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Flight attendant reveals why planes have tiny holes in their windows

Have you ever wondered why there are tiny holes at the bottom of a plane window? Flight attendant Henny Lim has revealed the reason why they are there, and why it is such an important feature on planes. The tiny hole, otherwise known as a “bleed hole” serves as a major safety function to help balance the pressure difference between the cabin and the outside air. “If you’ve ever sat in the window seat on a flight, you’ve probably noticed the tiny hole at the bottom of the window,” she said. This is because cabin windows on commercial planes are usually made up of three layers of glass and acrylic to keep them strong and insulated. The bleed hole allows for a controlled flow of air between the layers, equalising the pressure and reducing stress on the window panes. It also helps prevent condensation as the temperature changes at higher altitudes, allowing a small amount of dry air to flow between the three layers, which keeps the windows clear. “It also has another purpose, which is to release moisture and stop frost or condensation from blocking your view,” Lim added. Lim has grown a following on social media for sharing insider tips and knowledge on planes and flying, including why flight attendants sit on their hands during take-off and landing. Images: TikTok

Travel Tips

Police smash window to rescue two toddlers left in locked car

NSW Police officers were forced to take drastic action in a hot northern Sydney carpark and smash a car’s windows to rescue the two young children trapped inside. The officers were alerted to the potential danger by concerned shoppers who believed they had spotted a child in the silver Honda. Upon arrival, however, the police, firefighters, and paramedics on scene were shocked to discover that there were actually two children trapped in there - one aged one, the other four. After first trying to unlock the car and proving “unsuccessful” in their efforts, as NSW Police later announced in a statement, officers were forced to break the vehicle’s window to get inside and access the children. The pair were reportedly in their carseats, waiting for their mother to return. She did - as police were already well into their rescue. "A woman returned to the vehicle a short time later and was spoken to by police," the statement by NSW Police read. "Inquiries continue." The entire incident was caught on camera and quickly uploaded to social media, with many strong opinions coming to the surface in the wake of the near miss. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Two young children have been freed from a locked car in a Sydney shopping centre carpark, with emergency services' rescue efforts captured on film | <a href="https://twitter.com/nswpolice?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@nswpolice</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/FRNSW?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FRNSW</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/NRMA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NRMA</a> <a href="https://t.co/L2Ha1EhipX">pic.twitter.com/L2Ha1EhipX</a> — 10 News First Sydney (@10NewsFirstSyd) <a href="https://twitter.com/10NewsFirstSyd/status/1630068785599184898?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 27, 2023</a></blockquote> “The toddlers' mother reportedly returned to the car in a distressed state as the scene unfolded,” 10News tweeted. “Paramedics assessed the boy and girl at the scene, with neither requiring significant medical attention.” “Hopefully she was charged,” replied one woman. “Why are parents still doing this?” questioned another. And while many called for the mother to be charged for her actions, some were not so quick to condemn her, instead suggesting that the situation was blown out of proportion. “In a ventilated garage ... not in the open sun. Turns out the kids were fine ... if not traumatised by the police actions that saw windows being smashed and glass splinters flying everywhere,” complained one. “Nothing like an overreaction on a slow news day!” “Underground carpark, 26 deg (max) outside, no treatment required,” agreed another. “Yeah, not ideal but really no danger, yeah? Couldn't the NRMA guy get in less dramatically?” While the act may seem unnecessary to some, after the recent tragedy that saw a three-year-old boy lose his life when left inside a blisteringly hot car, to many it was the right move to prioritise the children. Of the latest incident, NRMA’s Peter Khoury told Yahoo News Australia about the number of children being left in cars, and how they consider it to be “alarming”. "January this year we rescued 213 children, it was the highest month in five years," he explained. "And 2022 was the highest in 10 years considering both children and pets [4267]." "The overwhelming majority of those cases are accidental where people lock their keys in the car with their child and call us frantically." He went on to explain that there are a few possible reasons for the increase in cases. One being that perhaps the Covid-19 pandemic had people preferring to keep children and pets in the car rather than risking exposure outside. And the other being the weather, with Khoury stating “we didn’t have a particularly hot 2022 and so because of that people thought 'well, it’s not hot, it's not an issue'. Whereas we tell people that regardless of the weather, it's not safe to leave children in vehicles.” Images: 7News

Legal

AI system sees beyond the frame of famous artworks

A new AI tool can provide a glimpse of what could potentially be going on beyond the frame of famous paintings, giving them a brand new life. OpenAI, a San Francisco-based company, has created a new tool called 'Outpainting' for its text-to-image AI system, DALL-E. Outpainting allows the system to imagine what's outside the frame of famous works such as Girl with The Pearl Earring, Mona Lisa and Dogs Playing Poker. DALL-E relies on artificial neural networks (ANNs), which simulate the way the brain works in order to learn and create an image from text. Now with Outpainting, users must describe the extended visuals in text form for DALL-E to “paint” the newly imagined artwork. Outpainting, which is primarily aimed for professionals who work with images, will let users 'extend their creativity' and 'tell a bigger story', according to OpenAI. US artist August Kamp used Outpainting to reimagine the famous 1665 painting Girl with a Pearl Earring by Johannes Vermeer, extending the background in the original style. The results show the iconic subject in a domestic setting, surrounded by crockery, houseplants, fruit, boxes and more. Other Outpainting attempts took a more creative turn, with one showing the Mona Lisa surrounded by a dystopian wasteland, and a version of A Friend In Need showing an additional table of gambling canines. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> “Outpainting: an apocalyptic Mona Lisa” by tonidl1989<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/dalle?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#dalle</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/dalle2?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#dalle2</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/aiart?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#aiart</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/aiartwork?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#aiartwork</a> <a href="https://t.co/puYVxjyFMm">pic.twitter.com/puYVxjyFMm</a> — Best Dalle2 AI Art 🎨 (@Dalle2AI) <a href="https://twitter.com/Dalle2AI/status/1565168579376566278?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 1, 2022</a></blockquote> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Used DALL-E 2’s new “outpainting” feature to expand the world’s greatest work of art… <a href="https://t.co/0HXQzngt9P">pic.twitter.com/0HXQzngt9P</a> — M.G. Siegler (@mgsiegler) <a href="https://twitter.com/mgsiegler/status/1565398150482784256?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 1, 2022</a></blockquote> DALL-E is available to more than one million people to create AI-generated images, all with a series of text prompts. DALL-E is just one of many AI systems infiltrating the art world, joining the likes of Midjourney and Imagen redefining how we create and appreciate art. Image credits: DALL-E - August Kamp

