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Tributes flow for Oscar-winning writer of Chinatown and Mission Impossible

Robert Towne has passed away aged 89. Towne was nominated for four Oscars during his career. He won an Oscar for writing the 1974 crime and corruption thriller Chinatown starring Jack Nicholson as a private detective. He has been remembered as one of Hollywood's greatest screenwriters, with people from the film industry paying tribute to him online. Lee Grant, who won best supporting actress for her role in Shampoo, which Towne co-wrote, paid tribute to him on X. "His life, like the characters he created, was incisive, iconoclastic & entirely originally [sic]," she wrote. "He gave me the gift of Shampoo. He gave all of us the gift of his words & his films. There isn’t another like him. There won’t be again." The American Film Institute also paid tribute to him on X: "From writing masterpieces like Chinatown, Shampoo & countless others, his influence is everlasting." Towne was also regarded for his role as a script doctor - fixing or adding to existing scripts like Bonnie and Clyde and The Godfather. While he didn't get an official credit, The Godfather's writer-director Francis Ford Coppola used his Oscars best adapted screenplay acceptance speech to thank him for writing a pivotal "very beautiful" scene between Al Pacino and Marlon Brando's characters. "That was Bob Towne's scene," he said during the 1973 ceremony. Towne is survived by his second wife Luisa, and daughters Chiara and Katharine. Image: David Bloomer/Paramount Classics/Kobal/ Shutterstock Editorial

Caring

Aussie billionaire's ambitious mission to recover family remains

Australia's richest man is undertaking an ambitious mission to bring the remains of a long-lost loved one home, to keep a promise he made to his father before he died. Andrew 'Twiggy' Forrest's uncle was one of many Australians who died during the conflict in Papua New Guinea in the 1940s. David Forrest was shot down piloting his RAAF Beaufort bomber into an attack on a Japanese-held airstrip at Gasmata in Papua New Guinea in 1943. The loss has haunted the family ever since, as David's remains were never found. "[We] got the letter, from the king in those days, saying that uncle David was missing and presumed killed in action," Twiggy told <a href="https://9now.nine.com.au/a-current-affair/aussie-billionaire-andrew-twiggy-forrests-search-to-find-loved-ones-lost-in-world-war-ii/9c042a41-c3d1-4b73-af6e-af40c983b81b" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A Current Affair</a>. "Dad went through extreme emotions and grief and since that day he never cried for the rest of his life. "For the next 80 years he couldn't shed a tear it was just overwhelming for him." Twiggy's dad Donald had long said he wanted to hold his brother's dog tags before he died, but after passing away last year at the age 95, he was unable to fulfil his final wish. "Unfortunately we lost dad six months ago so I haven't fulfilled that, but it's really to put closure around something that really wrenched our family," he said. In order to bring closure to the family, Twiggy and his sister Janine have travelled to PNG onboard a purpose-built research vessel and joined by a crew of experts, including marine archeologists. The mission has been ongoing for many years with the blessing of the PNG government and the assistance of RAAF members, but has remained under wraps until now. In 2021, the family thought they had a breakthrough with their mission. "It was really emotional, very heart-wrenching as you went down into the depths thinking, 'Am I going to dive on uncle David's plane and be part of solving the mystery maybe of his remains maybe even his dog tags?' The serial number on David Forrest's Beaufort bomber was A9-188, but the bomber they'd found was A9-186. "I had to tell Dad I can confirm it was a Beaufort bomber, I can confirm it was Australians, but I have to confirm it wasn't your brother's. That was tough." While Twiggy admitted that the chances of finding his uncle's remains are slim, he said he owed it to his father to keep looking. "For my kids and myself, the standard I hold myself to is doing your absolute best," he said. "It's not whether or not you achieve it, it's did you do your best?" Image credits: A Current Affair

International Travel

Mission: Impossible Sydney mansion sells for eye-watering price

One of Sydney's most iconic properties, known as the Boomerang in Elizabeth Bay, has sold for $80 million. The mansion is featured in the second instalment in the Mission: Impossible franchise, with the 2000 movie starring Tom Cruise being set and filmed in Sydney. It was the first house to officially sell for above $1 million in 1978, before setting another record in 2002 when it fetched $20.7 million. Now, multiple sources have confirmed it has been snapped up by a purchaser, originally from Asia, for four times what it last sold for. The property has long been rated as one of Sydney’s Top 50 homes, and has been in the name of Katrina Fox, the daughter of Melbourne-based billionaire trucking magnate Lindsay Fox, since 2005. The impressive home was put up for sale by Ray White in 2017 with hopes of selling for $60 million and then again with Brad Pillinger of Pillinger for $80 million in 2021 — the last agent to have it listed. Pillinger couldn’t be contacted ahead of publication, but other sources have confirmed the property has sold for the $80m asking price, while speculation from other sources that the result was $105 million have been dismissed. Boomerang sits on 4233 square metres of waterfront land, and features 25 rooms including a private cinema modelled on the State Theatre. Image credits: realestate.com.au / Paramount Pictures

Real Estate

"Impossibly sad": P-plater jailed over fatal crash

A southwest Sydney community is reeling after Tyrell Edwards was sentenced for causing the deaths of five children in a fiery crash last year. Edwards, 20, was driving recklessly at speeds of 147km/h in the suburb of Buxton when he crashed into two trees and struck five teenagers. Lily Van De Putte, Gabby McLennan, Summer Williams, all aged 14, Tyrese Bechard, 15, and Antonio Desisto, 16, were all killed in the devastating incident. Appearing in Campbelltown District Court on his 20th birthday, Edwards sentenced to 12 years in prison, and will be eligible for parole in seven years, after pleading guilty to five counts of aggravated dangerous driving occasioning death at a speed more than 45km/h over the limit. The judge described the deaths of the five victims as “tragic and impossibly sad”. “The loss of these five young people diminishes us all,” he said. “Their deaths were completely avoidable and responsibility for them lies squarely at the feet of the offender.” Gasps were heard in the courtroom as the sentence was read, with families of the victims sharing their disappointment at the sentencing. Speaking outside court on Friday, family members of three of the teenagers hit out at the “unfair” sentence. Samantha McLennan said her heart “dropped” as she heard the ruling, while Exavan Desisto said he was “speechless”. “I knew the outcome wouldn’t be spectacular but to hear it was a big shock,” he said. “The justice system absolutely stinks.” John Van De Putte said he expected the sentence to be low, but felt it did not match the crime. “There’s five lives lost. Seven years in jail,” he said. “You’d get more if you killed someone with a baseball bat Mr Van De Putte had previously told the court there was “no excuse” for Edwards, a licensed driver, to have driven so recklessly and endangered the lives of his underage passengers. “No matter what you get, it will not bring back the five lives,” he told the 20-year-old. Image credits: Facebook

News

Almost half of Moon missions fail. Why is space still so hard?

