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Dramatic rescue of hikers stranded overnight in Alpine Region

In a heart-stopping ordeal captured on video, two hikers were airlifted to safety after spending a harrowing night stranded in Victoria's remote Alpine Region. The dramatic rescue unfolded on Mount Bogong, one of Australia's highest peaks, highlighting both the beauty and dangers of wilderness exploration. The two hikers, aged 63 and 71, had embarked on what they likely anticipated as a routine trek through the rugged terrain of the Alpine Region. However, as evening descended, their situation took a perilous turn. Recognising the need for assistance, they reached out to emergency services, prompting a swift response from the police Air Wing and Search and Rescue Squad. Navigating treacherous landscapes requires both skill and intuition, and it appears that these experienced hikers may have underestimated the challenges posed by Mount Bogong's unforgiving environment. Despite their best efforts, they found themselves stranded, facing a night of uncertainty amidst the wilderness. Thankfully, the Search and Rescue Squad quickly established communication with the stranded hikers, assessing their situation and determining that they possessed sufficient supplies and experience to endure the night. While undoubtedly a daunting experience, the hikers remained composed, awaiting the dawn and the arrival of their rescuers. As the first light broke over the Alpine peaks, a plan was set in motion to extract the hikers from their precarious situation. With precision and expertise, the police Air Wing and Search and Rescue Squad orchestrated a daring helicopter rescue operation. Against the backdrop of Mount Bogong's majestic slopes, the helicopter descended, its rotor blades slicing through the crisp mountain air. The video footage captured the tension and relief as the hikers were carefully winched to safety, lifted from the wilderness that had held them captive. Once aboard the helicopter, they were swiftly transported to solid ground, where awaiting ambulance paramedics ensured their well-being. Images: Victoria Police

Travel Trouble

Why you need to stop charging your phone overnight

You charge your phone all night Waking up to a fully charged phone may seem like a great way to start the day, but leaving your device plugged in overnight is a bad idea. When a phone has reached 100 per cent charge, it will continue to get trickle charges to keep it topped up at 100 percent. These extra charges keep the battery working non-stop. In fact, it’s better not to fully charge lithium-ion batteries because high voltage stresses the battery and wears it out over time, according to technology company Cadex. You use vibrations for notifications Your phone, like any other tool or device, ages and loses effectiveness the more you use it, says David Steele, the Director of Business Development for EverydayPhone. So little extras, like vibrating notifications, are habits that make your phone’s job harder. “The issue with these habits essentially boils down to having your phone constantly running at full capacity when it’s unnecessary,” Steele says. “Just like us, a phone needs a break to avoid burning out.” You keep apps open that you're not using Unused apps can eat up the battery life of smartphones, according to Andrew Moore-Crispin, the Director of Content at Ting Mobile. “If you open an app once and never use it again, the app might still run in the background,” he says. Swiping out of apps you aren’t using or no longer need is an easy solution. Moore-Crispin says doing so extends the battery life of your phone while also freeing up valuable storage space, too. You allow unnecessary permissions Ride-sharing apps need your location to pick you up, but other apps might not need this permission. Moore-Crispin suggests you be picky about which apps you grant such permissions to and take away permissions you deem unnecessary. You have one of these apps The apps that drain your battery the most are Snapchat, Google Maps, Netflix, Amazon, and Facebook, according to AdWeek. The Guardian found that uninstalling the Facebook mobile app from Android phones saves people up to 20 percent of their battery life. If you also get rid of the FB Messenger app, other app load times could speed up by 15 per cent, per the Guardian. The reason Facebook particularly kills battery life is because it keeps running in the background – even when you’re not using it, Business Insider reports. Your screen is always extremely bright Gone are the days of tiny phone screens, but before you give the thumbs up emoji, understand how the bigger screens of today can be a phone battery’s worst enemy, according to Moore-Crispin. Make sure you turn on adaptive brightness in the display menu. This change means your phone will automatically adjust the screen brightness to match your environment. As a bonus, set the brightness level to the lowest possible and lower your screen’s timeout, which is what determines how long it stays lit before fading when it goes idle. You keep your phone out at the beach Extreme heat or extreme cold temperatures and other weather conditions can shorten the life of your phone. According to Time, excess heat can cause everything from data loss or corruption to battery leakage. Cold weather presents just as many issues. In cold temperatures, some smartphones shut off, have display problems, or run out of battery; in rare cases screens may shatter. You keep your phone in your bed or under your pillow Tucking your phone under your pillow when you sleep is another way to shorten its life, thanks to heat build-up. You don't keep your software up to date utting off device updates does more harm than good for your phone. iPhone and Android makers push updates to make your user experience better and so that your phone functions properly. These updates come with extra benefits, too. In fact, if your device has a weak battery or other issues, these software updates could remedy them, Popular Science reports. Make sure to keep up with app-specific updates as well. Image credits: Getty Images This article originally appeared on <a href="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/home-tipsscience-technology/why-you-need-to-stop-charging-your-phone-overnight" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reader's Digest</a>.

