3 days agoUSA UpdateComments Off on Wicklow parents learn how to tackle kids’ anxiety at a special new workshop
A new initiative based in Greystones and Delgany is tackling childhood anxiety with an educational workshop teaching tips and tools to tackle distress. Called It Takes A Village, up to 200 concerned mums and dads in the area to learn how to help their children who may be worrying in daily situations. At this collaborative […]
3 days agoUSA UpdateComments Off on Aisling Bea introduces her baby daughter to her famous pals
Aisling Bea’s daughter may only be two months old but she’s already made friends with a host of comedians, actors and DJ’s, thanks to her famous mum! The actress and comedian, 40, who announced she’d given birth in August with a comedic one-star ‘Trip advisor review of Pregnancy’ appears to have continued the review theme […]
3 days agoUSA UpdateComments Off on Gamer granny ‘hooked’ on Fortnite at 76 – and says it was ‘love at first sight’ after amassing 20k followers on Twitch
A GRANDMOTHER, who has amassed nearly 20,000 followers on Twitch, has become “hooked” on battle royale game Fortnite at the age of 76.
Cath Bowie, from Moray, Scotland, was introduced to Fortnite by her grandson Lewis, 24, when it was first launched seven years ago.
Cath Bowie, 76, started playing Fortnite when the game was first launched seven years ago[/caption]
Bowie now streams herself playing the fan-favourite multiplayer game, in which players or teams fight to be the last standing, on streaming platform Twitch[/caption]
She describes the moment as “love at first sight” to PA news agency, having already tried her hand at popular games like Mario Kart, Fifa and Minecraft.
Bowie now streams herself playing the fan-favourite multiplayer game, in which players or teams fight to be the last standing, on streaming platform Twitch.
Under the gamertag Grumpygran1948, Bowie records herself playing Fortnite and narrating her matches to thousands of watchers.
“I didn’t mean to go into gaming. It just obviously happened,” she said.
“I just went into my grandson’s bedroom, where he was playing with his PS4 and I saw Fortnite.
“I didn’t know, obviously, what it was at that time, he had to explain he was playing it, and people speak of love at first sight. Well, it truthfully was for me.”
What is Fortnite, anyway?
FORTNITE is an online video game played by up to 250 million people across the world.
In it, 100 players compete on their own or with a small group of pals to grab weapons, gather resources and build defences, before fighting it out to be the last man (or team) standing.
Matches take about 20 minutes, and you can drop into a new game within seconds of your previous one finishing.
It’s bright, it’s cartoony and it’s fiendishly compelling.
Skill is rewarded but luck also plays a huge role, meaning no two games are ever the same and everyone feels like they have a chance of winning.
Fortnite has also made its developer billions.
In Europe it’s rated 12+, meaning it’s suitable for those aged 12 and up.
The battle royale mode is free to play, but there is also a story-driven single player and co-op mode called Save The World that players have to pay for.
Pop culture crossover events are very common because of the game’s huge audience.
These involve players being able to buy themed outfits for the movie, TV show or brand, as well as getting some themed activities in-game to do too.
These might be new places to explore, new challenges to complete to win themed accessories, or new game modes that are loosely related to the theme of whatever is being crossed over with.
Bowie first started playing Fortnite on her grandson’s account “every opportunity” she got.
Although, the fascination was so strong that she eventually went out and bought her own PS4 gaming console, and set-up her own account.
She added: “I was absolutely fascinated with it, so that was one of the days that, you know, when I’m old I’ll reminisce about my Fortnite game. That’s one day I will never forget.”
While Fortnite used to be branded a ‘kids game’, it has earned the love of millions of adults since it launched in 2017.
The gamer granny often plays in a squad, with other players around the world, some of whom she has even made friends with.
“My community is absolutely fantastic. It really is constant chat and everybody being so friendly with each other. Apart from my husband, it’s my life,” she said.
“I’ve got folk that joined me that didn’t know each other and now they are playing together after I have finished my stream or before.
“The thing that I really like is, some folk have really very bad days in their life.
“Some folk are not very well, maybe have got some issues, and there is always somebody there to support them.”
The Twitch streamer has also become the brand face of Ikea’s new gaming furniture collection called Brannboll.
Bowie says she will reminisce about her gaming days when she eventually becomes too old to play – and has urged other mature gamers to “just go for it”.
“Forget about your age. Just go for it and enjoy yourself. Look at the enjoyment I’ve had,” she said.
Find out all the latest Fortnite news, stories and updates
3 days agoUSA UpdateComments Off on Tragic fate of Robin Samsoe: 12-year-old murdered by Dating Game Killer Rodney Alcala
ROBIN Samsoe was the final victim of serial killer Rodney Alcala, whose crime spree was brought to an end after he was arrested for Robin’s murder.
