Thursday, 5 June 2025

Behind the Adventure: The Story of Outdoor Boys and Their YouTube Farewell



Outdoor Boys is a family-focused YouTube channel that celebrates adventure, creativity and the joy of spending time in nature. Created by Luke Nichols, the channel features him and his three sons as they explore the outdoors together. From building shelters and fishing to crafting tools and going on epic camping trips, the videos are a mix of fun, hands-on learning and genuine family moments.

At its heart, Outdoor Boys is about curiosity and connection. Whether they’re navigating a river or setting up a campfire in the wilderness, the family shares a deep appreciation for the natural world and the experiences it offers. Their content is honest, practical and often playful, making it easy for viewers of all ages to enjoy. With a strong focus on family values and outdoor skills, the channel built a loyal audience that kept coming back for both inspiration and entertainment.

In 2025, Luke made the decision to step away from YouTube. After a period of rapid growth and growing public attention, he chose to prioritise his family’s privacy and well-being. The pressure of constant exposure and the demands of a massive online following led him to pause content creation in order to focus more fully on his children and to restore a sense of balance. While a few unfinished videos may still be released, the channel is no longer producing regular content.


Monday, 2 June 2025

Paul Joseph Watson - Paris Has Fallen

Paul Joseph Watson

Paul Joseph Watson is a British commentator and writer known for his engaging analysis on politics and culture. He gained recognition for his sharp insights and thought-provoking content across various digital platforms. Paul combines wit and a distinctive style to explore current events, often sparking discussion and debate. With a strong online presence, he connects with a wide audience interested in contemporary issues and commentary.

COMPETITION: Win The Chelsea Detective: Series 3 on DVD

The Chelsea Detective

Acorn Media International have announced The Chelsea Detective Series 3 and Series 1 to 3 Box Set is set to arrive 9th June on DVD and digital, following its run on U&Drama.

And to celebrate, we have a great competition for you and a chance to win a copy on DVD

Synopsis:
 
DI Max Arnold (Scarborough) and his strong-willed partner DS Layla Walsh (Emme) investigate crimes that happen amidst Chelsea’s glossy façade. With four new murderous mysteries in their case files, the dynamic duo must investigate the suspicious death of a former popstar, the discovery of an ex-soldier’s body in an allotment, the brutal murder of an antiques dealer and the peculiar case of a climate scientist found dead in a stolen car. The stakes are higher than ever, and the pair must use every trick up their sleeves to bring these killers to justice, even if that means ruffling some feathers along the way. 
 
But, while Max remains adept at solving crimes, things are far from straightforward in his personal life.. After all their ups and downs, Max and his estranged wife, Astrid (Marinca) attempt to revive their relationship with couples therapy. Will the pair be able to resolve their differences and rekindle their marriage?  

The third series sees the return of the fantastic cast, with Vanessa Emme (Bloodlands, Dublin Murders) as Max’s trusty partner DS Layla Walsh, alongside Sophie Stone (Shetland, Doctor Who), Lucy Phelps (Playing Nice, Grace), Peter Bankolé (Peaky Blinders, D.I. Ray), Anamaria Marinca (Fury, Deadline) and Frances Barber (Whitstable Pearl, Silk), the inimitable Alex Kingston (Doctor Who, ER) also guest stars. 

For a thrilling detective drama guaranteed to entertain, treat yourself to a scenic tour of London’s most affluent borough with The Chelsea Detective, just make sure to keep your wits about you as these streets harbour the darkest of secrets. 


Enter Below

Who plays DS Layla Walsh in The Chelsea Detective?

Send your name, address and of course the answer to competition365@outlook.com

Quick Terms and conditions
1. Closing date 16-06-25
2. No alternative prize is available
3. When the competition ends as indicated on this page, any and all entries received after this point will not count and emails blacklisted due to not checking this page first.
4. Winners will be chosen randomly and will be informed via email.
5. Entries that come directly from other websites will not be accepted.

