
Celebrities are offering bizarre hang outs and services to raise money for the SAG-AFTRA strikes
Famous actors and writers have come together to raise funds for the Union Solidarity Coalition's new eBay auction to held crew members who have lost their healthcare due to SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes. Actos and writers such as Adam Scott, Sarah Silverman, Bob Odenkirk, Lena Dunham, Liz Feldman, Natasha Lyonne and John Lithgow, are offering unique experiences to the highest bidder in order to raise money for the Coalition. Some of the offers up for grabs include: Adam Scott walking your (LA-based) dog, dinner with Bob Odenkirk and David Cross, a mural in your home painted by Lena Dunham, a watercolour portrait of your dog by John Lithgow, and Natasha Lyone will help you solve The New York Times Crossword. Currently, the highest bid is a watercolour dog portrait by John Lithgow, which has 28 bids with the highest being $3,550. Other high bids include The Bear apron signed by the cast of the series for $1,525, Natasha Lyonne's crossword help for $2,132, and a Zoom with the cast of New Girl for $3,050. Over on social media, many couldn't believe what celebrities were offering and wished they had the funds to donate. Film and TV journalist Hannah Strong tweeted "never been sadder to be a poor person": Others shared what they would bid on if they had the money: Others praised those taking part to raise money for the crew that need it: The movie and television industry has been at a standstills since May when the WGA went on strike after the union failed to agree on a new contract with streamers and studios. In July, the SAG-AFTRA union joined writers on the picket line after it failed to negotiate a contract with streamers and studios. The Union Solidarity Coalition was founded by Hollywood writers/directors to help crew members who have lost their healthcare as a result of the strikes. Proceeds from the auction will benefit these crew members. The auctions will close on September 22. Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.
2023-09-14 17:54

Liverpool and Man Utd use international window to scout defensive prospects
Liverpool and Manchester United use the international break to scout Benfica's Antonio Silva and Atalanta's Giorgio Scalvini.
2023-09-14 17:24

Indonesia asks China's Geely to help build homegrown EV by 2026
JAKARTA Indonesia has asked Chinese carmaker Geely Automotive Holdings to help it build a homegrown electric car by
2023-09-14 17:20

China's central bank set to boost liquidity but keep policy rate steady
SHANGHAI China's central bank is expected to boost liquidity while keeping the borrowing cost steady when rolling over
2023-09-14 16:29

Kim Jong Un: The US wants to engage North Korea but doesn't know how
Can President Joe Biden bring the mercurial North Korean leader to the table?
2023-09-14 16:20

Tea enthusiasts stew over 60-second PG Tips teabag: ‘It’s a massive step backwards’
Tea enthusiasts are up in arms about a new teabag in the works from PG Tips, which promises to brew in just 60 seconds. While most tea fanatics reccommend brewing a cup of English breakfast tea for three to five minutes, the majority of people are too time-poor or impatient to let their teabag infuse for more than one minute. PG Tips hopes it has come up with a solution by investing £50m on a new a new blend and bag that infuses in just 60 seconds, a venture that has taken the company two years to develop. In its research, the PG Tips found that 85 per cent of tea drinkers leave the bag in to brew for under a minute, while a staggering 45 per cent bin their teabag after less than 30 seconds. Tea experts at the company have developed a new design that features a square bag with room for the leaves to infuse. It is designed to not fold over on itself, which is said to improve the overall taste of the tea. If the bag folds, the leaves don’t have room to expand and can leave the tea lacking flavour. The company claims its new blend has the “perfect particle size” for a quick cuppa. The new blend is grown at high altitudes in Kenya and Rwanda, which the brand claims provides a better taste. However, some tea fanatics are not convinced. Jane Pettigrew, course director at the UK Tea Academy toldThe Times that the time taken for brewing is a key part of a tea break ritual, and rapid teabags, like PG Tips’s new creation, are an abhorrence. “We relish the three or four minutes it takes to brew a real cup of tea and benefit from the zen-like spirit of tea – the slow brewing of tea creates a magical few minutes in a busy, sometimes frantic day,” Pettigrew told the publication. “I really abhor this kind of ‘innovation’. It is not progress but a massive retrograde step backwards in what tea should be.” More than 100 million cups of tea are made every day in Britain, and 97.5 per cent of those are brewed from a bag, rather than made from loose-leaf variety, according to the UK Tea and Infusions Association. PG Tips has also announced that its 60-second teabag will be using more sustainable packaging and designed to have no plastic wrapping. It is said to be fully recyclable, and 33 per cent more compact than the current box. Liam McNamara, PG Tips General Manager, UK and Ireland told MailOnline: “We are immensely proud of the fact that British tea drinkers already enjoy five billion cups of PG Tips every year. “However, our tea-drinking habits and tastes are evolving. “With that in mind, our expert tea blenders have spent two years developing a new and better blend that delivers high quality taste to tea lovers. Our new PG Tips blend means consumers can expect a quicker infusion and a brighter, smoother, more consistent cup of tea that is full of flavour every single time, even for the nation’s impatient tea drinkers.” Read More Cats given vegan diets ‘have better health outcomes’, study claims We tested Jamie Oliver’s new cookbook and here’s our honest review Three ways to pimp up university student classics London’s best new restaurants from the past 12 months ‘Fried rice syndrome’: Dietitians warn against eating food left at room temperature The dish that defines me: Michele Pascarella’s Neapolitan ragu
2023-09-14 15:55