Art

Olivia Newton-John’s daughter shares never seen before footage

Olivia Newton-John's daughter has shared a beautiful behind-the-scenes video of a duet she did with her mother. Chloe Rose Lattanzi shared the video to Instagram of her and her mum singing Window In The Wall at Olivia’s home studio. The 36-year-old could be seen smiling at her mother as the pair hugged, smiled and began to sing the beautiful song. “You are my lighthouse mama. My safe place. My heart space. It has been my honor and continues to be my honor to be your baby and best friend,” Chloe wrote. “You are an angel on earth and everyone touched by you has been blessed. I love you forever my life giver, my teacher, my mama.” The song was released in January 2021 and at the time Olivia knew it was one that she wanted to sing with her daughter. “I’ve always enjoyed singing duets more than singing on my own, and when I first heard this song, I knew immediately that I wanted to sing it with my daughter Chloe,” she previously said. “The lyrics and melody really resonated with me, and I hoped Chloe would feel the same way – and luckily, she did!” Chloe at the time also knew it was a song she wanted to perform with her mother when she played it for her. “When my mom played the song for me I knew I wanted to record it, not only because it was with my mom but, I felt the lyrics and message might help people see things from another perspective,” Chloe said. “We are all part of the same human race and if we listen to each other, respect each other and love each other - for both our likenesses and our differences - we might just understand each other a lot more.” <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/ChC-Nr8j1_w/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/ChC-Nr8j1_w/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Chloe Lattanzi (@chloelattanziofficial)</a> </div> </blockquote> The heartwarming behind-the-scenes video comes following the devastating news of Olivia’s death on Monday at her home in California. The 73-year-old fought her breast cancer diagnosis for 30 years but unfortunately succumbed to it. The news of <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/health/caring/honouring-dame-olivia-newton-john" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Olivia’s passing was announced by her husband</a> John Easterling on Instagram via his late wife’s account, and included an appeal to continue her good works in the field of cancer research: “Dame Olivia Newton-John (73) passed away peacefully at her Ranch in Southern California this morning, surrounded by family and friends. We ask that everyone please respect the family’s privacy during this very difficult time,” he wrote. “Olivia has been a symbol of triumphs and hope for over 30 years sharing her journey with breast cancer. “Her healing inspiration and pioneering experience with plant medicine continues with the Olivia Newton-John Foundation Fund, dedicated to researching plant medicine and cancer. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that any donations be made in her memory to the @onjfoundation." Her daughter Chloe also shared a <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/lifestyle/family-pets/no-words-emotional-images-from-olivia-newton-john-s-daughter" target="_blank" rel="noopener">series of heartwarming photos</a> upon the news breaking as celebrities and fans alike offered their condolences. The family have also accepted a state funeral from Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews. Images: Instagram

Family & Pets

Why there is a tiny hole in your airplane window

Image: Getty Next time you sit in the window seat, take a closer look and you might spot a tiny hole in the glass pane. But don’t panic – not only is that normal, but without them, there could be huge problems on-board. This strange design helps the aircraft to withstand the changing air pressure outside. Even though it may look like there’s a hole, the small gap doesn’t go through the entire pane. Each window is made up of three different acrylic layers, and it’s only the middle one that contains the breather hole. The small gap helps to regulate the high pressure environment on the plane, making the experience far more comfortable for passengers. Pilot Mark Vanhoenacker previously revealed: “The outer two cabin windows are designed to contain this difference in pressure between the cabin and the sky. “Both the middle and the outer panes are strong enough to withstand the difference on their own, but under normal circumstances it’s the outer pane that bears this pressure — thanks to the breather hole.” As well as being vital for passenger safety, the breather hole has another important function. The small gap allows moisture to escape the aircraft, preventing fog from forming on the window It isn’t the only strange thing you might spot on planes. Keen-eyed passengers may notice tiny black triangles on the walls of their plane. These indicate the position from which the wings can best be seen by staff from inside the aircraft. They can then quickly check the position of the flaps or slats if required from the appropriate window. There are also tiny yellow hooks on the wings which help staff evacuations over the wing and are used to secure and tether life rafts to the plane.

Domestic Travel

Government announces shortened booster window

The federal government has announced that the timeframe between the second COVID-19 vaccine and the booster shot has been shortened, from five months to four. The change will come into effect on January 4. This is an additional reduction, following an initial interval of six months in between shots. Furthermore, on January 31, the gap between shots will be reduced to just three months. These changes will enable millions of Australians to receive their booster shots, which are increasingly being seen as necessary to resist the Omicron strain and maintain immunity amidst rising cases across the country, far sooner. This includes over 60s, many of whom were not fully vaccinated until late in the year due to eligibility criteria. Tony Blakeley, an epidemiologist from the University of Melbourne, described the five-month gap between the second and third shots as “bordering on unethical”, particularly for older Australians who received the AstraZeneca vaccine. “AstraZeneca recipients are often 60-plus, they're often more vulnerable, yet they had a vaccine where they had to wait three months between the first and second dose and now they're not eligible,” he explained. The change follows advice from expert vaccination group ATAGI and is in response to the recent spike in cases as the Omicron variant spreads throughout the community. On Friday, Victoria recorded 2095 new cases and eight deaths, while NSW recorded 5612 and one death. Health Minister Greg Hunt explained that cutting the interval down would ensure roughly 7.5 million Australians would be eligible to receive a booster shot by early January, whereas as of Friday, only 3.2 million were eligible. Once the interval is reduced further at the end of January, about 16 million Australians will be eligible to receive their third vaccine. In a press conference on Friday, Mr Hunt said, “These dates have been set out of an abundance of caution to give Australians early continued protection.” Image: Rohan Thomson/Getty Images

News

Young HERO with autism jumps out Maccas drive-thru window to save choking customer

Image: Kare11 A 15-year-old McDonald’s worker potentially saved a customer’s life by jumping through the drive-thru window after she noticed the woman choking on a chicken nugget. Sydney Raley was working a shift at McDonald’s in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, handing customers their orders in the drive-thru when she realised something was wrong with the person she was serving. “I noticed that she was coughing profusely, and her daughter just had this look on her face like sheer terror,” she told the local news station KARE11. “I could tell, oh crap, she’s choking!’ Just seeing that visceral reaction I knew I had to act fast.” Sydney had done first-aid training when she was 11 years old, so she immediately jumped out the drive-thru window and told the customer to get out of the car and instructed her daughter to call for help. The Heimlich manoeuvre didn't work the first few times, so she called upon another customer who was waiting for his food to come and help. The other customer was able to dislodge the chicken nugget stuck in the woman's throat. “It could’ve ended a lot worst but I am super thankful for that bystander who helped so much,” she said. Police officers from Edina Police Department arrived at the scene to assist the woman and rewarded Sydney with $100 – from the fund police use to give back to those who do good in the community. Just after emergency services had arrived at the McDonald's, Sydney's parents arrived to pick her up. Her father Tom told CNN they saw the ambulance and police car out the front and for a moment were worried they were there for something to do with Sydney. He told the station he is extremely proud of her. "I always tell her she has a gift, because she's autistic," said Tom. "She can remember anything – do anything." The police Sergeant was also proud of the 15-year-old. "We’re very proud of Sydney. She’s a great example of how all of us – no matter our age or position – can make a difference in our communities," Sergeant Scott Mittelstadt said, according to the department's Facebook post.

