Latest news with #TheaJacobs
The Sun
05-05-2025
- The Sun
Inside brutal Alcatraz prison which housed ‘worst of worst' & where escapees were shot dead amid Trump's plan to reopen
Thea Jacobs, Feature writer Published: Invalid Date, PERCHED on a rocky island a mile out to sea from San Francisco looms the former Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary. One of the world's most infamous prisons, it was built for the worst of the worst and housed some of America's most violent criminals until its closure in 1963. 9 9 9 Since then it has been a museum and tourist attraction, visited by 1.6million people every year. But yesterday, US President Donald Trump announced he wants to reopen the jail, whose brutal reputation saw it nicknamed Hellcatraz by inmates. On his Truth Social platform, he wrote: 'Rebuild, and open Alcatraz! For too long, America has been plagued by vicious, violent, and repeat criminal offenders, the dregs of society, who will never contribute anything other than misery and suffering.' Known as The Rock, Alcatraz has long captured the popular imagination. Shark-infested And it has been the setting for numerous films, including 1979's Escape From Alcatraz, starring Clint Eastwood. Proposing to reopen it plays into Trump's 'get tough' agenda on law and order. Surrounded by strong currents and freezing, shark-infested waters, the island of Alcatraz is a formidable location for a maximum- security prison. Escape is believed to be near impossible — and no one is ever known to have got out alive. But there were still 14 attempts, by 36 prisoners. Of those 36 convicts, 23 were caught alive, six shot during their escape, two drowned and five missing presumed drowned. I jetted off on ultimate lads' weekend…only to be arrested, tortured at 'Dubai Alcatraz' & threatened with death by firing squad In one impressive attempt, which formed the basis of the Clint Eastwood film, inmates Frank Morris and brothers Clarence and John Anglin chipped away at the vents in their cells to gain access to a disused service corridor. They then left papier-mâché heads in their beds to fool guards before taking to the water in an improvised raft. They were never found and the FBI concluded they had drowned, although conspiracy theorists believe they escaped to South America. Beginning as a fort in the 1850s, the island housed a military prison from 1910 until being taken over by the federal justice system in 1934. Inmates to have called it home include mob boss Al Capone, gangster George 'Machine Gun' Kelly and murderer Robert Stroud. Stroud, who was imprisoned from 1909 to his death in 1963, was nicknamed the 'Birdman of Alcatraz' due to rearing birds in the jail system before being moved to the prison island. You are stripped nude and pushed into the cell. Guards take your clothes and go over them minutely for what few grains of tobacco may have fallen into the cuffs or pockets Henri Young Alcatraz also hosted 155 staff and their families. While the isolation of the island made it the perfect location for a prison, it was also one of the largest issues for the buildings. Salt spray from the bay damaged metal bars and concrete blocks, meaning repairs were constantly required. In 1958, a project of major repairs started at an estimated cost of $5million, but three years later it was abandoned, with engineers dubbing it a lost cause. In fact, high running costs were one of the reasons for the prison's closure. A 1959 report found it was three times more expensive to run than the average American prison. 