Latest news with #Laird
Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mirror
Optometrist says eat 19p item now to help avoid sight loss later
The specialist said our eyes are something many people overlook when it comes to looking after their health We're told every day that diet impacts the heart, skin, and weight. But what's often forgotten is the eyes. While young people may prioritise their skin, it could hinder them in the long run if they overlook their vision. However, an eye expert says there are things we can do to help us have strong vision well into our adult life - for as little as 19p. Neil Laird, specialist optometrist at Pure Optical, said: 'If you care about your future eyesight, prevention really needs to start earlier - ideally, with your weekly shop. Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) gets talked about as an older person's disease, but by the time symptoms show up, a lot of the damage is already done." He said large-scale studies suggest certain nutrients may help protect against the oxidative stress and inflammation that gradually damage the retina over time. But he said it's not all just down to eating leafy greens and salmon. In fact, some of the most effective nutrients for eye health come from places you might not expect. What foods help make my vision better? 1. Lutein and zeaxanthin The expert suggests picking up eggs, sweetcorn and some meats to help with this - and you can pick up individual eggs in most supermarkets now for around 19p. They explain that plant-based antioxidants such as lutein and zeaxanthin play a key role in filtering harmful blue light and protecting the central area of the retina. 2. Omega-3 fatty acids These vital fats help maintain the structure of retinal cells and combat inflammation. Commonly found in oily fish such as salmon, sardines, and mackerel, they're particularly beneficial for young adults looking to establish lasting eye-health habits. For those who avoid fish, flaxseeds and walnuts provide a modest amount of omega-3s in the form of ALA. 3. Zinc and vitamin C Zinc and vitamin C work together to strengthen immune defenses and reduce oxidative stress in eye tissues - a major factor in the progression of AMD. You can find these nutrients in foods like shellfish, citrus fruits, seeds, and red peppers. Oysters, in particular, offer a rich source and are ideal for those who want to try something on the fancier side. Never do this While a healthy diet supports eye health, certain habits can speed up the progression of macular degeneration. Smoking is a significant risk factor, as it restricts blood flow to the eyes and heightens oxidative damage. Diets high in sugar, refined carbs, and trans fats are also associated with increased inflammation and added stress on the retina. 'We often blame screen time for eye strain, but what's really damaging vision in the long term is invisible - it's what's happening inside the retina,' Laird explained. 'Dietary inflammation and oxidative stress quietly build up for years. The good news is, this is one area where we really do have control, because what we eat can have a genuine, lasting impact on the health of our eyes.' Vision-friendly diet - breakfast, lunch, snack and dinner ideas • Breakfast: Boiled eggs with wholegrain toast and a citrus fruit• Lunch: Spinach and salmon salad with pumpkin seeds and olive oil• Snack: A handful of walnuts or sunflower seeds• Dinner: Grilled mackerel with steamed kale and roasted sweet potato'You don't need to cut everything out,' Laird added. 'You just need to work vision-friendly ingredients into your routine, most of which you're probably eating already. "If you want to keep reading, driving, working, and simply seeing well into old age, start now. Your eyes will thank you later.'
