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Hospice nurse explains why we shouldn't be afraid to die

<p>A hospice nurse has shared why we shouldn't be afraid to die, explaining all the ways in which our bodies "shut off" to make for a "peaceful" death. </p> <p>Julie McFadden, a nurse based in Los Angeles, has long been sharing videos and explanations about end of life care in an attempt to destigmatise the conversations and fear around death and dying. </p> <p>In her latest YouTube video, McFadden got candid with her followers as she confessed she isn't afraid to die and why no one else should be either.</p> <p>She went on to explain all the ways in which our bodies are supposed to "shut off" in our final moments, making for a "peaceful" and "natural" death. "</p> <p>"I'm not afraid of death and here's the science behind it, our body biologically helps us die, so here is what I've seen and learned as a hospice nurse over the years - our body is literally built to die," she said.</p> <p>The hospice nurse revealed that bodies began to slowly shut down in the six months leading up to death, explaining that a person nearing the end of their life would start "eating less, drinking less, and sleeping more."</p> <p>"Why is that happening? Because calcium levels in the body are going up and because calcium levels are going up the person is getting sleepier," Julie said.</p> <p>"Our brains have built in mechanisms to make us hungry and thirsty. Biologically, when the body knows it's getting towards the end of life those mechanisms shut off, so the person does not usually feel hungry and does not usually feel thirsty, which is helping the body slowly shut down."</p> <p><iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/CJEkzA0gt6s?si=CIzcf3xchddKtf1D" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p> <p>She put minds at ease by debunking a common concern, saying that while certain diseases could make death more uncomfortable, dying in itself wasn't painful. </p> <p>"There are times when the disease that the person is experiencing can cause symptoms and it's more difficult because they're dying from a certain disease, but the actual process that the body is going through to help it die is actually helping that person," Julie added.</p> <p>"There have been many times as a hospice nurse that I have watched someone slowly die on hospice and I have not needed to give them any medication because their disease was not causing any symptoms - no pain, no shortness of breath, they were just more tired and weren't eating or drinking." </p> <p>"They still did all of the things any other person on hospice would be doing, like they slowly go unconscious, they slowly stop eating and drinking. I didn't have to give them any medications. They were perfectly comfortable and died a very peaceful death."</p> <p>Julie explained that death was even "comforting" in a way because when you're about to take your last breath, your body released endorphins, making you feel euphoric in your final moments.</p> <p>"The body slowly goes into something called ketosis, which releases endorphins. In that person's body those endorphins dull pain, dull nerves, and they also give that person a euphoric sense, so they feel good," she said.</p> <p>"There are many reasons why I don't fear death. Yes, I have had some pretty crazy spiritual experiences as a hospice nurse that led me to not fear death, but there are also biological, metabolical, and physiological things that happen in the body that truly, truly comforted me."</p> <p>She concluded, "Our bodies are built to die. The less we mess with that, the more peaceful it will be."</p> <p><em>Image credits: YouTube / Instagram </em></p>

Caring

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"I'm not afraid to challenge myself": J-Lo's secret to staying physically and mentally fit

<p>Jennifer Lopez has shared an insight into her gruelling workout routine, revealing it is the best thing for both her physical and mental wellness. </p> <p>The 53-year-old singer and actress told US Weekly how important moving her body is to help keep a positive mental attitude. </p> <p>"It's no secret that fitness is a very important part of my life... I think there's a positive correlation between exercise and mental health," she said. </p> <p>J-Lo's claims have long been backed up by healthcare professionals, with the MentalHealth.org website reading, "Research shows that people who exercise regularly have better mental health and emotional wellbeing, and lower rates of mental illness."</p> <p>"Taking up exercise seems to reduce the risk of developing mental illness... and seems to help in treating some mental health conditions, like depression and anxiety."</p> <p>Lopez went on to say, "When you find a good balance through determination and focus, we're naturally pushing to be the best version of ourselves."</p> <p>She usually begins her workouts "first thing in the morning", which usually means rolling out of bed before 5am. </p> <p>J-Lo regularly mixes up her workouts, explaining, "I'm always evolving and looking for things that keep me excited and motivated."</p> <p>"I'm not afraid to challenge myself, so I'm open to pushing myself, which is what I'm doing right now as I rehearse for my new album, [This Is Me… Now], coming out this summer."</p> <p>Even Jennifer's trainer Tracy Anderson said the pop star goes above and beyond for her health and fitness, pushing herself for maximum results. </p> <p>'"She shows up no matter what, she takes the time seriously, she knows her body, she wants to be herself," Anderson has said.  </p> <p>"She knows that putting in the hard work to get her workout in is part of it."</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

Body

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Why are people so afraid of heights?

