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Long-serving ABC star calls it quits

Paul Barry, the veteran host of Media Watch, who has made a career out of poking the media bear, has announced his departure from the ABC show in December. After an illustrious (and occasionally infamous) tenure that would make a soap opera look like a nap, Barry is hanging up his microphone at the ripe age of 72. “I’ve been in the hot seat for 11 years and it’s time to give someone else a go,” Barry remarked, possibly while the hot seat sighed in relief. Indeed, hosting Media Watch is no small feat – it's a bit like riding a roller coaster while simultaneously refereeing a brawl. But Barry has certainly done it with aplomb, panache and a fair amount of flair. His announcement has left viewers with mixed feelings – a blend of gratitude for his unyielding service and a tinge of sadness, akin to the bittersweet end of a beloved TV series. Barry promised to stay with us until December, giving us ample time to stock up on popcorn and enjoy the remaining episodes. "Lots of fun to be had before then," he teased, hinting at some final rounds of media mischief. For those who might be wondering what Barry plans to do next, well, that's still a mystery. Perhaps he'll take up knitting, but knowing him, it’ll likely be with barbed wire. Barry first commandeered Media Watch in 2000 before returning in 2013, making a grand comeback that rivalled any reality TV show. Over the years, he has ruffled enough feathers to fill a sizeable pillow factory. Commercial media outlets, politicians and even his own network – as Media Watch famously runs independently of the ABC – have all been on the receiving end of his sharp critiques. His fearless approach has made him a hero to many and a headache to some. One of Barry’s most memorable moments came in 2013 during a spat with columnist Andrew Bolt. When Bolt provocatively asked Barry to reveal his salary on air, Barry did just that – $191,259, to be precise. It was a jaw-dropping moment that left viewers stunned and Bolt, presumably, a bit flummoxed. In between his stints at Media Watch, Barry has donned many hats – investigative reporter for the Sydney Morning Herald, correspondent for 60 Minutes, and author of several books, including a controversial unauthorised biography of James Packer. His career has been a veritable smorgasbord of journalism, controversy and unflinching honesty. An ABC spokesperson paid tribute to Barry, highlighting his “track record of independent commentary, analysis, and robust discussion about the media industry and its ethics – or lack thereof.” Barry has indeed been the watchdog’s watchdog, never shying away from calling out malpractice, no matter where it reared its head. As the ABC gears up to announce a new host, the shoes left behind are large ones to fill. Barry’s departure marks the end of an era – one filled with wit, grit and an unwavering commitment to holding the media accountable. So, here’s to Paul Barry – the feather-ruffler, the truth-seeker, the man who made us laugh, gasp and, most importantly, think. As he steps down from Media Watch, we wish him the very best in his next adventure, whether that’s taking on new journalistic endeavours or finally perfecting that tricky scarf pattern. Bravo, Mr Barry. You will be missed. Image: Media Watch

"Fly high, Bette!": World's longest-serving flight attendant dies aged 88

Bette Nash, the world's longest-serving flight attendant has passed away aged 88, after a short battle with breast cancer. American Airlines, where Nash devoted almost seven decades of her life, announced her death on social media on Saturday. "We mourn the passing of Bette Nash, who spent nearly seven decades warmly caring for our customers in the air," they began their post. “Bette was a legend at American and throughout the industry, inspiring generations of flight attendants. “Fly high, Bette. We’ll miss you.” A spokesperson for the airlines confirmed that she was still an active employee at the time of her death. Nash, who was born on December 31, 1935, began her flight-attendant career with Eastern Airlines in 1957, at just 21-years-old. In January 2022, she was officially recognised as the world’s longest-serving flight attendant by Guinness World Records, after surpassing the previous record a year earlier. She continued to hold the title until her passing. Tributes have poured in from people all over the world on social media, with many praising her for her unwavering dedication and kindness. "Fly high Bette! It was a pleasure being your passenger," wrote one person on X, alongside a selfie he took with her. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Fly high Bette! It was a pleasure being your passenger. <a href="https://t.co/9N63YPB5Ia">pic.twitter.com/9N63YPB5Ia</a> — Jon Kruse (@JonKruseYacht) <a href="https://twitter.com/JonKruseYacht/status/1794459429997273423?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 25, 2024</a></blockquote> "She was flying as a passenger when she sat next to me, pinned her jacket to the bulkhead, gave me a three minute story of her life then said 'So what's your story?'. She was a dynamo. Rest easy," another added. "She was an absolute delight in my earliest airline life working the USAir shuttle at LGA. Godspeed and eternal silvered wings Bette!" a third wrote. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> She was an absolute delight in my earliest airline life working the USAir shuttle at LGA. Godspeed and eternal silvered wings Bette! — Ryan Spellman (@JustJettingThru) <a href="https://twitter.com/JustJettingThru/status/1794480142766531034?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 25, 2024</a></blockquote> "Rest in Peace Bette Nash," wrote a fourth. "Bette was a class act. Truly a loss for the skies. She was truly an Angel," added another. Image: CBS/ X

