Latest news with #Ripper
Perth Now
4 days ago
- Sport
- Perth Now
Gooch builds big LIV Golf lead as Aussies battle
Talor Gooch has excelled during a long day on the course at LIV Golf Andalucia, claiming a four-shot lead heading into the final round at Sotogrande, Spain. Gooch shot a five-under par 66 after returning early on Saturday to complete the final eight holes of an opening 70 that had been interrupted by high winds on Friday. Seeking a fourth LIV Golf title, he is at seven-under 135 after mixing seven birdies and two bogeys in the second round at the Real Club Valderrama. Fellow American Dustin Johnson fired a sizzling second-round 64 to be the closest challenger, with Branden Grace (71) a shot further back, while Jinichiro Kozuma (68), Jon Rahm (70) and Patrick Reed (71) were tied fourth at one under. Australian major winner Cameron Smith went backwards with a 74 to be tied seventh, seven shots behind Gooch. It's not been a good tournament for Smith's all-Australian Ripper team. They were sitting tied last in the team competition at 19 over. Matt Jones shot 71 to be the next best Aussie at two over followed by Lucas Herbert (six over T45th) and Marc Leishman 11 over and last in the 54-player field. Gooch is looking to repeat his win at Andalucia in 2023. "It prepares you for these moments when they come up again," Gooch said of his experience at the event. "Having done it here at this course already, it's beneficial. Hopefully we can go get it done again tomorrow." Last year, Spain's Sergio Garcia came from seven strokes back to win LIV Golf Andalucia in a playoff. Another Spaniard, Rahm, is hoping to repeat the feat in front of a supportive home crowd. "It means the world. It also feels a little heavier on you when you make mistakes or don't take advantage of the ones that could have been," Rahm said of the backing from the fans. "I'm not only upset for myself but I'm a little bit upset for them as well that I'm not going to have a better chance tomorrow." Johnson, who is winless so far this season on the LIV circuit, was pleased with his second round fightback. "Pretty much when you shoot that score around here, everything is working pretty well," he said. On the team front, Johnson's strong round propelled his 4Aces into the lead. They stand at 2-over, with Gooch's Smash GC -- captained by Brooks Koepka -- at 3-over.
Indian Express
24-06-2025
- Indian Express
Murder to merchandise: The grim reality behind London's Jack the Ripper tourism
By nightfall, the lanes of Whitechapel in London's East End become a stage – guides leading tourists, telling stories of a man in the 19th century who murdered women and vanished without a trace. This is Jack the Ripper's neighbourhood – or at least, according to the version of history the tourism industry has cut out and commodified into nightly entertainment. For many visitors, a Ripper walk falls in their bucket list alongside Buckingham Palace and the London Eye. But what lies beneath the shadow of 'dark tourism' is the growing discomfort and a backlash over turning unsolved murders into a mass spectacle. At the heart of the controversy is a brutal reality: while Jack the Ripper has become folklore, the suffering of the women he murdered has been diluted and repackaged for commercial gain. Mystery is being looked at through the lens of marketability, while the gruesome nature of his crimes being dismissed as footnotes. Businesses in the area today shamelessly borrow the moniker like a brand: Jack the Clipper for a barbershop, Jack the Chipper for a local takeaway, and Jack's Place for a luxury retailer. Even a potato vendor, once named Jacket the Ripper, briefly cashed in on the infamy. The murderer's persona has been mythologised and romanticised during the tours, and in some of them, images of the victims' mutilated bodies are projected onto walls, with laughter following stories of disembowelments. Modern residents of the neighbourhood are left to carry the weight of a joke they never asked to be part of. In 2020, Britain's official mapping body, the Ordnance Survey, removed from its library of maps a walking tour of the capital titled 'Guts and Garters in the Ripper's East End'. The most visible public backlash came in 2015 with the opening of the Jack the Ripper Museum. The museum had originally applied for planning permission under the guise of honouring the 'history of women in London's East End.' What opened, however, was