Latest news with #Brett
Business Insider
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Business Insider
I took myself to the movies alone. I ended up falling in love.
After not doing it for a while, I decided to take myself solo to the movies. I started chatting with the concessions cashier and gave him my phone number on a receipt. He reached out and we fell in love like in the movies. Every year, I try to rewatch dozens of movies, finding comfort in seeing familiar characters and saying aloud what their next lines will be. Around Thanksgiving, I'd prep myself for this tradition with one of my favorites, "When Harry Met Sally" by reading the screenplay for the first time ever, so that when it was time to actually sit down and watch it again, I'd connect with it differently than last time. Reading that kind of thing around the holidays would make any other hopeless romantic yearn for their own cinematic meet-cute. And miraculously for me, I didn't just fall in love like in the movies — I got to fall in love at the movies. I went alone to the movies When Thanksgiving came around, I decided to treat myself to another tradition I hadn't done in months: I went on a solo date to the movies. I was debating which movie to watch in the first place. Torn between going to a theater closer to my apartment or going to a farther one that had the movie I actually wanted to see, I chose the latter and figured it'd be worth it. And I was right. The theater was surprisingly busy for Thanksgiving night, employees and customers alike pacing from end to end. As I waited in line for concessions, one employee in particular caught my eye. He was tall, adorable, and seemingly around my age. He was rushing back to his register, anxiously apologizing to customers, which made him even cuter. He beckoned me over since I was next. As I nervously approached him to say my order, I'd learn the name that would stay in mind the rest of the night — Brett. I gave him my phone number It wasn't until I took my card out to pay that I finally mustered up the courage to find something to talk about with him. Though his dimples certainly caught my eye, I used his hair as my starting point. "Do you use gel or anything like that to get your hair that way? Or you just wake up and poof?" He laughed, "No, I just woke up, messed around with it and hoped for the best," while flashing that million-dollar smile at me. He'd ask me what I was there to see, and my response ("We Live in Time") let him share the gem of knowledge that he could barely handle emotional movies like that. From there, we went back and forth about other movies we had or hadn't seen recently, chatting for so long that my cheeks hurt from smiling, and my back would turn in guilt of potentially holding up the line. Anyone on the outside might think he was upselling me, but I had paid long ago. I had to leave him then, but not forever. After filling my soda, because I was emboldened by either the rom-com gods or AMC's Nicole Kidman herself, I took advantage of a pen I had and the receipt he gave me. I wrote a semi-long note that started with "If you have a girl or aren't into girls, ignore this" and ended with my number. I returned to him, Red Vines in one hand and the receipt in another. I said, "Excuse me, but you might've given me the wrong receipt." We've been dating since As his concerned eyes wandered to my note, I did what any romantic protagonist would do — I ran away. I laughed and cried during the movie, my Brett in my thoughts every now and then. Once the movie finished, I checked my phone. No notifications. I got home. Still nothing. I had just finished the screenplay and desperately needed Billy Crystal to cheer me up after Andrew Garfield's tears, so I finally put on "When Harry Met Sally." After convincing myself he was taken and about 15 minutes into the movie, Brett texted me. He apologized for the delay, wanting to wait until after his shift so he could give me his full attention. When I told him what I was watching to soothe myself, not only did he say he does the same thing, but he'd immediately quote back to me my favorite scene: "When you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with someone, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible." While I didn't realize it then, I knew I wanted the rest of it to start as soon as possible after every surreal date that would follow. And though we're far from the ending, I'm grateful to have a partner who not only wants to accompany me to the movies but will never let us stop feeling like we're in one.
