Has the sound of someone cracking their knuckles been a source of lifelong bafflement to you? Me neither. But the other day I read that the knuckle-popping noise that some men enjoy making (never a woman, in my experience) has always perplexed scientists.

Seriously? A topic of hot scientific debate? Anyway, never get between a well-funded research team and one of life’s lesser mysteries. It seems researchers have been working on the puzzle for years and are finally heading towards an answer. More or less.

The team from the Montreal Ecole Polytechnique‘s hydrodynamics laboratory first thought they had the solution in hand in 2015 after images were taken of one of their researchers cracking his knuckles in an MRI scanner. They discovered not only that not all knuckle joints can crack, but those that do crack can only crack once every 20 minutes.

A Eureka moment? According to Professor Abdul Barakat, co-author of the new study: “The cavity between two knuckles is filled with synovial fluid, and when you suddenly change the pressure in that fluid as a result of increasing the space between the knuckles, some of the gases in the fluid nucleate into a bubble.”

The verdict: the sound was caused by the rapid separation of the joint and the bubble formation. The team thought it was the collapse of such bubbles, formed of carbon dioxide and other gases, that caused the well-known crack.

But no. This year the researchers, working with a band of volunteers (all crack knuckle-crackers), delved deeper into the mystery and found that the formation of knuckle bubbles didn’t produce cracks of the observed magnitude and volume.

Alas, current imaging techniques couldn’t capture the high-speed dynamics of knuckle-cracking, so the team developed a mathematical model to explore whether collapsing knuckle bubbles were indeed behind the sound.

“What we find now is that you don’t need the full collapse of a knuckle bubble,” explained Professor Barakat, pointing out that even if the knuckle bubble just partially collapses, leaving a knuckle micro-bubble, it would still generate the knuckle crack.

Dr Greg Kawchuk from the University of Alberta, co-author of the original knuckle-popping study, doesn’t agree. “Their main finding, that theoretical knuckle-bubble collapse can create sound, is not surprising. But the case is not yet closed. The latest research is a mathematical model yet to be verified by experiment.”

While the knuckle-crack debate still rages across Canada, there’s another knuckle-cracking argument about whether the habit increases the risk of arthritis. Most studies point out that the father of knuckle-crack research, the Californian Dr Donald Unger, reported (at the

age of 83, in 2009) that for 65 years he’d cracked his left-hand knuckles while leaving his right knuckles uncracked. Dr Unger proudly reported no sign of arthritis in either hand.

Incidentally, not everyone can produce a knuckle crack. “Some people cannot crack their knuckles because the space between their knuckles is too large,” explained Professor Barakat.

But for those of you who desire to join the crackers, or can crack already and enjoy the sensation (though I don’t wish to sit beside you at any gathering) he has a tip: “The more rapidly you pull on your knuckle, the faster you’re changing the pressure and the more likely you are to generate a knuckle crack.”

While on the subject of bodily gas mysteries, the International Society of Travel Medicine reported recently on a common condition called High Altitude Flatus Expulsion (HAFE), which might make air travellers feel less guilty about in-flight impulses.

The society’s president, Dr David Shlim, says HAFE is in-flight flatulence, a condition first observed in mountain climbers at high altitudes. This increased tendency to pass gas on a plane is not your fault. And don’t blame the airline food.

“Aircraft cabins are pressurized to between 6000 and 8000 feet, a significant altitude change for your body if you’ve come from sea level,” said Dr Shlim. “Just as the air in your water bottle expands at higher altitudes, the gas in your intestines expands on a plane, taking up about 30 per cent more room than usual. Obviously it needs to escape.”

Yes, even if it causes an international incident, as happened on the Dutch airline Transavia last month. Transavia was forced to abort a flight from Dubai to Amsterdam when a passenger constantly passing gas caused a commotion on board.

An argument ensued between complaining passengers and the airline crew, forcing the plane to make an unscheduled landing in Vienna. Local police and police dogs rounded up the gas protesters and ejected them from the plane. Four of them were banned from flying Transavia again.

The passenger with the flatulence problem, now with several rows to himself, was allowed to remain on the flight.

Robert Drewe’s latest book is The True Colour of the Sea penguin.com.au/books/the-true-colour-of-the-sea

The post Robert Drewe on knuckle crackers, and other important issues… appeared first on .

