The Fifth Down: Firing Bill Belichick would be a mistake
In this week's edition of The Fifth Down, Kinnu Singh explains how calls to fire New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick in the middle of the season are woefully short-sighted.
1970-01-01 08:00
FC Barcelona vs. Atletico Madrid live stream, schedule, preview: Watch LaLiga online
FC Barcelona and Atletico Madrid both won in the Champions League this week and they come up against each other in LaLiga action this weekend. Here's what you need to know to watch.
1970-01-01 08:00
Roundup: Kacey Musgraves, Cole Schafer Break Up; Mark Cuban to Sell Mavericks; Florida State Back in CFP Top Four
Kacey Musgraves and Cole Schafer broke up, Mark Cuban is selling the Mavericks, Florida State is back in the CFP top four and more in the Roundup.
1970-01-01 08:00
Tesla Color Wraps May Save the Cybertruck From Its Weird Self
Tesla Inc. designed its stainless-steel Cybertuck to be something special: the first vehicle for the masses that doesn’t
1970-01-01 08:00
US Mortgage Applications for Home Purchases Rise for Fourth Week
US mortgage applications for home purchases increased for a fourth week, the longest stretch of gains since March
1970-01-01 08:00
Dolly Parton doesn't text because 'it's too much to think about'
Dolly Parton has been in the news recently for multiple reasons. Her new album Rockstar is the number-one in the US - the first number-one album of her career. She also stirred some conservatives over the outfit she wore at the NFL halftime show, which some suggested was inappropriate for her age. But now, she's going viral for sharing that she doesn't text. And honestly, same. Speaking to Drew Barrymore, the country star said "I don't want to talk to everybody that wants to talk to me. I don't text 'cause I don't want to have to answer." "If somebody calls me, I'll answer it if I want to talk to them or I'll call them back when I can," she continued. "Otherwise, I've got too much on to think about than to clutter my mind up with everything else." She clarified that she's "not a stupid person" and that if she really wanted to text she could "learn". "I'd rather just have my fax machine and [they can] call in creative stuff to my crew. I just don't have time to sit with a phone in my face all day." And she might have a point. Psychotherapist Maggie Mulqueen wrote for NBC that texting, although offering us a higher quantity of interaction, actually decreases the quality of relationships. "Texting breeds not just grammar and spelling illiteracy but, more importantly, emotional illiteracy as well," Mulqueen wrote. So maybe we should all try to be a bit more like Dolly Parton. Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings. How to join the indy100's free WhatsApp channel
1970-01-01 08:00
FanDuel Sportsbook NBA Promo: Win $150 Bonus Picking ANY Winner Today!
FanDuel is giving you an extra $150 in bonus bets if you pick the winner of any NBA game today! Find out how to claim this exclusive promo here.
1970-01-01 08:00
Taylor Swift fans aren't happy about her recent 'cash grabs'
Taylor Swift fans have expressed their disappointment at the singer branding her a "capitalist queen" following the announcement that her Eras Tour concert film will be available to rent next month. From 13 December - Swift’s 34th birthday - the recording-breaking box office film will be available to rent on Apple TV+, Vudu, Prime Video, Xfinity, Google Play and YouTube. It will also be an extended version of the movie and include three extra songs – “Wildest Dreams”, “The Archer” and “Long Live." "Hi! Well, so, basically I have a birthday coming up and I was thinking a fun way to celebrate the year we’ve had together would be to make The Eras Tour Concert Film available for you to watch at home!" Swift wrote on social media. "Very happy to be able to tell you that the extended version of the film including “Wildest Dreams,” “The Archer” and “Long Live” will be available to rent on demand in the US, Canada & additional countries to be announced soon starting on … you guessed it, December 13." To rent the film for 48 hours in the comfort of your own home will cost $19.89 - a 1989 reference and a price some Swifties and other social media users aren't too pleased with. This discussion comes after Swift hit billionaire status last month with a $1.1bn fortune according to Forbes. Though there were fans who were defending Swift and noted the rental prices of other popular movies this year such as Barbie.. It's not the first time Swift has come under fire, as she was previously criticised for her limited edition merchandise drops. During the release of Midnights, the Anti-Hero singer showed fans how they could create a clock if they bought four versions of the vinyl which each had a part of the clock face on the back of the jackets and also included fans needing to purchase of the clock hand separately. These different versions of the album also each had a different bonus track, so fans who wanted each extra song on vinyl would have to buy every version. Her most recent release, 1989 (Taylor's Version) saw the release of four different vinyl versions of the album - each with the same songs but with a different themed colour and cover photo of Swift. The first limited edition drop was the Sunrise Boulevard Yellow where fans were informed it would only be available for a limited time (48 hours) so many rushed to buy it. However, after those two days Swifties were surprised to hear about another limited drop - this time the Aquamarine Green version which again was available just for 48 hours. While the vinyls were $31.89 each, due to the rollout of the drops they couldn't be purchased together meaning they were have to pay separate shipping costs. “Why. So. Many. Version. Of. The. Same. Damn. Album. Taylor. Why. So. Many. Version. Of. The. Same. Damn. Album. Taylor. I cannot deal with the money grabbing feel," one fan asked on the Taylor Swift subreddit. "This is messy! messy dishonest sales tactics! every era it gets worse I swear! I don’t think taylor is directly responsible for this manufactured fomo-based sales strategy, but wow girlie. This is a piece of work," another fan wrote. How to join the indy100's free WhatsApp channel Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.