<p><em><strong>Rebekah Boynton is a PhD candidate and Anne Swinbourne is a Senior Lecturer in Psychology at James Cook University.</strong></em></p> <p>If you’ve ever felt your heart race as you looked down from the top of a tall ladder, you’re not alone. But for some people, their distress is far more serious. Simply thinking about climbing a ladder can lead to intense fear and anxiety.</p> <p>These are the roughly <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs00406-014-0548-y" target="_blank" rel="noopener">one in 15 people</a></strong></span> who have a fear of heights (<span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="https://psychcentral.com/encyclopedia/acrophobia/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">acrophobia</a></strong></span>) at some point in their lives.</p> <p>So, what leads some people to feel anxious even thinking about climbing the ladder? And others happily climb up onto the roof?</p> <p><strong>What is acrophobia?</strong></p> <p>About <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00415-012-6685-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">one in three people</a></strong></span> say they experience some discomfort or distress when exposed to heights. But not all of these have acrophobia. The term <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="https://psychcentral.com/encyclopedia/acrophobia/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">acrophobia</a></strong></span> is reserved for people with extreme, irrational and persistent fears of heights and situations associated with them.</p> <p>It’s one of the so-called <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="https://www.beyondblue.org.au/the-facts/anxiety/types-of-anxiety/specific-phobias" target="_blank" rel="noopener">natural environment phobias</a></strong></span>, which also include a fear of thunder and lightning (astraphobia) or water (aquaphobia).</p> <p>People with acrophobia <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="https://www.sydneyphobiaclinic.com.au/programmes/acrophobia/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">often avoid situations</a></strong></span> where they will be exposed to heights. However, this is not always possible.</p> <p>When faced with heights or anticipating them, their <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="https://backyardbrains.com/experiments/Sympathetic_Nervous_System" target="_blank" rel="noopener">sympathetic nervous system</a></strong></span> is aroused, as if preparing the body for an emergency. This arousal helps either approach or escape from a threat (commonly known as the <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/fight-or-flight-response" target="_blank" rel="noopener">fight-or-flight response</a></strong></span>).</p> <p>They may experience <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/vertigo/Pages/Introduction.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noopener">vertigo</a></strong></span> (a moving or spinning sensation), increased heart rate, shortness of breath, sweating, <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0005796709000229" target="_blank" rel="noopener">anxiety</a></strong></span>, shaking or trembling, and <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="https://theconversation.com/explainer-why-do-we-get-butterflies-in-our-stomachs-72232" target="_blank" rel="noopener">nausea or an upset stomach</a></strong></span>.</p> <p>A fight-or-flight response can be <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-0-387-72577-2_12" target="_blank" rel="noopener">adaptive</a></strong></span> in dangerous situations, because it can help us respond to dangerous situations.</p> <p>But in people with acrophobia, this response can occur when <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/why-do-we-panic/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">no danger is present</a></strong></span>. For instance, some people are extremely distressed when thinking about heights.</p> <p>There are <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/a0017759" target="_blank" rel="noopener">two main perspectives</a></strong></span> about how acrophobia develops. Broadly, fears and phobias are either innate (evolutionary perspective) or learned (behaviourist perspective).</p> <p><strong>Are we born with a fear of heights?</strong></p> <p>According to the <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://www.iep.utm.edu/evol-psy/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">evolutionary psychology perspective</a></strong></span>, fears and phobias are innate. That is, people can experience a fear of heights <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0005796797100377" target="_blank" rel="noopener">without direct (or indirect) contact</a></strong></span> with heights. Instead, acrophobia is somehow hardwired so people have this fear before they <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/000579679390093A" target="_blank" rel="noopener">first come into contact</a></strong></span> with heights.</p> <p>Evolutionary psychologists suggest people who are afraid of heights are more likely to escape from this potentially dangerous situation or avoid it altogether. By doing this, they are then more likely to survive and later reproduce, allowing them to pass on their genes. Researchers suggest that as a result, this fear has been passed down from generation to generation.</p> <p>But this mechanism cannot account for all phobias. Innate phobias must reflect objects or situations that have presented a <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0005796701000456" target="_blank" rel="noopener">long-term threat to human survival</a></strong></span>. Avoiding the object or situation must also increase opportunities for reproduction.</p> <p>While the evolutionary perspective may explain phobias such as a fear of heights or snakes, it has difficulty explaining phobias associated with going to the dentist or public speaking.</p> <p><strong>Do we learn to be afraid of heights?</strong></p> <p>According to <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://www.iep.utm.edu/behavior/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">behaviourists</a></strong></span>, fears and phobias are learnt, most commonly due to what’s known as <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/thoughtful-animal/what-is-classical-conditioning-and-why-does-it-matter/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">classical conditioning</a></strong></span>.</p> <p>To demonstrate how <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/014664029290010L" target="_blank" rel="noopener">classical conditioning of phobias</a></strong></span> occurs, consider the following scenario.</p> <p>Imagine you climbed a tree for the first time. What is your reaction to being up a tree? According to the behaviourist perspective, you’d be unlikely to be afraid. But if you then fell from the tree, you would likely experience distress and fear.</p> <p>A behaviourist would expect that because the experience of being up high is followed by the trauma of falling, you may then learn to associate the negative event with heights.</p> <p>Because of these learnt associations between heights and trauma, behaviourists suggest people can then be afraid of heights in future encounters.</p> <p>The behaviourist perspective also has some problems. It finds it difficult to explain why people who have never been exposed to an object or situation can report a phobia. For example there are no snakes in New Zealand, but there are people in New Zealand with <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="https://www.mentalhealth.org.nz/get-help/a-z/resource/24/phobias" target="_blank" rel="noopener">snake phobias</a></strong></span>.</p> <p>Behaviourists also suggest fears and phobias can also be learnt <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0272735808000901" target="_blank" rel="noopener">vicariously</a></strong></span>. So behaviourists suggest it may be that some people in New Zealand may have learnt their fear of snakes by hearing stories from other people with a fear of snakes.</p> <p>In reality, the best explanation may be a mix of both behaviourist and evolutionary perspectives.</p> <p><strong>Can it be treated?</strong></p> <p>In treatment, both evolutionary and behaviourist accounts draw on <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0887618509000280" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the behaviourist perspective of how fears and phobias are learnt</a></strong></span>.</p> <p>Systematic desensitisation (or exposure therapy) is a <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="https://www.mja.com.au/journal/2017/206/6/systematic-review-and-meta-analysis-treatments-acrophobia" target="_blank" rel="noopener">commonly used therapy</a></strong></span> for various phobias, whether the fear is innate or learnt.</p> <p>It involves <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="https://theconversation.com/how-virtual-reality-spiders-are-helping-people-face-their-arachnophobia-73769" target="_blank" rel="noopener">gradual exposure</a></strong></span> to the feared object or situation in a safe and controlled environment. This is so that when coming into contact with the feared object or situation, people learn that they are not in danger and no longer experience a phobic response.</p> <p><em>Written by Rebekah Boynton and Anne Swinbourne. Republished with permission of <a href="http://theconversation.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">The Conversation</span>.</strong></a> </em></p> <p><em>Image: Getty</em></p>