<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/gail-iles-761554">Gail Iles</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/rmit-university-1063">RMIT University</a> In 2019, India attempted to land a spacecraft on the Moon – and ended up painting a kilometres-long streak of debris on its barren surface. Now the Indian Space Research Organisation has returned in triumph, with the Chandrayaan-3 lander <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/india/india-counts-down-crucial-moon-landing-2023-08-23/">successfully touching down</a> near the south pole of Earth’s rocky neighbour. India’s success came just days after a <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-02659-6">spectacular Russian failure</a>, when the Luna 25 mission tried to land nearby and “ceased to exist as a result of a collision with the lunar surface”. These twin missions remind us that, close to 60 years after the first successful “soft landing” on the Moon, spaceflight is still difficult and dangerous. Moon missions in particular are still a coin flip, and we have seen several high-profile failures in recent years. Why were these missions unsuccessful and why did they fail? Is there a secret to the success of countries and agencies who have achieved a space mission triumph? <h2>An exclusive club</h2> The Moon is the only celestial location humans have visited (so far). It makes sense to go there first: it’s the closest planetary body to us, at a distance of around 400,000 kilometres. Yet only four countries have achieved successful “soft landings” – landings which the spacecraft survives – on the lunar surface. The USSR was the first. The <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luna_9">Luna 9</a> mission safely touched down on the Moon almost 60 years ago, in February 1966. The United States followed suit a few months later, in June 1966, with the <a href="https://www.smithsonianmag.com/air-space-magazine/1966-the-real-first-moon-landing-118785850/">Surveyor 1</a> mission. China was the next country to join the club, with the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chang%27e_3">Chang'e 3</a> mission in 2013. And now India too has arrived, with <a href="https://amp.theguardian.com/science/2023/aug/23/india-chandrayaan-3-moon-landing-mission">Chandrayaan-3</a>. Missions from Japan, the United Arab Emirates, Israel, Russia, the European Space Agency, Luxembourg, South Korea and Italy have also had <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_missions_to_the_Moon">some measure of lunar success</a> with fly-bys, orbiters and impacts (whether intentional or not). <h2>Crashes are not uncommon</h2> On August 19 2023, the Russian space agency Roscosmos announced that “communication with the <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-02659-6">Luna 25 spacecraft</a> was interrupted”, after an impulse command was sent to the spacecraft to lower its orbit around the Moon. Attempts to contact the spacecraft on August 20 were unsuccessful, leading Roscosmos to determine Luna 25 had crashed. Despite more than 60 years of spaceflight experience extending from the USSR to modern Russia, this mission failed. We don’t know exactly what happened – but the current situation in Russia, where resources are stretched thin and tensions are high due to the ongoing war in Ukraine, may well have been a factor. The Luna 25 failure recalled two high-profile lunar crashes in 2019. In April that year, the Israeli <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beresheet">Beresheet lander</a> crash-landed after a gyroscope failed during the braking procedure, and the ground control crew was unable to reset the component due to a loss of communications. It was later reported a capsule containing microscopic creatures called tardigrades, in a dormant “cryptobiotic” state, may have survived the crash. And in September, India sent its own Vikram lander down to the surface of the Moon – but it did not survive the landing. NASA later <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/science/2019/dec/03/indias-crashed-vikram-moon-lander-spotted-on-lunar-surface">released an image</a> taken by its Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter showing the site of the Vikram lander’s impact. Debris was scattered over almost two dozen locations spanning several kilometres. <h2>Space is still risky</h2> Space missions are a risky business. Just over <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/space/news/success-rate-of-lunar-missions-is-a-little-over-50-as-per-nasa-database/articleshow/101774227.cms">50% of lunar missions succeed</a>. Even <a href="https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/20190002705/downloads/20190002705.pdf">small satellite missions</a> to Earth’s orbit don’t have a perfect track record, with a success rate somewhere between 40% and 70%. We could compare uncrewed with crewed missions: around <a href="https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20230518-what-are-the-odds-of-a-successful-space-launch">98% of the latter are successful</a>, because people are more invested in people. Ground staff working to support a crewed mission will be more focused, management will invest more resources, and delays will be accepted to prioritise the safety of the crew. We could talk about the details of why so many uncrewed missions fail. We could talk about technological difficulties, lack of experience, and even the political landscapes of individual countries. But perhaps it’s better to step back from the details of individual missions and look at averages, to see the overall picture more clearly. <h2>The big picture</h2> Rocket launches and space launches are not very common in the scheme of things. There are <a href="https://www.pd.com.au/blogs/how-many-cars-in-the-world/">around 1.5 billion cars</a> in the world, and perhaps <a href="https://www.travelweek.ca/news/exactly-many-planes-world-today/">40,000 aeroplanes</a>. By contrast, there have been fewer than <a href="https://planet4589.org/space/gcat/data/derived/launchlog.html">20,000 space launches</a> in all of history. Plenty of things still go wrong with cars, and problems occur even in the better-regulated world of planes, from loose rivets to computers overriding pilot inputs. And we have more than a century of experience with these vehicles, in every country on the planet. So perhaps it’s unrealistic to expect spaceflight – whether it’s the launch stage of rockets, or the even rarer stage of trying to land on an alien world – to have ironed out all its problems. We are still very much in the early, pioneering days of space exploration. <h2>Monumental challenges remain</h2> If humanity is ever to create a fully fledged space-faring civilisation, we must <a href="https://www.wired.com/2016/02/space-is-cold-vast-and-deadly-humans-will-explore-it-anyway/">overcome monumental challenges</a>. To make long-duration, long-distance space travel possible, there are a huge number of problems to be solved. Some of them seem within the realm of the possible, such as better radiation shielding, self-sustaining ecosystems, autonomous robots, extracting air and water from raw resources, and zero-gravity manufacturing. Others are still speculative hopes, such as faster-than-light travel, instantaneous communication, and artificial gravity. Progress will be little by little, small step by slightly larger step. Engineers and space enthusiasts will keep putting their brainpower, time and energy into space missions, and they will gradually become more reliable. And maybe one day we’ll see a time when going for a ride in your spacecraft is as safe as getting in your car. <hr /> Correction: a typing error in the original version of this article put the Surveyor 1 mission in 1996, rather than its actual year of 1966.<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/211914/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/gail-iles-761554">Gail Iles</a>, Senior Lecturer in Physics, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/rmit-university-1063">RMIT University</a> Image credits: Shutterstock 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/almost-half-of-moon-missions-fail-why-is-space-still-so-hard-211914">original article</a>.

International Travel

Robert Irwin makes red carpet debut with girlfriend

Robert Irwin looked crazy in love as he made his red carpet debut with his new girlfriend Rorie Buckley. The 19-year-old conservationist and Buckley could not keep their eyes off each other as they posed for the cameras outside Sydney’s International Convention Centre, ahead of the Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning premiere. The couple looked stunning in their colour-coordinated outfits, with Irwin looking dapper in a black suit as he wrapped his arms around Buckley, who is the niece of late Aussie actor Heath Ledger. Buckley, 18, charmed the crowd with her bright smile and looked chic in a black long-sleeve dress with a cutout at the midsection. In a few pictures Irwin could be seen looking proudly at his girlfriend and eliciting a few giggles as they shared private jokes together. The glamorous event also saw the Mission Impossible stars Tom Cruise, Simon Pegg and Hayley Atwell rock the red carpet for the franchise’s seventh instalment. This is the first time Irwin and Buckley have walked the red carpet together after first being spotted cuddling on a Queensland beach late last year. The pair are currently dating long distance with Buckley based in Perth and Irwin in Queensland. Images: Getty

