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Bing Crosby’s vacation home hits the market

<p dir="ltr">A midcentury estate once owned by American jazz singer Bing Crosby has<span> </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.realtor.com/news/celebrity-real-estate/bing-crosby-former-rancho-mirage-estate-back-on-market-again/" target="_blank">returned</a><span> </span>to the market for $USD 4.5 million ($AUD 6.22 million).</p> <p dir="ltr">The Rancho Mirage home, known as the Bing Crosby Estate, was first listed for $USD 5 million ($AUD 6.91 million) in 2018, before the price dropped twice in 2019: first by $405 million, then by another nearly $1.1 million.</p> <p dir="ltr">However, the price cuts failed to entice a buyer, and the property has returned to the market at a higher price and with new representation by David Emerson and Alexandra Trejo of realtor<span> </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.compass.com/listing/70375-calico-road-rancho-mirage-ca-92270/946468495298185833/" target="_blank">Compass</a>.</p> <p dir="ltr">The home was last sold in 2005 for $USD 2,625,000.</p> <p dir="ltr">Located in the gated Thunderbird Heights neighbourhood in California, the single-level, midcentury home was built in 1957 with a Moroccan theme, glass walls, a pool, and gardens sprawled across 1.36 acres.</p> <p dir="ltr">The home was said to entertain A-list guests including John F. Kennedy, and the guest quarters have been renamed the JFK Wing in his honour.</p> <p dir="ltr">Other features include a billiard room, a home theatre, multiple fireplaces, and an outdoor entertaining and dining area with its own outdoor kitchen.</p> <p dir="ltr">The<span> </span><em>White Christmas</em><span> </span>singer first lived in the home - one of many he owned in California - with his wife, actress Kathryn Crosby, and their three children in 1963.</p> <p dir="ltr">The family lived at the home until Crosby’s death in 1977 at the age of 74, when Kathryn and their children moved to a larger home nearby.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Getty Images, Compass</em></p>

Real Estate

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Are you binge-watching too much? How to know if your TV habits are a problem – and what to do about it

<p>The term “binge-watch” was a contender for the Oxford English Dictionary’s 2013 word of the year. Although it didn’t win (“selfie” ultimately <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2013/11/18/5120390/selfie-is-the-2013-oxford-dictionaries-word-of-the-year">took the crown</a>), this pointed to the rise of what was becoming a popular activity of watching multiple episodes of a TV show in a single sitting.</p> <p>Today, millions of us – including me – regularly consume our favourite series in this way. The proliferation of streaming services over recent years has made it very easy to do. Unsurprisingly, during COVID lockdowns, <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0165178120313020?via%3Dihub">research shows</a> many of us spent more time binge-watching than usual.</p> <p>But can binge-watching become problematic or addictive? And if you can’t tear yourself away, what can you do?</p> <p>Problematic binge-watching isn’t defined by the number of episodes watched (although most researchers agree it’s at least two in a row), or a specific number of hours spent in front of the TV or computer screen. As with other addictive behaviours, more important is whether binge-watching is having a negative impact on other aspects of the person’s life.</p> <p>Over many years studying addiction, I’ve argued that all addictive behaviours comprise <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/14659890500114359">six core components</a>. In relation to binge-watching, this would mean:</p> <ol> <li> <p>Binge-watching is the most important thing in the person’s life (salience)</p> </li> <li> <p>The person engages in binge-watching as a way of reliably changing their mood: to feel better in the short-term or to temporarily escape from something negative in their life (mood modification)</p> </li> <li> <p>Binge-watching compromises key aspects of the person’s life like relationships and education or work (conflict)</p> </li> <li> <p>The number of hours the person spends binge-watching each day has increased significantly over time (tolerance)</p> </li> <li> <p>The person experiences psychological and/or physiological withdrawal symptoms if they’re unable to binge-watch (withdrawal)</p> </li> <li> <p>If the person manages to temporarily stop binge-watching, when they engage in the activity again, they go straight back into the cycle they were in previously (relapse).</p> </li> </ol> <p>In my view, any person who fulfils these six components would be genuinely addicted to binge-watching. A person who only fulfils some of these may be exhibiting problematic binge-watching, but wouldn’t be classed as addicted by my criteria.</p> <p>Like many other behavioural addictions, such as sex addiction, work addiction and exercise addiction, binge-watching addiction is not officially recognised in any psychiatric manuals. We also don’t have accurate estimates of the prevalence of problematic binge-watching. But research into this phenomenon is growing.</p> <h2>A look at the evidence</h2> <p>In the <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2021.743870/full">latest study</a> on this topic, a research team in Poland surveyed 645 young adults, all of whom reported that they had watched at least two episodes of one show in a single sitting. The researchers wanted to understand some of the factors underlying problematic binge-watching.</p> <p>The authors (who based their definition of problematic binge-watching partly on my <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/14659890500114359">components model of addiction</a>) used a questionnaire they developed in an <a href="https://www.termedia.pl/Characteristics-of-people-s-binge-watching-behavior-in-the-entering-into-early-adulthood-period-of-life,74,35865,0,1.html">earlier study</a> to assess problematic binge-watching among participants. Questions included: “How often do you neglect your duties in favour of watching series?” “How often do you feel sad or irritated when you can’t watch the TV series?” and “How often do you neglect your sleep to binge-watch series?”</p> <p>Participants had to give answers on a six-point scale from one (never) to six (always). A score above a certain threshold was deemed indicative of problematic binge-watching.</p> <p>Using a range of other scales, the researchers found that impulse control difficulties, lack of premeditation (difficulties in planning and evaluating the consequences of a given behaviour), watching to escape and forget about problems, and watching to avoid feeling lonely were among the most significant predictors of problematic binge-watching.</p> <p>Using the same data, the researchers reported in an <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.689944/full">earlier study</a> that problematic binge-watching had a significant association with anxiety-depressive syndrome. The greater the symptoms of anxiety and depression, the more problematic a person’s binge-watching was.</p> <p><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/435590/original/file-20211203-23-1o4rtql.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt="A man on his laptop, appears to be watching something." /> <span class="caption">There is a growing body of evidence about the psychology of binge-watching.</span> <span class="attribution"><a href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/handsome-young-bald-black-man-glasses-1789219070" class="source">Dragon Images/Shutterstock</a></span></p> <p>Other studies have reported <a href="https://www.mediawatchjournal.in/new-era-of-tv-watching-behavior-binge-watching-and-its-psychological-effects-2/">similar findings</a>. A study of <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/3/1168">Taiwanese adults</a>, for example, found problematic binge-watching was associated with depression, anxiety around social interaction and loneliness.</p> <p>An <a href="https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/honors-theses/98/">American study</a> found the behaviour was associated with depression and attachment anxiety. Most related studies – like <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1354856519890856">this one</a> from Portugal – have also shown escapism to be a key motivation of problematic binge-watching.</p> <p>In terms of personality traits, <a href="https://akjournals.com/view/journals/2006/6/4/article-p472.xml">research</a> has shown that problematic binge-watching appears to be associated with low conscientiousness (characterised by being impulsive, careless and disorganised) and high neuroticism (characterised by being anxious and prone to negative emotions). We see these types of associations in addictive behaviours more generally.</p> <h2>Breaking the habit</h2> <p>If you want to cut down on the number of episodes you watch in one sitting, my golden rule is to stop watching mid-way through an episode. It’s really hard to stop watching at the end of an episode as so often the show ends with a cliff-hanger.</p> <p>I also suggest setting realistic daily limits. For me, it’s 2.5 hours if I have work the next day, or up to five hours if I don’t. And only start watching as a reward to yourself after you’ve done everything you need to in terms of work and social obligations.</p> <p>Remember, the difference between a healthy enthusiasm and an addiction is that the former adds to your life, whereas the latter detracts from it. If you feel binge-watching is taking over your life, you should seek a referral from your GP to see a clinical psychologist. Most addictions are symptomatic of other underlying problems.<!-- Below is The Conversation's page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --><img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important; text-shadow: none !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/172817/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /><!-- End of code. If you don't see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https://theconversation.com/republishing-guidelines --></p> <p><span><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/mark-griffiths-116704">Mark Griffiths</a>, Director of the International Gaming Research Unit and Professor of Behavioural Addiction, <em><a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/nottingham-trent-university-1338">Nottingham Trent University</a></em></span></p> <p>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/are-you-binge-watching-too-much-how-to-know-if-your-tv-habits-are-a-problem-and-what-to-do-about-it-172817">original article</a>.</p> <p><em>Image: SeventyFour/Shutterstock</em></p>

