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"What a score": Woman finds rare gems in Vinnie's op shop

<p>One lucky thrift shopper has stumbled upon a rare find in her local charity shop, spotting stunning opal earrings on sale for just $2. </p> <p>The shopper took to Facebook to share her find, posting a photo of the gold earrings adorned with a series of blue opals that she got from a Vinnie's op-shop in Queensland.</p> <p>Many were quick to agree that they were "such a rare find" because of the low price, as admirers described the jewellery as "Pretty", "amazing" and "beautiful".</p> <p>"Holy moly," one person exclaimed. "I can't breathe," one other said. "What a score," another agreed.</p> <p>While some people were skeptical that the gems weren't real, others said, "There's no way someone would set that many beautiful opals into costume jewellery so I'd say you have found a unicorn there."</p> <p>"They most certainly look genuine opal and diamond," another agreed — and so do the experts.</p> <p>Sebastian Heffernan from Lightning Ridge Opal mines told <a href="https://au.news.yahoo.com/womans-rare-2-find-at-vinnies-op-shop-worth-1000-absolute-steal-042951545.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Yahoo News</em></a> that while it's difficult to determine based on photos alone, the opals "don't appear to be fake". </p> <p>"It's normally pretty obvious when they are," he explained. "They would look a little bit too perfect a lot of the time. Whereas these ones, you can see that some of them have little dots of colour, some have medium flashes."</p> <p>Assuming the opals are real but the diamonds are fake and the gold is plated, rather than solid, Sebastian guessed the earrings could sell for just couple of hundred.</p> <p>However, Wayne Sedawie, who owns Opal and Gem Stone Auctions, reckons the lucky thrifter could fetch close to $1,000 for the earrings, if resold or cashed in to a reseller, and suggested she get them valued.</p> <p>"It's definitely good to maybe get them looked at by someone in person because they do look quite nice from the photo, and the metal itself could be worth a little bit if it is actual gold," Sebastian added. "But either way, two bucks is an absolute steal".</p> <p>"That's such a great find. They're beautiful," Wayne agreed. "Just clean them up and they'll last a thousand years."</p> <p><em>Image credits: Facebook</em></p>

Money & Banking

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Tourist cops earful from member of Queen’s Guard

<p dir="ltr">A tourist has learned the hard way to not interfere with the Queen’s guards, after she copped an earful from a guard for grabbing his horse’s reins.</p> <p dir="ltr">During a recent trip to London, the woman went to pose for a photo next to the guard and his horse when her hand went to reach towards the animal, drawing the guard’s attention.</p> <p dir="ltr">When she then touched the reins, he reacted by yelling with authority from atop his horse.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Stand back from the Queen’s lifeguard, don’t touch the reins!” he yells.</p> <p dir="ltr">A clip of the incident was shared by the woman’s step-son Ethan on <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@phigs_/video/7116598758816763141?is_from_webapp=1&amp;sender_device=pc&amp;web_id=7112642336690570754" target="_blank" rel="noopener">TikTok</a>, with the caption, “We will never return to London after this incident” and text across the footage reading, “Queens Guard Verbally Attacks My Step mum [sic]”.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-d6005c55-7fff-02e7-69ff-48d842020c82"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">Though Ethan commented the guard as a “rather angry little man”, a large number of commenters sided with the guard, arguing that he has an important job to do and that working animals like his horse shouldn’t be touched while on duty.</p> <p dir="ltr"><img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/07/queen-guard-horse.jpg" alt="" width="640" height="360" /></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: TikTok</em></p> <p dir="ltr">“It’s not Disney they are working horses and serving army,” one person said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Serves her right, you aren’t allowed to touch the guard,” another wrote.</p> <p dir="ltr">“They have a job, just don’t go near them,” a third added.</p> <p dir="ltr">British followers were particularly quick to defend his actions and respond to their decision not to return to London.</p> <p dir="ltr">“The whole of London is so upset that you won’t be returning we’re all begging you to come back,” one person said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Every British person I know knows you don’t touch them, or is she one of them ones that would put her hand in the blender,” another wrote.</p> <p dir="ltr">As some commenters pointed out, the horse’s reins are connected to the animal’s mouth - which is quite sensitive - and tugging on the reins could spook the animal, causing it to bite her or unseat the guard.</p> <p dir="ltr">Others compared interfering with or touching the guard and his horse to doing the same to a guide dog, while <em><a href="https://honey.nine.com.au/royals/queens-guard-member-yells-at-tourist-for-touching-horse-reins-tiktok/98f85c75-54a9-4b5e-a9a7-146c4a6699a8" target="_blank" rel="noopener">9Honey</a></em> royal reporter Natalie Oliveri explained that as a rule, you shouldn’t touch animals that are on-duty.</p> <p dir="ltr">"Also, as a general rule tourists should be respectful of any member of Her Majesty's guard while they are on duty – they are there for an important reason and no one should try to interfere with that,” Oliveri said.</p> <p dir="ltr">She explained that it’s also best not to speak to members of the Queen’s Guard while they’re on duty, and that you shouldn’t expect a response from them.</p> <p dir="ltr">"If you would like a photo, perhaps it's best to stand at a respectable distance and never interfere with their job,” she added.</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-f70ace45-7fff-42a5-8c43-e349bd54bbfc"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: TikTok</em></p>

Travel Trouble

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The real reason you want your ears to pop on a plane