Beauty & Style

"I saw that!": Tom Cruise reacts to Shirvo's 100m Olympic sprint

Hollywood superstar Tom Cruise, known for his association with A-list celebrities – and of course for his energetic, high-speed running in almost every film he's ever made – found himself captivated by Sunrise host Matt Shirvington's Olympic Games history. Appearing on the Channel 7 breakfast show on Monday morning, Cruise was greeted by enthusiastic fans outside the Sydney studio who chanted his name and displayed banners. However, it was a particular video showcasing Shirvo's performance in the 100-metre sprint at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games that truly caught Tom's attention. "Tom, I have to be honest with you, as a kid growing up, I was a sprinter and went to the Olympic Games," began Matt during the segment. "Did you? Wow, what year were you?" an intrigued Tom inquired. Matt went on to reveal that he had competed in the 100-metre sprint at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. Tom, clearly impressed, responded, "I saw you run in that Olympics. I saw that!" As Tom gazed at the screen, he witnessed Matt, donning yellow and green attire, sprinting patriotically in the competition, juxtaposed with footage of the actor's own running scenes in his action movies. "Look at that. You're a great runner. I'm a good runner," remarked Tom. He then went on to explain that while he often runs in his films, he doesn't receive much assistance with training. "I've been an athlete my whole life, participating in gymnastics and sprinting. I was like that little kid who would get a new pair of sneakers and then joyfully sprint, splashing through puddles. "I haven't had extensive training, you know, but throughout the years, I've received some coaching and worked with different coaches as I grew up." Tom continued, "You know what I do? I observe people, study them, and then try different things on my own. "I'm the kind of person who watches someone, imitates them, and reads about other people's training. I've trained with different Olympians, constantly studying." At this point, Matt chimed in, saying, "If you ever need a coach, let me know." Amidst giggles, Nat Barr interjected, "We'll arrange a training session for you guys." Tom went on to reveal that earlier that morning, he had engaged in sprints around his hotel room in Sydney, as he always makes an effort to stay fit. "I've trained my whole life. You never take a break," he emphasised. Images: Sunrise

Movies

Inside the frantic rescue mission to save woman who went overboard

A woman has been saved from waters near the Dominican Republic after going overboard from a Royal Caribbean cruise ship. The 42-year-old American citizen was rescued by the US Coast Guard, after she fell from the 10th deck of the ship. The Mariner of the Seas cruise ship was about 50 km south of Punta Cana on its way to Willemstad, Curaçao, when the passenger went overboard, a statement from the Coast Guard said. “The passenger was recovered alive and reported to be in good health, after reportedly falling into the water from the 10th deck of the ship,” it said. “No medical evacuation of the passenger was requested by the cruise ship.” “The passenger was being kept on the cruise ship’s medical facility and later transferred to the Hospital in Willemstad, Curacao for evaluation.” The Coast Guard said it was investigating the incident, looking into how and why the woman went overboard. Matthew Kuhn, who was on the cruise ship with his family, told a Florida news station that he watched rescue efforts from his balcony. “I think it was amazing to see everyone was on their balcony. Everyone was trying to help, and the crew was very receptive to everyone,” he said. In a statement released on Wednesday, Royal Caribbean confirmed a passenger went overboard but was rescued as was being cared for onboard. “The ship and crew immediately reported the incident to local authorities and began searching for the guest. Thankfully, the guest was successfully recovered and was brought on board. Our Care team is now offering assistance and support to them and their travelling party. Out of privacy for the guest and their family, we have no additional details to share,” the statement said. Image credits: Getty Images

Travel Trouble

Screwed over: how Apple and others are making it impossible to get a cheap and easy phone repair

If Apple and other tech companies have their way, it will only become harder to have our phones and other devices repaired by third-party businesses. Smartphones and many other tech devices are increasingly being designed in ways that make it challenging to repair or replace individual components. This might involve soldering the processor and flash memory to the motherboard, gluing components together unnecessarily, or using non-standard <a href="https://www.ifixit.com/News/14279/apples-diabolical-plan-to-screw-your-iphone">pentalobe screws</a> which make replacements problematic. Many submissions to an Australian “right to repair” <a href="https://www.pc.gov.au/inquiries/current/repair/submissions#initial">inquiry</a> have called on tech manufacturers to provide a fair and competitive market for repairs, and produce products that are easily repairable. The <a href="https://www.pc.gov.au/inquiries/current/repair/issues/repair-issues.pdf">right to repair</a> refers to consumers’ ability to have their products repaired at a competitive price. This includes being able to choose a repairer, rather than being forced by default to use the device manufacturer’s services. But it seems Apple doesn’t want its customers to fix their <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/evmeya/apple-iphone-right-to-repair-california">iPhones</a>or <a href="https://www.inputmag.com/culture/apples-repair-policies-are-utterly-shameful-and-shouldnt-be-allowed-e-waste-recycling-macbooks-t2">Macbooks</a> themselves. The company has <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/nz85y7/apple-is-lobbying-against-your-right-to-repair-iphones-new-york-state-records-confirm">lobbied against</a> the right to repair in the United States and has <a href="https://www.npr.org/2020/11/18/936268845/apple-agrees-to-pay-113-million-to-settle-batterygate-case-over-iphone-slowdowns">been accused of deliberately slowing down</a> iPhones with older batteries. <a href="https://www.pewtrusts.org/en/research-and-analysis/blogs/stateline/2019/10/16/tech-giants-fight-digital-right-to-repair-bills">Opposition</a> against the right to repair from tech companies is to be expected. Cornering consumers into using their service centres increases their revenue and extends their market domination. In its defence, Apple has said <a href="https://time.com/4828099/farmers-and-apple-fight-over-the-toolbox/">third-party repairers</a> could use lower quality parts and also make devices vulnerable to hackers. It also defended its <a href="https://venturebeat.com/2019/08/14/apple-defends-iphone-unauthorized-battery-warning-as-a-safety-feature/">battery warning indication</a> as a “safety” feature, wherein it started to alert users if their phone’s replacement battery hadn’t come from a certified Apple repairer. In the US, Apple’s <a href="https://support.apple.com/irp-program">independent repair provider program</a> grants certain providers access to the parts and resources needed to fix its devices. Independent repair shops in <a href="https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2020/07/apple-expands-iphone-repair-services-to-hundreds-of-new-locations-across-the-us/">32 countries</a> can now apply, but the scheme has yet to extend outside the US. <h2>Impact on users</h2> With the iPhone 12 — the latest iPhone offering — Apple has <a href="https://www.ifixit.com/News/45921/is-this-the-end-of-the-repairable-iphone">made it even harder</a> for third-party repairers to fix the device, thereby increasing users’ reliance on its own services. Apple has hiked its <a href="https://support.apple.com/en-au/iphone/repair/service/screen-replacement">repair charges</a> for iPhone 12 by more than 40%, compared with the iPhone 11. It is <a href="https://support.apple.com/en-au/iphone/repair/service/screen-replacement">charging</a> more than A$359 to fix an iPhone 12 screen outside of warranty and A$109 to replace the battery. Historically, third-party repairers have been a cheaper option. But using a third-party repairer for an iPhone 12 could render some phone features, such as the camera, <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2020/10/30/21542242/apple-iphone-12-third-party-repairs-ifixit-camera-module-replacement">almost inoperable</a>. According to reports, fixing the iPhone 12’s camera requires <a href="https://9to5mac.com/2020/10/30/iphone-12-camera-repair/">Apple’s proprietary</a> system configuration app, available only to the company’s own authorised technicians. It’s not just Apple, either. <a href="https://www.techradar.com/au/news/samsungs-galaxy-s20-ultra-is-unsurprisingly-difficult-to-repair">Samsung’s</a> flagship phones are also quite tricky for third-party repairers to fix. <h2>Impact on environment</h2> When certain parts for repairs aren’t available, manufacturers will produce new phones instead, consuming <a href="https://www.envirotech-online.com/news/environmental-laboratory/7/breaking-news/how-do-smartphones-affect-the-environment/48339">more energy and resources</a>. In fact, manufacturing one smartphone <a href="https://www-sciencedirect-com.ezproxy.cqu.edu.au/science/article/pii/S095965261733233X">consumes</a> as much energy as using it for ten years. As smartphones become harder to repair, electronic waste will grow. Apple and Samsung both cited environmental benefits when they announced they would no longer ship <a href="https://theconversation.com/apples-iphone-12-comes-without-a-charger-a-smart-waste-reduction-move-or-clever-cash-grab-148189">chargers</a> with their phones. Yet, they’ve turned a blind eye to the environmental damage that would arise from completely cornering the repair market. The average Australian home has <a href="https://thinktv.com.au/facts-and-stats/australian-homes-are-experiencing-a-screen-explosion/">6.7 devices</a>, including televisions, personal computers, laptops, tablets and smartphones. With diminishing opportunities for repair, the environmental burden from disposing of these devices will increase. <h2>What is being done?</h2> Phone giants make it tough for third-party repairers to do their job in a variety of ways. This includes constantly changing designs, adding hurdles to the repair process, and restricting access to parts, diagnostic software and repair documentation. Meanwhile, consumers are left with broken phones and huge repair bills — and repairers are left with less business. The fight to remove barriers to repair is gaining momentum outside Australia, too, in countries including <a href="https://www.policyalternatives.ca/publications/monitor/when-will-canadians-have-right-repair">Canada</a>, the <a href="https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/right-to-repair-means-spare-parts-for-household-appliances-mr5gmkjxr">United Kingdom</a> and the <a href="https://www.repair.org/legislation">United States</a>. Legislative reforms have been introduced in the <a href="https://repair.eu/news/european-parliament-calls-for-ambitious-right-to-repair/">European Union</a> and <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/93wy8v/newly-passed-right-to-repair-law-will-fundamentally-change-tesla-repair">Massachusetts</a>. France has introduced a <a href="https://www.ecologie.gouv.fr/indice-reparabilite">Repairability Index</a> requiring electrical and electronic equipment companies to inform consumers about their products’ repairability on a scale of one to ten. This takes into account the ease of repairability, availability and price of spare parts and availability of technical repair documents. <h2>The path moving forward</h2> Until the push for right to repair legislative reform gathers pace globally, consumers will have little choice but to pay up to big companies to access their authorised repair services. If they don’t, they may risk losing their warranty, ending up with a non-functional device and even <a href="https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5e449c8c3ef68d752f3e70dc/t/5ea8a6d93b485d0feb9b5d6b/1588111098207/Report_RightToRepair_HanleyKellowayVaheesan-1.pdf">infringing</a> upon the manufacturers’ software copyrights. Ideally, phone companies (and others) would assist users with the repair process by providing replacement parts, repair documentation and diagnostic tools to third-party repairers. This would also help <a href="https://www.apple.com/au/newsroom/2020/07/apple-commits-to-be-100-percent-carbon-neutral-for-its-supply-chain-and-products-by-2030/">Apple</a> and <a href="https://www.samsung.com/us/aboutsamsung/sustainability/environment/">Samsung</a> reduce their carbon footprint and achieve their environmental goals. Although the way things are going, it’s unlikely tech companies will be able to escape their self-inflicted repair obligations. In the past, Apple CEO Jeff Williams has <a href="https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2019/08/apple-offers-customers-even-more-options-for-safe-reliable-repairs/">said, "</a>we believe the safest and most reliable repair is one handled by a trained technician using genuine parts that have been properly engineered and rigorously tested." But with only so much workforce available even to Apple, sharing the load with smaller repairers will help. And for consumers’ benefit, the right to repair legislation must be taken seriously, with consistent repairability scores developed across the globe. Image credits: Getty Images This article originally appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.com/screwed-over-how-apple-and-others-are-making-it-impossible-to-get-a-cheap-and-easy-phone-repair-156871" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>.

