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Wheel of Fortune star weds in lavish ceremony

<p>Sophie Falkiner has tied the knot with Stephen Wood in a lavish ceremony in Sydney's Northern Beaches. </p> <p>The <em>Wheel of Fortune</em> presenter, 51, looked stunning in a white strapless gown with beading on the corset. She had her hair in Hollywood waves and completed the look with a pop of red lipstick.</p> <p>The groom complimented her in a classic tux with a white rose pinned to the lapel. </p> <p>The ceremony took place at Pasadena, a restaurant on Sydney's Northern Beaches, decorated with pink and white flowers that matched the pink velvet chairs and white draping on the ceiling. </p> <p>The couple said "I do" on the waterfront at Church Point, with a flower arch behind them.</p> <p>Friends congratulated the bride and groom on social media. </p> <p>"The most beautiful happy wedding of @sophie_falkiner and Steve, congratulations to a gorgeous couple and family," wrote entrepreneur, Jose Bryce Smith.</p> <p>"THE most beautiful wedding ever. The love, warmth, beauty, talent, company, location… and my favourite part, the speeches! Enchanting, elegant and full of heart, just like our @sophie_falkiner. Congratulations Sophie and Stephen! May your joy and happiness only multiply!" wrote digital creator, Alina Rose.</p> <p>The couple got engaged two years ago after Wood popped the question while they were holidaying in Queensland's idyllic Whitsunday Islands.</p> <p>They met after Falkiner's divorce from radio executive Tony Thomas after 14 years of marriage and they share children Bella, 17, and Jack, 14.</p> <p>Falkiner described how "easy" her new relationship was, saying: "I think when you meet the right person it's easy. There's a comradery, a friendship."</p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

Relationships

Horrifying moment wheel falls off plane during take-off

<p>Video footage has captured the horrifying moment a wheel fell off a United Airlines Boeing plane just moments after take off on Monday morning. </p> <p>The video captured by RadarBox shows the tire coming loose from the aircraft's undercarriage and plummeting to the ground seconds after take off. </p> <p>The airline confirmed that a wheel fell off the plane as the flight departed Los Angeles International airport en route to Denver, but it safely touched down around three hours later. </p> <p>None of the 174 passengers or seven crew members on board were injured. </p> <div class="embed" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; outline: none !important;"><iframe class="embedly-embed" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-width: 0px; border-style: initial; vertical-align: baseline; width: 573px; max-width: 100%; outline: none !important;" title="tiktok embed" src="https://cdn.embedly.com/widgets/media.html?src=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tiktok.com%2Fembed%2Fv2%2F7389507936625691920&display_name=tiktok&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tiktok.com%2F%40theprojecttv%2Fvideo%2F7389507936625691920%3Fq%3Dboeing%2520wheel%26t%3D1720568253683&image=https%3A%2F%2Fp16-sign-sg.tiktokcdn.com%2Fobj%2Ftos-alisg-p-0037%2FoEEROKIMm2EpV6DrBgf3FeAUB4EjlBg0BMjmzE%3Flk3s%3Db59d6b55%26nonce%3D85756%26refresh_token%3D9848a1a77a4d011f7ceeb76a41229609%26x-expires%3D1720738800%26x-signature%3DKRkuV5%252BXkjrhdVj9cxtL5oLH5ow%253D%26shp%3Db59d6b55%26shcp%3D-&key=5b465a7e134d4f09b4e6901220de11f0&type=text%2Fhtml&schema=tiktok" width="340" height="700" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></div> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p>A United spokesperson said that the wheel has been found in Los Angeles and they are investigating the cause. </p> <p>“The wheel has been recovered in Los Angeles, and we are investigating what caused this event,” the statement read. </p> <p>It is not known whether it caused any damage on the ground. </p> <p>The incident comes just four months after a Japan-bound Boeing airlines carrying 249 passengers also lost a wheel not long after take off in San Francisco. </p> <p>The flight, that took place in March. was diverted to LAX where it landed safely. The wheel reportedly damaged some vehicles in an airport parking lot. </p> <p><em>Images: CaliPlanes/ Youtube</em></p> <p> </p>