Technology

Renaming obesity won’t fix weight stigma overnight. Here’s what we really need to do

<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/ravisha-jayawickrama-1457644">Ravisha Jayawickrama</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/curtin-university-873">Curtin University</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/blake-lawrence-1452739">Blake Lawrence</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/curtin-university-873">Curtin University</a>, and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/briony-hill-1041619">Briony Hill</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/monash-university-1065">Monash University</a> The stigma that surrounds people living in larger bodies is pervasive and deeply affects the people it’s directed at. It’s been described as one of the last acceptable <a href="https://theconversation.com/how-australias-discrimination-laws-and-public-health-campaigns-perpetuate-fat-stigma-80471">forms of</a> <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6592337">discrimination</a>. Some researchers think the term “obesity” itself is part of the problem, and are calling for a <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27967229/">name change</a> to reduce stigma. They’re <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/obr.13590">proposing</a> “adipose-based chronic disease” instead. We study the stigma that surrounds obesity – around the time of <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/obr.13147">pregnancy</a>, among <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/oby.23266">health professionals</a> and health <a href="https://www.thelancet.com/journals/eclinm/article/PIIS2589-5370(23)00071-8/fulltext">students</a>, and in <a href="https://www.phrp.com.au/issues/october-2022-volume-32-issue-3/weight-stigma-in-australia/">public health</a> more widely. Here’s what’s really needed to reduce weight stigma. <h2>Weight stigma is common</h2> Up to <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26596238/">42% of adults</a> living in larger bodies experience weight stigma. This is when others have negative beliefs, attitudes, assumptions and judgements towards them, unfairly viewing them as lazy, and lacking in willpower or self-discipline. People in larger bodies experience <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1038/oby.2008.636">discrimination</a> in many areas, including in the workplace, intimate and family relationships, education, health care and the media. Weight stigma is associated with <a href="https://bmcmedicine.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12916-018-1116-5">harms</a> including increased cortisol levels (the main stress hormone in the body), negative body image, increased weight gain, and poor mental health. It leads to decreased uptake of, and quality of, health care. Weight stigma may even pose a <a href="https://bmcmedicine.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12916-018-1116-5">greater threat</a> to someone’s health than increasing body size. <h2>Should we rename obesity?</h2> Calls to remove or rename health conditions or identifications to reduce stigma are not new. For example, in the 1950s homosexuality was classed as a “<a href="https://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/doi/10.1176/appi.ajp-rj.2022.180103">sociopathic personality disturbance</a>”. Following many years of protests and activism, the term and condition <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4695779/">were removed</a> from the globally recognised classification of mental health disorders. In recent weeks, European researchers have renamed non-alcoholic fatty liver disease “metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease”. This occurred after <a href="https://www.bmj.com/content/382/bmj.p1587">up to 66%</a> of health-care professionals surveyed felt the terms “non-alcoholic” and “fatty” to be stigmatising. Perhaps it is finally time to follow suit and rename obesity. But is “adiposity-based chronic disease” the answer? <h2>A new name needs to go beyond BMI</h2> There are two common ways people view obesity. First, most people use the term for people with a body-mass index (BMI) of 30kg/m² or above. Most, if not all, public health organisations also use BMI to categorise obesity and <a href="https://www.thelancet.com/journals/eclinm/article/PIIS2589-5370(22)00138-9/fulltext">make assumptions</a> about health. However, BMI alone is not enough to accurately summarise someone’s health. It does not account for muscle mass and <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/obesity/downloads/bmiforpactitioners.pdf">does not provide</a> information about the distribution of body weight or adipose tissue (body fat). A high BMI can occur <a href="https://theconversation.com/using-bmi-to-measure-your-health-is-nonsense-heres-why-180412">without</a> biological indicators of poor health. Second, obesity is sometimes used to describe the condition of excess weight when mainly <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/obr.13590">accompanied by</a> metabolic abnormalities. To simplify, this reflects how the body has adapted to the environment in a way that makes it more susceptible to health risks, with excess weight a by-product of this. Renaming obesity “adiposity-based chronic disease” acknowledges the chronic metabolic dysfunction associated with what we currently term obesity. It also avoids labelling people purely on body size. <h2>Is obesity a disease anyway?</h2> “Adiposity-based chronic disease” is an acknowledgement of a disease state. Yet there is still no universal consensus on whether obesity is a disease. Nor is there clear agreement on the definition of “disease”. People who take a biological-dysfunction approach to disease <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25336733/">argue</a> dysfunction occurs when physiological or psychological systems don’t do what they’re supposed to. By this definition, obesity may <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37279872/">not be classified as a disease</a> until after harm from the additional weight occurs. That’s because the excess weight itself may not initially be harmful. Even if we do categorise obesity as a disease, there may still be value in renaming it. Renaming obesity may improve public understanding that while obesity is often associated with an increase in BMI, the increased BMI itself is not the disease. This change could move the focus from obesity and body size, to a more nuanced understanding and discussion of the biological, environmental, and lifestyle factors <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/obr.13590">associated</a> with it. <h2>Workshopping alternatives</h2> Before deciding to rename obesity, we need discussions between obesity and stigma experts, health-care professionals, members of the public, and crucially, <a href="https://www.phrp.com.au/issues/october-2022-volume-32-issue-3/weight-stigma-in-australia/">people living with obesity</a>. Such discussions can ensure robust evidence informs any future decisions, and proposed new terms are not also stigmatising. <h2>What else can we do?</h2> Even then, renaming obesity may not be enough to reduce the stigma. Our constant exposure to the socially-defined and acceptable idealisation of smaller bodies (the “thin ideal”) and the pervasiveness of weight stigma means this stigma is deeply ingrained at a societal level. Perhaps true reductions in obesity stigma may only come from a societal shift – away from the focus of the “thin ideal” to one that acknowledges health and wellbeing can occur at a range of body sizes.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/209224/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/ravisha-jayawickrama-1457644">Ravisha Jayawickrama</a>, PhD candidate, School of Population Health, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/curtin-university-873">Curtin University</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/blake-lawrence-1452739">Blake Lawrence</a>, Lecturer, Curtin School of Population Health, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/curtin-university-873">Curtin University</a>, and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/briony-hill-1041619">Briony Hill</a>, Deputy Head, Health and Social Care Unit and Senior Research Fellow, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/monash-university-1065">Monash University</a> Image credits: Shutterstock This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/renaming-obesity-wont-fix-weight-stigma-overnight-heres-what-we-really-need-to-do-209224">original article</a>.