Caring

"Am I dreaming?": Prince William serves up burgers from food van

The Prince of Wales has stunned a few unsuspecting customers of a London food truck by serving them burgers. In collaboration with popular YouTube channel Sorted Food, Prince William took part in the stunt to promote The Earthshot Prize, a mission he founded in hopes to repair the planet. They worked together to create a plant-based 'Earthshot burger', which they served to customers, in the clip shared on YouTube. As part of the stunt, Prince William first hid his identity by facing away from the customers, when it was time to serve the food, he turned around with burgers in hand to the shock of the diners. "My brain took three seconds to buffer - am I dreaming?" one said after seeing Prince William serving burgers. "I was lost for words," said another. "I was shell-shocked" said a third. The Prince of Wales also praised last year's Earthshot Prize winners, and explained that the dishes served used three of their innovations, which all represented a solution to help repair the planet. "For those of you who don't know, the Earthshot Prize is there to repair and regenerate the planet. Everything you see here comes from the winners from last year," he said. The ingredients for the burgers were sourced by Indian start-up Kheyti, who support local farmers and help shelter their crops from unpredictable weather events and pests. The burgers were cooked in a cleaner-burning portable stove from Mukuru Clean Stoves, which aims to reduce air pollution, and the food was served on Notpla takeaway containers made from natural and biodegradable materials. This is the verdict from the diners: "the best burger we've ever had." The Prince also joked with diners saying that the global Earthshot Prize started back when he "had hair." "It's designed as an environmental prize tackling the world's greatest environmental problems," he said. "We liked the idea that this is a big deal, this is like something we really need to aim for, but it's about saving the planet, not taking us to the moon." He added: "And there's many people out there who want us to move to the next planet already and I'm like, hang on, let's not give up on this planet yet." Images: Kensington Palace/ Sorted Food YouTube

Food & Wine

Man served with AVO after turning up on Sophie Monk’s doorstep

A man has been served with an AVO after he turned up at Sophie Monk’s home clutching a single red rose; claiming he was the victim of an elaborate catfishing scam that robbed him of $7,000. Brian Rapley said police questioned him “like I was some crazed stalker” but insisted that he had months of messages on his phone between him and the person he had believed to be Monk. “I feel like such an idiot,” he told the Daily Telegraph. “But I thought we were in a relationship." Police were called on April 25 to Monk’s NSW Central Coast home after a man was spotted outside at 7:30am calling her name. He returned later that evening and was swarmed by police. Rapley, 49, said five police cars descended on him. "They said to me, ‘What are you here to do to Sophie Monk?’ and I said, ‘I’m here to meet her for the first time, we are in a relationship'." Monk wasn’t home at the time as she was with her husband Joshua Gross in Queensland filming a movie Zombie Plane with US entertainer Vanilla Ice. “I do not know any person by the name of Brian Rapley. I am not in a relationship with anyone by the name of Brian Rapley. I am currently happily married to my husband Joshua Gross,” Monk said in a statement to police. Rapley wasn’t officially charged but was served with an AVO and told not to approach the TV personality. He had told police that he genuinely believed it was Monk he was communicating with after he left a message on her verified Instagram account. “Then next thing I get a message from another account but with the same profile pic as Sophie, saying, ‘Hey, it's Sophie … let’s chat here, my manager reads my official account, so this is better,’” he told the Daily Telegraph. Over the span of four months, he said he and the person he believed to be Monk spoke regularly. Rapley showed the outlet the multiple messages he claimed he thought were from the star. One of the messages to him read, “I love you”. However, there were telling signs that it was likely a scam as the “relationship” never moved from messaging to phone calls. “I did think that was weird. I was like ‘If you are who you say you are, you could walk into a shop and get a new phone for free’”. However, the account explained that their phone was broken and they were too busy to buy a new one. Rapley then said he fell for a scam in which the person he thought was Monk said she was “getting all this money” but asked him to send her cash in the meantime. When he questioned why he would be sending money to such a high-profile celeb, he was told it was just “bank account drama”. He then revealed that the person he was messaging provided him with Monk’s address and told him to meet her there on April 25 so they could finally meet face-to-face. Rapley said he was embarrassed. “Look, I know it sounds stupid … I look like a right fool but the truth is I’m just lonely, and I believed her.” Image credit: Getty

Relationships

"With Honour They Served": Outpouring of emotion after shooting victims identified

The two police officers who were executed at a Queensland rural property have been identified. Constable Matthew Arnold and Constable Rachel McCrow were at a property in the western Darling Downs, about three hours west of Brisbane when they were shot on December 12. One of the neighbours, Alan Dare, 58, was also shot and killed in the attack which led to a manhunt for the alleged attackers. Police services around the country offered their condolences to the families of Constable Arnold and Constable McCrow after their heroic actions. “It is with a heavy heart we confirm the deaths of Constable Matthew Arnold and Constable Rachel McCrow,” Queensland Police wrote on Facebook. “Their lives were cut tragically short in the line of duty at Wieambilla yesterday. “With Honour They Served.” Police were at the rural property in response to a missing person, who was later identified as former school principal Nathaniel Train. There were grave concerns for Mr Train who disappeared from Dubbo in the NSW Central West in early December. Constable Arnold and Constable McCrow were joined by two other officers, Constable Keeley Brough and Constable Randall Kirk, both aged 28, at the property. A six-hour siege ensued, with the officers opening fire about 4.45 pm which saw Constable Arnold and Constable McCrow killed. Constable Kirk was also wounded while Constable Brough, who was only eight weeks into her new role, managed to escape and raise the alarm. The pair were finally joined by Special Operations police and helped them shoot dead three suspects, including brothers Nathaniel and Gareth Train, and a third female, after a six hour siege. Queensland Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll was heartbroken at describing what had happened, following the death of her colleagues. “This has been incredibly distressing and tragic for everyone, particularly family, officers involved, colleagues, the organisation and the community,” she said. “As you would appreciate. It is an extremely emotional and challenging time for the Queensland Police Service. Losing one of our own has a profound impact on every single officer and their families. To lose two officers in one incident is absolutely devastating. “This event is the largest loss of police life we have suffered in a single incident in many years. “I want to pay tribute to the two other officers who attended....they bravely did what they could to save their colleagues in the most horrendous circumstances. Their bravery was beyond belief. “Thank you also to the specialist police and other first stand-of-responders who were involved in the dangerous confrontation for many hours last night. Matthew and Rachel were highly respected and much loved members of the Queensland Police Service. “They were both committed and courageous young people who had a passion for policing and for serving their community. “Both are under 30 years of age. Both had wonderful careers and lives ahead of them.” Prime Minister Anthony Albanese also offered his condolences to the fallen officers. “Terrible scenes in Wieambilla and a heartbreaking day for the families and friends of the Queensland Police officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty,” he wrote on Twitter. “My condolences to all who are grieving tonight – Australia mourns with you.” Images: Facebook

