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Rare coin hidden for decades to fetch eye-watering sum

Three sisters from the US who inherited a dime coin kept it in a bank vault for more than 40 years, and while they know it had some value, they didn't know just how much until a few years ago. The rare coin, struck by the US Mint in San Francisco in 1975, could be worth more than $US500,000 ($748,000), according to Ian Russell, president of GreatCollections, the auction house selling the coin. What makes the coin depicting President Franklin D. Roosevelt so valuable is that it is just one of two coins missing the "S" mint mark for San Francisco. The other dime sold for $US682,000 (over $1 million) at a 2019 auction and then again months later to a private collector. While avid coin collectors have known about the existence of these two extraordinarily rare coins, their whereabouts had remained a mystery since the late 1970s. “They were hidden for decades,” Russell said. “Most major collectors and dealers have never seen one.” The three sisters from Ohio, who want to remain anonymous, inherited one of the two dimes after the recent death of their of their brother, Russell said. They told Russell that their brother and mother bought the first error coin discovered in 1978 for $27,225, which would amount to roughly $135,000 today. Their parents, who ran a dairy farm, saw the coin as a financial safety net, and it was only until last year that one of the sisters saw the coin first-hand. Russell also said that their brother had reached out to him about seven years ago and told him about the coin, but he too kept it a secret. When Russell told one of the sisters about the potential value of the coin, she told him: “is that really possible?”. The coin, known as the “1975 ‘no S’ proof dime,” will be displayed at a coin show beginning on Wednesday in Tampa, Florida, and before <a href="https://www.greatcollections.com/Coin/1655587" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the auction</a> closes late next month, Russell said. The current highest bidder has offered $US250,000 ($374,000). Images: Great Collections/ Professional Coin Grading Services

Money & Banking

"Cut this rubbish out": Channel 7's fresh "news" segment slammed

Channel 7's major bulletin shake up has not been well received by some viewers. On Friday night, they kicked off their new comedy segment with Mark Humphries, whose satirical humour was intended to be used to "cut through political spin and translate current affairs in the universal news language of taking the piss” according to appointed news director Anthony De Ceglie. Humphries’ three minutes comedy segment premiered under the banner The 6.57pm News, and was made to look like a continuation of the news. That night, they were discussing US President Joe Biden's press conference which aired earlier in the day. “His press conference was delayed for over an hour, presumably because the President was running late … or more likely waddling late,” Humphries said in the segment. “Biden who is 81 – but doesn’t look a day over 90 – spoke smoothly on a variety of issues and allayed voters fears about his age … is what I wish I could tell you. “Instead, this happened …” He then played a clip of Biden confusing Kamala Harries with Donald Trump, followed by another clip of him whispering on the lectern. “Very reassuring and not weird at all,” the comic said. <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/p/C9TGVSTTozZ/?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/C9TGVSTTozZ/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Mark Humphries (@humphriesmark)</a> </div> </blockquote> Humphries then tried to make a joke out of it saying that Biden was suffering from a condition called “that guy old” with symptoms including confusing names, long pauses, “and keeping your mouth just that little bit open with that slightly disappointed look like Bunnings just told you the sausage sizzle is closed”. “But if you think that’s bad, wait till you find out the condition the other candidate has ‘that guy convicted felon’,” he concluded. While some Channel 7 viewers "loved" it and thought it was “better than The Project,” a few others were less impressed. “This was an appalling segment … hire, rather than sack, journos,” read one comment on social media. “It was a deplorable segment that has no place in a news bulletin,” another added. "It was absolutely ridiculous. I hope channel 7 cut this rubbish out," wrote a third. "This was cringe," another said. Images: Instagram

Harry and Meghan named "2023's biggest losers"

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have been crowned "the biggest losers of 2023" by highly influential entertainment magazine The Hollywood Reporter. The publication released its annual list of winners and losers, with celebrities like Taylor Swift, Margot Robbie and Greta Gerwig making the winners list. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex on the other hand topped this year's list of losers, which included Twitter/X/Elon Musk, and the streaming series Yellowstone. The publication wrote that this year's list reflected "some of the industry’s biggest success stories — and most embarrassing missteps." Royal commentator Victoria Arbiter said that this is a huge blow for the royal couple, as The Hollywood Reporter is considered an "industry bible that people pay attention to". "It is humiliating in Meghan's home town and they refer to the couple's - and I quote this - 'whiney documentary', that 'whiney biography' and the horrible South Park episode," she said in an interview with Nine's Today. Despite being crowned this year's biggest losers, Arbiter said that the couple are looking forward to a better year ahead. "It is time to leave the royal family behind and really establish what it is they want to do and make positive steps forward if they plan to be successful in 2024," she said. "We've been promised a number of different things via rumours over the past year, with talk of Meghan's website The TIG relaunching and she was going to launch a lifestyle brand similar to Gwyneth Paltrow's Goop. "Netflix paid $3 million pounds for rights to a book Harry and Meghan said they would turn into a rom-com, however we haven't had further development on those plans." The royal commentator added that Harry and Meghan will need to build consumer trust and avoid "negative, scandalous headlines that follow them everywhere", as they approach the new year. "Hollywood doesn't do well with negativity," she said. Check out the full list <a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/hollywood-winners-losers-2023-1235712279/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>. Image: Getty

7 things you never knew about MAS*H

Did you know M*A*S*H ran more than three times longer than the actual Korean War? It may have graced our screens for 11 years, but you might not know all there is to know about the classic TV series, M*A*S*H. <ol> <li>No one wanted a laugh track – Despite pleas from the show’s producers, the network (CBS) went ahead and added in canned laughter. You might have noticed the laugh track growing quieter and quieter as the years progressed, and in the UK, the laugh track was removed entirely.</li> <li>CBS banned an “unpatriotic” episode – An idea for an episode was shot down by the network for being “unpatriotic”. It involved soldiers standing outside in the freezing cold to make themselves sick enough to be sent home – a tactic actually used during the war.</li> <li>The writers got back at complaining cast members – If ever an actor complained about their script (or asked for changes), the writing team would change the script to make it “parka weather”, making the cast swelter in jackets through days in excess of 32°C on their Florida film set.</li> <li>Patients were named after sports teams – After running out of names for patients visiting the hospital, the writers turned to baseball teams. In season six, four Marines are named after California Angels infielders, while in season seven, they named patients after the 1978 Los Angeles Dodgers.</li> <li>M*A*S*H hosted some big-name stars – Guest appearances on the show include Ron Howard, Leslie Nielsen, Patrick Swayze, Laurence Fishburne and Rita Wilson.</li> <li>The series finale broke records – The two-and-a-half-hour 1983 series finale, “Goodbye, Farewell and Amen,” was watched by a staggering 121.6 million people in the US alone – back then, that was 77 per cent of households with TV sets. It remains the most-watched episode of a TV show in US history.</li> <li>The time capsule didn’t stay buried long – In the series’ second-last episode, the M*A*S*H gang bury a time capsule. When the show wrapped up, the land used as the show’s set was sold, and a construction worker found the capsule just months later. After getting in contact with Alan Alda to return it, Alda told the worker he could keep it.</li> </ol> Image credits: Getty Images