Body

Tragedy strikes family as little boy dies on first overnight school camp

The Victorian family of Cooper Onyett, who died during a school camp are demanding answers for his death. Little Cooper passed away at the Belfast Aquatics pool in Port Fairy on Friday during his very first overnight school camp. His mother Skye says she is still waiting for answers over what happened to her eight-year-old boy. A GoFundMe page has been set up, and in just three days, Cooper’s death has raised almost $90,000. “Cooper was a wonderful, adorable, cheeky boy who put a smile on everyone’s face that he met!” a family member wrote. “Our hearts are shattered. Love you always Cooper. “You will forever be loved and missed more than words can say!” <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7841395/school-boy-death-2.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/5fe3528178ba4e4586b07b34ed0c2282" /> On Sunday, Stawell Soccer Club held a minute’s silence to pay their respects to Cooper and his family. The pool has been closed since Friday and counselling has been held for staff. “On behalf of the management committee at Belfast Aquatics, we send our sincerest condolences to the family and friends of the boy who tragically lost his life on Friday while swimming at our pool,” Belfast Aquatics Committee of Management Chairperson Anne McIlroy said in a statement. “This is a very difficult time for everyone, and as a committee we are rallying around the staff at Belfast Aquatics who are inconsolable about what has occurred. “Counselling sessions are being held today for both the pool staff and members of the public who were at the pool at the time of this tragic accident.” The coroner is investigating. Images: Facebook / 7News

Caring

Woman develops new accent overnight

Though Angie Yen has never been to Ireland or any immediate family from there, the Brisbane dentist claims to have woken up one day with an Irish accent. The 27-year-old believes she has foreign accent syndrome, a isolating and uncommon speech disorder. What is foreign accent syndrome? The condition, typically triggered by a head injury, stroke, or brain damage, impairs a person’s ability to control the muscles used to produce speech. The result of this is that people can appear to develop what sounds like a foreign accent overnight - despite never speaking with that accent before, nor mixing with people who do or spending time abroad. But, Angie hasn’t suffered a stroke, head injury, or brain damage, so experts say her case isn’t so simple. Instead, the accent change came about following tonsil surgery. “I didn’t have any issues with talking or eating or anything like that, if anything the throat was ust very, very sore,” she told 7NEWS.com.au. “Everything was normal, I was just on painkillers, so I was living life normally. There was nothing out of the ordinary.” Ten days after the surgery, while singing in the shower hours before a job interview, she noticed something strange. “I was singing notes that I didn’t think I could hit before, even though my throat was quite sore. I knew something wasn’t right.” When she spoke, her voice didn’t sound like hers either. “I was very shocked … I called up one of my friends who had travelled all over the world and asked where my accent is from. He said - you sound like you’re Irish,” she said. While she hasn’t been formally diagnosed with the condition, her primary doctor says her symptoms sound like they match. “He referred me to get some scans for an MRI and also some blood tests to rule out anything underlying that could be going on,” Angie said. The thing that has Angie, her doctors, and experts baffled is that the change didn’t occur until 10 days after surgery. Spreading awareness Though Angie has led a very private life, she has decided to document her journey spreading awareness about the condition on TikTok. “I felt that somewhere in the world someone might wake up with this one day and just feel as lost, alone, and isolated as I am,” she said. “I hope by spreading awareness and letting people know that this is a serious health issue, that eventually we can encourage people to get the help they need and take it seriously.” Mixed accents While most commenters said Angie sounds Irish, there has been a mixed response. “I’ve also gotten Canadian, American, Jamaican, British, New Zealand - all over the world,” she said. “And most countries I’ve never been to. It’s very, very bizarre.” That’s not too uncommon for those with foreign accent syndrome, according to Lyndsey Nickels, a Professor of Cognitive Science at Macquarie University. “People with foreign accent syndrome don’t speak with all the features of a foreign accent, but there are enough things about the way they speak to make it seem as though they have a different accent,” Nickels told 7NEWS.com.au. “Different listeners may have different opinions about what the accent is because the features usually don’t clearly match a single accent.” Nickels confirmed the disorder is thought to be caused by brain damage which can make “moving or coordinating the muscles that we use to produce speech” more difficult. “This causes inaccuracies in the speech, sounds with vowels being particularly vulnerable,” she said. Since the condition is so rare, many people - including some doctors - accuse sufferers of faking it. Speech pathologists can help those with the condition to improve speech muscle movement and coordination to regain accuracy in their speech. Image credit: 7NEWS

