Latest news with #TheBluesBrothers
West Australian
19 hours ago
- Entertainment
- West Australian
Andrew Miller: Classic car chases educate a child's mind in ways the classroom just can't
This column, in fine dad tradition, pretends to contain lessons — but not 'learnings' a word which should be banned except from the hellscape of LinkedIn where it is a reliable indicator of content you can skip. I was supposed to be helping the six-year-old with reading practice, but we got distracted and ended up watching classic car chases on YouTube. Specifically, comparing and contrasting wanton automotive carnage in the movies The Italian Job and The Blues Brothers. This naturally led to explaining the historical relevance of the Illinois Nazis — who met their demise by driving off an incomplete flyover while pursuing Jake and Elwood Blues — and why popular culture so often circles back to the dark risks of fascism. Nazis famously lost the war through over-reach but, as with measles and polio, modern versions persist, and we remain vigilant. Many problems endure — right-wing extremism; infectious diseases; hospital over-crowding, and politicians dumb or artful enough to argue that legalising bare-knuckle fighting might somehow be wise. We then discussed the actor Henry Gibson, who played the Illinois Nazi leader — beloved for his quirky, subversive flower poetry on Laugh-In and for voicing Wilbur in the wonderful 1973 movie Charlotte's Web. If this sort of education is not what fathers are good for, then I give up. She liked the Mini Coopers in the Italian Job, so we pulled up the online car ads. After our recent epic road trip from Perth to Broome, we visited Carol and Dave Berger's place then flew home. They have recently completed higher studies at the School of Tropical Medicine and Global Health in Nagasaki, Japan. Never ones to shy away from an intriguing intellectual or geographic diversion, they are the sort of positively inquisitive doctors you want puzzling over your hospital bed — setting ever higher standards for themselves and taking your diagnosis and recovery personally. Berger has been sending me new insights on many infectious diseases that we have been battling since antiquity. Diseases whose prevention we must continually take seriously, or they will creep back into our lives — as measles is doing in the besieged USA. Meanwhile, their anything-but-serious Health Secretary's department apparently used AI to author his flagship Make America Healthy Again report, complete with multiple fake references. Any decent university would expel lowly students for trying that nonsense. My reliably logical wife pointed out that the grand Broome adventure has put an impractical distance between me and my only car. She also accurately illustrated, with the weather radar, that it is not an ideal season to be bike and scooter dependent. Serious precipitation is no issue at all in plastic pants and jacket, but raging storm fronts are not ideal conditions for two wheels at the school pickup. Luckily, I still subscribe to an old-fashioned paper magazine about automobiles, as part of my failing digital detox. Reading about how the resistance to electric vehicles has fallen is fascinating. They could range much further if simply made less powerful, but yet another perennial problem the human race revisits is that the adoption of positive developments can easily be sabotaged by the male ego. Ergo, electric cars must accelerate faster — much faster — than petrol ones, or no fluffy dice. We found an ad for a 1978 Leyland Mini coupe — 'Needs work. No tyre kickers.' It will go for around $3,000, which is simply a deposit on future repairs, but it oozes Michael Caine character: 'You were only supposed to blow the bloody doors off!' I explained to her that scenes with Minis racing through running water are misleading, because of the anterior placement of Leyland distributors. Even light showers would more often result in roadside spraying of WD-40 on the sodden electrics, than thrilling escapes from the Carabinieri en route to school. 'Are there really Illinois Nazis?' she asked. 'Yeah, I think so' I replied, 'but we've beaten them before, and we can do it again.'
