Friday, 25 July 2025

The Landlord

 


"The Landlord" is a short comedy film starring Will Ferrell, released on April 12, 2007. In this hilarious sketch, Ferrell plays a tenant who has a memorable and awkward encounter with his landlord. The film is known for its absurd humour and Ferrell’s signature over-the-top performance. It captures the often uncomfortable and bizarre dynamics that can happen between tenants and landlords, turning a common situation into a comedy highlight.

Will Ferrell is an American actor, comedian, writer, and producer best known for his energetic and often absurd comedic style. Rising to fame as a cast member on "Saturday Night Live" in the late 1990s, he became a household name with hits like "Anchorman," "Elf," and "Step Brothers." Ferrell’s unique blend of physical comedy and deadpan delivery has made him one of the most influential comedic actors of his generation. Beyond acting, he has co-founded the comedy website Funny or Die and continues to produce and star in projects that push the boundaries of humour.

Monday, 21 July 2025

The Trial of Tim Heidecker


The Trial of Tim Heidecker

The Trial of Tim Heidecker is not your typical courtroom drama. In fact, it is not a real trial at all. Instead, it’s an elaborate and clever piece of comedy crafted within the satirical universe of On Cinema at the Cinema, a web series starring Tim Heidecker and Gregg Turkington. What makes this “trial” stand out is how it blurs the line between fiction and reality, creating a captivating mock trial that feels surprisingly authentic.

At its core, the series presents Tim Heidecker as a man facing twenty counts of second-degree murder, linked to a fictional tragedy known as the Electric Sun 20 incident. The production mimics the style of a televised courtroom trial, complete with tense exchanges, witness testimonies, and dramatic legal maneuvers. But all of this unfolds as part of a larger comedic narrative rather than actual legal proceedings.

The Trial is deeply rooted in the world of On Cinema, a show that parodies film reviews but has expanded into a sprawling comedy universe. Over time, Tim and Gregg’s on-screen rivalry has evolved into a saga with spin-offs, live specials, and even mock political campaigns. This trial adds another layer to that story, giving fans an immersive experience that mixes satire, performance art, and dark humour.

What makes this mock trial particularly engaging is how committed everyone involved is to the bit. The acting is so convincing that viewers can easily forget it’s all fiction, which has helped the series gain a devoted cult following. Fans passionately debate the outcome and align themselves as “Timheads” or “Greggheads,” treating the mock drama with genuine enthusiasm.

The Trial of Tim Heidecker is a unique blend of comedy, theatre, and media satire that pushes the boundaries of traditional storytelling. It showcases how far a joke can go when the performers fully embrace the premise, making it a standout piece in the landscape of modern digital entertainment.

Sunday, 20 July 2025

COMPETITION: Win Darby & Joan: Series 2 on DVD

Darby & Joan:

Screen icons Greta Scacchi and Bryan Brown are back as Darby and Joan, once again hitting the open road for more crime-solving adventures in the heart of Australia.

And to celebrate we have a copy of the series 2 on DVD to give away!

Synopsis:
The second series picks up one year on and the friendship between Jack (Bryan Brown – Cocktail, Anyone but You) and Joan (Greta Scacchi – White Mischief, Bodies) is stronger than ever, however, the road ahead is still rocky. Jack is determined to clear his name after a scandal that ended his career is unearthed. Convinced that someone out there holds the key to what really happened on that fateful night, he sets off to investigate. Ever persistent and endlessly curious, Joan insists on joining the hunt but as their journey leads them through more stunning landscapes and puzzling cases, it becomes clear that someone is following their trail.  
 
As they travel through Queensland their quest becomes a race against time. Can the dynamic duo really uncover the truth after all these years, or will their search for answers only unearth more questions? 
 
From windswept coastlines to dusty desert towns, Darby and Joan delivers another dose of sun-drenched escapism with heartwarming chemistry, quirky mysteries and a deeper dive into the secrets that still haunt Jack. There’s never been a better time to hit the road with this unforgettable pair as the second series arrives just in time for some summer sleuthing. 
 
For irresistible leads, breathtaking scenery and an undercurrent of intrigue, strap in and get ready to hit the road again with Darby and Joan. There’s more charm, more twists and more heart as their journey continues… 

Pre-Order from https://amzn.to/4m3ruC7

Enter now for a chance to win.

What is the name of the character played by Bryan Brown?

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

Quick Terms and conditions
1. Closing date 04-08-25
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.

Tuesday, 15 July 2025

How a Technical Glitch Made Tracy Chapman a Star

 


In the summer of 1988, Wembley Stadium was packed for Nelson Mandela’s 70th birthday tribute concert, a star-studded event celebrating the South African leader’s life and struggle. One of the evening’s biggest draws was Stevie Wonder. But when his hard disk with all his pre-recorded tracks went missing, his set was suddenly impossible to perform. The audience waited. Backstage, organisers scrambled.

In that moment of chaos, someone made a bold call. Tracy Chapman, barely known beyond a handful of radio stations, had already played a short set earlier in the day. With time to fill and nerves running high, she was asked to go back out. Alone on stage, guitar in hand, she played “Fast Car”.

It was quiet at first. Then the crowd leaned in.

The simplicity of it, just her voice and that aching, restless melody, cut through everything. No big production. No lights or effects. Just a song that landed exactly where it needed to.

In the weeks that followed, the ripple effect was massive. Sales of her debut album exploded. A million copies were sold within a month. That one unexpected encore launched her into global recognition.

