Indice dei contenuti per September 2019 in Readers Digest Australia

THE INDONESIAN ISLAND OF BALI is rich in natural beauty, full of dense vegetation and lush landscapes. Our Bonus Read, ‘The Global Network’ (page 116), portrays in dramatic detail the sequence of events that unfolded in August last year when the scooter ridden by two young travellers skidded off the side of a mountain in the early hours of the morning. Severely injured, their only option was to send out an SOS message on Facebook. The power of social media and human kindness travelled across continents in this amazing true rescue story. Their rescue was assisted and witnessed by 516 Facebook followers, and is one of the most impressive and seemingly impossible stories I’ve read in a while. We’re also delighted to unveil a new regular food section, which some…

LANGUAGE + COMMUNICATION 70 words (and phrases) you’re using all wrong Most of us have used these expressions incorrectly at some point – but you won’t after reading this! HEALTH + WELLBEING 34 THINGS YOUR PARENTS’ HEALTH REVEALS ABOUT YOU Your parents can give you valuable insights about your future health. THOUGHT-PROVOKING + CRIME Mysteries that were actually solved by psychics These incredible mediums claim to have connected with victims from beyond the grave. JOIN THE CONVERSATION! PLUS SIGN UP TO OUR FREE NEWSLETTER FOR MORE HOT OFFERS, TOP STORIES AND PRIZES!…

TRACKING THE BACKPACKER MURDERER Two teenagers left Sydney to hitchhike their way home to Melbourne one summer morning. They vanished without trace. SWEPT TO SEA Rick Storm stared at the mountainous waves in horror. A child was drowning, and only he could save him. RESCUE AT THE ROOF OF THE WORLD Six climbers were trapped high on a deadly mountain. It would take a never-before-attempted helicopter mission to reach them. THE DANIELA GARCIA STORY It’s hard to imagine a challenge more extreme than the one that befell Daniela Garcia. But this brave woman has reclaimed her life. TO LISTEN GO TO:  www.readersdigest.com.au/podcastswww.readersdigest.co.nz/podcastswww.rdasia.com/podcasts…

“I’d had my PSA test every five years since I was 45, but in 2009, when I was approaching 60, it came back slightly higher than before,” says Jukka Karhula, a retired logistics manager. “The biopsy found cancer on the left side, although not a very fast-growing one. One doctor recommended active surveillance, but two others suggested surgery. No other options were discussed. I chose to wait for three months for robotic surgery, because the recovery was two-thirds faster. They took the entire left side of the prostate and the cancer with it – but spared the right. I was back at work in three weeks. “After surgery, I had incontinence problems for three months and erectile problems for four years even with Viagra. But then the nerves around my…

In 1911, a newspaperman in Canada named Joseph Coyle overheard an argument: a hotelier and a farmer were exchanging accusations about who was responsible for the broken eggs found in the latter’s deliveries. It inspired Coyle to experiment with a sturdy solution – made, of course, of newspaper. A few years later, the Coyle Egg-Safety Carton had taken off. You’ll find me tucked into a very similar model today, nested in fridges across the world, ready to start the day. And morning is when bleary-eyed humans are most likely to pluck me from that carton to boil, poach or fry. People have favoured me for breakfast since at least 1620, when a British medical writer by the name of Tobias Venner suggested poached eggs with vinegar in the morning. Four…

Doc: Your dad has been in a coma for nine days. We’re running out of ideas. Me: Let me try. *Goes to adjust thermostat.* Dad:*Opens one eye.* @KEETPOTATO Scene: A race. The gun goes off. Every runner pretends to be wounded, then laughs and starts the race. Announcer: And the annual Dad 5k is underway. @GOJARBE Why is it called a dad bod and not a father figure? @SKINNERSTEVEN A few weeks ago, my dad decided he was going to order pizza from his iPad. He’s almost finished. @SIMONCHOLLAND Friend: OK, when does a joke become a dad joke? Me, with no hesitation: When it becomes apparent. @TADDMIKE…

The World Economic Forum in Davos in January, more than usual, prompted a spirited round of elite-bashing, which has now become the trendy political posture on both the right and left. On one side, US President Trump and Fox News hosts slam the out-of-touch establishment that, according to them, has run things into the ground. On the other side, left-wingers decry the millionaires and billionaires who, in one author’s phrase, “broke the modern world”. Underlying these twin critiques is a bleak view of modern life – seen as a dysfunctional global order, producing stagnant incomes, rising insecurity and environmental degradation. But is this depiction, in fact, true? Are we doing so very badly that we need to bring back the guillotines? On the simplest and most important measure, income, the…