1970-01-01 08:00
Signa Files for Insolvency as Cash Crunch Fells Luxury Empire
Tycoon Rene Benko’s Signa filed for insolvency after a last-ditch attempt to raise emergency funding failed, making the
1970-01-01 08:00
Israel’s President Due in UAE in First Foreign Trip Since War
Israel’s President Isaac Herzog is planning a quick visit to Dubai later this week to take part in
1970-01-01 08:00
Lula Bets Brazil’s Pivot on Climate Will Steal the Show at COP28
At last year’s United Nations Climate Change Conference, Brazil’s then president-elect Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva won cheers
1970-01-01 08:00
The Savoy hotel review: Expect to be treated like royalty at London’s iconic Grande Dame (for a price)
In a nutshell: The grande dame of luxury London hotels, with a remarkable history and stellar service. Expect to be treated like royalty – for a price. The neighbourhood Only the heart of central London, my dear. Opened in 1889, London’s first luxury hotel is located on a bend of the River Thames on the Strand. Reached via Savoy Court – the only road in the UK where cars must drive on the right to enable guests to board and exit from the driver’s side of a car – this Grade II listed building benefits from being both perfectly situated for some of the city’s superlative attractions, while also transporting you to an altogether more magical place. It enjoys enviable access to some of London’s most popular cultural institutions, including the Royal Opera House, Somerset House, the National Gallery, the Courtauld Institute of Art and the National Portrait Gallery; and with a plum position in Theatreland, the Lyceum, Vaudeville, Adelphi, Duchess, Novello and Aldwych theatres are all just minutes away, in addition to the Savoy’s own namesake playhouse. The Victoria Embankment Gardens and Cleopatra’s Needle are situated at the rear of the hotel, while the South Bank and its attractions – including the Royal Festival Hall, National Theatre, Southbank Centre, Hayward Gallery and London Eye – are across the water. Read more on London travel: The best London hotels Where to shop and stay in London How to do winter in London right The vibe Opulent, old-school glamour without the stuffiness. Guests pass through the famous Art Deco front entrance before being ushered into the mahogany-panelled arrival hall, complete with marble columns, a black-and-white checkerboard marble floor, and plentiful vases of freshly cut floral displays. Luxury practically oozes from the walls, as does history; the roll-call of previous guests includes literary figures (Oscar Wilde, F Scott Fitzgerald, Mark Twain), former prime ministers (Winston Churchill), royalty (Queen Elizabeth II) and stars of stage and screen (Marlene Dietrich, Marilyn Monroe, Frank Sinatra, Elizabeth Taylor, Bob Dylan, The Beatles, Charlie Chaplin, Rihanna and Taylor Swift). The aesthetic is largely split between Art Deco and Edwardian, whether you’re sipping afternoon tea in the grand, light-filled Thames Foyer, complete with glass-domed atrium and winter garden gazebo, or quaffing fizz and celeb-spotting in the American Bar, London’s longest-surviving cocktail bar. Bed and bath The Savoy is home to 267 luxury guest rooms and suites decorated in a classic Edwardian or Art Deco style, ranging from Superior Queen Rooms, replete with marble bathrooms and bespoke Penhaligon’s toiletries, to the landmark Royal Suite (from £15,875 per night) designed by Gucci, whose founder worked at The Savoy as a luggage porter and lift boy as a young man. Many of the rooms feature outstanding panoramic views across the River Thames and South Bank that take in some of London’s most famous landmarks, including Big Ben, the London Eye and Oxo Tower. Suites include complimentary minibars, free-standing bathtubs and rainwater showers, Murano glass chandeliers, his and hers washbasins, chauffeur and butler services – and Boodles catalogues, in the event you fancy dropping six figures on some ice. Food and drink The American Bar is possibly one of the most famous hotel bars in the world, making a visit an essential element of any trip to London. Opened in 1893, its influence is global when it comes to the art of mixology, with celebrated bartenders creating the Hanky Panky, the White Lady, Prairie Oyster (as devoured by Sally Bowles in Cabaret) and the Moon Walk, Neil Armstrong’s bespoke concoction and first drink after his legendary trip to space. Famous patrons include Ernest