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Geek Dad
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Geek Dad
Review – Wonder Woman #21: Treachery on Olympus
Wonder Woman #21 cover, via DC Comics. Ray: Tom King is great at using small bridge arcs to really drive home the themes he's working with, and this two-parter was the perfect follow-up to the battle with the Sovereign. While still mourning the death of Steve Trevor, Diana is summoned to Olympus. Ares has been murdered, Hippolyta is the chief suspect, and Zeus intends to strip her of her immortality. Diana brings Batman to help solve the mystery – but Zeus demands collateral, and Batman's life will be forfeit if the crime isn't solved in time. Making things worse, as the two of them investigate the Gods, someone is out to get them – with one of Zeus' thunderbolts being used to target Batman and take him out of commission. With him recovering, Diana is left to handle the interrogations, and a twisted tale starts to unravel between Hephaestus, Aphrodite, and Dionysus – some of Olympus' biggest power players. Evidence. Via DC Comics. Tom King has obviously done his research on the Greek Gods, because this group is every bit violent, mercurial, petty, and dramatic as they are in mythology. And soon, a secret dalliance is revealed, turning one of the more gentle Gods into a raving maniac, while one of Ares' deepest secrets – stemming from his long rivalry with Wonder Woman – comes to light. And over it all, Zeus gleefully waits for the clock to tick down so he can claim Batman's life. It's cruel even for him, which neatly plays into the resolution. The mystery is great, but I have to say the real highlight here is some of the quiet conversations Diana and Bruce have as she continues to grapple with the death of Steve Trevor and her impulsive decision to become a mother as a tribute to him. Bruce, obviously, is no stranger to grief and the long healing process, and this story is a fantastic character spotlight for their bond. To find reviews of all the DC issues, visit DC This Week. GeekDad received this comic for review purposes. Liked it? Take a second to support GeekDad and GeekMom on Patreon!
Scottish Sun
10-05-2025
- Scottish Sun
Stunning Seaside Miami-style Canaries beach hotel offers sun, sand and 70s chic
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) THE literal translation of the name Maspalomas is 'Many Pigeons'. But there's no truth to the rumour this Gran Canarian tourist resort is twinned with Glasgow's St Enoch Square on a Saturday night or Pittodrie after an Aberdeen game. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 14 Maspalomas and its famous lighthouse Credit: Getty 14 Carnivals are frequent in Masplaomas Credit: Alamy 14 Marching band at the Maspalomas carnival on Gran Canaria Credit: Alamy This much-visited tourist getaway just off the coast of Africa means many different things to many different people. That thought crystallised as I watched thousands of native Canarians and tourists cavorting past on Grand Parade day of the Maspalomas International Carnival. Held in March each year, more than 100 brightly-decorated floats are packed full of revellers for the occasion. At some points the crowd of onlookers was five deep as a hallucinogenic cavalcade of Greek Gods, drag artists, and the odd bad taste Diego Maradona or Michael Jackson passed by. There was more lycra on show than the Tour de France — including a family of four who have bravely dressed from head to toe as The Incredibles. To be fair the whole thing is pretty incredible: an anything-goes affair which the whole community seems to enter into, like a cross between a Highland games and Eurovision. But if it's a quieter, slower, pace of holiday you're after then Maspalomas is just the place for you too. The Canary Islands are famed for their offer of sun all year round and Gran Canaria does what it says on the tin. My wife Mairi-Anne and I flew from Glasgow with Jet2 for a five-day break at the end of March. Cue five days of unbroken sunshine, with temperatures in the mid to high 20s and just the right amount of cooling breeze off the ocean. In other words, pretty much perfect. The UK's best beach bar – with DJ sets, sunset views and signature cocktails Our base for the duration was the stylish Seaside Palm Beach Hotel. Our base for the duration was the stylish Seaside Palm Beach Hotel. Nestling within a nature reserve and adjacent to the edge of Maspalomas' famous sprawling sand dunes, this 5* hotel dates back to the 1970s but is classic not dated. Designed by renowned Parisian architect Alberto Pinto, it's modelled on a classic Florida beach hotel and shaped in a striking elongated 'C' shape. There's 328 colour-coded, stylish rooms here, with balconies overlooking either the pools or the nature reserve. Talking of which, there's not one but three crystal clear pools, including a heated adult-only one near to the beautifully maintained — and thankfully shaded — outdoor gym and spa facilities. 