Travel Trouble

"A Duck-Filled Platypus?!": Wheel of Fortune contestant's $10k mistake

<p>A Wheel of Fortune contestant has made a hilarious mistake that cost her US$7250 ($10,900) with viewers blasting her on social media for not knowing the painfully obvious answer. </p> <p>During an episode of the American game show this week, Floridian contestant Kimberly Wright failed to complete the puzzle when she picked the wrong letter, according to <em>Fox News</em>. </p> <p>The puzzle board read “D U _ _ – _ _ L L E D PLATYPUS,” and Wright chose to spin the wheel which landed on the Express wedge. </p> <p>“I’m going to call an F,” she said, which elicited groans from audiences in the studio. </p> <p>Wright believed that the answer was “duck-filled platypus”, when it was “duck-billed platypus" an animal native to Australia, and many fans were in disbelief over her "painful" mistake. </p> <p>“I have never been more enraged watching wheel of fortune,” one fan wrote in response to a clip of the viral moment. </p> <p>“Oh my, that was painful. F?? She thought the platypus was filled? with what exactly?” another tweeted. </p> <p>“F***** brutal,” a third agreed. </p> <p>“Where did this lady think an F was going to go in this puzzle?" a fourth asked, while another wrote: “wheel of fortune puzzle was clearly duck-billed platypus and the lady asked for an F she’s like reverse autocorrect.”</p> <p>“A Duck-Filled Platypus!?” another chimed in. </p> <p>“Oh, I hope Red isn’t on social media. She gonna get blasted for missing that puzzle,” wrote another viewer. </p> <p><em>Image: News.com.au/ Wheel of Fortune</em></p>

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

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

Mind

"Beyond excited": Graham Norton announces Aussie TV show

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

Man dies after falling from Spirit of Tasmania ferry

<p>Australia's cruise industry has been struck with another tragedy, as a man has died after falling overboard while travelling on the Spirit of Tasmania. </p> <p>The ferry, which regularly carried passengers from mainland Australia to the small southern state, was forced to turn around on Sunday evening after an alarm sounded, signalling a passenger was missing. </p> <p>The vessel was on its way to Tasmania following its departure from its Geelong dock when the incident occurred.</p> <p>According to reports from the <em><a href="https://www.heraldsun.com.au" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Herald Sun</a></em>, multiple search crews, including air wing and water units, were deployed to search the water between Portarlington and St Leonards beaches off the Bellarine Peninsula just after 8pm. </p> <p>Not an hour later, the body of a man was recovered from the water, with the coroner now preparing their report. </p> <p>“The man’s death is not being treated as suspicious,” a Victoria Police spokesperson said. </p> <p>A spokesperson for the Spirit of Tasmania confirmed the vessel returned to Geelong by 10.50pm, but was unable to comment further until the coroner's report is released. </p> <p>The tragedy comes just days after another Australian man fell overboard while on a Royal Caribbean ship bound for Hawaii.</p> <p>The Brisbane man, <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/news/news/missing-cruise-ship-passenger-identified" target="_blank" rel="noopener">identified</a> as 35-year-old Warwick Tollemache, was travelling with his mother on the Quantum of the Seas when he fell into the water last Wednesday night, 1400km south of the island’s coast.</p> <p>Search and rescue efforts were called off on Friday, leaving the man’s family devastated. </p> <p>Warwick's family shared a statement on social media, saying, “Our family is heartbroken at the loss of our beloved Warwick.”</p> <p>“He was a kind, beautiful, and gentle soul who was adored by everyone who knew him. He will be deeply missed."</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