Technology

"You always shone through": PM's fond farewell to Carrie Bickmore

Aussie PM Anthony Albanese has come forward to praise Carrie Bickmore during her last appearance on The Project. Carrie, 41, was quite emotional as the PM offered a heart-felt farewell tribute, delivered live via video link. Anthony Albanese gushed with sincerity and pride, as he told Carrie how her work on the Channel 10 panel has meant the world to viewers. "I just wanted to say just a big shout out for your warmth and your humanity that just shone through," Mr. Albanese began. “You talk about stories, but you always shone through with the people behind the stories, and what it really meant,” he said. “And that made a difference.” The Prime Minister continued: "That's why people feel like they know you, because you weren't frightened of showing people a lot of yourself on screen and in the way that you interviewed people" A montage played early in the show, which paid homage to Carrie's outstanding efforts to raise awareness and funds to fight brain cancer, after her husband Greg passed away with the disease in 2010. The Prime Minister praised Carrie's advocacy work, telling the star that her efforts in the health area were "extraordinary". She used her reply to thank Mr. Albanese, before urging the PM to keep funding "the brain cancer mission". The beloved TV presenter fought back tears as she told viewers last month that it was the hardest decision she has had to make in her professional life. Image: Network 10

Impossible Pork: “You may have a hard time convincing yourself it's not the real thing”

California-based Impossible Foods is launching Impossible™ Pork at a number of iconic local restaurants and cafes across Australia. Impossible Pork is as versatile as pork from pigs and can be served in any minced pork dish like sausage rolls, meatballs, chilli, dumplings and xiao long bao. Because it’s made from plants, it uses 51% less water, 94% less land and generates 85% less greenhouse gasses (GHG) than its animal counterpart in Australia and rivals minced pork from pigs with its mild savoury flavour balanced with umami richness, without being gamey or overpowering. It contains no animal hormones, antibiotics, or added nitrates and it is certified gluten-free. Each 113-gram serving of Impossible Pork delivers 17.7 grams of protein and is a good source of zinc, calcium, and B vitamins (Niacin, B6 and B12). Now is the opportunity for local foodies across the country to enjoy a wide range of classic pork dishes made with Impossible Pork at restaurants including the acclaimed Vietnamese restaurant<a href="https://www.redlantern.com.au/"> Red Lantern</a> in Sydney, the iconic plant-based eatery<a href="https://www.smithanddaughters.com/"> Smith & Daughters</a> in Melbourne, and at any location of the cult dining institution<a href="https://www.buttersydney.com.au/"> Butter</a>. A blind taste test in Hong Kong revealed over half of consumers surveyed prefer Impossible Pork over ground pork from pigs. Impossible Pork scored higher in every category tested, including flavour liking, texture liking, and purchase intent. Tasters in the US have also given Impossible Pork rave reviews, with<a href="https://www.cnet.com/health/impossible-pork-will-finally-be-available-commercially-starting-in-restaurants/"> CNET</a> saying: “Fair warning: You may have a hard time convincing yourself it's not the real thing,” and<a href="https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2021/10/18/the-evolution-of-an-empire-at-momofuku-ssam-bar/amp"> The New Yorker</a> restaurant critic calling the Spicy Rice Cakes served with Impossible Pork Ragu at David Chang’s Momofuku Ssäm Bar “a rare gastronomic gift that tastes more indulgent than it is.” “Australia is one of the heaviest meat-consuming markets per capita in the world and pork plays a central role in some of the nations’ favourite cuisines, so launching Impossible Pork there felt like the natural next step for our expansion,” said Jordan Sadowsky, Director of International at Impossible Foods. “We’re working with some of the most exciting chefs in Australia to showcase the culinary versatility of this product, and we think people are really going to love it.” Availability For the arrival of Impossible Pork, Impossible Foods has enlisted a number of Aussie chefs and restaurateurs to celebrate the nation’s love for all things local. Each chef has incorporated Impossible Pork in their own iconic food traditions, from dumplings to sausage rolls, giving consumers the chance to try it for brekky, lunch, dinner and smoko. Now available exclusively at: NSW ● <a href="https://www.redlantern.com.au/"> Red Lantern</a>, Darlinghust - serving Lemongrass Impossible™ Pork skewers served on a vermicelli, herb and pickled vegetable salad ● <a href="https://singleo.com.au/surryhills/"> Single O</a>, Surry Hills - serving Impossible™ Pork Breakfast terrine with haloumi, saltbush crusted egg, smoked tomato achiote coulis and sea lettuce salsa verde ● <a href="https://www.tacosmuchachos.com.au/"> Tacos Muchachos</a>, Redfern - serving Vegan Tacos Al Pastor Chorizo with Impossible™ Pork, guacamole salsa, red salsa, onion, cilantro and pineapple ● <a href="https://www.buttersydney.com.au/"> Butter</a>, Chatswood, Surry Hills, Parramatta - serving Burnt Endz Impossible™ Pork Hot Ballz Ramen VIC ● <a href="https://www.smithanddaughters.com/"> Smith & Daughters</a>, Collingwood - serving Classic Smith & Daughters Impossible™ Pork Sausage Roll and Braised Iranian Impossible™ Pork & buckwheat meatballs with pomegranate and farinata ● <a href="https://breadclub.com.au/"> Bread Club</a>, North Melbourne - serving Impossible™ Pork Sausage Roll and Lasagne pie QLD ● <a href="https://www.southside-restaurant.com.au/"> SouthSide</a>, South Brisbane - serving Spicy Impossible™ Pork Mapo Tofu, Impossible Pork Xiao Long Bao. Note: Available from Friday 19 August onwards ● <a href="https://www.donnachang.com.au/"> Donna Chang</a>, Brisbane City - serving Impossible™ Pork Mapo Tofu To find other local restaurants serving Impossible Pork, visit:<a href="https://impossiblefoods.com/au-en/locations"> https://impossiblefoods.com/au-en/locations</a>. Image: Supplied

