Readers Digest Asia 03.2022

Au Revoir To The Grand Taxis

climate change.” Australia, in com- Dacia Lodgy, which is now the most
parison, has fairly clean air, but it’s commonly bought taxi in the coun-
still estimated that about 3000 people try – representing one in every two
die each year from air pollution, so new sales.
it’s definitely something that needs
to be taken seriously. “From an embodied carbon per-
spective, keeping these old Mercedes
The Moroccan government’s re- on the road is actually better than re-
sponse has been to implement a se- placing them with new ones,” argues
ries of measures to improve matters. Berners-Lee.
In 2010 they banned the importation
of cars that were more than five years “People often forget that producing
old and increased taxes on the sale of new vehicles generates a lot of un-
second-hand vehicles. Then, in 2014, seen carbon emissions, even though
they brought in the first cash incentive the end product spits out less from its
scheme aimed at Grand Taxi drivers. tailpipe. The direct savings from the
previous model must be significant
Critics are calling out the govern- enough to warrant renewal, other-
ment for having other motivations wise we are simply offsetting the
for subsidising new car purchases: problem onto another different part
notably the country’s recent heavy of the vehicle’s life-cycle.”
investment to develop extensive au-
tomobile production facilities. The Regardless of all this, back in
North African kingdom aims to be- Essaouira, as far as Hassan Mesfar
come one of the world’s big players in is concerned, it’s going to take more
the automotive sector with an indus- than a few thousand Diram and a
try worth approximately A$18 billion shiny new car to make the veteran
within the next five years. driver change his ways.

French manufacturer Renault is “I’ll be retiring in a few years so it
historically linked with the territo- would be a waste of money to up-
ry and benefits from considerable grade,” he says. “I also don’t think my
support from the Moroccan govern- customers would like it and for me, it
ment, operating two plants in the wouldn’t be the same job without my
north of the country. Production at Mercedes. We’ve been on unforgetta-
these sites includes the seven-seater ble adventures so it’s only fair we
reach the end of the road together.”

Human Bean

A 67-year-old baked bean fanatic from Wales has forked out
thousands on bean-themed merchandise, even painting his house

the orangey colour of his favourite food. FEMALE FIRST

rdasia.com 49

READER’S DIGEST

50 march 2022

SEE THE WORLD...
Turn the page ››
rdasia.com 51

READER’S DIGEST

52 march 2022

...DIFFERENTLY

THIS SPECTACULAR DRAGON TEMPLE, named Wat Sam Phran,
is located in the province of Nakhon Pathom, roughly 40 kilometres
west of Bangkok, Thailand. Finished in 1985, the Buddhist temple

is 80 metres high in recognition of Buddha who died at the age
of 80. The 17 floors of the pink tower and its surrounds are filled
with statues and shrines, including a giant bronze Buddha. An
impressive green and gilt dragon curls around the exterior. Visitors
are encouraged to perform luck-bringing rituals while there, for
example saying a prayer while touching the dragon’s massive claws
or stroking its chin, which can be accessed from the top floor.

PHOTOS: GETTY IMAGES/ISTOCK EDITORIAL/HALUK CIGSARSAMPHRAN
PHOTO; AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES/MLADEN ANTONOV

rdasia.com 53

READER’S DIGEST

LAUGHTER

The Best Medicine

On The Face Of It Plumb Crazy CARTOON: D.T. WALSH. ILLUSTR ATION: VECTEEZY.COM

My girlfriend just complained that I have just left my old job working at
I’m not good at describing her. She’s the sewer. Ten years down the drain.
got a cheek!
ANDY RYAN, COMEDIAN
GLENNY RODGE, COMEDIAN
Tools Of Government
Clear Path
Did you hear the news? The former
Why was it called the ‘Road Out CEO of IKEA is now Prime Minister
of Lockdown’ and not the ‘Road to of Sweden. He’s spent the first week
De-Mask-Us?’ assembling his cabinet.

SEEN ON TWITTER @IMMOLANDWERTH

54 march 2022

Laughter

Flight Of Imagination Road Service

Investor: So it’s like a spoon going Police officer to a driver: Your tail
into a baby’s mouth?
Orville Wright: But in the air, yes. light is broken, your tyres must be

SEEN ON TWITTER changed, and your bumper hangs

One Bite At A Time halfway down. That will be $300!!

Yesterday, I ate a clock. It was very [Pause]
time-consuming. Especially when I
went back for seconds. Driver: Alright, thank you. Go ahead

SUBMITTED VIA EMAIL and do it. They want twice as much as

that at the garage. @MOUNIKA

Open Invitation

A man was invited to a wedding.

When he reached the hotel, he

found two doors. The sign on one

said ‘Bride Relatives’ and the other

‘Groom Relatives’.

He entered through the Groom

door and found another two doors.

One had ‘Ladies’ on it, and the

other ‘Men’. FISSION FOR LAUGHS

Entering through the ‘Men’ Jokes Every Science Lover
Will Appreciate
door, the man came to a choice of
A photon walks into a hotel and is
doors called ‘People With Gifts’ asked if he needs help with his bags.

and ‘People Without Gifts’. He “No thanks, I’m travelling light.”

selected the ‘People Without Gifts’ SEEN ON FACEBOOK

door and found himself back A neutron goes into a bar and asks the
bartender, “How much for a beer?” The
outside the hotel. @MICKEY bartender replies, “For you, no charge.”

Medical Diagnosis Nuclear physicists often have trouble
concentrating on one project because
Doctor: Your case is quite
complicated. they have too many ions in the fire.
Patient: Why, Doc? What has
happened? Did you hear about the criminal photon
Doctor: You have a disease from the that was arrested and sent to prism?
chapter of a medical book which I left
as optional during my studies. ANGELO.EDU

MEME ZIL A .COM rdasia.com 55

PARENTING

56 march 2022

NeAw
LIFE

A reluctant father wonders why any couple
would voluntarily want to have a baby

BY Roy Innes

FROM THE BOOK THE TURNING POINT

PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES I’m a throwback. I admit it. Back these days but there are times when
to the days when men were men a distinct gender difference exists.
as the saying goes, male through No better example of this is having
and through – in thought, word a newborn infant thrust upon the
and deed. I have, however, learnt scene. Males do not handle this well
to temper the word and deed parts, a – at any age.
necessity if I want to safely navigate
the minefield of modern sentiment. I distinctly remember my first
encounter, forced upon me by my
The trend to unisex is everywhere mother when she brought my baby

rdasia.com 57

READER’S DIGEST

THE SCREW GOT very bad smell. I handed her back as
TURNED, EVER SO quickly as I could.
SLOWLY. IT BEGAN
WITH AN APPEAL Fast forward to the first year of my
TO MY MALENESS married life. The subject of children
crept into our conversations, usual-
sister home from the hospital. I was ly after a glass or two of wine. I grew
six years old. up with two brothers and, along with
my sister, we competed for our par-
“You can hold her.” ents’ attention. Frequently, this got
She said this with such an air of ugly and so family did not have the
loving pride that even at that young same warm, fuzzy feeling for me that
age I knew I’d better show some en- it obviously did for my wife – she, an
thusiasm. My father, of course, was a only child.
lost cause in this regard. Babies were
women’s work. The screw got turned, ever so
It was awful. Hardly any hair, red slowly. It began with an appeal to
face, puffy eyes, a mouth that kept my maleness – a strapping son who
making guppy movements – and a would play golf and go hunting with
me. Sounded good, although I’m in
a regular foursome and I’ve hunt-
ed with the same bunch of guys for
years. “You could teach him,” she
said. Good move. I like teaching and
there certainly were no opportunities
to do so in either my golf or hunting
groups – hard-nosed egotists, the lot
of them.

