Latest news with #Teutonic
Spectator
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Spectator
We've underestimated Francis Rossi
I have a friend who insists that had Status Quo hailed from Düsseldorf rather than Catford, they would nowadays be as critically revered as Can, Faust, Neu! and those other hallowed Teutonic pioneers of unyielding rhythm from the 1970s. Maybe so. Very probably not. Canned Heat and ZZ Top seem more reachable comparisons. But it's true that 'the Quo' have been underestimated and unjustly derided throughout their six-decade career, not least by themselves. The band has happily perpetuated their position as rock and roll neanderthals: a 2007 album is titled In Search Of The Fourth Chord. There was always a little more to it than that. Personally, I have always divined a terrible sadness at the heart of their music. Like most court jesters, Status Quo internalise great loneliness and despair. Consider the regretful pills-and-powder sentiments of songs such as 'Marguerita Time', 'Living On An Island', 'Down Down' and 'What You're Proposing', made all the more doleful by the bleached stoicism of Francis Rossi's pinched voice. Their prototypical heads-down Ur-boogie, meanwhile, is the cosmic hamster's wheel made sound, a pitch perfect aural representation of the existential treadmill. Inelegantly billed as 'An Evening of Francis Rossi's Songs from the Status Quo Songbook and More', this two-man touring show offers a corrective to the established Quo-text, though I very much doubt that is the intention. Having lost his brother in arms, Rick Parfitt, to a heart attack in 2016, Rossi is joined by second guitarist and backing vocalist Andy Brook. Supplied with nifty Fender Acoustasonic semi-acoustic guitars, the pair perch on a couple of red easy chairs, separated by a small table adorned with a green desk lamp.
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Pretend That Everything's Fine This Weekend With MotorWeek's '90s Retro Review Marathon
So far this year, each day seems to hold new horrors that we never would have foreseen as possible even just the day prior. Even the joy of doomscrolling through social media on your phone has been sullied by pesky news outlets talking about the latest ways that democracy is failing, so what can you do that doesn't cost any money but helps you avoid the constant onslaught of negativity and fear? If you're anything like me, then maybe you'll find solace in the soothing baritone voice of John Davis at MotorWeek guiding aging car enthusiasts like us on a gentle and peaceful stroll down memory lane with its Retro Reviews. If you're looking for a way to occupy your time this weekend that mitigates, rather than contributes to the sense of impending doom, tune into the MotorWeek YouTube channel for a non-stop marathon of its retro car reviews, this time ranging in date from 1990 to 1999. Read more: These Are Your Favorite Factory Exhaust Designs One of my favorite things about these single-decade Retro Review marathons is watching how drastically car technology, design, and performance changed and improved over the decade, and the nineties saw exponential growth in each of those areas. Heck, even the Teutonic stalwart Porsche 911 underwent arguably its most drastic changes in the decade, transitioning away from its air-cooled roots and hurtling into the future with the engineering wizardry of liquid cooling. MotorWeek video reviews have the unique trait of being consistent over the course of decades, so there are virtually no surprises in these episodes which is good for our overstimulated 21st century brains. And unlike all of the videos in the MotorWeek Retro Reviews playlist on YouTube, these are complete episodes that include segments beyond the always-entertaining road tests. The full episodes really transport you to simpler times through coverage of auto shows when they were in their prime, and other very retro segments. So go ahead, reminisce a bit this weekend and tune in to MotorWeek's 1990s Retro Review Marathon. Want more like this? Join the Jalopnik newsletter to get the latest auto news sent straight to your inbox... Read the original article on Jalopnik.
