Jess’ 17 year battle with anorexia

Jess (l) has battled with anorexia for 17 years. Source: Supplied

JESS Mortlock is an articulate, gentle 30-year-old woman who lives on the Gold Coast and works as a cafe manager. Jess has also been battling with anorexia nervosa for seventeen years — that's more than half of her life.

There have been times Jess has been hospitalised for months on end. She has been told more than once that she will die if she does not eat. If only it were as simple as that.

"It's incredibly hard to articulate, anorexia ... it's not a mental illness like any other," Jess explains to news.com.au. "There's undoubtedly a part of me that's not quite right, but it's really hard to be tarnished with that 'mental illness' brush. I'm aware of my irrationalities, I know sometimes that what I think or say or feel is crazy, but it doesn't make it any less real. It's something that's inside me. It has never been about looking thin, it's just a way of feeling.

"I've been through every kind of therapy there is to try and find out a moment that triggered this for me, but there wasn't any. Looking back all I can remember feeling is sad. A way to deal with that feeling for me was by not eating. I don't know why, but it was a fantastic way of not feeling. But it turned out that as much as I thought I had control, I didn't.

"It's such a hard illness to treat. I've been in medical units, psychiatric units ... they treat the physical, or they treat the mental, but not both. The first time I was admitted to an inpatient specialist unit, it was the worst possible thing to happen. I was young, and being in a place like that it was almost reinforcing that I had to be better than the people around me. When you're in a hot box with other people, there's a competitive element. Anorexia nervosa is an illness that drives perfection, and putting a whole lot of people who feel like that in together is really dangerous. But then in the psychiatric unit, I was with a guy with severe psychological problems, it was absolutely terrifying being in there with people with schizophrenia.

'I know that I don't want to die when I'm 40.' Source: Supplied

"I've been at a place where my doctor has said, you're going to be dead in two days if you don't eat. They put a tube down me and I pulled it out. I did not want to die, I never wanted to die, but I was too scared to be anything different.

"At the moment I know who I am and what I want. It doesn't make it any easier getting to that place, but I know that I don't want to die when I'm 40. There's no rational reason why I have anorexia, and it's something I believe was born inside me."

Jess is not alone in the belief that anorexia nervosa may be linked to a person's genes. In fact, that notion is at the heart of a new research project from The Anorexia Nervosa Genetics Initiative (ANGI).

The ANGI have undertaken a massive research project endeavouring to identify and better understand the causes of anorexia nervosa. The study has centres in Australia and New Zealand, Denmark, Sweden and the United States, and aims to detect genetic variations that may play a role in the potentially life-threatening illness — and hopefully find a cure.

"There's a lot of evidence in the current literature to suggest there is a genetic link, that genes play a role in anorexia nervosa cases," explains Dr. Sarah Maguire, Director at the Centre for Eating and Dieting Disorders and part of the expert team behind the ANGI research study.

"We know that from things like twin studies, where we look at incidence rates of anorexia nervosa in identical twins who have been raised in the same environment, and non-identical twins who have been raised in the same environment. There are more cases of anorexia nervosa in identical twins than non identical twins — so even though the environment is the same, if the genetics are identical there is a higher risk.

"We also know that a first or second degree relative having anorexia nervosa is more likely. That shows that in some cases you don't have to have grown up in the same environment, just be part of the same family," she explains.

Jess is one of many who believe genes play a big part in anorexia nervosa sufferers. Source: Supplied

"All of us who work in this field pretty much believe there are many causes, and a bunch have to do with environment, but it does look like there's a genetic vulnerability," adds Dr Maguire. "This study will look at the whole genome in a group of people who have had anorexia nervosa, compared to a whole group of people who don't have it. We are looking for multiple points that are similar on the genome, and so we need huge numbers — we need 13,000 blood sample from people who have a lived experience with anorexia nervosa in the first instance, and we'll just keep going and collecting more and more.