Caring

Understanding the “window of tolerance” in trauma recovery

For survivors of trauma, recovering involves learning how to cope with distress and how to increase the capacity for positive and enjoyable experiences. A common framework psychologists use while working with trauma survivors is called the “window of tolerance”. Understanding our personal windows of tolerance can help us respond to demands of daily life and utilise different strategies to return to it during stressful moments. What is the window of tolerance? Coined by psychiatrist Dan Spiegel, the <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychpedia/window-of-tolerance" target="_blank">window of tolerance</a> describes a state of arousal where a person can function well and respond to stimuli with much difficulty. In this state, a person is likely able to think rationally, reflect, and make decisions without feeling overwhelmed. When a person experiences extreme stress, they can leave this window and enter a state of hyper- or hypo-arousal. Hyper-arousal is also known as the fight or flight response, with a person usually experiencing hypervigilance, anxiety or panic, and racing thoughts. In contrast, hypo-arousal is the freeze response, where someone may feel emotionally numb, empty, or paralysed. Being in either of these states can mean that a person is unable to effectively process stimuli. They may be unable to think as rationally and can feel dysregulated. Everyone’s window of tolerance is different and can be affected by their environment - such as how supported they feel - and trauma. <img style="width: 386.4533965244866px; height:500px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7844316/nicabm-infog-window-of-tolerance-revised.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/82982d740495463a868203412a0187d2" /> Image: NICABM When a person feels supported and safe, they are generally able to stay in their window of tolerance. For those who have experienced trauma, the experience may “push” a person out of their window of tolerance, or make it much more narrow or inflexible. This can result in someone responding to even minor stressors with extreme hyper- or hypo-arousal, or believing the world is unsafe. Frequently staying outside the window of tolerance can result in an individual experiencing mental health issues such as depression and anxiety. Manage mental health with the window of tolerance People who feel dysregulated and often stay outside of their window of tolerance can return using a few different techniques. Practicing grounding and mindfulness skills can often help people be present and in the moment. With the help of a mental health professional, it is also possible for a person to expand their window of tolerance, feel a greater sense of calm, and become better equipped to deal with stress. Therapy can provide individuals with a safe space to process trauma and other painful memories, as well as a place to practice emotional regulation. Image: Getty Images

Mind

Man’s $114 fine for “ridiculous” reason causes fury

A man has copped a $114 fine for breaking a “ridiculous” parking rule that he had no idea about, and has warned others to be aware of the risks. The man claims he received a ticket from the NSW Police Force for "not locking doors secure windows", while parking on Military Road in North Bondi. "Don't accidentally leave your car window down in Bondi," he wrote on Facebook. Not pulling up your windows is against the law. NSW Road Rules states that a vehicle must be secured, if the driver is more than three metres from the closest part of the vehicle and no one is in the vehicle. Though, the legislation notes a window is secure "even if it is open by up to 2 centimetres". A driver can receive a maximum of 20 penalty points for leaving a window down. "I had no idea that was an offence," one person wrote in the comments of the man’s post. "This so Sydney," another person added. A third person said: "This is so stupid. Don't pay it and go to court." "It’s such a ridiculous fine. Revenue raising at it’s finest," someone else wrote.

Legal

1-year-old girl dies in hot car after father allegedly refuses to break window

A Las Vegas father has been arrested after he refused to break the window of his new car to save his dying toddler, according to authorities. Sidney Deal, 27, got the attention of officers after he left his one-year-old daughter in the car with the keys inside on a hot Monday afternoon. The officers offered to break the window, call a tow truck or get a locksmith but Deal declined and asked to call his brother. After a few minutes, officers decided to smash the window, pulled out the unresponsive girl and she passed away at the scene. The cause of death is pending, but authorities believe that she had been trapped in the car for more than a hour. Detectives also interviewed Deal's brother who he called and the brother explained he was confused by the call and quickly headed to Deal's house. Deal described in the call saying that he accidentally locked Sayah in the car and claimed that he had the airconditioning running. After Deal's brother arrived, he immediately wrapped his shirt around his hand and offered to punch out the window, but Deal stopped him as he claimed he didn't have enough money to fix a broken window. He instead asked his brother to call their mum to have her insurance company to send a locksmith. Deal's girlfriend told police she also called the insurance company for him, but he told her to hang up after he didn't agree with the price quoted for a tow truck. He was booked in the Clark County Detention Centre on one count of child abuse or neglect causing substantial bodily harm and is being held on $20,000 bond. Photo credits: Facebook

Travel Trouble

Close up: World War Z frames the terror of ‘loss of self’ and the threat of a mass pandemic

How do filmmakers communicate big ideas on screen? In this video series, film scholar Bruce Isaacs analyses pivotal film scenes in detail. (Warning: this video contains violence and may be upsetting for some viewers.) <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/rTkFBg2gSRQ" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen=""></iframe> There is perhaps no better time than now to appreciate the unique and subversive genre of <a href="https://theconversation.com/were-obsessed-with-zombies-which-says-a-lot-about-today-37552">zombie movies</a>. These films have always been great socio-cultural lenses. Night of the Living Dead and Dawn of the Dead were two classics of the genre. <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0816711/?ref_=ttfc_fc_tt">World War Z</a> (2013), an adaptation of Max Brook’s 2006 <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8908.World_War_Z">apocalyptic zombie novel</a> continues this tradition. In a pivotal scene set in Jerusalem, director <a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0286975/?ref_=tt_ov_dr">Marc Foster</a> encapsulates the greatest threat posed by zombies: the end of our individuality and loss of uniqueness. The casting of Hollywood star <a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000093/?ref_=tt_ov_st_sm">Brad Pitt</a> is crucial, as are the cuts between him as a figure and the invading mass. Written by Bruce Isaacs. Republished with permission of <a href="https://theconversation.com/close-up-world-war-z-frames-the-terror-of-loss-of-self-and-the-threat-of-a-mass-pandemic-145090">The Conversation.</a>

Movies

Fury as Big Brother finale chucks social distancing out the window

Big Brother fans took to social media to display their fury as they watched contestants fail to follow social distancing measures on Wednesday night’s live episode. While the housemates managed to maintain a safe distance from one another for a large portion of the episode, they rushed in to warmly embrace Chad Hurst when he was announced the winner of this year’s Big Brother. “Seriously, social distancing is still a thing and should be represented on our screens,” one disgruntled viewer wrote on Twitter. “I care less about the result than the fact they're all hugging and not social distancing,” another said. <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.35313531353137px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7837038/big-brother-4.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/7dc37d3941664a7087e667d2a69b708e" /> A further comment said: “'How's that social distancing going at the end there?!?' and 'Social distancing just went out the window.” One viewer also took to social media to pose the question as to what New South Wales Health would think of the antics as the finale was filmed in Sydney. “Curious if NSW Health or NSW Police think Big Brother is exempt from social distancing on live TV. Everyone hugged and kissed at the end,” they said. Chad won by public vote and was announced as victor during the finale over Sophie Budack, 25, and Daniel Gorringe, 28. <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.1965811965812px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7837041/big-brother-1.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/5b5bac761b3d4d56b1e3c78686da9033" /> Host Sonia Kruger asked what was going through his mind to which Chad responded: “You know, I went on [Big Brother], I honestly think it's fate. The old boy (his late father), it's his show. “I had me Ma next to me, that's all that mattered. So thank you, everyone.” Chad previously told Daily Mail Australia that he applied for Big Brother to honour his late father.

