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Aussie actresses clean up at the Golden Globes

<p>Awards season has officially kicked off in Hollywood, with A-listers flocking to the Los Angeles Beverly Hilton Hotel on Monday for the 81st annual Golden Globes. </p> <p>With the very best of the best in the entertainment industry nominated for the best film and television moments of 2023, some of our own Aussie talent walked away with some of the biggest awards of the night. </p> <p>Aussie actress Elizabeth Debicki emerged as an early winner for the TV categories, taking home the award for Best Supporting Actress for her portrayal of Princess Diana in <em>The Crown</em>. </p> <p>She beat out the likes of Meryl Streep (for her role in <em>Only Murders in the Building</em>) and Hannah Waddingham (for her role in <em>Ted Lasso</em>) for the award, as she has long been praised by royal fans for her touching portrayal of the late Princess of Wales' last years. </p> <p>Also coming out on top in another television category was Aussie actress Sarah Snook, who was the recipient of one of the biggest honours of the night, Best Actress in a drama, for her incredible performance in the final season of <em>Succession</em>.</p> <p>Meanwhile for outstanding achievements in film, Margot Robbie and the whole <em>Barbie</em> team took home the inaugural Cinematic and Box Office Achievement award, following the global hype of Barbie mania back in July. </p> <p>Margot was also nominated for Best Actress in a musical or comedy for <em>Barbie</em>, but was ultimately pipped by Emma Stone for her incredible performance in <em>Poor Things</em>.</p> <p>Elsewhere in the awards, <em>Oppenheimer</em> came out on top with Cillian Murphy taking home the award for Best Actor for portraying scientist J. Robert Oppenheimer in the three-hour long epic, with the film also being crowned Best Picture and Christopher Nolan taking home the Best Director award. </p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images </em></p>

TV

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7 bizarre laws across the globe

<p dir="ltr">Laws differ from country to country, and many remain unheard of. Here are some of the most outdated and unbelievable laws that still exist across the world.</p> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><strong>1. Swiss bomb shelters</strong></p> <p dir="ltr">In Switzerland, every citizen is required by law to have a bomb shelter or at least access to one. </p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>2. Children under 12 banned from using phones</strong></p> <p dir="ltr">In Blue Earth Minnesota, USA, it is illegal for children under 12 years of age to speak on the phone unless they’re accompanied by a parent or guardian.</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>3. Can’t ride an ugly horse</strong></p> <p dir="ltr">In Wilbur, Washington it is illegal to ride a horse that is deemed to be ugly! Although it is unclear what constitutes an ugly horse.</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>4. First four firemen get paid</strong></p> <p dir="ltr">In Zeigler, Illinois, USA, only the first four men to make it to the scene will be paid. </p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>5. Failed surgery = no hands</strong></p> <p dir="ltr">In Ancient Egypt, if a surgeon lost a patient while performing an operation on them, the surgeon's hands were cut off. </p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>6. Too scruffy to drive</strong></p> <p dir="ltr">In Athens, a driver can have their licence taken away simply because they are deemed too scruffy or poorly dressed. </p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>7. Criminal birthday offence</strong></p> <p dir="ltr">In Samoa, it is a crime to forget your wife’s birthday. </p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image credit: Shutterstock</em><span id="docs-internal-guid-52befc00-7fff-ea57-7410-d816363ccd0d"></span></p>

Legal

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All the best moments from the star-studded Golden Globes

<p>The 80th Annual Golden Globe Awards took place on Wednesday, with the who's-who of Hollywood coming out in droves to celebrate their TV and movie achievements of the last year. </p> <p>From iconic fashion, historic wins, powerful speeches and Jennifer Coolidge stealing the show, the award show had some incredible moments. </p> <p><strong>Fashion</strong></p> <p>On the red carpet, there were several contenders for best dressed. </p> <p>Australia's own Margot Robbie shone in a light pink Chanel gown, complete with a halter top and fringed hemline. </p> <p>Jessica Chastain, Salma Hayek, Jennifer Coolidge and Michelle Yeoh all opted for sequins, while Heidi Klum made a daring statement in feather. </p> <p>Red carpet icon Billy Porter wore a velvet pink tuxedo, that trailed behind him in a gown-line train that had everyone talking. </p> <p>Jamie Lee-Curtis and Aussie actress Milly Alcock went for black gothic looks, while Michelle Williams went for an all white gown. </p> <p><strong>On stage highlights</strong></p> <p>Australian <em>House of the Dragon</em> actress Milly Alcock went viral for appearing seemingly tipsy while on stage with her co-stars to accept the award for Best Television series. </p> <p>Throughout director Miguel Sapochnik's speech, Alcock held onto her co-star Emma D’Arcy and giggled, while pointing at people in the audience. </p> <p>Fans took to Twitter to break down the star's antics, with one person saying “Milly Alcock wasted at the Golden Globes is top tier.”</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Milly Alcock wasted at the golden globes is top tier <a href="https://t.co/vE2YJt1fKy">pic.twitter.com/vE2YJt1fKy</a></p> <p>— quincy (@qlou112) <a href="https://twitter.com/qlou112/status/1613025501701967873?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 11, 2023</a></p></blockquote> <p>The night began with host Jerrod Carmichael calling out the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA)'s lack of diversity, saying, "I'm only here because I'm Black."</p> <p>He said, "I'll catch everyone in the room up. This show, the Golden Globe Awards, did not air last year, because the HFPA – I won't say they were a racist organisation, but they didn't have a single Black member until George Floyd died."</p> <p>His honesty resulted in his name trending on Twitter after his monologue as fans praised him. </p> <p>Jerrod Carmichael also took an opportunity to roast Tom Cruise while hosting, as he took to the stage with three awards that Cruise returned in 2021 amid the HFPA controversy.</p> <p> Carmichael said, "Backstage, I found these three Golden Globe awards that Tom Cruise returned..." he said.</p> <p>"I think maybe we take these three things and exchange them for the safe return of Shelly Miscavige."</p> <p>Shelly is the wife of Scientology leader David Miscavige, who is reportedly a close friend of Cruise.</p> <p>She was last seen in public in 2007, and there has long been speculation about her wellbeing and whereabouts.</p> <p><strong>Winners</strong></p> <p><em>The Banshees of Inisherin</em> was the most nominated film of the night, taking home the award for Best Picture, Musical or Comedy.</p> <p>The final award of the night — Best Motion Picture Drama — went to Steven Spielberg's semi-autobiographical film <em>The Fabelmans</em>.</p> <p>For the TV awards, <em>House of the Dragon</em>, <em>Abbott Elementary</em> and <em>The White Lotus</em> all came out on top. </p> <p>Jennifer Coolidge won the award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for her work on <em>The White Lotus</em>, with her emotional and chaotic speech quickly going viral. </p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Jennifer Coolidge delivers an epic <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GoldenGlobes?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GoldenGlobes</a> acceptance speech that makes <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TheWhiteLotus?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TheWhiteLotus</a> creator Mike White cry. <a href="https://t.co/m069JEKekW">https://t.co/m069JEKekW</a> <a href="https://t.co/WBWx9H6BCj">pic.twitter.com/WBWx9H6BCj</a></p> <p>— Variety (@Variety) <a href="https://twitter.com/Variety/status/1613016340650151942?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 11, 2023</a></p></blockquote> <p>She thanked the show's creator Mike White for "killing me off" at the end of the second season, a major spoiler for any viewer who hasn't yet finished the series.</p> <p>Coolidge spoke of how the iconic role has brought her back into the public zeitgeist, after saying her 1990s career has "fizzled". </p> <p>"Mike White, you have given me hope. You've given me a new beginning. Even if this is the end, you changed my life in a million different ways. My neighbours [are] speaking to me and things like that. I was never invited to one party and now everyone's inviting me."</p> <p>Australian icon Cate Blanchett won a Golden Globe for her performance in the psychological drama <em>Tár</em>, while Michelle Yeoh took home the award for Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy for her role in <em>Everything Everywhere All At Once</em>. </p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