News

"The time for lip service is over": Dylan Alcott serves it up to Centrelink

During his appearance at the Jobs and Skills summit in Canberra, Aussie tennis legend Dylan Alcott delivered an impassioned speech on behalf of all people with disabilities, demanding they be allowed to work more hours without losing their Centrelink benefits. His plea comes as the nation suffers through what's been widely characterised as an extreme labour shortage – with Alcott's rallying cry to change the current rules surrounding employment and the disability pension powerfully underlined by his parting shot that "the time for lip service is over". <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> "My whole life it hasn't changed": Australian of the Year Dylan Alcott has called for an increase in workplace participation for Australians living with a disability during the government's jobs and skills summit in Canberra. Read more on the jobs summit: <a href="https://t.co/iyFrzKUT9l">https://t.co/iyFrzKUT9l</a> <a href="https://t.co/MFdrsEoADy">pic.twitter.com/MFdrsEoADy</a> — SBS News (@SBSNews) <a href="https://twitter.com/SBSNews/status/1565218388716261377?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 1, 2022</a></blockquote> The Australian of the Year suggested that people with disabilities should have the advantage of picking up more work without losing Centrelink payments. Presenting the moving speech to 140 attendees, he spoke passionately about the current state of affairs for people with disabilities in the workforce. “Nearly 4.5 million people in this country have some form of physical or non-physical disability, visible or invisible, and only 54% of them are enrolled in the workforce,” he said “I'm 31 years old, that participation rate hasn't changed in 28 years. My whole life. It hasn't changed. “And to be honest, that's not fair. That really isn't fair. Because people with a disability are ready to have the choice if they want to work, just like anybody else.” “The time for lip service is over to be honest, because we've been getting that for a long time.” Australia's unemployment rate currently sits at 3.4% – however, the unemployment rate of people with disabilities is almost triple that. Alcott suggests the best solution to combat the problem is to allow those on disability support payments to work more hours without losing their benefits. Currently someone on that payment loses 50c in every dollar they earn over $190 a fortnight, putting them off working extra hours. “There are so many opportunities to get out there and work at the moment, yet it's not really translating into people with disabilities getting that chance,” Alcott said. “We need to have the opportunity to get out there and have a crack.” Image: Getty

Money & Banking

Qantas rolls out new self-serve kiosk machines

Qantas will roll out new kiosk machines that will help streamline passengers onto their flight without any headaches. Following the disastrous Easter and ANZAC Day long weekends which saw the Qantas terminal snaking with lines due to staff shortages and delayed flights, the airline bounced at the change. The new self-serve kiosk machines will help make the airport experience faster and easier for customers travelling on domestic flights. The national carrier started a limited trial of the self-serve machines in Terminal 3 at Sydney Domestic Airport and are expected to complete the roll out by June. Other major domestic airports will slowly see them installed by the end of September. Qantas Group Chief Customer Officer Stephanie Tully said the change was due to passengers already checking in online. “We have seen consumer preferences dramatically shift towards digital and being able to manage their own journey, so we’re investing more in our app and airport technology to make travelling easier,” she said. “The existing kiosks were instrumental in reducing queuing for check-in at airport counters when they were introduced more than 10 years ago, and these new kiosks will match the latest technology with customer preferences. “Understandably, our customers want to move through the airport and get to the lounge or boarding gate as seamlessly as possible, and the new kiosks will help speed things up. “We will incorporate feedback from Frequent flyers as the new kiosks are rolled out across the network. “We know that some customers would prefer to speak to a person when they check in, so we’ll continue to have the same number of Qantas team members available in the terminal to help customers with enquiries as well as have check-in desks open.” HOW THE PROCESS WORKS: 1) Check-in online (qantas.com or on the Qantas app) 2) Use new kiosks to print bag tags 3) Drop luggage at auto-bag drops 4) Use digital boarding pass to board flight. Image: Qantas

