Latest news with #Breda
Cosmopolitan
4 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Cosmopolitan
Honestly, I Wasn't a Watch Person Until I Tried Breda Watches
Have you ever seen one of your favorite influencers wearing a cool, vintage-inspired watch and wondered where they got it from? Like, sure, your dad has a watch that he wears everyday, but the ones I'm talking about are watches. Well, there's a good chance that it's from Breda, a design-forward, vintage-inspired watch brand started by Amir & Shabeena Meghani. Breda showed up on my radar a few years ago when I started to get into in watches as a form of jewelry and I was immediately obsessed with their interesting, sculptural designs. Their celebrity and influencer fans are numerous: Emily Ratajkowski, Demi Lovato, Raul Lopez, Sabrina Brier, Reece Feldman, and tons of other Pinterest-y fashion girlies. EmRata has been spotted multiple times wearing the Elemental version of the Jane watch, a simple oval silhouette that's one of the brand's best sellers—and honestly, I'm interested in anything that woman wears. Breda's most recent release is the Tethered collection, featuring their classic watch faces with a slim, woven band. I had been eyeing their popular Jane watch with a sky blue Mother of Pearl dial for over a year now, so I snagged it in the new Tethered style, and it's the perfect addition to the mixed gold and silver rings I wear on a daily basis. Fellow small-wristed people will appreciate that the band is completely adjustable, so no worrying about it slipping and sliding down your arm! While my exact watch sold out pretty quickly, it's still available in other colors and band styles. I'll admit that I'm newer to wearing watches, but I'm honestly eyeing the mixed metal Tethered Jane because it's such a great combo of metals to jazz up a boring work 'fit. Demi Lovato has taken to Instagram twice to post mirror selfies showing off her Breda Time Ring, a pretty stainless steel piece embedded with Austrian crystals that was made in collaboration with the jewelry brand Dalmata. Yes, it has a fully-functioning watch face, and yes, it's still in stock! There are so many other Breda styles that are incredibly chic that I couldn't just not mention—the Virgil, a classic rectangular shape that comes with a gorgeous ochre face, the Revel, which features a chic buckle design, the Coda, a more masculine silhouette, and the Sync, an androgynous, mechanical watch with a thin, flat band. I could go on and on yapping about my favorite styles, but why don't you just browse the gallery below instead? Oh, and pro styling tip: You can wear them one at a time, or take a note from your favorite fashion influencers and stack a few of them on one wrist for a maximalist bracelet moment! Hannah is the Shopping Editor at Cosmopolitan, covering all things from chic home decor to trendy fashion finds, TikTok products that are actually worth your $$$, and the perfect gift to buy for your boyfriend's mom. She previously wrote for Seventeen and CR Fashion Book. Follow her on Instagram for hot takes on red carpet fashion and pictures of her office outfits that nobody asked for.
Irish Independent
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Late Arklow woman Breda Smyth was a generous soul who ‘never feared a challenge'
A native of Rathdowney, County Laois, Breda studied at the College of Hotel Cookery Dublin from 1961 to 1963, before moving to Arklow to join the team at the Arklow Bay Hotel. As many may recall, Arklow had a vibrant social scene back then, during the showband era, with Brendan Bowyer, the Ormonde Hall, and the Entertainment Centre, and it was at the latter that Breda was first introduced to a young chap from County Meath named Peter, and it was love at first sight. Married in 1970, the couple set down roots on Emoclew Road, where Breda made it their home. Together, they knitted themselves into the fabric of the community, with Breda channelling her time and energy into a myriad of local causes. From her work with the Arklow CBS board of management and the school's parents council fundraising committee, to the Fr. Murphy Athletic Club, Arklow Meals on Wheels, Minster of the Eucharist, Arklow Music Festival or the Parish Bingo, Breda never feared a challenge, and her support was always delivered with a warm smile. Aside from her community work, family was so important and meant everything to Breda. She never forgot her Laois roots, returning regularly to visit brothers, nieces and nephews and always there to help where she could. Breda was a devoted mother to her three sons, Damien, Paul and Killian and grandmother to her five grandchildren (a role she embraced), Jodie, Lexi, Billy, Lauren and Eve, whom she adored. Birthday cakes became works of art, almost too good to eat, with Breda revelling in their sporting, artistic, or musical successes. 'When sickness took its grip and our family began to collapse with heartache, it was Breda who gently reminded us of our inner strength and faith,' a family member said. 'She never complained, she never blamed, she was at peace, and a big thank you to Breda's dear friend Fr. Martin Cosgrove, who was instrumental at that most difficult time.' Breda Smyth of Clon-Kiel, Emoclew Road, Arklow, died on February 14. She will be sadly missed by her loving husband Peter, her sons Damien, Paul and Killian, her daughters-in-law Linda, Tanya and Lisa, her grandchildren Jodie, Lexi, Billy, Lauren and Eve, the extended Doherty and Smyth families, neighbours and friends.
