#Fiona Singleton

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[librarycards]

Hello all, and happy September! I'm excited to share my third quarterly book rec post for 2023. I had a great summer, particularly reading-wise, mixing books like Anna Édes (picked up at an indie bookshop in Budapest), Angel Blood (foraged at my hometown library's book sale), and Blue Flame (found at a new-to-me indie I found while pre-move shopping).

If you like these posts, you can find my very, very extensive archive of recommendation posts here, and my substack, where I recommend media every month for free, here. If you really like my work, and want commenting privileges + access to occasional essays/musings, consider becoming a paid subscriber –– it's totally not required, but means a lot!

Now, without further ado, my top nine books read between mid-June and now, in no particular order. I can't wait to see what you come up with on your own posts!

Emily Petit, Blue Flame

Sarah Rose Etter, Ripe

Dezső Kosztolányi tr. George Szirtes, Anna Édes

Sara Ahmed, On Being Included

Kwon Yeo-sun, tr. Janet Hong, Lemon

Fiona Mozley, Elmet

Davey Davis, X

Becky Chambers, The Galaxy and the Ground Within

John Singleton, Angel Blood

I tag @thepixiediaries @discworldwitches @smokedgoudagirl @gwenderqueer, @capricornpropaganda, @wirefoxedterrier @fatehbaz @punkkwix @patchworkstudies, @growtiredofpublicvulnerability, @biomaterial @probablymoons @materialisnt @bioethicists @slowtides, @stephen-deadalus, @artuhmes @felgueirosa @myalgias, @metamatar, @heavenlyyshecomes, @osmanthusoolong, @passerea, @txttletale, @aldieb, @sawasawako, @voidofcourse, @boykeats, @tirragen, @sadhoc @campgender @r-ob-yn, @querxus, @grimesapologist, @closet-keys, @abstractlesbian, @vawoolf, @feypact, and anyone else who wants to!

[cristinabevilacqua]

CIAF 2022

After a three-year hiatus, with the last two events running digitally, Cairns Indigenous Art Fair (CIAF) returned to Gimuy and Yirrganydji Lands back in July in all its resplendent glory. While we’ve all had to adapt and change because of “recent times”, it’s always such an awe-inspiring experience to be immersed in the incredible explosion of art, design, fashion, Country and culture that CIAF embodies. The theme for this year was ‘We Are Masters of Country’.

It was an absolute pleasure and honour to shoot CIAF fashion collections again with such an amazing team involved. There were 14 collections divided into two days of photoshoots with two different teams of experienced and emerging models. With the help of fashion curator Lynelle Flinders, we could use the beautiful surroundings of the Tjapukai centre which unfortunately closed down during COVID lockdown times last year. Despite the weather Gods being against us, we were able to give enough variety and originality to each collection and yes, we all had heaps of fun in the making of these images. 

Designers:

Pikinini Blo Country by Cairns West State School Fashion Club, Gu-Ga - Bark Skin by Elverina Johnson, A Peace of Art by Peace Lutheran College, Aura by Simone Arnol ft. Bernard Singleton, Botanical by TAFE Queensland - Cultural Arts, 30 Year Anniversary by Robert Pau, Tawalpin "String Making" by Delvene Cockatoo-Collins Art, Country is our Master by Yarrabah Arts & Cultural Precinct, Strait on Cloth - "Wug Collection" by Rosie Ware Designs, Hopevale Arts & Culture Centre X QUT (Queensland University of Technology), Balurr Wuppi Kouture by Balurr Wuppi Kouture & The Djunngaal Elders Yarrabah Art Centre, Georgina Collection by Red Ridge the Label, Oochunyung Collection by Fiona Wirrer-George Oochunyung, and Pormpuraaw Wearable Art by Pormpuraaw Art and Culture Centre Alma Norman.

Models: 

Amaria Thomas-Savage, Ann-Maree Titasey, Tahanee Buli, Gillyba Ambrum, Jamie McLenson, Dellis Sukaserm, Tanika Parker, Tarita Sagigi, Sarah Eggmolesse, Sasha Grainer, Millisont Sailor, Loretta Messa, Malu Lui, Injarra Harbour, Jobe Adams, Lynette Gee Gee, and Jessica Meeks.

https://ciaf.com.au/cairns-indigenous-art-fair-ciaf

https://peppermintmag.com/ciaf-2022/?fbclid=IwAR3BJCz74YThUN2TEy1QpSjCom0ASyqsjZu3FCwsC6tBqhECKtPjU7A_OHA

[greensparty]

This Month In History - July

What a month for landmark anniversaries I’m celebrating!

July 2, 1971: Shaft opens

In July 1971, the first Shaft movie opened. Here is my piece I wrote in 2016. Happy 50th Shaft!

July 2, 1991: Into the Great Wide Open released

In July 1991, the 8th album from Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers was released. I was already a fan of Petty’s but this point and this album I bought that month on cassette tape. I listened to it quite frequently over the next few years. “Learning to Fly” is one of my favorites of the band. It’s an album that actually speaks to me more in my 40s than it did in my teen years as its songs about being true to yourself and trying to make the right decisions in life. Happy 30th ITGWO!

July 3, 1991: Terminator 2 opens

In July 1991, James Cameron’s magnum opus was released. Here is my piece I wrote in 2016. Happy 30th T2!