"In other illnesses where researchers were able to identify the genetic profile, they were able to target drugs for treatment. The genes give you clues. We hope to develop of a new suite of drugs to treat anorexia nervosa — we use antidepressants currently which do help a bit but there is certainly no drug that exists that eliminates the symptoms.

"Even more importantly, if we were able to identify the genes involved in anorexia nervosa it would lead to multiple research initiatives around prevention. They work better than generalised interventions, and if we know it does run in families we can identify psychological vulnerabilities and target prevention."

Early intervention and prevention are two forms of treatment Jess wholeheartedly agrees with, and she is one of thousands of people who have already signed up to assist with the ANGI research.

"In hindsight, I feel like intervention is the key," she says. "Stopping something before it becomes ingrained.

"For me it's not so much something that I actively do anymore. It's almost like a habit, like smoking. I know that my life would be better without it but it's so much a part of my identity, I don't know about any other way of living.

"If you can somehow find that gene before the person gets completely taken up by anorexia, it would be amazing. It's such a long road and I'm so wanting to be that person that I am underneath, but to unlearn the behaviours and thoughts and beliefs that are now ingrained in me takes so long.

"If they can uncover that there is a reason behind anorexia nervosa, that's going to pave the way for finding possible ways of dealing with it. It can give us an understanding. If they can create a medication that targets it too, that would be my dream. I don't know if that's a realists dream, but that would be my dream."

To register for the study or for more information, please visit angi.qimr.edu.au or freecall 1800 257 179.

Over 2,000 Australians are expected to take part in a global anorexia study to help understand the disease.

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What dads can do to raise confident women

Daddy cuddles: Chris Hemsworth with his daughter. Pic: VLUV / Splash News. Source: Splash News Australia

TY PHILLIPS is raising his girls to be confident, independent women, because who they are and who they become isn't up to him.

"What would you like, sweetheart?" I caught myself smiling while the little girl and her father neared the toy section in Target. She pulled him towards the Star Wars Legos and said, "I want these, daddy!" Her pigtailed head looked up at him, a smile beaming from her face. "Nope, those are boy toys, you don't play with boy toys because you are a little girl." Her little face frowned and she whimpered back, "But I want these."

The interaction didn't end well.

The father lost his patience as he demanded that her opinion didn't matter because it was wrong and that as a girl, she only had a specific set of choices that were appropriate.

Afterwards he barked, "Well, we're leavin' then. If you can't pick a girl's toy, then you don't need nuthin'."

He picked her up briskly and stormed toward the front. I could hear her crying and my heart sank.

Urban fatherhood: Nicole Kidman, Keith Urban with their two daughters, Sunday Rose and Faith. Pic: INFphoto.com Source: INF

Shortly after this encounter, I was back home and scrolling through Facebook.

One of the first things to greet my eyes was a picture degrading women for looking one way on a date and another way when she woke up in the morning.

It was meant to be humorous and started out in a similar theme like many do; "B**ches be like …" and you can fill in the blank.

Shaking my head, I closed the app on my phone and just sat and thought. It seems absurd for a man to be writing on the issue of women and self-esteem, yet the reality is, men do and will continue to play a role in how women see themselves — especially fathers.

How we treat our daughters and our partners sets an example for how young ladies grow up thinking it is okay to be treated.

As the father of three young women, I think this issue needs to be discussed.

In a post this short I cannot cover the entirety of body image and rape culture, but I can address several crucial things that I think all fathers should keep in mind, teach, and model for their daughters.

Like father like daughter: Kanye West and daughter North with Kim Kardashian. Pic: Barritt/Getty Images Source: Getty Images

1. A woman enjoys what she wants, not what others decide for her.

This starts with respecting our daughter's decisions when they are young about what they like; preferred colours, toys, clothes, and even cartoons. Our young women are people, not objects, and as people, they need to feel free to formulate their own opinions and be shown that what they think matters.