Travel Trouble

Woolies employee reveals unknown self-serve checkout hack

One Woolworths employee has shown those who struggle with self-serve checkout one easy hack to get you sorted. A new clip shared to TikTok by the official Woolworths page, has shared with shoppers a simple way to stop calling for assistance at self-serve checkouts when scanning and bagging items. However, followers of the page were more excited to see the employee sharing the hack, rather than the hack itself. Woolworths' staffer Liam Kirley shot to fame on TikTok after his in-store videos went viral. In the video, Liam shows himself lining up the items to be packed in a single bag before scanning. "Press I've got a bag on the machine, then place the bag in the bagging area," he said. "Then place all the items you want in that bag on the parcel shelf. “Then do something called a power slide, you slide items across and the barcodes will scan easier." He shared that the green light will let you know when it's time to scan another item and when you can move your bag. Liam also revealed that pressing the new bag button on the bottom left-hand side of the screen will make it easier to start the process again with a new bag. The clip also shows shoppers how to scan heavy items without lugging them onto the bagging area or calling staff for help. "If you've got a bag item like the water, tap the heavy miscellaneous and then tap the item you want in," he shared. Liam rose to stardom on TikTok, by sharing simple secrets for the supermarket. <img id="__mcenew" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7843801/woolies-checkout.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/7cc9747b7b0d44038f29d4649ff80cc2" /> His viral videos have gained him more than 150,000 followers and seven million likes. Now, Liam says he will be running the new Woolworths account, as a content coordinator. Woolies launched their new account on TikTok during the week and delves to share recipe ideas, cooking hacks from food experts, shopping tips and sneak peeks into new stores. “We are pleased to be launching on TikTok and to give customers an even closer look at what it means to be Today’s Fresh Food People," Woolworths Chief Marketing Officer Andrew Hicks said. “TikTok is a great platform to share content and we hope can help make customers’ shopping easier through simple and fun tips and insights. “In planning the launch on TikTok, it was important we had an authentic voice of our team that would resonate with the channel's audience. "We’re excited to have Liam bring that same authenticity across a range of content to inspire our customers.”

Money & Banking

Why this self-serve checkout “hack” should never be tried in store

A self-serve checkout hack video has gone viral, amassing almost over a million views; but supermarket chains have warned customers against it. The video posted to TikTok was shared by a Woolworths customer who revealed that machines have a coin slot flap that can be lifted, which can allow shoppers to dump multiple coins at once instead of inserting them one-by-one. “Oi Aussies, did you know that at Woolworths you can pull this up to insert your coins when you have too many?” she said in the video. However, supermarket chains are asking customers not to try out the “hack” as it is not intended for customer use, and shoppers can risk jamming the machines. Woolies staff commented on the video, writing “Noooo don’t do this, the machine will jam then we gotta fix it.” Another said: “You’ll end up waiting longer … great way to jam the coin slot they have to individually go on a belt to be sorted so the machine knows what’s been put in,” another added. A Coles spokesperson told news.com.au it is not a simple hack shoppers should ever attempt. “The purpose of the coin flap is to prevent debris, food and other small objects from getting into the machine which could cause jams. “However, we do not encourage customers to put an excess amount of coins, i.e. piggy bank full of coins.”

Retirement Life

"Blatant disregard for hygiene": Man slams Woolworths self-serve checkouts

<div class="post_body_wrapper"> <div class="post_body"> <div class="body_text redactor-styles redactor-in"> A Woolworths customer slammed the supermarket giant for a "blatant disregard of hygiene" at one of its Melbourne stores. He said that he was disappointed to see that staff at his local store had left bins on the grocery shelves next to some self-serve registers. “It is almost inconceivable that anyone would place rubbish bins at any time on a surface where meat and vegetables are placed, but during a pandemic?” the customer wrote. “It is inexcusable.” He also said it was a "blatant disregard for hygiene". <iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fwoolworths%2Fposts%2F5142232599182163&width=500&show_text=true&height=561&appId" width="500" height="561" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe> However, many defended the supermarket, saying that they didn't see the problem. “These bins are just for the receipts. How are they any less hygienic than the counter that people are touching?” said one. “He says, whilst using a touchscreen or keyboard, both of which harbour more bacteria than your average toilet seat,” another commenter said. “The two registers with bins on the bench are closed. What’s the big deal? The rubbish isn’t going to jump out, on to your meat and vegetables,” a third agreed. The irritated shopper said he would prefer to see the bins "on the FLOOR". A Woolworths spokesperson said that they would pass the shoppers feedback onto the relevant store. </div> </div> </div>

Food & Wine

“I want to serve time in jail”: Accountant confesses to stealing $500k from employer

A former accountant who stole more than half a million dollars from her employer to fund her extravagant lifestyle has been jailed after telling police she wanted to spend time in prison. Donna Zanin, 42, was ordered to serve two years and three months behind bars on Tuesday after she admitted to siphoning $551,451 from the company’s finances. The accountant pleaded guilty last month to six counts of theft, which was carried out in 57 individual transactions ranging from $2,000 to over $20,000 between November 2014 and January 2019. Zanin had been the only financial manager at the Schnitz food chain until she was made redundant in a 2018 company restructure. She was later re-hired on a contract basis. The new financial head Regan Cheriton noticed the suspicious transactions and told Zanin on June 6, 2019 that he was working with ANZ to investigate them. Zanin confessed to the thefts at Richmond police station the day after, showing the 34 international flights bought with the stolen funds on her passport. She also sent an apology text to Schnitz founder Roman Dyduk, saying: “I’ve decided I’m ruining my life and have been enacting a plan to ruin my life for some time. “I sound insane but I will serve time in jail. I want to serve time in jail. I’m at the police station now confessing.” County Court judge David Sexton said while Zanin showed significant remorse, he was “somewhat bewildered” by her explanation. “You told police in that interview that you had been stealing money from your workplace for an extended period of time and you had been waiting to get caught,” he said in the Melbourne County Court on Tuesday, as reported by <a href="https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/schnitz-accountant-stole-500k-told-cops-she-wanted-to-go-to-jail-20200630-p557md.html">The Age</a>. “You had spent the money mostly on extravagant holidays, expensive restaurants, alcohol. “You also provided a sustained and detailed narrative about wanting to get caught, wanting to self-sabotage, purposefully stealing an extreme amount of money and knowing you would probably go to jail.” Judge Sexton said Zanin’s offending was a significant breach of trust and seriously affected the family business Dyduk built with his sons. Zanin will be eligible for parole after 16 months.

