Mum speaks on trans teen’s death

We won't forget you Leelah ... advocates and celebrities are pushing for new laws to help transgender kids. Picture: Supplied. Source: Supplied

THE mum of a transgender teen who killed herself says she did not support her "choice" on religious grounds but claims she loved her "unconditionally".

As advocates and celebrities started a petition to ban transgender conversion therapy, Leelah Alcorn's mother, Carla, broke her silence on her daughter's death.

Speaking to CNN, Carla Alcorn of Ohio would only refer to her daughter by the name "Josh".

Mum speaks out ... Carla Alcorn would only use the name "Josh" and "my son" when talking about her transgender daughter. Picture: Supplied. Source: Supplied

Earlier this week Leelah, 16, walked in front of a tractor trailer, leaving behind a heartbreaking suicide note on her Tumblr account in which she blamed her Christian parents, Carla and Doug, for not supporting her to transition into a woman and for making her undergo gay conversion therapy.

"If you are reading this, parents, please don't tell this to your kids. Even if you are Christian or are against transgender people don't ever say that to someone, especially your kid. That won't do anything but make them hate them self. That's exactly what it did to me," Leelah wrote in the suicide note. "My death needs to mean something. My death needs to be counted in the number of transgender people who commit suicide this year. I want someone to look at that number and say "that's f***ed up" and fix it. Fix society. Please."

Leelah's parents ... Carla and Doug Alcorn. Picture: Supplied. Source: Supplied

Mrs Alcorn however says she still can't accept her transgender daughter.

"We don't support that, religiously," she told CNN. "But we told him that we loved him unconditionally. We loved him no matter what. I loved my son. People need to know that I loved him. He was a good kid, a good boy."

Mrs Alcorn said they haven't had a funeral service for Leelah because people have threatened to protest because they believe putting "Josh Alcorn" on a tombstone would be a final insult.

But Mrs Alcorn says the first she had ever heard the name 'Leelah' was in the suicide note.

"He never said that name before," she said.

Mrs Alcorn admits that Leelah had asked them about transition surgery but she said no because "we didn't have the money for anything like that".

The Transgender Human Rights Institute have started a petition on Change.org to 'call upon the President of the United State- Barack Obama, and the Leadership of the House and Senate to immediately seek a pathway for banning the practice known as 'transgender conversion therapy.'

That has been supported by celebrities including, Orange is the New Black's Laverne Cox, Grey's Anatomy star Sara Ramirez, Shameless's Emmy Rossum, transgender advocate Janet Mock and comedian Stephen Fry.

If you or someone you know is in need of crisis or suicide prevention support, please call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or visit www.lifeline.org.au/gethelp

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How baby boomers can cash in

David Koch outlines the main factors to consider when selecting the the right super fund for you.

Rex Whitford and wife Angela with their dog Jack at their home. Picture: Naomi Jellicoe Source: News Limited

THE last baby boomers turned 50 this week and many are facing an uncertain retirement on the financial front, but superannuation experts say they still have time to make a big difference.

Planned changes to age pension rules mean most of today's 50-year-olds won't be able to access the pension until 69 or 70, giving them two decades to take advantage of generous tax rules and incentives around super.

But baby boomers, born between 1946 and 1964, will have to overcome several obstacles including their own mindset, financial advisers say.

A couple needs about $510,000 of super and other money to enjoy a comfortable retirement partly funded by the age pension, according to the Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia. To be fully self-funded most would need at least twice that amount.

The latest ASFA data, based on 2012 figures, show the average super balance for Australians aged 50-54 is about $104,000, and the gap between men ($137,000) and women ($72,000) is wide.

However, the median super balance for the age group is just $47,000, meaning half the population has less than that.

Baby boomers have not benefited from a full working life of compulsory employer super payments, which only reached nine per cent in 2002 and 9.5 per cent last year. They were also hit hard by the global financial crisis because of their larger-than-average super balances, and face a tightening of pension rules and payments in coming years.

"If you are a tail-end baby boomer you are probably going to cop the raw end of the pineapple, but you still have plenty of time," financial strategist Theo Marinis said.

Still time ... Theo Marinis, principal of Marinis Financial Group offers his advice. Source: News Limited

He said many baby boomers suffered from "the inertia effect" and put off planning their retirement because they did not think they were in a good financial position.

"Many people think they can't afford to retire but most people can. You might be surprised to find you are not is as bad a position as you think you are. If you are 20 years from retirement there is plenty of time to make a massive difference.

"Your 50s tend to be your peak earning years. The kids are gone or are not as big a financial hassle."

Mr Marinis said the key was to start making extra deposits into super as soon as possible to benefit from 10 or 20 years of compounding investment returns.

"Review what you are paying in fees. If you are paying too much in fees you don't get to keep as much super, and there are plenty of lower cost options out there. See a good adviser who can help with these things."

ASFA chief executive Pauline Vamos said super offered lower tax rates for money going in, lower tax on earnings in super, and low or zero tax on money coming out.

"The bottom line is that the taxation around superannuation is still the best game in town by far," she said.

Financially fit ... CEO of the Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia, Pauline Vamos, suggests looking closely at salary sacrificing. Source: News Corp Australia

Ms Vamos said a late burst of money into super in your 50s would help you get financially fit for retirement.

"Look at how you can salary sacrifice into super," she said.

"Check your insurance cover. Once you are over 50 your premiums go up, so do you need that much insurance?"