TV

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Mother and boyfriend “binge-watched” Netflix as 3-year-old died in hot car

<p>The mother of a three-year-old girl who was found dead after allegedly being left in a hot car during scorching temperatures has been released on bail.</p> <p>Laura Rose Peverill, 37, and her boyfriend of three months Aaron Hill, 29, both applied for bail at Townsville Magistrates Court on Monday following the death of Rylee Rose Black on Friday afternoon.</p> <p>The pair have been charged with the manslaughter of the toddler.</p> <p>Little Rylee was found unconscious in the backseat of her mother’s white Toyota Landcruiser Prado outside of their Burdell home.</p> <p>The young girl had allegedly been left in the locked vehicle for over five hours after she fell asleep on the morning school run.</p> <p><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7839007/rose-reykee.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/a81f0f630fa24c0f9831d0bb438b8cc7" /></p> <p>The court heard the couple had been inside the home binge-watching Shameless on Netflix while temperatures soared outside.</p> <p>Just before 3pm, Peverill allegedly realised Rylee had been in her booster and attempted CPR before taking her to Townsville University Hospital.</p> <p>However, it was simply just too late.</p> <p>Detective Senior Sergeant David Miles told reporters<span> </span>“Unfortunately (this was) a very preventable and unfortunate tragedy.”</p> <p>Peverill and Hill are expected to appear again in Townsville Magistrates Court on February 23.</p> <p>Rylee’s older three siblings are in the care of their biological father.</p> <p>Queensland Police on Monday have issued an appeal for anyone with dashcam footage to come forward to aid police in refining the timeline as they investigate the death.</p> <p>“It’s just a matter of us knowing that’s where the vehicle was, from our investigations, at different points during the day,” Miles said.</p>

Legal

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Bingeing Netflix under lockdown? Here’s why streaming comes at a cost to the environment

