Latest news with #Snoopy
West Australian
5 hours ago
- Entertainment
- West Australian
Ben Harvey: A cuddly WA invention will work wonders for worried kids
I never had a teddy bear as a child. Does that make me a survivor? I had a pretty impressive stuffed Snoopy but he was quite angular and not very soft, so ill-suited to snuggling. My brother Oliver had a stuffed monkey, which he imaginatively called Monkey. As was the style with toys and cartoons back in the day, monkey had a shirt but no pants. Our sister had several teddies, which Oliver and I considered (and still consider, if we're being honest) proof she was (and is) loved more than us. Georgina also had an array of Cabbage Patch dolls, which we took great delight in hanging from the ceiling fan in her bedroom. Can you imagine what would happen if a kid did that today? The Department of Child Protection would be onto the parents in a flash as part of a wide-ranging investigation into a hate crime. As you can see from the picture below, Monkey and Snoopy are still around. Snoop (that's his name, and yes I know that's only marginally more imaginative than Monkey) is still in mint condition because he lived at the foot of the bed. Monkey is a bit worse for wear because he spent most of his life wedged under Oliver's armpit. His neck was clearly a weak point because after a few years the stuffing started leaking, like a fluff-filled carotid artery had ruptured. We stitched him back together but then he looked like Frankenstein, hence the bandage. I don't know where the Cabbage Patch dolls ended up. They're probably stowed somewhere at Mum's house next to My Pretty Ponies, Alf dolls and other Hasbro relics from the 1980s. If someone had seen fit to give me a teddy in the 1970s when I was growing up (seriously, after re-reading that last sentence I really think I'm allowed to call myself a survivor*) then it would no doubt have been a pretty stock-standard bear-shaped, fabric-wrapped ball of stuffing. We had low expectations of a teddy bear back then so if it didn't poke my eye out like Snoopy's tail did then I would have been happy. Fast-forward a half a century or so and toy animals are very different beasts. They move, make noises and physically interact with their owners. Some are Bluetooth-enabled to ensure a constant life-like presence. They're furry companions that are almost like real animals. We had those kinds of things when I was young. We called them 'pets'. This could be repressed rage from my bear-deprived childhood speaking but I think teddy bears that try to be human are a complete waste of money which a parent could have used more wisely at Dan Murphy's. The bear in the picture is not a waste of money because it's not just a teddy; it's a cleverly disguised psychological tool. Louise Mansell invented Tedology (love that name!) after realising the humble teddy could be a delivery mechanism for mini psychology sessions when kids are a bit overwhelmed by life. In creating Tedology, Louise brought to bear (sorry) 15 years of experience as a clinical psychologist. The toy's functionality extends from the relatively simple (it's weighted differently, its crinkly ears make a pleasing sound when they are squeezed, and different-textured paws invite a child to soothe themselves by rubbing them) to advanced (each squeeze activates one of 10 guided audio activities designed to help a kid manage their feelings). The latest prototype (it's not on sale just yet) was unveiled in Perth on Friday at an event called Future by Design. Future by Design was created by one-time chief information officer for the WA Government, Marion Burchell, who wanted to 'empower individuals, communities, and organisations to actively shape the future through knowledge, innovation, and intentional collaboration'. I have no idea what any of that means but it sounds very exciting and I quite like the idea of designing the future instead of just passively waiting for it to happen. And if a fluffy, intelligent teddy bear is in that future alongside a garrotted monkey, a lynched Cabbage Patch Doll and uncomfortably rigid Snoopy, then all the better. *Plus I was ginger — surely that qualifies me for some kind of government compensation package?