The touching moment bride visits her grandmother through care home window on her wedding day

Ever since the coronavirus pandemic hit, the world has had to adjust their lifestyles, and with the elderly at high risk from COVID-19, one bride from the US found a way to make sure her grandmother was a part of her wedding day. Shauna Varner married Travis Scepaniak in Sartell, Minnesota on April 25. The aged care facility, Country Manor, where her grandma Janis currently stays has been on strict lockdown since mid-March due to the virus. This forced Varner and Scepaniak to get creative. On the morning of the couple’s special day, staff at Country Manor helped dress Janis up. "With our salon services being shut down, it took some joint effort from us non-professionals to get her hair fixed, but she was pleased with the final product, which is all that matters," Emily Frericks, the facility's director of public relations and marketing told Good Morning America. "She felt beautiful, which was a rewarding feeling for staff." Before walking down the aisle, Varner and Scepaniak stopped at the facility to “visit” Janis from the other side of her window, leaving her overjoyed. In footage of the moment, Varner is seen showing off her wedding dress and two blew kisses to one another through the glass. "You got to see [the dress] first," said Varner. "Good," replied Janis, adding, "Your hair looks nice. Everything looks nice. You're beautiful." Even with the pandemic sweeping across the globe, people are finding ways to stay connected with their loved ones.

Relationships

When one door closes just open a window - 14 sites with great free art

As the coronavirus outbreak forces the closure of museums, art galleries, libraries and theatres around the word, the concept of “on demand culture” is gaining momentum. Institutions – museums, galleries and concert halls, which by their very nature rely on in-person visits – are seeking out digital solutions in the form of live-streamed performances, virtual tours and searches of online collections. The Sydney Biennale announced a <a href="https://www.biennaleofsydney.art/?gclid=CjwKCAjw3-bzBRBhEiwAgnnLCh7Dci4zUp2TZ2UWAdSHNyu4crESwT52p0og5UA-FouEesZ8lzZ_7xoCD3AQAvD_BwE">shift to digital</a> display this week and the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra has streamed a <a href="https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/culture/music/online-and-on-song-mso-keep-the-music-going-20200322-p54cm2.html">performance</a> of Beethoven’s Seventh Symphony to a live audience that peaked at 4500 and gathered thousands of subsequent viewers. The current pandemic is dragging cultural institutions into the 21st century, forcing them to catch up with technological solutions to replace on-site experiences. But many institutions are already well down this path. They have already found the shift online has benefits and dangers. Voorlinden will have to wait. <a href="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1525067445930-5968dc619dfb?ixlib=rb-1.2.1&auto=format&fit=crop&w=765&q=80">Christian Fregnan/Unsplash</a>, <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/">CC BY</a> Crossing technical boundaries From as early as the 1920s, museums have been using the technologies of the day. Back then, it was presenting <a href="https://books.google.com.au/books?id=XDZ7DwAAQBAJ&pg=PT78&lpg=PT78&dq=1920s+museum+lectures+on+public+radio&source=bl&ots=gD-dFO6UN8&sig=ACfU3U2pXdZIo3UGAnTODDW7VUcvtJvjbA&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjDreuvu7ToAhX-zzgGHb-3CfMQ6AEwA3oECAoQAQ#v=onepage&q=1920s%20museum%20lectures%20on%20public%20radio&f=false">public lectures on broadcast radio</a>. From the early to mid-1950s, the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology collaborated with CBS to produce <a href="https://www.penn.museum/collections/videos/playlist/list.php?id=7">What in the World</a>, a program that presented storeroom objects to a panel of industry specialists who had to figure out what in the world the objects were and who made them. A more recent turn is towards cultural institutions partnering with digital media organisations to deliver access to mediated cultural content. <a href="https://artsandculture.google.com/">Google Arts & Culture</a>, a digital platform, makes the collections of over 12,000 museums available online. Web portal <a href="https://www.europeana.eu/en">Europeana</a>, created by the European Union, hosts over 3,000 museums and libraries. Well before the coronavirus closed ticket desks and moved some experiences onto digital media platforms, virtual gateways had become an important means of generating awareness and engagement with culture. <a href="https://www.annefrank.org/en/">Anne Frank House</a> has illustrated how online visitors can take part in holocaust remembrance without travelling to Amsterdam. Anne Frank House now uses a chatbot to create personalised conversations with users globally via Facebook messenger. Similarly, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/eva.stories/?hl=en">Eva.Stories</a> is an Instagram page that recounts, via a series of 15 second videos, the diary of a 13-year-old girl killed in a concentration camp. Doors shut The forced closures as a result of coronavirus will accelerate and amplify this shift towards digital transformation. At a time of social distancing, individual artists, small private companies and major public cultural institutions are quickly re-purposing technology in creative ways. <a href="https://www.artscentremelbourne.com.au/festival-and-series/morning-melodies">Morning Melodies</a> is an online broadcast of the usually popular live performances offered by the Victoria Arts Centre. <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/doublej/music-reads/features/isol-aid-festival-review-2020-covid-19-julia-jacklin-spacey-jane/12082228">Isol-Aid</a> live streamed a music festival over the weekend, with 72 musicians across Australia each playing a 20-minute set on Instagram. The <a href="https://www.acmi.net.au/events/melbourne-cinematheque/">Australian Centre for the Moving Image</a> has set up an online weekly film nights, while acknowledging it “can’t replace the joy of being in the cinema”. What might be lost Despite the benefits of this mediated content, social media scholars Jose Van Dijck and Thomas Poell <a href="https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2309065">point out</a> digital technologies come with a set of core logics or rules that shape users, economic structures and institutions. These underlying rules of online engagement have long-term implications for how we engage with culture. For future generations, it’s conceivable that a visit to the library, museum, theatre or art gallery won’t be something experienced in person but rather through a digital media platform. With the “on demand culture” comes a dispersal of audiences into online spaces. In those spaces, their private contemplation of art and culture can become fodder for data mining and analysis. Art gals on google arts & culture... This data then feeds into the repurposing of cultural content according to the priorities of social platforms such as Facebook and Instagram. In 2018, Google Culture launched a <a href="https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2018/01/15/578151195/google-app-goes-viral-making-an-art-out-of-matching-faces-to-paintings">face match app</a> that matched user selfies to images drawn from cultural collections. It expanded access for new global audiences, but questions remain about the extent to which phone camera images were used to train Google’s facial recognition algorithm. Some users were critical of the collection’s <a href="https://twitter.com/KaraBTweets/status/952572084076646400?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E952572084076646400&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.npr.org%2Fsections%2Fthetwo-way%2F2018%2F01%2F15%2F578151195%2Fgoogle-app-goes-viral-making-an-art-out-of-matching-faces-to-paintings">lack of diversity</a>. The mediation of culture highlights a new set of ethical dilemmas as content goes online. What we gain This isn’t to say the availability of “on demand” cultural content isn’t a good thing. At “normal” times it can allow people to virtually visit exhibitions or enjoy performances they can’t access in real life. Online presentations can enhance understanding with “explore more” links or additional information. During times of crisis, online cultural experiences can be a <a href="https://www.fastcompany.com/90478442/for-artists-the-show-must-go-on-and-zoom-is-their-venue">lifeline for both art audiences and creators</a>. It is vital that we create avenues through which the community can access culture and seek out technological solutions to keep artists and cultural workers employed during what could be a long hiatus. 14 art & culture links <ul> <li><a href="https://abiawards.com.au/">Australian Book Industry Awards</a> will be awarded online, as will the <a href="https://thestellaprize.com.au/prize/2020-prize/">Stella Prize</a> for female authors.</li> <li><a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/1143946145941832/">Born to Boogie Dance Connection</a> is hosting a much-needed online groove this week.</li> <li><a href="https://www.instagram.com/dnice/">Club Quarantine</a> is where DJ D-Nice or Derrick Jones from 90s hip-hop group Boogie Down Productions is spinning tracks for 100,000+ viewers. Guest appearances include Michelle Obama, Naomi Campbell, Chaka Khan, Halle Berry, Rihanna, and Diddy.</li> <li><a href="https://www.europeana.eu/portal/en">Europeana Collections</a> are celebrating Women’s History Month.</li> <li><a href="https://artsandculture.google.com/">Google Art and Culture</a> Explore collections from around the world, from the British Museum to Macchu Pichu.</li> <li><a href="https://www.guggenheim-bilbao.eus/en/">Guggenheim Museum Bilbao</a> in Spain is the place for Mark Rothco, Jeff Koons and Richard Serra.</li> <li><a href="https://karaoke.camp/">Karaoke Camp</a> uses Zoom to connect singers worldwide.</li> <li><a href="https://museumsvictoria.com.au/melbournemuseum/at-home/">Melbourne Museum</a> has virtual tours of the Phar Lap, dinosaur and First Peoples displays.</li> <li><a href="https://www.mmca.go.kr/eng/">National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art</a>, South Korea is showing meet the curators chats on YouTube.</li> <li><a href="https://nowadays.nyc/">Nowadays</a> live music lounge in New York is streaming DJs online.</li> <li><a href="https://www.rijksmuseum.nl/en">Rijksmuseum</a> is home to Dutch masters: Vermeer’s Milkmaid, Van Gogh’s Self-portrait and Rembrandt’s most well-known painting: the Night Watch.</li> <li><a href="https://www.socialdistancingfestival.com/">Social Distancing Festival</a> is drawing live streaming performances together in one place.</li> <li><a href="https://www.zoo.org.au/animal-house">Zoo Victoria’s Animal House</a> is livesteaming lions, giraffes, snow leopards cubs, penguins and the occasional <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/video_and_audio/headlines/52000441/coronavirus-melbourne-zookeeper-s-livestream-dance-goes-viral">dancing zoo keeper</a>.</li> </ul> Written by Caroline Wilson-Barnao. Republished with permission of <a href="https://theconversation.com/when-one-door-closes-open-a-window-14-sites-with-great-free-art-134153">The Conversation.</a>