<p>Coronavirus lockdowns have led to a <a href="https://www.csiro.au/en/News/News-releases/2020/COVID-19-puts-brakes-on-global-emissions">massive reduction</a> in global emissions, but there’s one area where energy usage is up – way up – during the pandemic: <a href="https://which-50.com/an-extraordinary-period-in-internet-history-akamai-data-shows-30-per-cent-surge-in-internet-traffic/">internet traffic</a>.</p> <p>Data-intensive <a href="https://www.streamingmediablog.com/2020/04/cdn-traffic-update.html">video streaming</a>, <a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/gaming-usage-up-75-percent-coronavirus-outbreak-verizon-reports-1285140">gaming</a> and <a href="https://blog.zoom.us/wordpress/2020/04/01/a-message-to-our-users/">livestreaming</a> for business, university and school classes, is <a href="https://theshiftproject.org/en/lean-ict-2/">chewing up energy</a>.</p> <p>Estimates can be <a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/factcheck-what-is-the-carbon-footprint-of-streaming-video-on-netflix">notoriously difficult</a> and depend on the electricity source, but six hours of streaming video may be the equivalent of burning one litre of petrol, due to emissions from the electricity used to power the <a href="https://theconversation.com/wheres-your-data-its-not-actually-in-the-cloud-its-sitting-in-a-data-centre-64168">data centres</a> which deliver the video.</p> <p>In fact, the energy associated with the global IT sector – from powering internet servers to charging smartphones – is estimated to have the <a href="https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/08/160811090046.htm">same carbon footprint</a> as the <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-018-06610-y">aviation industry’s fuel emissions</a> (before planes were grounded).</p> <p>But Australia is a global leader in research to lower the energy used in IT, which is vital for meeting the streaming demand without the environmental cost.</p> <p><strong>Where does the data come from?</strong></p> <p>Video requires huge amounts of data, and accounts for around <a href="https://theshiftproject.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/2019-02.pdf">80% of the data</a> transmitted on the internet. Much of the energy needed for streaming services is consumed by data centres, which deliver data to your computer or device. Increasingly housed in vast factory-sized buildings, these servers store, process and distribute internet traffic.</p> <p>Research in 2015 found data centres may consume as much as <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/2078-1547/6/1/117">13% of the world’s electricity by 2030</a>, accounting for about 6% of global carbon dioxide emissions. And the European Commission-funded Eureca project <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/major-milestone-driving-energy-efficiency-data-rabih-bashroush/">found</a> data centres in EU countries consumed 25% more energy in 2017 compared with 2014.</p> <p>Imagine what those figures will look like at the end of this year of home-bound internet use.</p> <p><strong>Meeting demands with Moore’s law</strong></p> <p>The growth in IT is often taken for granted. In contrast to the old days of dial-up internet, we now demand a three-hour movie, in high definition, to download immediately. We want phones that can take video like a pro.</p> <p>None of this is free. Nor is it sustainable. Every year the number of computations, or transmission of information through space, done globally, <a href="https://science.sciencemag.org/content/332/6025/60">increases by 60%</a>, according to 2011 research.</p> <p>All this computation uses “transistors”. These are tiny switches that amplify electrical signals, and are made using silicon-based technology.</p> <p>For the past 40 years, our ever-increasing need for more computing was largely satisfied by incremental improvements in silicon-based computing technology – ever-smaller, ever-faster, ever-more efficient chips. We refer to this constant shrinking of silicon components as “Moore’s law”.</p> <p>For example, since the late 1970s the length of transistors reduces by about 30%, and the area by about 50%, every two years. This shrinks the energy used in switching on and off each transistor by about 50%, which is better for the environment.</p> <p>While each transistor uses only a tiny amount of energy, there are billions of transistors in a typical computer chip, each switching billions of time per second. This can add up to a vast amount of energy.</p> <p><strong>We need better chips</strong></p> <p>Recently it has become much <a href="https://www.sciencefocus.com/future-technology/when-the-chips-are-down/">harder</a> (and much more <a href="https://www.economist.com/news/2013/11/18/no-moore">expensive</a>) to pursue such trends, and the number of companies pursuing smaller components is dropping off rapidly.</p> <p>Globally, four companies manufactured chips with 14 nanometre (nm) transistors in 2014, but in recent years they’ve struggled to continue shrinking the size of silicon transistors. Global Foundries dropped out of this race altogether in <a href="https://www.anandtech.com/show/13277/globalfoundries-stops-all-7nm-development">2018</a>, and Intel experienced enormous <a href="https://www.anandtech.com/show/15580/intel-cfo-our-10nm-will-be-less-profitable-than-22nm">problems</a> with manufacturing at 10 nm. That leaves only two companies (Samsung and TSMC) making 7 nm transistors today.</p> <p>So the answer isn’t to switch off Netflix. The answer is to create <a href="https://www.technologyreview.com/2020/02/24/905789/were-not-prepared-for-the-end-of-moores-law/">better computer chips</a>.</p> <p>But we’ve got everything we can out of silicon, so we need to use something else. If we want computing to continue to grow, we need new, energy-efficient computers.</p> <p><strong>Australia is a leader in low-energy solutions</strong></p> <p>Australia is leading the world in this new field to replace conventional electronics. The ARC Centre of Excellence in Future Low-Energy Electronics Technologies (<a href="http://www.fleet.org.au/">FLEET</a>) was established in 2017 to address exactly this challenge.</p> <p>Michael Fuhrer explains topological materials and why they might change the world.</p> <p>Last year scientists at FLEET published research in Nature <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-018-0788-5">revealing</a> the discovery that the “topological” material sodium-bismuthide could be the key to achieving ultra-low energy electronics.</p> <p>These so-called topological insulators, which led to a <a href="https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/physics/2016/summary/">2016 Nobel Prize in Physics</a>, conduct electricity only along their edges, and in one direction, without loss of energy due to resistance.</p> <p>This discovery is a first step towards the development of a low-energy replacement for conventional silicon-based electronics.</p> <p>Other top research centres in Australia are addressing different parts of this challenge. For example, <a href="https://tmos.org.au/">one centre</a> is working to reduce the energy used in ubiquitous communication of digital data. Another two are taking a different tack, developing an entirely new <a href="https://www.technologyreview.com/2019/01/29/66141/what-is-quantum-computing/">quantum technology for computing</a> which promises to enormously speed up, and improve the efficiency of, certain difficult computing tasks.</p> <p>Quantum computing expert Michelle Simmons explains why this research is so important.</p> <p>Other countries are equally focused on developing alternatives to the unsustainable need for better and faster electronics, since we cannot sustain the energy needed for these existing and future technologies.</p> <p>All of these technologies are still confined to specialised laboratories and are probably at least a decade away from finding their way into everyday devices. But we don’t expect the demand for computing to go away, and the energy problem in IT will only become more urgent.</p> <p><em>Written by Michael Fuhrer and Errol Hunt. Republished with permission of <a href="https://theconversation.com/bingeing-netflix-under-lockdown-heres-why-streaming-comes-at-a-cost-to-the-environment-143190">The Conversation.</a> </em></p>

Movies

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Lockdown dangers: Young man dies of blood clot after video game binge

<p>A father has warned parents and young people to stay active during the coronavirus lockdown after his 24-year-old son died from deep vein thrombosis (DVT).</p> <p>In a post on Facebook, Stanley Greening, 56, <span>from Bedfordshire, in the UK</span> told friends about the death of his son Louis O’Neill in early June.</p> <p>“On 3rd June something so awful happened, the worst imaginable thing to happen to such a young man and the worst imaginable thing to happen to a parent,” he wrote.</p> <p>“My son, my dear boy, Louis, has gone. Not from the evil virus but because of it. His young life, barely begun, still trying to find his feet, just torn away.”</p> <p>Louis had been furloughed from his job as a soccer coach at Centre Parcs since mid-March, when the UK COVID-19 lockdown was first imposed.</p> <p>The young man then took to online gaming with friends to pass time, Stanley said.</p> <p>“Caught up in a virtual world he became less active, so easily done. Hours fly by when absorbed by the screen, I’ve done it countless times myself,” Stanley said.</p> <p>Two weeks before his death, Louis complained about a pain in his leg. He called emergency responders, who told him it could be food poisoning.</p> <p>“But no one, and I mean no one, ever in a million years would have predicted a blood clot,” Stanley said.</p> <p>“Who is warning youngsters? Who is warning anyone, of any age? No one!! So I am. My son will live on, I shall continue to spread this warning in his name.”</p> <p>Stanley said conversations with medical professionals revealed that cases of DVT in young people have been rising since the lockdown began.</p> <p>DVT is a blood clot that occurs in a deep vein, most commonly in the leg. Some of the risk factors associated with DVT include obesity, pregnancy, smoking, and certain medications as well as long periods of inactivity.</p> <p>“As more and more of us are working from home it is likely you are not getting out your chair as much as you need. Stand up, walk around, and please, warn your kids,” Stanley said.</p>