Saturday, 31 May 2025

20 Years Since the First YouTube Video: 'Me at the Zoo'

 

Me at the Zoo

Roughly 20 years ago, on 23 April 2005, the very first video was uploaded to YouTube. Titled Me at the Zoo, the 18-second clip features YouTube co-founder Jawed Karim standing in front of elephants at the San Diego Zoo. Filmed by a friend, the video is simple, casual, and understated, but it marked the beginning of a platform that would transform digital culture.

In the clip, Karim briefly comments on the elephants’ “really, really long trunks,” adding that “that’s pretty much all there is to say.” While the content itself is unremarkable, its significance lies in what it represented. This was the moment YouTube was officially born.

Since then, YouTube has grown from a small video-sharing site to one of the world’s largest platforms for content, community, and careers. From tutorials and entertainment to political commentary and education, the site now sees over 500 hours of video uploaded every minute and boasts more than 2 billion logged-in users each month.

The original video, Me at the Zoo, is still live on the site today. It remains a nostalgic snapshot of internet history and a quiet reminder of how far the platform has come.

Tuesday, 27 May 2025

Haiti’s Dirt Cookies: A Harsh Reality of Hunger and Survival

Haiti’s Dirt Cookies
 

In Haiti, one of the poorest countries in the Western Hemisphere, a distressing symbol of survival persists. On the outskirts of Port-au-Prince and in many rural areas, dirt cookies – known locally as galettes de boue – are made from a mixture of clay, salt, and vegetable shortening. For many families, these are not a novelty or cultural tradition, but a desperate measure to calm hunger when food is unaffordable or unavailable.

What Are Dirt Cookies?

The clay used in these cookies is typically sourced from the central plateau of Haiti and sold in open-air markets. It is sun-dried, mixed with salt and shortening, then flattened into discs and left to dry on rooftops or pavements. Once hardened, the cookies resemble oversized crackers with a pale beige tone.

Though they contain no nutritional value, they are often eaten by children and pregnant women to reduce the feeling of emptiness in the stomach. Some believe the clay contains minerals, but health experts say the risks outweigh any potential benefit. Consumption of these cookies can lead to malnutrition, stomach pain, infections, and exposure to toxins, especially if the clay is contaminated.

The Roots of the Crisis

The widespread consumption of dirt cookies reflects the deep food insecurity in Haiti, a country facing compounding crises. Years of political instability, natural disasters, gang violence, and economic collapse have pushed millions into poverty. Inflation has made basic groceries inaccessible for many households, with prices for staples like rice, beans, and oil doubling or tripling in recent years.

The United Nations has consistently ranked Haiti as one of the most food-insecure nations in the world. According to the World Food Programme, nearly half the population faces severe hunger. In some neighbourhoods, even accessing clean drinking water or a regular meal is a challenge.

Why It Continues

Dirt cookies cost far less than proper food. In a country where many live on less than £2 a day, a handful of these cookies may be all a family can afford. Vendors continue to sell them because there is a steady demand, and many women who produce them rely on this trade to earn a small income.

For those eating them, it is not a choice made lightly. It is an act of survival in a system where safety nets are few and international aid, while present, cannot meet the scale of need.

Monday, 26 May 2025

COMPETITION: Win Under the Vines: Series 1 on DVD

Under the Vines: Series 1

Following its transmission on the BBC, Acorn Media International announced Under the Vines Series 1 is set for release on DVD and digital from 2 June.

And to celebrate, we have a great competition for you and a chance to win a copy on DVD

Synopsis:
Renowned New Zealand star Rebecca Gibney (Wanted, Packed to the Rafters, The Flying Doctors) and British acting favourite Charles Edwards (The Crown, The Terror, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power), are thrown together as two unlikely city slickers who inherit a failing vineyard in rural New Zealand.  
 
Sydney socialite Daisy Munroe (Gibney) hops on a plane to Peak View, New Zealand for a holiday at her recently deceased stepfather’s winery, which she intends to sell. Little does she know that the vineyard has a co-owner, grumpy, British lawyer, Louis Oakley (Edwards), who has recently been disbarred and is heading to the remote wine region in order to escape a spiralling series of unfortunate life events.  
 
