Latest news with #GoneWithTheWind
UPI
7 days ago
- General
- UPI
On This Day, June 26: U.S. Supreme Court legalizes same-sex marriage
1 of 5 | Supporters take selfies after the Supreme Court ruled 5-4 in favor of gay marriage across the U.S. at the Supreme Court building in Washington, D.C., on June 26, 2015. File Photo by Gabriella Demczuk/UPI | License Photo On this date in history: In 1900, Dr. Walter Reed and his medical team began a successful campaign to eradicate yellow fever in the Panama Canal Zone. In 1917, the first troops of the American Expeditionary Force reached France in World War I. In 1939, film censors approved Gone With The Wind but fined Producer David O. Selznick $5,000 for objectionable language in Rhett Butler's famous closing line to Scarlett O'Hara: "Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn." File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI In 1945, the United Nations Charter drawn up at a conference in San Francisco, was signed by representatives of 50 nations -- the original U.N. members. The organization officially began operations Oct. 24, 1945. U.N. Day is Oct. 24 each year. In 1948, two days after the start of the blockade of Berlin, the Western Allies organized the Berlin airlift to ferry supplies to the people of West Berlin. In 1959, U.S. President Dwight Eisenhower and Britain's Queen Elizabeth II formally opened the St. Lawrence Seaway in Canada. In 1974, the barcode, allowing for the electronic scanning of prices, was used for the first time. The purchase was a pack of gum at a supermarket in Troy, Ohio. In 1976, the CN Tower, then the world's tallest free-standing structure at 1,815 feet 5 inches tall opened in Toronto. In 1990, U.S. President George H.W. Bush discarded his "no new taxes" campaign pledge, saying "it is clear to me" taxes are needed as part of a deficit-reduction package. In 1992, U.S. Navy Secretary H. Lawrence Garrett resigned, accepting responsibility for the "Tailhook" incident involving the harassment of Navy women by naval aviators. In 1993, President Bill Clinton ordered a cruise missile attack against the Iraqi intelligence headquarters in Baghdad after "compelling evidence" showed the Saddam Hussein regime plotted to assassinate former President George H.W. Bush in 1992. In 1997, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone by J.K. Rowling was published, launching the start of a seven-book and series that captured the world's imagination and spurred several films and assorted spinoffs. File Photo by Dennis Van Tine/UPI In 2000, two rival groups of scientists announced they had deciphered the genetic code, the human genome. In 2008, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 5-4 that the Constitution protects an individual's right to carry a gun for private use but said the ruling did nothing to alter the ban on gun ownership by felons or the mentally ill, or carrying a gun into such "sensitive" areas as schools or government buildings. In 2015, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 5-4 that states are constitutionally compelled to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples, legalizing gay marriage nationwide. In 2019, two cities in Florida -- Riviera Beach and Lake City -- paid hackers hundreds of thousands of dollars to relinquish control of their computer systems.
Irish Examiner
21-06-2025
- Automotive
- Irish Examiner
Renault 5 EV review: retro looks meet modern tech in electric supermini reboot
it might not go terribly far, but it does so brilliantly JUST like the movies, it would seem, the motor industry appears incapable of allowing past great moments to simply revel in their greatness. Seeing as how Hollywood — or wherever is the epicentre of the movie world these days — has seemingly re-made every single great movie from the past, apart maybe from Gone With The Wind, to try and turn it into profitable dollars for a second time, car makers sometimes feel equally in thrall to their own greatest hits. Consistently, they go back to the font of greatness which spawned wonderful originals to either attempt to revive currently dire circumstances, or simply to trick the public into believing they have not lost the magic which made those cars great in the first place. We are not talking here about such as, say, the Toyota Corolla, which has rolled from generation to generation without a pause in profitability or popularity. No, we are talking about cars which were once generational icons and which have been revived spectacularly. The most obvious example has been BMW's Mini; the Germans took over Austin Rover (or whatever it was called when it was sold off for a few quid and a McDonald's voucher), with the sole intention of reviving the Mini brand. That must have been the case