Latest news with #Boo
Hamilton Spectator
4 days ago
- Business
- Hamilton Spectator
Delays in Wellington and Victoria reconstruction project leave area residents frustrated
Last week, the St. Marys Independent received a submission to our weekly Bravos and Boos section from a local resident frustrated over the impact delays in the final stages of the Wellington Steet and Victoria Street reconstruction project have had on their property and that of their neighbours. The Boo, published in this week's paper, reads as follows: 'Boo to the town in regards to the construction project at Wellington and Victoria Street. This project has been going on for close to a year. Nothing has been done for weeks now. Everybody's front yards are all torn up. One would think that for the amount of taxes we have to pay, that the town would at least show some respect and finish what was started. St. Marys residents take pride in our community and we expect nothing less from you.' For transparency, we at the Independent opted not to print the above Boo in last week's paper and instead decided to follow up with the town to help area residents understand the delays to this project. We reached out to St. Marys infrastructure services manager Jeff Wolfe, who provided details about the $1.6-million reconstruction project and reasons as to why work has slowed in recent weeks. Last year, the Independent reported that the town was working with OMEGA Contractors Inc. to reconstruct a section of Wellington Street South, spanning from Park Street to St. Maria Street, and Victoria Street spanning from Church Street South to Water Street South. The project is a continuation of the highly successful Wellington Street reconstruction project that spanned from the Wellington Street Bridge to Park Street East completed in 2023 that focused on making the downtown more accessible for people with disabilities. Improvements in this second phase of the project included replacing a water main and copper water services, improving drainage with grading, installing new storm sewers and catch basins, and replacing the asphalt roadway. 'Topcoat asphalt and associated work was planned for June 2025, and all other works were originally to have been completed in fall 2024,' Wolfe told the Independent. 'The project was delayed in the fall of 2024 and pushed into early winter, and turf restoration was postponed until spring 2025 as a result. Concrete sidewalk deficiencies developed over the winter, and the associated re-work delayed the anticipated turf restoration. All underground and hard surfaces are now complete, topsoil has been prepared and turf is to be installed by July 18, weather pending.' Wolfe explained the delayed start to the project last year was because of other projects the contractor was working on at the time. Town staff expect all remaining work to be completed by the time this newspaper comes out July 24, and the town and its engineer will continue monitoring the project area for another year for any issues that develop post-construction. While that may sound promising, at least one resident in the project area, Marlene Mackenzie, the owner of Wellington Street Guest House, is fed up with what she describes as shifting project timelines and the extended impacts of the project on her property and business. 'He'll say next week; well he told me two weeks ago it was supposed to be done by that Friday,' Mackenzie said, describing a conversation she had with Wolfe. 'I told him that my property would be on the (St. Marys Horticultural Society) garden tour. It's been going on for three week; every time I talk to him, he goes, 'Oh yeah, it will be done by this date.' ' Mackenzie said doesn't understand why work hasn't moved quicker when she believes there has been ample opportunity for it to be completed. The work is supposed to include the replacement of sod and the repair of a portion of her brick walkway leading up to her short-term accommodations business, however she said she has received mixed messages as to who will actually repair her walkway. As summer is her busy season, she said this project has impacted her business as she's been forced to require her guests to park on the street, and the uprooting of a portion of her walkway has also impacted accessibility for guests. 'This is the second summer that we've gone through this,' Mackenzie said. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Sydney Morning Herald
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Sydney Morning Herald
Pistol and Boo should have disguised themselves as (maybe mad) cows
Poor Pistol and Boo. If only they'd disguised themselves as cows. Maybe mad cows. You may recall the border-busting adventures of Pistol and Boo, pet puppies of Amber Heard, who in those carefree, pre-bitter-divorce days was still on jet-setting terms with Hollywood's Johnny Depp. The cute little doggies shot to international fame in 2015 when Heard and Depp smuggled them into Australia, thus offending our famously strict quarantine laws. The plight of the two Yorkshire terriers went stratospheric when Australia's customs and agriculture minister of the time, Barnaby Joyce, threatened to have Pistol and Boo shot if they weren't led back to Depp's plane and deported forthwith. 'If we start letting movie stars – even though they've been the sexiest man alive twice – to come into our nation, then why don't we just break the laws for everybody?' Joyce foamed. 'It's time that Pistol and Boo buggered off back to the United States.' That, of course, was then.
