Tabla de contenidos para October 2019 en Readers Digest Australia

INTERNET SCAMS ARE RAMPANT. Every day, innocent people all over the world are approached via unwelcome emails, text messages and telephone calls. Over the years, Reader’s Digest has featured many articles about these costly scams, warning of the risks, the methods and spreading awareness on how we can protect ourselves, our money and our dignity. This month, the article, ‘The Chump Who Became a Champ’ (page 24) portrays a heart-warming encounter between a scammer and his would-be target. This is a story of a good person who reached out for help on Facebook. His approach fitted the profile of a scammer in every way. The only difference? He wasn’t out to steal from people, rather he was looking for a way to help others. The surprise friendship that developed between…

THOUGHT-PROVOKING 50 hidden meanings behind the most common dreams Find out what those weird and wonderful nightly visions reveal about you and your health. RELATIONSHIPS + COMMUNICATION 37 CONVERSATION STARTERS TO MAKE YOU INTERESTING You’ll never struggle to make small talk again with these great openers. HEALTHSMART Things your doctor wishes you knew about losing weight Master these oft misunderstood facts if you’re looking to shed a few kilograms the healthy way. JOIN THE CONVERSATION! PLUS SIGN UP TO OUR FREE NEWSLETTER FOR MORE HOT OFFERS, TOP STORIES AND PRIZES!…

THE CASE OF THE ROLEX MURDER Except for his Rolex watch, the man’s identity might have died with him. A murder mystery about money, sex and multiple identities. “GO GET HER!” The man saw a little girl struggling in the icy water, beyond his reach. He shouted to his dog: “Go get her!” An inspirational true tale of a hero dog’s dramatic rescue. I DON’T BELIEVE IN GHOSTS, BUT… … there was something unexplained and spooky going on that night at the George and Dragon Inn. EMERGENCY AT RAVENSTHORPE A young footballer lay dying in a remote West Australian town. And all Steve Hindley had to save his life and perform brain surgery was a rusty drill bit. TO LISTEN GO TO:  www.readersdigest.com.au/podcasts www.readersdigest.co.nz/podcasts www.rdasia.com…

That, if you can believe it, is how the venerable Dr Johnson – in what was the language’s guiding reference until the appearance of The Oxford English Dictionary 173 years later – chose to define me. Me! Ouch. But that was then, when Scotland was indeed among the only places where humans fed on me. Thankfully for me, and for your cholesterol ratios, I’ve come a long way in the 264 years since. And the famed Englishman’s dig at both me and the Scots now looks as foolish as his word for a burp of undigested meat. (For the record, the word is ‘nidorosity’.) It has been a wild ride, and from inauspicious roots. I began as a seed that grew in pods at the tops of towering 1.5-metre-tall weeds…

Calling It a Knight Historical TV dramas from the Middle Ages and Renaissance are popular on streaming services like Netflix – Medici and The Last Kingdom, to name but a couple. Here’s a list of obscure characters you’ll find way down on the credits: 1. The knight who was afraid to fight: Sir Render 2. The undercover knight: Sir Veillance 3. The knight who always guessed right: Sir Miser 4. The knight who showed up unexpectedly: Sir Prise 5. The knight who drank too much: Sir Rhosis 6. The dancing knight: Sir Prance-a-Lot 7. The loudest knight of all: Sir Roundsound 8. The foul-mouthed knight: Sir Cuss www.kingdompursuits.com Parting Shot Joe walks into a bar and orders three whiskies. The bartender asks, “Would you prefer them all in one glass?”…

Our family was first introduced to plastic when I was around six years old. I remember my mother coming home with the fortnightly shopping. Removing the groceries from brown paper bags, she handed me a bottle of shampoo, telling me the bottle was made from this new material that didn’t break. With my little scientific brain working overtime, I took the shampoo bottle to the bathroom and put it to the test. Holding the bottle at shoulder height, I dropped it on the tiled floor. “Wow!” I said. “It didn’t break.” But to be absolutely sure, I did it again. “Wow!” And again. Until… it broke. Try doing that with today’s plastics.…