because they, in turn, sold everything else off — MG, Rover, Land Rover, etc, apart from the Mini brand. Their success in revitalising it has been inspirational. So too the Fiat 500, the modern version of which possibly single-handedly saved the Italian company's bacon and spawned a whole family of cars with everything in there from a speedy Abarth version to the dull-as-ditchwater MPV. Lately, though, we have seen a raft of former greats being dug up from the grave, dusted down, and given a second life. Most recently, Renault has been close to the top of this pile, with old hit makers being given a chance to top the charts again. The Renault 4 — the new one — will be with us soon, but while we are waiting for that, we can ogle at the new Renault 5. Already a European Car of the Year (COTY) winner last year, the original R5, of course, vanished into the mist when it was replaced by the Clio in 1990. Now, while the Clio itself was a hugely successful car (one of only two cars to have won the European COTY prize twice), there was always a place for the car it took over from in the hearts of motoring savants everywhere. That being so, Renault decided to build a new one, and that's what we're testing this week. Like so many reenvisioned motors these days, the R5 has been reawakened solely as an EV, so it's not quite the car it once was, but that's OK too, because we have moved along somewhat in the intervening years. The end result, however, is spectacular. Renault 5 futuristic interior Those of you who remember the old 5 will see the new one and, more than likely, think: 'Wow, they sure got this one right.' While the designers have woven in plenty of modernity in the new car, there is just enough retro character imbued in it for people of a certain age to get misty-eyed. And I would be one of them. Not long after coming to Cork to work for this august organ, I owned one — GIO 84, was the registration number, and that identified it as originally having been registered in Kildare under Ireland's pre-1987 registration system. Dark blue, it was and very pretty, although by today's standards of technology, it was most certainly prehistoric. There was no central locking, no power steering, no radio, no auto gearbox, no ABS — none of that malarkey. But it was a tiger and made it through many experiences which, undoubtedly, the designers had never intended it for. Roomy, practical, and possibly quicker than many other contemporary superminis, the R5 amounted to more than the sum of its parts and, interestingly, that is a conclusion I also arrived at when assessing the new one recently. In its 'pop yellow' overcoat, it certainly caught the eye, and the bi-colour roof further stood it out from the crowd. That the body is roughly the same shape as the original and yet still looks of this moment is a tribute to the detailed work of the designers who truly have forged something new from old building blocks. Certainly, it is not perfect as there are a couple of things that should annoy most sensible people, but it sure comes close. The new R5 is new from the ground up and is the first car based on the AmpR Small platform, which will underpin a bunch of new Renault models, including the R4. That fact means the car has been built to do loads of things, including supporting vehicle-to-grid technology, so you can power your home from it. Cool, or what? New too is the whole interior, and it is largely made from recycled materials, including the vivid yellow and grey upholstery. So French is it that you can even specify a baguette holder, but quirks like that aside, it really is very modern and stacked with tech, to the point you're left wondering how the original managed to function at all. The new Renault 5 EV The infotainment system is excellent — much is shared with the new Megane and Scenic — but one downside is the stalk arrangement on the steering column for the lights, indicators, wipers, and sound system control, which is fussy and takes a while to get used to. This is not a big car, and that's reflected in the amount of room afforded to the rear seat passengers, and the boot is tidy rather than generous. Performance-wise, there is an element of Jekyll and Hyde going on. The test car's battery — 52 kWh — is the bigger of the two offered and produces some 148bhp, as well as a top speed of 150km/h and a 0-100km/h time of eight seconds dead. By way of reference, that's only a smidgen behind the capability of the R5 GT Turbo of the 1990s, which was regarded as very hot back in the day. It is thus quite quick, but has the handling nous to cope, and at no point did you get the feeling that the chassis was overwhelmed. That was in stark contrast with the original, it has to be said. The ride, too, is accomplished and very forgiving in