubling in value</a> every year – though that was before the pandemic. It could be well be more now. The other part of the market is represented by BMW’s approach, offering extra features to customers that can only be accessed for a fee. In some cases this may involve standard “upsell” techniques. For example, when you buy a new Peloton exercise bike you’ll be enticed with <a href="https://www.onepeloton.com.au/membership" target="_blank" rel="noopener">subscription offers</a>, such as virtual classes and “customised” training programs, to “reach your goals”. Or increasingly, as with BMW’s heated seats and steering wheels, it can be done with software turning actual bits of hardware on or off. What is BMW’s game? Is BMW’s purpose to gouge its customers for more money through getting them to pay an ongoing fee for something instead of owning it outright? This is not what its subscription structure indicates. The opposite, in fact. Customers can still buy these options outright. A heated steering wheel in the UK, for example, costs <a href="https://www.bmw.co.uk/en/shop/ls/dp/Steering_Wheel_Heating_SFA_gb" target="_blank" rel="noopener">£200</a>, and in New Zealand <a href="https://www.bmw.co.nz/en/shop/ls/dp/Steering_Wheel_Heating_SFA_nz" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NZ$350</a>. But now they can also pay a subscription – for three years (£150, NZ$250), annually (£100, NZ$250) or monthly (£10, NZ$20). These prices represent a strong signal – that the cost of outright ownership is the most economical. It’s unlikely BMW expects anyone to sign up for the annual or three-yearly options. These are probably just to make the outright cost look more attractive. The monthly offering, on the other hand, may lure owners to try out a feature they would otherwise have rejected buying outright at the time of purchase. Indeed, car makers argue the reason they offer so many options as extras is because most owners don’t want them. So this mostly looks like BMW offering a “try before you buy” option. The pitfalls of over-subscribing That said, companies don’t need to have sinister motives for us to have concerns about the spread of the subscription model. The more things we pay for with “micro-payments”, the harder it becomes to keep track of payments. Many of us continue to pay for products and services we don’t use. A survey of 1,000 Australian adults in 2021, for example, found about a third wasted money on unused subscriptions or memberships – losing an average of about <a href="https://www.savings.com.au/savings-accounts/unused-lockdown-subscriptions-are-costing-aussies-200-a-year" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A$200 a year</a>. Deep psychological associations can influence these decisions. Experiments by US marketing professors Jennifer Savary and Ravi Dhar suggests people with lower “<a href="https://academic.oup.com/jcr/article-abstract/46/5/887/5498871" target="_blank" rel="noopener">self-concept</a>” are less likely to sign up for subscriptions – but also less likely to cancel subscriptions they are not using. We may see the subscription model increasingly used in other sectors – including the health and justice systems. For example, a subscription payment may provide a better level of nutritious food for a resident in an aged care facility, or a hospital or even a prison. This is not dissimilar to the way private health insurance premiums are managed, but still presents important justice and equity concerns. So while there’s no reason to exaggerate the dangers of the subscription economy, it’s also prudent for consumers, advocacy groups and governments to ask “What next?”.<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/186913/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/louise-grimmer-212082" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Louise Grimmer</a>, Senior Lecturer in Retail Marketing and Associate Head Research Performance, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-tasmania-888" target="_blank" rel="noopener">University of Tasmania</a> This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/a-heated-steering-wheel-for-20-a-month-whats-driving-the-subscriptions-economy-186913" target="_blank" rel="noopener">original article</a>. Image: Getty Images