July 3, 2001: White Blood Cells released

In July 2001, The White Stripes breakthrough album was released. Here is my piece I wrote in 2016. Happy 20th White Blood Cells!

July 8, 1981: Beauty and the Beat released

In July 1981, the debut album from The Go-Go’s was released. The group burst out of the late 70s punk scene but their sound evolved and became more new wave / power pop. They put out some great albums during their time in the 80s and even after their 1999 reunion too, but this is their magnum opus. I have this album on vinyl. Just try not singing along to the majority of this album. Happy 40th BATB!

July 9, 2001: Yeah Yeah Yeahs EP released

In July 2001, the debut EP from the Yeah Yeah Yeahs was released. Here is my piece I wrote in 2016. Happy 20th YYY!

July 12, 1991: Boyz N the Hood opens

In July 1991, John Singleton’s epic debut opened. Here is my piece I wrote in 2016. Happy 30th BNTH!

July 15, 2016: Stranger Things premieres

In July 2016, the Duffer Brothers 80s sci-fi epic series premiered on Netflix! There was a lot of hype when the series dropped that Summer and I decided to check it out and give it a chance. It was one of the rare times where the series truly lived up to all of the hype behind it. I named it my #6 TV Show of the 2010s. Tons of references to 80s pop culture and a heavy influence from Stephen King, Steven Spielberg and John Carpenter made this truly binge-worthy. Happy 5th Stranger Things!

July 18, 1986: Aliens opens

T2 isn’t the only James Cameron-directed sequel we’re celebrating this month. In July 1986, his sequel to Ridley Scott’s Alien was released. Whereas the first one was sci-fi with a little action, this one was more action-heavy. It was also a female-driven action movie, something Cameron has really excelled at. Sigourney Weaver’s Ripley kicks so much ass! Weaver was even nominated for an Academy Award for it. There were several other sequels since this one, but the first two stand as my favorites. Happy 35 Aliens!

July 18, 1991: first Lollapalooza tour date

In July 1991, the first tour date of the first ever Lollapalooza tour kicked off an alt-rock revolution. Here is my piece I wrote in 2016. Happy 30th Lollapalooza!

July 19, 1996: Trainspotting opens in the U.S.

In July 1996, Danny Boyle’s magnum opus was released in the U.S. Here is my piece I wrote in 2016. Happy 25 Trainspotting!

July 23, 1996: Tidal / Three Snakes and One Charm released

In July 1996, Fiona Apple’s debut was released the same day as The Black Crowes’ 4th underrated album. Here is my piece I wrote about Tidal in 2016.

The Crowes’ album was another blues rocker! I bought it that Summer and listened to it a lot throughout college. The mid-90s era lineup of The Black Crowes is actually one of my favorites. Happy 25 Tidal and TSAOC!

July 24, 1981: Blow Out opens

In July 1981, one of Brian De Palma’s best movies was released. Here is my piece I wrote in 2016. Happy 40th Blow Out!

July 30, 2001: Is This It released

In July 2001, the debut album from The Strokes was released (in Australia that is, U.S. came along several weeks later). Here is my piece I wrote in 2016. Happy 20th ITI!

[stickylittleleaves]

books I read/movies I watched/albums I listened to in full for the first time in 2021 that I rated 4 or more stars on various reviewing sites

BOOKS

Measure for Measure - William Shakespeare (1604?)

Rebecca - Daphne du Maurier (1938)

Nothing Personal - James Baldwin (1964)

Orientalism - Edward Said (1978)

The Bloody Chamber and Other Stories - Angela Carter (1979)

The Politics of Reality: Essays in Feminist Theory - Marilyn Frye (1983)

The Buddha of Suburbia - Hanif Kureishi (1990)

Marx: A Very Short Introduction - Peter Singer (2001)

Ghachar Ghochar - Vivek Shanbhag (2013)

Through the Woods - Emily Carroll (2014)

Megahex - Simon Hanselmann (2014)

Capitalism: A Ghost Story - Arundhati Roy (2014)

What it Means When a Man Falls from the Sky - Lesley Nneka Arimah (2017)

From Here to Eternity: Traveling the World to Find the Good Death - Caitlin Doughty (2017)

The Refugees - Viet Thanh Nguyen (2017)

Heavy - Kiese Laymon (2018)

In the Dream House - Carmen Maria Machado (2019)

A New World Begins: The History of the French Revolution - Jeremy D. Popkin (2019)

Piranesi - Susanna Clarke (2020)

Prosper’s Demon - K.J. Parker (2020)

The Only Good Indians - Stephen Graham Jones (2020)

Intimations - Zadie Smith (2020)

Who Will Pay Reparations on My Soul? - Jesse McCarthy (2021)

MOVIES

Rebecca - Alfred Hitchcock (1940)

The Red Shoes - Michael Powell & Emeric Pressburger (1948)

Dog Day Afternoon - Sidney Lumet (1975)

Mephisto - István Szabó (1981)

Castle in the Sky - Hayao Miyazaki (1986)

Kiki’s Delivery Service - Hayao Miyazaki (1989)

Candyman - Bernard Rose (1992)

Poetic Justice - John Singleton (1993)

Chungking Express - Wong Kar-wai (1994)

Fallen Angels- Wong Kar-wai (1995)

Happy Together - Wong Kar-wai (1997)

A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night - Ana Lily Amirpour (2014)

