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Robin Williams' children share sweet tribute on his 72nd birthday

<p dir="ltr">Robin Williams’ children took to social media to celebrate their father’s legacy on what would’ve been his 72nd birthday.</p> <p dir="ltr">The late actor, known for raising a generation of children through his iconic films like <em>Jumanji, Mrs. Doubtfire</em> and <em>Dead Poets Society</em>, passed away on the 11th of August 2014 at the age of 63.</p> <p dir="ltr">His daughter, Zelda Williams and son, Zak Williams, both took to social media to celebrate their father’s life.</p> <p dir="ltr">Zak posted a throwback photo of the late actor wearing headphones and smiling at the camera.</p> <p dir="ltr">"Happy 72nd Dad! Was remembering how much I used to love that look you'd give,” he captioned.</p> <p dir="ltr">“That look with a mischievous, loving grin that your friends and loved ones knew so well. Joyous and curious and wondrous. Miss you and love you forever!"</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" 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);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/Cu-5eLVrcMI/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <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> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </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/Cu-5eLVrcMI/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Zachary Pym Williams (@zakpym)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr">His daughter Zelda on the other hand paid tribute to her dad on Twitter.</p> <p dir="ltr">She shared a photo of her late dad protesting in the 2007 New York Picket line with a sign that read: "SAG WGA ON STRIKE."</p> <p dir="ltr">"Happy birthday to Poppo, who definitely would've been out there fighting the good fight for art and artists today and always,” she captioned the photo, and made a reference to the recent<em> Screen Actors Guild and American Federation of Television and Radio Artists</em> (SAG-AFTRA) strike.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Happy birthday to Poppo, who definitely would’ve been out there fighting the good fight for art and artists today and always. <a href="https://t.co/CNiirB3Qb9">pic.twitter.com/CNiirB3Qb9</a></p> <p>— Zelda Williams (@zeldawilliams) <a href="https://twitter.com/zeldawilliams/status/1682497867511128064?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 21, 2023</a></p></blockquote> <p dir="ltr">Friends and fans have shared their tributes to the actor, in the comment section of both Twitter and Instagram.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Robin Williams was one of the most beautiful souls to ever grace this earth. Thank you for sharing your dad with us all. We miss him greatly. He’s our whole childhood,” wrote one person on Twitter.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Night at the Museum</em> actor Ben Stiller tweeted a simple blue heart in response to the tweet.</p> <p dir="ltr">“The world will never be the same without this beautiful soul. He touched so many lives in his time here. Happy Birthday Robin,” wrote one person on Instagram.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Your dad was such a light in my childhood, even though I never met him personally. Thankful for all the goodness he added to the world for so many of us,” another commented.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Instagram</em></p>

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10 truly inspirational movies

<p>Have you got a favourite film that just makes you feel good? Inspiring movies come in all shapes and sizes, but often they involve stories of love and strength, overcoming obstacles, or changing people’s lives for the better. See if your favourite fee-good film made our top 10.</p> <p><strong>1. DEAD POETS SOCIETY</strong></p> <p>This film resonates with a lot of people as it shows how much a good teacher can be a role model for the kids they teach. This is one of Robin William’s most well known roles, and even Ethan Hawke makes an appearance.</p> <p><strong>2. A BEAUTIFUL MIND</strong></p> <p>It’s nice to see an action star like Russell Crowe in such a different style of movie. Just like the title suggests, this really is a beautiful film. The fact that the story of the brilliant mathematician who also happens to be a paranoid schizophrenic is true makes it even more moving. It shows how someone who has faced adversity and prejudice can overcome the odds to come out on top as a Nobel Prize winner.</p> <p><strong>3. BILLY ELLIOT</strong></p> <p>Overcoming adversity is nearly always a sure-fire way to move the audience to tears. Not only is Billy trying to do ballet when his father doesn’t approve, but he is also growing up in a single parent family without much money to live on. This is a great film about following your dreams.</p> <p><strong>4. ERIN BROCKOVICH</strong></p> <p>Another true story that shows you how important it is to stand up for the people who need it most. Julia Roberts is great as go-getter Erin Brockovich in this film. The great humour adds a fun element to this film.</p> <p><strong>5. FORREST GUMP</strong></p> <p>One of Tom Hanks most famous roles, Forrest Gump is another story that follows the underdog overcoming obstacles within so many parts of his life. The soundtrack is amazingly nostalgic and takes you back to a simpler time. The supporting cast really brings the story to life too.</p> <p><strong>6. SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE</strong></p> <p>Underdog alert! Well, slumdog that is. This hugely popular film gives us an insight into life in an Indian slum. It shows that despite abject poverty, it is absolutely possible to find love and happiness. </p> <p><strong>7. THE BLIND SIDE</strong></p> <p>Another great true story with leading lady Sandra Bullock as the tough talking mother. After taking in a homeless boy, the family encourages him to follow his destiny and become a football star. </p> <p><strong>8. IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE</strong></p> <p>Not just one to watch at Christmas, let this classic inspire you at any time of year. A great film that shows us how easy it is to get caught up in our own problems.</p> <p><strong>9. SOUL SURFER</strong></p> <p>The true-story element is both shocking and moving in this film based on surfer Bethany Hamilton who lost an arm in a shark attack. Despite her horrific ordeal, she didn’t do what most people would have done and quit surfing. Instead she followed her dream to achieve amazing success.</p> <p><strong>10. PAY IT FORWARD</strong></p> <p>A great concept here, about doing something nice for people and not expecting anything back. It could be family, friends or even strangers. The story will really make you think about the way society works.</p> <p><em>Image credit: Shutterstock</em></p>

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Mrs Doubtfire not the only one in disguise

