Latest news with #Downsizing
ABC News
3 days ago
- Business
- ABC News
Circular economy of a new age of old stuff flourishes as Australians scrimp and save
A few minutes walking the aisles of an opportunity shop are enough for a shopper to ponder how utilitarian and disposable Australia's society has become. The artefacts of a passing generation go begging for sale. At any op shop around Australia brooches, stoles, clutch purses and gloves, as well as floral teacups, doilies and crystal vases come together in a cluttered shrine of sorts to a generation that survived two world wars. The Depression-era salvage mentality of keeping the good stuff for a special occasion was drummed into the post-war generation. But by the late 1960s cheap imports, mass manufacturing, plastics and technology would pave the way for a more casual, comfort and convenience-driven Australian lifestyle. Modern families thought nothing of disposing of unwanted items and replacing them with something new. Stradbroke-based recycler Nathan Bruce has made it his life's mission to reduce waste wherever possible, clearing unwanted items from deceased estates, downsizers, garage sales and hoarders. "I recycle everything. When it comes to deceased estates I do whole properties, so I will recycle a broken brick, a rusty tin, even putting a piece of paper into a cardboard bin to reduce the waste however I can," he said. "It's mainly older people who are downsizing and don't have the ability to do it themselves, or the family is not willing to help. That's where I come in." In building his Aladdin's cave crammed with antiques, records, DVDs, Tupperware, electric goods and bric-a-brac, Mr Bruce has come across everything from rats to 200-year-old coins in his hunt for treasure. Hazardous items like mouldy books and chipped ceramics must be thrown out, and not all plastics can be recycled. But the licensed second-hand dealer is determined to upcycle and sell the unsellable at his shopfront in Sale. Broken appliances are pulled apart for their wood, motors, copper and wires. "Silver is not worth much, about $1 a gram. Depending on the gold value a broken ring can get up to $30 to $40 a gram from some jewellers as scrap gold," Mr Bruce said, "Copper is about $10 to $11 a kilo so it all builds up if you have hundreds of pieces together. They're worth something." Mr Bruce said it was younger generations who were driving the second-hand and recycling movement as they dealt with their concerns for the environment and rising cost-of-living. At Morwell in the Latrobe Valley, vacant shops line the main street against a backdrop of a bustling op shop trade. William Smith is the warehouse coordinator at the Lifeline Gippsland thrift store and said women's clothing was always their biggest seller. "We never get enough men's clothing donated and that's because men generally wear their stuff until it dies. Then it gets thrown out," he said. "Whereas women tend to change their clothes regularly." Mr Smith said op shops had become the department stores of choice for the working poor and cash-strapped middle-class. "Shein, Anko, Temu, they're very much fast fashion where you wear it once and it's ruined," he said. "If you're going into an op shop you've got that potential of finding a quality item at a bargain price. "We don't want junk. Basically the best thing to think about when you're donating is, 'Would you buy it from or sell it to a family member?'" Mr Smith said old towels and blankets were often purchased by animal shelters, dog kennels and catteries, or cut up to be used as rags. "We have a secondary process where any old towels, windcheaters and T-shirts that we can't sell we repurpose into rags and we sell them in 10-kilogram bags to the industrial sector," he said. He said donations of crockery and bric-a-brac were always welcomed. "We sort it and we sell what we can, and what we can't we sell to an exporter, who then sells it on the second-hand market in developing countries overseas," Mr Smith said. "That way we can still raise money for our cause, which is the crisis line for Lifeline, and it doesn't end up in landfill." East Gippsland Shire Council waste minimisation officer Carina Turner said tremendous inroads had been made to improve sustainability and de-stigmatise hand-me-downs. "Repair cafes, tool libraries, general libraries and toy libraries are all part of a circular economy," she said. Ms Turner noted the success of initiatives like the container deposit scheme, which has been embraced by community groups for fundraising. "There's still an awful lot going in to landfill so we haven't yet solved the problem by any stretch of the imagination. But we are keeping more and more items out of landfill," she said. Ms Turner said new technologies had allowed for mattress springs to be recycled into fencing and polystyrene packaging to be turned into bricks. "More and more customers are expecting that the company that they choose to buy from will have sustainability as part of their business models," she said.