Body

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Liz and Damian Hurley break their silence on Steve Bing's confirmed suicide

<p><span>Liz Hurley has shared a heartfelt message about her ex-partner, Steve Bing, who was found dead in Los Angeles at just 55-years-old.</span><br /><br /><span>Bing, who made his mark as a filmmaker, was best known for his work on movies including Kangaroo Jack, which he co-wrote, and for financing films including The Polar Express, starring Tom Hanks.</span><br /><br /><span>He was the father of Hurley’s 18-year-old son Damien after the pair dated for 18 months in 2000 and 2001.</span><br /><br /><span>Sharing a gallery of pictures of them when they were a pair, she said she will remember her ex-partner as a “sweet, kind man”.</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-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CBxghm9l1xU/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;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/CBxghm9l1xU/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Elizabeth Hurley (@elizabethhurley1)</a> on Jun 23, 2020 at 3:03am PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p><br /><span>“I am saddened beyond belief that my ex Steve is no longer with us. It is a terrible end,” she wrote.</span><br /><br /><span>“Our time together was very happy and I’m posting these pictures because although we went through some tough times, it’s the good, wonderful memories of a sweet, kind man that matter.</span><br /><br /><span>“In the past year we had become close again. We last spoke on our son’s 18th birthday. This is devastating news and I thank everyone for their lovely messages.”</span><br /><br /><span>Their son Damian also shared his own message.</span><br /><br /><span>He posted a snap of a sunset on Instagram and thanked everyone for their messages during a “very strange and confusing time.”</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-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CBxlAsAF5Fl/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;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/CBxlAsAF5Fl/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Damian Hurley (@damianhurley1)</a> on Jun 23, 2020 at 3:43am PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p><br /><span>“Thank you from the bottom of my heart to everyone that has reached out following the devastating news,” it read.</span><br /><br /><span>“I’m trying to reply to as many of you as I can, but please know I will always remember your kindness.</span><br /><br /><span>“This is a very strange and confusing time and I’m immensely grateful to be surrounded by my phenomenal family and friends.”</span><br /><br /><span>Former US president Bill Clinton also took to social media to share a few words about his friend.</span><br /><br /><span>“I loved Steve Bing very much. He had a big heart, and he was willing to do anything he could for the people and causes he believed in,” he said.</span><br /><br /><span>“I will miss him and his enthusiasm more than I can say, and I hope he’s finally found peace.”</span><br /><br /><span>The Los Angeles Police Department confirmed they were investigating the death of a man found in Century City.</span><br /><br /><span>The coroner said a man was pronounced dead at the scene at 1.10 pm local time on Monday.</span><br /><br /><span>Bing was destined for great things when he dropped out of Stanford at just 18, after inheriting a whopping US$600 million from his grandfather, Leo S Bing, who was a successful real estate developer.</span><br /><br /><span>His Hollywood career skyrocketed when he co-wrote the 2003 comedy Kangaroo Jack while reportedly investing $US80 million in the 2004 animated film The Polar Express.</span><br /><br /><span>Bing was the founder of Shangri-La Entertainment, an organisation which had interests in property, construction, entertainment and music.</span><br /><br /><span>His name is listed on the Giving Pledge website, a project launched in 2010 by Bill and Melinda Gates and Warren Buffett.</span><br /><br /><span>The pledge asks the super-rich to give away the majority of their wealth to philanthropy.</span></p>

Caring

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Liz Hurley's ex Steve Bing reportedly falls to his death

<p>Steve Bing, film producer and the father of Elizabeth Hurley’s 18-year-old son Damian, has died aged 55.</p> <p>Bing died after falling from the 27th floor of a Los Angeles building on Monday, according to law enforcement sources as quoted by <em>TMZ</em>.</p> <p>Reports in <em><a href="https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/06/23/steve-bing-hollywood-producer-reportedly-dead-suicide/">TMZ</a></em> said Bing had been suffering from depression.</p> <p>He is survived by his two children – Damian, whom he shares with Hurley, and Kira, born to tennis player Lisa Bonder.</p> <p>Bing co-wrote the 2003 comedy flick <em>Kangaroo Jack </em>and financed a number of other films, including <em>The Polar Express </em>and<em> Beowulf</em>. He was also credited as an executive producer for <em>Get Carter</em>, <em>Youth in Revolt</em> and <em>Rock the Kasbah</em>.</p> <p>He was the chairman of Shangri-La Entertainment, whose most recent credits include 2017 blockbuster <em>Kingsman: The Golden Circle</em>.</p> <p>Bing, a grandson of New York real estate mogul Leo S Bing and a close friend of Bill Clinton, pledged a $30 million legacy gift to the Motion Picture &amp; Television Fund in 2012.</p> <p>Bing and Hurley welcomed Damian on April 4, 2002 after their split. In July 2019, a judge ruled Damian and Kira were both entitled to access their grandfather Dr Peter Bing’s trust after a trustee from his estate sought to exclude them.</p> <p><em><span>If you are experiencing a personal crisis or thinking about suicide, you can call Lifeline 131 114 or beyondblue 1300 224 636 or visit </span></em><span><a href="https://www.lifeline.org.au/"><em>lifeline.org.au</em></a><em> or </em><a href="https://www.beyondblue.org.au/get-support/national-help-lines-and-websites"><em>beyondblue.org.au</em></a><em>.</em></span></p>

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Left for dead: Twin babies perish while parents go on four-day drinking binge