Mind

The one rule that will not change overnight

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews announced a series of highly anticipated changes for Melburnians on Monday afternoon. From 11:59 PM on Tuesday night, the city’s lockdown will finally come to an end and a number of strict restrictions will be rolled back. “Fundamentally, this belongs to every single Victorian, every single Victorian who has followed the rules, stayed the course, worked with me and my team, to bring this second wave to an end,” Mr Andrews told reporters. There is one rule however that the politician will not back down from. “We are not indicating any easing of masks today,” Mr Andrews told reporters. “Masks are incredibly important. Difficult, you know, not particularly pleasant, but for a very low cost we get potentially a very, very high benefit. “That’s why we’re going to persist with those for a while. We’re not quite sure how long. “It may be that the settings change, potentially, but masks are going to be, particularly when you’re going to be proximate with other people, a feature. It is a very low cost for a very big gain.” The Victorian government is also yet to announce when people can return to their offices, though an update is believed to be coming soon. The Premier said residents shouldn’t expect an announcement regarding that until November 8 however. “We’ll get people back into offices as quickly as we can and as safely as we can,” he said. “It won’t be everyone going in at once, de facto crowds, 20, 30, 40 people all jammed in close for hours on end. We have to be cautious about that.”

News

Reward for information in security guard murder jumps from $100k to $1 million overnight

A million-dollar reward has been announced for information about the murder of security guard Gary Allibon in a 2010 armed robbery. NSW Police and Allibon’s widow Monica Allibon will today announce the reward would be increased ten times over from the previous amount of $100,000 to $1 million to encourage community members with information on his death to come forward. Allibon and another guard were entering a commercial building on Sydney’s Sussex Street to replenish an ATM on June 7, 2010, when they were stopped by a group of armed men. Allibon was shot before the offenders stole the cash and fled in a stolen Audi S8 sedan. The 59-year-old was taken to Royal Prince Alfred Hospital by paramedics but later died. In a previous appeal, Monica Allibon said she hoped the reward could convince someone to “provide detectives with the missing links they need to catch Gary’s killer”. “My husband was killed by someone who can only be described as a cold-blooded murderer,” she said. “The murder of someone you love changes your life forever.”

News

Three more Australian deaths overnight of COVID-19

A 68-year-old Queensland man has died from the new coronavirus as Australia’s COVID-19 death toll reached 11. Garry Kirstenfeldt contracted the virus while on board a Royal Caribbean cruise ship that docked in Sydney last week. He was being treated in an intensive care unit in Toowoomba Hospital but died on Wednesday afternoon. According to Queensland Health, the Toowoomba man “had a serious underlying medical condition before contracting the virus”. Kirstenfeldt’s immediate family is currently in self-isolation. The news came after Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk reiterated the importance of social distancing, following reports that 24 partygoers and four staff who attended a Sunshine Coast party last week <a href="https://7news.com.au/lifestyle/health-wellbeing/queensland-restaurant-party-records-24-coronavirus-cases-as-state-passes-400-in-total-c-761648">tested positive to the virus</a>. “I hope people can understand from events such as this, where people are congregating quite closely together and interacting, this is how coronavirus can spread,” she said. “This is now not the time to be social. It is time to keep your distance.” Victoria’s Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton said on Thursday morning the state saw its first coronavirus fatalities after two men in their 70s died overnight, taking the national total to 11.

Caring

Two jackpots in one night sees father become overnight lottery millionaire

A Sydney father has turned into a millionaire overnight after winning two lottery jackpots with one ticket. The man, from Parramatta in the city’s west, took home $1,333,333.34 from a division one Lotto draw on Monday. His double win came after he accidentally marked two games with the same winning numbers. The man, who bought his 18-game entry from Parramatta CBD Newsagency, told NSW Lotteries on Tuesday that he was still “in a state of shock” after winning the prizes. “You have no idea how this has helped my family,” he said. “I’ll be able to pay off my mortgage and I’m able to help my kids. It’s already been spent mate, but all wisely I can assure you. “It wasn’t deliberate that I had two rows of the same numbers. It was just that I had to mark another line on the ticket, so it’s a very happy accident.” Newsagency owner William Ho said he had been waiting a “long, long time” to sell a winning ticket. “We’ve been here for 15 years and we’ve never sold a division one,” he said. “It’s such good news. We wish our customer all the best with their double prize.”

Money & Banking

Homeless soprano: Overnight fame for street singer after brilliant opera performance captures the world

A homeless Los Angeles woman has achieved instant viral fame, and a potential chance at a professional career after her brilliant opera singing caught the attention of an LAPD officer. Underground the Californian metropolis’ Koreatown district, the unknown woman who had shopping bags and a trolley in tow could be heard belting out a Puccini classic, O mio babbino caro. Once she noticed she was being recorded, she continued the performance, as her vocals were heard throughout the Metro station. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet tw-align-center" data-lang="en-gb"> 4 million people call LA home. 4 million stories. 4 million voices...sometimes you just have to stop and listen to one, to hear something beautiful. <a href="https://t.co/VzlmA0c6jX">pic.twitter.com/VzlmA0c6jX</a> — LAPD HQ (@LAPDHQ) <a href="https://twitter.com/LAPDHQ/status/1177423181679755264?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">27 September 2019</a></blockquote> The woman was later identified as 52-year-old Emily Zamourka, who grew up in Russia and immigrated to America as a 24-year-old classically trained violinist and pianist. But to everyone’s surprise, she’s never had any formal voice coaching. Zamourka says she found it hard to work after dealing with a number of debilitating health problems. She would then busk on LA’s busy streets, until her $10,000 violin was stolen three years ago. “[The violin] was my income. It was my everything to me – I could not actually pay any of my bills and could not pay any more of my rent,” Zamourka told local television networks. “I am sleeping, actually, on the cardboard in the parking lot. I’m sleeping where I can sleep.” The original video has been viewed over 560,000 times with many people trying to get Ellen DeGeneres and America’s Got Talent’s attention. For Zamourka, she just wants to leave her current circumstances behind. “I will be so grateful to anyone who is trying to help me get off the streets,” she said.

Home & Garden

Overnight papaya coconut oats

Bursting with natural flavours, papaya is the perfect addition to quick and easy breakfasts. This recipe is extremely simple and speedy to make, you’ll be prepping it weekly! Ingredients: <ul> <li>       2 1/2 Cups rolled oats</li> <li>        1 Ruby Rise Red Papaya, seeds removed, ¾ chopped roughly, ¼ sliced</li> <li>        1 teaspoon lime juice</li> <li>        1 Cup toasted Coconut</li> <li>        1 Cup coconut yoghurt</li> <li>        1 Cup Almond milk</li> <li>        1 Tsp maple syrup</li> </ul> Method: <ol> <li>Combine oats, coconut yoghurt, almond milk, coconut and syrup in a small bowl. Stir well. </li> <li>Cover and let it sit overnight in the fridge. </li> <li>When ready to serve, prepare the Papaya puree. Blend ¾ of the chopped papaya in a blender with lime juice. Blend until smooth. </li> <li>Layer the base of 2 mason jars with papaya puree, then layer a sprinkle of toasted coconut on top. Add the oats until there is 3 cm left in the jar. </li> <li>Top the oats with sliced papaya pieces and remaining toasted coconut. </li> </ol> Serves 2. Recipe by Vic Theng, Melbourne Foodie Finds.

Food & Wine

Why this airline is set to "vanish" overnight

It’s one of the world’s most beloved airlines – but today the airline has taken its last flight ever. Ranked as one of the US’s favourite airlines, Virgin America is no more after being taken over by Alaska Air as part of a $US2.6 billion deal. Today, all check-in counters, kiosks, signs and gate areas branded as Virgin America will be removed from 29 airports around the US and Mexico. <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: 658px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media"> <div style="padding: 8px;"> <div style="background: #F8F8F8; line-height: 0; margin-top: 40px; padding: 50.0% 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;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Bh_DstVg4nC/" target="_blank">A post shared by Brendan Hooley (@socalgecko)</a> on Apr 25, 2018 at 12:36am PDT </div> </blockquote> The two final flights bearing the Virgin America name were Virgin America Flight 1182 which departed San Francisco at 9.30pm, and Virgin America Flight 1948 which took off for Los Angeles at 9.32pm local time. The airline had a big celebration for those on-board the last flights. “We’re planning to delight our guests flying on these last two flights with a few surprises,” Alaska Airlines said. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Today we say goodbye to Virgin America. Starting tomorrow, signage will be removed and operations will be moved to a unified passenger experience including one gate area, check-in counter and reservation system under <a href="https://twitter.com/AlaskaAir?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AlaskaAir</a>. <a href="https://t.co/QaMApHspUu">pic.twitter.com/QaMApHspUu</a> — Orlando International Airport (@MCO) <a href="https://twitter.com/MCO/status/988900486932770816?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 24, 2018</a></blockquote> Super fans of the airlines have also planned their own celebrations. “We’ll be having a get-together in the gate area before the flight,” frequent flyer Nate Vallier, who owns an airline IT company, told <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/flights/todayinthesky/2018/04/24/virgin-america-alaska-airlines-merger/546812002/" target="_blank">USA Today</a>. “We’ll have posters, memorabilia and other swag to hand out and, after the flight, we’ll be gathering in the Alaska Airlines lounge in LAX to toast to the sunset of the Virgin America brand.” Most airlines are in the news because of customer complaints, but not Virgin. The airline had a 7/10 rating on Skytrax and was famous for its safety video.