"Finally!": 2023’s Sexiest Man Alive crowned

Patrick Dempsey has been named People’s Sexiest Man Alive for 2023! The 57-year-old actor known for his role as Derek "McDreamy" Shepherd on Grey's Anatomy snagged the title from last year's winner, Marvel heart-throb Chris Evans. In his interview with the publication, the actor said that he will use his new-found status to promote “something positive”. “I’m glad it’s happening at this point in my life,” he said. “It’s nice to have the recognition, and certainly my ego takes a little bump, but it gives me the platform to use it for something positive.” When asked about his reaction to finding out he was 2023's Sexiest Man Alive the actor joked that it was a long-time coming. “I was completely shocked, and then I started laughing, like, this is a joke, right? I’ve always been the bridesmaid!” he joked. “I’d completely forgotten about it and never even contemplated being in this position. So my ego is good.” <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Introducing PEOPLE’s 2023 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SexiestManAlive?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SexiestManAlive</a>, Patrick Dempsey. 🔥 <a href="https://t.co/4eYnCAG1Zr">https://t.co/4eYnCAG1Zr</a> <a href="https://t.co/5V0xVblnaE">pic.twitter.com/5V0xVblnaE</a> — People (@people) <a href="https://twitter.com/people/status/1722114648638394482?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 8, 2023</a></blockquote> The father-of-three also joked about how his children, Talula, 21, and 16-year-old twins Sullivan and Darby, will react to this news. “They’re just going to make fun of me and pick on me and figure out every reason why I shouldn’t be,” he said. “Which is good, they keep me young.” Funnily enough, his newfound status was also met with confusion, mostly from the younger generation who have no idea who he is. “Who the hell is Patrick Dempsey?” one confused Gen Zer wrote. “You all are making up new people every day; who is Patrick Dempsey?” another commented. This left many Millennials feeling old. “People ... not knowing who Patrick Dempsey is making me feel like a grandma. What do you mean you didn’t grow up watching Grey’s Anatomy, and you weren’t obsessed with Derek Sheppard since you were 10,” one commented. “There is an is actual difference in being 26 vs. being 23! Because I am seeing 23 yr olds not know who Patrick Dempsey is,” another added. And not everyone who is a Millennial agreed with People's choice. "I mean… yes back in the day. But seriously? How is it not someone who is hot right now? I haven’t even seen/heard him mentioned in years," commented one person. Is it 2005?” another wrote. “Um, he is so 2007,” a third commented. Regardless, Dempsey has aged like fine wine and many have said it's about time. “Finally! Ain’t nobody under this post showed me a white man finer!" Image: People Magazine/ X

Beauty & Style

"With Jock in our hearts": Channel 10's big MasterChef announcement

The 15th season of Masterchef Australia will be broadcast as planned, Channel 10 have confirmed. The season, otherwise known as Masterchef: Secrets & Surprises, was initially sent into limbo when fan-favourite host and <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/news/news/shattered-hearts-culinary-world-mourns-tragic-death-of-jock-zonfrillo">chef Jock Zonfrilllo passed away unexpectedly</a>, reportedly in a Melbourne hotel room. But now, the network behind the hit cooking competition series have confirmed that after a one-week delay and <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/entertainment/tv/huge-broadcast-blunder-sees-new-footage-of-late-jock-zonfrillo-mistakenly-aired">an unfortunate streaming blunder</a>, Masterchef will return to screens across Australia, and likely the rest of the world in the coming months. The network made the announcement through social media, sharing a statement that assured audiences the decision had come with “the full support of Jock Zonfrillo’s family”. “Masterchef Australia Judge Jock Zonfrillo took great pride in challenging and coaching the contestants and of course inspiring a nation of home cooks,” it continued, before going on to note that they would be keeping the late Zonfrillo close to their hearts over the course of the upcoming season, and beyond. It concluded with the news that “the show will honour Jock by reflecting on his personal and professional life in a celebration of his incredible achievements”, with some fans declaring in the comments that this was the “best way to honour his work”. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> The new season of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MasterChefAU?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MasterChefAU</a> begins 7.30pm Sunday on 10 and 10 Play. <a href="https://t.co/CnENu2UpUO">pic.twitter.com/CnENu2UpUO</a> — Channel 10 (@Channel10AU) <a href="https://twitter.com/Channel10AU/status/1653667970303033344?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 3, 2023</a></blockquote> The official Masterchef Australia account shared the same statement, and was met with a similar response from supporters of the show. “I’ll look forward to watching this with a whisky in hand, give it up for Jock,” one wrote. “I look forward to watching it. I think that viewing Jock’s final season together with all other MasterChef fans will be a fitting way for us to remember what an amazing person, chef and inspirational mentor he was,” another said. “A difficult decision,” one noted, “however the opportunity to see the great chef live on and do what it seemed he loved and was so very good at, making people love cooking.” The idea that it could not have been an easy decision to reach for one shared by a large portion of fans, with another likely speaking for all of them when they wrote that “this must have been a really emotionally tough decision for Jock's family. I think I'll need a box of tissues for this one.” “As long as Jock's family are OK with this, we can respect Channel 10's decision,” another decided. “I personally will find it very hard to watch the series in light of what's happened, but I'll think of it as a wonderful tribute to a fantastic man and beautiful soul.” Meanwhile, one fan had another idea for honouring the late chef, asking Masterchef Australia, “would you consider changing the name of the trophy the winner gets to the Jock Zonfrillo trophy?” Images: Twitter