The National
4 days ago
- Sport
- The National
Ross Laird relishing team tussle against in Palmer Cup
The barman at the Congaree Club, the host venue for the Ryder Cup-style tussle between US college students and their International counterparts, may have his knowledge of beverages tested, however, should Scotsman Ross Laird ask him to rustle up a 'John Panton'. Laird, the Stirling University student, is a member at Glenbervie, the Larbert club where the celebrated, decorated Panton served as club professional for 40 years. In that time, a few of his eponymous libations made up of ginger beer, lime and Angostura bitters were served up too. Whatever drinks are doing the rounds this week, Laird will be hoping he's raising a glass to an International team success. The 21-year-old played in last weekend's Scottish Open Amateur Strokeplay Championship at North Berwick before hopping on a transatlantic flight on Monday to join up with his team-mates in the US. It's been quite the whirlwind but should be worth it. 'It's the opportunity of a lifetime,' said Laird of an event which has featured college standouts like Jon Rahm, Rickie Fowler, Luke Donald and Francesco Molinari down the seasons. Interestingly, Laird is the only member of the International team not studying in the US. He did have a brief stint at Cal Poly in California as a teenager but a return to the home comforts of Stirling University has suited him down to a tee. 'I went to California for a semester, but it wasn't for me at the time,' he reflected. 'It wasn't run the way I thought it would be. I had a few friends who were at Stirling at the time. 'One of them, George Cannon, was playing the best golf of his life and he said how good it was. If it was working for him, I thought it could work for me. And it has.' Stirling University, of course, has become the place to be for those wanting to pursue a golf scholarship on this side of the pond. Catriona Matthew and Richie Ramsay both graduated from there, as did The Herald's former golf correspondent, John Huggan. Quite a triumvirate, eh? These days, the golf programme is run by Dean Robertson, the current captain of the GB&I Walker Cup team. Since starting in his role as head of golf back in 2010, the popular Paisley man has been such a success, he'll probably get immortalised in a monument on the Abbey Craig. The experience, expertise and sage counsel that Robertson offers continues to stand Laird in good stead. 'Dean has played a big part in my development,' said finance student Laird, who won the British Universities and College Sport order of merit last season. 'He's very understanding, very knowledgeable and just a great guy to go to about anything. 'My game as a whole has improved. Dean has helped me review the stats, what's working, what's not and focus on the areas that I need to improve in. "Golf is always a work in progress. That's what I love about it. The constant search for improvement.' While Robertson's nurturing continues to bear fruit, the emergence of Robert MacIntyre on the global stage has given Laird plenty of inspiration too. 'One day, I want that to be me,' added Laird as he aims for the stars. 'He's someone we all want to be; a young man from small town Scotland playing with the best. "It's amazing what he's achieved, and it shows what can be done with talent and hard work.' Laird's own golfing career began at the age of eight when he was bitten by the bug. 'Nobody played golf in my family,' he said. 'I only started as my best friend at school played. 'We both joined Falkirk which had an amazing junior section. We'd start on the nine-hole academy course then work our way up. I'd tried a lot of different sports, but nothing really jumped out at me until I got on the golf course. That was me hooked. "I was out every day. In the summer, we'd be dropped off at the course at 9am and stay there until 8pm at night. We loved it.' Back in 1961, the aforementioned Panton, one of Scotland's greatest golfers of yore, lost to Palmer in the foursomes of the Ryder Cup at Lytham. Perhaps another Glenbervie golfer will have better luck in the Palmer Cup? And raise a 'John Panton' to celebrate?
The Herald Scotland
4 days ago
- Sport
- The Herald Scotland
Ross Laird relishing team tussle against in Palmer Cup
Laird, the Stirling University student, is a member at Glenbervie, the Larbert club where the celebrated, decorated Panton served as club professional for 40 years. In that time, a few of his eponymous libations made up of ginger beer, lime and Angostura bitters were served up too. Whatever drinks are doing the rounds this week, Laird will be hoping he's raising a glass to an International team success. The 21-year-old played in last weekend's Scottish Open Amateur Strokeplay Championship at North Berwick before hopping on a transatlantic flight on Monday to join up with his team-mates in the US. It's been quite the whirlwind but should be worth it. 'It's the opportunity of a lifetime,' said Laird of an event which has featured college standouts like Jon Rahm, Rickie Fowler, Luke Donald and Francesco Molinari down the seasons. Interestingly, Laird is the only member of the International team not studying in the US. He did have a brief stint at Cal Poly in California as a teenager but a return to the home comforts of Stirling University has suited him down to a tee. 'I went to California for a semester, but it wasn't for me at the time,' he reflected. 