Mind

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"I want people to be afraid of the women I dress": the celebrated – and often controversial – designs of Alexander McQueen

<p>Alexander McQueen: Mind, Mythos, Muse was first conceived at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. </p> <p>That museum, like many around the world, is being <a href="https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/story/2022-10-13/lacma-funding-news-update-construction">completely redeveloped</a> to embrace not just spectacular new buildings, but new attitudes towards museum collections. </p> <p>Gone are the boundaries between materials, forms, cultures, nationalities and hierarchies of the arts. No more gallery of, say, “18th century North American silver” or “Medieval and Renaissance art in the European North”. Instead, arts from varied times, places and hierarchies all sit together. </p> <p>An exhibition of the work of Alexander McQueen (1968-2010) was an interesting response to this challenge of a new museum, which also highlighted the relatively late arrival of fashion as a category worthy of study in the global museum. </p> <p>It paired garments by McQueen – many specially donated by one woman collector – with the rich Los Angeles County Museum of Art collections in order to suggest the ways in which McQueen had generated his ideas. </p> <p>Now the exhibition has come to the National Gallery of Victoria, with most of the McQueens on display here donated by Melbourne fashion philanthropist Krystyna Campbell Pretty.</p> <h2>Flourishing postmodernism</h2> <p>This new show is extensive. We have 120 McQueen looks and 80 other works of art. Paintings and decorative arts star in this show, notably the spectacular Jean-Baptiste Greuze painting of a young French actress in Turkish-style dress, on loan from Los Angeles.</p> <p>The visual pairings, which range from 18th century English porcelain figures to lavish Russian gold-woven cloths, drive much of the tempo. </p> <p>Important loans from the Los Angeles County Museum of Art are joined by treasures from the NGV, including a spectacular Morris embroidered wall cloth and the Netherlandish flower paintings that contain within them the idea of memento mori – remember that you die.</p> <p>Lee Alexander McQueen was born in 1968, so he was young in the 1980s, absorbing all the flashes of art, design and culture in which postmodernism flourished. </p> <p>Working-class, McQueen did not first go to art school as his middle-class counterparts might. Instead, he apprenticed in Savile Row, the epicentre of bespoke British tailoring, mastering the cut of jackets and trousers.</p> <p>He became so technically proficient that when he applied to tutor technique at art school he was invited to enrol in a Masters. </p> <p>And so the celebrated – and often controversial – McQueen high fashion design was born.</p> <h2>An immersive experience</h2> <p>As well as new ways of dressing for women, McQueen gave us new ways of representing fashion: high concept runways, fashion films, live screenings and putting Paralympian Aimee Mullins on the runway, generating new modes of beauty.</p> <p>At the NGV we have a fully immersive experience and bold scenography.</p> <p>“Mythos” examines three collections through the filter of mythology and theology. McQueen loved to make the present strange by incorporating elements from religious practice, even prejudice, from the past. </p> <p>Everything from angels to demons, from witch burning to Catholic rites might be incorporated for design, fabrication or the runway. </p> <p>These go past simply being artistic source material to generate new ways of looking and appearing for women. “I want people to be afraid of the women I dress,” he said.</p> <p>This exhibition celebrates McQueen’s technical bravura across both tailoring and soft dressmaking, two categories of making clothes that were often conducted separate from the other in the west. </p> <p>Intimate backstage photographs are shown, indicating how the clothes were really worn by models and friends. Here the “muse” is no longer a house model or elegant confidant, but rather a whole set of cultural reflections.</p> <p>The third and final section is called “Fashion Narratives”. Here we see a visual imagination ranging across Siberia, Tibet and other exotic locales.</p> <p>McQueen might, in this section, be accused of cultural appropriation, but this would be unfair. </p> <p>Rather than appropriation, his fashion designs were about fantasy, and fantasy put to good ends, making things from gender to place to sexuality off centre or strange, so we are aware of the fragile accord we have between our identities and our appearances. </p> <p>As Catherine Brickhill, the first designer employed by McQueen to work on his label notes in the catalogue, McQueen, "delved deep into the differences between our culture and other cultures. It wasn’t cultural appropriation, but an openness to and curiosity to be explored and celebrated."</p> <p>Other narratives in this section include the most controversial ones that swirled around McQueen, notably <a href="https://blog.metmuseum.org/alexandermcqueen/tag/highland-rape/">Highland Rape collection</a>, in which McQueen suggested the appearance of Scottish widows during the Highland Wars in ripped and tattered clothes.</p> <p>It would be as silly to accuse McQueen of misogyny here as it would to claim Elsa Schiaparelli hated women for dressing them in <a href="https://spikeartmagazine.com/?q=articles/tears-dress-elsa-schiaparelli-and-salvador-dali">ripped dresses</a> suggestive of assault or accident in the 1930s. </p> <p>Instead, McQueen gives us clothes not just as theatre but as “choreographed deception”, in which male and female elements come together to cancel the other out.</p> <h2>Beyond good</h2> <p>In an era of increasing specialisation, vocational training and narrow fields of research and investigation, this exhibit shows us how a great designer goes beyond good.</p> <p>It shows us how his vision extended well beyond clothes to how they were imagined, and how women might imagine themselves, at all times.</p> <p>When you wear trousers with a very low rear; slip on a <a href="https://textilefocus.com/overview-digital-textile-printing-technology/">digitally printed</a> fabric or has allusions to nature – crystals, leaves, water; wear an asymmetrical outfit with slightly extended shoulders; don impossible shoes to your New Year’s party; or put on an eyeshadow that makes you look like a hummingbird: McQueen was there first. </p> <p>Alexander McQueen: Mind, Mythos, Muse is at NGV International, Melbourne, until April 16 2023.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p> <p><em>This article originally appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.com/i-want-people-to-be-afraid-of-the-women-i-dress-the-celebrated-and-often-controversial-designs-of-alexander-mcqueen-194731" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>. </em></p>

