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Readers Digest October 2015 PDF
Readers Digest October 2015 PDF
HOURS
OF
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SECRETS OF
A HEART
HEALTHY
DIET
FRESH THINKING ABOUT
CHOLESTEROL
real-life drama,
laughs and
NEW inspiring stories
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HEALTHY
DIET
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CHOLESTEROL
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Think Again
32 THE WORLD IS NOT FALLING APART P. | 32
Wars, terrorism, crime ... It’s hard not to see our
world as dangerous. But two social scientists
argue we’ve never lived in such peaceful times.
STEVEN PINKER & ANDREW MACK F R O M S L AT E .CO M
Medical Drama
40 EMERGENCY!
A young girl slips between life and death as the
medical team push their skills to their limits.
DR JOE-ANTHONY ROTELLA F R O M E M E R G E N CY !
Memoir
48 BREAKFAST AT AUDREY’S
Audrey Hepburn’s son shares his intimate
memories of the screen idol’s love of food.
LUCA DOTTI FROM THE BOOK AUDREY AT HOME:
MEMORIES OF MY MOTHER’S KITCHEN
52
Smart Thinking
STAY BRAINY
P. | 48
Creative ways to beat back cognitive decline by
building extra brain capacity. HELEN SIGNY
Personal Essay
60 CHEMICAL REACTION
Chemistry is at the centre of everything we eat,
touch and do. So why then, does it get such a bad
rap? MARK LORCH FROM BBC NEWS MAGAZINE
Cover Story
64 WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT
CHOLESTEROL
Beyond LDL, HDL and statins, here’s the new
research that will change the way we think about
managing cholesterol. ANITA BARTHOLOMEW
Octoberđ2015 | 1
Contents
OCTOBER 2015
Community
74 WITH A LITTLE CASH FROM MY FRIENDS
From seemingly absurd inventions to noble
causes, crowdfunding is a way for people to
finance their dreams. H E L E N O ’ N E I L L
Nature’s Architects
82 GRAND DESIGNS
Award-winning photographer Ingo Arndt
reveals how animals build and engineer
amazing habitats. CO R N E L I A KU M F E R T
Living Language
90 SAY WHAT?
They’re the colourful sayings we use every day.
But where did they originate from and why do
so many of us get some of them so wrong?
P. | 82 D O N YA L E H A R R I S O N
Travel
94 LIFE AND LOVE IN ALENTEJO
Two old friends reunite to sample Portugal’s
Alentejo region and its medieval villages,
rolling hills, wine farms and gourmet local
produce. E L I G OT T L I E B F R O M T H E N E W YO R K T I M E S
Life Skills
102 13 THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW
ABOUT NEGOTIATING
If everything is negotiable, here’s how to get the
best outcome. L A R A Z A R U M
2 | Octoberđ2015
?
TION !
S I SEC TION
ONU T ED
R B IN
U
K O THE
PR
C
U NLO TO
T TO NOW
N E
WA CRIB
S
SUB
REGULARS HUMOUR
4 Letters 45 Laughter is the Best Medicine
7 Editor’s Note 72 Life’s Like That
8 Staff Picks 92 All in a Day’s Work
10 My Story
14 Kindness of Strangers THE DIGEST
16 Unbelievable
18 Food
58 Points to Ponder
20 Health
81 Quotable Quotes
26 Home
114 Smart Animals
28 Travel
122 Puzzles, Trivia & Word Power
30 Etc
31 Pets
CONTESTS 116 Books & Movies
5 Caption Competition
6 Jokes and Stories SEE
13 100-Word Story Competition PAGE
25
Octoberđ2015 | 3
Letters
READERS’ COMMENTS AND OPINIONS
Food Confidential
While we may spend a relatively
small portion of our disposable
income on food “35 Secrets Food
Manufacturers Won’t Tell You”
(September), we pay dearly in
other ways. I would not mind
paying a little more at the
supermarket in exchange for
government policies that ensured
healthier people, ecosystems and nowhere do I recall food
communities. JANICE DYER manufacturers. We’d all be
healthier if more food was
When I was growing up, we had purchased directly from growers
food growers and food preparers; and made at home. RICHARD POTENSKI
4 | Octoberđ2015
compendium of essential insights
which, if heeded, will pay dividends.
ANDREW KERR
More on Reincarnation
Remembering one’s past life as
described in “The Children Who Have
Lived Before” (May) is so starkly Muscle Tussle
opposed to our everyday experience We asked you to think up a funny
that we do not believe it. But caption for this photo.
scientists, too, accept things that are
Before/During/After. PIERS AGMEN
just as bizarre and counter-intuitive.
MANOJIT BHOWMIK Caught these two eyeing up my jelly
bean jar. DALE BOWERS
Outflanked Only as strong as the weakest link.
I loved Nury Vittachi’s piece on “Cuss ISABEL WHITTY, Naro oma , NSW
Words for the Classy” (August). My
children and I are using “You are a The meat in the sandwich.
ROGER FOWLER
hair growing on my flank area” as the
benchmark and are having a lot of fun A big brain goes arm and arm with
outdoing each other with creative big body muscles! MARVIN SAGER
Octoberđ2015 | 5
Vol. 189
CONTRIBUTE
No. 1123 FOR DIGITAL EXTRAS AND
October 2015 SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS, SEE PAGE 25.
6 | Octoberđ2015
Editor’s Note
Octoberđ2015 | 7
STAFF PICK
Choice Reading
These are some of the stories in this issue that most
inspired, amused or provoked us here at RD
A male satin bowerbird that
The Vogelkop
used to live in our garden bowerbird of
decorated his “bower” with New Guinea
blue feathers, insect shells, (page 82)
and shiny human artefacts creates
like glass, plastic and foil magnificent
displays
paper. Reading the fascinating
“Grand Designs” (page 82)
about animal architecture got
me thinking about how
humans bring nature’s
elements into our own homes.
We fill our habitats with shells
and stones we have gathered,
and display pine cones or old bird’s nests on rustic twig tables. The
nesting instinct, it seems, is strong. MELANIE EGAN, deputy chief subeditor
8 | Octoberđ2015
I’ve long believed in good alternatives to
banks, and so the rise of crowdfunding
(“With a Little Cash from My Friends”, page
74) fills me with joy. My most recent venture
in the field is a book on 16th century Austrian
textiles that arrived just as we were going to
print. It’s many months later than the original
proposal, but about a third longer than I was
promised, so I feel my gamble has paid off!
DONYALE HARRISON, chief subeditor and production editor
As someone who loves travel and food willing to take the “madeleine
with equal passion, a stand-out for me challenge”. We made the choc
was the tale about Portugal (“Life and chip variety and she devoured
Love in Alentejo”, page 94). It brought them. Smugly, she added that if
back vivid memories of my last trip to
I continue to offer her “cakes”
this vibrant country – days and nights
every morning instead of cereal,
spent exploring the terrain and
restaurants. The writer weaves an yoghurt or toast, she would never
enchanting tale – indulging in dogfish resist. If it was good enough for
soup, duck rice and veal – all swished Audrey, it’s good enough for us!
down with Portuguese vino and the (“Breakfast at Audrey’s”, page 48).
most important ingredient of all, a VICKI POLZOT, editorial coordinator
wonderful old friend.
KATHY BUCHANAN, contributing editor Where was Mark Lorch (“Chemical
Reaction”, page 60) when I was in
My ten-year-old daughter loathes school? I paid little attention to my
breakfast. So much so that chemistry teachers because along
persuading her to “Just eat with the “danger” involved, the labs
something” usually sees us start did not smell so great and the content
P HOTOS : THI NKSTOCK
Octoberđ2015 | 9
MY STORY
Beyond Silence
BY JAN W E L L S
Jan Wells is I FIRST MET IRENE IN 1964 when, at the age of 17, I started as
retired and a trainee psychiatric nurse at Stockton Mental Hospital, near
still lives in Newcastle in New South Wales. For five years, I worked on
Newcastle a ward that housed about 100 patients. Some of the patients
with her
could be very aggressive and so they were often restrained in
husband. She
is an active
straitjackets. Irene was in her mid-20s and was in the group
member of the needing to wear a straitjacket – although I never witnessed
Cameron Park her being physically violent.
Probus Club, As I gained experience and came to understand my patients’
plays croquet needs, my job became easier. Irene was a character. She never
and loves to spoke a word but her beautiful brown eyes would sparkle. It
collect didn’t matter how well I laced her into the straitjacket, within
interesting
ten minutes she would hand it back to me. Each time, I’d tell
items from
yesteryear.
her that only Houdini could escape the straitjacket. However,
no sooner was she left alone than Irene would be standing
back next to me, jacket in hand. This became a game and
each time she would twinkle with mischief, knowing she had
outsmarted me and the system. Although she never uttered
a word and never smiled, her eyes told me she understood
everything I said. I respected her because Irene seemed to
10 | Octoberđ2015
in the corner looking
sad. The doctor checked
Irene and ordered blood
tests which all came
back clear.
I soon realised what the
problem could be: Irene
no longer had a challenge.
I decided to test my theory.
As I dressed her, I made a
big deal about telling her how
good she looked and that she
must keep her shoes and socks on
possess an inner resolve that never to keep her feet warm. Sure enough,
accepted defeat. she returned in a couple of minutes
In the late 1960s, the treatment and handed the shoes and socks back
of mental health patients changed to me. This time I helped her with her
dramatically, and we were told that shoes and knotted the laces but that
our patients were no longer to be didn’t deter her either. The sparkle in
restrained in straitjackets. Within her eyes was back! This game
a few days of us issuing sets of continued and I didn’t mind as Irene
P HOTO: THI NKSTOCK
new clothing to the patients on our was again happy. I did try giving her
ward, I noticed that Irene seemed puzzles and books and pencils but
unwell and dejected. The patients she wasn’t interested.
had each been given shoes and socks After many years nursing, I married
and I thought Irene would prefer and resigned from my position to
this to the restraint but she just sat raise our family. Then in 1992, I
Octoberđ2015 | 11
M Y STO RY
returned for a large staff reunion at were those beautiful brown eyes still
the hospital and we were invited to sparkling, but this time she also gave
visit the ward we had worked on. So me the most beautiful smile.
much had changed. The wards were I kissed her and walked back to the
now called units and the patients group and told the staff about our
were now called residents. The journey from a straitjacket to shoes
residents enjoyed listening to music and socks. They were amazed at how
and watching television. The far Irene had come because now she
atmosphere was much more relaxed. helped in the dining room by setting
While I was talking with the staff, and clearing the tables at meal times
I looked over and saw Irene, now in and she was immaculately dressed at
her early 50s, sitting and watching all times.
television. She wore a pretty dress I like to think Irene’s beautiful smile
and neat shoes and socks. I walked was telling me she was happy and
over, took her hand and spoke a few content. Through it all, she had
words to her but she didn’t seem to always demonstrated a spirit that
recognise me. I returned to the group would not be harnessed.
but not long after, I felt a pat on my Late last year Irene passed away at
arm. It was Irene. And, yes, you’ve the age of 75. It was a privilege to
guessed it: she handed me her newly know and work with you, Irene.
stripped off shoes and socks. I had
to laugh. Do you have a tale to tell?
I sat her down. Together we put her We’ll pay cash for any original and
shoes and socks back on. I gave her unpublished story we print. See page
a hug and as I looked at her not only 6 for details on how to contribute.
My uncle got banned from a Chinese buffet for staying four hours
and then trying to take home 50 crab legs in his pocket.
@Wolfxx
12 | Octoberđ2015
00 N
0
$1 W I
100STORY
WRITING COMPETITION
WORD
Our incredibly successful 100-word story
competition is back. This is your chance to
win US$1000 and see your work published by
Reader’s Digest – all you have to do is write a
brilliant work of fiction in just 100 words.
Stories should be original, unpublished and exactly 100 words
long (99-worders will be disqualified, hyphenated words
count as one). Submit your entries by December 31, 2015.
For more on how to enter, and full terms and conditions, visit:
Asia: rdasia.com/terms-and-conditions
Australia: readersdigest.com.au/terms-and-conditions
New Zealand: readersdigest.co.nz/terms-and-conditions
South Africa: readersdigest.co.za/terms-and-conditions
KINDNESS OF STRANGERS
Through the
Pouring Rain
BY A DE LI N E JE A N
Adeline Jean, THE TORRENTIAL RAIN was sudden and furious on a cold
42, lives in night over ten years ago. My bus was not going all the way
Queensland, along its normal route this evening and had stopped at
Australia. She the depot because of flash flooding. With 2km still to go,
enjoys
I was running out of time to pick up my then four-year-old
bushwalking,
country drives, daughter from her childcare centre. I waded through knee-
British murder high water in the pouring rain into the shopping mall to buy
mysteries and a cheap plastic poncho for my daughter. Then I took off my
has recently jacket and put it in my bag to keep dry, hitched up my skirt,
started took off my shoes, and ran. I arrived at the day care soaking
dabbling in wet but I was glad to be only a few minutes late. Now I could
gardening. face the next problem.
I had no way of getting home. It was around 6pm and
there were no buses and I couldn’t afford a taxi. Home was
too far to walk in the rain with a young child and it was
quickly getting dark. We stood outside the childcare centre
staring at the rain pelting down, with it showing no sign of
P HOTO: THI NKSTOCK
14 | Octoberđ2015
I could call. I had to do something; who’d arrived late to fetch his child.
we could not stand on the steps all I could hardly believe that here was
night. I was getting cold and I knew a chance of a lift and I stumbled over
that I had to get us somewhere with my words telling him where I lived. He
some protection. Then I remembered then casually offered to take us, saying
that with a quick dash across the road “I’m going that way.” I was completely
we could be at the convenience store. soaked and didn’t know how I’d
Although it was closed by this time, avoid getting the car seat wet. As if he
there were dry, empty cardboard could not see for himself, I nervously
boxes by the door. I figured that we informed him that I was very wet.
could cover ourselves with the boxes But he didn’t seem to mind, and was
(plus I had the plastic poncho for my simply happy to do us a favour.
daughter) and wait there until the rain To this day, I am still grateful, and I
ceased. My only concern was whether get goose bumps when I think about
this would be all night. the evening that my daughter and I
I pulled the plastic poncho over my were stranded but for the kindness of
daughter’s head, grabbed her hand, this stranger.
tucked my head down and was about
Share your story about a small act of
to run, when a voice asked, “How far kindness that made a huge impact.
are you going?” Turn to page 6 for details on how to
I whirled around to face the man contribute and earn cash.
Octoberđ2015 | 15
Unbelievable
TRUE TALES TOLD TALL
Man vs Wild
Nury Vittachi on the importance of being able to tell animals apart
I LLUSTRATI ON: AN DREW JOYNER
THE WOMEN IN MY LIFE are quite smelly toddler run to the adults
likely the most powerful humans who holding a large spider. The women
have ever lived but they will still ran shrieking from the spider and the
scream if they see an ant. Luckily, men ran shrieking from the sticky,
I am The Man Without Fear in this smelly toddler.
regard, and can remove the offending Small kids aren’t scared of bugs.
ant WITH MY BARE HANDS. In fact, their total all-round
I’m not saying men are any better. fearlessness is a major cause of
At a garden party, I saw a sticky, parental stress. My kids used to fall out
16 | Octoberđ2015
of trees all the time until I told them minutes to take close-up pictures of
that if they died in real life, they would large beasts licking their lips, fetching
ALSO die in Runescape, their favourite cutlery and unfolding napkins.
computer game. After that they sat In the UK, a snake catcher was
quietly on the bench with the mums. summoned by a man who said there
We modern people are cut off from was a dangerous looking snake curled
nature by technology. I was on the up asleep inside his computer’s box
morning commuter train the other part. The thing had red and black
day and some guy LOOKED UP markings, which suggested that it was
FROM HIS PHONE. It poisonous. The snake
was actually quite scary. I catcher raced to the
mean, who does that sort house, where he opened
of thing these days? A man from the computer to find it
At the office, I found I’d China raised contained a red and
been sent several news two “dogs” black electric cable. It
cuttings that showed that without was dangerous, but
unfamiliarity with nature unlikely to slither around
is a problem. A man in
realising they the house biting people.
Yunnan, China, raised were Asian Unless it was an Apple
two “dogs” for several black bears computer, then
years without realising someone’s probably
that he was actually made an app that gives it
sharing his home with a pair of Asian this function.
black bears. The article didn’t say Talking of weird animals, we saw
how the owner was finally clued in, many when I took the family to
but I’m guessing he probably found Australia for a holiday recently. I told
them sitting upright eating honey- my kids that God made kangaroos and
coated picnickers. The man gave his duck-billed platypuses to win a bet
non-dogs to some sort of animal but then couldn’t find them so had to
rescue centre – they’ll probably cause leave them down here. Which leads to
a sensation as the only bears in the this vital lesson: it’s NEVER TOO
world that wag their tails, lick your EARLY to teach your children science.
face and fetch sticks. I have to go now. I’ve just
At a safari park in China recently, a remembered that the dog we adopted
group of tourists in a small bus (or from a rescue centre likes honey, so I
“packed lunch container” as the need to get home and count the kids.
animals probably think of them)
found the exit gate jammed. This gave Nury Vittachi is a Hong Kong-based
the visitors a fascinating 45 extra author. Read his blog at Mrjam.org
Octoberđ2015 | 17
THE DIGEST
FOOD
Pepping Up
Vegetables
Make your daily diet more delicious easily
Vegetables are often an afterthought and roasted pine nuts or pumpkin
in our meals. But with so many vital seeds.
nutrients, they are far too important
to be sidelined. If you are in a hurry, ■ Drizzle steamed Asian greens with
grab some frozen or pre-cut varieties. oyster sauce and scatter with finely
And if you think they’re boring, chopped garlic.
try pepping them up in one of the
following ways: ■ Cut root vegetables, potatoes
and pumpkin into chunks and roast
■ Squeeze a little lemon juice over drizzled with oil, rosemary and garlic.
spinach, kale or zucchini to enhance
the flavour. ■ Chargrill slices of zucchini and
capsicum, and whole corn cobs, then
■ Dress steamed broccoli or season with pepper and olive oil.
cauliflower with a little toasted
sesame oil, soy sauce and sesame ■ Stir-fry quartered Brussels sprouts
seeds, or with lemon juice, olive oil with pine nuts.
P HOTOS: THI NKSTOCK
Octoberđ2015 | 19
HEALTH
20 | Octoberđ2015
It is typically diagnosed with a
breath test and can be treated
with antibiotics or other
approaches.
Octoberđ2015 | 21
HEALTH
World of Medicine
The Bacteria In a Smooch and more than double the risk of
How much do you share in a kiss? overall heart disease. Researchers
Dutch researchers tracked how say these women may be prone
kissing affected the oral bacteria of to inflammation, which is linked
21 couples. They asked one person to preterm delivery and common
in each pair to consume a probiotic among heart disease patients.
yoghurt drink with specific bacterial
strains (to track their spread) and New Diet Plan for Diabetes
then to share a ten-second kiss with People with diabetes are often told to
his or her partner. The average kiss eat small meals throughout the day,
transferred as many as 80 million but fewer, bigger meals may be better.
bacteria. Sound icky? Not quite. Czech researchers analysed data
Experts say exposure to someone from a study comparing two diets
else’s bacteria could help strengthen in 54 people with type 2 diabetes.
your immunity. The participants were split into two
groups and ate either six small meals
Preterm Delivery a day for 12 weeks or
Linked To Heart Risks a large high-fibre
Women who breakfast and lunch
experience (but no dinner)
spontaneous preterm for 12 weeks, then
delivery (before 37 swapped for 12
weeks) may have a more weeks.
greater likelihood The two meals
of heart disease, a day groups
according to a reported feeling
PHOTO: NICK FERRA RI
22 | Octoberđ2015
0.9
kilograms
The maximum
Octoberđ2015 | 23
HEALTH
Medicine Cabinet
Maintenance 101
BY JACKIE MIDDLETON
Be prepared to deal with daily Recent studies have shown that it can
mishaps by stocking your chest with impair wound healing.
the right items. Here’s what you need
to include: COLD AND ALLERGY SHELF
■ Be prepared for a cold with
FIRST-AID SHELF vapourisers and saline or
■ Stock a few different types of decongestant nasal sprays. They can
painkillers. “Paracetamol will help open up congested nasal passages so
with fever and pain, whereas you can breathe with ease. Soothe
ibuprofen will assist with coughs, sore throats and aches with a
inflammation, too,” says pharmacist combination cold product. Keep both
Victor Wong. Talk with your doctor daytime and evening formulas on
about the variety that is best for your hand. “The daytime version won’t
most common ailments. make you drowsy, and the nighttime
■ Stock up on adhesive bandages version will help you get some much
and dressings, and ensure that they’re needed rest,” says Wong.
within their expiry dates. The sticky ■ Fevers are a common complaint in
adhesive can deteriorate over time, cold and flu season. Keep a digital
and some brands contain an thermometer for accurate readings.
P HOTO: GETTY I MAGES
24 | Octoberđ2015
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from The Digest
Seeds of Success
Maximise your garden returns with
these simple strategies
Many of us balk at growing plants and rinse as though they were dirty
from seeds, despite this being an dishes and leave to air dry.
easy way to save enormously on ■ Egg cartons are a good alternative
plant costs, not to mention the wider to seed trays. They can be cut up and
variety available. These tips will help planted out with the seedling.
even novices grow like green thumbs. ■ Use a specialist seed raising mix
or lighten potting mix with perlite or
■ Read the instructions carefully. gritty sand.
Different seeds germinate well at ■ Provide protection from birds,
different temperatures or times of wind, harsh sun and pets. Plastic
year, and with particular levels of soil domes are available at nurseries, or
covering, moisture and light. Some use old sheets of clear plastic roofing
even require pre-chilling or soaking, or glass. Be careful with glass if the
or smoking over a fire. seedlings are in full sun, you may
P HOTOS: THI NKSTOCK
■ Check the use-by date. Old seeds need to ensure good ventilation
may still germinate, but will be less beneath it to keep temperatures from
successful than fresh ones. climbing too high.
■ Clean your seed trays, especially ■ Keep the mix damp but not wet.
if they have been used previously or Most seed failures come down to
stored for long periods of time. Wash drying out or drowning.