Daily Record
2 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Record
Tranent hero Dean Brett swaps Benidorm for Broadwood as he chases Junior Cup glory
It's sod's law, but the 32-year-old former Cowdenbeath and Bonnyrigg Rose full back admits he wouldn't miss this opportunity for the world. Dean Brett should be on the final leg of a stag bender in Benidorm today. Instead the Tranent hero is hoping to kick off the mother of all booze-ups at Broadwood. Brett has had to pull out of his best mate's pre-wedding bash in Spain after his two goals in a 3-2 semi final win over Drumchapel helped his hometown club into the Junior Cup Final against Johnstone Burgh. It's sod's law. But the 32-year-old former Cowdenbeath and Bonnyrigg Rose full back admits he wouldn't miss this opportunity for the world. Not only is it the 90th anniversary of Tranent's only previous triumph in the competition, it also happens to be the East Lothian town's gala day. And it's all gearing up to be the most memorable occasion of Brett's career. He said: 'I was meant to be in Benidorm this weekend on a stag do. I just had to cancel that last week. 'My mate Mikey's getting married in September - I miss the wedding as well because I'm just flying home from my holiday that day. Maybe it's a sign. 'You can't really just say, it's only a game of football I'm not playing. 'I thought about going for the first two days then coming back for the final. 'I even scored two goals in the semi and we were out in the pub and I said to the committee: 'I've just scored two goals, surely that deserves a flight home on the Saturday?' 'But they just said, 'Dean you're on a stag do, it's not really good preparation!' 'It's hard to argue with that. They've been brilliant. The club paid for my cancellation. 'To be fair Mikey understands. His uncle has called off from Benidorm too because he's running buses through to the game. 'It's a massive day for the town. 'I'm from Tranent and everybody you pass, all the kids at the school when I'm on the school run, they're like, 'oh, we're going to watch you on Sunday' 'I do coaching as well so the kids have all asked for tickets. There's a real buzz about it now. It's a massive game. 'It's 90 years exactly since Tranent won the Junior Cup - 1935. 'Not just that but it's Tranent Gala Day too, I think all the local pubs are showing it live on telly. 'It maybe puts a dampener on the ticket's sold, but honestly it's a massive. 'If Tranent win the Junior Cup on the town's gala day then it'll be remembered for a long, long time so, aye, it is massive this week.' Brett has two league winners' medals with Cowdenbeath and was a play-off champion with Bonnyrigg three years ago. But he reckons a Junior Cup triumph with his hometown club would top the lot. He'll have a full row of Broadwood cheering him on with mum and dad Karen and Neil, partner Leanne and kids Arlo and Mia all heading to Cumbernauld. And he said: 'My mum's a nervous wreck. She's Tranent through and through. 'Dad's followed my career right from the start. Cowdenbeath games away to Peterhead and everything and every Bonnyrigg game. 'He's kind of stopped because he's getting older and loves spending time with my kids. But he'll be at Broadwood desperate for us to win. 'When I first broke through at Cowdenbeath we won League One under Colin Cameron. 'I always say that when you feel high, you feel high and it doesn't matter the occasion, you're going to feel high anyway. 'So if we win on Sunday - it's a big 'if' because Johnstone Burgh are a good team - but if there was success I think that would be my best moment. Just for coming to the end of the career, it's a massive cup, it's the 90 year anniversary of Tranent's only success in it and doing it for the town, for your mates, for your friends. 'It'd probably top it all off, to be honest with you.'
Irish Times
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Times
‘He obviously decided that he'd wasted his life, focusing on career, marriage and family goals'
Sorcha tells me that I need to do something and obviously, I'm like, 'Er – as in?' Yeah, no, Angela – the wife of my brother slash half-brother – has been on the phone from the States and Sorcha is running out of excuses. I'm fixing breakfast for the boys when the dude eventually arrives downstairs in the company of a woman named Rowena, who wears leather trousers, has a smoker's cough and works – so she says – in, like, hospitality? She goes, 'I wouldn't say no to a coffee.' READ MORE And Sorcha's like, 'Well, if the walk of shame takes you through Dalkey village, I can recommend the Country Bake.' I love my wife, but – yeah, no – she can be colder than a witch's tit. Rowena, by the way, is the third random woman that Brett has brought home this week. 'So come on, tell us,' Sorcha goes – this is right in front of her, by the way – 'where did you meet this one?' It's Rowena who answers. She's like, 'Tinder,' and then the woman looks at me and sort of, like, narrows her eyes, like I do when I'm trying to add two numbers together, and goes, 'Do I know you from somewhere?' I'm there, 'If you're a rugby fan, then possibly?' She's like, 'No, nothing to do with rugby, no,' in her husky voice. 