Weird News ε' - The fifth column

[Kyriakos]

Only "you remember what you were doing at x political event" I can think of, is when there was the first report of an airplane crash at the twin towers, with the infamous second plane crashing live.
I was eating, iirc breakfast. Probably something with sausages

 

[Samson]

Only "you remember what you were doing at x political event" I can think of, is when there was the first report of an airplane crash at the twin towers, with the infamous second plane crashing live.
I was eating, iirc breakfast. Probably something with sausages

You were getting up late. The first plane hit 4:03pm Greek time.

 

[Kyriakos]

You were getting up late. The first plane hit 4:03pm Greek time.

Hm, maybe it was a later meal
But yes, those days I would often wake up after midday, when I was back home (back from England and uni studies; returned that October).

 

[NovaKart]

“A man in New Jersey is accused of habitually urinating on his ex-wife’s grave, according to media reports.

Michael Murray told News 12 that the saga began when he repeatedly noticed deli bags full of feces placed near the grave of his mother, Linda Torello, and contacted the police.”

Read more at: https://www.kentucky.com/news/nation-world/national/article266426966.html#storylink=cpy

 

[Kyriakos]

Sometimes the crap continues even after your death?

 

[Samson]

Bird in backpack used in hunt for missing mate

A pet owner who lost one of her cockatiels is carrying around its mate in a transparent backpack in an effort to lure the absent avian home.​

Pippy flew out of the window last month when owner Emma Jenkinson was asleep on the sofa at home in Doncaster, South Yorkshire.​

She now takes Snowy, who is said to be depressed and lonely, on walks to try and persuade Pippy to come back.​

​

 

[Kyriakos]

Turkey summons German envoy after politician likens Erdogan to 'sewer rat'

Turkey's foreign ministry summoned the German ambassador to Ankara on Tuesday to protest over comments made by a senior German politician who likened President Tayyip Erdogan to a "little sewer rat".

www.reuters.com

At least it is funny
The german politician is (I read) vice-president of the german federal parliament. Erdogan sued and says (among other stuff) that islam bans such insults.

 

[Aiken_Drumn]

Bird in backpack used in hunt for missing mate

A pet owner who lost one of her cockatiels is carrying around its mate in a transparent backpack in an effort to lure the absent avian home.​

Pippy flew out of the window last month when owner Emma Jenkinson was asleep on the sofa at home in Doncaster, South Yorkshire.​

She now takes Snowy, who is said to be depressed and lonely, on walks to try and persuade Pippy to come back.​

​

Any update, did it work!?

 

[Samson]

Channel 4, a UK government owned, advert funded TV channel, has bought a load of works of art from “problematic” artists including Hitler, Pablo Picasso, the convicted paedophile Rolf Harris and the sexual abuser Eric Gill. They are going to make a TV show where Jimmy Carr, famous for tax dodging and telling non-PC jokes, gives the audience the choice to destroy them or not.

This is weird enough, right? It is also so wrong in so many ways:

Turning a tragedy into a comedy show

The Holocaust Memorial Day Trust saying the show is “making Hitler a topic of light entertainment”. “The question of how far art can be linked to its creators is an important one, but this programme is simply a stunt for shock value, and cannot excuse the trivialisation of the horrors of Nazism,” said the organisation’s chief executive, Olivia Marks-Woldman.

Jake Wallis Simons, the editor of the Jewish Chronicle, said popular television was “trolling the Jewish community, all those around the world who suffered under nazism and anybody who remains in possession of a moral compass”. The fate of one of the world’s most problematic and disturbing artefacts, he added in an article in the Spectator, “will be determined by a studio audience and a comedian”.

Destroying history

Dr Sam Rose, a senior lecturer in art history at St Andrews, said there was no blanket rule for destroying artwork by wrongdoers. “I think it’s all on a case by case basis,” he told the Guardian. “It’s fine to burn some cultural works by wrongdoers – say, DVDs by Jimmy Carr when he avoids tax and jokes about the Holocaust. But this is because those people and works aren’t significant – see also Rolf Harris.

“Unfortunate as it may be, works by Hitler and Gill are now part of important histories and may in the future help us understand things about ourselves: they belong in an archive available to be studied, not used in a cheap stunt for ratings figures on a failing TV channel.”

Journalist and antisemitism campaigner Jonathan Sacerdoti said Hitler was not renowned across the world for the quality of his art. “The only reason we know about Hitler’s artwork is because he perpetuated and carried out the Holocaust, murdering 6 million plus Jews … and they have got a comedian with a history about making jokes about the Holocaust.”

Spending serious money on this ATM

There were also questions over why Channel 4 decided to spend an undisclosed sum on the expensive works during a time when viewers will be struggling with the cost of living crisis. Hitler’s artworks have previously sold for up to $400,000.

