Whipping up a storm: how Robert Mapplethorpe shocked America

 Posted on June 24, 2024  |  13 minutes  |  2567 words  |  Barrett Giampaolo

PhotographyTwenty-five years since the photographer’s posthumous exhibition – which included images of gay S&M – became a point of debate, what have we learned? It might be ill-advised to reduce an artist’s life and work to a single observation, the magic key that unlocks everything, but in the case of Robert Mapplethorpe there is a pronounced duality – in the themes and subjects depicted in his “icy”, graphically stylized black-and-white photographs; in the dark-angel personae he cultivated; and in the controversies all of these facets wittingly or unwittingly sparked during his short lifetime. [Read More]

America's lost street kids: the scapegoating of troubled youths

 Posted on June 23, 2024  |  12 minutes  |  2527 words  |  Delta Gatti

San FranciscoIn an extract from her book Those Who Wander, Vivian Ho explores the brutal experiences that led to a tragedy In October 2015, three young drifters robbed and fatally shot Audrey Carey in the bushes of San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park and went on to kill Steve Carter for his car keys on a popular hiking trail, just over the Golden Gate Bridge. At their sentencing, 18 months later, Chief Deputy Public Defender David Brown stood to address the packed courtroom; his client, Morrison Haze Lampley, remained seated, his unruly mop of sandy-brown hair pulled back into a neat knot. [Read More]

Georgia girl, 12, killed by father after family court grants him custody | Georgia

 Posted on June 23, 2024  |  3 minutes  |  513 words  |  Barrett Giampaolo

Georgia This article is more than 1 year oldGeorgia girl, 12, killed by father after family court grants him custodyThis article is more than 1 year oldAngel Ahearn’s grandmother fought to gain custody of the girl, but a judge placed her with her father despite allegations of abuse A Tennessee grandmother who fought for custody of her late daughter’s child but lost out to the girl’s father was left grieving and angry after the man murdered her granddaughter. [Read More]

Jennifer Lawrence's naked photos: to click or not to click?

 Posted on June 23, 2024  |  10 minutes  |  2082 words  |  Merlyn Hunt

PrivacyFrom private photos to violent videos, the internet is full of degrading material intended to tempt viewers. Can we learn not to gawp? Roxane Gay: the Great Celebrity Naked Photo Leak is just beginning A few years ago, the late American film critic Roger Ebert illustrated an article about the pornographer Hugh Hefner with a nude photograph of Playboy magazine’s June 1975 Playmate of the Month. It went online on a Sunday, but it was only the following day, a work day, that a reader asked him if he’d thought about warning unsuspecting readers that the photo made the article NSFW – Not Safe For Work. [Read More]

Robin Williams: 'I was shameful, did stuff that caused disgust that's hard to recover from' | Ro

 Posted on June 23, 2024  |  12 minutes  |  2374 words  |  Delta Gatti

The G2 interviewRobin WilliamsInterviewRobin Williams: 'I was shameful, did stuff that caused disgust – that's hard to recover from'Decca AitkenheadHis new film, World's Greatest Dad, is a glorious return to form. But a mournful Robin Williams would rather talk about his battle with drugs and alcohol – and recovering from heart surgeryIn the normal order of things, an interview with a Hollywood actor observes the form of a transaction. The actor wants to promote their film, and ideally talk about little else – least of all anything of a personal nature. [Read More]

What will happen in the trial of Puffy Combs? | The Guardian

 Posted on June 23, 2024  |  16 minutes  |  3335 words  |  Brenda Moya

The trial of one-man entertainment empire Sean 'Puffy' Combs has finally begun. But race, rap, fame and the New York Police Department are also in the dock. Gary Younge on the case that will bitterly divide America - whatever the verdict Take one African-American star with crossover appeal, add mixed-race relationship and heat until steaming. When simmering, place in a city with a recent, well-publicised history of racist policing. Bring to the boil. [Read More]

Born sleeping: how I grieved for the much-loved daughter I lost before her birth

 Posted on June 22, 2024  |  6 minutes  |  1101 words  |  Merlyn Hunt

Health & wellbeingThe loss of a baby at almost six months pregnant brought special challenges, including the trauma of giving birth – and it didn’t help that the subject is so rarely discussed The children’s garden at Golders Green crematorium, in north London, is tucked away at the edge of a vast site but it signals its purpose the moment you walk in. If the stone toadstools - the sort you would find in a kids’ playground - and smiling teddy bears aren’t enough of a clue, the small plaques resting on the soil are the giveaway, their inscriptions as short as the lives they commemorate. [Read More]

His shirt got sucked off his body: passengers on the Alaska Airlines blowout

 Posted on June 22, 2024  |  6 minutes  |  1245 words  |  Delta Gatti

Passengers near a hole in the fuselage of the Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 Max 9 on Friday. Photograph: Kelly Bartlett/APPassengers near a hole in the fuselage of the Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 Max 9 on Friday. Photograph: Kelly Bartlett/APAir transportWhen part of a Boeing 737 Max 9’s fuselage left a gaping hole, passengers texted loved ones as flight crew responded calmly The loud “boom” was startling enough, and the roaring wind that immediately filled the airline cabin left Kelly Bartlett unnerved. [Read More]

How they compare: Manchester United 1998-99 and Manchester City 2022-23 | Soccer

 Posted on June 22, 2024  |  6 minutes  |  1109 words  |  Brenda Moya

SoccerAnalysisHow they compare: Manchester United 1998-99 and Manchester City 2022-23Jamie JacksonWe run the rule over United’s treble winners and the City team trying to emulate them on Saturday – and select a combined XI How the season unfoldedManchester United: Sir Alex Ferguson’s team were masters of harum-scarum wins in defining matches. To claim the Premier League on the final day Tottenham had to be defeated but after 24 minutes a Les Ferdinand goal stunned Old Trafford before United, in blazing sunshine, staged a memorable comeback via David Beckham and Andy Cole. [Read More]

Readers recommend: songs about stupidity results | Music

 Posted on June 22, 2024  |  4 minutes  |  709 words  |  Merlyn Hunt

Readers recommendMusicReaders recommend: songs about stupidity – resultsRR regular Marconius7 picks out a playlist from the recommendations on last week's threadIdiot! Knucklehead! Dimwit! Cabbage head! Dumbass! Goofus! Braindead! Airhead! Fool! Pinhead! Stupid jerk! Sucker! Stupid cow! Weirdo! Shit for brains! Nincompoop! Those are some of the epithets we like to hurl at people we regard as stupid. Each is also a song title submitted for this week's topic. But what do we mean by stupidity? [Read More]