The Love Witch - Anna Biller (2016)

Train to Busan - Yeon Sang-ho (2016)

Get Out - Jordan Peele (2017)

Sorry to Bother You - Boots Riley (2018)

ALBUMS

Little Girl Blue - Nina Simone (1959)

Aretha Now - Aretha Franklin (1968)

Lady Soul - Aretha Franklin (1968)

First Utterance - Comus (1971)

Maggot Brain - Funkadelic (1971)

What’s Going On - Marvin Gaye (1971)

There’s a Riot Goin’ On - Sly & The Family Stone (1971)

Fresh - Sly & The Family Stone (1973)

Low - David Bowie (1977)

Remain in Light - Talking Heads (1980)

Nebraska - Bruce Springsteen (1982)

Hi How Are You - Daniel Johnston (1983)

Purple Rain - Prince and the Revolution (1984)

Hounds of Love - Kate Bush (1985)

Follow the Leader - Eric B. & Rakim (1988)

Pretty Hate Machine - Nine Inch Nails (1989)

Loveless - My Bloody Valentine (1991)

Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) - Wu-Tang Clan (1993)

Ready to Die - The Notorious B.I.G. (1994)

Brown Sugar - D’Angelo (1995)

Me Against the World - 2Pac (1995)

Baduizm - Erykah Badu (1997)

Homegenic - Björk (1997)

Either/Or - Elliott Smith (1997)

When the Pawn - Fiona Apple (1999)

Voodoo - D’Angelo (2000)

Kid A - Radiohead (2000)

Who Is Jill Scott? - Jill Scott (2000)

LCD Soundsystem - LCD Soundsystem (2005)

Donuts - J Dilla (2006)

The Eraser - Thom Yorke (2006)

Sound of Silver - LCD Soundsystem (2007)

Deathconsciousness - Have a Nice Life (2008)

This Is Happening - LCD Soundsystem (2010)

undun - The Roots (2011)

Moon Money - Hot Sugar (2012)

You Won’t Get What You Want - Daughters (2018)

Ordinary Corrupt Human Love - Deafheaven (2018)

ANIMA - Thom Yorke (2019)

I Disagree - Poppy (2020)

What’s Your Pleasure - Jessie Ware (2020)

Infinite Granite - Deafheaven (2021)

King’s Disease II - Nas (2021)

The Turning Wheel - Spellling (2021)

A Beginner’s Mind - Sufjan Stevens & Angelo de Augustine (2021)

might have missed a few because I wasn’t on Letterboxd for the first month or two of the year and didn’t join RYM till like October

[fundiesimsfamily]

Twins! Baby Doyle #1 and #2

Dear diary,

We are surprised with twins! Two baby girls, Charlotte Jane Doyle and Lucy Jane Doyle. They are named after Charlotte Moon who was a missionar in China and Lucy Jane Rider Meyer who was a social worker and did a lot in the church she was going to. My baby girls hopefully will step in the footsteps of these important woman.

I was just laying down for a nap when my labor started. Marco and I went to the hospital right away where they discovered I was having twins instead of a singleton. Marco called my mom to get a second crib at our place as soon as possible.

When we got home with the girls, my mom and Fiona came over. They where both so thrilled for me to have two baby girls. So sweet to share this with my mom and twinssister. I'm sure Charlotte and Lucy will be just as close as me and Fiona are.

Love, Elianna

[damonkowarsky]

The 2020 @swanhillartgal Print and Drawing Awards opens this evening Friday 4 September.⁠⠀ ⁠⠀ Finalists include Tony Ameneiro, Kim Anderson, Anthea Boesenberg, Darren Bryant, Seong Cho, Matthew Clarke, Neilton Clarke, Jock Clutterbuck, Carolyn Craig, Mark Dustin, Lesley Duxbury, David Fairbairn, David Frazer, Todd Fuller, Jody Graham, Robert Hague, Jess Hall, Richard Harding, Nicci Haynes, Beric Henderson, Lizzie Horne, Chris Humphries, Shane Jones, Nicole Kelly, Alison Kennedy, Gemma King, Deborah Klein, Damon Kowarsky, Anita Laurence, Neil Malone, Penny Mason, Fiona McDonald, Aylsa McHugh, Peter McLean, Donal Molloy-Drum, Eva Nolan, Denis O’Connor, Catherine O’Donnell, Maria Petrova, Steve Pettenon, Regina Pilawuk Wilson, Ben Rak, Jane Reynolds, Olga Sankey, Sue Sedgwick, Ben Sibley, Wayne Singleton, Melissa Smith, Anne Starling, Jan Stickland, Linda Swinfield, Brooke Thomas, Emma Thorp, Peter Ward, Cleo Wilkinson, and Katy Woodroffe.⁠⠀ ⁠⠀ Exhibition continues until November.⁠⠀ ⁠⠀ Swan Hill Regional Art Gallery⁠⠀ Horseshoe Bend⁠⠀ Swan Hill VIC 3585⁠⠀ [03] 5036 2430⁠⠀ ⁠⠀ #swanhill #swanhillartgallery #artprize #drawing #printmaking #art #artexhibition #artinthetimeofcoronavirus (at Swan Hill Regional Art Gallery) https://www.instagram.com/p/CEqFpD5jcs-/?igshid=1bikhanuxewp1

[liudmila-savchuk]

Happy 1 Birthday litter "V" iz Byrshtunovogo kraju!🎂🦴 💗Vil'niy Viter still looking for his new family 💗Vodogray Bianca Penmawddwy Hill 💗Volodar Svitu Brianna Singleton 💗Velvet Fiona Tjhin 💗Valet Verbrugge Hannelore 💗Vanilla Ivana Šarochová 💗Viola stay in our kennel 💗Vatrushka Vanessza Adonyi https://www.instagram.com/p/B81rMoJAl-e/?igshid=16ydu00dt259m

[crazyflyingspip]

Why wait around for your soulmate? Zoopla reveals the best places to buy a home on your own

Buying a house used to be one of the scariest words in many singleton’s vocabularies, almost as bad as Valentine’s day. There is no denying that buying a house on your own is tough.

