Top Lifestyle News

Oct 30, 2026 - Lifestyle

In the eight years since my graphic novel on death published, I’ve learned readers of all ages want to talk about loss and preserve their family’s storiesBecoming an author in my late 50s was unexpected, the result of my daughter Hallie’s own existential anxiety in her early 20s.Fearing my untimely demise, she begged me to write down advice that would cover all of life’s bases going forward. I agreed, but put the project off for years; it wasn’t until she cornered me with a laptop on vacation that I gave in. She asked countless questions, and I found, to my surprise, that I had plenty to say. Hallie helped shape the manuscript, and then spent a year painting its warmly emotional gouache illustrations.I lost a parent (or other loved one, including spouse or beloved pet) and your book helped me through.I gave the book to my kids and wrote my own notes in the margins.I can’t bear the thought of my mom or dad dying, but they don’t want to talk about it. I’m hoping that sharing the book with them will start some conversations. Continue reading...

Oct 30, 2026 - Lifestyle

Ghost hunting has changed in recent years due to AI chatbots, and paranormal enthusiasts are concernedGhost hunting is a tech-heavy pursuit. When Amy Waine and Jarrad Cutting investigate haunted locations, they’re loaded up with software of their own design, such as an app that assigns signals from a phone’s sensors to different words in a database. In the age of ChatGPT, the ghost-hunting pair is probing the world of AI. They describe one of their latest inventions, an app called GhostTube Seer, as “the world’s first AI Ghost Hunting tool”. In the hands of paranormal investigators, scientific tools like EMF meters (used to detect electromagnetic fields) are repurposed to identify changes and anomalies that they believe indicate supernatural activity. Seer is, in many ways, simply an expansion of that practice, another way to scan an empty room and believe that something may be there. The app, which requires a paid monthly subscription, has more than 1m downloads, according to its Google Play store listing.But for others in the ghost hunting world, AI is an unwelcome presence. Since the release of ChatGPT in 2022, AI-generated ghost stories and images of the supernatural have flooded online spaces, so much so that popular forums like the r/Nosleep subreddit, meant for scary stories, have implemented a strict policy against AI-generated material. Continue reading...

Oct 30, 2026 - Lifestyle

Each Halloween, photographer Maja Baska roams the streets of North Katoomba with her analogue camera to document the local festivities, capturing everything from the delightfully banal to the genuinely terrifying Continue reading...

Oct 30, 2026 - Lifestyle

Copies of popular cosmetics and skincare products more likely to contain toxic substances, Trading Standards warnsMercury, lead and methanol have been found in counterfeit beauty products seized across the UK, Trading Standards has said.There is a rising problem with fake beauty products, with scammers selling copies of popular and expensive brands. Cosmetics, skincare and perfumes are now among the watchdog’s most commonly investigated fakes. Continue reading...

Oct 30, 2026 - Lifestyle

An elegant and slightly flamboyant Japanese-Peruvian fusion with delicate, floral notes and a fruity finishInspired by our restaurant’s Japanese-Peruvian roots, and to mark the 1-2 November Day of the Dead celebrations, this drink combines white rum and sake with a dash of bitters and a red-wine float: the result is a light, layered cocktail with delicate, floral notes, juicy berry fruit and just enough theatre to impress without being hard to make.Shak Nematulloev, bar manager, Ayllu, London W2 Continue reading...