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New research proves travelling can slow down the ageing process

<p>It turns out that going on holiday is good for you in more ways than one. </p> <p>According to new research conducted at Edith Cowan University in Western Australia, travelling can actually slow the ageing process both physically and mentally.</p> <p>The study, published in the <a title="Journal of Travel Research" href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/00472875241269892#:~:text=The%20principle%20of%20entropy%20increase%20provides%20a%20dynamic%20perspective%20to,Silva%20%26%20Annamalai%2C%202008)." target="_blank" rel="noopener">Journal of Travel Research</a>, is believed to be the first-ever that applied the theory of entropy - the general trend of the universe towards death and disorder – to tourism.</p> <p>"Tourism isn't just about leisure and recreation. It could also contribute to people's physical and mental health," ECU PhD candidate Fangli Hu said.</p> <p>"Ageing, as a process, is irreversible. While it can't be stopped, it can be slowed down."</p> <p>According to the research, travelling, exploring new corners of the world and engaging in unique and relaxing activities can stimulate stress responses and elevate metabolic rates, positively influencing metabolic activities and the body's self-organising capabilities.</p> <p>"Leisurely travel activities might help alleviate chronic stress, dampen over-activation of the immune system, and encourage normal functioning of the self-defence system," Fangli added.</p> <p>While some people prefer relaxing holidays, others prefer to stay on their feet and keep active during their travels, enjoying the many well-known benefits of exercise.</p> <p>It can "enhance the body's immune function and self-defence capabilities, bolstering its hardiness to external risks".</p> <p>In response to their study, the experts suggested that "travel therapy could serve as a groundbreaking health intervention."</p> <p>Despite the positive results of the research, experts also warned that travelling can exposed to infectious diseases, accidents, injuries, violence, water and food safety issues, and concerns related to inappropriate tourism engagement, which in turn will have the opposite effect on our health.</p> <p>"Conversely, tourism can involve negative experiences that potentially lead to health problems, paralleling the process of promoting entropy increase," Fangli said.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Shutterstock </em></p>

Travel Tips

Simon Dorante-Day calls for "four-way paternity test" to prove royal lineage

<p>Simon Dorante-Day has called for a "four-way paternity test" to prove his royal lineage, while also casting doubt on if Prince William and Prince Harry are actually sons of the monarch. </p> <p>The Queensland man, who has been claiming to be the secret son of King Charles and Queen Camilla since 2005, has called for an official DNA test to prove his claims in a lengthy Facebook post. </p> <p>Dorante-Day's post highlights a photo comparison of himself, King Charles and William and Harry as evidence supporting his demand for answers from the royal family. </p> <p>“This comparison of William, Myself, Charles, and Harry demonstrates something very clearly, there is no consistency. The fact that the left side of my face identically matches Charles whilst neither William nor Harry’s does, raises the obvious question, just who are Charles’s real sons?”</p> <p>"This is why my wife, Dr. Elvianna, and I believe a 4-way Paternity test is the only way to resolve this issue once and for all. The truth of the game that has been played by the Monarchy, the Government, and the Establishment for 58 years needs to be exposed."</p> <p>"It's not just what happened to me as a child, and what I remember from growing up in England, but it’s also what’s happened since to myself, my wife, and my children in Australia that supports our argument. These covert and illegitimate activities that are targeted towards us constantly are an attempt to stop us on this journey, nothing more. They will not succeed. They will only strengthen our argument and provides us with evidence to demonstrate what has occurred, in a court room, to judges."</p> <p>"My question to all of you is how will you truly react when you hear the truth of what has occurred? Would you still want them on the throne?"</p> <p>Dorante-Day was born in Portsmouth in the UK in 1966, and was adopted at just eight months old. According to his claims, his adoptive mother, who worked for Queen Elizabeth II confessed on her death bed that he was the son of Charles and Camilla.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Facebook</em></p>

Family & Pets

Drinking lots of water may seem like a healthy habit – here’s when and why it can prove toxic

<div class="theconversation-article-body"><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/adam-taylor-283950">Adam Taylor</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/lancaster-university-1176">Lancaster University</a></em></p> <p>In late 2023, actor <a href="https://www.glamour.com/story/brooke-shields-recently-experienced-a-full-blown-seizure-and-bradley-cooper-came-running?utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=social&utm_content=instagram-bio-link&client_service_id=31196&client_service_name=glamour&service_user_id=1.78e+16&supported_service_name=instagram_publishing&utm_brand=glm&utm_social_type=owned">Brooke Shields</a> suffered a seizure after “flooding” her body with water. Shields became dangerously low on sodium while preparing for her show by drinking loads of water. “I flooded my system and I drowned myself,” she would later explain. “And if you don’t have enough sodium in your blood or urine or your body, you can have a seizure.”</p> <p>Shields said she found herself walking around outside for “no reason at all”, wondering: “Why am I out here?”</p> <blockquote> <p>Then I walk into the restaurant and go to the sommelier who had just taken an hour to watch my run through. That’s when everything went black. Then my hands drop to my side and I go headfirst into the wall.</p> </blockquote> <p>Shields added that she was “frothing at the mouth, totally blue, trying to swallow my tongue”.</p> <p>Like Shields, many people may be unaware of the dangers of drinking excessive amounts of water – especially because hydration is so often associated with health benefits. Models and celebrities <a href="https://www.teenvogue.com/story/drinking-water-flawless-skin#:%7E:text=If%20you're%20reading%20a,long%20hours%20at%20a%20time.">often advocate</a> drinking lots of water to help maintain clear, smooth skin. Some <a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/75-hard-challenge-before-and-after-tiktok-b2382706.html">social media influencers</a> have promoted drinking a gallon of water daily for weight loss.</p> <p>But excessive water consumption can cause <a href="https://patient.info/treatment-medication/hyponatraemia-leaflet">hyponatraemia</a> – a potentially fatal condition of low sodium in the blood.</p> <h2>Worried about hydration levels? Check your urine</h2> <p>The body strictly regulates its water content to maintain the optimum level of <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2323003/">total body water</a> and “osmolality” – the concentration of dissolved particles in your blood. Osmolality increases when you are dehydrated and decreases when you have too much fluid in your blood.</p> <p>Osmolality is monitored by <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9074779/">osmoreceptors</a> that regulate sodium and water balance in the hypothalamus – the part of the brain that controls numerous hormones. These osmoreceptors signal the release of antidiuretic hormone (ADH), which acts on blood vessels and the kidneys to control the amount of water and salt in the body.</p> <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Qghf7Y9ILAs?wmode=transparent&start=0" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></figure> <p>In healthy people, the body releases ADH when osmolality becomes high. ADH tells the kidneys to reabsorb water, which makes urine more concentrated. The reabsorbed water dilutes the blood, bringing osmolality back to normal levels.</p> <p>Low blood osmolality suppresses the release of ADH, reducing how much water the kidneys reabsorb. This dilutes your urine, which the body then passes to rid itself of the excess water.</p> <p>Healthy urine should be clear and odourless. Darker, yellower urine with a noticeable odour can indicate dehydration – although medications and certain foods, including <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3433805/">asparagus</a>, can affect urine colour and odour, too.</p> <h2>How much is too much?</h2> <p>Adults should consume <a href="https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/eat-well/food-guidelines-and-food-labels/water-drinks-nutrition/">two-to-three litres per day</a>, of which around 20% comes from food. However, we can lose <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK236237/">up to ten litres</a> of water through perspiration – so sweating during exercise or in hot weather increases the amount of water we need to replace through drinking.</p> <p>Some medical conditions can cause overhydration. Approximately <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3616165/">one in five</a> schizophrenia patients drink water compulsively, a dangerous condition known as <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2024/apr/15/woman-died-mental-hospital-excessive-water-drinking-inquest#:%7E:text=Woman%20died%20at%20mental%20hospital%20after%20excessive%20water%20drinking%2C%20inquest%20told,-Parents%20of%20Lillian&text=A%20woman%20collapsed%20and%20died,water%2C%20an%20inquest%20has%20heard.">psychogenic polydipsia</a>. One long-term study found that patients with psychogenic polydipsia have a <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18984069/">“74% greater chance</a> of dying before a non-polydipsic patient”.</p> <p>In <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22306188/">some cases</a>, people with <a href="https://psychiatry-psychopharmacology.com/en/childhood-and-adolescence-disorders-psychogenic-polydipsia-in-an-adolescent-with-eating-disorder-a-case-report-132438">anorexia nervosa</a> can also suffer from compulsive water drinking.</p> <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ReQew2zcN7c?wmode=transparent&start=0" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></figure> <p>For those suffering from polydipsia, treatment is focused on medication to reduce the <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10675986/">urge to drink</a>, as well as <a href="https://www.uptodate.com/contents/overview-of-the-treatment-of-hyponatremia-in-adults/print">increasing sodium levels</a>. This should be done gradually to avoid causing <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK562251/">myelinolysis</a> – <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK551697/">neurological damage</a> caused by rapid changes in sodium levels in nerve cells.</p> <p>In rare but often highly publicised cases such as that of <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/november/13/newsid_2516000/2516593.stm">Leah Betts</a> in 1995, some users of the illegal drug MDMA (also known as <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6119400/">ecstasy)</a> have <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11265566/">died</a> after drinking copious amounts of water to rehydrate after dancing and sweating.</p> <p>The drug <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5008716/">increases body temperature</a>, so users drink water to avoid overheating. Unfortunately, MDMA also triggers the <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12105115/">unnecessary release of ADH</a>, causing water retention. The body becomes unable to rid itself of excess water, which affects its electrolyte levels – causing cells to swell with water.</p> <p>Symptoms of water intoxication start with nausea, vomiting, blurred vision and dizziness. As the condition progresses, sufferers can often display symptoms of <a href="https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/conditions/psychosis/symptoms/">psychosis</a>, such as inappropriate behaviour, confusion, delusions, disorientation and hallucinations.</p> <p>These symptoms are caused by <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK470386/">hyponatraemia</a>, where sodium levels are diluted or depleted in blood and the subsequent imbalance of electrolytes affects the nervous system. Water begins to move into the brain causing <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1572349604000149">a cerebral oedema</a> – brain swelling because of excessive fluid buildup, which is usually fatal if not treated.</p> <p>A healthy body will tell you when it needs water. If you’re thirsty and your urine is dark with a noticeable odour, then you need to drink more. If you aren’t thirsty and your urine is clear or the colour of light straw, then you’re already doing a good job of hydrating yourself.<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/228715/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /></p> <p><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/adam-taylor-283950"><em>Adam Taylor</em></a><em>, Professor and Director of the Clinical Anatomy Learning Centre, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/lancaster-university-1176">Lancaster University</a></em></p> <p><em>Image credits: Shutterstock</em></p> <p><em>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/drinking-lots-of-water-may-seem-like-a-healthy-habit-heres-when-and-why-it-can-prove-toxic-228715">original article</a>.</em></p> </div>