Related: Zoopla reveals our secret habits on moving in day – and it’s not popping the champagne

Not only do you need to raise the deposit solo, but you’re are also shouldering the mortgage on your own. However, Zoopla has revealed that buying on your own can still a reality, especially if you live in Liverpool.

Zoopla has looked into mortgage affordability and the percentage of single-person households, to work out the best places in the UK for singletons to buy. They also analysed the number of possible date locations, because while you don’t need a significant other to buy a home, they can be a bonus.

Image credit: Simon Whitmore

Liverpool stole the top spot as the best property destination for singletons. Or if you prefer Emma Watson’s turn of phrase – ‘self-partnered’.

Buyers in the northern city required the smallest average mortgage at £341 for a one-bed home. This is equal to 10.2 per cent of the average salary in the city.

In terms of date locations, it is safe to say Liverpool is not lacking. In the city there are three restaurants, bars or clubs for every 1,000 people.

Image credit: Fiona Walker-Arnott

However, Scotland is home to two of the next best places to buy on your own. Aberdeen came in second place, with 20 per cent of city-dwellers living on there own.

However, singletons would need to put aside an extra 10 per cent of their salary for a mortgage than in Liverpool. Edinburgh came in third place with the same average monthly mortgage as Aberdeen at £526.

Cardiff and Newcastle upon Tyne came in fourth and fifth place, respectively. But they both had much smaller mortgage payments than across the border at £363 and £392.

Image credit: David Giles

‘We know the worth of purchasing your first home and for many people, it’s their biggest financial commitment,’ says Richard Houston, Zoopla consumer spokesperson.

‘Those looking to purchase a home on their own will likely feel the pressure all the more, or worse, still feel that buying alone is out of reach,’ he adds. ‘Our analysis reveals that it is still possible for someone to afford a property on your own.’

Hopefully, now buying a home on your own now sounds a little less scary. All that is left is to endure the remainder of Valentine’s Day.

Related: Forget roses, brands are reporting soaring sales of this piece of furniture ahead of Valentine’s Day

Our suggestion? Crack open the rosé with your friends or treat yourself to a spa night in.

The post Why wait around for your soulmate? Zoopla reveals the best places to buy a home on your own appeared first on Ideal Home.

from Ideal Home https://ift.tt/323unLP

[scottmillerphotography]

#herecomesthebride Fiona taking the final steps as singleton... #ColtsfootCountryRetreat #ColtsfootCountryRetreatwedding #Kentweddingvideographyphotography #Essexweddingvideographyphotography #Hertsweddingvideographyphotography #Hertfordshireweddingvideographyphotography...

[mill3nniumforc3]

RIP Krista Diane Underwood, age 91 days

Loving daughter of the late Arthur “Artie” Page and Kelly Underwood. Beloved mother of Margaret “Maggie” Maynard (Thomas “Tommy”), Franklin “Frank” (Claire), Lewis (Taylor), Sara Welch (Frederick “Fred), Bethany Cody (Buck), Jessalynn Kay (Leon), Ursula Thorpe (Gavin), Fiona Ogre (Shrek), Kassidi Roland (Xavier), Greta, Nicholas, and Parker. Grandmother of Morgan and Kara Maynard, Kirsten “Kizzie,” Dustin (deceased), and Marlene Underwood, Victoria “Vickie” and Torrey (deceased) Underwood, Andrew, Ashley, Chana, Jacklyn, and Elise Welch, Richard “Rickie” and Shayla Cody, Deborah “Debbie,” Roxanne (deceased), and Rocco “Rocky” Kay, Bianca Thorpe, Shelley and Megan Ogre, Antony and Clarence Roland, and Monica and Courteney Underwood.

Ex-lover of Dejuan McCarty (deceased), Gilbert Scales (deceased), Darryl Bethea (deceased), Norris Littlejohn, Ramin Thornton (deceased), Frank Snyder (deceased), and Lucas Messer (deceased). (everyone has a twin except for Ursula and Parker, who are singletons, so no rules were broken)

The challenge continues with Greta.

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[gyrlversion]

JAN MOIR: My heart sinks just a little at this BBC Girl Power

For the first time, a flagship BBC politics programme will be fronted by three women. Emily Maitlis, Kirsty Wark and Emma Barnett are the all-female presenting team on BBC2’s Newsnight.

‘Boom. Let’s do this,’ Emma said when the news was announced.

This gave the impression the plucky threesome were girding their loinettes for some kind of battle, when the truth is the war has already been won.

In Beeb Central, the Time of Men — the old order of broadcasting patriarchy — is going, going, gone; replaced with furious alacrity by an illustrious regiment of women.