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Largest U.S. Veterinary School Takes Legal Action to Protect Consumers and Their Pets
Lincoln Memorial University Calls for Expanded Competition in Veterinary Education HARROGATE, Tenn., June 18, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- An estimated 67% of United States households own a pet. That's nearly 87 million people. And along with a love for their pets, most owners share the desire for the best veterinary care possible for Snoopy, Max or Peaches. According to a new lawsuit filed by not-for-profit Lincoln Memorial University of Harrogate, TN, the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) - the national trade association representing more than 100,000 veterinarians - is hindering competition when it comes to educating new veterinarians, and that hurts America's beloved pets, large farm animals and the owners who care for them. To preserve our nation's free market system and defend access to the veterinary profession, Lincoln Memorial University, home of the Richard A. Gillespie College of Veterinary Medicine, has sued the AVMA to challenge its anticompetitive accreditation practices that illegally restrict the number of accredited schools of veterinary medicine, the output of veterinary students, and ultimately, the number of veterinarians in the United States. The suit, filed June 18, 2025 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee, asserts that the AVMA is improperly using its monopoly power, through its "Council on Education," to restrict the accreditation of new and existing veterinary schools by requiring them to meet arbitrary, unreasonable, and impossible-to-meet requirements entirely unrelated to the quality of education necessary to graduate day-one-ready veterinarians. "These insurmountable barriers to entry for new veterinary schools limit the number of available veterinary schools, which limits the number of graduates, which limits the veterinary options for pet owners in America," said Dr. Jason McConnell, President, Lincoln Memorial University. "This is the essence of an antitrust violation. One economically interested group controlling the market to the detriment of consumers." According to the lawsuit, the AVMA has "engaged in a conspiracy to control, manipulate, and reduce new competition in the face of an existing market shortage of veterinarians, resulting in (a) reduced competition for students among the 34 existing veterinary schools, and (b) reduced output of new veterinarians into the veterinary services market." (Page 1-2 of the complaint) Veterinarians across the United States serve family pets as well as large farm animals. Recently, the AVMA has started demanding that veterinary schools offer students research resources, facilities and faculty that they cannot afford and are unnecessary to their training as practicing veterinarians. The AVMA is fully cognizant of the fact that its research requirements simply cannot be met by innovative new schools, like Lincoln Memorial University, funded at the outset almost entirely by tuition alone. As a result of the AVMA's anticompetitive behavior, Lincoln Memorial University's College of Veterinary Medicine, has been placed on probationary accreditation and Lincoln Memorial's planned introduction of a second veterinary medicine campus in Orange Park, Florida, near Jacksonville, is facing impending accreditation denial. "For more than a decade, Lincoln Memorial University's Richard A. Gillespie College of Veterinary Medicine has successfully trained today's students to become some of the best veterinarians in America, and we will not allow an unjust gatekeeper to block competition and hinder their success," said McConnell. "Our yearly veterinary student class is 225 students, that's the largest in America. And our students graduate with some of the best test scores in the country and are highly sought after as veterinary professionals all over the United States precisely because of the excellent education, hands-on training and skills they receive at Lincoln Memorial University. We are standing up for our students, for the future of veterinary medicine, and for the core pillars of our country's free market economy." Lincoln Memorial University seeks no money damages from its lawsuit, only an injunction to stop the AVMA from continuing to implement its accreditation standards in an unreasonable and anticompetitive manner. In addition, Lincoln Memorial University requests that the Court implement a long-term solution to the problem created by the AVMA's anticompetitive behavior: the complete and total separation of the veterinary accrediting body (the AVMA Council on Education) from the economically self-interested trade association (the AVMA) in which it operates. These remedies are necessary to restore free and unrestricted competition in the markets affected by the AVMA's unlawful actions. At a time when veterinary care costs have risen more than 60% since 2014, Americans cannot afford to have a single trade association undermine the free market, limit consumer choice, and ultimately, increase the costs