Toys, clothes, and hobbies are just that. They are things and pastimes to be enjoyed. If your daughters like transformers and fire trucks, blue over pink, and pants over sun dresses, then allow them to enjoy those things. Their self talk and relationship with men starts when dad loves them enough to respect them from the start. Neither a toy nor martial arts or basketball over ballet will make them any less of a girl.

Daddy-daughter time: Actor Hugh Jackman holds Ava. Pic: AP Photo/Evan Agostini. Source: AP

2. A woman dresses how she wants.

There is a running theme that little girls need to wear little pink princess dresses and that grown women are responsible for being raped when they dress with less than head to toe coverage. I could not disagree more. A woman's self image and body image can be heavily dependent on how her father treated her, which means fathers have the opportunity to instil confidence in their daughters.

Are you always telling them to cover up? Shaming them for not wanting to wear a diaper or underwear when they are still only 3 or 4, or 5 years old? Referring to their body or body parts in derogatory ways? This of course will vary heavily as they age, but like all things, it starts when they are young.

One week my daughter loved dressing like Tinkerbell and the next week she had to be Captain Hook, with her attempt at a deeper voice and everything. How she dressed, and how women dress, doesn't make them less female or sexually inappropriate. They are people with every right to be who they are without our attendant judgments.

Being her own person: David Beckham takes a photo in the front row before the Victoria Beckham show but his daughter has other things on her mind. Pic: AP Photo/Jocelyn Noveck. Source: AP

3. A woman is never a slut.

If a woman chooses to have sex with someone, or several someones, how does this lower her social standing, while the men who sleep around move up the ladder? And what right does anyone have to judge her for her sexual choices? None.

Sex is a personal matter, and who and when a woman decides to sleep with is her business and hers alone. Sex is not something to be used to gain status, power, control or self-respect; neither should it be something we judge anyone for having or not having.

The concept of a slut is a mental projection men have about sexual control. Some men want control over women, and when they lose that control, their reaction is to try to shame them. She's a slut, she sleeps around, she does this, that, and the other — when in fact she's asserting her independence and freedom of choice. The issue resides within. Insecure men project their own insecurities on women.

Your daughter's self-concept — and whether she will grow up feeling confident or shameful starts at home. How do daughters see women as a whole and themselves? To a large degree through their father's eyes. Is Daddy slut shaming? Is Daddy hanging up naked women in the garage? Do we teach our daughters that wearing less clothing is rewarded with male attention, and that being who they are leads to rejection? Would you let your daughter date someone like you?

Raising the nation: Prime Minister Tony Abbott with daughters Francis and Bridget. Picture: Ruttyn Sam Source: News Limited

4. A woman has a voice.

Like the little girl in the opening of this article, women have a voice — their own opinions, their likes and dislikes. Respect them. Your daughters' voices do not need to be a reflection of you (that's about your ego); they need to be a reflection of themselves (that's about their healthy development). Our daughters need no more protection than our sons. But they do need direction. And they need to know their voice is theirs, and that their opinions, beliefs, doubts, and preferences are valid and acceptable to express.

When you tell a child they are wrong and that they need to do this or that instead, they begin to doubt their own opinions and self-worth. Our daughters have the right to grow up free from our judgments and biases. By respecting them when they're young, you'll show them that their voices as girls and the voice they will have as adults carry just as much weight as any man's. Our girls need to be valued for who they are, not who we think they should be.

As a father to daughters and a husband to a wife, I have come to learn one thing; far more often than not, it is they who are teaching me.

A woman is whoever she wants to be.

This story was courtesy of The Good Men Project.

Women and men around the globe marched Sunday to demand equality for the gender that is traditionally paid less for work and has a smaller voice in policy decisions. Photo: Getty Images

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Do we need daylight savings?

Daylight saving begins tomorrow in NSW, Vic, SA, Tas, the ACT when clocks go forward one hour at 2am.