Second MAS*H star to pass away in just one month

Actress Eileen Saki, best known for her role as bar owner Rosie in the hit series M*A*S*H has died. The 79-year-old had been fighting pancreatic cancer, and “passed away peacefully in Los Angeles” on May 1, according to PEOPLE. Eileen’s <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/entertainment/tv/m-a-s-h-star-passes-away" target="_blank" rel="noopener">fellow M*A*S*H star, Judy Farrell, had died</a> just one month prior on April 2. Eileen’s manager, Camilla Fluxman Pines confirmed the devastating news in a statement to the publication, writing that “she was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in January. "She was a lung cancer survivor in 2004.She got a second chance at auditioning and working in the industry that she loved so much - she shot a couple big commercials shortly before her diagnosis. "She was often recognized by face or even just voice by people who knew they knew her 'from somewhere' - and loved talking to young actors about the journey." Suki’s former co-star Jeff Maxwell, who brought the character Igor Straminsky to life on M*A*S*H, honoured his late friend with a social media post, sharing the news of her passing on the official page for his MASH Matters podcast. “Our sweet Eileen. Our sassy Rosie,” he wrote, before going on to extend his appreciation - as well as that of her husband, Bob - to Eileen’s devoted fans and followers who offered her their love and their support in her final days, before promising to share more on Eileen as the day went on, and encouraging others to do the same. “Our sweet, sweet Eileen. How we love you,” he concluded. “How we will miss you.” <iframe style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fmashmatterspodcast%2Fposts%2Fpfbid0LmjyFaQF6dHNoWfZKNqRpBEqzgyNKSsf41AZxkg9kjKCuSJaisowUawFowusyacyl&show_text=true&width=500" width="500" height="719" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> True to his word, Jeff went on to post a few favourite Eileen moments, from her most recent work in advertisements, to time on screen with the likes of Mickey Rooney and Dom Deluise, and last - but certainly not least - as “a scene with a certain sassy bartender”. <iframe style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fmashmatterspodcast%2Fvideos%2F1531503437375801%2F&show_text=false&width=560&t=0" width="560" height="314" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> Saki had actually been the third actress to portray Rosie, having taken over from Frances Fong and Shizuko Hoshi for her eight episode stint. In the end, she was the final and longest-running owner of Rosie’s Bar, and remains dear to her co-workers and fans for it. “You will forever be in our hearts!” one commented, in a sentiment shared by many. “Sorry to hear of her passing. Great memories at Rosie’s,” said another. “She was the best Rosie of them all and such a great actress,” one declared. “So sorry to hear she passed on.” “One of the finest roles ever played,” someone agreed, before requesting that she “say hello to Col. Blake, Trapper, Major Burns”. And as one said on behalf of them all, “you fought the great fight, Eileen. Now, rest easy, for your burdens and struggles are behind you. Love and strength to the entire family during these hard days ahead.” Images: Facebook

Caring

MAS*H star passes away

M*A*S*H star Judy Farrell has passed away at the age of 84, her son has confirmed to TNZ. The actress, who is best known around the world for her portrayal of Nurse Able, died in hospital nine days after suffering a stroke which left her unable to communicate. However, TNZ have reported that Judy was conscious still and able to squeeze the hands of her loved ones. While Judy’s son Michael - whom she shared with fellow M*A*S*H actor Mike Farrell - has not yet spoken publicly about her mother’s passing, her former co-star Loretta Swift spoke to Fox News Digital about losing “family”. “Judy was a most beautiful woman - inside and out. We grew up together," the actress behind Major Margaret ‘Hot Lips’ Houlihan said. "She was family. This has been a painful loss, but we will always have the beauty of her memory. “Rest in peace, Nurse Able." Farrell starred as Nurse Able in eight episodes of the hit series, and was the only actress to ever be credited as the character. Initially, Nurse Able was a minor role - often just a placeholder for the instances where a background nurse had a line - and from Seasons 2-11 she was played by no fewer than 11 different people. By the fourth season, the role progressed so that she became involved in the show’s plot. It was in the sixth season that Judy Farrell secured her place in television history as Nurse Able, taking over for the character’s final appearances on screen in Seasons 6-11 for eight episodes. During her time on the show, Farrell starred alongside the likes of Loretta Swift, Alan Alda, and ex-husband Mike Farrell. The latter joined M*A*S*H’s cast in 1975, replacing Wayne Rogers, and remained until the 1983 finale. The couple had married in 1963, but went on to divorce 20 years later, in the same year that M*A*S*H bid farewell to its audience. Their split was reportedly amicable, with the two going on to remarry and co-parent their children, son Michael and daughter Erin. And as Farrell’s loved ones mourn her loss, fans and followers of the actress have taken to social media to share their grief, and to honour her work, sharing some of their fondest memories of her time bringing their beloved Nurse Able to life. “RIP Nurse Able. I was so thrilled to have known you, Judy Farrell,” wrote comedian Murray Valeriano. “Condolences to the Farrell and MASH families,” one fan said. And for another, it came as a tragic opportunity to share a clip of Farrell’s work, showcasing the actress alongside some of her former co-stars, with Classic MASH writing “Sad news today.” <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Sad news today. Judy Farrell has passed away. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ClassicMASH?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ClassicMASH</a> <a href="https://t.co/hCfSpL7c0W">pic.twitter.com/hCfSpL7c0W</a> — Classic MASH 🍸 (@ClassicMASH) <a href="https://twitter.com/ClassicMASH/status/1643275688017903616?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 4, 2023</a></blockquote> Images: Getty, Twitter, MASHFandom.com