Rex Whitford, 50, ended a 20-year navy career in 2001 and became a financial planner.

"I had some rather bad advice myself when I was in the navy and thought I could have done a better job than that bloke," he said.

Mr Whitford said at 50, retirement was not as far away as he would like to think it was. "I do want to make hay while I have got the opportunity. I feel the shadow of inevitable retirement is closing in. I'm confident but I'm also cautious."

Confident but cautious ... Rex Whitford and wife Angela with their dog Jack. Picture: Naomi Jellicoe Source: News Limited

He said many baby boomers believed they would have to work for another 20 years. "I think baby boomers are some of the worst prepared for retirement, sadly. They have chosen today's lifestyle over retirement.

"The need for instant gratification is some people's worst enemy. You can retire at any time you want to as long as you can afford to retire."

People should also try to save money outside the super environment to have financial flexibility, and should look at restructuring their personal insurance as death cover became less important but disability cover more important.

"At age 50, now is the time when things can start to go wrong, said Mr Whitford, the principal of Wealth For Life Financial Planning.

He said it was important to include spouses in retirement planning. "Bring them on the journey with you — you have got to have a consensus," he said.

"And don't invest too conservatively. The greatest risk is that they are not aggressive enough."

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Will the world beat Islamic State?

An Australian Islamic extremist killed fighting for Islamic State in Syria has been praised by friends.

Militants of Islamic State stand just before explosion of an air strike on Tilsehir hill near Turkish border. Source: AFP

THE Islamic State is holding firm after months of Coalition airstrikes. Paul Toohey examines whether more is needed to break the murderous insurgency.

It is too soon to declare the air strikes against the Islamic State a failure, but if victory appears distant, there may be good reason for it: this is one of the mildest air campaigns unleashed in modern warfare.

In Libya, in 2011, NATO air forces hit the Gaddafi regime with 21,000 sorties and almost 8000 missile strikes in five months.

In Syria and Iraq, to this point, after five months of bombing raids, there have only been around 1200 missile strikes. That is about the same amount NATO dropped on Bosnia in 21 days of intense strikes in 1995.

For its part, as of December 20, Australia had undertaken 180 sorties and deployed 113 bombs over three months.

COMMENT: Australian Major General Jim Molan (ret) says we haven't failed yet

UNDER THREAT: Australian IS recruits could be hanged

IS JIHADIST: Gives away his location on Twitter

Islamic State member ... Australian-born "Terror Nine" member Khaled Sharrouf who slipped out of the country unnoticed on his brother's passport. Source: Supplied

"In Gulf War number one, they did that in the first two minutes," says retired Air Commodore Mark Lax, a former RAAF F-111 pilot, base commander and, later, high-level defence policy strategist.

"It depends on the effort you put in. The US-led Coalition is taking this bit-by-bit, rather than going like a bull at a gate. They don't want boots on the ground because of the casualty rate, yet they want to be seen to be doing something through strikes on storage and ammo depots while avoiding civilian casualties.

"These guys (ISIL) are not in mass formations, they are ragtag bands. It's not force-on-force. You can't drop 500lb bombs on ones and twos. It's a matter of containment."

Giving insight ... Air Commodore Mark Lax, a member of the Australian Government Defence Honours and Awards Appeals Tribunal. Source: News Limited

Yet containment is not necessarily the first step to victory.

The case in point is Kobane, the Syrian town on the Turkish border that was invaded by ISIL in October. It has received more air-strike attention than any other location in Syria or Iraq, having been pounded by more than 400 missiles.

Yet ISIL remains embedded in Kobane.

Destroying cities ... an explosion rocks Syrian city of Kobane during a reported suicide car bomb attack by the militants of Islamic State. Picture: Getty Images Source: Getty Images

So far, public sentiment among participating nations has not revealed any great impatience with the way the war is being fought.

Apart from the untold number of deaths of Iraqi, Kurdish and Syrian opponents, and the staged executions of ISIL-held hostages, there has been a negligible death toll among forces fighting from high in the air.

Heinous crimes ... David Haines, who was beheaded by an Islamic State fighter in Syria. Source: Supplied

Added to this, foreign forces are also located in bases or on ships far from the battle lines. While pilots take serious risks, as demonstrated by the Jordanian captured by ISIL last week, this Middle Eastern deployment does not give rise to the kind of public unease that comes with large-scale ground combat missions.

Citizens of cities thousands of kilometres from Iraq or Syria are more likely concerned about the unknowns among us committing murderous, attention-seeking stunts.

The war was never designed as a classic military operation, with jets attacking in waves followed immediately by ground forces. The strikes are designed to hold the spread of ISIL while Iraqi and Kurdish troops get organised.

Recruits ... Ginger Jihadi Abdullah Elmir in an Islamic State video. Source: YouTube

And there have been some successes. In the days before Christmas, Australian F/A-18F Super Hornets acted in concert with jets from other nations and advancing Kurdish ground forces with strikes on ISIL positions in the Mount Sinjar region, where thousands of Yezidi people have remained trapped for months.

This humanitarian intervention gave people a brief window to flee, yet it did not fully dislodge ISIL. Wherever it is hit, it reforms and moves elsewhere. Or it just stays put and sees it out, as it is doing in Kobane.

Leaders warned from the start it would take months, not weeks, but at the current rate it could take years, if unequivocal success comes at all.