<p dir="ltr">It’s the movie that keeps on giving and almost 30 years later <em>Mrs Doubtfire</em> continues to be a fan favourite. </p> <p dir="ltr">Starring the much-loved Robin Williams as Daniel, an unsuccessful actor who disguises himself as a female Scottish housekeeper to spend time with his children following a messy separation, it's a great movie for a rainy day.  </p> <p dir="ltr">And one eagle-eyed viewer has pointed out an unexpected cameo and fun fact. </p> <p dir="ltr">“In Mrs. Doubtfire (1993), the poolside bartender is played by an actor credited under the nickname Dr. Toad,” he wrote on <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/MovieDetails/comments/t4zp0l/in_mrs_doubtfire_1993_the_poolside_bartender_is/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reddit</a>.</p> <p dir="ltr">“But his real name was Robert Todd Williams, and he was Robin Williams’ older brother.”</p> <p dir="ltr">The post includes a photo from the scene where Daniel, dressed up as Mrs Doubtfire, is sitting at a bar while keeping an eye on his ex Miranda and his children, while out on a date with her new boyfriend Stu.</p> <p dir="ltr">The bartender in that scene is Robin’s brother, Robert.</p> <p dir="ltr">That was Robert’s only scene in any movie, as he works as a vintner by trade. </p> <p dir="ltr">Robin Williams was sadly found dead in his California home on August 11, 2014 aged 63 - but of course he lives on through this film and many other brilliant works. </p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Reddit</em></p>

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Uncanny Robin Williams impersonation stuns fans

<p><em>Image: Youtube </em></p> <p>Robin Williams’ fans are very excited by actor Jamie Costa’s impersonation of the late star.</p> <p>Costa posted a five-minute clip to his YouTube channel, titled<span> </span><em>ROBIN Test Footage Scene,<span> </span></em>on Tuesday, showing a scene featuring himself as Williams and Sarah Murphree as Pam Dawber on the set of<span> </span><em>Mork &amp; Mindy</em>.</p> <p><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/0-kOy4s_Z0M" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></p> <p>The clip shows Dawber interrupting Williams as he runs through lines to break the news of comedian John Belushi’s death – and shows Williams’ reaction to the news.</p> <p>When Murphree tells Costa Belushi had been found dead that morning, Costa finds it hard to digest the news, insisting: “No, I told you, I was with him. John’s not dead, I was with him last night.”</p> <p>Blues Brothers star Belushi died aged 33 of a cocaine and heroin overdose at Chateau Marmont in LA in 1982.</p> <p>After Murphee warns Costa: “I can’t let what happened to him happen to you” and a knock on the door signals it is time for the pair to go back on set, costa returns to reciting lines – this time, with a break in his voice.</p> <p>The short film left some viewers hankering for a full biopic of Williams, who died by suicide in 2014 after battling Lewy body dementia.</p> <p>“Who else has been hoping Jamie would play Robin in a biopic since you saw his first Robin impressions?” one wrote.</p> <p>“It’s one thing to resemble a person but it’s how much he sounds like and has his mannerisms and expressions down that’s so freaking impressive. I hope this movie gets made. I still feel his loss,” said another.</p> <p>“This is absolutely incredible. Make this full length movie and hire this man NOW!” a third wrote.</p>

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Robin Williams’ widow sets the record straight about his death

<p>Susan Schneider Williams who is the widow of the late Robin Williams, has spoken in a rare interview to clear up the number of “misunderstandings” about her late husband’s death.</p> <p>Williams, a veteran actor, took his own life in 2014 when he was 63.</p> <p>Soon after his death, it was revealed the star was battling a degenerative condition, Lewy Body Dementia.</p> <p>Susan revealed she had only learnt about her husband’s diagnosis after his death.</p> <p>Speaking to the<em><span> </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2021/jan/01/robin-williamss-widow-there-were-so-many-misunderstandings-about-what-had-happened-to-him" target="_blank" title="www.theguardian.com">Guardian</a></em>, she said: “The doctors said to me after the autopsy: ‘Are you surprised that your husband had Lewy bodies throughout his entire brain and brain stem?’</p> <p>“I didn’t even know what Lewy bodies were, but I said: ‘No, I’m not surprised.’ The fact that something had infiltrated every part of my husband’s brain? That made perfect sense.”</p> <p>Susan is to be a part of the new documentary,<span> </span><em><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/celebrity-life/celebrity-deaths/robin-williams-tragic-final-days-laid-barre-in-upcoming-documentary-robins-wish/news-story/9d55f0da55fac9d1cf38abe4796e5085" target="_blank" title="www.news.com.au">Robin’s Wish</a></em>, which will follow the actor’s last few days before his death, as well as his disease. </p> <p>“If my husband weren’t famous I would not have put myself through this,” she said.</p> <p>“But there were so many misunderstandings out there about what had happened to him, and about Lewy bodies. So this felt like the right thing to do.”</p> <p>In another conversation with<span> </span><em><a rel="noopener" href="https://ew.com/movies/robins-wish-exclusive-trailer-robin-williams-doc/" target="_blank" title="ew.com">Entertainment Weekly</a></em>, Susan revealed how working on the film that honoured her husband, helped her understand the condition that took over him towards the end of his life.</p> <p>“Armed with the name of a brain disease I’d never heard of, I set out on a mission to understand it, and that led me down my unchosen path of advocacy.</p> <p>“With invaluable help from leading medical experts, I saw that what Robin and I had gone through, finally made sense — our experience matched up with the science.”</p> <p><em>Robin’s Wish</em><span> </span>documents the actor’s final days as his worsening condition alarmed loved ones and colleagues.</p> <p>Friends and family say Williams’ behaviour began to deteriorate two years before his death.</p> <p>“I would say a month into the shoot (of<span> </span><em>Night at the Museum 3</em>), it was clear to me — it was clear to all of us — that something was going on with Robin,” director Shawn Levy said in the doco.</p> <p>“That’s an experience I’ve not spoken about publicly ever. We saw that Robin was struggling in a way that he hadn’t before to remember lines and to combine the right words with the performance.”</p> <p>Comedian and close friend to Robin Rick Overton says that Williams began to skip his regular stand-up gigs at his regular venue of choice, the Throckmorton Theatre.</p> <p>“There were a couple of shows where I was expecting Robin to be there and he didn’t make it, for one reason or another,” Overton says.</p> <p>His neighbour John Hepper says he would see Williams out on walks with his dog and became concerned about the actor’s rapidly changing physique.</p> <p>“His ribs were actually showing (through his T-shirt),” Hepper says in<span> </span><em>Robin’s Wish</em>. “I grabbed his skin. ‘Robin, you’re really getting thin.’</p> <p>“He said, ‘Yeah, boss, I’ve gone to the doctor, but they don’t know what it is.’”</p> <p>The night of Williams’ death, his neighbour Hepper spotted him outside with his dog.</p> <p>“Boss, I really need a hug,” he remembers Williams saying.</p> <p>“So, I gave him a hug, and he started to cry.” Hepper put his arm around the actor’s shoulder and spoke in depth with him for 15 minutes.</p> <p>“He talked about family, and what was going on in his life and some things I think he felt that I would keep private,” he says.</p> <p>It was revealed that on the beloved star’s last night before his death, he had told his wife “Goodnight, my love” before shuffling to his office with his iPad in hand.</p> <p>Susan recalled being thrilled that her husband had seemed to pick up reading again.</p> <p>The next morning, when Williams’ assistant tried to enter his office, she found the door was locked and quickly texted Susan: “He’s not up. What should I do?”</p> <p>Susan knew he was gone.</p> <p>The police would later find Williams – a loving husband, a devoted father, a faithful friend and one of the world’s most critically acclaimed actors – dead with no note.</p> <p>He left behind three children, Zachary, 37, Zelda, 31, and Cody, 29.</p>