Body

Bunnings' inspired makeover proves a smash hit with Bluey fans

<p>Bunnings' latest <em>Bluey</em> inspired makeover has proven to be a hit among fans, as they brought to life part of the cartoon-world. </p> <p>The hardware giant collaborated with the hit children's cartoon and rebranded six of its Australian stores and one New Zealand outlet with the moniker "Hammerbarn."</p> <p>This is an homage to a popular episode with the same name, where the cartoon heelers go to a hardware store that looks exactly like Bunnings. </p> <p>“We’re excited to be working with BBC Studios and Ludo Studio to bring Hammerbarn to life in stores across the country,” says Ryan Baker, chief customer officer of Bunnings.</p> <p>The rebranding goes beyond the exterior with special Hammerbarn merch, Bluey-branded trolleys, and Bluey-themed workshops, meet-and-greets and scavenger hunts every weekend.</p> <p>“Our team across Australia have had kids and parents referring to Bunnings as Hammerbarn ever since the episode aired, so making this a reality in our stores for customers is really special," Baker said. </p> <p>“We wanted the Hammerbarn experience to be accessible to as many ‘Bluey’ fans and customers as we could, so it’s great to have a Hammerbarn transformation in each state – even down to the kids’ trolleys that have been rebranded."</p> <p>Hammerbarns resemblance to Bunnings is no coincidence as the episode reportedly took inspiration from a real store in Keperra, Queensland.</p> <p>“The design of Hammerbarn draws inspiration from the Bunnings Keperra store in Brisbane, the home of Bluey, which adds an extra layer of significance," Ludo Studios, the creators of the series said. </p> <p>“We are thrilled to offer fans the opportunity to experience Hammerbarn for real life; it’s everything we’ve ever wanted!”</p> <p><em>Images: Perth Now</em></p> <p> </p>

Home & Garden

"I want answers": Simon Dorante-Day's cunning plan to prove royal connections

<p>The Queensland man claiming to be the son of King Charles and Queen Camilla has shared his new plan to prove once and for all that he has royal family connections. </p> <p>Simon Dorante-Day has long claimed through his 30 years of research, he discovered that he is the illegitimate son of the monarch, and has attempted to prove his theory through various means. </p> <p>Now, his new plan to get his hands on royal DNA to unequivocally prove his family heritage involves another member of the royal family. </p> <p>Speaking with <a href="https://7news.com.au/lifestyle/aussie-man-claiming-to-be-charles-son-drops-new-prince-harry-dna-bombshell-c-13488374" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>7News</em></a>, the 57-year-old said he and his wife have been told by a “trusted source” that Prince Harry could be amenable to helping them gather proof.</p> <p>“We got advice from a really good, really trusted source that we should approach Harry and make a connection there and ask for DNA,” Elvianna said.</p> <p>Simon added, “I was really taken aback when he said that. But it’s definitely something I’m going to do. I’ve long been a supporter of Harry and Meghan, I think it’s disgraceful the way they’ve been treated by the royal family."</p> <p>“The way they are treated on social media too, it’s just one big ‘Punch-Meghan-and-Harry-a-thon’, seriously. It’s really starting to annoy me."</p> <p>He said he is planning to "make contact with him and explore this as an opportunity," pointing out that the royal family's treatment of Harry could make him more willing to help.</p> <p>"At the end of the day, I feel like he just might be as keen as I am to expose what Charles and Camilla and the powers that be have done to me. The injustice."</p> <p>“It’s worth me pointing out that Charles and Camilla, Buckingham Palace, the entire royal family - not one of them has ever said my claims are not true. They’ve never denied what I believe, told me I’m wrong."</p> <p>Simon said “the wheels are in motion” in terms of making contact with Prince Harry, and that he’s hopeful of a positive outcome.</p> <p>“I want answers,” he said. “And I feel Prince Harry is the man to help me find them.”</p> <p>“And I think their silence speaks volumes.”</p> <p>Simon said “the wheels are in motion” in terms of making contact with Prince Harry, and that he’s hopeful of a positive outcome.</p> <p>“I want answers,” he said. “And I feel Prince Harry is the man to help me find them.”</p> <p><em>Image credits: Facebook / Getty Images </em></p>

Family & Pets

Science finally proves "Money doesn't buy happiness"