The Age
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Age
Pistol and Boo should have disguised themselves as (maybe mad) cows
Poor Pistol and Boo. If only they'd disguised themselves as cows. Maybe mad cows. You may recall the border-busting adventures of Pistol and Boo, pet puppies of Amber Heard, who in those carefree, pre-bitter-divorce days was still on jet-setting terms with Hollywood's Johnny Depp. The cute little doggies shot to international fame in 2015 when Heard and Depp smuggled them into Australia, thus offending our famously strict quarantine laws. The plight of the two Yorkshire terriers went stratospheric when Australia's customs and agriculture minister of the time, Barnaby Joyce, threatened to have Pistol and Boo shot if they weren't led back to Depp's plane and deported forthwith. 'If we start letting movie stars – even though they've been the sexiest man alive twice – to come into our nation, then why don't we just break the laws for everybody?' Joyce foamed. 'It's time that Pistol and Boo buggered off back to the United States.' That, of course, was then.
Metro
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Metro
BBC drama that 'perfectly encapsulated grief' celebrated by fans 9 years later
It's been almost a decade since Phoebe Waller-Bridge's groundbreaking BBC drama Fleabag offered one of the most poignant explorations of grief on TV. The Emmy-winning show started as a one-woman show at Edinburgh Fringe Festival before making the leap to the small screen in 2016, with the first episode airing on July 21. The fourth-wall-breaking show stars Phoebe as the titular Fleabag who is navigating the complicated and sudden loss of her best friend Boo (Jenny Rainsford). As she navigates this trauma, we meet the people who make up her small, and chaotic, world, including her uptight sister Claire (Sian Clifford), her snooty stepmum Matrigna (Olivia Colman) and, later on in the show, the man she falls in love with but can never have – Andrew Scott's (Hot) Priest. The two-season comedy has built a loyal fanbase over the years and, with its regular inclusion in people's favourite shows of all time, it is also constantly being discovered by new viewers. Praised for its wit and surprising depth, fans are reminiscing on just what made the show so good – from its fundamental understanding of bereavement to its ability to flesh out flawed characters. During one scene, when Fleabag is describing the heaviness of Boo's loss, she explains: 'I don't know what to do with it. With all the love I have for her.I don't know where to put it now.' Sharing this moment on X, user @moralgrey simply wrote: 'When fleabag perfectly encapsulated grief.' Another user, @weirdnelipit, added: 'genuinely, my favourite one was this whole boo and fleabag conversation after her mom died, 'Like it sparked a new layer of understanding of grief & all of our unconditional love for someone & the closest people we have will always be on our side.. a love that will always remain.' 'Thank you Fleabag for one of the most beautiful depictions of grief,' chaoticguitar echoed. 'Fleabag summed up a lot of the grief we feel after a loved ones death in this scene,' Layal Shakeir agreed. Over on Reddit, fans were in agreement about the show's impact. User sgt-snuggles wrote: 'I didn't truly see it on first watch but Fleabag really has such a unique and real portrayal of grief. When I rewatched it after losing someone close I felt like I was seeing it through different lenses. 'The desperation to be close to people while pushing away real closeness, the fear of confronting how everything truly feels, it's so real and beautifully shown in such a deep yet silly manner.' 'The spiraling, confusing, messy grief is so well displayed in Fleabag with Boo. It's cold and snowy out, so I'm going to make beef stew and watch Fleabag and cry and drink wine,' soup-creature echoed. This was not the only moment fans were profoundly moved by. For many, the highlight of the show is the portrayal of sisterhood in all its messiness, and more importantly, all its unconditional love. 'I'm so grateful for the depiction of Claire and Fleabag's relationship — the ugliness and heartbreak and enormity of love and care. how different they're & how they choose to stick with each other,' @apparitionow said. In one scene, Claire tells Fleabag that she's the only person she would run through an airport for in a bid to do a grand gesture (typically reserved for romance). 