Latest news with #Adam
Winnipeg Free Press
7 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Winnipeg Free Press
Power, punishment parsed in surreal, challenging sci-fi
Three giants find themselves jammed into a spacecraft, hurtling through outer space. Just why or how they got there is not immediately apparent, to themselves or the reader. But one thing is clear: things are not right. So begins Pip Adam's Audition, a novel that blends science-fiction and social commentary in a surreal text which challenges readers to question both the penal system and how people can live with each other, despite cruelty, violence and past mistakes. First published internationally in 2023, the latest from the New Zealand-based Adam is now available in Canada. The first section of Audition unfolds entirely in conversation between the novel's three protagonists, as they try to piece together not only what is happening to them, but how they got there to begin with. Rebecca McMillan Photography Pip Adam Alba, Drew and Stanley weren't always giants. They're pretty sure of that, anyway. But then, they aren't sure of much at first. Had they volunteered for this mission, or had they been forced or coerced onto the ships? When had they started growing larger than their neighbours, and how did that become a problem? 'No one really understood how tall they were and whether they'd stopped growing,' Adam explains in a section titled Leaving. 'Three to one was what everyone agreed — because it made everyone feel more comfortable.' Without spoiling anything, the answers are not made clear until the ship passes an apparent event horizon, whereby there is no going back to the way, or the where, things were before. Their memories become clearer, though that in itself is problematic, as are the interconnected relationships between the three of them, which are based, in part or whole, on violence and betrayal. However, their othering from society brings them together, both literally and figuratively, as all three begin to grow and become giant. ''It started slowly,' Alba says. 'Like these things always do — aided by a healthy hope that it isn't happening at all, a hope that kept everything at bay, made orderly decisions possible and then — it happened very quickly.'' Weekly A weekly look at what's happening in Winnipeg's arts and entertainment scene. There are certainly some leaps to be made by the reader throughout, and even then not everything is apparent. Apart from Alba's memories of prison, reawakened following the event horizon, little in Audition is straightforward. Indeed, a rejection of the binary is implicit to the narrative itself. Instead, Audition is frequently surreal, at times fantastic, and plays with structure, iteration and repetition. What is clear is Adam's use of metaphor to make the argument that the prison industrial complex is both inhumane and dehumanizing. Hierarchical systems of power and punishment are rejected, in the end, while fluidity, both figurative and literal, are embraced. Audition 'What is very important to the place Alba came from is who is above and who is below and because this ordering and valuing is everywhere and done by everyone, it seems inevitable that, when they were left on their own in their cells at night, it would follow them all there too. The idea of below and above seems pointless here. It's like the fall had stripped it out of them,' Adam writes. While Audition may be a challenging read, these are challenging times. The book isn't without humour or whimsy, although it deals with a heavy subject and themes. Readers who brave the journey may well find themselves the better for it. Sheldon Birnie is a Winnipeg writer and author of Where the Pavement Turns to Sand, a collection of strange stories.
Scotsman
20 hours ago
- Sport
- Scotsman
Scottish golfer on course to qualify for 153rd Open through Amateur Series
Cameron Adam is in a strong position with a round to go in battle for spot at Royal Portrush Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Cameron Adam is on course to join compatriot and fellow lefty Bob MacIntyre in the field for the 153rd Open after moving into the top ten with a round to go in the European Amateur Championship in Sweden. The Royal Burgess player got off to a flying start in The Open Amateur Series by winning the St Andrews Links Trophy earlier this month before then failing to make the match-play stage in The R&A Amateur Championship. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Despite that disappointment, Adam still topped the standings heading into the third and final event in the battle for a coveted spot in this year's Claret Jug event at Royal Portrush. Cameron Adam is in a strong position in The Open Amater Series with a round to go | Northwestern University American Ethan Fang, his closest challenge in the points table after being crowned as the Amateur champion at Royal St George's, wasn't in the European Amateur Championship line up at Vasatorps while England's Harley Smith, who started the event in third, retired after the opening round. It was mission accomplished for Adam in terms of his first goal of making the cut this week as he opened with rounds of 75-70 before jumping 14 spots up the leaderboard to sit joint-seventh on the back of a third-day 71. On level par, Adam sits just three shots off the lead, shared by three players, in Sweden as he bids to become the first Scot to lift the title since Stephen Gallacher in 1994. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Though not yet cut and dried, the Stephen Gallacher Foundation ambassador is in a strong position to become the second successive Scot to win the series after Calum Scott got into last year's Open at Royal Troon, where the Nairn man picked up the Silver Medal as the leading amateur.