Beauty & Style

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Don’t be afraid to pass your first language, and accent, to your kids. It could be their superpower

<p>Australia is a multicultural society. There are different traditions, cultures, accents and languages all over the country.</p> <p>The latest Census data show almost 30% of Australians speak a language other than English, or English and another language, at home.</p> <p>In our latest survey, we have had responses from 281 multilingual families across Australia, who speak a variety of languages at home. They include Arabic, Vietnamese, Mandarin, Teo Chew and Spanish.</p> <p>We found many first-generation migrant parents are hesitant to pass on their first language to their children. This is because they believe a different language at home will give their children a foreign accent. Yet some parents also feel if they speak English to their children, their children will pick up their own accented English.</p> <p>This can leave some parents in somewhat of a catch-22, feeling that no matter what, their children will be faced with the same discrimination as them.</p> <p>But it’s important to speak to your children in your own language, and your own accent. By being exposed to multiple ways of communicating, children learn multiple ways of thinking.</p> <p>They learn to understand that everyone plays different roles, has different identities; and that others may speak or look different.</p> <p><strong>Bias against foreign languages</strong><br />Research suggests people are highly biased in their preferences for certain accents and languages. According to the linguistic stereotyping hypothesis, hearing just a few seconds of an accent associated with a lower-prestige group can activate a host of associations.</p> <p>Hearing a stereotypical “foreign accent”, for example, can lead people to immediately think of that person as being uneducated, inarticulate or untrustworthy.</p> <p>These kinds of biases develop early in life. In a 2009 study, five-year-old children chose to be friends with native speakers of their native language rather than those who spoke a foreign language or had an accent.</p> <p>One hypothesis is that this is due to our broader survival mechanism. Babies learn early to tune in more to the voice of their caregiver rather than a stranger’s voice. This means they are better able to detect when they are in a dangerous situation.</p> <p>However, over time, these stranger-danger associations become stereotypes, which can lead us to hear or see what we expect. When we get older, we need to unlearn our biases that once kept us safe to become more accepting of others.In Australia, there is systematic discrimination towards speakers of Australian Aboriginal English, as well as towards speakers of “ethnolects”, which are a way of speaking characteristic of a particular ethnic group — such as Greek, Italian or Lebanese.</p> <p><span class="attribution"><a href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/arabian-family-portrait-park-792334939" class="source"></a></span>When people hear these accents, they may think that person does not speak English well. But having an accent is special: it signals you are multilingual and you have the experience of having grown up with multiple cultural influences.</p> <p><strong>Accentuate the positive</strong><br />Many of the parents we surveyed felt hesitant to speak multiple languages at home, or felt their efforts were not being supported at school.</p> <p>One parent told us:</p> <blockquote> <p><em>Instead of helping her (my daughter) develop the language, all primary teachers assessed her language in comparison with the monolinguals and demanded to cut the other languages “to improve” the school language.</em></p> <p><em>I would not have dared to experiment here in Australia with the kid’s second language. The peer pressure, the teacher’s pressure and the lack of language schools are main factors.</em></p> </blockquote> <p>But over the centuries, some of the world’s brightest people, such as author Joseph Conrad spoke with a strong accent. Many others, such as Vladimir Nabokov, Gustavo Pérez-Firmat and Eva Hoffman (who wrote Lost in Translation in her second language) harnessed the benefits of being bilingual to produce astounding literary works, drawing on the different “voices” in their heads to act out different characters.</p> <p>In this way, a second language can be a superpower.</p> <p>Children who can speak several languages tend to have higher levels of empathy. They also find it easier to learn languages later in life.</p> <p>Multilingual exposure facilitates interpersonal understanding among babies and young children. This social advantage appears to emerge from merely being exposed to multiple languages, rather than being bilingual per se.</p> <p>Being multilingual is also an amazing workout for the brain: speaking multiple languages throughout your life can help delay the onset of dementia and cognitive decline.</p> <p><br /><strong>Parents’ confidence translates to children</strong></p> <p>Research shows migrant parents who feel pressured to speak to their children in their non-native language feel less secure in their role as parents. But if they feel supported in using their first language, they feel more confident as parents, which in turn has a positive effect on children’s well-being.</p> <p>We found migrant parents who do raise their children in more than one language report feeling good about passing on their culture to their children, and feel they have given them an advantage in life. They also feel as though their children are more connected to their extended family.</p> <p><strong>So, what could you do?</strong><br />Here are some ways you could help your children keep their native language, and accent, alive:</p> <ul> <li> <p>check out your local library or BorrowBox for books or audiobooks in different languages</p> </li> <li> <p>connect with other multilingual families on social media for virtual or face-to-face playdates</p> </li> <li> <p>schedule video chats with grandparents and extended family members. Encourage them to speak their language with your child</p> </li> <li> <p>find out if your child’s preschool has a program for learning a new language, or check out <em>Little Multilingual Minds</em>. If your child is older, encourage them to take up a language in primary or high school. It’s never too late.</p> </li> </ul> <p>One parent shared their strategy for helping their child speak in different languages and accents:</p> <blockquote> <p><em>I play games with accents, one child is learning French, the other Italian, so I play games with them about the pronunciation of words and get them to teach me words in the language they are learning and emphasise the accent.</em></p> </blockquote> <p>We hope linguistic diversity becomes the status quo. This way, all children will gain cultural awareness and sensitivity. They will become more attuned to their evolving identities, and accept others may have identities different to their own.</p> <p><em>Written by Chloé Diskin-Holdaway and Paola Escudero. This article first appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.com/dont-be-afraid-to-pass-your-first-language-and-accent-to-your-kids-it-could-be-their-superpower-143093">The Conversation</a>.</em></p>