Art

New York wedding officiated from fourth-floor window amid social distancing

As weddings around the world are being cancelled or postponed due to the ongoing coronavirus outbreak, a New York couple has found a way to carry on with their nuptials – by having a friend officiate the ceremony from a fourth-floor window. Reilly Jennings and Amanda Wheeler tied the knot on Friday on a small sidewalk in the city. Their friend Matt Wilson, who is a licensed marriage officiant, led the ceremony from his fourth-floor apartment window as part of social distancing efforts. The couple exchanged their vows as a few friends stood witness from several metres away. <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/tv/B9_98yxpw7Z/?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/tv/B9_98yxpw7Z/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Reilly Jennings (@reillyjennings)</a> on Mar 21, 2020 at 7:47am PDT </div> </blockquote> Jennings and Wheeler initially planned to wed in October, but decided to have a quick courthouse wedding amid concerns “that things weren’t going back to normal for quite a while”. Jennings said Wilson texted them on group chat, letting them know he was ordained by the county clerk of New York and could help them “get hitched”. “We texted, ‘Wanna marry us outside your window in the next 24hrs?’ and he said ‘YES!’” Jennings told CNN. “To that I replied, ‘How about in 90 minutes?’ We both finished up work meetings, got dressed, picked up some flowers, and headed to his apartment around the corner.” <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/B9-kCC8Jfca/?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/B9-kCC8Jfca/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Reilly Jennings (@reillyjennings)</a> on Mar 20, 2020 at 6:39pm PDT </div> </blockquote> The wedding came as businesses were closed and residents of the US city were told to keep their distance and stay indoors where possible. Speaking to <a href="https://www.eonline.com/au/news/1133191/couple-marries-on-new-york-street-as-friend-officiates-wedding-from-3-floors-up">E!News</a>, Jennings said she and Wheeler will remember “the overwhelming sense of joy and love amidst a scary and uncertain time”.

Relationships

“I was duped”: Grandmother who smuggled cocaine into Portugal says she was framed

A British grandmother who smuggled $AUD 1.95 million worth of cocaine onto a cruise ship with her husband is now worried she will die in a foreign prison after being diagnosed with suspected breast cancer. Susan Clarke, 71, has been in a maximum-security jail in Portugal since last September following her conviction for a drugs plot with her husband, Roger, 72. The pensioners from London were both jailed for 8 years and claimed that they were conned by criminals into carrying suitcases with the drugs hidden in the lining. Susan is looking frail and gaunt as she is living in fear of breast cancer and awaiting the results of a painful double biopsy on her left breast. “My health is terrible,” she explained to <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/cocaine-smuggling-gran-says-i-21556974" target="_blank">The Sunday People</a>. “I may never get out of here alive and there’s no way I can reduce my sentence now. We were made an example of but I’ve been handed a death sentence. “My worry is that I’ll never be free and I’ll be leaving here in a box.” Susan said that the hardest thing was being apart from her husband, Roger, who was serving his sentence in a different jail in Lisbon. “We feel completely abandoned. The Foreign Office has ignored us, Boris Johnson has not helped and we have been completely cut adrift. No pensioner should be treated like this. “We found out our appeal had been dismissed. I’m devastated and angry. “I want to go home, I want to go back to the UK. I want to be with Roger. That’s the worst thing, the worst torture, to be apart from him.” It’s not the first time the couple have found themselves behind bars as they were arrested in 2010 in Norway for trying to smuggle 240 kilograms of cannabis into Oslo. The couple were arrested again after a tip off from Britain’s National Crime Agency as they enjoyed a cruise from the Caribbean to Europe on the liner Marco Polo. Susan said: “I can understand why people might well believe that we are guilty but we are not. “That’s what hurts so much. We know that we are completely innocent.” Susan has lodged an application to be transferred to Britain to serve her sentence. “I find it very hard. It’s very noisy but I try to keep myself to myself. I can’t speak to my cellmates because they speak no English. I’m allowed out for two hours each day. In summer it’s sweltering. I have it hard but Roger has it even worse. I’ve not seen him since last year. “We can only hope and pray that we survive this nightmare. She added “The only things we are guilty of is trusting people we thought were friends – and maybe of being a bit naive.” Image credit: <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/cocaine-smuggling-gran-says-i-21556974" target="_blank">Sunday Mirror</a>