Beauty & Style

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Travelling around the globe might not have to cost the Earth

<p>The last time you booked a flight online, you may have been offered the chance to ‘offset’ the carbon produced by your travel. This is due in part to recognition that the aviation industry is responsible for around 5% of human-made emissions resulting in climate change.</p> <p>The efforts by this sector to respond to its environmental impact can range from switching fuels (from coal to biomass, for instance), more efficient combustion processes (by improving aircraft engines, for example), protecting forests or promoting sustainable development in local communities.</p> <p>Now, in a potentially ground-breaking innovation for long-haul flights, a team of researchers at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Zürisch (ETH Zurich) have developed an all-in-one solar-powered tower that’s able to use energy from the Sun’s rays to convert water and carbon dioxide into synthetic fuels.</p> <p>Think: water + carbon dioxide = energy. Sound familiar? Well, it should. It’s what many plants do to make energy for themselves.</p> <p>The ETH Zurich process has a lot in common, really, explains Dr Jessica Allen, a chemical engineer and renewable energy technologies expert at the University of Newcastle. Although in this case, “industrial photosynthesis might be a better term as this particular process doesn’t involve any physiological mechanisms like plants and living material”, says Allen.</p> <p>The proof-of-concept solar tower consists of 169 Sun-tracking panels that reflect and concentrate sunlight into a tower-top solar reactor. Here, energy from the Sun’s rays meets a combination of water, carbon dioxide and a special structure made of ceria (cerium oxide), which is porous and “acts like a filter network, undergoing many reduction-oxidation (also known as redox) reactions”, says Allen.</p> <p>These reaction cycles produce syngas (synthesis gas), which is then converted to liquid fuels such as diesel and kerosene (which is used as jet fuel for long-haul flights) via a well-established process known as the Fischer-Tropsch reaction, which typically occurs in the presence of metal catalysts, temperatures of 150–300°C and pressures of several tens of atmospheres.</p> <p>Much work remains to translate the process to industrial scale. Currently, the energy efficiency of the process is only at 4%, meaning that out of 100 parts of energy available, only four parts are captured in the process. This is something the researchers are keen to push up towards around 15%.</p> <p>According to Allen, that’s still at the low end of the energy efficiency of current solar-to-electricity and solar-to-thermal energy generation. She says that efficiency is crucial when it comes to systems that use land area for solar collection (such as solar panels and the ETH Zurich tower’s reflectors): “A low efficiency will mean a large land area to generate the required fuel.”</p> <p>Where the CO2 comes from is also very important. At present, it’s injected into the system, but the next obvious step is to start capturing it directly from the air. At that point the fuel production process might be considered carbon neutral, as the amount of CO2 captured from the air is the same as the amount released during fuel combustion.</p> <p>Direct-from-air carbon dioxide capture comes at a cost, though. “There is a fairly major energy penalty for doing direct air capture, because it’s quite hard to filter out carbon dioxide from the rest of the gasses,” says Allen.</p> <p>Then there’s the carbon footprint related to the manufacture and production of equipment and materials, but Allen urges a long-term outlook: “In the system that we’re in at the moment there will be an emission penalty for the materials, however, in the long term, we’ll eventually be manufacturing these things using zero emission approaches.” This will make the whole process – and not just the fuel itself – carbon neutral.</p> <p>The average fuel consumption of a Boeing 747 (which are still used as long-haul cargo transport today) is around 4L per second. For a flight of 10 hours, this equates to 144,000L of fuel.</p> <p>In the future, EHT Zurich researchers will work to increase the system’s energy efficiency to 15%, capture more heat in the process and improve the ceria structures in the reactor in addition to capturing CO2 directly from the air. Their long-term aim is to scale the process to an industrial size – in which enough fuel can be produced to truly fly us into a carbon-neutral aviation future.</p> <p><em><strong>This article originally appeared on <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/science/carbon-neutral-travel-wont-cost-earth/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">cosmosmagazine.com</a> and was written by Clare Kenyon.</strong></em></p> <p><em>Image: Shutterstock</em></p>

Travel Trouble

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The stories behind the most mysterious places in the world