<p>A couple in Russia have been charged with murder after going on a “four day lockdown drinking binge” and left their 16-week-old twins “all alone without food”.</p> <p>Their baby son was in a coma and died in hospital soon after the pair were found by their grandmother.</p> <p>The daughter is fighting for her life in a hospital in Russia’s Kamchatka region.</p> <p>Mother Margarita Yanayeca, 23, “lied” to her friends and said that her children were in hospital with coronavirus.</p> <p>Margarita and her partner Alexey, 35, left them locked at home all weekend while they partied over four days.</p> <p>Their son died from “starvation”, whereas his twin sister is incredibly weak in intensive care.</p> <p>“In the course of four days they were not feeding the children, and did not arrange alternative care for them,” said an investigation source.</p> <p>Instead they “subjected them to hunger, did not ensure hygiene, leaving the minors were in a socially dangerous state”.</p> <p>The children were found by a grandmother who was concerned that she could not reach the couple by phone.</p> <p>After finding the children, she immediately called the police.</p> <p>If the parents are convicted of murder, they face up to 20 years in jail. The pair also face charges over failing in their parental duties and subjecting their children to danger.</p> <p><em>Photo credits:<a rel="noopener" href="https://7news.com.au/lifestyle/parenting/twin-babies-left-to-die-while-russian-parents-go-on-four-day-drinking-binge-c-1087502" target="_blank"> 7News</a></em></p>

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How to minimise the Christmas binge

<p>The Christmas season can be a stressful time of the year for many, not to mention putting a big dent in our bank balances – and on our dietary health. I’m sure we’re all familiar with that feeling of being uncomfortably full by the evening of Christmas Day.</p> <p>For many, the holiday celebration will always be a day of excess to some degree, but it doesn’t have to be a time of absolute gluttony.</p> <p>Accepting that around Christmas your diet will probably have larger portion sizes and be a little unhealthier than usual is quite important, says Lisa Renn, accredited practising dietitian and spokesperson for the <span><a href="https://daa.asn.au/">Dietitians Association of Australia</a></span>.</p> <p>“Christmas is not the time of year to be perfect. Healthy eating is not perfect – it never has to be – and if you know that you’re allowed to have some extra treats, you’re probably less likely to overindulge,” says Renn.</p> <p>However, with the festive season now bulging at the seams as retailers try to extend it beyond just the big day itself, many people have several Christmas parties throughout December. This constant stream of events can lead many of us to let our guard down health-wise, as we get into the spirit of Christmas before it has even begun.</p> <p>With such events, portion control is very important, says Catherine Saxelby, accredited nutritionist from <a href="http://www.foodwatch.com.au/">Foodwatch</a>.</p> <p>“Don’t eat two restaurant-sized meals a day – a lot of people have a big Christmas lunch at work, and then go home and eat a full-cooked dinner there as well. Try just having a salad or a sandwich for dinner instead and you’ll probably feel just as full,” advises Saxelby.</p> <p>Nonetheless, for most of us it’s the 25th of December that is the hardest time of year to resist indulgence. Even one day of enormous excess can undo dieting work if you’re trying to lose weight.</p> <p>“If someone wasn’t exercising and was increasing food and alcohol consumption over the week of Christmas, they could probably expect an increase of three to five kilograms over that period,” according to Lisa Renn.</p> <p>One way to minimise this potential weight gain is to provide healthy options if you’re hosting an event, or to bring your own to share with others.</p> <p>While it’s important to have vegetables and salads to balance out the fatty foods, another healthy alternative is to swap out sausages, and bulky beef and pork for leaner protein choices such as seafood.</p> <p>Dessert is often where we tend to go overboard on Christmas, so it’s always a good idea to have smaller portions of heavy dishes like Christmas pudding. A fruit platter is also a popular choice, especially if it’s a hot day.</p> <p>Another easy way to eat healthier around Christmas is to avoid giving – or receiving – unhealthy food gifts like shortbread or chocolate. Instead, opt for a gourmet mustard, chutney or fancy salad dressing to encourage healthier eating.</p> <p>It’s also important to note that the excess of food available isn’t the only reason people overeat during the holiday season. While it is a time of joy and sharing, Christmas events can also be a difficult time for many – family tensions might be simmering below the surface at lunch, or it may be the first Christmas since a loved one has passed away.</p> <p>“It’s well recognised that there are other emotional triggers that can cause overeating, so if you’re aware of them, you can pull back and realise that food isn’t necessarily going to help,” says Saxelby.</p> <p><strong>Maintaining healthy eating goals beyond Christmas</strong></p> <p>A common trend around this time of year is for mass overindulgence at Christmas, followed by jumping straight into a difficult, almost ascetic diet as a New Year’s resolution.</p> <p>According to Lisa Renn, the key to maintaining healthy eating goals is to practise moderation rather than completely denying yourself. If you set yourself difficult rules to follow, you’re more likely to break them, which will make maintaining your health even more difficult.</p> <p>“This need for perfection in our diets drives rebellion, it drives overeating, and it drives an unhealthy relationship. Nobody’s perfect!” explains Renn.</p> <p>Instead, a good way to allow yourself some leeway when trying to eat healthy is to follow the 80:20 rule. That means that 80 per cent of your diet is focussed on healthy choices, and the other 20 per cent allows treats and unhealthier foods.</p> <p>“Healthy eating resolutions need to be SMART: small, measurable, achievable, realistic, and time-based. Remember that losing weight is difficult and takes time,” says Saxelby.</p> <p>How do you prevent yourself from over-indulging around Christmas? Share your tips with us in the comments below.</p> <p><em>Written by Jamie Feggans. Republished with permission of <span><a href="https://www.wyza.com.au/articles/health/how-to-minimise-the-christmas-binge.aspx">Wyza.com.au</a></span>.</em></p>

Body

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The unhealthy side effects of binge-watching TV