Money & Banking

QEII attends her first royal engagement on wheels

Queen Elizabeth has attended her first royal event on wheels, as she arrived at the Chelsea Flower Show in a luxury buggy. Her Majesty made a last minute decision to attend the event, but it wasn't her bright fuchsia coat that got people talking. The Queen was all smiles when she showed up for the royal preview event, as she arrived in a luxury buggy due to her recent health and mobility issues. It's the first time in almost a decade that the Queen has been seen arriving at a public royal engagement in a buggy with a Buckingham Palace spokeswoman telling the Daily Mail "adjustments have been made for the Queen's comfort". <img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/05/buggy.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /> The four-seater buggy, which has been dubbed the "Rolls Royce" of premium golf carts, cost £62,000 ($120,000) and was built by a Danish manufacturer. It includes recliner cream-leather seats, as well as a mini fridge, and features a 10.1inch tablet style screen next to the steering wheel to offer maps and weather updates. Her Majesty was accompanied by Prince Edward and his wife Sophie, Countess of Wessex, as well as Princess Beatrice and her husband Eduardo Mapelli Mozzi. The Queen's presence at the event comes under a new rule put in place by the Palace for the 96-year-old monarch. While she's still mentally alert and continuing to carry out virtual engagements, it's now understood the Palace will no longer announce whether she will attend an event in person until the day. Instead, it is assumed that her son Prince Charles, 73, will take her place as he has been doing for quite some time. Despite the Queen's surprise attendance at the Chelsea Flower Show, it is currently unclear how many Jubilee events she will attend. Image credits: Getty Images

Caring

Stowaway who hid in plane wheel identified

A man who was found stowing away in the wheel well of a plane in Amsterdam has been identified. Dutch police found the man on a cargo flight that had flown from Johannesburg to Amsterdam, a roughly 11 hour flight. The flight is believed to have made one stop, in Nairobi. At the time, Royal Dutch Military Police spokeswoman Joanna Helmonds told the AFP, "The man was found alive in the nose wheel section of the plane and was taken to hospital in a stable condition. It is quite remarkable that the man is still alive.” Police have identified the man as a 22-year-old Kenyan who plans to seek asylum in the Netherlands. He is conscious and able to communicate. A spokesperson for the Dutch military police told the BBC, “It is expected he will apply for asylum in the Netherlands, but his medical treatment is the priority at the moment." Stowing away in the wheel section of a plane is dangerous; according to the US Federal Aviation Administration, from 1947 to February 2020, 128 people around the world attempted it, and more than 75% of them died. A particularly famous case was that of the man who <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/apr/15/man-who-fell-from-the-sky-airplane-stowaway-kenya-london" target="_blank">fell out of the sky</a> while stowing away on a flight to London from Nairobi. He fell from Kenya Airways flight KQ 100, landing in the southwest London neighbourhood of Clapham. In the past five years, seven stowaways have been discovered on planes in the Netherlands, but only two of them survived the journey. Several of the attempts involved nationals from Nigeria and Kenya. In 1970, Sydney teenager Keith Sapsford <a rel="noopener" href="https://au.news.yahoo.com/heartbreaking-story-behind-49-year-old-photograph-034315026.html" target="_blank">made headlines around the world</a> when he fell 60 metres from the wheel well of a Japan Airlines flight soon after take off at Sydney’s Kingsford Smith Airport. Tragically, the 14-year-old, whose parents said he had an innate curiosity for travel, died on impact. Image: Jun Xu

Travel Trouble

See the new Ferris wheel in Times Square

The pandemic has seen New York City’s Times Square go quiet, but a new attraction has launched to bring the people back and turn the economy around. The Times Square Wheel gives riders a bird’s eye view of the ‘Crossroads of the World’ in midtown Manhattan over a 12 minute ride. <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-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/tv/CTeKIW3D4fH/?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/CTeKIW3D4fH/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Eric's New York (@visitnewyork)</a> </div> </blockquote> “I don’t remember the last time I’ve been on a Ferris wheel. That was so much fun,” said Deborah Johnson after having a go. “It was special to be able to go that high in a Ferris wheel in Times Square. How often do you get that opportunity? Never,” said Penelope Bustamante. <img style="width: 0px; height: 0px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7843925/gettyimages-1336385436.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/91fb7961d60e42bf89651a2af5649abb" /> Image: Getty Images Vito Bruno, the man behind the concept, said the idea was to bring back the joy of childhood. “It’s a feel-good thing. It’s just the right time. You see people come alive again. New York and this country needs happy right now,” he said. <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-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CTAAsMdHDf0/?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/CTAAsMdHDf0/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by NYC's CULTURE CURATOR (@fomofeed)</a> </div> </blockquote> But, some riders were less enthused about the experience. “It wasn’t as exciting as I thought it would be. This was eh,” said Arlene Shchulman. “I thought I could go up to the elevator at one of the hotels and get a better view. Or maybe I’m just a jaded New Yorker.” Image: Getty Images

