Costume & cultureFashionThe mystery of abandoned clothingClothes are abandoned to mark territory, to collaborate in creative acts, or to remind us that the wearer is absent. There is always "personal or cultural meaning" in a garment left behind.On a deserted beach in New Zealand, I encountered a pair of shoes abandoned in the sand. The shoes were neatly arranged, as if left temporally by a swimmer who expected to collect them on his return, and yet there was no-one else in sight (neither on the beach, nor in the sea).
The ObserverDiets and dietingCancer, diabetes, heart disease, dandruff… can these things really be cured, or at least prevented, by what we eat? The Guardian’s product and service reviews are independent and are in no way influenced by any advertiser or commercial initiative. We will earn a commission from the retailer if you buy something through an affiliate link. Learn more. As books that give answers go, there’s one classic that often gets overlooked – the dictionary.
Alys Fowler's gardening columnLife and stylePerennial kale needs little attention and will provide year-round leaves, for life
There it hung, on a rocky cliff face that was slowly crumbling into the fine shale of the grey beach below. Despite the exposed site and bare minimum of soil, this wild cabbage was thriving, resplendent even with its dusky purple midribs and thick, leathery leaves.
It is always thrilling to meet the ancestors of our common foods and the wild cabbage, Brassica oleracea, is just that.
Jay-Z This article is more than 15 years oldJay-Z uses Wonderwall to diss NoelThis article is more than 15 years oldIt's the feud that keeps on giving, as Jay-Z mocks Noel Gallagher's Glastonbury comments via the medium of rapJust when you thought there was no more mileage in the so-called feud between Jay-Z and Noel Gallagher, the rapper has to go and throw more coal on the fire. "That bloke from Oasis said I couldn't play guitar,"
Bad Bunny This article is more than 1 year oldMexico president asks Bad Bunny to give free concert after Ticketmaster debacleThis article is more than 1 year oldAndrés Manuel López Obrador calls on Puerto Rican reggaeton star to perform after fans turned away from sold-out show Mexico’s president, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, has called on Bad Bunny to give a free concert in the capital’s central Zócalo plaza after hundreds of fans were locked out of the Puerto Rican rapper’s sold-out show last weekend thanks to a Ticketmaster debacle.
Australia news This article is more than 11 years oldPeter Slipper case dismissed in sequel to Julia Gillard misogyny speechThis article is more than 11 years oldSexual harassment case against former Speaker of Australian parliament is thrown out by judge as abuse of processAn Australian judge has dismissed a sexual harassment case against Peter Slipper, the former Speaker of the Australian parliament who was forced to step down in October over the allegations.
The ObserverFriendshipHe makes you laugh, shares your woes and comes with no sexual strings attached. But why, wonders Caroline O’Donoghue, is the gay man/straight female friendship such a caricature in popular culture?
Ryan and I met working behind the tills in HMV Cork in the winter of 2009. We bonded instantly, and as we are both natural romantics, began the process of myth-making in our friendship while it was still slippery from birth.
OpinionImmigration and asylum This article is more than 10 months oldSuella Braverman’s small boats crackdown is performative cruelty at its worstThis article is more than 10 months oldEnver SolomonUK government plans to remove ‘illegals’ will be chaotic, costly and cause untold human misery
Here we go again. Just 20 months ago, the then home secretary stood up in parliament and declared new legislation that would crack down on Channel crossings. “Anyone who arrives illegally will be deemed inadmissible and either returned to the country they arrived from or a safe country” said Priti Patel.
Children's booksChildren's booksThe Falcon's Malteser by Anthony Horowitz – review‘A very interesting plot, which is reasonably easy to understand, including some very dramatic and adventurous twists and turns’
I have always enjoyed reading Anthony Horowitz books; therefore, I decided to read The Falcon’s Malteser, which is part of the Diamond Brothers series.
This spectacular book is about a Private Detective, Herbert, and his younger brother Nick. A dwarf came to their office and asked them to look after a box of Maltesers, ‘on their life’ and not to open it.
Monument to character of Darth Vader from “Star Wars”, which was rebuilt from statue of Soviet state founder Lenin is seen in Odessa. GuardianStar Wars: The Force Awakens This article is more than 8 years oldThe force awakens (in Ukraine): Darth Vader statue replaces Lenin monumentThis article is more than 8 years oldArtist converts Vladimir Lenin statue in Odessa into a monument to the Star Wars villain and it’s not the first time the George Lucas film has invaded politics