Legal

Woolworths confirms trial video surveillance on self-serve checkouts

Woolworths have confirmed they are trialling video surveillance at its self-serve check-outs in hopes of officially stamping out theft for good. Melbourne shopper Branwell Travers was the one who first called out the change when he took to Twitter to explain how he had seen a video of himself appearing on the screen of a self-serve checkout. "For how long has Woolworths been filming me while using self-check-outs?" he captioned the photo. <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7836311/woolies.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/902af3252a5049e0a9f1054dc722c419" /> Mr Travers told <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.pedestrian.tv/news/woolworths-security-self-serve-checkout-trial/" target="_blank">Pedestrian TV</a> he first thought the checkout must have been glitching to have recorded him. “I was kinds confused and thought maybe it was a malfunction or something,” he said. “But I looked over my shoulder and saw the person next to me had the same thing.” Another customer also shared they were “shocked” to discover they were also being filmed at another Woolies self-service checkout kiosk. A Woolworths spokesman told <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/food/eat/woolworths-trialling-video-surveillance-at-selfservice-checkouts/news-story/29b75c97c5fba310071318b6ef87a459" target="_blank">news.com.au</a>: “We know the vast majority of our customers do the right thing at our self-serve check-outs. This is a new security measure we're trialling for those that don’t. “Our stores have staffed checkout lanes for customers who would prefer not to take part in the trial.” Video taken by Woolworths at the self-service kiosk is not recorded or stored and the cameras cannot see the card PIN pad section. Image: Branwell Travers viaTwitter

Legal

MasterChef contestant kicked out after serving dead bird to the judges

Spanish MasterChef fans have been left in shock after one of their contestants served an unplucked and uncooked partridge to the less than impressed judges. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Así ha sido la expulsión de Saray en el cuarto programa de <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MasterChef?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MasterChef</a> 8 <a href="https://t.co/5KB3O2GWnE">https://t.co/5KB3O2GWnE</a> <a href="https://t.co/PYvzC9D0oq">pic.twitter.com/PYvzC9D0oq</a> — MasterChef (@MasterChef_es) <a href="https://twitter.com/MasterChef_es/status/1257449800540336130?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 4, 2020</a></blockquote> 27-year-old social worker Saray was reportedly unhappy with having to pluck and cook the bird for that week’s elimination challenge and defiantly decided to serve the bird as is. She was already upset with previous harsh critiques she’d received from the judges and plated up the uncooked partridge with cherry tomatoes and dressing. The clip has since been watched more than 1.8 million times on Twitter and shows Saray calmly delivering the uncooked bird to the judges. Fans of the show were disgusted and thrilled by the drama and the incident spread quickly on Twitter. A viewer tweeted: “MasterChef Spain is more exciting than the British version! “Contestant serves up an uncooked, unplucked partridge because she's p***ed off that her effort in the previous round was rubbished by the judges.” Another Spanish national sarcastically said: "This is the society that we are creating children-adults, crying, conceited, badly educated ....... Let's continue like this."

Food & Wine

Cash for aces: Nick Kyrgios to serve up bushfire relief

Nick Kyrgios has pledged to donate $200 for every ace he hits this summer to raise funds for bushfire-affected communities. “I’m kicking off the support for those affected by the fires. I’ll be donating $200 per ace that I hit across all the events I play this summer,” the world no. 30 wrote on Twitter Thursday night. Australian teammate Alex de Minaur joined in, saying he would contribute $250 per ace. “I will go $250 per ace, just because I don’t think I’ll be hitting as many aces as you mate,” de Minaur responded to Kyrgios’ post. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"> I’m kicking off the support for those affected by the fires. I’ll be donating $200 per ace that I hit across all the events I play this summer. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MoreToCome?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MoreToCome</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/StayTuned?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#StayTuned</a> — Nicholas Kyrgios (@NickKyrgios) <a href="https://twitter.com/NickKyrgios/status/1212677231270645762?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 2, 2020</a></blockquote> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"> I like this I will go $250 per ace, just because I don’t think I’ll be hitting as many aces as you mate. 😂😂😂 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/dropthehammer?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#dropthehammer</a> <a href="https://t.co/SxMPs3XQud">https://t.co/SxMPs3XQud</a> — alex de minaur (@alexdeminaur) <a href="https://twitter.com/alexdeminaur/status/1212686230296547328?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 2, 2020</a></blockquote> The pledge came after Kyrgios proposed a charity exhibition match to Tennis Australia. “C’mon @TennisAustralia surely we can do a pre @AustralianOpen exho to raise funds for those affected by the fires?” the 24-year-old shared to Twitter on Wednesday. The governing body’s CEO Craig Tiley said initiatives to help raise money for bushfire relief will be announced soon, beginning at the inaugural ATP Cup. The tournament, which will take place in Sydney, Perth and Brisbane, announced on Friday morning that every ace served in its inaugural competition will see $100 donated to Australian Red Cross. The game’s headline acts included world no. 1 Rafael Nadal and and no. 2 Novak Djokovic. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"> Each ace served across the <a href="https://twitter.com/ATPCup?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ATPCup</a> at all three venues will deliver $100 to the <a href="https://twitter.com/RedCrossAU?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RedCrossAU</a> bushfire disaster relief and recovery efforts. With more than 1500 aces expected to be served, the tournament contribution is expected to exceed $150,000. — ATPCup (@ATPCup) <a href="https://twitter.com/ATPCup/status/1212739231916818435?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 2, 2020</a></blockquote> “For weeks we’ve been watching the devastation caused by bushfires across Australia and the people affected are constantly in our thoughts,” Tiley said on Thursday. “We ... will announce a number of fundraising and support initiatives that will be rolled out across the ATP Cup, Australian Open and our other events over the coming weeks. Stay tuned for further announcements.”