Food & Wine

Tom Cruise celebrates his 60th!

Tom Cruise has turned 60! In honour of his 60th birthday on July 3, Mission: Impossible director Christopher McQuarrie shared a rare photo of Cruise performing a crazy stunt. The actor, known to perform his own insane stunts, could be seen hanging on from an airborne red biplane. Mission: Impossible movie, Dead Reckoning Part One is due to be released in 2023. Cruise however spent his actual birthday watching the F1 Grand Prix in the UK, with celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay and Lewis Hamilton’s family. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Anthony Hamilton, Antonio Pérez Garibay and Tom Cruise watching the podium celebrations together is everything ❤️ <a href="https://t.co/KvtgU19ssH">pic.twitter.com/KvtgU19ssH</a> — ESPN F1 (@ESPNF1) <a href="https://twitter.com/ESPNF1/status/1543665585913008128?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 3, 2022</a></blockquote> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Hamilton and Tom Cruise showed love after the race 🤝❤️ <a href="https://t.co/TDHCHh8FFh">pic.twitter.com/TDHCHh8FFh</a> — ESPN F1 (@ESPNF1) <a href="https://twitter.com/ESPNF1/status/1543640030354329601?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 3, 2022</a></blockquote> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> The one and only Maverick. Happy birthday, <a href="https://twitter.com/TomCruise?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TomCruise</a>! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TopGun?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TopGun</a> <a href="https://t.co/OWSUMwVWJY">pic.twitter.com/OWSUMwVWJY</a> — Top Gun (@TopGunMovie) <a href="https://twitter.com/TopGunMovie/status/1543640720216510466?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 3, 2022</a></blockquote> Also, an avid Adele fan, Cruise was spotted singing and dancing to Adele at Hyde Park where he was also surprised with a birthday cake backstage. "Tom looked like he had an absolute blast. He was really going for it with his dancing and seemed to know all the words to sing along,” an onlooker said. "After the set finished, staff brought the cake out for him and he couldn't stop saying thank you. He hugged his favourite hostess as they sang Happy Birthday. "Then he gave a speech about how nice it was for everyone to be able to come together for events again after Covid. "And Tom said Adele was phenomenal. He was so upbeat and living his best life." Image: Getty

Movies

Changing the Australian Constitution is not easy. But we need to stop thinking it’s impossible

