Latest news with #AliSmith
Newsweek
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
Woman Asked to Dog Sit—but There's a Problem: 'Not Safe'
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A woman's first day of dog sitting took an unexpected turn when her furry companion strongly resisted having a leash put on. In a TikTok video, the creator captured the confusing facial expression—somewhere between a scowl and a growl—that the dog made every time she tried to come close to her with her leash. Newsweek spoke to professional dog trainer Ali Smith about the dog's behavior and how the new sitter can take on the challenge. "Dog sitting day one and she won't let me put her leash on," the creator captioned the video. "That collar took me abt 2 hours to put on I sat on the couch and she finally came up to me and let me put it on." A dog growls on the couch with its owner. A dog growls on the couch with its video shows the dog making a threatening face each time the sitter approaches, making it clear she was not thrilled about the process. The clip resonated with many TikTok users, who offered varied perspectives on the dog's behavior. "Call the owners," a top-liked comment read. "This is not safe behavior!" But another commenter noted the importance of distinguishing between genuine aggression and a dog's quirky expressions. "For me, it depends on whether they're growling or are showing physical signs that they don't want to," they wrote. "I have a dog that I dog-sit and she looks terrifying, but that's just her grinning 'hello.'" Another user jokingly wished their dog had similar self-preservation instincts: "I wish my dog had boundaries like this. She would literally let anybody take her." An Expert Weighs In Newsweek spoke to Smith, CEO and founder at Rebarkable, a puppy-training platform, about the different perspectives on the situation and why the dog might be resistant to the leash. She offered expert insight into why a dog might react negatively to a collar or leash—even with someone familiar. "There are two core reasons that a dog can be weird about a collar, or any piece of equipment," Smith explained. "That's, one, a lack of familiarity [and] two, poor associations with the collar." She added that the lack of familiarity is usually addressed in puppyhood through the process of socialization. Poor association, on the other hand, is simply learned over time. The pup in the video's aversion could have to do with anything related to the collar—even the sound of the buckle, she said. Smith elaborated on how negative experiences can shape a dog's perception: "Similar to how our dogs often learn vets means bad things happen, if a dog gets 'corrected' via a collar, or physically moved with a collar or similar, they can swiftly build negative associations." For those facing similar challenges to the creator, she offered practical advice to ease the process. "Don't always aim for getting the collar on," she advised. "Even showing pup the collar and them not running away can be a good thing. Reward heavily with tasty treats or play, and you'll start seeing your dog's uncertainty of their collar disappear." Newsweek reached out to @m6069884 for comment via TikTok.
The Spinoff
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Spinoff
‘Like swimming in a sea of legendary writers': Tina Makereti's books confessional
Welcome to The Spinoff Books Confessional, in which we get to know the reading habits of Aotearoa writers, and guests. This week: Tina Makereti, author of This Compulsion In Us. The book I wish I'd written This changes depending on what I'm reading at the time, if it's good! Like now I'm reading Gliff by Ali Smith, and I wish I could write something like that. It's set sometime in the near future, and somehow post-apocalyptic, which also seems to be post-this-exact-moment, and tightly narrated so that you are inside this paranoid, limited world of a young person living in a high control society. But there's also a lot of beauty, particularly around words. Everyone should read Everyone should read whatever they want because all that matters is that they read. I'm avoiding naming a single book because I can't see how it's possible to name a single book. I saw someone else online saying this exact thing recently and even though it might seem glib and obvious, it's still profound. How about not judging what anyone reads? How about reading