<p>Bingeing television has become the easiest way to indulge in a good show these days. With entire series available to stream or buy on DVD, it’s a habit that forms quickly. But several studies around the world have suggested that there are several unhealthy side effects of binge watching that may make you think twice before you settle in next time.</p> <p><strong>Pace yourself to enjoy yourself</strong></p> <p>Those who binge have been shown to have poorer recall for a show’s plot details than those who watch the show more slowly. <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28728618" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">A University of Melbourne study</span></strong></a> also revealed that bingers typically understand and enjoy a show less than those who consume weekly.</p> <p><strong>Bingers don’t sleep well</strong></p> <p>A <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28728618" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>study</strong></span></a> from the University of Michigan showed that those who binge watch television shows at night tend to have a poorer quality of sleep. It is posited that because the plots of binged shows are usually compelling, watching them for long stretches can excite the brain, making it more difficult to switch off. (The study calls this “increased cognitive arousal”, which is fun to say.) <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28728618)"><br /></a></p> <p><strong>Bingeing could signal deeper problems</strong></p> <p>A <a href="https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/01/150129094341.htm" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>study</strong> </span></a>out of the University of Texas showed that people who reported feeling lonely or feelings of depression were much more likely to binge watch television as a way to pseudo-medicate themselves. While binge watching might not cause these symptoms, it’s a good indicator to look out for in yourself or those you love.</p> <p><strong>Bingeing could affect your ability to walk</strong></p> <p>A <a href="https://academic.oup.com/biomedgerontology/article-abstract/doi/10.1093/gerona/glx122/4056501/The-Joint-Associations-of-Sedentary-Time-and" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>study</strong></span></a> from earlier this year revealed that older adults who watched television for significant stretches of time were much more likely to have difficulty walking at the end of a 10-year period.</p> <p><strong>Despite the increasing smartness of television, binging makes you dumber</strong></p> <p>According to a 2016 <a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapsychiatry/fullarticle/2471270#Conclusions" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>study</strong></span></a>, people who watch television for more than three hours a day typically perform worse in cognitive tests, especially if bingers did not get much physical activity each day. <a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapsychiatry/fullarticle/2471270#Conclusions)"><br /></a></p> <p>Which show do you find is the easiest to accidentally binge? Let us know in the comments below. </p>

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5 shows you won’t be able to stop watching

<p>Feeling out of the loop? Not sure what shows people are talking about? There’s no better time for a serious binge on TV shows to catch yourself right up with all that's hot on the box right now.</p> <p>Here are our top picks for the most binge-worthy shows out there right now: </p> <p><strong>1. <em>Game of Thrones</em></strong></p> <p>If you've been living under a rock for the past six years, or since 1996 when George R. R. Martin's first book came out, you might have missed a little show called<em> Game of Thrones. </em></p> <p>We'll catch you up: a bunch of really attractive people, mostly permanently clad in black, want to sit on the Iron Throne - which is currently presided over by a scheming murderess who is in an incestuous relationship with her brother. It is the most illegally-downloaded and most expensive show on television right now – each episode of season six cost around $10 million to make. </p> <p>There are dragons, an imp, a three-eyed Raven, an army of White Walkers, and the promise of plenty of gruesome, bloody deaths. Winter is here. Make sure you are ready.</p> <p>Available to watch on Sky On Demand.</p> <p><strong>2. <em>The Handmaid's Tale</em></strong></p> <p>Chances are you've heard chatter recently about<em> The Handmaid's Tale. </em></p> <p>The show is set in Gilead, a dystopian, totalitarian society where, in a desperate attempt to repopulate a devastated world, the few remaining fertile women are forced to be sex slaves.</p> <p>Based on the best-selling 1985 novel by Margaret Atwood, this series is confronting, harrowing, and absolutely worth the watch.</p> <p>All nine episodes of <em>The Handmaid's Tale</em> can be watched on Lightbox.</p> <p><strong>3. <em>Ozark</em></strong></p> <p>Money-laundering, Mexican drug cartels, and an otherwise normal suburban family – <em>Ozark</em> is an eye-opener.</p> <p><em>​Ozark</em>, a relative new-comer among this list, has been touted as Netflix's answer to <em>Breaking Bad</em>. </p> <p>Marty Byrde, played by Jason Bateman, is a financial adviser who is forced to relocate his family to a summer resort community in the Ozarks after a money-laundering scheme goes wrong.</p> <p>Their safety is at stake after his business partner skimmed millions from the second-largest Mexican drug cartel. As the FBI close in, Marty must continue to launder millions in cartel cash. </p> <p><strong>4. <em>Suits</em></strong></p> <p>Now in its seventh season, <em>Suits</em> focuses on well-dressed lawyers and their poorly kept secrets.</p> <p>College-dropout Mike Ross gets a job working for big-wig lawyer Harvey Specter on the basis of being a Harvard law graduate. Spoiler alert: Mike never went to law school. </p> <p>The best thing about it? There's six whole seasons you can sink your teeth into on Netflix. Goodbye, weekend.</p> <p><strong>5. <em>Mindhunter </em></strong></p> <p>Addicted to true crime dramas? <em>Mindhunter</em> is set to become your new favourite show.</p> <p>If you loved sitting on the edge of your seat and chewing your fingernails down to nubs while watching <em>Making a Murderer</em> or <em>The Keepers</em>, an upcoming Netflix show is sure to satisfy your true-crime cravings. </p> <p>Directed by David Fincher, of <em>Fight Club, Se7en</em> and <em>Gone Girl</em> fame, <em>Mindhunter</em> is a serial killer thriller: getting you up close to imprisoned psychopaths during the seminal years of FBI criminal profiling. </p> <p>The 10-episode series drops on Netflix October 13.</p> <p><em>Republished with permission of <a href="http://www.stuff.co.nz" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Stuff.co.nz</span></strong></a>.</em></p>

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3 more short-lived shows you should track down and binge