Wreaking havoc ... Abdullah Elmir, a 17-year-old man who told his family that he was going on a fishing trip with a friend before leaving Australia to join the Islamic State. Source: Supplied

Major General John Cantwell, who led Australia's Middle Eastern and Afghanistan operations up until he left the military in 2011, says Iraq and the world should have been paying closer attention when ISIL stormed out of Syria earlier this year.

"When one thinks of the hideous expenditure of lives, limbs and money to try to build a secure Iraq, it is deeply disappointing to find that Iraq's politicians and its huge military machine were incapable of containing a bunch of reasonably well-organised thugs," says Cantwell.

"There is no doubt that Coalition air strikes have reduced the ability of ISIL extremists to move freely and carry out large-scale operations, but they've come a bit late.

"If the international community had reacted more quickly to the advance of ISIL across northern Iraq, the use of overwhelming air power might have proved decisive while ISIL forces were in the open and vulnerable to attack.

"Now we have a situation where ISIL targets are few and fleeting."

Coalition strikes ... an explosion rocks the Syrian city of Kobane during an airstrike led by the US. Picture: Getty Images Source: Getty Images

Cantwell says the air attacks have reduced ISIL boldness and given some opportunity for Iraqi and Kurdish troops to regain control. But they're not great soldiers.

"Given the poor track record of the local troops and their largely incompetent senior commanders, this is likely to take a very long time," says Cantwell.

"The question is how long the international community is prepared to wait for the Iraqi government and security forces to get their act together, while maintaining air forces in the region.

"The consensus remains that it is in our interests to reduce the threat to international security posed by ISIL; (but) it seems we are in for yet another drawn out struggle with few winners."

Being frank ... Former Commander of Australian forces in Afghanistan, Major General (ret) John Cantwell. Source: News Corp Australia

Maps depicting the current ISIL strongholds in Iraq are remarkable for the fact they follow no clean battleline logic: they are all over the country, beneath, adjacent to or above so-called Iraqi and Kurdish strongholds.

The US-led Coalition appears to lack the flow of reliable intelligence to bombard supply routes; and it is clear that ISIL is being assisted from within Iraq by Sunni extremists.

And this is without considering what is happening in Syria, from where the ISIL creature declared its caliphate in July.

According to the US-based Institute for the Study of War (ISW), the Coalition has vastly underrated ISIL's temporary partner in Syria, the al Qaeda-aligned Jabhat al-Nusra.

The ISW warned in a December report that Jabhat al-Nusra, or JN, was "no less dangerous than ISIL" and had quickly "developed into a serious and expanding threat both to the West and to the future of Syria".

JN is affiliated with the Khorosan group, which is pursuing worldwide global terror ambitions on behalf of al Qaeda.

Australia joins the US ... a Royal Australian Air Force pilot with a F/A18 Super Hornet in an undisclosed base in the Middle East. Picture: Gary Ramage Source: News Corp Australia

JN shares with the ISIL ambition of creating a caliphate, but its strategy is to attack the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, using highly effective squads of rebel fighters.

So far, JN and ISIL tolerate each other because their enemies are mutual. But JN is playing a clever game, winning the hearts and minds of Syrians who like neither ISIL nor the Coalition.

While all attention has been on ISIL, JN is positioning itself for what it hopes will become, after the inevitable fall of Assad, both a caliphate and the world's first al Qaeda-run country.

Making headway ...an explosion following an air-strike in the Syrian town of Kobani from near the Mursitpinar border crossing on the Turkish-Syrian border. Picture: Kutluhan Cucel/Getty Images Source: Getty Images

"JN is engaged in a nuanced and carefully formulated state-building effort in Syria that is targeted to secure the long-term establishment of Sharia law in a post-Assad state," says the ISW.

It warns that to be effective in the region, the US-led Coalition "must neutralize JN's campaign to influence the population. This requires engagement with opposition forces, not simply air strikes against JN."

That means boots on the ground, foremost in Syria, to take out ISIL, JN and, indeed, whatever is left of the government of Assad. Many argued this was what US President Barack Obama should have done two years ago.

If ground troops were to storm Syria and cut ISIL and JN off at the head, this would give Iraq its best chance of destroying the remains of ISIL within Iraq.

A convoy of vehicles and fighters from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant fighters in Iraq's Anbar Province. Source: AP

But with no plans by the US to throw its troops into another ground war, and Turkey standing back, the policy of slow containment from the air will continue, even if there is as yet no hint of a clear result; and no clue as to where it might come from.

"You can't have a conventional war on one side and a guerilla war on the other," says Mark Lax. "How do you resolve that? I would think they will need boots."

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The impossible pic you have to see

Is this the impossible picture? Source: imgur Source: Reddit

IT'S the real-life photo that could be straight out of an Escher impossible picture sketch.

How did these tyre marks get over the top of that pole?

Reddit user brookstaylorh posted this picture taken in Odessa of vehicle marks in snow which appear to go straight through a sign.

As a result the post was flooded with hundreds of comments on how it could have happened.

But brookstaylorh claims the picture is legitimate and not photoshopped.

"This was taken in Odessa, Texas, a place that doesn't get much snow, so snow specific vehicles probably aren't the culprit.

"I know there is doubt, but this is a legitimate picture, and I was just curious as to how it happened.

"I figured the sign was placed after the vehicle went through, but that seems kind of random."

Is this the impossible picture? Source: imgur Source: Reddit

Some were quick to dismiss the picture as a fake, while others suggested it was a two-vehicle job.