This day of celebration is an opportunity to acknowledge the lived wisdom of the elders in our community and ­their contribution to society. Our elders have much to teach us through their ability to observe life and to understand that life is constantly offering new opportunities to learn and grow.

We live in a society that cultivates and values youth over age. We are bombarded with images that celebrate the young body and the youthful face. We are offered an abundance of anti-ageing products, Botox and fillers to fight off the signs of age and make us look and ‘feel’ younger. We are exhorted to go to the gym to keep our bodies fit and taut.

All this to keep up the appearance of youth on the outside, but are we ever offered anything for our inner selves? In honour of this day a group of elders based in the Northern Rivers known together as The Joy of Ageing Esoterically* are hosting an event in Ballina to join in the celebrations along with the rest of the world. This event invites us to explore ageing from a different perspective.

Is there another way to age rather than the commonly accepted picture our western society currently holds about what it is to age and how the aged are treated? Perhaps it is time we changed the way we view ageing and altered the labels we have created that identify the concept of getting older in most societies.

The day will be host to a variety of presenters who bring a wealth of experience in their respective fields of medicine, nutrition, exercise, aged care and healing. In practical

and playful ways, they will inspire us to appreciate and value our unique qualities and reignite our love for life.

Topics for discussion include: Where’s the fun in Ageing, Self-care and Loving your Ageing Body, Nutrition as we Age, How to Live Joyfully to our last Breath and more.

“There is a quality and vitality we can bring to our later years by deepening our relationship with ourselves, appreciating what we have to offer, and taking care of our bodies with good nutrition and gentle exercise. This is a time to deeply care for ourselves and listen to what our bodies truly need. We can stay active and engaged in the community while at the same time being realistic and honouring of the limitations of the body as we age” – Judy Felix, (Counsellor and Educator, age 72)

The Joy of Ageing Esoterically* group invites people of all ages and their families to join them on Monday 1^st October 9.00 am – 1.00 pm, Richmond Room, 11 Regatta Avenue, Ballina, NSW 2478. Cost of ticket $10.00

For further information and to book your place please contact 0403 517 914 or visit: https://www.joyofageing.com/celebrating-international-day-of-older-persons.html*

The word ‘Esoteric’ means innermost. Living esoterically is about you living the real, whole and true you.

The post Getting better with age – International Day of Older Persons appeared first on .

ATMA RAHASYA

Atma Rahasya – Secret of the Soul Creator, Dhyan Vimal researched the Atma Rahasya or Secret of the Soul formula for over 12 years before this course was birthed. The formula is designed to assist you to see your authentic self, free from all conditioning. It reveals your true nature, along with your highest potential.

Join our senior facilitator Navin for a journey of inner exploration into our true identity. During this workshop you will be guided to examine the frames you’ve used to identify and recognise yourself, using contemplative exercises, and lectures to uncover your personal formula and meditation.

Only 11 places available.

Join us on June 9th and 10th from 9am – 6pm

Lunch included

Cost: $500.00

Dhyan Vimal researched the Atma Rahasya or Secret of the Soul formula for over 12 years before this course was created.

THE 12 BODY ARCHETYPES

The 12 Body Archetypes workshop is a powerful exploration into the evolutionary journey of our bodies: the outer body being a container and the inner body being the content. It is the discovery of the synthesis between both bodies, that allows the individual to embody and live their highest possibility.

In this one day workshop a senior facilitator expounds on the body archetypes and works with you to identify your own inner and outer body. The workshop ends with practical insights and do´s and don’ts for the body types so that you can live the inherent rightness of your body.

Just 10 places for this intimate workshop. Join us on June 8th from 9am – 6pm

Lunch included

Cost: $300.00

For more information go to: https://www.crystalcastle.com.au/events/atma-rahasya/

The post Buddha’s Birthday, workshops and Crystal Castle Villas… appeared first on .

Co-founder Simon Mumford describes the smartphone app as “everything Lismore – people use their smartphone severy day and we are connected to each other more than ever before, so we wanted to design a business where all your local information can be viewed by pushing one push of the button on your mobile phone,” Mumford says. “What we’ve created is something unique and specific to the Lismore region, something easy to use and  absolutely free.”

Lismore – nestled in the valley in the early morning sun.