Supporters of an Indigenous Voice to Parliament have celebrated the commitment of the new Albanese government to put the issue to a referendum. But is government support enough? It’s a start, but the road to referendum success is a hard one, as it was always meant to be. The Constitution was meant to be hard to change When the Constitution was being written in the 1890s, the initial expectation was that it would be enacted by the British and they would control the enactment of any changes to it, just as they did for Canada. But the drafters of the Commonwealth Constitution bucked the system by insisting they wanted the power to change the Constitution themselves. They chose the then quite radical method of a referendum, which they borrowed from the Swiss. While it was radical, because it let the people decide, it was also seen as a <a href="https://adc.library.usyd.edu.au/view?docId=ozlit/xml-main-texts/fed0043.xml&chunk.id=&toc.id=&database=&collection=&brand=default" target="_blank" rel="noopener">conservative mechanism</a>. British constitutional theorist A.V. Dicey described the referendum as “the <a href="https://archive.org/details/nationalreview2318unse/page/64/mode/2up" target="_blank" rel="noopener">people’s veto</a>”, because it allowed the “weight of the nation’s common sense” and inertia to block “the fanaticism of reformers”. The drafters of the Commonwealth Constitution were divided on the issue. Some supported the referendum because it would operate to defeat over-hasty, partisan or ill-considered changes. Others were concerned that change was hard enough already, and voters would have a natural tendency to vote “No” in a referendum because there are always objections and risks that can be raised about any proposal. Fear of the new almost always trumps dissatisfaction with the current system, because people do not want to risk making things worse. In this sense, the referendum is conservative – not in a party-political sense, but because it favours conserving the status quo. Another concern, raised by Sir Samuel Griffith, was that constitutions are complex, and a large proportion of voters would not be sufficiently acquainted with the Australian Constitution to vote for its change in an informed way. He favoured using a United States-style of constitutional convention to make changes. The democrats eventually won and the referendum was chosen. But to satisfy their opponents, they added extra hurdles. To succeed, a referendum has to be <a href="https://www.austlii.edu.au/cgi-bin/viewdoc/au/legis/cth/consol_act/coacac627/s128.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">approved</a> not only by a majority of voters overall, but also by majorities in a majority of states (currently four out of six states). A Constitution frozen in time The predictions were right. The referendum at the federal level has indeed turned out to be the “people’s veto”. Of 44 referendum questions put to the people, only <a href="https://www.aec.gov.au/elections/referendums/referendum_dates_and_results.htm">eight have passed</a>. No successful Commonwealth referendum has been held since 1977. We have not held a Commonwealth referendum at all since 1999. There are many <a href="https://www.aph.gov.au/binaries/library/pubs/rp/2002-03/03rp11.pdf">suggested reasons</a> for this. Some argue that the people have correctly exercised their veto against reforms that were proposed for party-political advantage or to unbalance the federal system by expanding Commonwealth power. If reforms are put because they are in the interests of the politicians, rather than the people, they will fail. Questions asked in referendums have been poorly formulated and often load too many issues into the one proposed reform. If a voter objects to just one aspect of a proposal, they then vote down the entire reform. Another argument is that, as Griffith anticipated, the people know little about the Constitution and are not willing to approve changes to it if they are unsure. The mantra “<a href="https://www.aec.gov.au/elections/referendums/1999_referendum_reports_statistics/yes_no_pamphlet.pdf">Don’t know – Vote No</a>” was extremely effective during the republic campaign in 1999. Of course, if you don’t know, you should find out. But the failure to provide proper civics education in schools means most people don’t feel they have an adequate grounding to embark on making that assessment. Decades of <a href="https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/better-civic-education-will-help-australians-respond-in-challenging-times/">neglect of civics</a> has left us with a population that is insufficiently equipped to fulfil its constitutional role of updating the Constitution. <figure class="align-center "><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/465242/original/file-20220525-20-1ebbwk.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/465242/original/file-20220525-20-1ebbwk.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=451&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/465242/original/file-20220525-20-1ebbwk.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=451&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/465242/original/file-20220525-20-1ebbwk.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=451&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/465242/original/file-20220525-20-1ebbwk.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/465242/original/file-20220525-20-1ebbwk.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/465242/original/file-20220525-20-1ebbwk.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" alt="" /><figcaption>If people have the slightest uncertainty about what they are saying ‘yes’ to, they will inevitably say ‘no’ – something the republic referendum suffered from in 1999. Rob Griffith/AAP</figcaption></figure> Vulnerability to scare campaigns The biggest threat to a successful referendum is the running of a “No” campaign by a major political party, or one or more states, or even a well-funded business or community group. Scare campaigns are effective even if there is little or no truth behind them. It is enough to plant doubt in the minds of voters to get them to vote “No”. Voters are reluctant to entrench changes in the Constitution if they might have unintended consequences or be interpreted differently in the future, because they know how hard it will be to fix any mistake. <figure class="align-right "><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/465249/original/file-20220525-22-a5fyt8.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=237&fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/465249/original/file-20220525-22-a5fyt8.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=844&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/465249/original/file-20220525-22-a5fyt8.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=844&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/465249/original/file-20220525-22-a5fyt8.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=844&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/465249/original/file-20220525-22-a5fyt8.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=1061&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/465249/original/file-20220525-22-a5fyt8.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=1061&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/465249/original/file-20220525-22-a5fyt8.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=1061&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" alt="" /><figcaption>The 1967 referendum was one of the few that were successful. National Gallery of Australia</figcaption></figure> If a referendum campaign ends up focused on technical issues about the future operation or interpretation of particular amendments, then it is likely lost. Campaigns tend to be more successful if they focus on principles or outcomes, such as the 1967 referendum concerning Aboriginal people. That referendum had the advantage of not being opposed in the Commonwealth parliament. The consequence was that there was only a <a href="https://www.naa.gov.au/learn/learning-resources/learning-resource-themes/first-australians/rights-and-freedoms/argument-favour-proposed-constitution-alteration-aboriginals-1967#:%7E:text=In%20the%201967%20referendum%2C%20no,recorded%20in%20a%20federal%20referendum.">“Yes” case</a> distributed to voters, as a “No” case can only be produced by MPs who oppose the referendum bill in parliament. Overcoming the malaise While recognising these difficulties, perhaps the greatest risk is becoming <a href="https://www.auspublaw.org/2018/12/getting-to-yes-why-our-approach-to-winning-referendums-needs-a-rethink/">hostage</a> to the belief the Constitution cannot be changed and referendums will always fail. It will become a self-fulfilling prophecy. Instead, we need to face constitutional reform as being difficult but achievable and worthwhile. The Constitution should always serve the needs of today’s Australians, rather than the people of the 1890s. The key elements for success include a widespread will for change, the drive and persistence of proponents, good leadership, sound well-considered proposals and building a broad cross-party consensus. Not every element is necessary, but all are helpful. As incoming Indigenous Affairs Minister <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/7.30/linda-burney:-%E2%80%9Cwe-need-consensus-on-a-referendum/13895144">Linda Burney</a> recently noted, there is still a lot of work to be done in building that consensus in relation to Indigenous constitutional recognition, but the work has commenced.<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/183626/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/anne-twomey-6072">Anne Twomey</a>, Professor of Constitutional Law, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-sydney-841">University of Sydney</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/changing-the-australian-constitution-is-not-easy-but-we-need-to-stop-thinking-its-impossible-183626">original article</a>. Image: Getty Images

Legal

Sheep rescued from 40kg fleece

A bushwalker enjoying a walk along a mountain top came across a sheep burdened by its heavy 40kg fleece. The sheep, named Alex, was found on Mt Alexander in Victoria unable to walk and could hardly lift his head. The walker contacted Edgar’s Mission who came and rescued the sheep who was in a “worse state of health”. "So weak was he that he could not stand. Not even when assisted to do so, and struggle we did to find a passage in through his felt-like fleece to administer life-enhancing fluids,” the rescuers wrote on Facebook. "Truth be told, too, we wondered at first blush with Alex: Could his life even be saved, and would the kindest thing have been to let him pass from this world? “And then we lifted the shroud of wool from his face and our eyes met, and in that instant, it was so strikingly clear he wanted to live.” <iframe style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=476&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fedgarsmission%2Fvideos%2F654275415827887%2F&show_text=false&width=267&t=0" width="267" height="476" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> Alex was taken back to the sanctuary where his fleece which was “sodden with rain, urine, twigs, bark, beetles and maggots” was removed. ”A fleece so matted and dense that at first it stubbornly refused to cede to the shears,” they revealed. “But somehow it miraculously did. All 40 kg of it!” Alex will remain at the sanctuary for the rest of his hopefully long life. Images: Facebook