User jiggy0422 threw out this suggestion:

"The tracks are from the truck that installed the sign.

"The sign was pounded in the ground from a worker in the bed of the truck. If you look closely you can see where the truck stopped momentarily for the worker to pound the sign into the ground."

What do you think? Is this photo possible? Leave your comment below.

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What to expect from this year

We'll be taking wellness breaks in Costa Rica and Mexico. Source: Supplied

YOU'LL be wearing latex and turtlenecks, eating Middle Eastern food and using on-demand services for everything.

This is what life will look like in 2015.

With the help of experts in travel, fashion, food, health, economics and technology, we bring you a sneak-peek at your future.

Get on top of these trends now and be ahead of the game on every front.

If you're sick of hauling chargers and battery packs around, you'll be pleased to see cordless charging spots appearing just about everywhere, according to Fortune.

Starbucks turned on 200 in Silicon Valley (they just require adaptors) and Marriott is testing charging stations at some of its hotels. Meanwhile Intel are developing pared-down charging products.

Smartwatches will become the hi-tech fashion accessory people actually wear. Source: Supplied

However much you try to resist, our phones are getting bigger, with tablet sales slowing down as mobile screens get bigger. Samsung started the trend with the 13.5cm display on its 2011 Galaxy Note, Apple joined the phablet party with its 5.5-inch iPhone 6 Plus, while Google and Nokia went one better with 6-inch offerings. Analysts predict the trend will continue.

The buzz around Google Glass has died down, and smartwatches could be the next big thing instead.

Offerings from Samsung, LG, Sony and Motorola have failed to capture the public imagination, but they are starting to look more streamlined, and trendsetting Apple releases its first version early next year.

Virtual reality could finally hit the mainstream as 3D graphics and sensor technology come down in price.

Sony's Project Morpheus, which will tie in with the PlayStation 4, and the pioneering Facebook-owned Oculus Rift will raise new possibilities for immersive gaming and entertainment.

We could also start seeing printed human organs, with scientists using "biological ink" from human cells with 3D printing tech to produce layers of tissue. A biotech firm has already started offering samples of 3D-printed liver tissue to researchers developing treatments and 3D-printed tissue could soon be grafted into live patients.

Bye-bye broadcast — we'll be using streaming services and watching TV via the internet. Source: AP

Robots with human characteristics could become more common. We've recently seen Amazon's Echo, which looks like a speaker but acts like Siri, as well as Jibo, the Pixar-like "family robot" which recognises people, holds conversations and issues reminders. In 2015, computers that learn (like Samantha from the movie Her) could bring your worst nightmares a little closer.

Despite the storm of controversy surrounding Uber, the taxi service app has accelerated its rollout across more Australian cities.

Its success has paved the way for more on-demand apps — with start-ups including Washio (on-demand laundry), Glam Squad (in-home hair and makeup), Instacart (groceries) and Push for Pizza.

Fortune says this instant gratification economy will only get bigger. Not-so-far-fetched ideas for 2015: on-demand tattoos, paternity tests and day-old bread.

YouTube stars are taking mainstream media by storm with top vloggers such as Zoella releasing books to rival JK Rowling's Harry Potter success and big names such as PewDiePie earning $4 million a year in sponsorships and ads.

Both latex and turtlenecks will be trends. Something for everyone. Source: Supplied

Television is going online, with Netflix set to launch in Australia in March and Foxtel already slashing subscription prices in anticipation. Channel Nine and Fairfax Media have announced their own service, called Stan, while Channel Seven is expected to reveal its plans soon. These are in addition to existing streaming services such as Presto, QuickFlix and EzyFlix. It's scary for the incumbents, but good news for Australians crying out for more choice.

Card-less payments and withdrawals haven't become everyday for most of us yet, but it isn't far off.

The rollout of Apple Pay will allow users to store credit card information on new iPhones and tap-and-pay at registers, using the fingerprint scanner for verification.

Deloitte research suggests only about a third of Australians are prepared to use their phone as a payment device at the moment, but analysts suggest this will grow.

And what will we be buying?

Bing Predictions has seen a major spike in interest in Middle Eastern food, from dishes people want to try at home to restaurants they plan to visit. Hummus, baklava and falafel are all top-rated foods.

Hipster junk food, including pizza, tacos and french fries, remain popular, but we might be cutting back on the pulled pork and burgers.

Serve up Middle Eastern food: slow cooked lamb, homemade hummus and tzatziki. Source: News Corp Australia

Beef and pork prices will continue to increase in 2015, after the price of bacon hit an all-time high in 2014. Aside from increased demand, a pig-killing virus and higher feed costs have been causing the hikes.

Chocolate, coffee and even olive oil could also face worldwide shortages after Brazil and Italy experienced droughts, and cocoa-producer West Africa was ravaged by Ebola and drought.

Foodies will keep sustainability and traceability high on the menu at wholefood-minded restaurants, as well as gourmet travel and home cooking.

As for the foodie buzzwords, Peruvian "pseudo-cereal" amaranth could steal quinoa's crown, while fibre-rich old favourite cauliflower will be substituted in for rice, pastry crusts and porridge. Matcha green tea and a fashion for fermenting will also be top trends.

"Wellness" holidays will become a top travel choice, with Mexico and Costa Rica rising stars for yoga, health and fitness trips, according to cheapflights.com.