'It wasn't run the way I thought it would be. I had a few friends who were at Stirling at the time. 'One of them, George Cannon, was playing the best golf of his life and he said how good it was. If it was working for him, I thought it could work for me. And it has.' Stirling University, of course, has become the place to be for those wanting to pursue a golf scholarship on this side of the pond. Catriona Matthew and Richie Ramsay both graduated from there, as did The Herald's former golf correspondent, John Huggan. Quite a triumvirate, eh? These days, the golf programme is run by Dean Robertson, the current captain of the GB&I Walker Cup team. Since starting in his role as head of golf back in 2010, the popular Paisley man has been such a success, he'll probably get immortalised in a monument on the Abbey Craig. The experience, expertise and sage counsel that Robertson offers continues to stand Laird in good stead. 'Dean has played a big part in my development,' said finance student Laird, who won the British Universities and College Sport order of merit last season. 'He's very understanding, very knowledgeable and just a great guy to go to about anything. 'My game as a whole has improved. Dean has helped me review the stats, what's working, what's not and focus on the areas that I need to improve in. "Golf is always a work in progress. That's what I love about it. The constant search for improvement.' While Robertson's nurturing continues to bear fruit, the emergence of Robert MacIntyre on the global stage has given Laird plenty of inspiration too. 'One day, I want that to be me,' added Laird as he aims for the stars. 'He's someone we all want to be; a young man from small town Scotland playing with the best. "It's amazing what he's achieved, and it shows what can be done with talent and hard work.' Laird's own golfing career began at the age of eight when he was bitten by the bug. 'Nobody played golf in my family,' he said. 'I only started as my best friend at school played. 'We both joined Falkirk which had an amazing junior section. We'd start on the nine-hole academy course then work our way up. I'd tried a lot of different sports, but nothing really jumped out at me until I got on the golf course. That was me hooked. "I was out every day. In the summer, we'd be dropped off at the course at 9am and stay there until 8pm at night. We loved it.' Back in 1961, the aforementioned Panton, one of Scotland's greatest golfers of yore, lost to Palmer in the foursomes of the Ryder Cup at Lytham. Perhaps another Glenbervie golfer will have better luck in the Palmer Cup? And raise a 'John Panton' to celebrate?
Los Angeles Times
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
8 Emmy contenders that show off real-life L.A. locations
There has never been a shortage of TV series that take place in Los Angeles, the longtime hub of the American television industry and its players. But the 2025 Emmy season features such a wealth of shows set and shot in and around L.A. that we couldn't resist spotlighting how several of them use the iconic locale we call home. The Apple TV+ comedy, which follows an interconnected group of co-workers, friends and neighbors, is set mainly in Pasadena and Altadena. Location manager David Flannery, a fifth-generation Pasadena native, notes, 'So often [these cities] play for everywhere else in the world. But we want to show exactly where we are — which is just a little more specific than general L.A. — and that the characters are grounded in very real places.' These sites have included the Rose Bowl, Pasadena City Hall, Pasadena's Central Park (featuring the landmark Castle Green building) and the South Pasadena train station. The Laird and Bishop family homes, with their adjoining backyards, may look like a set but are actually neighboring Altadena houses, both of which survived the Eaton fire. Although Hulu's Emmy-winning comic mystery is the ultimate New York tale, its Season 4 opener sent its crime-solving lead trio to Tinseltown to pursue a movie adaptation of their popular podcast. Co-creator and showrunner John Hoffman, calling in during the show's Season 5 shoot, says, 'Last season had to start in L.A. It really kicks off a season that is specific to cinema, to moving images.' Filming took place on the classic Paramount Studios lot, at the historic Il Borghese condo building in Hancock Park and at an 'ultra-glamorous, deeply L.A.' Hollywood Hills home, which served as studio exec Bev Melon's party house. Creator-showrunner Erin Foster can't imagine her Netflix rom-com about a progressive rabbi and a gentile sex podcaster set anywhere but her native Los Angeles. 'You have to write what you know, and that's what I know,' she says by phone from her West Hollywood home. 'In L.A., people are following their dreams, so it says a lot about who someone is. I think the same applies to locations in a TV show: They all signal where [the characters] are in their life and who they are.' Some of these illustrative locales have included Westwood's Sinai Temple, the Wilshire Boulevard Temple in Koreatown, the Los Feliz 3 Theatre, Calamigos Ranch in Malibu and WeHo's Pleasure Chest sex shop. Seth Rogen and company's raucous creation about a beleaguered movie studio chief is rooted in firsthand experience. 'Seth knows this town very, very well,' says supervising location manager Stacey Brashear. 