Sunsets like this at 7PM is certainly a perk of daylight savings. Source: News Limited

YOU forgot to change the time, your alarm goes off and you're late for work. You've missed an hour's sleep that your brain thinks you should have had and everything just sucks. But do we need all this?

Firstly, make sure you remember that daylight savings swaps over at 3am overnight (Saturday night/Sunday morning). It will also go backwards. So this is the change where you actually get an hour extra in your day.

Your smartphone won't need to be adjusted to get the right time either. So don't worry about frantically messaging your friends in the morning to work out what the time is. Your phone will be right.

So why do we have daylight savings?

The idea itself is almost 250 years old, reportedly suggested by Benjamin Franklin himself. However, it wasn't introduced until World War I by the Germans to save coal during the war. During both the first and second World War all Australian states had daylight savings. We then picked up daylight savings permanently in 1968 in Tasmania and 1971 in the rest of the country, minus Queensland and Western Australia.

For years now though, experts have said that daylight savings doesn't save money or energy. The idea that it does save energy stems from the assumption that lighter evenings mean that there will be a lower demand for artificial light and electricity.

An American study in 2008 found that while lighting demand did in fact drop, the extra warmer hour of sunlight in the evening resulted in people using their air conditioning more. That not only equalled the amount of energy used without daylight savings, but exceeded it.

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Australia watches the lunar eclipse

File picture of a blood moon, created by the full moon passing into the shadow of the earth during a total lunar eclipsePic: AP/ Nick Ut Source: AP

AMATEUR astronomers and recreational stargazers across the nation are currently witnessing the shortest total eclipse of the moon of the 21st century.

Bad weather has hindered visibility in some parts of the country, with Sydney and Queensland experiencing heavy rainfall and cloudy conditions on Saturday.

But some were lucky to get a clear sky tonight.

A lunar eclipse happens when the moon — slowly moving in its orbit around the Earth — goes into the Earth's shadow.

Sometimes it goes through merely the outside, fainter part of the shadow (the penumbra), and we get only a partial eclipse. But if it goes right through the middle (the umbra), it will be a total lunar eclipse (with partial phases before and after totality).

For a typical lunar eclipse, totality — when the moon is completely immersed in the Earth's shadow — can last for an hour or more. But for tonight's eclipse it will be only about five minutes long (although some experts suggest it will last between seven and 12 minutes; for all sorts of reasons, it's an inexact science).

This is because the moon will only just cut into the deeper part of the shadow.

In fact, this will be the shortest lunar totality for almost 500 years — you have to go all the way back to 1529, when totality lasted for a little less than two minutes.

With longer total lunar eclipses, the moon tends to go a red colour instead of completely black. This is because even though the bulk of the Sun's light is blocked by the Earth, some wavelengths manage sneak through our atmosphere and get bent, or refracted, onto the moon.

But that probably won't happen with tonight's eclipse, as it will all be over and done with too quickly.

WHEN AND WHERE TO SEE IT

The great thing about lunar eclipses is that they can be seen from anywhere on the side of the Earth that's facing the moon at the time — unlike a solar eclipse, where you have to be in exactly the right spot to see it.

So weather permitting, everyone in eastern and Central Australia will be able to see the whole thing tonight from start to finish.

For those in WA, the moon will still be below the horizon as the initial partial phase begins, but it will soon rise and will be nice and high in the sky by the time totality occurs.