of veterinary care. If the AVMA believes in our country's free market system and desires the best for America's pet and large animal owners, the AVMA will agree to separate from the in-house accrediting council to demonstrate credibility and a commitment to upholding the highest standards in veterinary medical education for our country. Click here to see the complete legal filing. About Lincoln Memorial UniversityLincoln Memorial University (LMU) is a values-based learning community dedicated to providing educational experiences in liberal arts and professional studies. The LMU-Richard A. Gillespie College of Veterinary Medicine is located on LMU's main campus in Harrogate, Tennessee, with additional academic facilities in nearby Lee County, Virginia. LMU-CVM is an integral part of the University's medical programs and provides real-world, community-based education in a collaborative learning environment. Contact: Lillian Brandlillian@ View original content: SOURCE Lincoln Memorial University Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
AsiaOne
14-06-2025
- Entertainment
- AsiaOne
Fan of PEANUTS? Meet Snoopy and Friends when you spend the June holidays at Compass One, Lifestyle News
Always wished that you could meet Snoopy, Charlie Brown and Lucy from PEANUTS comics? This June, the famous trio will be making a special appearance at Compass One for Holiday Fun with Snoopy and Friends! Happening from June 12 to 22, fun-filled activities await PEANUTS fans of all ages. And if you are a big fan of the PEANUTS characters, don't miss out on exclusive merchandise like plushies and T-shirts that all celebrate the 75th anniversary of the comic. Plus, stand a chance to redeem even more limited-edition goodies when you shop at Compass One! Still wondering how to spend your June holidays? Why not plan a PEANUTS-themed day out for a day filled with unforgettable moments. Snooping around for holiday fun If you don't want your little ones to be cooped up at home, get them to Compass One to try their hands at the PEANUTS-themed activity stamp rally. From June 12 to 22, spend a minimum of $20 in a single receipt and you'll get an entry pass to the many PEANUTS-themed activities at the Level 2 Atrium. Put their memory to the test with the Flip and Find game where they will need to find and match illustrations. Or, see how steady they are with the Lift and Balance game where they'll have to guide the correct illustrations into their designated spaces with just a piece of string. Kids will also get a kick out of the Food Dash game, where they'll help Charlie Brown collect food shown on blue tiles while simultaneously avoiding red tiles. For older ones, the Maze Challenge will be more of a headscratcher, as they'll have to navigate a ball through a maze full of twists and turns by rotating a wheel. After all that fun and excitement, don't forget to collect your stamps after you complete each game! Plus, be among the first 200 daily to complete all activities to snag an exclusive Compass One x PEANUTS card holder! Get your hands on exclusive merchandise If you are waiting for the opportunity to get your hands on Snoopy-themed merchandise to rep your love for the world-famous beagle, this is your chance. Try creating your very own Snoopy trinkets at this custom keychain booth exclusive to Compass One, with prices starting from $15! Show up and show off your love for Snoopy and friends in style, with adult and kids T-shirts available from $20. Or add some character to your bedroom with bed linens ($39-$69) that are covered in the adorable beagle's prints. And if you know a loved one that's a huge fan of the series, why not gift them a gold-plated medallion of their favourite character, available at the pop-up from $17. The deals don't stop at the pop-up; fill up your cart with exclusive tenant deals and bring home a PEANUTS towel when you become the first 1,000 Compass One members to hit the minimum spend of $160 at the mall. In fact, sign up as a Compass One member today and spend $20 in a single receipt to earn 500 bonus points! Becoming a Compass One member is easy - simply download the Compass One Rewards app from the App Store or Google Play Store to sign up within the app! Meet-and-greet with PEANUTS characters For big fans of the series, this is your chance to snap pictures with the beloved characters. The world-famous beagle, Snoopy and his friends, Charlie Brown and Lucy will make a special appearance at the Level 2 Atrium for a meet-and-greet session. Catch them on June 14, 15, 21 and 22 at 1pm and 3pm to take some selfies and bring home an unforgettable memory. Visit Compass One for Holiday Fun with Snoopy and Friends This June holidays, let the fun begin and spend it with your favourite PEANUTS characters as they make an appearance at Compass One! Gather your PEANUTS-loving friends and come to Compass One for a day full of exciting and fun PEANUTS-themed activities where you can stock up on merchandise decked out in Snoopy prints, bring home extra goodies and even snap a picture with your beloved characters. This article is brought to you in partnership with Compass One.