9 9 9 Authorities were spending $10 per prisoner per day, compared to $3 in most other prisons. And experts reckon it would take $235–370million upfront to make it functional again. In its days as a prison, the zero-privacy cells were just nine foot by five foot, and had been constructed away from outside walls to prevent escape attempts. Jail Block D had a row of six isolation cells dubbed 'the hole', which were bare except for a toilet. The Birdman of Alcatraz spent six years in a cell there. The block's dire conditions were described by Henri Young during his 1942 trial for murdering a fellow inmate during an escape attempt. He said: 'You are stripped nude and pushed into the cell. There is no soap. No tobacco. No toothbrush. The smell, well, you can describe it only by the word 'stink'. It is like stepping into a sewer. It is nauseating Henri Young 'Guards take your clothes and go over them minutely for what few grains of tobacco may have fallen into the cuffs or pockets. 'There is no soap. No tobacco. No toothbrush. The smell, well, you can describe it only by the word 'stink'. It is like stepping into a sewer. It is nauseating. 'After they have searched your clothing, they throw it at you. For bedding, you get two blankets, around five in the evening. You have no shoes, no bed, no mattress — nothing but the four damp walls and two blankets. The walls are painted black.' Even officials were disgusted by the conditions inside the prison. In 1939, US Attorney General Frank Murphy condemned the detention centre, saying: 'The whole institution is conducive to psychology that builds up a sinister ambitious attitude among prisoners.' Conversely though, some prisoners reported that the living conditions were much better than other prisons in the country, especially the food, and many volunteered to come to Alcatraz. Eerie cell blocks Since its closure and rebirth as a museum, the prison has also become a filming mecca. The eerie cell blocks have featured in at least 21 films, 18 TV shows and 38 video games. The first movie to be filmed there was 1967's Point Blank, which has its opening scenes on the island. The Enforcer (1976) and The Rock (1996) also used the penitentiary as a filming location. 9 9 9 And in 2019, JK Rowling revealed that Alcatraz was her inspiration for the wizarding prison Azkaban, which is both isolated and allegedly escape-proof. She said: 'Azkaban is a combination of Alcatraz and Abaddon, which is an old word for hell. 'I squeezed those words together. 'The idea of the rock in the middle of the ocean was directly inspired by a visit to Alcatraz.' And it appears the idea of a forbidding and tough lock-up is now offering similar inspiration to the President of the United States.
Scottish Sun
24-04-2025
- General
- Scottish Sun
I tried all the supermarket Pot Noodles – £1 winner looks VERY bland but is tasty, filling and impressive for the price
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) WE have been warned to stock up on Pot Noodles due to fears Russia could hit our power grid with attacks and cyber threats. Security expert Paul Beaver has called for people to buy in food 'like Pot Noodles', and make sure they have camping stoves on standby in case the worst happens. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 11 Thea Jacobs has tested all the supermarket Pot Noodles dupes Credit: Gary Stone But as the price of Pot Noodles doubled last year, is it worth opting to have one of the many dupes in your cupboard instead? Thea Jacobs rates them. Batchelors Super Noodles Chinese Salt & Pepper Chicken Sainsbury's, £1, 75g, 352 cals 11 Batchelors Super Noodles look bland but are 5/5 Credit: Gary Stone IT all looks very bland apart from some red flakes, and there's not much broth. read more on money BLOCK I tested cheap supermarket drain unblockers - a £2 buy beat Mr Muscle But it's actually tasty. There's a little kick of chilli, then the saltiness. This doesn't taste of chicken, more like salt and pepper chips, but there is no chemical after-taste either. It's filling – and I'm impressed for the price. Rating: 5/5 You've been making a pot noodle all wrong and this is why it's lacking flavour Newgate Express Speedy Noodle Chicken and Mushroom Lidl, 69p, 80g, 373 cals 11 Newgate's version looks and tastes cheap Credit: Gary Stone I CAN clearly see bits of mushroom and sweetcorn – but the noodles