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Matt Damon box office bomb with only 47% on RT becomes Netflix smash hit
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Despite his string of hit roles in everything from Good Will Hunting and The Bourne Identity to, most recently, Oppenheimer, not everything Matt Damon stars in is as successful. However, one of his biggest bombs is finding a new life after becoming a smash hit on Netflix. Released in 2017, Downsizing wasn't well received. It has just 47% on Rotten Tomatoes and was a box office bomb after its $55 million earnings failed to match its budget. However,in the UK, it was added to Netflix on Thursday, May 22, and it's been steadily climbing Netflix's rankings and gaining viewers. At the time of writing two weeks later, it's the streamer's most-watched movie. Living in the US? Downsizing is free via Hoopla and Kanopy but is only available to buy or rent digitally beyond those options. Downsizing is part romance, part comedy and part sci-fi story. It's set in a world in which humans invent 'downsizing', a process by which people are irreversibly shrunk to about five inches, which makes them more space efficient thereby solving overpopulation and the climate crisis. Damon plays Paul, who decides to go through the process with his wife Aubrey (Kristin Wiig)... until she pulls out at the last minute and leaves him. Stuck in his small form, and seeing his life fall apart, Paul goes on a voyage through the small 'Leisureland' in order to find himself and redefine his life. Critics of 2017 criticized Downsizing for being a bit muddled in its focus, though it's worth pointing out that certain reviewers really loved it. As someone who watched the movie in cinemas back then, it's safe to say that the movie was mis-marketed in a way that hurt it: posters and adverts made it look like a standard American comedy, but it's anything but. In a way, Downsizing is an exploration of the climate crisis and humanity's longevity, dealing with themes of class struggles and impending extinction events. It can get dark and melancholy at times, which isn't what audiences would really expect from a Matt Damon rom-com. That's likely why Downsizing was received so poorly eight years ago. It's not a bad film, but if you're expecting a lighthearted comedy, you're going to be disappointed. The movie was directed by Alexander Payne, also known for The Descendants and The Holdovers, and if you've seen those fantastic movies, you'll have your expectations better aligned for Downsizing. Downsizing climbing up Netflix's rankings makes sense: people have probably forgotten any expectations created by marketing 8 years ago, the streamer's thumbnails make it seem more of a sci-fi story than a comedy, and its genre tags are "cerebral" and "imaginative" which better fits the movie. The movie isn't actually the only pre-Covid Hollywood flop on the top-10 movies list and if you want something more action-packed, the Taron Edgerton and Jamie Foxx Robin Hood from 2018 is at #4 after being added on Sunday, June 1. Rounding out the list is Netflix Original A Widow's Game at #2, Channel 4 doc Accused: The Hampstead Paedophile Hoax at #3, Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning at #5, stalwart The Super Mario Bros. Movie at #6, another Netflix movie The Heart Knows at #7, The Cat in the Hat at #8, Netflix doc A Deadly American Marriage at #9 and yet another kids movie Minions at #10.