6 tips to help your dog live longer

Our furry friends are more like family than just mates, and it pains us terribly when they age – sometimes ungracefully. Tim Norris, dog healer and founder of canine myofunctional therapy (canine massage), acupuncture and dog rehabilitation service <a href="http://bothendsofthelead.com.au/">Both Ends of The Lead</a>, walks us through how to care for an older dog to guarantee them a long and pain-free life. 1. Do not overfeed your dog This can lead to heart disease and joint problems. Feed your dog a nutritious diet to keep them at a healthy weight. These are two ways you can do a ‘self-check’ on your dog to see if they are not overweight. <ol> <li>Stand so that you have a view of your dog from above or over them. You should see there is an obvious waistline just behind their ribcage.</li> <li>If you are unsure, run your hands lightly down the side of your dog’s body and you should be able to feel their ribs.</li> </ol> If you are still not sure if you are overfeeding your dog after doing the checks, then you should speak to your vet and get their advice. There are many variables that determine how much to feed your dog. If you feed them a kibble diet, then the recommended amount to feed is usually stated on the packaging. If you have bought your food from your local vet, then they will normally recommend how much to feed specifically for your dog. We are now starting to see more people feeding a natural raw diet to their dog. If you do decide this suits your dog better, it’s recommended you seek out a certified animal nutritionist to guide you on how much to feed and also how to balance the meals appropriately for your dog specifically. As your dog ages and becomes less active (just like people), it’s likely you will need to feed them a little less, otherwise you risk a range of joint issues like arthritis through overfeeding. If you have a dog that appears underweight, then it is advisable to check with your vet to see if there are any conditions your dog may have that is stopping them from putting on weight. Most pet food brands have a senior range, which will usually include more omega 3, 6 and 9 for bones and joints. Try these ideas on <a href="http://www.readersdigest.com.au/pets/how-care-your-ageing-pet">how to care for an ageing pet</a>. 2. Don't exercise your dog too much or too little Many breeds of dogs are classed as a senior dog once they reach seven years of age, so it’s important to adapt the way you exercise them to minimise the impact on their joints and help them age more safely. High intensity chase games like throwing a ball can increase the risk of injury and joint problems like arthritis for senior dogs. The jumping, twisting and turning can put a great deal of excess strain on an older dog’s body and although many senior dogs will still enjoy chasing a ball, you should consider if this really is the most appropriate and safest way to exercise a senior dog. 3. If your dog is old, don't throw a ball too much If you do still throw a ball for your senior dog, it’s good to spend at least five minutes warming up their muscles first. This can help reduce the risk of an injury for them. You can do this by just letting them walk at their normal speed until they are warmed up and then throw the ball along the ground, so there is no jumping or twisting for them. If you ever see your dog uncomfortable or slowing down when chasing the ball, this is a good time to stop. If they are sore after chasing a ball or stiff the next day, then it would be wise to stop throwing the ball for them and find a different way to exercise them. 4. Make sure your home is safe If you have floor surfaces like floorboards, vinyl or tiles, these can be very slippery for an older dog, making it easy for them to fall and injure themselves. Placing non-slip surfaces down in areas that your dog uses heavily can help make the floors safer for your dog. 5. Use a step if your dog jumps on and off furniture If your senior dog likes to jump up on the couch or bed, think about having a halfway step so they can get up and down easier. This will help to reduce the impact on their joints and the injury risk. I have treated many dogs who have damaged muscles and ligaments jumping off a bed or couch. They are very avoidable injuries, so using a halfway step or not letting them up on the furniture would certainly have helped in these situations. I have recently helped a 15-year-old poodle called Cino who has arthritis and damaged his leg jumping off the couch. Cino responded very well to acupuncture and massage. I also showed his owner how to massage Cino’s muscles and use a heat pack for his arthritis. The good news is that Cino is no longer in pain and his owner now has a ramp to help him get up and down off the couch. Another dog I worked with recently was a 10-year-old English staffy called Alfie. He tore knee ligaments jumping off the bed and I was able to help rehabilitate Alfie without the need for surgery. A crucial part of Alfie’s rehabilitation was the personalised home care programme I developed for Alfie’s owners to follow. This helped Alfie recover faster and get back to running the house again... but no more jumping off the bed! The personalised face-to-face or online home care programmes are an important service I offer. Having the owner actively involved in the process of helping rehabilitate their dog can make a huge difference to the outcome... just like it did for Alfie. 6. A calm, relaxed home can help your dog feel less stressed Stress can affect our dogs in very similar ways to how it affects us. We can all recognise the impact stress can have on our own health. Our dogs are like sponges and will often show signs of stress when they see that their owners are stressed. Many dog owners testify that their dogs recognise and respond to their emotional states. So, doing all we can to minimise our own levels of stress is a great starting point to help keep our dogs calm and healthier. Being mindful of what your dog is exposed to in the home environment is important. Be aware of what the triggers are that stress your dog and then do all you can to minimise the impact of them if they are exposed to them. The key to a relaxed home environment for your dog always starts with a relaxed dog owner. This article first appeared in <a href="http://www.readersdigest.com.au/pets/6-tips-help-your-dog-live-longer?items_per_page=All">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/readersdigestsubscribe?utm_source=readersdigest&utm_campaign=RDSUB&utm_medium=display&keycode=WRA85S">here’s our best subscription offer</a>. Image: Getty Images

Family & Pets

MAS*H, 50 years on: the anti-war sitcom was a product of its time, yet its themes are timeless

MASH, stylised as M*A*S*H, is the story of a rag-tag bunch of medical misfits of the 4077th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital thrown together against the horrors of the Korean war in the 1950s. The series endured for 11 seasons, from September 1972 to the final episode in 1983. Originally it was centred on two army surgeons, the wisecracking but empathetic Benjamin “Hawkeye” Pierce, played by Alan Alda, and the deadpan “Trapper” John McIntyre, played by Wayne Rogers. The show had an ensemble cast and different episodes would often focus on one of the featured characters. There was the meek Corporal “Radar” O'Reilly, cross-dressing Corporal Klinger, the easy-going Lieutenant Colonel Henry Blake and pious Father Mulcahy. The antagonists, conniving Major Frank Burns and Major Margaret “Hot Lips” Houlihan, were foils for Hawkeye and Trapper but occasionally were central characters in some episodes too. <div data-id="17"> </div> Based on the 1970 movie, itself based on a novel, MASH was designed as a “black comedy” set during the Korean War. It was really a thinly veiled critique of the war in Vietnam raging at the time. The creators of the show knew they wouldn’t get away with making a Vietnam war comedy. Uncensored news broadcasts showing the viciousness of Vietnam were transmitted straight to the American public who were, by now, growing jaded of the increasingly brutal war. Setting the series 20 years earlier allowed the creators to mask their criticisms behind a historical perspective – but most viewers realised the true context. <h2>An anti-war sitcom</h2> What started as a criticism of the Vietnam war soon evolved into one for all wars. In many episodes, audiences would be reminded of the horrors of lives lost in the fighting on the line, and the angst and trauma faced by those behind the line. It didn’t matter which war this was, MASH was saying all wars are the same, full of shattered lives. Cloaking this message in comedy was the way the creators were able to make it palatable to a wide audience. The early seasons have a distinctive sitcom feel to them, mostly as a result of the series co-creators, Larry Gelbart and Gene Reynolds, who were from a comedy background. When both creatives left by the end of season five the show took a more dramatic turn. In particular, Alda became more involved in the writing and took it into a more dramatic direction, toning down the comedic elements. This was also reflected in the change of many of the secondary characters. The philandering, practical joker Trapper was replaced by the moral and professional BJ Hunnicutt, the snivelling Frank Burns by the pretentious Charles Winchester, the laconic Henry Blake with the officious Sherman Potter, and the complete absence of Radar after season eight. The voice of the series took on a noticeably Hawkeye focus. As the Vietnam war ended in 1975, the tone of the show also changed. It became less political and focused more on the dilemmas of the individual characters. The laugh track was toned down. But this did not make the show any less popular. Audiences responded strongly to the anarchic anti-authoritarianism of Hawkeye and Trapper/BJ. Almost all the characters are anti-war, reflecting the growing antagonism the American public was feeling towards the Vietnam war and war fatigue in general, post-Vietnam. Even Frank and Hot Lips, the most patriotic characters, sometimes questioned if the war was worth all the suffering and death. And the series reminded people the humour used was not meant to disrespect those fighting but as a coping mechanism of the trauma by those involved. <h2>A timeless classic</h2> That’s not to say there aren’t issues with the show when looked at with modern sensibilities. Contemporary audiences would find problems with some of the representations of characters and issues addressed in the series. Corporal Klinger would today be seen as contentious. His penchant for dressing in women’s clothes was not because he was trans or interested in drag, but because he was trying to get a “Section 8”, or mental health, discharge. Many of the female characters were also relegated to little more than two-dimensional romantic interests or background characters. The only woman who starred with a significant recurring role was “Hot Lips” Houlihan but, as the nickname implies, she was often the butt of sexualised humour. This has not stopped the show maintaining its popularity in the continual re-runs it gets on cable and streaming services. MASH was a product of its time, yet its themes on the absurdity of war are universal. It became more than a TV show: a shared cathartic experience for war-weary audiences. At its heart is the eclectic mix of dysfunctional characters who use humour to laugh in the face of adversity. This is what makes MASH a timeless classic. This article originally appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.com/m-a-s-h-50-years-on-the-anti-war-sitcom-was-a-product-of-its-time-yet-its-themes-are-timeless-190422" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>. Image: YouTube