<p dir="ltr">An airline pilot has revealed one of the most common questions she gets asked and it has to do with ear popping. </p> <p dir="ltr">It is a commonly known fact that there is nothing more annoying than having to deal with painful ears on a flight. Blocked ears occur when the plane takes off or starts to descend as the air pressure changes rapidly.</p> <p dir="ltr">It may not be as bad for some but others will find their Eustachian tube – the narrow passage connected to the middle ear - often can’t react fast enough, which causes the symptoms of aeroplane ear. </p> <p dir="ltr">US-based Boeing 737 co-pilot Morgan, who is known for her flight-related content on TikTok, shared a clip explaining why you want your ears to pop on a plane. *embed tweet</p> <p dir="ltr">“Trust me when I say you want your ears to pop,” she began the clip.</p> <p dir="ltr">The aviation TikTok star who has over 12 million likes on her videos, said if the pressure is building up and you’re getting one big painful pop, there are a couple of things you can do to pop your ears a little bit sooner.</p> <blockquote class="tiktok-embed" style="max-width: 605px; min-width: 325px;" cite="https://www.tiktok.com/@almostcaptainmorgan/video/7111430582608989482" data-video-id="7111430582608989482"> <section><a title="@almostcaptainmorgan" href="https://www.tiktok.com/@almostcaptainmorgan" target="_blank" rel="noopener">@almostcaptainmorgan</a> Reply to @ladyhawkuk Tips and tricks from an airline pilot if your ears pop when you fly! <a title="airlinepilot" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/airlinepilot" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#airlinepilot</a> <a title="traveltiktok" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/traveltiktok" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#traveltiktok</a> <a title="flyingtips" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/flyingtips" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#flyingtips</a> <a title="traveltips" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/traveltips" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#traveltips</a> <a title="♬ original sound - Morgan" href="https://www.tiktok.com/music/original-sound-7111430549822294830" target="_blank" rel="noopener">♬ original sound - Morgan</a></section> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr">“Yawning, talking, eating, chewing gum, swallowing, really anything that’s going to move your jaw is going to help activate your Eustachian tube and pop your ears,” she said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“If none of those work, you can do something called a Valsalva manoeuvre, which is where you pinch your nose and blow.”</p> <p dir="ltr">She said don’t blow harder if your ears don’t clear as “this can lead to bigger issues”.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-0683e841-7fff-ce3f-3c0f-3ea7a02e8418"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">Morgan shares if you’re ever in a situation where the pressure is really building up and your ears just aren’t popping, “always travel with some Afrin nasal spray”. The alternative in Australia is Drixine, although she wants passengers to use it sparingly and only as a last resort.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: TikTok</em></p>

Travel Tips

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Duchess of Cambridge wears $3.80 earrings for her first royal engagement of the year

<p><em>Image: 9Honey </em></p> <p><em>Image: 9Honey </em></p> <p>The Duchess of Cambridge stepped out showcasing her signature mix of high and low end fashion in a chic return to work for the new year.</p> <p>Kate Middleton visited The Foundling Museum in London on Wednesday wearing a teal blue coat over the top of an all-navy ensemble. </p> <p>But her standout accessory was the royal's $3.80 gold earrings from UK store Accessorize.</p> <p>The mini hammered doorknocker hoop earrings from the high street chain (similar to Lovisa) were originally £7 ($13.20) but were in the recent sale, dropping in price to £2.10 ($3.80) — needless to say, they're now sold out.</p> <p>The only other jewels that Kate could be seen wearing was her heirloom sapphire and diamond engagement ring, which previously belonged to Princess Diana, and her wedding band.</p> <p>The Duchess, who celebrated her 40th birthday earlier this month, wasn't just cost-efficient in her jewellery department. Even the tailored blue coat has been seen before, with the Duchess last wearing it in January 2020, during a visit to LEYF Stockwell Gardens Nursery &amp; Pre-School in London.</p> <p>The Duchess also sported a turtle neck knit and navy suede heels, both of which are understood to be items worn to previous engagements and events.</p> <p>Kate's return to work for the new year wouldn't be complete without her signature bouncy blowdry, which bobbed as the royal arrived at The Foundling Museum with husband Prince William.</p>

Beauty & Style

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How do pigeons find their way home? We looked in their ears with a diamond-based quantum microscope to find out

<p>Homing pigeons are known for their uncanny ability to find their way home – navigating complex and changing landscapes. In fact, they do this so well they were used as a source of secure communication more than 2,000 years ago.</p> <p>Julius Caesar <a href="https://www.asor.org/anetoday/2017/11/not-just-birds">reportedly sent</a> news of his conquest of Gaul back to Rome via pigeons, <a href="https://www.ft.com/content/255b75e0-c77d-11e2-be27-00144feab7de">as did Napoleon Bonaparte</a> following his defeat by England in the 1815 Battle of Waterloo.</p> <p>We know pigeons use visual cues and can navigate based on landmarks along known travel routes. We also know they have a magnetic sense called “magnetoreception” which lets them navigate using Earth’s magnetic field.</p> <p>But we don’t know exactly <em>how</em> they (and other species) do this. In <a href="https://www.pnas.org/cgi/doi/10.1073/pnas.2112749118">research</a> published today in the Proceedings of National Academy of Sciences, my colleagues and I tested a theory that attempts to link magnetoreception in homing pigeons with tiny lumps of iron-rich material found in their inner ears.</p> <p>By using a new kind of magnetic microscope, we confirmed this isn’t the case. But the technology has opened the door for us to investigate the phenomenon in several other species.</p> <h2>The current hypotheses</h2> <p>Scientists have spent decades exploring the possible mechanisms for magnetoreception. There are currently two mainstream theories.</p> <p>The first is a vision-based “free-radical pair” model. Homing pigeons and other migratory birds have proteins in the retina of their eyes called “cryptochromes”. These produce an electrical signal that <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-021-03618-9">varies depending on the strength</a> of the local magnetic field.</p> <p>This could potentially allow the birds to “see” Earth’s magnetic field, although scientists have yet to confirm this theory.</p> <p>The second proposal for how homing pigeons navigate is based on lumps of magnetic material inside them, which may provide them with a magnetic particle-based directional compass.</p> <p>We know magnetic particles are found in nature, in a group of bacteria called <a href="https://theconversation.com/magnetic-bacteria-and-their-unique-superpower-attract-researchers-100720">magnetotactic bacteria</a>. These bacteria produce magnetic particles and orient themselves along the Earth’s magnetic field lines.</p> <p>Scientists are now looking for magnetic particles in a range of species. Potential candidates <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs00114-007-0236-0">were found</a> in the upper beak of homing pigeons more than a decade ago, but <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/nature11046">subsequent work</a> indicated these particles were related to iron storage and not magnetic sensing.</p> <h2>A peek inside a pigeon’s ear</h2> <p>The new search is now underway in the inner ear of pigeons, where iron particles known as “cuticulosomes” <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960982213004338">were first identified</a> in 2013.</p> <p>Single cuticulosomes have been located within distinct regions in the pigeon inner ear where other known sensory systems exist (such as for hearing and balancing during flight). In theory, if there were a magnetic sensing system in pigeons, it should be located close to other sensory systems.</p> <p>But to determine whether iron cuticulosomes can act as magnetoreceptors in pigeons, scientists need to determine their magnetic properties. This is no mean feat, since cuticulosomes are 1,000 times smaller than a grain of sand.</p> <p>What’s more is they are only found in 30% of the hair cells within the inner ear, making them difficult to identify and characterise.</p> <p><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/431870/original/file-20211115-6434-uzv76r.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/431870/original/file-20211115-6434-uzv76r.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt="Diagram showing a homing pigeon's inner ear, with labels for hair cells and magnetic particles." /></a> <span class="caption">We conducted quantum magnetic imaging of iron-organelles in the pigeon inner ear.</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">Robert W de Gille</span>, <span class="license">Author provided</span></span></p> <p>To tackle this problem our group at the University of Melbourne, together with colleagues from Vienna’s Institute of Molecular Pathology and the Max Planck Society in Bonn, turned to a new imaging technology to explore the magnetic properties of iron cuticulosomes in the pigeon inner ear.</p> <p>We developed a magnetic microscope that uses diamond-based sensors to visualise delicate magnetic fields emanating from tiny magnetic particles.</p> <h2>Disproving the theory</h2> <p>We carefully studied thin sections of the pigeon inner ear placed directly onto the diamond sensors. By applying magnetic fields of varying strengths to the tissue, we were able to gauge the magnetic susceptibility of single cuticulosomes.</p> <p>Our results showed the magnetic properties of the cuticulosomes were not strong enough for them to act as a magnetic particle-based magnetoreceptor. In fact, the particles would need to be 100,000 times stronger to activate the sensory pathways required for magnetoreception in pigeons.</p> <p>However, despite the search for the elusive magnetoreceptor coming up short, we are extremely excited by the potential of this magnetic microscope technology.</p> <p>We hope to use it study a host of magnetic candidates across a variety of species including rodents, fish and turtles. And by doing so we can focus not only on cuticulosomes, but a range of other potentially magnetic particles.<!-- 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/171738/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/david-simpson-1289933">David Simpson</a>, School of Physics, Senior Lecturer, <em><a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/the-university-of-melbourne-722">The University of Melbourne</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/how-do-pigeons-find-their-way-home-we-looked-in-their-ears-with-a-diamond-based-quantum-microscope-to-find-out-171738">original article</a>.</p> <p><em>Image: Shutterstock</em></p>