<p>A new study has proven that the old adage "money can't buy you happiness" is true. </p> <p>Historically, economic wealth and higher income households are often seen to have an increased level of wellbeing and happiness, with the extra money making way for less stress and more general comfortability. </p> <p>However, researchers from Canada and Spain have concluded this may not be true, with such surveys often including responses from people in industrialised areas only. </p> <p>People in small-scale societies where money does not play a central role in every day life are often excluded from these studies, as the livelihood of residents in these small communities usually depend more on nature. </p> <p>Now, 2,966 people from Indigenous and local communities in 19 locations across the globe have been included in a study, with researchers now finding that societies of Indigenous people and those in small, local communities report living very satisfying lives despite not having a lot of money. </p> <p>The researchers wrote, "The striking aspect of our findings... is that reported life satisfaction in very low-income communities can meet and even exceed that reported at the highest average levels of material wealth provided by industrial ways of life."</p> <p>Researchers concluded the findings are strong evidence that economic growth is not needed to be happy, with only 64 percent of households included in the survey reported having any cash income.</p> <p>Eric Galbraith, lead author of the study, said, "Surprisingly, many populations with very low monetary incomes report very high average levels of life satisfaction, with scores similar to those in wealthy countries."</p> <p>Researchers added that high life satisfaction is shown in these communities "despite many of these societies having suffered histories of marginalisation and oppression."</p> <p>Galbraith added, "I would hope that, by learning more about what makes life satisfying in these diverse communities, it might help many others to lead more satisfying lives while addressing the sustainability crisis."</p> <p><em>Image credits: Shutterstock</em></p>

Money & Banking

How does a Taylor Swift fan prove their love? Money

<p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/georgia-carroll-1427562">Georgia Carroll</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-sydney-841">University of Sydney</a></em></p> <p>In November 2022, Ticketmaster was forced to <a href="https://business.ticketmaster.com/business-solutions/taylor-swift-the-eras-tour-onsale-explained/">cancel</a> the general sale for Taylor Swift’s North American Eras tour after unprecedented demand. More than 3.5 million fans had registered to try to get a presale code – a number far exceeding the number of available tickets for the 52 shows.</p> <p>The story made international headlines and led to a <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/taylor-swift-fans-and-congress-take-on-ticketmaster/">congressional hearing</a> into Ticketmaster’s processes.</p> <p>Dates for the Australian leg of the Eras tour <a href="https://twitter.com/taylorswift13/status/1671186653195403268?s=20">were announced</a> recently. Swift will be performing three shows in Sydney and two in Melbourne. Fans from other cities – and New Zealand – will have to travel should they wish to see her perform locally for the first time in over five years.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">EXCUSE ME HI I HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY 🙋‍♀️ I can’t wait to see so many of you on The Eras Tour next year at these new international dates! Visit <a href="https://t.co/EYBevxhQzH">https://t.co/EYBevxhQzH</a> for more information on your registrations, pre-sales and on-sales!! <a href="https://t.co/G8zx8QUUAV">pic.twitter.com/G8zx8QUUAV</a></p> <p>— Taylor Swift (@taylorswift13) <a href="https://twitter.com/taylorswift13/status/1671186653195403268?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 20, 2023</a></p></blockquote> <p>Tickets for the five performances are on sale now, with less than 500,000 seats available. While this may seem like a lot, the disappointment seen in <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/taylor-swift-tickets-resale-sites-stubhub-concert-dates-11669173929">North</a> and <a href="https://uproxx.com/pop/taylor-swift-the-eras-tour-brazil-presale/">South America</a> is likely to also be seen here.</p> <p>Taylor Swift fans are known for spending significant amounts of money on <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/culture/music/breaking-the-record-the-australian-fans-helping-taylor-swift-dominate-the-charts-20221102-p5buzq.html">albums</a>, <a href="https://www.nj.com/entertainment/2023/05/how-far-does-150-get-you-at-the-taylor-swift-merch-store-heres-what-i-bought.html">merchandise</a> and <a href="https://www.news.com.au/world/dad-spends-21000-on-taylor-swift-tickets-for-his-daughter-and-three-friends/video/181135abe72628c078711f133f972b19">concert tickets</a>.</p> <p>While being a fan is an <a href="https://finance.yahoo.com/news/5-000-bruce-springsteen-tickets-170057519.html">increasingly expensive experience</a>, there seems to be a particular connection between Taylor’s fandom and the <a href="https://www.salon.com/2023/01/14/taylor-swift-cat-capitalist-billionaire-success/">expectation of consumption</a>.</p> <h2>Handpicked fans</h2> <p>Swift shares a particularly intense connection with her fans.</p> <p>Fans frequently engage in <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/media/2022/feb/13/too-close-for-comfort-the-pitfalls-of-parasocial-relationships">parasocial relationships</a> with their celebrity objects of fandom, where they feel as if they honestly “know” the celebrity.</p> <p>These relationships are often portrayed as problematic in both <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/family/archive/2023/04/parasocial-relationships-imaginary-connections-fans-celebrities/673645/">academic and popular discourse</a>. However, the connections fans feel to their favourite celebrities can be a <a href="https://vogue.sg/parasocial-relationship-kpop-fans/">healthy expansion of their social world</a>.</p> <p>Swift is unique among celebrities in that she actively courts these connections.</p> <p>By handpicking fans for “secret sessions” before album releases (often held in her own home) and hosting post-show meet and greets, over the past 16 years she has carefully built the illusion of these relationships as reciprocated friendship.</p> <p><a href="https://www.eonline.com/news/1062021/secrets-revealed-from-taylor-swift-s-first-lover-secret-session">For these events</a>, she memorises facts about each fan in attendance, surprising them with comments about new haircuts, academic achievements and relationship milestones.</p> <p>She also has a history of sending fans surprise gifts <a href="https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/taylor-swift-fan-gifts-history-9549740/">in the mail</a>, ranging from handwritten letters of support to gift boxes full of things she says “remind her” of the fan in question.</p> <h2>Performing fandom</h2> <p>Based on the North American performances, it appears Swift is not conducting meet and greets during The Eras tour. But fans believe there is always the chance they will be noticed and chosen to meet her.</p> <p>When Swift’s official social media team, <a href="https://twitter.com/taylornation13">Taylor Nation</a>, engage with fans – by liking, replying to, or retweeting their messages – individuals often put the date and type of interaction in their bio to broadcast the attention they received to others within the fandom community.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">So make the friendship bracelets and store them in your new <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TSTheErasTour?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TSTheErasTour</a> tote 🥹 <a href="https://t.co/Cw97l7Y6Sv">https://t.co/Cw97l7Y6Sv</a></p> <p>— Taylor Nation (@taylornation13) <a href="https://twitter.com/taylornation13/status/1671218154658226177?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 20, 2023</a></p></blockquote> <p>The belief among fans (which has never been confirmed) is that being noticed on social media puts you a step closer to meeting Swift in person – something many of the participants in my research into her fandom described as the ultimate motivation behind their engagement.</p> <p>To be noticed, however, fans must participate in particular, approved ways.</p> <p>The Taylor Nation twitter account retweets and engages with fans who have shared screenshots of merchandise receipts (from increasingly frequent, <a href="https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/taylor-swift-2022-holiday-merch-drop-1235170056/">themed</a> <a href="https://www.nme.com/news/music/taylor-swift-drops-new-merchandise-ahead-of-eras-tour-2023-3390428">merchandise releases</a>), pictures of themselves with multiple copies of albums, or particularly over-the-top displays of emotion and creativity.</p> <p>This sets a baseline of what it takes to get their – and Swift’s – attention.</p> <h2>The hierarchy of fandom</h2> <p>Fandom communities are <a href="https://annehelen.substack.com/p/what-fandoms-found-families-tell">often discussed</a> as spaces of friendship and community.</p> <p>More realistically, they are hierarchical structures in which fans have their status elevated by participating in certain ways.</p> <p>For Swift fans, these hierarchies are heavily tied to practices of consumption, including the purchasing of concert tickets.</p> <p>The most expensive package for the Australian tour dates <a href="https://www.frontiertouring.com/current-tours/taylorswift/sydney">will set fans back A$1,249</a>. For that price, fans will get an “unforgettable A Reserve floor ticket” and “exclusive VIP merchandise”.</p> <p>If fans are just after a seat, A Reserve is listed at $379.90, dropping down to $79.90 for G Reserve.</p> <p>Within the fandom, fans who travel to shows, attend multiple nights, or have seats near the stage are labelled “dedicated” and “committed”. Those who miss out on tickets often express their frustration at missing out to others who they don’t <a href="https://twitter.com/AdoreBangtrash/status/1671181373594550272?s=20">deem to be “real” fans</a>.</p> <p>North American fans have gone to <a href="https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/taylor-swift-mania-begins-fans-line-up-for-hours-in-hopes-of-snagging-early-merch/3152932/">great lengths</a> to secure tour merchandise, even after they have secured tickets to the concerts. Fans have reportedly been <a href="https://www.wtae.com/article/taylor-swift-fans-pack-north-shore-to-buy-merchandise-ahead-of-singers-eras-tour-stop/44211846">queueing before sunrise</a>, spending <a href="https://www.news.com.au/world/taylor-swift-fan-buys-11k-worth-of-merchandise/video/4367433017c654a3ce53ad1d367d6e94">thousands of dollars</a> and <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/19/style/taylor-swift-mania.html">waiting in the rain</a> to get their hands on limited-edition items.</p> <p>The higher the levels of sacrifice reported, the more someone can project to other members of the fandom just how big a fan they are. This can result in increased attention and a reputation as <a href="https://twitter.com/KatieFigura/status/1632912261776830464?s=20">someone who “deserves” to meet Swift</a>.</p> <p>In her song <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XzOvgu3GPwY">Karma</a>, Swift sings “my pennies made your crown”. When tens of thousands of fans scream this back at her every night, they are reflecting the reality of Swift’s celebrity.</p> <p>Swift’s business model is largely built on fan desire to meet her. How do you meet her? You prove you are the biggest fan – and you’ve made the sacrifices (and spent the money) to show it.<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/208177/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /></p> <p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/georgia-carroll-1427562">Georgia Carroll</a>, PhD Candidate in Sociology, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-sydney-841">University of Sydney</a></em></p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p> <p><em>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/how-does-a-taylor-swift-fan-prove-their-love-money-208177">original article</a>.</em></p>