Yahoo
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Alexander Payne to Head Venice Film Festival Jury
Alexander Payne will preside over the main jury of the upcoming Venice Film Festival. The two-time Oscar winner was last in Venice with 'Downsizing' his sci-fi comedy about humans who get miniaturized to save the planet, starring Matt Damon, which opened the festival in 2017. More from Variety Werner Herzog to Be Honored at Venice Film Festival With Golden Lion for Career Achievement 'Peaches Goes Bananas,' Marie Losier's Documentary About Feminist Queer Trailblazer, Bought for North America Music Box Buys Venice Prizewinning Film 'Familiar Touch' Directed by Rising Filmmaker Sarah Friedland (EXCLUSIVE) Payne's eight feature films – all comedies – have been nominated for 24 Oscars, including four times for best picture and three times for director. He has won twice for adapted screenplay. Payne's latest film 'The Holdovers' won the supporting actress Oscar in 2024. His other titles include 'Citizen Ruth' (1996), 'Election' (1999), 'About Schmidt' (2002), 'The Descendants' (2011), and 'Nebraska' (2013). He is currently preparing a new film to be shot in rural Denmark, details of which are being kept under wraps. Alexander Payne, who is 64, grew up in Omaha, Nebraska, and studied history and Spanish literature at Stanford before earning a master's degree in film directing at UCLA. Venice artistic director Alberto Barbera in a statement praised Payne for belonging 'to the small circle of filmmakers-cinephiles whose passion for cinema is fueled by knowledge of films of the past and curiosity about contemporary cinema, without boundaries or barriers of any kind.' 'These qualities – along with his experience as a screenwriter – make him an ideal candidate to preside over the work of the Venice jury, which is called upon to evaluate films from around the world,' he added. 'I am grateful to Alexander for accepting my invitation, which seals an acquaintance that goes back to the days of his graduation short film at UCLA,' Barbera continued. 'It's an enormous honor and joy to serve on the jury at Venice,' commented Payne. 'Although I share a filmmaker's ambivalence about comparing films against one another, I revere the Venice Film Festival's nearly 100-year history of loudly celebrating film as an art form. I couldn't be more excited.' The 82nd edition of Venice will run Aug. 27-Sept. 6 Best of Variety What's Coming to Netflix in May 2025 New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week What's Coming to Disney+ in May 2025
Yahoo
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Robert Jenrick is the latest politician to have an ‘action man' makeover. But does it work?
Boris Johnson said it best. 'If an otherwise healthy middle-aged man displays sudden weight loss, I reasoned, there are only two possible explanations,' he wrote in a newspaper column in 2023. 'Either he has fallen hopelessly in love, or else he is about to mount a Tory leadership bid.' With auspicious timing, shadow justice secretary and rumoured leadership hopeful Robert Jenrick appeared last week looking trimmer than ever, having revealed last year that he took the weight loss drug Ozempic, and with what looks very much like a fresh haircut. 'London marathon in a week. So walking – and not too many eggs – for me,' he captioned a photo posted to his Instagram account on Easter Sunday. The same day, this newspaper reported Jenrick had launched a 'grassroots charm offensive' that was fuelling speculation he was keen on another tilt at the Tory leadership, six months after he lost out to Kemi Badenoch (who is bracing herself for damaging local election results this week) in the final round of the race to replace Rishi Sunak. The sense he may be on manoeuvres only ramped up further on Wednesday, when it emerged he had vowed at a recent event to unite the Conservatives and Reform UK in order to overcome Labour. 