Digital content editor and journalist Will Jackson says the app would be a one-stop shop for local news and sport, things to do and events, community contacts, trades and classifieds. Jackson says a big focus of the app would be keeping users informed of what was happening in the community with news articles published throughout the day specifically for the people who live and work in the Lismore local government area. The news agenda of the Lismore App would be a mix of council, crime, entertainment, social issues, sport and whatever other quirky interesting stories people wanted to share with the community.
“I definitely believe in reporting what’s in the public interest, not just what’s interesting to the public. Lismore is such a diverse community, and being fair to all sides is important,” he says. “My approach buy viagra with paypal is to celebrate what’s good in the community, expose what’s not so good and document what’s important.  Most importantly  the app will be an entertaining read.”
The Lismore App is the first foray into this unique model by the NSW Local App Company which hopes to eventually launch apps for communities around the region.

Lismore Lantern Parade – one of Lismore’s favourite events.

“The Australian media is going through what they call a period of ‘disruption’ at the moment – the old business models no longer works,” said the app’s advertising and marketing manager Mark Colegate. “We’re hoping that with a fresh, innovative approach on a platform that the people of Lismore use every day, the local app model can actually be financially sustainable. An important element of the Lismore App is that we offer display, trade and classified rates at very affordable rates compared to traditional media. We have kept our business costs very low so now any business can afford to advertise which, with high usage, will increase their profitability leading to more jobs being generated in the Lismore region.”

The Lismore App is available to download on Android from the Google Play app store: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.app.p1792HI
iPhone support is to come at a later date.
You can also ‘like’ the app’s Facebook page at facebook.com/lismoreapp <https://facebook.com/lismoreapp> .

The post Everything Lismore in one new App appeared first on .

Thursday March 30

Precious resources: Rain gauge wisdom

I woke to the fragrance of big rain. In autumnal North Lismore, this means your pillows smell of mushrooms and loved ones like sourdough gingerbread.

My olfactory system had confirmed the Bureau of Meterology’s prediction: A cold front had indeed interacted with moisture from Tropical Cyclone Debbie.

By 7am a Terania Creek local informed his social media network of an unprecedented 557mm rain gauge reading. The CBD seemed nonplussed, however. It was coffees and smashed avo on toast as usual. It wasn’t until after lunch that the Bureau Meteorology sounded its warning – a major flood was expected overtop the levee at 11m.

After the June 2016 moderate flood that took out North Lismore, council reminded flood-prone Northies of their floor heights in a preparedness pack dated December 1. In the letter, those of us on the wrong side of the levee were informed we would be responsible for our own post-flood roadside waste collection services. I’d lost the file that would have told me my floor height was 11.38 metres. Instead, I cautiously estimated I was sitting at 10.8m, and threw toys, books and linen on beds. Good stuff went into the attic space. The rest of the afternoon was spent heaving white goods up stairs and aiding the elderly on my street.

For the flood-weary North Lismore community, a motley crew of single mums, boho seniors, greyhound trainers, artists and ratbags, floods are a relatively normal part of Lismore Life. We began mobilising well before the BOM warning. Vehicles were moved to higher ground and grog for infamous flood-party booze-ups were stocked.

One CBD bottle shop was clearly in a state of paralysis – still selling beer at 5pm as if  they hadn’t got the memo. Surely the stuff on my bed would be fine then, right?

The evacuation text pinged at 5.45pm but I’d already headed for my friend The Captain’s place which was on even lower ground – aptly named Lake Street. The prefect launch for a flood rescue tinny. By 10pm the water was in the yard and it was safe to put the bung in the boat.

Flood donkeys from Richmond Agricultural College in Alexandra Street with Melissa.

Friday March 31

Precious resources: Hindsight and a water vessel

I slept right through the 4am levee overtopping sirens and woke to water close to the 12 metre floor.

Jill, the six-month-old Border Collie chased a snake into the flood water and vanished. The phone started beeping. There was already a list of neighbours to rescue and deliveries to make. With the dog presumed dead, we disentangled palm fronds from the boat motor. Then the puppy’s stupid black and white snout poked out from the canopy. She was pretty pleased with herself and her newfound waterworld. Myself, less so.

After delivering transistor radios, feeding stranded dogs and ferrying families to high ground, I worked up the courage to break into my own place and have a look around (timber doors were warped shut). The stuff on the girls’ beds was under water and my coveted reupholstered deco lounge suite was almost submerged.

Clearly, I decided in a moment of self-pity, I don’t deserve nice things.