14 The Seaside Palm Beach hotel is, as the name suggest, right on the beach Credit: Seaside Collection Hotel 14 Welcoming rooms are bright and spacious Credit: Seaside Collection Hotel 14 The gorgeous pools are surrounded by comfortable loungers and parasols There's also outdoor tennis, petanque, shuffleboard, even a dartboard. And it's all a safe distance from the kids pool which is discreetly located at the other side of the resort. But enough of all this exercise stuff. If all you desire is a sunbed to soak up some rays, simply give the pool boy a ring and he'll meticulously fold and arrange two towels on your bed. Then he'll hand you a third and maybe a fourth to make sure you can dry yourself. It's meticulous stuff but it doesn't feel obtrusive, and the personal touches are brilliant. Given the efficiency of the entire operation, it isn't a surprise to learn the owner is German, Theo Gerlach. 14 The hotel is next to the Natural Reserve of Maspalomas Dunes Credit: Getty - Contributor This is one of three hotels on the island owned by his Seaside Hotels group and he still spends much of the year here, often in its boutique sister hotel, the nearby Residencia. But you can forget the old mañana mentality, things run like clockwork here. Don't even think, for instance, about wearing short trousers to dinner. It's strictly verboten and you'll just be told to go back to your room and find something more appropriate to put on. We were half board, with the option to have lunch rather than dinner on days we fancy venturing out for the evening instead. Our visit coincided with my birthday and before I'd reached the splendid breakfast buffet that day I was given some impromptu birthday wishes, while a slice of sachertorte and a bottle of Cava winged its way to my room for when I got back. Now that's a touch of class! 14 Seaside Palm Beach Hotel, Maspalomas, Gran Canaria Credit: Supplied 14 Seaside Palm Beach Hotel, Maspalomas, Gran Canaria Credit: Seaside Collection Hotel 14 Stewart loved the food at the Seaside Palm Beach Credit: Supplied 14 La Bodega restaurant 14 Fabulous food is on offer for breakfast, lunch and dinner at the hotel While we're on the subject of food, meals tend to be served outdoors on the terrace — simply because that's what the guests want. But all the cakes, desserts and bakery products are kept indoors, away from any feather-friends. The main restaurant alternates between barbecue buffet and a la carte table service menu during the week. The biggest problem is that it's so good guests often decide it simply cannot be bettered by the two speciality restaurants on site, one tapas and one Italian. Three meals from the regular three-course menu which stick in my mind are the king prawn starter with grilled endives and potato and truffle foam, the beef consomme with truffle dumplings and the magret of duck with mashed chestnut, cabbage and mango. There are combinations you don't see every day and the volume of plates coming out the kitchen doesn't mean any compromise on quality. Put simply, it's a fabulous hotel and that's why so many of their guests are repeat customers. GO: GRAN CANARIA GO: SEASIDE PALM BEACH HOTEL GETTING/STAYING THERE: A week's bed and breakfast at the 5* Seaside Palm Beach is from £1,270pp leaving Glasgow on June 2. See or While we were among the younger guests — a novelty these days —- there's a regular schedule of evening entertainment in the retro-style lounge bar, with ABBA and Boney M tribute acts belting out numbers during our time there. But maybe you're after something a bit more rough and ready from your Canaries adventure so I'll give you an insight into the sights and sounds outside the hotel. Exit stage left, walk beyond the 'El Charco' natural lagoon and you'll hit the whopping 12km of sand dunes which is the Maspalomas Natural Dune Reserve. This is proper white sand, not the black volcanic stuff in Tenerife and it's populated with little beach bars. The whole area is so vast that specialist areas exist where nudists like to let it all hang out - while surfers ride the waves on the bend which joins Maspalomas with Playa del Ingles. 14 The area is dominated by massive sand dunes Credit: Alamy 14 Beautiful beach near Maspalomas dunes and Meloneras district. Credit: Getty Exit stage right and you'll hit the famous Maspalomas lighthouse and an area called Meloneras which used to be a quaint little market town but now has a fancy boulevard with beach clubs, designer shops and tapas bars. There's a bit of everything here, with special marks for a little Irish bar looking at the ocean called Paddy's Beach Bar. With a fully-seated capacity which must be all of 12, the star of the show was exiled Irishman Brian who played exceptional lead guitar licks and belted out the likes of Status Quo and Dire Straits while fending off some Norwegians who were dancing so enthusiastically they invaded his personal space. And just like pigeons, we're already 'homing in' on a return visit to the Seaside Palm Beach.