26 | Octoberđ2015
Here Comes the Shade
Protect your plants from the hottest summer sun
QUICK FIX stores and take up
If you’re renting or fraction of the
have only a small arden space. By
area that hits Saharan ositioning them
conditions on a arefully, you can
handful of days a year, lock the afternoon
you want a fix that ys that cause most
is temporary. Buy mage.
lengths of shadecloth
– 50% to 70% strength NDSCAPE FOR
will do – and drape NSTANT COOL
them over your most ees can take years
tender plants. You reach shading
can use ziplock ties ghts: try raising
or spring-loaded soil level before
clamps from the plant. A 1m
hardware store to nd will give your
attach the cloth to fence tops and tree an extra two years of height
tent it down over pots or nearby beds, and help with drainage. Shade
which will keep air flowing beneath sails and awnings can be installed
and help avoid fungal problems. in a weekend. Water features cool
everything around them, as do green
SLAP UP A SCREEN walls: even bamboo slatting to cover
For a more significant solution, the heat reflected from a wall or fence
erect screens in your garden. The can drop the temperature by degrees.
classic pergola is one option, but All artificial surfaces are hotter than
it takes up a lot of space and often plants on a sunny day, so minimise
requires planning permission. Simple your paving and bare walls in heat
slot-together vertical screens are trap areas and use finishes like
available in steel, aluminium and sandstone that neither hold heat nor
timber versions from most hardware reflect it at crisping levels.
Octoberđ2015 | 27
TRAVEL
28 | Octoberđ2015
5 Bike-
Friendly Cities
BY ADAM HODGE
public bike sharing system that has bike lockers and racks across the
over 20,000 bikes, and with 500km city. For the visitor, numerous scenic
of bike paths, Paris cyclists can enjoy routes line the coastline and the
the city safe from motorists. A Velib’ local Swan River. And the best way
station is almost always within sight, to see Rottnest Island, a vehicle-free
or just around the next corner. island park, is by bicycle.
Octoberđ2015 | 29
ETC
30 | Octoberđ2015
PETS
Keeping
Good
Company
So, you take great care of your pet.
But what has your pet done for you neutral and safe conversation starter.
lately? Turns out a lot more than you It may even help your dating life.
thought. A British poll found that 82% of
women said they are more attracted
COMMUNITY BONDING While you’re to men who like animals.
clearly going to meet people while
walking your dog, a 2015 study by HEALTH BENEFITS Stroking a cat or
the University of Western Australia simply watching a fish swim in an
reported dog owners were five times aquarium helps us to relax, reducing
more likely to get to know people in your heartbeat rate and lowering
their local neighbourhood, compared blood pressure. Research has shown
to other pet owners. Yet owning a that this effect is particularly marked
cat, rabbit or bird also provides a in people suffering from high blood
connecting point with like-minded pressure. One study found that over a
people in your area or at work. The ten-year period cat owners were 30%
study found 42% of pet owners had less likely to die of a heart attack or
received some kind of social support stroke than non-cat owners. A general
from someone they met via their pet. increase in physical activity with
P HOTO THIN KSTOCK
Octoberđ2015 | 31
THINK AGAIN
THE
WORLD IS
NOT
FALLING
APART P HOTOGRAP HS BY A DA M VOORHES
32 | Octoberđ2015
Octoberđ2015 | 33
T H E W O R L D I S N OT FA L L I N G A PA R T
So how can we get less hyperbolic terrorist attacks, are riveting dramas
about the state of the world? Certainly but, outside of war zones, kill relatively
not from daily journalism. News is few. Each day in the US, for instance,
about things that happen, not things ordinary homicides claim one and
that don’t happen. We never see a a half times as many as the number
reporter saying to the camera, “Here we who died in the infamous Sandy Hook
are, live from a country where a war has school massacre.
not broken out” or a city that has not The only sound way to appraise the
been bombed or a school that has not state of the world is to count: How
been shot up. As long as violence has many violent acts has the world seen
not vanished from the world, there will compared with the number of oppor-
be incidents to fill the evening news. tunities? And is that number going
And since the human mind estimates up or down? As former US president
probability by the ease with which it Bill Clinton likes to say, “Follow the
can recall examples, we will always per- trend lines, not the headlines.” When
ceive that we live in dangerous times. we do, we can see that the trend lines
We also have to avoid being fooled are more encouraging than a news
by randomness. Entropy, pathogens, watcher would guess.
and human folly are always present in
our lives, and it’s statistically certain HOMICIDE
that disasters will frequently overlap Worldwide, about five to ten times as
with one another rather than space many people die in standard homi-
themselves evenly in time. But to read cides as die in wars, and in most of the
significance into any such clusters is world, the rate of homicide has been
to succumb to primitive thinking and falling. The American crime decline of
cosmic conspiracies. the 1990s, which plateaued at the start
Finally, we need to be mindful of of this century, resumed in 2006; defy-
orders of magnitude. Some types of ing the conventional wisdom that hard
violence, like shooting rampages and times lead to violence, it continued
34 | Octoberđ2015
READER’S DIGEST
NEWS REPORTERS
lawlessness, but two factors can
GIVE LAVISH help dispel that notion. One is
COVERAGE TO GUN that the 21st-century spike has
BURSTS, EXPLOSIONS, not undone the massive reduc-
AND VIRAL VIDEOS tion in homicide that Mexico has
enjoyed since 1940. The other is
that what goes up often comes
down. The rate of Mexican
homicide has declined in
each of the past two years,
and many other notoriously
dangerous regions have
experienced significant turn-
arounds, including Bogotá,
Colombia (down 85% in two
during the subprime mort- decades), São Paolo (down 70% in a
gage crisis of 2008 and decade), the favelas of Rio de Janeiro
through the present. (an almost two-thirds reduction in four
England, Canada, and years), Russia (down 46% in six years),
most other industrialised coun- and South Africa (a halving from 1995
tries have also seen homicide rates fall to 2011). Many criminologists believe
in the past decade. Among the 88 coun- that a worldwide reduction in homi-
tries with reliable data, 67 have shown cide by 50% in the next three decades
a decline in the past 15 years. Although is a feasible target for the upcoming
numbers for the entire world exist round of Millennium Development
only for this millennium and include Goals set by the United Nations.
heroic guesstimates for countries that
are data deserts, the trend appears to VIOLENCE
be downward, from 7.1 homicides per AGAINST WOMEN
100,000 people in 2003 to 6.2 in 2012. Intense media coverage of famous
The global average, to be sure, athletes who have assaulted their wives
conceals many regions with horrific or girlfriends, and of episodes of rape
rates of killing, particularly in Latin on college campuses has suggested to
America and sub-Saharan Africa. But some observers that we are witnessing
even in those hot zones, it is easy for a surge of violence against women. But
headlines to mislead. For example, the victimisation surveys such as those
gory, drug-fuelled killings in parts of conducted by the US Bureau of Justice
Mexico can create an impression that Statistics (which circumvent the prob-
the entire country has spiralled into lem of under-reporting to the police)
Octoberđ2015 | 35
Rate of Deaths in Genocides and Elimination of Violence
Other Mass Killings, 1989–2013 Against Women, and polling
data show widespread sup-
10.0
port for women’s rights, even
in countries with the most be-
1.0 nighted practices. Many coun-
tries have implemented laws
0.1
and public awareness campaigns
Deaths per 100,000
people (log scale) to reduce rape, forced marriage,
genital mutilation, honour killings,
0.0 domestic violence, and wartime
1988 1993 1998 2003 2008 2013
atrocities. Though some of these
pcr.uu.se/research/ucdp/datasets/ucdp_onesided_
violence_dataset/
measures are toothless, and the
census.gov/population/international/data/worldpop/
table_population.php
effectiveness of others has yet to be
established, there are grounds for
optimism over the long term. Global
shaming campaigns, even when
they start out as purely aspirational,
have led in the past to dramatic
reductions of practices such as slav-
ery, duelling, whaling, foot binding,
piracy, chemical warfare, apartheid,
and atmospheric nuclear testing.
36 | Octoberđ2015
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Octoberđ2015 | 37
T H E W O R L D I S N OT FA L L I N G A PA R
38 | Octoberđ2015
READER’S DIGEST
9/11-scale attacks that would pose an avoid dead air. Newspaper columnists
existential threat to civilisation. instruct their readers on what emo-
Why is the world always “more dan- tions to feel.
gerous than it has ever been” – even There is a better way to understand
as a greater and greater majority of the world. Commentators can brush
humanity live in peace and die of old up their history by recounting the
age? events of the recent past that put the
Too much of our impression of events of the present in an intelligible
the world comes from a mislead- context. And they could consult data-
ing formula of journalistic narration. sets on violence that are now just a few
Reporters give lavish coverage to gun clicks away.
bursts, explosions, and viral videos, An evidence-based mindset on the
oblivious to how representative they state of the world would bring many
are and apparently innocent of the benefits. It would calibrate our
fact that many were contrived as jour- national and international responses
nalist bait. Then come sound bites to the magnitude of the dangers that
from “experts” with vested interests face us. It would limit the influence of
in maximising the impression of terrorists, school shooters, decapita-
mayhem: generals, politicians, secu- tion cinematographers, and other vio-
rity officials, moral activists. The talk- lence impresarios. It might even
ing heads on cable news filibuster dispel foreboding and embody, again,
about the event, desperately hoping to the hope of the world.
SLATE (DECEMBER 22, 2014). © 2014 BY SLATE.COM.
Octoberđ2015 | 39
MEDICAL DRAMA
EMERGENCY!
BY DR JO E -A N T H O N Y ROTE LLA E XT R AC T FR O M T H E B O O K EMERGENCY!
EMERGENCY!
OUR PATIENT had been at school; crew called ahead to let us know they
she was laughing, playing with a were coming.
friend at lunchtime. “Do you want to
have some of this?” her friend asked, WE ARE READY. Our team is well
holding out the chicken satay her drilled. Staff know what to do and
mum had made at home. when to do it.
“Sure.” “One, two, three…” slide across to
It only took the tiniest bite to set off our resuscitation trolley. The machine
the allergic reaction that pushed the snaps into action. The team leader
12-year-old to the brink and over the barks the instructions.
edge. As the reaction took hold, her “Airway check?”
lungs tightened up, her lips swelled, “Tube is OK.”
her heart started to race and her “Breathing?”
blood pressure plummeted. And with “Terrible; can’t ventilate.”
that, she lost consciousness. “Circulation?”
Panic ensued, but the school nurse “Thready; can just get a pulse.”
maintained her composure and “Adrenaline infusion.”
reacted. An EpiPen in the leg, then a “Get a gas off.” A blood gas analysis
call to the ambulance. Another EpiPen gives us a good indication of how deep
followed. But still no effect. The storm a hole we are in. It is a very deep hole.
had already taken hold… Despite all the oxygen we are trying
The ambulance crew arrived to find to deliver, all the adrenaline we are
no blood pressure and no air going giving, the shock is so profound that
into her lungs. She was on the edge of we are losing her. It’s a rapid spiral
the cliff and about to fall off. downhill from here. If we can’t get
It was then that her heart stopped oxygen in, the shock gets worse, the
for the first time. They did chest blood pressure worsens, and the closer
compressions, inserted a breath- this patient gets to dying.
P HOTO: (PREVIOUS SP READ) TH INKSTOC K
ing tube and IV lines and gave more The intensive care team, the anaes-
adrenaline. Her heart restarted. They thetists all come to help.
gave more adrenaline to keep it going. A discussion ensues. The parents
And more… are informed. They know this is grave.
…and more… Their little girl is very sick. In fact, at
Her lungs were so inflamed that this moment, she is the sickest patient
trying to ventilate was like trying to in the whole hospital.
push air into a bag of wet sand.
In the back of the ambulance, the Dr Joe-Anthony Rotella is an Emergency
oxygen was squeezed in and out of Medicine Registrar at Austin Health in
those bags of sand. The ambulance Heidelberg, Victoria.
42 | Octoberđ2015
READER’S DIGEST
Octoberđ2015 | 43
EMERGENCY!
The nursing staff do what they can to Four weeks after we treated her, I
transform her back into a semblance of get a call from my boss telling me that
their little girl. our miracle girl and her family are
Anxious, scared, disbelieving. coming to visit. I am on my day off but
Despairing and broken. I don’t really come in anyway to see how she is. I’m
know what words to use; all of them. stunned to see someone who looks
You can see the physical transforma- like she should be visiting a relative.
tion as the parents enter the room, Gone are all the tubes and blood;
energy drained. They are supporting they’re replaced by a smiling, healthy
each other, each stop- young girl. I’m intro-
ping the other from duced to her as “one
collapsing. For our pa- For our patient’s of the doctors who did
tient’s family, this is not
happening, this is sur-
family, this is not CPR on you”. I never
thought I’d ever be in-
real, this is just a terrible happening, this is troduced like that to
nightmare. This is not surreal, this is someone. I give her a
meant to happen to their just a terrible hug, amazed at how
little girl… or anyone’s.
We aren’t finished.
nightmare. This different she looks, how
well she looks.
The intensive care unit is not meant to “Thank you for saving
for children is on the happen me,” she tells our staff.
other side of the city. Its Hands are shaken, hugs
paediatric team arrive to given and slaps on the
take care of our little girl and transfer back dished out liberally. We will
her there. remember every little detail and we
Her lines are changed, her chest is will never forget.
opened to insert new lines and attach And we will do it all again and
different equipment. She is cooled to again. It’s what we do.
save her brain. No-one knows what
will happen, but they keep trying From Emergency, edited by
everything. Dr Simon Judkins,
published
by Michael Joseph.
SLOWLY, OVER DAYS, she starts to
© 2015, Dr Joe-
improve. The machinery slows down. Anthony Rotella
Her lungs start to heal. They are and the
able to begin the work they used to Australasian
College for
do: move oxygen to keep her alive.
Emergency
She is woken up; she sees Mum and Medicine.
Dad by her bed, crying.
44 | Octoberđ2015
Laughter
THE BEST MEDICINE
Octoberđ2015 | 45
HEAVEN SENT
One Sunday morning, a preacher
told his congregation, “Everyone
who wants to go to heaven, come
down to the front!” The whole
church came forward except one
member of the congregation.
Thinking that perhaps the man
hadn’t heard him, the preacher
repeated the invitation. Again, the
Even though I’m proud man just sat there.
my dad invented the “Sir,” said the preacher, “don’t you
want to go to heaven when you die?”
rear-view mirror, The man replied, “Oh, when I die!
we’re not as close as we I thought you were getting a group
ready to go right now.”
appear. COMEDIAN STEWART FRANCIS Seen on the internet
46 | Octoberđ2015
WITH A SIDE ORDER OF SASS
Waitresses and deli hands have their own unique language.
Connect the lingo below with the dish to see if you have what it takes to
work in a traditional diner:
1. Battery Acid A. Side order of hash
2. Clean Up the Kitchen B. Add chocolate syrup
3. Drag One Through the Garden C. Make it a takeout order
4. Fly Cake D. Add all the condiments
5. Give it Shoes E. Grapefruit juice
6. Make it Cry F. Raisin cake
7. Rubber in a Bun G. Add onions
8. Throw it in the Mud H. Steak sandwich
Answers: 1-E; 2-A; 3-D; 4-F; 5-C; 6-G; 7-H; 8-B.
Source: Taste of Home
Octoberđ2015 | 47
MEMOIR
Breakfast
at
Audrey’s
For Luca Dotti, the son of glamorous Hollywood actress
EX TR AC T FR O M T H E BO O K AU DR E Y AT HOME:
M EM O R I E S O F MY MOT H E R ’ S K I TC H E N
48 | Octoberđ2015
Audrey
Hepburn
and her son
Luca in 1973
“M
MUM ALWAYS AWOKE early.
When
W she was working as an
acctress she thought: Sooner
or later they will realise their
m
mistake and will send me
home. To banish that fear, she
h
would get up before “they”
w
did, to go over her lines. In
d
order to look impeccable on
o
tthe set, fresh, without a single
nnegative thought that might
ruffle her smile, she had to
arise between four and five
in the morning and gather
her strength.
Mum, like any wise family
doctor, believed in the vir-
tues of a good breakfast. She
never skipped it, not even on
her monthly “detox” day when she ate
only plain yoghurt and grated apple.
She knew how to be persuasive,
and from the time I was a little boy
she would cut slices of buttered bread
50 | October
O t b đ2015
2015
READER’S DIGEST
MADELEINES
Makes 12 madeleines
“The madeleine is a cake of French origin. According to an often-
romanticised story, King Louis XV named it after the pastry chef from
Commercy who invented it. Later, Marcel Proust elevated the cake to the
literary pantheon when, after dipping a madeleine in his tea, he set out ‘in
search of lost time’. Mum’s version, however, was not very orthodox and
showed the influence of the Anglo-Saxon muffin.”
½ cup (70g) flour, plus extra for the mixture, blending well. Cover with
madeleine pan plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30
4 tablespoons* (55g) sugar minutes.
1 teaspoon (5g) yeast Pour the batter into the prepared
1 egg madeleine moulds or muffin cups (if
2 tablespoons (30mL) milk using a muffin pan, fill cups hallway).
3½ tablespoons (50g) unsalted Bake until the madeleines are
butter, melted, plus extra for the golden brown, about 20 minutes.
madeleine pan Remove the madeleines from the
12-hole madeleine pan or 12-cup pan and let them cool before
mini muffin pan and paper liners serving.
One day she uneasily told me her: breakfast in bed. It was like a
about the painful circumstances of prize she awarded herself, and it was
her separation from my father [Italian enjoyed all the more if the tray were
psychiatrist Andrea Dotti]. I learned to filled with tidbits, such as home-
know her better at the breakfast table. made madeleines, quince jelly, or
But it was not always a time for cherry jam, along with toast, coffee,
discussion. Returning from a trip, or milk, butter, a small rose from the
on a Sunday, the Dutch Calvinist garden in a tiny vase, and on the side
would honour the day of rest with a of her tray the International Herald
small luxury, something unusual for Tribune.”
EXTRACT FROM AUDREY AT HOME, MEMORIES OF MY MOTHER’S KITCHEN
© 2015 LUCA DOTTI, PUBLISHED BY HARPER COLLINS. WWW.HARPERCOLLINS.COM
Octoberđ2015 | 51
SMART THINKING
Stay
proven
N
o t s o l o n g a g o, w e Dr Nicole Kochan, a clinical neuro-
thought our brains had psychologist and researcher with the
reached their peak by University of New South Wales’s Cen-
the time we hit adult- tre for Healthy Brain Ageing. And a
hood and everything recent study conducted by the Mayo
was simply downhill from there. But Clinic in the US confirmed that elderly
now we know that’s not true – scien- people who’d kept up a hobby – such
tists have identified a process dubbed as arts and crafts, social activities or
“neuroplasticity”, which acknowledges computer use – since middle age were
our brains are capable of growing and less likely to be affected by dementia.
making new connections as we age. It’s due to a phenomenon called
Giving our brains a regular mental “cognitive reserve” – or the mind’s
workout can reduce the risk of mild resistance to damage of the brain.
cognitive decline – the precursor to When we start developing dementia
dementia – by as much as 40%, says – usually several decades before we
52 | Octoberđ2015
S T AY B R A I N Y
54 | Octoberđ2015
READER’S DIGEST
extra ball as your skill level improves. sharing the experience with others will
One study scanned the brains further boost your brain.
of people who learned to juggle for “If you have someone to sit down
30 minutes a day and discuss it with, your memories
oveer a six-week become stronger, you talk about the
period. At the storyline and people bring in their
end of t he shared experiences,” says Kochan. In
st ud y, pa r- a larger group, that effect will increase.
ticipants had A recent study found that reading
i
improved the a novel improves brain function by
w
white matter enhancing connectivity across the left
of t he br a i n . temporal cortex, associated with lan-
T he resea rchers guage comprehension, and also the
thought that this was partly because central sulcus, the area of the brain
jugglers had better spatial aware- associated with sensations and move-
ness and had learnt to mentally
rotate objects.
Juggling is also a physical activity TOP TIPS: FOLLOW A
you can do even if you’re not very DIET RICH IN FISH,
mobile, and displaying your new- VEGETABLES, OLIVE
found skills to others builds in social
engagement.
OIL AND FRUIT
Alternatives: Other sensory-guided
movement activities that improve
hand-eye coordination and mental ment. The researchers suggested this
rotation dexterity include ping pong, latter may come from the reader liter-
wrestling and dance. ally putting themselves into the body of
Added boost: Try to juggle faster or the book’s protagonist – enhancing our
longer. Change what you do each senses of empathy and compassion.
time, forcing your brain to adapt to Alternatives: Visits to an art gallery,
the new challenge. a museum, the theatre or a
con
ncert will all stimulate the
Join a book or brain.
movie club Added boost: Be mindful.
A
Find a hobby that you Try to understand the
enjoy – that way you’re
more likely to keep go-
LE details of how the film or
music is arranged,
ing. Most of us enjoy a analyse
a the dialogue, or
good book or a movie, but think deeply about the plot.
Octoberđ2015 | 55
S T AY B R A I N Y
56 | Octoberđ2015
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Octoberđ2015 | 57
Points to Ponder
UNCOMPLICATE IT. Don’t make AS SOON AS a large group of people
excuses. Some of life’s biggest or citizens laughs at something,
heartaches come from missed it’s never the same. That’s the most
opportunities and lame excuses. powerful thing in the world. They
Don’t miss out on what could be the say laughter is the best medicine,
best chapter in your life because but it’s the best revolution too.
you’re too busy rereading the last one.
ROSEANNE BARR,
KANDI STEINER, comedian, on salon.com
w r i t e r, in Song Chaser
ON SHARING
I DON’T KNOW WHY people are so keen to put the details of their private
life in public; they forget that invisibility is a superpower.
BANKSY, s t r e e t a r t i s t , in Time Out New York
WHEN YOU PUT STUFF out there about yourself, people realise, Hey,
this person admits he is flawed … [my] being that way is going to be OK;
I’m not going to be judged … So, while it has, at times, worked against
me, I think many, many times, it has worked for me.
JIM NORTON, c o m e d i a n , on sweetphyllis.com
58 | Octoberđ2015
You sing the blues
to lose the blues.
You lift the burden
by transferring it
into a song. I’ll be
damned if I know
why or how that
miracle takes place,
but it always does.
WILLIE NELSON,
musician,
in his memoir It’s a Long Story
time. But it’s in you to keep growing. 18 years of your life. Everything you
To keep rising up, and learning know of Earth and its customs you
something from it. And surging hear from the humans charged with
forward. your rearing or pick up by chance
from the TV.
ROSIE BATTY,
Au s t ra l i a n o f t h e Ye a r 2 0 1 5 ,
crusader against domestic violence ALEXANDRA PETRI,
and mother of 11-year-old Luke, newspaper columnist, in her book
who was murdered by his father A Field Guide to Awkward Silences
Octoberđ2015 | 59
PERSONAL ESSAY
Chemical Reaction
A scientist blames
himself for
our suspicion of
chemistry
BY MA R K LO R C H
FROM BBC NEWS MAGAZINE
I REALLY ENJOY my job. I’m a chemist Chemistry is fascinating because of
in academia. I get to wallow in the the way it can be used to synthesise
fascinating world of research science new stuff – it’s like molecular Lego. The
and then pass on my passions to eager fact that everything is made from
young minds. But I also get out of my 100-odd building blocks is remarkable.
ivory tower and into schools. And there Throw chemicals in a pot in the right
I pull out all the stops – liquid nitrogen way, and you can build the world
gets sloshed around in abundance, around us. So why is chemistry the bad
hydrogen balloons are ignited like mini boy of the sciences? Why is there this
Hindenburgs, and ethanol-fuelled chemophobia?
rockets zip around the playgrounds. Biology doesn’t get a bad rap – quite
Chemistry is fun. the opposite. Biology has amazing ani-
So why is it the bogeyman of the mals and plants, the Human Genome
sciences? Why is everybody scared of Project, and David Attenborough. It’s
chemicals? natural and good.