<p>There’s nothing like a good mystery, especially when it’s been unsolved for a very long time. These places are full of stories about spaceships, ghosts, disappearances, seemingly impossible archaeological finds and more. Researchers have tried to crack their secrets but can’t seem to agree on the answers.</p> <p>It’s no wonder. From the dancing lights of Marfa to the enormous stone blocks in the Giza Pyramids – some of these stories defy logical explanations. Are some places haunted by spirits or the landing sites of visitors from another world? Read on, and decide for yourself.</p> <p><strong>Marfa, Texas, USA</strong></p> <p>The first historical mention of the Marfa lights occurred in 1883 when a cowhand working in the area reported seeing dancing lights in the distance. He soon learned that local settlers frequently saw such lights, too. Native Americans reportedly attributed the phenomenon to fallen stars. What’s more, no one has any explanation for them.</p> <p>In modern times, people continue to report appearances of the Marfa lights. There’s even a viewing area 15 kilometres outside of Marfa for people who hope to get lucky enough to catch sight of them. They’ve been studied by the airforce, meteorologists and physicists who have yet to agree on an explanation for these mysterious glowing orbs. Some even attribute them to spaceships.</p> <p><strong>Nikumaroro Island</strong></p> <p>The pilot Amelia Earhart disappeared while attempting to fly around the world with her navigator, Fred Noonan in 1937. The pair radioed that they were out of fuel and disappeared without a trace. Although many believe they perished after crashing into the ocean others believe she was taken prisoner by the Japanese.</p> <p>One of the most credible theories is that Earhart and Noonan crashed on Gardner Island, now known as Nikumaroro Island. Possible evidence includes unidentified bones discovered on the uninhabited island. An empty jar of Earhart’s brand of skin cream was found there along with a piece of plexiglass that might have been part of her plane. The rest of the plane, however, was never found on Nikumaroro Island or anywhere else.</p> <p><strong>The Bermuda Triangle</strong></p> <p>In the western part of the North Atlantic Ocean, between Bermuda, Florida and Puerto Rico, lies the Bermuda Triangle, one of the <a href="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/travel/destinations/12-of-the-worlds-most-haunted-bodies-of-water" target="_blank" rel="noopener">world’s most haunted bodies of water.</a> Christopher Columbus sailed through it and reported seeing a great ball of fire crashing into the water. He also recorded mysterious lights in the distance and his compass reading inaccurately. In the 20th century, there were mysterious disappearances, including huge navy ships and airplanes flying above the area – all gone without a trace.</p> <p>Possible theories for these tragedies included aliens, sea monsters and time warps. In recent years, some scientists have theorised that there is probably no single reason for the phenomenon, blaming human error, bad weather and heavy sea and air traffic for the disappearances.</p> <p><strong>The Stanley Hotel, Colorado, USA</strong></p> <p>The Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, Colorado is one of the spookiest places people have spent the night. In fact, Stephen King was inspired to write his terrifying novel, <em>The Shining</em>, after staying there. The hotel has long been rumoured to be haunted and people have reported hearing the laughter of invisible children, flickering lights, spirits on the staircases and more.</p> <p>If you’re wondering why The Stanley doesn’t look like the hotel from the movie, that’s because the exteriors for the fictional Overlook in the movie version of <em>The Shining</em> were shot at The Timberline Lodge in Mount Hood, Oregon.</p> <p><strong>Nazca Lines, Peru</strong></p> <p>The Nazca Lines outside Lima, Peru, are so enormous they are best seen from the sky. This is startling given that they were believed to have been created between 100 BC and AD 700 – long before any known aircraft were invented. They are a series of designs up to 48 kilometres long depicting geometric shapes, animals, plants and lines.</p> <p>They were created by removing 30 to 38 centimetres of the rust-covered pebbles that cover the top layer of the area, unearthing the lighter colour soil below. The mystery is why they were created and who they expected to see them; theories have included messages to the gods, space aliens and ancient astronauts.</p> <p><strong>Pyramids of Giza</strong></p> <p>The Pyramids of Giza are an awe-inspiring sight, even in photographs. They are tombs built as the resting places of Egyptian kings approximately 4,500 years ago. No one knows exactly how they were built. The blocks on the Great Pyramid weigh 2.5 tons each, and the structure is 146 metres high.</p> <p>What’s more, many of the stones came from a quarry 804 kilometres away. Scientists and archaeologists have yet to agree or prove definitively how such heavy stones could have possibly been transported and put into place during ancient times.</p> <p><strong>Stonehenge in Salisbury, England </strong></p> <p>A circle of gigantic stones outside of Salisbury, England, no one knows exactly why the monument was built or how the heavy stones, some of which are nine metres tall and weigh 25 tons, were transported there in the first place.</p> <p>Some scientists believe Stonehenge is an ancient burial site dating back 4,000 to 5,000 years while others believe that the fatty residue found on ancient pottery shards at the site point to the fact that Stonehenge may have been used as an ancient feast site.</p> <p><strong>Lost City of Atlantis</strong></p> <p>The Lost City of Atlantis has captured the imagination of humankind for thousands of years even though there’s no real proof such a place ever existed. It was first written about by Plato in 360 BC who described a continent populated by wealthy people who had developed advanced military and technological capacities.</p> <p>Despite the fact that Plato’s stories about Atlantis were fictional, many people believe they were based on fact and have searched for proof the continent existed. So far, however, none have discovered it.</p> <p><strong>Roswell, New Mexico, USA</strong></p> <p>Many people believe that President Harry S. Truman covered up the fact that an alien space ship was recovered from a crash site in Roswell, New Mexico, as reported in 1947. The military quickly denied that reports a flying saucer was discovered were true, and said the wreckage was actually the remains of a weather balloon.</p> <p>De-classified reports later revealed that the remains were actually from a military surveillance balloon being developed to spy on the Russian military.</p> <p><strong>Racetrack Playa, Death Valley, California, USA</strong></p> <p>At first glance, Racetrack Playa in Death Valley, California might look like an ordinary dried-up lakebed. That is, until rocks, some of which weigh 317 kilograms, began to slide across the desert as if they’re being dragged by an invisible hand. No one knows when, or if, a particular rock will move. Some sit idle for more than a decade.</p> <p>In 2013, scientists were on-site and able to observe individual rocks moving for periods ranging from a few seconds to 16 minutes and theorised that it was caused by a shallow layer of water freezing at night and a light wind pushing the rocks as the ice begins to melt but this theory has yet to be proven definitively.</p> <p><strong>Loch Ness, Scotland</strong></p> <p>There’s no doubt that Scotland’s Loch Ness is a stunning lake. For 1,500 years, it’s been best known, however, as home to the Loch Ness Monster. In AD 500, pictures of a mysterious aquatic creature were even carved into the standing stones near the lake.</p> <p>The first written reference to the monster was in AD 565. In 1933, a couple claimed to have spotted the creature in the water, and yet another couple said they spotted it on land. Since then, researchers have tried unsuccessfully to prove the Loch Ness Monster exists, and is perhaps, an ancient whale or dinosaur that was erroneously believed to be extinct.</p> <p><strong>Bran Castle, Romania</strong></p> <p>Of all the spooky vampire legends all over the world, there is probably none more famous, or frightening, than the tale of Dracula, who first made in appearance in a novel written by Bram Stoker in 1897 and has since become part of popular culture. It is believed that Stoker based Dracula’s castle on descriptions of Bran’s Castle in Transylvania.</p> <p>In real life, villagers in the area believed evil immortal spirits haunted the area, hunting prey from midnight till dawn. Bran Castle still stands today, although whether or not malevolent ghosts roam the halls after midnight is up for debate.</p> <p><strong>Winchester Mystery House, San Jose, California, USA</strong></p> <p>Of all the infamous houses everyone should know, there is probably none more mysterious than the Winchester Mystery House, a mansion in San Jose, California. The home was built by Sarah Winchester, heiress to the Winchester Rifle Company fortune. When her husband and baby died, Winchester learned that she may have been the heir to something else: a terrible curse and the anger of vengeful spirits.</p> <p>A psychic told her her family was killed by ghosts of people killed by Winchester rifles who were seeking revenge. She spent the next 38 years building a large house with 160 rooms, confusing hallways and stairways leading to nowhere to trap these spirits. Many believe she continues to haunt the mansion to this day.</p> <p><strong>Crooked Forest, Poland</strong></p> <p>If you glance at photos of the Crooked Forest in Poland and you’ll immediately know where it gets its name – the approximately 400 pine trees that grow there have long curves at the bottom before pointing up to 15 metres towards the sky. The question, is, why? The trees were planted in 1930, but no one knows how why they are mysteriously crooked.</p> <p>Theories include unusual reactions to snowfall and possible intervention from local farmers in the years after the trees were planted for an unknown reason. Unfortunately, the nearby town of Gryfino was abandoned years ago and the townspeople took their secrets with them.</p> <p><strong>Machu Picchu</strong></p> <p>Built in the fifteenth century, the ruins of this ancient Incan city are one of the seven wonders of the world. No one is sure what the city’s purpose was. Some scientists believe it was a royal estate while others believe it was a religious site or even a trade hub. Perhaps the larger mystery is what happened to the people who once dwelled there since, at some point, Machu Picchu was abandoned approximately a century after it was built.</p> <p>This would have been after the arrival of the Spanish conquistadors, however, there’s no evidence they ever reached the site, causing many to theorise it might have been abandoned due to a smallpox outbreak. For many people, Machu Picchu is a bucket list trip they plan a year in advance.</p> <p><strong>Great Blue Hole, Belize</strong></p> <p>Belize is famously regarded as one of the best islands for retirement. It is also home to one of the under the radar gems found only in the Caribbean – the Great Blue Hole. This underwater sinkhole is over 122 metres deep and 300 metres from one side to the other and home to creatures like sharks and giant grouper.</p> <p>For years, no one was sure what was at the bottom of the Great Blue Hole but recent expeditions have allowed cameras into deeper waters than were previously possible, allowing scientists to get a glimpse of icicle-shaped mineral formations and mysterious, unidentified tracks at the floor of the hole. Hopefully, future expeditions will be able to tell us what kind of creature made them.</p> <p><strong>Fairy Circles of Namibia</strong></p> <p>The desert there is also the home of a mystery that has long puzzled scientists and explorers, known simply as the Fairy Circles of Namibia. They are bare, red circles of land where the brush that covers the rest of the terrain won’t grow.</p> <p>Local folklore says they are footprints of the gods or spots where dragon fire has scorched the earth. Although nothing is definitive, scientists have theorised in recent years there might be a less exciting explanation for the Fairy Circles, such as termites or weather patterns.</p> <p><strong>Easter Island, Chile</strong></p> <p>Easter Island, Chile (otherwise known by its original name of Rapa Nui) is one of <a href="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/travel/destinations/20-of-the-most-remote-places-on-earth" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the most remote places on Earth</a>. It’s located 3,700 kilometres from South America and 1,770 kilometres from the nearest island. Yet somehow, ancient people managed to build more than 1,000 heavy Moai statues there.</p> <p>Scientists and archaeologists still don’t know why the statues were erected in such a remote location, how they moved the heavy stones, or what happened to the people who built them and seemingly abandoned the island.</p> <p><strong>Aurora Cemetery, Texas, USA</strong></p> <p>The Aurora Cemetery may not be the oldest cemetery in Texas but it has the distinction of being the only one to claim they have a dead space alien buried there. In 1897 the Dallas Morning Newsreported that a spaceship had crash-landed near Aurora, killing its otherworldly pilot.</p> <p>Several people reportedly saw the spaceship before it collided with a windmill and the badly disfigured alien at the helm was affectionately nicknamed Ned and buried in the Aurora Cemetery.</p> <p><strong>Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum, West Virginia, USA</strong></p> <p>If you’re wondering where to spot a ghost in West Virginia, the Trans-Alleghany Lunatic Asylum is a good place to start. Located in Lewis County, West Virginia, the asylum operated between 1864 and 1994, was built for 240 patients but at one time, had up to 2,000 living there under deplorable conditions.</p> <p>Paranormal experts say the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum is a hotbed of otherworldly activity and many claims to have captured proof of the spirit world both on audio and on film within the walls of the asylum.</p> <p><strong>Ape Canyon, Washington, USA</strong></p> <p>One of the strangest facts about the US state of Washington is that you aren’t allowed to shoot Bigfoot there. That fact is less strange, however, when you consider the story of Ape Canyon. A group of gold prospectors claimed they were attacked by two-metre-tall creatures flinging boulders at them east of Mount St. Helens in 1924.</p> <p>The attack was reported by local papers in which the prospectors described the creatures as ape-like, with long black hair. Local rangers searched for proof of the attack and came up empty, but nevertheless the site was home to numerous sightings and large mysterious footprints for the years that followed.</p> <p><strong>Diquis Delta Region, Costa Rica</strong></p> <p>The Diquis Delta Region of Costa Rica is also home to the legendary stone spheres. Indiana Jones tries to escape from one of those spheres as it rolls towards him at the beginning of <em>Raiders of the Lost Ark</em>. There are over 300 known examples of the balls, some of which weigh up to 16 tons.</p> <p>No one knows why they were made or what they were used for. Sadly, the culture of the people who made them was lost after the Spanish Conquest so no stories were left behind to explain them.</p> <p><strong>Charleville Castle, Ireland</strong></p> <p>Some people dream of spending an enchanting night in a fairytale tale Irish castle, but a stay in Ireland’s Charleville Castle might turn out to be something of a nightmare since the castle is rumoured to be haunted by a small girl named Harriet who died on a castle staircase in 1861.</p> <p>People have heard her laughing, singing and even screaming there. Some even claim they’ve got evidence of her in photographs.</p> <p><strong>Area 51, Nevada</strong></p> <p>For many years, US agencies refused to confirm the secretive space in Nevada even existed and banned NASA from releasing satellite photographs of the area.</p> <p>Many have theorised the site houses a research facility, spaceships and aliens from outer space who have crash-landed on earth, although the government has always denied this.</p> <p><strong>Guanabara Bay, Brazil</strong></p> <p>One of the strangest unsolved mysteries of all time took place in Guanabara Bay, Brazil. In 1982, the remains of about 200 Roman jars from the third century were found about 24 kilometres offshore. This confused scholars since Europeans weren’t documented to have reached the area until the year 1500.</p> <p>Romans were not known to have sailed further than India at the time. Unfortunately, the answer may forever lie beneath the water since Brazil closed the area to research and exploration shortly thereafter to prevent looting.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p> <p><em>This article originally appeared on <a href="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/true-stories-lifestyle/history/the-stories-behind-the-most-mysterious-places-in-the-world?pages=1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reader's Digest</a>. </em></p>