International Travel

Woman necks bottle of red wine behind the wheel before smash

<div class="post_body_wrapper"> <div class="post_body"> <div class="body_text redactor-styles redactor-in"> A Gold Coast man has apologised after sharing shocking footage of a woman drinking a bottle of wine in the driver's seat of her car. “She actually pulled out a full bottle of wine, sat back and drank the entire bottle in one go,” Sam Mangan, who took the video, told 9 News Gold Coast. “It was unbelievable.” Soon after the video was taken, the woman allegedly caused a three-car pile up and returned a blood alcohol reading of 0.276, more than five times the legal limit. People were quick to slam the footage, saying people had no idea what she was going through. <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-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/CLbR_lIHybI/?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/reel/CLbR_lIHybI/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by SAM MANGAN (@sammangan)</a> </div> </blockquote> “Ever asked what she was going through and what drove her to do that?” Asked one person. “You posted about her without knowing any history … agreed she should not be drunk driving [but] you know nothing of what that woman has gone through that day,” the person said of the video, in which Mr Mangan doesn’t identify the woman or show her face. Despite Mangan initially saying that he didn't agree with the critics, he has changed his tune. “If you’re going to drink enough to (allegedly) be five-and-a-half times the legal limit and get behind the wheel of a car it becomes anyone’s business that’s going to stop you,” Mr Mangan said. “If you’re stupid enough to drink drive you deserve to be caught.” He later posted the video footage on his Instagram, saying that he was glad "this all ended with no one getting hurt". </div> </div> </div>

News

"Daddy's new wheels": Karl strolls out with baby Harper's fancy new ride

<div class="post_body_wrapper"> <div class="post_body"> <div class="body_text ">Karl Stefanovic and wife Jasmine Stefanovic know what good money can buy, and are keeping the same sentiment for their daughter Harper May, Jasmine, 36, gave fans a sweet glimpse into her luxurious life as a mother to a newborn by shopping a very expensive designer stroller on her Instagram account. <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/CARFEwEFJIy/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <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/CARFEwEFJIy/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Jasmine Stefanovic (@jasyarby)</a> on May 16, 2020 at 4:16pm PDT </div> </blockquote> The shoe designer showed a snap taken of Karl, 45, posing with their new Joolz stroller, which is believed to have cost close to $2,000. “Daddy's new wheels,” she wrote in a caption on Sunday. The picture taken showed a joyful Karl who posed for the camera wearing a black T-shirt, shorts and a very dad-like pair of sunglasses. The couple's dog, Chance The Yapper, was also tethered to the stroller's handlebar Last week, Karl returned to the Today show after taking about 10 days off following Harper's birth on May 1. <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/B_00_SslWoa/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <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/B_00_SslWoa/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Jasmine Stefanovic (@jasyarby)</a> on May 5, 2020 at 4:57pm PDT </div> </blockquote> But the struggle was clearly worth it for Karl, who said about his newest little girl: “She is so gorgeous, 2.9 kilos of just scrumptious delight.” He went on to say: ”She's sleeping okay, three hours on, three hours off. Jasmine has just taken it in her stride. She is feeding really well. It makes me cry already.” Karl already has three children with ex-wife Cassandra Thorburn, including Jackson, 20, Ava, 15, and River, 13.</div> </div> </div> <div class="post-action-bar-component-wrapper"> <div class="post-actions-component"> <div class="upper-row"> <div class="right-box-container"></div> </div> </div> </div>

News

Drivers may be allowed to use mobile phones behind the wheel in road rule overhaul