Music

How a driver proved his innocence after hitting young girl

<p>A driver who knocked over a child on a narrow Melbourne street has his dashboard camera to thank for proving he wasn’t speeding.</p> <p>On April 20, Muhammad Danish turned down a narrow street in Brunswick East in Melbourne when a young girl ran onto the road in front of him.</p> <p>Danish slammed on the brakes before coming to a stop and knocking the girl on the road.</p> <p>It was all captured on camera.</p> <p>The girl’s father then rushed over and slammed his fist on the bonnet of Danish’s car.</p> <p>Luckily, the girl was not seriously harmed but the situation has taken an emotional toll on Danish.</p> <p>He told <em>A Current Affair</em> he wished he could’ve done more.</p> <p>"It was very hard for me for three or four days. I couldn't do anything. It kept replaying in my mind and my mind was just simulating the situation 100 different ways," Danish said.</p> <p>He is relieved that the child was ok but said if he hadn’t captured it on camera, he may not have been able to prove his innocence.</p> <p>"This video evidence really saved my life because if police listened to the statements I could have been charged and (found) guilty," he said.</p> <p>The footage has been viewed hundreds and thousands of times online, with the majority of viewers offering their support to the driver.</p> <p>"Even police told me it's not my fault. I was thinking I could have done something better to not hurt that girl, but people's messages and comments really supported me," Danish said.</p> <p>Kidsafe Victoria’s Jason Chambers said the incident serves as a safety reminder to parents and guardians.</p> <p>"Supervision is a really important key in keeping children safe around roads, car parks and driveways," Chambers said.</p> <p>"For kids under five, that means an adult holding their hands at all times around these areas.</p> <p>"Transport-related incidents are one of the leading causes of death and injury in Australia.</p> <p>"In 2022 we saw there were four child pedestrians under eight who died and we usually see over 120 who are admitted to hospital."</p> <p>Image credit: A Current Affair</p>

Legal

5 films that prove ageing is just another adventure

<p>Not all cinemagoers want to see non-stop violence, fast cars, guns and explosions. It seems that older Australians are hitting the flicks more than ever, and their tastes are influencing the sorts of films that are being released.</p> <p>Not only that, more older actors are starring in these films, with some great character parts on offer. These five films were not only hits at the box office, they also make the most of some of the older actors that we know and love.</p> <p><strong>1. Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2012)</strong></p> <p><em>“Everything will be all right in the end. So if it is not all right, it is not yet the end.”</em></p> <p>Starring Judi Dench, Maggie Smith and Bill Nighy</p> <p>This is a lovely rom com, with a group of pensioners who move from England to a retirement home in India run by Dev Patel (the lead from this year’s Lion). It was one of the highest grossing films in Australia in the year of its release. The film explores the possibility of reinventing yourself when taken out of your comfort zone.</p> <p><strong>2. Quartet (2012)</strong></p> <p><em>“Four friends looking for a little harmony.”</em></p> <p>Starring Maggie Smith, Billy Connolly</p> <p>Based on the West-End play of the same name,<em> Quartet</em> is directed by Dustin Hoffman and is set in (another) retirement home for professional musicians. The annual concert hits a snag when a diva from one of the resident’s past appears on the scene. Empire Magazine hit the nail on the head when they said that the film is one<em> ‘that will keep Downton fans happy.’</em></p> <p class="photo-deck"><strong>3. The Intern (2015)</strong></p> <p class="photo-deck"><em>"Experience never gets old."</em></p> <p class="photo-deck">Starring Robert De Niro, Anne Hathaway and Rene Russo</p> <p>When widower Ben finds himself unhappily retired at 70, he decides to head back to work. Trouble is, the workplace has changed since he was a CEO and Ben finds himself trying to understand the world of online fashion while working for a young woman.</p> <p><strong>4. Last Vegas (2013)</strong></p> <p><em>“One legendary weekend.</em>”</p> <p>Starring Michael Douglas, Robert De Niro, Morgan Freeman</p> <p>This film could be described as being like <em>The Hangover</em> with a seniors’ card. When four best friends hit Vegas for a bachelor party, they find that they might not be able to hit it like they used to. But that doesn’t stop them giving it a red-hot go.</p> <p><strong>5. Stand Up Guys (2012)</strong></p> <p><em>“They don't make 'em like they used to.”</em></p> <p>Starring Al Pacino, Christopher Walken and Alan Arkin</p> <p>This is a fun comedy film with a bit of crime thrown in. With a group of Hollywood gold as the leads, this film sees some past-their-prime con men trying to get the gang back together for one last job. Other actors in these roles may have seen this film slop, but these A-listers make it work.</p> <p><em>Images: Getty</em></p>