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Robin Williams' heartbreaking final days revealed

<div class="post_body_wrapper"> <div class="post_body"> <div class="body_text "> <p>For many, Robin Williams' death by suicide came out of nowhere in 2014.</p> <p>The iconic comedian, 63, had appeared in new films and talk shows that showcased his wit.</p> <p>Reports around his death said that the suicide was a result of severe depression and due to the actor being diagnosed with a mild case of Parkinson's disease earlier in the year.</p> <p>An autopsy proved this to be untrue.</p> <p>His family learned that Williams had been suffering from a neurological disorder known as Lewy Body dementia that can cause hallucinations and dangerously acting out dreams while sleeping.</p> <p>A new documentary called <em>Robin's Wish</em> documents his final days as his condition worsened and had his family and loved ones fearing for the worst.</p> <p>“We had unknowingly been battling a deadly disease,” Williams’ widow Susan Schneider Williams, 56, says in the documentary.</p> <p>“A disease for which there is no cure. The devastation on Robin’s brain from Lewy bodies was one of the worst cases medical professionals have ever seen, yet throughout all of this his heart remained strong.”</p> <p>Family and friends confirm that Williams began to deteriorate two years before his death.</p> <p>“I would say a month into the shoot (of <em>Night at the Museum 3</em>), it was clear to me — it was clear to all of us — that something was going on with Robin,” director Shawn Levy says in the doco.</p> <p>“That’s an experience I’ve not spoken about publicly ever. We saw that Robin was struggling in a way that he hadn’t before to remember lines and to combine the right words with the performance.”</p> <p>His neighbour John Hepper explained his concern over William's quickly changing body.</p> <p>“His ribs were actually showing (through his T-shirt),” Hepper says in <em>Robin’s Wish</em>. “I grabbed his skin. ‘Robin, you’re really getting thin.’ He said, ‘Yeah, boss, I’ve gone to the doctor, but they don’t know what it is.’”</p> <p>William's widow was surprised at how quickly the paranoia was brought on.</p> <p>“The degree to which the paranoia came in was so drastic,” Susan says. “He’s going from room to room and literally watching me. He’s making a lot of phone calls and texting people and questioning … my loyalty to him.”</p> <p>The night of William's death, his neighbour Hepper spotted him outside.</p> <p>“Boss, I really need a hug,” he remembers Williams saying. “So, I gave him a hug, and he started to cry.” Hepper put his arm around the actor’s shoulder and spoke in depth with him for 15 minutes.</p> <p>“He talked about family, and what was going on in his life and some things I think he felt that I would keep private,” he says.</p> <p>The next morning, when Williams' assistant tried to enter his office and found the door locked, Susan knew he was gone.</p> <p>Williams left no note.</p> <p>Susan continues to cherish her husband's memory as a generous man and often reflects on what he would want his legacy to be.</p> <p>“For Robin, it was that he wanted to help people be less afraid,” she says.</p> </div> </div> </div>

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Wonderful unseen photos of Robin Williams found during self-isolation