A review of road rules has been told drivers should be allowed to use their phones behind the wheels, with South Australian motorists calling for the strict laws to be loosened. Under the current legislation, drivers who are caught using handheld mobile phone on the road are liable to a $534 fine and three demerit points. According to the National Transport Committee (NTC), taking your eyes off the road for just two seconds – to use your phone, adjust the radio or talk to a passenger – can be “particularly hazardous”. “Drivers engage in non-driving activities every 96 seconds while behind the wheel,” said Gillian Miles, chief executive officer at the NTC. “Distractions take our concentration off the road which means we may not have time to react to hazards.” However, the Royal Automobile Association (RAA) of South Australia said the laws need to be updated to reflect the changing use of technology. “The old legislation is very specific about managing distractions, but technology has moved beyond this,” Charles Mountain, RAA Senior Manager Road Safety told <a rel="noopener" href="https://10daily.com.au/news/crime/a190910pgzys/drivers-may-be-allowed-to-use-phones-behind-the-wheel-in-new-road-rules-20190910" target="_blank">10 daily</a>. Some of the submissions pointed out that many drivers rely on GPS navigation and <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/finance/legal/do-you-do-this-in-a-drive-thru-the-500-road-rule-confusing-aussies/" target="_blank">phone payment methods at restaurant drive-thrus</a>, despite the ban on touching phones in unparked vehicles in all states. “That is just not sensible, to turn your engine off to pay with your phone,” Mountain said. “It is important to acknowledge that phones are capable of more functions than before... such as music streaming. “There needs to be understanding for all drivers about what a distraction is.” A regulation impact statement will be delivered for transport ministers’ consideration in May 2020.

Legal

Did you know this road rule? The addictive everyday habit that could land you a $500 fine

Motorists could be putting themselves at risk of a hefty penalty and three demerit points off their license if they are caught sipping coffee behind the wheel. A woman travelling from Newcastle to Sydney in NSW was left gobsmacked when she was pulled over by police for what she thought was a strange reason – she was drinking her morning coffee while driving. The highway patrol officer warned the woman could receive a fine of $495 fine and lose three demerit points for sipping as it is “unsafe". “He started telling me that it was unsafe to be drinking coffee while I was driving,” the woman told the <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.newcastleherald.com.au/story/6290862/newcastle-police-officer-tells-woman-not-to-drink-coffee-while-driving/?src=rss" target="_blank">Newcastle Herald.</a> “He was telling me that I should be concentrating on driving and that he could give me a $495 fine and take three points from my licence. <img style="width: 500px; height:281.24401913875596px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7828966/25004738_shutterstock_12870462431-1.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/de837e114d2942a3a6a560a23b03bec2" /> “I had no idea I was doing anything wrong. Then he said if I wanted to drink the coffee, I should pull over and have a drink, not just takes sips as I drive along.” While there is no explicit law prohibiting motorists from eating or drinking non-alcoholic beverages while driving, an infringement notice can be issued if police find the driver is distracted while on the road. In NSW, motorists can receive a $448 fine and a loss of three demerit points for driving without “proper” control of the vehicle. The ACT prohibits a driver from driving “without proper control” unless they want to rack up a $292 ticket. Tasmania motorists are at risk of a $163 fine while South Australians who are distracted while on the road (either by food, drink, cigarette or cellphone) can be fined $184. Those in the Northern Territory may face a $500 fine and a loss of three demerit points if they are caught driving and eating while driving in a “dangerous” manner, while those spotted in WA driving carelessly will be issued a $600 fine. In Victoria, a motorist could be stung with the loss of three demerit points and a $387 fine.

Legal

69-year-old shares terrifying dashcam footage of moment she fell asleep behind the wheel

