Latest news with #LuckyBoy
The Guardian
01-03-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
The week in audio: Lucky Boy; Moorgate; Thirty Eulogies; Harford: An Oral History and more
Lucky Boy (Tortoise Media)Moorgate (Radio 4/BBC Sounds)Thirty Eulogies (Radio 4/BBC Sounds)Harford: An Oral History (Dan Hooper)Lauren Laverne (Radio 6 Music/BBC Sounds) 'In that summer, it was me and her against the world. We were powerful, right?' On Tortoise Media's new four-part podcast, Lucky Boy, Gareth (not his real name) is remembering his first love. He was 14 then, bright but a 'misfit', having a secret relationship. She was 27 and a teacher. Lucky Boy is how Gareth thought of himself at the time; nearly 40 years later, he thinks the opposite. I approached this podcast, the latest season of Tortoise Investigates, with unease. Not because of the company's previous form: last autumn, Elon's Spies was a timely dig into Captain Techbro's use of private investigators and surveillance, and the one before that, Master, delved into sexual allegations against the writer Neil Gaiman, making global headlines. I worried that the subject matter – an exploration of who is allowed to be a perpetrator and a victim in our society – was tricksy. Details risked being conveyed in tantalising, titillating ways, however serious the programme's intent or tone. But in the hands of ex-BBC reporter Chloe Hadjimatheou, who went to a school near Gareth's in north London, the telling of this story, and her coverage of its ramifications, was handled with exceptional due diligence, sensitivity and power. Many moments lingered. Some were from the past, such as an incident with a pornographic magazine in a cafe full of schoolchildren, or the accounts of Gareth's mother's battles with his school (the teacher, she says, her voice breaking, 'ruined his life' – the teacher still denies all wrongdoing). Most striking, though, are moments from the present day: the testimony of an old pupil who says that it was a 'more innocent time' while acknowledging the teacher and pupil's relationship, and Hadjimatheou's chat with a group of current 14-year-old boys. The mother in me cringed when they were asked what they got up to at parties (it's slightly inappropriate), but Hadjimatheou stayed on just the right side of prurience, showing how young 14-year-olds really are (many didn't shave yet; one confessed that he still played with his Lego). The 1980s scene-setting, including a subtle, gothy-edged theme by Tom Kinsella, also played a crucial role, reminding me of situations I've discussed with other friends about how easily abuse in schools was brushed over back then. We knew, even then, what was wrong. Two excellent episodes are out now; all four if you subscribe. Period scene-setting was also a priority for two-part Radio 4 drama, Moorgate, about the notorious 1975 tube train crash (it sped into a wall, in morning rush hour, killing 43 people). Written by Laurence Marks and Maurice Gran, known for prime-time TV big-hitters The New Statesman and Birds of a Feather, it is the culmination of a lifetime personal project for Marks. He was a young journalist at the scene, unaware until later that his father was dead inside the train (he wrote an astonishing piece about this recently for the Guardian). Based on his extensive research into the horror, Moorgate has a distinctly old-fashioned feeling. The exposition is as heavy as its subject, and much of the dialogue is dated (I lost count of the slightly lairy men), although much of it has a link to the time, like the comment by a firefighter to a trapped woman, saying he'd take her dancing after getting her out. Hints of lives before and after the accident suggested fresher storytelling directions – I was intrigued by the interior world of young WPC Margaret Liles, but this didn't get enough time. Moorgate felt more like an exorcism, or a piece of time travel, understandable from someone with a life transformed by such a terrible disaster, rather than an attempt by Marks (and Gran) to create something new. I'll finish with three gorgeous highlights from my listening week. Thirty Eulogies was a properly affecting half-hour of radio, about haemophiliac Suresh Vaghela, who contracted HIV at 21 through infected blood. Listen to it without reading the blurb, as I did, and it takes unexpected turns, some desperately sad, others very joyful. I loved Vaghela's wife getting taken out for a night in Manchester's Canal Street by a group of gay men. 'They're the only people [with whom] I've ever been myself,' she says. Also excellent – if niche – is Harford: An Oral History, a 'surreal comedy podcast uncovering the strange and forgotten history of Haverfordwest' by radio comedy writer Dan Hooper. Delivered in his west Walian lilt, these punchy 10- to 14-minuters crackle with bible-black, absurd, twisted humour. Enjoy the tale beginning with teenagers who hang out in the local crematorium as if it's a nightclub ('it helped that the organist was an absolute legend') and another about a civic planner who approves a Happy Shopper designed to rival the Acropolis. The first two episodes made me laugh out loud many times; there are more to come. And finally, Lauren Laverne's back on 6 Music, now at mid-morning, after a break because of a cancer diagnosis. Kicking off with Sly and the Family Stone and Ezra Collective, her first link was typically breezy and bright – she truly is the perfect, groovy big sister – before adding it was wonderful to be 'back in the place that feels most like home to me'. Our homes are very happy to have her.