Powys County Times
a day ago
- Business
- Powys County Times
Cranswick reveals boss lands £4.6m pay package amid pig farm abuse scandal
Meat giant Cranswick revealed its boss has seen his pay package swell by more than a third to £4.6 million as one of its farms remains at the centre of animal abuse claims. In its annual report, the firm – Britain's largest pork supplier – said chief executive Adam Couch landed a £1.7 million annual bonus and potential long-term share awards worth £1.9 million, on top of his £847,400 salary in the year to March. His total pay jumped 34% higher, up from £3.4 million in 2023-24. The East Yorkshire-based group also revealed that Mr Couch saw his salary hiked by more than £127,000 to £974,600 on April 1 as part of a pay review. Details of his pay and bonuses comes less than two months after abuse claims emerged against a pig farm run by the business. The pork producer suspended using Northmoor Farm in Lincolnshire after covert footage emerged appearing to show workers at the site abusing piglets. Workers were filmed appearing to hold piglets by their hind legs and slamming them to the ground, using a banned method of killing the animals known as 'piglet thumping'. Major supermarkets Asda, Morrisons, Sainsbury's and Tesco suspended Northmoor Farm as a supplier, and Cranswick shortly afterwards launched an independent review into its animal welfare policies and livestock operations. In its annual report on Friday, Mr Couch said: 'We have always placed the highest importance on animal health and wellbeing, and continuously aim to have the most stringent standards in the sector. 'We take seriously any instance, anywhere in our supply chain, where behaviour fails to meet those standards. 'We are therefore instigating a new, fully independent, expert veterinarian review of all our existing animal welfare policies, together with a comprehensive review of our livestock operations across the UK. 'We will provide a further update on this work in due course.' On the chief executive's salary rise, the group's remuneration committee added in the report that there was 'very strong support' for the increase among shareholders. It added that his base salary previously did not 'appropriately and fairly reflect Adam's extensive experience and his exceptional contribution to the impressive performance of the business'. 'We believe it is critical to take decisive action now to ensure Adam is appropriately incentivised and retained to deliver Cranswick's long-term growth ambitions,' according to the committee. Cranswick's results last month showed record sales and profits for the past year. The firm revealed revenues grew by 6.8% to £2.72 billion for the year to March, compared with the previous year, while pre-tax profits grew by 14.6% to £181.6 million.
Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Climate
- Daily Mirror
Tips on how to sleep through a heatwave as temperatures expected to soar
A new report has revealed that over half of Brits have pulled a sickie due to the roasting weather impacting their sleep - and it's only set to get worse, with temperatures expected to spike again this weekend Heatwaves are believed to cost the UK economy an average of £5.98bn each year, according to a recent study, and a significant factor is sleep. More than a third of Brits lose between one to two hours of sleep per night during a heatwave. As a result, over half of Brits have admitted to calling in sick due to the scorching weather affecting their sleep, others have arrived late or cancelled social plans. Worryingly for UK employers, the decrease in sleep quality is impacting productivity levels with the average adult losing nearly 14 hours of efficient work time during heatwaves. According to the study commissioned by BOXT, only 5 percent of UK homes are constructed to cope with the temperatures that the country is currently experiencing. Overheated Brits are also feeling the pinch financially. The research shows half of participants (57%) are splurging £150 on iced drinks and portable fans to stay cool, while a staggering 28% confessed to shelling out £300 for the same items. "We've long focused on keeping heat in but with hotter summers becoming the norm, good insulation is just as important for keeping our homes cool," said Adam Knight, lead engineer at BOXT. "Most of us are relying on temporary cooling hacks and still not sleeping well. We're seeing more hot, humid nights in the UK but our homes aren't built for it," he said. "Ask any parent with a cranky toddler after a sleepless night, or a commuter sweating through