Travel Trouble

How tiny AJ Elfalak survived in the bush for three days

The Australian public has been amazed at the miraculous story of three-year-old AJ Elfalak who survived three days and three cold nights in rugged bushland near Putty, 150km north-west of Sydney. Specialist bush survival experts have stated one of the reasons 'miracle boy' AJ Elfalak coped so well while lost in bushland was because his autism kept him in a calm state of mind. Survival expert Bob Cooper, who works with the SAS, added AJ’s youth was also an advantage: “Children are better than adults at surviving sometimes because they haven't got the preconceived idea of what the bush is like.” “When they feel tired they sleep, when they're cold they seek shelter, when they're thirsty they drink,” Cooper said. “A human can survive for three weeks without food provided they can keep warm, drink water and stay safe from the elements,” he noted. AJ was found with minor injuries only Little AJ was found with some minor scratches and bruising to his body. He'd been bitten by ants and had a case of nappy rash, but he was otherwise in high spirits - all of which seems to point to the truth in what Cooper and other experts have said. Wild conspiracy theories continue to circulate on social media concerning AJ's disappearance saying it was staged and that a child could not survive alone with food or water in such rugged terrain - where overnight temperatures were as low as two degrees. But detectives on Strike Force Jaylang - which was set up to investigate the circumstances of the toddler's disappearance - said AJ's injuries and condition when he was found were all consistent with him being in the bush the entire time. Police have worked with bush survival experts to develop a full picture of AJ's time away from home - and they suggest his autism actually largely helped him maintain a calm state of mind. “The reality is he didn't know he was lost… so he wasn't scared, he didn't panic,” an investigator said. “If he was tired, he slept... he had access to water, which is a big thing for survival in the bush.” The toddler ate ravenously when rescued When AJ was rescued and loaded into a waiting ambulance, paramedics said he ravenously ate an entire pizza and “guzzled” water - typical traits of someone who hasn't eaten for days. “He was starving... it's all consistent with him being in the bush the entire time,” a paramedic said. The Child Mind Institute says children with autism often have 'a weaker sense of danger' than others and enjoy exploration. They're also more likely to 'wander off' or look to remove themselves from overwhelming sensory experiences. Epic family party to celebrate his rescue With AJ safe and sound - back in the arms of his mother - his family hosted an epic party to celebrate. The local store was cleared out of all booze in stock, a cow was freshly slaughtered and carved up for a BBQ and the music blared. Grey Gums Cafe owner Kim Grace watched on as all the alcohol she had left in stock - about $700 worth - was packed into a ute and taken back to the Elfalek's property. In the back seat was a freshly slaughtered sheep, which was being taken back to AJ's godfather Alan Hashem, who is renowned for his 'famous' lamb. Meanwhile back at the farm, two freshly-killed cows were already on the barbecue and AJ's elated dad had extended an invitation to the party to anybody back in locked-down Sydney who was prepared to make the journey. “See that hill back there,” he told media at his home. “There's going to be a big party on that hill. Anybody who wants to come on down from Sydney is welcome.” Celebrations were well underway on Tuesday afternoon at the Yengo Drive property in Putty - and the party lasted into the night. AJ returned from Maitland Hospital later that evening AJ and his mother returned home from Maitland Hospital later that night - telling the guests party time was over because the toddler needed to sleep. AJ, meanwhile, watched on from the safety of his home, clinging to his mother. Relatives say he is yet to leave her side. A professional tracker has been brought in to help The Elfalak family is relying on the opinion of a professional bush tracker to help them understand how the toddler spent three nights alone in the unforgiving terrain behind their home. Professional tracker Jake Cassar has been at the family home for some time, AJ was found sitting in a shallow, muddy creek at the base of what appeared to be a barely visible path, but the question remains as to how he made it down such a steep track safely. Cassar explained it was very possible that, even with hundreds of volunteers, little AJ avoided detection while in the bush. He said search parties tended to stay in straight lines and follow a near perfect trajectory from point A to point B, whereas somebody who is lost intuitively does the opposite. “When we're lost, we almost always walk at a slight curve to the right or left, therefore it's easy to travel in directions that might be missed by search parties,” Cassar said. He hoped to provide the family some further guidance as to whether AJ likely wandered off on his own or was abducted, which is what the family initially believed. Image: NSW Police

Family & Pets

“I’m in shock”: Olympian stuns the world with “impossible” run

Norway’s Karsten Warholm has had an incredible run by smashing his own “impossible” world record, taking the gold in the men's 400m hurdles. Warholm clocked in at a remarkable 45.94 seconds. He beat his previous world best of 46.70sec. <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7842812/norway-world-record-2.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/4a6da1c59057416f9b46990d2d57993b" /> Image: Supplied He went head to head with American Rai Benjamin, who came under the previous world record mark and won silver. Brazil’s Alison Dos Santos claimed bronze in 46.72. Warholm’s feat is something never-before-seen, as only four runners in history have ever clocked sub-47sec times, let alone sub-46. Seven of the eight runners also recorded their personal best times. The race was one that came down to the final 20m. As Warholm’s world record time flashed on the big screen, he roared and ripped open his shirt. <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7842813/norway-world-record.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/60445dd9738a4b799bc26111795783a6" /> Image: Getty Aussie icon and commentator Bruce McAvaney, described the win as one of the most iconic performances ever seen at the Olympics. He said it competed with Usain Bolt's 9.63sec 100m run at the London Olympics. "It will go down as the greatest 400m hurdles ever run and arguably the greatest race we have seen at an Olympic Games. What a contest," McAvaney said. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Karsten Warholm's 45.95 in the 400-meter hurdles took .75 of a second off of the world record. To take that much off of the WR in an event human beings have been running for 120+ years should not be possible. It should not be possible! — Jonathan Gault (@jgault13) <a href="https://twitter.com/jgault13/status/1422399636698923010?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 3, 2021</a></blockquote> Former Aussie athletics star Tamsyn Manou said the shock of the race left her speechless. "I'm in shock. Bruce, I'm in shock. I cannot believe for the men's 400m hurdles there is a 45 second run," she said. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Ppl, I don’t think you realize what you just watched. A man just ran Sub 46 in the 400M Hurdles. That’s Beamon’s jump in Mexico City, Bolt’s sub 9.6 in 100 meters. I saw Kevin Young run 46.78 in Barcelona, still can’t believe Warholm ran that fast. Geeeeezzz — shannon sharpe (@ShannonSharpe) <a href="https://twitter.com/ShannonSharpe/status/1422400410812252165?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 3, 2021</a></blockquote> "We've taken this event to a place where I don't think anybody (expected). "Everybody was talking about a world record, but I don't think anybody would have said it will be won in sub-46 seconds." American sports commentator Tom Harrington said: "That 400 meters hurdles was the greatest in history". Image: Getty

News

5 gripping memoirs by women who overcame the impossible

<h2>1. Wild by Cheryl Strayed</h2> Readers fell in love with Cheryl Strayed’s lovely and lyrical prose in this best-seller about finding healing when you’re out on your own – like really on your own. Strayed’s best-seller recounts her months on a solo hike on the Pacific Northwest Trail from Montana to the Pacific Ocean. She comes to terms with a past filled with the wrong men and other choices she’d rather forget. Most of all, her epic hike allows her the time and space to grieve the loss of her beloved mother who passed way too young. A nature trail provides the path for what becomes an incredible journey. <a href="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/true-stories-lifestyle/book-club/10-best-romance-novels-all-time">You’ll also love these novels featuring strong fictional female characters</a>. <h2>2. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou</h2> This is the book that launched Maya Angelou’s astonishing literary career. Her gorgeous memoir debuted in 1969 and captured the experience of growing up as a young Black girl in the South. Angelou’s poetic language expertly portrays details and events that are riveting and powerful. Though the book chronicles pain, it’s also about strength and resilience in the face of trauma. The book is a truly inspirational force about self-love and finding your intrinsic courage. <h2>3. The Girl Who Smiled Beads by Clemantine Wamariya</h2> In this powerful memoir, subtitled “A Story of War and What Comes After,” Wamariya writes about fleeing the Rwandan genocide as a young child, travelling through multiple African countries with her sister as refugees, and eventually ending up in the United States. Her circumstances do a complete 180 as she ends up being taken in by an affluent family and attending Yale. In this New York Times bestseller, she tries to reconcile the vastly different experiences of her life. <h2>4. The Liar’s Club by Mary Karr</h2> Mary Karr’s funny and moving memoir about a tough childhood was hugely successful when it debuted in 1995. Readers connected with Karr’s witty and masterful storytelling about life in a volatile Texas family. She writes about drama and dysfunction with a poignant eye that captures details that will stay with you long after you’ve finished. It’s a story of a child’s resilience in the midst of alcoholism, mental illness, and other assorted chaos. <a href="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/uncategorized/25-bestselling-books-of-the-decade">Here are 25 bestselling books everyone should read</a>. <h2>5. The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion</h2> Joan Didion and John Gregory Dunne were a happily married literary power couple. Then suddenly, within a period of a few days, the famed writer lost her husband to a heart attack while her daughter was gravely ill with a sudden infection. Didion’s beautiful and acclaimed memoir records the year after these events during which her daughter continues a long and difficult recovery. Didion takes us through the heartbreak and shock of loss and love in this meditation on surviving grief. Sadly, Didion’s daughter passed after the book’s completion — the tragedy she chronicles in the companion book, Blue Nights. <a href="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/true-stories-lifestyle/ten-inspirational-quotes-worlds-strongest-women">Here are 10 inspirational quotes from strong women</a>. Written by Molly Pennington. This article first appeared in <a href="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/book-club/15-gripping-memoirs-by-women-who-overcame-the-impossible">Reader’s Digest</a>. For more of what you love from the world’s best-loved magazine, <a href="http://readersdigest.innovations.com.au/c/readersdigestemailsubscribe?utm_source=over60&utm_medium=articles&utm_campaign=RDSUB&keycode=WRA93V">here’s our best subscription offer.</a>