International Travel

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Common mistakes and insider secrets from all over the globe

<p dir="ltr">You may be trying your best to act like a local in a new city and yes, it’s natural to make a few faux-pas here and there. Fortunately, with a little research and some insider insights, you can avoid a repeat of these accidents. </p> <p dir="ltr">In an effort to do just that, one traveller took to the online forum Reddit and asked locals to share common mistakes visitors make. The topic sure was popular, with over 6,700 comments made by those around the globe and here’s what a few of them had to say.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Underestimating how expensive the cost of living is in Norway. I’ve seen jaws drop when tourists discover the price of the two beers they ordered.”</p> <p dir="ltr">—u/TheYoupi</p> <p dir="ltr">Visiting Oxford? Don’t ask a local where Oxford University is. “The university is spread all throughout the town – to the extent where the town is basically a big uni campus. Different colleges have different buildings, and it’s not like the US where they’re all in a singular central location. </p> <p dir="ltr">—u/jumpedunderjumpman</p> <p dir="ltr">“Underestimating the size of Australia. No, you can’t do a day trip to Cairns from Brisbane. That’s like a two day drive. Even driving to Sydney from Brisbane would take you 12 hours.”</p> <p dir="ltr">—u/trumpstinyhandssayhi</p> <p dir="ltr">“In Iceland, people don’t realise how expensive everything is here, especially going out to eat. If you’re going to a restaurant, expect $30–50 entrees everywhere. Mix in some cheap street food (like Icelandic hot dogs) or find accommodations with a kitchen so you can cook.”</p> <p dir="ltr">—u/DonkeyDD</p> <p dir="ltr">“They say “Gracias” instead of “Obrigado”. Portugal doesn’t speak Spanish.”</p> <p dir="ltr">—u/ tochasHD</p> <p dir="ltr">“People come to the US expecting to see too much in one visit. Unless you’re prepared to shell out thousands of dollars on very co-ordinated flights, you aren’t going to see the Statue of Liberty, the Grand Canyon, the Alamo, Hollywood and Yosemite Park all in one week. It’s a big country, so pick a few states and stick to that.”</p> <p dir="ltr">—u/deleted</p> <p dir="ltr">“They trust taxi drivers in Greece. When you’re in my home country, never trust them. You’re just asking to be overcharged. Stick to renting a car or, at the very least, ask a local for typical cab prices before you get in the car.”</p> <p dir="ltr">—u/I_hate_traveling</p> <p dir="ltr">“Bringing winter clothes in the middle of summer. Some people don’t realise that southern Canada actually gets quite warm in July (25-35 C). It’s only permasnow up north.”</p> <p dir="ltr">—u/xarrenJhuud</p> <p dir="ltr">“They ask: ‘I’m going to Oslo, what’s your best advice for seeing the northern lights?’ Oslo is too far south to be a reliable destination to see the Northern Lights.”</p> <p dir="ltr">—u/SalSomer</p> <p dir="ltr">“When you sit down to eat in a restaurant in Portugal, the waiter will usually bring you bread, olives, or some other snacks. I always see tourists get mad when they are charged for eating these seemingly ‘free’ snacks, but that’s just how things work here. If you eat it, expect to pay for it. If you don’t touch it, your waiter will take it away and pretend like [they] never existed.”</p> <p dir="ltr">—u/BaiRuoBing</p> <p dir="ltr">“Tourists visiting London think the Royal Guard in London are just men in silly hats that are not allowed to move. Actually, they’re military men who will absolutely knock you out if you mess with them.”</p> <p dir="ltr">—u/LeahUK</p> <p dir="ltr">“I am from Houston. Best advice for BBQ is to get out of the cities and just pull over to random BBQ joints you see on the side of the road. I’ve found that the best BBQ is in the middle of nowhere.”</p> <p dir="ltr">—u/SodaCanBob</p> <p dir="ltr">“In Canada, don’t you dare try to put ketchup on our poutine. Look, I’m a huge ketchup fan, but poutine is already covered in gravy and cheese curds, ketchup doesn’t belong anywhere near it.”</p> <p dir="ltr">—u/RupeThereItIs</p> <p dir="ltr">“Tourists visiting Los Angeles always underestimate the time it’ll take to get from point A to point B. Our traffic is terrible, and you should add 30 minutes to an hour whenever you want to drive anywhere.”</p> <p dir="ltr">—aimeecurameng</p> <p dir="ltr">“People always visit Hong Kong thinking it’s a cheap South Asian destination like Thailand. Yeah … not so much. Hong Kong is pricey. It’s an amazing place to visit if you have some cash, but not so much for backpackers on a strict budget.”</p> <p dir="ltr">—u/DongLaiCha</p> <p dir="ltr">“Most tourists who go to Marrakesh book a hotel room, but you should really stay in a riad (a traditional Moroccan house built around a garden) rather than at a hotel or hostel. Riads are a big part of the Marrakech experience. It’s unique and the hospitality is awesome. Usually the staff or owners can show you around the chaotic and bustling medina, which is especially helpful.”</p> <p dir="ltr">—u/abedmcnulty</p> <p dir="ltr">“Lots of visitors will only visit London, but the U.K. has great seaside towns like Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, and more that are well worth a visit. British seaside holidays have a unique charm that you won’t find in the city.”</p> <p dir="ltr">—u/FloppyEaredDog</p> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 2.04; background-color: #ffffff; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 18pt;"><em> Image: Getty</em></p>