Express Tribune
28-01-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
China's first corgi police dog loses bonus for workplace misconduct
China's first corgi police dog, Fu Zai, has captured the internet's attention for his exceptional achievements and recent humorous missteps. Despite his minor infractions, Fu Zai was celebrated for his remarkable contributions as an explosives-detection dog in 2024. Fu Zai, whose name means "Lucky Boy," joined the Weifang Public Security Bureau in Shandong province in January 2024 as a reserve explosives-detection dog at just four months old. Despite his small size, Fu Zai quickly distinguished himself with his talent, becoming a fully qualified police dog by October. However, Fu Zai's end-of-year review revealed some 'workplace misconduct.' The playful corgi was caught falling asleep on duty and even urinating in his food bowl, leading to a temporary loss of his year-end bonus. Officers humorously confiscated his bonus toys and treats during the review, leaving him with only a red flower as a reminder of his achievements. 'Hope you make more persistent efforts in the future,' an officer joked in a video posted on Douyin, the Chinese equivalent of TikTok. The post, shared on the Weifang Public Security Bureau's account, quickly gained traction, amassing over 10,000 likes and hundreds of comments. Social media users rallied behind Fu Zai, with one commenter saying, 'Poor Fu Zai worked hard all year, only to lose his bonus. I can relate so much.' Another quipped, 'He peed in his own bowl, not his boss's ... return his bonus immediately!' In response to the outpouring of support, the police posted a follow-up video reassuring fans that Fu Zai had been well rewarded. To mark the Lunar New Year, he was gifted a lavish package including Pacific herring, pumpkin soup, dumplings, rabbit meatballs, and even a pet-friendly version of Buddha's Temptation (Fotiaoqiang), a traditional Chinese delicacy. Despite his playful errors, Fu Zai was honored with the Annual Award of Defying Fate in a special video on Saturday, cementing his status as a beloved figure both in his unit and online. His journey, from a mischievous pup to a celebrated explosives-detection dog, continues to win hearts across China.
Euronews
27-01-2025
- Entertainment
- Euronews
China's first corgi police dog loses bonus over 'workplace misconduct'
China's first-ever corgi police dog, Fu Zai, has become an internet sensation for both his achievements and his recent run of trouble at work. The small but determined canine officer lost his year-end bonus for sleeping on the job and urinating in his food bowl, sparking widespread amusement and sympathy on Chinese social media. According to domestic media, corgi joined the Weifang Public Security Bureau in Shandong province as a reserve explosives detection dog in January 2024, when he was just four months old. Despite his diminutive size, the now 18-month-old Fu Zai quickly stood out for his exceptional talent in detecting explosives, winning over his trainers and the public alike. By October, Fu Zai, meaning "Lucky Boy," graduated to become a fully qualified police dog. The story of Fu Zai's journey has been shared widely on Douyin, the Chinese equivalent of TikTok, through a dedicated account run by the Weifang Public Security Bureau. The account, "Corgi Police Dog Fu Zai and Its Comrades," has over 384,000 followers and regularly provides updates on Fu Zai and his fellow police dogs' daily training and activities. In a video posted on 19 January, officers praised Fu Zai for his exceptional contributions throughout 2024, which included completing several security tasks and raising the profile of police dogs in Weifang. For his efforts, he was awarded a red flower, treats, and toys during an end-of-year performance review. However, the celebratory moment took a humorous turn when a police officer revealed Fu Zai's recent misbehaviour, which included falling asleep on duty and urinating in his food bowl. As a playful punishment, his treats and toys were confiscated on camera, leaving only the red flower as a reminder of his achievements. 'Hope you make more persistent efforts in the future,' the officer quipped in the video, which has since garnered over 10,000 likes and hundreds of comments. Sympathy and support for Fu Zai Followers were quick to jump to Fu Zai's defence, with one commenter joking, 'Poor Fu Zai worked hard all year, only to lose its year-end bonus. I can relate so much.' Another said, 'He peed in his own bowl, not in the bowl of its boss ... return his bonus immediately." Amid the wave of online sympathy, the police reassured the public in a follow-up video posted last Wednesday that Fu Zai had not been left empty-pawed. To celebrate the Lunar New Year, the corgi was given a lavish gift package including Pacific herring, pumpkin soup, dumplings, rabbit meatballs, and even a pet-friendly version of the dish Buddha's Temptation or Fotiaoqiang, a Chinese delicacy. On Saturday, Fu Zai was honoured with the Annual Award of Defying Fate in a special video. 'We hope Fu Zai and fellow pet officers can grow in good health, and at the same time, we hope everyone can be kind to (animals), because the world does not belong to us only, but also to them,' an officer said. 'Lastly, we hope Fu Zai will be able to grow taller,' he added.