Her friends were having babies,
which, for reasons only a woman
would understand, necessitated
frequent viewings. “Ooh, she/he is
soooo cute.”

Not so from my point of view.
Still red faced and so forth, just like
when I was six, and if anything, they
smelled worse. Holding them, how-
ever, appeared to thrill the women.
The rapturous look in my wife’s eyes
when she did so worried me. Fortu-
nately, no one, even her, expected

58 march 2022

A New Life

me to hold the precious things, espe- move with a basketball in her belly
cially after I let go one of those male and lug around a 15-kilogram gain
bad deed things: an overt grimace of in weight would have exhausted me,
distaste. I was, however, careful not too. But it was the change in attitude
to risk making any descriptive com- that got me down – a mix of “I want it
ments. I didn’t have to: the women all over” and “damn it, you did this to
gushed out more than enough of me”. Not fair.
those on their own.
The last hours were the worst –
My interest focused on the fathers. waves of panic and tons of pain.
Males can read males, I kid you not. Fortunately, my presence at the ac-
To a man, they were embarrassed. I tual birth was a no-go. I told her that,
could feel it. Not one “ooh” from any without one iota of doubt, I would
of them. The closest to any reaction
that I could see was the occasional I STALLED FOR AS
chest puffed out. LONG AS I COULD,
BUT EVENTUALLY
And the women – merciless.
“When are you two going to start? It SHE WORE ME
will change your lives.” DOWN. “WE” GOT

Change my life? I was quite hap- PREGNANT
py with my life as it was and I didn’t
PHOTOS: GETTY IMAGES appreciate being pushed. Bad deed
signs again, which embarrassed my
wife. I would pay for those later, but
it was worth it.

I stalled for as long as I could, but
eventually she wore me down. “We”
got pregnant. This instantly gained
me acceptance in the when-are-you-
going-to-start group. The husbands,
however, seemed reserved at the
news – unnervingly so.

It didn’t take long for me to dis-
cover why they reacted that way.
Pregnancy is nine months of esca-
lating hell – for both of us. Six weeks
of cheery, cheery, happy, happy and
then – morning sickness.

It got worse. Near the end she was
exhausted. No wonder. Trying to

rdasia.com 59

READER’S DIGEST

pass out and be an unnecessary bur- appeared, still wearing his greens,

den to the medical staff, to say noth- mask pulled down. Big smile.

ing of the indignity of my having to “Your wife’s just fine and you are the

be carried out. father of a healthy baby boy. Congrat-

I gave her hand a squeeze when ulations. Nurse will bring him around

they put her on the stretcher and to the viewing window in just a few

wheeled her to wherever the last of the minutes.”

suffering takes place. Best I could do. And there he was – red face, puffy

And then I retired to the wait- eyes – indistinguishable from his

ing room where I sat alone with my nursery mates nearby.

thoughts, the major one But was he? I thought

being, Why the hell does I could see a bit of his

any sane pair of human mother in those eyes

beings voluntarily put and that frown surely

themselves through all came from my side of the

this? Pregnancy should family. He looked smart-

be an accidental thing, er, too, than all the rest,

a ‘no choice’ event – like his f leeting gaze tak-

fire or a flood or any oth- ing in the world around COVER: COURTESY OF EXISLE PUBLISHING

er natural disaster that him. And just once, I

must be faced should it swear he focused on me,

actually occur. wiggling my fingers at

Her parents joined me This is an extract him through the glass,

near the end of my wait; from The Turning his father, smitten and
she bubbling over with Point, Gareth St John overwhelmed by this lit-
joy, he, a man of few Thomas (ed.). © Exisle tle life that would change
words likely wishing he Publishing 2021. RRP his – forever.
was at home watching a $39.99. Available from
sports game. www.exislepublishing. And to my utter aston-
com and wherever ishment, I wanted to
Our obstetrician finally great books are sold. hold him.

Accidental Charity Donation

Montequlla, a pet cat from Denver, has been reunited with
his family after he was accidentally donated to a charity

shop. Fortunately for the ginger tom, employees of the shop
found him hiding inside the recliner the family had donated

before anyone could purchase it. UPI

60 march 2022



READER’S DIGEST PHOTO ILLUSTRATION: MARILEE LAMARQUE; GETTY IMAGES.ALL PHOTOS GETTY IMAGES

1100101101101
HOW TO00101
AVOID0010010
DIGITAL011001
IMMORTALITY
1100101101101
OO1010010010

NOW IS THE TIME TO 0100110
ORGANISE YOUR ONLINE LIFE
BY PAUL ROBERT011001001

62 march 2022

FTEEACTHUNROELSOLGUYG

rdasia.com 63

READER’S DIGEST

0100100101101000

“Do you have her password for Facebook?” My PHOTO ILLUSTRATION, PREVIOUS SPREAD BY MARILEE LAMARQUE. ALL PHOTOS ©GETTY IMAGES
sister, Louise, looked across the table from behind
our mother’s iPad, while I leafed through a tiny
notebook full of scribbled telephone numbers,
addresses and an occasional user ID and password.
“Nope,” I said. “Nothing here.”