<p>Robin Williams’ daughter Zelda has shared an unearthed photograph she took with her father while spring cleaning her house during self-isolation.</p> <p>The 30-year-old actress took to Twitter on Wednesday evening to share the treasure she found – a polaroid snap reel she took with her late dad – to fans.</p> <p>“Isolation spring cleaning is turning up some fun old gems,” she wrote.</p> <p>The montage of pictures showed the pair pulling funny faces for the camera, in classic Williams’ fashion.</p> <p><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7835202/robbin-williams-1.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/e2ff309c5ba34b20b2b0fcb68ae3a8a9" /></p> <p>Fans were quick to commend Zelda for sharing the post, writing: “I bet he was the most fun dad ever. We all miss him like he was ours”.</p> <p>Another wrote “Your dad was a comet that only comes around once in a lifetime. Special human being.”</p> <p>Zelda is the daughter to Robin and his second wife, who is a film producer, Marsha Grace Williams.</p> <p><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7835204/robbin-williams.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/6153a1bd2d4e4fc4b4da99c953c350d9" /></p> <p>Robin, whose daughter was born just 10 days after her dad’s 38th birthday, admitted he named her after Princess Zelda from The Legend of Zelda video game series. </p> <p>The Oscar-winning actor, who died at the age of 63, became a household name for his portrayal of Mork from Ork on the hit sitcom<span> </span>Happy Days<span> </span>and its spin-off<span> </span>Mork &amp; Mindy. </p>

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How this New Zealand songbird provides insights into cognitive evolution

<p>When we think about animals storing food, the image that usually comes to mind is a squirrel busily hiding nuts for the winter.</p> <p>We don’t usually think of a small songbird taking down an enormous invertebrate, tearing it into pieces and hiding these titbits in the branches of trees to snack on later in the day. But this is also a form of caching behaviour, where food is handled and stored for later consumption.</p> <p>For caching animals, the ability to recall where food is hidden is crucial for survival. My <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0960982219303252">research</a> into the spatial memory performance of a caching songbird, the New Zealand robin (<em>Petroica longipes</em>), shows male birds with superior memory abilities also have better breeding success.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/298439/original/file-20191024-119449-v1ha09.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt="" /></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><em> <span class="caption">Male toutouwai with better spacial memory also raise more chicks.</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">Supplied</span>, <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/" class="license">CC BY-ND</a></span></em></p> <p style="text-align: left;"><strong>Why memory matters</strong></p> <p>There’s no argument that New Zealand is home to a host of unusual birds, including the nocturnal, flightless parrot kākāpō (<em>Strigops habroptila</em>), or the hihi (<em>Notiomystis cincta</em>), the <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1474-919X.1996.tb08834.x">only bird in the world known to mate face to face</a>.</p> <p>By outward appearances, the small, grey toutouwai (Māori name for <em>P. longipes</em>) is not particularly remarkable. But its noteworthy behaviour includes <a href="https://www.doc.govt.nz/globalassets/documents/science-and-technical/docts13.pdf">feasting on some of the world’s largest invertebrates</a>. There is only so much of a 30cm earthworm a 30g bird can eat, and rather than waste the leftovers, toutouwai will cache any surplus prey they don’t want to eat immediately.</p> <p style="text-align: right;"><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/298440/original/file-20191024-119463-1bfg3en.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt="" /></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><em><span class="caption">Toutouwai are the only known caching species in New Zealand.</span></em></p> <p>An accurate <a href="https://www.annualreviews.org/doi/abs/10.1146/annurev-ecolsys-110512-135904">spatial memory is therefore crucial</a> for recovering caches and it has long been assumed that spatial memory is under <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2919184">strong selection pressure in caching species</a>.</p> <p>For selection to act on a trait, there must be individual variation that is passed onto offspring and that influences survival and reproduction. While researchers had looked at how spatial memory influences <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0960982219300077">winter survival in caching mountain chickadees</a>, no one had examined whether memory performance influences reproductive success in any caching species. Our <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0960982219303252">research</a> tackles this issue.</p> <p><strong>Measuring memory in the wild</strong></p> <p>We measured the spatial memory performance of 63 wild toutouwai during winter. We gave the birds a circular puzzle that had a mealworm treat hidden inside one of eight compartments. For each bird, we put the puzzle at the same location in their territory several times in a single day, with the food always hidden in the same spot.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://cdn.theconversation.com/static_files/files/765/spatial_test.gif?1571875385" alt="" width="100%" /> <em><span class="caption">Wild toutouwai looking for a hidden mealworm treat.</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source"> SOURCE </span></span></em></p> <p>Over time, toutouwai learned the location of the hidden treat and began opening fewer compartments to find the mealworm. We then followed these same birds through the next breeding season and looked at whether their spatial memory performance (measured as the number of compartments they had to open to find the mealworm) was linked to their ability to feed chicks, and whether it influenced the survival of their offspring.</p> <p>Our results suggested that spatial memory performance influences reproductive success in toutouwai. Males with more accurate memory performance successfully raised more offspring per nest and fed larger prey to chicks.</p> <p>By contrast, we did not find the same patterns for females. This is the first evidence that spatial memory is linked to reproductive fitness in a food caching species.</p> <p><strong>Evolving intelligence</strong></p> <p>If there is such a great benefit for males in having an accurate recall of locations, why aren’t all males the best they can possibly be in terms of spatial memory performance? In other words, why didn’t all the male toutouwai we tested ace our memory task?</p> <p>Intriguingly, our results suggest a role for conflict between the sexes in maintaining variation in cognitive ability. We found no effect of memory performance on female reproductive success, suggesting that the cognitive abilities that influence reproductive behaviour may well differ for females.</p> <p>Such a difference between the sexes would ultimately constrain the effect of selection on male spatial memory, preventing strong directional selection from giving rise to uniformly exceptional memory in our toutouwai population.</p> <p>Our work produced some tantalising evidence for both the causes and consequences of variation in cognitive ability, but it also raises several more questions. For example, while we’ve shown that memory performance matters for males, we still need to examine how it influences caching behaviour.</p> <p>Another mystery that remains is why spatial memory ability may have less of an influence on female toutouwai fitness. One possibility is that longer-term spatial memory for specific locations (rather than the short-term memory we measured) may matter more for female reproduction, because females do all of the nest building and incubation.</p> <p>So far, we’ve only provided one piece of the puzzle. To get the full picture of how cognition evolves, we have many more avenues left to explore.<!-- Below is The Conversation's page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --><img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important; text-shadow: none !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/125304/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /><!-- End of code. If you don't see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: http://theconversation.com/republishing-guidelines --></p> <p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/rachael-shaw-764893">Rachael Shaw</a>, Rutherford Discovery Fellow, <a href="http://theconversation.com/institutions/victoria-university-of-wellington-1200">Victoria University of Wellington</a></em></p> <p><em>This article is republished from <a href="http://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/a-small-new-zealand-songbird-that-hides-food-for-later-use-provides-insights-into-cognitive-evolution-125304">original article</a>.</em></p>