Leading men across all spheres, from showbiz to politics, are falling like kneecapped dominoes.

Emily Maitlis (pictured), Kirsty Wark and Emma Barnett are the all-female presenting team on BBC2’s Newsnight

There is a female Doctor Who and a toothsome female duo presenting Strictly Come Dancing, the Beeb’s most popular light entertainment show. Female DJs have replaced Chris Evans and Simon Mayo on Radio 2, while the golden but entitled Age of the Dimblebys is crumbling into dust.

BBC1’s Question Time David has been replaced by Fiona Bruce, while the successor to Radio 4’s Any Questions Jonathan has yet to be announced, but the smart money is on A (for Any) Woman — quite possibly Woman’s Hour’s Jane Garvey, or Fi Glover of the station’s The Listening Project.

From now until for ever, it seems every high-profile onscreen appointment will be given to a her, not a him, in this brave new broadcasting She-domain.

My heart should sing at this display of raw female power yet, instead, it sinks. Just a little — a dip, not a plunge. But the trajectory is definitely downwards.

It’s not that I object to the promotion of this trio of talented Newsnight women, each at the top of her game in myriad brilliant ways. 

No, it’s more that the BBC’s response to accusations of gender imbalance and its protracted gender pay-gap dispute has been so clumsy, so silly and, ironically, so devoid of fairness and equality.

For there is nothing positive about positive discrimination. All these well-meaning attempts to end discrimination simply end up with more discrimination.

Andrew Neil, by far the best political interviewer across the BBC network, will step down from his BBC1 This Week programme in July

At the BBC, a sometimes flawed meritocracy has been replaced by something far, far worse; blunderbuss gender politics in a workplace where white, middle-class males are treated like lepers.

Take Andrew Neil, by far the best political interviewer across the BBC network, who will step down from his BBC1 This Week programme in July — probably in exasperation at being continually shuffled off into a late-night ‘graveyard slot’.

BBC Director of News Fran Unsworth then cheerily said she would axe the show because ‘we couldn’t imagine it’ without Neil.

If she’s such a fan, why has the old bloodsucker been kept in his late-night coffin all these years?

Neil is still appearing in his lunchtime Politics Live show. Yesterday, he ticked off the voluble Remainer MP for Broxtowe, saying: ‘This is not the Anna Soubry Hour. I think you have had more than a fair say.’ Authoritative yet still polite, a first-class act in a second-class slot.

Elsewhere, a traineeship scheme for Radio 1’s Newsbeat is only to take black, Asian, mixed ethnicity or lower socio-economic applicants. 

This means applications from ambitious middle-class white girls — and particularly boys — would go in the bin. Fair enough, you might think. 

Perhaps it’s time for men to suffer and understand what it feels like to be marginalised, sidelined and overlooked just because of their sex.

Imagine how Emily Maitlis must have felt on discovering that fellow Newsnight presenter Evan Davis, a broadcaster not fit to clean her over-the-knee boots, was paid a third more for doing the same job.

Clearly there has been a gender pay imbalance at the BBC, just like the one in society. Maybe it is true that, for too long, power and equality were denied to women at the BBC. Yet certain kinds of privilege and bias still have their place.

Imagine how Emily Maitlis must have felt on discovering that fellow Newsnight presenter Evan Davis, a broadcaster not fit to clean her over-the-knee boots, was paid a third more for doing the same job

For Emily, Kirsty and Emma are a certain kind of BBC woman. Shiny of hair and blue of stocking, they are all good middle-class gels who went to posh schools (two of them fee-paying), then good universities.

Most importantly, I’ll wager they are all Left-leaning liberals with Guardianista sensibilities running through them. And if any of the trio isn’t a dyed-in-the-cashmere-wool Remainer, I’ll join the Brexit Betrayal March myself.

Which suggests BBC bosses are keen on diversification in all its forms, but only in areas where it suits them.

It would be impossible to imagine a Right-leaning, Brexit-supporting female broadcaster — Julia Hartley-Brewer, for example — even being considered for a Newsnight job.

And when I interviewed Sky TV’s Kay Burley recently, she said that as a working-class girl from Wigan who left school after her O-levels, she ‘didn’t have the right accent or education to work at the BBC’.

Have things changed? In every way, but also in no way whatsoever.

The broadcasting regulator Ofcom is reviewing the BBC’s news and current affairs output to ensure it remains relevant and trusted in the capricious, polarised and challenging world of multi-sourced news.

The new Newsnight team will give them much to ponder over. But in the meantime, let me stop you right there, as Emily would say, and ask: is one woman’s equality another man’s injustice?

Ade, you lazy lump, congratulations! EuroMillions winner deserves all the happiness his huge windfall will bring   

Middle-aged, overweight, sad owl face, lumbering dolt, usually Scottish. If it’s true that all lottery winners look like the same person and fit this particular profile, how come I haven’t won yet?

Despite ticking all the above boxes, yet again it’s not me, it’s him — Ade Goodchild, a singleton 58-year-old factory worker from Hereford.

No, Ade doesn’t hail from Scotland like most Lottery winners seem to. But in every other aspect, he seems to fit the stereotype perfectly.

He is corpulent, dazed, bears a slight resemblance to a giant thumb and, unusually, insists that his mega-win will change him. 

