Latest news with #Walker
Scottish Sun
2 hours ago
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Iceland relaunches interest-free loans for customers to ease pressure during school holidays
The supermarket has already given out up to £12.5million in interest-free loans to 31,000 customers DEBT HELP Iceland relaunches interest-free loans for customers to ease pressure during school holidays Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) ICELAND boss Richard Walker wants to help families "relax and make memories" this summer and not worry about food bills. The frozen food chain has relaunched its interest-free loan scheme for the fourth year in a row. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 Mr Walker said: "The summer holidays should be a time for families to relax and make memories, not worry about how they're going to afford their next food shop." Credit: Arthur Edwards / The Sun Shoppers can borrow between £25 to £75 interest free in partnership with responsible lender Fair for You on Iceland's Food Club cards to online or in-store. Loans are repaid in £10 weekly instalments, and returning customers can borrow up to £100 once their first loan is repaid. Iceland said families will spend over £550million extra on food during the school holidays, with nearly three-quarters of parents facing higher costs because kids eat more at home. Extra snacks and drinks add further strain to budgets. Meanwhile, over a quarter of parents have turned to Buy Now, Pay Later schemes or loans to cover their grocery bills. Many even sell personal items to make ends meet. Mr Walker said: "The summer holidays should be a time for families to relax and make memories, not worry about how they're going to afford their next food shop. But the reality for millions is very different. "Our Food Club will be available this summer, offering real, practical support that helps people stock up their fridges and freezers without falling into debt traps." Applications for the Food Club are open now via Iceland has already given out up to £12.5million in interest-free loans to 31,000 customers. Four methods you can use to clear debt If you do borrow cash, be sure to factor in how you're going to repay it. Iceland has partnered with a dietitian to help families make the most of their £75 Food Club loan. They've created a budget-friendly shopping basket filled with healthy meals and snacks. For £75, a family of four can enjoy 126 balanced portions. For more information and to apply, visit: How to get free debt help There are several groups which can help you with your problem debts for free. Citizens Advice - 0800 144 8848 (England) / 0800 702 2020 (Wales) - 0800 144 8848 (England) / 0800 702 2020 (Wales) StepChange - 0800138 1111 - 0800138 1111 National Debtline - 0808 808 4000 - 0808 808 4000 Debt Advice Foundation - 0800 043 4050 You can also find information about Debt Management Plans (DMP) and Individual Voluntary Agreements (IVA) by visiting or Speak to one of these organisations - don't be tempted to use a claims management firm. They say they can write off lots of your debt in return for a large upfront fee. But there are other options where you don't need to pay. Meanwhile, inflation hit its highest level in nearly 18 months last month, driven by rising food prices. Rising inflation means prices are going up faster than they were the month before, pushing up grocery and household bills. Consumer Prices Index inflation rose to 3.6% in June, the highest since January 2024, according to the Office for National Statistics. Food prices have risen for the third month in a row, hitting their highest annual rate since February 2024. Inflation for food and non-alcoholic drinks increased to 4.5% in June, up slightly from 4.4% in May.
USA Today
5 hours ago
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Lena Dunham's 'Too Much' on Netflix and our obsession with sex talk
In Lena Dunham's new Netflix comedy, "Too Much," sex isn't treated in the way it is in the Victorian fantasies the show's protagonist Jessica (Megan Stalter) adores. There's no Mr. Darcy walking wistfully through the morning mist when she relocates her life from New York City to London following a break up. Instead, "Too Much" subverts Austenian propriety and makes sex the main catalyst. The show's characters seemingly discuss it constantly, everywhere without constraint: Jessica walks through the London fog on FaceTime with her mother Lois (Rita Wilson) detailing her sex life with her new British beau. Her coworkers talk about who'd they sleep with at a company party. Jessica's boss Jonno Ratigan (Richard E. Grant) and his wife Ann, played by Naomi Watts, joke about oral sex in front of his employees. Her sister's ex-husband Jameson (Andrew Rannells) laments his sexless life post-parenthood. Even her grandmother Lois (Rhea Perlman) makes a foot massage suggestive. Is it all a bit "Too Much"? It might be for you. Or maybe it's just right. Some people are more open to talking about sex and others are not. And while some may find Dunham's approach too extreme to be relatable, the show is a reminder it's best in your own life to gauge comfort and work from there. "Discomfort isn't necessarily a bad thing, especially when we're watching television or film," said Alicia M. Walker, associate professor of sociology at Missouri State University. And there's also the chance the show is meant to make us feel like it's too much, she said. When that happens, Walker said we need to ask ourselves as viewers, "What is this discomfort trying to say to me?" More: Lena Dunham says Taylor Swift is responsible for one of her favorite 'Too Much' moments Is it 'Too Much' sex? The conversations about sex in "Too Much" aren't that different from the details viewers may have seen on other shows like "Sex and The City" and, of course, Dunham's "Girls." It's the where those conversations happen and with whom that makes us react, Walker explained. And the messy lack of boundaries is likely a message about society now: We're highly connected online but disconnected in real life. "And the fact Jessica's a woman," Walker said. "That makes people squirm ... We still expect women to be private and polished and quiet about their desire and this show really challenges that." The degree of sexual oversharing shows that for people who don't have a solid support network, they look to the closest possible space to open up, Walker said. Take the queue and turn off your phone while watching "Too Much," Walker suggested, and focus on the reason why Dunham filled Jessica's world with highly individualized personalities who grapple so openly with their intimacy. This is what happens to us as innately social beings without social outlets. "What's happening in the show is a bigger commentary on our social lives in general," she said. "You have to search for [the meaning] between these moments of cringey self-disclosure." Review: Lena Dunham's 'Too Much' is actually just enough How to talk about sex with the people in your life For anyone looking to open up more about sex, Walker recommends finding people with whom you can be your true self. "It's something you have to really practice," Walker said. Jessica speaks out loud, recording videos with her inner thoughts to create a diary of sorts. It's not a bad tactic, Walker noted. "Practicing with yourself is a really important first step. Then look at your relationships and figure who might be a safe person."