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Yahoo
Italy's 10 most beautiful villages, according to our expert
The idea was simple. Form an association and select Italy's most beautiful villages as members. Founded in 2001, 'I Borghi più belli d'Italia' insists on places with fewer than 15,000 inhabitants, a rich cultural heritage, and an historic heart where more than 70 per cent of buildings date from before 1939. 'Beauty' is a given. Over the years, some 940 borghi – 'village' is not quite the right word, but it's near enough – have been evaluated. Around 375 have made the cut. Thirteen were added this year from a shortlist of 32. Not all, note, are yet on the association's website. I can't claim to have visited all 375 villages, but over 35 years I've enjoyed a fair few. While I take mild issue with some listings, the borghi più belli forms an invaluable guide: visit a village on the list and you'll rarely be disappointed. Below are 10 personal favourites. Piedmont is spoilt for pretty villages across its lakes, pastoral hills and Alpine valleys. My choice, Orta San Giulio, lies on one of the region's smallest lakes, Orta, a quieter retreat than nearby Lago Maggiore. Sit in San Giulio's main square for people-watching and views of the Isola San Giulio, the lake's impossibly picturesque island. Next, take a stroll down the single main street, followed either by a loop around the headland or a short, sharp hike past the charming church of Santa Maria Assunta to the hill-top Sacro Monte chapels and more sweeping views. We're in the Dolomites, and a German-speaking corner of Italy that was formerly part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The look and feel is different to the rest of the country: onion-dome churches, for example, and a Teutonic rigour to the way things are done. Many skip Castelrotto in favour of the better-known Ortisei, nearby. Don't. Both are lovely, but Castelrotto is a living village, Ortisei more a base for visitors. Frescoed houses line the spotless, cobbled streets and in summer window boxes overflow with flowers. Verdant fields frame the village against a more distant backdrop of the Dolomites' magnificent – and unmissable – Alpe di Siusi. A long, wintery journey of delayed flights, slow trains and icy roads brought me, tired and hungry, and in darkness, to San Leo for the first time. Next morning, I looked out over the snow-dusted Apennines and explored one of Italy's loveliest unsung villages. As so often, there's not much to 'see' here, just charm, quiet streets and long views. A lofty castle overlooks it all and below lies a vast, precipitous crag – the Pietra di Bismantova – so striking that Dante, who visited San Leo, used it to evoke the mountains of Purgatory in The Divine Comedy. Just eight or so miles from Tellaro, across the Gulf of La Spezia, are the Cinque Terre, among the busiest coastal villages in Europe, never mind Italy. Beautiful, to be sure – one of them, Vernazza, makes the borghi più belli list – but often compromised by the weight of visitors. Tellaro, by contrast, is barely known yet shares many of the Cinque Terre's characteristics, including colourful houses tumbling down a verdant hillside to a charming seafront. You can hike in peace here and, unlike the Cinque Terre, Monterosso aside, there are beaches and good swimming nearby, not least at Punto Corvo and Fiascherino. As you'd expect, Tuscany has a host of glorious villages, with 30 ranked among the borghi più belli. Some of these are too busy (Pitigliano, Capalbio, Porto Ercole); a few (Castiglione di Garfagnana, Coreglia, Buonconvento) wouldn't make my list; but others – Poppi, Lucignano, Cetona – are genuine, little-know treasures. Barga is my favourite, on the edge of the high Apennines in the north of the region, above Lucca. It's perhaps more town than village, but no matter: the cathedral is sublime, the streets pretty, the views glorious, and the vibrant cultural life a sign of a thriving, living community. Scheggino is one of the 13 villages added to the 'most beautiful' list this year, a tiny place in the Valnerina, a wild valley in the mountains of eastern Umbria. I first stayed here 30 years ago and little has changed since: a single street, a fortified maze of alleyways, and a hotel-restaurant – Del Ponte – that combines local trout and truffles to wonderful effect. Drive or walk the riverside path south and take in the eighth-century San Pietro in Valle, among central Italy's loveliest abbeys. Or head north, where the Valnerina's Vallo di Nero, Norcia and Preci are also borghi più belli and others – San Felice, Caso, tiny Gavelli – could easily make the list. Frontino is tiny: more or less a single, short street on a fortified rocky spur framed by pretty, pastoral hills. Tiny, and with little to see, but as charming as you like. Aim for the Torre Civica, covered in Virginia creeper; vivid in spring, a beautiful, fiery beacon of colour in autumn. Or visit the Convento di Montefiorentino, home to a sumptuous panel by Giovanni Santi, father of Raphael. Like many borghi più belli Frontino requires a special journey – no-one comes here by accident – so combine it with trips to nearby San Leo (see above) or the hill-towns of northern Umbria just across the regional border. One day, Abruzzo, east of Rome, will get the attention it deserves. Until then, its glorious mountain scenery and high, remote villages will remain largely unvisited. Yet the region claims 27 borghi più belli, just three fewer than Tuscany. Some on the list suffer from depopulation – one, Penne, is among the Italian villages