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Robin Bailey shares heartfelt tribute to late husband

<p><span>Former Triple M radio host Robin Bailey has shared a tribute to her husband Sean Pickwell, who passed away at the age of 56 on Thursday.</span></p> <p><span>Pickwell, former radio executive and agency director, was diagnosed with a terminal cancer in July 2018. </span></p> <p><span>“What can I say… my big beautiful panda has gone,” Bailey wrote on Instagram.</span></p> <p><span>“In this moment there are no words or feelings that can truly express the love and gratitude I have for my husband Sean Pickwell.</span></p> <p><span>“He was my absolute soul mate, the true love of my life and whatever I do from now on he will be in my heart and in my corner cheering me on.”</span></p> <p><span>The 50-year-old called on those whose lives have been touched by Pickwell to give blood and donate to non-profit organisation Karuna in his memory. </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/B22mUAxAJFc/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="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/B22mUAxAJFc/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">What can I say .. my big beautiful panda has gone . He died as he lived ... his way ....at home with us holding him.... early this morning. In this moment there are no words or feelings that can truly express the love and gratitude I have for my husband Sean Pickwell . He came into our lives and healed us . He loved me so hard and taught me so much and now whatever life throws at us we will be stronger , wiser and more fierce because of him . He was my absolute soul mate , the true love of my life and whatever I do from now on he will be in my heart and in my corner cheering me on. Sean will be remembered at a memorial for family and friends in the coming weeks but if his journey touched you or you want to reach out for us I ask you to do two things . Give blood . Its life saving for so many people and it’s easy and pain free and can do so much for so many . Plus donate or support Karuna .https://www.karuna.org.au This most amazing none profit organisation gave us the support and means to grant his final wishes to die at home surrounded in love with the people he loved. #love #family #pandapickwell #mygreatestlove #byebigguy #soulmate #karuna #giveblood #redcrossbloodbank #gratefulforlove</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/robinbaileynow/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank"> Robin Bailey</a> (@robinbaileynow) on Sep 25, 2019 at 4:45pm PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p><span>The couple tied the knot in November 2018 after three years of dating.</span></p> <p><span>Bailey left <em>The Big Breakfast Show </em>on Triple M Brisbane last week to spend time with her husband. “I never think through decisions I only feel them and this one feels so right,” she said.</span></p>

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Robin Williams' son marries on late dad's birthday – and shares touching tribute

<p>The son of Oscar-winner Robin Williams got married on what would have been the late actor’s 68th birthday on July 21. </p> <p>On Sunday, Cody Williams – the 27-year-old son of Robin and film producer Marsha Garces – tied the knot with the love of his life Maria Flores in a private ceremony at his childhood home, where he grew up with his famous father.</p> <p>Cody’s sister and Robin’s daughter, 29-year-old Zelda, also shared a tribute to her late father in an Instagram post on Tuesday. </p> <p>“The 21st of July has meant many things to me over the years,” she wrote alongside pictures of her with the happy couple and her other brother Zak Pym Williams.</p> <p>“It’s the birthday of one of my favorite souls still on this earth, [actress Juno Temple]. It’s the day Neil Armstrong stepped on the moon (as a space nerd, that’s pretty damn important).</p> <p>“And it was the day my Dad was born, and the last day I got to see him.</p> <p>“That last one had begun to usurp the joy of the first two in recent years... that is, until two days ago, when it became something new. On the 21st of July, 2019, it became the day I officially gained a new sister!”</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/B0RdeocAuKR/" 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/B0RdeocAuKR/" target="_blank">The 21st of July has meant many things to me over the years. It’s the birthday of one of my favorite souls still on this earth, @junotemple. It’s the day Neil Armstrong stepped on the moon (as a space nerd, that’s pretty damn important). And it was the day my Dad was born, and the last day I got to see him. That last one had begun to usurp the joy of the first two in recent years... that is, until two days ago, when it became something new. On the 21st of July, 2019, it became the day I officially gained a new sister! To @mariaaafloresssswilliams and Cody, you are a light in all of our lives. I’m so grateful to have paid witness to your love over the years, to have watched you grow and care for each other in ways we should all be so lucky to experience. You were already part of the family in my eyes, but now there’s an official slip of paper somewhere that agrees! Zak, Mom and I love you both dearly, and I think I can speak for all of us when I say CONGRATULATIONS TO THE BRIDE AND GROOM!!! 🎊🥂🍾🍰💫🕊 ♥️ Photos by @cassievalentephoto</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/zeldawilliams/" target="_blank"> Zelda Williams</a> (@zeldawilliams) on Jul 23, 2019 at 1:33pm PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Robin died by suicide in August 2014 at the age of 63. Ahead of the fifth anniversary of his death, Zak shared to <a rel="noopener" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/2019/7/18/20699512/robin-williams-son-zak-mental-health-suicide-interview" target="_blank"><em>Good Morning Britain</em></a> that it was difficult to see his father continue working even as he struggled with his mental health.</p> <p>“It was heartbreaking because he still went out and wanted to share his feelings of laughter and humor with the world,” Zak said. </p> <p>“And while he was suffering and struggling, he still went out and performed. I admire him and loved him so, and having to share him was hard.”</p>