Terrifying dashcam footage has been posted online showing the moment a woman lost control of her car while driving in Western Australia due to exhaustion. The woman encouraged Police to share the footage in the hopes to spread awareness of the dangers of driving while tired. <iframe width="640" height="360" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" src="https://au.news.yahoo.com/tired-wheel-205819716.html?format=embed" allowfullscreen="true" mozallowfullscreen="true" webkitallowfullscreen="true" allowtransparency="true" allow="autoplay; fullscreen; encrypted-media"></iframe> Video of the crash on the Great Southern Highway at Murdong, in Western Australia, begins with the car travelling in the correct lane but it veers onto the wrong side of the road, before moving onto the dirt strip next to the highway. The 69-year-old then crossed back over to the other side of the highway and collides side-on into a power pole. “She believes she fell asleep, but says she doesn’t really know what happened, thinking it could possibly be medically related,” explained a post on the Western Australia Police Force Facebook page. “The driver realises she was lucky to survive and asked us to release her dashcam vision to warn other drivers of the dangers of fatigue.” The 69-year-old suffered minor injuries in the accident, which occurred on Wednesday, September 12. In the post, police said the woman would not be facing any charges but will have to undergo a Fitness to Hold test, to prove she is fit enough to own a driver’s licence. WA Police are now using this opportunity to remind drivers of the dangers of fatigue, saying to watch out for early signs such as wandering thoughts; missing a gear, road sign or exit; slowing unintentionally or braking too late.

Legal

The biggest risks facing seniors behind the wheel

Driving is one of life’s great joys, allowing us to experience a sense of freedom and independence we can only get on the open road. But if we’re not aware of our limitations, it can also be a dangerous exercise that puts us, and those we are sharing the road with, at risk. We’re going to run through the main dangers facing senior drivers. Paired with the appropriate level of <a href="http://www.oversixty.com.au/finance/insurance/car/?utm_source=over60&utm_campaign=insurance&utm_medium=in-article-link-car&utm_content=car-insurance" target="_blank">car insurance</a>, understanding the risks is the best way to stay safe behind the wheel. 1. Deterioration of eyesight and hearing Safe driving is all about spatial awareness. As we age, however, and our eyesight and hearing start to deteriorate, this becomes increasingly difficult. Just as older eyes might find it harder to spot indicators, road signs and warning lights, older ears can easily miss horns, sirens and troubling sounds emanating from your vehicle. The key here is to be honest with yourself. If you don’t think you’re in tip-top condition, it’s worth giving your GP a visit. They’ll be able to assess your readiness to drive – and you never know, something as simple as a new pair of eyeglasses could be all you need to continue driving safely. The <a href="https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/publication/older-drivers" target="_blank">National Institute of Healthcare and Ageing</a> recommends, “If you are 65 or older, see your eye doctor at least every one to two years. Ask if there are ways to improve your eyesight.” And also suggests, “Have your hearing checked at least every three years after age 50.” 2. Other drivers You might be someone who values safe, courteous driving, but there’s no guarantee the people you’re sharing the road with feel the same way. It’s important to be aware of the risks posed by other drivers, especially if you notice your reaction time wanes. Safe driving requires quick decision making to avoid the risks posed by careless motorists, and if you’re not aware of this the consequences can be big. As <a href="http://mylicence.sa.gov.au/safe-driving-tips/older-drivers" target="_blank">My License SA</a> states, “While older drivers have relatively few crashes, they are much more likely to be severely injured or killed in a crash.” 3. Health conditions Physical limitations such as knee, leg or ankle pain, stiff joints and weakened muscles can make is increasingly difficult to drive safely. And even if you do feel as fit as a fiddle, it’s important to be aware that if the unthinkable does happen the consequences are generally far greater for senior drivers. As <a href="https://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/" target="_blank">Vic Roads</a> notes, “Older people have less muscle than when they were younger, so they have less protection if they are involved in a crash and injuries will be worse.” 4. Medication Prescription and over-the-counter medication can seriously inhibit your ability to drive safely, leaving you feeling dizzy and nauseous. It’s important to consider the consequences of any medication you’re taking before you get behind the wheel, and how this might affect your ability to drive. <a href="https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/publication/older-drivers" target="_blank">The National Institute of Healthcare and Ageing</a> recommends, “Read medicine labels carefully. Look for any warnings. Make a list of all of your medicines, and talk with your doctor or pharmacist about how they can affect your driving and don’t drive if you feel lightheaded or drowsy.” 5. No protection Should the unthinkable happen on the road, it’s critical to have the right level of coverage. A flexible, affordable <a href="http://www.oversixty.com.au/finance/insurance/car/?utm_source=over60&utm_campaign=insurance&utm_medium=in-article-link-car&utm_content=car-insurance" target="_blank">car insurance policy</a> that’s tailored to meet your needs is a great way to protect yourself in the event of an accident, and provides a sense of wellbeing while you’re driving that’s priceless. Whether you’re planning the ultimate grey nomad road trip or simply just looking to pick the grandkids up from school, a reliable vehicle is an important part of senior life. Over60 understands senior drivers, offering a range of car insurance policies that can not only be tailored to meet various people's circumstances, but designed to reward good drivers with competitive prices. To find out how you can get 15 per cent off^ Over60 Car Insurance, <a href="http://www.oversixty.com.au/finance/insurance/car/?utm_source=over60&utm_campaign=insurance&utm_medium=in-article-link-car&utm_content=car-insurance" target="_blank">click here</a>.