Mind

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"Don't be afraid of COVID": Donald Trump leaves hospital

<p>US President Donald Trump has announced that he will be leaving hospital and returning to the White House within hours after being diagnosed with coronavirus.</p> <p>He shared the news on Instagram, saying he felt "really good".</p> <p>"I will be leaving the great Walter Reed Medical Center today at 6:30 P.M," he said.</p> <p>"Feeling really good! Don’t be afraid of Covid. Don’t let it dominate your life. We have developed, under the Trump Administration, some really great drugs &amp; knowledge. I feel better than I did 20 years ago!"</p> <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/CF-Unc7MJQl/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;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="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;"><a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CF-Unc7MJQl/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">I will be leaving the great Walter Reed Medical Center today at 6:30 P.M. Feeling really good! Don’t be afraid of Covid. Don’t let it dominate your life. We have developed, under the Trump Administration, some really great drugs &amp; knowledge. I feel better than I did 20 years ago!</a></p> <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 post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/realdonaldtrump/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank"> President Donald J. Trump</a> (@realdonaldtrump) on Oct 5, 2020 at 12:35pm PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>The President's physician Dr Sean Conley has endorsed the President's move to leave the hospital, which has surprised many medical experts.</p> <p>“Though he may not be entirely out of the woods yet, the team and I agree that all his evaluations and, most importantly, his clinical status support his return home, where he’ll be surrounded by world class medical care 24/7,” Dr Conley told reporters in his most recent briefing on Mr Trump’s condition today.</p> <p>He also explained that it had been more than 72 hours since Trump had a fever and that his oxygen levels were normal.</p> <p>“Over the past 24 hours, the President had continued to improve. He’s met or exceeded all standard hospital discharge criteria,” said Dr Conley.</p> <p>“He’ll receive another dose of remdesivir here today, and then we plan to get him home.”</p> <p>After being diagnosed, Trump received a variety of therapies, including the antiviral drug remdesivir, supplemental oxygen and a mix of antibodies developed by pharmaceutical company Regeneron.</p> <p>The White House chief of staff Mark Meadows said that Trump has "continued to improve overnight and is ready to get back to a normal working schedule".</p> <p>“[The president] will meet with his doctors and nurses this morning to make further assessments of his progress,” Meadows said, according to Fox News’ John Roberts.</p> <p>“We are still optimistic that he will be able to return to the White House later today.”</p> <p>There are still positive cases in Trump's inner circle, including his wife Melanie, his aide Hope Hicks, his campaign manager Bill Stepien and more than half a dozen others from his circle both inside and outside the White House.</p> <p>Trump has been criticised for how he has handled the coronavirus pandemic, as America has the world's biggest reported coronavirus death toll at 210,000 deaths. </p>

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"'The virus is afraid of Betty!"