Only the day before, our nona- password through her email account,
genarian mother, Miep, had passed log in to Facebook, and go through
away peacefully. Louise and I, still the several steps (“are you sure?”
numb, were in her apartment, going “are you really sure?” “are you really,
through the next steps – cards, funer- really sure?”) to permanently delete
al arrangements – and trying to erase her account.
her digital footprint.
It was an important lesson for my
She didn’t have a huge online pres- sister and me. “When I get home,
ence; insecure about the digital world, I’m going to make a list of all my ac-
Mum had really only played Wordfeud counts,” said Louise. “If something
with us, read the news, checked local should happen to me now, my daugh-
shops for their weekly offers, and sent ter wouldn’t be able to find them.”
emails to her friends and family. She
had a Facebook account only to keep A couple of weeks later I decided
up on family news. Her few online ac- to streamline my own list of pass-
tivities were recorded in the tiny note- words, which I keep organised in an
book that my late father had started 20 online vault accessed through an
years ago. But Mum didn’t really grasp app on my phone that requires just
the difference between a URL, a user one master password. Though I have
ID and a password, and the booklet never had social media accounts, I
was as enlightening as a collection of had 140 online IDs – for retailers, the
hieroglyphics. gym, web-hosting services, email
accounts, my bank, insurance com-
We ended up logging in to Face- panies, credit cards and more. Even
book from my laptop, using Mum’s though they’re all in one place, if my
user ID and clicking “forgotten pass- wife, who knows my master pass-
word?” This allowed us to reset the word, ever has to sort through the

64 march 2022

How To Avoid Digital Immortality

11101001101000110

‘vault’ it would be a herculean task. John’s laptop that they urgently need-
Yet I am the exception to the rule: ed. His wife didn’t have access. Then
most people have not organised their other clients started calling.”
digital access information.
In despair, she turned to Dona,
“It is sad, but hardly anyone thinks who managed to unlock the laptop.
about taking care of their digital foot- “It ended well, but it caused her a lot
print,” says Wil-Jan Dona, 75, a retired of stress on top of the grief,” he says.
telecom project manager who now “And then we still needed to handle
volunteers for a Dutch organisation his personal accounts.”
called SeniorWeb, where he gives
seminars on this subject. “Many older On the laptop these were easy to
people have at least a Facebook and close and remove, but his iPhone,
a WhatsApp account, but when I ask full of photos that his widow wanted
to retrieve, presented an even bigger

THE MORE ACTIVE WE ARE ONLINE,
THE MORE THERE IS AT STAKE.

THOSE WHO DON’T PREPARE MAY
BECOME VIRTUAL ‘GHOSTS’

them what they do with their pass- technical problem: Apple phones in
words, most often they reply: ‘I don’t particular are all but impossible to
know, my grandchild set it up’.” access if you don’t have the password
or the owner’s thumbprint.
It’s not an issue only for the elder-
ly, says Dona. “I had a middle-aged “Only the police have the software
friend who owned a small business. tools to access some of these phones,
I’ll call him John. He had ongoing and they were willing to help,” says
projects with clients when he was di- Dona. But that’s not something you
agnosed with cancer. It was aggressive can count on.
and he died soon after.” After the fu-
neral one of John’s clients called his The more active you are online, the
wife. “They were very understanding,” more there is at stake. How about the
says Dona, “but there were files on photos you uploaded to Flickr? What
if you leave behind years’ worth of

rdasia.com 65

READER’S DIGEST

01001001001000110

STEPS YOU 1APPOINT A DIGITAL
CAN TAKE NOW EXECUTOR
Give a trusted
T here was a time when the treasure friend or relative
chest of memories left to us by our access to your accounts
ancestors was simply a shoebox and instructions for what
filled with faded photos, postcards you want done with
and letters. But what we leave online can them. Facebook, for
be used by anyone when we are gone, until instance, offers the
authorities figure out a way to extend option to register a
privacy legislation to our digital afterlife. ‘legacy contact’, a
trusted person who can
The worst-case scenario is that your manage your account
photos (including photos of yourself) when you are gone.
may end up in commercial or political Otherwise, the only way
messages, or your identity used for to delete these accounts
fraudulent emails. At the least, your may be by submitting to
friends and loved ones will continue to be the company a death
confronted with things like unexpected certificate and proof of
birthday reminders and ‘friend’ identity, and
suggestions. Here’s how to mitigate that. demonstrating you have
the authority to act on
the account holder’s
behalf. An increasing

activities, comments and tweets on “You have to decide what you
social media? They will not disappear want to do with your digital foot-
with you, and if you don’t prepare – print. It is no different from making
by making your passwords available sure that the right thing happens
to your loved ones so that they can with your money,” says Dona. That
close your account when you pass is also nobody’s favourite activ-
away – those posts will remain pub- ity. Many of us do not even have a
lic. Many of us will become digitally registered will and testament. That
immortal, virtual ghosts. Only when means that most people leave deci-
your loved ones close your accounts sions about their heritage to local
will your old posts be deleted. legislation.

66 march 2022

How To Avoid Digital Immortality

10011010001101101

number of funeral homes your passwords on your 3 PREVENT
and online start-ups offer computer.” IDENTITY THEFT
services in this field, To protect yourself,
ranging from deleting But if you are like me, don’t use simple
accounts to the and your work, your passwords. “You have no
preservation of a digital hobbies, your finances, idea how many people still
‘shoebox’ with photos, and your contacts with use passwords like
tweets and other such friends are all online and 12345,” says Dona, who
memorabilia. your accounts run into suggests that if you don’t
the dozens, you may want complicated
2 KEEPALIST consider an online passwords, use sentences.
If you don’t have password manager like “Hackers can easily break
too many online 1Password, Keeper or simple passwords, but
accounts, make a OneLogin. They generate they haven’t figured out
list of your IDs and complicated passwords how to hack a sentence.”
passwords and tell your for each account you He adds with a smile, “I’ve
executor, and your loved have and store them in used ‘Ireallydislikemy
ones, where to find it. an encrypted online vault motherinlaw’ as a
“That is the simplest way accessible only to you. All password.” This is made
to help those who stay you need to remember even safer by adding a
behind,” says Dona. (and share with your number. “But use a
“Make a clear list and virtual executor) is one different one for each
write it down in a master password for the account, and update them
notebook. Don’t leave all app that is installed on at least once per year.”
your devices.

Our digital footprint is even fur- In years to come, who knows what it
ther from our minds. The US is one will be possible to do with our images
of the few countries to have intro- and our voices?
duced a law to exclusively address
the handling of digital legacies. But I, for one, wouldn’t want my virtual
technological developments force us persona to survive. Two days before
to think about what will happen to she died, Mum wisely told my daugh-
‘us’ if we don’t take steps to choose ter: “Don’t worry. It will be hard for
for ourselves. For example, it’s now you for a while, but after that there’ll
possible to bring loved ones ‘back to just be happy memories.” That’s all I
life’ with apps that animate photos. need and all I hope to leave: a photo-
graph and happy memories.

rdasia.com 67

TELL ME WHY...

... Are
There
13 In A
Baker’s
Dozen?