have been cut small, so don't drape off your fork. The sauce has gone quite thick, which makes it feel a bit like sludge and the only real taste is the soy sauce packet I've added. Not filling either. It's certainly cheap – and you can tell. Rating: 1/5 Naked Noodles Teriyaki Flavour Tesco, £1.25, 78g, 290 cals 11 Naked's offering has little flavour other than bland breadiness Credit: Gary Stone FOR teriyaki, it doesn't smell quite right and the noodles are much thicker and way too soft. I see bits of carrot and red pepper in the dark broth but there's little flavour other than bland breadiness. Not the cheapest and while it has a decent amount of calories, it's not worth the energy to eat it. Rating: 2/5 Just Essentials Chicken and Mushroom Flavour Cup Noodle Asda, 54p, 70g, 328 cals 11 Asda's noodles weren't bad but unmemorable Credit: Gary Stone THE sauce is as yellow as the bright packaging. It smells vaguely chicken-like and I can see some sad-looking sweetcorn. Rather bland, but you do feel you are getting a proper meal. That said, the noodles are still a bit crunchy, which isn't ideal. Not bad, but unmemorable. Rating: 2/5 Bramwells Express Snack Noodles Chicken & Mushroom Aldi, 69p, 90g, 417 cals 11 These look very similar to a Pot Noodle and are impressive for the price Credit: Gary Stone IN classic Aldi style, this looks very similar to a Pot Noodle but seems to have more sweetcorn and proper mushroom chunks. It's not bad, but the flavouring has a slight chemical after-taste. The noodles are cooked well and aren't chopped up. Given the price, I'm impressed. Rating: 4/5 Itsu Chick-n Ramen Rice Noodles Tesco, £1.85, 64g, 217 cals 11 Itsu's offering is pricey but lacklustre Credit: Gary Stone TASTES similar to the ramen I've had at an Itsu restaurant, which I'm not a fan of either. Not a lot of broth, and I can see little pools of oil in it. There are bits of spring onion, but no other veg. There is a faint chicken smell and a hint of chilli but the taste is lacklustre. It's also pricey. I'd leave it on the shelf. Rating: 3/5 Pot Noodle Chicken and Mushroom Sainsbury's, £1.10, 90g, 411 cals 11 The real thing isn't the best option for the price Credit: Gary Stone MY university-diet staple. It's as quick to make as I remember but smells less appetising than it used to. There's sweetcorn and some flaccid chunks that I hope are mushroom. The noodles are neither too hard or soft and the flavour is improved by adding the soy sauce. But not the best for the price. Rating: 3/5 Bramwells Express Soba Noodles Yakitori Flavour Aldi, £1.19, 90g, 286 cals 11 This Bramwells version smells better than it tastes Credit: Gary Stone ONCE mixed and left for a bit, it smells quite good. Then you are hit with a chemical undertone, which ruins it, and oil from the flavouring sitting on top is unappealing. All I can taste is onions. The broth is a mix of water and oil. It's not bad value and is low in calories, but I wouldn't buy this again. Rating: 2/5 Nissin Cup Noodles Instant Ramen Chicken Teriyaki Tesco, £1.80, 70g, 301 cals 11 The Nissin Cup Noodles taste good but are pricey Credit: Gary Stone CLAIMS to be the most popular cup noodle in Japan. I can see bits of carrot, peas and mushroom. It smells a lot like teriyaki but there's not a huge amount of broth, yet bursts into flavour the second you eat it. First sweet, then it melds into a tangy and salty finish. Good, but it is pricey. Rating: 3/5 Kabuto Noodles Chicken Ramen Sainsbury's, £1.65, 65g, 242 cals 11 Kabuto's version is lacklustre and a waste of money Credit: Gary Stone WHEN made up with boiling water, the broth looks a bit pale – and it doesn't taste great. There is a slight kick to the sauce, but that's all I can get. The noodles feel a bit overcooked and disintegrate in your mouth. I expected more. Lacklustre all round. Don't waste your money. Rating: 1/5 Unlock even more award-winning articles as The Sun launches brand new membership programme - Sun Club.