Travel Trouble

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

<p>From gym memberships to music and movies, to razors, toilet paper, meal kits and clothes, there’s seemingly no place the subscription economy can’t go.</p> <p>Having conquered the software market – where it gets its own acronym, SaaS (Software as a Service) – the subscription model is now moving into hardware.</p> <p>Car makers are among the first cabs off the rank, using software to turn on and off optional extras.</p> <p>German auto maker BMW is offering “<a href="https://www.theverge.com/2022/7/12/23204950/bmw-subscriptions-microtransactions-heated-seats-feature" target="_blank" rel="noopener">in-car microtransactions</a>” to access options for car buyers in Britain, Korea, Germany, New Zealand and South Africa. A heated steering wheel, for example, has a monthly cost of NZ$20 in New Zealand, and £10 in the UK.</p> <p>Other markets <a href="https://www.drive.com.au/news/bmw-australia-monthly-subscriptions-detailed/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">including Australia</a> will soon follow.</p> <p>In the UK, seven of 13 “digital services” – from heated seats to automatic high beam and driving assistance – are now available in subscription form.</p> <p>“Welcome to microtransaction hell” is how <a href="https://www.pcgamer.com/welcome-to-microtransaction-hell-buy-a-bmw-pay-monthly-for-the-cars-features/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">one headline</a> put it.</p> <p>But that’s probably overselling the onset of a corporate dystopia where “you will own nothing”. BMW’s motives are pretty straightforward – as is most of what’s driving the subscription economy.</p> <p><strong>What is the subscription model?</strong></p> <p>The subscription model means paying a fee for periodical access to a service or product. Until a decade or so ago, it was largely confined to a few select industries, such as the delivery of milk, newspapers and magazines.</p> <figure class="align-center "><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/474494/original/file-20220718-68552-hvzp5p.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/474494/original/file-20220718-68552-hvzp5p.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/474494/original/file-20220718-68552-hvzp5p.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/474494/original/file-20220718-68552-hvzp5p.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/474494/original/file-20220718-68552-hvzp5p.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/474494/original/file-20220718-68552-hvzp5p.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/474494/original/file-20220718-68552-hvzp5p.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" alt="From milk and magazines, subscription services have proliferated with digital technology." /><figcaption><span class="caption">From milk and magazines, subscription services have proliferated with digital technology.</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">Shutterstock</span></span></figcaption></figure> <p>Other business models had similarities – such as rental businesses – but the point of the subscription model was different.</p> <p>It was not about meeting a demand for a service someone only wanted to use temporarily or could not afford to own outright. It was about locking in a continuing relationship, to maximise “customer lifetime value”.</p> <p>As <a href="https://www.investopedia.com/ask/answers/042715/how-do-subscription-business-models-work.asp" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Investopedia puts it</a>, the subscription model’s focus is on customer retention over customer acquisition:</p> <blockquote> <p>In essence, subscription business models focus on the way revenue is made so that a single customer pays multiple payments for prolonged access to a good or service instead of a large upfront one-time price.</p> </blockquote> <p>This in large part explains why subscription services are now being adopted in markets outside their more obvious fit for things such as streaming news and entertainment.</p> <p>In a broad sense, consumers can now be divided into two groups. One group comprises the “transactional shopper”, who interacts with the vendor once or twice, then disappears.</p> <p>The other group comprises customers whose connection and “investment” in the brand is maintained through their subscriptions.</p> <figure class="align-center "><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/474211/original/file-20220715-24-eopgdo.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/474211/original/file-20220715-24-eopgdo.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=338&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/474211/original/file-20220715-24-eopgdo.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=338&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/474211/original/file-20220715-24-eopgdo.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=338&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/474211/original/file-20220715-24-eopgdo.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=424&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/474211/original/file-20220715-24-eopgdo.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=424&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/474211/original/file-20220715-24-eopgdo.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=424&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" alt="The subscriptions model emphasises customer retention over customer acquisition." /><figcaption><span class="caption">The subscriptions model emphasises customer retention over customer acquisition.</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">Shutterstock</span></span></figcaption></figure> <p><strong>E-commerce and access</strong></p> <p>Part of the growth in the subscription economy has come from companies riding the e-commerce wave, delivering goods such as meal kits, wine, coffee, baby supplies, pet food, cleaning products, razors and toilet paper.</p> <p>Consultant firm McKinsey has estimated the subscription e-commerce market is <a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/technology-media-and-telecommunications/our-insights/thinking-inside-the-subscription-box-new-research-on-ecommerce-consumers" target="_blank" rel="noopener">doubling in value</a> every year – though that was before the pandemic. It could be well be more now.</p> <p>The other part of the market is represented by BMW’s approach, offering extra features to customers that can only be accessed for a fee.</p> <p>In some cases this may involve standard “upsell” techniques. For example, when you buy a new Peloton exercise bike you’ll be enticed with <a href="https://www.onepeloton.com.au/membership" target="_blank" rel="noopener">subscription offers</a>, such as virtual classes and “customised” training programs, to “reach your goals”.</p> <p>Or increasingly, as with BMW’s heated seats and steering wheels, it can be done with software turning actual bits of hardware on or off.</p> <p><strong>What is BMW’s game?</strong></p> <p>Is BMW’s purpose to gouge its customers for more money through getting them to pay an ongoing fee for something instead of owning it outright?</p> <p>This is not what its subscription structure indicates. The opposite, in fact.</p> <p>Customers can still buy these options outright. A heated steering wheel in the UK, for example, costs <a href="https://www.bmw.co.uk/en/shop/ls/dp/Steering_Wheel_Heating_SFA_gb" target="_blank" rel="noopener">£200</a>, and in New Zealand <a href="https://www.bmw.co.nz/en/shop/ls/dp/Steering_Wheel_Heating_SFA_nz" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NZ$350</a>. But now they can also pay a subscription – for three years (£150, NZ$250), annually (£100, NZ$250) or monthly (£10, NZ$20).</p> <p>These prices represent a strong signal – that the cost of outright ownership is the most economical. It’s unlikely BMW expects anyone to sign up for the annual or three-yearly options. These are probably just to make the outright cost look more attractive.</p> <p>The monthly offering, on the other hand, may lure owners to try out a feature they would otherwise have rejected buying outright at the time of purchase.</p> <p>Indeed, car makers argue the reason they offer so many options as extras is because most owners don’t want them. So this mostly looks like BMW offering a “try before you buy” option.</p> <p><strong>The pitfalls of over-subscribing</strong></p> <p>That said, companies don’t need to have sinister motives for us to have concerns about the spread of the subscription model.</p> <p>The more things we pay for with “micro-payments”, the harder it becomes to keep track of payments.</p> <p>Many of us continue to pay for products and services we don’t use. A survey of 1,000 Australian adults in 2021, for example, found about a third wasted money on unused subscriptions or memberships – losing an average of about <a href="https://www.savings.com.au/savings-accounts/unused-lockdown-subscriptions-are-costing-aussies-200-a-year" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A$200 a year</a>.</p> <p>Deep psychological associations can influence these decisions. Experiments by US marketing professors Jennifer Savary and Ravi Dhar suggests people with lower “<a href="https://academic.oup.com/jcr/article-abstract/46/5/887/5498871" target="_blank" rel="noopener">self-concept</a>” are less likely to sign up for subscriptions – but also less likely to cancel subscriptions they are not using.</p> <p>We may see the subscription model increasingly used in other sectors – including the health and justice systems.</p> <p>For example, a subscription payment may provide a better level of nutritious food for a resident in an aged care facility, or a hospital or even a prison. This is not dissimilar to the way private health insurance premiums are managed, but still presents important justice and equity concerns.</p> <p>So while there’s no reason to exaggerate the dangers of the subscription economy, it’s also prudent for consumers, advocacy groups and governments to ask “What next?”.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/186913/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /></p> <p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/louise-grimmer-212082" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Louise Grimmer</a>, Senior Lecturer in Retail Marketing and Associate Head Research Performance, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-tasmania-888" target="_blank" rel="noopener">University of Tasmania</a></em></p> <p><em>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/a-heated-steering-wheel-for-20-a-month-whats-driving-the-subscriptions-economy-186913" target="_blank" rel="noopener">original article</a>.</em></p> <p><em>Image: Getty Images</em></p>

