Latest news with #Jellybean


New York Post
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Donald Trump deserves praise for having the nerve to meet Vladimir Putin face-to-face
Don's noble & fearless Not everyone will like me after I write this. But, then, some didn't like me even before I wrote this. Let's praise Donald. Thank him. Respect him. Who else had the gizzard, nerves, smarts to stand face-to-face to Satan's lying teeth in front of the world? Some don't believe in God, unsure about Buddha or Allah. OK. You don't like Donald? OK. But who else?! Biden — who's still looking where to pee? New Jersey's Menendez, who's now in the can? Even the Statue of Liberty shivered over Barack. Advertisement The whole world is scared. People tremble before asking bosses for a raise. Students cry before a test. Realtors just raise the rent. Nobody, nobody, not one body, has the gonads — besides Donald — to risk this risk. Don't like him? So? Mazel tov. Who else? Advertisement Who cares? You belch he's a dictator, too egotistical. So? Some things are in the veins. I share my home with a Yorkie. Name? Jellybean. I love him insanely. Jellybean's been housebroken for six years. He STILL pees on my kitchen floor. How about Adam Bullschiff who's now in the government's crosshairs. Him you like? Or Bernie Sanders, who specializes only in spitting? Slamdamnhammy, who has money yet lives in a cheapo apartment. That three-named ex-bartender who hit the Met Gala in an unpaid-for gown? These three blind mice are your selections? Them you like better? Dear leader Who you want to lead us? Another 'cold, austere, forbidding' John Quincy Adams, who did zip? Another Millard Fillmore, who thought slavery's not worth a civil war? Benjamin Harrison? Wore gloves before shaking hands? Coolidge? What did he do? Advertisement I don't hang around Mar-a-Lago like certain ancient leftovers hoping he'll notice and give them an ambassadorship in downtown Toiletville. But the man I have known for over 50 years, are we in touch? Yes. Quietly. By phone. By notes. By mail. Who else has the nerve, guts, strength, fearlessness to do this in the face of the entire world? How about the terrors of the rest of all of us? Afraid to take the subway. Afraid to walk alone at night. Afraid of the world. Sitting home watching TV eating your curds and whey while Donald — alone — is willing to risk? Remember Bush? Threw up on Japan's prime minister. Nixon? Well, forget Nixon. Bill Clinton's hobbies we know about. Advertisement So you say this one's a showoff? Yeah. So? He doesn't smoke. Doesn't drink. Has respectful children. He's redoing the White House, which hasn't been done since Sitting Bull sat up. He's disinfecting Washington, which makes today's Bed-Stuy look like Kiev. And the Dem donkeys — another word for donkeys is 'asses' — are knocking him? Dems da breaks Prefer another druggy Hunter type in the White House? More Secret Service bodies who shiver, quiver and can't notice a nearby shooter with a rifle? Jerk and Jill, who'd run up the hill to fetch another kettle of hair bleach? Citizenship in those nice places like Venezuela, Syria, Russia? Go. Send me a postcard from your cell. Steve Buscemi once said this: 'My favorite review described me as 'the cinematic equivalent of junk mail.' ' Our twice elected — fearless — Donald is doing. Trying. He should be applauded.

ABC News
26-06-2025
- General
- ABC News
Country wildlife carer says Jellybean the magpie saved her life after freak accident
For more than 70 years Sandie Gillard has dedicated most of her free time to caring for wildlife with no expectation of payment or getting anything in return. But when a freak accident saw her fall from a second-storey balcony to the pavement below, a magpie she had previously cared for, named Jellybean, arrived in the nick of time to return the favour. "If Jellybean hadn't woken me up, I probably wouldn't be here," Ms Gillard said. The fall occurred in 2020 when Ms Gillard was living in Esperance, about 700 kilometres from Perth in WA's remote south-east. Ms Gillard has no memory of the fall, but as she lay unconscious on the cement driveway with a cracked skull and her right arm torn from its socket she woke to a sound. "I woke up to this little sound of purring … and something tapping me on the forehead," Ms Gillard said. In the moments before she passed out again Ms Gillard was able to call out to her husband inside the house. Paramedics quickly rushed to the scene and she was flown to Royal Perth Hospital. After surgery the then 68-year-old said she was informed by her doctors that if she had not woken up when she did there was a good chance she would have died. Ms Gillard's early childhood in the 1950s was spent in Papua New Guinea, just outside of Kokopo, where her father Eddy worked as the manager of a copra plantation. It was during these isolated years that Ms Gillard's affinity for animals, and birds in particular, developed as she helped her mother Gloria care for the local wildlife. "It's their [birds'] intelligence, their non-conditional love they give back, and their gratitude for looking after them," she said. While it may sound extraordinary, Ms Gillard did not realise at the time that her experience as a child was not typical. In fact, some of her earliest memories involve some unlikely critters. "When I was a baby in my cot apparently mum used to put the baby sugar gliders, any of the birds, and baby crocodiles … in the cot with me to keep them warm," she said. Singular stories like Ms Gillard's can pose a problem for reporters; how do you check the facts? In this case, we; These formative years instilled a lifelong passion for wildlife care and rehabilitation. Even now, more than 60 years since her family left the jungles of Papua New Guinea to return to Queensland, Ms Gillard still cares for the local wildlife wherever she is. "I don't know who I would have become if I hadn't had contact with wildlife throughout my life," she said. Jellybean came to Ms Gillard as a "branchling" back in 2017 after she had fallen out of her nest and was unable to fly. The two became fast friends and their bond soon extended to the family. "She played with my grandson," Ms Gillard said. "I've got videos of her picking up pencils when he's colouring in and her trying to colour in." Even after she was nursed back to health, Jellybean was never far away, often returning alongside Ms Gillard's other former avian patients. "They would sit on the verandah or whatever and knock on the door until I would come out and say hello," Ms Gillard said. "I feel extremely privileged, a very lucky person to be able to communicate with animals. "With the sick ones, they seem to know very quickly that I'm trying to help them and they will let me." A couple of years after Jellybean saved her life Ms Gillard made the decision to leave Esperance for the South West to be closer to her family. "That was one of the hardest things I think I've ever done," she said. "What am I going to do without all my birds who come back and visit me, particularly Jellybean? "But I knew that I had brought her up to look after herself and be a normal magpie." Now when Ms Gillard thinks of her friend, Jellybean the magpie, it is about how lucky she was to be saved in turn. "It's gotta be the best feeling, I think, ever in the world," she said.