Movies

Julia Faustyna takes DNA test to prove wild identity claims

<p>Julia Faustyna, the Polish woman who is convinced she is the missing Madeleine McCann, has reportedly taken a DNA test to prove her claim.</p> <p>However, in a stunning twist to the tale, Faustyna’s private investigation with spokesperson Dr Fia Johansson has led the young woman to consider the possibility that she may actually be another missing child - Livia Schepp, who went missing with her twin sister in Switzerland in 2011. </p> <p>“I’ve spoken to her about this and she is open to the fact she could be any missing child out there,” Dr Johansson said while speaking to <em>The Sun</em>. “Not just Madeleine. Julia wants to know the truth about who she is.” </p> <p>While Faustyna’s main argument has involved the physical similarities between herself and Madeleine McCann, one of the pivotal points in her story is how she recognised a suspect from McCann’s case - a man she has named as her own abuser. </p> <p>“One of the reasons she made the connection to Madeleine is because one of the suspects in Madeleine’s case looks very much like a man who she says abused her as a child,” Dr Johansson explained. “But the same man could be connected to Madeleine and other missing children, this is how predators and traffickers work.”</p> <p>“Julia has taken a DNA test,” she confirmed, “and we are investigating if it’s possible to check her DNA with that of [the] missing Livia. We are investigating all possibilities at this stage.” </p> <p>Livia Schepp - and her twin sister Alessia - went missing when they were six, after their father abducted them from Switzerland in 2011. Days later, he took his own life in Italy, and when police discovered the body, the twins were nowhere to be seen. </p> <p>Faustyna, who claims to have post-traumatic amnesia due to sexual abuse in her childhood, lacks clear recollection of her formative years, and has stated while she can recall holidays, she doesn’t “recall my mother being there, for example, or my stepfather, much less my dad.”</p> <p>Whether or not any of Faustyna’s theories are true, the public will have to keep speculating, as no results have yet been shared. </p> <p>However, Faustyna’s viral “@iammadeleinemccan”, where she was sharing updates and side-by-side comparisons with her followers, has since been deleted from the platform. </p> <p>The removal coincides with reports of the DNA test, and after Faustyna closed both her Facebook and Tiktok accounts, disputing her parent’s claim that she was only in this for attention when she said “if you don’t like me, please unfollow. I don’t want fans or followers.”</p> <p><em>Images: Instagram, Twitter</em></p>

News

15 facts (and pictures!) that prove penguins are the world’s most adorable animals

<p>Every day is a good day to appreciate these tuxedo-wearing birds.</p> <p><strong>Nearly all penguins live in the southern hemisphere</strong></p> <p><strong><img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/11/01-can-penguins-Shutterstuck-770.jpg" alt="" width="700" height="454" /></strong></p> <p>Contrary to media representations of the North Pole, no penguins live up there. The 17 penguin species (some scientists say there are 20) are spread out between Antarctica, Argentina, Australia, Chile, New Zealand, and South Africa. The only exception is the Galapagos penguins, who live close to the equator on the Galapagos Islands and occasionally venture into northern hemisphere waters.</p> <p><strong>Penguins have been around for a long time</strong></p> <p><strong><img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/11/02-emperor-penguins-Shutterstock-770.jpg" alt="" width="700" height="454" /></strong></p> <p>An amateur fossil hunter discovered the bone of an extinct penguin ancestor, and scientists say it’s 61 million years old. That means it probably outlived the dinosaurs that went extinct 65.5 million years ago. Fossils also suggest that this prehistoric bird could fly and could grow up to 150 centimetres tall.</p> <p><strong>They eat a lot</strong></p> <p><strong><img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/11/03-penguin-eating-Shutterstock-770.jpg" alt="" width="700" height="454" /></strong></p> <p>Penguins are carnivores, and their diets consist of fish, krill, crabs, squid, and other sea creatures. According to Smithsonian Magazine, they can eat over one kilogram of food every day during summer months, but eat only a third of that during the winter.</p> <p><strong>They sneeze</strong></p> <p><strong><img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/11/04-sneeze-penguin-Shutterstock-770.jpg" alt="" width="700" height="454" /></strong></p> <p>Their sneezes serve an important purpose, though. Because they eat so much seafood, penguins also consume a lot of saltwater. To get rid of all that salt, their supraorbital glands above their eyes filter it out of the bloodstream, and then, the penguins excrete it through their bills or their sneezes.</p> <p><strong>The littlest penguin may be the cutest</strong></p> <p><strong><img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/11/05-little-penguin-wildlife-park-Shutterstock-770.jpg" alt="" width="700" height="454" /></strong></p> <p>Little blue penguins (also called fairy penguins) really are little. They only grow to be 33-38 centimetres tall, and adults only weigh one kilogram.</p> <p><strong>Emperor penguins are the largest species</strong></p> <p><strong><img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/11/06-emperor-penguins-sliding-Shutterstock-770.jpg" alt="" width="700" height="454" /></strong></p> <p>They’re around 120 centimetres feet tall and can weigh up to 40 kilograms.</p> <p><strong>Penguins are expert swimmers</strong></p> <p><strong><img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/11/07-swimming-penguin-Shutterstock-770.jpg" alt="" width="700" height="454" /></strong></p> <p>No, these adorable birds can’t fly. Instead, they use their wings to fly through the water (so to speak) at speeds up to 40 kilometres per hour.</p> <p><strong>They can’t help but waddle</strong></p> <p><strong><img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/11/08-gentoo-penguin-Shutterstock-770.jpg" alt="" width="700" height="454" /></strong></p> <p>Penguins’ bodies are shaped to easily glide through water, with a long body and short legs. So when they walk, the result is a clumsy-looking waddle. Penguins also get around on land by hopping and tobogganing, where they glide on their bellies and use their feet and wings to gain speed.</p> <p><strong>They spend most of their time in the water</strong></p> <p><strong><img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/11/09-gentoo-penguins-Shutterstock-770.jpg" alt="" width="700" height="454" /></strong></p> <p>According to Ocean Conservancy, penguins spend about 75 per cent of their lives in water. They go on land to mate, lay eggs, and raise their babies.</p> <p><strong>Speaking of penguin babies…</strong></p> <p><strong><img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/11/10-emperor-penguin-chicks-Shuttersetock-770.jpg" alt="" width="700" height="454" /></strong></p> <p>They’re called chicks or nestlings. They form little groups called crèches to look out for predators and keep each other warm while their parents look for food.</p> <p><strong>Penguins are romantic</strong></p> <p><strong><img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/11/11-shutterstock_516711187-Shutterstock-770.jpg" alt="" width="700" height="454" /></strong></p> <p>Some penguin species mate for life, like the macaroni penguin. These guys and gals show their affection by performing an ‘ecstatic display,’ in which they swing their heads back and forth and cackle loudly.</p> <p><strong>Birds of a feather mate together</strong></p> <p><strong><img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/11/12-king-penguins-Shutterstock-770.jpg" alt="" width="700" height="454" /></strong></p> <p>Most penguin species breed in large groups called colonies (only two species don’t) for protection. Those groups can range from a couple hundred to hundreds of thousands of penguins!</p> <p><strong>Daddy penguins keep their eggs warm</strong></p> <p><strong><img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/11/13-dad-penguins-incubate-eggs-Shutterstock-770.jpg" alt="" width="700" height="454" /></strong></p> <p>At least, male emperor penguins do, but not by sitting on them. These dads balance the eggs on their feet and cover them with feathered skin called a brood pouch. They stay like this for two months – without food and with no protection from the Antarctica weather – until the mums come back with food for the young ones. Talk about parents of the year!</p> <p><strong>Their feathers keep them camouflaged</strong></p> <p><strong><img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/11/14-king-penguins-1-Shutterstock-770.jpg" alt="" width="700" height="454" /></strong></p> <p>When penguins swim, their black backs keep them invisible from predators up above, and their white bellies blend into the bright sunlight coming through the waves. We bet your tuxedo can’t do that.</p> <p><strong>Feathers also keep them warm</strong></p> <p><img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/11/15-imperial-penguins-colony-Shutterstock-770.jpg" alt="" width="700" height="454" /></p> <p>Penguins don’t have blubber like other sea animals, but their many feathers serve the same purpose. (In particular, emperor penguins have 100 feathers per six square centimetres). The feathers trap a layer of warm air next to their skin, and their surface feathers get colder than the surrounding air to keep their bodies warm.</p> <p><em><span id="docs-internal-guid-d01c285d-7fff-1863-8624-cd52bd052f15">Written by Claire Nowak. This article first appeared in <a href="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/true-stories-lifestyle/animal-kingdom/15-facts-and-pictures-that-prove-penguins-are-the-worlds-most-adorable-animals" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reader’s Digest</a>. For more of what you love from the world’s best-loved magazine, <a href="http://readersdigest.innovations.com.au/c/readersdigestemailsubscribe?utm_source=over60&utm_medium=articles&utm_campaign=RDSUB&keycode=WRA87V" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here’s our best subscription offer.</a></span></em></p> <p><em>Images: Shutterstock</em></p>