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Mrs Doubtfire stars reunited after 25 years: What they look like now

<p><em>Mrs Doubtfire</em> has firmly placed its name in the hall of fame with the classic comedy being a favourite of people of all ages.</p> <p>And to mark the film's upcoming 25th anniversary on November 24, some of the stars have gotten together for a reunion.</p> <p>Pierce Brosnan shared a photo on his Instagram of his three co-stars Matthew Lawrence, 38, Mara Wilson, 31, and Lisa Jakub, 39.</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/BpVP-ryH636/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="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/BpVP-ryH636/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" target="_blank">So this happened. #mrsdoubtfire #reunion #25yearslater</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/lisajakub108/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" target="_blank"> Lisa Jakub</a> (@lisajakub108) on Oct 24, 2018 at 3:07pm PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>The film was centred around the late Robin Williams’ character who transformed into a woman and played the role of housekeeper, so he can be around his children after an ongoing feud between him and his on-screen wife, Sally Field.</p> <p>The three children were portrayed by Lawrence, Wilson and Jakub, with Brosnan playing Stu, the future stepfather to the kids.</p> <p>Brosnan shared the video to his social media and captioned it, “Love you, love you all so much, so good to be a part of your lives." </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/BpWI4ewA2om/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="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/BpWI4ewA2om/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" target="_blank">#MrsDoubtfire 25th anniversary reunion will be on the #TodayShow in early November. Join us!</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/piercebrosnanofficial/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" target="_blank"> Pierce Brosnan</a> (@piercebrosnanofficial) on Oct 24, 2018 at 11:27pm PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>The reunion was noticeably missing Williams after he tragically ended his life on August 11, 2014, aged 63.</p> <p><img style="width: 0px; height: 0px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7821626/nphfr7b.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/d3e6bc48e1e2473da5f43de55484a618" /></p> <p>Jakub, who also went through mental illness, mentioned previously how open Williams was about his mental health struggles.</p> <p>“I think he thought that was, you know, a prime time to really be open with me and honest,” she said. “And I have dealt with depression, and I have anxiety, and the fact that he was that open, that honest, that willing to talk to me about it was something that was really special.”</p> <p><em>If you are troubled by this article, experiencing a personal crisis or thinking about suicide, you can call Lifeline 131 114 or beyondblue 1300 224 636 or visit<span> </span><a href="https://www.lifeline.org.au/">lifeline.org.au</a><span> </span>or<span> </span><a href="https://www.beyondblue.org.au/get-support/national-help-lines-and-websites">beyondblue.org.au</a>.</em></p>

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Robin Williams’ first wife opens up about the actor’s infidelity

<p>Robin Williams’ first wife Valerie Velardi has revealed she knew and allowed the late comedian’s infidelity during their marriage.</p> <p>In a new HBO documentary about Williams’ life and work <em>Robin Williams: Come Inside My Mind</em>, Velardi, who was married to Williams from 1978 to 1988, said: “He loved women. Absolutely loved women. And I got it.”</p> <p>She added: “I understood and I wanted him to have that, but I also wanted him to come home.”</p> <p>Velardi said she first met Williams at a bar in San Francisco in 1976 when he was not yet famous. He asked her for a ride home that night.</p> <p>“He was speaking French and I was teasing him and we had a kiss and I just knew I was going to see him again,” she said.</p> <p>“He was always looking for a connection or another character or an accent.</p> <p>“He was shameless. He would just do it.”</p> <p class="embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/caIFNg_JRL4" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></p> <p>The couple had one son together, Zachary ‘Zack’ Pym, before their marriage ended in 1988.</p> <p>Velardi said their marriage fell through because they simply became less involved and drifted apart.</p> <p>“So we gave each other up,” Velardi said.</p> <p>Williams committed suicide in August 2014, aged 63.</p>

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"I miss you every day" – Robin Williams' daughter's touching tribute on his birthday

<p>Robin Williams’ daughter Zelda has paid tribute to her legendary father on his birthday this past weekend.</p> <p>Robin, who died in August 2014 after a battle with a neurodegenerative disease, would have turned 67 on July 21.</p> <p>Writing on Instagram, Zelda posted a tribute in honour of his birthday and the upcoming anniversary of his death: “It’s that time of year again. Everyone who has dealt with loss knows the pain of certain anniversaries, moments full of memory that come round like clockwork and usurp all others, no matter how hard you may try to prepare for or avoid them.”</p> <p>The 28-year-old explained that the weeks leading up to her father’s birthday were still very difficult for her and she was sometimes at a loss to respond when well-meaning people tell her how much her dad meant to them.</p> <p>“It’s harder still to be expected to reach back. So while I’ve got the strength, consider this my one open armed response, before I go take my yearly me time to celebrate his and my birthdays in peace,” she wrote. </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/BlbQ0cjH4cv/" data-instgrm-version="9"> <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="display: block; height: 44px; margin: 0px auto -44px; position: relative; top: -22px; width: 44px; text-align: center;"></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/BlbQ0cjH4cv/" target="_blank">It’s that time of year again. Everyone who has dealt with loss knows the pain of certain anniversaries, moments full of memory that come round like clockwork and usurp all others, no matter how hard you may try to prepare for or avoid them. These weeks are the hardest for me, and thus, you’ll see me a lot less, if at all. For all the internet’s good intentions in expressing to me their fondness for dad, it’s very overwhelming to have strangers need me to know how much they cared for him right now. It’s harder still to be expected to reach back. So while I’ve got the strength, consider this my one open armed response, before I go take my yearly me time to celebrate his and my birthdays in peace. Thank you for loving him. Thank you for supporting him and his life’s work. Thank you for missing him. I do too. If you’d like to do something in his honor, volunteer at your local homeless shelter, or look up how to make homeless aid backpacks. Give one in his name. He’d have loved that. Otherwise some great orgs he loved include @cafoundation, @dswt and @reevefoundation. Mostly, try to spread some laughter and kindness around. And creatively swear a lot. Everytime you do, somewhere out there in our vast weird universe, he’s giggling with you... or giving a particularly fat bumblebee its wings. Happy early birthday, Poppo. Miss you every day, but especially these ones. ♥️</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/zeldawilliams/" target="_blank"> Zelda Williams</a> (@zeldawilliams) on Jul 19, 2018 at 1:04pm PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Zelda then thanked the public for loving her dad and supporting her family as they grieve.</p> <p>“Thank you for loving him. Thank you for supporting him and his life’s work. Thank you for missing him.</p> <p>“Mostly, try to spread some laughter and kindness around. And creatively swear a lot. Every time you do, somewhere out there in our vast weird universe, he’s giggling with you… or giving a particularly fat bumblebee its wings.”</p> <p>Zelda ended her post with a message to her father: “Happy early birthday, Poppo. Miss you every day, but especially these ones”.</p>