South China Morning Post
23-03-2025
- South China Morning Post
Spark Study Buddy (Explorer): ‘High-five cat' brings good vibes
Content provided by British Council [1] A domesticated cat at a temple in China has earned the nickname 'high-five cat' because of how it greets tourists visiting the site in hopes of finding good luck. The moggy, which wears a gold chain, greets tourists by raising its paw to meet the palm of people's hands. [2] Xiyuan Temple in Suzhou, eastern China, is a cultural landmark. It is known for its stunning gardens and traditional Han Buddhist architecture. It dates back to the Yuan dynasty (1271–1368). With numerous stray cats roaming the grounds, the temple has been described as a 'cat petting paradise' by visitors. The entrance fee is just five yuan (HK$5.35) per person. [3] Tourists go to the temple just to interact with the cat, hoping for good luck. In Chinese folklore, cats are considered lucky symbols. The animals are often shown with raised paws to attract wealth. A tourist surnamed Zhang said that she has visited the cat for three days in a row. 'Sometimes you have to wait half an hour to high-five it, but it is totally worth it because it is so healing,' said Zhang. [4] Staff at Xiyuan Temple said the cat is not a stray, but a pet brought by a visitor. 'Since the cat is outside the temple, we cannot manage it,' the staff said. The cat's owner, surnamed Liu, introduced it as Jellybean, a lively four-year-old that loves going outside. Liu often takes Jellybean to sunbathe in the plaza outside the temple at the weekend, where a group of pet lovers gather to interact. He told the mainland media outlet Dahe News: 'Jellybean has ear mites, and after applying medication, its ears become wet and need to be dried by the sun.' [5] Critics suggested Liu might be overworking the animal for online traffic. However, Liu defended the level of love and care he shows the feline. He said the live streaming is meant to document Jellybean's growth, and is not for commercial gain. 'We always take good care of Jellybean. Sometimes its facial expressions may look like it is 'grumpy', but that is not the case,' he added. [6] Concerned about the crowds, Liu plans to stop taking Jellybean to the temple for a period, fearing the attention might harm the cat. Xiyuan Temple staff have also advised tourists not to buy cat treats from nearby shops, as many are unbranded and of low-quality. Last summer, several stray cats at the temple fell ill and died after being fed such poor-quality 'treats'. Source: South China Morning Post, March 9 Questions 1. In paragraph 1, the cat got its nickname because of … it greets visitors. A. where B. when C. why D. how 2. When was Xiyuan Temple built, according to paragraph 2? 3. According to paragraph 5, how are cats often shown in Chinese folklore and why? (2 marks) 4. According to paragraph 4, why does Jellybean need to be in the sun? 5. Liu said: 'Jellybean is well cared for. Sometimes its face looks like … in a bad mood, but it is not.' A. its B. it is C. it has D. its' 6. Circle the correct measures. (3 marks) Xiyuan Temple in China is popular with much / many tourists due to a special cat that gives 'high-fives'. The cat's owner brings it to the temple's outside area. However, because too many / much people are visiting, Liu will bring Jellybean there less / few often. Concerns are growing over the cat's welfare and commercial exploitation. Photo: Douyin Answers 1. D 2. during the Yuan dynasty 3. They are often shown with raised paws to attract wealth. 4. to dry its ears after medication is applied (accept all similar answers) 5. B 6. many; many; less