Money & Banking

QEII attends her first royal engagement on wheels

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

Caring

Commuters rejoice! Auckland’s first electric ferries to set sail in 2024

<p dir="ltr">Two electric ferries are expected to be in the waters of Auckland by 2024 after the New Zealand government announced it would contribute $27 million in funding for the project.</p> <p dir="ltr">Minister of Energy and Resources Megan Woods made the announcement outside Auckland’s downtown ferry terminal, confirming that the funds would come from the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority, as reported by <em><a href="https://www.stuff.co.nz/environment/climate-news/128452777/government-commits-27m-for-electric-ferries-in-auckland" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Stuff</a></em>.</p> <p dir="ltr">The funds will also cover the majority of the project’s costs and will account for approximately 75 percent of the cost to build the two ferries.</p> <p dir="ltr">“This project will be a major boost to the rapidly developing maritime clean technology sector in New Zealand and will further upskill the maritime transport sector in New Zealand,” Ms Woods said. </p> <p dir="ltr">“This is a boost for our climate goals and our economy, which is especially vital as we continue our economic recovery from COVID-19.”</p> <p dir="ltr">With the city’s current, ageing fleet of ferries accounting for nearly seven percent of public transport journeys and about 20 percent of public transport emissions, Climate Change Minister James Shaw said the new ferries were “another important step” in working towards a low emissions future.</p> <p dir="ltr">“As a harbour city, getting around by ferry is the norm for many thousands of Auckalnders,” Mr Shaw said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Today’s announcement means that instead of fossil fuels powering many of those journeys, people will be getting around in ways that help create a climate-friendly, prosperous future for New Zealand.”</p> <p dir="ltr">The ferries, developed by Auckland-based <a href="https://evmaritime.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">EV Maritime</a>, will also contribute to Auckland City Council’s commitment to halve greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, which requires transport emissions to be slashed by 64 percent.</p> <p dir="ltr">They have been developed with a range capable of covering several routes in Auckland’s inner and mid-harbour with a design similar to the electric ferry running in Wellington.</p> <p dir="ltr">Ms Woods announced the government would also be supporting 15 big businesses to move away from using fossil fuels in their production processes, providing $13 million in funding that will be matched by $32.66 million from private industry.</p> <p dir="ltr">“In partnering with the private sector through the third round of the Government Investment in Decarbonising Industry (GIDI) Fund we’re helping clean up production processes, and helping business stay ahead of the curve.”</p> <p dir="ltr">It comes just months after the first electric passenger ferry in the Southern Hemisphere <a href="https://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/wellington-top-stories/127908781/electric-ferry-makes-maiden-passenger-voyage-across-wellington-harbour" target="_blank" rel="noopener">made its maiden journey</a> across Wellington’s harbour.</p> <p dir="ltr">The Ika Rere (“flying fish”) in Wellington can carry a maximum of 135 passengers - compared to the 99-person limit of its diesel predecessors - while its Auckland counterparts will seat up to 200 people.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-996c629c-7fff-77cd-49bf-fe52f45e6d96"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: EV Maritime (Facebook)</em></p>