Travel Tips

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Last people in the world to know: Big Brother casts across the globe learn about coronavirus

<p>While the rest of the world is dealing with the onslaught of COVID-19, Germany’s <em>Big Brother</em> contestants have been left in the dark as their country comes to grips with major shutdown measures.</p> <p>They will finally learn about the coronavirus epidemic that has caused unprecedented lockdowns across Europe on live TV.</p> <p>The group of 14 men and women, who have been isolated since February 6 in a property sitting in Cologne, western Germany, are currently undergoing in the country’s 13<sup>th</sup> season of the reality TV show.</p> <p>When they left for the show and officially cut themselves off, the news of the surprising virus was only just beginning to trickle into mainstream media from Wuhan, China.</p> <p>All contestants have been left unaware of any of the updates concerning the virus, except for the four new housemates introduced to the show on March 6 – just three days before the country would announce its first death from coronavirus.</p> <p>On the outside, the <em>Big Brother</em> show producers have been forced to respond to backlash concerning their decision to not update the housemates of the pandemic occurring on the outside world.</p> <p>They told German newspaper <em><a href="https://www.sueddeutsche.de/medien/big-brother-coronavirus-1.4841941">Süddeutsche Zeitung</a> </em>that sharing information was not part of their “blackout” restrictions and would only be lifted in rare circumstances, including family member’s illness.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">Some pictures from Big Brother Germany's live coronavirus special - a few housemates have shed tears but they're generally keeping their composure. The doctor spoke to them at length and is now taking their questions <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BBDE?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BBDE</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BigBrother?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BigBrother</a> <a href="https://t.co/CayT9HgERj">pic.twitter.com/CayT9HgERj</a></p> — bbspy (@bbspy) <a href="https://twitter.com/bbspy/status/1239979540002361345?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 17, 2020</a></blockquote> <p>They also told reporters the show was undertaking “special hygiene measures” to protect residents from infections – They did not go into detail on what those measures were.</p> <p>However, the show’s producers decided to change their tune and announced a live special episode where they would tell housemates about the worrying crisis.</p> <p>The popular global reality TV franchise told German, Brazilian, Canadian and Australian contestants of the news after being cut off from their contact with the outside world.</p> <p>"Big Brother will give all contestants the latest information about COVID-19 in Germany and the whole world tonight," a German spokesperson for the broadcaster<em> Sat.1 </em>told <em>CNN</em>.</p> <p>"The first contestants had been cut off from the outside world in preparation for the show on February, 6th. Theoretically they could know about the virus outbreak in Wuhan/China but don't know anything about the current situation in Germany," the spokesperson added.</p> <p>Brazil’s <em>Big Brother</em> followed a similar format of Canada’s version by pausing feeds over the weekend and updating contestants on the show of the coronavirus outbreak.</p> <p>Australia is filming their own version of the show in Sydney’s North. As reported by <em>Yahoo News</em>, it is believed the contestants entered the house three weeks ago – a week before the virus was declared a global pandemic on March 11 and cases skyrocketed in Australia.</p> <p>According to Channel 7, the cast has been updated on the situation and production is ongoing.</p> <p> </p>

TV

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Nicole Kidman, Russell Crowe, Margot Robbie and Toni Collette in Oscars contention after SAG awards nod

