Latest news with #MaryPoppins
Forbes
13 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Forbes
A Spoonful Of Sugar: How Mary Poppins' Medicine Could Heal Higher Ed
Higher ed is under a lot of pressure right now. Public trust in our college and university system is extremely low. Questions about the value of a degree are creating financial strain for both institutions and students. Artificial intelligence threatens academic integrity. And faculty are feeling anxious and overwhelmed – nearly two thirds of faculty report feeling burnt out according to one recent survey. This summer, while sitting through a theater production of Mary Poppins at the college I lead, I was struck by a strange but compelling thought: maybe all we need is a dose of Mary's medicine. Helen Lyndon Goff was one of the most influential writers of the 20th century, yet most people have never heard of her. That's because, at the age of 24, she left Australia for London and decided to change her name in the process. For her new first name she chose "Pamela," purely for the way it sounded. For her new last name, she chose "Travers," which had been the name of her father, who had died 16 years prior at the age of 44. Leaving her middle name unchanged, she thus became Pamela Lyndon Travers or P.L. Travers for short. It was under this pen name that she published a book in 1934 titled Mary Poppins. According to Disney lore, it was Walt's daughters who first became attached to the book and made their father promise he would turn it into a movie. Walt, therefore, began trying to purchase the film rights in 1938. He did not succeed until 23 years later, in 1961, when he sealed the deal by granting Travers approval rights over the final script. The resulting movie, released in 1964, not only became top-grossing movie of the year but also ended up receiving the most Oscar nominations, a feat that has only been repeated a handful of times in the 97-year history of the Academy Awards. So what made Mary Poppins so special? Various explanations have been offered– from the Sherman brothers' songs, to the groundbreaking combination of live-action and animation, to the chemistry between Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke. But what Walt Disney himself knew well – evidenced by his decades-long crusade to obtain the film rights – was that the real magic lay in Travers' original source material. And Travers, in turn, knew the secret to her book's success. If you had asked Travers what made Mary Poppins so special, she would have likely answered, 'Why, Mary Poppins, of course.' For Travers, Mary Poppins was a living person – every bit as living as Dumbledore is to J.K. Rowling. These authors did not invent these characters; they discovered them. They themselves were just as enchanted, surprised, and beguiled by their own characters as their readers would eventually become. Which is why Travers guarded Mary so closely – who else on earth could do her justice? How could anyone possibly capture the confounding complexity of this woman? To say that Mary is a paradox would be a terrific understatement. She is rather a colossal bundle of outright contradictions: strict and lenient, vain and humble, following all rules while at the same time breaking them. She is serious and severe one moment, then silly and whimsical the next. Yet there is no hint of instability -- no capriciousness, nor randomness. Rather, she is always fully herself and always fully integrated. When she is strict and serious, her joy is somehow still detectable, without it making her any less formidable. When she is silly and whimsical, it is with the air of utmost dignity, as though Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious really is the most important word in the world. In other words, she is practically perfect in every way. She is all things, to all people, not because she is a chameleon, but because she's just that big – big enough to give every person she touches exactly what they need, at exactly the moment they need it, in the only form they would ever be able to receive it. Say, for example, there were two small children who were both suffering from two serious maladies simultaneously. On the one hand, they were undisciplined and unruly. On the other hand, they were desperately lacking in childlike joy and wonder. Who else but Mary Poppins could have recognized that these seemingly-opposite problems would have to be addressed together, rather than separately? The reason for this, of course, was that the two problems were actually one, and Mary alone could see the root cause. The children needed a father, just as Travers herself had needed one. Her own beloved father – first a bank manager, then demoted to bank clerk – had drunk himself to death when Travers was only eight years old. The question she was left with was a riddle, simple to ask but impossible to answer: Who, if anyone, could have saved him? The answer finally came to her in a vision -- a woman carrying an umbrella, and riding on the wind. Mary was the only one who could have done it. Only Mary Poppins was shrewd enough to rescue a grown man while pretending to ignore him. Only Mary Poppins was brave enough to walk the tightrope between boldness and deference without falling off on either side. Only Mary Poppins was kind enough to say, 'Sometimes, a person we love, through no fault of his own, can't see past the end of his nose.' Her assignment was as ancient and holy as they come: "to turn the heart of a father toward his children." And the day which she completed it was a holy day indeed. Or, if you prefer the modernized spelling, a holiday, and a jolly one at that. That was the effect she seemed to have on every day, and every person, proving once again that our well-established dichotomies are pure poppycock. There is no true holiness without merriment, and all true merriment is holy. At a time when public trust in higher education is evaporating, faculty are stretched thin, and institutional missions are fraying under financial strain, the temptation is to become further entrenched in the status quo or surrender to inevitable decline. But Mary Poppins reminds us that the path forward is not to collapse into cynicism or retreat into rigidity. It is to hold paradox with grace—to acknowledge pain while still singing, to uphold standards while still embracing whimsy, and to restore courage and joy to those entrusted with the work of transformation. She healed the children. She healed the parents. Perhaps she could help heal the academy, too. No wonder that it's Mary that we love.