'He and [co-creator] Evan Goldberg wrote in 90% of the locations, including the [John] Lautner-designed, Midcentury Modern houses that studio executives like to collect.' Among these eye-popping sites are the Silvertop house above the Silver Lake Reservoir and the Harvey House in the Hollywood Hills. Adds Brashear, 'I feel like our locations are actual characters in the show.' Among the Apple TV+ series' many other L.A. locations: the Warner Bros. studio lot, the Smoke House Restaurant in Burbank, Lake Hollywood Park and the Sunset Strip's Chateau Marmont. This Netflix limited series revisits the 1989 murder of wealthy Beverly Hills couple José and Kitty Menendez by sons Erik and Lyle, a crime notoriously connected to Los Angeles. 'It was such a period of decadence and grandeur, and Beverly Hills was kind of the poster child for that,' says production designer Matthew Flood Ferguson. 'I wanted to recapture the [town's] glamour and celebrity culture.' He also notes, of L.A.'s diverse architecture, 'You can get quite a few different looks all in the same place.' These 'looks' included a grand Hancock Park-area home standing in for the Mendendez mansion, Koreatown's Wilshire Colonnade office complex, a 1970s-built Encino bank building, Beverly Hills' Will Rogers Memorial Park and the former Sunset Strip site of Spago, restored to look as it did in its heyday. Unlike past seasons, in which L.A. often subbed for Las Vegas, Season 4 of 'Hacks' is mostly shot and set in Los Angeles. Says Lucia Aniello, co-creator with Paul W. Downs and Jen Stasky, 'Much of [the season] is getting back to the roots of L.A. comedy. It really is a love letter to Los Angeles — and to the comedy world.' Adds Downs, 'The show is a lot about people outside of the industry looking in. By being in L.A., we got to really explore what that means.' Some key locations: CBS Television City, the Lenny Kravitz-designed Stanley House, the Americana at Brand and Echo Park's Elysian Theater; the Altadena estate doubling for Deborah Vance's Bel-Air mansion was lost in the Eaton fire. Loosely based on the life of Lakers President Jeanie Buss, this Netflix comedy is 'filled with a lot of L.A. DNA,' says co-creator and showrunner David Stassen. He adds that, like Buss, the show's star, Kate Hudson, 'is also part of a dynastic L.A. family. Plus, she knows Jeanie, she loves the Lakers and she grew up going to games.' Though much of the season was filmed downtown at Los Angeles Center Studios, location work included the Pacific Coast Highway south of Venice (where Cam, played by Justin Theroux, crashes his Porsche), downtown L.A.'s elegant Hotel Per La and homes in Sherman Oaks and Woodland Hills. The L.A. skyline gets quite the workout here as well. Netflix's reimagining of Judy Blume's 1975 novel unfolds in 2018 Los Angeles, where it evocatively explores first love between teens Justin and Keisha. Showrunner and L.A. native Mara Brock Akil considers her adaptation 'a love letter to Los Angeles and to the idyllic life we're all trying to live in this city, where dreams are not isolated to one particular neighborhood.' Key parts of the story take place around Keisha's home in the View Park-Windsor Hills area, with the show's many other L.A. locations including Ladera Park, St. Mary's Academy in Inglewood, the Grove and the Original Farmers Market, Griffith Park and the Santa Monica Pier. Adds Akil, 'A lot of people [in L.A.] are moving around on public transportation, which I wanted to shine a light on too.'
Vancouver Sun
15-05-2025
- Business
- Vancouver Sun
Your guide to the baffling world of duty-free shopping
Duty-free stores are known for indulgences: alcohol and cigarettes, pricey face serums and chocolate bars that can feed a family of six. But these uncertain times of tariffs could cast the global retail outlets in a new light. No longer just an airport diversion, could they help keep your bathroom vanity, armoire and snack drawer well-stocked? 'People associate them with perfumes, chocolates and alcohol, but there are many other things available in duty free that could be a good deal,' said Becky Blaine, a travel editor with The Points Guy, which in 2019 compared the prices of 13 items in 50 duty-free shops. The first airport duty-free store was a 'gimmick,' said Scott Laird, a travel writer who has covered duty-free shopping. An Irish visionary named Brendan O'Regan hatched an idea to sell tax-free items to passengers stuck at Shannon Airport while their transatlantic planes refuelled. The kiosk, which opened in 1947, sold Irish whiskey and other local souvenirs. Plan your next getaway with Travel Time, featuring travel deals, destinations and gear. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Travel Time will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. 'They got an exception from the Irish authorities on local taxes on various products,' Laird said. 'So they were able to sell more by offering those products cheaper because they didn't have the local taxes. And that has taken off.' Duty-free retail is now a global juggernaut, worth $86 billion in 2019, according to the most recent publicly available data from the Duty Free World Council, an industry advocacy group. Airport stores around the world, from Detroit to Dubai, stock their shelves with international brands, plus a sprinkling of homegrown companies. Despite their universality, they can still be confusing, especially when you start doing the math. So here's a smart shopper's guide to duty-free stores. Duty-free shops carry products that are exempt from taxes and duties, including local, state and value-added taxes (VAT) and import duties. What you see is what you pay. The stores typically occupy 'stateless' places, such as border areas, airport terminals (post-security) and cruise ships; onboard shops are generally tax- and duty-free in international waters and closed while in port. Travellers can also find a few stand-alone stores, such as the sprawling complex in China's Hainan province. 'When you're leaving the country, you're in this weird nontaxable area,' Laird said. As part of the arrangement, travellers avoid paying taxes on goods in exchange for not consuming them on-site. To ensure the shopper is departing the country, they will have to present a boarding pass and passport at checkout. Their purchases will be sealed and delivered to the boarding gate, reducing any temptation to crack open that bottle of Fireball or Tom Ford fragrance. Travellers with a layover in the same country as their departure — such as a flight from New York to Los Angeles to Tokyo — can only shop at the last airport before they exit the country. Laird also warns of some 'extraordinary situations.' Travellers bound for the U.S. proper can't take advantage of duty-free in Puerto Rico, because it's in the 'same customs union as the mainland,' Laird said. They can, however, shop for tax-free goods in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Europe has varying rules, because its customs unions, or trade agreements, do not neatly align with the Schengen area. 'So a flight from Norway to Germany doesn't have passport control,' Laird said, 'but it does have duty free.' In addition to shopping on-site, many duty-free companies, such as Shop Duty Free, allow travellers to purchase products online, often with extra savings. The service is available at least 24 hours before takeoff. Shoppers must share their travel details, such as flight number, and pick up their gifts at the airport. Duty-free stores stock their shelves with an assortment of products that are typically heavily taxed, such as liquor; cigarettes; cosmetics; and luxury apparel and accessories, including watches, handbags and sunglasses. Most also sell chocolate and other candy, and some carry local souvenirs. The retailers will offer exclusive products, such as Lotte Duty Free's Dewycel mask set or Highloop picnic beach mat, available at Incheon International Airport in Seoul. 'It's typically a specific flavour or a gift box or set,' Laird said. The item's size or packaging also might be unique to that airport location. The amount of savings depends on an array of variables, such as the overall markup of the item and whether the product is made locally or imported. The price can vary by state, province, country, airport or even terminal. In the European Union, the standard VAT for the 27 member countries ranges from 8 per cent to 27 per cent, though foreign visitors can apply for a refund at the end of their trip. According to the website for France's international airports, duty-free shoppers can save on average 20 per cent, the amount of the VAT. In general, Laird said alcohol, tobacco and cosmetics are 'particularly good savings.' He advised against buying alcohol in the United States because its taxes are comparatively low. But if you're travelling to Tahiti, he suggests picking up duty-free liquor there because the prices on the French Polynesian island are so high. In The Points Guy's 2019 study, the staff recommended buying: alcohol in the Caribbean, cosmetics and perfumes in Europe and tobacco in Asia. For price-conscious consumers, the best duty-free shopping was in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Singapore; and Grand Cayman Island. Sydney; Santorini, Greece; and Zurich were the priciest. If the cost of manufacturing rises, Laird said, companies could raise their prices. The duty-free stores could then pass along the higher prices to their customers. 'Duty-free will probably continue to be a cost savings for consumers,' Laird said, 'but retailers have a little bit of wiggle room on how they behave in the market, and that's the factor that we don't know.' However, Sanjay K. Dhar, a professor who studies retail at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, said airlines and airports rely on amenities such as duty-free shops to entice travellers. Higher prices could erode their customer base, so they will proceed with caution. 'Duty-free shops might pick up some of the margins, so the prices at duty-free shops will become more attractive than what you would pay if you had bought it in the local market,' Dhar said. For even greater savings, sign up for the free membership programs offered by the duty-free companies. You can receive discounts and other specials. 'If you make a big-ticket purchase on your outbound flight and then you see something you like at a store by the same operator on your return flight, you can use those points as a discount on your next purchase,' Laird said. Take a beat and check the prices online, factoring in taxes and shipping or pickup. If the items cost less at home, you can be excused for paying a little more at airport duty-free if you wish to consume the products during your trip or on your first night back from vacation.