Travel Trouble

Coronavirus in Wuhan: Residents shout ‘stay strong’ from windows

In Wuhan, China, the epicentre of the coronavirus outbreak, <a href="https://youtu.be/bqXfnN76S-I">residents have been shouting</a> “Wuhan jiāyóu” meaning, “Wuhan, stay strong” out of their windows, from apartment building to apartment building, to <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-51276496">send words of encouragement</a> to fellow citizens, doctors and medical staff at the front lines of the battle. When facing a crisis, <a href="https://doi.org/10.1080/03057240.2011.541774">humans historically seek solidarity</a>. Community solidarity is often seen as a great way for the community to feel alive and charged with energy after facing hard times. This solidarity was seen after <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2015/09/hurricane-katrinas-lesson-in-civics/402961/">Hurricane Katrina</a> in New Orleans in 2005, after <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/typhoon-haiyan-filipinos-use-social-media-ensure-no-victim-goes-flna2D11581515">Typhoon Haiyan</a> in the Philippines in 2013 and after the <a href="https://www.macleans.ca/news/canada/random-acts-of-kindness-during-the-fort-mcmurray-fire/">Fort McMurray wildfires</a> in Alberta in 2016. More recently, there are tales of <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/andie-bulman-pov-bartering-storm-1.5435804">neighbours shovelling each other out of their homes </a> after the historic snowstorm in St. John’s, N.L. Near Manila, <a href="https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1213189/bayanihan-eruption-unaffected-cities-towns-welcome-evacuees?fbclid=IwAR1w0IUcuPh_Z8sCk2MBJgR23bGOVMVfoLWCz6U4Hyyn-kO6Vh5hAzBdKt0">strangers offered up their homes</a> to evacuees of the Taal volcano eruption. But how do you show community solidarity in the face of a crisis when speaking with your neighbours — and coming together — could literally kill you? <iframe width="440" height="260" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/bqXfnN76S-I?wmode=transparent&start=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe> ‘Wuhan jiāyóu’: chants of solidarity spread across city at epicentre of coronavirus" video from ‘The Guardian.’ Boost morale As the 11 million citizens in Wuhan entered the nth day under lockdown because of the coronavirus, people have been forced to stay indoors to limit their contact with others. As fears grew, some felt the need to boost morale and create a sense of community solidarity. Soon, social media posts circulated asking residents in Wuhan to go to their windows and shout out “jiāyóu” starting at 8 p.m. local time. The posts were widely shared, leading to the phenomenon that took place. Jiāyóu (加油) directly translates to “<a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-asia-45897668/add-oil-the-new-expression-coming-your-way">add oil</a>” in a way that might mean “add gasoline to your car” so you can continue to push hard and do what you need to do. In a general sense, the sentiment is “stay strong” or “keep going.” Jiāyóu is a common phrase used to encourage someone if they are facing a challenge. As the city of Wuhan faces the life and death challenge of the coronavirus, jiāyóu works as a phrase that resonates with residents of a city struggling to survive. “Wuhan jiāyóu” (武汉! 加油!) is now the motto of Wuhan to keep spirits high in the face of this spreading pandemic. <img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/312746/original/file-20200130-41485-17ocjao.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" alt="" /> A comment left on ‘The Guardian’s’ Youtube video of the ‘jiāyóu’ chants. YouTube/The Guardian In addition to raising morale and giving a strong sign of life to a city that has been rendered a ghost town, the jiāyóu chants have also served another purpose: for the global media audience, it has helped to humanize the citizens of Wuhan. Apocalyptic fear Even with the exceptional stories like the reporting of “Wuhan jiayou” by <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-51276496">the BBC </a> and the <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jan/28/indoor-fishing-and-chanting-battles-how-chinas-quarantined-millions-are-keeping-busy">Guardian</a>, western media <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1i4fvH-EFDU_xzP-gt3OxZR0RGAvLqU5J/view">has been shown to</a> inevitably contribute to reducing the people at the core of these stories into numbers and statistics. So far, it seems, with a few exceptions, western mainstream media has focused on medical and scientific stories. The images and videos shared of Wuhan <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/science/2020/jan/27/china-coronavirus-who-to-hold-special-meeting-in-beijing-as-death-toll-jumps">are of a ravaged</a> and scary ghost town. Some include <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/video/world/asia/100000006936419/coronavirus-china-wuhan.html">videos of overflowing hospitals</a> and medical staff in <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2020/jan/30/coronavirus-live-updates-china-death-toll-wuhan-evacuation-foreign-nationals-citizens-latest-news">heavy protective gear</a>. Others have spread stories of <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/bc-rumours-panic-coronavirus-outbreak-1.5443998">apocalyptic fear</a>. Many social media posters have engaged in <a href="https://twitter.com/SimuLiu/status/1222459446799921153?s=20">fear mongering</a>. With all this, it can seem that few have treated the citizens of Wuhan as anything but <a href="https://globalnews.ca/news/6466587/coronavirus-risk-reaction/">potential carriers of the virus</a>. <img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/312903/original/file-20200130-41516-38tn9c.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" alt="" /> Simi Liu, recently cast as Marvel’s first Asian superhero has been speaking out against the racist fear mongering circulating on Twitter. <a href="https://twitter.com/SimuLiu/status/1222459446799921153?s=20" class="source">(Twitter/@similiu)</a> While these videos and images depict the reality of a city dealing with a pandemic, the face masks and crowded hospitals allow viewers to overlook the silent majority — the tens of millions of people in self-isolation at home. The jiāyóu chant and the videos that captured it have since gone viral. It is a way for citizens to reclaim their narrative. It helps to draw attention to the millions of diligent and law-abiding citizens who are doing their job in fighting this pandemic and encouraging others to keeping going in this fight against an invisible virus. I believe the humanization of the Wuhan citizens helped to send a wake up call to the world about the plight of those not infected but isolated in their homes. Many westerners have largely focused on whether the virus will spread in their countries. Few may have stopped to think of those in lock down in Wuhan and other cities in China. Some took to social media to ask why the world is not praying for Wuhan or China. Why are there no Facebook profile filters to show solidarity with those struggling against the virus? <img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/312741/original/file-20200130-41554-1q6puo7.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" alt="" /> Screenshot of Orlando Uy’s Facebook comment about the lack of Pray for China activities on social media. (Facebook/Orlando Uy) Most recently, in Wuhan, <a href="https://uk.news.yahoo.com/chinese-premier-inspects-wuhan-supermarket-120000938.html">Premier Li Keqiang’s visited</a> a Wuhan supermarket where the coronavirus allegedly originated. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qPfZmZZ9M0o">In an act of solidarity, he chanted “jiāyóu Wuhan”</a> with a crowd of shoppers to encourage them to continue fighting the coronavirus. While the premier was likely genuine, there is also a small warning in this government official’s act. There is a risk that acts of solidarity like “Wuhan jiāyóu” could be co-opted by government bodies to shift attention or responsibility away from authorities. This type of co-option was observed in <a href="https://odihpn.org/blog/bayanihan-after-typhoon-haiyan-are-we-romanticising-an-indigenous-coping-strategy/">the exaggerated use of “resilience” and “survival” narratives</a> after Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines to paint a picture of a rapidly recovering community doing well by being resourceful and helping each other. These narratives of community resilience pushed forth by official government messages can act to shift responsibility away from the state and international humanitarian organizations that have formal responsibilities in disaster risk reduction and recovery. Thus, Premier Li Keqiang was able to use the peoples’ chant, “Wuhan jiāyóu” to rally support in the grocery store. But he did not create a space for questions about accountability and government action. This is often the double-edged sword of community solidarity: it is powerful, but it can also be misused by the powerful. <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; text-shadow: none !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/130851/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <iframe width="440" height="260" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/qPfZmZZ9M0o?wmode=transparent&start=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe> Premier Li Kequiang shouting ‘Wuhan jiayou.’ <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/yvonne-su-742700">Yvonne Su</a>, PhD, International Development and Political Science, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-guelph-1071">University of Guelph</a> This article is republished from <a href="http://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/coronavirus-in-wuhan-residents-shout-stay-strong-from-windows-130851">original article</a>.