We ferried four blind drunk youths with facial tattoos from an industrial roof to Hindmarsh Street. They didn’t thank us.

Saturday, April 1

Precious resource: Friends with squeegees

Cut off from the CBD, hilltop gawkers lapped at the flood’s edge with mobile phones. I had the good fortune of being able to recruit eight wonderful helpers to sluice out my house before the flood mud caked.

It was getting dark and my cavalry of cleaners needed to get home. The roads out were still underwater but the flood tinny’s route had becoming dangerously low. The mission was not helped by a disenfranchised bee colony which decided to rehome just above where the tinny was anchored.

A friend’s bees weren’t so flood prepared, however. I saw a photo of a lifeless box of bees on Facebook. For species with the capability to swarm and relocate with relative ease, the image was morbidly metaphorical.

Why didn’t they swarm? Why didn’t we? Did the Queen not get the BoM warning until it was too late, or had the swarm just become complacent?

Meanwhile, high-and-dry Goonellabah was in panic buying mode. Down in the bayou, cut off, with no power, and undercharged phones, we were giving freezer meat the sniff-test and eating whatever we could before it turned.

What used to be a bedroom…

Sunday April 2

Precious resources: Dry firewood

The flood water subsided and people returned to homes and business to witness an zombie apocalypse garage sale from hell. I began triaging the streets of North Lismore with a Lismore Base Hospital Emergency Doctor. He was able to unemotionally assess where we were needed most, get them over their crucial heartbreaking hump, and move on to the next neighbourhood nightmare. This is where it really helps to know your neighbourhood. North Lismore knows where the elderly woman with cancer lives. We know where the woman with little bub lives. It’s the sort of triage that state-level emergency services just cannot do. achaten-suisse.com I also got to chuck a lot of soggy mattresses off high-set verandahs which made me feel very rock n roll.

The Rural Fire Service were deployed to hose down homes. The guys from Grafton value-added their service at mine by hosing down the clothes on my washing line and resuscitating my fireplace.

Monday April 3

Precious resources: Centimetres and yards

 I got out the measuring tape. If my floor height was really 11.38 and the flood watermark was 70cm over that, then why were authorities stating the flood peaked at 11.6m? The numbers didn’t add up.

Later, I heard a cry from a Lake Street resident. It was 87-year-old Joy Love, born next door. She wanted to know if her husband had pulled through a touch-and-go operation but her phone line was down and she didn’t know how to use a mobile. Mrs Love explained doctors had ‘cut out a yard of poisoned intestines’ from Mr Love. I helped her make the call and she broke down in literal floods of tears. He had pulled through. Suddenly disparities over centimetres of plasterboard fell short of Mr Love’s guts measured in yards.

Melissa’s clean-up-crew. The Lismore community turned out in droves to help each other.

Tuesday April 4

Precious resource: resilience and Wi-Fi

Perhaps Telstra had a deep-seated a fear of being trolled on Twitter by flood refugees with smartphones, but their disaster relief staff at the Buninngs car park seemed genuinely compassionate about sorting out my phone line. They didn’t mind at all that the kids stomped slop all over their atomic tangerine soft furnishings.

Despite all the generosity and the promise of Wi-Fi, my eight-year-old daughter could see I was starting to lose the plot. After her sister gave me attitude, she responded: “Give mum a break. She’s just gone through a natural disaster.”

With extreme weather events predicted to increase in severity and frequency in their lifetime, this empathy was encouraging. There is a very good chance my kids will live through much more than flood-soaked mattresses.

Wednesday, April 5

Precious resource: The kindness of strangers

An old bloke from the Grafton Fire Brigade popped in to see how I was going. I told him I had the house under control. He said, ‘Yeah, but how are you going?’ I immediately started howling into his high-vis coveralls. Sometimes it takes a stranger for you to be able to drop your bundle.

The way the community has come together after the flood has been overwhelming. Let’s just hope next time when the rain gauge keepers of Terania Creek give us record measurements, we’ll listen, stop selling beer, and swarm in preparedness.

Flood level near Bridge Street in North Lismore.

The post The boat, the boy, the bees and the donkeys – Lismore’s flood appeared first on .