According to one report, EuroMillions winner Ade Goodchild never lifted a finger to do any chores in the house or work in the garden

Twice-married Ade scooped £71 million on the EuroMillions this week, a fantastic sum. His two ex-wives have already said they don’t want a share of his money. Good for them.

His first wife said it ‘couldn’t have happened to a nicer man’, while the second insisted that she is ‘happier without him’. Still, it is prospective wife No 3, whoever she may be, who will reap the lottery windfall.

Ade seems like the kind of lazy, useless husband any woman would be well rid of. According to one report, he never lifted a finger to do any chores in the house or work in the garden. Even after they were divorced, his second wife said she still had to go round and walk the dogs.

Yet Ade is self-aware enough to joke that he’s no more attractive now he’s a winner than he was before, but that his wallet is getting more than a few admiring glances.

He says he will look after members of his family and is going to spend the money on wine and women, then waste the rest.

Can you find it in your heart to wish him well? I do, I do, I do. 

Paul pogos to the bank: Court case reveals Clash punk rocker’s millions 

Back in the 1970s, the Clash were sexy revolutionaries whose punk music was thick with Left-wing ideology. 

The song White Riot urged alienated white youths to riot like their black counterparts; London Calling sent an apocalyptic message to strengthen the kids’ resolve before the onslaught of Thatcherism, boo.

Well, that was then. Now, Clash bassist Paul Simonon has won a £5 million legal fight with his second wife, who managed some of the band’s financial accounts. 

She wanted to change the terms of their original divorce settlement and sell her share of Clash royalties to an investment firm, but the judge ruled against her.

In the initial settlement, they each kept a London home, while sharing the cost of their sons’ education fees. The couple’s legal bills for the new hearing were more than £60,000.

‘You think it’s funny, turning rebellion into money,’ they once sang, the old hypocrites.

Next, you’ll be telling me The Who’s Roger Daltrey is a Tory-supporting Brexiteer.

A rare black-and-white print of The Scream, by Edvard Munch, will soon go on display at the British Museum.

How very prescient, for the painting seems to sum up the national mood over Brexit precisely. Head in hands, hair torn out, mouth open in a soundless yell of despair from the very marrow of one’s being.

Of course, debate still swirls around the famous image. Is Munch’s figure emitting a scream or listening to a scream? And is that scream real or psychological?

Who knows, but altogether now . . . aaargggh.

TV presenter Lorraine Kelly has won a big case against the taxman by arguing that she appears on TV not as herself, but as an entertainer

Awww, that’s fantastic! TV presenter Lorraine Kelly has won a big case against the taxman by arguing that she appears on TV not as herself, but as an entertainer portraying a super-cheery, empathetic wee character who doesn’t actually exist.

‘I am a McFake,’ is what she appears to be saying, but didn’t we know that anyway? Ms Kelly (above) told the tax tribunal she was an entertainer because she played ‘a version’ of herself on her ITV show. So the Lorraine Kelly who appears as Lorraine Kelly on Lorraine is not the real Lorraine Kelly but a theatrical construct.

She won her appeal against a £900,000 tax bill and £300,000 National Insurance demand. That’s the real drama. Take a bow, Lorraine, whoever you are.

‘When is the real Prince Harry coming?’ a schoolboy asked the Duke of Sussex during a visit to a London primary school.

Indeed! Over the past few months, as Harry has chuntered on about living the dream, shining the light, all the blades of grass and the raindrops and your ‘own true north’, it is a question I have often asked myself. Hullo clouds, hullo sky? Really, Harry?

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[randomrichards]

OSCAR 2019 PREDICTIONS PART 2: THE TECHNICAL AWARDS

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY:

·         COLD WAR

·         THE FAVOURITE

·         NEVER LOOK AWAY

·         ROMA

·         A STAR IS BORN

Who Will Win?

It can be no one else but Alfonso Cuaron and his magnum opus. With assistance from cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki, Cuaron has grown to become a master of the long take in films like Children of Men and Gravity. For Roma, Cuaron makes his debut as Director of Photography.

Cuaron’s camera keeps a distant eye as it observes the everyday lives of housekeeper Cleo (Talitza Aparicio) and the middle-class family she cares for. And yet the camera wants to stay close to them as it follows them through their lives. Somehow, Cuaron finds a way to balance these traits while keeping the audience engaged.

The strength of black and white cinematography is how it can manipulate light to create abstract imagery. Cuaron uses light to showcase Mexico’s beauty in all its forms. Whether it’s the warm sunny skies or the neon lights of the city, this Mexican city always feels warm and inviting. There are even moments when Cuaron uses black and white imagery to further the storytelling. The perfect example is the New Year’s Eve sequence. Like Cleo, we watch what we think are sparks of fireworks behind black trees. Then we realize they’re embers from a forest fire. Cut to the family racing to put out the bright white flames.

There’s pure beauty in every scene.

BEST COSTUME DESIGN:

·         THE BALLAD OF BUSTER SCRUGGS

·         BLACK PANTHER

·         THE FAVOURITE

·         MARY POPPINS RETURNS

·         MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS

Who Will Win?

I imagine this will be a battle between Ruth E. Carter and Sandy Powell.

Since School Daze, Carter has been a frequent collaborator with Spike Lee while designing costumes for black filmmakers like John Singleton, Ava Duvarney and even Keenan Ivory Wayans. She also has experience designing for geek culture through Joss Whedon’s Serenity. Now she brings that experience in Black Panther.