New York Post
2 days ago
- New York Post
From chaos to clarity: How Skylight Calendar brings order to my schedule
New York Post may be compensated and/or receive an affiliate commission if you click or buy through our links. Featured pricing is subject to change. If your fridge is doubling as a chaotic command center — covered in color-coded calendars, cryptic reminders, and a grocery list from three weeks ago — it might be time to level up. Say hello to the Skylight Calendar, the digital sidekick you never knew you needed but now can't live without. Picture this: a sleek digital screen perched on your wall, puting every other planning system to shame, obliterating it with style, smarts and a sprinkle of tech magic. Now, I'll be honest, I approached this little gadget with a healthy dose of skepticism. My Type-A personality has tried the planners and apps, but the Skylight? This slim, professional-grade system may have presented itself with the poise of Mary Poppins and the brain of Albert Einstein, but I wanted to know if it worked for someone like me. Advertisement In the paragraphs ahead, I'll dive into the features, pros, cons and whether this digital dynamo deserves a permanent spot in your home. Spoiler: it may just become the family member you never knew you needed. What is the Skylight Calendar? But before I launch into full-on calendar evangelism, let's rewind. What exactly is this magical time-organizing box? Amazon Pros: Effortless to set up and sync with your calendars (Google, Apple, Outlook) in just a few steps Beyond just scheduling, it's also a meal planner and grocery list keeper, wedding checklist, brain dump list and photo frame all in one Clean, color-coded interface and touchscreen-responsive. Plus, the frame looks sleek and fits nicely into home decor Cons: Requires constant power and WiFi, which could be a dealbreaker for some shoppers No voice activation (like, 'hey, Alexa!') App meal planning feature sometimes lags The Skylight Calendar is a digital touchscreen display that syncs with all your existing calendars — including Google, Outlook and Apple — to serve as a central hub for all of your brain dumping needs. Unlike your phone or computer, it's designed to be shared. Mounted on your wall or propped on a counter, and turns your entire household into a synchronized symphony of appointments, birthdays, and chore charts. In terms of aesthetics, this thing looks good. Its modern-day charm is void of garish colors and blinking lights. With Skylight, you'll only find a clean, minimalist design that shows that you have your life together. Dimensions: 9.9″W x 1.4″H My Review Victoria Giardina I never thought I'd say this about a digital calendar, but the Skylight Calendar has genuinely made life feel a little more poetic. My fiancé and I picked it up during the thick of wedding planning chaos, thinking we just needed a place to dump our checklists and shared appointments. But it turned into something way more layered, kind of like a family command center mixed with a warm daily ritual. Set Up Setting it up was refreshingly painless, which I appreciated because my attention span starts to dissolve when tech gets too complicated. You plug it in, connect to Wi-Fi, and then sync it to your existing calendars — Google, Outlook, Apple, whatever your flavor is. We had our shared Google Calendar connected in less than five minutes. From there, it pulled in all of our events like magic, and just like that, we were off to the races. No extra logins, no endless 'now click this' steps; it was like the calendar wanted to work with us. Victoria Giardina The touchscreen is surprisingly responsive. It doesn't lag like you might expect from a digital display this size, and the interface is clear, colorful, and just customizable enough to feel personal without requiring a graphic design degree. We set our calendar to show the full week view because it helps us keep track of our rhythm: meals, workouts, errands, date nights, and now, an ever-growing list of wedding to-dos. Features One of the most underrated features is how the Skylight lets you create multiple calendars and toggle them on or off. My fiance and I have one for appointments, one for workouts, one strictly for wedding stuff, and another for fun things, like concerts, friend hangouts, and weekend trips. It keeps us from feeling overwhelmed. If I'm just trying to figure out when we're free for dinner next week, I don't need to mentally sift through dentist appointments and color-coded vendor calls. I just tap and filter, and the stress from planning melts a bit. We also share the grocery list function like a digital baton. When either of us notices we're out of almond milk or parsley or whatever, we just type it in on the Skylight or the mobile app. Whoever ends up at the store has the list ready to go, all without frantic texts. Setting Up Meal Planning Setting up meal planning on my Skylight Calendar was surprisingly straightforward and has become one of my favorite features. First, I made sure I had the Plus subscription, since meal planning tools are only available with the premium plan. Once I had that activated, I opened the Skylight app and navigated to the 'Meals' section. From there, I could begin adding meals for specific days and times. I loved that I could assign breakfast, lunch, dinner, or snacks to each day and even include notes. What really stood out to me was how easy it was to import recipes. Skylight lets me copy a link from any