John Lennon would have been 70 this month. What would the mercurial, tempestuous ex-Beatle have been doing in 2010? Touring the world with a reformed Beatles? Running a chip shop in Liverpool with Yoko Ono? Judging The X Factor? There's just no knowing.
But to commemorate his 70th birthday, a comprehensive set of reissues has been released, flooding the market anew with Lennon material. This campaign sees a titanic box-set anthology (the third Lennon box in the past decade), two new sets of hits compilations, and each studio album from 1970's post-Beatles Plastic Ono Band through to the 1980 "comeback", Double Fantasy. There's a new, remixed edition of the latter too, stripped of its rather gaudy 1980s production. And only purists and masochists will lament the absence of the three nearly unlistenable albums of "experimental" electronic scrabble and screech recorded with Ono in the late 1960s.
But the most remarkable aspect of Lennon's solo career is not the gradual decline in the quality of his music throughout the 1970s, but rather, the perpetually fascinating way in which he managed consistently to capture and distil his environment and preoccupations so vividly. The legacy is a stark reminder that Lennon was the first British pop musician to explore identity, insecurity and emotional anguish to any serious degree, through these fascinating snapshots into a life lived to the full, right up to the moment of his murder in December 1980.
At the start of the decade, reeling from the traumatic split of the Beatles, in therapy and trying to deal with decades of assorted traumas and psychological issues dating back to childhood, Lennon was in bad shape. The spare, cathartic Plastic Ono Band album issued in late 1970, recorded after months of controversial "primal scream" therapy, is still astonishing in its visceral impact. It sounds as if it was sent up from a padded cell. Nowhere in the history of pop music has there been such a devastating disavowal of fallen idols as in the climactic verses of God, in which Lennon angrily denounces former touchstones including Elvis Presley, John Kennedy, Bob Dylan and - in a final anguished yelp - "Beatles!" before asserting his belief only in himself and Ono - "and that's reality".
From this, 1971's Imagine softens and seduces with the most Beatle-like suite of songs of his canon. Much more than the ubiquitous title track, Imagine is a complete tour through the world of John Lennon. From his residual bitterness at Paul McCartney in How Do You Sleep to the gorgeous confessional of Jealous Guy, obsessive love in Oh Yoko and aching insecurity in How?, it remains his most fully rounded, substantial album, and signalled his farewell to Britain and, to a fair extent, his troubled past.
As chronicled in Michael Epstein's new documentary, LennnonNYC, fresh adventures awaited in New York. There he fell in with a group of radical activists and revitalised leftovers from the 1960s protest movements. His next release, the one-size-fits-all protest of 1972's Some Time in New York City flopped abysmally. Real life was intruding, his marriage to Ono was in danger of collapsing and for a man so steeped in the entertainment business, he realised there was a very real danger that the hits were drying up. The lacklustre 1973 set Mind Games serves as ample proof that, despite a rather painful attempt at Beatlish whimsy in the title track, Lennon was struggling personally, professionally and emotionally.
Separating from Ono and moving to Los Angeles heralded the start of a 15-month debauch. Again, the diary-like aspect of his music at the time, in 1974's Walls and Bridges and 1975's ghastly Rock'n'Roll suggests that the bottom had been reached, with dissipation in various forms, guns in the studio and sloppy, maudlin covers of old rock classics. It was time for Lennon to reassess his life, and after his reconciliation with Ono the following year, and the birth of their son Sean, he took probably the most radical career choice available: to withdraw entirely from the pop scene. Which is why the release in 1980 of Double Fantasy, a pleasant collection of gentle rock numbers, is all the more tragic in hindsight. Having finally achieved the peace and inner contentment that had eluded him throughout his adult life, he was assassinated mere weeks after this latest diary instalment was issued.
The loss felt by the world remains clear, as shown by the massive success of reissues and promotions such as this campaign, 30 years on. But the genuine artistry that underpins this erratic, occasionally brilliant, sometimes awful body of work is assurance that his work is as universal and relevant to listeners now as it ever was.
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
How to volunteer
The UAE volunteers campaign can be reached at www.volunteers.ae , or by calling 800-VOLAE (80086523), or emailing info@volunteers.ae.
SPECS
Engine: 4-litre V8 twin-turbo
Power: 630hp
Torque: 850Nm
Transmission: 8-speed Tiptronic automatic
Price: From Dh599,000
On sale: Now
The biog
Born: Kuwait in 1986
Family: She is the youngest of seven siblings
Time in the UAE: 10 years
Hobbies: audiobooks and fitness: she works out every day, enjoying kickboxing and basketball
Rankings
ATP: 1. Novak Djokovic (SRB) 10,955 pts; 2. Rafael Nadal (ESP) 8,320; 3. Alexander Zverev (GER) 6,475 ( 1); 5. Juan Martin Del Potro (ARG) 5,060 ( 1); 6. Kevin Anderson (RSA) 4,845 ( 1); 6. Roger Federer (SUI) 4,600 (-3); 7. Kei Nishikori (JPN) 4,110 ( 2); 8. Dominic Thiem (AUT) 3,960; 9. John Isner (USA) 3,155 ( 1); 10. Marin Cilic (CRO) 3,140 (-3)
WTA: 1. Naomi Osaka (JPN) 7,030 pts ( 3); 2. Petra Kvitova (CZE) 6,290 ( 4); 3. Simona Halep (ROM) 5,582 (-2); 4. Sloane Stephens (USA) 5,307 ( 1); 5. Karolina Pliskova (CZE) 5,100 ( 3); 6. Angelique Kerber (GER) 4,965 (-4); 7. Elina Svitolina (UKR) 4,940; 8. Kiki Bertens (NED) 4,430 ( 1); 9. Caroline Wozniacki (DEN) 3,566 (-6); 10. Aryna Sabalenka (BLR) 3,485 ( 1)
Tips for newlyweds to better manage finances
All couples are unique and have to create a financial blueprint that is most suitable for their relationship, says Vijay Valecha, chief investment officer at Century Financial. He offers his top five tips for couples to better manage their finances.