The story behind
the phrase’s origins

BY Sam Benson Smith

The baker’s dozen is a unit were stern penalties for bakers who PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK
of measurement that skimped on how much bread was
everyone can get excited in any given bag sold to a custom-
about because it’s always er. Before the rule was put in place,
going to be a sweet treat. a baker could overprice an under-
It might be a baker’s dozen of din- sized loaf of bread and cheat their
ner rolls, a baker’s dozen of dough- patrons.
nuts, or a baker’s dozen of Danish
pastries. So, the baker’s dozen was born out
of overcompensation. The rule re-
But in between satisfying your quired the baked good prices to di-
hunger and sweet tooth, have you rectly correlate with the amount of
ever thought about why a baker’s flour used. But many bakers didn’t
dozen isn’t actually a dozen? own scales, so it was pure pandemo-
nium. A baker would throw in an
According to the Encyclopedia extra roll or loaf, or even two, just to
Britannica, the excessive measuring make sure they weren’t swindling
technique dates back to the Middle their customers.
Ages in England. Back then, there

68 march 2022

ADVERTISING PROMOTION

70 march 2022

PHOTO: JAN SOCHOR/AL AMY STOCK PHOTO PHOTO FEATURE

Time To Say

GOODBYE
So long, farewell, auf Wiedersehen,
goodbye ... ways to part are expressed
in a multitude of forms

by Cornelia Kumfert

THE DAY OF THE DEAD or Día de los Muertos in Spanish, a
festival mainly celebrated in Mexico, takes place during the
first days of November every year. Family and friends come
together to celebrate those who have passed with offerings
and parades where people dress up and paint their faces as
calacas and calaveras (skeletons and skulls). The ceremonies
differ slightly from one region to the next. Some people say
the celebrations stem from Catholicism’s All Saints’ Day
while others believe they have an ancient Aztec origin.

rdasia.com 71

OFF TO UNIVERSITY Parents of new students at Wuhan University in central PHOTOS: (DI A N A) PE TER T URNLE Y/CORBIS/ VCG VI A GE T T Y IM AGE S;
China’s Hubei province sleep on some 400 mats laid out for them as they (MATS) JIE ZHAO/CORBIS VIA GETTY IMAGES
come to see their children off for their first day of studies. This helps them
save money they would otherwise spend on a hotel – money their studious
offspring will probably need.

72 march 2022

BLANKET OF Time To Say Goodbye
FLOWERS
An estimated ANOTHER TYPE OF ‘EMPTY NEST’ A tiny
60 million flowers, penduline tit chick pokes its head out of its
innumerable teddy pouch-like nest one last time before taking
bears and even flight. The home it is leaving is constructed from
bottles of twigs, animal hair and spider webs, among
Champagne were other things, and has a hidden chamber where
left by Princess the chicks mature, concealed by a secret flap.
Diana’s mourners in
1997, such as seen
here at Buckingham
Palace. An army of
volunteers later
distributed the
offerings to
children, the sick
and the elderly.

PHOTOS: (BIRD) MARTIN CRE ASSER/AL AMY STOCK PHOTO; A LATVIAN WEDDING may be complicated, but it’s fun. Among the rituals,
(WEDDING) EDIJS VOLCJOKS/AL AMY STOCK PHOTO the groom may need to carry his wife over a bridge or even confront a
‘witch’. After they are hitched, the couple might bury their list of plans for
the first year of marriage in a bottle or pass through three gates as a
symbolic farewell to youth and single life.

rdasia.com 73

READER’S DIGEST

A COMPLICATED FELLOW: PHOTOS: (NIXON) GET T Y IMAGES/BET TMANN ARCHIVE; (WHIPS) DUK AS PRESSE AGENTUR GMBH/AL AMY STOCK PHOTO
the US Republican who
ended the Vietnam War. A
conservative, Richard Nixon
occasionally supported
Martin Luther King and was
active in the civil rights
movement before running
for President. Here he makes
his final ‘goodbye’ from the
steps of Marine One after
resigning in 1974 because of
the Watergate scandal.
Years later he reflected on
that morning: “I looked at
my watch, the battery had
run out, worn out, at
4 o’clock the last day I was in
office. By that day, I was
worn out, too.” His fellow
citizens felt the same.

CRACK THAT WHIP! In Rupertiwinkel, Bavaria, Germany, tradition has it that
the loud, rhythmic whip cracking during a ceremony known as ‘Aperschnalzen’
will drive winter away. The whips, which are up to four metres long, are swung
by teams of seven or more people who each crack them either nine or 11 times.

74 march 2022



THEN AND NOW

Place a coin in the slot
and prepare to be rewarded

BY Zoë Meunier

W hen we think about bar to release a measure of holy water. PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES
the benefits of vending Fast forward to the dusty taverns
machines, convenience
probably springs to the of England in 1615, and you could
forefront, but in its very first incar- find brass honour boxes containing
nation, the purpose was more about snuff and tobacco. A coin in the slot
minimising greed. Apparently, temple opened the box for a pinch of your
goers in first-century Egypt thought choosing. This was usually placed
‘more was more’ when it came to directly in front of the watchful eye of
blessing themselves with holy water. the inn-keeper, suggesting ‘honour’
Saving the day was renowned Greek may have been somewhat lacking.
engineer and mathematician, Hero of
Alexandria, who devised the world’s In 1822, radical bookseller Richard
first vending machine. A coin was in- Carlile made the first inroads towards
serted in a slot, which pushed down a a practical coin-operated vending ma-
chine. Under fire for selling prohibited
books, Carlile’s clever fix was to add a

76 march 2022

rdasia.com 77

READER’S DIGEST

contraption to the front of his shop manufacturer Max Sielaff designing PHOTOS: PUBLIC DOMAIN; (LUXURY CAR) ALAMY
into which a patron could insert a machines to dispense chocolate bars.
coin, then turn a dial to select which- This was considered as good an idea
ever clandestine tome they were after, then as it is now, and by 1893, German
which would be delivered through a chocolate manufacturer Stollwerck
chute by one of Carlile’s assistants. was selling its chocolate in 15,000
vending machines – as well as ciga-
The first of the stereotypical vending rettes, matches and soap products.
machines, a small machine dispensing
postage stamps, launched in Britain in The Americans took the concept
1857. Meanwhile, in Tokyo in 1876, a one step further, opening a completely
newspaper vending machine was in- coin-operated restaurant called Horn
troduced to the public – the start of an & Hardart in Pennysylvania in 1902,
enduring love affair. Back in the UK, a with more following. Known as au-
huge cast-iron dispenser made by Per- tomats, meals were displayed behind
cival Everitt launched in 1883, selling small glass windows. Popular among
postcards. It soon became a fixture at struggling actors and musicians of the
railway stations and post offices, add- era, the automat’s death knell sound-
ing stamped envelopes and notepaper ed in the 1960s with the rise of fast-
to the mix. food franchises such as McDonalds.

The US was a bit slower to the game, The most popular offering in vend-
with their first vending machine of- ing machines today is beverages, and
fering appearing in 1888 on New York this has also evolved slowly. The first
train platforms. And the all-important beverage vending machine launched
merchandise contained inside? Tut- in Paris, France, in 1890, and allowed
ti-Frutti chewing gum. The Germans people to buy beer, wine and liquor –
soon pounced on the concept of a it was the Belle Epoque (Golden Era),
food-based vending machine, with after all!