Spain without the S: Man has tests positive to Covid, HIV and Monkeypox all at once

A 36-year-old Italian man has simultaneously tested positive to COVID, HIV and monkeypox making this a world first event. The triple co-infection was recorded after the man holidayed for a week in Spain. Nine days following his trip, he developed a fever, rash and as subsequent testing went on it was evident he was in for a wild ride. The man spent five days in Spain from June 16-20 and enjoyed his holiday to the fullest, seemingly engaging in unprotected sex with other men during that time. Upon returning to Italy, he developed a 39C fever, sore throat, fatigue and headache. The party-goer tested positive to COVID on July 2, and the same afternoon began to develop a rash on his left arm. On July 3 small, painful blisters appeared on his torso, lower limbs, face and other parts of the body. “On physical examination his body was dotted, including the palm of the right hand and the perianal region, with skin lesions in various stages of progression,” the report said. The blisters spread all over the body until July 5, evolving into umbilicated pustules, before he was moved to the emergency department and then to the Infectious Diseases unit at a hospital in Catania. This was when he tested positive to monkeypox. “Complete STI screening is recommended after a diagnosis of monkeypox,” the report said. The STI screening found he also tested positive for HIV, given this diagnosis was not the patient's first brush with an STI. Previous reports noted: “On admission, the patient reported being treated for syphilis in 2019.” “This case highlights how monkeypox and COVID symptoms may overlap, and corroborates how in case of co-infection, anamnestic collection and sexual habits are crucial to perform the correct diagnosis,” the report said. “As this is the only reported case of monkeypox virus, SARS-CoV-2 and HIV co-infection, there is still not enough evidence supporting that this combination may aggravate patient’s condition.” The patient was treated and discharged to home isolation on July 11 as his symptoms resolved. He returned for a checkup on July 19, still testing positive with monkeypox but with the lesions having slowly improved, he is now to begin HIV treatment. Image: Getty

Body

Inflation is 2022’s boogeyman. How can we address rising living costs, while helping bring it down?