1 Get Your Water Past Airport Security TRAVEL It’s impossible to get water through airport security, right? While it’s true that you are allowed to carry up to 100 millilitres of any fluid, in the US, full water bottles are let through in one case, according to US Transportation Security Administration – if they are ‘frozen solid when presented for screening. ’ If frozen liquid items are partially melted or slushy, you’ll likely have to toss the whole thing. Alternatively, you can also just bring a completely empty bottle through and fill it up once you’re done with the screening. Most airport terminals and even some planes now have water dispensers. 2 Brighten Up Your Christmas Tree DECORATING Most people spiral their Christmas tree lights from the bottom to the…

Movies Judy Biopic Set in the winter of 1968 – 30 years after she rose to fame in the Wizard of Oz – singer Judy Garland (Renée Zellweger) arrives in swinging London to perform a series of sold-out concerts at iconic nightclub The Talk of the Town. This adaptation of the play End of the Rainbow focuses on the final months of Garland’s life before her death in 1969. The movie portrays Garland’s frailties and passions in raw honesty, as well as her wit and warmth. Featuring some of her best-known songs, Judy is a celebration of one of the world’s greatest entertainers. The Addams Family Animation, Family When you look past their ghoulish appearances, the Addams family is much like any other family. Based on the cartoon…

Escaping War The saga of Nujeen Mustafa (‘Crossing to Europe’, July) who travelled 5600 kilometres across nine countries to find a safe home, touched my heart. In 1971, I was her age and had to cross the East Pakistan border, through thick jungle, in a quest to find safety. The memory of escaping war still haunts me. Things have not changed over the years. There is war in many parts of the world and people still have to flee. Not everyone is as lucky as Nujeen and I who are able to recount our experiences. Many perish while fleeing the chaos. NABA BIKRAM KISHORE TRIPURA Thank You, Patient 71 I read with interest the excerpt from ‘Patient 71’ by Julie Randall (June). In January, 2018, I had a small black…

If you have a habit of reaching for chocolate or a sugary drink every time you need an energy boost, you may be doing more harm than good, according to a new study published in the journal Neuroscience and Behavioral Reviews. Researchers from universities in Germany and the UK combined results from 31 previously published studies on sugar and energy that involved almost 1300 people. They analysed the short-term effects of consuming carbohydrates (sugar) on mood, fatigue, alertness, depression, calmness, tension and confusion. Then they investigated whether the quantity or type of sugar could help with mental or physical activities. What they found was, the sugar rush isn’t real. Eating simple carbohydrates like sweets had no effect on volunteers’ moods, regardless of how much they ate. What’s more, they were…

Sweet Revenge MOTHER: Can you please fix... MOTHER: Can you please fix my computer? ME: [Leans back in chair] Well, well, well, if it isn’t Miss ‘Get Off That Computer’ Years 1994 to 2006. @TheCheish A New Kind of Monster A vampire doesn’t produce a reflection in a mirror, and whatever creature I am doesn’t register with sensors on automatic sinks and soap dispensers in public bathrooms. @FeralCrone Runs in the Family My wife said, “She’s definitely your daughter,” after our three year old muttered incomprehensible gibberish, laughed out loud, and said very proudly, “I made a funny joke!” SPENCER HIGGINS Pasta Tragedy I just dropped a full jar of spaghetti sauce on the kitchen floor, and it shattered when it hit the tiles. The mess was so big that,…

Pate The crown of your head Glabella The smooth space between your eyebrows Canthus The point in the inner or outer corner of your eye where the top lid meets the lower one Columella nasi The skin that separates your nostrils Rasceta The horizontal creases on the insides of your wrists Lunule The crescent-shaped area at the base of your nail Philtrum The cleft between your top lip and your nose Lingual frenulum The membrane that attaches your tongue to the bottom of your mouth Gnathion The midpoint of your chin Suprasternal notch The depression below your neck between your clavicles Acnestis The area of your back that can’t be reached for scratching Popliteal fossa The back of your knee…

Millions of people travel by plane every day. Here are some insights on how travelling at high altitudes can alter your body and what you can do to have a more comfortable flight. SHIFTS IN CABIN PRESSURE CAN MAKE YOU GASSY You’re not just imagining it, studies have shown flatulence increases in the air. The Aerospace Medical Association says our body’s gas can expand up to 25 per cent. “We know from physics that gas tends to expand inversely to pressure,” explains Dr Paulo M. Alves, global medical director of aviation health for MedAire. “Therefore, as we climb on a flight, the external pressure is progressively lower, and any gas trapped inside our body cavities will expand accordingly.” This includes the gas in your intestines, which can lead to bloating…