Asian countries such as India, Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Korea will be popular for their reasonably priced retreats that offer spa treatments ranging from fish pedicures and python massages to butt facials and fat-transfer treatment.

You may be nervous, but credit cards could soon be a thing of the past. Source: Supplied

Fuel prices have been falling, but many airlines are still increasing their prices. "Airlines' skill at operating at full capacity will mean fewer flight bargains," Tim Leffel, author of The World's Cheapest Destinations, told DealNews.

There'll be more choice and personalisation, however, with airlines creating private pods in economy class for families and couples.

Hotels will become destinations in themselves, offering concierge services and more to distinguish them from peer-to-peer sites like AirBnB.

Bing Predictions shows that travel will become more about exploring hidden gems and small towns, while metropolitan meccas like New York and Los Angeles dip in popularity.

But on-the-go tech will offer opportunities to find "just-in-time" deals on arrival in a city, on everything from tours to hotels to meals.

Meanwhile, "Mom jeans" are going mainstream — a high-waisted, ankle-length, slightly tapered denim trouser currently popular with the likes of Miley Cyrus and Chloë Sevigny.

We'll also see 70s fashions make a comeback, withrelaxed boho dresses, fringing and bell-bottomed pants back in our lives.

Scientists will be using stem cells to print organs for research. Source: Supplied

Cleo magazine is predicting the following trends: femme suits, lace-up heels, Kim Kardashian-esque latex, normcore "sneans" (sneakers and jeans), gingham, colour-block shoes, boxy cropped shirts, quirky circular sunnies, suede, flowing capes and cobalt blue.

Bing says we can also expect more belted scarfs, utilitarian jackets and — horror of horrors — turtlenecks.

We might struggle to maintain this lifestyle financially, however, with Australia's economy likely to grow at an even slower pace in 2015, according to Westpac.

With the nation looking to transition from mining investment, bank believes annual growth will be markedly below trend until the middle of 2015 and that the Australian dollar will grow weaker.

It expects gross domestic product to grow by 2.7 per cent, slower than a previous forecast of 3.2 per cent.

Joe Hockey also faces challenges with the jobs market, after the Department of Employment's monthly vacancy index fell in November.

Hockey predicted in his budget update that the unemployment rate would rise further 0.2 per cent to 6.5 per cent by mid-2015.

With the Abbott Government set to review the tax system to help build a stronger economy, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has said it would make "sound economic sense" to make better use of the GST.

As for those born in 2015, demographer and social researcher Mark McCrindle told Kidspot: "Australians are moving away from fad-driven naming, such as creative spellings and borrowing names from popular movies and TV series. Parents are starting to look back into the past and choosing names that have substance."

Military, classical Australian and old-fashioned names will be popular. Think Lance, Byron and Joseph for boys, and Scout, Eden and Diana for girls.

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Family fails: This is how to win parenting

The Andersons: Lifting the lid on normal family life. Source: Supplied

MOTHERHOOD can be a stressful time for many people. Everything changes — your days, your nights, your routines.

But one young mum is taking it all in her stride. Her approach to her new life is not only refreshing, it's hilarious.

Esther Anderson, creator of the blog Story Of This Life, is 29, married to Thad, lives in Texas, and is a first-time mother to super-cute Ellia, who is the blog subject of her first-time parents.

Their honest, no-holds-barred approach has resulted in videos like "Why Co-Sleeping is No-Sleeping", which clocked up over 11 million views in just two weeks.

In the video, Esther films sleep-time with Ellia, complete with nose-picking, farting and a whole lot of squirming about.

"I set up a Facebook page as part of my blog, so I thought I'd make a video for it as a last minute thing," she told news.com.au.

"I thought I'd record my daughter slapping me in the face like she had that morning — she comes into bed with me for a couple of hours before her feed, because I love my sleep and it's easier having her close at that time of the morning.

"A lot of people started commenting on the video and sharing it. I didn't realise how many people sleep with their babies — and apparently this kind of thing is normal.

"The attention has been crazy, we weren't expecting the reaction that we got.

"It seems it's common for babies to abuse their parents!"

But co-sleeping is just one of the hilarious videos Esther and Thad have made. In another, Esther films herself doing housework.

"A month or two ago, I realised I was washing the same pile for the third time that week. And the saddest thing was, I wasn't even surprised.

"Often my husband will be like, 'Where's our laundry?', and I'll be like, 'Ohhhh I've been doing it all week, it's been so tough'. And he'll be like, 'So where is it?', and I'll realise it's still sitting in the tub.

"I've done the same thing with the dishwasher, and with that, I know if I stack and wash the dishes I have to take them out and put them back in their places. So I want to make it last as long as I can.

"I pretty much do all of the things shown in the video, except for sweeping things under the carpet," she laughs.

If Esther's embarrassed about sharing her "housewife fails" (her words), she's not showing it.

"I think we live in a generation where people are OK with admitting their mistakes and being vulnerable," she said.

"Being a stay-at-home mum or dad, it's a lot of work. But if you can have a little fun while you're doing it, then do.

"I'm not the type to be dusting and waxing my floors; I'd rather be talking with people and spending time with them. And that's OK.

"We like to be real, to tell things the way they are, and hope it resonates with people and they get a laugh out of it. I love it, and if other people do, that's a bonus."

Gorgeous: The Anderson family. Source: Supplied

Share your parenting tales in the comments section below

For more from Esther, visit www.storyofthislife.com/

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69 million reasons why Fed holds court

Roger Federer was the highest earner on the ATP circuit as well as winning the most matches in 2014. Source: News Corp Australia

ROGER Federer won more matches than anyone in men's tennis last year, and his $A69 million-a-year business machine tops everyone as well.