'Your face is just–' I put a cup of coffee in front of her, portly to shut her up, but also because it's nice to be nice. Sorcha goes, 'Brett, Angela has been ringing – as in, like, your wife?' I think she's expecting a reaction form Rowena to the news that he's married. But she doesn't respond in any way. Just sips her coffee. It's not her first rodeo. I'm there, 'No, I'm most definitely not on the apps,' except at the same time I can feel my face flush? — Ross Sorcha goes, 'She said she's been trying your cell.' He's there, 'I lost my cell.' Sorcha's like, 'How can you be on Tinder if you've lost your cell?' Very little gets past her. Twenty years of being married to me will do that to you. Rowena goes, 'That's how I know your face! Are you on the apps?' I'm there, 'No, I'm most definitely not on the apps,' except at the same time I can feel my face flush? She's like, 'We've definitely met.' Brian, Johnny and Leo are unusually quiet. They're just, like, staring at this woman, open-mouthed. Johnny is actually looking at her chest. Like father, like son, I'm hugely tempted to say. Sorcha cops it too. She goes, 'Johnny, eat your cereal,' and then, at the same time, she gestures to me with her eyes that she wants a word in, like, private? Thirty seconds later, we're outside in the gorden and Sorcha is going, 'Ross, what the actual fock?' I'm there, 'Yeah, no, I'll tell him to go. I'll tell him that we don't approve of this kind of behaviour under our roof,' at the same time hating myself for sounding like Sorcha's old man. She goes, 'Ross, what did you say to him?' I'm there, 'Excuse me?' because I knew I'd end up getting the blame for this. She's like, 'The way he's carrying on, Ross, it's very – I don't even want to say it – but very you behaviour?' I'm there, 'I knew I'd end up being blamed.' She goes, 'It's not a question of blame. I'm just asking, what did you do to encourage this?' I'm like, 'Fock-all, Sorcha. And I mean that literally. The goys – we're talking Christian, we're talking JP, we're talking Oisinn, we're talking, in fairness, Fionn – may have told him some stories about my carry-on over the years in terms of rugby and in terms of – yeah, no – the deadlier of the species. And Brett, who may have already been in, like, midlife crisis mode, decided that I was – yeah, no – some kind of, like, role model to him?' Sorcha goes, 'Oh, Jesus – God help him.' It's nice to see that Sorcha – while being a very, very good person – remains, at hort, an out-and-out south Dublin snob I'm like, 'Excuse me?' because it sounded like a bit of a dig. She's there, 'I just mean – actually, I don't know what I mean? But this can't continue. It was Amory on Saturday night, Summer on Wednesday night and, I don't know, what did she say her name was?' I'm there, 'Rowena,' a little too quickly for Sorcha's liking. 'She said she works in, like, hospitality?' She's like, 'Rowena – whatever. With her leather trousers and a focking black bra showing through a white shirt.' And it's nice to see that Sorcha – while being a very, very good person – remains, at hort, an out-and-out south Dublin snob. She goes, 'Ross, you have to talk to him.' I'm there, 'Excuse me?' She's like, 'Ross, he's only in Ireland because of you. You were the one who–' I'm there, 'Don't say it. Do not say it.' She's like, 'I'm going to say it, Ross. You corrupted him.' I go, 'I didn't corrupt him? Like I said, the goys made me out to be some kind of absolute rugby legend and he obviously decided that he'd wasted his life, focusing on career, marriage and family goals.' She's like, 'Ross, even without being directly responsible, you basically caused this? You're going to have to talk to him and tell him that this can't continue.' So – yeah, no – no choice in the matter, I end up agreeing to have a word with the dude. So we tip back into the kitchen. I could be wrong but it looks like Rowena has undone another shirt button. I'm there, 'Dude, all that shit the goys told you about my rugby career–' He goes, 'It was inspiring.' I'm like, 'Yes, I accept that. But no good can come of you trying to live like me.' He's there, 'Why not? I mean, look at you!' It's lovely for me to hear. I'm there, 'That's lovely for me to hear. But you have everything going for you back in the States, in terms of – yeah, no – a hot wife, a beautiful home, a couple of, in fairness, kids–' He cuts me off. He's like, 'Well, maybe I don't want that any more. Maybe that's not the end of the rainbow for me.' I'm there, 'Oh, you're telling me that's the end of your rainbow,' flicking my thumb in Rowena's general postcode and hating myself for it. 'Dude, that woman is not the end of anyone's rainbow.' Rowena goes, 'Oh my God, I remembered how I know you now. I was with you a few years ago – when you crashed the porty for the closing of the Berkeley Court?' And I'm like, 'Sorcha, we were almost certainly on a break at the time.'
The Age
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Age
We need a police summit on knife crime. Oh, yes, we've already had one
We need cops who police youth gangs, PSOs at railway stations, police who patrol in divisional vans and station bosses to share their practical experiences, because it is only through knowing the problem that we can deal with it. Loading Well, that is precisely what happened in December 2022. The result? Zip-a-dee-doo-dah. At the summit, police discussed South Australian weapons prohibition orders (WPOs). They are similar to our firearm prohibition orders. In SA, if a person has been convicted of a weapons-related offence and the police commissioner reasonably believes the person is a danger to life or property, they are hit with a three-year WPO. Police can 'detain and search a person who the police officer reasonably suspects is a person to whom a weapons prohibition order applies for prohibited weapons ... stop, detain and search a vehicle, vessel or aircraft [connected to the suspect] ... enter and search premises for prohibited weapons'. Wouldn't it make more sense to target those convicted of using or carrying weapons rather than waiting to try to break up knife fights? In NSW, they have drug supply prohibition orders to stop and search anyone convicted of selling drugs. Police can search their car or any property associated with them. Another suggestion at the police knife conference that has disappeared under the waves like Moby Dick was to beef up the force's semi-secret VPMAC (Victoria Police Monitor Assessment Centre). It is used to follow trends to get in front of the game – such as the movements of a home-invading gang. It can also watch social media as the gangs talk online and often organise their fights on the internet. More funds mean more staff and a greater chance of cutting off the gangs before they cut each other. But there are no more funds, with the police budget to be cut. Increasingly, states across Australia are introducing Jack's Law – a powerful weapon for police that came into existence because of a tragedy. When Brett and Belinda Beasley lost their 17-year-old son Jack to a knife attack in Surfers Paradise in December 2019, they were determined to use his death to reform laws. After dozens of rounds of lobbying, they persuaded the Queensland government to trial Jack's Law. In Surfers Paradise, police trialled hand-held wands to randomly search people for edged weapons. The initiative has now been expanded to all public places in Queensland. Since it began, police have conducted more than 100,000 scans, with more than 2800 people charged and 1058 weapons seized. Brett Beasley says: 'I have been trying to help Victoria, but your premier won't listen. She won't meet with me. 'We have met with Victoria Police, and they absolutely love Jack's Law. It has been passed with bipartisan support in Queensland, NSW, WA and Tasmania, but for some reason we can't get it over the line in Victoria. 'It is no different to a random breath test. You are not even touched by the wand, and it doesn't even touch you. It has been phenomenally successful.' In Victoria, MCC members going to the footy are wand-searched in case they have a concealed cheese knife for the charcuterie board, but a gang member on a railway station is not checked for a myki card, let alone a machete. Loading Rule No.2 Reform comes in three steps: need, will and action. In the area of violent crime there is a need, there is even the political will, but too often the action is diluted when the legislation is written. Take Jack's Law. Victim input, police support plus political will equals an effective law. So why not here? One reason is the Justice Department is a cordial factory in which the concentrate is diluted to suit the tastebuds of those with a particular agenda. When cops showed some in the Justice Department CCTV of a fatal knife attack, it resulted in a complaint the images were too graphic. I imagine the victim would agree. If he wasn't already dead. In the two-year tobacco war there have been 141 arson attacks and seven homicides. Under laws to be introduced later this year, we will have a tobacco regulatory body (costing $65 million) with about 10 unarmed enforcement officers to police 1300 tobacco shops selling illegal products. It is like sending a platoon of lollipop ladies with stop-go signs to take on the Roman legions. Gangster Kaz Hamad orders hits from Iraq and is making $1 million a month just from the protection side of his business. Will he be deterred by a stern letter from an enforcement officer? Illegal cigarettes are about $15 a packet compared with about $40 a packet for the legal ones. Government taxes have created the market, people like Hamad are just exploiting it. Meanwhile, the government's anti-bikie laws will be toughened later this year with the Criminal Organisations Control Amendment Act 2024. The laws are designed to stop outlaw bikies wearing and displaying