whatever gives you joy, or calm, or relaxation, or fuel? The book I want to be buried with No don't bury books! Someone else can read them when I'm gone! The first book I remember reading by myself I don't remember a specific book but I was obsessed with fairy tales, and Cinderella was my favourite for ages. Those stories are just so archetypal — I don't think anything can replace them, alongside folktales, legends, mythological stories, creation stories. I'm still fuelled quite strongly by those kinds of stories and I still enjoy reading or watching versions of them. Dystopia or utopia The only utopian works I think I've read or watched tended to be dystopia in disguise. I find it hard to imagine a story that is truly utopian. And dystopia comes so naturally. Dystopia is kind of the air we breathe, quite literally. Which makes me very curious about utopia… The book that made me laugh Michelle Duff's Surplus Women. It's laugh out loud funny, and that's not easy to pull off, especially when the subject matter can be confronting. The laughs come from Michelle's sensibility behind the stories, and also her willingness to just say the thing. Funny writers seem so unafraid. Encounter with an author Going to the Calabash Festival in Jamaica was wild — like swimming in a sea of absolutely legendary writers. I had encounters with a many incredible writers that week. A few embarrassing encounters too. Marlon James was there having freshly won the Booker, and I was reading The Book of Night Women, which is an extremely moving book, so I was having a massive fangirl moment. Marlon was quite distant though, which wasn't surprising. I don't think it can be easy to deal with all the attention that comes from winning the Booker. Eleanor Catton was there too and she seemed more relaxed than the year before when she had won! But the most impressive moment might have been at the end of the festival, when there was a big meal and drinks put on for us. I met poet Raymond Antrobus in line for kai, before he had won so many prizes, and later emailed him to ask if I could use his surname for a character in the book I was writing. I don't know what I was thinking. After I filled my plate I found a seat at a big table, full of friendly faces. A very distinguished looking gentleman came to sit across the other side. He seemed to know everyone else at the table, but when he clocked me, he stood again and extended his hand. He said, 'Hello, I'm Linton.' I shook, hopefully I introduced myself, I can't remember, but I do remember my face registering my dawning recognition and surprise. The women at the table nodded and laughed. 'Yes it is!' someone said. Linton Kwesi Johnson, Jamaican-British dub poet, activist, musician. Absolute legend of legends. Inventor of form. I don't know if he's so well known here, or that I know his work well enough, but he sure had a presence. Best food memory from a book Got to be all the kai in The Bone People! And the booze. The big, hearty, straight-off-the-land meals in that book provide a much needed comfort: a counterpoint to the violence. Best thing about reading The feeling you get when you're so taken by a story that you absolutely have to get back to the book, and you kind of carry the story around with you when you're not reading – you might even think about the characters the way you think about friends or family. There are lots of great things about reading, but being so transported by a book, so in love with it, must be one of the most pleasant experiences you can have. I don't get that often anymore, so when I do have it, I really notice. Because reading for work is always my first commitment, I need something really enthralling if I'm going to read for fun. I reckon it must be a slightly different formula for everyone, and that's the nice thing. I often find what other people rave about just doesn't do it for me. Everyone has a slightly different alchemy in terms of what they need from a book. All of this applies to the process of writing too. Best place to read If I'm travelling alone, it's always good to read in cafes, restaurants, pubs even, certainly on public transport, in parks. Reading outside is always nice. This Compulsion In Us by Tina Makereti ($40, Te Herenga Waka University Press) is available to purchase through Unity Books. This Compulsion In Us launches at Unity Books Wellington, 6pm, Wednesday 28 May. All welcome.