selling 'one-euro' houses to tempt incomers – but many (Opi, Scanno, Pacentro, Santo Stefano di Sassanio) cling to ancient ways of life and have unmatched upland settings. Castel del Monte is my standout, at the heart of the Gran Sasso National Park and close to the remarkable grassy uplands of the Campo Imperatore. The association behind I borghi più belli believes a listing adds eight per cent to a village's visitor numbers. Some villages, however, simply don't need more attention. In Puglia, for example, Alberobello, noted for its distinctive conical trulli dwellings, is swamped in season but is due to be listed. Better to head for smaller villages such as craggy and newly listed Gravina or my favourite, Cisternino, which beyond its modern outskirts is a delightful medley of tiny alleys, sleepy squares and dazzling, whitewashed houses. I've visited a few of the 21 Sicilian villages on the list over the years and it's hard to choose between them. I love Cefalù on the northern coast – sipping fresh orange juice in the main square, admiring the Norman cathedral, is a special memory – but it's more town than borgo. Gangi, moribund when I first saw it, has picked itself up, while I find Petralia Soprana too eerie for comfort. Geraci Siculo, though, spread over its high, remote ridge, half-forgotten in the depths of the Madonie mountains, is the epitome of the timeless Sicilian village. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Telegraph
01-04-2025
- Telegraph
Italy's 10 most beautiful villages, according to our expert
The idea was simple. Form an association and select Italy's most beautiful villages as members. Founded in 2001, 'I Borghi più belli d'Italia ' insists on places with fewer than 15,000 inhabitants, a rich cultural heritage, and an historic heart where more than 70 per cent of buildings date from before 1939. 'Beauty' is a given. Over the years, some 940 borghi – 'village' is not quite the right word, but it's near enough – have been evaluated. Around 375 have made the cut. Thirteen were added this year from a shortlist of 32. Not all, note, are yet on the association's website. I can't claim to have visited all 375 villages, but over 35 years I've enjoyed a fair few. While I take mild issue with some listings, the borghi più belli forms an invaluable guide: visit a village on the list and you'll rarely be disappointed. Below are 10 personal favourites. 1. Orta San Giulio Piedmont Piedmont is spoilt for pretty villages across its lakes, pastoral hills and Alpine valleys. My choice, Orta San Giulio, lies on one of the region's smallest lakes, Orta, a quieter retreat than nearby Lago Maggiore. Sit in San Giulio's main square for people-watching and views of the Isola San Giulio, the lake's impossibly picturesque island. Next, take a stroll down the single main street, followed either by a loop around the headland or a short, sharp hike past the charming church of Santa Maria Assunta to the hill-top Sacro Monte chapels and more sweeping views. 2. Castelrotto-Kastelruth Trentino-Alto Adige We're in the Dolomites, and a German-speaking corner of Italy that was formerly part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The look and feel is different to the rest of the country: onion-dome churches, for example, and a Teutonic rigour to the way things are done. Many skip Castelrotto in favour of the better-known Ortisei, nearby. Don't. Both are lovely, but Castelrotto is a living village, Ortisei more a base for visitors. Frescoed houses line the spotless, cobbled streets and in summer window boxes overflow with flowers. Verdant fields frame the village against a more distant backdrop of the Dolomites' magnificent – and unmissable – Alpe di Siusi. 3. San Leo Emilia-Romagna A long, wintery journey of delayed flights, slow trains and icy roads brought me, tired and hungry, and in darkness, to San Leo for the first time. Next morning, I looked out over the snow-dusted Apennines and explored one of Italy's loveliest unsung villages. As so often, there's not much to 'see' here, just charm, quiet streets and long views. A lofty castle overlooks it all and below lies a vast, precipitous crag – the Pietra di Bismantova – so striking that Dante, who visited San Leo, used it to evoke the mountains of Purgatory in The Divine Comedy. 4. Tellaro Liguria Just eight or so miles from Tellaro, across the Gulf of La Spezia, are the Cinque Terre, among the busiest coastal villages in Europe, never mind Italy. Beautiful, to be sure – one of them, Vernazza, makes the borghi più belli list – but often compromised by the weight of visitors. Tellaro, by contrast, is barely known yet shares many of the Cinque Terre's characteristics, including colourful houses tumbling down a verdant hillside to a charming seafront. You can hike in peace here and, unlike the Cinque Terre, Monterosso aside, there are beaches and good swimming nearby, not least at Punto Corvo and Fiascherino. 5. Barga Tuscany As you'd expect, Tuscany has a host of glorious villages, with 30 ranked among the borghi più belli. Some of these are too busy (Pitigliano, Capalbio, Porto Ercole); a few (Castiglione di Garfagnana, Coreglia, Buonconvento) wouldn't make my list; but others – Poppi, Lucignano, Cetona – are genuine, little-know treasures. Barga is my favourite, on the edge of the high Apennines in the north of the region, above Lucca. It's perhaps more town than village, but no matter: the cathedral is sublime, the streets pretty, the views glorious, and the vibrant cultural life a sign of a thriving, living community. 