Otago Daily Times
06-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Otago Daily Times
Fit that flatters
Isabella Miscisco is drawing new threads of confidence through her fashion designs, Seren Stevens writes. To say Isabella Miscisco's art form is woven around people seems an obvious statement at first glance. Her pieces speak of the model and their beauty first, and the clothing second. The lengths of thread she uses can represent the wearer's self-consciousness; the wool itself is a nod to the people she has met along the way. Miscisco's life is an array of avocations, ranging from cherry picking to the gym, to volunteering and working in student-led governance. And while undertaking full-time study at the University of Otago, she is also in the midst of creating her own brand of sustainable, people-focused fashion. The clothes she designs are glamorous, bold, and feminine. And the unique hook is that they are all made from locally sourced wool, which Miscisco handspins herself and then crochets. On an unusually warm Friday afternoon, Miscisco makes time for an interview about her fashion line, Cisco Bella. She arrives wearing a Snoopy T-shirt she thrifted the night before at a university market, now part of a very colour co-ordinated outfit. She has tortoiseshell glasses that accentuate her hazel eyes and curly hair, underneath which is a cheeky smile. When asked why she began her brand, the designer doesn't hesitate — it's clear she is passionate about her work, and knows exactly why she does it. "A huge reason why I started creating my own clothes was because I just did not fit Glassons, or Cotton On, or any of the easy-access stuff we find in New Zealand. Either my thighs were too big, or my arms were too wide". With an ease that comes only from unfeigned individuality, she explains that although people wouldn't assume she faces that issue, it was an overwhelming factor in how she felt about herself. "I didn't feel like I could be someone who complained about that sort of stuff, but I was having that issue with all clothes." So, she began making her own clothes or altering items herself. "It just brought so much more confidence back into my life. Instead of going to the gym so that I could fit into clothes, I was going to the gym so that I could just have a good day afterwards." An early creation was her high school ball dress, which she crocheted entirely by hand. From there, her creations evolved into a fashion line, through which she has won several awards in fashion shows, including emerging designer and glamour categories at Wool On. Her work has also been accepted into several national fashion shows, Āhua Fashion Week a favourite. Miscisco knows the issue of ill-fitting clothes isn't new. Based on her own experience, she knows the importance of feeling as though your clothes are designed for you, not for the checkbox figures that bulldoze fast fashion forwards. She explains that the small, medium and large of fast fashion can't realistically cater for the range of body types and combinations of proportions that real people have. Despite being so young, Miscisco was never taken in by the deceiftul myth the fast fashion industry has fabricated; that you should alter your body to fit the clothes, rather than alter the clothes to fit your body. The designer knows this issue can be addressed. To create a positive change, Miscisco has the idea of "fit and flatter" woven into all of her work. "Less in the sense of size inclusive, but confidence invoking." She has already seen how much impact it can make, and how removing the labels and numerical measurements can entirely change someone's self-confidence and body image. "Recently, I was working with a friend to try to figure out how I could create without measurements. We came up with using yarn and just shaping it around the person; it wasn't numbers." Her hazel eyes are full of passion as she recounts the meaningfulness of the moment, her tone becoming more animated. "And when we actually laid out the pieces and looked at the different lengths of everything, her mindset about herself just changed. There's certain parts of herself that she wasn't so confident about, or that she would be really embarrassed about, and when she saw them laid out like this and not in numbers it changed the way she thought about it. And it was quite cool to see a little thing like that." Miscisco was raised in Cromwell, where her community has been a vital part of her work. After being taught to knit by her grandma, Miscisco reached out to women within her community to further her skills. "What I'm realising now is that wool is providing an avenue for me to connect with people. Sometimes when the wool stuff's not