The very word chemical is often What about physics? Well, physics
used as a synonym for toxin or poison. is just pretty damn cool. It’s got stars,
We say something is “chock-full of lasers, and the most impressive ma-
chemicals” to imply it’s artificial and chine ever built – the Large Hadron
bad for you. Meaningless slogans like Collider – all fronted by Professor
“chemical-free” pop up on products in Brian Cox beautifully explaining the
health food stores and billboards. And wonders of the universe. It doesn’t get
nobody seems to mind, least any cooler than that.
of all the Advertising Stand- And then there’s chemistry,
P HOTO: RUSS A ND REY N; ILLUSTRATION : JOE M C KENDRY
Octoberđ2015 | 61
CHEMICAL REACTION
62 | Octoberđ2015
READER’S DIGEST
Pouring fuel onto the flames of en- sodium bicarbonate and mix it with
thusiasm is easy, especially with some aluminium foil, and you can
chemistry. The theatre is easy too – the chemically clean your silver spoons.
bangs, the flames, the explosions, the Then I should have told the class
pops, the whizzes, the smoke, and the about the fascinating stories tucked
rockets are all fabulously entertaining. away in the history of chemistry, like
I love it, and I love the whoops and Hungarian chemist George de Hevesy
cries and applause from the audience. concealing his friends’ solid-gold
But at the end of the day, what does Nobel Prize medals from Nazis on the
the audience remember? Just those hunt for precious metals. He didn’t
bangs and not a jot of chemistry. want to risk burying them or hiding
Explosive, flaming chemistry demos do them somewhere, so he dissolved the
nothing to show what chemistry can medals in a mixture of hydrochloric
build and everything to highlight what and nitric acids, then he popped the
it can destroy. And in the process, they bottles on the shelves of his laboratory,
blow out any flickering interest in hiding them in plain sight. The Nazi
chemistry and replace it with fear. troopers, hunting for loot, marched
Instead of listening to the boys straight past them. In 1945, de Hevesy
asking for more explosions, I should used another simple bit of chemistry to
have paid attention to the girl at the recover the gold. He returned the metal
back with her hands over her ears. I to the Nobel Prize committee, who had
should have shown her how easy it is those medals recast and returned to
to do fascinating chemistry safely. their rightful owners.
Soak a bit of red cabbage in water, Those are the demonstrations that
and you have a powerful pH indicator fire imaginations and fuel a love of
that miraculously changes colour chemistry. Those are the stories that
when you add vinegar. Or get some kill chemophobia.
BBC NEWS MAGAZINE (NOVEMBER 26, 2013) © 2013 BY MARK LORCH. BBC.COM.
NOT MAVERICK
US Air Force call signs can be very honest, as the following show.
Octoberđ2015 | 63
COVER STORY
WHAT YOU
NEED
TO KNOW
ABOUT
C H O LE STE RO L
From striking new studies and leading
specialists, the latest information
P HOTO: HEI NZ WUCHNER/CORBIS
BY ANITA BARTH O LO M E W
W H AT YO U N E E D T O K N O W A B O U T C H O L E S T E R O L
66 | Octoberđ2015
READER’S DIGEST
-
cholesterol is responsible for a third
of coronary heart disease cases. That’s
significant, because cardiovascular
disease is the number-one cause of
death globally, accounting for more
than 17.5 million deaths a year. Mean-
while, high triglycerides, fats that rise
when “good” cholesterol levels fall,
can double the risk of stroke, says a
large 2012 study.
Octoberđ2015 | 67
W H AT YO U N E E D T O K N O W A B O U T C H O L E S T E R O L
68 | Octoberđ2015
READER’S DIGEST
Octoberđ2015 | 69
W H AT YO U N E E D T O K N O W A B O U T C H O L E S T E R O L
what doctors now recommend for While statins are often sufficient to
someone with a family history of heart reduce LDL to healthier levels, some
disease. Her father died of a heart people need additional medications
attack at the age of 41 and her sister at to reach their targets. So either a drug
age 59. After her stroke, it was impera- called ezetimibe (Zetia or Ezetrol),
tive that Outi reduce her cholesterol to or Vytorin (a combination pill with
safer levels. both ezetimibe and a statin), might
She was given prescriptions for a be prescribed.
statin to reduce cholesterol, as well According to German cardiolo-
as for Plavix (clopidogrel), to prevent gist and researcher Dr Anselm Gitt, a
blood clots. randomised trial of 18,000 high-risk
patients, combining ezetimibe with
CHOLESTEROL statin treatment brought down LDL
cholesterol levels an additional 10%,
TARGETS
on average. “Ezetimibe has a totally
TO AIM FOR different mechanism,” he says. Rather
than inhibiting cholesterol produc-
TARGETS FOR cholesterol levels tion, ezetimibe works by reducing
can vary from country to country.
absorption of cholesterol. This one-
General recommendations for
total cholesterol levels are less
two punch can often help people
than 5.5mmol/L. However, people reach safe levels when statins, by
concerned about their heart themselves, fall short.
health should aim for: But what are your options when
Total cholesterol to be you need greater cholesterol reduc-
5.0mmol/L or lower. tion than you can get with diet alone
LDL cholesterol to be around – and you can’t tolerate statins? Outi
3.0mmol/L or lower
Elovaara is among those who experi-
HDL level greater than 1mmol/L
Triglyceride level less than
enced severe side effects. “I tried to
1.7mmol/L take the medication, but it was impos-
People at higher risk should aim sible due to joint and muscle pain,”
for lower total and LDL targets, says Outi.
says Dr Gitt – and, he notes, those Muscle problems are the most
targets keep getting revised commonly recognised side effects of
downward. “New studies came out statins, says Dr Krauss but, he adds,
showing that even lower levels of
other potential concerns are just now
LDL cholesterol were of benefit,”
says Dr Gitt. In high-risk patients,
coming to light, including a some-
many experts now recommend what higher risk of developing type 2
they get their LDL below 1.8. diabetes. The diabetes link is stronger
among women, says Dr Krauss.
70 | Octoberđ2015
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Octoberđ2015 | 71
Life’s Like That
SEEING THE FUNNY SIDE
72 | Octoberđ2015
NAMES DROPPING
Upon hearing yet another name The Great Tweet-off:
she couldn’t pronounce, my
friend said, “In my day, if
Relationship edition
people were trying to pick a The mysteries of love and the
sanctity of marriage: two concepts
name for their that are given pretty short shrift
chhild, they put on Twitter, if these examples are
all their anything to judge by …
favourites in a
I can’t wait to get married and
k
kettle and
communicate my disdain solely
pickeed one. Today, through aggressive dishwashing.
they jjust throw the @CHARSTARLENE
kettlle out the
Relationships are mostly you
win ndow and apologising for saying something
n
name the child hilarious. @BRIANGAAR
whatever Marriage is basically listening to your
sound it husband swear and scream at
makes when scanners/printers from another
it lands.” room. @KELLYOXFORD
With A
Cash
Little
From My Friends
Crowdfunding isn’t a new idea. But it’s now
easier than ever to be part of making
dreams come true
| October
B H EIL
E
arlier this year I suc-
cumbed to my first
crowdfunding plea.
An actor friend told
me about a role that he
was hoping to get in a local play.
The Dapto Chaser was an Aus-
tralian comedy about desperation
and dog racing, and its producer
Dino Dimitriadis wanted to match the funds he was
raising from other sources to pay his actors a good upfront
fee. Dimitriadis posted his plea for the community to help on
Pozible, an Australia-based crowdfunding website.
I went online and discovered that for $40 I could snap up a
ticket to a preview, a supporters’ pack including a fridge mag-
net, and Dimitriadis’s “love and thanks”. Given my intention
to see the play anyway, it seemed churlish not to sign up. I
pressed the link and donated to the cause.
Had Dimitriadis failed to reach his target, my money would
have been returned. In fact he comfortably exceeded it. Not all
campaigns run quite so smoothly.
r 2 4 |
WITH A LITTLE CASH FROM MY FRIENDS
76 | Octoberđ2015
READER’S DIGEST
Octoberđ2015 | 77
WITH A LITTLE CASH FROM MY FRIENDS
78 | Octoberđ2015
Fan-funded movie project Veronica Mars, based on a TV series starring Kristen Bell
(above left), raised more than $2m in ten hours. Below: crowdfunder Zack Danger
Brown tucks into his US$55,492 dish of potato salad
Octoberđ2015 | 79
WITH A LITTLE CASH FROM MY FRIENDS
80 | Octoberđ2015
Quotable Quotes
IF YOU CHASE Discipline is doing the
TWO RABBITS,
YOU WILL LOSE
same thing the right
THEM BOTH. way whether anyone’s
N ATIV E
AMERICAN
watching or not.
P R OV E R B M I CH A E L J . FOX
Octoberđ2015 | 81
NATURE’S ARCHITECTS
Grand
Designs
BY CO RNE LIA KUM FERT
➸ THE MALE BAYA WEAVER has his work cut out if he wants to
woo a mate. To stand any chance of starting a family, the dainty little
tropical bird first needs to construct a beautiful home. Using its strong
beak and claws, the male loops, knots and weaves a nest out of
hundreds of strips of grass or palm fronds. The resulting miniature
work of art – which boasts an egg chamber, antechamber and
entrance tube – needs to withstand tropical storms. The female
inspects the nests midway, and she accepts the male’s advances only
if she is satisfied with the construction and its location. Female baya
weavers are extremely safety-conscious and expect their new home
to hang from a strong branch that is high off the ground to stay out of
reach of predators.
ONE OF THE SMALLEST MAMMALS in the world, harvest mice weigh from
➸
4-11g. Using their agile hands and prehensile tails, these tiny creatures have no
ALL P HOTOS: IN GO A RNDT/KNES EBEC K VERLAG
trouble climbing up even slender corn stalks in order to build their cosy, spherical
nests. The females build their summer-residence-on-stilts at heights of up to a
metre in the middle of grain fields so that they and their young never have to go
too far to find their next meal.
Octoberđ2015 | 85
HE’S NOTHING SPECIAL to look at and he doesn’t perform any amazing
➸
dances. So the Vogelkop bowerbird of New Guinea has had to develop his
own unique strategy for winning over the ladies. About the size of a thrush, he
bedazzles prospective partners by spending much of the year building his own
bower and then proceeding to decorate it with impeccable taste. Flowers,
leaves, fruits and even old plastic bags are all pressed into service as
adornments. The name of the game is to attract a female and get her to stay –
at least for one night.
IN WEAVER ANT COMMUNITIES, their own larvae are used as sewing tools ➸
to build nests. Working in unison, these long-legged insects stick several individual
leaves together using silk thread. However, the silk can only be extruded from the
salivary glands of ant larvae about to enter the pupal stage. The workers
manoeuvre the larvae back and forth like a weaver’s shuttle until the leaves have
been securely joined. The workers then selflessly devote themselves to caring for
the young to make amends for them having donated their silk to the colony.