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. 13 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!…

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…

OUR LIVES SEEM TO BE INCREASINGLY BUSY. Multiple family members often work full- or part-time and, when combined with other commitments, our pets can end up spending more time home alone. Lonely pets can become bored or anxious and sometimes destructive. According to veterinarian Dr Katrina Warren, dogs and cats both enjoy human company but can be content home alone if they’re well managed. Here are some of Dr Katrina’s tips to help owners minimise the amount of time pets spend solo and reduce the impact of being left alone. CHOOSE THE RIGHT PET Research dog breeds as there is a huge difference with energy levels. For example, working breeds like border collies and kelpies are highly active and may become destructive if left for long periods. Breeds like whippets…

MIRACLE SUPERGLUE Scientists in China have developed a miracle superglue that can heal potentially fatal wounds in seconds. The powerful bio-gel can prevent heart patients from bleeding out on the operating table, dramatically reduce recovery time and potentially save the lives of those injured in serious accidents. When activated by UV light, the bioglue immediately forms a complete seal, even on wet tissue, without the need for staples or stitches. Researchers experimenting on pigs were able to close up incisions and holes up to six millimetres wide in just 20 seconds. Pigs monitored for two weeks after had made a full recovery. Professor Hong Wei Ouyang, an expert in regenerative therapy, says when the new bio-gel is injected into injured tissue, it mimics the support structure of cells. Further studies…

The people of Twitter enjoy a bit of good clean fun. I don’t see why I should have to clean the shower. In my opinion, it’s the shower’s job to clean me. @WARMYELLOWLIGHT Not sure who this ‘dry-clean only’ shirt thinks it’s dealing with. @OHNOSHETWITNT Dishwasher broke, so now I’m washing them all by hand like some sort of motherless Disney princess. @ROBIN_991 When your wife asks what’s on TV, dust is not the right answer. @RUNOLDMAN My son keeps running around naked, so I sprayed him with window cleaner. It’s supposed to prevent streaking. @WEIRDRALPH…

People always say to me, “Why are you in such good shape?” and I always answer, “If I told you that you were going to be on film on a 40-foot screen with your shirt off, you’d be in good shape, too.”HUGH JACKMAN, ACTOR A SMILE IS TRULY THE BEST THING YOU CAN PUT ON YOUR FACECHRISTIE BRINKLEY, MODEL Keep some room in your heart for the unimaginable.MARY OLIVER, POET I find television very educational. The minute somebody turns it on, I go into the library and read a good book.GROUCHO MARX, COMEDIAN PLANT SEEDS EVERY SINGLE DAY [SO] THAT YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE, YOU KNOW WHAT YOU’RE ABOUT, AND YOU KNOW WHAT GOALS YOU’VE SET FOR YOURSELF.STEPHEN CURRY, BASKETBALL PLAYER…

A wealthy San Francisco philanthropist, Florence Fang, 84, is being sued over the ‘Flintstones’ home and grounds she has created. The oddly shaped house was built in 1976, and Fang bought it in 2017. Today, it features a large ‘Yabba Dabba Do’ sign near the driveway, dinosaur and mushroom figurines, along with a life-size statue of Fred Flintstone. “We don’t like it when people build things first, then come in and demand or ask for permission later,” huffed assistant city attorney Mark Hudak. WWW.SFCHRONICLE.COM…

In May this year, Texan business tycoon and adventurer Victor Vescovo set a new world record for the deepest underwater dive. The ex-naval officer descended nearly 11 kilometres in a submersible to the deepest place on Earth – the Mariana Trench in the Pacific Ocean. What he observed during the dive was a variety of deep-sea marine animals, such as arrowtooth eels, wriggly spoon worms, Mariana snailfish, super giant amphipods (shrimp-like creatures) and a bottom-dwelling sea cucumber, which he described as “completely translucent and had little eyes on its stalks.” Vescovo spent hours crisscrossing the bottom of the ocean collecting video evidence of the marine life that inhabit the deep, including what scientists believe are four new species. He also discovered deep sea geological formations and… rubbish. “It looked like…