an exhibition with Ripper-themed souvenirs being sold: teddy bears dressed as the Ripper and T-shirts with the killer's silhouette. The betrayal stirred up a wave of protest. The museum's founder, Mark Palmer-Edgecumbe, said that the museum's full title is Jack the Ripper and the History of Women in East London, that the sign was incomplete, and maintained that 'We are not glorifying the murders or celebrating the murders; we are doing a forensic examination of the murders and setting that in the historical context of the period.' The flashpoint led to the founding of the East End Women's Museum — a space explicitly meant to tell the stories that the Ripper industry ignored. Charlotte Everitt, a guide with Rebel Tours, launched 'Jack the Ripper: What About the Women?' in an attempt to shift the focus back to murdered women. However, even well-meaning efforts like these face a paradox – remove the Ripper from the title, and interest plummets. 'We're a small-group company and we like that,' Everitt told CNN, 'but it's telling how many people still choose the other kind of guide.' Hence, even tours that try to center the victims often end up feeding into the same ecosystem. Supporters of the Ripper walk often argue that they serve an educational purpose, but as former guides noted that true education requires context and a formal setting, not cheap thrills. One told CNN that she saw guides chase tourists with butcher knives or blast the 'Psycho' theme at murder sites. Some have insisted that all of the victims were sex workers despite concrete evidence to the contrary. 'The issue isn't discussing the Whitechapel murders,' Everitt told CNN. 'The issue is how they're discussed.' The turning point for one guide came when a sex worker publicly confronted her mid-tour, accusing her of profiting from pain. The encounter was a mirror held up to her conscience — and she quit soon after. She told CNN: 'some [guides] do try to talk about the women… But, on those tours, in almost every case, the women are the butt of the joke.' On the other hand, blogs like Spitalfields Life have refused to cover the Ripper murders altogether, focusing instead on the East End's working-class heritage and immigrant histories. Yet, as the blog's author notes, Ripper tourism continues to dominate the area. London's East End is not alone; Jonestown in Guyana has become a hub for curious travelers, and in Milwaukee, visitors of the 'Cream City Cannibal Tour' are taken to sites linked to Jeffrey Dahmer, also the subject of a Netflix biographical crime drama. All these examples suggest a broader cultural trend – a fascination with killers and a corresponding erasure of their victims. Even people behind acts of misogynistic violence have been subsumed into popular culture.
The Advertiser
26-05-2025
- General
- The Advertiser
A ripper race to find Australia's hardest-working dog
Ripper the tan-and-black kelpie is the very model of man's best friend. The two-year-old is "a freak" when it comes to working sheep, an agile and clever pup who gets the herd moving like a dog beyond his years, owner Daniel Pumpa said. "I'd be absolutely stuffed without him," Mr Pumpa told AAP. The bond between the farmer and his four-legged offsider runs much deeper than their work on a property near Yeoval in central western NSW. Ripper is the offspring of Mr Pumpa's beloved working dog Turbo, who died suddenly in 2024. "I did go off dogs for a bit after losing Turbo - (Ripper) was there to pick up the pieces," Mr Pumpa said. "If you don't have a bond with your working dog, you're not going to get the best out of them." Mr Pumpa, also a respected trainer, fondly remembers life with Turbo, including competing in the national Cobber Challenge three times. The three-week competition uses GPS collars to track the distance, speed and hours clocked up by farm dogs as they work livestock. Nominations for the 10th challenge opened on Tuesday. Ripper took the mantle from Turbo for the 2024 competition, covering 322km over 30 hours and coming in fourth place. A dog named Bear from Dirranbandi, in southwest Queensland, won that challenge, notching up 570km while farmer Tom Perkins mustered 4500 ewes. Mr Pumpa said the competition gives farmers valuable data about how hard their dogs work. "You know your dog is doing a big day, but once you see he's done 30 to 40km in half a day it allows you to rest and manage them a bit better." Working