Domestic Travel

Shoppers unimpressed with Woolworths’ new self-serve tactic

Shoppers aren’t happy with the latest self-serve checkout that’s been unveiled at a new Woolworths store in Melbourne this week. Millers Junction Woolworths in Melbourne’s west was treated to Victoria’s very first self-serve checkout specifically for trolleys. This could potentially sole issues about overcrowding in the service area. “I think it’s a great idea, and I really love self service,” one person told <a rel="noopener" href="https://au.news.yahoo.com/customers-hit-out-at-woolworths-new-self-service-tactic-033430011.html" target="_blank">Yahoo News Australia</a>. “The only time we don’t use it is if we had a full trolley, but the new self-serve would solve that problem.” However, many were quick to point out that adding more self-serve checkouts doesn’t solve the problems of overcrowding. “This company still doesn't get it. If you go shopping you do not want to have to serve yourself as well. Business is just greedy for money, cut jobs, no staff for the customer to interact with,” one person said. “No jobs for the young kids to get a kickstart in the workforce. Computers have definitely helped but before you know it nobody will be working because robots and computers will do it all,” another agreed. “This solves nothing, now the slow morons that really should not be using self-check out to begin with will take up more space and waste more time,” a third person said. <iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fmammaknowswest%2Fphotos%2Fa.801562326538146%2F3023260567701633%2F%3Ftype%3D3&width=500" width="500" height="380" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allow="encrypted-media"></iframe> Retail expert Professor Gary Mortimer from Queensland University of Technology said that self-serve checkouts do not always equal less employees. “Roles are simply moved from one area to another,” Professor Mortimer told <a rel="noopener" href="https://au.news.yahoo.com/customers-hit-out-at-woolworths-new-self-service-tactic-033430011.html" target="_blank">Yahoo News Australia</a>. “I think the service is still the same, it’s just with one option you’re actually actively involved in controlling your transaction - and some shoppers like that.” Mortimer also suggests that there is a mindset that it’s faster to unload, scan and bag your own groceries through self-serve but it really takes the same amount of time as an employee doing it for you. “Because we are stressed and because we are perceived to be time-poor, it doesn’t matter which queue you’re in, you’re always going to believe you’re in the slowest queue,” he explained. “The perception is ‘Wow, this is really quick’, but there could be 20 customers ahead of you, but when you’re standing in a checkout there might be two people in front, and you go ‘This is going really slow. “It’s just the movement which creates the psychology that things are moving faster.” Mortimer says that retailers across the board are looking to provide shoppers with different ways to transact their goods. “I think these types of conveyor belt style self-service technologies will roll out, I don’t think they will be predominant across all checkouts but there will certainly be one or two options for customers,” Professor Mortimer said. “Particularly in busier stores.”

Food & Wine

Photo of Coles store shows the massive problem with older Australians and self-serve checkouts

The growing adaption of self-serve checkouts has sparked a fiery debate online after complaints surfaced accusing supermarkets of neglecting senior Australian’s needs. An image shared to Facebook displayed queues of older Aussies lining up at a checkout in a Coles store. The snap was taken inside the Southlands Boulevarde shopping mall in Willettonm, a suburb in Perth Australia. The comment section heated up after many people aired their disappointment, saying it looked a lot like many supermarkets these days. “Stop relying on the self-serve checkouts, hire some staff,” the irritated shopper who shared the photo wrote. <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7832153/fb-img.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/d4fb5ea8966c4fa8a41f00b6360ac862" /> Several other frustrated people agreed with her statement, with one person commenting that supermarkets were limiting staff so they could “force the use of self-checkouts" on customers to “recoup the money spent on them”. Another said they always refused to “use self-checkout regardless of the shop”. Consumer behavioural analyst and managing director at Marketing Focus Barry Urquhart told <a rel="noopener" href="https://au.news.yahoo.com/" target="_blank">Yahoo News Australia</a> there is a growing trend towards electronic efficiency - meaning the needs of older shoppers are being pushed to the wayside. Mr Urquhart says the traditional shopping experience is one older customer enjoy about grocery shopping. “A lot of people are very lonely, they live in soulless homes, their social interaction is between those who are serving them,” he said. “And when you remove that, the shopping experience is compromised depreciatively because it’s just a process and there’s no human interaction. “It’s interesting because the older people are, the more loyal of the supermarket customers, and they are, in a large part, loyal because of the personal interaction that they have with the ‘checkout chick’.”

Technology

No more self-serve checkout theft? The change that may be coming to your supermarket

Scottish researchers think they have solved a debacle plaguing supermarket self-serve checkouts - theft. Abertay University academics found digital human-like faces at self-serve checkouts can help reduce the risk of shoplifting. The study stimulated a self-service checkout scenario in which participants were asked to scan and weigh items before paying. Opportunities were provided in which shoppers could benefit financially through being dishonest. "Items without a bar code provided opportunities for dishonest behaviours as participants were required to select a weight or provide the item numbers," <a rel="noopener" href="https://academic.oup.com/iwc/article/31/2/154/5426455" target="_blank">researchers wrote.</a> Results showed when a human-like face was present, participants were less likely to cheat the systems than the times the face was not included. <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7831933/self-serve.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/eeb9dd7cebb84ac09bcf8cd04bd129b4" /> The digital face shown above the checkout. Image: 9news "This study shows that there are potential effects on people's behaviour due to the inclusion of human-like elements within the service," explained researchers. "Interface designers interested in this field need to achieve a balance in that an agent will have to be noticed sufficiently, while not interfering with a consumer's task." Researchers said there is "huge merit in maintaining a social element in consumer interaction with technology" in order to reduce self-service checkout theft. The study comes out at the same time retailers across the country are trialing several different methods to combat the million-dollar problem. New South Wales are testing out sensors which create a log of the products the customer selects. The information is transferred into checkout at the time of purchase. "Our distributed decision-making stack maintains a virtual 'cart' for each customer, reliably detecting and tracking all product interactions," black.ai, the robotics firm working with a number of unnamed supermarkets, previously told <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/researchers-develop-method-to-combat-self-service-checkout-theft/ar-AAJ5bRV" target="_blank">nine.com.au.</a>

