The Independent's journalism is supported by our readers. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn commission.
The Saturday Miscellany: Heathers vs Mean Girls; Open Farm Sunday; Marc Chagall; Curiousa & Curiousa
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.CULTURE CLASH: HIGH-SCHOOL MOVIES
Heathers vs Mean Girls
By Holly Williams
Teen movies don't have to be dumb, as the 1989 black comedy Heathers proved. Winona Ryder's whip-smart Veronica was popular girl-turned-murderess; while the shoulder pads and perms may have dated, the teen-speak dialogue was sophisticated, cynical and still crackles today.
2004's Mean Girls had sharp brains behind it, too: Tina Fey penned the stinging script, which followed a maths-nerd who infiltrates the cool clique, The Plastics. It was the high-point of Lindsay Lohan's career, and a knowing take on the genre – although it does succumb to the urge for a redemptive ending.
Heathers isn't entirely immune from that either, but Winona does light a final fag off her boyfriend's suicide bomb explosion… so, pretty dark.
The Winner: Heathers
THE DELETED EMAILS OF...DAN BROWN (AS READ BY JOHN WALSH)
From: dandavinci@gmail.com
To: tomhanks@hcmanagement.com
Sent: 2 June 2013
Subject: discovery!!!!
Hollywood A-lister Tom Hanks you will not BELIEVE this. In my emails this morning, 2 June 2013, at 10.06am, was an AMAZING document saying "Ever thought how Manuka Honey could change your life? Try our new $14.95 jar." Don't you SEE? It's a sign, like an INVITATION to a secret society. Manuka is an anagram of Kumana, a hybrid of kumquat and banana – fruits sacred to the Knights Templars and their rivals the Rosicrucians, whose leader Magnus the Sturdy was murdered in 1495 (see the price?) by sinister knight, Olaf Baggyarse, whose son Hommlet impregnated a descendant of St Augustine, and their offspring, I have it on good AUTHORITY, was Shakespeare!
So in the movie, I want YOU to play…
Hang on. My wife thinks it's spam. But spam is an old Norse word meaning… Oh forget it. Dan
INSTANT ETHICS
By Ellen E Jones
Dear Ellen
Q. My favourite singer was arrested for assaulting his girlfriend. Do I boycott his new album?
A. Join the campaign to have artists' crimes put on product packaging, like health warnings on cigarettes. Buy it, if you still want to, but donate twice the cost of the album to Women's Aid.
@msellenejones
RECOMMENDED
By Charlie Cooper
Do
Find out where your food comes from as farms around the country welcome guests for Open Farm Sunday, 9 June, farmsunday.org
See
A new exhibition at Tate Liverpool showcases the works of Russian modernist master Marc Chagall, 8 June to 6 October, tate.org.uk
Buy
The lighting specialists Curiousa & Curiousa have lit up Harvey Nichols and the Hayward Gallery, but also do great pieces for the home. Curiousaandcuriousa.co.uk
INDY INDEX
By Charlie Cooper
- By the end of 2013 there will 6.84bn mobile phone subscriptions
- In Europe, there are 126 mobile phones to every 100 people
- In Africa, there are 63 mobile phones for every 100 people
- 92 per cent of adults in the UK own a mobile phone
- The first commercial mobile phone, the Motorola DynaTAC 8000X, released in 1984, weighed 800g and cost $3,995
Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days
New subscribers only. £8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled
Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days
New subscribers only. £8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled
- Apple’s iPhone 5, launched in 2012, weighs 112g and costs $199 (in the UK it costs £529)
- 50bn apps have now been downloaded from Apple’s app store
- Brandon Ashmore from Ohio, who downloaded the 50 billionth app, was awarded a $10,000 Apple gift card
- Between now and 2020, e-waste (phones, computers, etc) will amount to 12 million tonnes in the UK
- In that 12 million tonnes will be precious metals with an estimated value of £7bn
Sources:
ICT Facts and Figures 2013, International Telecoms Union
ICT Facts and Figures 2013, International Telecoms Union
Ofcom Facts and figures, Ofcom
ICT Facts and Figures 2013, International Telecoms Union
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments