Latest news with #ClintEastwood
The Guardian
30 minutes ago
- Climate
- The Guardian
Why do I hate umbrellas? How long have you got?
Umbrellas, I don't like them. Don't get on with them, never have. When my aunt in Zagreb was absorbed in some crime drama on the television, she would say it was 'as tense as an umbrella'. The English translation doesn't work, but if I may turn it around, I would like to explain why umbrellas make me tense. There are so many reasons. If I need an umbrella, I rarely have one. If I do have one, I then leave it somewhere. If it's windy, that humiliating inside-out thing might happen. All in all, it is very much not worth the bother. My hairdo isn't changed by rain anyway. Yet so many people don't seem to leave home without an umbrella, and they are only one raindrop away from calling on it. I marvel at this level of organisation, even envy it, but there should be a law against putting up a brolly if significant rain isn't coming down. Late for a hospital appointment last week, I was hurrying along a city street when I felt the merest sprinkle of rain tickle my cheek. In an instant, the umbrella ultras sprang into action. It was as if this was the moment for which they had been waiting, yearning. Their internal rainometers, being set to ultrasensitive, were triggered. And with astonishing speed and economy of movement, umbrellas were retrieved and unfurled. Their reaction times were something to behold. They were like sprinters hearing the B in bang, or Clint Eastwood in one of those spaghetti westerns – so quick on the draw that the journey of the brolly from handbag to hand to unfurling is barely observable to the naked eye. 'Unfurl' isn't quite the right word, implying as it does a more leisurely movement. This is more like a snapping open, as violent as the snapping shut of a Venus flytrap. One moment there are no umbrellas, then there are dozens. I would say a third of pedestrians on this particular street, on the approach to Guy's hospital in London, were now brollied up. This changed everything. I gave in to despair. I was already late, and this was going to hold me up still further. We were now split into two groups: the brolly-holders and the brolly-dodgers. The former move faster than the latter. Shielded from rain and harm by their lethal weapons they can hold a straight line, armed with this contraption featuring at least eight metal ribs, the tips of which can cause untold harm to those they prod. The potential for ripping, tearing and the poking out of eyes is very real. I'm 6ft 1in tall and, I now realise, particularly vulnerable to eye injury. I've just measured my neighbour, Dawn, who comes in at 5ft 4in – roughly the average height of a British woman. I gave her a standard eight-rib weapon to hold and, sure enough, the tips are precisely at my eye-height. Out there, on the pavement, in brolly-battle conditions, you have a choice: pull in behind a brolly-holder and work their slipstream, proceeding at a pace dictated by them. Or, if you are brave, foolish or late enough, the brolly-dodging must commence. There are two key manoeuvres, both tricky. Overtaking a slow-mover ought to be easier than dealing with oncoming traffic, but often they don't know you are there, so could catch you inadvertently. Those striding towards you will see you coming but they will generally hold their line anyway, as they are armed and you're not. On occasion you will be swaying to avoid a sudden deviation from someone you are overtaking, and momentarily lose sight of an oncomer hard upon you. At this point you need to be able to duck and weave like Muhammad Ali in his prime. To develop your technique I would also recommend watching YouTube videos of legendary rugby centres such as Brian O'Driscoll, Sonny Bill Williams or Ma'a Nonu dancing their way through defensive lines. Yes, it is this kind of fleetness of foot you need to develop if you wish to move at speed in even a light drizzle on a busy British pavement. Adrian Chiles is a broadcaster, writer and Guardian columnist
The Guardian
4 hours ago
- Climate
- The Guardian
Why do I hate umbrellas? How long have you got?