<p>Unfortunately, the list of shows that never got the time to reach their full potential is longer than <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://www.oversixty.com.au/entertainment/tv/2017/06/short-lived-tv-shows-part-1/" target="_blank">our first list could handle</a></strong></span>. But, unlike some television networks, we’re happy to explore possibilities. So here, for your enjoyment, are more shows you really should find and watch on the next rainy day.</p> <p><em><strong>SMASH – </strong></em><strong>2 seasons</strong></p> <p>This one is for those of you who love Broadway musicals. <em>SMASH</em> was a show about the creation of a new Broadway show from concept to stage. From the process of writing the songs, staging the numbers, casting the role, and finding a theatre, the whole thing highlights just how much work it takes to get a show off the ground. Where <em>SMASH</em> really shines is its musical numbers. The cast is lousy with talent, and had certified Broadway legends writing new music for it each week. Season one’s original musical about Marilyn Monroe is chock-full of showstoppers you’ll be singing for years to come. With Steven Spielberg as Executive Producer, it’s difficult to see how this show went wrong. Unfortunately, after its stellar pilot, the quality of the writing dipped somewhat, and the show never recovered. A new showrunner attempted a course correction for season 2, but the damage had been done. RIP <em>SMASH</em>, we hardly knew ye.</p> <p><em>Availability</em> – Easy to find on DVD</p> <p><em><strong>Bunheads –</strong></em><strong> 1 season</strong></p> <p>From the creator of<em> Gilmore Girls, Bunheads</em> takes place in another fictional town – this time in California. When a bored Las Vegas showgirl impulsively marries a persistent admirer, she finds herself teaching ballet alongside her new mother-in-law. With Tony-winner Sutton Foster and <em>Gilmore Girls</em> favourite Kelly Bishop in the lead roles, <em>Bunheads</em> soars from its first episode. The pace is brisk, the writing sharp (creator Amy Sherman-Palladino’s trademark), and the tone strikes a great balance between comedy and drama. <a href="http://entertainment.time.com/2013/02/26/on-the-importance-of-bunheads/" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">TIME</span></strong></a> dubbed<em> Bunheads</em> a show that the television landscape “needs”. Unfortunately, after just one season, <em>Bunheads’</em> less than stellar ratings meant it never got an encore.</p> <p><em>Availability </em>– Try Amazon or similar</p> <p><strong><em>Deadwood</em> – 3 seasons</strong></p> <p><em>Deadwood</em> aired on HBO from 2004 to 2006, and came from the mind of NYPD Blue co-creator David Milch. The show is set in the 1870s in Deadwood, South Dakota as it goes from camp to town. Milch drew inspiration from real Deadwood residents, along with their diaries and newspapers when writing the episodes (a task for which he had much of the responsibility), resulting in a truly authentic-feeling Western. The show won eight Emmy Awards in its run, but was abruptly cancelled after just 3 seasons. A long-promised film to conclude the series appears to be in the works, however, so don’t lose hope once you reach the final episode of this one.</p> <p><em>Availability</em> – Easy to find on DVD</p> <p>What do you think of this list? Did we miss your favourite?</p>

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3 short-lived shows you should track down and watch

<p>Sometimes, television shows get a long span of years in which to tell their stories. They grab a large audience almost straight away, and manage to keep a hold of it until, for whatever reason, the show ends – hopefully in a satisfying way. Then there are those shows that are with us for only a brief period before being yanked away by thoughtless executives who don’t appreciate their true potential. The stars that burn brightest never last long.</p> <p>However, with DVDs and streaming services both plentiful in supply, these gems are not lost to the ages. Here are three shows that didn’t get as much time as they deserve, that you should track down and binge right now.</p> <p><strong><em>The Newsroom</em> – 3 seasons</strong></p> <p>“Three seasons? That’s a good little run”, you might be thinking. Unfortunately, <em>The Newsroom</em> had progressively shorter seasons, meaning it finished its run with fewer than 30 episodes. The HBO drama from Aaron Sorkin (<em>The West Wing, The Social Network</em>) was set in a cable newsroom after the network’s lead anchor suffered a minor breakdown in public. Thereafter, he and his team of eager producers set out to make the news worthy of an intelligent audience. Episodes revolve around actual world events, giving you a glimpse into how the media reacts behind closed doors.</p> <p><em>Availability – Easy to find on DVD</em></p> <p><strong><em>Pushing Daisies</em> – 2 seasons</strong></p> <p>This show was an unfortunate victim of the American Writers Guild strike of 2007, which saw writers down tools over contract disputes halfway through<em> Pushing Daisies’</em> first season. With the colours dialled up to 11, a quirky narrator, and an ensemble cast that define screen chemistry, <em>Pushing Daisies</em> told the story of a young piemaker with the unusual ability to bring the dead back to life – for one minute only. Any longer than that, and someone else must die in their place. In his spare time, the piemaker works with a private detective to solve murder mysteries and claim rewards. Things get shaken up, however, when they set out to solve the murder of the piemaker’s childhood sweetheart – and he can’t bring himself to let her die again. <em>Pushing Daisies</em> is part detective show, part comedy, occasional musical, sometime storybook, and always romantic. Try it, it’s sweet as pie.</p> <p><em>Availability – Usually available to order from Australian DVD suppliers</em></p> <p><strong><em>Firefly</em> – 1 season</strong></p> <p>Widely regarded as one of the best science fiction shows to ever grace the airwaves, <em>Firefly</em> follows the ragtag crew of a space ship as they move cargo across the galaxy. The cargo isn’t always technically legal, so there are occasionally pesky authority types to be evaded, as well as the terrifying threat of the zombie-like Reavers. Even if you’re not a fan of sci-fi, you should give this one a go. From the mind of Joss Whedon (<em>Buffy, Angel, The Avengers</em>), this is a show about a created family who will do anything for each other. It may have only lasted 15 episodes, but its huge fan base convinced executives to greenlight a cinematic sequel in the form of <em>Serenity</em> – also essential viewing.</p> <p><em>Availability – Easy to find on DVD</em></p> <p>What’s your favourite show that was cancelled too soon?</p>

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The “post-binge-watching blues” could be a real thing