'Portrayal of the sibling relationship in Fleabag still remains one of my favourite aspects of the show. As someone who has always struggled to verbalise her love for her sibling, this bit was like a eureka moment for me,' d_majumdar92. Other highlights include the heartwrenching exchange in which Fleabag confesses her love for Priest, only to be told 'it'll pass'. Or when Priest is the only one to 'ask her a question in 45 minutes'. Or when he's the only one who can break the fourth wall with her. For @alison_epp, these moments were an 'absolute surprising and beautiful way to show someone truly being seen'. More Trending Another fan shared their love for the scene when Fleabag is talking with an older woman who has been through menopause, Belinda, who delivers a layered monologue about 'women being born with pain built in' and the freedom you find in your later years. If you haven't watched Fleabag, then let this new milestone be your sign to watch it. You won't regret it. View More » Fleabag is available to stream on BBC iPlayer now. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: BBC's Celebrity Traitors is 'blowing a whopping £760,000 on cast salaries' MORE: Rob Brydon admits major blunder he made that almost ruined BBC series MORE: The most 'absurd' show on the BBC just dropped 6 new episodes
The Star
19-07-2025
- Health
- The Star
Legal review advised for drug pricing order to ensure compliance, says doctor
JOHOR BARU: The newly gazetted Price Control and Anti-Profiteering (Price Marking for Drugs) Order 2025 should be referred to the Attorney-General's Chambers for a comprehensive legal review before its enforcement, according to local medical practitioner Dr Boo Cheng Hau. Dr Boo emphasised that while the initiative aims to protect patients' rights by ensuring fair pricing of medicines and medical consultation fees, its legal foundation under current laws is questionable. "It is just to uphold the rights of patients, but the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011 must be interpreted together with other existing laws such as the Consumer Protection Act 1999, the Medical Act 1971 and the Poisons Act 1952," he stated. This statement comes in response to Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister Datuk Amirzan Mohd Ali's announcement in May about the formulation and gazetting of the new price control order under Section 10 of the 2011 Act, which mandates private hospitals, clinics, and pharmacies to display prices of medicines. Amirzan contended that the Act empowers the ministry to regulate prices of "goods and services" provided to consumers. However, Dr Boo, a former Skudai assemblyman and current DAP Taman Ungku Tun Aminah branch publicity secretary, argued that this interpretation might exceed the ministry's jurisdiction. He cited Section 2(2)(f) of the Consumer Protection Act 1999, noting that healthcare and other professional services are explicitly exempted from consumer law, as they are regulated under separate professional legislation. "Although Section 4 and Section 5 of the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act do give the ministry powers to set maximum and minimum prices, medical charges fall under the jurisdiction of the Health Ministry via the Medical Act 1971 and the Private Healthcare Facilities and Services Act 1998," Dr Boo explained. He further noted that the sale, licensing, and regulation of medicines are governed by the Poisons Act 1952, the Sale of Drugs Act 1952, and the Control of Drugs and Cosmetics Regulations 1984, all under the Health Ministry's purview. "The Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry does not have the technical expertise, authority or jurisdiction to regulate pharmaceutical licensing or pricing. These responsibilities lie solely with the Health Ministry," he asserted. Dr Boo urged that the Cabinet should ensure laws are not interpreted unilaterally by ministers and should seek clarification from the Attorney-General's Chambers to ensure lawful enforcement and coordination between ministries. He warned that poor legal coordination could lead to enforcement issues, confusion, and exploitation in the healthcare sector, despite the government's commendable intention to protect patients' rights. Dr Boo highlighted inconsistencies in pharmaceutical pricing, with complaints about private hospitals charging significantly more than chain pharmacies, which sometimes sell drugs at up to 75% below typical market rates. He also raised concerns about pharmacies offering consultations outside their licensed scope and tampering with prescriptions, causing complications for patients. Dr Boo concluded that a clear legal framework is essential for regulating the health sector, stressing the need for better coordination among doctors, pharmacists, and paramedics to prevent profiteering, protect patients' rights, and uphold the ethical standards of the medical profession.