THE
PENNY
DROPS

Historical
Machines

1st Century 1860s 1890s

HOLY WATER DISPENSER POSTAGE STAMPS TUTTI-FRUTTI GUM

78 march 2022

The Vending Machine

Bottled fizzy drinks, cooled by ice, – their machines were unable to dis-
were introduced in the 1930s, and be- tinguish between legitimate coins
fore World War II were accompanied and frauds made of other metals,
by machines that used electricity to wood or even ice. This created such
stay cool. Paper-cup soda machines, a thriving industry among fraudsters
which would mix the customer’s fla- that laws had to be passed through-
vour of choice with carbonated water out the 1930s and 1940s banning the
into a paper cup, also dropped onto manufacture of objects mimicking
the scene around this time. coins. At the same time, vending-ma-
chines started used magnet technol-
Coin-operated vending machines ogy to better detect and reject fakes.
for soft drinks arrived in Australia in
1953. The early machines opened at Another innovation game chang-
the top and most were basically bot- er came in 1960, when vending ma-
tles standing in iced water. Nonethe- chines began accepting paper notes.
less, the cost of installing them was
substantial, which saw the domination This was also the decade that would
of bigger brands such as Cottees and, see the explosion of vending machines
of course, the ubiquitous Coca-Cola. in the country that has now become
synonymous with the concept, Japan,
One beverage choice that has prov- which has an incredible 5.5 million
en quite the challenge for vending vending machines in use today – one
machine vendors is coffee. The drink- for every 23 people.
ability of said beverages has remained
in question for many years – with Japan’s pioneering vending ma-
some aficionados convinced they still chine in the late 1950s was a juice dis-
haven’t nailed it. penser consisting of a box with a juice
fountain on top – at just 10 yen per
Operators of early vending-ma- paper cup of juice, it was an instant
chines had another pressing problem hit. The number of vending machines

1930s 2016 2020s

COCA-COLA LUXURY CARS PIZZA TO ORDER

rdasia.com 79

READER’S DIGEST

rapidly increased from 240,000 in 1964 Motors in Singapore opened a luxu-

to five million by 1984. This exponen- ry car vending machine with Ferraris

tial growth was made possible for sev- and Lamborghinis.

eral reasons – firstly, Japan’s low van- For some, the joy of vending ma-

dalism rates meant vending machines chines is the ability to access items

could be safely placed anywhere out- without having to look a cashier in the

side. Secondly, in 1967, the former- eye, which could explain those smaller

ly silver 100-yen coins were remade machines on the walls of public bath-

more cheaply as nickel, which saw a rooms selling breath fresheners, deo-

massive number go into circulation, dorant and other personal products.

just begging to be placed For tech-heads and

into the slot of the most gimmick lovers though,

exciting offering. vending machines con-

And exciting they cer- tinue to deliver the

tainly have been, with goods. There’s the Let’s

everything from groceries Pizza vending machine,

– including, of course, su- which actually makes

shi – hot food, batteries, and kneads the dough

umbrellas, books, sake, FOR TECH-HEADS before topping and

flower arrangements, AND GIMMICK baking customers’ piz-

business cards and even LOVERS, zas to order – all in less

(somewhat disturbingly) VENDING than three minutes. A
live puppies, available for MACHINES Chinese company, Be-
instant transaction. DELIVER yondte Electronics, has
THE GOODS a machine that fries
Some of these increas- French fries in hot oil
ingly high-tech vending

machines also serve more important on request, while a new Oreo vending

roles, such as those equipped with an machine uses 3-D printer technology

AED (automated external defibrilla- to fill a cookie sandwich order.

tor) and LCD screens that provide aid The latest trend is, of course, smart

in the case of an emergency. vending machines, offering face, eye,

Globally, the vending machine in- or fingerprint recognition and social

dustry got another big push when media connectivity. Vending ma- PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES

credit card scanning capability be- chines of the future will remember

came widespread in 2006. This has you from your previous purchases and

allowed for the sale of high-priced ask you if you want your usual “skim

items including iPads, mobile phones, latte with a double shot of vanilla”. But

digital cameras, computers and even will they be up to the standards of the

luxury cars. In late 2016, Autobahn coffee devotees? Only time will tell.

80 march 2022

QUOTABLE QUOTES

You don’t have to be rich to live
a rich life – and to me, taking
time to prepare and enjoy food

at a communal table with
the ones you love is the
best way to live richly.

R ACHAEL R AY, FOOD PERSONALIT Y

If you can affect People don’t come to
someone when rock shows to learn
they’re young,
you are in their something. They
hearts forever. come to be reminded

MARA WILSON, ACTRESS of something they
already know and feel
MENTAL
TOUGHNESS deep down in their
IS THE ABILITY gut ... It’s the reason
TO SEE THE true rock ’n’ roll will
BRIGHT SIDE
OF A HOPELESS never die.
SITUATION.
ADVERSITY BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN, SINGER

PHOTOS: GETTY IMAGES IS AN Grief and
EXPERIENCE, loss, those
NOT A FINAL are things
that don’t
ACT. ever go away.
They stay
GEORGE RAVELING, with you.

BASKETBALL COACH KEANU REEVES, ACTOR

rdasia.com 81

READER’S DIGEST

82 march 2022

HEALTH

A
WORLD

OF

Compounding crises have made everyone anxious,
but how do you know if you’ve slipped into a more
serious disorder – and what do you do about it?

BY Rebecca Philps

ILLUSTRATIONS BY PETE RYAN

rdasia.com 83

READER’S DIGEST

FIVE YEARS AGO, Meredith Ar- could be linked to her mental health.
thur, a 45-year-old employee of the But almost immediately, it clicked.
social media company Pinterest, “My brain has been in overdrive
arrived at a neurologist appoint- since early childhood,” Arthur says.
ment in a distraught state. She “I always wanted to work really hard
spoke a mile a minute, rattling all the time and solve everything.”
through her extensive research on
the vagus cranial nerve and ex- She would have never described
plaining why she thought it might herself as a worrier, however, and
hold clues to her crippling shoulder certainly didn’t connect her per-
and neck pain, frequent dizziness fectionism to anxiety or its impact
and nausea and chronic migraines. on her body. But in fact, physical
“I was presenting my inexpert case discomfort (like stomach and chest
to an expert, and she stopped me pain, feeling restless or irritable,
and said, ‘I know what’s wrong. sleep problems, fatigue and muscle
You have generalised anxiety dis- aches) is most often what drives peo-
order’.” ple with anxiety to seek treatment,
not distressing thoughts.
For Arthur, the diagnosis was a
shock. She had been so focused on “The diagnosis changed
her debilitating physical symptoms everything,” says Arthur. “It’s like
that she hadn’t considered that they somebody picked me up off the
Earth, turned me around 180 de-
84 march 2022 grees and put me back down. It was
the same world, but everything
looked a little different.”