Football legend Michael Owen: My four kids all have opinions about my fashion choices
If there ever was a day Michael Owen could relive, it would be the 2001 FA Cup final. With about three to four minutes left of the match between Liverpool and Arsenal, he sprinted past Lee Dixon and Tony Adams, and scored the winning goal for The Reds, proving that he has a strong left foot after all. “It was the exact moment my boyhood dreams came true,” says the 43-year-old, who also played for Real Madrid, Newcastle United, Manchester United, Stoke City, and England (89 times), before hanging up his boots in 2013. “When I was a kid, the FA Cup final was one of the biggest games of the year. But lifting up that trophy is just the icing on the cake. The true feeling is the 10-15 seconds after scoring a goal and realising that you are going to win. That’s the moment. “You have an adrenaline rush and lose touch of where you are. Listen, it’s been 10 years since I retired and I [still] can’t find anything in life that gives me the same feeling. Just incredible.” Owen, who is also a regular TV pundit, doesn’t miss playing football but has found other ways to maintain his “absolute love” for the game. “I watch games from a different perspective now, especially since doing a lot of TV work. I’m always thinking about how I can inform the viewer, share insight, and bring my own experience into it,” he says on a Zoom call from his home near Chester. “I’m also at the stage in my career and life where clothes are pretty important to me too. I’m not running around the pitch or promoting energy drinks and sportswear anymore. My work is now about being seen on TV and appearance is a big part of that. So it’s important to look presentable and feel good when you are about to go on air.” Owen’s personal style has always been pretty consistent: classic, smart, and gentlemanly. He stays within the boundaries of never wearing anything “really outlandishly mad” and doesn’t mind a bit of colour here or there. “But I’m a father of four and my children are at the age — my eldest is 20 now and my youngest is 13 — where they all have their own opinion about my fashion choices. I get more tips nowadays than I ever have before,” he says. So when England’s 11th most-capped player started working on his own menswear collection, called The Michael Owen Edit, with British high-street brand Peacocks, it was an eye-opening experience. The collection includes casual staple pieces, such as chinos, knitwear, a bomber jacket, smart polo shirts, and stretchy jeans, all in high-quality materials. “I wanted the collection to fit and suit me. It felt right straight away. I had no idea so much thought and attention to detail went into a simple t-shirt,” he says. “I’ve loved learning more about menswear and helping design pieces that I think represent my own style.” His love for learning new things is also what convinced the former professional footballer to buy a farm at 24 and turn it into Manor House Stables. It’s at the heart of Cheshire near Malpas, and the home of his business, The Michael Owen Racing Club, which allows racing fans to experience racehorse ownership with an annual membership of the club for £95. “I’ve been trading at Manor House for 20-odd years,” Owen says. “I started very small. We were trading 10-15 horses, now we’re trading 110-115 horses. It’s a big business — we employ 40-odd people — that has been really popular for people who want to get a piece of the action for a small amount of money. “It’s a sport I feel like I know, because there’s a relationship between football and racing. We are doing the same thing. We’re trying to train a body and mind to be fast and durable. It’s a competition. It’s people. It’s social. The whole thing is a massive passion of mine. “And [the] horses are magnificent animals that we treat with utmost care. We give them the best feed, the best care, the best everything, to be legends themselves in many ways.” Owen didn’t know what he had to do to lock in his status as an England football legend, but he’s really grateful. “You don’t get called that at the start of your career, and I was always so focused on the next thing and never really looked back. I don’t think about it much or know how to feel. “It’s why I have great admiration for footballers such as Marcus Rashford and Jude Bellingham, who are brilliant on and off the pitch. I know this path and how hard it is. You’re only taught to be a footballer, but because you are a footballer, you get pushed in front of hordes of press to speak on behalf of the nation. But even though our voices travel far and wide, we aren’t politicians. “It’s about being confident and learning fast; understanding what’s right and wrong. My family always teases me and says I think I’m bloody good at everything. If I was playing Tiger Woods in golf, I’d probably think I’m going to beat him even though I’ve got no chance. But I’m a bit delusional like that. And I guess football has driven that since I was a kid.” The Michael Owen Edit is available now online and across the 340 Peacocks stores nationwide. Peacocks offers fashion for all the family at affordable prices and great quality.
2023-09-14 15:54

Taiwan election: Foxconn founder Terry Gou picks Netflix actress as running mate
Presidential bet Terry Gou, the Foxconn founder, has selected Tammy Lai as his running mate.
2023-09-14 15:53

Nigeria elections: Websites use false stories to attract views and ads
The BBC Global Disinformation Team analysed three new websites in Nigeria and found many false stories.
2023-09-14 15:53

Sweden Inflation Eases More Than Expected as Rates Near Peak
Sweden’s core inflation rate declined more than expected in August, providing some relief to the country’s central bank
2023-09-14 15:52

John Lewis Expects to Stay in the Red for an Extra Two Years
John Lewis Partnership Plc has pushed back its plan to be profitable by two years as stubbornly high
2023-09-14 15:50

'They probably can’t afford us' Amanda Seyfried reveals what it would take for Mamma Mia 3 to happen
'Mamma Mia' star Amanda Seyfried believes the likelihood of a third film in the franchise could "come down to something stupid like whether or not Universal wants to pay the money", and the actress isn't sure the company could "afford" to give the stars what would be "fair".
2023-09-14 15:24