Discuss your assets and debts: When married, it’s important to understand each other’s personal financial situation. It’s necessary to know upfront what each party brings to the table, as debts and assets affect spending habits and joint loan qualifications. Discussing all aspects of their finances as a couple prevents anyone from being blindsided later.
Decide on the financial/saving goals: Spouses should independently list their top goals and share their lists with one another to shape a joint plan. Writing down clear goals will help them determine how much to save each month, how much to put aside for short-term goals, and how they will reach their long-term financial goals.
Set a budget: A budget can keep the couple be mindful of their income and expenses. With a monthly budget, couples will know exactly how much they can spend in a category each month, how much they have to work with and what spending areas need to be evaluated.
Decide who manages what: When it comes to handling finances, it’s a good idea to decide who manages what. For example, one person might take on the day-to-day bills, while the other tackles long-term investments and retirement plans.
Money date nights: Talking about money should be a healthy, ongoing conversation and couples should not wait for something to go wrong. They should set time aside every month to talk about future financial decisions and see the progress they’ve made together towards accomplishing their goals.
The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
Power: 579hp
Torque: 859Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh825,900
On sale: Now
Profile of Whizkey
Date founded: 04 November 2017
Founders: Abdulaziz AlBlooshi and Harsh Hirani
Based: Dubai, UAE
Number of employees: 10
Sector: AI, software
Cashflow: Dh2.5 Million
Funding stage: Series A
Test
Director: S Sashikanth
Cast: Nayanthara, Siddharth, Meera Jasmine, R Madhavan
Star rating: 2/5
Spec%20sheet
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The details
Colette
Director: Wash Westmoreland
Starring: Keira Knightley, Dominic West
Our take: 3/5
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
Price, base / as tested: Dh182,178
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Power: 350hp @ 7,400rpm
Torque: 374Nm @ 5,200rpm
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 10.5L / 100km
Bullet%20Train
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Types of bank fraud
1) Phishing
Fraudsters send an unsolicited email that appears to be from a financial institution or online retailer. The hoax email requests that you provide sensitive information, often by clicking on to a link leading to a fake website.
2) Smishing
The SMS equivalent of phishing. Fraudsters falsify the telephone number through “text spoofing,” so that it appears to be a genuine text from the bank.
3) Vishing
The telephone equivalent of phishing and smishing. Fraudsters may pose as bank staff, police or government officials. They may persuade the consumer to transfer money or divulge personal information.
4) SIM swap
Fraudsters duplicate the SIM of your mobile number without your knowledge or authorisation, allowing them to conduct financial transactions with your bank.
5) Identity theft
Someone illegally obtains your confidential information, through various ways, such as theft of your wallet, bank and utility bill statements, computer intrusion and social networks.
6) Prize scams
Fraudsters claiming to be authorised representatives from well-known organisations (such as Etisalat, du, Dubai Shopping Festival, Expo2020, Lulu Hypermarket etc) contact victims to tell them they have won a cash prize and request them to share confidential banking details to transfer the prize money.
NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
Skewed figures
In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458.
Dunbar
Edward St Aubyn
Hogarth
A MINECRAFT MOVIE
Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
Rating: 3/5
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
The Saga Continues
Wu-Tang Clan
(36 Chambers / Entertainment One)
How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
- Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
- Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
- Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
- Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
- Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
- The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
- Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269
*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year
Huroob Ezterari
Director: Ahmed Moussa
Starring: Ahmed El Sakka, Amir Karara, Ghada Adel and Moustafa Mohammed
Three stars
Emergency phone numbers in the UAE
Estijaba – 8001717 – number to call to request coronavirus testing
Ministry of Health and Prevention – 80011111
Dubai Health Authority – 800342 – The number to book a free video or voice consultation with a doctor or connect to a local health centre
Emirates airline – 600555555
Etihad Airways – 600555666
Ambulance – 998
Knowledge and Human Development Authority – 8005432 ext. 4 for Covid-19 queries
What is dialysis?
Dialysis is a way of cleaning your blood when your kidneys fail and can no longer do the job.
It gets rid of your body's wastes, extra salt and water, and helps to control your blood pressure. The main cause of kidney failure is diabetes and hypertension.
There are two kinds of dialysis — haemodialysis and peritoneal.
In haemodialysis, blood is pumped out of your body to an artificial kidney machine that filter your blood and returns it to your body by tubes.
In peritoneal dialysis, the inside lining of your own belly acts as a natural filter. Wastes are taken out by means of a cleansing fluid which is washed in and out of your belly in cycles.
It isn’t an option for everyone but if eligible, can be done at home by the patient or caregiver. This, as opposed to home haemodialysis, is covered by insurance in the UAE.
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
ARM%20IPO%20DETAILS
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