USA Today
6 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Bears safety Jaquan Brisker's Packers trash talk game stronger than ever
The Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers rivalry has been renewed following Chicago's Week 18 win over Green Bay that snapped an 11-game losing streak for the Bears, new head coach Ben Johnson making it clear he loves to beat Packers head coach Matt LaFleur and quarterback Caleb Williams joining an anti-Packers chant. The Bears have been on the wrong side of the rivalry for the better part of two decades, but the tide appears to be turning following their impressive win over the Packers last January. Quarterback Caleb Williams led a game-winning drive that resulted in a Cairo Santos' game-winning field goal. During an appearance at Fanatics Fest back in June, Williams discussed why Packers fans "suck" and happily taunted how he's 1-0 at Lambeau Field. And it seems Packers offensive tackle Rasheed Walker didn't take too kindly to that remark. "They got lucky," Walker said on Good Morning Football. "We're gonna remember he said that." Then, in true Bears fashion, safety Jaquan Brisker had something to say about Walker's comments -- and it was akin to keep crying in your pillow. "Awwwww it'll be okay," Brisker wrote on X. "I have a nice Bear for y'all, so y'all can sleep tight at night! It's a gift from me." As for Walker's comments, it's actually the Packers who got lucky last season. The Bears (and Williams) should be 2-0 against Green Bay rather than 1-1, if not for a blocked Santos 46-yard field goal at Soldier Field in Week 11. Now, with Johnson leading the charge, it's safe to say that this Bears-Packers rivalry is finally back on level footing -- and Green Bay is no longer a lock to beat Chicago. Follow Bears Wire on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram
Yahoo
9 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
‘They Got Lucky' – NFC North Rival Questions Bears' Big Win
'They Got Lucky' – NFC North Rival Questions Bears' Big Win originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Last year's shocking Lambeau result still has tempers flaring ahead of another NFC North showdown. The NFC North rivalry between the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers has always been fierce, but last season delivered a shocker that still has fans talking. For the first time since 2015, Chicago walked out of Lambeau Field with a win, stunning the Packers 24–22 in Week 18. That result ended a 10-game skid to their biggest rival and snapped an 11-game road losing streak. Now, one Packers starter is questioning whether that victory was earned at all. Advertisement Packers offensive lineman Rasheed Walker didn't hold back during an appearance on Good Morning Football on the NFL's YouTube channel. GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN - APRIL 23: A general view of the Chicago Bears logo prior to the 2025 NFL Draft at Lambeau Field on April 23, 2025 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by) In a clip shared by Kyle Brandt, Walker was asked about Chicago's upset win and Caleb Williams' claim about being undefeated at Lambeau. His response was blunt and included an extra jab about Chicago missing the postseason: 'He got lucky, that's all I got to say. They got lucky. Make the playoffs and we are going to see them again this year.' Last year's game was anything but ordinary. Bears kicker Cairo Santos drilled a 51-yard field goal, as shown in a clip by Fox Sports NFL as time expired, capping a dramatic finish. The game also saw Packers quarterback Jordan Love exit in the third quarter with an elbow injury, a moment that likely shifted momentum. Advertisement GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN - NOVEMBER 28: Offensive tackle Rasheed Walker #63 of the Green Bay Packers stands on the sidelines during the national anthem prior to an NFL game against the Miami Dolphins at Lambeau Field on November 28, 2024 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by) Still, the Bears capitalized, ending years of frustration with a clutch performance in Green Bay. As the 2025 season approaches, there's no doubt this rivalry remains as intense as ever. Walker's comments add fuel to an already raging fire, setting the stage for a heated rematch with plenty on the line. Related: A New Face Is Emerging in the Bears' Linebacker Room Related: Bears Roll the Dice With 4 Bold Signings Before Camp This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 16, 2025, where it first appeared.