<p>The Hollywood award season continues on and this year will once again acknowledge Australia’s A-listers, with Nicole Kidman, Margot Robbie, Russell Crowe and Toni Collette nominated for Screen Actors Guild Awards.</p> <p>The SAG Awards are one part of ceremonies that occur before the Oscars, and nominations provide a significant boost to actors' campaigns.</p> <p>Voters snubbed Kidman in the lead actress in a TV drama series category for her TV show<span> </span><em>Big Little Lies.</em></p> <p>It came as one of the biggest surprises on Wednesday during the SAG nomination ceremony.</p> <p>However, she received a supporting actress nod for her role in<span> </span><em>Bombshell</em>,<span> </span>a movie that centered on sexual harassment at US news channel<span> </span><em>Fox News.</em></p> <p>Kidman will go head to head with her <em>Bombshell</em> co-star Margot Robbie in the SAG category.</p> <p>The Australian actress is in the running for SAG’s top award along with Robbie and the rest of the<span> </span><em>Bombshell</em> cast, including Malcolm McDowell.</p> <p>McDowell played Rupert Murdoch in the film.</p> <p>Kidman also received a nomination with her <em>Big Little Lies</em> cast in the TV drama series ensemble category.</p> <p>New Zealand-born actor, Russell Crowe, has received a nod in the outstanding actor in a TV movie/limited series category for <em>The Loudest Voice</em>, which follows closely behind his Golden Globe nomination.</p> <p>The actor, who recently opened up about the<span> </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/news/news/heartbroken-russell-crowe-shows-bushfire-damage-to-multimillion-dollar-property" target="_blank">damage done to his multimillion-dollar property due to the NSW and QLD bushfires</a>, plays <em>Fox News</em> boss Roger Ailes.</p> <p>Toni Collette received a nomination in the outstanding actress TV movie/limited series category for her role in<span> </span><em>Unbelievable</em>.</p> <p>Unfortunately, Kidman was snubbed for a supporting actor nod for<span> </span><em>Bombshell </em>at the Golden Globe nominations but did receive a nod for<span> </span><em>Big Little Lies.</em></p> <p>Robbie, Crowe and Collette all received the same Globe nominations  as they did with SAG in the same categories.</p> <p>The SAG Award winners will be announced on January 19 in Los Angeles.</p> <p>Scroll through the gallery to see the Australian A-listers. </p>

Movies

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Kris Kristofferson and The Strangers are returning to the stage for a whopping 15 shows

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Legendary country music star Kris Kristofferson has made Aussie country fans very happy with the announcement of his new tour. The </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Kris Kristofferson &amp; The Strangers</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"> tour kicks off in Adelaide on September 17</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">th</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"> before heading up on the east coast.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Kristofferson has accomplished a lot in his lifetime, including recording over 30 albums through his career and becoming a three-time Grammy award winner.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">For fans who might’ve seen him in the past, Kristofferson has decided to perform lately in a solo acousting setting which puts the focus back on his wide range of songs.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Some popular tracks include, </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">A Moment of Forever (1995), The Austin Sessions (1999) and Closer to the Bone (2009).</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Many fans will have become familiar with him after his Golden Globe award winning performance in the 1976 version of </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">A Star is Born</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"> with Barbara Streisand. The pair recently reunited back in April.</span></p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/BvzfmmlnR6s/" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;"><a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BvzfmmlnR6s/" target="_blank">It was so wonderful to see my friend Kris who stopped by yesterday. Stay tuned...😉</a></p> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">A post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/barbrastreisand/" target="_blank"> Barbra Streisand</a> (@barbrastreisand) on Apr 3, 2019 at 12:09pm PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Kristofferson has taken a more intimate approach to his concerts as of late, as he has been touring for more than thirty years.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">"There's an honesty in the sparseness. It feels like direct communication to the listener," he says. "I still have more fun when I'm with the band, but being alone is freer, somehow. It's like being an old blues guy, just completely stripped away.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">However, Kristofferson will be accompanied on stage by </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Strangers</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">, who are best known as the back-up band for singer-songwriter Merle Haggard.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The 83-year-old has shown no signs of slowing down with this 17-date tour, and music fans will not want to miss the opportunity to see this Country Music Hall of Fame singer and The Strangers perform live on stage.</span></p> <p><a href="http://kriskristofferson.com/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Tickets are now on sale.</span></a></p>

Music

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Nicole Kidman's dramatic red carpet look at the Golden Globes

<p>Nicole Kidman opted for a dramatic red carpet look as she attended the Golden Globes with her husband, Keith Urban.</p> <p>Choosing to go with a figure hugging burgundy gown by Michael Kors, the Academy Award winner accessorised her look with a pair of dazzling earrings and a matching clutch.</p> <p>The<span> </span><em>Big Little Lies</em><span> </span>star made sure the attention was solely on the dress, as her hair was pinned in a soft updo, tied with a simple black bow.</p> <p>Her makeup appeared to be fresh as she chose to go with a bright red lip to compliment the look.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img style="width: 349.8333333333333px; height: 500px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7822638/full-shot.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/78a37ee7fbac4a229c062a786bc73ef4" /></p> <p>Nicole and Keith gave everyone couple envy as they attended the awards show together.</p> <p>The pair, who tied the knot 12 years ago, looked to be completely in love with each other as they appeared on the red carpet and were spotted sitting amongst the star-studded audience.</p> <p>Fans watching the awards show at home became completely obsessed with the couple’s public display of affection.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7822640/nickeith.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/b12c32347f2a4099b593d2c701879ed9" /></p> <p>Taking to Twitter, users titled the Aussie starlet and her New Zealand born singer husband as the most “adorable” couple in attendance.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en-gb"> <p dir="ltr">One of my favorite things about the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GoldenGlobes?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GoldenGlobes</a> is watching <a href="https://twitter.com/KeithUrban?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@KeithUrban</a> and Nicole Kidman being adorable and couple-y front and center in the audience.</p> — Heather (@hdt32) <a href="https://twitter.com/hdt32/status/1082110702406549510?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">7 January 2019</a></blockquote> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en-gb"> <p dir="ltr">Can we talk about how adorable Keith Urban and Nicole Kidman are at the Golden Globes</p> — Anna Dickens (@annadickens17) <a href="https://twitter.com/annadickens17/status/1082110566993481729?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">7 January 2019</a></blockquote> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en-gb"> <p dir="ltr">just saw keith urban with his hand on nicole kidman’s leg and went “aw.” the golden globes are a success</p> — malice poppins 🗯 (@galifianapkins) <a href="https://twitter.com/galifianapkins/status/1082108314010439680?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">7 January 2019</a></blockquote> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en-gb"> <p dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/KeithUrban?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@KeithUrban</a> and Nicole Kidman’s love transcends everything. Watching them on the <a href="https://twitter.com/goldenglobes?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@goldenglobes</a> he has his hand on her shoulder or around her chair close to her. I love these two ❤️</p> — Deb Meissner ♥☮♥ (@dgm2) <a href="https://twitter.com/dgm2/status/1082083711317729283?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">7 January 2019</a></blockquote> <p>Nicole, who was nominated for Best Actress for her performance in<span> </span><em>Destroyer</em>, lost to Glenn Close, for<span> </span><em>The Wife</em><span> </span>but she didn’t let that dampen her spirits.</p> <p>This isn’t the first time Nicole and Keith have put on a loved-up display, as the Kiwi country singer is always by the actress’s side during award season.</p> <p>Nicole is also regularly spotted supporting Keith as she attended the ARIAs last year which he hosted.</p>