Travel Tips

You can now stay overnight in a flight control tower

There’s staying next to the airport during a layover, and then there’s actually staying at the airport. The opportunity has presented itself in the shape of a former flight control tower at Stockholm’s Arlanda International – Sweden’s biggest airport, and the third-largest in Scandinavia – which has been turned into a swanky holiday let. Next to one of the airport’s two main runways, it had been sitting unused for 15 years. The tower offers a panoramic view of planes taking off and landing, as well as, presumably, those cute little carts that lug around all our baggage. It’s got 35 square metres of space, a kitchen and bathroom, room for four guests, and interiors designed by Cilla Ramnek, a Swedish artist, designer and pattern-aficionado. She described it as “by far among the most fun environment I have ever worked with.” The unconventional hotel option is cosily decorated with rugs, flowers, and sweet Scandi-style furniture. It was dreamed up by holiday rental booking company HomeAway, who were also responsible for a temporary holiday apartment in the Eiffel Tower installed to coincide with France’s hosting of the 2016 UEFA European Championship. There’s a competition open until the end of July to stay there with four lucky winners – which is only open to residents of Sweden, Denmark, Norway or Finland – but don’t worry. Stockholm also has a Boeing 747 airliner converted into a hostel right next to the airport, for all your plane-themed Scandinavian accommodation needs. And besides, there’s no mention of how soundproofed the walls are. Written by Nicole Frost. First appeared on <a href="http://www.domain.com.au" target="_blank">Domain.com.au</a>. Image credit: HomeAway / Domain

Accommodation

Qantas leaves disabled woman overnight in terminal

A disabled woman who was forced to spend a night in her wheelchair at Sydney Airport is suing Qantas, claiming she was discriminated against by the carrier. New Zealander Lorraine Mackness has travelled by wheelchair since 1979 after her right knee was fused in car accident, and is seeking an apology and compensation from Qantas after her flight to Auckland was cancelled. Ms Mackness had previously made arrangements with the airline to accommodate her which generally involved blocking an adjacent seat, but as she prepared to board her flight for Auckland she was told there was no space. Qantas eventually exchanged the balance of Ms Mackness’ frequent flyer points for a business class seat on a flight next morning, but refused to meet the costs of hotel accommodation or food, forcing her to spend the night in the terminal. Ms Mackness, who according to court documents has chronic regional pain syndrome and rheumatoid arthritis, suffered "considerable pain overnight". In the complaint, Ms Mackness stated: "Usually, the seat next to her is provided as a place to prop up her leg, free of charge. Twice she was put in a bulkhead seat with support for her leg. Once, she was put in first class. "The fact is, planes are designed to accommodate non-disabled people who have two knees that bend and even the majority of disabled people fit into that category. I understand why they do that and at the same time I understand that I am entitled to 'equal access to transport'." A Qantas spokesman told the <a href="http://www.afr.com/" target="_blank">AFR </a>the airline "attempted to make arrangements for the passenger to fly on the next available service where an upgrade to business class was available because the flight was not full". "Every year, we carry tens of thousands of customers who require specific assistance and our staff are trained to ensure they travel safely and comfortably. "Unfortunately on this occasion, the flight was full, meaning that there were no free seats next to where the customer was seated." What’s your take? Who do you think is in the wrong? Have you arranged your travel insurance yet? Tailor your cover to your needs and save money by not paying for things you don’t need. <a href="http://www.oversixty.com.au/travel/travel-insurance/?utm_source=over60&utm_campaign=travel-insurance&utm_medium=content&utm_content=travel-insurance" target="_blank">To arrange a quote, click here.</a> For more information about Over60 Travel Insurance, call 1800 622 966.