Insurance

This “Wheel of Fortune” blunder will make you cringe

It’s one of the most iconic plays of all time, but for one unlucky Wheel of Fortune contestant, we’re betting it wasn’t on the school curriculum. Kevin, who recently competed on the popular US gameshow, narrowed the answer down to “A Streetcar Na_ed Desire”. What happened next? Well, you’ll just have to see for yourself. <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Nuj29xMNUXY" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe> Ouch. With that one disastrous blunder, Kevin lost himself at least $1,000. That’s gotta hurt! “Although you got the right answer I’d rather see Kevin’s play,” the host joked to the round’s winner.

The simple yet powerful tool to plan your retirement

Rowan Rafferty and Jan Wild are a couple of baby boomers who describe themselves as rewired rather than retired; determined to grab this time of life with both hands. They blog at <a href="http://www.retirement-planning.info" target="_blank">Retiring Not Shy</a> to inspire and encourage you to live your best possible retirement. <img width="219" height="170" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/22600/jan-and-rowan-retiring-not-shy_219x170.jpg" alt="Jan And Rowan Retiring Not Shy" style="float: left;"/>Many years ago my lovely and gifted friend Suzie St George from <a href="http://www.reachpotential.com.au/" target="_blank">Reach Potential</a> introduced me to a simple yet powerful tool: The Wheel of Life. The Wheel is a great tool for both evaluating your current level of satisfaction with life and for visioning how you wish your life to be. Perfect when contemplating retirement or re-evaluating it! The Wheel is a circle divided into eight segments, as per the chart below: <img width="568" height="341" src="http://retirement-planning.info/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Wheel-of-Life.jpg" alt="Wheel of Life" class="alignright size-full wp-image-233"/> Each segment represents an area of life, as follows: Physical – The physical segment refers to your physical health but also to your location and type of home, that is, your physical surroundings. Financial – Your financial situation and how you manage your finances. Relationships – Not just intimate and family relationships, but all your relationships including friends and colleagues. Daily management – Even in retirement a little time management goes a long way, in fact it might be even more important to ensure you feel a sense of satisfaction at the end of each day. Oh, and your daily management list might include making time to finish that fabulous novel! Work – You may or may not still participate in paid work during retirement but this segment is always valid; for example do you volunteer, do you have investments to manage etc.? You may have a project, some research, perhaps the family tree. Recreation – This might also be described as play. How do you spend your leisure time, do you have hobbies, creative pursuits, do you allow yourself to just stop, or to be spontaneous? Spiritual – Your spiritual practice; this may be based on religion, a non-religious spiritual philosophy, meditation. It may be something like music or art that takes you into another space. Mental – Your mental health, in every sense; do you deliberately engage in activities to keep your brain productively active, do you feel yourself to be in good mental health? So, what’s this all got to do with planning and enjoying your retirement? You simply can’t get to where you want to be without knowing where you are currently. This is a tool for assessing your current level of satisfaction with life. This is not a process to be obsessive about, but rather a step towards actually documenting your life map, every so often, when you feel a little reflection may be productive. It is one process to open the way to further thinking, not an end in itself. Could life could be better or are you satisfied with where your life is heading? How about starting now to assess your current level of satisfaction in life, it’s easy and it won’t take long. 1. Get a piece of paper and draw the wheel of life (it doesn’t have to be perfect, just a circle with eight roughly equal segments). 2. Label each segment as above. 3. Give yourself a score out of 10 for each segment – closest to the centre being low and the outside being high (remember: these are your personal feelings about life, not your idea of what others think your life should be like). Be honest with yourself, how do you really feel about your financial situation, your relationships. Mark the score within the segment. 4. Join up the dots (see below). 5. Review your wheel, see where there are imbalances and decide what you would like to change. <img width="573" height="322" src="http://retirement-planning.info/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Wheel-of-Life-sample.jpg" alt="Wheel of Life sample" class="alignright size-full wp-image-234" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/> So, in my example above, I might be very happy with my scores for Work and for Relationships but not happy with my score for Financial. It might be that I have financial difficulties or just that I know I am not spending enough time looking at or understanding my finances (maybe I don’t know what my financial status really is). Similarly, my Physical sector isn’t looking too flash. From here I can develop plans to improve one or more of the segments. It might not be the segment with the lowest score; I might decide to focus on the Spiritual segment. Perhaps working there, or on my physical health, will give me more clarity and energy so I can more easily deal with the Financial segment. A positive change means a re-balancing rather than striving for a perfect 10 in every segment. The key is to take action but not overwhelm yourself with too much to do. Note too, that a positive change does not necessarily mean more effort in every segment. It may be that in the wheel above the emphasis on Work is taking up too much time at the expense of the other segments. Perhaps it is time to take the foot off that particular pedal. If Financial is a focus for you, you might like to read our post on getting started with <a href="http://retirement-planning.info/financial-planning-getting-started/" target="_blank">Financial Planning</a>. Have you used a tool like this for evaluation and planning? Have you found it useful? Do you think there are missing segments? How would you use this tool for planning or fine tuning your retirement? This article first appeared on <a href="http://www.retirement-planning.info" target="_blank">Retiring Not Shy</a>. Follow Rowan and Jan on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/retiringnotshy/" target="_blank">Facebook here.</a> Related links: <a href="/lifestyle/retirement-life/2016/05/are-you-having-a-late-life-crisis/">Are you having a “late-life” crisis?</a> <a href="/lifestyle/retirement-life/2016/06/not-getting-older-just-more-complex/">You’re not getting older, you’re getting more complex</a> <a href="/lifestyle/retirement-life/2016/04/why-everyone-should-share-their-life-story/">Why everyone should share their life story</a>