Carter seizes on this opportunity to honour her African heritage in all its forms. She not only draws inspiration from multiple African tribes like the Suri, the Tuareg and the Dogon but uses their styles to contrast Wakanda’s tribe (respectively The River Tribe, the Merchant Tribe and the Jorabi Tribe). She provides further contrast through different colours and patterns, from T’challa’s (Chadwick Boseman) black and royal purple to the all-female royal guard’s red.

The film is a cosplayer’s dream come true.

Carter faces strong competition in Powell, who is nominated for two films; The Favourite and Mary Poppins Returns. The question is which one? It’s a hard choice. As I’ve said before, the academy loves period piece, which would make the Favourite…the favourite. But it also loves colourful costumes, which defines Mary Poppins Returns.

It’s hard to choose, because the awards are less predictably than usual. So, I’m going to say its between Black Panther and the Favourite.

BEST FILM EDITING:

·         BLACKKKLANSMAN

·         BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY

·         THE FAVOURITE

·         GREEN BOOK

·         VICE

Who Will Win?

The award will go to Vice thanks to its bold creativity. Hank Corwin makes a lot of daring choices with his editing style, accompanying Adam McKay’s unorthodox storytelling with a fast-paced approach. When the narrator discusses how Donald Rumsfeld (Steve Carell) handles politics like a butterfly knife, we cut to a closeup of a hand doing butterfly knife tricks before cutting someone’s face. It also leads to some comedic moments. The film plays a fake epilogue when Cheney (Christian Bale) quits politics in the 90s, making it seem like they had a happy ending. But as the credits roll, you hear a phone ring and cut to George W Bush (Sam Rockwell) convincing Cheney to be his Veep. Unfortunately, the editing can come off as uneven as the story structure, even distracting. Despite all this, it remains the front runner

If there’s a dark horse who could beat Vice, it’s Bohemian Rhapsody. This award seems to favour music movies, giving awards to Chicago and Whiplash. Plus, the academy will enjoy the structured cutting to moments of Freddy Mercury’s lives. But I feel scenes are cut too short, never giving the audience time to process the scenes.

The one I think should win is BlackkKlansman. Spike Lee has a unique style to his filmmaking and frequent collaborator Barry Alexander Brown uses that style to create a unique visual experience for moviegoers. One moment where the editing shines is in the opening scene of Dr. Kennebrew Beauregard (Alec Baldwin) shooting a KKK recruitment video. Brown’s editing undercuts his racist rant with quick cuts of him flubbing his lines in between his rant. What results is a combination of a Jack Donaghy’s (also Baldwin) disastrous shooting of a commercial in 30 Rock and Ron Burgundy’s vocal warm ups.

Again, I think this award will go to Vice.

BEST MAKEUP AND HAIRSTYLE:

·         BORDER

·         MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS

·         VICE

Who Will Win?

What other film could it be than Vice? When we first scene him in the role of Dick Cheney, you see no sign of Christian Bale through the makeup. You would think you were seeing the real Cheney.

BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN:

·         BLACK PANTHER

·         THE FAVOURITE

·         FIRST MAN

·         MARY POPPINS RETURNS

·         ROMA

Who Will Win?

This will Be another battle between Black Panther and The Favourite.

For Black Panther, Hannah Beachler and Jay Hart blend futuristic technology with African culture to create the environments of Wakanda. We witness a world that holds on to its traditions while looking ahead. The result is a unique metropolis you’d like to vacation.

In contrast, The Favourite combines realism and extravagance to deglamorize the monarchy. On the surface, you a classy environment of detailed paintings, tapestries and walls full of books. But look past the dark halls and Fiona Crombie and Alice Fenton reminds you that while the Aristocrats betting on duck races, the servants are sleeping on the floors.

It could go either way, but it looks like the odds are in favour of the Favourite.

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS:

·         AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR

·         CHRISTOPHER ROBIN

·         FIRST MAN

·         READY PLAYER ONE

·         SOLO: A STAR WARS STORY

Who Will Win?

If it were up to me, this award would go to First Man. The effects in this film’s flight scenes leave all Superhero movies in the dust with their mind-blowing realism and it did so with little CGI. Director Justin Hurwitz could have used computer graphics to showcase Neil Armstrong’s flight tests and the eventual Apollo 11 flight. Instead, he took a lesson from Christopher Nolan and used as much practical effects as possible. For the flight scenes, effects supervisors Paul Lambert (Blade Runner 2049), Ian Hunter (Interstellar), Tristan Myles and J.D. Schwalm placed simulation planes in front of 10-foot LED Screens which would play images of soaring skies while the planes were rigged to move in synch with the screens. This way the actors can get into the moment and the audience can feel more like they’re in the moment. All of this comes together to create scenes more thrilling than most Marvel Movies could dream of.

And then we get to the moon and your mind is blown by how real all of this looks. All done with little to no CGI.

But the academy seems to lean in favour of CGI effects. And many agree its key competition is Avengers: Infinity War thanks to the motion capture effects of intergalactic supervillain Thanos (Josh Brolin) which I will give credit for is amazing. But I suspect the Academy will lean more towards Ready Player One. Say what you will about the film[1], but you must give credit to the incredible effects.