Family & Pets

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Paul Hogan’s “homesick” plea falls on deaf ears

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Aussie actor Paul Hogan appeared on </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Sunrise</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"> complaining that he’s “desperately homesick” in Los Angeles and eager to return to Australia - without much sympathy from </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Sunrise</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"> viewers.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Crocodile Dundee</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"> star appeared emotional as he was being interviewed by hosts Natalie Barr and David Koch on Tuesday, May 11, speaking from his $4.5 million mansion in Venice Beach.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“I’m desperately homesick. You’re living in a country right now, alongside New Zealand, that’s the light of the world,” he told the program hosts.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“I’m living in LA county which has 10 million people, and about half of ‘em got COVID. So am I homesick? You bet your life.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Kochie also noted that the 81-year-old, who regularly appears on </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Sunrise</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">, was the “most down” they’d ever seen him. Hogan said he was trying to stay positive despite taking steroids for a kidney issue that resulted in his face bloating. He also said he barely left his house in California, as the pandemic has seen the area spike in homelessness and crime and the wider Los Angeles area being hit hard by COVID-19.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Kochie pointed out that many celebrities entering Australia had managed to skip hotel quarantine and isolate privately. But Hogan dismissed the idea, insisted he and his youngest son, Clance, would have to complete hotel quarantine together and would “strangle each other”.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Despite his visibly low spirits, many </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Sunrise</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"> viewers were unsympathetic to the star’s situation, questioning how “desperate” he really was if he refused to undergo hotel quarantine for two weeks.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Quarantine like everyone else … or stay in America,” </span><a href="https://twitter.com/michelleweb67/status/1391892344908128258"><span style="font-weight: 400;">one viewer wrote</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Desperately homesick … won’t quarantine for two weeks to get back. Must be reeeeal bad,” </span><a href="https://twitter.com/sunriseon7/status/1391883558067728387/retweets/with_comments"><span style="font-weight: 400;">another tweeted</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Some viewers did show their support for the actor on the show’s Facebook page, with one user writing: “Lot of mean people here. He is an elderly 81-year-old fella obviously homesick. A bit of compassion wouldn’t hurt.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This isn’t the first time Hogan has expressed his desire to come home either. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In an October 2020 interview with the </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Courier Mail</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">, he said of his LA home, “I’m like a kangaroo in a Russian zoo - I don’t belong here.”</span></p> <p><strong>Image Credit: Channel 7</strong></p>

News

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Scott Morrison’s emotional plea falls on deaf ears