'One way or another, I'm determined to do that and to bring this coalition together and make sure we unite as a nation as well,' Jenrick was heard saying in the leaked audio clip of a speech he gave at the University College London Conservative Association dinner last month, obtained by Sky News. The political makeover is a time-honoured tradition for those with their eyes set on high office. In the midst of his campaign for re-election in 2015, David Cameron lost 13lb by giving up biscuits, peanuts and carbohydrates in what he called the 'great patriotic struggle' to keep the weight off. His friend and chancellor, George Osborne, revealed a new Caesar-esque haircut and slimmed silhouette (courtesy of the 5:2 intermittent fasting diet) shortly beforehand. It is not a phenomenon unique to a certain party, or Britain. In fact, there are examples from across the political spectrum and the world: for example, in 2018, the former deputy Labour leader Tom Watson unveiled a weight loss so dramatic he wrote a book about it, Downsizing, and reversed a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes in the process. Over the pond, vice president JD Vance lost 30lb over two years, revealing shortly after he was announced as Donald Trump's running mate that the transformation was the result of 'eating better'. Part of François Hollande's bid for re-election in France in 2012 was to promise he would go on a diet. Before entering No.10, Sir Keir Starmer underwent a pre-election makeover courtesy of Lord Alli (the former ASOS boss gave Starmer £30,000 for 'work clothing' and £2,485 for 'multiple pairs of glasses', according to his register of interests). Lord Mandelson, however, went so far as to suggest the now-Prime Minister should have taken a leaf out of Watson's book, saying last year that Starmer 'needs to shed a few.' Ouch. But studies show the comment is not without merit for any leadership hopeful. Research by Michigan State University published in 2014 found that voters favoured slim political candidates over overweight ones. (Research has also suggested we favour taller politicians over shorter ones.)It makes sense, then, that if Jenrick is intent on the Tory Party's top job, he suits up and slims down. Addressing his transformation last year, he said: 'To be honest, I was overweight. I took Ozempic for a short period of time, didn't particularly enjoy it, but it was helpful. 'Since then I've just lost weight in the normal way by eating less, eating more healthily, doing some exercise – going to the gym, going running. I've lost four stone in 12 months.' 'People have an idea of what a prime minister looks like,' says James Frayne, a political consultant and opinion research strategist. 'For most politicians who want to be leader, the public expect the equivalent of a smart suit, a smart haircut, and to look like you've looked after yourself, because it implies a degree of professionalism and care and respect for the office that people want to see.' There is a fine balance, though. While voters have a (perhaps unfair) preference for candidates that have undergone the 'action man' makeover, they do not want their politicians to look like they spend hours in the gym. Cameron struck this balance effortlessly, according to Frayne. 'Of recent politicians, Cameron did that better than anybody else – he looked like he just grabbed a suit from his wardrobe and it happened to fit perfectly,' he says. There are obvious exceptions to this rule – Johnson being one. 'He was able to be overweight, scruffy, with messy hair, and nobody cared because his character was such that he defied the normal rules of politics,' says Frayne. 'He had a personality and a rare charisma that meant he could pretty much behave as he liked.' At least a preoccupation with our male politicians' appearance is levelling the field. 'I think what is interesting is that [this] has always existed for female politicians – there has always been a greater focus on their looks. But there's now that same emphasis on male politicians; what they wear, but also their hairdos,' says Simon Brooke, a political consultant. 'We live in an increasingly visual age – a politician's image is immediately important. Just look at Boris Johnson, or Javier Milei, the president of Argentina. For both of them, [their hairstyles are] about being that little bit different.' But nor can a politician rely solely on getting suited and booted to boost their chance in the polls. 'It's no good just doing something like getting a new haircut and expecting your poll ratings to be boosted – it's got to be part of a bigger strategy,' says Brooke. 'If Jenrick is going to successfully present that image to Tory Party members, and ultimately to the electorate, then he'll have to show he's a man of action in other ways too.' Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Telegraph
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
Robert Jenrick is the latest politician to have an ‘action man' makeover. But does it work?