dogs have captured Australians' hearts in recent years, with their skills showcased on the ABC TV show Muster Dogs. Driven by their intense herding instincts and energy, working dogs are increasingly an alternative to hiring labourers amid shortages in the agriculture sector. Dogs are also helping people in the cities better understand country life, Mr Pumpa said. When he hosts demonstrations in front of city audiences, many ask whether farmers are forcing their dogs to work. "If a dog doesn't want to work, it's not going to," he said. "These dogs, they love it, and that helps us prove that we're looking after our animals, whether it be dogs or sheep or cattle." Turbo's dad and Ripper's grandad, a 14-year-old red kelpie named Benji, is testament to how much the dogs are loved, even in their twilight years. Benji, long retired from the paddock, spends his days in bed or playing with a little Jack Russell companion. "Old Benji, he's an absolute dude of a dog," Mr Pumpa said. "When they've done the hard work, they deserve to chill out and relax." Ripper the tan-and-black kelpie is the very model of man's best friend. The two-year-old is "a freak" when it comes to working sheep, an agile and clever pup who gets the herd moving like a dog beyond his years, owner Daniel Pumpa said. "I'd be absolutely stuffed without him," Mr Pumpa told AAP. The bond between the farmer and his four-legged offsider runs much deeper than their work on a property near Yeoval in central western NSW. Ripper is the offspring of Mr Pumpa's beloved working dog Turbo, who died suddenly in 2024. "I did go off dogs for a bit after losing Turbo - (Ripper) was there to pick up the pieces," Mr Pumpa said. "If you don't have a bond with your working dog, you're not going to get the best out of them." Mr Pumpa, also a respected trainer, fondly remembers life with Turbo, including competing in the national Cobber Challenge three times. The three-week competition uses GPS collars to track the distance, speed and hours clocked up by farm dogs as they work livestock. Nominations for the 10th challenge opened on Tuesday. Ripper took the mantle from Turbo for the 2024 competition, covering 322km over 30 hours and coming in fourth place. A dog named Bear from Dirranbandi, in southwest Queensland, won that challenge, notching up 570km while farmer Tom Perkins mustered 4500 ewes. Mr Pumpa said the competition gives farmers valuable data about how hard their dogs work. "You know your dog is doing a big day, but once you see he's done 30 to 40km in half a day it allows you to rest and manage them a bit better." Working dogs have captured Australians' hearts in recent years, with their skills showcased on the ABC TV show Muster Dogs. Driven by their intense herding instincts and energy, working dogs are increasingly an alternative to hiring labourers amid shortages in the agriculture sector. Dogs are also helping people in the cities better understand country life, Mr Pumpa said. When he hosts demonstrations in front of city audiences, many ask whether farmers are forcing their dogs to work. "If a dog doesn't want to work, it's not going to," he said. "These dogs, they love it, and that helps us prove that we're looking after our animals, whether it be dogs or sheep or cattle." Turbo's dad and Ripper's grandad, a 14-year-old red kelpie named Benji, is testament to how much the dogs are loved, even in their twilight years. Benji, long retired from the paddock, spends his days in bed or playing with a little Jack Russell companion. "Old Benji, he's an absolute dude of a dog," Mr Pumpa said. "When they've done the hard work, they deserve to chill out and relax." Ripper the tan-and-black kelpie is the very model of man's best friend. The two-year-old is "a freak" when it comes to working sheep, an agile and clever pup who gets the herd moving like a dog beyond his years, owner Daniel Pumpa said. "I'd be absolutely stuffed without him," Mr Pumpa told AAP. The bond between the farmer and his four-legged offsider runs much deeper than their work on a property near Yeoval in central western NSW. Ripper is the offspring of Mr Pumpa's beloved working dog Turbo, who died suddenly in 2024. "I did go off dogs for a bit after losing Turbo - (Ripper) was there to pick up the pieces," Mr Pumpa said. "If you don't have a bond with your working dog, you're not going to get the best out of them." Mr Pumpa, also a respected trainer, fondly