recipe site — like AllRecipes or even Pinterest — and it automatically pulls in the ingredients and instructions. It's also smart enough to recognize meal types and suggest slots for them on my calendar. I can drag and drop meals into my weekly view and even repeat meals I've previously saved. It helps me stay organized and cuts down on last-minute dinner stress, especially during busy weeks. Another feature I've come to rely on is the grocery list integration. When I add a meal, I can choose to send its ingredients directly to my shopping list. That list syncs across all family devices, so whoever's at the store can check things off in real time. It's made meal prep feel less like a solo task and more like a shared responsibility. Overall, meal planning on the Skylight Calendar has made our kitchen more efficient and our weeknights calmer. Automatic Software Updates One of the best low-maintenance perks of the Skylight Calendar is its automatic software updates. You don't have to worry about manually downloading or installing anything. Updates happen quietly in the background, usually overnight, so your device is always running the latest features and improvements without lifting a finger. Whether it's new layout options, better syncing capabilities or bug fixes, Skylight keeps things fresh and functional without disrupting your routine. Creating Profiles Skylight allows you to have different profiles, and the setup for that is also quick and painless. Just tap 'Add Profile,' choose a name, pick a color and you're good to go. You can add as many profiles as you need, and they all stay synced across your Skylight device and app. It's especially helpful for busy households where everyone's juggling their personal calendar. If used with the Skylight Plus subscription, profiles can also tie into meal planning and chore tracking, making it easier to personalize routines. It's like giving each person their own mini calendar within the bigger family view. Organized, colorful and totally stress-reducing. Victoria Giardina Displaying Photos A small but impactful detail is that the Skylight looks clean and modern, so it doesn't make the kitchen feel like a tech showroom. It's just sleek enough to feel intentional and designed, but not cold or overly sterile. During the weekdays, my fiance and I lean hard into its meal planning features. We use the list function to track grocery items, and the meal prep section. It's like a cross between a Pinterest board and your mom's handwritten dinner list, if that makes sense. We also started using it to organize and share photos, something I thought I wouldn't care much about, but wow, it makes a difference. There's something surprisingly comforting about seeing random snapshots of our weekend hikes or goofy selfies from late-night pizza runs rotating throughout the day. We've even developed a little habit of adding a quick 'Good luck today, you've got this' note or a favorite photo of the two of us with a heart when one of us have a meeting or a stressful day ahead. Think of it as a sticky note lunchbox message, 2025 edition. Skylight allows users to upload photos via the app or email them directly to your Skylight address, and it's something genuinely satisfying about walking past it and catching a glimpse of your week, like a little window into the life you're building. Cost Here's a breakdown of the Skylight Calendar pricing, comparing the free basic experience versus the paid Plus (premium) plan: Basic (non‑premium) Skylight Calendar ( $320 $315) : With no subscription required, the Skylight Calendar includes calendar syncing (with Google, Outlook, Apple iCloud, Cozi, Yahoo, etc.), simple chore charts, lists (to-dos, grocery lists), and routine tracking. These foundational features let families manage schedules and share tasks without subscribing. : With no subscription required, the Skylight Calendar includes calendar syncing (with Google, Outlook, Apple iCloud, Cozi, Yahoo, etc.), simple chore charts, lists (to-dos, grocery lists), and routine tracking. These foundational features let families manage schedules and share tasks without subscribing. Plus Plan (premium) Skylight Calendar (additional $79 a year): This unlocks advanced capabilities, including Sidekick/Magic Import (AI‑powered email, screenshot, PDF parsing into calendar events and meal planning), chore rewards, photo/video screensaver mode and recipe/meal tools. Features such as rewards and Sidekick conversion tools require a subscription. Chore charts and basic lists remain free, but automatic imports and screensaver/photos features do not. Why Skylight Is Great for Professionals and Students Using the Skylight Calendar for work has completely leveled up how I organize my day; it's like having a personal assistant, but one that lives on my wall and doesn't need coffee breaks. Work meetings, deadlines, lunch breaks that I swear I'll take — it's all right there. I've synced every calendar I use (and trust me, there are a lot), and can update stuff from my phone on the fly, and it magically appears on the screen like I've got calendar superpowers. Now, if you're a student — or know one — the Skylight is basically the ultimate academic sidekick. You can organize your class schedule, upcoming exams, study sessions, club meetings and essay deadlines without thinking twice. Instead of forgetting about that big history paper until midnight the night before, everything is right there, bright and bold. You can even use it to block