Money & Banking

“I don’t want to be served by you lot”: Kiwi man demands to be served by “white girl” on flight

A former New Zealand man has been convicted of racially aggravated abuse after demanding he be served by a “white girl” on a British Airways flight. According to <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.nzherald.co.nz/travel/news/article.cfm?c_id=7&objectid=12265788" target="_blank">The New Zealand Herald</a>, Peter Nelson, 46, was awoken by flight attendant Sima Patel-Pryke on the 11-hour flight from Heathrow to Rio de Janeiro and launched into a tirade of abuse. UK media reported that the father-of-three said: “You Asians think you are better than us, I don’t want to be served by you lot, I’ve paid your wages for the last 20 years.” His tirade “targeted” Patel-Pryke and reduced the stewardess to tears after he shouted “very loudly” at her and another crew member. The cabin crew got a restraining kit ready to use on him before threatening Nelson with arrest. Prosecutor Michael Tanney said that Nelson “subsequently demanded services in the future only from the white member of the crew.” In Isleworth Crown Court on Friday, a jury delivered a unanimous guilty verdict to one count of racially aggravated abuse on the flight on June 2 last year. Judge Edward Connell said: “You plainly displayed a contemptuous attitude towards the staff from the outset, when Pryke, simply doing her job, came to wake you in order to take your food order. “You took immediate offence at her having the audacity in your view to wake you up. “It seems that that was the beginnings of what turned out to be on your part an opportunity for you to get very upset without any justification at all. “That manifested itself in the most unpleasant of ways. “It was thoroughly unpleasant period of conduct by you; such was your conduct that members of staff were called to deal with you and they had cause to contact the pilot. “It’s quite plain, albeit this wasn’t the most serious case the court hears, that it had an impact on Pryke who we heard in evidence was upset and ended up in tears because of your behaviour. “It was completely unacceptable and I’m entirely satisfied that it was contributed by that you had drunk a significant amount of alcohol during the course of that flight. “I accept this conviction will have profound ramifications for you and your employability so I’m just persuaded that this can be dealt with a financial penalty.” Nelson was fined $AUD3,582, with $894 compensation to his victim and $6290 costs to the prosecution. Defence lawyer Lauren Sales said that Nelson’s wife has suffered from stress due to the allegations. “He has lost his job. He was the breadwinner of the family. It is life-changing for Nelson, the two of them have taken the decision to take their children out of their school because it’s an international school,” she said. “They feel they cannot go to the gates of the school and stand in the playground.”