Domestic Travel

Stowaway who hid in plane wheel identified

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

Travel Trouble

See the new Ferris wheel in Times Square

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The pandemic has seen New York City’s Times Square go quiet, but a new attraction has launched to bring the people back and turn the economy around.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Times Square Wheel gives riders a bird’s eye view of the ‘Crossroads of the World’ in midtown Manhattan over a 12 minute ride.</span></p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/tv/CTeKIW3D4fH/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="13"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/tv/CTeKIW3D4fH/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Eric's New York (@visitnewyork)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“I don’t remember the last time I’ve been on a Ferris wheel. That was so much fun,” said Deborah Johnson after having a go.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“It was special to be able to go that high in a Ferris wheel in Times Square. How often do you get that opportunity? Never,” said Penelope Bustamante.</span></p> <p><img style="width: 0px; height: 0px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7843925/gettyimages-1336385436.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/91fb7961d60e42bf89651a2af5649abb" /></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Image: Getty Images</span></em></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Vito Bruno, the man behind the concept, said the idea was to bring back the joy of childhood. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“It’s a feel-good thing. It’s just the right time. You see people come alive again. New York and this country needs happy right now,” he said.</span></p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CTAAsMdHDf0/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="13"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CTAAsMdHDf0/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by NYC's CULTURE CURATOR (@fomofeed)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">But, some riders were less enthused about the experience.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“It wasn’t as exciting as I thought it would be. This was </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">eh</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">,” said Arlene Shchulman.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“I thought I could go up to the elevator at one of the hotels and get a better view. Or maybe I’m just a jaded New Yorker.”</span></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Image: Getty Images</span></em></p>

International Travel

Woman necks bottle of red wine behind the wheel before smash

<div class="post_body_wrapper"> <div class="post_body"> <div class="body_text redactor-styles redactor-in"> <p>A Gold Coast man has apologised after sharing shocking footage of a woman drinking a bottle of wine in the driver's seat of her car.</p> <p>“She actually pulled out a full bottle of wine, sat back and drank the entire bottle in one go,” Sam Mangan, who took the video, told 9 News Gold Coast.</p> <p>“It was unbelievable.”</p> <p>Soon after the video was taken, the woman allegedly caused a three-car pile up and returned a blood alcohol reading of 0.276, more than five times the legal limit.</p> <p>People were quick to slam the footage, saying people had no idea what she was going through.</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/CLbR_lIHybI/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="13"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/CLbR_lIHybI/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by SAM MANGAN (@sammangan)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>“Ever asked what she was going through and what drove her to do that?” Asked one person.</p> <p>“You posted about her without knowing any history … agreed she should not be drunk driving [but] you know nothing of what that woman has gone through that day,” the person said of the video, in which Mr Mangan doesn’t identify the woman or show her face.</p> <p>Despite Mangan initially saying that he didn't agree with the critics, he has changed his tune.</p> <p>“If you’re going to drink enough to (allegedly) be five-and-a-half times the legal limit and get behind the wheel of a car it becomes anyone’s business that’s going to stop you,” Mr Mangan said.</p> <p>“If you’re stupid enough to drink drive you deserve to be caught.”</p> <p>He later posted the video footage on his Instagram, saying that he was glad "this all ended with no one getting hurt".</p> </div> </div> </div>