remembers life with Turbo, including competing in the national Cobber Challenge three times. The three-week competition uses GPS collars to track the distance, speed and hours clocked up by farm dogs as they work livestock. Nominations for the 10th challenge opened on Tuesday. Ripper took the mantle from Turbo for the 2024 competition, covering 322km over 30 hours and coming in fourth place. A dog named Bear from Dirranbandi, in southwest Queensland, won that challenge, notching up 570km while farmer Tom Perkins mustered 4500 ewes. Mr Pumpa said the competition gives farmers valuable data about how hard their dogs work. "You know your dog is doing a big day, but once you see he's done 30 to 40km in half a day it allows you to rest and manage them a bit better." Working dogs have captured Australians' hearts in recent years, with their skills showcased on the ABC TV show Muster Dogs. Driven by their intense herding instincts and energy, working dogs are increasingly an alternative to hiring labourers amid shortages in the agriculture sector. Dogs are also helping people in the cities better understand country life, Mr Pumpa said. When he hosts demonstrations in front of city audiences, many ask whether farmers are forcing their dogs to work. "If a dog doesn't want to work, it's not going to," he said. "These dogs, they love it, and that helps us prove that we're looking after our animals, whether it be dogs or sheep or cattle." Turbo's dad and Ripper's grandad, a 14-year-old red kelpie named Benji, is testament to how much the dogs are loved, even in their twilight years. Benji, long retired from the paddock, spends his days in bed or playing with a little Jack Russell companion. "Old Benji, he's an absolute dude of a dog," Mr Pumpa said. "When they've done the hard work, they deserve to chill out and relax." Ripper the tan-and-black kelpie is the very model of man's best friend. The two-year-old is "a freak" when it comes to working sheep, an agile and clever pup who gets the herd moving like a dog beyond his years, owner Daniel Pumpa said. "I'd be absolutely stuffed without him," Mr Pumpa told AAP. The bond between the farmer and his four-legged offsider runs much deeper than their work on a property near Yeoval in central western NSW. Ripper is the offspring of Mr Pumpa's beloved working dog Turbo, who died suddenly in 2024. "I did go off dogs for a bit after losing Turbo - (Ripper) was there to pick up the pieces," Mr Pumpa said. "If you don't have a bond with your working dog, you're not going to get the best out of them." Mr Pumpa, also a respected trainer, fondly remembers life with Turbo, including competing in the national Cobber Challenge three times. The three-week competition uses GPS collars to track the distance, speed and hours clocked up by farm dogs as they work livestock. Nominations for the 10th challenge opened on Tuesday. Ripper took the mantle from Turbo for the 2024 competition, covering 322km over 30 hours and coming in fourth place. A dog named Bear from Dirranbandi, in southwest Queensland, won that challenge, notching up 570km while farmer Tom Perkins mustered 4500 ewes. Mr Pumpa said the competition gives farmers valuable data about how hard their dogs work. "You know your dog is doing a big day, but once you see he's done 30 to 40km in half a day it allows you to rest and manage them a bit better." Working dogs have captured Australians' hearts in recent years, with their skills showcased on the ABC TV show Muster Dogs. Driven by their intense herding instincts and energy, working dogs are increasingly an alternative to hiring labourers amid shortages in the agriculture sector. Dogs are also helping people in the cities better understand country life, Mr Pumpa said. When he hosts demonstrations in front of city audiences, many ask whether farmers are forcing their dogs to work. "If a dog doesn't want to work, it's not going to," he said. "These dogs, they love it, and that helps us prove that we're looking after our animals, whether it be dogs or sheep or cattle." Turbo's dad and Ripper's grandad, a 14-year-old red kelpie named Benji, is testament to how much the dogs are loved, even in their twilight years. Benji, long retired from the paddock, spends his days in bed or playing with a little Jack Russell companion. "Old Benji, he's an absolute dude of a dog," Mr Pumpa said. "When they've done the hard work, they deserve to chill out and relax."