their colours, which are often used to intimidate. A noble idea, but will it work? Police Minister Anthony Carbines is talking tough: ' Organised crime groups and bikie gangs are on notice – we won't stand for intimidation and neither will Victoria Police, who won't hesitate to use these new laws to keep Victorians safe.' Police wanted the law to reflect interstate legislation, under which wearing banned bikie colours is an indictable offence. Yet in Victoria it will be a summary offence. This means as long as the suspect provides his name and address, he will not be arrested but will receive a summons in the post. Under the law, a police officer may direct a person to stop displaying bikie insignia. Police on the road believe a bikie will simply need to turn their jacket inside out, which means they will be displaying the logos 'Made in Thailand' and 'Dry clean only'. The law excludes tattoos, but what about temporary tattoos or body art? Will police lick the biceps of bikies to see if tattoos are permanent? Or will it be a case of not giving a rat's about tatts and don't create a stink about ink? Police are preparing dossiers on outlaw motorcycle gangs to have them declared organised crime groups. In Queensland, there are 26. In Victoria, the top seven are likely to be the Hells Angels, Mongols, Rebels, Finks, Comancheros, Black Uhlans and Bandidos. History shows the gangs that are not mentioned feel miffed and often ring police to complain. In that business if you are bad, you want to be bad to the bone. Rule No.3 Laws alone don't change behaviour. It is an offence to sell a knife to a person under the age of 18, with proof of age required. It comes as no surprise that the average blade-wielding offender may be more inclined to steal a knife than provide a name, address, three forms of identification and a Frequent Flyer number at the checkout. Anything above a butter knife should be kept in a locked cabinet so it can't be shoplifted. What is indefensible is the lack of appetite for a logical, rational and cool-headed review of crime. Loading When then-deputy commissioner Ross Guenther told this column last year that the criminal justice system needed to embrace reform, the government lost both its marbles and the bag they came in. He said: 'The system is not suited for victims or offenders. Why do self-interest groups and self-described experts have so much sway over issues that impact the whole community? Do we adequately respond to the needs of victims?'
Sydney Morning Herald
4 days ago
- Politics
- Sydney Morning Herald
We need a police summit on knife crime. Oh, yes, we've already had one
We need cops who police youth gangs, PSOs at railway stations, police who patrol in divisional vans and station bosses to share their practical experiences, because it is only through knowing the problem that we can deal with it. Loading Well, that is precisely what happened in December 2022. The result? Zip-a-dee-doo-dah. At the summit, police discussed South Australian weapons prohibition orders (WPOs). They are similar to our firearm prohibition orders. In SA, if a person has been convicted of a weapons-related offence and the police commissioner reasonably believes the person is a danger to life or property, they are hit with a three-year WPO. Police can 'detain and search a person who the police officer reasonably suspects is a person to whom a weapons prohibition order applies for prohibited weapons ... stop, detain and search a vehicle, vessel or aircraft [connected to the suspect] ... enter and search premises for prohibited weapons'. Wouldn't it make more sense to target those convicted of using or carrying weapons rather than waiting to try to break up knife fights? In NSW, they have drug supply prohibition orders to stop and search anyone convicted of selling drugs. Police can search their car or any property associated with them. Another suggestion at the police knife conference that has disappeared under the waves like Moby Dick was to beef up the force's semi-secret VPMAC (Victoria Police Monitor Assessment Centre). It is used to follow trends to get in front of the game – such as the movements of a home-invading gang. It can also watch social media as the gangs talk online and often organise their fights on the internet. More funds mean more staff and a greater chance of cutting off the gangs before they cut each other. But there are no more funds, with the police budget to be cut. Increasingly, states across Australia are introducing Jack's Law – a powerful weapon for police that came into existence because of a tragedy. When Brett and Belinda Beasley lost their 17-year-old son Jack to a knife attack in Surfers Paradise in December 2019, they were determined to use his death to reform laws. After dozens of rounds of lobbying, they persuaded the Queensland government to trial Jack's Law. In Surfers Paradise, police trialled hand-held wands to randomly search people for edged weapons. The initiative has now been expanded to all public places in Queensland. Since it began, police have conducted more than 100,000 scans, with more than 2800 people charged and 1058 weapons seized. Brett Beasley says: 'I have been trying to help Victoria, but your premier won't listen. She won't meet with me. 