His murder rampage was dramatized in Netflix’s Woman of the Hour, though the film ends just before he kidnapped Robin.
Tragic Murder
Robin was just 12-years-old when she was murdered by the serial murderer known as The Dating Game Killer.
She was leaving her home in Huntingdon Beach to head to her ballet class on June 20, 1979, when she disappeared.
Tragically, her body was found 12 days later in the Los Angeles foothills and showed signs of a violent encounter.
Her friends told the police that a man had approached them on the beach and had offered to take pictures of them, which was Rodney Alcala’s calling card as a serial killer.
Then, he would kill his victim and keep their picture of his collection.
The police circulated a sketch of the man that Robin’s friends had seen, which was recognized as Rodney by his former parole officer.
A search of his mother, Anna Maria Gutierrez’s, home led to the discovery of a receipt for a storage container in Seattle, which held a pair of earrings belonging to a cold case murder victim named Charlotte Lee Lamb.
This was enough for the police to arrest Rodney in 1979 and the killer was sentenced to death just a year later.
However, the sentence was overturned and he lived out the rest of his days behind bars, before passing away in 2021.
Dating Game Killer
Rodney’s crime spree began in 1968, when he attacked a 16-year-old girl named Morgan Rowan.
Luckily, Morgan was rescued by her friends but Rodney struck again when he attacked an 8-year-old girl named Tali Shapiro just a month later.
Tali was saved when a passerby named Donald Haines spotted her getting into Rodney’s car, allowing the police to locate the killer’s home before he could kill Tali.
She was left in a coma for 32 days, because of the experience, as Rodney continued his crime spree under the name John Berger, sometimes “Burger”, in New York.
US GP organisers have been hit with a £416,000 fine by FIA chiefs[/caption]
It comes after around 200 fans managed to access the track while cars were still on it[/caption]
Charles Leclerc won the Austin race[/caption]
During the cool-down lap as drivers took their cars back to the pit lane there was a massive breach of safety.
Around 200 spectators in the grandstand were able to access the track and go straight onto the main straight.
An FIA statement explained that spectators had climbed a small fence before dropping two metres to the ground between the track debris fencing and the grandstand.
The fans had then gone under the debris fencing and climbed over a one-metre-tall trackside wall.
Fortunately, no injuries were reported.
Motorsport bosses deemed this to be a breach of the sporting code with a “failure to take reasonable measures thus resulting in an unsafe situation”.
Consequently, organisers were hit with a £416,000 (€500,000) fine and asked to deliver a plan to the FIA for how future incidents of a similar nature can be prevented.
However, because this was the first occurrence of its kind in the 12-year history of F1 at The Circuit Of The Americas, £292,000 (€350,000) of the fine was suspended.
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The condition of the suspension is that no similar incident takes place again before December 31 2026 at any FIA Championship event.
It was noted how actual plans in place for track incursions in Austin, Texas, had actually been “well implemented”, but that there had been a number of such incidents in recent times.
The statement added the money paid out would go towards motorsport safety.
The Australian Grand Prix was also hit by a fine for a fan invasion last year.
F1 2025 grid
Here are the confirmed driver line ups for the F1 2025 season so far:
3 days agoUSA UpdateComments Off on Inside Sir Chris Hoy’s family life, from wife Sarra supporting incredible cycling career to fathering two adorable kids
CHRIS HOY has revealed the sad news that his cancer is terminal and he has up to four years to live.
Brave Sir Chris, 48, told the Sunday Times: “As unnatural as it feels, this is nature.
“You know, we were all born and we all die, and this is just part of the process.
“You remind yourself, aren’t I lucky that there is medicine I can take that will fend this off for as long as possible.”
Back in February, Hoy announced he was being “treated for cancer” and claimed it was going well – though knew in reality it was just “management”.
The star had gone to the doctor in late September last year after feeling a strain in his shoulder.
A tumour was found, before a second scan discovered the primary cancer in his prostate.
It had metastasised to Sir Chris’s bones – including his shoulder, pelvis, ribs, and spine.
Speaking of the appointment in which he found out about the tumour, he told the Sunday Times he thought “I’m just getting a bit old for lifting heavy weights”.
Referred by his physiotherapist for a scan, he went to hospital alone, expecting to be told to lay off upper-body work in the gym for a few weeks.
“I’m really sorry,” the doctor told him. The nurse’s eyes filled with tears. “There’s a tumour in your shoulder.”
Heartbreakingly, Sir Chris’ wife Sarra was told she had incurable and degenerative MS just weeks before his cancer news – with the couple opting not to tell the kids about their mother’s illness.
But they decided to be honest about their dad’s diagnosis.
The Hoy family share a warm and happy existence, as SunSport reveals.