6. Scheggino Umbria Scheggino is one of the 13 villages added to the 'most beautiful' list this year, a tiny place in the Valnerina, a wild valley in the mountains of eastern Umbria. I first stayed here 30 years ago and little has changed since: a single street, a fortified maze of alleyways, and a hotel-restaurant – Del Ponte – that combines local trout and truffles to wonderful effect. Drive or walk the riverside path south and take in the eighth-century San Pietro in Valle, among central Italy's loveliest abbeys. Or head north, where the Valnerina's Vallo di Nero, Norcia and Preci are also borghi più belli and others – San Felice, Caso, tiny Gavelli – could easily make the list. 7. Frontino Le Marche Frontino is tiny: more or less a single, short street on a fortified rocky spur framed by pretty, pastoral hills. Tiny, and with little to see, but as charming as you like. Aim for the Torre Civica, covered in Virginia creeper; vivid in spring, a beautiful, fiery beacon of colour in autumn. Or visit the Convento di Montefiorentino, home to a sumptuous panel by Giovanni Santi, father of Raphael. Like many borghi più belli Frontino requires a special journey – no-one comes here by accident – so combine it with trips to nearby San Leo (see above) or the hill-towns of northern Umbria just across the regional border. 8. Castel del Monte Abruzzo One day, Abruzzo, east of Rome, will get the attention it deserves. Until then, its glorious mountain scenery and high, remote villages will remain largely unvisited. Yet the region claims 27 borghi più belli, just three fewer than Tuscany. Some on the list suffer from depopulation – one, Penne, is among the Italian villages selling 'one-euro' houses to tempt incomers – but many (Opi, Scanno, Pacentro, Santo Stefano di Sassanio) cling to ancient ways of life and have unmatched upland settings. Castel del Monte is my standout, at the heart of the Gran Sasso National Park and close to the remarkable grassy uplands of the Campo Imperatore. 9. Cisternino Puglia The association behind I borghi più belli believes a listing adds eight per cent to a village's visitor numbers. Some villages, however, simply don't need more attention. In Puglia, for example, Alberobello, noted for its distinctive conical trulli dwellings, is swamped in season but is due to be listed. Better to head for smaller villages such as craggy and newly listed Gravina or my favourite, Cisternino, which beyond its modern outskirts is a delightful medley of tiny alleys, sleepy squares and dazzling, whitewashed houses. 10. Geraci Siculo Sicily I've visited a few of the 21 Sicilian villages on the list over the years and it's hard to choose between them. I love Cefalù on the northern coast – sipping fresh orange juice in the main square, admiring the Norman cathedral, is a special memory – but it's more town than borgo. Gangi, moribund when I first saw it, has picked itself up, while I find Petralia Soprana too eerie for comfort. Geraci Siculo, though, spread over its high, remote ridge, half-forgotten in the depths of the Madonie mountains, is the epitome of the timeless Sicilian village.
Yahoo
21-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Scout Motors Was Featured On CBS Mornings
Read the full story on Backfire News When the news first broke that the storied Scout brand, a proud symbol of rugged American independence, was coming back, quite a few enthusiasts celebrated. But when that was followed up with the revelation the Volkswagen Group was behind the revival, a lot of the excitement dissipated Scout Motors isn't giving up, putting together a slick marketing campaign designed to mine the nostalgia well and get Americans with a lot of cash tear-eyed enough they plop down the large sum of cash to buy one. Part of that strategy has been focusing on mainstream news organizations like CBS Mornings to run spots on the brand's revival, which it did recently. We've included that seven-minute spot on the brand so you can watch it for yourself. It opens with a Scout commercial where a woman shows off the new Scout truck and SUV and they both share a tender, teary-eyed moment together. Volkswagen sure wants Americans getting emotional over seeing the Scout badge on vehicles again. It's a somewhat similar strategy to what Ford did with the Bronco when that storied model line was revived. Only the big difference is Scout is really no longer an American brand, having been assimilated into the Teutonic beast known as the VW Group. Also, the Scout truck and SUV are both all-electric – a big dealbreaker for some. What's even more concerning for us is what we would call a rather derivative design for both. The truck looks a little too much like a Rivian and the SUV disappears into the sea of other models which appear far too similar. Sure, there are little design cues which are nods to the old Scouts, but that's where the connection between this new brand and the old begin and end. Maybe these Scout EVs are really great off-roaders? We don't know, but we're skeptical about that. And from what we've seen, quite a few enthusiasts are at least skeptical, if not downright turned off by the new Scouts. We can't blame them considering Scout back in the day was a blue collar, working man's truck. The new truck starts at $51,500 and quickly climbs in price from there, while the SUV starts at $50,000. Both are out of range of many average American households, something Scout wasn't back in its heyday. Expect to see more nostalgia-loaded marketing campaigns, including through big media outlets as Volkswagen Group tries pumping up demand for the all-electric truck and SUV. Images via Scout Motors