International Travel

How music is used to frame our daily routines

The concept of “home” refers to more than bricks and mortar. Just as cities are more than buildings and infrastructure, our homes carry all manner of emotional, aesthetic and socio-cultural significance. Our research investigates music and sound across five settings: home, <a href="https://books.google.com.au/books?hl=en&lr=&id=zcMuMglzyzkC&oi=fnd&pg=PA190&ots=atQw4trFNS&sig=35Ok_TO3mJYXgm3mGRt_8bFfZ0Q#v=onepage&q&f=false">work</a>, <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/soin.12232">retail spaces</a>, private <a href="https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/S0163-2396(2010)0000035015/full/html">vehicle travel</a> and <a href="https://search.informit.com.au/documentSummary;dn=200907280;res=IELAPA;type=pdf">public transport</a>. We found our interview subjects often idealised home along the lines of what <a href="http://www.losquaderno.professionaldreamers.net/?p=1106">Rowland Atkinson terms an “aural haven”</a>. He suggests, although “homes are … rarely places of complete silence”, we tend to imagine them as “refuge[s] from unwanted sound” that offer psychic and perceptual “nourishment to us as social beings”. We explored the ways in which people shape and respond to the home as a set of “<a href="http://www.professionaldreamers.net/images/losquaderno/losquaderno10.pdf">modifiable micro-soundscapes</a>”. Through 29 in-depth interviews, we examine how people use music and sound to frame the home as a type of “<a href="https://www.jstor.org/stable/2095141?seq=1#page_scan_tab_contents">interaction order</a>”. Erving Goffman coined this term to capture how people respond to the felt “presence” of an other. That presence can be linguistic or non-linguistic, visual or acoustic. It can cross material thresholds such as walls and fences. Goffman <a href="https://books.google.com.au/books?id=EM1NNzcR-V0C&printsec=frontcover&dq=behaviour+in+public+places&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwic9JaW6-XlAhV-73MBHRilB4oQ6AEIKDAA#v=onepage&q=work%20walls%20do&f=false">wrote</a>: <blockquote> The work walls do, they do in part because they are honoured or socially recognised as communication barriers. </blockquote> Cultivating sonic havens through music As we detail in our recent <a href="https://tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/14036096.2019.1686060">essay in Housing, Theory and Society</a>, the type of listening that most closely matches the idea of the home as an aural haven is bedroom listening – by young people in particular. We found that, as well as offering “control” and “seclusion”, the bedroom gave listeners a sense of “transcendence” and immersed them in “deep” listening. One interview subject said: <blockquote> When I get a new album … I like to experience [it] by … lying down on the floor… I’ll turn the lights off and I’ll just be engaging with the music, my eyes won’t be open. </blockquote> Another reported putting on headphones to listen to special selections of music, despite not needing to. “Headphones… [is] a more intimate … kind of thing”, even in a bedroom setting. When it came to music in shared spaces and in relation to neighbours, our interview subjects seemed both aware of music’s visceral powers and keen to respect the territorial or acoustic “preserves” of others. One young female sharing a house with her mother carefully curated the type of music played, and what part of the house it was played in. Her choices depended on whether her mother was home and whether she had shown interest in particular genres. All respondents who lived in shared households expressed some kind of sensitivity to not playing music at night. Another lived by herself in an apartment complex of five. She took deference towards neighbours seriously enough to “tinker away” on her piano only when she was sure her immediate neighbour wasn’t home. She “didn’t play the piano much” inside her flat and was only prepared to “go nuts” playing the piano in halls and other non-domestic settings. Music as a bridging ritual Another of our findings accorded with the microsociological focus on how people organise <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0226981606/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_taft_p1_i10">time</a> and <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0029344204/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_taft_p1_i6">space</a> in everyday life. We found evidence, for example, of how music was used to wake up, or to transition to the weekend, or as a “bridging ritual” between work and home. One interview subject remarked that he is “dressed casually anyway” when he returns from work, so his mechanism for shifting to home mode is to listen “to music … pretty much as soon as I get home … unless I’m just turning around and going straight somewhere else”. In other words, he associated the boundary between home and non-home with music and the listening rituals of returning home. One of the themes in academic literature about media and the home is that electronic and digital media <a href="https://global.oup.com/academic/product/no-sense-of-place-9780195042313?cc=au&lang=en&">blur the boundary between the inside and outside of the home</a>. There is no doubt radio, television and now various digital platforms bring the world “out there” into the immediacy and intimacy of our own domestic worlds. But, as <a href="https://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/e/9780203033142/chapters/10.4324/9780203033142-8">Jo Tacchi noted of radio sound</a>, those sounds can also be used to weave a sonic <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0038026118825233">texture</a> of domestic comfort, security and routine. We also found interesting sonic continuities between our homes and how we make ourselves at home in non-domestic settings. As <a href="https://books.google.com.au/books?id=KEHjTYnT-MUC&q=Locked+in+our+cars#v=snippet&q=Locked%20in%20our%20cars&f=false">Christina Nippert-Eng writes</a>: <blockquote> Locked in our cars, commutes offer the working woman or man the legitimate equivalent of a teenager’s bedroom, often complete with stereo system and favourite music. </blockquote> In short, sonic havens are simply “places where we can retreat into privacy”, inside or outside our literal homes.<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; text-shadow: none !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/126188/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/michael-james-walsh-147733">Michael James Walsh</a>, Assistant Professor Social Science, <a href="http://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-canberra-865">University of Canberra</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/eduardo-de-la-fuente-161803">Eduardo de la Fuente</a>, Honorary Fellow, School of Humanities and Social Inquiry, University of Wollongong, <a href="http://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-wollongong-711">University of Wollongong</a> This article is republished from <a href="http://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/sonic-havens-how-we-use-music-to-make-ourselves-feel-at-home-126188">original article</a>.