'We have met with Victoria Police, and they absolutely love Jack's Law. It has been passed with bipartisan support in Queensland, NSW, WA and Tasmania, but for some reason we can't get it over the line in Victoria. 'It is no different to a random breath test. You are not even touched by the wand, and it doesn't even touch you. It has been phenomenally successful.' In Victoria, MCC members going to the footy are wand-searched in case they have a concealed cheese knife for the charcuterie board, but a gang member on a railway station is not checked for a myki card, let alone a machete. Loading Rule No.2 Reform comes in three steps: need, will and action. In the area of violent crime there is a need, there is even the political will, but too often the action is diluted when the legislation is written. Take Jack's Law. Victim input, police support plus political will equals an effective law. So why not here? One reason is the Justice Department is a cordial factory in which the concentrate is diluted to suit the tastebuds of those with a particular agenda. When cops showed some in the Justice Department CCTV of a fatal knife attack, it resulted in a complaint the images were too graphic. I imagine the victim would agree. If he wasn't already dead. In the two-year tobacco war there have been 141 arson attacks and seven homicides. Under laws to be introduced later this year, we will have a tobacco regulatory body (costing $65 million) with about 10 unarmed enforcement officers to police 1300 tobacco shops selling illegal products. It is like sending a platoon of lollipop ladies with stop-go signs to take on the Roman legions. Gangster Kaz Hamad orders hits from Iraq and is making $1 million a month just from the protection side of his business. Will he be deterred by a stern letter from an enforcement officer? Illegal cigarettes are about $15 a packet compared with about $40 a packet for the legal ones. Government taxes have created the market, people like Hamad are just exploiting it. Meanwhile, the government's anti-bikie laws will be toughened later this year with the Criminal Organisations Control Amendment Act 2024. The laws are designed to stop outlaw bikies wearing and displaying their colours, which are often used to intimidate. A noble idea, but will it work? Police Minister Anthony Carbines is talking tough: ' Organised crime groups and bikie gangs are on notice – we won't stand for intimidation and neither will Victoria Police, who won't hesitate to use these new laws to keep Victorians safe.' Police wanted the law to reflect interstate legislation, under which wearing banned bikie colours is an indictable offence. Yet in Victoria it will be a summary offence. This means as long as the suspect provides his name and address, he will not be arrested but will receive a summons in the post. Under the law, a police officer may direct a person to stop displaying bikie insignia. Police on the road believe a bikie will simply need to turn their jacket inside out, which means they will be displaying the logos 'Made in Thailand' and 'Dry clean only'. The law excludes tattoos, but what about temporary tattoos or body art? Will police lick the biceps of bikies to see if tattoos are permanent? Or will it be a case of not giving a rat's about tatts and don't create a stink about ink? Police are preparing dossiers on outlaw motorcycle gangs to have them declared organised crime groups. In Queensland, there are 26. In Victoria, the top seven are likely to be the Hells Angels, Mongols, Rebels, Finks, Comancheros, Black Uhlans and Bandidos. History shows the gangs that are not mentioned feel miffed and often ring police to complain. In that business if you are bad, you want to be bad to the bone. Rule No.3 Laws alone don't change behaviour. It is an offence to sell a knife to a person under the age of 18, with proof of age required. It comes as no surprise that the average blade-wielding offender may be more inclined to steal a knife than provide a name, address, three forms of identification and a Frequent Flyer number at the checkout. Anything above a butter knife should be kept in a locked cabinet so it can't be shoplifted. What is indefensible is the lack of appetite for a logical, rational and cool-headed review of crime. Loading When then-deputy commissioner Ross Guenther told this column last year that the criminal justice system needed to embrace reform, the government lost both its marbles and the bag they came in. He said: 'The system is not suited for victims or offenders. Why do self-interest groups and self-described experts have so much sway over issues that impact the whole community? Do we adequately respond to the needs of victims?'