Perth Now
26-05-2025
- General
- Perth Now
A ripper race to find Australia's hardest-working dog
Ripper the tan-and-black kelpie is the very model of man's best friend. The two-year-old is "a freak" when it comes to working sheep, an agile and clever pup who gets the herd moving like a dog beyond his years, owner Daniel Pumpa said. "I'd be absolutely stuffed without him," Mr Pumpa told AAP. The bond between the farmer and his four-legged offsider runs much deeper than their work on a property near Yeoval in central western NSW. Ripper is the offspring of Mr Pumpa's beloved working dog Turbo, who died suddenly in 2024. "I did go off dogs for a bit after losing Turbo - (Ripper) was there to pick up the pieces," Mr Pumpa said. "If you don't have a bond with your working dog, you're not going to get the best out of them." Mr Pumpa, also a respected trainer, fondly remembers life with Turbo, including competing in the national Cobber Challenge three times. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Cobber (@cobberdogfood) The Cobber Challenge pits farm dogs in a three-week competition that tracks their work output. The three-week competition uses GPS collars to track the distance, speed and hours clocked up by farm dogs as they work livestock. Nominations for the 10th challenge opened on Tuesday. Ripper took the mantle from Turbo for the 2024 competition, covering 322km over 30 hours and coming in fourth place. A dog named Bear from Dirranbandi, in southwest Queensland, won that challenge, notching up 570km while farmer Tom Perkins mustered 4500 ewes. Mr Pumpa said the competition gives farmers valuable data about how hard their dogs work. "You know your dog is doing a big day, but once you see he's done 30 to 40km in half a day it allows you to rest and manage them a bit better." Working dogs have captured Australians' hearts in recent years, with their skills showcased on the ABC TV show Muster Dogs. Driven by their intense herding instincts and energy, working dogs are increasingly an alternative to hiring labourers amid shortages in the agriculture sector. Dogs are also helping people in the cities better understand country life, Mr Pumpa said. When he hosts demonstrations in front of city audiences, many ask whether farmers are forcing their dogs to work. "If a dog doesn't want to work, it's not going to," he said. "These dogs, they love it, and that helps us prove that we're looking after our animals, whether it be dogs or sheep or cattle." Turbo's dad and Ripper's grandad, a 14-year-old red kelpie named Benji, is testament to how much the dogs are loved, even in their twilight years. Benji, long retired from the paddock, spends his days in bed or playing with a little Jack Russell companion. "Old Benji, he's an absolute dude of a dog," Mr Pumpa said. "When they've done the hard work, they deserve to chill out and relax."
West Australian
26-05-2025
- General
- West Australian
A ripper race to find Australia's hardest-working dog
Ripper the tan-and-black kelpie is the very model of man's best friend. The two-year-old is "a freak" when it comes to working sheep, an agile and clever pup who gets the herd moving like a dog beyond his years, owner Daniel Pumpa said. "I'd be absolutely stuffed without him," Mr Pumpa told AAP. The bond between the farmer and his four-legged offsider runs much deeper than their work on a property near Yeoval in central western NSW. Ripper is the offspring of Mr Pumpa's beloved working dog Turbo, who died suddenly in 2024. "I did go off dogs for a bit after losing Turbo - (Ripper) was there to pick up the pieces," Mr Pumpa said. "If you don't have a bond with your working dog, you're not going to get the best out of them." Mr Pumpa, also a respected trainer, fondly remembers life with Turbo, including competing in the national Cobber Challenge three times. The Cobber Challenge pits farm dogs in a three-week competition that tracks their work output. The three-week competition uses GPS collars to track the distance, speed and hours clocked up by farm dogs as they work livestock. Nominations for the 10th challenge opened on Tuesday. Ripper took the mantle from Turbo for the 2024 competition, covering 322km over 30 hours and coming in fourth place. A dog named Bear from Dirranbandi, in southwest Queensland, won that challenge, notching up 570km while farmer Tom Perkins mustered 4500 ewes. Mr Pumpa said the competition gives farmers valuable data about how hard their dogs work. "You know your dog is doing a big day, but once you see he's done 30 to 40km in half a day it allows you to rest and manage them a bit better." Working dogs have captured Australians' hearts in recent years, with their skills showcased on the ABC TV show Muster Dogs. Driven by their intense herding instincts and energy, working dogs are increasingly an alternative to hiring labourers amid shortages in the agriculture sector. Dogs are also helping people in the cities better understand country life, Mr Pumpa said. When he hosts demonstrations in front of city audiences, many ask whether farmers are forcing their dogs to work. "If a dog doesn't want to work, it's not going to," he said. "These dogs, they love it, and that helps us prove that we're looking after our animals, whether it be dogs or sheep or cattle." Turbo's dad and Ripper's grandad, a 14-year-old red kelpie named Benji, is testament to how much the dogs are loved, even in their twilight years. Benji, long retired from the paddock, spends his days in bed or playing with a little Jack Russell companion. "Old Benji, he's an absolute dude of a dog," Mr Pumpa said. "When they've done the hard work, they deserve to chill out and relax."
