Go and see this great British comedy November 29, 2012 FILM SIGHTSEERS Cert 15 **** SITCOM STALWARTS Alice Lowe and Steve Oram star in Sightseers, the new comedy from feted indie director, Ben Wheatley. The pair play fledgling lovebirds Chris and Tina, who desert Tina’s vindictive mother Carol and set out on a road trip across England’s green and pleasant land in their treasured Abbey [...]
The Hunt is an art-house classic; Rise of The Guardians falls flat November 29, 2012 FILM THE HUNT Cert 15 By Charlie Lyne ***** FIFTEEN YEARS since his breakthrough film Festen garnered a host of international awards, The Hunt looks set to re-establish Danish director Thomas Vinterberg as an art house force to be reckoned with. Mads Mikkelson plays Lucas, a nursery school teacher in a small Danish village who [...]
E-currencies reach a major milestone November 28, 2012 FOR SOME, Bitcoin is an unregulated rogue currency for pornographers and drug dealers. For others, it is a victory for economic freedom, and a way of protecting business transactions from what they see as the inherent volatility of the banking system. But despite its contentiousness, the controversial e-currency is in rude health. Yesterday it reached [...]
Here are some other successful (and not so successful) internet currencies November 28, 2012 DigiCash started it off but went bust Founded in 1990 by David Chaum, DigiCash was one of the first electronic currencies but was went bust almost a decade later when Mark Twain bank – the only bank that supported the business – decided to withdraw its backing. Mint Chip focuses on small transactions MintChip is [...]
VALENTINO: The last emperor of couture November 28, 2012 For MANY, the closest you will ever get to a couture outfit are the images you see in magazines. That is, of course, if you’re not amongst the handful of women whose pockets are deep enough to meet the £50,000 starting price for a dress. But this year in particular, the upper echelon of fashion [...]
Functional but not the finished article November 27, 2012 FUNNY HOW the MPV, once the auto industry’s latest, cleverest idea, now seems a little old-fashioned. The compact SUV has pretty much superseded small MPVs because they have similar flexibility – for transporting mountain bikes, flat-pack furniture, dogs, as well as people – in a trendier 4×4 package. But it seems there’s still a place [...]
CAR TALK November 27, 2012 Dacia know how to give you value for money It doesn’t matter how wealthy you are, bargains are always an attractive proposition. At just £5,995, Dacia’s forthcoming entry-level Sandero Access model is the UK’s most affordable new car and can be had for as little as £69 per month. Meanwhile, the Dacia Duster SUV starts [...]
Minimalist running: is less really best? November 26, 2012 Minimalist SHOES are having quite the moment right now, helped, in part, by the success of the Vibram Five Finger shoe. The “barefoot” running shoe has appeared on the feet of high flyers, most notably actor Shailene Woodley, who ill advisedly sported a pair with a designer frock at this year’s Golden Globes. Their popularity, [...]
Find sanctuary from the Indian bustle November 25, 2012 ENSCONCED in a luxury yoga hotel in the Himalayas, or in a resort matrix like Goa, you might just be able to avoid the clanging, overwhelming reality of India as you go about your daily business. Not in the cities. No matter how luxurious your hotel, enclave, or colony (as certain leafy districts are known), [...]
Mr Hare ushers in a new era for luxury men’s footwear November 22, 2012 Standing IN Marc Hare’s much talked about new store on Stafford Street, Mayfair, it’s hard to fathom that his life was far from rosy this time four years ago. Back in 2008 the designer was going through a divorce, had broken his leg and lost his job: and all in the same week. But his [...]