CNN
10 hours ago
- Entertainment
- CNN
The LA farmer's market where celebrities are as plentiful as the produce
Even if you have never been to Los Angeles, you may still harbor a subconscious awareness of Studio City Farmers Market. There, amongst the 85 organic produce vendors, did paparazzi first snap Jeremy Allen White back in 2023 straining against the weight of freshly-cut flowers the size of his torso — a sight that has since become a viral sensation. So memorable is that sighting of White that it was even raised during a recent appearance on 'The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.' 'You're always carrying giant bouquets of flowers everywhere you are, I love it. It's your thing,' said Fallon. 'I have this farmer's market near my house,' White said. 'It's on Sundays and I just love going there, I love having flowers in my house.' Apparently, so does every other celebrity within a 20 mile radius of the southeast San Fernando Valley, where Studio City Farmers Market — an LA institution that has been running since 1998, and White's farmers' market of choice — is located. So common are famous faces (Anne Hathaway, Jacob Elordi, Paris Hilton, Elle Fanning, Anwar Hadid and Barbara Palvin, to name a few) that Yelp reviews of the market often include an elated description of an A-lister sighting. On Getty alone, over 700 images are geotagged inside the space; while image platform Alamy features more than 4,000 photos shot there. Appetite for the market is growing, according to executive director of Studio City Chamber of Commerce, Esther Walker. Each week, she fields between five and ten vendor applications from growers and small businesses keen to sell at the storied location. First-time traders need not apply, Walker told CNN earlier this year, in light of the footfall of a few thousand that descend each week — which, for less experienced vendors, can be 'overwhelming.' 'Business is always nice for our vendors, but it is an extremely popular farmer's market,' she said. 'We're very crowded.' Despite White's recent endorsement of the market on prime-time TV, star power has always been part of Studio City's story. Walker began working for the Chamber of Commerce in 2007, just one year before the market's organizers made the decision to hire professional security. 'The reason was because we had so many issues with paparazzi,' she said. 'We had some really aggressive paparazzi that were following around actor parents with their kids and made them feel uncomfortable. We just felt like we needed to do something.' Currently, the market employs three security staff members, as well as three undercover security guards — all retired police officers. Paparazzi attitudes have evolved, however. 'I would say that the issues we had about 15 years ago don't really exist now,' said Walker. 'They tend to be a little more respectable, and they stay further away.' For Mike Arnoldi, an LA-based celebrity photographer, Studio City Farmers Market has been a certified hunting patch since it opened almost three decades ago. 'There's always been a steady flow of celebrities,' he said in a phone call. 'It just changes who's going to be there.' Back in the day, it was 'In Cold Blood' (1967) actor Robert Blake or James Franco, recalled Arnoldi. Now, it's White, Hilary Duff and 'Pretty Little Liars' actor Lucy Hale who he sees the most. Walker, who once swiftly recognized the market's A-lister clientele, such as Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, admitted that she was less familiar with the newer generation of stars who visit today. 'We get a lot of celebrities that my younger staff say, 'Oh my god, that's so-and-so from some show,'' she said. 'But I have no idea who they are.' Arnoldi — who counts himself one of the best celebrity spotters in the business — will start his day at the farmer's market around 9am and work straight through to 1pm, photographing on average around 20 different people. 'I shoot about 1,500 photos there, and then we narrow it down to about 40 that get sent out (to agencies like Getty and Backgrid).' His photos of White have been among the most lucrative, selling for around $400 each. Other celebrity shots can vary anywhere from a nickel to $20 — a far cry from the couple thousand dollars a photographer might receive for a single film image, before the advent of digital cameras. Any images that feature children, Arnoldi says, are not distributed. While it's not illegal, he considers profiting off the photos of children 'unethical' and urges his staff to do the same. Related vertical video With $10 million, you can buy a private island… or this handbag Not every celebrity wants their grocery run broadcast to the world, however. Lindsay Dix, who runs the bone broth stand ReBroth at Studio City with her business partner Mia Roe, says she has met most of her famous clients at the market — though several now order privately and have the soup delivered to their home. Not only is it more convenient, but it also prevents them from being 'out and chased around by the paparazzi,' she said. Dix added there's another reason for privacy, too: 'I used to do celebrity catering for 20 years, and a lot of people that claim to be vegan or vegetarian actually did eat meat.' Still, Arnoldi (who has made friends with many of the subjects of his images) has a handful of A-listers who feel differently. Some, he said, even call to give him a heads-up that they will be there on a particular day, bushels of lettuce in hand, hoping to be photographed.