out chill time, which honestly is just as important. The best part? It's actually fun to use. The touchscreen feels sleek, kind of like using a giant tablet, and organizing your life becomes weirdly entertaining (think: digital Tetris with your time). Plus, when everyone in the house or team is connected, there are fewer 'Wait, what time was that thing?' moments. It doesn't matter if you're running a business, managing a household or trying to survive finals week — the Skylight Calendar makes you feel like you've got it all under control…even if you're just winging it half the time. Final Verdict Victoria Giardina If I had to pick one word to describe the Skylight Calendar, it would probably be anchoring. It brings us back to the things we care about: being organized, spending time together, remembering the little stuff, and actually seeing our life play out in a way that feels calm and intentional. And as much as I'm excited for the wedding, I'm equally excited to see how the Skylight keeps evolving with us in our daily routines afterward. Honestly, I didn't expect to love it this much. It was just supposed to help us survive wedding planning. But it ended up being this soft, steady presence in our home — a little light-up rectangle that somehow makes the day feel more doable and more 'us.' I've had the Skylight Calendar for about six months and truly can't picture my routine without it. For over 200 years, the New York Post has been America's go-to source for bold news, engaging stories, in-depth reporting, and now, insightful shopping guidance. We're not just thorough reporters – we sift through mountains of information, test and compare products, and consult experts on any topics we aren't already schooled specialists in to deliver useful, realistic product recommendations based on our extensive and hands-on analysis. Here at The Post, we're known for being brutally honest – we clearly label partnership content, and whether we receive anything from affiliate links, so you always know where we stand. We routinely update content to reflect current research and expert advice, provide context (and wit) and ensure our links work. Please note that deals can expire, and all prices are subject to change.
The Independent
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Why classic musical was the most complained about film last year
Mary Poppins was the most complained about film of 2024, receiving 56 objections to its rating change. The 1964 musical 's classification was updated from a U to a PG by the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC). The rating change was prompted by the use of the word 'hottentots' twice by the character Admiral Boom. The BBFC justified the PG rating by stating the discriminatory term was neither criticised nor condemned, posing a risk for young viewers. Other films like The Abyss, Dune: Part Two, and Saltburn also received complaints regarding their classifications in 2024.
Extra.ie
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Extra.ie
Why was Mary Poppins the most complained about film from last year?
Disney classic Mary Poppins has become one of the most controversial films of 2024 due to its use of 'discriminatory wording'. The 1964 musical stars Julie Andrews as Mary alongside Dick Van Dyke as Bert, the chimney sweep. The childhood favourite was previously rated U (Universal) by the British Board of Film Classification but has since been reclassified as PG (Parental Guidance), now rejecting the idea that it is suitable for all audiences. Disney classic Mary Poppins has become one of the most controversial films of 2024 due to its use of discriminatory wording. Pic:The BBFC Annual Report and Accounts 2024 revealed that the reclassification was a point of anger for many with 56 complaints issued to them in 2024. The BBFC explained that the movie was re-classified ahead of a cinema re-release in 2024 for the film's 60th anniversary. 'In line with our current guidelines, the film exceeds the U category for language with use of the discriminatory term 'hottentots,'' they stated. The 1964 musical stars Julie Andrews as Mary alongside Dick Van Dyke as Bert, the chimney sweep. Pic: Disney The word is a derogatory term for an indigenous group of people from southern Africa, also known as the Khoikhoi. There are two uses of the word in Mary Poppins, one of which sees Admiral Boom (played by Reginald Owen) using the term to describe the chimney sweeps. The BBFC explained: 'While the film has historical contest, the two uses of the discriminatory term are neither criticised or condemned, increasing the risk that very young viewers might repeat it without realising the potential for offence.' Ten complaints were sent to the organisation about Barry Keoghan's Saltburn. Pic: Amazon Prime Video The report added that regular research confirms that a 'key concern' for parents is the possibility for children to be exposed to discriminatory language or behaviour. Mary Poppins was the most complained about with a total of 224 complaints regarding BBFC classifications in 2024. Ten complaints were sent to the organisation about Barry Keoghan's Saltburn. The movie is rated 15 with complaints coming in noting that the film's depiction of sexual obsession was 'too disturbing' for 15. BBFC responded: 'Given the blackly comic tone of the film and that the key scenes, while strong, lacked graphic nudity and other visual explicitness, Saltburn meets our strandards at a 15 classification.'