At the age of 33, Federer rose again to the world's No.2 ranking with his 73-12 win-loss record, while off the court blending a desire to maximise his opportunities with a demand for selective, blue-chip opportunities.

Federer, who arrives tomorrow for his second appearance at the Brisbane Internationalis coming to the end of his second year with their own management group, Team8.

US business magazine Forbes ranked Federer as the highest-earning tennis player in the 12 months to June 2014 with $69 million, mostly in endorsements, exhibitions and appearance fees.

Rafael Nadal ranked second with earnings of $54.5 million, with Novak Djokovic next at $40.4 million and Maria Sharapova fourth with $27.4 million.

Federer, the greatest winner of men's grand slam titles and career official prizemoney of $US108.5 million, has an endorsement portfolio which includes Nike, Rolex, Credit Suisse, Mercedes-Benz, Gillette and Moet and Chandon.

When Nadal pulled out through injury from the International Premier Tennis League exhibition series in Asia shortly before its maiden season this month, Federer's leverage was such he accepted a reported $5.7 million offer to play two nights for the Indian team.

Roger Federer makes his way on to court at the ATP World Tour Finals at the O2 Arena in London. Source: News Corp Australia

Federer's agent Tony Godsick worked with tennis players including Monica Seles and Anna Kournikova when he was with International Management Group and has represented Federer since 2005.

"I can sell Roger Federer really well, but nobody sells Roger better than Roger," Godsick told The New York Times.

"I always joke with him, 'Look, you've been really successful on the tennis court, but I promise you, you'll be more successful when you're done playing tennis'.''

Federer and Godwsick left IMG in 2012 and set up Team8.

One of the agency's backers is American Dirk Ziff, 50, who has estimated wealth of $5.5 billion from holdings in businesses including equities, debt, real estate, commodities and hedge funds.

Winners follow winners in business, as in sport.

While Federer is the main client, Team8 last year signed Grigor "Baby Federer'' Dimitrov and Juan Martin del Potro.

To Australian Open tournament director Craig Tiley, one of Federer's great traits he sees up close every Australian summer is his time management.

Aside from his sport and his business, Federer and his wife Mirka have two sets of twins younger than school age and they generally travel as a family from event to event.

Roger Federer shows off his majestic one-handed backhand. Source: Getty Images

"Roger has a remarkable discipline in time management and is an example to us all in that,'' Tiley said.

"(Godsick) does an excellent job behind the scenes, running the business. He's been the guy who helped Roger make his millions.

"I enjoy spending time with Roger because he is one of those who doesn't take, he gives.

"Unfortunately, tennis can encourage a lot of selfish behaviour. Thank God he is playing tennis. We want him to play as long as possible.''

Federer started last year in Brisbane and had his most wins in a season since 2006 and by June Brisbane tournament director Cameron Pearson had a firm belief he would return.

Tiley sees Federer's business interests in retirement being tennis-related.

"I think Roger will have a business where he runs events, he helps players and he will have his charity foundation,'' Tiley said.

"It will be interesting to see Roger's impact on the sport beyond retirement. He'd be a great commissioner of tennis, wouldn't he?,'' he said.

Originally published as 69 million reasons why Fed holds court

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Funeral held for AirAsia victim

The search resumes for the AirAsia plane wreck as coffins carrying the remains of more victims arrive at hospital for identification. Paul Chapman reports.

RELATIVES have held the first funeral for a victim of AirAsia Flight QZ8501 as bad weather hampered efforts to locate the wreckage of the plane which crashed in the sea off Borneo with 162 aboard.

Nine bodies have so far been retrieved in the search for the Airbus A320-200, which disappeared from radar during a storm on Sunday en route from Indonesia's second city of Surabaya to Singapore.

Search officials said the return of rough weather was hindering efforts to locate the plane and bodies.

"The problem we faced today is unfriendly weather conditions," search and rescue agency chief Bambang Soelistyo told reporters on Thursday. "The waves were between three and four metres."

Grief ... A coffin with the remains of crash victim Hayati Lutfiah is carried by security guards at her funeral in Surabaya. Picture: AFP Source: AFP

He said conditions were expected to remain bad for days to come.

"From tomorrow until the fourth, with the existing forces, calculations and tactics we have, we will still be fighting, but I hope we can still get some results despite having to face such conditions."

He said a National Transport Safety Committee team would leave on Friday to try to find the flight recorder.

French and Singaporean experts were also set to join the search for the black boxes, crucial to determining the cause of the crash.

Funeral for victim

The first funeral took place on Thursday after one of the bodies was formally identified as a woman named Hayati Lutfiah Hami, and was handed over to her family in Surabaya.

Hayati was travelling to Singapore with her 10-year-old daughter Naura Kanita Rosada Suseno, her husband Djoko Suseno and mother-in-law Soemanik Saeran.

The coffin was taken for burial at a Muslim cemetery nearby, with more than a hundred neighbours in attendance.

She was identified on Thursday "based on her finger prints and personal belongings", Disaster Victim Identification (DVI) East Java head Budiyono said.

The personal belongings were an identity card, a necklace and a bracelet with her name engraved on, as confirmed by the family members.