<p>Scott Morrison gave an emotional plea to the Queensland Premier to allow a 26-year-old woman attend her father’s funeral today during a radio interview.<span> </span><br /><br />However it seems even the PM’s words did not hold enough weight as it has now prompted Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk to claim Mr Morrison “bullied” her during an extraordinary phone call.<br /><br />Canberran Sarah Caisip, 26, is still stuck in quarantine after she travelled to Queensland to spend time with her father during his final days.<span> </span><br /><br />Unfortunately he died before she could get out.<br /><br />The Prime Minister confirmed this morning he had called Ms Palaszczuk and urged that she take move to allow Ms Caisip to skip quarantine so she can attend the funeral, which is taking place on Thursday afternoon.</p> <p><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7837789/sarah-funeral.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/10f3d824380d4c58be77cf69023969c3" /><br />Ms Caisip has since been allowed to have a private viewing at the funeral home after the service, but is not allowed to attend the funeral.<br /><br />“I’ve appealed to her to overrule the decision,’’ Mr Morrison told 4BC radio earlier today.<span> </span><br /><br />“That would allow Sarah to go to the funeral today. It’s not about borders. It’s not about politicians. It’s not about elections. The only thing that matters today is that Sarah can be with her 11-year-old sister Isobel and her mother while they mourn the passing of their father and husband Bernard at Mount Gravatt today.”<br /><br />Both Mr Morrison and radio broadcaster Ray Hadley were close to tears during the emotional interview as they spoke about their own father’s deaths.<br /><br />“Sadly she wasn’t able to see her father before he passed. All of us who have been through that process know how important that is. It’s still fresh in my mind,’’ he said.<br /><br />Mr Morrison became emotional once again as he discussed the woman being in hotel quarantine on Father’s Day.<br /><br />“It was Father’s Day on the weekend and I’m just thinking if Sarah had to go through that day in a hotel in isolation and there she is today,” he said.<br /><br />“Surely, just this once, this can be done.<br /><br />“There have been no COVID cases in Canberra for 60 days. I’ve done all I can.”<br /><br />“I just hope they change their mind. I hope they let Sarah go.”<br /><br />He said he hoped that Queensland could provide “hope” to one family that needed it.<br /><br />In Parliament, the Queensland Premier accused the Prime Minister of bullying her over borders.<br /><br />“I will not be bullied, nor will I be intimidated by the Prime Minister of this country,” Ms Palaszczuk said,<br /><br />“(He) contacted me this morning … and I made it very clear to the fact that it was not my decision.<br /><br />“(I made it clear) that I would pass his comments on to the chief health officer, and it is her decision to make.”<br /><br />Ms Caisip has written a heartbreaking letter to the Queensland Premier after she was unable to cross the border to spend time with him during his final days.<br /><br />“My dad is dead and you made me fight to see him, but it was too late and now you won’t let me go to his funeral or see my devastated 11-year-old sister,” Ms Caisip said.<br /><br />The woman, who lives in the ACT, which is COVID-free was wrestling with the Queensland Government to be allowed into the state in time to visit her dying father Bernard.<br /><br />This year would be their final Father’s Day together as a family.<br /><br />“You won’t listen and your government is destroying my life,” she said in her letter to Ms Palaszczuk.<br /><br />“Now you are preventing me from going to view his body, which is a very important tradition for me, and also preventing me from going to his funeral this Thursday, even though I am in Brisbane in hotel quarantine and only a few kilometres away.<br /><br />“I came from virus-free Canberra, so the fact that I’m even in quarantine is beyond belief but the fact that I am being denied my basic human rights to care for my grief-stricken mother and little 11-year-old sister enrages, disgusts and devastates me at the same time.<br /><br />“My little sister is now without my support and I will never forgive you.”</p> <p>The Queensland Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young has spoken to media about her decision to block the 26-year-old woman from attending her father’s funeral in Brisbane on Thursday afternoon.</p> <p>"The last thing I would want to happen is to have an oubreak at a funeral," she said.</p> <p>"I do not want to see in Queensland any risks, people attending funerals, catching COVID-19 and then going back to vulnerable places like aged care homes".</p> <p>Canberra has not had any active cases of coronavirus for two months.</p>

News

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Are your grandkids using headphones more during the pandemic? Here’s how to protect their ears

<p>During the coronavirus pandemic, have your kids been using headphones more than usual? Maybe for remote schooling, video chats with relatives, or for their favourite music and Netflix shows?</p> <p>We have to be careful about both the volume and duration of headphone use. Listening too loudly or for too long can do permanent damage to hearing. The good news is there are ways to prevent long-term harm relatively easily.</p> <p><strong>Hearing loss in children may be increasing</strong></p> <p>Our hearing needs to be protected throughout life, because damage to hearing cannot be reversed. This is why we have workplace noise exposure <a href="https://www.worksafe.vic.gov.au/noise-safety-basics">standards and guidelines</a>, which tell workers when to use protection such as earplugs or ear defenders.</p> <p>Unfortunately though, hearing loss in children may be increasing. A <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30872125/?from_single_result=Prevalence+of+Childhood+Hearing+Loss+and+Secular+Trends%3A+A+Systematic+Review+and+Meta-Analysis&amp;expanded_search_query=Prevalence+of+Childhood+Hearing+Loss+and+Secular+Trends%3A+A+Systematic+Review+and+Meta-Analysis">study</a> from last year, in which both of us were involved, reviewed the hearing of more than 3.3 million children from 39 countries across a 20-year period.</p> <p>We found around 13% of children had measurable hearing loss by 18 years of age that may impact their ability to decipher sounds important for understanding speech. The study suggested hearing loss in kids is rising – but we don’t yet know why.</p> <p>Not many studies have examined whether headphone use is directly linked to hearing loss in children. But in one <a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaotolaryngology/article-abstract/2684510">study of 9-11-year-old Dutch children</a>, where 14% had measurable hearing loss, around 40% reported using portable music devices with headphones. Could headphones be contributing? Possibly, but unfortunately we don’t know for sure, and more studies are needed.</p> <p><strong>How do we know whether our children’s hearing is being affected?</strong></p> <p>Adults typically first notice a hearing problem by struggling to hear higher-pitched sounds clearly. Sounds may seem muffled, or the ears may feel “blocked”, or they may notice a ringing or buzzing sound, called tinnitus.</p> <p>Unlike adults, children won’t necessarily know how to describe these symptoms. Instead they may use terms they do know, like a bee buzzing, a whistle, or the wind blowing. Parents should treat any reported ear symptom as serious and get their child’s hearing tested. It’s best to visit a hearing clinic first, and then a GP if necessary, although this will depend on your location.</p> <p><strong>Excessive noise damages hearing</strong></p> <p>Our inner ear (cochlea) contains tiny hair cells, which change sounds we hear into electrical signals for our brain. These hair cells are finely tuned and are responsible for different pitches of sound, like keys on a piano.</p> <p>Exposure to loud noise can damage these hair cells and perhaps the <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2812055/">nerve</a> that connects the cochlea to the brain. Repeated excessive noise exposure can lead to permanent hearing loss. Unfortunately, by the time someone experiences hearing problems, some irreversible damage has already happened.</p> <p><strong>What should we do to protect kids’ hearing?</strong></p> <p>The risk of hearing damage depends on both loudness and duration of sound exposure. Limiting both helps to reduce the risk of hearing damage.</p> <p><strong>Limiting loudness</strong></p> <p>We measure the loudness of sound in decibels (dB). But it’s important to note that the dB scale is logarithmic rather than linear. That means a 110dB sound (similar to a chainsaw) is actually much more than 10% louder than a 100dB sound. Parents can download free sound meter apps that help with understanding the volume of different environments and activities.</p> <p>A more difficult task for parents is monitoring the loudness within their children’s headphones. Some headphones leak sounds out, while others insulate the sound into the ear. So a child using “leaky” headphones at a safe volume may appear to be listening to sounds that are too loud, but a child with tightly sealed headphones could be playing sounds at potentially damaging levels without parents noticing.</p> <p>To understand their child’s specific usage, parents can:</p> <ul> <li><strong>listen to their child’s headphones</strong> to understand how loud sounds can become</li> <li>check to see if children can <strong>hear you talk at a normal volume from an arm’s length away</strong>, over the sounds playing on the headphones. If they can, their headphone use is more likely to be at a safe volume.</li> </ul> <p>There are headphones designed for children that limit the maximum loudness – usually to 85dB. While a limit is great, listening to 85dB sounds all day every day is not risk-free.</p> <p>Noise-cancelling headphones are another option, albeit expensive. By reducing the intrusion of outside noise, it should mean children can keep headphone volume lower.</p> <p><strong>Managing duration</strong></p> <p>We should also monitor how long we’re exposed to sound. Everyday conversation is around 60dB, which will not be a problem regardless of the duration of exposure. However, <a href="http://dangerousdecibels.org/education/information-center/decibel-exposure-time-guidelines/">guidelines</a> say we can be exposed an 85dB sound (like a rubbish truck) for up to 8 hours at a time. But if the loudness of the sound is increased by just 3 decibels to 88dB, the sound energy is doubled, and safe exposure time would drop to just 4 hours. Operating a chainsaw at 110dB would then be limited to around 1 minute before damage is likely to occur.</p> <p>Exposure to noise is cumulative. Noise can also come from other sources in the child’s environment. Consider a child’s activities throughout a day. Parents should try to avoid consecutive noisy exercises, like headphone use, music practice, then noisy toys or games. Considering the total “doses” of sound in the day means parents should schedule some breaks to allow the ears time to recover.</p> <p>Of course, parents should practise what they preach! Modelling responsible use of headphones and awareness of the enjoyment of being able to hear well into adulthood is key.</p> <p><em>Written by Pater Carew and Valerie Sung. </em><em>Republished with permission of </em><a href="https://theconversation.com/are-your-kids-using-headphones-more-during-the-pandemic-heres-how-to-protect-their-ears-139392"><em>The Conversation.</em></a></p>