Irish conditions. If, however, you were expecting deal-breaking range performance from this, most modern of hatchbacks, forget it. The claimed range is 410km, but I found that wildly optimistic. I know I have a heavy right foot at the best of times, but the 320km maximum I extracted from the car suggested to me that — in reality — this is a town car that'll only get a little way beyond your urban boundaries. Moderate journeys are possible, but getting to Aunty Maisie's funeral in Ballybofey will be challenging. Despite the downsides, this is still a fantastic piece of kit, and while some might blanche at such things as the colour schemes, their antipathy should be ignored. I found pretty much everything about the new R5 to be delightful, and that's why it gets a five-star rating. Read More Volvo XC90 review: hybrid SUV blends luxury with practicality but shows its age on the road
New Paper
19-06-2025
- Sport
- New Paper
Choi's Platinum Boss is all set to turn to gold
With 12 races beckoning on June 22, racegoers would like nothing better than to get off to a flying start. Rhett Butler in Race 1 and Tangesh in Race 2 could be worth some thought early in the day, split between the two Class 5 divisions over 1,150m. Both gallopers tossed in decent training gallops on the morning of June 18. The Nick Selvan-trained Rhett Butler loosened up with a spot of cantering before turning on the after-burners to run the final 600m in 39sec. The three-time winner is plying his trade in lowly Class 5B, but his win over the Ipoh 1,400m on May 11 was noteworthy. He came from third at the 400m mark to win despite drifting out over the concluding stages. While the 1,150m does appear to be on the short side for the Charm Spirit four-year-old, he is not out of it. At his debut on April 29, 2023 when he was under the care of Donna Logan at Kranji, he blitzed his rivals in a race over the 1,100m. Rhett Butler can sprint. Come June 22, he could make the board - at a price. Still wary because it is a tricky Class 5 race? Well, just remember what his namesake said in the movie, Gone With The Wind. "With enough courage, you can do without a reputation." As for Tangesh, he settled for some serious cantering and should be good to go in the Class 5A event. The Deep Field six-year-old's last-start second to Joyee Go on May 25 was sound but he was still beaten by four lengths. It was the second time in his last three outings that the Charles Leck-trained three-time winner had to play second fiddle, having found one to beat in Loving Babe in a race on April 20. Tangesh deserves a winning break and the thing going for him is the fact that he knows what it is like to win a race, and his form figures look good. Going back to March 16 they read: 1-2-4-2. To help him along, Tangesh will get the riding services of leading jockey Andre da Silva, which is a big plus. But perhaps the one with the best shot at getting a win on June 22 is Platinum Boss. Entered in Race 6, a Class 3 (1,400m), the son of Rageese was in a galloping mood when sent out for his work on June 18. One of a handful to go fast on the day, he clocked 37.5sec for the 600m. From a small team of five for the upcoming meeting, Platinum Boss could be the ace in trainer Ricky Choi's poker hand. Owned by the Platinum Racing Stable, Platinum Boss has yet to open his Malaysian account in three starts, but he does know a thing or two about winning races. Until being flown out to join Choi's stables at Sungai Besi, Platinum Boss was quite a hit in Macau where he won four races, all over 1,200m. Now a six-year-old, he will be having his fourth Malaysian outing on June 22 and it comes in the wake of his last-start third to Sacred Buddy in the Penang Turf Club Memorial Trophy (1,100m) on May 31. Given the fact that this New Zealand-bred knows how to win, his breakthrough performance on Malaysian turf could come sooner rather than later. Then, and again from the training track, there was Elliot Ness. Another one from Selvan's yard, he had a breezy workout, cantering to loosen up before running the 600m in 39sec. The Written Tycoon seven-year-old's Malaysian campaign has so far been rather lukewarm. But he is hardly what one would call a washout. Until being sent over when racing folded in Singapore last Oct 5, Elliot Ness won four races over the sharp sprints. Until just a race ago on May 25, he had been taking on Class 3 opposition. Down in grade, he will get his chance in the Class 4A race (1,200m) slated as Race 8 on June 22. But he will have to jump from an outside gate (15) which will surely test him. Still, he deserves a second look and, maybe, a vote of confidence. brian@
Vancouver Sun
08-06-2025
- General
- Vancouver Sun
The Bookless Club: Do you have a Little Free Library in your neighbourhood?