A tech-loving couple in Indonesia have named their baby Google. The baby’s dad, Andi Cahya Saputra, said: “From religion, we considered the names of the prophet, and from the more usual names, we also considered Albar Dirgantara Putra. But when he was finally born, something in my heart told me the name Albar Dirgantara Putra wouldn’t suit him.” theweek.co.uk “My coworker named her baby Strawberry Rain. Which would be a great baby name, if she had given birth to a bottle of shampoo.” @CAPTAINMAGICTROUSERS “Guy I met at a buddy’s house said he named his daughter Rabbit… sigh.” @schexy01 “I know of a family of three boys named Hunter, Fisher and Trapper.” @racheltt…

The Upsides of Worrying Thank you, Reader’s Digest, for helping me see worry and stress in a different light (‘Taming the “What Ifs”’, June). It is reassuring that worry has the benefits mentioned in the article and that utilising this negative energy in a positive way can motivate us all to focus our brain energy in a better direction. T. AAMIR A Doll for Everyone I’m so grateful to Amy Jandrisevits for creating unique dolls for unique children (‘Dolls Represent Kids With Disabilities’, News Worth Sharing, June). I imagine that when the children see themselves reflected in these beautiful dolls they feel as though they belong and with this must come a belief in themselves. RACHAEL KATE D’SOUZA Clever Captioning As a regular reader, I must admit that the captions…

Taking a shower rids the body of surface level germs and bacteria. The squeaky-clean feeling, however, isn’t thanks to harsh loofahs. In fact, most dermatologists don’t recommend them – and would definitely not use them on their face. HARSH ON YOUR SKIN If you’re making the mistake of washing your face in the shower, you might not know that loofahs aren’t the best option for clean skin. “You should avoid rubbing with a loofah or washcloth as these are too irritating and will damage the skin,” says dermatologist Dr Benjamin Garden. “Gently use your fingers to rub the face wash on and gently wash off.” Over-washing depletes the skin of the natural lipids that are an important part of its protective barrier. PRONE TO BACTERIA On a germier note, dermatologist…

At one point in his sneaker collecting ‘career’, DJ Jerome Salele’a owned 400 pairs. These days, the 34 year old has considerably fewer – he keeps about 50 at his home in Sydney’s south-west, with the remainder in storage – but his passion for ‘kickz’ is as strong as ever. New Zealand-born Jerome is part of the global community of ‘sneaker enthusiasts’ (he hates the term ‘sneaker freaker’ but loves the magazine of the same name started by Melburnian Simon Wood) that congregate through online forums and conventions, such as a recent SneakerCon in Sydney. Rarity is the sneaker-lovers’ drug, although unlike collectors of wine or art, sneaker heads will often purchase things they don’t even like. Jerome explains: “[I may] buy a pair [I don’t like] to trade a…

Basic: Using a blender or a food processor, blend 1 large pasteurised egg with 1 medium clove garlic, 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice, and a large pinch salt until smooth. With the machine running, drizzle in 1 cup vegetable oil in a thin stream until a thick sauce forms. Herb: Add 2 to 4 tablespoons chopped fresh chives, parsley, dill or tarragon to the Basic recipe before blending in oil. Mustard: Make the Basic recipe, adding 1 tablespoon of mustard before blending in the oil. Extra-Garlic: Make the Basic with 2 or 3 cloves of garlic rather than 1. Horseradish: After blending the Basic, add preserved horseradish 1 tablespoon at a time until desired taste is reached. Chilli-Lime: Replace the lemon juice in the Basic recipe with 1 tablespoon lime…

There are many good reasons to improve your poops. For starters, maintaining a healthy bowel routine keeps your pelvic muscles fit and your time on the toilet brief. It helps prevent chronic constipation and diarrhoea, along with secondary problems such as haemorrhoids, tissue tears and unpredictable stools. Use our guide below to make your bowel movements the best they can be. 1 WHAT YOUR POO SAYS ABOUT YOU KNOW YOUR TYPE A stool scale (see chart, right) developed at the University of Bristol describes seven stool formations, from severe constipation (hard little lumps) to severe diarrhoea (practically water). The ideal is type 3 or 4: sausage-like and S-shaped in the bowl, passed painlessly and without straining or spending too long on the toilet. If your poop is lower on the…

1 Your eyes aren’t just the windows to your soul: they also hold clues about your health. Eye doctors are often the first to notice serious diseases – including brain tumours, hypertension and diabetes – by examining the condition of the blood vessels in your retina. 2 Advancements in optical technology mean that your eye examination is more than just a sight test. Optometrists check your ocular health, test your eye pressure, and examine your visual acuity. They can also use computer vision testing to monitor developments inside your eyes. 3 When having your vision tested, relax and blink often. If you don’t, the smooth tear film on the surface of your eye starts to break up, making it more difficult for you to tell which lens is clearest. 4…