Beauty & Style

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“Who’s got in her ear?”: Pauline Hanson launches scathing attack on Jacqui Lambie over drug testing

<p>Controversial One Nation Leader Pauline Hanson has ruffled feathers again, after personally calling out Jacqui Lambie for removing her support for drug testing welfare recipients.</p> <p>"No, I won't be supporting it, unless I can see the rehabilitation services and the services that these people need to kick their habit are actually set up. Which I am yet to see," Lambie said.</p> <p>Hanson, after hearing that Lambie had backflipped on supporting the drug testing for welfare recipients, said that she’s surprised to hear that Lambie isn’t supporting this.</p> <p>Why? Because Lambie’s son “has been on drugs”.</p> <p>"Her child has been on drugs and you wouldn't knock back something that could possibly help people like her son," Ms Hanson said in parliament, according to <em><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.news.com.au/finance/work/leaders/australian-politics-live-tuesday-september-10/live-coverage/054eb53f424d35e8ee77c27512284649" target="_blank">news.com.au</a>.</em></p> <p>"Why is she knocking this back? Who's got in her ear?"</p> <p>Lambie has since responded on Twitter, saying that her son Dylan defeated his addiction due to being able to access rehab services.</p> <p>She tweeted saying the following:</p> <p>“My son is an example of what happens when you have access to the support and rehab services you need. 500K Aussies don’t have access to those services. My son has moved on from the past, he can thank his 18 mths Teen Challenge in Toowoomba and the people of QLD for that.”</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en-gb"> <p dir="ltr">My son is an example of what happens when you have access to the support &amp; rehab services you need. 500K Aussies don't have access to those services. My son has moved on from the past, he can thank his 18 mths <a href="https://twitter.com/teenchallenge?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@teenchallenge</a> in Toowoomba &amp; the people of QLD for that.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/auspol?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#auspol</a></p> — Jacqui Lambie (@JacquiLambie) <a href="https://twitter.com/JacquiLambie/status/1171242520358948864?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">10 September 2019</a></blockquote> <p>Lambie first referenced her son’s battle with drug addiction in parliament after she revealed she was desperate to help him.</p> <p>"I am a senator of Australia, and I have a 21-year-old son who has a problem with ice," she said.</p> <p>"I can't involuntarily detox my own son, because I'm not talking to my son anymore, I'm talking to a drug."</p> <p>However, this candid moment from Lambie back in 2015 was used against her by Hanson, who also mentioned her son Dylan during an interview with <em>Sky News.</em></p> <p>"She should be the first one to say yes, yes I want it, because I want my child off drugs. So what is the issue here?" she said.</p> <p>The government is currently pushing for a trial that would screen 5,000 Newstart and Youth Allowance recipients for drugs, quarantine the payments of those who test positive and organise rehabilitation services for them.</p> <p>The Senate is currently trying to regain Lambie’s support by suggesting that those who do test positive for drugs could receive up to $65,000 worth of rehabilitation services, according to <u><em><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/" target="_blank">The Telegraph</a>.</em></u></p> <p>However, Lambie remains unmoved. Labor was also equally dismissive of the move by the Coalition.</p> <p>"Every single health expert in the country tells them that they are wrong. This does not work. It will not assist people who are drug addicted,” said frontbencher Catherine King.</p> <p>"What assists people who are drug addicted is proper services, not punishing them and sending them into dire poverty. That is what this government wants to do.</p> <p>"It's all about punishing people on welfare. It is not about actually helping people with what is a substantial health problem."</p>

Money & Banking

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Keep an ear out for these phone scams

