The remarkable story of how British culture was transformed by émigré architects, filmmakers and writersThe Englishness of English Art&nbsp;sounds like something a parish-pump little Englander might like to bang on about, but it is in fact the title of an arresting study by the German Jewish émigré Nikolaus Pevsner. “Neither English-born nor&nbsp;English-bred,” as he put it in his foreword, he nevertheless pinned down with startling precision the qualities that characterised English art&nbsp;and architecture: a rather twee&nbsp;preference for cuteness and compromise, for frills and fripperies.This shouldn’t surprise us. Newcomers are typically better placed&nbsp;than natives when it comes to&nbsp;deciphering unwritten social codes.&nbsp;Unencumbered by textbook propaganda and excessive knowledge, the stranger’s-eye view very often has&nbsp;the merit of freshness, even originality. Bertolt Brecht dubbed this&nbsp;the Verfremdungseffekt, or alienation effect, from which Owen&nbsp;Hatherley takes his title. <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/books/2025/apr/30/the-alienation-effect-by-owen-hatherley-review-meet-the-brutalists">Continue reading...</a>

The remarkable story of how British culture was transformed by émigré architects, filmmakers and writers
The Englishness of English Art sounds like something a parish-pump little Englander might like to bang on about, but it is in fact the title of an arresting study by the German Jewish émigré Nikolaus Pevsner. “Neither English-born nor English-bred,” as he put it in his foreword, he nevertheless pinned down with startling precision the qualities that characterised English art and architecture: a rather twee preference for cuteness and compromise, for frills and fripperies.
This shouldn’t surprise us. Newcomers are typically better placed than natives when it comes to deciphering unwritten social codes. Unencumbered by textbook propaganda and excessive knowledge, the stranger’s-eye view very often has the merit of freshness, even originality. Bertolt Brecht dubbed this the Verfremdungseffekt, or alienation effect, from which Owen Hatherley takes his title.
 Continue reading...

Owen Hatherley's *The Alienation Effect* explores the profound influence of émigré architects, filmmakers, and writers—like Nikolaus Pevsner—on British culture, particularly in shaping Brutalist architecture and redefining English artistic identity. The book highlights how outsiders provided unique perspectives that transformed post-war Britain's aesthetic landscape.  

The Alienation Effect by Owen Hatherley review – meet the brutalists

Former PM Sir Tony Blair says limiting fossil fuels is "doomed to fail" and a new approach is needed.

Labour has reaffirmed its commitment to net-zero policies following criticism from former Prime Minister Sir Tony Blair, who argued that restricting fossil fuels is unsustainable and called for alternative strategies.  

Labour defends net-zero policies after Blair criticism

Sgt Martyn Blake was cleared of murder, and the Met Police argued he should face no further action.

A police officer, Sgt Martyn Blake, who was cleared of murder in the shooting of Chris Kaba, will now face a misconduct hearing despite the Metropolitan Police's argument against further action.  

Police officer cleared of murdering Chris Kaba to face misconduct hearing

For the first six months after arriving in the UK from Romania, Sophie never strayed from behind Rory Cellan-Jones’s sofa – but with patience and love she slowly emerged back into the worldWhen a trembling dog was placed in my arms in the early hours of a December Saturday I was not too concerned by her terrified state. After all, I knew about rescue dogs. Cabbage, our lovely collie cross who had died at the beginning of the year, had come from a Dogs Trust rescue centre 15 years earlier, and had also been pretty nervous at first. I was confident that Sophie, a one-year-old of indeterminate breed (but with a lot of German shepherd), brought to us on a van from Romania, would, like Cabbage, quickly settle down in her new home. How wrong I was.Our new dog seemed frightened of my wife and I, and our house, and desperately searched for the smallest space she could find, eventually settling behind a sofa. The next morning, I was keen to restart the early dog walks which had been a key feature of my exercise regime since I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2019. But&nbsp;Sophie was going&nbsp;nowhere. <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2025/apr/30/when-she-first-gave-me-her-paw-my-heart-melted-heres-what-ive-learned-about-taking-on-a-rescue-dog">Continue reading...</a>

For the first six months after arriving in the UK from Romania, Sophie never strayed from behind Rory Cellan-Jones’s sofa – but with patience and love she slowly emerged back into the world
When a trembling dog was placed in my arms in the early hours of a December Saturday I was not too concerned by her terrified state. After all, I knew about rescue dogs. Cabbage, our lovely collie cross who had died at the beginning of the year, had come from a Dogs Trust rescue centre 15 years earlier, and had also been pretty nervous at first. I was confident that Sophie, a one-year-old of indeterminate breed (but with a lot of German shepherd), brought to us on a van from Romania, would, like Cabbage, quickly settle down in her new home. How wrong I was.
Our new dog seemed frightened of my wife and I, and our house, and desperately searched for the smallest space she could find, eventually settling behind a sofa. The next morning, I was keen to restart the early dog walks which had been a key feature of my exercise regime since I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2019. But Sophie was going nowhere.
 Continue reading...

The article recounts Rory Cellan-Jones's heartfelt experience adopting Sophie, a timid rescue dog from Romania, who initially hid behind the sofa for months. Through patience and love, Sophie gradually gained confidence, illustrating the rewarding yet challenging journey of rescuing and rehabilitating a traumatized pet.  

‘When she first gave me her paw, my heart melted’: here’s what I’ve learned about taking on a rescue dog

Leftover cooked lamb is ideal for hard frying, stuffing into tacos and topping with salsaIf you’re anything like me, you love a big roast dinner on Sundays. A joint of meat is a magnificent offering, but it can sometimes be hard to carve cleanly, and you end up leaving chunks of meat and flavoursome fat on the bone. These scraps are perfect for turning into succulent, tasty tacos. Cut any meat and fat off the bone, then shred with two forks. I’ve added black beans to bulk out the meat; if you have less meat, or want to make a vegetarian version, just use an extra tin of beans. <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/food/2025/apr/30/how-to-turn-leftover-roast-lamb-inito-mouthwatering-quesadillas-recipe-zero-waste-cooking">Continue reading...</a>

Leftover cooked lamb is ideal for hard frying, stuffing into tacos and topping with salsa
If you’re anything like me, you love a big roast dinner on Sundays. A joint of meat is a magnificent offering, but it can sometimes be hard to carve cleanly, and you end up leaving chunks of meat and flavoursome fat on the bone. These scraps are perfect for turning into succulent, tasty tacos. Cut any meat and fat off the bone, then shred with two forks. I’ve added black beans to bulk out the meat; if you have less meat, or want to make a vegetarian version, just use an extra tin of beans.
 Continue reading...

This article provides a creative and practical recipe for transforming leftover roast lamb into delicious quesadillas, emphasizing reducing food waste while maximizing flavor. The recipe suggests shredding the lamb, combining it with black beans, and using it as a filling for tacos or quesadillas topped with salsa.  

How to turn leftover roast lamb inito mouthwatering quesadillas – recipe | Waste not

One of the mottos used by US President Donald Trump since he took office in January has been “promises made, promises kept”. The first 100 days of his second term has seen him brazenly wield his executive authority but many of his campaign pledges remain unfulfilled.

President Donald Trump commemorates his first 100 days of his second term by emphasizing his administration's adherence to campaign promises, though critics highlight unfulfilled pledges and his aggressive use of executive power.  

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The Alienation Effect by Owen Hatherley review – meet the brutalists

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