South China Morning Post
09-03-2025
- South China Morning Post
China temple ‘high-5 cat' raises paw to greet visitors, draws crowds seeking luck
A domesticated feline at a temple in China has been dubbed the 'high-five cat' because of the manner in which it greets tourists who are flocking to the site seeking good luck. Advertisement The moggy, which wears a gold chain, greets tourists by raising its paw to meet the palm of people's hands. Xiyuan Temple in Suzhou, eastern China, is a cultural Landmark known for its stunning gardens and traditional Han Buddhist architecture. It dates back to the Yuan dynasty (1271–1368). With numerous stray cats roaming the grounds, the temple has been described as a 'cat petting paradise' by visitors. The entrance fee is just five yuan (70 US cents) per person. A recent video of a cat outside the temple entrance went viral on mainland social media, racking up more than 120,000 likes. Jellybean raises its paw to 'high five' visitors flocking to the temple for good luck. Photo: Douyin In the clip, a black and grey cat wearing a gold chain sits on a stone pillar, high-fiving every visitor as they pass by.


The Independent
06-03-2025
- Lifestyle
- The Independent
9 ways to weave gorgeous green homewares into seasonal makeovers
When it comes to making a fresh start, the colour green offers more than a new direction for brightening interiors, bringing the outdoors in, and boosting your outlook. Especially with the switch in season: 'Spring is the perfect time to embrace green in the home,' says Alex Bridgman, CEO of Bridgman furniture. 'Mixing shades – from deep forest to soft sage – adds depth and warmth while evoking a sense of renewal – richer tones bring sophistication, while lighter greens feel fresh and uplifting.' Whether through dining chairs or an inviting armchair, Bridgman says these natural hues create a calming yet vibrant space. Perfectly placed with the trend for biophilic design, as Emma Bestley, creative director and co-founder, YesColours, puts it: ' Greens have long been associated with a sense of calm, grounding us in the natural world. 'But in spring, green takes on an even deeper meaning – symbolising renewal, growth, and fresh energy. It's a colour that feels both rejuvenating and uplifting.' Soft, delicate shades like sage and mint bring a serene, restful feel, suggests Bestley, perfect for creating a peaceful retreat. 'Meanwhile, brighter spring greens and zesty tones add a refreshing vibrancy, injecting optimism and vitality into a space.' Beyond its wellness benefits, green is a wonderfully versatile colour that pairs effortlessly with a range of hues, highlights Bestley. Arguably a timeless choice, from soft furnishings to paint effects and seasonal scents, here's what's caught our eye and will add to any scheme…. 1. The White Company Verde Signature Candle, £24, The White Company With top notes of bergamot, shiso leaf (cited for its earthy depth and herbal nuances) and warm, exotic base of amber, this Verde scented candle channels all the right vibes. 2. George Green Floral Dinner Set 12-Piece, £22, Now that farmers' markets are flush with spring veggies, this sage green tableware is tailor-made for roasted broccoli and avocado salads. Includes four bowls, four side plates and four dinner plates. 3. YesColours Mellow Green Matt Emulsion, £28, 1 Litre, YesColours Give a feature wall the green light with this fertile, rich, pea green… generating personality in any space. 4. Jellybean Lime Rug, from £873 (120 x 100cm), Sonya Winner With a playful palette of mixed greens resembling jellybeans, this eye-catching rug will revive rustic flooring; while spicing up solid wood floors. 5. Rucomfy Velvet Pouffe – Emerald Green, £54.99, Rucomfy Beanbags Multifunctional furniture is a thing, and this velvet pouffe is right on point with its tactile emerald green velvet finish. A flexible find, think a footstool, side table or extra seating. 6. Voyage Maison Bracken Isla Roman Blind, from £28.55, Blinds 2go This botanical print with its bountiful leaves and pretty ferns makes a great foundation for a nature-inspired aesthetic. Style with sage green cushions and fresh ferns for a tropical indoor oasis. 7. Habitat x Scion Spring Meadow Cushion – Multicoloured, £14 (top centre); rest of items from a selection, Habitat If you're spurred on by thoughts of styling up an existing sofa or day bed, scatter cushions are your go-to styling tool. Moreover, a meadow-inspired print juxtaposed with a pop of sunshine yellow will keep your scheme in tune with mother nature. 8. Habitat Lorelei Bookshelf – Green, £60, Habitat – available from March 10 Stylish storage solutions are given a spring makeover with this contemporary shelving in vivid green. It is also a natural bedfellow with rattan and polished brass. 9. Victoria Armchair in Buddy Green Velvet, £1,299 (made to order), Bridgman A super-luxe accent chair to sink into, this generous, sculpted design is a keeper with its plush, buttoned, supportive back and seat; fashioned with slender legs, it's one for a cosy corner with the sun streaming in.