Here are the timings for the capital cities (including daylight savings where applicable):

NSW, ACT, VIC and TAS

Start of the partial phase: 9:16pm

Start of totality: 10:58pm

End of totality: 11:03pm

End of the partial phase: 12:45am (Sunday)

QLD

Start of the partial phase: 8:16pm

Start of totality: 9:58pm

End of totality: 10:03pm

End of the partial phase: 11:45pm

SA

Start of the partial phase: 8:46pm

Start of totality: 10:28pm

End of totality: 10:33pm

End of the partial phase: 12:15am (Sunday)

NT 

Start of the partial phase: 7:46pm

Start of totality: 9:28pm

End of totality: 9:33pm

End of the partial phase: 11:15pm

WA

Start of the partial phase: 6:16pm

Start of totality: 7:58pm

End of totality: 8:03pm

End of the partial phase: 9:45pm

How to watch the eclipse

The other great thing about a lunar eclipse is that it is perfectly safe to watch it (unlike a solar eclipse) and you don't need any fancy gear — your own eyeballs are quite sufficient.

However, if you do have a pair of binoculars or a small telescope, take a look and compare the parts of the moon that are in shadow with the parts that are not.

This will be the only eclipse for Australia this year. So if you have clear skies, make sure you go out and take in this natural spectacle while you have the chance. As I'm fond of saying, it's free night-time entertainment, courtesy of nature!

*Jonathan Nally has been a space writer for 30 years, and appears regularly on the Today Show on Channel 9. His web site is SpaceInfo.com.au

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Warner shares ‘last night before husband and wife’

Candice Falzon has produced a modern day equivalent of the 80s mix-tape for her beau David Warner with Flipogram.

Candice Falzon and Dave Warner will be married tomorrow. Source: News Corp Australia

DAVID Warner and Candice Falzon have retreated to a rural NSW town ahead of their surprise wedding tomorrow, but the snap-happy couple couldn't wait to share the news.

The Australian cricketer will tomorrow marry his ironwoman fiance and mother to their seven-month-old daughter Ivy Mae.

After sharing a photo taken at the local pub with "my new father-in-law", the proud husband-to-be took to Instagram to share a shot of the couple.

"Last night before we are husband and wife, can't wait for the big day," he wrote.

Warner also confirmed Candice would soon share the same name as the batsman and their daughter, tagging Ms Falzon in the picture and adding: "soon to be Warner".

The couple has been together 18 months since they met in 2013.

Warner, 28, revealed in an interview last month that after just six months of dating he knew the 30-year-old had become the person he could spend the rest of his life with after previously thinking he would never wed.

"I'm just grateful for that opportunity to actually have Candice in my life, to be able to ask her," he told 60 Minutes.

"I never thought I'd get on one knee to anyone really."

"I honestly never thought I would have kids or get married," Falzon added.

"For me, meeting David just changed everything."

Candice Falzon, baby Ivy Mae and David Warner will all share the same surname. Source: Getty Images

According to the Daily Telegraph, the pair have spent the day entertaining family and friends in the small farming town they have taken over for a weekend of wedding festivities.

The couple have reportedly granted a women's magazine coverage of their wedding for up to $500,000.

The couple have reportedly made a deal with a woman's magazine. Source: News Corp Australia

Originally published as Warner shares 'last night before husband and wife'

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Officials hurt dodging bottles in fan attack

NRL: Ugly scenes as two referees were hit by bottles and other projectiles as they attempted to leave the field following a controversial match between the Bulldogs and South Sydney.

Referees duck for cover as an official is taken to hospital. Source: Channel 9

THE New South Wales police say they have identified two people for "allegedly throwing bottles" at NRL referees and officials following Canterbury's controversial loss to South Sydney on Friday.

An ambulance had to be called after Bulldogs fans pelted the match officials with projectiles which resulted in an official being taken to hospital.

"Reports a referee was hit by a bottle while leaving the field at Stadium Australia are incorrect," a police statement said.

"The match official was avoiding a bottle which had been thrown from the crowd when he slipped.

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"He was assisted to his feet and moved to the officials room. A second official sustained a shoulder injury after falling.

"Inquiries are continuing to verify the circumstances leading up to the official being injured."

Reports on social media emerged that there was fighting in the stands between Bulldogs and Rabbitohs fans which the police are investigating.

"Two people were arrested for assault – one of these was for domestic violence offences," Police said.