Travel Insurance

Overnight wholegrain oats with date and fig puree

Recently, my lovely sister invited me for a weekend hike – with a very early start. I was picked up at 7am, and driven to beautiful Piha and the Waitakere Ranges. The morning was clear, a little windy and icy cold – perfect for an energetic adventure – but first we needed sustenance. As if by magic, bowls and thermoses loaded with overnight porridge appeared, complete with a sprinkling of nuts, and a mug of tea on the side. This delicious breakfast sustained us for the next two hours (more I would say!), and was the inspiration for this nourishing breakfast dish. Because the oats are soaked overnight, they are quick to cook and already sweetened a little with the inclusion of dates. Topped with the date and fig puree, some honey toasted nuts and a good dollop of Greek yoghurt – the result is delicious and hearty. Serves: 2-4 Ingredients: <ul> <li>1 ½ cups wholegrain jumbo rolled oats</li> <li>2 ½ tablespoons chia seeds</li> <li>3 cups whole milk, plus 1 cup extra (or use almond or rice milk)</li> <li>½ cup roughly chopped dates</li> <li>½ cup walnuts</li> <li>½ cup pistachios</li> <li>½ cup whole almonds</li> <li>2 teaspoons honey</li> <li>1 cup Greek yoghurt</li> </ul> Date and fig puree <ul> <li>6 dried figs, stems removed, roughly chopped</li> <li>10 dates, halved and stones removed</li> <li>1 teaspoon vanilla extract</li> <li>Finely grated zest of half a lemon</li> <li>1 teaspoon honey (optional)</li> </ul> Method: <ol> <li>Put oats, 2 tablespoons of the chia seeds, 3 cups of the milk, and the dates in a sealed container in the fridge overnight.</li> <li>Dry fry walnuts, pistachios, and almonds in a large frying pan, over a medium heat, for 2-3 minutes. Add honey and cook for a further 3-4 minutes until lightly toasted and glazed with honey. Stir occasionally so that the nuts don't catch and burn. Although toasted, the nuts remain a little sticky, so store in an even layer until ready to spoon over porridge.</li> <li>To cook porridge, bring the oat mixture to a gentle boil, reduce the heat to a simmer, and cook, stirring for 8-10 minutes until thickened. Add extra milk to achieve your desired consistency. Remove from the heat and serve immediately with a dollop of date and fig puree, a spoonful or two of yoghurt, and a sprinkling of nuts.</li> <li>For garnish, sprinkle with the extra chia seeds if desired. I find porridge serving sizes vary wildly – and while this would happily serve four of me, I know some men would demolish half of it, so use your judgement with regard to servings!</li> </ol> For the date and fig puree <ol> <li>Put all of the ingredients in a small pot with ¾ cup water and bring to a gentle boil. </li> <li>Reduce the heat to a simmer and cook, stirring, for 5 minutes then remove from the heat. Leave to cool for 5 minutes before mashing to a paste with a fork – or, for a smoother consistency, blend in a small food processor. For a thinner consistency simply add ¼ cup more water. Cool and store in a covered container in the fridge until ready to use.</li> </ol> What’s your favourite way to serve oats? Let us know in the comments below. Written by Sarah Tuck. First appeared on <a href="http://Stuff.co.nz" target="_blank">Stuff.co.nz.</a> Related links: <a href="/lifestyle/food-wine/2016/07/apple-and-oatmeal-cake/">Apple and oatmeal cake</a> <a href="/lifestyle/food-wine/2016/06/banana-date-and-walnut-overnight-oats/">Banana, date and walnut overnight oats</a> <a href="/lifestyle/food-wine/2016/06/carrot-cake-porridge/">Carrot cake porridge</a>

Food & Wine

Secrets to packing for an overnight trip

Josephine Lalwan is the owner of fashion blog <a href="http://www.chicatanyage.com/" target="_blank">Chic at any age</a>, a fashion resource for women over 50 who want to learn more about style, fashion and what will suit them as mature women. Below is an extract from the London native's blog, exploring the best things to wear and pack for an overnight trip. Preparing for an adventure often starts with the same thought. What to wear to travel in and what to pack in my overnight bag? On Friday we are off to Marseille for diner and an overnight stay on our way to the South of France. We are planning to explore the city. I have never been to Marseille so am looking forward to visiting the museum and other interesting sites. I have put together a capsule travel wardrobe based on navy, grey with touches of serenity blue. Plus, my fabulous new “Grosvenor” equestrian inspired shoulder bag. The Grosvenor is a combination of leather and nylon, which makes it super lightweight and ideal for travelling. It has a main compartment with zip and slip pockets. There is also a pocket at the back that secures with a popper to keep your essentials safe and secure. I would describe Radley bags as practical and classic with a twist. Many of their designs feature a very British Scottie dog as an iconic mascot. (They do ship internationally). See below my pick for the perfect outfit for winter travelling. <img width="498" height="500" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/22308/travelling_498x500.jpg" alt="Travelling"/> Below are the kind of items you should have in your travel bag. (We would suggest a woolly pair of stockings also). <img width="500" height="499" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/22307/in-th-bag_500x499.jpg" alt="In Th Bag"/> What are your overnight essentials? Let us know in the comments below. Related links: <a href="/lifestyle/beauty-style/2016/03/style-meets-comfort-at-homyped/">5 Orthopaedic shoes that don’t compromise on style</a> <a href="/lifestyle/beauty-style/2016/04/tricks-to-keep-your-clothes-in-perfect-condition/">7 simple tricks to keep clothes in perfect condition</a> <a href="/lifestyle/beauty-style/2016/05/coat-with-in-built-heating/">The winter coat with in-built heating</a>