<p>Don’t fall victim to a telephone scam – educate yourself on the latest tricks to get you to part with your money.</p> <div class="at-below-post addthis_tool" data-url="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/true-stories-lifestyle/thought-provoking/keep-ear-out-these-phone-scams"><strong>Whatsapp scam</strong></div> <div class="at-below-post addthis_tool" data-url="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/true-stories-lifestyle/thought-provoking/keep-ear-out-these-phone-scams"> <p><strong>What is it?</strong></p> <p>The Singapore Police Force issued a warning just last month about a scam that causes victims to lose access to their Whatsapp accounts.</p> <p><strong>How does it work?</strong></p> <p>Victims would receive Whatsapp messages from people on their contact list asking for their Whatsapp account verification codes.</p> <p>Once the victims send the codes over, the scammers control of the accounts.</p> <p>They would then use these compromised accounts to con people on the contact list into purchasing gift cards and sending over the passwords for the cards. The cards would then be sold online.</p> <p><strong>How can I protect myself?</strong></p> <p>Don’t entertain unusual requests via Whatsapp, even if they come from someone on your contact list, as the account may have been compromised.</p> <p>Speak with the person to verify their identity.</p> <p>You can also protect your Whatsapp account by enabling the “Two-step Verification” feature.</p> <p><strong>Impersonation scam</strong></p> <p><strong>What is it?</strong></p> <p>There are several variations of this ruse, with the scammers pretending to be all manner of officials, from police officers to bank staff. The latest iteration in Malaysia involves scammer pretending to be postal couriers.</p> <p><strong>How does it work?</strong></p> <p>Scammers will call their victims, impersonating any of the above-mentioned positions.</p> <p>They inform the victims that they have broken the law and will be in trouble if they do not pay a fine, which is to be transferred to an account number they provide.</p> <p>The scammers also tell their victims that the conversation is being recorded and that they must not tell anyone about it or they’ll get in further trouble.</p> <p><strong>How can I protect myself?</strong></p> <p>These scammers use Caller ID spoofing technology to divert the phone numbers from the relevant agencies so it looks like you’re getting a call from the police, for example.</p> <p>But it’s important to note that government agencies will never conduct business in this manner, so this is clearly a scam. Hang up and make a police report.</p> <p><strong>Wangiri scam</strong></p> <p><strong>What is it?</strong></p> <p>This scam has been around for the better part of a decade but it does pop up now and again in a slightly different form, so it’s important to always be alert.</p> <p>Wangiri means “one ring” and “cut” in Japanese, where the victim receives a call from an overseas number that gets cut off after just one ring.</p> <p><strong>How does it work?</strong></p> <p>Getting the call is not the problem, returning the call is. If you return the call, you will likely hear an advertisement for a subscription chat line or internet service, and you will be charged for the call.</p> <p>The latest variation involves receiving a Whatsapp message with a contact attachment – you will be charged for calling the contact.</p> <p><strong>How can I protect myself?</strong></p> <p>Never return the call, especially if you don’t know anyone living in the country from where the call originates. Block the number and Google it to see if there are any reports of scammers using it.</p> <p><strong>Kidnapping scams</strong></p> <p><strong>What is it?</strong></p> <p>This is another scam that’s making its rounds in Singapore again, with local police reporting that they have received numerous reports about it last month.</p> <p><strong>How does it work?</strong></p> <p>Scammers send text messages to victims claiming that they have kidnapped the victims’ loved ones and will harm them if they do not transfer a large amount of money to a bank account.</p> <p><strong>How can I protect myself?</strong></p> <p>Remain calm and contact your loved ones immediately to ensure they are safe. Don’t transfer the money or respond to the text message, and be sure to block the number. Make a police report.</p> <p><em>Written by Siti Rohani. </em><em>This article first appeared in <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/true-stories-lifestyle/thought-provoking/keep-ear-out-these-phone-scams" target="_blank">Reader’s Digest</a>. For more of what you love from the world’s best-loved magazine, <a rel="noopener" href="http://readersdigest.innovations.com.au/c/readersdigestemailsubscribe?utm_source=over60&amp;utm_medium=articles&amp;utm_campaign=RDSUB&amp;keycode=WRA93V" target="_blank">here’s our best subscription offer</a>.</em></p> </div>

Technology

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Man develops deadly brain infection after cleaning ear with cotton buds

<p>It’s hard to resist the temptation to clean the insides of our ears with cotton buds, despite warnings on the label and health experts telling us otherwise. However, this near-fatal case may change your mind.</p> <p>An English man has sworn off cleaning his ears with cotton swabs after developing an infection that spread from his hearing to the lining of his brain.</p> <p>The 31-year-old man began developing the infection after the tip of a cotton bud he used got stuck in his ear canal, according to a case published in <a rel="noopener" href="https://casereports.bmj.com/content/12/3/e227971" target="_blank">BMJ Case Reports</a> earlier this month.</p> <p>He was experiencing seizures, headaches, ear pain and discharge before being rushed to hospital, <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.livescience.com/64958-cotton-swab-ear-infection.html" target="_blank"><em>Live Science</em></a> reported.</p> <p>The small amount of cotton left turned out to trap debris and induce a severe bacterial infection that progressed to the base of his skull and moved into the lining of his brain, said lead author Dr. Alexander Charlton, a member of the team of ear, nose and throat specialists involved in the man's treatment at University Hospital Coventry in England.</p> <p>Fortunately, Charlton and other doctors were able to remove the debris through a minor surgery. The patient was found to have necrotizing otitis externa, an infection in the soft tissue of the area from the outside of the ear to the eardrum. After almost a week in hospital, the man is expected to be free from long-term hearing issues.</p> <p>However, he was ordered by Charlton not to use cotton buds in his ears anymore, as the doctor said they have been linked to infections and punctured ear drums. "They can only cause problems," Charlton said.</p> <p>Health practitioners acknowledge that cotton buds are a popular ear-cleaning tool among the laymen. "I think that most people will have used them at some stage," Dr Joe Kosterich told <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.myvmc.com/videos/ear-health/" target="_blank">Virtual Medical Centre</a>.</p> <p>"In fact, they are something that shouldn’t be used. We think of them as being soft, but when you press on a cotton wool bud, they’re not actually all that soft. It is possible to perforate the eardrum with them."</p> <p>Ana Kim, MD, the director of Otologic Research at Columbia University Medical Centre also said removing ear wax might make ears more prone to infection. "It keeps the outer ear canal skin moist, allowing for the skin cells to be healthy and enabling the cells to continue shedding skin debris," she told <em><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.businessinsider.sg/seizure-brain-infection-after-using-a-cotton-swab-2019-3/" target="_blank">INSIDER</a>.</em></p> <p>Do you use cotton buds regularly? Let us know in the comments below.</p>