Family & Pets

Internet spooked after young boy "proves" he is the reincarnation of a dead woman

<p>A five-year-old boy has insisted to his mum that he has lived a past life as a woman named Pam, which has left viewers spooked with his "scary" story. </p> <p>Five-year-old Luke Ruehlman has claimed that he used to be a woman since he was just two years old. </p> <p>While his mother, Erika, brushed off his stories as an over-active imagination, his comments became increasingly peculiar as he grew older. </p> <p>“He’d say, ‘When I was a girl, I had black hair’ or he’d say, ‘I used to have earrings like that when I was a girl’,” Erika told US television network <a href="https://fox2now.com/news/do-you-believe-in-past-lives-toddlers-testimony-has-family-questioning-if-he-was-a-chicago-woman/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-link-type="article-inline">Fox 2</a>.</p> <p>She also said Luke spoke about a woman called Pam from a young age, although the family didn’t know anyone by that name.</p> <p>It was one fleeting comment that left Erika gobsmacked. </p> <p>“I was like, ‘Who is Pam?’,” Erika said.</p> <p>“That’s when he turned to me and said, ‘Well I was’.</p> <p>“I said, ‘What do you mean you were?’</p> <p>“He was like, ‘Well I used to be, but I died and I went up to heaven and I saw God and eventually God pushed me back down.</p> <p>“When I woke up I was a baby and you named me Luke’.”</p> <p>Adding to the spine-tingling comments, Luke insisted to his mum that he had died in a fire in Chicago - a city he had never been to.</p> <p>Erika did some research and discovered that an African-American woman by the name of Pamela Robinson had indeed died after jumping from a window to escape a massive fire in the Illinois city in 1993.</p> <p>Luke's parents decided to put him to the test, showing him a series of photos of different women. </p> <p>They were shocked and a little bit spooked when he picked out the correct photo of Pam. </p> <p>“He goes, ‘Well I don’t recognise anybody. But, I remember when this one was taken’,” his mum said of the moment he pointed at the right image.</p> <p>Luke’s claim has left the internet spooked, with some calling the story “crazy s***”.</p> <p>“That’s scary,” one viewer wrote on TikTok.</p> <p><em>Image credits: YouTube</em></p>

Family & Pets

An ancient seed could prove wonders for your hair and skin

<p dir="ltr">In a world of products saturated with new formulas and hero ingredients that promise wondrous benefits, it can feel overwhelming to find a product that works for you.</p> <p dir="ltr">A new contender is the oil of the humble Black Cumin seed, or <em>Nigella sativa</em>, which is the hero ingredient in Hab Shifa’s line of beauty products, including a body wash, moisturiser shampoo and conditioner.</p> <p dir="ltr">With its use dating back to the Ancient Egyptians and in some of the world’s oldest religious and medical texts, <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2583426/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">clinical studies</a> of the Black Seed have since found it has various health benefits, thanks to its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antiviral, and even anti-diabetic properties.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-a685ac50-7fff-e15d-7f6e-64f04896e501"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">When it comes to our skin and hair, Black Seed oil has been praised for its ability to cleanse hair of impurities while nurturing the scalp.</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CiOcuLuNVYA/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CiOcuLuNVYA/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Hab Shifa Australia (@hab_shifa_black_seed)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr">Hab Shifa takes advantage of these qualities and combines Black Seed oil with other anti-irritant ingredients, with the resulting combination helping restore skin elasticity and minimise the loss of moisture in the barriers of the skin.</p> <p dir="ltr">After trialling Hab Shifa’s products over the last few months, I can safely say the shampoo and conditioner make easy work of my hair, leaving it feeling lighter, softer, and clean even when it has been at its greasiest.</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-7a65138d-7fff-fd3a-4496-5aba5fa2e455"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">The body wash and moisturiser have delivered similar results for my skin, with the scrub helping my skin feel exfoliated while the moisturiser has put an end to my usual bouts of dry skin.</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/Ch1t5DOLeXI/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Ch1t5DOLeXI/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Hab Shifa Australia (@hab_shifa_black_seed)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr">I’m not the only one who has seen the benefits of using Hab Shifa’s Black Seed oil products either.</p> <p dir="ltr">After searching for a product to help with dryness and cracking - a problem made all the worse due to increased hand-washing during the COVID-19 pandemic - nurse Margie Ryan has since made the moisturiser her go-to product, even over pharmaceutical and heavy-duty products.</p> <p dir="ltr">She says the moisturiser absorbs well and that it doesn’t feel like oils are transferred, and recommends it for anyone who works in industries where their hands are frequently in water or where they are prone to dryness or cracking.</p> <p dir="ltr">The Hab Shifa Black Seed skin and hair care range consists of the <a href="https://habshifa.com.au/collections/nourishment-tq/products/black-seed-nurturing-shampoo-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Nurturing Shampoo</a> and <a href="https://habshifa.com.au/collections/nourishment-tq/products/black-seed-nurturing-conditioner" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Nurturing Conditioner</a>, the <a href="https://habshifa.com.au/collections/nourishment-tq/products/black-seed-revitalizing-body-wash" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Revitalizing Body Wash</a>, and the <a href="https://habshifa.com.au/collections/nourishment-tq/products/black-seed-hydrating-moisturizing-lotion" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Hydrating Moisturizing Lotion</a>, which retail for $19.95 each or can be purchased as <a href="https://habshifa.com.au/collections/gift-packs/products/gift-of-beauty-gift-pack" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a bundle</a> for $77.50 on Hab Shifa’s online store.</p> <p dir="ltr">To find their products in-store, head <a href="https://habshifa.com.au/pages/store-locator" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a> to locate your closest one.</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-dd856881-7fff-150d-3a26-2cdd567f32d9"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Getty Images</em></p>

Beauty & Style

Hilarious signs that prove we can still laugh, despite a global pandemic

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">There’s no doubt that since the coronavirus pandemic hit at the beginning of 2020, things have been very difficult for everyone. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">While people have been staying inside due to lockdown restrictions, many local businesses have been trying to keep spirits high with a unique sense of humour. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Cinemas, dentists, schools, churches and many more establishments have proven that even in the face of a global pandemic, we can still laugh! </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">With some businesses poking fun at the difficulties of home learning, while others stipulating who can enter their locked-down home, these are some of the best signs with a Covid message. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">These unique and hilarious signs just go to show that we can all stick together (metaphorically speaking) and make it through the other side of the Covid-19 pandemic with our humour intact.</span></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">All image credits: Reddit</span></em></p>