Vancouver has 22 civic libraries. Victoria has 12. The streets of these two cities, however, have well over 1,000 unincorporated 'little libraries'. You've seen them, of course. Those quaint little bird-house structures, placed along sidewalks, usually with a glassed-in front to keep the contents safe from the elements. Inside these little boxes there is always the oddest selection of books, and almost always something that will pique your interest. Victoria, in particular, seems to have taken to this citizen book exchange idea in a big way. I was recently in that city and took dozens of photos of these creative little structures. Clearly, it's not enough to just stick a box on a post — you've got to bring some imagination to the task … and certainly some carpentry skills, too. Many of these mini lending libraries are made to replicate the exterior of the houses they sit in front of. Some take their inspiration from literature itself — say, a Hogwarts theme, or Tara from Gone With The Wind. I lost count of the number of little libraries, but Greater Victoria Place-Making Network shows a map of their LFL — Little Free Libraries — and the unofficial count is in the range of 1,000. The network even offers a LFL Bingo card where the task is to find things such as a Danielle Steele novel, anything in French, a textbook, or a LFL made from old furniture. None of this existed at the turn of the century. The LFL movement began in 2009 in Wisconsin, as a son's tribute to a book-loving mom. Todd Bol's mother was a teacher. When she died, he built a model of a one-room schoolhouse and filled it with books, then put it up on his front lawn. The lending principle was, 'Take a book. Leave a book.' People loved his little lending library, so he made several and gave them away to friends and family. Shortly thereafter, a professor from the University of Wisconsin saw an LFL and contacted Bol, suggesting that they expand the idea. They took as their inspiration Andrew Carnegie, the Scottish philanthropist who set out to create over 2,500 free libraries for the English-speaking world. The goal of the LFL was to match the number of Carnegie's libraries by the end of 2013. Well, by early 2012, Bol's humble project leapt well beyond that target, a year and a half ahead of plan. The Little Free Library idea grew into a global movement. Bol would die in 2018 from pancreatic cancer, but not before the organization he created celebrated the landmark 75,000th Little Free Library. Shortly before his death, he restated the mission behind his novel idea: 'I really believe in a Little Free Library on every block, and a book in every hand. I believe people can fix their neighbourhoods, fix their communities, develop systems of sharing, learn from each other, and see that they have a better place on this planet to live.' So, that's the back story behind those darling little houses you see perched on posts on sidewalks … and isn't it grand? Jane Macdougall is a freelance writer and former National Post columnist who lives in Vancouver. She writes The Bookless Club every Saturday online and in The Vancouver Sun. For more of what Jane's up to, check out her website, Question: Do you have a Little Free Library in your neighbourhood? What's the story behind it? Send your answers by email text, not an attachment, in 100 words or less, along with your full name to Jane at thebooklessclub@ . We will print some next week in this space. Question: What were the backyard games in your neighbourhood? • In my childhood in Tehran we played a game called Donkey. It was a little complicated, but you needed two teams, and one side would back up blindly and the other side would jump on their backs. Part of the fun was that you would have to hold the other person up for as long as you could. It was so very much fun. Valentin Yersian • Our game was called Relievo. It was a take on Hide And Seek. You could sneak up unseen and tag the power pole home base to relieve those already caught. This went on in the back alley and on the hill behind our houses for hours. Great fun for neighbourhood kids of any age. Joan Kowalenko • This game starts with two people. It can be more, but you only need two to make it work. Each person gathers 10 rocks. One person says to the other, 'I'm going to guess how many rocks you have in your hand.' The other person can put one, none or 10 in their hand, but the person has to guess the amount. If they are right, they get the rocks. If they're wrong, they have to give the other person the amount that they were wrong by. The winner of the game is who ends up with 20 rocks. If playing with more people, when you run out of rocks, you're out of the game. This game was started at the beach by my mother who was trying to teach three little girls counting and patience. I now play it at the lake in Nakusp with my grandchildren, who all loved it. Judy Toffolo • My best friend, Gilles, and I were the oldest kids on our block. When our large group of young children gathered together, we had to keep the little ones entertained. It was a challenge to keep them from getting bored, so we put on plays. I had a patio on the back of our house that doubled as an outdoor theatre. Admission to our plays was one clothespin. Once we got over the quarrels over who was going to be in the play