Arthur is one of the 284 million
adults globally who experience an
anxiety disorder – the most com-
mon form of mental illness – every
year.

But beyond serious cases, anxiety
is something that touches everyone
to var ying degrees. Typically, it’s
intermittent and brought on by a
stressful or traumatic event. The
core features of anxiety are exces-
sive fear and worry – followed by
extreme problem solving, in Ar-
thur’s case – and one of the major
underlying factors is a feeling of

A World Of Worry

uncertainty about situations that crucial hormones driving your body’s
occur in daily life. fight-freeze-or-flight response, which
prompt anxiety’s physical symptoms.
We are in exceedingly anxious Your heart races, your blood pres-
times due to the unholy combina- sure rises, your pupils dilate, you get
tion of economic precariousness, short of breath and you break out into
social unrest, political volatility, en- clammy sweats.
vironmental catastrophes (pause:
deep breath) and the COVID-19 pan- Meanwhile, cortisol curbs func-
demic. But an individualised, holis- tions that your brain considers non-
tic approach to managing anxiety – essential: it alters immune-system
including lifestyle tweaks, medica- responses and suppresses the diges-
tion, mindfulness exercises and, to tive system, the reproductive system
begin with, acceptance – will ensure and growth processes. This was help-
it doesn’t rule your life. ful for our ancestors trying to out-
run a sabre-toothed tiger, but not so
WHAT ANXIETY much when you walk past someone
DOES TO YOUR BODY in a supermarket and, even though
you’re both wearing masks, can’t
Anxiety is part of your body’s stress- stop ruminating for days afterwards
response system – and it’s uncomfort- about whether you might have caught
able, overwhelming and sometimes COVID-19 when they coughed.
plain confusing.
“The physiological sensations
“I describe anxiety as a future-ori- you get make sense when you’re in
ented emotional response to a per- danger,” says psychologist Melisa
ceived threat,” says Joel Minden, a Robichaud. “But they feel odd and
clinical psychologist and the author sometimes quite scary when there’s
of Show Your Anxiety Who’s Boss. “We no physical threat.”
anticipate that something bad will
happen. Maybe we have evidence for EVERYDAY ANXIETY OR
thinking that. Maybe we don’t. But AN ANXIETY DISORDER?
we have a belief that something cat-
astrophic might occur.” For Arthur, chronic physical pain
and discomfort were the most pow-
Almost immediately after that, erful manifestations of her disorder,
Minden says, your sympathetic nerv- but anxiety can show itself in many
ous system, which controls involun- ways. You might perceive something
tary processes like breathing and as threatening, even when it isn’t,
heart rate, kicks into high gear. This or go to great lengths to avoid un-
leads your adrenal glands to release comfortable situations. You might
adrenalin and cortisol, two of the

rdasia.com 85

READER’S DIGEST

constantly overthink plans or spend puts your livelihood in jeopardy. Or,

all of your time creating solutions to more generally, when you find that

worst-case scenarios that are unlike- anxious feelings last for a long time,

ly to happen. Maybe you’re indecisive beyond when a problem has passed

and fear making the wrong decision. or been resolved, and they seem to

Or you might find yourself unable to jump from one situation to the next

relax and feel restless and keyed up. without relief.

Often, those symptoms last only as Despite the fact that chronic anx-

long as a certain situation or prob- iety is very manageable with profes-

lem is present. You may feel nervous sional help – and some combination

about flying, but you do it and the of medication, therapy and lifestyle

feeling fades when the wheels touch adjustments – less than 40 per cent

down. But sometimes anxiety can tip of affected people receive treatment

into a chronic anxiety disorder. These of any kind. “I always say that I have

include generalised anxiety disorder, a really good job because I specialise

but also panic disorder, social anxi- in treating people who have anxiety

ety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorders,” says Robichaud, “and by

disorder, post-traumatic-stress dis- and large, almost everyone I see gets

order and phobias. better.”

People with an anxiety disorder

can also suffer from depression – HOW TO TREAT AN
some estimates show that 60 per cent ANXIETY DISORDER

1of those with anxiety will also have Accept It

symptoms of depression. Just like happiness and sadness,
The distinction between circum-
stantial or temporary anxiety and a anxiety is part of everyone’s lived

more severe case isn’t always easy to experience – but it’s not always toler-

make, says clinical psychologist Da- ated as such.

vid Carbonell. “People spend too much time and

“There isn’t a blood test for anxiety. effort on trying to control anxiety,”

At some point, everybody experienc- says Minden. “I encourage them to

es it,” he says. “It becomes a disorder remember that anxiety is a normal

when it interferes with your behav- emotional response.” If you try to

ioural choices and your ability to do banish it, he adds, all you’re doing

as you wish in life.” is putting it more at the forefront of

For instance, that point could be your mind. But if you accept anxiety

when your job requires you to fly, but as part of life, you can learn to relate

you’re too anxious to even make it as to it with self-compassion or even

far as the airport, which ultimately with humour. This is a cornerstone of

86 march 2022

A World Of Worry

THERE’S NO SHAME IN TAKING MEDICATION

Many people avoid taking, neurotransmitter GABA – the primary
or even looking into, inhibitory (‘turn off’) signaller in the
medication for anxiety brain. Benzodiazepines are fast-acting
because of the stigmas and don’t stay in your system for long,
associated with psychiatric drugs. but they are considered unsafe for
They may worry about dangerous side continuous use and are potentially
effects, that they’ll become dependent addictive.
on them or that loved ones will see
them as weak or flawed. Dr Kissen believes therapy is still
But the fact is, modern crucial because the gains are
pharmacological treatments for hardwired into your brain. For
anxiety disorders are safer and moderate to severe anxiety, combining
produce fewer side effects than they therapy with medication is generally
did 30 years ago. Attitudes towards the most impactful. “It’s a one-two
mental illnesses are also improving. punch where the medication is setting
up the environment of your brain to
If you’re ready to explore make the most rapid gains as you’re
medication, talk to your doctor, who doing the work of learning new ways
can prescribe the medications taken of looking at situations,” she says.
for anxiety, suggests Dr Debra Kissen,
who specialises in cognitive behaviour
therapy (CBT) for anxiety .

Selective serotonin reuptake
inhibitors (SSRIs) are considered a
good starting medication for many
forms of anxiety, she says. Serotonin is
a neurotransmitter that plays a role in
feelings of wellbeing and happiness,
as well as thinking, memory, sleep,
digestion and circulation. SSRIs
increase levels of serotonin in
the brain and are
considered non-addictive
and safe for long-term use.