CNA
29-05-2025
- Lifestyle
- CNA
Commentary: Why do we revere fast food so much that we're building museums even for specific burgers?
BREDA, The Netherlands: More than 25 years ago, McDonald's introduced the McSpicy burger to Singapore - chicken thigh marinated in a spicy seasoning, breaded, deep-fried, and served on a sesame seed bun with shredded lettuce and mayonnaise. With an intense burn designed to suit the local palate, the McSpicy quickly became so popular that it remains a staple on the fast food chain's menu to this day. Over the last two weeks, McDonald's celebrated the burger's journey from inception to local icon. The McSpicy Museum, a pop-up event held from May 13 to May 25, transformed the open area next to McDonald's at Bugis Junction into an interactive space featuring reflex-testing games, trivia, photo booths and vibrant installations. As a Singaporean currently residing in Europe, I've noticed a stark contrast in attitudes towards fast food. Europeans often view fast food as low-status or unhealthy, associating it with rushed lifestyles or the working class. In contrast, fast food in Singapore is far from stigmatised. In fact, there are now more than 700 fast food establishments across the country, with two fast food giants - South Korea's Lotteria and America's Chick-fil-A - entering the market this year. CONVENIENCE CULTURE A quick search on online forums suggests a straightforward answer: Pragmatism. In a fast-paced urban environment like Singapore, convenience and value are key decision drivers. With only 22 per cent of Singaporeans cooking at home daily, fast food chains meet a critical demand for quick, reliable meals amid busy schedules. Conveniently located in malls and near MRT stations, fast food outlets deliver speed, order, and reliability - qualities highly prized by time-pressed, energy-sapped office workers and students. While local hawker stalls provide some of the country's cheapest meals, they often close on certain days or have limited hours. Fast food chains, by contrast, are almost always open for business, with some operating 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. With rising hawker prices, fast food may appeal to budget-conscious Singaporeans who desire air-conditioned comfort in the island's oppressive heat and humidity. To sweeten the deal, many chains also offer loyalty programmes that reward repeat customers with points redeemable for food or discounts, further increasing their value-for-money appeal. FAST FOOD AS CULTURAL SYMBOL Nostalgia also plays an important role in why fast food is so dear to the hearts of so many Singaporeans. Prior to the late 1970s, when McDonald's first arrived in Singapore, locals mostly ate at hawker centres and traditional eateries. The arrival of modern, clean, American, air-conditioned fast food chains introduced a new dining trend and symbolised a connection to Western culture and global modernity. While Europeans saw fast food more as a convenient or cheap alternative, Singaporeans saw it as aspirational or symbolically celebratory, as the arrival of fast food coincided with Singapore's rapid modernisation. What's now an ordinary burger was once seen as an 'atas' (upscale) treat then - a special indulgence beyond typical hawker fare. An entire generation of millennial children grew up perceiving birthday celebrations at McDonald's or Happy Meals - kid-sized meal sets that include small toys - as luxurious treats. In 2000, McDonald's Singapore launched a campaign where customers were able to purchase limited-edition Hello Kitty plushies with every Extra Value Meal. The toys sparked nationwide frenzy, with up to 300,000 people lining up at outlets island-wide and culminating in skirmishes and other public disturbances. This irrational devotion - willingness to risk injury for a plushie - effectively demonstrates how fast food transcends its utilitarian purpose in Singapore. We now celebrate fast food items and emblems like they are cultural artifacts because, in a way, they are. Over the years, McDonald's has even found its way into National Service marching songs, with staple menu items like Filet-O-Fish and apple pie shouted out in the lyrics. Eventually, purchasing a burger from McDonald's was no longer just about the burger - it was also about being part of the cultural moment. HYBRID CULTURE In some European