<p><em><strong>Monita Karmakar and Jessica Sloan Kruger are PhD candidates in Health Education at the University of Toledo.</strong></em></p> <p>With the release of TV shows a season at a time on Netflix, some viewers might space each episode out over the course of the ensuing weeks. But many will binge-watch – completing the series in a thrilling, draining marathon of being glued to their laptops or TV screens. And when it’s all over?</p> <p>Many report feeling sad or anxious once a TV binge-watching session has concluded. <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/06/fashion/post-binge-watching-blues.html" target="_blank">In an essay for The New York Times</a></strong></span>, writer Matthew Schneier reported feeling “anxious, wistful, bereft” as his binge of Aziz Ansari’s popular comedy series “Master of None” neared its end.</p> <p>A couple of years ago, one binge-watcher interviewed by the Minneapolis Star-Tribune <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://www.vnews.com/lifetimes/10156681-95/after-the-tv-binge-a-feeling-of-loss-emptiness" target="_blank">said</a></strong></span> she felt “depression” and “emptiness” after finishing her favorite shows. On Twitter, others have expressed similar sentiments.</p> <p>Are these merely the experiences of a few people who have watched too much TV (and could probably use some fresh air)? Or could binge-watching actually affect your health and well-being?</p> <p>There’s been limited empirical research on the consequences of binge-watching. So with the advantage of a large sample size, we conducted one of the <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="https://apha.confex.com/apha/143am/webprogram/Paper335049.html" target="_blank">first forays</a></strong></span> into studying binge-watching from a public health perspective.</p> <p><strong>A binge-watching bonanza</strong></p> <p>According to a survey conducted by the <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://www.bls.gov/TUS/CHARTS/LEISURE.HTM" target="_blank">Bureau of Labor Statistics</a></strong></span>, watching television is one of the most common leisure time activities in the U.S.</p> <p>On average, Americans spend about 2 hours and 49 minutes per day watching television, and it accounts for more than 50 percent of their daily leisure activities.</p> <p>Yet the way Americans consume television <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="https://theconversation.com/why-2015-was-the-year-that-changed-tv-forever-52422" target="_blank">is rapidly changing</a></strong></span>, and binge-watching has become a relatively recent phenomenon.</p> <p>The <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://nms.sagepub.com/content/early/2014/07/03/1461444814541523.abstract" target="_blank">rising popularity</a></strong></span> of on-demand streaming services like Netflix and Hulu have made it easier than ever to have uninterrupted access to full TV series, and Collins Dictionary even <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="https://www.collinsdictionary.com/word-lovers-blog/new/binge-watch-collins-word-of-the-year-2015,251,HCB.html" target="_blank">declared</a></strong></span> “binge-watch” the word of the year for 2015.</p> <p>Marketing and social media campaigns have also encouraged binge-watching, with the popular streaming service Netflix <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/netflix-declares-binge-watching-is-the-new-normal-235713431.html" target="_blank">calling it</a></strong></span> the “new normal.”</p> <p>To date, most of the surveys and research surrounding binge-watching have been conducted by private research firms and companies.</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/netflix-declares-binge-watching-is-the-new-normal-235713431.html" target="_blank">A 2013 survey by Netflix</a></strong></span> showed that 73 percent of the respondents viewed binge-watching as a socially acceptable behavior. <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://pr.tivo.com/manual-releases/2015/Original-Streamed-Series-Top-Binge-Viewing-Survey" target="_blank">A similar survey by TiVo in 2015</a></strong></span> showed that negative perceptions about binge-watching have decreased between 2013 and 2015. About 92 percent of the respondents to the TiVo survey reported that they had binge-watched at some point.</p> <p><strong>Are binge-watching and mental illness related?</strong></p> <p>Excessive TV watching has long been associated with health problems. Scientific studies have shown that prolonged television viewing increases the risk of <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26604324" target="_blank">obesity</a></strong></span> and related diseases such as <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12684356" target="_blank">diabetes</a></strong></span>.</p> <p>It’s also been linked to mental health problems like <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25927293" target="_blank">depression</a></strong></span>. And a <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2015-01/ica-fol012615.php" target="_blank">recent Texas A&amp;M study</a></strong></span> revealed that binge-watching is tied to feelings of loneliness and depression. They also found that those who binge-watch lacked the self-regulation to stop, suggesting that binge-watching may be an addictive behavior.</p> <p>For our study, we surveyed 406 North American adults, recruited from an online data collection platform. We wanted to know more about binge-watchers – particularly their viewing habits, mental health status, and how prevalent and socially acceptable binge-watching was among their friends.</p> <p>The majority of our respondents defined binge-watching as two to five hours of consecutive video viewing in one day. About 35 percent of the respondents admitted that they binge-watch TV. Not surprisingly, those who self-identified as binge-watchers were more likely to report higher average screen time in the past seven days compared to those who did not identify as binge-watchers. Self-identified binge-watchers were also more likely to report higher addiction to TV (as measured by a validated scale).</p> <p>The major highlight of our study, however, is that self-identified binge-watchers were more likely to report higher stress, anxiety and depression.</p> <p>We were ultimately able to demonstrate a relationship between binge-watching, average screen time and mental health status.</p> <p>However, these results should be interpreted with caution. Our research shows only a correlation and not causation. We don’t know if depression, stress and anxiety are caused by binge-watching, or if it is the other way around. In other words, people might binge-watch as a way to temporarily alleviate preexisting feelings of stress and anxiety.</p> <p>We also discovered that media influence and social acceptance of binge-watching were found to be significant predictors of self-reported binge-watching.</p> <p>About 85 percent of the respondents said that they had noticed advertisements or articles encouraging binge-watching, while 74 percent of the respondents reported that they have read articles on binge-watching. An estimated 62 percent of the respondents believed that most people binge-watch and 53 percent of the respondents indicated that most of their friends binge-watch.</p> <p>Of course, more research is needed to understand the true effects of binge-watching on physical and mental health. In the interim, the next time you load up “House of Cards,” “Jessica Jones” or “Game of Thrones,” it might be a good idea to exercise some caution once the show concludes, and resist the urge to click “next episode.”</p> <p><em>Written by Monita Karmaka and Jessica Sloan Kruger. First appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.com/" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>The Conversation</strong></span></a>. </em></p>

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You can own Bing Crosby’s mansion if you have a spare 5 million dollars

<p>If any generous readers have a spare US$5 million, we’d like you to donate it to our worthy cause: We Want to Buy Bing Crosby’s House. Let’s explain why.</p> <p>The late crooner and actor owned several homes throughout California, and built this particular house in question in 1957. The Moroccan-inspired beauty sits in the Coachella Valley and occupies just over an acre of land.</p> <p>The house itself is around 650 square metres in size, with five bedrooms, several patios, and fancy retractable glass walls to make it an entertainer’s delight. And, as our generous benefactor, you’d be welcome to come and enjoy the Californian sun around the stunning pool. We’ll whip you up an amazing meal in the chef’s kitchen, and then we can watch Holiday Inn in the screening room.</p> <p>Oh, and if you don’t want to drive home at the end of the night, you’d be welcome to stay in the guest house, that Marilyn Monroe and President Kennedy are rumoured to have stayed in in 1962. But enough words – just look at the images of this stunning property and you’ll no doubt be convinced that you really should buy it for us. Thanks in advance.</p> <p><em>Image credit: Curbed</em></p> <p> <strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><em><a href="/news/news/2015/06/koala-joey-and-mum-in-surgery/">These pictures of a baby koala clinging to his mum during her surgery will make you feel things</a></em></strong></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><em><a href="/news/news/2015/06/centenarian-sews-1000-dresses/">This 100-year-old woman has sewed over 1,000 dresses for charity</a></em></strong></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><em><a href="/news/news/2015/06/guide-dog-jumps-in-front-of-bus/">Meet the guide dog who jumped in front of a bus to save his owner</a></em></strong></span></p>

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