Music

12 simple ways to reduce bushfire risk to older homes

Seventy-five years of Australian research into how houses respond to bushfire has identified 21 main weak points in houses and the area immediately surrounding them. In recent decades this knowledge has been used to inform <a href="http://www.as3959.com.au/">new building construction</a>. But older houses are generally not built to the same standard, unless they have been significantly renovated. Older homes make up the majority of buildings in bushfire prone-areas. There are some simple things that can improve the performance of an older house in a bushfire. Here are 12 suggestions: six simple projects that could be done over a weekend or two, and six low-cost things you could do in a single afternoon. Six weekend projects: 1. Remove some garden beds next to the house This is particularly true for garden beds near timber-framed windows and doors. For timber and fibro homes, garden beds adjacent to the house should be avoided entirely. At the very least prune dense bushes close to timber-framed windows back hard. 2. Sand and repaint weathered timber door and window frames Over time, paint peels and cracks appear in the exposed and weathered timber. During a bushfire, embers can lodge in these cracks and ignite. 3. Enclose the subfloor with a metal mesh Flammable items are often stored underneath the house. If this area is not enclosed these items will catch, often due to ember attack, and pose a threat to every room in the house. The exposed underside of timber floors can be protected with a lightweight, non-combustible layer. 4. Repair or replace weathered timber decking Just as embers can land in cracks in door and window frames, the same can also happen to weathered timber decking. Most decks are right next to the house and if they go up fire easily spreads to the home. 5. Have a 1-2 metre non-flammable area immediately around your house Think of it as an additional protective defence area. You could use gravel, paving tiles, bricks, concrete, or ground rock such as scoria. 6. Get a professional roof inspection Roofs gradually weaken and require maintenance. A professional roof repairer can check that tiles are in place, repair damaged ridge tiles, and ensure that skylights, air vents, evaporative coolers, and solar panels are in good order and are free from gaps where embers could enter. The product specifications for timber door and window frames, metal mesh, and decking materials can be found in the relevant <a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=AS+3959+(2018)&oq=AS+3959+(2018)&aqs=chrome..69i57&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8">Australian Standard</a> and <a href="https://www.nash.asn.au/nash/publications/nash-standards">steel construction standard</a>. Actual requirements for houses vary according to the <a href="https://www.bushfireprone.com.au/what-is-a-bal/">bushfire attack level</a> associated with a specific block of land. Six easy afternoon projects 1. Replace natural coil doormats with synthetic While they appear harmless, natural organic doormats can cause a fire to grow if they ignite. Due to their density they burn for a long time, and can spread flames to timber door frames. A synthetic mat will only flare up for a short time. 2. Remove organic mulch from garden beds next to the house Burning embers can easily ignite dried-out organic mulch, setting fire to surrounding plants. If garden beds are near the house, particularly timber door and window frames, the danger is increased. Either remove mulch in garden beds next to the house or – if the mulch is suitable – dig it in deeply. 3. Store firewood in an enclosed metal container It is best to store wood well away from the house, but no one wants to walk metres in cold winters to get that wood. So some firewood is often stored close to the house on a burnable deck, and often it’s left there over summer. Putting it into a large metal container can remove that fire risk. 4. Remove flammable material from the front porch, roof cavity, decking and underfloor area When embers enter the roof cavity and underneath the house, flames can rapidly spread to every room. It is vital to keep these areas clear of flammable materials. 5. Replace timber benches on timber decks with synthetic ones A timber bench on a timber deck next to a timber house is an unnecessary risk, similar to having a wood pile on a timber deck. 6. Turn pressure relief valves on outside gas bottles away from the house Both the <a href="https://knowledge.aidr.org.au/resources/bushfire-canberra-2003/">2003 Canberra</a> and the <a href="https://knowledge.aidr.org.au/resources/bushfire-wye-river/">2016 Wye River</a> bushfires showed the danger of having gas bottle valves facing the house. In both fires, houses were destroyed when either the gas plume flamed or gas bottles exploded. While these projects will improve the bushfire protection of your home, they can’t guarantee your home will survive a bushfire, especially during catastrophic bushfire conditions. It is also crucial to upgrade your home insurance so you can meet the higher costs of <a href="http://www.as3959.com.au/">new building standards</a>, in the event you have to rebuild. And in all cases, act on warnings given by your state or territory fire authority. <hr /> The advice given in this article is general and may not suit every circumstance.<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; text-shadow: none !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/122712/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/douglas-brown-106914">Douglas Brown</a>, Casual Academic, <a href="http://theconversation.com/institutions/western-sydney-university-1092">Western Sydney University</a> This article is republished from <a href="http://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/12-simple-ways-you-can-reduce-bushfire-risk-to-older-homes-122712">original article</a>.

Home & Garden

Grandfather of toddler who fatally fell from cruise ship window charged

A grandfather who police claim dropped his granddaughter from the 11th floor of a cruise ship docked in Puerto Rico has been accused of negligent homicide. A judge has issued the arrest of Salvatore Anello after prosecutors submitted evidence and said the 2-year-old fell to her demise when he raised her up to an open window in July. An attorney for the family revealed that Chloe Wiegand asked her grandfather to lift her up so she can bang on the glass in the children’s play area. Salvatore places the blame on the cruise company, saying they shouldn’t have left the window open. The Indiana family was travelling on the Royal Caribbean’s Freedom of the Seas. Speaking to NBC’s Today Show in July, Chloe’s mother Kimberley Wiegand said that her family will sue Royal Caribbean Cruises for “not having a safer situation on the 11th floor of that cruise ship.” Michael Winkleman, the family’s attorney, challenged a Puerto Rico police report that claimed Chloe’s grandfather dropped the toddler out of a window on July 7 when the ship was docked. "There's no doubt this was an accident," Winkleman said. "Really the singular question is, were there safety measures that could have been in place and should have been in place? If they were in place, again, there would have been no tragedy." Anello is currently being held on $80,000 bond and will appear in court on November 20.

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