Another choice is
benzodiazepines, which
strengthen the effect of the

rdasia.com 87

READER’S DIGEST

acceptance and commitment therapy 2Be Curious
(ACT), which has been gaining clini- About It
cal validation. After acceptance, a mindful-

ACT guides people to see their un- ness approach to anxiety can be use-

pleasant emotions as just feelings ful, especially when you’re cycling

and to accept that parts of life are through anxious thoughts and are

hard. Practitioners encourage pa- unable to think clearly or rationally.

tients to begin a dialogue with anx- In his book Unwinding Anxiety,

ious thoughts, examining their causes psychiatrist and neuroscientist Dr

while keeping in mind their personal Judson Brewer recommends paying

goals and values. Although anxious attention to the body sensations,

thoughts shouldn’t be completely thoughts and emotions that come as

suppressed, sufferers can deliberately a result of feeling anxious or worried.

not allow anxiety to decide what gets W hen we notice and name the

their attention. physical sensations that are arising

This way of relating to NOTING in our bodies (my face
anxiety has been a pow- PHYSICAL feels hot and flushed;
erful strategy for John SENSATIONS my breathing is shal-
Bateman, the 52-year- OF ANXIETY low; my heart is beat-
old host of the podcast ALLOWS YOU ing quickly; I feel sweat
Our Anxiety Stories. TO BE LESS prick ling my under-
When negative or irra- CAUGHT UP arms), we are already
tional thoughts arise, he IN THEM less caught up in it,
acknowledges them but simply through that act
doesn’t let them drive of observation, writes

his decisions. Dr Brewer.

Over the years, Bateman has no- Many mindfulness training apps

ticed that if he acquiesces to his can provide you with help, including

thoughts, they don’t go away, rather one that Dr Brewer developed in his

they dramatically increase. How- lab at Brown University and shares

ever, when he recognises them for a name with his book. After three

what they are, just a passing thought months of using the app, a test group

and not a fact that needs to be acted reported a 57 per cent reduction in

upon, they diminish. Since beginning their anxiety.

to train his brain to think in this new Understanding exactly what was

way eight years ago, he’s noticed that happening inside her body and

the negative thought patterns have de- bringing her awareness to it was an

creased. “I discovered that my brain is empowering tool for Arthur. When

this amazing, elastic thing,” he says. she’d notice the shaky feeling in her

88 march 2022

A World Of Worry

chest or belly that radiated out to her to anxiety, a well-balanced diet, ad-
hands and down her legs, she knew equate rest and, especially, regular
that meant adrenalin had been re- exercise can help us manage it better.
leased. And by noting these changes
as an observer, her ‘thinking brain’ In one study, researchers showed
could take over from her immedi- that regular vigorous workouts lead
ate fight-freeze-flight reaction to an people to be 25 per cent less likely to
anxious moment – and as she began develop an anxiety disorder or de-
processing what just happened, her pression over the next five years.
symptoms became less acute and
threatening. She pictured the hor- Meredith Arthur’s toolkit consists
mones hitting her body the same of medication – a prescription SSRI
way an ocean wave hits the beach. antidepressant – and regular medita-
The beach can’t fight the wave, but it tion. She also shares her experiences
remains steady and allows the wave and edits stories about mental illness
to wash over and fall back. for the web platform Medium and re-
cently wrote Get Out Of My Head, an
3Make Lifestyle illustrated guide on how to under-
Adjustments stand anxiety and learn to navigate
problems without overthinking.
Learning to live with anxie-
ty is an individual process, and one Openly discussing the condition
that requires trial and error to get with an online community and read-
just right. While acceptance is the ers has transformed her relationship
first and most important step to take, with anxiety.
some lifestyle changes have been
proven to take the edge off, as well. “I’m learning to live in harmony, as
much as possible, with this thing that
Since fatigue and increased tension is a part of me,” she says. “It’s not al-
and stress leave us more vulnerable ways pleasant, but I’m learning to
accept and, as much as I can, take
care of my anxiety.”

Hoofing The Vaccination Message

The German government made an unusual appeal to its people
to get vaccinated at the beginning of the year, in an attempt to
beat back the latest wave of COVID-19 infections. Seven hundred
sheep and goats were given tasty bits of bread in a field south of
Hamburg. Photographed from above, the animals took on the

appearance of a 100-metre syringe. NPR.ORG

rdasia.com 89

What Your

Glasses

Reveal About You

BY Taylor Markarian

90 march 2022

PERSONALITY

Your glasses are one of the first things people notice
about you. Some give the impression that you’re an
extrovert, while others the opposite. What do yours say?

reached a point in their life where
they need a change. While it is natu-
ral for an outgoing person to pick up
a pair of attention-grabbing glasses,
shy people who are trying to break
out of their shell can use these glass-
es as a means of putting themselves
out there.

COLOURFUL FRAMES ARE
FOR CREATIVE TYPES

PHOTOS: GETTY IMAGES; PUBLIC DOMAIN Glasses frames come in every imagi- AVIATORS ARE FOR
nable colour nowadays. While black THE ADVENTUROUS
and brown frames still exist, they are
no longer the only options. Those who Another person who has an intimate
dare to colour their vision are typical- relationship with fashion and eye
ly creative, says optician Lynn Green. wear is Vint & York fashion designer
“Artists love colour,” she says. “They Larisa Ginzburg. According to her,
are very particular with what they like those who have a penchant for avi-
and they know what they like.” ators are quite the adventurers. “If
you’re a fan of the aviators frame,
But artists aren’t the only ones who chances are you’ve always been a risk
gravitate towards colour frames. taker.” She says that while this style
Both the extrovert and the introvert
veer towards this kind of eye wear.
“Usually people wearing bright, bold
colours are fun and outgoing,” Green
discerns. What’s nice about fun col-
ours is that somebody who normal-
ly wears neutral colours may have

rdasia.com 91

READER’S DIGEST

is classic, it is not too concerned with PATTERNED FRAMES
respecting the rules and will stand ARE CHEERFUL
out in its modern reinterpretations.
The wearer is an active, devoted per- It is not surprising that it is mostly
son who knows what they want and women who opt for colours and pat-
they’re not afraid to live for the mo- terns on their frames. Not only that,
ment, she says. “An undying staple but bright colours with patterns are
of coolness, aviator glasses are a fa- also preferred by older people who
vourite among outspoken people who want to feel the fun of youth again.
don’t just talk, but walk the talk.” If Sometimes they even have designs by
you’ve got at least one pair of aviators, the temples, like little flowers. These
you’re the kind of person whose pres- cute and stylish glasses express a
ence is always felt. You enter a room cheerful nature and someone who
and people notice, and you usually doesn’t like to take life too seriously.
end up being the life of the party.