Despite neither of them having done a hard day’s work in their lives and both despising each other on first meeting, the two must somehow make Oakley Winery successful so they can sell up, split the profits and get out. But nothing is ever as easy as it seems and the inexperienced duo face their own personal and financial crises, while fighting off the attention of a neighbouring vineyard who has their sights set on swindling the newcomers. 

Escape Under the Vines for a delightful TV romp through scenic sights with laughs a plenty and maybe a refreshing drink or two along the way. 


Enter Below

Who plays British lawyer, Louis Oakley in Under the Vines?

Send your name, address and of course the answer to competition365@outlook.com

Quick Terms and conditions
1. Closing date 09-06-25
2. No alternative prize is available
3. When the competition ends as indicated on this page, any and all entries received after this point will not count and emails blacklisted due to not checking this page first.
4. Winners will be chosen randomly and will be informed via email.
5. Entries that come directly from other websites will not be accepted.

COMPETITION: Win The Madame Blanc Mysteries: Series 4 on DVD

The Madame Blanc Mysteries

The imitable Sally Lindsay is back in The Madame Blanc Mysteries Series 4 for more awesome amateur sleuthing, French finds and delightful drama in the fabulous French town of Sainte Victoire.

And to celebrate, we have a great competition for you and a chance to win a copy of Series 4 on DVD.

Synopsis:
If you’re in need of some escapist charm, this much-loved series is guaranteed to please with its lovable cast, unusual antiques, murder, mystery, sunshine and laughter.  
 
Following its Channel 5 transmission, The Madame Blanc Mysteries Series 4 and Series 1 – 4 Box Set are set to arrive on DVD 2 June 2025, courtesy of Acorn Media International, just in time for some summer sleuthing. The Madame Blanc Mysteries Series 4 will also be available to download and keep weekly after each episode airs. 
 
We return to sunny Sainte Victoire with our favourite cosy crime fighting antiques dealer Jean White (Lindsay). The series three finale saw an end to Dom (Steve Edge – Benidorm, The Reluctant Landlord) and Jean’s will-they-won’t-they, delighting fans when Dom (Edge) finally told Jean how he felt. But the course of true love never did run smooth and the couple must now navigate their budding romance together, while solving a brand-new set of mysteries.. 
 
From a brutal murder in a magical Christmas market to the unravelling of a curse from an Egyptian God, the dynamic duo has a fresh slew of mysteries to solve and as always, end up in La Couronne with Uncle Patrick (Tony Robinson – Blackadder, Maid Marian and her Merry Men, Man Down) to enjoy a well-earned glass of wine.  
 
Series four sees the return of an impressive abundance of guest stars including co-writer Sue Vincent (Mount Pleasant, Bad Move) as mechanic Gloria Beaushaw, Robin Askwith (Confessions of a Window Cleaner, Bless This House) and Sue Holderness (Only Fools and Horses, The Green Green Grass) as Jeremy and Judith Lloyd James and Alex Gaumond (Derry Girls, Death in Paradise) as Chief of Police André Caron. 
 
Sainte Victoire also sees some new faces as Samantha Power (Ackley Bridge, Brassic), Charlie Condou (Coronation Street, Nathan Barley), Richard Blackwood (EastEnders, The Richard Blackwood Show), Danny Hatchard (Eastenders, Our Girl), Graeme Hawley (Finding Alice, Coronation Street), Lorraine Burroughs (Sweetpea, DCI Banks) and Edward MacLiam (Doctors, Holby City) guest star. 
  
Pack your sun cream and magnifying glass and take a sun-soaked trip to Sainte Victoire for a treasure trove of delightful mysteries infused with heart and humour in The Madame Blanc Mysteries Series 4. 


Enter Below

Who plays Uncle Patrick in The Madame Blanc Mysteries?

Send your name, address and of course the answer to competition365@outlook.com

Quick Terms and conditions
1. Closing date 09-06-25
2. No alternative prize is available
3. When the competition ends as indicated on this page, any and all entries received after this point will not count and emails blacklisted due to not checking this page first.
4. Winners will be chosen randomly and will be informed via email.
5. Entries that come directly from other websites will not be accepted.