Stevie Wonder got his gear working eventually. But by then, Tracy Chapman had already arrived.

Friday, 11 July 2025

Why Are So Many Teachers Quitting? The Hidden Crisis in America’s Classrooms

 


More and more teachers are leaving the profession, not quietly and not because they’ve stopped caring. It’s the opposite. They’re walking away because they care too much and are being crushed by a system that keeps asking more while offering less.

One of the clearest signs something is broken? The number of high school students who can’t read. Not struggling with tough material or falling a little behind. We’re talking about teenagers who can’t read at even a basic level. Some can’t sound out simple words. Others are unable to understand a short paragraph.

And this isn’t rare. It’s not one school or one district. It’s happening across the country, in classrooms where teachers are being asked to do the impossible. Teach grade-level content to students who are reading years behind, all while managing behaviour, preparing students for standardised tests, and dealing with endless admin.

There’s no magic fix for this. Teachers know that. They’re creating extra materials, staying after hours, trying to bridge gaps that have been widening for years. Some of those gaps were there long before the pandemic. Others deepened during school closures and remote learning. Now, it’s the teachers who are being asked to patch everything up without any real support.

The heartbreak comes from watching kids who’ve already lost faith in school. Kids who act out, not because they don’t want to learn, but because they’ve been left behind for so long they’ve stopped trying. Teachers see it in their faces. The shame, the frustration, the disconnect.

And after a while, it becomes too much. Not because they don’t want to help, but because they no longer believe they can. They’re exhausted. Not just tired, but emotionally spent from carrying a burden that isn’t theirs alone. They’re tired of being blamed for poor results when the problems start long before those students walk into their rooms.

Some stay. They keep showing up, doing everything they can. But many others are saying they’ve had enough. Not because they don’t believe in the job, but because they no longer recognise it.

Monday, 7 July 2025

A Missed Refill, A Life Lost: When Insurance Isn’t Enough

 


Cole should have turned 24 this year. His parents should have been celebrating with him, maybe having cake, maybe just laughing about something small. Instead, they’re left marking the day with memories. Two years on, they’re still asking the same question: how did a young man with insurance end up dying from a preventable asthma attack?

Cole had a job. He had health coverage through his employer in Wisconsin. He also had asthma, a condition he managed with daily medication. That management relied on a specific inhaler, one he thought would be covered like it always had been.

But when he went to the pharmacy to get a refill, he was told it would now cost over $500. The preventive inhaler that had once cost around $67 had suddenly become out of reach. The reason? OptumRx, the pharmacy benefit manager, had removed it from their list of covered drugs. His doctor wasn’t notified. He wasn’t given a proper warning. According to his parents, no one offered a proper alternative.

He walked away with just an emergency inhaler, the kind meant for last-minute attacks, not day-to-day control. Days later, that inhaler was found empty next to his bed. He’d died of a severe asthma attack alone in his room.

The pharmaceutical company behind the decision says $5 copays were technically available, and that instructions were sent to Walgreens to contact Cole. Walgreens has expressed condolences but hasn’t shared details, citing privacy. His parents say none of that information ever reached their son.

They didn’t even know he was struggling with access until they got to the ICU and heard it from his roommate. There’d been no warning signs, no clue anything was wrong. Just one missing refill that changed everything.

Cole’s story now sits at the centre of a broader investigation, part of NBC’s “The Cost of Denial” series. It highlights a grim truth: insurance doesn’t always mean protection. When a covered drug is removed, even temporarily, it can leave patients stranded without real-time solutions. For Cole, there was no buffer. No one stepped in. No safety net caught him.

His parents have since had his tattoo inked onto their own wrists. It's a quiet reminder, one that carries a simple message: keep going. Remember, live. But underneath that is something heavier. A frustration that hasn’t faded, and a grief shaped not just by loss but by the knowledge that it didn’t have to happen.

This wasn’t about neglect or recklessness. It was about a young man doing the right thing, playing by the rules, only to be let down by a system that shifted the goalposts without telling him.

And that’s what stays with you. Not just the loss, but the silence around it.


Wednesday, 2 July 2025

Suspended Grammy CEO Claims Awards Ceremony Is ‘Rigged’

 

In early 2020, Deborah Dugan, the CEO of the Recording Academy, the organisation behind the Grammy Awards, shocked the music world with serious accusations. She publicly claimed that the Grammy Awards were rigged. Her statement questioned the fairness and transparency of one of the biggest nights in music.

Dugan’s concerns focused on the nomination process. She suggested that some artists and songs were being favoured because of personal connections or business relationships with people on the Academy’s board. This, she said, created a conflict of interest and undermined the integrity of the awards. The suggestion was that decisions were not always based purely on merit or talent but on who you knew.

Her time as CEO was short. She was appointed in August 2019 but by January 2020, just days before that year’s Grammy ceremony, she was put on administrative leave. The Recording Academy said the suspension was due to a formal allegation of misconduct. Dugan responded by filing a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, accusing the Academy of retaliation and discrimination. She insisted she was trying to bring much-needed change to the organisation, especially in making the awards process more open and inclusive.

The situation sparked a lot of discussion about how the Grammys are run behind the scenes. Many people praised Dugan for speaking out and shining a light on problems that had been whispered about for years. Critics of the Grammy Awards have often argued that the process lacks transparency and that some artists or genres are overlooked unfairly. Dugan’s claims brought those issues into the public eye.

Since then, the Recording Academy has made some changes. They removed secret committees that used to decide nominations and introduced measures to improve diversity and fairness.