News

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

<div class="post_body_wrapper"> <div class="post_body"> <div class="body_text ">Karl Stefanovic and wife Jasmine Stefanovic know what good money can buy, and are keeping the same sentiment for their daughter Harper May,<br /><br />Jasmine, 36, gave fans a sweet glimpse into her luxurious life as a mother to a newborn by shopping a very expensive designer stroller on her Instagram account.<br /> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CARFEwEFJIy/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CARFEwEFJIy/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Jasmine Stefanovic (@jasyarby)</a> on May 16, 2020 at 4:16pm PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <br />The shoe designer showed a snap taken of Karl, 45, posing with their new Joolz stroller, which is believed to have cost close to $2,000.<br /><br />“Daddy's new wheels,” she wrote in a caption on Sunday.<br /><br />The picture taken showed a joyful Karl who posed for the camera wearing a black T-shirt, shorts and a very dad-like pair of sunglasses.<br /><br />The couple's dog, Chance The Yapper, was also tethered to the stroller's handlebar<br /><br />Last week, Karl returned to the Today show after taking about 10 days off following Harper's birth on May 1.<br /> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/B_00_SslWoa/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B_00_SslWoa/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Jasmine Stefanovic (@jasyarby)</a> on May 5, 2020 at 4:57pm PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <br />But the struggle was clearly worth it for Karl, who said about his newest little girl: “She is so gorgeous, 2.9 kilos of just scrumptious delight.”<br /><br />He went on to say: ”She's sleeping okay, three hours on, three hours off. Jasmine has just taken it in her stride. She is feeding really well. It makes me cry already.”<br /><br />Karl already has three children with ex-wife Cassandra Thorburn, including Jackson, 20, Ava, 15, and River, 13.</div> </div> </div> <div class="post-action-bar-component-wrapper"> <div class="post-actions-component"> <div class="upper-row"><span class="like-bar-component"></span> <div class="right-box-container"></div> </div> </div> </div>

News

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

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

Legal

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

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

Legal

Wine by the water: The Victorian ferry tour that must be experienced

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">As Victoria wineries are usually over an hour away from Melbourne, the trouble is that you usually need a designated driver to get there.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">However, that’s set to change with the introduction of ferry rides.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The ferry rides will shuttle guests from the Docklands across Port Phillip Bay to Portarlington, which is nestled on the Bellarine Peninsula near Geelong. The Bellarine Peninsula is well known for its chardonnay and pinot noir.</span></p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/Bx5ww0kASJ2/" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;"><a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Bx5ww0kASJ2/" target="_blank">Winter Sun ☀️ 🍷 Wineries. Red Wine & Open fires. The easiest wine day trip direct out of Melbourne. @bennettsonbellarine 📸 @bellarine_queen . . #winterwine #setthecruisecontrol #nodesignateddriver #visitportarlington #visitgeelongbellarine #portphillipferries #winterdaytrip #yourhappyspace</a></p> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">A post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/portphillipferries/" target="_blank"> Port Phillip Ferries</a> (@portphillipferries) on May 25, 2019 at 3:37pm PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">For those who live in Melbourne, Port Phillip Bay has largely been considered a prime location for fishing, swimming or watching sunsets over. The ferry has changed all of that.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The ferry journey will take around 90 minutes to get you to your chosen winery, distillery or both if you’re feeling adventurous. </span></p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/ByHox3tAV0B/" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;"><a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/ByHox3tAV0B/" target="_blank">Let’s face it, Winter came early 💨 Now that Mother Nature got that out of her system, it’s time to get back on track with warming adventures. Drool worthy pic from @jackrabbitvineyard + Yass you can visit there with one of our delicious packages 🍷🍽👌⛴ . . . #jackrabbit #ferrypackage #winterwine #visitgeelongbellarine #bellarinetastetrail #yourhappyspace #winelunch #setthecruisecontrol #portphillipferries</a></p> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">A post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/portphillipferries/" target="_blank"> Port Phillip Ferries</a> (@portphillipferries) on May 31, 2019 at 12:56am PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">However, if a wine tour isn’t your cup of tea, you can enjoy a variety of food trips that are on offer, which allow you to enjoy what Portarlington is known for: Mussels. You’re able to enjoy a fresh lunch of mussels that have come directly from the farmer. What a treat. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Prices for these trips and food experiences vary from $68 per person to $180 per person, but it includes your return ferry trip home so that’s one extra cost you won’t have to bear.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Just make sure to keep an eye on the weather before you head off, as this experience is definitely more enjoyable on a warm day.</span></p>

Domestic Travel

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

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

Legal

The biggest risks facing seniors behind the wheel

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

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