Movies

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Can you spot the error in this world map

<p>Well, we’re all accustomed to seeing maps of the Earth, but there’s something a little bit amiss with this one. Can you spot what’s wrong with the map in this picture?</p> <p><img width="499" height="375" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/25289/globe-in-text-one_499x375.jpg" alt="Globe In Text One" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/></p> <p>In terms of size and shape it looks pretty similar for the real thing.</p> <p>But there’s a bit problem with the labelling.</p> <p><img width="499" height="375" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/25290/globe-in-text-two_499x375.jpg" alt="Globe In Text Two" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/></p> <p>Russia, Greenland, Canada, Brazil and Australia are all labelled incorrectly! </p> <p>In case you're wondering, this is how it's supposed to look. </p> <p><img width="499" height="375" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/25291/world-map-two-in-text_499x375.jpg" alt="World Map Two In Text" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/></p> <p>This image was first shared by <a href="http://www.playbuzz.com/" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Playbuzz</strong></span></a>, and only 10 per cent of the people taking it are able to spot the error correctly the first time. So if you did you’re in elite company!</p> <p>Did you notice the problem? How long did it take you to get the hint. </p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/travel/travel-tips/2016/08/is-it-safe-to-travel-to-france/"><em>Is it safe to travel to France?</em></a></strong></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/travel/travel-tips/2016/08/5-sounds-you-hear-on-the-plane-explained/"><em>5 strange sounds you hear during a flight explained</em></a></strong></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/travel/travel-tips/2016/08/secret-way-to-raise-the-armrest-on-your-aisle-seat/"><em>There is a secret way to raise the armrest on your aisle seat</em></a></strong></span></p>

Travel Tips

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89-year-old becomes tech-savvy master to connect with family across the globe

<p>Technology seems to be moving at such a breakneck pace these days, keeping up with it all can sometimes feel like a fruitless exercise. But, if today’s story is anything to go by, with a little bit of gumption it’s never too late to learn (and master) a new skill.</p> <p>Neville Hewitt, an 89-year-old former engineering pattern maker in Glenroy, is currently top of the class in a digital literacy and online social skills course.  </p> <p>Hewitt signed up to the course at his local Neighbourhood Learning Centre two years ago to reboot his computer skills, and he hasn’t missed a single beat.</p> <p>Hewitt initially signed up to help him communicate with family around the world, telling <a href="http://www.heraldsun.com.au/" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Herald Sun</strong></span></a>, “Communication is the thing I was interested in... that was my first thought.”</p> <p>He now uses Skype to talk to his brother in New Zealand and is regularly in contact with his cousin in Wales and his nephew in England that he reaches through email.</p> <p>“It’s good to be able to reach them regularly and easily,” Mr Hewitt said.</p> <p>Hewitt has also combined his newfound computer skills with his natural talent for craftsmanship, building an American-style steel guitar from a design he researched online.</p> <p>“I’m in a senior citizens’ choir and they told me to stop bringing my other ones and just bring the steel one in because they liked it so much,” he said.</p> <p>Glenroy Neighbourhood Learning Centre teacher Shruti Malavde said seniors were increasingly reaping the benefits of computer literacy, “The best thing they find is finding their own friends (on social media) and talking to them. It brings back a lot of memories, which they really enjoy.”</p> <p>Have you taken a course to increase your computer literacy? Would you be in anyway interested in doing so? Let us know in the comments. </p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong><a href="/news/news/2016/07/photo-of-ghost-in-car-crash/">Ghost appears at site of car crash</a></strong></em></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><a href="/news/news/2016/07/grandparents-share-secrets-to-a-happy-marriage/"><strong>Grandparents share their adorable 5 secrets to a happy marriage</strong></a></em></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><a href="/news/news/2016/07/watch-this-toddler-flawlessly-mimic-a-rocky-training-montage/"><strong>Toddler perfectly mimics Rocky training montage</strong></a></em></span></p>

News

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Bride and groom tour the globe in their wedding outfits

<p>Ever look at old travel photos and cringe at what you wore? Well, we certainly hope that doesn’t happen to this couple, who toured the world in their wedding outfits!</p> <p>The anonymous couple posted the unconventional travel photos to <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/wedding/comments/4myus0/my_husband_and_i_did_a_little_something_different/" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Reddit</span></strong></a> with the caption, “my husband and I did a little something different for our wedding photos.” Different, indeed! The pair, who confess they fell in love while travelling, packed up their wedding dress and suit and set off around the world – just the two of them, no professional photographers needed.</p> <p>“We didn't take pictures every day or even every location just when we thought it called for it,” the bride says of their two-month journey through Europe and Africa. “The wedding dress and suit were stuffed in a drawstring bag and carried on days we thought we would take a pic.”</p> <p>Take a look at the gorgeous photos in the gallery above. Certainly a honeymoon to remember!</p> <p>Tell us in the comment section below, where did you go on your honeymoon?</p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><a href="/news/news/2016/06/15-incredible-photos-of-baby-animals-in-the-womb/"><strong><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;">15 incredible photos of baby animals in the womb</span></em></strong></a></p> <p><a href="/travel/international/2016/06/10-of-the-best-travel-photos-from-2016-so-far/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>10 of the best travel photos from 2016 so far</strong></em></span></a></p> <p><a href="/travel/international/2016/06/peek-into-lindsay-walker-travel-photography-book/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>A peek into an over-60’s travel photography book</strong></em></span></a></p>

International Travel

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