Scotsman
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
The 6 Scottish authors shortlisted for major literary prizes
Sign up to our Arts and Culture newsletter, get the latest news and reviews from our specialist arts writers Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Six Scottish writers have been shortlisted in a major literary awards ceremony. The writers are up for a range of prizes at the Society of Authors (SoA) awards, including one accolade awarded to a disabled or chronically ill author writing about a character facing similar issues. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Tom Newlands is the only author to be shortlisted for two prizes – the ADCI Literary Prize and the McKitterick Prize for a first novel by an author over 40 – for his work Only Here, Only Now. The publication explores what it means to come of age in a 'forgotten corner of Scotland'. Ali Smith is also among the shortlisted Scots, with Gordon Bowker Volcano Prize shortlisted novel Gliff, which fits the award criteria for focusing on the experience of travel away from home. She is up against writers including One Day author David Nicholls for You Are Here and Matt Haig for The Life Impossible, published by Edinburgh-based Canongate Books. Hamish Grey is shortlisted for the ALCS Tom Gallon Trust Award for his short story, But the fire will spit again, and Genevieve Jagger and Madeline Docherty, are each shortlisted for the Betty Trask Prize for first time writers under 35, for their novels Fragile Animals and Gender Theory respectively. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Meanwhile, Sara Ogilvie is shortlisted for a Queen's Knickers Award, as the illustrator of Big Bad Wolf Investigates Fairy Tales, written by Catherine Cawthorne. Chair of the SoA board, Vanessa Fox O'Loughlin, said: 'The SoA Awards truly demonstrate the breadth and height of voices both nationally and internationally. We are delighted to be able to showcase the richness of talent across so many genre areas and are thrilled each year with the reach of submissions. As authors we understand what these books represent and the SoA Awards are a rare opportunity to celebrate and reward the work of a huge range of talent." Judge Jini Reddy said Ms Smith's novel 'movingly articulates the courage that resistance demands of us': Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad She said: 'The books on this year's Gordon Bowker Volcano Prize shortlist transport the reader to worlds perilous, political, speculative and amorous.' Author Ali Smith. | Getty The ADCI Literary Prize is awarded to a disabled or chronically ill writer, for an outstanding novel containing a disabled or chronically ill character or characters. Penny Batchelor, judge of the prize, said: 'This year's shortlisted books all have powerful plots that pack a punch, immersing the reader in finely-crafted worlds and situations that can shock, cause the shedding of tears, an out-loud belly laugh, or silent recognition of solidarity with their multifaceted characters. READ MORE: Creative Scotland review to be expanded by Scottish Government Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'Covering historical, literary and contemporary fiction, there's something on the shortlist for any reader who wants to eschew outmoded disability stereotypes and engage with powerful stories showing the realities of living a disabled life.'
BBC News
14-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Lincoln release Clucas & offer coaching role
Lincoln City have not taken up an option to extend Sam Clucas' stay with the League One club, but have extended an open-ended offer for the midfielder to join the coaching 34-year-old former Swansea and Hull City midfielder made just eight appearances and scored one goal for the Imps after re-joining them after 15 years away in had been playing in the National League with Oldham when he signed, having dropped to non-league level after leaving Rotherham United following their relegation from the Championship at the end of the 2023-24 Clucas signed, Lincoln boss Michael Skubala said "Sam is 'coming home' towards the end of a fantastic career" - with his initial deal running until the end of the season, while the club had a further 12-month option to extend his stay with his hometown after Lincoln finished 11th in the table he has been released alongside Tyler Walker, Ali Smith and Jay the club clearly expressed a desire to have him back."Clucas is keen to continue his playing career, but the Imps have made clear the door is open for him to start his coaching journey with the club when he is ready to do so," the club said in a statement on its website., external Meanwhile, Lincoln have taken up options to extend the stays of 25-year-old striker Ben House and defender Adam Jackson, Roughan, Zane Okoro and captain Paudie O'Connor, who has been in talks with Lincoln about a new contract since February, remain is discussions about remaining with the club beyond the end of their contracts in the summer."He has been an amazing leader," Skubala said of 27-year-old O'Connor on the latest edition of BBC Radio Lincolnshire's Red Imps Club podcast."He has been phenomenal for this club, in my eyes. He has grown, even in the time I've been here he has improved, become a better player and become more of a leader."Of course any player of his age wants to try and play at the highest level they can. And it's not always about money, sometimes its about having the opportunity to go and test themselves. "Our job is to convince Paudie that we want him to be part of us and how we grow in the near future."It's not a case of finances in this situation, but it's a question of does he want to lead and keep moving this club in the direction we want him to, and do those two things align?"