The Sun
24-04-2025
- General
- The Sun
I tried all the supermarket Pot Noodles – £1 winner looks VERY bland but is tasty, filling and impressive for the price
Thea Jacobs, Feature writer Published: Invalid Date, WE have been warned to stock up on Pot Noodles due to fears Russia could hit our power grid with attacks and cyber threats. Security expert Paul Beaver has called for people to buy in food 'like Pot Noodles ', and make sure they have camping stoves on standby in case the worst happens. But as the price of Pot Noodles doubled last year, is it worth opting to have one of the many dupes in your cupboard instead? Thea Jacobs rates them. Batchelors Super Noodles Chinese Salt & Pepper Chicken Sainsbury's, £1, 75g, 352 cals IT all looks very bland apart from some red flakes, and there's not much broth. But it's actually tasty. There's a little kick of chilli, then the saltiness. This doesn't taste of chicken, more like salt and pepper chips, but there is no chemical after-taste either. It's filling – and I'm impressed for the price. Rating: 5/5 You've been making a pot noodle all wrong and this is why it's lacking flavour Newgate Express Speedy Noodle Chicken and Mushroom Lidl, 69p, 80g, 373 cals I CAN clearly see bits of mushroom and sweetcorn – but the noodles have been cut small, so don't drape off your fork. The sauce has gone quite thick, which makes it feel a bit like sludge and the only real taste is the soy sauce packet I've added. Not filling either. It's certainly cheap – and you can tell. Rating: 1/5 Naked Noodles Teriyaki Flavour Tesco, £1.25, 78g, 290 cals FOR teriyaki, it doesn't smell quite right and the noodles are much thicker and way too soft. I see bits of carrot and red pepper in the dark broth but there's little flavour other than bland breadiness. Not the cheapest and while it has a decent amount of calories, it's not worth the energy to eat it. Rating: 2/5 Just Essentials Chicken and Mushroom Flavour Cup Noodle Asda, 54p, 70g, 328 cals THE sauce is as yellow as the bright packaging. It smells vaguely chicken-like and I can see some sad-looking sweetcorn. Rather bland, but you do feel you are getting a proper meal. That said, the noodles are still a bit crunchy, which isn't ideal. Not bad, but unmemorable. Rating: 2/5 Aldi, 69p, 90g, 417 cals IN classic Aldi style, this looks very similar to a Pot Noodle but seems to have more sweetcorn and proper mushroom chunks. It's not bad, but the flavouring has a slight chemical after-taste. The noodles are cooked well and aren't chopped up. Given the price, I'm impressed. Rating: 4/5 Itsu Chick-n Ramen Rice Noodles Tesco, £1.85, 64g, 217 cals TASTES similar to the ramen I've had at an Itsu restaurant, which I'm not a fan of either. Not a lot of broth, and I can see little pools of oil in it. There are bits of spring onion, but no other veg. There is a faint chicken smell and a hint of chilli but the taste is lacklustre. It's also pricey. I'd leave it on the shelf. Rating: 3/5 Pot Noodle Chicken and Mushroom Sainsbury's, £1.10, 90g, 411 cals MY university-diet staple. It's as quick to make as I remember but smells less appetising than it used to. There's sweetcorn and some flaccid chunks that I hope are mushroom. The noodles are neither too hard or soft and the flavour is improved by adding the soy sauce. But not the best for the price. Rating: 3/5 Bramwells Express Soba Noodles Yakitori Flavour Aldi, £1.19, 90g, 286 cals ONCE mixed and left for a bit, it smells quite good. Then you are hit with a chemical undertone, which ruins it, and oil from the flavouring sitting on top is unappealing. All I can taste is onions. The broth is a mix of water and oil. It's not bad value and is low in calories, but I wouldn't buy this again. Rating: 2/5 Nissin Cup Noodles Instant Ramen Chicken Teriyaki Tesco, £1.80, 70g, 301 cals CLAIMS to be the most popular cup noodle in Japan. I can see bits of carrot, peas and mushroom. It smells a lot like teriyaki but there's not a huge amount of broth, yet bursts into flavour the second you eat it. First sweet, then it melds into a tangy and salty finish. Good, but it is pricey. Rating: 3/5 Kabuto Noodles Chicken Ramen Sainsbury's, £1.65, 65g, 242 cals WHEN made up with boiling water, the broth looks a bit pale – and it doesn't taste great. There is a slight kick to the sauce, but that's all I can get. The noodles feel a bit overcooked and disintegrate in your mouth. I expected more. Lacklustre all round. Don't waste your money.