Officials duck as they leave the ground. Source: Channel 9

"In the second matter, a man is assisting with inquiries in relation to the alleged assault of another male. That person was taken to hospital further assessment."

The NRL has already begun investigating the fans responsible for throwing objects and Bulldogs boss Raelene Castle has reportedly apologised to officials Gavin Morris and Gerard Sutton, labelling the action from the unruly fans as "unacceptable".

Respected league journalist Steve Mascord has reported interchange official Darren Alchin was taken to hospital in an ambulance after being struck by an object thrown from the crowd.

Alchin has reportedly suffered a broken collarbone.

The incident broke out at the conclusion of the Rabbitohs 18-17 victory at ANZ Stadium.

It is almost certain that the NRL will hand down lifetime bans to the fans responsible for throwing objects.

Bulldogs coach Des Hasler stressed the actions of a few supporters is not supported by the club and promised an incident like that would not happen again.

"I want to offer an apology on behalf of the club," Hasler said after the match.

NRL: South Sydney have beaten Canterbury in a replay of last year's grand final, but the talking point for days to come will be the final minutes, where another highly controversial refereeing decision, handed South Sydney the points.

"I've been to see the referee official who was struck by a projectile. He is ok. That is not us. That is not what this club is about and not what sport in this country is about.

"Unfortunately the behaviour of a few can spoil it for everybody.

"On behalf of the players and officials and everyone involved with the club, our sincerest apologies and it won't happen again."

A referee ducks for cover. Source: Channel 9

Referee Gerard Sutton penalised James Graham for attacking the legs of Adam Reynolds which gifted South Sydney a shot at goal and ultimately the match.

Graham was committed to making the tackle which saw him wipe out the Rabbitohs halfback after he attempted a drop goal.

Social media went into meltdown after the match with a host of high-profile players and experts voicing their opinions.

NRL: Des Hasler apologises on behalf of the Bulldogs to the referee who was struck by a projectile at the end of the match between Canterbury and South Sydney.

Courier Mail journalist Todd Balym says according to the rule book, the officials made the correct decision.

Fox Sports journalist Steve Hart has also jumped to the defence of the referees.

However, Sydney Roosters fullback Roger Tuivasa- Sheck was left gobsmacked by the official's decision.

Australian cricketer David Warner, a Roosters fan, was furious with the decision.

Former Bulldogs winger Steve Turner was lost for words.

Former Dragons and Tigers halfback Mathew Head labelled the decision "poor".

Injured Penrith star Jamie Soward was left in shock after the game.

Premiership winning winger Lote Tuqiri kept his thoughts simple.

Penrith legend Mark Geyer did the same.

Roosters five-eighth James Maloney was left doubfounded by the incident.

South Sydney great Mario Fenech was disappointed by the behaviour of some of the fans.

What did you make of the decision?

Was it the right decision to penalise James Graham?

Originally published as Officials hurt dodging bottles in fan attack

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Commando’s awkward moment with Michelle

The Commando appeared on Channtel

Commando Steve forgot the name of girlfriend Michelle Bridges' book. Source: Supplied

COMMANDO Steve might be spending a night or two on the couch.

He stepped in it big time when he appeared on Thursday night's The Project to promote his new fitness book, Get Commando Fit.

During the interview, co-host Joel Creasey brought up the fact that The Commando's girlfriend, celebrity trainer Michelle Bridges, also recently released a fitness book.

Things got awkward when Joel pulled Michelle's book out. Source: Supplied

When asked if there was any rivalry between the two, Commando Steve joked, "That's the whole point of writing a book, isn't it?"

Things got awkward when Joel pulled out a copy of Michelle's book and asked The Commando if he knew the title.

After a brief pause and a blank stare, he smirked sheepishly and replied: "Umm, no".

Commando Steve might be spending the night on the couch. Source: Supplied

The rest of the panel erupted.