working as well as I want it to, I think of the connections with people that I'm making through it." After attempting to teach herself to spin wool for more than a year, she finally asked a Cromwell local who runs a wool-dyeing business, she explains. With her help, gradually Miscisco learned the art. "There are many people on the way from Cromwell to Dunedin that I'll stop in to see and have a chat and learn the tools and tricks, but also talk about older generation stuff and younger generation stuff." She speaks warmly of a blind woman in Cromwell who helped her finesse wool spinning, who she now catches up with often to show her work. The close-knit community has also allowed Miscisco's work to transition naturally into a sustainable venture. Recently, her grandma went with her to a wool fibre festival where she bought locally sourced alpaca wool. The vendors each had information on their farm history and land, meaning you could trace the fibres back to their origins. "I could place it back to the exact alpaca. So, it's cool to think you know the thing that's making it, and the grass that's feeding it." However, the designer is well aware that "sustainability" means more than using locally sourced fibres. She focuses on creating pieces that are adaptable enough to be staples in a wardrobe even as fashions change. Additionally, she is constantly thinking about how handmade pieces can be affordable to "everyday Joes", especially in the context of personalised clothing. But, the other half of that balancing act is being careful not to exploit herself. "Lots of people who make their own stuff take away a lot of [the potential for] profit from themselves, or don't pay themselves, because they're just wanting to get their name out there. But that's not very sustainable." Over the next six months, Miscisco will spend her free time spinning, dyeing and crocheting wool for a new five-piece collection that will be showcased in December, in a KAM Models show in Auckland. Although the glittery and glamorous night is months away, Miscisco says the entire process is a highlight. "Applying for shows and finding out you can put your work in is a huge high. It's a cool dream and thread you get a chase." And yet, it's not the spotlight that motivates her. "Something I bond with my grandma about a lot is my fashion. So, I love telling her the next new thing, or show, that's a huge high in itself." Between the bright lights and excitement, there are a low points. Miscisco explains that balancing study, a part-time job and fashion is difficult in many ways; finding enough hours in the day is hard, but so is taking the risk of investing her time. "Societally, committing all to fashion isn't a safe route. So, I guess maybe the hardest part for me is maybe believing in myself that I can do it." However, despite being early in her career, Miscisco has already seen many opportunities come her way as a result of her dedication and passion. From winning awards against competitors who have been in the industry for years, to earning places in brand workshops and entrepreneur programmes, she is making her mark. In the future, she would "absolutely love" for Cisco Bella to expand and become a fulltime job. It's inspiring to see the seeds of change being sewn into the fashion industry, as the ubiquitous shroud of fast-fashion myth begins to fray. Young designers like Miscisco are reimagining how people can relate not only to fashion, but also to themselves. "If more little things like that keep happening," she says, "what will we see in the future?" Seren Stevens is a University of Otago humanities intern with The Weekend Mix.
AU Financial Review
05-06-2025
- Entertainment
- AU Financial Review
How they pulled off that wild ‘Mission: Impossible' plane stunt
Of the many storied stunts that Tom Cruise has performed over eight Mission: Impossible movies – scaling the world's tallest building in Dubai, riding a motorcycle off a Norwegian cliff, retrieving a stolen ledger from an underwater centrifuge – it seems unlikely that one of the most shock-and-awe set pieces in the series' nearly 30-year history would involve two old-timey biplanes that look like they should have Snoopy at the controls. And yet many viewers have emerged from the latest instalment of the franchise, Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, astonished by that scene: a 12½-minute sequence in which Cruise, as indefatigable special agent Ethan Hunt, hitches a ride on the undercarriage of a small brightly coloured aircraft, overtakes the pilot, then leaps onto another plane midair to fight the film's grinning villain (Esai Morales) – all while being bashed and batted by the elements like a human windsock.