An entire generation has never experienced life with high inflation. But that is set to change. Countries like Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom and others are <a href="https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2022/06/inflation-stats-usa-and-world/">reporting rising inflation</a>. In New Zealand, inflation has climbed to its <a href="https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/129293267/annual-inflation-hits-73">highest rate in 32 years</a>. Our collective inexperience with the scourge of inflation, and how to solve it, could be a real problem. For those experiencing high inflation for the first time, it is helpful to understand just what economists and politicians are talking about. Inflation is a sustained increase in overall prices. Not everything goes up by the same amount but when people are having to pay more each week, month or year for the same basket of goods and services then that’s inflation. Inflation is harmful in many ways. It works like rust – slowly eating away at the value of your money. Inflation affects all of us. It doesn’t matter what the face value of your money is – what matters is the quantity of goods and services you can buy with it. The real value of money One easy way to understand inflation is to look at what you can buy for the money you have. Suppose at the start of the year your $100 note bought you 20 cups of coffee. However, inflation pushes coffee from $5 to $6 a cup. By the end of the year, your same $100 only buys you 16 cups of coffee. The face value of your money is the same but its real value (in terms of the number of coffees you can buy) has gone down. Your money is worth less now than a year ago. This rise in costs hurts wage earners who have limited opportunity to renegotiate their wages. Inflation also hurts those on fixed incomes such as beneficiaries and superannuitants who only receive periodic adjustments. Rising inflation hurts savers who find the real value of their savings going down if returns on savings don’t keep up with inflation – which they currently aren’t. Inflation can benefit borrowers who have the same debt at the end of the year but the value of that debt is lower in real terms. Providing there is at least some inflation adjustment to their income, borrowers have to sacrifice less to repay their debt. While this sounds good, it’s not. It encourages poor borrowing decisions and discourages savings. <figure class="align-center "><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/474465/original/file-20220718-495-2r9amx.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/474465/original/file-20220718-495-2r9amx.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/474465/original/file-20220718-495-2r9amx.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/474465/original/file-20220718-495-2r9amx.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/474465/original/file-20220718-495-2r9amx.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/474465/original/file-20220718-495-2r9amx.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/474465/original/file-20220718-495-2r9amx.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" alt="Young woman looking at a grocery receipt." /><figcaption>Inflation has risen to levels not seen for three decades. Consumers will feel the squeeze as their purchasing power drops. <a class="source" href="https://www.gettyimages.com.au/detail/photo/checking-receipt-royalty-free-image/691853536?adppopup=true">Getty Images</a></figcaption></figure> The all-encompassing impact of inflation In a progressive tax system, inflation hurts salary and wage earners who get pushed into higher tax brackets as they receive inflation adjustments to their pay. Inflation can also cause issues at a national level. If one country’s inflation rate is higher than their trading partners then its currency falls in value. In the early 1970s, the NZ dollar was worth almost US$1.50. Our higher inflation rates of the 70s and 80s saw it fall to around US$0.50 by the mid 80s. This drop in value limits what we can buy from overseas – things like life-saving drugs will become more expensive for us if we don’t get inflation down and others do. The causes of inflation can come from good intentions Inflation is too much money chasing too few goods. If central banks push more money into circulation, there is a real risk of inflation. A big increase in demand for goods from, for example, an increase in government spending can also trigger inflation. So can supply chain disruptions that reduce the goods available (meaning the same amount of money chasing fewer goods). Unfortunately, all these triggers are currently in play as countries respond to a series of global crises. The invasion of Ukraine and ongoing COVID-19 supply chain disruptions have reduced the goods available. Governments globally have boosted spending to support their economies. But this latter factor has been put on steroids by central banks being willing to purchase government debt. <figure class="align-center "><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/474468/original/file-20220718-53534-kfbvw2.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/474468/original/file-20220718-53534-kfbvw2.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/474468/original/file-20220718-53534-kfbvw2.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/474468/original/file-20220718-53534-kfbvw2.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/474468/original/file-20220718-53534-kfbvw2.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/474468/original/file-20220718-53534-kfbvw2.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/474468/original/file-20220718-53534-kfbvw2.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" alt="Man with mask pushing supermarket trolly." /><figcaption>Russia’s war in Ukraine and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has caused a cost-of-living crisis. <a class="source" href="https://www.gettyimages.com.au/detail/photo/man-wearing-mask-while-shopping-in-supermarket-royalty-free-image/1235145649?adppopup=true">Getty Images</a></figcaption></figure> Unintended consequences The RBNZ bought billions of government bonds to keep interest rates low as part of its <a href="https://www.parliament.nz/en/pb/library-research-papers/research-papers/library-research-brief-large-scale-asset-purchase-lsap-programme">“large scale asset purchases” programme</a>. In New Zealand, the average money growth between 1995 and 2019 was about 8% per year. This accommodates a growing population, a growing economy and a little bit of inflation (a little bit is OK). In the last two years money supply has grown by around 30% per year. Of course it’s easy to look back with the benefit of hindsight. Those who made the decisions at the time don’t have that luxury. The RBNZ is now they are having to wind back their asset purchases and raise interest rates to rein in inflation. Some argue the RBNZ has been <a href="https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/129311096/more-pain-expected-as-inflation-runs-hotter-than-a-government-can-handle">distracted and has dropped the ball on their key job</a> and we are now facing the risk the inflation genie is out of the bottle. Whether that criticism is justified or not, the RBNZ will now have to act decisively to reduce inflation. But getting inflation down is never painless. Households with mortgages will find their weekly budgets squeezed as interest rates rise. Firms will face falling demand from consumers with less to spend. Job growth will dry up – though New Zealand is in the fortunate position of starting with very low unemployment. Regardless, the RBNZ must do the job they got back in 1989 with the passing of the <a href="https://www.rbnz.govt.nz/-/media/29ada25bfa8b4e50922262618fb03e00.ashx?sc_lang=en">Reserve Bank of New Zealand Act</a>. New Zealand’s central bank is the only one that can control monetary conditions; it’s the only one that can get inflation under control. The same could be said for many of the countries facing growing inflation. If central banks don’t take decisive action, we could get a sharp reminder of just how bad inflation can be.<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/187154/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/stephen-hickson-1288490">Stephen Hickson</a>, Economics Lecturer and Director Business Taught Masters Programme, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-canterbury-1004">University of Canterbury</a> 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/inflation-is-2022s-boogeyman-how-can-we-address-rising-living-costs-while-helping-bring-it-down-187154">original article</a>. Image: Getty Images

Money & Banking

COVID-19’s impacts on heart disease will be with us for years to come

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused major disruptions to heart health services, a new meta-analysis published in the European Heart Journal reveals. COVID-19 impacts on cardiac health have likely been driven by a combination of healthcare system pressures and the spread of the virus itself. “Heart disease is the number-one killer in most countries, and the analysis shows that during the pandemic people across the world did not receive the cardiac care they should have received,” says lead author Ramesh Nadajarah, a British Heart Foundation Clinical Research Fellow at the University of Leeds, UK. “That will have ramifications.” The analysis reports a notable global decline since the start of the pandemic in people being admitted to hospital with cardiovascular disease, longer delays in accessing treatment, and increased death rates from cardiovascular disease. For example, there was a 22% decline in hospitalisations for serious heart attacks in which one artery connected to the heart is completely blocked. A less-severe form of heart attack, in which an artery is partially blocked, saw an even greater drop in hospitalisations of 34%. Heart-attack patients had to wait on average 69 minutes longer than before the pandemic to receive medical assistance. The paper also reported a 34% drop in heart operations globally, and a 17% increase in people dying in hospital after experiencing a major heart attack. “This analysis really brings to light the substantial impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had, and will continue to have, in harming cardiovascular health globally,” says Deepak L. Bhatt, senior author on the meta-analysis and a professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School as well as executive director of interventional cardiovascular programs at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, US. COVID-19 impacts on cardiac health will persist and reinforce inequalities if not addressed, experts say The findings were based on an analysis of data from 189 research papers from 48 countries across six continents, all investigating the impact of COVID-19 on cardiovascular health services in the two years from December 2019. Although the impacts of the pandemic on cardiovascular healthcare were observed globally, many were concentrated in low- and middle-income countries. These countries saw greater declines in hospital attendance for heart attacks and a “sharp” decline in the percentage of heart-attack patients receiving the gold standard of medical care. “The analysis is revealing that the burden of COVID-19 has disproportionately fallen on low- to middle-income countries,” says Samira Asma, a co-author on the paper and Assistant Director-General for Data, Analytics and Delivery for Impact at the World Health Organization (WHO). “We suspect it will widen the inequality gap in health outcomes of cardiac care between high-income countries and low- to middle-income countries, where 80% of the world’s population live. This underscores the need for universal health coverage and access to quality care, even more so during the pandemic.” The disruption caused by the pandemic is likely to cause ongoing health impacts well into the future. Delayed and missed opportunities for diagnosis and treatment cause compounding cardiovascular health problems. “The longer people wait for treatment for a heart attack, the greater the damage to their heart muscle, causing complications that can be fatal or cause chronic ill health,” Nadajarah says. “Health systems need to reinforce systems to help support and treat people whose heart conditions will inevitably be worse because of the pandemic.” The research team called for mitigation strategies to deal with the increased burden of death and disease from cardiovascular disease to be rapidly implemented around the world. “The repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic on cardiovascular care and outcomes will be with us for a long while yet,” says senior author Chris Gale, a consultant cardiologist and professor at the University of Leeds. “Urgent action is needed to address the burden of cardiovascular disease left in the wake of the pandemic.” This article originally appeared on <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/health/covid-19-impacts-on-cardiac-health/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">cosmosmagazine.com</a> and was written by <a class="fn" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: halyard-text, sans-serif; color: #000000; text-decoration-line: none; background-color: #ffffff;" href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/contributor/matilda-handlsey-davis" rel="author">Matilda Handsley-Davis. </a> Image: Shutterstock