<p>Fans around the world have rejoiced with the news that Golden Girl legend Betty White is safe and well amid the coronavirus pandemic.</p> <p>White, 98, is self-isolating in her home in California, with visits from animal friends, including ducks.</p> <p>"No one permitted in except those who must. Has helpers who are great with her," White's rep said in an email to<span> </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.today.com/popculture/betty-white-doing-very-well-despite-coronavirus-pandemic-t182392" target="_blank">Today</a>.</p> <p>"The animal community is watching over her," White's publicist said, adding, "The virus is afraid of Betty!"</p> <p><span>Her friend Tom Sullivan confirmed to </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.closerweekly.com/posts/betty-white-gushes-shes-blessed-with-incredibly-good-health/" target="_blank">Closer</a><span> that she is also keeping her mind active during the lockdown.</span></p> <p>“She reads the L.A. Times cover to cover,” he said.</p> <p>“She owns literally thousands of crossword puzzle books and is constantly doing them to keep her mind jumping. This is really serious with her.”</p> <p>As well as keeping her mind active, White has been relaxing with a cocktail or two.</p> <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/BHvKyGOgpwy/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;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/BHvKyGOgpwy/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Betty White (@bettymwhite)</a> on Jul 11, 2016 at 2:54pm PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>“Betty loves to joke that vodka keeps her young,” her friend says with a laugh.</p> <p>“She loves the image of her sitting at home in a rocking chair, drinking a martini and watching game shows, but she’s not really a big drinker. That’s not her. She’ll only take a few sips of a cocktail if the occasion calls for it.”</p> <p>White also has a message to the world.</p> <p>“Betty’s message to the world is to slow down and enjoy what you have: family, friends, your pets,” says the friend.</p> <p>“She says that the pandemic is serious, but we have come through worse. It’s Mother Nature’s way of telling us all to slow down.”</p> <p>White has spent 80 years working in television and has the longest career in the history of television.</p>

TV

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Why you shouldn’t be afraid of dying alone

<p><em><strong>Glenys Caswell is a sociologist and Senior Research Fellow at the University of Nottingham. Her research focuses on social management of dying and death.</strong></em></p> <p>It seems so obvious that no one should die alone that we never talk about it, but people do often die when they are alone. Sometimes they die in a way that suggests they prefer to be alone as they are coming to the end of their lives. So is it really such a bad thing to be alone when you die?</p> <p>When a person is dying in a hospital or a care home it is common for the nurses caring for them to summon their family. Many people will have the experience of trying to <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.2190/OM.55.3.d" target="_blank">keep vigil beside a family member</a></strong></span>. It is hard – as everyday life goes on regardless – and it can be emotionally exhausting. Sometimes, the relative will die when their family have gone to make a phone call or get a cup of tea, leaving the family feeling distressed and guilty for not being there when they died.</p> <p>There is plenty of research literature, from many countries, devoted to trying to decide <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0885392415001578" target="_blank">what makes a good death</a></strong></span>. There are differences to be found between countries, but similarities too. One similarity is a belief that <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S106474811600138X?via%3Dihub" target="_blank">no one should die alone</a></strong></span>.</p> <p>This idea sits well with the view of dying that can be found in many different places. When interviewed as research participants, health professionals – and <strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2904589/" target="_blank">nurses in particular</a></span> </strong>– commonly say that no one should die alone. There are also many cultural references that suggest that to die alone is a bad thing. Consider, for example, the death of Ebenezer Scrooge in Dickens’s <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong><a href="https://www.gutenberg.org/files/46/46-h/46-h.htm" target="_blank">A Christmas Carol</a></strong></em></span>, or the death of Nemo, the law writer in <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong><a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/files/1023/1023-h/1023-h.htm" target="_blank">Bleak House</a></strong></em></span>. These are both sad, dark, lonely deaths of a kind to be avoided.</p> <p>Celebrity deaths, such as those of comedian and actress <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2016/apr/20/victoria-wood-dies-aged-62-comedian" target="_blank">Victoria Wood</a></strong></span> or <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-35278872" target="_blank">David Bowie</a></strong></span>, are described in the news as peaceful or good when they are surrounded by family. Ordinary people who die alone make the news when the person’s body is undiscovered for a long time. When this happens the death is likely to be described in <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S027795360300577X?via%3Dihub" target="_blank">negative terms</a></strong></span>, such as shocking, lonely, tragic or as a sad indictment of society.</p> <p><strong>Some people prefer to be alone</strong></p> <p>Of course, it may be the case that many people would prefer to have their family around them when they are dying. But there is <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/21582041.2015.1114663" target="_blank">evidence</a></strong></span> that suggests that some people would <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0277953615003482?via%3Dihub" target="_blank">prefer to be alone</a></strong></span> as they are coming to the end of their lives.</p> <p>My own <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/13576275.2017.1413542" target="_blank">research</a></strong></span> found that while hospice-at-home nurses believe that no one should die alone, they had seen cases where a person died after their family members had left the bedside. The nurses believed that some people just want to be on their own when they are dying. They also thought that people may have a measure of control over when they die, and choose to do so when their family are not around.</p> <p>In the same study, I also talked to older people who were living alone to find out their views about dying alone. I was intrigued to learn that dying alone was not seen as something that is automatically bad, and for some of the older people it was to be preferred. For some people in this group, dying was not the worst thing that could happen – being trapped in a care home was considered to be far worse than dying alone.</p> <p>Cultural representations of dying suggest that being alone while dying is a dreadful thing. This view is supported by healthcare policy and the practices of health professionals, such as nurses. But we all know people who prefer to be left alone when they are ill. Is it so surprising then that some might wish to be alone when they are dying?</p> <p>It is time we began to talk about this and to accept that we want different things in our dying as we do in our living. Openness created through discussion might also help to remove some of the guilt that family members feel when they miss the moment of their relative’s death.</p> <p><em>Written by Glenys Caswell. Republished with the permission of <a href="https://theconversation.com/" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">The Conversation</span></strong></a>.<img width="1" height="1" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/90034/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-advanced" alt="The Conversation"/> </em></p>