"I'm sorry," he laughed as Joel whispered the title to him.

In case you're wondering, the book's called Powerful Living.

You might want to write that down, Commando.

Join in the conversation and get the latest entertainment news on our Facebook page.

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Woman ‘attacked’ Maccas staff over chips

Amy Johnson pictured outside Newtown Court today, where she pleaded not guilty to assaulting a 16-year-old McDonald's worker at Stanmore. Picture: John Grainger Source: News Corp Australia

• Alleged assault took place at Stanmore McDonald's
• 38-year-old became involved in a row at drive-thru window
• 'Threw chips at attendant, parked car and went into restaurant'

A WOMAN charged with assaulting two McDonald's employees because they didn't replace her chips quickly enough says she wished she "cooked at home" that night.

Amy Elizabeth Johnson, 38, was on a family trip to Stanmore McDonald's three weeks ago when she allegedly lashed out at two workers because she was unsatisfied with her fries.

Johnson was going through the drive thru about 6.10pm on March 17 when she threw her bag of food back at the 16-year-old attendant and demanded they be replaced.

Amy Johnson allegedly lashed out at two workers because she was dissatisfied with her fries.Picture: John Grainger Source: News Corp Australia

After being directed by the girl to park in a waiting bay, police allege she then walked inside, became aggressive and attacked the pair, grabbing the teenager by the neck, scratching her face and the hand of a manager who tried to intervene.

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Johnson was arrested at the scene and charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm and common assault.

She appeared at Newtown Local Court this morning to face the charges and stayed silent throughout proceedings as her Legal Aid lawyer requested an adjournment.

Amy Johnson claims she was called 'animal' and 'dog'. Picture: John Grainger Source: News Corp Australia

French fries sparked the fracas. Source: News Limited

Speaking outside court, Johnson said it "was ridiculous" that she had been charged, saying "I should have cooked at home instead of going to McDonald's".

Johnson said she had been in the drive-thru with her children when she was handed a bag of chips which were not in their containers, and was angered by the attendant's response to her complaint.

"She was angry and she put her hands in the bag, no gloves or nothing, picked up the chips, shoved them in the boxes and gave back the bags. And that's when we got angry and we threw the bag back and said 'make us new chips because you've touched them with your hands'," she said.

Johnson described how after becoming impatient she walked inside and reiterated her demand, but felt her pleas were being ignored.

The incident began in the drive thru at Stanmore McDonald's. Picture: Chris Pavlich Source: News Limited

"I think there's no customer service, I just kept telling her 'I want my chips, I want my chips' and she just kept arguing with me and arguing with me. There's no ... we'd given our money, I just want my chips, I want my food and I want to go but she just kept going and going and going."

Johnson, who said she had been a regular at the McDonald's, has not returned since.

"I hate Stanmore McDonald's, that's the worst McDonald's everywhere."

Johnson did not enter a plea and will next appear before the same court on May 28.

Originally published as Woman 'attacked' Maccas staff over chips

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Not your average politician

Adrian Hyyrylainen-Trett has a renewed outlook on life. Source: Twitter

IF YOU'RE the kind of person who doesn't like the sight of politicians, maybe this guy will change your mind.

Adrian Hyyrylainen-Trett, 36, has an incredible story. He is the first parliamentary candidate in the UK to run while openly admitting to being HIV positive. Almost unbelievably, he says he contracted the disease on purpose — in a desperate attempt at suicide.

The misguided attempt of self harm was a result of years of physical and psychological bullying that occurred during his school years, because he was gay.

In a candid interview with Buzzfeed's LBGT editor, Patrick Strudwick, Mr. Hyyrylainen-Trett explained how he was looking for a way out.

"I didn't really want HIV," he said. "I wanted annihilation of me."

In his adult life, the suicidal thoughts returned and during this time he embarked on intentionally careless drug fuelled escapades of unprotected sex with strange men.

"It was my own fault, I was looking for it," he said in the interview.