I remember the first time I saw him walking; Liam, my eldest son, had crawled across the parquet floor and pulled himself up to standing on the arm of an IKEA armchair. There he stood, oozing self-satisfaction, finding confidence, clinging tightly to the seat. Sunshine was spilling through the windows. It was autumn, the light was soft and buttery. Liam at ten months old had always been ahead of the curve when it came to movement. Standing tall, he looked down at his soft toys: a blue and white speckled whale shark and a one-eyed Curious George, the trickster monkey. Liam stood straight and solid on the edge of our old Persian rug. His shoulder leaned into the Scandinavian armchair, which I had assembled, so I knew it didn’t have…

I want to ask you a favour. I have a pair of pants. Tell me: how many different ways can I put a pair of pants to use? Now imagine you’re an architect. Same question. Now imagine you’re Cher. Bill Gates. A scuba diver. A medieval knight. You still have the pants. What alternative uses come to mind? What you just practised – the conscious act of ‘wearing’ another self – is an exercise that, according to psychiatrist Dr Srini Pillay, is essential to being creative. IGNORE ADVICE TO BELIEVE IN YOURSELF. INSTEAD, BELIEVE YOU ARE SOMEONE ELSE One great irony about our collective obsession with creativity is that we tend to frame it in uncreative ways. That is to say, most of us marry creativity to our concept of…

Anecdotes and jokes Send in your real-life laugh for Life’s Like That or All in a Day’s Work. Got a joke? Send it in for Laughter is the Best Medicine! Smart Animals Share antics of unique pets or wildlife in up to 300 words. Reminisce Share the tales of an event from your past that made a huge impact in 100–500 words. My Story Do you have an inspiring or life-changing tale to tell? Submissions must be true, unpublished, original and 800–1000 words – see website for more information. Letters to the editor, caption competitions and other reader submissions ONLINE Follow the ‘Contribute’ link at the RD website in your region EMAIL  AU: editor@readersdigest.com.au NZ: nzeditor@readersdigest.com.au ASIA: asiaeditor@readersdigest.com.au WE MAY EDIT LETTERS AND USE THEM IN ALL MEDIA. SEE WEBSITE…

PETS PROVIDE GREAT COMPANY and generally love to please their owners, but there are a few bad habits they may adopt that can drive their owners bonkers. Some basic training and easy interventions can make life far more pleasant for pets and owners alike, suggests veterinarian Dr Katrina Warren. ISSUE: DOGS JUMPING UP Dogs that jump up on people can be annoying, embarrassing and potentially dangerous. SOLUTION: The best strategy is to teach your dog that they will only receive attention when all four feet are firmly on the ground. Start as early as you can, as it’s easier to prevent this behaviour than correct it. When you see your dog is about to jump up, turn your body away and ignore the dog until it settles down. Then…

NEW MEDICATION SHOWS PROMISE FOR HAIR LOSS A drug originally developed to treat bone loss may also help treat hair loss. The drug, known as WAY-316606, suppresses the activity of a protein that is key to regulating the growth of hair follicles. Researchers from the University of Manchester extracted hair follicles from male hair-transplant patients in the lab, then treated the samples with the drug. In just two days, the drug stimulated the hair follicles to grow. A clinical trial is needed to ensure that the treatment is safe and effective when used on hair still attached to living human scalps. SHORTER SLEEP CAN LEAD TO DEHYDRATION People who said they regularly got only six hours sleep each night ran a greater risk of inadequate hydration than those who got…

LISTEN TO THE CRITICS, BUT LISTEN MOST CAREFULLY TO THOSE WHO SPOKE UP WHEN THE SUN WAS SHINING. DONALD GRAHAM, PUBLISHER I don’t spend too much time on social media, so I can protect my mind space. SANDRA OH, ACTRESS Attitude is not everything, but it’s almost everything. MARY PIPHER, AUTHOR AND PSYCHOLOGIST It’s important that, no matter the struggles and the pressure society puts on you, if you stay strong, healthy and positive, you will get through. Every single one of us matters, our stories, our voices matter. DANZAL BAKER RAP ARTIST AND YOUNG AUSTRALIAN OF THE YEAR 2019 THE EARTH HAS ITS BOUNDARIES, BUT HUMAN STUPIDITY IS INFINITE. GUSTAVE FLAUBERT, WRITER The way I look at it, every day that I’m moving forwards is a day I’m not…

My husband is so good at home repairs that they have a special VIP area for him in the emergency department. @THISONESAYZ I ordered a bed from IKEA, and they sent me a tree trunk and a saw. @EILEENCURTRIGHT Everybody’s a tough guy until they have to use a screwdriver overhead for two minutes. @STEVEVSNINJAS Please don’t come to my garage sale if you’ve ever let me borrow something. @MJKSPEAKS My girlfriend wants me to stain the new wooden fence in her backyard. So I’m going to eat spaghetti over it for a few weeks. @RICKOLANTERN…