Caring

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Why so many Aussie adults are afraid of the dark

<p>Does being home alone at night make you nervous? Take comfort in the fact that you’re not the only one.</p> <p>According to a survey of 1000 Australians conducted by Philips Lighting, 72 per cent of adults are afraid of the dark, with the garage labelled the scariest room in the house, followed by hallways and loungerooms.</p> <p>For a third of people, the fear of the dark is so intense that they do not feel safe in their homes at night.</p> <p>Clinical psychologist Corrie Ackland told news.com.au the adult fears are not dissimilar to childhood fears of the dark.</p> <p>“You just can’t see what’s there so the mind races and gives many suggestions of what could be there ... The childhood version is monsters, but even in adulthood we might still fear intruders or other things that can hurt us when we’re asleep and vulnerable,” she said.</p> <p>“Things like movies, that give negative associations of the dark, prime the brain to think it’s more likely that situation will arise,” she added.</p> <p>When we’re fearful, two things happen every time to our bodies.</p> <p>“The first one is this immediate physical activation a lot of people would recognise as an anxiety response. Increased breathing, increased heart rate, you might be a bit shaky — basically, the body is preparing to escape,” she explained.</p> <p>“At the same time, the brain is racing to get more information about the situation.”</p> <p>However, it’s important that people realise the difference between fears and clinic phobias.</p> <p>“Fear is a normal response to an actual threat in our environment, but phobias step beyond that and may be irrational concerns,” she told news.com.au.</p> <p>“Phobias are extreme things that make us go a long way out of our way to avoid those scenarios. Then there are subclinical fears, like a fear of darkness, where there might not be a danger, but we’re not feeling comfortable and we might avoid it.”</p> <p>While many Aussies may fear the dark, the actual number of people with clinical phobias of the dark is more likely closer to the 10 per cent mark. </p>

Mind

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Why men shouldn’t be afraid of therapy