By now, Spielberg’s effects team have mastered the use of motion capture, with our heroes’ avatars looking just realistic enough for video game characters without entering uncanny valley. It looks more impressive when the avatars interact with live action characters.

But the highpoint of the film’s special effects comes in the moment Wade (Tye Sheridan) and his friends enter the Shining. It’s mind-blowing to see these CGI characters blend into this film classic. If only there was as much quality in the storytelling.

[1] And yes, there is a lot to be said about the plot, performances and questionable ideals.

[strangears]

Rétrospective Synthpop - Discographie ABC : How to be a... Zillionaire!

          Le saxophoniste/claviériste Stephen Singleton parti, harassé par trop de tournées, et les deux membres restant conscients de l'échec de Beauty Stab, c'est vers une toute nouvelle image qu'ABC décide de se diriger. Ils demandent à Fiona Russell Powell et David Yarritu de rejoindre la bande, mais seulement en tant que figurants... Ils n'auront pas leurs mots à dire sur les chansons et contribueront seulement par leurs looks (sur scène et dans les clips) à l'aspect « cartoon » d' How to be a Zillionaire. Cela ne les gênent pas vraiment, ils ont un vrai travail à côté.      Pourquoi ce nouveau look cartoon ? Pour pouvoir dénoncer le côté mercantile, infantile et artificiel de la décennie, qu'ils critiquaient déjà d'une manière moins subtile, moins fun et moins pop sur leur précédent album.

     Si l'image se renouvelle, le son tente un retour aux sources. On oublie les grattes rugueuses et électriques de Beauty Stab pour reproduire une patte plus Lexicon Of Love... Oui mais voilà, depuis 1982, la patte « Lexicon » est devenue la nouvelle norme, c'était d'ailleurs pour éviter la répétition et l'imitation qu'ABC avaient réalisé Beauty Stab... Ils ne sont plus à une contradiction près, les revoilà avec un How to be a Zillionaire qui se fondra dans la masse de sorties de 1985.       Le succès ne sera donc encore une fois pas au rendez-vous en Angleterre, malgré quelques percées dans le top 50. Le single « Be Near Me » les fera tout de même connaître en Amérique, rentrant dans leur top 10, ce qui n'est pas rien !

     La bande a beau se démêler pour nous refaire le coup d'un Lexicon, les chansons ne sont jamais au niveau. Résultat, on se retrouve avec des compositions qui en font trop, poussives, pleines d'artifices, de synthés et d'autres effets pour parer aux mélodies moins efficaces. Ça fonctionne parfois, j'ai réussi par exemple à me faire prendre par les délurés « Fear of the World » et « So Hip it Hurts ». Mais les tout aussi foufous « 15 Storey Halo » ou « A to Z » (morceau assez drôle quand on sait que la moitié des membres s'y présentant ne feront plus partis de l'équipe dès la fin du processus de promotion) offrent un son déjà trop daté et laissent dubitatifs.      Pour le reste, on a en vrac un sous Prince/Jackson avec « Vanity Kills », des ballades difficilement convaincantes comme « Ocean Blue » ou « Between You and Me » et le gimmick scat de « Tower of London »... d'ailleurs tout l'album est rempli de gimmicks musicaux sympathiques, qui, lorsqu'ils ne tombent pas dans l'excès, donnent une raison aux fans d'y rejeter une oreille de temps en temps.

     Avec How to be a Zillionaire, ABC sont donc à la reconquête de leur génie Pop, ce qui est selon moi une bonne chose. Ils arrivent même à l'atteindre de temps à autre, ce qui réjouira tout amateur de son 80's. Malheureusement, c'est encore là un album qui souffre la comparaison à Lexicon.      Le côté « Looney Tunes » ne prendra pas non plus, un critique allant jusqu'à dire du groupe qu'ils sont devenus la Famille Adams de ce genre de musique. C'est donc en toute logique que Fiona et David quittent le navire. Cette première regrettera que les deux membres restants, amis d'enfance, soient devenus exactement ce qu'ils dénoncent, l'oubliant par la suite, obsédés par leur succès. Recommandation : ***/5 (A écouter et piocher)...

[fundiesimsfamily]

The Crowley twins (baby #4 and #5)

Dear diary,

Eventhow I had plenty of prenatal care, my OB still missed that I was caring twins instead of just one baby! Two baby girls! We where so surprised when they arrived. But we are so thankful for them. Their names are Elianna Jane Crowley and Fiona Noelle Crowley. Elianna means God has answerd and Fiona means one who is fair.

The childeren where as surprised as Denver and I where with the arrivel of the twins. Abby was thrilled and all over her little sisters. Beau and Christina took more time to get used to their little sisters but are fine now. They are a perfect fit for our family

My mother found it curious that she had fourteen childeren, all singletons while three of her daughters now had twins. Johanna, Janine and I. I think it's a little curious too.

I was pregnant together with Joelle and Julie, they both had girls too, Hannah and Gloria. These four will grow up close together! We just love it!

And in the mean time both my brothers James and Jackson are expecting their first child. James and Maddie will be the oldest having their first child at 28 and 26 years old. While Jackson will be the youngest man in my family having his first child. He will be 21 while Luna, is wife will also be 21 when their baby arrives. But almost all the woman in my family had their first baby around their 21th birthday.

In the meantime I'm enjoying my baby girls sleeping at the same time!

Love, Juanna