Beauty & Style

Banana, date and walnut overnight oats

Nothing beats a warm bowl of oatmeal on an icy winter’s morning. These banana, date and walnut overnight oats are a delicious spin on a breakfast classic. Serves: 2 Ingredients: <ul> <li>1 cup rolled oats</li> <li>1 cup milk</li> <li>1 cup Greek style yoghurt</li> <li>2 bananas</li> <li>6 fresh dates, sliced</li> <li>2 tablespoons toasted walnuts</li> </ul> Method: <ol> <li>To begin, mash one of your bananas in a bowl.</li> <li>Combine with four of the sliced dates.</li> <li>Add oats, milk and yoghurt.</li> <li>Refrigerate overnight or until the oats have absorbed the liquid and become thick.</li> <li>Divide oats into two bowls.</li> <li>Slice remaining banana and scatter over oats with remaining dates and walnuts.</li> <li>If oats are a little chilly for your taste, give them a quick blast in the Microwave for 20 seconds or so to take the edge off.</li> </ol> Don’t you just love oatmeal? What’s your favourite way to enjoy this classic winter breakfast dish, and do you think you’d try his recipe? Please share your thoughts in the comments below. Recipe courtesy of Legendairy – <a href="http://www.legendairy.com.au/recipes/the-dairy-kitchen-recipe-landing" target="_blank">visit their site for more delicious food ideas.</a> Related links: <a href="/lifestyle/food-wine/2016/05/michael-klim-muesli/">Michael Klim’s muesli</a> <a href="/lifestyle/food-wine/2016/05/diabetes-friendly-apple-and-cinnamon-breakfast-parfait/">Diabetes-friendly apple and cinnamon breakfast parfait</a> <a href="/lifestyle/food-wine/2016/04/banana-oatmeal-cups/">Banana oatmeal cups</a>

Food & Wine

The secret to getting rid of ants overnight

There’s nothing worse than finding a long trail of ants in the kitchen. While you can squash these tiny insects with a finger that rarely solves the problem as they only seem to return with their whole army in force. If you’re not a fan of the odour or chemicals in insect repellents, here’s an all-natural solution that works wonders in getting rid of ants fast. The secret is the 100 per cent natural product, Borax, which is found in most ant-control products. What you need: <ul> <li>1 cup of warm water</li> <li>1/2 cup of sugar</li> <li>2 tablespoons of Borax</li> </ul> How to: 1. Mix ingredients together and soak cotton balls with mixture. Leave cotton balls near trails of ants overnight. Related links: <a href="/lifestyle/home-garden/2016/01/natural-ways-to-get-rid-of-cockroaches/"></a> <a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/home-garden/2016/01/how-to-sharpen-knife-with-mug/">Genius trick to sharpen knives without sharpener</a> <a href="/lifestyle/home-garden/2016/01/natural-ways-to-get-rid-of-cockroaches/"></a> <a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/home-garden/2016/01/how-to-keep-food-for-longer/">15 great kitchen hacks to extend the life of food and save on waste</a> <a href="/lifestyle/home-garden/2016/01/natural-ways-to-get-rid-of-cockroaches/"></a> <a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/home-garden/2016/01/dirty-home-items/">5 surprisingly dirty things in your house</a>

Home & Garden

5 steps to get better skin overnight

While it may be referred to as “beauty sleep,” our skin still needs a helping hand overnight to reap the best rewards. Employing a couple of super quick and easy strategies can make all the difference and mean waking up to a healthy, glowing complexion versus one that’s seen better days. 1. Cleanse then cleanse again – If you do ONE thing before bed, make sure it’s a thorough cleanse. And if you’ve got one a substantial amount of make-up and/or have spent the day outdoors in the (pollution ridden) fresh air, consider using a gentle make-up remover on your eyes/cheeks/lips followed by your normal cleanser or double cleanse before applying any other products. 2. Stay hydrated – While serums and moisturiser are your skins perfect companions for hydration, using a humidifier in your bedroom, especially in winter, kicks moisture levels up a notch, providing continuous hydration all night long. 3. Choose your products wisely – Applying a serum or moisturiser that contains hyaluronic acid is your best bet for smooth, plump skin in the morning. Hyaluronic acid helps bind water to your skin, leaving it hydrated and healthy. 4. Watch what you eat – Salt and alcohol in particular do not make for great skin. Both can cause puffiness and dehydration to your dermis leaving it looking parched and less than fresh. If you have indulged, try adding a second pillow to your bed as the incline will help prevent fluid from pooling. 5. Eye cream know-how – Applying an eye cream before bed can be the quickest route to fresh looking morning eyes. The trick? Selecting the right product for your problem. For blueish/black under eye circles, try using a cream that contains vitamin K as it will help push oxygen back into the area. For excess pigmentation and/or superficial bags, check out creams that contain acids like kojic acid that will help lighten and brighten.

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