Travel Trouble

‘Creepy Mummy’ Jacinda Ardern doll proves a big hit

<p>In the face of a growing COVID outbreak, New Zealand residents were given a reason to laugh on Monday when they were shown a ‘creepy’ doll version of Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.</p> <p>Ms Ardern’s partner Clarke Gayford took to Instagram to share a video of the disturbing hand-made doll, sent to them by someone unknown.</p> <p>In the video, Gayford says the doll has become one of their three-year-old daughter, Neve’s favourite toys and she calls it ‘Creepy Mummy.”</p> <p>Aware that everyone in New Zealand is in a strict lockdown, Gayford says on the video: "Well Hi everyone, welcome to Monday. Who doesn't want a 30-second distraction to try and help get them through the start of the week?"</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/CTLNkXZhlZq/?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/CTLNkXZhlZq/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Clarke Gayford (@clarkegayford)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>"So, I give you this. We get given all sorts of wonderful hand-made arts and crafts here and when I say we — Neve," he continues, brushing the doll's hair with her facing away from the camera.</p> <p>"And there's some real talent in this country, some incredible talent, and she's a very lucky three-year-old.</p> <p>"Some of the things make their way into our home and into our three-year-old's heart," he said.</p> <p>"Including this wonderful dolly, which Neve has even given a name," he says, before dramatically revealing the doll's face.</p> <p>"She calls this dolly 'Creepy Mummy' and 'Creepy Mummy' would just like to say: 'Hang in there. You got this. Even though it's Monday.'"</p> <p>According to Gayford, the doll was sent to them without any details attached, but it's much loved by the smallest member of their family— despite the nickname.</p> <p>Fans loved the video, many agreeing it was the laugh they needed as New Zealand faces an outbreak of the highly contagious Delta variant.</p> <p><em>Image: Instagram</em></p>

Family & Pets

Simon Dorante-Day set to prove critics wrong with new facts

<div class="post_body_wrapper"> <div class="post_body"> <div class="body_text redactor-styles redactor-in"> <p>Simon Dorante-Day has made worldwide headlines as he claims to be the secret Australian son of Prince Charles and Camilla.</p> <p>He was initially dismissed but after showing decades worth of research and evidence, he has got the world on his side.</p> <p>"All roads lead back to Charles and Camilla," he says.</p> <p>He's recently come under fire for the amount of research he's shared with the public.</p> <p>“I’ve always been very open to doing interviews and sharing my story because at the end of the day, I want Charles and Camilla to submit to a DNA test and I believe that making my plight public will help me achieve that,” he told<span> </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://7news.com.au/" target="_blank">7NEWS.com.au</a>.</p> <p>“And I understand that it’s easy to hear my story and think that I’m crazy and making it all up. But I say today what I’ve said all along - everything I’m claiming it checkable. Everything I’m claiming has been found through public records and reputable sources.</p> <p>“Anyone who wants to report my story can go through the same checks and balances as I have. They just need to take the time to do so.</p> <p>“I am a sane and intelligent man, a father and grandfather. I volunteer for the community and worked for many years as an engineer. I know my story is unbelievable, but if you don’t believe it - just check it.”</p> <p><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FPrinceSimonCharles%2Fposts%2F152367900227224&show_text=true&width=500" width="500" height="313" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe></p> <p>For those who want him to get a DNA test so he fades into the shadows, he's glad you're on board with what he wants.</p> <p>“It always amuses me when people ask me this, because this is obviously what I’ve been working very hard to try and achieve,” he told<span> </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://7news.com.au/" target="_blank">7NEWS.com.au</a>.</p> <p>“I’ve spent three years in the courts in an effort to have Charles and Camilla submit to a DNA testing. In Australia, Family Court proceedings cannot be reported on in the media which is why my actions haven’t been publicised.</p> <p>“But this is a lengthy legal process and one I’m not giving up. I have taken my case to the Australian High Court, but they referred it back to the Family Court - and that will happen again in the next few months.</p> <p>“I’m also seeking legal representation in the UK to take my fight abroad as well.</p> <p>“I’m not interested in doing DNA tests with other distant royals because at the end of the day, I will still need to take it to court. I want this done the right way, before a judge.”</p> <p>He's also been slammed by critics for the "family resemblance" photos he's been sharing on his Facebook page.</p> <p>“They believe that this is the crux of my whole argument and think I don’t have any other research to back up my claims,” he said.</p> <p>“But they couldn’t be further from the facts. Ever since my grandmother told me that Charles and Camilla were my parents, I’ve gone on a very careful path to discover the truth.</p> <p>“I never just said, ‘Oh she said it so it must be true.’ Absolutely not. I went and did my own investigation, spoke to historians and went through records. And every road leads me back to Charles and Camilla."</p> </div> </div> </div>

Legal

Driver claims phone detection camera proves his innocence

<p>A driver slapped with a hefty fine for allegedly being on his phone while driving believes photographic "evidence" sent to him proves otherwise.</p> <p>Scott Phillips was photographed by a phone detection camera while driving along the Hume Motorway away from Bowral, in the NSW Southern Highlands, he told Ben Fordham on 2GB Tuesday.</p> <p>Two weeks later he received an infringement notice with a photo that was meant to show him using his phone.</p> <p>"I had a look at the photo, and there is something blurry in my left hand resting against my leg, while the phone is clearly obviously on the dash," Mr Phillips told listeners.</p> <p>The photo shows the phone sitting in a cradle on the dashboard.</p> <p>Mr Phillips said he couldn't remember exactly what he was holding in his hand at the time, but it could have been a chocolate or a pair of sunglasses.</p> <p>"It's definitely not my mobile phone, because you can see it on the dash," he said, arguing that he never used his phone while driving.</p> <p>The penalty for using a mobile phone while driving in NSW is five demerit points and $349.</p> <p>"If you can't definitely say that is obviously and definitely a phone, how do you get five demerit points and a $349 fine for something that might be a phone, but might be sunglasses, or might be chocolate?" Mr Phillips said.</p> <p>Fordham joked that it made sense that Mr Phillips could have been craving a chocolate bar, given the photo was taken at 12:01 pm.</p> <p>Motorists in NSW risk a $349 fine and five demerit points if they are caught using their phone, while those in the ACT are fined $470 and four demerit points.</p>

Travel Trouble

Prince Charles and Camilla’s alleged ‘love child’ renews battle to prove his claim

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A mum has taken to social media with a warning to parents after her daughter was stung by a wasp caught in her clothes.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Having hung her daughter Kathleen’s clothes out to dry, Sabrina Rigby said the insect must have climbed in and subsequently stung the six-year-old.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“WARNING. Check your laundry!” she wrote in a Facebook post. In the post, she said that she’d hung her daughter’s clothes on the line to dry the day before.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“This queen wasp has emerged from hibernation and gotten caught up in the clothes,” she recounted. “The clothes which I then bagged and left in the girls room to be packed away.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“I didn’t know she was there until this morning, when she managed to wriggle her way out of the bag and sting Kathleen,” the mum said.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“She is okay and luckily, it turns out, not allergic like I am. But you can bet I’ll be checking all my laundry from now on!” </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Commenters were thankful for the advice and shared their appreciation for the mum sharing her story.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Now peering inside my slippers before I put my feet in!!” one woman wrote.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“I got one in my sons pjs last week when I was folding them,” another shared.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Concerned about her daughter, others warned the mum to keep an eye on her in case she actually is allergic.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“You don’t tend to react badly to a first exposure, it is subsequent exposures that she’ll react to if she’s allergic,” one mum advised. “Keep a close eye if she gets stung again in the future.” </span></p> <p><strong>Image credit: Sharina Rigby / Facebook </strong></p>