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Trump posts meme saying he's ‘on a mission from God' featuring alt-right symbol Pepe the Frog
Co-opting a famous phrase from the 1980 John Belushi-Dan Aykroyd classic The Blues Brothers, Donald Trump posted a cryptic meme on Wednesday night declaring that he is 'on a mission from God' which also features an alt-right symbol in the background. Showing the president walking down a dark city street, the image includes the caption 'nothing can stop what is coming.' While the meme itself could be interpreted as the president's response to the U.S. Court of International Trade striking down the majority of his 'Liberation Day' tariffs, it was the image's inclusion of Pepe the Frog – and the fact that it originated from a 'groyper' account – that has drawn the most attention. Additionally, this latest meme from the president may have boosted a meme coin associated with the far-right movement. With members of his administration likening the court ruling that Trump 'exceeded his authority' on tariffs to a 'judicial coup,' the president seemingly fired back at the three-judge panel with memes on his Truth Social account. One image the president posted featured a billboard emblazoned with the slogan, 'Trump was right about everything.' And then there was the Blues Brothers-themed post, which piggybacks on an overarching MAGA theme that God has anointed the president to save the country, a belief among Christian conservatives that ramped up after last July's assassination attempt and has only increased since Trump's election. In fact, the president himself has repeatedly suggested he was 'saved' by Christ because he is the chosen one. At the same time, the 'mission from God' meme parrots the long-running belief among QAnon adherents that Trump has been given a calling to secretly root out a cabal of cannibalistic pedophiles from within the government and liberal ruling class, and that soon the 'storm will be coming' that will see the mass arrests of prominent Democrats and celebrities. Trump, who has regularly posted memes and video clips that were created by QAnon conspiracists and far-right extremists, appears to have done the same thing with this particular post. The far-right corner of the meme tags the Truth Social account @FruitSnacks, who appears to be a 'groyper,' otherwise known as a supporter of notorious white supremacist Nick Fuentes. The person, who also has an account on X with the same FruitSnacks handle, has regularly reshared posts from Fuentes and a news account associated with the virulent antisemite. Of course, Trump infamously dined with Fuentes and Hitler-boosting rapper Kanye West at Mar-a-Lago in 2022. At the same time, in recent months, it appears that FruitSnacks has grown increasingly jaded with the president following Trump's return to the White House, echoing Fuentes and other far-right MAGA supporters who have sounded off over the administration's perceived lack of action on their pet conspiracy theories. 'There will be no arrests or tribunals. It would have happened by now. Trump is in office, so... what is he waiting for?' FruitSnacks wrote on Truth Social earlier this month, adding in another post about the FBI files on deceased sexual predator Jeffrey Epstein: 'Soooo... how about that Epstein client list?' Meanwhile, the inclusion of Pepe the Frog, a cartoon figure that has been appropriated by 'groypers' and the alt-right in recent years, sparked excitement in the fever swamps of the internet – and also may have contributed to a slight spike in the crypto market. $PEPE, a meme coin named for the alt-right symbol, surged 8.5 percent overnight following the president's Truth Social post. While it dropped 5 percent after the spike, the frog-themed token still showed an increase of nearly six percent over a 24 hour period and now has a market cap over $6 billion. Trump posting a Pepe meme and potentially sparking a crypto rush created quite a bit of chatter on X among the far-right crowd, many of whom have the frog as their avatars. 'Vision of PEPE OF THE UNITED STATES X is here to restore memerican greatness,' one account, which goes by the handle PEPE OF THE UNITED STATES, reacted. 'Trump vibes. Pepe power. Full degen energy.' Earlier this month, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington reported that as many as fifty of the invitees to Trump's controversial meme coin gala – which featured 220 guests who had spent the most on the president's $TRUMP cryptocurrency – were also holders of the Pepe the Frog coin and other assets linked to far-right extremism. 'The most wallets on the list, 45 in all, held assets named for Pepe the Frog as of May 12—the day winners were finalized—but holdings may have changed since they were analyzed,' CREW noted. 'Nine of the wallets, including some that hold Pepe-themed assets, held assets whose names are outright racist or anti-semitic,' the report added. 'For example, one token is called 'F*** THE JEWS,' while another is simply the n-word. Four others are variations on the word 'swastika,' such as 'Swasticoin' and 'Swastika Coin.'' The Independent has reached out to the White House for comment.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Trump posts meme saying he's ‘on a mission from God' featuring alt-right symbol Pepe the Frog