Body

"I’m going to own this" says 2021's sexiest man alive

Image: Getty Hollywood star Paul Rudd has been crowned as 2021’s Sexiest Man Alive by People Magazine. Rudd, known for his starring roles in Marvel’s Ant Man films, This is 40 and cult classic Clueless, was revealed as this year’s winner on Tuesday night on CBS’ The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. Rudd naturally expects that many will be surprised by him receiving the honour, and he said as much to the New York Post. “I do have an awareness, enough to know that when people hear that I’d be picked for this, they would say, ‘What?’” he said. “This is not false humility. There are so many people that should get this before me.” But of course, Rudd did not turn down the honour. In fact he jokingly hopes the new title will grant him an invitation to “those sexy dinners” with George Clooney, Brad Pitt and Michael B. Jordan — all recent winners. Other past honourees include John Legend, Dwayne Johnson, Chris Hemsworth, Idris Elba, Adam Levine, Channing Tatum and David Beckham. “I figure I’ll be on a lot more yachts,” Rudd said. “I’m excited to expand my yachting life. And I’ll probably try to get better at brooding in really soft light. I like to ponder. I think this is going to help me become more inward and mysterious. And I’m looking forward to that. “I’m going to lean into it hard. I’m going to own this,” he said. “I’m not going to try to be like ‘Oh, I’m so modest.’ I’m getting business cards made. But all of my friends will destroy me, and I expect them to, and that’s why they’re my friends.”

Beauty & Style

Kyle Sandilands "couldn't give a s***" about Lisa Wilkinson's memoir

The radio shock jock has gone on a classic Sandilands rant on his radio show, slamming Lisa Wilkinson's upcoming autobiography. Speaking live on The Kyle and Jackie O Show, Kyle admitted he "couldn't give a s***" about Lisa's 40-year media career that she has documented in her book It Wasn't meant To be Like This. In her book, Lisa details her time on The Today Show, which came to an abrupt end in 2017 when she was outside after advocating for equal pay with her co-host Karl Stefanovic. However, according to Kyle, there's not much interest. "How exciting could her life be?" Kyle wondered aloud to his listeners. He was also quick to dismiss her claim that she was paid less than Karl, saying this was common practice in the television industry. "Just because you are working on the same show as each other doesn't necessarily mean equal pay, just saying. Sometimes they have to pay someone more because they negotiated it that way," he said. 'You don't just get what the other one gets. That's not the way the world works." He also said, "She couldn't negotiate a decent salary, or her management couldn't, and she changed to a better network [Channel 10] where they paid her what they thought she was worth. That's all that happened. There's no badness or awfulness." After calling her memoir "boring", he did admit that Lisa is "very good at her job" on The Project after parting ways with Channel Nine. Kyle, who is good friends with Karl Stefanovic, said Lisa has marketed her book in such a way because "she's a journo... she's good at publicity." Lisa's book, It Wasn't Meant To Be Like This, will be released on November 3rd. Image credits: KIISFM / Instagram @lisa_wilkinson

Books

MAS*H star reveals why the show is still a fan favourite

Alan Alda has revealed the reason why he thinks M*A*S*H is still so popular today despite airing in 1972. The actor credits "good writing, good performances and good direction" as to why the show is successful. "Something that is seldom thought about or talked about is that we were telling the stories of people who had really lived and had lived through a horrendous experience in war-time," the 85-year-old told Today. "Sometimes we told the stories in a silly way, sometimes in a dramatic way, but most of the stories either were based on things we were told or things that could have happened." The six-time Emmy award winner reflected on the show's final episode, which was a groundbreaking moment for TV. "The final episode had a huge audience, so big that during the commercial breaks in New York everybody got up and went to the bathroom and they almost broke the waterworks," Alda recalled, laughing. The final episode aired on the 28th of February 1983 and had more than 106 million people watching to say goodbye to the cast. It remains the most-watched scripted television episode of all-time. Photo credits: <a rel="noopener" href="https://9now.nine.com.au/today/alan-alda-mash-star-reveals-why-series-is-still-loved-today/c474983e-8a20-48fa-81e1-0f18a9f70582" target="_blank">9NOW</a>

Can you rid yourself of 2020’s financial stress as we head into 2021?