Will Black, the author of Veneer of Civilisation, tweeted: “Jimmy Carr, who has lashed out and smeared Gypsy communities a number of times, is set to earn a lot of money in a ridiculous spectacle of Channel 4 spending money on a painting by Hitler (who murdered several hundred thousand Romanies) and Carr smashing it. While families freeze.”

I also feel Picasso does not deserve his spot. Sure, he may have been a bit of a tankie but if you are going to go with that sort of level of political judgement you are going to be hard pressed to find any acceptable art as you go further back in history. Would we destroy all Roman art for slavery?

 

[Arakhor]

I know Channel 4's remit includes providing provocative TV, but this is just televised barbarism.

 

[AmazonQueen]

Channel 4, a UK government owned, advert funded TV channel, has bought a load of works of art from “problematic” artists including Hitler, Pablo Picasso, the convicted paedophile Rolf Harris and the sexual abuser Eric Gill. They are going to make a TV show where Jimmy Carr, famous for tax dodging and telling non-PC jokes, gives the audience the choice to destroy them or not.

This is weird enough, right? It is also so wrong in so many ways:

Turning a tragedy into a comedy show

The Holocaust Memorial Day Trust saying the show is “making Hitler a topic of light entertainment”. “The question of how far art can be linked to its creators is an important one, but this programme is simply a stunt for shock value, and cannot excuse the trivialisation of the horrors of Nazism,” said the organisation’s chief executive, Olivia Marks-Woldman.

Jake Wallis Simons, the editor of the Jewish Chronicle, said popular television was “trolling the Jewish community, all those around the world who suffered under nazism and anybody who remains in possession of a moral compass”. The fate of one of the world’s most problematic and disturbing artefacts, he added in an article in the Spectator, “will be determined by a studio audience and a comedian”.

Destroying history

Dr Sam Rose, a senior lecturer in art history at St Andrews, said there was no blanket rule for destroying artwork by wrongdoers. “I think it’s all on a case by case basis,” he told the Guardian. “It’s fine to burn some cultural works by wrongdoers – say, DVDs by Jimmy Carr when he avoids tax and jokes about the Holocaust. But this is because those people and works aren’t significant – see also Rolf Harris.

“Unfortunate as it may be, works by Hitler and Gill are now part of important histories and may in the future help us understand things about ourselves: they belong in an archive available to be studied, not used in a cheap stunt for ratings figures on a failing TV channel.”

Journalist and antisemitism campaigner Jonathan Sacerdoti said Hitler was not renowned across the world for the quality of his art. “The only reason we know about Hitler’s artwork is because he perpetuated and carried out the Holocaust, murdering 6 million plus Jews … and they have got a comedian with a history about making jokes about the Holocaust.”

Spending serious money on this ATM

There were also questions over why Channel 4 decided to spend an undisclosed sum on the expensive works during a time when viewers will be struggling with the cost of living crisis. Hitler’s artworks have previously sold for up to $400,000.

Will Black, the author of Veneer of Civilisation, tweeted: “Jimmy Carr, who has lashed out and smeared Gypsy communities a number of times, is set to earn a lot of money in a ridiculous spectacle of Channel 4 spending money on a painting by Hitler (who murdered several hundred thousand Romanies) and Carr smashing it. While families freeze.”

I also feel Picasso does not deserve his spot. Sure, he may have been a bit of a tankie but if you are going to go with that sort of level of political judgement you are going to be hard pressed to find any acceptable art as you go further back in history. Would we destroy all Roman art for slavery?

The 4 villains aren't really comparable
Hitler was responsible for genocide on an industrial scale, Harris and Gill were sexual criminals, and Picasso was a horrible misogynist and made a dubious political choice (like a lot of people who observed fascism at work).
Destroying artworks makes no sense. Does it help the victims or make a political or moral point? No.

 

[Aiken_Drumn]

I think this is really really crass. It has little merit, and torments those hurt by these monsters. I hope the idea is cancelled as its disgusting.

 

[AmazonQueen]

I find the antics of our government beyond words so I'm going to stick to something easy to understand like wanton destruction of artworks.

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/worl...pc=U531&cvid=bf7ee57ca5da495db55d7218958a1a48

At least this serves some purpose higher than light entertainment. I think I still disapprove though.

 

[Samson]

I find the antics of our government beyond words so I'm going to stick to something easy to understand like wanton destruction of artworks.

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/worl...pc=U531&cvid=bf7ee57ca5da495db55d7218958a1a48

At least this serves some purpose higher than light entertainment. I think I still disapprove though.

I am sure both them and the museum are confident they will not damage the work of art, but get good publicity.

A National Gallery spokesperson said ... "There is some minor damage to the frame but the painting is unharmed."​

 

[Aiken_Drumn]

Are all pieces of art as "important" as this behind glass?

 

[Samson]

Are all pieces of art as "important" as this behind glass?

I guess this is pretty up there in importance, but I am frequently surprised how few pictures are.