Movies

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Robin Williams’ heartbreaking final days revealed in new book

<p>A new book has claimed that Robin Williams struggled to remember his lines as he unknowingly suffered from an undiagnosed devastating brain disorder.</p> <p>Speaking to his closest family and friends and admirers in Hollywood, Dave Itzkoff's new biography on the late actor seeks to answer the many questions still lingering over Robin’s life and sudden death. </p> <p>According to the book, while the Oscar-winning actor was filming Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb, he was unable to remember his lines. </p> <p>“He was sobbing in my arms at the end of every day. It was horrible. Horrible,” makeup artist Cheri Minns said, according to the <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong><a href="https://nypost.com/2018/05/05/how-an-incurable-brain-disease-haunted-robin-williams-final-days/" target="_blank">New York Post</a>. </strong></em></span></p> <p>“I said to his people, ‘I'm a makeup artist. I don't have the capacity to deal with what's happening to him.’”</p> <p>She said she suggested to Robin to return to stand-up comedy to get out of his rut, but Robin said he couldn’t.</p> <p>“He just cried and said, ‘I can’t, Cheri. I don’t know how anymore. I don’t know how to be funny.’”</p> <p>The book paints a portrait of Robin as a deeply complicated man who battled alcohol, drugs, and infidelity, as well as deep loneliness and insecurity.</p> <p>He was a contradictory man who was “both wildly outgoing and painfully introverted”, the book claims. </p> <p>According to Williams' third wife, Susan Schneider, the actor started complaining about a variety of symptoms that included trouble urinating, insomnia, loss of his sense of smell and a slight tremor in his left hand. </p> <p>“It was like playing whack-a-mole. Which symptom is it this month? I thought, is my husband a hypochondriac? We're chasing it and there's no answers, and by now we'd tried everything,” she said.</p> <p>Actor Billy Crystal also spoke about seeing his friend after a four-month absence who looked frail and was “uncharacteristically quiet”.</p> <p>After they had dinner and were preparing to say goodbye, Robin suddenly burst into tears. </p> <p>“What's the matter?” Robin asked.</p> <p>“Oh, I'm just so happy to see you. It's been too long. You know I love you,” Robin replied.</p> <p>It was on August 11, 2014, when Robin’s assistant found the comedian dead in his bedroom. He had hanged himself by a belt. He left no note or given any warning.</p> <p>It later emerged that Robin, who had long battled depression, had been diagnosed with Parkinson's, a degenerative disease that gradually shuts down the body and mind. </p> <p>But three months later his autopsy revealed Robin was actually suffering from undiagnosed Lewy body disease, a devastating brain disorder that causes dementia.</p> <p>The book asks if his suicide was caused by his confused mind at the time, rather than a deliberate act.</p> <p>No one will ever know what Robin faced in those final days, but Billy provides some insight into what it must be like for someone who was renowned for his sharp wit and high-functioning mind to live through its unravelling, not knowing what it was or what to do about it.</p> <p>“I put myself in his place. Think of it this way: The speed at which the comedy came is the speed at which the terrors came,” Billy said. “And all that they described that can happen with this psychosis, if that’s the right word — the hallucinations, the images, the terror — coming at the speed his comedy came at, maybe even faster, I can’t imagine living like that.”</p>

Books

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Can you spot the robin among the Christmas trees?

<p>It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas so test yourself with this Christmas-themed puzzle.</p> <p>The festive brainteaser, created by Bloom &amp; Wild, features an array of fun characters but challenges you to find the robin hidden amid the rows of Christmas trees.</p> <p>According to the creators, it takes people an average of two and half minutes to find the red-breasted bird. </p> <p>Can you spot it below? </p> <p><img width="628" height="220" src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/12/03/10/46F0484B00000578-0-image-a-21_1512297227692.jpg" alt="A new festive brainteaser has been shared online, challenging people to spot the robin hidden amid the Christmas trees " class="blkBorder img-share b-loaded" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" id="i-17befb975f443dc"/></p> <p>Still can't spot it? Here's the answer: </p> <p><img width="628" height="220" src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/12/03/10/46F0484F00000578-0-image-a-20_1512297227672.jpg" alt="If you look closely, a small robin can been tucked right next to a Christmas tree to the right of the illustration " class="blkBorder img-share b-loaded" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" id="i-e46fba6205fc63da"/></p> <p> </p>

Mind

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8 of Robin Williams’ best quotes