National Search And Rescue Agency personnel carry the body of a victim on board the ill-fated AirAsia Flight 8501, from a helicopter upon arrival at the airport in Pangkalan Bun, Indonesia. Picture: AP Source: AP

Mr Budiyono said a second body could not be identified at this time, because the data provided by family members did not match the victim.

"The only thing we can tell you is that he has long hair, a mole the size of 4mmx4mm on the left side of his upper lip and his height is around 145cm to 150cm," Mr Budiyono said.

As the search for bodies and wreckage from Flight QZ8501 resumed, air safety officials said it could take a week to find the black box flight recorders.

According to The Star Online, Toos Sanitiyoso, an air safety investigator with the National Committee for Transportation Safety, said he hoped the black box flight data and voice recorders could be found within a week, suggesting there was still doubt over the plane's location.

"The main thing is to find the main area of the wreckage and then the black box," he told reporters.

Crash theory

THE discovery of several fully clothed bodies from the crashed AirAsia plane support the theory it probably broke up upon impact with the water, after suffering "aerodynamic stall".

Flight experts said the plane probably hit severe turbulence, leading the pilots to fly so steeply or slowly that insufficient air was flowing over the wings.

The aircraft would then have become dead weight.

Experts say the plane probably broke up on impact with water. Picture: AP. Source: AP

A former British Airways pilot says the passenger jet would have either glided down or spun out of control and possibly entered the water upside down.

"If it is upside down in shallow water, that would suggest the aircraft became disoriented," Stephen Buzdygan told London's The Telegraph.

"I would suggest that there was some sort of upset to the aircraft — severe downdrafts or clear air turbulence. They have had some sort of upset and not been able to control it."

Midway through a two-hour flight from Surabaya, Indonesia to Singapore on Sunday morning, the pilots communicated worries about bad weather. They sought permission to climb above threatening clouds but were denied because of heavy air traffic.

Four minutes later, the Airbus A320-200 — with 162 on board — disappeared from radar without a distress signal.

The wreckage was located on Tuesday in the Java Sea off Borneo.

Indonesian police carry parts of a plane found floating on the water near the site where AirAsia Flight 8501 disappeared, at Kumai port in Pangkalan Bun. Picture: AP Source: AP

Mr Buzdygan said: "I have flown through thunderstorms there and it is not pleasant. The vertical air drafts can impose enormous stress on the aircraft".

Most aviations experts including Geoffrey Thomas, editor of airlineratings.com, believe the plane experienced an aerodynamic stall after attempting to fly too steeply or too slowly.

"I have a radar plot which shows him at 36,000 feet and climbing at a speed of 353 knots, which is approximately 100 knots too slow ... if the radar return is correct, he appears to be going too slow for the altitude he is flying at," he said.

"Essentially, the plane is flying too slow to the altitude and the thin air, and the wings won't support it at that speed and you get a stall, an aerodynamic stall."

Unconfirmed reports that one of the deceased passengers plucked from the water was wearing a life jacket support the stall theory.

An Indonesian Navy helicopter carrying two bodies from AirAsia flight QZ8501 recovered from the Java Sea prepares to land at Pangkalan Bun in Central Kalimantan. Picture: AFP. Source: AFP

Relatives provide DNA

So far seven bodies have been retrieved. Two are already in Surabaya, and four corpses — inside simple white boxes decorated with plastic flowers — were loaded onto a transport carrier in Pangkalan Bun yesterday morning.

The coffins — numbered 001 and 002 — contained a woman wearing blue jeans and a boy. They were sent from Pangkalan Bun to Surabaya for autopsies on Wednesday and were expected to be handed over to relatives on Thursday.

Of the other five victims recovered, three are male and two are female, including a flight attendant still in uniform.

In Indonesia's second-biggest city, where the plane had taken off for Singapore early on Sunday, drained and emotional relatives of the 162 people on board gathered at a crisis centre to hand over documents and medical records.

Among them was Hadi Widjaja, 60, who was preparing a Muslim funeral for his son Andreas and daughter-in-law Enny Wahyuni.

"I am anxious to know if the rescuers have found their bodies. The president has said that they will do the best they can to find them," Widjaja told AFP. "But if they really cannot find them, I will scatter flowers in the sea here as a way to say goodbye."

Police in Surabaya said they had taken DNA from 30 immediate family members to assist with the identification of bodies, which is set to take place at a hospital in Surabaya.

Area Galih Gegara, 8, the son of AirAsia flight QZ8501 pilot Irianto. Picture: Nine News. Source: Supplied

Family and friends grave

Heartbreaking stories are emerging from the victim's families, including that the son of AirAsia pilot Irianto has so far been shielded from the tragic news.

The veteran pilot's relatives have told eight-year-old Arya Galih Gegana that "daddy is at work".

"I told Galih that his father will not be coming straight home because he has another job to do," Budi Sutiono, the pilot's 55-year-old brother and the boy's uncle, told The Telegraph.

"Pilots are often away from home on work so when we told him he accepted it. But he keeps asking us and he keeps crying because he misses his father."

Meanwhile many family members remain at the Surabaya airport crisis centre where some, like 15-year-old Chiara Natasha, are now alone.

Her entire family was travelling on board QZ8501 to visit her in Singapore to celebrate the New Year.

Rev. Philip Mantofa, whose Mawar Sharon Church lost about 40 members in the disaster, held a prayer service for the families gathered in a waiting room at the Surabaya airport on

Wednesday.

"Help us, God, to move forward, even though we are surrounded by darkness," he said.