and who would be the audience, we began. The young ones' favourites were our comedies, especially the two carpenters. Gilles and I played inept carpenters who would keep messing up our projects. My mother had to step in and halt the play when I swung a two-by-four, narrowly missing Gilles every time. E. Drieling • Yes, Red Rover was lots of fun because all different ages could play together, although us littler kids would sometimes get knocked about. Same goes for Tag, or Hide And Seek. The girls used to do a lot of rope skipping (Double Dutch!) and have Dolly Tea Parties. We boys spent many summer hours playing at Livestock Management Technicians and Indigenous Warriors. Sometimes we would hop on our bikes and raid the tea parties if there were cookies to be had. And lots of exploring on our bikes — neither mom nor grandma seemed obsessed with knowing my whereabouts, as long as I turned up on time for lunch and dinner. Bruno Bandiera • Red River Rover. We call such and such over. That's what we sang in Kamloops around 1955 or so. Besides, 'Red Rover, Red Rover' just doesn't have a sing-song quality. Other games we played were marbles, skipping, jacks, and civil war, plus Pigs and Wolf — my favourite. Sheila Humphrey • Growing up in East Van, no one seemed to mind that we played '500' or 'Cherry' with a baseball bat and ball, hockey with a tennis ball and our coats as goals, or 'Yards', throwing or kicking a football, 'Kick the Can' and 'Night Tag' on 30th Avenue by Fraser St. No one shouted at us to get out of their yard or not hit their parked car or to keep it down. I recall getting trapped on a neighbour's back porch while playing tag one evening, so I simply opened the back door and proceeded to walk through the main floor of the house. 'Hi, Mr. Holmes. Hello, Mrs. Holmes' as they watched TV, and then I skedaddled out their front door. Times were much simpler in the late-1960s. Dirk van Renesse
News18
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
6 Romantic Hollywood Films For A Summer Movie Marathon With Partner
Last Updated: This dreamy romantic plot of Before Sunrise tells the story of two strangers falling in love with each other. There's always something magical about warm summer nights. With a light breeze and the scent of something sweet in the air, summer nights make for the perfect excuse to stay in and cosy up with your bae. Whether you want to escape the heat or are just craving some quality time, a movie marathon is always a good idea. Here are six movie ideas that will be perfect for a movie marathon with your partner: When Harry Met Sally—Amazon Prime Video This timeless classic film follows the encounter between the title characters, culminating in a short-term friendship over their shared drive to New York City. Years later they cross paths again, and they're forced to deal with their feelings for each other. At its core, this classic Nora Ephron film addresses the age-old question, 'Can men and women ever just be friends?" Before Trilogy —Netflix/Amazon Prime Video This dreamy romantic Trilogy tells the story of two strangers falling in love with each other. With Before Sunrise, Before Sunset, and Before Midnight – the movie series explores the twists and turns of the relationship between Jesse and Celine. From meeting on a train journey to getting to know each other and finding comfort and love in one another, the trilogy touches upon every aspect of a budding romance and ultimately provides an honest view of a long-term relationship and the problems that come with it. With deep conversations and emotional confrontation, the film proves that even soulmates need to fight for their love and to stay connected. The Princess Bride – JioHotstar The ultimate fairy tale mashup captures romance, comedy, and adventure with a hint of fantasy as Buttercup, a princess, falls in love with Westley, a farm boy. Their enchanting love story blooms in all its glory as the couple fights all evils to rekindle after a long separation. Gone With The Wind – Amazon Prime Video Adapted from Margaret Mitchell's 1936 novel, Gone With The Wind is set against the backdrop of the American Civil War. This epic historical romance follows Scarlet O'Hara, a strong-willed woman chasing her love Ashley Wilkes, who is married to his cousin. With dramatic twists, burning passion, and the grandeur of characters, the film always remains a classic. The Notebook—Amazon Prime Video The classic Nicholas Sparks film follows the love story of Noah and Allie. Hailing from different worlds, the couple faces countless problems as they strive to be together. But their bond endures all heartbreaks and the intense test of time as Noah and Allie end up together forever. The first encounter, 365 love letters, and the iconic rain-soaked kiss culminate into one of the greatest love stories of all time that perfectly embodies the 'till death do us part" emotion. Based on Jane Austen's one of the greatest novels, Pride and Prejudice is the perfect slow-burn love story between Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy. Set against the backdrop of Regency England, Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy's love story unfolds in ballrooms, banters, and against all societal odds. This iconic period drama is a must-watch for couples. First Published:
