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Eumundi Voice

39 minutes ago

What a bright and colourful issue this is. From the amazing Eumundi State School Crazy Colour Day fundraiser to Songkran and everything in between. Pop your sunglasses on!

As always, there is so much happening in our wonderful part of the world. Our What's on pages are full, as is Looking ahead. The centre pages reflect the beautiful local Anzac Day services from Maroochydore, North Arm, Yandina, Verrierdale, and, of course, Eumundi.

Our wonderful medical centre is celebrating its 10-year anniversary. But do you know how it all started? Read all about it on pages 18 and 19.

It looks like we are in for a bit more rain, so it's the perfect opportunity to kick back, relax and read Eumundi Voice. Click here for the online version: issuu.com/eumundivoice/docs/eumundi_voice_issue_92

Experience Eumundi Eumundi Chamber of Commerce Inc Visit Noosa Visit Sunshine Coast ... See MoreSee Less

Eumundi Voice

1 day ago

Did you know that Jelly Babies were previously known as Peace Babies? Their initial invention seems to have been a mistake!
In 1864 an Austrian confectioner working for Fryers of Lancashire was asked to make a mould for jelly bears. The resulting sweets looked more like newborn infants and were subsequently given the unsettling name Unclaimed Babies.
Sweets' manufacturer Bassett’s of Sheffield, UK put them into mass production and rebranded them as Peace Babies in 1918 to mark the end of WWI. Production was halted during WWII due to a shortage of ingredients but resumed in 1953 when they were renamed Jelly Babies.
When Cadbury-Schwepps took over Bassett’s in 1989, they gave each Jelly Baby a name. The Jelly Baby gang consisted of Brilliant (the red one), Bubbles (the yellow one), Baby Bonny (the pink one), Boofuls (the green one), Bigheart (the dark purple, blackcurrant-flavoured baby) and Bumper (the orange one).
Over the years they have made several TV appearances including on Doctor Who, Terry Pratchett’s Discworld series and Doc Martin. ‘Beatle’ George Harrison reportedly had a soft spot for Jelly Babies.
Bassett’s Jelly Babies changed in September 2007 to include only natural colours and ingredients, although they are no longer the sole manufacturer. Jelly Babies manufactured in the UK tend to be dusted in starch left over from the manufacturing process and used to aid release from the mould. Jelly Babies manufactured in Australia generally lack this coating. ... See MoreSee Less

Eumundi Voice

2 days ago

There is a current epidemic of loneliness in our society. A significant factor is the starvation of human connection – which I have labelled the anorexia of intimacy.
An increasing number of people are facing a massive void in their lives. Instead of reaching out for human touch with family, friends and communities, more people are searching for technological solutions. It is hard to be rejected by a bot.
So, who is best able to fill the void? Artificial intelligence (AI) or communities?
Tech companies have the data and are capitalising on the void to produce a staggering range of products to make us feel connected without actually being connected at all. In the process – along with losing our peripheral eyesight – we are losing the skills of connection and intimacy as we stare into computers rather than faces.
Anorexia of intimacy could result from loneliness or the deprivation of physical touch which can create feelings of emptiness. How often are we in bed and absorbed in an iPad rather than each other? How many people get most of their affection from an animal rather than a human? How many are having a massage as it is the only way to get human touch? How many don’t even get a kiss or a hug when loved ones say goodbye?
As we Google search, the algorithms interpret our data and technology companies are building products to reduce loneliness and support intimacy needs. According to a 2023 Pew research study, sexual intimacy is at a 30-year low across all genders. This is particularly relevant with young men getting their needs met by watching pornography. Data suggests 76-87% of 18-29yo men consume pornography regularly and are less satisfied with real life intimacy.
People are paying $1/min just to talk to a bot that sounds like a human with one bot generating more than $5M a year. It only takes a few moments to discover such a world online.
In Berlin the first Cyrothel has been launched with clients romping with life-size sex dolls. Instead of human workers, clients interact with them in the virtual realm by donning virtual reality headsets to watch immersive 4D pornography featuring their favourite sex-bot thanks to a purpose-built AI language model.
You can also pay for an online intimacy coach who could be located anywhere in the world and can be a human or a bot. The reason for this may be that without experience we are losing confidence to connect.
Technology has its advantages, however what could ever replace the loving touch of another human? To have touch we must create places in our community where we can connect. We need children, parents and dog parks. We need a variety of social activities where people of all ages can meet, laugh, talk, dance, learn or even watch an outdoor movie together under the stars.
We need to make it easier for people to connect with each other in real life so we can help halt the epidemic of loneliness and the anorexia of intimacy. I believe this is one of the most important roles of councils, communities and ourselves as citizens as we navigate a world we want to engage with. ... See MoreSee Less