HE’D BEEN LESS OF A CLEAN FREAK: A man who’d broken into and ransacked a mobile phone store thought of everything. He even shut off the power to the building to disable the surveillance cameras and sprayed the glass display counters with Windex to remove his fingerprints. Yes, he thought of everything – except for the Windex. He left it behind, and Florida police lifted his fingerprints from the bottle. Sun Sentinel HE’D WORN A BELT: A man snatched the cash drawer from a church gift shop in Florida and took off, pursued by a church worker. The worker might not have caught up with him except that the thief’s oversize pants slipped down around his ankles – and tripped him. Reuters HE’D MADE HIS CAR PAYMENT: An Illinois man…

Under a Cloud Two old friends, Ned and John, lived for baseball. Then one day, John died, leaving Ned inconsolable. A few weeks later, Ned heard someone calling his name. He looked up. Standing on a cloud was his old pal. “Ned,” John called down. “I have good news and bad. The good news is, there’s baseball in heaven!” “Great,” said Ned. “What’s the bad news?” “You’re pitching Sunday.” SUBMITTED BY EARL FINCHER No, Tank You A customer walks into a pet shop and asks about buying a goldfish. “Do you need an aquarium?” asks the salesperson. “No, thanks,” says the customer, shaking his head. “I don’t care what sign it is.” friarsclub.com This is Awkward ME: *Struggling to think of things to talk about.* “So, what do you do…

It’s 4am, dark and bitterly cold as Rindy Turner arrives at the New World Supermarket in Queenstown, in the heart of New Zealand’s ski region, to stock shelves for the locals and tourists who will descend upon the store throughout the day. But before she kicks off the day checking the storeroom, Rindy has a few important tasks to complete. First, she drapes a bundle of blankets over a heater. Next, she froths a small jug of milk in the kitchen of the onsite café and pours some fishy-smelling biscuits into a bowl. As Rindy runs through this daily early morning routine, Izzy, a brown, black and white striped cat with big green eyes, waits impatiently outside the café. As Rindy emerges and sets down the cat’s breakfast and warm…

Mikey Lythcott’s first Facebook post, at 4.36am Bali time, set off a chain reaction of 516 concerned posts from friends around the world that eventually led to his rescue. Here are a few: 4.45AM PRAGUE Leah Schlossman Dude!!!!! Are you OK? 4.46AM POCONO MOUNTAINS, PENNSYLVANIA Aimee Spevak I have a pin drop of Michael’s location. 4.47AM RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA Marcie Dean Corral Here is Tourist Police info: [posts it] 4.48AM CANADA Jackie Klobucar Tried one number so far but won’t let me call. 4.49AM LAS VEGAS Kaitlin Haggard Here are Indonesian police numbers by district: [posts a link] 4.53AM RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA Josh Hofer Called the same number. I couldn’t communicate with the person at all. He said, “No English.” I asked if anyone there could and he said no.…

Balloon Bouquet Difficult The diagram to the left shows the top view of a bunch of balloons. The diagram to the right is a view from the side, from a direction for you to determine, but one of the balloons that should be visible has popped (recently enough that none of the other balloons have been disturbed). Which one? A-to-L Fit-In Moderately difficult Insert the letters A to L, one per square, so that no two consecutive letters in alphabetical order touch, not even at a corner. Four letters have been placed to get you started. Star Search Moderately difficult Place stars in seven cells of this grid so that every row, every column and every outlined region contains exactly one star. Stars must never be located in adjacent cells,…

1. Oh no! The Milky Way is going to crash into what other galaxy... in four billion years? 2 points 2. What car company is named for the god of the Zoroastrian religion? 2 points 3. What colourful body of water separates Saudi Arabia from Africa? 1 point 4. Who won the Wimbledon Women’s Singles Final in July, 2019? 1 point 5. The Emmanuel bell used to ring when kings were crowned and is still the largest bell in which iconic Paris cathedral? 1 point 6. If a dish is a la Florentine, which ingredient is it assumed to have? 1 point 7. Who once famously described Russia as ‘a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma’? 1 point 8. Which country spent over $1 million to ensure that…

1. funemployment – A: employees have the chance to buy shares in a company. B: enjoyment of free time resulting from joblessness. C: appreciation for one’s work. 2. equity – A: spending everything one earns. B: value of a property minus what is owed for it. C: donation matching. 3. smishing – A: text-message scamming. B: not tracking expenses. C: failing to pay alimony. 4. act of God – A: sudden windfall. B: tax exemption for religious organisations. C: uncontrollable natural event. 5. asset – A: divorce agreement. B: valuable item that is owned. C: joint venture. 6. inflation – A: exaggerating one’s income. B: overspending. C: general increase in prices. 7. opportunity cost – A: benefit missed by choosing one alternative over another. B: job-application fee. C: bargain price.…