Table of contents for April / May 2024 in Readers Digest Australia

Dangers In The Wild Sincere and committed people like Tony Fitzjohn in ‘Locked In The Lion’s Jaws’ (Dec 23/Jan 24) give their all to help ensure wild animals like Freddie the lion can live their lives under proper care. But one can only imagine how dangerous it must be for humans to live in such places. Tony survived the attack with the help of not only his fellow human beings, but also Freddie who he raised from a cub. Had Freddie not intervened, readers would probably not have had this incredible story to read. VASU DEVAN Gardening Guru I read ‘Language Of Gardening’ (My Story, Oct/Nov 23) with keen interest. I work in education and discovered my green thumb after volunteering to re-establish a large vegetable garden at my workplace. Running…

I’ve jogged through postpartum depression, relied on Pilates to help me stretch during stressful times and I often go for a walk after a bad day. So it’s no surprise to me that there’s a link between exercise and mental health. But scientists have now made it official: research has found a direct connection between movement and mood. Each time you work up a sweat, your body releases feel-good neurotransmitters, or ‘happy hormones’, including endorphins, dopamine and endocannabinoids, the latter being responsible for the so-called runner’s high. Now researchers are also pointing to myokines – dubbed ‘hope molecules’– as an important contributor to the mental health benefits of exercise. When our muscles contract, chains of amino acids called myokines are released into the bloodstream; they help your muscles and organs…

As Yasmeen Lari looked out the car window across the Siran Valley in northeastern Pakistan, she grieved for what was no longer a lush vale with rolling green hills, trees and mountains. It was October 2005, and the catastrophic earthquake that had killed some 79,000 people in Pakistan, India and Afghanistan a week earlier had reduced the valley to mud and rubble. The architect was there to help lead the reconstruction of settlements, but she had never done disaster work before. Lari was filled with anticipation after a two-hour flight from Karachi to Islamabad, Pakistan’s capital, followed by this five-hour drive. Darkness had fallen before her driver pulled into a dimly lit army camp where the military rescue operation was based; at 1500 metres it was safer from aftershocks and…

My mum only remembers my childhood friends based on the perceived slights they committed against her 15 years ago. I’ll mention a name and she’ll just be like “ah yes, the one with the MUDDY SHOES.” @ROBERTSCHULTZ Her: I know making friends as an adult is hard. Just try asking questions. Me (who has not tried to make friends since Year 3): My favourite dinosaur is triceratops. What’s yours? @ANDREW NADEAU 20s – Friends talk about best happy hours in town. 30s – Friends talk about best mortgage lender in town. 40s – Friends talk about best gastroenterologist in town, and then go on to enlighten each other about the gory details of colonoscopy prep. @WHINECHEEZITS Liking the same stuff is one thing. But hating the same stuff? True friendship.…

I think of myself as a good sleeper. Give me a large book and a horizontal position, and I could fall asleep strapped to the top of a bullet train. Sleep has been a constant ally, a friend. When I was a teen, it was a refuge. I used to pray for sleep; its temporary oblivion was a welcome respite from anxiety and obsessive thoughts. It was a pause, not a death, but close enough to it. Every time I fell asleep, there was a chance of resurrection, to wake up new. My girlfriend, Allison, however, does not think I’m a good sleeper. She knows the truth. At night, I thrash around and scream. Occasionally, it sounds like my breathing stops. Worst of all for her, I snore. Badly. She’s…

According to the Thames Festival Trust, the “River Thames is the longest continuous archaeological site in Britain – the cumulative rubbish dump of thousands of years of habitation.” Stretching for 18 kilometres on both sides of the river were docks, wharfs, warehouses, shipbuilding yards, ship-scrapping yards, fish markets, factories, breweries, slaughterhouses, municipal buildings, offices, pubs and houses. The river was home to thriving communities of watermen, lightermen, stevedores, dockworkers, sailors, merchants, fishermen, fishmongers, oyster wives, shipbuilders, ship-breakers and local mudlarks. The objects found in the mud range from Neolithic flint tools to Roman detritus (coins, bottles, gaming pieces, colourful pottery and glassware), as well as relics of war (daggers, knives, chainmail), animal bones, human teeth, religious curios, children’s toys and yesteryear’s fashions, such as pins, jewels, buckles, buttons, cufflinks, wig…