Metro
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Metro
Mary Poppins is the most complained about film of 2024 over controversial slur
Mary Poppins has been named the most complained about film of 2024 following its use of discriminatory language. In rather surprising news, given the Disney family film's release in 1964, it still managed to attract ire and comment 60 years later. The popular musical starring screen legends Dame Julie Andrews as Mary and Dick Van Dyke as chimney sweep Bert respectively, has long been a childhood favourite and rated U (Universal) by the the British Board of Film Classification. Decades later, it was followed up by 2018 sequel Mary Poppins Returns, starring Emily Blunt, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Ben Whishaw and Emily Mortimer – as well as a delightful cameo return from Van Dyke. However, last year the organisation adjusted the rating of the original Mary Poppins, reclassifying it as a PG (Parental Guidance) and moving one step away from the suggestion that it was suitable for all audiences. It is this decision which sparked backlash, with the BBFC revealing in its annual report that of the 224 complaints it received in 2024, 56 of them were about Mary Poppins' reclassification. The BBFC had adjusted the movie's rating due to the use of the term 'Hottentots', which it classified as discriminatory language. Admiral Boom, portrayed by Reginald Owen, uses the word twice throughout the film, which was a Dutch racially loaded term, originally used in the 17th century by white Europeans to describe the Khoikhoi, a nomadic indigenous population of South Africa. Thought to be one of the oldest people in the world, the Khoikhoi were driven off their land by white colonial expansion. As the Dutch took over land for farms, the Khoikhoi were dispossessed, killed, or enslaved. Those who chose to remain ended up as farm labourers for the invading settlers. At one stage, Admiral Boom dangles from the roof in a boat and asks if one of the Banks children is off to 'fight' them. Later in the film, he also uses the term to describe the chimney sweeps, with their faces blackened by soot, and says they're being 'attacked' by them. The BBFC report, which also shared that Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace is now a PG, also revealed that the complaints were requesting the classification remain unchanged because, although offensive, it is now considered outdated and the same term has also appeared in other films. However, the report argued: 'The two uses of the discriminatory term 'hottentots' are neither criticised nor condemned, increasing the risk that very young viewers might repeat it without realising the potential for offence.' It added: 'Regular research tells us that a key concern for parents is the potential for children to be exposed to discriminatory language or behaviour which they may find distressing or repeat without realising the potential offence.' Others hit back at the decision when Mary Poppins' new classification became public knowledge in February 2024, calling it 'plain ridiculous' and 'strange'. Defending its decision at the time, a BBFC spokesperson told Metro: 'While Mary Poppins has a historical context, the use of discriminatory language is not condemned, and ultimately exceeds our guidelines for acceptable language at U. We therefore classified the film PG for discriminatory language. 'For context, we only review (and potentially reclassify) previously classified content when it's been formally resubmitted to us.' Elsewhere, James Cameron's sci-fi thriller The Abyss received the second largest number of complaints, at 17, following a rumour that a new 4K cinema release had been cancelled owing to concerns over a scene in which a live rat is submerged in liquid. More Trending The BBFC clarified that it had had concerns when the film was originally submitted in 1989 that the scene constituted the 'cruel infliction of terror' on an animal and therefore contravened the Cinematograph Films (Animals) Act 1937. It confirmed the organisation's stance had not changed and that the scene had been re-edited in all versions of the film classified by the BBFC since then. Other films' ratings which drew formal complaints included that of Dune: Part Two due to its knife fight between Timothée Chalamet and Austin Butler's characters, and Saltburn, with people arguing its 'depiction of sexual obsession was too disturbing for [a rating of] 15′. 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: Iconic star, 99, sparks concern after dropping out of event due to illness