societies, fast food is frowned upon because it is seen as the antithesis of traditional food culture and heritage. In 1999, French farmer and union official Jose Bove ransacked a McDonald's restaurant to protest American corporate influence and 'malbouffe' ('bad food'). He became something of a national celebrity in France, where the public saw his actions as a symbolic resistance to American cultural imperialism, globalisation's threat to traditional food practices, and a loss of culinary identity, particularly in a country like France with a long and rich gastronomic history. However, in Singapore, fast food was never perceived that way. Singaporeans have always simultaneously embraced globalisation and their traditional roots, often expecting international brands to adapt to local tastes and culture. McDonald's alone offers many more examples, with unique creations like the Nasi Lemak Burger and menu items tied to local holidays, like the Prosperity Burger for Chinese New Year. These items are not just food but cultural emblems. The McSpicy, specifically, is so embraced because it is genuinely hot by local standards - a rare and notable example of a Western brand successfully catering to local palates. We talk about it almost as a cultural rite of passage - a pain-pleasure experience that many Singaporeans can relate to, for better or worse. Other fast food giants have followed suit. KFC introduced the Rendang Rice Bucket and Curry Rice Buckets exclusively to its Singapore outlets. Pizza Hut experimented with durian cheese and assam laksa pizzas. Burger King had the Hainanese Tendergrill Chicken Burger as a hat-tip to our national dish, Hainanese chicken rice. The success of these localised menu items suggests Singaporeans' openness to adopting and adapting imports of global food culture with pride, rather than viewing them as threats. That a deep-fried chicken burger now commands a 'museum' event suggests just how far fast food has come in shaping our tastes, habits, and sense of self. Whether this marks a clever cultural fusion or compromise remains unclear. But in Singapore, at least, the McSpicy isn't just a burger - it's a story we've chosen to tell about ourselves.
The Journal
29-05-2025
- The Journal
'Waking up in hell': Over €30,000 raised for Dublin family after firebomb attack claims pet dog and home
A FUNDRAISER HAS been launched for a Dublin family after a firebomb was mistakenly thrown into their home, resulting in a 'devastating' fire that claimed the life of their pet dog. The fire broke out shortly after 2am on 21 May after a petrol bomb was thrown into the house in Ballyfermot, resulting in the destruction of the Curran family home and the death of their dog Zach. Gardaí have said that they believe the petrol bomb attack was a case of mistaken identity, and that the wrong home was attacked. Pat Curran was asleep on a couch in the front room of the house when the petrol bomb came through the window. After waking his wife Breda and son Luke, the three were able to flee the house before it was engulfed in flames. The fire engulfed the front room in minutes. GoFundMe GoFundMe 'If he hadn't been there to wake up and raise the alarm, my mother Breda and my brother Luke would likely have died in the fire. That thought haunts us,' John Curran wrote in a fundraiser set up for the family. Speaking to RTÉ's Morning Ireland, Pat Curran described the incident as 'waking up in hell'. I had a blanket on me and I threw it on the fire and tried to stamp it out. I don't know how I didn't go on fire,' he said. 'All I did was start screaming for Breda. The thought came into my head – what did I do? Did I do something to cause this? This is an evil that came to our house.' Advertisement Breda described how the family tried to ave the dog before they fled the house, but were unable to reach Zach on time. 'I tried to go back into the sitting room, and Luke was helping me to try and get our dog, because we knew he hadn't come out, so we were calling his name, but the heat wouldn't let us back in,' Breda said. 'When I went as far as the hallway to the sitting room door, the fire was everywhere.' An emotional Breda told RTÉ's Morning Ireland: 'I said, we can't go in there – we'll die. We tried to call the dog, but it was too late. Then we just heard him whimpering, and we didn't hear anything else after that. 