Boris Johnson said it best. 'If an otherwise healthy middle-aged man displays sudden weight loss, I reasoned, there are only two possible explanations,' he wrote in a newspaper column in 2023. 'Either he has fallen hopelessly in love, or else he is about to mount a Tory leadership bid.' With auspicious timing, shadow justice secretary and rumoured leadership hopeful Robert Jenrick appeared last week looking trimmer than ever, having revealed last year that he took the weight loss drug Ozempic, and with what looks very much like a fresh haircut. 'London marathon in a week. So walking – and not too many eggs – for me,' he captioned a photo posted to his Instagram account on Easter Sunday. The same day, this newspaper reported Jenrick had launched a 'grassroots charm offensive' that was fuelling speculation he was keen on another tilt at the Tory leadership, six months after he lost out to Kemi Badenoch (who is bracing herself for damaging local election results this week) in the final round of the race to replace Rishi Sunak. The sense he may be on manoeuvres only ramped up further on Wednesday, when it emerged he had vowed at a recent event to unite the Conservatives and Reform UK in order to overcome Labour. 'One way or another, I'm determined to do that and to bring this coalition together and make sure we unite as a nation as well,' Jenrick was heard saying in the leaked audio clip of a speech he gave at the University College London Conservative Association dinner last month, obtained by Sky News. The political makeover is a time-honoured tradition for those with their eyes set on high office. In the midst of his campaign for re-election in 2015, David Cameron lost 13lb by giving up biscuits, peanuts and carbohydrates in what he called the 'great patriotic struggle' to keep the weight off. His friend and chancellor, George Osborne, revealed a new Caesar-esque haircut and slimmed silhouette (courtesy of the 5:2 intermittent fasting diet) shortly beforehand. It is not a phenomenon unique to a certain party, or Britain. In fact, there are examples from across the political spectrum and the world: for example, in 2018, the former deputy Labour leader Tom Watson unveiled a weight loss so dramatic he wrote a book about it, Downsizing, and reversed a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes in the process. Over the pond, vice president JD Vance lost 30lb over two years, revealing shortly after he was announced as Donald Trump's running mate that the transformation was the result of 'eating better'. Part of François Hollande's bid for re-election in France in 2012 was to promise he would go on a diet. Before entering No.10, Sir Keir Starmer underwent a pre-election makeover courtesy of Lord Alli (the former ASOS boss gave Starmer £30,000 for 'work clothing' and £2,485 for 'multiple pairs of glasses', according to his register of interests). Lord Mandelson, however, went so far as to suggest the now-Prime Minister should have taken a leaf out of Watson's book, saying last year that Starmer 'needs to shed a few.' Ouch. But studies show the comment is not without merit for any leadership hopeful. Research by Michigan State University published in 2014 found that voters favoured slim political candidates over overweight ones. (Research has also suggested we favour taller politicians over shorter ones.) It makes sense, then, that if Jenrick is intent on the Tory Party's top job, he suits up and slims down. Addressing his transformation last year, he said: 'To be honest, I was overweight. I took Ozempic for a short period of time, didn't particularly enjoy it, but it was helpful. 'Since then I've just lost weight in the normal way by eating less, eating more healthily, doing some exercise – going to the gym, going running. I've lost four stone in 12 months.' 'People have an idea of what a prime minister looks like,' says James Frayne, a political consultant and opinion research strategist. 'For most politicians who want to be leader, the public expect the equivalent of a smart suit, a smart haircut, and to look like you've looked after yourself, because it implies a degree of professionalism and care and respect for the office that people want to see.' There is a fine balance, though. While voters have a (perhaps unfair) preference for candidates that have undergone the 'action man' makeover, they do not want their politicians to look like they spend hours in the gym. Cameron struck this balance effortlessly, according to Frayne. 'Of recent politicians, Cameron did that better than anybody else – he looked like he just grabbed a suit from his wardrobe and it happened to fit perfectly,' he says. There are obvious exceptions to this rule – Johnson being one. 'He was able to be overweight, scruffy, with messy hair, and nobody cared because his character was such that he defied the normal rules of politics,' says Frayne. 'He had a personality and a rare charisma that meant he could pretty much behave as he liked.' At least a preoccupation with our male politicians' appearance is levelling the field. 'I think what is interesting is that [this] has always existed for female politicians – there has always been a greater focus on their looks. But there's now that same emphasis on male politicians; what they wear, but also their hairdos,' says Simon Brooke, a political consultant. 'We live in an increasingly visual age – a politician's image is immediately important. Just look at Boris Johnson, or Javier Milei, the president of Argentina. For both of them, [their hairstyles are] about being that little bit different.' But nor can a politician rely solely on getting suited and booted to boost their chance in the polls. 'It's no good just doing something like getting a new haircut and expecting your poll ratings to be boosted – it's got to be part of a bigger strategy,' says Brooke. 'If Jenrick is going to successfully present that image to Tory Party members, and ultimately to the electorate, then he'll have to show he's a man of action in other ways too.'