Retirement Life

Travel blogger aims to set ‘wheel’ in every country

Anthony Tipling-Bower has climbed the steps of Angkor Wat, rode on the back of a tuk-tuk through Bangkok, and floated down the Mekong Delta in a banana boat. They're the sorts of adventures that many travel bloggers write about - and the Newcastle native documents them all in his blog, The Geordie Traveller. But Tipling-Bower is a travel blogger with a difference. He is on a mission to become the first wheelchair user to visit every country in the world. "When I started my blog, I was desperate just to become a travel writer," he said. "I didn't want to be associated with some kind of disability travel writer." That all changed when he met a couch-surfing couple from Canada who encouraged him to make the most of his unique perspective. "We were talking about my travel writing and they said, 'Dude, you've got this niche - this thing that's different from 99.9 per cent of travellers. Just use it." Tipling-Bower, 25, has a rare genetic disability which affects all of the joints in his body. He writes reviews of all of the places he goes, and is working on creating an accessible travel guide for other disabled travellers. For the past two months he has been living in Wellington, undertaking an internship with the World Wildlife Fund and checking out the capital's attractions, such as Zealandia and Te Papa. He aims to break down disability stereotypes with the stories he shares on his blog. "One of my greatest pleasures is going around the world and really challenging people's perceptions of what it means to be disabled," he said. <img width="499" height="495" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/21355/travel-blogger-in-text_499x495.jpg" alt="Travel Blogger In Text"/> "Quite often I get people telling me, 'Oh, you can't do this' or, 'oh, you can't do that'. "When they see me doing it, it's quite a nice feeling to see the look on their face when they realise, 'Oh wow, you can do that'." Tipling-Bower says he doesn't see himself as "disabled" - in fact, there is nothing he cannot do. "When I was in Vietnam, I went on a tour to the Mekong Delta and I did everything, except the final activity on the tour was to get on these really small banana boats and to float down one of the back streams. "For two hours, the tour guide was trying to convince me it just wasn't possible to join in with this section of the tour. I just wasn't going to accept that. So I kept fighting and fighting. "As it were, when it came to actually going on the banana boats, I was the fastest out of the tour to get to where I was supposed to be, get on the boat, carry my chair myself - do everything myself. "I felt vindicated, in a sense." Follow Anthony's adventures on his Facebook page, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/thegeordietraveller/timeline" target="_blank">The Geordie Traveller</a>. Have you been to any of the locations Anthony has visited? Where’s your favourite place in the world to travel? Please let us know in the comments below. Written by Siobhan Downes. First appeared on <a href="http://Stuff.co.nz" target="_blank">Stuff.co.nz</a>. Related links: <a href="/travel/international-travel/2016/05/aerial-tour-of-beautiful-flower-field-in-the-netherlands/">Aerial tour of beautiful flower field in the Netherlands</a> <a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/travel/international/2016/05/10-photographs-depict-last-man-on-earth/">10 photographs depict the “last man on earth”</a> <a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/travel/international/2016/05/8-photos-london-mysterious-beauty/">8 photos reveal mysterious side of London</a>