Body

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The Queen lets Duchess Kate borrow valued possession during Balmoral Castle visit

<p>The Duchess of Cambridge made a rare sighting on the weekend, appearing in public during her maternity leave to attend church in Balmoral with her royal family.</p> <p>Duchess Kate was seen travelling to Crathie Kirk parish in Scotland, sitting next to the Queen in the car and behind her husband Prince William, who was in the front passenger seat.</p> <p>Kate showcased her classy style while wearing a Catherine Walker coatdress and hat, but it was her jewellery which sent royal fans into a frenzy.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img style="width: 500px; height: 416.48590021691973px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7820515/1.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/40c2e519b0d7485890a247bc6f69e333" /></p> <p>The mother-of-three was seen wearing a pair of pearl earrings that were borrowed from Her Majesty’s very own jewellery box.</p> <p>The Bahrain pearl and diamond drop earrings are very special to the Queen as the pearls were gifted to the monarch on her wedding day.</p> <p>According to <a href="http://queensjewelvault.blogspot.com/2012/11/the-bahrain-pearl-drop-earrings.html"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>Her Majesty’s Jewel Vault</strong></em></span></a>, the earrings were made from two of the seven pearls that were given to the Queen and Prince Philip for their 1947 wedding from the ruler of Bahrain at the time.</p> <p>The earrings also made an appearance in the Buckingham Palace summer exhibit that marked the royal couple’s 60th wedding anniversary.</p> <p>William and Kate have joined the Queen and Prince Philip on their annual summer holiday trip to Balmoral Castle.</p> <p>As the royals made the trip to the local church on the cool 14-degree day, Kate was seen with a cosy blue blanket draped across her knees for the duration of the drive.</p> <p>The Queen also looked elegant in a blue ensemble, while also wearing a pair of pearl earrings.</p> <p>Kate is not the only in-law who has had the privilege of borrowing a piece of jewellery from the Queen’s personal collection, with Duchess Meghan also previously wearing jewels belonging to Queen Elizabeth II.</p> <p>At her wedding to Prince Harry, Meghan wore the Queen Mary Diamond Bandeau tiara from the Queen’s jewellery vault, which was previously owned by the monarch’s grandmother, Queen Mary.</p> <p>It is also believed that when Meghan was invited for the first time to accompany the Queen on a public engagement, Her Majesty gifted the newlywed a pair of pearl and diamond drop earrings similar to her own version.</p> <p>Meghan wore the special present during their trip to Cheshire, where the duo were photographed giggling with each other throughout the day.</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/BkAZm5Wgu9S/?utm_source=ig_embed" data-instgrm-version="9"> <div style="padding: 8px;"> <div style="background: #F8F8F8; line-height: 0; margin-top: 40px; padding: 58.79629629629629% 0; text-align: center; width: 100%;"> <div style="background: url(data:image/png; base64,ivborw0kggoaaaansuheugaaacwaaaascamaaaapwqozaaaabgdbtueaalgpc/xhbqaaaafzukdcak7ohokaaaamuexurczmzpf399fx1+bm5mzy9amaaadisurbvdjlvzxbesmgces5/p8/t9furvcrmu73jwlzosgsiizurcjo/ad+eqjjb4hv8bft+idpqocx1wjosbfhh2xssxeiyn3uli/6mnree07uiwjev8ueowds88ly97kqytlijkktuybbruayvh5wohixmpi5we58ek028czwyuqdlkpg1bkb4nnm+veanfhqn1k4+gpt6ugqcvu2h2ovuif/gwufyy8owepdyzsa3avcqpvovvzzz2vtnn2wu8qzvjddeto90gsy9mvlqtgysy231mxry6i2ggqjrty0l8fxcxfcbbhwrsyyaaaaaelftksuqmcc); display: block; height: 44px; margin: 0 auto -44px; position: relative; top: -22px; width: 44px;"></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/BkAZm5Wgu9S/?utm_source=ig_embed" target="_blank">A post shared by Kensington Palace (@kensingtonroyal)</a> on Jun 14, 2018 at 6:10am PDT</p> </div> </blockquote>

News

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Barack Obama jokes about big ears as new portrait unveiled

<p>Former US President Barack Obama has poked fun about his big ears and praised his wife’s “hotness” as their portraits were unveiled at America’s National Portrait Gallery in Washington, DC overnight.</p> <p>Painted by African-American artists who were personally chosen by the Obamas, the couple made a rare public appearance to attend the portrait unveiling.</p> <p><img width="492" height="369" src="http://cdn.newsapi.com.au/image/v1/378503f4b1320c197fd68339fe95e20e" alt="Former US President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama stand beside their portraits after their unveiling at the National Portrait Gallery. Picture: AFP" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/></p> <p>Speaking at the event, Mr Obama said that working with artist Kehinde Wiley was “a great joy,” but jokingly added that the artist refused to budge on some of his request.</p> <p>“I tried to negotiate less grey hair [but] Kehinde’s artistic integrity would not allow [him] to do what I asked. I tried to negotiate smaller ears. Struck out on that as well.”</p> <p>The former first lady Michelle Obama was painted by Baltimore-based artist Amy Sherald, who Mr Obama personally thanked during his speech.</p> <p>“Amy, I want to thank you for so spectacularly capturing the grace and beauty and intelligence and charm and hotness of the woman I love,” the former president said.</p> <p><img width="491" height="400" src="https://www.thestar.com/content/dam/thestar/news/world/analysis/2018/02/12/the-obamas-portraits-are-not-what-youd-expect-thats-why-theyre-great/portraits2_jpg.jpg.size.custom.crop.801x650.jpg" alt="Image result for obama portraits side by side" class="irc_mi" style="margin-top: 1px; display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/></p> <p>But Mrs Obama’s portrait has drawn mixed reactions from the public, with the most common criticism being that it doesn’t look like the former first lady.</p> <p>The gallery has a complete collection of presidential portraits. The latest additions are now available for public viewing.</p> <p> </p>