Books

“You’re f***ing gone”: Furious Tom Cruise lashes out on set of Mission Impossible

Furious Tom Cruise has ripped into workers who broke COVID rules on the set of Mission: Impossible, screaming: “If I see you doing it again, you’re f***ing gone.” The Hollywood superstar has gone the extra mile to make sure tight social-distancing rules were being implemented during the filming, which is taking place in Britain. And after coming across two of the crew members standing within two metres of each other, he quickly flew into a rage. The Sun published the audio recording, which heard Cruise shouting: “If I see you do it again, you’re f***ing gone. And if anyone in this crew does it, that’s it — and you too and you too. And you, don’t you ever f***ing do it again.” 50 staff members at Warner Bros. Studios in Leavesden, Herts, were left shocked by the angry outburst. The 58-year-old was furious that his efforts to keep filming going during a pandemic could be at risk. He went on: “They’re back there in Hollywood making movies right now because of us. “We are creating thousands of jobs, you motherf***ers. “That’s it. No apologies. You can tell it to the people that are losing their f***ing homes because our industry is shut down. “ “We are not shutting this f***ing movie down. Is it understood? If I see it again, you’re f***ing gone.” A source said: “Tom has taken it upon himself, along with the health and safety department, to try to force the safety precautions, with a view to keeping the film running. “He does daily rounds to make sure that everything is set up appropriately, that people are behaving and working as safely as they can. He is very proactive when it comes to safety.” They added: “Everyone was wearing masks. It was purely that these people were standing under a metre away from each other. “It isn’t known whether he saw those guys breaking the rules before or whether this was the straw that broke the camel’s back. “People make mistakes and they slip up, but Tom is just on it.” Tom’s rant, in full: “We want the gold standard. They’re back there in Hollywood making movies right now because of us! Because they believe in us and what we’re doing! I’m on the phone with every f***ing studio at night, insurance companies, producers, and they’re looking at us and using us to make their movies. We are creating thousands of jobs you motherf***ers. I don’t ever want to see it again, ever! And if you don’t do it you’re fired, if I see you do it again you’re f***ing gone. And if anyone in this crew does it – that’s it, and you too and you too. And you, don’t you ever f***ing do it again. That’s it! No apologies. You can tell it to the people that are losing their f***ing homes because our industry is shut down. It’s not going to put food on their table or pay for their college education. That’s what I sleep with every night. The future of this f***ing industry! So I’m sorry I am beyond your apologies. I have told you and now I want it and if you don’t do it you’re out. We are not shutting this f***ing movie down! Is it understood? If I see it again you’re f***ing gone — and you are — so you’re going to cost him his job, if I see it on the set you’re gone and you’re gone. That’s it. Am I clear? Do you understand what I want? Do you understand the responsibility that you have? Because I will deal with your reason. And if you can’t be reasonable and I can’t deal with your logic, you’re fired. That’s it. That is it. I trust you guys to be here. That’s it. That’s it guys. Have a little think about it …[inaudible]. That’s what I think of Universal and Paramount. Warner Brothers. Movies are going because of us. If we shut down it’s going to cost people f***ing jobs, their home, their family. That’s what’s happening. All the way down the line. And I care about you guys, but if you’re not going to help me you’re gone. OK? Do you see that stick? How many metres is that? When people are standing around a f***ing computer and hanging out around here, what are you doing? And if they don’t comply then send their names to Matt Spooner. That’s it.”

Movies

20 rebus puzzles that are almost impossible to solve

Test your smarts with these rebus puzzles Rebus puzzles, also known as word picture puzzles or picture riddles, use images or words to convey a phrase or message, typically a common idiom or expression. To help you solve them, make sure to look at word placement, size, colour and quantity. Take your time and don’t give up. These can be pretty tricky. To help you get your brain on the right track, take a look at the most frequently used idioms in the English language. Rebus puzzle #1 We’ll start off with a simple rebus puzzle. Can you guess this one? Answer: Green with envy. Rebus puzzle #2 Can you solve this puzzle? Hint: Focus on the word here. Answer: Split pea soup. Try these 21 brain games guaranteed to boost your brain power. Rebus puzzle #3 This is one of the rebus puzzles where you need to focus on the placement – and number – of numbers. Answer: For once in my life. Rebus puzzle #4 Tilt your head to solve this rebus puzzle. Answer: What goes up must come down. See how you fare with these 19 trivia questions only geniuses get right. Rebus puzzle #5 How fast can you solve this tricky rebus puzzle? Make sure to take note of the placement of the words. Answer: Overseas travel. Wrack your brain with these mind-bending logic puzzles. Rebus puzzle #6 You might think this rebus puzzle has something to do with wine, but think again. Answer: Win with ease. Rebus puzzle #7 Hint: Think of different types of house layouts. Answer: Split level. Here are 5 more puzzles sure to get you thinking. Rebus puzzle #8 The answer isn’t “try to stand.” If that’s what you thought, keep guessing. Answer: Try to understand. This puzzle was dubbed the hardest ever by a university professor. Can you solve it? Rebus puzzle #9 Clear your brain and think hard about this rebus puzzle. Can you solve it? Answer: Summer (sum R). Rebus puzzle #10 We’ll give you a hint to solve this rebus puzzle. What words start with “meta”? Answer: Metaphor. Rebus puzzle #11 Hmm, what do those numbers mean? Answer: Safety in numbers. Rebus puzzle #12 First, rearrange the letters to make a real word. Answer: Trail mix. Rebus puzzle #13 We’ll throw in one of the easier rebus puzzles to give your brain a rest. (The colour here matters.) Answer: Greenhouse. Rebus puzzle #14 Can you figure out why the word “cover” appears four times and the word “head” only appears once? Answer: Head for cover. Rebus puzzle #15 This one is tricky. What words do you see? Answer: Go up in smoke. Rebus puzzle #16 This rebus puzzle represents an idiom you might use when you’re happy. Answer: Sitting on top of the world. Rebus puzzle #17 Notice the shape of this rebus puzzle to help you solve it. Answer: Street corner. Rebus puzzle #18 Can you decode this one? Answer: In between jobs. Rebus puzzle #19 Rebus puzzles aren’t easy. If you’ve solved every one so far, that’s super impressive. Answer: Up for grabs. Rebus puzzle #20 How many of these rebus puzzles did you get right? Guess this last one and finish strong. Answer: Forgive and forget. Written by Morgan Cutolo. This article first appeared on <a href="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/true-stories-lifestyle/thought-provoking/20-rebus-puzzles-that-are-almost-impossible-to-solve?pages=1">Reader’s Digest</a>. For more of what you love from the world’s best-loved magazine, <a href="http://readersdigest.com.au/subscribe">here’s our best subscription offer</a>. Written by Morgan Cutolo. This article first appeared on <a href="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/culture/see-the-last-photos-ever-taken-of-nelson-mandela">Reader’s Digest</a>. For more of what you love from the world’s best-loved magazine, <a href="http://readersdigest.com.au/subscribe">here’s our best subscription offer</a>.

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