Adrian Hyyrylainen-Trett is lucky to be here, and now he is running for parliament. Source: Twitter

Fortunately, Mr. Hyyrylainen-Trett never found the permanent escape he was looking for and has since turned over a new leaf.

His personal tribulations have provided the impetus for his political ambitions and Mr. Hyyrylainen-Trett is hoping to make waves with his parliamentary bid.

He says he feels like he owes the community to talk about his experiences and the issues of mental health, homophobia and drug use that led him to almost take his life on a number of occasions.

It is easy to become disenchanted with politics as professional spin doctors tow the party line, stick to the talking point and rarely break the mould. But Mr. Hyyrylainen-Trett is not one of those politicians.

And while his campaign has received praise for its bravery from the likes of Elton John, his candidacy is sure to appeal to those who are tired of the same old political game.

For the moment, he has won himself some fans.

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Viral videos you didn’t realise were ads

It took weeks for anyone to realise 'First Kiss' was actually an ad. Source: YouTube

If you think of YouTube hits you probably think of home movies like Charley bit my finger — again with over 800 million views or David After Dentist with over 128 million views. It would be fair to say that most viral videos are genuine. However, there are many that are actually very clever ads and we don't even know it.

Creating a viral video is like trying to catch lightening in a bottle. But this hasn't stopped thousands of big name brands making videos with that goal in mind. And while a select few have gone viral, the rest are languishing somewhere in the darkest corner of YouTube reserved for failed attempts.

'First Kiss' is the most successful viral ad in the history of the internet. This black and white 'short film' features 10 pairs of strangers who kiss for the first time. For weeks no one guessed it was actually an ad.

It was released in March 2014, instantly went viral and a year later has over 100 million YouTube views. It was created by a small clothing company, Wren, who claim they never meant to trick people. Nevertheless, they had all of the internet fooled.

The most viewed Aussie viral video, with over 15 million views, is 'It's time — Marriage Equality' by Get Up Australia. It's more of an emotional journey than an ad, but that is exactly what it is. It's what marketers call 'branded content', where ads are disguised as entertainment.

Thai mobile phone company, TrueMove H, created a mobile video called 'Giving' that went viral in 2013. With over 18 million YouTube views many have happily watched this incredibly powerful short film without the slightest question of it being an ad. Its true that the logo at the end gives it away but apart from that, it is pure story telling. Try and watch this without crying. Impossible.

Budweiser's, #bestbuds series is going from strength to strength with the 2015 Super Bowl ad Lost Dog tallying up 28 million YouTube views in just a couple of months. The unique way that Budweiser creates an entertaining story that has nothing to do with beer is the secret to its ongoing success.

The other videos in the series are well worth watching as well, especially if you like dogs and carthorses — best buds, get it?

In late 2013, US restaurant chain Chipotle released an app-based game 'The Scarecrow' and accompanied it with a powerful and controversial animated video that has over 14 million views.

Again its success comes from the story it tells and the emotions it stirs while the brand largely remains in the background. It is an ad but you wouldn't guess it.

The most successful motor industry video ever is by the brand known for safety — Volvo. 'The Epic Split feat. Van Damme' now has over 78 million YouTube views. And while this video is more overtly an ad than the others, the main focus is on Van Damme and his incredible abilities. A must watch for Van Damme fans!

While YouTube continues to be the leading video platform there are now more contenders for the title than ever before. In 2014 Facebook stepped up and fired a shot across the bow with its new video features. How many times a day do you watch a video on Facebook because it simple starts playing in your news feed? Not to mention other new platforms like Vine and Instagram. Mobile video killed the TV star anyone?

You can certainly look forward to more brands creating high quality content for your enjoyment. But don't be fooled! Remember that at the end of the day these viral videos are just ads … extremely popular online ads.

Marcus Seeger is the author of "Video Marketing for Profit" and managing director of Video Experts.

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