86 | Octoberđ2015
LIVING LANGUAGE
Say
a globalised language, which is sort
t?
ato…
In many cases, it’s because we don’t
of true when it comes to phrases see the saying written down, we just
like “Where is the toilet?” and “Is my hear it being used. Mispronunciations
plane on time?” But when it comes are easy – If you think that, you’ve got
to idioms, even native speakers can another think coming, meaning you
come a cropper*. should think again, becomes you’ve
It’s fine to be confused when you got another thing coming, which
first hear brilliant local expressions doesn’t make a lot of sense.
like the Kiwi box of budgies**, but * Come a cropper: originally fall
there are a great many sayings in headlong from a horse, now to fail.
common usage across the Anglo- ** Box of budgies: cheerful and
sphere that still trip us up. happy.
88 | Octoberđ2015
LIVING LANGUAGE
The same problem sees wait- Champing at the bit means eager
ing with bated breath (holding your to be off and comes from a horse
breath in suspense) turn into baited champing or making a noisy biting
breath (having breath that smells of noise against its bit, which it usu-
fish), just deserts (what you deserve) ally does out of impatience. But, like
become just desserts (what many of tenterhooks, the word has fallen out
us would love), and nip it in the bud of favour, so chomping at the bit has
(stop it before it develops) become a become commonplace.
cheeky nip in the butt. Rein-based idioms have their own
In other cases, we pronounce the problems. You’ll often see free rein
words wrongly because the original as free reign, with people thinking it
has fallen out of use and we substitute refers to ruling, but it comes from a
something familiar that sounds similar. rider letting a horse choose its own
Be on tenterhooks is an obvious saying direction. It’s the same family of say-
about suspense if you know that ten- ings as rein it in and on a loose rein.
terhooks were hooks used to stretch And while on his high horse doesn’t
woollen cloth over frames called ten- suffer from the wrong words, its
ters as the cloth dried. But if you don’t, meaning has shifted. A high or great
“tenderhooks” is a reasonable guess. horse was the horse of a leader in
A damp squib was a small explosive mounted combat and the phrase orig-
that wouldn’t fire, which is how the inally meant one in command, but
phrase came to mean a disappointing over years has come to mean some-
person. A damp squid is commonly one snobbish or superior.
said instead. Leaving aside the fact
that a damp squid is better than a Breaking Bard
dry one for everything except cook- Confusion isn’t limited to common
ing, the Harry Potter series is helping idioms, quotes get the muddle treat-
to restore the original saying with its ment, too, particularly Shakespeare’s.
Squibs: non-magical children of mag- H. Rider Haggard’s King Solomon’s
ical parents. Mines (1885) has one character order-
ing another to “Lead on, MacDuff,”
Hold Your Horses and in the more than a century since,
It’s not surprising that equestrian the line has been often repeated.
sayings are so common: until recent In Macbeth, the line is “Lay on,
decades most people lived horse- MacDuff,” a challenge to fight, not to
drawn lives. But within a century the show the way.
car has become dominant, which To the manor born is a bastardised
leads to a lot of confusion when it version of Hamlet’s “but to my mind,
comes to horse-related sayings. though I am native here and to the
90 | Octoberđ2015
READER’S DIGEST
Octoberđ2015 | 91
All in a Day’s Work
HUMOUR ON THE JOB
92 | Octoberđ2015
NOT HERE RIGHT NOW
Planning on being away from your
desk for a while? Borrow one of these
tried-and-true out-of-office
messages:
Q “I am currently out at a job
interview and will reply to you if
I fail to get the job.”
Q “Hi. I’m thinking about what
you’ve just sent me. Please wait by
your PC for my response.”
Q “I’m not in the office right now,
but if it’s important, tweet me using
SHOCKING DISPLAY #YOUAREINTERRUPTINGMYVACATION.
My friend, who’s a nurse in an Source: hubspot.com
Octoberđ2015 | 93
Opposite: The town of
Montemor-o-Novo. This
page: wines of the Alentejo
TRAVEL
96 | Octoberđ2015
READER’S DIGEST
of live bait. The cheerful potbellied lo- with a great smacking of the lips.
cals seated outside waved us in. We drank some of the deliciously
An excited barista explained that bitter coffee and continued on our
they were about to celebrate some- way. The route lay southeast, in
thing extraordinary. The traditional the direction of Spain, and we took
Cante Alentejano, a polyphonic sing- secondary roads, the better to savour
ing unique to the region, had just been our surroundings. With the windows
designated by UNESCO an Intangible open, the Fiat buzzed like a blender.
Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Better Roadside eucalyptus trees sent a de-
yet, one of the singers was right there licious tang through the October air.
Octoberđ2015 | 97
LIFE AND LOVE IN ALENTEJO
MARTIN AND I CAUGHT UP while But a last word about that pig.
the tilled brown fields rose and fell The animal reigns at the top of the
outside the windows. Often we were food chain on Alentejo menus, con-
stuck behind contraptions that re- sumed in nearly all its parts. The local
sembled riding lawnmowers fitted specialty is porco preto, or black pig,
with rudimentary car bodies. These fed mostly on the acorns that fall from
slow, sputtering vehicles are known as cork trees and presented in sausage,
mata-velhos – old person killers – be- bacon and chops and as an enriching
cause their tiny 50-cubic-centimetre agent in a variety of stews.
engines don’t require a driver’s li- The animal’s intense depth of fla-
cence to operate and because they vour is due partly to that acorn-heavy
are often driven – and crashed – by diet and, as a bonus, those acorns
the elderly. imbue the flesh with oleic acid, the
We turned off for lunch in a small- same heart-friendly ingredient found
ish town called Redondo and found in olive oil.
a promising-looking place, Porfírio’s, The next two days would take on an
with whitewashed walls and beamed easy natural rhythm of eating, sight-
ceilings. A tray of tasty appetisers, seeing and drinking the cheap, well-
or entradas, was soon placed on our structured local wines. We stayed in
table: herbed and vinegared olives, the mountain towns Monsaraz and
breads, sausages and two kinds of Marvão. Each was originally built as
fresh cheese. The lunch itself opened a fortified redoubt against invasion
with an exquisite dogfish soup – the from nearby Spain and was visible
dogfish is a kind of shark, white- from the valleys below looking like
fleshed and sweet – followed by arroz a kind of terracotta headpiece. Each
de pato, or duck rice. was entered through several kilome-
Portuguese cooking works through tres of switchbacks and inside the
a process of concentration of essential thickly fortified walls had an array of
tastes bolstered by fresh ingredients. steep cobbled streets, a castle, a mu-
Arroz de pato is a classic example of seum, shops, restaurants and pano-
this magnification-through-reduction. ramic views.
The lid of baked egg atop the rice was But it was in these showcase moun-
dotted with broiled bits of incredibly tain towns, alas, that I felt the weight
savoury bacon and chouriço, a sau- of the tourist trade wearing away
sage similar to chorizo, both of them some of the indigenous sparkle. The
sourced from local pigs. Plunging your restaurants tended toward the tired,
fork through the lid released a jet of and the little ateliers and stores that
flavourful steam, and below the rice, honeycombed the alleyways seemed
a vein of moist, darkly delicious duck. filled mainly with kitsch.
98 | Octoberđ2015
READER’S DIGEST
AFTER TWO DAYS we returned to the Herdade dos Grous, a giant vineyard
plains and began following signs for and estate in a village south of Beja, a
rota dos vinhos, or wine route. These town boasting a hotel and a restaurant
soon brought us to the Adega Mayor whose services we sampled.
winery, a hypermodern collection In the high-ceilinged dining room,
of cubes and cantilevers set out in with views over the vineyards and a
the hills and designed by the famous man-made lake, we ordered the chef’s
Portuguese architect Álvaro Siza. We tasting menu accompanied by paired
toured the ingeniously constructed wines. The meal opened with a luxe
building and sampled exquisite wines. version of typical entradas, the flavour
But it would be at lunch the next day of each small meat, cheese and vegeta-
that Portugal would finally offer up a ble dish as particularised as the panes
truly world-class dining and drinking of a stained-glass window. A lighter-
experience. It would take place at the than-air dogfish soup was followed by
Octoberđ2015 | 99
The Alentejo’s local specialty is porco preto, or black pig, which mostly feeds on the
acorns that fall from the cork trees
a veal medallion set in two swooshes sung Alentejo. It was my good luck
of mustard sauce, served with fin- to get in on the ground floor of the
gerling potatoes, a topping of radish worldwide growth of wine and ride
sprouts and roasted chickpeas. that wave.”
The paired wines of Herdade dos When asked the difference between
Grous began with a delicate palate- Portuguese wine and that of other
cleansing white and accompanied the nations, Mr. Duarte didn’t hesitate.
meal along an arc of increasing depth “The wines of Chile and Argentina are
and complexity that ended with the too sweet,” he said. “You think Spain,
cymbal crash of a 2011 Grous Reserva you think the tempranillo grape. Well,
red. The net effect of this was one of we don’t use the same grapes everyone
great culinary transport. else does. We have 315 different grape
Afterward, I talked with Luís Du- varieties, many of them unique to us.”
arte, the man responsible for the ex- With a wave of the hand, he indicated
traordinary wines I’d just drunk and the glasses on our table. “You want a
the only one of Portugal’s vignerons velvety and well-balanced wine at a
to have been named winemaker of the good price? Think Portugal.”
year twice. “I belong to the first class
that studied winemaking in school, AFTER LUNCH, we strolled in the
professionally,” he said. “Instead of nearby vineyards. It was late afternoon,
working in the Douro” – Portugal’s the sun low in the sky. The air was
traditional wine region, farther north filled with nostalgic aromas of earth
– “I decided to head south to the un- and mown grass, and I found myself
100 | Octoberđ2015
READER’S DIGEST
Octoberđ2015 | 101
LIFE SKILLS
13 Things
You Should
Know About
Negotiating
BY L A RA Z A R U M
102 | Octoberđ2015
personally and concentrate instead person who lacked experience but
on solving the conflict. had potential would be more
successful than one with experience
Octoberđ2015 | 103
BEHIND THE NEWS
A cheeky grin. And curly locks. She was the
little girl whose disappearance shocked
a community. But for two homicide
detectives, it was a stubborn case they
were determined to solve
BY S IM O N BO UDA
Kiesha
PHOTOS: (POLICEMAN) NEWSPIX; (KIESHA) FAIRFAX PHOTOS
Kiesha Weippeart
became a familiar
face in Australian
newspapers and
on television after
she was reported
missing by her
mother, Kristi
Abrahams, and
Robert Smith on
August 1, 2010
T H E H U N T TO F I N D K I E S H A
THE AL ARM was raised at precisely helicopter scanned ponds and wa-
10.03am on Sunday, August 1, 2010. terways, while teams with police
“Hi, I, I’ve just gotten up …” the dogs worked their way through back-
emotional woman told the emergency yards and streets for the tiniest clue.
switchboard operator, “... and noticed Community and media interest was
that my front door was open and my intense.
daughter’s not here.” The woman con- On Monday morning they were still
tinued, sobbing, “… She’s six … She’s searching when Detective Inspec-
in her pyjamas … She’s got blonde tor Russell Oxford, driving into work,
hair and blue eyes.” caught a radio news report about
As the operator dispatched police Kiesha’s disappearance. The circum-
to the home, an apartment in Mount stances mentioned in the bulletin
Druitt, on Sydney’s far western out- seemed odd to Oxford, who was one of
skirts, she gleaned further details: the most senior homicide investigators
the little girl’s name was Kiesha in the New South Wales Police Force.