Art

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How to avoid swimmer’s ear

<p>Summer is here and my ears are burning. Not because someone maybe talking about me or because they are sunburnt but because I have swimmer's ear. The warm weather and time in the water sees different things impacting on our wellbeing. In my medical career I have treated thousands of cases of swimmer’s ear otherwise known as otitis externa. It’s an infection in the external ear canal that runs from the ear drum to the earlobe and outside world.</p> <p>One of the more common causes of otitis externa is water becoming trapped in the canal and bacteria and fungi growing, causing inflammation and pain. Having treated many cases, it's interesting to experience it. It’s really sore, hard to sleep and even eating is painful. It certainly impacts on your wellbeing. As with most things prevention is better than cure as is early treatment if you get it.</p> <p>Some people maybe more likely to get swimmer’s ear due to chronic dermatitis, a narrow ear canal or what is called surfer’s ear. Having worked in Taranaki as a doctor for many years surfer’s ear is very common. This is where bony growths called exostoses crowd the ear canal, so water gets trapped between the bony lumps and the eardrum. You may see the odd person hopping on one foot to another shaking their head trying to clear the water from their ear canal.</p> <p>So, if you have surfer’s ear or are prone to swimmer’s ear, keeping water out of the ear canal is an important strategy in staying well. A stylish shower cap may do the trick at home or earplugs for those of you who have hair to wash. Earplugs while surfing or swimming help as well and are preferable to having to sit out the water with an ear infection during summer while everyone plunges in. Wearing earplugs may in fact help prevent surfer’s ear as well.</p> <p>If that fails and pain and inflammation are setting in, it’s important to get onto it quickly. If it’s mild and you don't have a perforated ear drum or complications there are concoctions available in the form of ear drops which are essentially vinegar (acetic acid) and alcohol that change the pH and dry out the ear. Next steps are eardrops that contain steroids to reduce inflammation and antibiotics and antifungals to kill the bugs. If it is really bad, you may need oral antibiotics or even a visit to an ear, nose and throat specialist to get the debris removed.</p> <p>What you want to avoid is letting it get too far so you don't end up getting chronic otitis externa and recurrent ear infections. Infection and inflammation are like fires, avoid starting them but if you have one, put it out quickly before it takes hold and causes more damage.</p> <p>With the longer summer evenings and people spending more time outside there are more things that go bump in the evening. I have seen numerous cases of bugs flying into people's ears at beaches, barbeques and boudoirs. This is really frightening, and a small insect can sound like a large military brass band banging on your tympanic membrane (ear drum). Simple treatment is to lie on your side and put a few drops of olive oil in your ear. The bug drowns and silence is achieved. Then get the bug removed or it may just float out.</p> <p>Look after yourself and your loved ones ears this summer and don't go poking anything in your ears or theirs.</p> <p><em>Written by Dr Tom Mulholland. Republished with permission of</em> <a href="http://www.stuff.co.nz/" target="_blank"><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Stuff.co.nz</strong></span></em></a>.</p>

Body

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Mum shamed after asking for advice on piecing her baby’s ears

<p>A UK mother who posted on online parenting forum Netmums is receiving massive backlash after she posted a thread asking fellow mums for advice on getting her baby’s ears pierced.</p> <p>“I understand some parents may have mixed views on this subject,” the woman, who goes by the name of Layla A, began. “I’m planning to get my daughter's ears pierced tomorrow.</p> <p>“She’s fully breastfed, I just want to know if any mum's have got their daughters ear pierced whilst breastfeeding. How did you manage to breastfeed/the after care? Did it take long to heal?”</p> <p>Angry parents quickly stormed the thread to criticise the mum’s choice, with one going so far as to call it “child abuse”, saying it “should be made illegal”.</p> <p>“And you’re planning [on] inflicting pain on your child why?” one user wrote. “Leave her alone until she is old enough to choose for herself whether she wishes to have her own ears pierced. It’s her body not yours.”</p> <p>Others agreed, one writing, “Totally disgusts me that you would even consider doing this to a child ... I would never put my little 11-month-old girl through that pain for nothing. It’s selfish in my opinion they are little people not a fashion accessory.”</p> <p>However, one mum did jump to the woman’s defence, saying, “I don’t class this as child abuse at all! I personally haven’t got my little girl’s ears pierced as I’m not a fan but if I was thinking about it I would go straight ahead! Babies have been getting them done for years and those that do wake up and cry it's forgotten about in a flash ... it's your own personal choice.”</p> <p>To her credit, Layla did take on all the advice, writing in an update that she has decided against getting them pierced. “I will wait until she’s old enough to ask for herself and if I really want it for vanity reasons then I could always put on the clip-on ones.”</p> <p>Tell us in the comments below, what do you think is the right age for a child to get their ears pierced?</p>

Body

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Simple tip to prevent earrings irritating

<p>You may have had your ears pierced for decades, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you’re impervious to that dreaded irritated feeling many people experience when wearing earrings – particularly inexpensive pairs.</p> <p>Thankfully, there’s a super simple and super cheap way to stop it ever happening again – and it’s probably sitting in your pantry right now. The solution? Coconut oil.</p> <p>That’s right, not only can it <a href="http://www.oversixty.com.au/lifestyle/beauty-style/2017/02/10-homemade-dandruff-cures/"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">prevent dandruff</span></strong></a> and <a href="http://www.oversixty.com.au/lifestyle/beauty-style/2017/01/ways-to-use-coconut-oil-for-healthy-skin/"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">improve dry, dull skin</span></strong></a>, but hundreds of women are singing the praises online about the power of coconut oil in easing irritation caused by earrings.</p> <p>All you need to do to make those cheap (yet undeniably glamorous) earrings feel just as good as their silver and gold counterparts is dip the part which penetrates the earlobe in coconut oil. Leave it to rest for a few seconds, then put it on as usual.</p> <p>However, because the oil does make the earrings a little bit slippery, make sure you fasten them extra tightly tight and even perhaps pop on a few silicon backers.</p> <p>Have you tried this trick before? Or do you have another tip to avoid pain irritation from earrings? Let us know in the comment section below.</p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/beauty-style/2017/02/diy-anti-ageing-foot-care/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>DIY anti ageing foot-care</strong></em></span></a></p> <p><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/beauty-style/2017/01/remove-product-build-up-in-your-hair/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>3 ways to remove product build-up in your hair</strong></em></span></a></p> <p><a href="/%20http:/www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/beauty-style/2017/01/tips-for-fuller-lips/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>5 tips for fuller lips</strong></em></span></a></p>

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