Umbrellas, I don't like them. Don't get on with them, never have. When my aunt in Zagreb was absorbed in some crime drama on the television, she would say it was 'as tense as an umbrella'. The English translation doesn't work, but if I may turn it around, I would like to explain why umbrellas make me tense. There are so many reasons. If I need an umbrella, I rarely have one. If I do have one, I then leave it somewhere. If it's windy, that humiliating inside-out thing might happen. All in all, it is very much not worth the bother. My hairdo isn't changed by rain anyway. Yet so many people don't seem to leave home without an umbrella, and they are only one raindrop away from calling on it. I marvel at this level of organisation, even envy it, but there should be a law against putting up a brolly if significant rain isn't coming down. Late for a hospital appointment last week, I was hurrying along a city street when I felt the merest sprinkle of rain tickle my cheek. In an instant, the umbrella ultras sprang into action. It was as if this was the moment for which they had been waiting, yearning. Their internal rainometers, being set to ultrasensitive, were triggered. And with astonishing speed and economy of movement, umbrellas were retrieved and unfurled. Their reaction times were something to behold. They were like sprinters hearing the B in bang, or Clint Eastwood in one of those spaghetti westerns – so quick on the draw that the journey of the brolly from handbag to hand to unfurling is barely observable to the naked eye. 'Unfurl' isn't quite the right word, implying as it does a more leisurely movement. This is more like a snapping open, as violent as the snapping shut of a Venus flytrap. One moment there are no umbrellas, then there are dozens. I would say a third of pedestrians on this particular street, on the approach to Guy's hospital in London, were now brollied up. This changed everything. I gave in to despair. I was already late, and this was going to hold me up still further. We were now split into two groups: the brolly-holders and the brolly-dodgers. The former move faster than the latter. Shielded from rain and harm by their lethal weapons they can hold a straight line, armed with this contraption featuring at least eight metal ribs, the tips of which can cause untold harm to those they prod. The potential for ripping, tearing and the poking out of eyes is very real. I'm 6ft 1in tall and, I now realise, particularly vulnerable to eye injury. I've just measured my neighbour, Dawn, who comes in at 5ft 4in – roughly the average height of a British woman. I gave her a standard eight-rib weapon to hold and, sure enough, the tips are precisely at my eye-height. Out there, on the pavement, in brolly-battle conditions, you have a choice: pull in behind a brolly-holder and work their slipstream, proceeding at a pace dictated by them. Or, if you are brave, foolish or late enough, the brolly-dodging must commence. There are two key manoeuvres, both tricky. Overtaking a slow-mover ought to be easier than dealing with oncoming traffic, but often they don't know you are there, so could catch you inadvertently. Those striding towards you will see you coming but they will generally hold their line anyway, as they are armed and you're not. On occasion you will be swaying to avoid a sudden deviation from someone you are overtaking, and momentarily lose sight of an oncomer hard upon you. At this point you need to be able to duck and weave like Muhammad Ali in his prime. To develop your technique I would also recommend watching YouTube videos of legendary rugby centres such as Brian O'Driscoll, Sonny Bill Williams or Ma'a Nonu dancing their way through defensive lines. Yes, it is this kind of fleetness of foot you need to develop if you wish to move at speed in even a light drizzle on a busy British pavement. Adrian Chiles is a broadcaster, writer and Guardian columnist
Sky News AU
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Sky News AU
Clint Eastwood reveals health secret at 95 years old
'To Di For' podcast host Kinsey Schofield reacts to 95-year-old actor Clint Eastwood revealing his health secret. 'He's meditating, he does low energy workouts,' Ms Schofield told Sky News host Rita Panahi. 'There's something comforting about Clint Eastwood, he's like a tough grandpa who could still outstare a rattlesnake. 'We've been lucky to grow up watching every version of him.'
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Clint Eastwood's secret to good health and longevity at 95 is totally free
Hollywood legend Clint Eastwood has reached the remarkable age of 95, but you'd never guess it. With a surprisingly youthful look and energy to match, fans are left wondering: what's his secret? It isn't expensive supplements, experimental anti-aging treatments or trendy meal plans, Eastwood's longevity strategy is simple: meditation and a low-fat diet, mixed with low-impact exercise. The actor's health wake up call and journey toward personal wellness began when his father passed away at a young age from cardiovascular disease. Eastwood, who recently directed and produced a movie last year at 94, realized then that a healthy body is crucial for a clear mind and long life, and he adopted an unwavering dedication to his health. Celebrity biographer Shawn Levy, author of the book 'Clint: The Man and the Movies,' notes that Eastwood's most prized wellness strategy is Transcendental Meditation. He has followed the practice since the 1970s, meditating twice a day every day, even while working, according to Levy. 'Indeed, especially while working,' he wrote for Air Mail. 