Weippeart. The mother, Kristi Abra- At the homicide squad offices
hams, shared the apartment with her Oxford briefed the squad com-
partner, Robert Smith. She told police mander and within the hour Oxford
how they’d put the little girl to bed and Detective Sergeant Andrew Marks
in her own room at around 9.30 the were on their way to Mount Druitt
previous evening. She described how Police Station. A taskforce was formed
they’d awoken around 12 hours later to investigate the case.
to discover the bedroom empty. The detectives – both regarded as
It was as if she’d simply vanished quiet achievers within the squad -
into the night. started by combing through the avail-
Kiesha’s disappearance sparked able details. Abrahams’s and Smith’s
a massive search of the neighbour- accounts matched, but the evidence
hood. By late afternoon more than seemed at odds with their story.
a hundred police officers and State Uniformed officers who first attended
Emergenc y Ser vices volunteers the apartment had noted the neatness
were searching bushland, parkland of the little girl’s bed: the covers had
and stormwater drains. Police in a been folded back and the pillow had
106 | Octoberđ2015
been puffed out. It didn’t appear to Four days after Kiesha’s disappearance,
have been slept in or had been remade concerned neighbours held a candlelight
vigil outside the missing six-year-old’s
before the first police officers arrived.
unit block
The front door was a heavy fire door,
which Abrahams had told police was detectives tried to imagine how an ab-
ajar when she woke up. That didn’t ductor could possibly hold the child in
seem right: it was the type of door his or her arms while at the same time
that closes automatically. The two muffling the young girl’s screams and
detectives couldn’t see any evidence then use two hands to manipulate the
of a forced entry but the door handle two locks on the door. It didn’t add up.
and deadlock seemed faulty. The Without further evidence, however,
detectives themselves had difficulty the police had no option but to go
manipulating the two locks – and won- along with the couple’s account while
dered how a six-year-old girl could continuing their own investigation. As
manage this by herself. the hours passed police interviewed
Believing that it was unlikely Kiesha and re-interviewed the couple, look-
had prised open the door herself, ing for further clues as to what had
Oxford and Marks turned to the theory happened to Kiesha or for discrepan-
that a stranger had abducted her from cies in their story.
her bed. But there were no signs any- There were three clear options: an
PHOTO: NEWSPI X
where of a break-in. Nor were there intruder broke in and abducted the
any other obvious signs of an in- young child, Kiesha wandered off
truder. If she’d been alive or conscious herself or, lastly, something happened
when taken out of the apartment, the to this little girl within the apartment.
Octoberđ2015 | 107
T H E H U N T TO F I N D K I E S H A
As the detectives interviewed her, to the public would help the hunt
Abrahams’s character soon became all progress. Abrahams was reluctant but
too obvious. Physically she appeared Oxford persisted. He knew that an
to be a hard woman, stony faced; appeal from the couple could bring
even in family photos she rarely ap- new information to light, and also give
peared to smile. And as they went investigators a chance to gauge the
over the events of the weekend, pair’s credibility.
Oxford found her manner aggressive So, two days after they’d reported
and self-centred. She took the detec- the little girl missing, Kiesha’s mother
tives’ probing as a direct attack on her and her stepfather faced the cameras.
parenting skills. And when confronted Oxford stood nearby, trying to read the
about blood that scientific officers couples’ body language, and intent on
had detected in the unit, Abrahams hearing every word they uttered.
reacted angrily: “I don’t know. What “If there’s anyone out there that
are you trying to say?” knows, or seen anything, just come
After two days, the policemen played forward, contact the police – it would
a crucial investigative card: they asked really help,” Smith said, surrounded by
the couple to front a media conference. the media. Seemingly too emotional to
Oxford told the pair that appealing speak, Abrahams sobbed. Sunglasses
Kristi Abrahams, wearing dark glasses and holding a tissue in front of her face, and
partner Robert Smith made an emotional appeal in front of the media
108 | Octoberđ2015
READER’S DIGEST
covered her eyes and a tissue covered was sufficient evidence to prosecute
her face. Abrahams and Smith for Kiesha’s
“Someone must know something,” murder. But they needed to recover
Smith continued. “Please come the little girl’s body to ensure the pair
forward. She’s beautiful you know, couldn’t offer up any other explana-
funny, always happy. Can’t describe tion about Kiesha’s disappearance
how it’s been, you don’t know until strong enough to convince a jury.
you put yourself in my shoes. Just hope Meanwhile, media and public
that she’s found as soon as possible. It’s interest in every aspect of the case was
what we need, safe and well. She was growing in intensity, and the police
always happy, bubbly, you know, loved officers knew everything they did – or
playing just like any kid would.” didn’t do – was under the microscope.
She was always happy? Oxford The community demanded answers,
was stunned. Who speaks about their but for now those answers weren’t
missing child in the past tense, he won- forthcoming. Oxford and Marks
dered, unless they know for certain that resolved to remain tight. They knew all
she’s never coming back? it would take was a little luck to turn
A reporter asked: “Do you have any things their way.
idea that anyone you might know, who Detectives set about checking the
may have her? The family must have pair’s movements in late July. They
thought long and hard about this – garnered details of credit card transac-
does anyone have any idea?” tions and phone records and gradually
“We have no idea,” Smith replied, pieced together where they had been
“If I had any idea, mate, we’d be there and what they had been doing.
looking.” Trying to trace Kiesha’s movements
From this point on Oxford and – or that of any young child – is diffi-
Marks were all but certain this was a cult, given they don’t have credit cards,
crocodile tears interview – and that bank accounts or phones to monitor.
Kristi Abrahams and Robert Smith However, a startling picture emerged
had become murder inquiry suspects when they checked with local school
– Number 1 and Number 2. records: Kiesha hardly ever attended
The two detectives believed there – in fact she had only been to school
Octoberđ2015 | 109
T H E H U N T TO F I N D K I E S H A
on four days that year. She had also Smith decided to move into a motel
not been seen by a single independent away from the apartment. They had
witness for three weeks prior to her unwittingly given police a break-
mother calling emergency services. through opportunity.
But neither Abrahams nor Smith drove With the unit empty, officers from
and so the detectives were perplexed: the Forensic Division systematically
if the couple had killed her sometime searched it for clues and seized several
since she had last been seen in their items – including the girl’s mattress,
home, then how did they get her body bedding and carpet for further test-
out of the apartment to dispose of it? ing. Meanwhile, other police installed
One chillingly grim possibility a listening device so that the couple’s
arose: perhaps this little girl had conversations could be monitored
simply been thrown away with the when they returned.
rubbish. Laboratory reports showed traces
That led a team of task force detec- of Kiesha’s blood throughout the unit
tives to visit the local tip at Marsden as well as teeth marks in the wooden
Park to determine if a search was fea- frame of her bed. Further chilling
sible. Given that Kiesha could have evidence came two days later, when
been dumped anytime in the three the couple walked back in. It took
weeks before the emergency call, they only minutes before police heard
quickly realised they were facing a Abrahams’s first few words: “They’ve
mammoth task. Rubbish came in from taken her mattress; they’ll only find
a wide catchment area and was contin- her piss and shit on it”. It was a cold,
ually compacted. Even if police worked emotionless statement – supposedly
three or four teams in ten-hour shifts, from a distraught mother.
PHOTO: FAIRFAX PHOTOS
it could take them months and months From the apartment, the couple
to search the garbage – and there was shifted to a government-subsidised
no guarantee of success. There were house. The police had lawfully bugged
stronger leads to follow. this as well. And so for the next eight
In the weeks after Kiesha’s disap- months, a covert police listening
pearance, and blaming the media post heard every word uttered by the
scrutiny that followed, Abrahams and suspects. For the police team, it was
110 | Octoberđ2015
READER’S DIGEST
Toys and flowers placed outside the two-bedroom unit at Woodstock Ave in Mount
Druitt. The police found traces of Kiesha’s blood in several rooms
harrowing and emotional work, but still trustworthy. They convinced him they
they did not have the breakthrough that could help him build a better life, and
would guarantee a murder conviction. pandered to his ego, encouraging him
In December 2010 – four months to think he could become an important
after Kiesha was reported missing person.
– Oxford and Marks hatched a new It all came to a head on the night of
plan to try to break the case. Under- April 21, 2011, when Abrahams and
cover operatives would try to gain the Smith met with the undercover agents
couple’s confidence, hoping that as at a hotel in the centre of Sydney.
they won over their trust, the pair’s Unbeknownst to them, every word was
guard would drop and they’d eventu- being monitored and recorded.
ally say or do something that would Eventually the operatives asked if
give police what they needed. there was anything in the couple’s
Day after day, week after week, past that they needed to tell their new
the operatives wormed their way friends about. It was crucial, they
into the couple’s lives, targeting who explained, that the pair was honest,
they believed to be the weaker link otherwise the promise of a new future
– Smith. Chance meetings, random could not be achieved.
conversations and slowly Smith looked Breathlessly, Oxford and Marks,
upon these newfound “friends” as watching and listening in the next
Octoberđ2015 | 111
T H E H U N T TO F I N D K I E S H A
Detective Sergeant Andrew Marks (left) and Detective Inspector Russell Oxford
explain how it took a nine-month investigation to discover the awful truth
room, waited for what they hoped When they awoke they found Kiesha
would be the final move in this game was no longer breathing.
of chess. And just as they hoped, The undercover operatives listened
Abrahams opened up, revealing how as she explained how she and Smith
her little girl had died. got a suitcase from their garage, placed
She explained that about two weeks Kiesha’s body inside and put it in a
before Kiesha was reported missing wardrobe in the child’s bedroom. It
she’d been in the child’s bedroom would stay there for several days.
where Kiesha was crying. She wanted Smith rode his bicycle around the
her daughter to put on her pyjamas, area to find a burial site in bushland.
she said, and gave her “a little nudge” Then, at about 5am on Sunday, July 18,
with her foot. Kiesha jumped and hit they called a taxi – using a false name
her head on the bottom of the bed, she and address – and directed the driver
said, and then Kiesha went “funny”. to the remote site chosen by Smith.
P HOTO: YOUTUBE
112 | Octoberđ2015
READER’S DIGEST
arrest them but they wanted the from the hauntingly lonely piece of
couple to lead them to where Kiesha’s scrub in Freya Crescent at Shalvey, to
remains could be found, putting their be met by Oxford and Marks. The hunt
guilt beyond doubt. As parents, both was over. They were under arrest.
Oxford and Marks felt a responsibil- The couple was taken to Mount
ity to find this little girl and bring her Druitt Police Station and formally
back from where she had been so charged with Kiesha’s murder. It would
callously left. have been her seventh birthday.
By now Abrahams and Smith had Forensic investigators found skeletal
confided all to their trusted “friends”. remains, teeth and fragments of hair in
And with nothing left to hide, and the dirt. Chipped teeth fractures were
possibly eager to prove the almost found to have occurred at or near the
unbelievable story they had just time of death. There was also evidence
recounted was indeed true, the couple of bone injuries dating from her final
agreed to take the operatives to the weeks and months.
burial site that night. Supreme Court Justice Ian Harri-
Oxford and Marks followed at a safe son declared as he locked away Kristi
distance. Abrahams for up to 22 years, “In a
At 1.12am on April 22, after leading civilised community it is distressing
the undercover agents to the shallow even to consider that a mother could
grave, Abrahams and Smith emerged rationally formulate any possible
reason for killing her child.”