THICK BLACK FRAMES
ARE TRENDY

Thick black frames go largely to the FAKE GLASSES ARE PHOTOS: GETTY IMAGES; PUBLIC DOMAIN
young, hipster crowd. The people A CONFIDENCE BOOST
who wear these glasses are definite-
ly trying to make a statement. Green Yes, people really do wear fake glass-
describes this type as, “that bold, es, and it’s more common than you’d
‘look-at-me’ frame.” Dark, thick, think. According to Green, the whole
heavier frames are a favourite with “glasses make you look smart” thing
people in the late teens to 20s age still applies. She says she had a pa-
range. One of today’s biggest trends, tient who wanted glasses for a very
a person that has a pair of these important job interview, although
glasses is probably young, bold and she didn’t have a prescription.
trendy.

92 march 2022

What Your Glasses Reveal About You

“She wanted glasses that made “This frame is a favourite among
her look confident, and we found the independent, creative thinkers. They
perfect Tom Ford classic look. She make a lasting impression and let the
brought us all chocolate because she world know that the wearer is a dis-
got the job, and she said it was the tinctive individual with a taste for
glasses that did it.” vintage and art,” says Ginzburg.

But there are a lot of reasons why The shape of a pair of tortoise
people wear fake glasses. Green says shell glasses goes outside the regular
that glasses are now just as much an square, rectangle, round or oval. It is
accessory as they are a necessity. Like not a regular shape, and the wearer is
shoes or purses or earrings, people by no means a regular person. They
buy glasses to intentionally convey are high-spirited and cheerful.
something about themselves. People
who wear fake glasses are very con-
cerned with how the world sees them
and may be somewhat insecure. At
the same time, they could also be
fashionistas who want to complete
their perfect look.

TORTOISE SHELL SIMPLE, CLEAN LINES
GLASSES ARE SPUNKY ARE PRAGMATIC

There’s more than just one way to We’ve talked a lot about the creative
showcase your creativity and your person, but what about people who
individuality with your glasses, Gin- are more logically, mathematically,
zburg says. It’s not always about the or scientifically driven?
colour, the shape is important as
well. She says, tortoise shell glasses In her two decades of being an op-
(also known as horn rimmed) are full tician, Green has noticed that these
of charm and will always be a staple types of people tend to pay less at-
of originality. tention to style and more attention
to function.

“They go for structure,” she says.
“They’re very detail oriented. They
usually go with a more simple, clean
line look.”

For this type of person, glasses are
more about pragmatism and not so
much about showing off.

rdasia.com 93

READER’S DIGEST

BIG ROUND FRAMES BROWLINE FRAMES PHOTOS: GETTY IMAGES
ARE QUIRKY MEAN BUSINESS

Green refers to these glasses as “Har- Last on the list are browline frames.
ry Potter frames”, although decades These glasses have a bold upper
earlier they were referred to as “John frame and a thin bottom frame. Gin-
Lennon frames”. They’re not as com- zburg says, “They are both smart and
mon as they used to be, but people do stylish and they say that ‘you mean
still rock that circular frame. “That business’.” They are a classic power
round shape is a very classic style,” accessory for professional life, and a
she says. “It’s old Hollywood.” favourite among knowledgeable hip-
sters who aim high in life, she says.
People who wear these glasses in Browline frames are a compromise
the modern era tend to be men in between bold and simple. If you wear
their 30s to late 40s, she says. They’re these, you’re not afraid to make a
a bit quirkier than your average per- statement but you also don’t let your
son and might have an appreciation ego get you in trouble.
for history or vintage style.

Underwater Robot Patrol

A robot fish is changing the behaviour, physiology and fertility of
“one of the most problematic animals on the planet”. According to a
study published in iScience, tests of the robot fish found it essentially
scared Gambusia (aka the mosquitofish) “to death”. An international

team of biologists and engineers created the robot fish to mimic
the largemouth bass, a natural predator of the mosquitofish. The
invasive mosquitofish was introduced to Australia over 100 years
ago to combat mosquitos and is now considered one of the country’s

biggest freshwater threats. ABC.NET.AU

94 march 2022



READER’S DIGEST

ALL IN A DAY’S WORK

Humour On The Job

“I’m going to forego all the gobbledegook CARTOON CREDIT: CROWDENSAT Z. ILLUS TR ATION: VECTEEZ Y.COM
and cut straight to the rigmarole.”

Rough Day On The Job Getting A Handel On It

Louis Angelino is a professional I showed my music class a short film
about composer George Frideric
cleaner. A new client texted him the Handel. Afterwards, a student asked
if that was really Handel or an actor
address and said the key was under playing Handel.

the mat. Angelino arrived, found the “Well, Alex,” I said, “Handel lived
way back in the 1700s. Does that give
key, and got to work. After three hours you a hint?”

of mopping and scrubbing, he was “Ah,” said Alex, realising his
mistake. “It couldn’t have been him.
done. Just then, his client called asking If it were really Handel from that
long ago, the film would have been in
where he was. black-and-white.”

“I’m in your living room playing with SUBMITTED BY PAULA FARINA

your cats,” said Angelino.

“Louis,” said the client, “I don’t have

cats.” And that’s how Angelino learned

that he’d broken into a stranger’s home

and cleaned it for free. NJ.COM

96 march 2022

Writing On The Wall All In A Day’s Work

The people of Plover, Wisconsin, DAY ONE AND YOU’RE
ALREADY THREE
wanted the name of their village MONTHS BEHIND ...

written large on the local water CLIENT: You should have indicated
a problem with the app sooner.
tower. So crews began painting. ME: It was only just made available
to me to launch. As soon as I saw the
When they finished, travellers from problem, I flagged it.
CLIENT: But you should have looked
near and far could see that they were for a problem sooner.
ME: I just saw it for the first time. I
entering the picturesque village of wasn’t involved with the project until
now. You just hired me yesterday.
‘Plvoer’. The locals commemorated CLIENT: That’s not true. I sent you
an email three months ago about it
the gaffe with a T-shirt that where I said I had found someone to
make the app at a lower price.
proclaims ‘I Lvoe Plvoer’. KXAN Remember?
ME: I think so. How’d that work out?
Long Stretch Ahead
CLIENTSFROMHELL.NET
A few days after my 17-year-old
nephew started his first job, I asked
how it was going. His reply was very
relatable. “Well,” he said, “it sure
does take up a lot of time.”

SUBMITTED BY KATHY IRBY

Time Is Money

A company owner was asked a
question: “How do you motivate your
employees to be so punctual?”
He smiled and replied: “It’s simple.
I have 30 employees and 29 free
parking spaces. One is paid parking.”

@MICKEY

DELIVERING JUSTICE • Law and Order In

• A Few Good Menus
An assistant district attorney in the • Food Court
US was demoted for moonlighting • 12 Hungry Men
for a food delivery service when he • Crime &

should have been in the office. The Nourishment

Week magazine asked its readers to • The Meals Of Justice

title a TV show based on the scenario. • CSI: KFC

You may soon be watching: • The French Fry Connection

rdasia.com 97

QUIZ

98 march 2022