Travel Tips

Laundry-on-wheels helps homeless Aussies

Clean clothes are a luxury we often take for granted. But, for the more than 100,000 people in Australia who are considered homeless, it is a luxury they simply can’t afford. Until now, that is. Orange Sky Laundry, a project founded by best friends Lucas Patchett and Nicholas Marchesi in 2014, is Australia’s first laundry-on-wheels service. <img width="499" height="300" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/18009/orange-sky-in-text-_499x300.jpg" alt="Orange Sky In Text - (1)" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/> “We had this crazy idea to chuck a couple of washers in the back of a van,’’ says Mr Marchesi of the project. “Our goal was to connect communities, raise health standards for the homeless and improve the lives of others.” And the project has gone from strength to strength! The Orange Sky laundry-on-wheels service now pulls up at centres in six cities across Australia including Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney, Perth, Gold Coast, Adelaide, and areas of southeast Victoria. “We want to challenge the perceptions people have of our homeless friends. We don’t want to make a distinction, we’re all just people,” says Mr Marchesi To find out more <a href="http://www.orangeskylaundry.com.au/" target="_blank">click here</a>. Related links: <a href="/lifestyle/family-pets/2016/02/heartwarming-photos-that-prove-every-child-needs-a-pet/">15 heartwarming photos that prove every child needs a pet</a> <a href="/lifestyle/family-pets/2016/01/photos-of-animals-hitchhiking/">Hilarious photos of animals hitchhiking</a> <a href="/lifestyle/family-pets/2015/11/how-to-help-your-pet-conquer-their-phobias/">How to help your pet conquer their phobias</a>

News

Does ageing make one more dangerous behind the wheel?

The older we get, the more experience we gain, right? If that popular belief is correct, then older drivers should be some of the best on the roads. But, according to a new study about eye helath that’s not the case. Psychologists at Nottingham Trent University examined a group of over 65s, and their ability to quickly process visual information. They found the older group were able to process basic visuals just as fast as the younger participants, but when distracting objects were added, older people became significantly slower. In other words, older people have the same every day driving ability to their younger counterparts, but if a distraction presents- say, a dog runs onto the road or a kid chases a ball which rolls onto the street- they’re less equipped to respond. Think you’re a better driver than your teenage granddaughter? The Association of British insurers agrees. They claim that people over 70 are half as likely to be involved in an accident as 18-20 year olds. Tell us: do you think elderly drivers are more dangerous, or does experience make you a better driver? Related links: <a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/health/eye-care/2015/11/first-borns-near-sightedness/">First-born children are more likely to be nearsighted</a> <a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/health/eye-care/2015/11/how-often-should-you-get-your-eyes-tested/">How often should you visit your optometrist</a> <a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/health/eye-care/2015/11/eye-colour-change-with-age/">Your eyes change colour as you age</a>

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