Puzzles See page 122 In jailing Robert Smith for at least
12 years, Justice Megan Latham was
THE PILE-UP EFFECT
B. Each object in the set is made up of three scathing of his “cowardly choice” to
composite shapes; A and C have only two. protect his own interests. “This help-
ODD ONE OUT less and vulnerable child depended
In each group of three symbols, there’s at least
one symbol that’s empty inside. for survival as much on the person
who stood by and did nothing, as
SYMBOLISM
A. The symbols on the top line occur in reverse upon the person who assaulted her,’’
sequence on the bottom line; the symbols on the
second line from the top occur in reverse
she said.
sequence on the second line from the bottom; the For Andrew Marks and Russell
symbols on the third line from the top occur in
reverse sequence on the third line from the Oxford, arresting Abrahams and Smith
bottom; and the symbols on the fourth line from is a day they will never forget. “This
the top occur in reverse sequence on the fourth
line from the bottom. investigation touched at the heart-
DOMINOES Hidden Meaning
strings because we are all parents,”
C. The bottom number A. Repairs Oxford says, now knowing that justice
minus the top number B. An ‘A’ in history
always equals one. C. Oh my aching back has been done. “It was simply the case
that we never wanted to give up on.”
Octoberđ2015 | 113
Smart Animals
These clever creatures are quick to adapt to whatever situation
they find themselves in
114 | Octoberđ2015
A Greedy Goanna Defeated of the tree and gave a shrill siren of
TRUDY ELZE warning. Two noisy miner birds
One morning, while I was working in appeared and began swooping down
the garden of our bush property in at the goanna’s head before being
South East Queensland, an 1.8m-long joined by three others. While the
goanna (monitor lizard) casually kookaburras kept up a cacophony of
climbed down from one of our large screeching, the five noisy miners
gum trees. It steadied its head-first continued to attack the goanna.
descent using massive claws to dig When a bird eventually made
into the bark of the tree. contact, the goanna took a swipe with
The goanna then sauntered across its sharp, long talons. Realising it was
our garden, stopping to peer into the no match for the angry defenders, the
treetops. Liking what it heard up in goanna ducked, then made a hasty
one large gum, it began to slowly retreat to the safety of the bushy
climb up it. For some reason halfway undergrowth next door.
up, it changed its mind, and returned With the carnivorous reptile gone,
back to ground level. The goanna peace descended once more on my
then sat motionless with its predatory little patch of bushland.
gaze firmly fixed on the egg-laden You could earn cash by telling us about the
nest in the upper branches of the tree. antics of unique pets or wildlife. Turn to
Three kookaburras flew down, page 6 for details on
landing on one of the lower branches how to contribute.
Octoberđ2015 | 115
BOOK DIGEST
Elke Vogelsang
shares some up
close and personal
shots of her dogs’
snouts
116 | Octoberđ2015
Orry-Kelly collected three Oscars for
costume design during the golden age
of movies. His recently discovered
memoir, WOMEN I’VE UNDRESSED
(Random House), doesn’t mince words:
“... Hollywood dislikes naked truths.
Truth is rarely served at their dinner
parties. When it is, it’s so sugar-coated
it belongs with the dessert that lacks
the squeeze of lemon – that slight tart
taste my mother said belonged to any
well-prepared sweet. Seldom does
Hollywood dish out a wholesome
straightforward truth along with the
Y BE EDITED FOR SPACE AND CLARITY
the ground to feed their leaves. It works inside you, a thick treacle that looks
unlike any other water you have ever encountered. It moves around in your
blood, keeps your proteins and DNA working and in their correct shapes, and
transports nutrients and signals in and out of cells.”
Octoberđ2015 | 117
Stephen J. Dubner writing in “... There’s a quiet revolution rolling
WHEN TO ROB A BANK: THE through our cities. Urban armies are
FREAKOPEDIA (Allen Lane): being mobilised, in parks, along
“... A blogger named Ganesh footpaths, in schools – even on
Kulkarni discovered that the rooftops. The troops in these
commuter trains of Mumbai serve six battalions are
million passengers daily but the difficult to detect.
system isn’t equipped to check They dress like
everyone’s ticket. Instead, Kulkarni civilians. Instead of
writes, ticket agents conduct camouflage
random ticket checks. This has given fatigues, you’ll see
rise to a form of cheating that is gumboots. Instead
elegantly called “ticketless travel”. of wearing helmets,
Although it’s probably not very they wear sunhats.
common to get busted for traveling Instead of carrying
ticketlessly, there is a significant fine rifles, they carry rakes. Instead of
if you are. And so, Kulkarni writes, tanks, there are wheelbarrows. And to
one clever traveller has devised an mark their conquests they’re not
insurance policy to make sure that raising flags, they’re raising garden
ticketless travellers who are caught beds.”
can lay off some of the expense. TV broadcaster and city gardener
Here’s how it works. You pay 500 Indira Naidoo in THE EDIBLE CITY
rupees to join an organisation (Lantern)
of fellow ticketless travellers. If you
do get caught travelling without a
ticket, you pay the fine and turn in
your receipt to the ticketless-
traveller organisation, which refunds
you 100 per cent of the fine.
Don’t you wish that everyone in
society was as creative as the
cheaters?”?
MOVIE DIGEST
Kate
Winslet
returns
home in
style
THE DRESSMAKER Drama
Rosalie Ham’s much-loved novel has been
beautifully adapted for the screen by
Jocelyn Moorhouse (Proof, How to Make
an American Quilt). Starring Kate Winslet
as Tilly and set in the 1950s, it is a
bittersweet drama about a young woman
who after many years in Europe returns to
her small, remote Australian hometown.
Armed with her Singer sewing machine
and haute couture style, the very
glamorous Tilly transforms the women of
the town in such a way that she gets
sweet revenge on those who did her
wrong in the past. Liam Hemsworth plays
her younger love interest, with Judy Davis
and Hugo Weaving also in the cast.
Octoberđ2015 | 119
A shamble
in the woods:
Robert Redford
and Nick Nolte
Which was the first movie to ever be given the title “Blockbuster”?
Q: Hint: it turns 40 this year.
120 | Octoberđ2015
DVD
■ Often did his own stunts in action sequences but made sure
the stunt men hired for it were paid, so as not to put
anyone out of work.
■ Dislikes watching his own films, apart from The Sting
(1973), for which he won an Academy Award for Best
Actor.
■ Over the years, his height has raised much
speculation, with estimates ranging from 1.70m to
1.87m. Our best guess? 1.79m.
BRAIN POWER
TEST YOUR MENTAL PROWESS
Puzzles
Challenge yourself by solving these puzzles and mind stretchers,
then check your answers on page 113
A B C
Shapes
A
is to
as B
is to
C
122 | Octoberđ2015
Symbolism Hidden Meaning
Is symbol A, B, C or D missing from the grid below? Identify the common
words or phrases below.
re re
re re
?
A
A B C D
HISATORY
Dominoes
Which of A, B, C or D matches the set?
B
GNIHCAYMHO
A B C
Octoberđ2015 | 123
BRAIN POWER
Trivia
1. What does pride proverbially come
before? 1 point
2. Is Argentina’s total land area larger
or smaller than India’s? 1 point
3. In a lunar eclipse, what’s blocking
the sun’s light from the moon? 1 point
4. Which UK newspaper is credited
with the first printed use of the term
“Beatlemania”? It occurred this 9. Name the three backing bands
month in which year? 2 points from the descriptors:
5. If you threw a Heinz, a Mad House, Q Gladys Knight and the fruit seeds.
a Basement, or Garden States, what Q Iggy Pop and Larry, Curly and Moe.
sport would you be playing? 1 point Q Bill Haley and the fast-moving
celestial ice (above). 3 points
6. After his death at Trafalgar this
month in 1805, Lord Nelson’s body 10. Which 16th century explorer and
was transported back to London in privateer captained the Golden Hind?
a barrel filled with what? 1 point 1 point
7. Which number – 7, 8, 9 or 10 – goes
11. Men and women are differentiated
with each of the following? by the chromosome pairs XX and XY.
a) Beethoven symphonies. b) books Which has which? 1 point
in the Harry Potter series. c) legs on
BY GAIL MA C CALLUM ; P HOTO: THI NKSTOCK
12. Which American hospitality chain
a lobster. d) pints in a gallon. 3 points is named after the chief mate in
8. Nine actors,
Herman Melville’s Moby-Dick? 1 point
including Ian McKellan, 13. Which two mainlands border the
Orlando Bloom and Aegean Sea? 1 point
Elijah Wood, all have 14. What is the vegetable haricot vert
this tattoo. What is it and why? 2 points more commonly known as? 1 point
16-20 Gold medal 11-15 Silver medal 6-10 Bronze medal 0-5 Wooden spoon
Francis Drake. 11. Women XX; men XY. 12. Starbucks. 13. Greece and Turkey. 14. French, green or string beans.
got it – though John Rhys-Davies sent his stunt double in his place. 9. The Pips; The Stooges; The Comets. 10. Sir
d) 8. 8. It’s Elvish for “nine”. The actors who played the fellowship in Peter Jackson’s The Fellowship of the Ring
1. A fall. 2. Smaller. 3. Earth. 4. The Daily Mirror; 1960-65 (October 15, 1963). 5. Darts. 6. Brandy. 7. a) 9; b) 7; c) 10;
124 | Octoberđ2015
BRAIN POWER
Word Power
Madcap Adventures
This year marks the 150th anniversary of Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures
in Wonderland. Carroll (aka Charles Lutwidge Dodgson) invented words like
boojum and jabberwocky, and his works abound with more terms worth
knowing. In celebration, here’s a sampling. Answers on the next page.
BY EM ILY COX & H E NRY RATH VON
Octoberđ2015 | 125
WORD POWER
Answers
1. hookah – [C] smoking pipe. Gerry 9. livery – [C] uniform. The butler’s
found a shop downtown that offered rumpled livery made him a prime
supplies for his antique hookah. suspect in the disappearance of our
2. platitudes – [A] trite sayings. dinner host.
Our rugby coach offered a dozen 10. will-o’-the-wisp – [C] misleading
platitudes like “No pain, no gain”. goal or hope. Though her friends
3. welter – [A] toss or roll (as in think she’s chasing a will-o’-the-wisp,
waves). Heading for shore, Lee stayed Alexis is determined to follow her
focused on the buoy weltering in the dream of becoming a pop star.
distance. 11. sally – [C] witty remark. Aside
4. tremulous – [C] shaking or from the occasional sally, the
quivering slightly. Her voice was weak sportscasters had little to offer.
and tremulous, but the audience 12. griffin – [A] monster with
clapped politely when she finished wings. Felix was fascinated by the
the song. illustrations of the griffin in his
5. impertinent – [C] rude. “Would it mythology book.
be too impertinent to point out that 13. cravat – [B] scarf-like necktie.
I can hear you snoring six rows back?” I’m going to the party as James Bond
6. languid – [B] sluggish or weak. – would he wear a cravat?
By three in the afternoon, I am too 14. hansom – [A] horse-drawn
languid to think about anything but carriage. The producer of Cinderella
coffee and a couch. was troubled by the plan to transform
7. ungainly – [B] clumsy or awkward. the hansom into a pumpkin onstage.
Is it me, or is he the most ungainly 15. sagaciously – [A] wisely. The
mime you’ve ever critic sagaciously
seen? A PUZZLE FROM pointed out the
8. antipathies – WONDERLAND holes in the logic
[C] feelings of Here is one of Lewis Carroll’s small of Tara’s dense
dislike. I’d say riddles in rhyme. Can you solve it? first novel.
there were some Dreaming of apples on a wall,
VOCABULARY
mild antipathies And dreaming often, dear, RATINGS
between the two I dreamed that, if I counted all, 9 & below: Down
speakers at the How many would appear? the rabbit hole
10–12: Top hat
community
dreaming “[of ten], dear.”
Answer: Ten would appear, as he is 13–15: Word Power
meeting. Wizardl
126 | Octoberđ2015
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