QUESTIONS 1 What we eat doesn’t just depend on individual taste and budget; religious dietary regulations also play a role, some of which date back thousands of years. The regulations of which world religion prohibits the consumption of rabbits? a) Hinduism b) Islam c) Christianity d) Judaism 2 On the Korean peninsula you can’t ignore kimchi. Fermented cabbage adds extra flavour to almost every dish in North and South Korea. Many families make it themselves. Wearing gloves prevents… a) discolouration of the cabbage b) burning the skin c) impurities in the cabbage d) discolouration of the hands 3 Cured meat, matje herring, beetroot and potatoes are the main ingredients in the traditional northern German dish labskaus. This mixture supposedly helps prevent… a) a hangover b) athlete’s foot c) stomach pain…

1. Pumpkins are berries. True or false? 1 point 2. What nocturnal bird found in South and Central America is nicknamed the ‘ghost bird’ due to its large eyes and haunting call? 2 points 3. Which Australian city briefly held the names Batmania and Bearbrass before settling on its current name in 1837? 2 points 4. In which Central Asian country is the Darvaza gas crater, a geological formation also known as the ‘Gates of Hell’, discovered in the 1970s? 2 points 5. For security reasons, baristas who work at a Starbucks located in Langley, Virginia, do not take customers’ names with an order. In what US federal building is it located? 1 point 6. The Indian subcontinent moves northward about five centimetres a year, causing what landmark to grow…

WE HEAR A LOT ABOUT SCAMMERS, about their ever-increasing cunning ways to hook victims and ultimately deceive with often devastating results. Scammers make a living by winning over our trust. This month’s Bonus Read, ‘A Scammer’s Target: My Mother’ (page 136), is a powerful account of how an elderly woman’s life was turned upside-down by an unscrupulous scammer. It portrays the aftermath, her shattered confidence, her embarrassment and her eventual recovery. It’s a clear reminder of how vulnerable we all are to scammers. Also in this issue, we share the work of celebrated Pakistani architect Yasmeen Lari, who turned her skills to building better homes for natural disaster-prone regions of her home country (page 26), explore the benefits of exercise (page 20) and taking up a hobby (page 42), and…

A Right Galah BEVERLEY HARRIS Many years ago, a group of us ladies would hold a meditation night at a friend’s home where we would enjoy interesting conversation and, in a light-hearted way, send love and healing out to the universe. The homeowner (who we referred to as ‘the Pedantic One’) owned a pet pink and grey galah named Cocky. When we arrived at the house, we would stop and chat to the bird, as he liked holding a conversation with us. On evenings when the planets aligned, the Pedantic One would organise for us to do something special. On one such evening, we were all standing under a clear sky holding hands and concentrating intently when a voice behind us asked, “What are you doing?” We tried not to…

Dark green vegetables are often considered the healthiest of foods because they’re particularly rich in essential minerals like iron, magnesium and calcium, as well as vitamins C, K and many of the Bs. Now an array of products in a variety of brands promise all that goodness in one scoop of powder – just stir it into water. The powders are made of dehydrated veggies such as spinach and beetroot, or broccoli and sprouts, plus spirulina, a type of algae. But is drinking your greens as healthy as consuming them whole? The short answer is no. “I consider powdered greens to be a nutritional supplement,” says dietitian and author Maya Feller. THEY CAN HELP BRIDGE THE GAP WHEN YOU’RE NOT ABLE TO MEET YOUR NUTRITIONAL NEEDS FROM FOOD OR BEVERAGES…

1. Put a bottle of water by your bed when you turn in. In the morning, drink what’s left for a good start to hydration for the day. 2. Each day, spend at least ten minutes of dedicated one-on-one time with the loved ones you live with. 3. Make your to-do list specific. It’s easier to get started when the item says ‘Make outline for report’ than when it says ‘Write report’. 4. Print photos that you have on your phone as birthday gifts. Printed photos are a rare treat these days. 5. Call your parents; they want to hear from you. One day you won’t be able to. 6. LIFE IS TOO SHORT FOR UNCOMFORTABLE SHOES. 7. Keep cut-up fruit and vegetables in the fridge so there’s an easy,…

Walking. Hiking. Jogging. Biking. Unaided, we can’t do any of these things without our feet. So why, when our quality of life is directly related to being active, do many of us ignore these two vital parts of our body? Spanish scientists expressed concern in their 2021 study (of participants from 15 to 69 years) over a rise in foot issues and how poor foot health affects everything from physical activity to the overall health of able-bodied people. “Foot problems can reduce quality of life, lead to loss of balance, make it difficult to put on shoes and increase the risk of falling,” the authors wrote in the journal Scientific Reports. “All of this can affect activities of daily living, including the desire to go outside.” Meanwhile, a 2017 study,…