<p>Don't be afraid, guys. You've got this.</p> <p>There's a perception that men aren't well suited to talk-therapies. That they squirm when asked about their feelings, struggle to articulate their thoughts, run out of things to say.</p> <p>That spending an hour with a counsellor would just be an awkward waste of beer money.</p> <p>It's not true. Men who step up willingly to "see someone" professionally – and it can take some courage the first time – make great clients and most report it to be a helpful experience.</p> <p>Here's what one man said:</p> <p><em>Him: That (session) was good. I was scared I'd have to lie on some stranger's couch pouring out my feelings.</em></p> <p><em>Me: Well, you sort of did. Without the lying down part.</em></p> <p><em>Him: That's so weird. I couldn't shut myself up.</em></p> <p><strong>But men don't go to the doctor</strong></p> <p>Statistically men are about a third less likely as women to go their GP so it follows they may be even more reluctant to see a mental health professional – for reasons of stigma, embarrassment and shame, as well as the usual raft of "I'm too busy" and "I'll just tough it out."</p> <p>It's concerning, given that the numbers of psychiatric disorders are almost identical between genders and male suicide statistics are significantly higher than female. And it's more worrying still when you factor in the lack of opportunities men have to talk about their "soft" issues -  feelings, relationships, struggles and fears.</p> <p>The simple truth is that (most) men don't talk easily about such things because society doesn't set them up for it.</p> <p>Boys don't have the same opportunities as girls to hone their emotional skills. They don't cluster from an early age to talk through problems so they don't hear and share feelings the way girls do; nor do they get the same practise at articulating what they are thinking and feeling. Later, as men, it can disadvantage them emotionally. When difficulties arise in their lives, men are unlikely to share them down at the pub: instead, they bottle them.</p> <p>It can make men feel very alone with their problems -  and unable to see a way forward. Which, as the statistics indicate, can have serious consequences.</p> <p><strong>What do men talk about?</strong></p> <p>Interestingly, when men do seek help of their own accord, they are often disarmingly honest and thirsty for information. Often they just want to know how it is for other guys, to make sure they are "normal".</p> <p>The most common issues for men are work and relationships; difficulties in either area is often the trigger for seeking help.</p> <p><strong>1. Work</strong> – Being laid off, redundancy, retirement or just a feeling that your career has stalled can be a huge psychological blow, as can "losing your way" at work or in life - not having a purpose or clear goals to work towards.</p> <p><strong>2. Relationships</strong> – Dating, relationships and sex can be extremely confusing. With men overrepresented in the violence, abuse and adultery statistics, men who want to do the right thing often don't know what's acceptable in relationships.</p> <p>I've seen a number of men over the years who were being horribly emotionally abused by their partners, but had no idea it was wrong, that their relationship was any different from the next guy. Sadly, they were nearly in pieces by the time they sought help.</p> <p>Don't be that guy! If you are wondering about therapy, here are the keys to getting started.</p> <p><strong>Three keys to success</strong></p> <p><strong>1. You must WANT to be there</strong> – It's like the old "you can drag a horse to water but you can't make them drink" philosophy. Not that men are horses, but you get my point. Any person told or made to see someone won't benefit -  they may even be put off for life - so partners and parents should hint, suggest, open doors - but not force. Everyone will end up unhappy, even the therapist.</p> <p><strong>2. Find a therapist you LIKE</strong> – Check their qualifications and testimonials first. But research consistently points to the importance of a good therapeutic relationship in positive outcomes. If you don't feel comfortable with someone, it's okay to move on. Therapists won't be hurt -  they want a good match too.</p> <p><strong>3. Ask for TOOLS</strong> – Men often respond best to practical therapies; they want tools to fix things and they like to have something to DO. Many women do too, but men particularly step up when they have a task at hand. So before you commit, ask if it's a practical type of therapy -  and be prepared to do some homework.</p> <p>Remember, therapy is not scary. It's not about lying on a stranger's couch and delving into the inner reaches of your inner anything. It's about building self-understanding and gathering up a set of tools to build your resilience and help you through difficult times.</p> <p>So don't put your pride (or other excuses) before a fall – or worse, a crash. Real men are allowed to have real problems. Where's the shame in that?</p> <p><em>Written by Karen Nimmo. Republished with permission of <a href="http://www.stuff.co.nz/" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Stuff.co.nz</span></strong></a>.</em></p>

Mind

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5 actors who were too afraid to accept iconic movie roles

<p>There are various reasons why actors have shied away from accepting iconic roles whether that be due to the scariness of a script or fear or rejection from the industry and fans. Here are five actors who passed on famous movie roles.</p> <p><strong>1. Michelle Pfeiffer – Clarice Starling in <em>Silence of the Lambs</em></strong></p> <p>Michelle passed on the role in this thriller because she was overwhelmed by the darkness and violence in the script. The director of the film, Jonathan Demme, had worked with Michelle previously and was disappointed as she was his first pick for the role. He went through a number of other actresses before selecting Jodie Foster for the role.</p> <p><strong>2. Jeremy Irons – Dr Hannibal Lecter in <em>Silence of the Lambs</em></strong></p> <p>Jeremy also turned down the opportunity to work on <em>Silence of the Lambs</em> as Dr Hannibal due to the dark plot and because he was involved in other projects as a villain. He told the <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/7429531/Jeremy-Irons-interview.html" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Daily Telegraph</span></strong></a>, “I like doing edgy things, but at the time I had just done Dead Ringers was about to star in Reversal of Fortune. I thought I just can’t do it; I’m already too far down this road.’”</p> <p><strong>3. Bette Midler – Deloris Van Cartier/Sister Mary Clarence in<em> Sister Act</em></strong></p> <p>The role made famous by Whoopi Goldberg was originally lined up for Bette Midler. She explained she turned down the role because she believed fans wouldn’t want to see her portray a nun. When talking about her career regrets Bette told <a href="http://metro.co.uk/2010/08/04/cats-dogs-bette-midler-lindsay-lohan-has-gone-off-the-deep-end-469274/" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Metro</span></strong></a>, “There was <em>Sister Act</em>, which was written for me, but I said: ‘My fans don’t want to see me in a wimple.’ I don’t know where I got that from. Why would I say such a thing?”</p> <p><strong>4. Denzel Washington – Detective David Mills in<em> Se7en</em></strong></p> <p>Denzel Washington is an internationally renowned actor and has won two Oscars. When talking with <a href="http://www.gq.com/story/denzel-washington-interview-gq-october-2012" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">GQ</span></strong></a> the star explained that he regrets not working on David Fincher’s <em>Se7en</em> which is about a serial killer who uses the seven deadly sins as inspiration for his murders. The star turned down the role due to the dark nature of the plot.</p> <p><strong>5. John Lithgow – Seth Brundle in <em>The Fly</em></strong></p> <p>John’s agent wanted him to play Brundle but the star did not want to play the monster who morphs into a man-sized fly. John told <a href="http://www.indiewire.com/2014/05/john-lithgow-says-he-turned-down-david-cronenbergs-the-fly-because-it-was-icky-and-grotesque-86380/" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">In Magazine</span> </strong></a>that he found the movie to be an “icky story” and that “he didn’t want to play something so grotesque”.</p> <p>Can you imagine these actors starring in these roles? Let us know in the comments below. </p>

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