another sticky train journey. Heat affects behaviour and brain power." Despite the nationwide struggles, only 5 percent of Brits have a permanent air-conditioning unit fitted in their home and 14 percent consider the concept an American or Mediterranean 'luxury'. But it might not be as expensive as they think. You could get a unit installed with flexible finance options starting at just £30.67 a month with no deposit, says BOXT. Those who are happy to splash the cash upfront could purchase an air-conditioning unit for £2,199. Adam added: "Most people assume air conditioning is expensive or only for luxury homes – but it's more affordable than you may think. And, unlike fans or gadgets that just circulate air, proper AC cools the whole room, not just the space directly in front of you." To help struggling Brits get through their workday when temperatures rise, sleep expert and psychologist Hope Bastine has shared her top advice on how to get a good night's sleep. Heatwave hacks to improve your sleep Freeze your sheets Go for natural linen or eucalyptus fibre sheets – they wick away moisture, dry quickly and help air flow. To stay cool without soaking your bed, focus on smaller items. Stick to freezing just your pillowcase or a light throw, not the whole bedding set. Pop them in a plastic bag and freeze for 15 minutes before bed. Ditch your partner Cuddling partners and pets can be comforting but not in a heatwave – so try to sleep solo if possible. Body heat is your worst enemy on hot nights. Even one extra person in bed can raise the temp by a few degrees. Skip the cold shower before bed Instead, Hope recommends having a lukewarm shower 90 minutes before bed, which helps kickstart your body's cooling process and helps wind you down. Cut the caffeine Iced coffees might feel like a heatwave treat but caffeine is a diuretic and contributes to dehydration, one of the top causes of disturbed sleep. It also raises your body temperature, which is what you want to avoid.
Leader Live
a day ago
- Business
- Leader Live
Cranswick reveals boss lands £4.6m pay package amid pig farm abuse scandal
In its annual report, the firm – Britain's largest pork supplier – said chief executive Adam Couch landed a £1.7 million annual bonus and potential long-term share awards worth £1.9 million, on top of his £847,400 salary in the year to March. His total pay jumped 34% higher, up from £3.4 million in 2023-24. The East Yorkshire-based group also revealed that Mr Couch saw his salary hiked by more than £127,000 to £974,600 on April 1 as part of a pay review. Details of his pay and bonuses comes less than two months after abuse claims emerged against a pig farm run by the business. The pork producer suspended using Northmoor Farm in Lincolnshire after covert footage emerged appearing to show workers at the site abusing piglets. Workers were filmed appearing to hold piglets by their hind legs and slamming them to the ground, using a banned method of killing the animals known as 'piglet thumping'. Major supermarkets Asda, Morrisons, Sainsbury's and Tesco suspended Northmoor Farm as a supplier, and Cranswick shortly afterwards launched an independent review into its animal welfare policies and livestock operations. In its annual report on Friday, Mr Couch said: 'We have always placed the highest importance on animal health and wellbeing, and continuously aim to have the most stringent standards in the sector. 'We take seriously any instance, anywhere in our supply chain, where behaviour fails to meet those standards. 'We are therefore instigating a new, fully independent, expert veterinarian review of all our existing animal welfare policies, together with a comprehensive review of our livestock operations across the UK. 'We will provide a further update on this work in due course.' On the chief executive's salary rise, the group's remuneration committee added in the report that there was 'very strong support' for the increase among shareholders. It added that his base salary previously did not 'appropriately and fairly reflect Adam's extensive experience and his exceptional contribution to the impressive performance of the business'. 'We believe it is critical to take decisive action now to ensure Adam is appropriately incentivised and retained to deliver Cranswick's long-term growth ambitions,' according to the committee. Cranswick's results last month showed record sales and profits for the past year. The firm revealed revenues grew by 6.8% to £2.72 billion for the year to March, compared with the previous year, while pre-tax profits grew by 14.6% to £181.6 million.