2020 has been a tough year for nearly everyone, and that may be especially true for retirees and those nearing retirement who suddenly are worried about whether their careful planning and years of saving could be upended by events beyond their control. After all, retirement is supposed to be a pleasurable and satisfying time when you kick back and enjoy the fruits of all those decades of labor. That’s difficult to do if you’re jittery about a volatile stock market, or you fret over every expenditure because you aren’t sure whether your savings can go the distance in a lengthy retirement. As this year draws to a close, and we look toward 2021, plenty of people still have worries. For them – and maybe for you – the future is uncertain. But frankly, the future is always uncertain, and worrying about your finances without taking charge of your situation does no one any good. So, if you’re already in retirement or plan to be there soon, how can you reduce some of that financial stress that’s weighing you down in these tumultuous times? Let me offer a few ideas: <ul> <li>Take control. Just stewing and letting the emotional strain rule your days and nights does no good. Instead, focus on actions you can take to help reduce some of that stress. Often, just doing something – anything – can help you feel better. Review your financial assets so you truly know where you stand. Those assets might include savings accounts, investment accounts, retirement accounts, life insurance, real property or other items. You can’t create a plan unless you know exactly where you stand, so taking stock of things should be the first step. That way you aren’t operating in the dark. And what about the “T” word? Taxes! Have you imparted tax-efficiency as a part of your retirement plan? Do you know your options when it comes to this certainty?</li> <li>Reconsider the timing of your retirement. Whenever the economy is shaky, it’s best to consider your options ahead of time so you can be prepared before problems arise. If you’re still working, for example, and you suddenly lose your job, one option may be to retire earlier than you originally planned and take Social Security. That can come with downsides, though. If you begin drawing Social Security before your full retirement age (between 66 and 67 for most people) you receive a reduced monthly check. That could cost you tens of thousands of dollars over a long retirement. Conversely, if your job situation is stable but you're worried your nest egg is inadequate, consider postponing retirement. That will allow you to save more, potentially increase your Social Security benefits, and can potentially give your investments time to recover from temporary market declines.</li> <li>Review your budget and clean up bad habits. Many of us have less-than-stellar financial habits that we developed over the years. Those patterns of behavior don’t magically disappear as you approach retirement. You need to be intentional about changing bad habits so you aren’t spending more money than you need to – or should. To help you determine the difference between necessary and discretionary spending, review the past six months to a year of expenditures. As you review your spending, think beyond all those momentary, one-time splurges. Include your regular household bills, such as utilities, cable and cell phone service. You might be able to save money through a family plan, by bundling services, or by cutting the cord altogether.</li> <li>Evaluate the risk in your portfolio. Perhaps you have had an aggressive investment strategy, and that’s how you accumulated a big nest egg that (you hope) was designed to carry you through decades of retirement. But, in an uncertain market and with retirement already here or close at hand, it may be wise to re-evaluate how much risk you’re holding in your portfolio. Now would be a good time to diversify and consider other investment options so you can help protect what you already have.</li> </ul> Remember, though, that if your unsteady financial situation is getting the better of you, you don’t have to go it alone. Find an experienced financial professional who can help you develop a plan that can potentially ease at least some of your worries. It’s possible to get back on track financially – and, hopefully, set aside those concerns that could mar your enjoyment of life in retirement. Written by Alan Becker, president and CEO of <a href="http://www.rsgusa.net">Retirement Solutions Group</a> and author of Return on Investment or Reliability of Income? The True Meaning of ROI in Retirement.

Retirement Income

“We’ve dealt with serious s**t before”: Russell Crowe sends encouraging message to Aussies amid coronavirus crisis

Russell Crowe has sent an encouraging message to his fellow Australians amid the coronavirus pandemic. The 55-year-old posted a series of bushfire-themed photos to Instagram, reminding Aussies of all the obstacles they have faced in recent months. “Australia, just a reminder, we’ve dealt with serious s**t before, and we will deal with what confronts us now. Together (minimum 1.5 metres apart),” he captioned the post. The first photo was a snap of a eucalyptus tree with fire embers burning through it. He referenced social distancing when he spoke about staying “1.5 metres apart”, which can help reduce the spread of COVID-19. <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/B9410KShgq0/?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> <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/B9410KShgq0/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">Hey Australia, Just a reminder, we’ve dealt with serious shit before, and we will deal with what confronts us now. Together (minimum 1.5 metres apart).</a> <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/russellcrowe/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank"> Russell Crowe</a> (@russellcrowe) on Mar 18, 2020 at 1:19pm PDT </div> </blockquote> Russell also co-owns the South Sydney Rabbitohs NRL team, but the season could be shut down due to COVID-19. The NSWRL and QRL have already suspended their seasons, which isn’t reassuring for the NRL. “If we are going to continue our season, some revolutionary thought is going to be required,” Russell told the Daily Telegraph. “Based on the information that this particular strain seems to be less potent in warmer climates, (the idea should be) to move all teams and coaching squads to northern regional centres. “The big cost to the game is not going to be lack of crowds in urban stadiums. The big cost, financially and culturally, is if the game is forced to halt and broadcast revenue dries up.” Due to the coronavirus, NRL games are currently being played without crowds as the government has banned gatherings of 500 people or more.

Caring

“These people are a******s”: Post about quiet carriage sparks heated debate

A reddit user has sparked a heated debate over the best way to approach people who ignore signs on public transport. A photo of a woman talking on her phone while sitting in a “quiet carriage” on a Brisbane train was recently posted on the forum, with the caption reading: “These people are a******s and obviously should learn to read!” In the snap, the woman is seen sitting directly underneath signs asking passengers to “please refrain from loud conversations, use of loud music and mobile phones.” The image instantly ignited a heated response with users asking the poster why they didn’t approach the passenger at the time and ask her to observe the sign. <img style="width: 386.47342995169083px; height:500px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7834887/1.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/5d4b0443f74844ccb23ad51a1694c4af" /> “If it p***** you off, tap her shoulder and let her know,” said one person. “Don’t let them get away with it. They just get worse. A tap on the shoulder and ‘this is a quiet carriage, can you please get off your phone’ is what is required,” responded another. There was also a debate over the context of the sign. “It’s a quiet zone, not a total silence zone, a conversation at normal volume does not breach any of those rules,” said a user. “Still seems strange to me that people always sit directly under a sign saying something along the lines of ‘please be quiet’ with no intention of being quiet whatsoever,” added another. While reddit users couldn’t come to an agreement regarding etiquette in quiet carriages, Queensland Rail asks passengers who are travelling in quiet carriages to “refrain from having loud conversations, using mobile phones and noisy musical devices”. And despite there being no penalties for having a conversation in a quiet carriage, Queensland Rail encourages all customers to respect those who may wish to take advantage of the service.

Domestic Travel

Channel 7’s Larry Emdur buys stunning property in Berowra Waters

Channel 7 morning star Larry Emdur and his wife, Sylvie have purchased another gorgeous property – this time in the calming Berowra Waters. Another home away from their Bondi base, the couple snapped up the Neverfail Bay getaway for $1.1 million – a lucky purchase considering the same property had been fetched five years ago for $1.3 million. The property is an exclusive one and is only accessible by boat. “The magical bay is much quieter than Bondi,” Emdur told <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.realestate.com.au/news/channel-7s-larry-emdur-buys-in-berowra-waters/?rsf=syn:news:nca:news:spa:strap" target="_blank">Realestate.com.au’s</a> Jonathan Chancellor. The architecturally designed home was made in 2013 for an artistic family requiring light and space, multiple creative workspaces. The gorgeous floors throughout the home feature a stunning polished bamboo. Not only is it a property facing the river side of Neverfail Bay, it is all able to be seen from inside the property due to the wall being made almost entirely of glass. Scroll through the gallery to see the gorgeous property purchased by Larry Emdur and his wife Sylvie.

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Rare coin hidden for decades to fetch eye-watering sum

"Cut this rubbish out": Channel 7's fresh "news" segment slammed