Hemingway, Winston Churchill (a regular who kept his own bottle of whisky here), and F Scott Fitzgerald, while photographs of other acclaimed visitors can be found on the walls. Service is exquisite and discreet while the vibe is chic, with a pianist tickling the ivories. The newer Beaufort Bar, open Thursday to Saturday for champagne and cocktails, is the epitome of cocktail glamour, with black velvet furnishings, dim lighting and thousands of pounds worth of gold leaf on the walls. Dress up for this date night destination, which is also home to the original stage where George Gershwin performed the British premiere of “Rhapsody in Blue”. Competing with London’s culinary offerings is no mean feat, but the Savoy’s three restaurants – all of which are franchised to multi-Michelin-star awarded celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay – are more than fit for purpose. Specialising in shellfish and seafood, the River Restaurant is an absolute treat for pescatarians. The beef wellington – a house special – is also worth splashing out on, with juicy, tender meat encased in crisp and flaky pastry. Book a seat by the window and indulge in a seafood platter for the ultimate decadent dining experience. Described by Ramsay as the definition of “gourmet glamour”, the famous Savoy Grill’s sumptuous interiors – mirrored walls and plush velvets – have recently undergone a makeover to evoke the razzle-dazzle of the 1920s. Former regulars include the Queen Mother, Elizabeth Taylor, Noel Coward and Alfred Hitchcock; it’s also the place where Hollywood royalty, Vivien Leigh and Laurence Olivier, first set eyes on each other, with Leigh declaring then and there that she would marry Olivier. Hero dishes include lobster thermidor, Louet-Feisser oysters and duck a l’orange. Elsewhere, the more intimate Restaurant 1890 has just 26 covers and offers a modern French tasting menu that takes inspiration from influential former Savoy chef and culinary pioneer, Georges Auguste Escoffier. Located above the hotel entrance, try and bag a window seat for the ultimate people watching spot. Public areas Even the hotel’s lobby offers a sumptuous place to take the weight off your feet and soak up the atmosphere. Guests preferring to indulge further can head to the beauty and fitness centre. In addition to a range of treatments, such as massages and facials, resident and non-resident guests and members can take a dip in the 10m pool, equipped with a jet stream to swim against the current. The men’s and women’s changing areas also include a cosy sauna and steam room. A gym with weights and cardiovascular equipment is adjacent. Nuts and bolts Room count: 237 Freebies: Standard rooms provide complimentary tea, coffee, soft drinks and two beers, while suites extend this to include welcome drinks and butler service (one item of clothing for pressing per guest). Wifi: Free. Extra charges: None. Early check-in and late check-out are subject to availability, with charges determined on a case-by-case basis. Disability access: There are three accessible Deluxe King rooms, which feature wheel-in-shower and accessible-friendly amenities. All dining and bar venues are accessible; staff are available to assist guests with step-free routes. Pet policy: Well behaved pets up to 20lbs are welcome within the Savoy’s suites and rooms for a daily charge of £25. They are also welcome at the River Restaurant by Gordon Ramsay. Bottom line Best thing: The service is exceptional. That, and the sheer, unadulterated glamour, darling. Worst thing: The spa is on the petite side. Perfect for: A special occasion. Treat yourself – or someone else. It’s an unforgettable experience. Not right for: Large, noisy groups. Have some decorum! Instagram from: The dramatic red lift. London’s first electric lift was dubbed “an ascending room” by founder Richard D’Oyly Carte, with nervous passengers handed a glass of brandy to calm their nerves before entering. Its historic status, plus gold doors, red lacquer interior and leather bench for two make it an ideal place for posing. thesavoylondon.com Read more of our best luxury London hotel reviews Read More The best luxury hotels in London for a stylish city break The best spa hotels in London for pampering and indulgence Best boutique hotels in London 2022 How to do winter in London right Could a night at this ‘sleep retreat’ cure my insomnia? Loch Fyne Hotel and Spa, the ultimate secluded stay in the Scottish Highlands
1970-01-01 08:00