Around 300 people turned out to enjoy the third annual Girltowoman Festival in Lennox Head, NSW on Sunday 22^nd January. Festival-goers who joined the local community came from from as far as Tenterfield, Darwin, Melbourne, Canberra, Gold https://www.acheterviagrafr24.com/viagra-prix-en-pharmacie/ Coast and Brisbane. The festival was a heartfelt and inspirational day which is only set to expand in years to come.

As a first timer to the festival commented – “It was amazing to see all the young girls and people come together and have so much fun. This needs to happen more everywhere.”

The Girl To Woman Festival organisers endeavour every year to put on a Festival that is engaging, inspiring and educational – and 2017 didn’t fall short of the mark. Popular workshops included the Video Making workshop, the Singing and Expression workshop and as usual the Perfumed Body Cream making workshops were booked out. The Impact of Media and Social Media talk for parents was also very well received, with parents requesting follow up discussions and support.

Girl to Woman volunteers with participant Abigail…

As G2W Festival Host and main sponsor, Natalie Benhayon says – “Our Festival is about empowering young girls and women as they transition through to womanhood. They’re exposed to a lot through platforms like Instagram, Fashion Magazines and Music clips, but the more we build confidence in their own expression and natural beauty, the less they need to follow what’s ‘out there’.”

With the theme ‘Whose Role Model Are You?’ participants in the opening community forum were invited to reflect on the power we each have as role models. One participant shared that she works with teenage girls and has found that when we support them to speak up, rather than be bystanders of bullying, they can have a great influence on their peers.

In a conversation that went to new depths with each new contribution, father of two and G2W presenter Michael Benhayon agreed that when we confirm young people in their natural knowing of what is right and wrong, it doesn’t matter if it is happening online or offline, as they are empowered to act from this knowing and lead a different way. “To be a leader doesn’t mean you have to have followers, to be a leader means that you are willing to stand for what is true,” he said.

The ‘Beauty and Nurture Hub’ was our busy central meeting and connecting point throughout the day; hair braiding and styling, nail painting, face painting, makeup, hair garlands and bracelet beading by community elders were amongst the choices available, with every girl encouraged to express and explore her own style.

Girls came from as far away as Tenterfield to take part in the Festival…

The Belle General pop-up café contributed to by the Belle Central and Nourish Bulk Health Organic was also a great hit with amazing café quality food at family friendly prices.

The Girl to Woman Festival will look to hold ongoing events within the year https://www.acheterviagrafr24.com/viagra-100mg/ up until our next festival in 2018, these will be published on our website and advertised on our social media sites.

Check out the photos from the Girl to Woman Festival 2017 on our social media sites also: Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

For more information go to: girltowoman

The post Good vibes at the Girl to Woman Festival appeared first on .

The post Koala pitstop appeared first on .

“The idea was a bit of a risk,” says Natksy, “but judging by the support it was one well worth taking.”  Almost 300 people gathered at the old Hurford’s Hardware building to celebrate the opening.  With live music by Deana & Julia, wine and food, and of course the wonderful array of images on the walls, it was a night to remember.

“We’ve already got photographers putting images together for the next exhibition in four weeks time,” Natsky says.

On show were images by Denise Alison of the fabulous Humans of Lismore (facebook.com/Humansoflismore) , the Northern River’s favourite landscape photographer Alex Clarke, the artistic nudes of Cloud Nine’s Simon Fraser, amazing wildlife photography by Meg Gordon, a rare dabble with a holga camera by local artist Michael ‘Whitey’ White and flora details by Natsky herself.

Meg Gordon, Reflection.

“There are so many amazing images out there trapped on hard drives that are never being seen. Exhibiting is expensive so at the Den I am trying to minimise those costs for photographers and help them to get their work out there. It is also the reason the Den wont’ – I repeat won’t – be charging commission on sales. It’s the photographer’s work, so they should be rewarded for it in full,” says Natsky, who is both  owner and operator of the Den.

Natksy fully intends that The Den will be evolving over time with much more photography based events planned over the coming months. “Think studio, workshops, darkroom, events and much more,” she says. “It will only happen if the people want it though, so people need to get involved, either as a photographer or somebody who loves beautiful imagery.”

So next time you’re in Lismore, make sure you take a wander through the Northern Rivers latest art  space.

Natsky, Viking Ship.

Landscape photographer and regular Verandah Magazine contributor Alex Clarke, changed lenses for the evening and focused on the opening night crowd:

The post Fox Photo Den – a unique photography space for Lismore appeared first on .