 

[r16]

uh , ı am so out of the loop . Still thought Picasso would be counted as a great artist , until this morning and this thread . Even if ı have never been able to grasp any single one picture of his , like ever . But , yeah , a tag of "Anti-fascist" from 1940s is a very bad thing these days .

 

[Kyriakos]

The 4 villains aren't really comparable
Hitler was responsible for genocide on an industrial scale, Harris and Gill were sexual criminals, and Picasso was a horrible misogynist and made a dubious political choice (like a lot of people who observed fascism at work).
Destroying artworks makes no sense. Does it help the victims or make a political or moral point? No.

Channel 4 must have changed for the far worse, if they think it is a cool idea to destroy art. And while almost no one will care about the Hitler art, it is still beyond terrible to buy some painting just to destroy it.
Then again... destroying Picasso paintings? Seriously?

 

[Broken_Erika]

Beyond Meat executive exits after biting incident​

The Beyond Meat executive who was accused of biting a man's nose is leaving the vegan food company.
The US firm, known for its plant-based burgers, had suspended Douglas Ramsey, then chief operating officer, indefinitely after the incident.
His departure comes amid a broader shake-up at the company, which is struggling with faltering demand for fake meat.
The firm also said it was axing 200 staff, about 20% of its workforce.
"We believe our decision to reduce personnel and expenses throughout the company, including our leadership group, reflects an appropriate right-sizing of our organization given current economic conditions," Beyond Meat boss Ethan Brown said.
"We remain confident in our ability to deliver on the long-term growth and impact expected from our global brand."

Beyond Meat, which started selling its plant-based food in 2012, has blamed cost-of-living pressures for pushing shoppers to less expensive options, including traditional meat.
The company has also seen its edge eroded by a wealth of new competitors, including from food giants such as Kellogg and Tyson Foods.
Executives warned investors on Friday that sales this year are likely to fall 9% to 14% compared to 2021.

It is the second time the company had cut its forecast in recent months - and marks a sharp slowdown from the more than 20% growth the firm had initially projected.
The company said it had been "negatively impacted by ongoing softness in the plant-based meat category overall, especially in the refrigerated subsegment, and by the impact of increased competition".
"Inflation is believed to be an underlying factor exerting pressure on the category as consumers trade down into cheaper forms of protein, including animal meat," it added.

Beyond Meat had announced an earlier round of job cuts in August. Multiple executives in addition to Mr Ramsey have also left the company in recent weeks.
The company did not respond to a request for comment about Mr Ramsey.
He was arrested last month for reportedly biting a man's nose during a row after a football game in Arkansas. His last day was 14 October, the company said.
Before joining Beyond Meat last year, Mr Ramsey had a three-decade career at meat processing giant Tyson Foods, where he oversaw the company's poultry and McDonald's business units.
https://www.bbc.com/news/business-63260645

 

[Kyriakos]

Beyond Meat executive exits after biting incident​

The Beyond Meat executive who was accused of biting a man's nose is leaving the vegan food company.
The US firm, known for its plant-based burgers, had suspended Douglas Ramsey, then chief operating officer, indefinitely after the incident.
His departure comes amid a broader shake-up at the company, which is struggling with faltering demand for fake meat.
The firm also said it was axing 200 staff, about 20% of its workforce.
"We believe our decision to reduce personnel and expenses throughout the company, including our leadership group, reflects an appropriate right-sizing of our organization given current economic conditions," Beyond Meat boss Ethan Brown said.
"We remain confident in our ability to deliver on the long-term growth and impact expected from our global brand."

Beyond Meat, which started selling its plant-based food in 2012, has blamed cost-of-living pressures for pushing shoppers to less expensive options, including traditional meat.
The company has also seen its edge eroded by a wealth of new competitors, including from food giants such as Kellogg and Tyson Foods.
Executives warned investors on Friday that sales this year are likely to fall 9% to 14% compared to 2021.

It is the second time the company had cut its forecast in recent months - and marks a sharp slowdown from the more than 20% growth the firm had initially projected.
The company said it had been "negatively impacted by ongoing softness in the plant-based meat category overall, especially in the refrigerated subsegment, and by the impact of increased competition".
"Inflation is believed to be an underlying factor exerting pressure on the category as consumers trade down into cheaper forms of protein, including animal meat," it added.

Beyond Meat had announced an earlier round of job cuts in August. Multiple executives in addition to Mr Ramsey have also left the company in recent weeks.
The company did not respond to a request for comment about Mr Ramsey.
He was arrested last month for reportedly biting a man's nose during a row after a football game in Arkansas. His last day was 14 October, the company said.
Before joining Beyond Meat last year, Mr Ramsey had a three-decade career at meat processing giant Tyson Foods, where he oversaw the company's poultry and McDonald's business units.
https://www.bbc.com/news/business-63260645

I guess you could say his grievances went beyond meat.