Distraught family members anxiously waited to identify their loved ones, holding candles and praying for the victims. Picture: Tatan Syuflana/ Source: AP

Ongoing search

A much-needed break in the weather yesterday gave search and rescue teams a window to "fight with full force" to find the remaining victims, with four aircraft dispatched to the Karimata Strait area just after sunrise.

Authorities were also rushing to locate the plane's fuselage after it crashed into the Java Sea five days ago, with dozens of navy frogmen and search-and-rescue divers yesterday preparing to explore the wreckage.

Indonesian navy personnel inspect their gear on Basarnas ship for a search operation for victims of AirAsia Flight 8501 at Kumai Port in Pangkalan Bun, Indonesia. Picture: AP Source: AP

Vice Air Marshal Sunarbowo Sandi, search and rescue co-ordinator in Pangkalan Bun, said bodies possibly remained trapped in the fuselage.

"So it's a race now against time and weather," he said.

Some of the items recovered so far include a life jacket, an emergency exit window, children's shoes, a blue suitcase and backpacks filled with food.

The plane is believed to be in relatively shallow waters of around 25-32 metres.

Surabaya residents pray for victims of the AirAsia flight QZ8501 crash on December 31, 2014 in Surabaya, Indonesia. Picture: Getty Images. Source: Getty Images

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‘There’s no winning, no way out’

No hope ... Leelah Alcorn said she would never be happy. Picture: Facebook Source: Supplied

A TRANSGENDER teenager who killed herself after her Christian parents refused to accept her has left a heartbreaking suicide note.

Leelah Alcorn, 16, stepped in front of a tractor trailer on a rural highway a few kilometres from her family home in Kings Mill, Ohio.

Her mother posted a tribute to her child on Facebook using her birth name Joshua and not mentioning the suicide.

However, the teen had published a note hours before her death on her Tumblr account explaining in detail why she had chosen to end her life.

Felt different ... Leelah Alcorn was born Joshua but says she identified as a girl from the age of four. Picture: Tumblr Source: Supplied

She says that she identified as a girl from the age of four and that when she discovered that she could be transgender at aged 14 she "cried of happiness".

"After 10 years of confusion I finally understood who I was," she wrote.

Heartbreakingly, her devout Christian mother, Carla Wood Alcorn, refused to accept her desire to identify as a girl.

She wrote: "I immediately told my mom, and she reacted extremely negatively, telling me that it was a phase, that I would never truly be a girl, that God doesn't make mistakes, that I am wrong."

'Gay conversion therapy killed my son'

Christians ... Carla Wood Alcorn with a man believed to be her husband. Picture: Facebook Source: Supplied

Leelah went on: "If you are reading this, parents, please don't tell this to your kids. Even if you are Christian or are against transgender people don't ever say that to someone, especially your kid. That won't do anything but make them hate them self. That's exactly what it did to me."

She was forced by her parents to see a Christian therapist who told her she was selfish and wrong and should seek God's help. When she didn't receive her parents' consent to transition at aged 16 she cried herself to sleep.

She said she turned against her parents, coming out as gay at school but despite positive responses from her friends she continued to be viewed by her mum and dad as "an embarrassment" because she was not "their perfect little straight christian boy (sic)".

Tribute ... Carla Wood Alcorn's tribute mentioned neither the suicide or the sexual orientation of her child. Picture: Facebook Source: Supplied

Writing about her reasons for suicide she said: "I'm never going to find a man who loves me. I'm never going to be happy. Either I live the rest of my life as a lonely man who wishes he were a woman or I live my life as a lonelier woman who hates herself. There's no winning. There's no way out."

She ended the note: "My death needs to mean something. My death needs to be counted in the number of transgender people who commit suicide this year. I want someone to look at that number and say "that's f***ed up" and fix it. Fix society. Please."

In a short Facebook tribute Carla Wood Alcorn ignored her child's female persona, calling her Joshua and saying she had gone "home to heaven" after she was hit by a truck during "an early morning walk".

If you or someone you know is in need of crisis or suicide prevention support, please call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or visit www.lifeline.org.au/gethelp

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Play-D’oh: Penis-shaped toy ‘ruins Xmas’

Awks ... parents are outraged at a Play-Doh tool that looks like a penis. Picture: Twitter/El Clarko via Facebook Source: Supplied

OOPS! Did Play-Doh just ruin Christmas?

Hasbro is in major damage control after releasing a toy part that looks like a penis.

Parents who bought the Sweet Shoppe Cake Mountain playset in November reportedly complained online that the plastic icing topper (or extruder) didn't look child-friendly.

Rather than respond to the concerns on social media, Hasbro sent parents less phallic-looking replacement parts.

The toy manufacturer's low-key response ensured the gaffe stayed out of the media, Uproxx reported.

But in a bungled attempt at removing traces of the offending accessory from its Facebook page over Christmas, Hasbro attracted lots of unwanted publicity.

The reaction has varied, but one parent suggested Hasbro had "ruined Christmas."

The playset, which retails in Australia for about $40, comes with a bottom cake tier, cake machine with cake stand and a textured roller, among other items.

Recommended for children three and over, the 2-in-1 playset lets kids "make amazing pretend layer cakes with the cake press."

The toy ... Play-Doh's Sweet Shoppe Cake Mountain playset. Picture: Hasbro Source: Supplied

A compilation of the times this particular body part has made an unexpected appearance.

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