STRANGE BUT IMPOSSIBLY TRUE 1 Dinosaurs had feathers. That’s what archaeologists have found in the fossil evidence of some species, including velociraptors. Whether bigger species such as Tyrannosaurus rex had them is still in debate, but some scientists believe they had light feathering. In fact, researchers have long noted that chickens and other birds share skeletal similarities with T-rex. 2 Sloths can hold their breath longer than dolphins. Dolphins need air after ten minutes, but a swimming sloth can hold its breath for up to 40 minutes by slowing its heart rate at will. 3 Firefighters use chemicals to make water ‘wetter’. The wetting agents reduce the surface tension of plain water so it spreads and soaks into objects more easily, which is why what fire crews use…

BUG-LARY Giant African mantises, giant desert hairy scorpions, warty glowspot roaches. All were among the estimated 7000 animals that disappeared from the Philadelphia Insectarium and Butterfly Pavilion last August. Any fears of a critter rebellion were quelled early on, however, when security footage showed staffers leaving the grounds, towing containers teeming with insects – a haul worth roughly $60,000. A jilted former employee allegedly organised the heist. Though only a small percentage of the goods were recovered after the employees were apprehended, locals can rest easy: the highly venomous six-eyed sand spider taken from the institution is now in police custody. DYING TO WIN Last Halloween, an amusement park chain held a contest in the US for the morbidly curious. The challenge: participants were to stay inside a ‘deluxe, slightly…

LODGING: Good values include the Union Station Hotel, doubles from US$165, and Courtyard by Marriott, from $149. In trendy, historic Germantown, the bed-and-breakfast Germantown Inn has doubles from $199. DINING: Seek out southern specialties such as barbecue pulled pork and fried catfish sandwiches for $14 at Merchants Restaurant, BBQ trays from $12 at Martin’s Bar-B-Que, and fried bologna sandwiches at Robert’s Western World. ATTRACTIONS: One-hour walking tours from the Nashville Visitor Center take in Lower Broadway honky-tonks and other historic neighbourhoods and buildings.…

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/podcasts www.readersdigest.co.nz/podcasts www.rdasia.com/podcasts…

On January 15, 2009, the crew of a US Airways Flight experienced a never-in-a-lifetime event. Less than two minutes after take-off, some geese found their way into the plane’s engines and brought them to a grinding halt. Over the next three-and-a-half minutes, the crew managed to identify the problem, decide what to do, and execute what a former National Transportation Safety Board member called ‘the most successful ditching in aviation history”. How did the crew begin this historic performance? By uttering the same words that many of us come up with in a crisis: ‘Oh crap’. We all experience ‘oh crap’ moments. Running into the person you cancelled a date with while you’re on another date. Realising you hit ‘reply all’ on an email that you’d do anything to have…

TEST YOUR GENERAL KNOWLEDGE 1. Which continent is in all four of the earth’s hemispheres? 1 point 2. What two Australian animals can’t walk backwards? 1 point 3. What is the world’s southernmost capital? 1 point 4. Which country has the world’s largest traffic roundabout? 1 point 5. If a river cruise were to start in Amsterdam, stop in Cologne and end in Basel, what river would it be on? 1 point 6. In 1855, a London newspaper was named after a communications technology that was new at the time. What was it? 1 point 7. What sharing-economy app did Travis Kalanick and Garrett Camp start after they were unable to find a cab in Paris? 1 point 8. Tellenlied, a song composed in the 15th century, tells of what…

1. quindecaplet – A: hat ornamentation, such as feathers. B: baroque-period musical form. C: group of 15. 2. perruquier – A: liqueur connoisseur. B: wigmaker or seller. C: collector of tropical birds. 3. perquisite – A: deliberate misdirection. B: preliminary test. C: job-related benefit. 4. appliqué – A: bouncing violin-bowing technique. B: practice of sewing fabric pieces onto a larger one. C: conclusion reached by applying formal logic. 5. prerequisite – A: having an acquaintance with the facts. B: required beforehand. C: acquired knowledge. 6. quip – A: soldier’s kit. B: calligraphy nib set. C: witty remark. 7. quop – A: make a social blunder. B: show indecision. C: pulsate or throb. 8. opaque – A: not transparent. B: iridescent. C: oval-shaped. 9. quid pro quo – A: hiring a…