<p>Robin Williams was a funny, complicated man who brightened the lives of many people with his comedy and his wit. However, he was also deeply analytical, intelligent and could express the most touching of thoughts in few words.</p> <p>We look back at eight of the most inspiring truths Robin Williams shared with us.</p> <p>1. “No matter what people tell you, words and ideas can change the world.” – Dead Poets Society, 1989</p> <p>2. “You're only given a little spark of madness. You mustn't lose it.”</p> <p>3. “Time is the best teacher, but unfortunately, it kills all of its students.”<br /> 4. “What's right is what's left when everything is wrong.”</p> <p>5. “Never pick a fight with an ugly person, they've got nothing to lose."</p> <p>6. “People think they know you. They expect you to be literally like you are on TV or in the movies, bouncing off the walls. A woman in an airport once said to me, 'Be zany!' People always want zany, goofy sh** from me. It takes a lot of energy to do that. If you do that all the time, you'll burnout”</p> <p>7. “People ask why I do children's comedies. I'm happy being a Robert de Niro for nine-year-olds”.</p> <p>8. “Comedy is acting out optimism”.</p> <p>What's your favourite Robin Willias movie? Let us know int he comments below. </p> <p><em>Image credit: Peggy Sirota for Parade</em></p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="/entertainment/movies/2016/05/7-actors-children-who-became-actors-too/"><em>7 children who followed in the footsteps of their actor parents</em></a></strong></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="/entertainment/movies/2016/05/8-classic-films-getting-remakes/"><em>8 classic films getting remakes</em></a></strong></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="/entertainment/movies/2016/04/successful-over-60s-action-stars/"><em>10 over-60s action stars who still have it</em></a></strong></span></p>

News

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Emotional deleted scene from Mrs Doubtfire

<p>In 2014, the world was rocked by the sudden death of Robin Williams, but newly surfaced alternate scenes from his much beloved comedy <em>Mrs Doubtfire</em> showcase what a loss his incredible acting talents really were.</p> <p>The two deleted scenes in this video show a much darker and more dramatic side to the film that what inevitably made it to the final cut. Both scenes show Williams’ character Daniel and his wife Sally (played by Sally Field) fighting in front of their kids. The second scene is shot from the children’s point of view, and it’s absolutely gut-wrenching – especially since it was reportedly set to play just after Sally discovers Mrs. Doubtfire’s true identity.</p> <p>I don’t know about you, but I’m glad they stuck with the final cut.</p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><a href="/entertainment/movies/2016/03/original-ending-of-pretty-woman-was-shockingly-different/"><strong><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;">The original ending of Pretty Woman was shockingly different</span></em></strong></a></p> <p><a href="/entertainment/movies/2016/02/best-family-movies/"><strong><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Top 10 movies to watch with the whole family</span></em></strong></a></p> <p><a href="/entertainment/movies/2015/12/sound-of-music-cast-then-and-now/"><strong><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;">What the cast of The Sound of Music are doing now</span></em></strong></a></p>

Movies

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5 reasons why we’ll always love the funny family guy, Robin Williams

<p>It was the news that shocked and saddened the world this week – Oscar winning, world-renowned funny man, Robin Williams, has died. At 63-years-old and gone far too soon, it shows depression doesn’t discriminate. To celebrate the life of man who made it his quest to bring joy and laughter to the world, we look back at five incredible things you many not know about Robin Williams.</p><p><strong>Number 1 </strong></p><p>After meeting at performing arts conservatory, Juilliard, Williams and Christopher Reeve stayed lifelong friends. After Reeve was hospitalised following a horseback riding accident, Williams thundered into his hospital room dressed as a doctor raring to preform a proctology exam. Reeve later wrote in his book: “Then, at an especially bleak moment, the door flew open and in hurried a squat fellow with a blue scrub hat and a yellow surgical gown and glasses, speaking in a Russian accent. He announced that he was my proctologist, and that he had to examine me immediately... it was Robin Williams... for the first time since the accident, I laughed. My old friend had helped me know that somehow I was going to be okay.”</p><p><strong>Number 2</strong></p><p>When Steven Spielberg was filming the harrowing 1994 holocaust drama, <em>Schindler’s List</em>, Williams called Spielberg so he could tell him jokes and cheer him up. Spielberg has called these “comic care packages over the telephone.” Williams later explained: “I think I only called him once, maybe twice. I called him when I was representing People for the Valdheimers Association. A society devoted to helping raise money to help older Germans who had forgotten everything before 1945. I remember him laughing and going ‘thank you.’”</p><p><strong>Number 3 </strong></p><p>Ever the improvisational master, Williams was renowned in the showbiz industry for his mighty ability to adlib. Williams produced 16 hours of material for his voice role as the Genie in Disney’s <em>Aladdin</em> in 1992.</p><p>He said of his role: “Initially they came in and I was just doing the scripted lines and I asked ‘Do you mind if I try something?’ and then 18 hours of recording later, they had the genie. I just started playing, and they said ‘just go with it, go with it, go with it.’ So I improvised the character. I think that in the end, there were something like 40 different voices that I did for that role.”</p><p>Ultimately, it was decided that Williams had ad-libbed so much that the film was ineligible for a Best Adapted Screenplay nomination at the Academy Awards.</p><p><strong>Number 4</strong></p><p>In his senior year at Redwood High School in California, Williams was voted both the most humorous and least likely to succeed.</p><p><strong>Number 5 </strong></p><p>For his laugh-out-loud role in 1993’s <em>Mrs. Doubtfire</em>, Williams wanted to make sure he wasn't recognisable as Mrs. Doubtfire, so he reportedly went into an adult bookstore in character and bought something without being recognised.</p><p><em><strong>Need to speak to someone or know someone who does, please get in touch with Life Line <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="https://www.lifeline.org.au" target="_blank">here</a></span>&nbsp;or call 13 11 14.</strong></em></p>

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