Strong family support network
Hoy is one of our greatest ever sports stars, achieving success on the global stage at the Olympics.
Not only has he won six gold medals and one silver, the Scot is an 11-time world champion.
With that comes sacrifices, gruelling training sessions and competitions that take you away from your loved ones.
He has continuously praised his wife of 14 years for being with him every step of the way.
At the 2012 Olympics in London, after winning gold, he said: “Sarra has been the one that has really got me through it all.”
In a TV interview watched by millions, just one year before he retired, the Olympian said: “It is fantastic when you step off the track and the final product is a gold medal.
“It looks like it has never been in doubt, which was not the case with the keirin. To see the performances, you think it must always be good but it is anything but.
“There were troughs and dips in the past four years and she has been there the whole way – never complained and never moaned or become frustrated with cycling because that has been put first over everything.
“When I saw her at the end, and was able to give her a big hug and a kiss, I realised we have done it and gone through it.”
Trauma with the birth of their children
Both of Hoy and Sarra’s children’s births have been complicated.
In 2014, son Callum was born 11 weeks premature and had to kept in hospital.
In an interview with the Yorkshire Post in 2021, Sarra said: “It was 24 hours before I even saw him.
“It was four days before I could hold him and it was like holding a frail baby bird. It was terrifying.
“You are separated from your baby by this huge plastic box and they are covered in wires and tubes.
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“They look so fragile you are worried that you will hurt them.”
In 2017, Sir Chris shared a loving photo of his son, aged two, following in his footsteps on a push bike on Instagram – racing around their garden.
Daughter Chloe was also born three weeks early.
Sarra said: “No one prepares you for having a preterm baby, it is knowing what you can contribute.
“I was encouraged to touch Callum, but you are scared because they look so fragile.”
‘Hardest thing I’ve ever done’
Hoy, a proud father to children Callum, 9, and Chloe, 6, made sure he put his kids first after his diagnosis, originally shielding them from the news.
However, he admitted living in worry they might learn about his condition from their peers at school who could say, “I saw your daddy on the news last night and he’s going to die.”
Over dinner, Hoy calmly explained his cancer to them. When asked if he was going to die by son Callum, he revealed his hopes “to be here for many, many years.”
“I never want to lie to them,’ he told the Sunday Times, “but there are certain things you don’t need to tell them straight away.”
In his upcoming memoir, All that Matters: My Toughest Race Yet the last chapter is dedicated to a message to his children.
Sir Chris revealed he found it traumatic to read out aloud when he was recording the audio version for the book.
He said: “[You’re] reading the words out loud, you have to connect emotionally.
“You’ve got to actually read in a way that means something. But the risk is getting too close to it – because you’re suddenly thinking, these are the words that my kids will listen to when I’m gone.
“And that is, without doubt, the hardest thing I’ve ever done.”
3 days agoUSA UpdateComments Off on Olympic champion Lindsey Vonn, 40, set to come out of retirement after five years and compete in World Cup
LINDSEY VONN has been tipped to make a stunning return from retirement.
The skier is a two-time World Champion and Winter Olympic gold medalist.
Lindsey Vonn is set to return to competitive skiiing[/caption]
She retired from competitive skiing back in 2019[/caption]
She is a previous World and Olympic champion[/caption]
She has dated golf star Tiger Woods[/caption]
Vonn, 40, is one of the sport’s most decorated athletes from her successful career.
She enjoyed a 19-year spell competing in the sport but was forced into retirement in February 2019 due to injury.
However, the American could be set for a spectacular return to the slopes, according to reports.
Swiss outlet Blick, has claimed that Vonn is keen to take part in the World Cup in Beaver Creek, Colorado, in December.
Vonn received an artificial knee joint back in April and is sure that she could return to competitive skiing.
It is believed that if her return to the World Cup races goes well, then she could return full-time.
Former German skier Felix Neureuther has claimed that Vonn is capable of making a comeback.
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He told the newspaper: “When I first heard the rumour of Lindsey’s comeback three days ago, I couldn’t imagine that you could ski really fast with an artificial knee joint.
“But looking at it from a distance, I say: If anyone can do the seemingly impossible, it is the one and only Lindsey Vonn.”
She won the Laureus Spirt of Sport Award in 2019[/caption]
Meanwhile, Austrian coach Sepp Brunner believes that Vonn is being “very ambitious”.
He added: “I was able to watch Lindsey Vonn train gliding curves in a very ambitious manner on the Rettenbach glacier.”
Vonn made her Olympic debut back in 2002 at the games in Salt Lake City.
She won her Olympic gold medal in the Downhill event eight years later in Vancouver, Canada.
This success came the year after she won the World Championships in the Downhill and Super-G events.