Co-opting a famous phrase from the 1980 John Belushi-Dan Aykroyd classic The Blues Brothers, Donald Trump posted a cryptic meme on Wednesday night declaring that he is 'on a mission from God' which also features an alt-right symbol in the background. Showing the president walking down a dark city street, the image includes the caption 'nothing can stop what is coming.' While the meme itself could be interpreted as the president's response to the U.S. Court of International Trade striking down the majority of his 'Liberation Day' tariffs, it was the image's inclusion of Pepe the Frog – and the fact that it originated from a 'groyper' account – that has drawn the most attention. Additionally, this latest meme from the president may have boosted a meme coin associated with the far-right movement. With members of his administration likening the court ruling that Trump 'exceeded his authority' on tariffs to a 'judicial coup,' the president seemingly fired back at the three-judge panel with memes on his Truth Social account. One image the president posted featured a billboard emblazoned with the slogan, 'Trump was right about everything.' And then there was the Blues Brothers-themed post, which piggybacks on an overarching MAGA theme that God has anointed the president to save the country, a belief among Christian conservatives that ramped up after last July's assassination attempt and has only increased since Trump's election. In fact, the president himself has repeatedly suggested he was 'saved' by Christ because he is the chosen one. At the same time, the 'mission from God' meme parrots the long-running belief among QAnon adherents that Trump has been given a calling to secretly root out a cabal of cannibalistic pedophiles from within the government and liberal ruling class, and that soon the 'storm will be coming' that will see the mass arrests of prominent Democrats and celebrities. Trump, who has regularly posted memes and video clips that were created by QAnon conspiracists and far-right extremists, appears to have done the same thing with this particular post. The far-right corner of the meme tags the Truth Social account @FruitSnacks, who appears to be a 'groyper,' otherwise known as a supporter of notorious white supremacist Nick Fuentes. The person, who also has an account on X with the same FruitSnacks handle, has regularly reshared posts from Fuentes and a news account associated with the virulent antisemite. Of course, Trump infamously dined with Fuentes and Hitler-boosting rapper Kanye West at Mar-a-Lago in 2022. At the same time, in recent months, it appears that FruitSnacks has grown increasingly jaded with the president following Trump's return to the White House, echoing Fuentes and other far-right MAGA supporters who have sounded off over the administration's perceived lack of action on their pet conspiracy theories. 'There will be no arrests or tribunals. It would have happened by now. Trump is in office, so... what is he waiting for?' FruitSnacks wrote on Truth Social earlier this month, adding in another post about the FBI files on deceased sexual predator Jeffrey Epstein: 'Soooo... how about that Epstein client list?' Meanwhile, the inclusion of Pepe the Frog, a cartoon figure that has been appropriated by 'groypers' and the alt-right in recent years, sparked excitement in the fever swamps of the internet – and also may have contributed to a slight spike in the crypto market. $PEPE, a meme coin named for the alt-right symbol, surged 8.5 percent overnight following the president's Truth Social post. While it dropped 5 percent after the spike, the frog-themed token still showed an increase of nearly six percent over a 24 hour period and now has a market cap over $6 billion. Trump posting a Pepe meme and potentially sparking a crypto rush created quite a bit of chatter on X among the far-right crowd, many of whom have the frog as their avatars. 'Vision of PEPE OF THE UNITED STATES X is here to restore memerican greatness,' one account, which goes by the handle PEPE OF THE UNITED STATES, reacted. 'Trump vibes. Pepe power. Full degen energy.' Earlier this month, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington reported that as many as fifty of the invitees to Trump's controversial meme coin gala – which featured 220 guests who had spent the most on the president's $TRUMP cryptocurrency – were also holders of the Pepe the Frog coin and other assets linked to far-right extremism. 'The most wallets on the list, 45 in all, held assets named for Pepe the Frog as of May 12—the day winners were finalized—but holdings may have changed since they were analyzed,' CREW noted. 'Nine of the wallets, including some that hold Pepe-themed assets, held assets whose names are outright racist or anti-semitic,' the report added. 'For example, one token is called 'F*** THE JEWS,' while another is simply the n-word. Four others are variations on the word 'swastika,' such as 'Swasticoin' and 'Swastika Coin.'' The Independent has reached out to the White House for comment.