'All this while playing the Man with No Name and Dirty Harry and other such avatars of bloodshed.' Levy called Eastwood a 'man of contradictions,' as his action-packed movies and rough-around-the-edges characters juxtapose with a health-focused man meditating in between takes. Transcendental meditation (TM) is a form of meditation that involves silently repeating a personalized mantra. It works to 'dissolve stress and access your full potential,' according to Experts have said TM can help people avoid distracting thoughts and promote a state of 'relaxed awareness' by using a mantra to focus attention. The method helps to reduce stress and anxiety, while promoting healthy sleep, all of which are needed for a longer lifespan. Levy also wrote that Eastwood is a 'lifelong gym rat and fitness freak,' but above all, he focuses on a healthy diet that is balanced and nutritious without being overly-restrictive. Eastwood also emphasizes the importance of low-impact workouts as a person ages. The actor enjoys playing golf, as well as longer walks at a slow pace. When it comes to weight training, Eastwood prioritizes proper form over heavy lifting, aiming to build and maintain muscle strength effectively. The biographer added that Eastwood has followed an 'organic, low-fat diet' since the 1950s, 'when alfalfa sprouts and yogurt were considered exotic.' And when talk show host Jimmy Kimmel asked Eastwood whether he snacks on nachos or chicken wings, Eastwood responded: 'None of that crap.' His dietary habits are 'lean and green,' prioritizing lean protein sources like salmon and chicken, as well as an abundance of vegetables like dark, leafy greens. He consumes a lot of broccoli and asparagus, packed with vitamins, minerals, and fiber, Levy said. Eastwood prides himself on following the 90/10 rule, making healthy mindful dietary choices 90 percent of the time, leaving the other 10 percent to allow himself to indulge in food he would usually avoid. He also tries to limit carbohydrate intake, and swaps sugary drinks for water. Reducing stress, staying busy, getting exercise and following a healthy diet are key to longevity and make up major tenets of why researchers believe people who reside in 'Blue Zones' live well into their 90s and through 100. Blue Zones are places lauded as longevity hotspots with low rates of chronic disease and significant amounts of people living beyond the average lifespan. The zones include Okinawa, Japan; Ikaria, Greece; Nicoya, Costa Rica; Sardinia, Italy; and Loma Linda, California. People who live in a Blue Zone are said to have nine specific lifestyle habits that longevity experts call the Power 9. These are: building exercise and activity into everyday life; feeling like they have a purpose; finding ways to reduce stress; stopping eating when you feel 80 percent full; eating a plant-based diet; moderate alcohol intake; having a sense of faith; focusing on family and relationships; and having a strong social circle.
Digital Trends
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Digital Trends
This space drama tops our list of underrated Prime Video movies this weekend (July 25-27)
Although Prime Video is just one of the offerings that Amazon includes with any Prime subscription, it can be valuable if you know how to take advantage of it. Sometimes, though, opening the service and actually picking something to watch can feel incredibly challenging. That's why we've pulled together three underrated movies that will hopefully make your decision easier about what to watch. Whatever you're looking for, we've got you covered. Recommended Videos We also have guides to the best new movies to stream, the best movies on Netflix, the best movies on Hulu, the best movies on Amazon Prime Video, the best movies on HBO Max, and the best movies on Disney+. Letters From Iwo Jima (2006) Clint Eastwood directed two movies about the Battle of Iwo Jima in 2006, and most agree that Letters From Iwo Jima, which tells the story of the battle from the Japanese perspective, is the better one. It follows several Japanese soldiers who work to defend the island, and the commander tasked with fending off American forces for as long as possible, even as he understands the impossibility of his task. It's a thoughtful examination of soldiers who were often demonized in Western depictions of the war. You can watch Letters From Iwo Jima on Amazon Prime Video. First Man (2018) Damien Chazelle's follow-up to La La Land wasn't nearly as well-regarded or well-remembered as that film, but it's no less worthy of praise. First Man follows Neil Armstrong's journey to the moon. While it might seem like a conventional biopic, it turns out to be much stranger than that premise might suggest. First Man is the study of a man who risks everything in his world to pursue something insanely dangerous. The flight sequences here are genuinely stunning. Ryan Gosling is truly excellent as Armstrong. It's a subdued, understated central performance, which has to communicate a deep well of feeling with remarkable economy. You can watch First Man on Amazon Prime Video. Snack Shack (2024) I've always been a sucker for coming-of-age movies, and Snack Shack's unique charm stands out in a crowded field. Snack Shack depicts two friends who like to hatch moneymaking schemes together. The duo decides to reopen their pool's abandoned snack shack. As they start making money at the shack, they meet an effortlessly cool lifeguard who will upend their summer and their relationship. Snack Shack is a little shaggy, but it's remarkably charming and anchored by a trio of compelling young lead performers who all seem to perfectly understand what they've been asked to do. You can watch Snack Shack on Amazon Prime Video.