Accidental Master Chef During my army training, I worked beside our company mess sergeant as he prepared that evening’s supper. After seasoning the meat and letting it slowly cook, he retired to his quarters for a nap. Army chow is decidedly not fine cuisine. But when he came back two hours later, he paused and inhaled the aromas emanating from the stove. “Whoa, something smells good!” he said. “What did I do wrong?” SUBMITTED BY RICHARD T. FLOERSHEIMER Twinkle Toes A woman named Silver Saundors Friedman was a co-founder of The Improv, a famed New York comedy club. But after her death her daughter told The New York Times that early on her mother had wanted to be a singer. Born Silver Schreck, her mum knew she’d need a new…

1. TBD – A: to be determined. B: terribly bad day. C: tactical business development. 2. ESL – A: earnings, savings and loans. B: elementary-school level. C: English as a second language. 3. DOE – A: date of event. B: depends on experience. C: day off due to exhaustion. 4. P&L – A: parsley and lemon. B: position and location. C: profit and loss. 5. GMO – A: genetically modified organism. B: give me one. C: guaranteed mail order. 6. SEP – A: someone else’s problem. B: solar energy production. C: seismic event prediction. 7. PS – A: print supplement. B: postscript. C: parting statement. 8. ABC – A: against book censorship. B: airway, breathing and circulation. C: access to basic care.  9. URL – A: uniform resource locator. B:…

We asked you to think up a funny caption for this photo. I always get a kick out of birthdays. BRIAN THOMPSON They told me to have a balanced diet. JOHN MORGAN Cake is my sole mate. FIONA HIGGINS Let’s shoe in your birthday! CHAN JIN MING Upside-down cake anyone? TERRI PALMA Juggling’s a piece of cake.  CLAIRE JOLLIFFE Congratulations to this month’s winner, Brian Thompson. WIN! CAPTION CONTEST Come up with the funniest caption for the above photo and you could win $100. To enter, email editor@readersdigest.com.au or see details on page 8.…

HEARING AIDS MAY HELP PEOPLE LIVE LONGER Hearing aids can help reduce mortality risk, according to a study in The Lancet Healthy Longevity journal. One reason is that hearing aids can help to prevent or slow the progression of dementia. The researchers said there was nearly a 25 per cent difference in mortality risk between regular hearing aid users and never-users. The scientists followed 1863 participants for ten years to determine their mortality status. Hearing loss is a common and undertreated health condition in older adults that has been associated with cognitive decline, dementia and poor physical health. The scientists did not examine why there was a difference in mortality risk. However, the increased longevity may be explained by the possibility that those who wear hearing aids are more likely…

The yearly Edinburgh Festival attracts some of the world’s best standup comedians. Here’s a choice of their 2023 one-liners. I started dating a zookeeper, but it turned out he was a cheetah. LORNA ROSE TREEN When women gossip we get called bitchy; but when men do it’s called a podcast. SIKISA Getting mythology wrong is my Hercules ankle. OLAF FALAFEL I have an unconscious bias. I’m biased firmly towards being unconscious. LEILA NAVABI The UK is so small, they’ve got to keep all their lakes in one district. LIZ GUTERBOCK Everyone says your 20s are all about finding yourself. If that’s true, your 30s are about wishing you’d found somebody else. GINNY HOGAN What does Kylie sing while counting sheep? I can’t get ewe out of my head. ALISON SPITTLE…

PLEASE REMEMBER THAT LIFE IS PRECIOUS, AND YOU ARE PRECIOUS AND TREAT YOURSELF ACCORDINGLY.DR LIBBY WEAVER, NUTRITIONAL BIOCHEMIST Books help kids to explore the world. They are the real ambassadors.GENE LUEN YANG, CARTOONIST Make sure you know what you really want to do and do it.LISA [LALISA MANOBAL], SINGER Art is not what you see, but what you make others see.EDGAR DEGAS, ARTIST There cannot be a one-size-fits-all for modern relationships. They are stories, with characters, roles, protagonists, auxiliaries, beginnings, middles, ends.ESTHER PEREL, AUTHOR AND PSYCHOTHERAPIST True intelligence requires fabulous imagination.IAN MCEWAN, AUTHOR…

that got job applicants to the next step. I once saw under Achievements on a CV: “former world’s youngest person.” It made me laugh so much I gave the person an interview. On a job application, my roommate wrote, “Can make three-minute ramen in 2:50.” He got the interview. In response to our posting for a software developer job, a candidate wrote under Summary of Qualifications: “22 years of experience as web developer; BA in organisational management; spent too much time on the computer during childhood.” He was hired within the week. SOURCE: REDDIT.COM…