Economic Times
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Economic Times
Alex Horne struggles in The Horne Section TV show season 2 is back on Channel 4
A promo photo of the The Horne Section show on Channel 4. The Horne Section TV Show returns for a second season on Channel 4 on Thursday (May 22) at 10 pm. Featuring guest appearances, musical challenges, and general silliness, Alex Horne tries to prove his musical credibility amidst chaotic situations. The new season sees Alex Horne grappling with newfound fame and the pressure of filming live from his home, while trying to prove he is a credible musician. Channel 4 exec Ash (Georgia Tennant) commissions a new programme, the World's Strongest Musician, to film in Horne's house alongside the existing show. The series features the bandleader determined to prove that he's a credible musician, despite the presence of Reggie Watts threatening to overshadow him. The series includes corporate awards and a haunted TV (Desiree Burch) attempts to keep the show on air, while Channel 4 exec Ash (Georgia Tennant) is generally obstructive. Lucy (Camille Ucan) barely looks away from her phone, and intern runner Nelly (Tim Mahendren) is perpetually Oliver is keen to join the band, and Reggie Watts makes an appearance. The show includes reimagined Channel 4 TV theme tunes. Alex Horne previews the new series, answering questions about guest stars, the challenges of being the frontman, and the show's musical and comedic elements. He admits to not being a natural singer or dancer. He acknowledges the stereotype of comedians wanting to be in a reached Grade III on the French horn. The TV theme tunes being reimagined include "Location Location Location", "24 Hours in Police Custody", "Made in Chelsea", and "Married at First Sight".Episode 3 features a "Memento" style storyline. Horne emphasizes the importance of silliness in the is excited about playing Glastonbury for the first time. He believes the band is a good fit for festivals due to their blend of music and comedy. Growing up, Horne enjoyed Bill Bailey and "The Blues Brothers". He used to get nervous before going on stage but stopped after having Horne Section has branded shirts, and their merchandise includes non-absorbent tea towels. Horne's backstage rider consists of three cans of Gray is helping funny people find love in a new dating format. The series is backed by Sky and available says 'We have created a funny and entertaining dating format that showcases my sense of humour and taps into my ethos for finding love – "It doesn't matter if you're not fine, you just better be funny!"'.
Daily Mail
29-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
'Nepo baby' whose father and uncle starred on iconic comedy show is now a singer... can you guess who she is?
A Hollywood ' nepo baby ' who hails from a beloved comedy dynasty has entered show business with a career of her own. The 25-year-old's father and uncle both starred on a series that has emerged as one of the most iconic TV programs in American history. Her uncle was also the leading man of multiple legendary comedy movies, including one that has become an enduring classic about the college experience. Last year, she herself featured on a beloved US soap opera, one that has been airing continuously on CBS for nearly four decades. She is now also a singer-songwriter, who this Monday night could be seen playing a glamorous cancer benefit in Beverly Hills. Can you guess who she is? She is Jamison Belushi, the daughter of Jim Belushi and the niece of the late John Belushi, both of whom were among the early stars of Saturday Night Live. John was part of the seven-member original cast of Lorne Michaels' sketch show when it aired its first season on NBC in 1975. During a brief but dazzling career cut short by his galloping drug problem, John established himself as a reigning comedy star of the late 20th century. His movies included the 1978 college romp National Lampoon's Animal House, in which he stole the show as a fraternity brother called Bluto with a bottomless appetite for drink. He and his comedy partner Dan Aykroyd won the hearts of fans around the world with their 1980 musical comedy The Blues Brothers. After several turbulent years of rampaging substance abuse, John died of a cocaine and heroin overdose in 1982 at the age of just 33. The following year, his little brother Jim joined the cast of Saturday Night Live, having broken into movies with the 1981 film Thief starring James Caan and Willie Nelson. His movies include the 1983 comedy Trading Places starring Eddie Murphy and Dan Aykroyd, as well as the 1986 war drama Salvador directed by Oliver Stone. John was part of the seven-member original cast of Lorne Michaels' sketch show when it aired its first season on NBC in 1975; pictured on the opening sketch of the premiere episode In his more recent career, he has acted in such films as the 2010 Roman Polanski feature The Ghost Writer with Pierce Brosnan and Kim Cattrall, as well as the 2017 Woody Allen picture Wonder Wheel with Kate Winslet and Justin Timberlake. Perhaps his greatest success came with his hit sitcom According To Jim, in which he played the patriarch of a suburban family. The series ran eight seasons from 2001 until 2009 - during which time it gave little Jamison her acting debut in 2005, the year she turned six. Jamison is Jim's daughter by his third wife Jennifer Sloan, whom he married in 1998 and split from in 2021b when they both filed for divorce. As an adult, Jamison continued her acting career with the 2019 film The Last Summer, and since last year has been on six episodes of the long-running soap opera The Bold And The Beautiful as a hospital lab technician called April. She is also a singer-songwriter, and has relocated to the country music capital of Nashville, Tennessee to pursue her ambitions. However she was back in the Los Angeles area this week, playing the An Unforgettable Evening benefit for the Women's Cancer Research Fund, held at the ritzy Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills. Last year, her singing career allowed her to pay a tribute to the legacy of her late uncle - that summer, she played the Blues Brothers Con at the Old Joliet Prison in Illinois that was featured in the movie.
