Right on: does standup comedy have a leftwing bias?

 Posted on April 23, 2024  |  3 minutes  |  583 words  |  Jenniffer Sheldon

SolvedComedyThe idea that the artform skews left is widespread, but the prevalence of comedians punching down suggests otherwise In the Guide’s weekly Solved! column, we look into a crucial pop-culture question you’ve been burning to know the answer to – and settle it, once and for all “Three-quarters of BBC comedians are liberals,” scream the headlines; or “New BBC boss targets ‘leftwing’ comedy shows.” In the ongoing culture wars, a battle is being waged over comedy. [Read More]

Yotam Ottolenghis orange recipes

 Posted on April 23, 2024  |  9 minutes  |  1869 words  |  Aldo Pusey

Yotam Ottolenghi’s chocolate, orange and chipotle fondants. Photograph: Louise Hagger/The Guardian. Food styling: Katy Gilhooly. Prop styling: Jennifer KayYotam Ottolenghi’s chocolate, orange and chipotle fondants. Photograph: Louise Hagger/The Guardian. Food styling: Katy Gilhooly. Prop styling: Jennifer KayYotam Ottolenghi recipesFoodIt’s peak orange season: put some zest in your kitchen with a butternut galette with orange caramel, tapioca fritters with an orange syrup or chocolate orange fondants Ironically, the sunniest of fruits are at their best at the gloomiest time of year, with varieties such as the Sicilian blood orange and the Spanish Seville filling the grocers’ shelves right now. [Read More]

Berlusconi trial: 'Ruby' fails to appear in court, causes nationwide hunt | Silvio Berlusconi

 Posted on April 22, 2024  |  2 minutes  |  241 words  |  Jenniffer Sheldon

Silvio Berlusconi This article is more than 11 years oldBerlusconi trial: 'Ruby' fails to appear in court, causes nationwide huntThis article is more than 11 years oldJudges order police to look for Karima el-Mahroug, accusing former prime minister of dragging out 'Bunga Bunga' trialJudges in Milan ordered a nationwide hunt for the woman at the centre of Silvio Berlusconi's trial on charges of paying for underage sex after she failed to appear in court on Monday to testify. [Read More]

Fortuna Dsseldorf player made to referee girls game after sexist remark | Fortuna Dsseldorf

 Posted on April 22, 2024  |  1 minutes  |  209 words  |  Kary Bruening

Fortuna Düsseldorf This article is more than 8 years oldFortuna Düsseldorf player made to referee girls’ game after sexist remarkThis article is more than 8 years old Kerem Demirbay told official ‘women have no place in men’s football’ Bundesliga 2 club dished out their own punishment for 22-year-oldFortuna Düsseldorf came up with a novel way of teaching a young player a lesson when the German club made the midfielder Kerem Demirbay referee a girls’ football match on Saturday as punishment for making a sexist comment towards a female match official. [Read More]

Josiah Henson: the forgotten story in the history of slavery

 Posted on April 22, 2024  |  9 minutes  |  1711 words  |  Jenniffer Sheldon

BooksHis life partly inspired Uncle Tom’s Cabin. He was entertained at both Windsor Castle and the White House. He rescued more than 100 enslaved people. But barely anyone has heard of him From its very first moments, Harriet Beecher Stowe’s debut novel Uncle Tom’s Cabin was a smashing success. It sold out its 5,000-copy print run in four days in 1852, with one newspaper declaring that “everybody has read it, is reading, or is about to read it”. [Read More]

Leon Russell obituary | Pop and rock

 Posted on April 22, 2024  |  5 minutes  |  920 words  |  Chauncey Koziol

Pop and rockObituaryLeon Russell obituaryUS pianist, singer and writer of hit songs including Delta Lady and A Song for YouIn 2010, Elton John surprised his fans by releasing an album in collaboration with the pianist, singer and songwriter Leon Russell, whom he described as “my biggest influence”. Russell had been out of the limelight for three decades, but in the early 1970s he had been at the heart of some of pop music’s biggest events. [Read More]

Mandarin Kitchen, London: Seriously good restaurant review

 Posted on April 22, 2024  |  7 minutes  |  1474 words  |  Valentine Belue

Jay Rayner on restaurantsFoodReviewThe superb cooking and friendly service at the Mandarin will inspire you to start a new family tradition Mandarin Kitchen, 14-16 Queensway, London W2 3RX (020 7727 9012; mandarin.kitchen). Starters and soups £4.30-£13.90, large plates £8.90-£55 (for sharing), desserts £4.20-£8.20, wines from £27.90 London has many Chinatowns. They may not be as extensive as the throng around Gerrard Street, but they are very much there. When I was a kid, deep-braised in the sweet soy broth of privilege, my family would go once a year, just after Christmas, to the theatre; to bathe in the spot-lit thrill of the overture, the sequin and the jazz hand. [Read More]

Midwinter Break by Bernard MacLaverty review marriage under the microscope

 Posted on April 22, 2024  |  5 minutes  |  966 words  |  Chauncey Koziol

Book of the dayFictionReviewAn elderly couple remember their past and face up to the future in this quietly brilliant novel from the Northern Irish author The married couple at the centre of Bernard MacLaverty’s first novel in 16 years have reached that stage of life where “every time I open my glasses case nowadays, I am pleasantly surprised to find my glasses”. Gerry and Stella have survived the Troubles, raised a son now living in Canada, had careers in architecture and teaching. [Read More]

My search for female gardeners life stories helped me combat loneliness and make great friend

 Posted on April 22, 2024  |  8 minutes  |  1576 words  |  Chauncey Koziol

‘Forming new friendships has been exhilarating, especially with people I would struggle to encounter otherwise’: Alice Vincent. Photograph: Kristina Varaksina/The Observer‘Forming new friendships has been exhilarating, especially with people I would struggle to encounter otherwise’: Alice Vincent. Photograph: Kristina Varaksina/The ObserverSelf and wellbeingGardening adviceI was lonely after lockdown and wanted to know why women gardened so wrote to those I admired. Now I have a host of new friends from different generations and backgroundsThis year, I dedicated the drizzly, flat little days between Christmas and New Year to having a clearout. [Read More]

Why I loved Menopause the Musical - and why the critics really hated it | Stage

 Posted on April 22, 2024  |  4 minutes  |  845 words  |  Valentine Belue

Theatre blogStageWhy I loved Menopause the Musical - and why the critics really hated itThis crowd-pleasing, taboo-breaking show doesn't deserve such damning and prudish reviews.The only menopause comedy in town: Su Pollard, Amanda Symonds, Samantha Hughes and Miquel Brown. Photograph: Joel Ryan/PA Any production that calls itself "Something - the Musical" is unabashedly announcing to its audience: "We're cheesy, and we know it." Any critic familiar with this theatre convention should not have expected Menopause the Musical to be highbrow. [Read More]