Eric Brown, science fiction author and Guardian critic, dies aged 62 | Books

 Posted on April 25, 2024  |  4 minutes  |  730 words  |  Delta Gatti

Books This article is more than 9 months oldEric Brown, science fiction author and Guardian critic, dies aged 62This article is more than 9 months oldWriters, publishers and agents pay tribute to a warm, generous figure, author of more than 50 books ranging from SFF to crime to children’s literature Eric Brown, a prolific, award-winning author who published more than 50 novels, children’s books and short story collections, and who was the Guardian’s science fiction reviewer for a number of years, has died aged 62. [Read More]

Is media platform Nextdoor a friend in need or a vigilante nightmare?

 Posted on April 25, 2024  |  9 minutes  |  1833 words  |  Barrett Giampaolo

The ObserverSocial mediaThe fast-growing media platform claims its mission is to foster community spirit – which it mainly does. But can it control the spread of misinformation? Introducing its financial results earlier this month for the fourth quarter of 2021, the community-based social networking platform Nextdoor reiterated its core mission: “Our purpose is to cultivate a kinder world where everyone has a neighbourhood they can rely on.” It’s a noble aim that’s certainly gaining attention. [Read More]

Joy Shelton | | The Guardian

 Posted on April 25, 2024  |  4 minutes  |  668 words  |  Delta Gatti

ObituaryJoy SheltonHeroine of morale-boosting wartime movies and devoted wife of radio's PC49The career of actress Joy Shelton, who has died aged 77, was all stops and starts. In the 1940s, she was groomed for stardom by the Gainsborough film studio, but then dropped. Picked up by BBC radio, she was for six years a household name as the fiancée, and later the wife, of that reassuring model policeman, PC 49, in the crime series of that name. [Read More]

Sunday Mirror did dodgy stuff on every story, phone-hacking trial told | Sunday Mirror

 Posted on April 25, 2024  |  4 minutes  |  652 words  |  Christie Applegate

Sunday Mirror This article is more than 8 months oldSunday Mirror ‘did dodgy stuff’ on every story, phone-hacking trial toldThis article is more than 8 months oldFormer reporter, giving evidence in support of Prince Harry and others, says editor Tina Weaver taught journalists to hack phones The Sunday Mirror’s editor personally taught journalists how to hack voicemails, a former reporter has told the high court. Dan Evans told the phone-hacking trial that illegal activity was “bog-standard” at the tabloid newspaper. [Read More]

The origin of Don't Cry For Me, Argentina | Music

 Posted on April 25, 2024  |  5 minutes  |  1050 words  |  Christie Applegate

Vinyl wordMusicThe origin of Don't Cry For Me, ArgentinaJoe Queenan on the only song ever written by a knight that was recorded by both Tom Jones and Sinead O’Connor and banned from British airwaves during a war Grammys 2018 – live coverage Every once in a while, somebody comes along and writes a catchy tear-jerking ballad in honor of a dead fascist's dead wife that makes you forget all the other great crypto-fascist tear-jerkers you've ever heard. [Read More]

The week in classical: The Ring of the Nibelung; Berlin Philharmonic/ Fischer review a human exp

 Posted on April 25, 2024  |  6 minutes  |  1159 words  |  Merlyn Hunt

The ObserverClassical musicReviewStaatsoper Unter den Linden; Berliner Philharmonie, Berlin Outstanding performances can’t save Dmitri Tcherniakov’s new production of the Ring – originally due to have been conducted by Daniel Barenboim – from closing to a barrage of boos The cheers should have been for Daniel Barenboim. Berlin’s new Ring was to be a celebratory cycle conducted by him to mark his forthcoming 80th birthday, and completed, unusually, in a single week instead of across several seasons. [Read More]

Cat bin woman Mary Bale fined 250 | Animal welfare

 Posted on April 24, 2024  |  4 minutes  |  772 words  |  Christie Applegate

Animal welfare This article is more than 13 years oldCat bin woman Mary Bale fined £250This article is more than 13 years oldMary Bale pleads guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to tabby she dropped in a bin, as judge accepts she has faced 'vilification'One inexplicable moment of cruelty when Mary Bale seized a cat and dropped it into a wheelie bin was punished with a modest £250 fine today. But the 45-year-old former bank worker may pay the price for her impulsive act for the rest of her life. [Read More]

Chris Ofili: The Seven Deadly Sins review sacred, seductive and sensational

 Posted on April 24, 2024  |  5 minutes  |  902 words  |  Barrett Giampaolo

‘Your eye slides and drifts’ … The Great Beauty by Chris Ofili. Photograph: Jack Hems/Chris Ofili, courtesy the artist and Victoria Miro‘Your eye slides and drifts’ … The Great Beauty by Chris Ofili. Photograph: Jack Hems/Chris Ofili, courtesy the artist and Victoria MiroChris OfiliReviewVictoria Miro, London Full of giddying detail and unfathomable mystery, these large, luxurious and deeply complex paintings are among the most beguiling works the artist has ever made [Read More]

Former oil executive Mark McAllister lined up to be next Ofgem chair | Ofgem

 Posted on April 24, 2024  |  3 minutes  |  574 words  |  Brenda Moya

Ofgem This article is more than 4 months oldFormer oil executive Mark McAllister lined up to be next Ofgem chairThis article is more than 4 months oldGovernment’s choice of energy regulator boss criticised as ‘putting the fox in charge of the hen house’ UK politics live – latest updates Business live – latest updates A former North Sea oil and gas boss has been lined up to chair Great Britain’s energy regulator, Ofgem, in a move criticised as “putting the fox in charge of the hen house”. [Read More]

Frankenchicken at the centre of fight for animal welfare | Animal welfare

 Posted on April 24, 2024  |  7 minutes  |  1374 words  |  Christie Applegate

The ObserverAnimal welfare This article is more than 1 year old‘Frankenchicken’ at the centre of fight for animal welfareThis article is more than 1 year oldCost of living crisis could stall campaign to phase out the modern genetically selected fast-growing broiler The Ross 308 is one of the most successful products in consumer history, with many tens of billions sold around the world over the last decade. With its own 15-page performance manual, low production costs and a bargain price for shoppers, it is marketed as the world’s most popular meat chicken. [Read More]