Between March 2013 and May 2015, she was in a relationship with golf star Tiger Woods.
She has since revealed that she found it “really hard” being with the golfing legend due to all the scrutiny they were under as a celebrity couple who were both at the peaks of their respective sports.
Lindsey Vonn's relationship with Tiger Woods
Tiger Woods and Lindsey Vonn dated each other for almost three years.
The pair confirmed their relationship in 2013 following months of speculation.
They dated until 2015, when their relationship broke up, which was reported to be due to their busy schedules.
However, Vonn later admitted that it was difficult with the spotlight constantly on the golf star.
In 2022, she insisted that they were still friends and that she was happy that he recovered from his car crash in February 2021.
3 days agoUSA UpdateComments Off on European Championship darts 2024: Full schedule, draw CONFIRMED, TV channel, stream FREE as Luke Littler back in action
THE European Championship darts is BACK this weekend with Luke Littler making his first appearance in the tournament.
The 17-year-old sensation as enjoyed a whirlwind 2024 so far, winning numerous titles, including the Premier League.
Luke Littler and Luke Humphries have been two of the best players in 2024[/caption]
Defending champions Peter Wright will be hoping to pick up his third title in Germany.
When is the European Championship 2024?
The European Championship darts 2024 will be held from October 24 to October 27.
The Westfalenhalle in Dortmund, Germany will play host.
What channel is it and can it be live streamed?
The European Championship darts 2024 will be shown live on ITV in the UK.
You can live stream all the action from the ITVX app, which is available for download onto your mobile or tablet device.
The action will begin at 6pm on Thursday, October 24.
Full draw/schedule
No 3 seed Luke Littler will take on Andrew Gilding in his first round match-up of the tournament while Luke Humphries takes on pal Nathan Aspinall.
Michael van Gerwen faces Gabriel Clemens while former world champion Rob Cross is up against James Wade.
The first round will take place across Thursday, October 24 and Friday, October 25, with the order of play still to be confirmed.
The second round will be held on Saturday, October 26.
And on Sunday, October 27, the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final will take place.
The first round is best of 11 legs, the second round and quarter-finals are best of 19 legs and the semis and final are best of 21 legs.
(1) Martin Schindler v (32) Dirk van Duijvenbode (16) Gerwyn Price v (17) Daryl Gurney (8) Ryan Searle v (25) Raymond van Barneveld (9) Ross Smith v (24) Luke Woodhouse (4) Dave Chisnall v (29) Michael Smith (13) Gian van Veen v (20) Ritchie Edhouse (5) Michael van Gerwen v (28) Gabriel Clemens (12) Stephen Bunting v (21) Gary Anderson (2) Luke Humphries v (31) Nathan Aspinall (15) Chris Dobey v (18) Jonny Clayton (7) Rob Cross v (26) James Wade (10) Peter Wright v (23) Jermaine Wattimena (3) Luke Littler v (30) Andrew Gilding (14) Ricardo Pietreczko v (19) Damon Heta (6) Josh Rock v (27) Mike De Decker (11) Danny Noppert v (22) Joe Cullen
3 days agoUSA UpdateComments Off on Lowe’s shopper threatens to walk out and abandon $457 item over checkout policy & ‘would spend more money to avoid it’
A LOWE’S shopper warned he almost abandoned an expensive item in-store over the chain’s checkout policy.
The customer was so aggrieved that he would spend more elsewhere so he wouldn’t encounter the machines.
In an X post, he lashed out at the retail chain and said that he doesn’t use the self-checkout.
The shopper, known only as Kevin, claimed he had told the retailer before.
He claimed he almost walked out on an item that cost $457.50 because of the chain’s self-checkout policy.
“It is not my responsibility,” he said.
The shopper then claimed he would spend $300 more on the exact same item from an alternative retailer just to avoid using self-checkout.
Kevin is not the only Lowe’s customer who has slammed the company over its apparent self-checkout policy.
The company has not announced that it has completely implemented self-checkout, but shoppers have pointed out that the machines are a feature in stores.
“Why has Lowe’s moved to a self-checkout-only model?” one asked on Reddit.
“I love self-checkout don’t get me wrong but there are lots of times for hardware you need a cashier. Now the self-checkout backs up while the one employee tries to hopscotch around.”
They labeled the policy a “failure” in customer service.
The question sparked a furious debate on the social media forum and some customers claimed to boycott the retailer in light of the self-checkout approach.
“I have officially quit shopping at Lowe’s,” a customer raged.
“This includes online as well as brick-and-mortar purchases. I will not check myself out.”
Shoppers said they wouldn’t use self-checkout at Lowe’s because the items they were buying were heavy.
The U.S. Sun has approached Lowe’s for comment.
Lowe’s is not the only chain that has come under fire over its use of self-checkout.