'Then everything just went silent, except for the fire.' The fire spread to the entire house, destroying the bedrooms. She later said that the house has no insurance, meaning the family have been left dealing with the cost of the attack. Speaking on the mental toll of the fire, she said: 'I don't even know whether I can come back here, I don't know if I'd feel safe here.' Pat added that the family's neighbours and local community have rallied to support the Currans since the fire. 'Strangers on the street come up to us offered help,' he explained. I have to say, the community spirit in Ballyfermot is never talked about, but the respect, compassion and goodwill that's that are coming from this community, it's something to be admired and it keeps me going.' A GoFundMe for the family has now raised over €30,000. You can find the fundraiser here . Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
Geek Wire
08-05-2025
- Science
- Geek Wire
UW develops bike-mounted sensor system to track close-passing cars and map safer cycling routes
A University of Washington-led team has developed a system, called ProxiCycle, that uses a sensor plugged into handlebars to log when a passing car comes too close to a cyclist. Above, the team tests how well the system estimates the distance of a passing car. The dashed line at center is a meter for scale. (UW Photo) Sharing the road and giving enough space may be the best way for drivers to help keep cyclists safe. But what if there was a way technology could help map the city roadways where drivers adhere to those principles the best? Researchers at the University of Washington developed a system that logs when a passing car comes too close to a cyclist (within four feet). Called ProxiCycle, the technology is a quicker way to flag dangerous streets, rather than waiting for data related to how many cyclists have been hit by cars at given locations. It works with an inexpensive sensor that plugs into a bicycle's left handlebar and tracks passing cars, sending the information to the rider's phone. An algorithm determines whether what is passing is a car rather than a person, another cyclist, or a tree. According to the UW, the team tested the system for two months with 15 cyclists in Seattle and found a significant correlation between the locations of close passes and other indicators of poor safety, such as collisions. Deployed at scale, the system could support mapping or navigating cyclists on safer bike routes through cities. 'Experienced cyclists have this mental map of which streets are safe and which are unsafe, and I wanted to find a simple way to pass that knowledge down to novice cyclists,' said Joseph Breda, a UW doctoral student in the Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering. Heat maps of Seattle showing (A) where cyclists experienced close vehicle passes, (B) where they felt most and least safe (red indicates higher perceived risk), and (C) where bike-related car collisions occurred over the past five years. Colored dots represent individual data points, including sensor triggers, perceived risk ratings, and collision sites. (Via ProxiCycle's research paper) Breda is lead author on a research paper presented April 29 at the ACM CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems in Yokohama, Japan. The team began its research by surveying 389 people in Seattle about their cycling habits and found that all levels of riders ranked the threat of cars as the factor which most discouraged them from cycling. Respondents said they'd be very likely to use a map that helps navigate for safety. The 15 cyclists in the study took 240 bike rides over two months and recorded 2,050 close passes. The locations of those passes were compared against two other indicators of cycling risk: 'perceived safety' at locations in the city, which is measured by showing cyclists images of locations and having them rate how safe they felt at those locations; and locations of known automobile-to-bike collisions in the last five years. The team found a significant correlation between close passes and the two other indicators of cycling risk. Keyu Chen, an applied science lead at Gridware, and Thomas Ploetz, a professor at Georgia Institute of Technology, are also co-authors on the paper. Shwetak Patel, a UW professor in the Allen School and tech entrepreneur, is the senior author.