Family & Pets

Nana’s cure proves scientific fact

<p>Australian Clinical Nutritionist, Warren Maginn said scientists are now verifying the evidence behind the popular wholefood panacea that has endured for centuries.</p> <p>“Our grandmothers swore by a spoonful of cod liver oil a day. Today resounding evidence shows that cod liver oil may be one of the safest, easiest ways to promote heart health, boost brain efficiency and support a healthy immune system” Mr Maginn said.</p> <p>“Cod liver oil is making a renaissance as recent studies have shown its rich omega-3 fatty acid profile, along with its naturally occurring levels of Vitamin A and Vitamin D having a multitude of health benefits”.</p> <p>A clinical trial which collected data from over 21,000 Norwegians has shown that regular use of cod liver oil is negatively associated with high levels of depressive symptoms in the general population.</p> <p>Another clinical trial on 341 pregnant women found maternal intake of Cod Liver Oil during pregnancy and lactation may be favourable for later mental development of children.</p> <p>Between 1998 and 2004, researchers followed nearly 40,000 Swedish men and recorded details of their diets. Men who consumed a moderate amount (about 0.3 grams a day) of omega-3 fatty acids in cod liver oil and other fish oils were less likely to develop heart failure than those who consumed little or no omega-3 fatty acids.</p> <p>Mr Maginn says, “While both fish oil and Cod Liver Oil are both good sources of the two most active omega-3s, EPA and DHA, they each provide slightly different ratios—Cod Liver Oil generally contains about 50% more DHA than EPA, whereas fish oil generally contains about 50% more EPA than DHA”.</p> <p>“This means that aside from its valuable Vitamin A and D content, Cod Liver Oil is particularly useful for supporting healthy brain and nervous system function, as well as the overall health of all body cells including those of the skin and glands that require more DHA in order to be at their best. Whilst Fish oils, with a higher EPA content, might lend themselves more specifically towards supporting inflammatory conditions such as arthritis and autoimmune diseases”.</p> <p>“The natural Vitamin A and D content of Cod Liver Oil provides further benefits to eyesight, bone strength and overall immune balance, such as improved wound healing and increased resistance to allergies and infections”.</p> <p><a rel="noopener" href="http://bit.ly/3boSdaY" target="_blank">Nordic Naturals Arctic Cod Liver Oil</a>™has been derived from 100% wild Arctic cod. Nordic Naturals Arctic Cod Liver Oil is vertically integrated from boat to bottle. By managing every step of the supply chain, Nordic Naturals ensure the exceptional quality, safety, and sustainability of the Arctic Cod Liver Oil™.</p> <p><strong>Three More Proven Nana Cures </strong></p> <ol> <li><strong>An apple a day!</strong> - Prescribing an apple a day to all adults aged 50 and over would prevent or delay around 8,500 vascular deaths such as heart attacks and strokes every year in the UK -- similar to giving statins to everyone over 50 years who is not already taking them -- according to a study.</li> <li><strong>Chicken soup will cure your cold</strong> – it may not cure you but it may help. Scientists now believe that a bowl of the soup may reduce inflammation of the lungs. It is thought that chicken soup slows down the activity of white blood cells that can cause the inflammation.</li> <li><strong>Honey for coughs</strong> – In a trial, honey did even better than the drug, coming out head and shoulders above the popular cough medication (dextromethorphan) at relieving cold and cough symptoms. Researchers believe the stickiness and viscosity of honey helps the cough, while the natural antioxidants can help in the healing process.</li> </ol> <p>Unlike other “cod liver oils” on the market, <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://bit.ly/3sXow6L" target="_blank" data-auth="NotApplicable">Nordic Naturals Arctic Cod Liver Oil™</a> contains no fish body oils or synthetic vitamins or additives.</p> <p><u><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://bit.ly/3sXow6L" target="_blank" data-auth="NotApplicable">Nordic Naturals award-winning Arctic Cod Liver Oil™</a></u> is an ideal choice to help boost immune system health during the colder months. Vertically integrated from catch to finished product, Arctic Cod Liver Oil far surpasses the strict European Pharmacopoeia Standard for fish oil purity and freshness. Simply put it’s some of freshest cod liver oil in the world.</p> <p>Nordic Naturals Arctic Cod Liver oil recently won in the 'Bone and Joint' category of the Good Magazine Best of Natural Awards.</p> <p>Available from all good health stores. To find a store near you visit <a rel="noopener" href="http://bit.ly/3ccOBrB" target="_blank">http://www.therahealth.com.au/store-locator</a></p> <p><strong><em>REFERENCES</em></strong></p> <ol> <li>Harrar S. Today’s Dietitian 2012; 14(1):22 Available at: http://www.todaysdietitian.com/newarchives/011012p22.shtml</li> <li>Bauer, I., Hughes, M., Rowsell, R., Cockerell, R., Pipingas, A., Crewther, S. and Crewther, D. (2014), Omega-3 supplementation improves cognition and modifies brain activation in young adults. Hum. Psychopharmacol. Clin. Exp.. doi: 10.1002/hup.2379</li> <li>A statin a day keeps the doctor away: comparative proverb assessment modelling study. BMJ 2013; 347 doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.f7267 (Published 17 December 2013)</li> <li>Chicken soup inhibits neutrophil chemotaxis in vitro. 2000. Chest. 2009 Nov;136(5 Suppl):e29.</li> <li>A comparison of the effect of honey, dextromethorphan, and diphenhydramine on nightly cough and sleep quality in children and their parents. J Altern Complement Med. 2010 Jul;16(7):787-93. doi: 10.1089/acm.2009.0311.</li> </ol> <p><sup>1</sup><a rel="noopener" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17184843" target="_blank"><strong> http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17184843</strong></a></p> <p><sup>1</sup><a rel="noopener" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12509593" target="_blank"><strong>http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12509593</strong></a></p> <p><sup>1</sup><a rel="noopener" href="http://eurheartj.oxfordjournals.org/content/30/12/1495.abstract" target="_blank">http://eurheartj.oxfordjournals.org/content/30/12/1495.abstract</a></p> <div id="primary" class="contentAreaLeft"> <div class="Maincontent"> <p><strong><em>This is a sponsored article produced in partnership with <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://therahealth.com.au/brands/nordicnaturals/" target="_blank">Thera Health</a>.</em></strong></p> </div> </div>

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Princess Diana’s butler shows unseen letter to prove she would support Harry and Meghan

<p>Princess Diana’s former butler Paul Burrell has shared a part of a letter written by the late royal, which supports the theory she would have backed her son, Prince Harry and his wife, Duchess Meghan, wholeheartedly.</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/B74YiECHn44/?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/B74YiECHn44/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by The Royal Family (@british.royals)</a> on Jan 28, 2020 at 3:00pm PST</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>The former butler and confidante to the Princess of Wales' says her words are "as appropriate today as they were when she wrote them".</p> <p>The handwritten note was sent from Diana to Burrell, who worked with the princess until her death in 1997.</p> <p>He posted the snippet of the letter on Instagram along with a black and white photo of Prince William and Prince Harry, with the caption: "As Harry, Meghan and Archie embark on a new life, I am reminded of some poignant words which Princess Diana wrote to me many 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-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/B7yDcEVj9C-/?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/B7yDcEVj9C-/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Paul Burrell RVM (@officialpaulburrell)</a> on Jan 26, 2020 at 4:00am PST</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>"They are a mother's words of unconditional love which are as appropriate today as they were when she wrote them over 24 years ago."</p> <p>Diana's note read: "I love my boys to death and hope that the seeds I've planted will grow and bring the strength, knowledge and stability that is needed."</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/Bz6b0WCHphA/?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="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/Bz6b0WCHphA/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A beautiful throwback of Diana and her wonderful Butler Paul Burrell☺️❤️ • • • #PrincessDiana #PaulBurrell #PrincessOfWales #PeoplesPrincess #EnglandsRose #QueenOfHearts #LadyDiana #British #England #UnitedKingdom ✨🇬🇧</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/tiarasandteapots/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank"> British Obsessed💗✨</a> (@tiarasandteapots) on Jul 14, 2019 at 2:56pm PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Burrell has previously shared his personal support for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, claiming Meghan was forced to find her own place within the royal family without support.</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/B74Or0cHOn9/?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/B74Or0cHOn9/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Harryandmeghan_ (@harryandmeghan_)</a> on Jan 28, 2020 at 1:34pm PST</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Speaking to Reuters after Harry and Meghan's tell-all interview in Africa, Burrell said: "There's no guidance. There's no support. There's no rulebook".</p> <p>"Harry said that [he and William] are on different paths. I know what he means by that. William and Kate have a map in front of them. They're headed for monarchy."</p>

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