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
How the health and wellness boom is fueling Hain Celestial's transformation
This story was originally published on Food Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Food Dive newsletter. Hain Celestial could finally begin taking advantage of health and wellness trends popular with consumers after spending several years stabilizing and streamlining its sprawling food and beverage empire. 'When I first joined Hain, we had a lot that we needed to transform in the company,' said Hain CEO Wendy Davidson who took the helm in 2023. 'We weren't really in a position until now to be able to tell that story, both with credibility, but also with a portfolio of products to back it up.' The 32-year-old health and organic products giant was cobbled together through 55 acquisitions during a quarter century. This growth-at-any-cost mentality supercharged sales but left Hain with a disparate group of brands in 37 different categories, creating a portfolio with little coherence. At the same time, surging consumer interest in eating healthier prompted large CPG manufacturers, such as General Mills and Nestlé, to build a bigger presence in the space. Hain was no longer the only game in town. The headaches at Hain were compounded by a scant marketing budget, a lack of innovation and a burgeoning debt load that did little to help the manufacturer of Sensible Portions Garden Veggie snacks, Celestial teas and Greek Gods yogurt. The ability to tap into food and beverage trends would provide a much-needed lift to Hain, which has seen sales slip and its stock price tumble to its lowest level in nearly three decades. Davidson acknowledged in February that Hain reported a 'disappointing revenue quarter,' with net sales falling 7% to $411 million. Davidson noted that the company is taking steps to address supply chain challenges, boost in-store marketing and enhance product distribution. These moves should help drive sales growth in the second half of the year. She also pointed to strength in some of the company's business, such as meal prep, Hain's largest category. 'We've known, certainly for the last two years, that we need to simplify our story and clarify who we are as a company to the marketplace, and I think we've done that,' Davidson said. 'But I would also say that we are a show-me story, and I think the stock price reflects the fact that we have not fully demonstrated our pivot to growth and the full potential of our brands.' Some analysts agree. In a February research note after Hain's second-quarter earnings, John Baumgartner, managing director for equity research in food and healthy living for Mizuho Securities USA, said the company's pivot to growth is taking longer than anticipated. He added that while the New Jersey company's revenue outlook provides reasons for optimism, it is beset by a high degree of uncertainty. 'We remain concerned for HAIN as a sub-scale model challenged for growth via smaller financial resources,' Baumgartner said. Hain's advantages 'vs. conventional food are also likely to narrow with further recipe enhancements by Big Food' to meet the Trump administration's Make America Healthy Again initiative, he added. In January, Bernstein analysts said in a note that Hain is 'not for the faint hearted' but that it is a company 'worth keeping an eye on in the first half of 2025.' Since joining Hain, Davidson has prioritized stabilizing the company's business, divesting non-core brands, boosting margins and paying down debt. This has proven to be no easy task. The overhaul came during a tumultuous time for the food space, with COVID-19, supply chain disruptions, inflation and changing consumer habits weighing on companies. 'We've known, certainly for the last two years, that we need to simplify our story and clarify who we are as a company to the marketplace, and I think we've done that. But I would also say that we are a show-me story.' Wendy Davidson CEO, Hain Celestial Davidson, a former Kellogg and Tyson Foods executive, has divested ParmCrisps to Pop Secret owner Our Home and sold Thinsters cookies to Dippin' Dots maker J&J Snackfoods. Hain recently put its personal care unit, responsible for 3% of its business, up for sale. Hain also has put resources behind innovating its top brands. The company broadened its Sleepytime Celestial tea from a nighttime offering to an all-day beverage associated with health and wellness. It also launched a healthier tortilla chip under its Garden Veggie brand aimed at the $9 billion tortilla chip category. Davidson conceded there is a lot of competition in the better-for-you space. Still, she said unlike other Big Food players who dabble in a few trendy categories, Hain's portfolio covers a wider variety of areas — from gluten-free and keto to dairy-free, high protein and GLP-1 friendly. Hain executives maintain the company's ability to incorporate multiple attributes into its portfolio makes it attractive to consumers, many of whom are incorporating several of them into their diets. 'We know better for you better than anybody and actually play deeply and authentically in the space,' she said. 'Hain was cool before it was cool to be better for you, which is a good place for us to be.' Consumers have increasingly turned to purchasing foods they consider healthier but that don't sacrifice on taste or convenience. Hain's brands are made with recognizable ingredients and it eschews artificial colors — including Red No. 3 recently banned by the FDA — in favor of ones from natural sources like fruits and vegetables. Hain is optimistic its portfolio also is aligned to benefit from the surge in demand for GLP-1 medications. Roughly 14% of U.S. adults have taken GLP-1 drugs to lose weight or manage diseases like diabetes. The medications, which suppress appetites, have led to concerns that they could lead to a sharp drop in food consumption and sales. Still, a decline in consumption hasn't changed the fact that people still need the proper nutrition to maintain muscle mass and overall health, or that they are attracted to portion-controlled products. Hain recently partnered with health experts to understand the needs of GLP-1 users and which of its products would work depending on how consumers are using the medications. Hain's portfolio includes Geek Gods yogurt with protein, calcium and probiotics; and Imagine soups that contain hydration and fiber. In addition, its Terra chips and Garden of Eaten are high in fiber and have blue corn and sweet potatoes, respectively, as their first ingredient. The food manufacturer plans to begin marketing several of its products for GLP-1 users. 'Regardless of what your dietary requirements are, we have something for [the consumer,] and we need to make it easier for the shopper to understand how these products can make it easier for them to meet their diet without sacrifice,' Davidson said. Recommended Reading Hain Celestial sells Thinsters cookie brand to Dippin' Dots owner