Travel Trouble

Nursing home nightmare: Why the food being served is worse than prison

The <a href="https://theconversation.com/au/topics/aged-care-royal-commission-59847">Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety</a> this week turned its attention to food and nutrition. The <a href="https://agedcare.royalcommission.gov.au/hearings/Documents/transcripts-2019/transcript-16-july-2019.pdf">testimony of maggots in bins</a> and rotting food in refrigerators was horrific. When so much of a resident’s waking hours is spent either at a meal, or thinking of a meal, the meal can either make or break an elderly person’s day. So why are some aged care providers still offering residents meals they can’t stomach? It comes down to three key factors: cost-cutting, aged care funding structures that don’t reward good food and mealtime experiences, and residents not being given a voice. And it has a devastating impact on nutrition. How much are we spending on residents’ food? Our <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/1747-0080.12368">research from 2017</a> found the average food spend in Australian aged care homes was A$6.08 per resident per day. This is the raw food cost for meals and drinks over breakfast, morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea, dinner and supper. This A$6.08 is almost one-third of the average for older coupled adults living in the community (A$17.25), and less than the average in Australian prisons (A$8.25 per prisoner per day). Over the time of the study, food spend reduced by A$0.31 per resident per day. Meanwhile the expenditure on commercial nutrition supplements increased by A$0.50 per resident per day. Commercial nutrition supplements may be in the form of a powder or liquid to offer additional nutrients. But they can never replace the value of a good meal and mealtime experience. Cutting food budgets, poor staff training and insufficient staff time preparing food on-site inevitably impacts the quality of food provided. At the royal commission, chefs spoke about using more frozen and processed meals, choosing poorer quality of meats and serving leftover meals in response to budget cuts. Malnutrition is common, but we can address it One in two aged care residents <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1741-6612.2008.00324.x">are malnourished</a> and this figure has remained largely the same for <a href="http://www.jnursinghomeresearch.com/784-poor-nutritional-status-is-associated-with-worse-oral-health-and-poorer-quality-of-life-in-aged-care-residents.html">the last 20 years</a>. Malnutrition has many causes – many of which are preventable or can be ameliorated. These include: <ul> <li>Dental issues or <a href="http://www.jnursinghomeresearch.com/784-poor-nutritional-status-is-associated-with-worse-oral-health-and-poorer-quality-of-life-in-aged-care-residents.html">ill-fitting dentures</a></li> <li><a href="https://journalofdementiacare.com/the-lantern-project-shining-a-light-on-food-in-aged-care/">Dementia</a>(because of difficulty swallowing and sensory sensitivities)</li> <li>A poorly designed dining environment (such as poor acoustics, uncomfortable furniture, inappropriate crockery and table settings)</li> <li>Having too few staff members to help residents eat and drink and/or poor staff training</li> <li>Not supplying modified cutlery and crockery for those who need extra help</li> <li>Not offering residents food they want to eat or offering inadequate food choices.</li> </ul> My soon-to-be-published research shows disatisfaction with the food service significantly influences how much and what residents eat, and therefore contributes to the risk of malnutrition. Malnutrition impacts all aspects of care and <a href="https://www.thelanternproject.com.au/">quality of life</a>. It directly contributes to muscle wasting, reduced strength, heart and lung problems, pressure ulcers, delayed wound healing, increased falls risk and poor response to medications, to name a few. Food supplements, funding and quality control Reduced food budgets increase the risk of malnutrition but it’s not the only aged care funding issue related to mealtimes. Aged care providers are increasingly giving oral nutrition supplements to residents with unplanned weight loss. This is a substandard solution that neglects fundamental aspects of malnutrition and quality of life. For instance, if a resident has lost weight as a result of ill-fitting dentures, offering a supplement will not identify and address the initial cause. And it ends up <a href="https://academic.oup.com/ageing/article/47/3/356/4791131">costing more</a> than improving the quality of food and the residents’ mealtime experience. Our other soon-to-be-published research shows the benefits of replacing supplements with staff training and offering high-quality food in the right mealtime environment. This approach significantly reduced malnutrition (44% over three months), saved money and improved the overall quality of life of residents. However, aged care funding does not reward quality in food, nutrition and mealtime experience. If a provider does well in these areas, they don’t attract more government funding. It’s not surprising that organisations under financial pressure naturally focus on aspects that attract funding and often in turn, reduce investment in food. A research team commissioned by the health department <a href="https://agedcare.health.gov.au/reform/resource-utilisation-and-classification-study">has been investigating</a> how best to change aged care funding. So hopefully we’ll see changes in the future. Aged care residents are unlikely to voice their opinions – they either won’t or can’t speak out. Unhappy residents often fear retribution about complaining – often choosing to accept current care despite feeling unhappy with it. We lived in an aged care home. This is what we learned New <a href="https://agedcare.health.gov.au/quality/aged-care-quality-standards">Aged Care Quality Standards</a> came into effect on July 1 (I was involved in developing the guidelines to help aged care providers meet these standards). However, they provide limited guidance for organisations to interpret and make meaningful change when it comes to food, nutrition and mealtime experience. Aged care providers will need extra support to make this happen. We’ve developed an evidence-based solution, designed with the aged care industry, to address key areas currently holding aged care back. The solution offers tools and identified key areas essential for a happier and more nourishing mealtime. At the end of 2018, our team lived as residents in an aged care home on and off for three months. As a result of this, and earlier work, we developed three key solutions as part of the <a href="https://www.thelanternproject.com.au/">Lantern Project</a>: <ul> <li>A food, nutrition and mealtime experience guide for industry with a feedback mechanism for facilities to improve their performance</li> <li>Free monthly meetings for aged care providers and staff to discuss areas affecting food provision</li> <li>An app that gives staff, residents and providers the chance to share their food experiences. This can be everything from residents rating a meal to staff talking about the dining room or menu. For residents, in particular, this allows them to freely share their experience.</li> </ul> We have built, refined and researched these aspects over the past seven years and are ready to roll them out nationally to help all homes improve aged care food, nutrition and mealtime experience. Written by Cherie Hugo. Republished with permission of <a href="https://theconversation.com/why-is-nursing-home-food-so-bad-some-spend-just-6-08-per-person-a-day-thats-lower-than-prison-120421">The Conversation</a>.

Food & Wine

Tim Allen’s dark past: How he almost served a life sentence in prison

Apart from the Hollywood glamour that surrounds Toy Story star Tim Allen, it may be difficult to believe he lived a much different life over 40 years ago – one so different, he almost served a life sentence in prison. The 66-year-old was only 25 when he was arrested at Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International Airport for attempting to sell cocaine to an undercover officer. It was revealed the young and brooding Allen had over 650 grams of the illegal drug in possession, which is more than enough to earn a hefty life sentence. He pled guilty and gave the names of other dealers in exchange for a sentence of three to seven years instead of the life imprisonment he was facing. <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/ByqvdCwjtff/" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/ByqvdCwjtff/" target="_blank">A post shared by Jeremiah Daniel Rodriguez (@aspecialautisticteenager)</a> on Jun 13, 2019 at 4:08pm PDT </div> </blockquote> “It put me in a position of great humility, and I was able to make amends to friends and family and refocus my life on setting and achieving goals.” the actor told <a rel="noopener" href="http://www.closerweekly.com/posts/tim-allen-life-128954" target="_blank">Closer</a> in 2017. “I’m not the same guy I was the first time [I was married], when I was hiding and doing what people who drink too much do. I was not connecting.” The star spent two years and four months in a federal prison following his 1978 arrest. Allen was married to Laura Deibel from 1984 to 1999 and they share a 21-year-old daughter, Katherine. He married Jane Hajduk in 2006 and they have an 11-year-old daughter, Elizabeth.

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Tim Allen’s dark past: How he almost served a life sentence in prison

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