
Mixed year for French wine but champagne fizzes
PARIS French wine production in 2023 is expected to be near the average of the last five years,
2023-08-08 17:57

Your iPhone just got these 5 new features in iOS 17.1
Apple has dropped iOS 17.1, the first major update we've seen since iOS 17 in
2023-10-26 03:46

6 survival tips for parents of live-at-home university students
A fifth of new students plan to live at home while studying at university, according to new research. But while living with their parents will undoubtedly be cheaper, it could create problems if teenagers try to live a typical student lifestyle in their mum and dad’s house – so experts advise ground rules. A new UCL and Sutton Trust study of more than 11,000 Year 13 students in England, who have either applied or plan to apply to university, found 20% had decided to live at home during term time if they got into university (14% had not yet decided). Nearly a fifth (18%) said the main reason was because they couldn’t afford to live away from home, while 46% said they wanted to be near their families. Gill Hines, co-author of Later! A Guide to Parenting a Young Adult (Piatkus), says living at home while doing further education is an increasing trend. “There’s many, many more kids living at home when they go to university – universities are reporting a lot more students are local people. But there can be problems, particularly with the social side of things,” she says. To help life with an adult student living at home remain as harmonious as possible, Hines says it’s vital for students and parents to discuss exactly what the house rules are well before term starts. “Sit down with them and talk about how things are going to be once they start uni,” she advises. “You need to talk to them about everything their new life may entail, including overnight guests, finances, and them behaving like adults so you can treat them like adults.” Here, Hines outlines the issues that need to be addressed in families where teenage students choose to live at home… 1. Set rules for helping in the houseParents need to talk to their teenager about how they’re going to contribute to the running of the home, stresses Hines. “They need to be doing much, much more than they probably have been doing. If they want the rights of being a young adult, they have to do the work of a young adult. Rights and privileges are great, but there are responsibilities too.” It’s important to be clear about what’s expected of them, which should include a high level of self-care (you probably don’t want your house to smell like student digs). They may be expected to buy and make their own food, and if so, clear up after themselves, do their own laundry – or take a turn in doing the household laundry – take their turn to clean the bathroom, put the bins out, etc. “You could either have set chores, or say that every fourth week or whatever they do a particular chore, whatever seems fair. It all needs to be discussed with them,” she says, although “they won’t like it”. Adding: “We want them to have a nice life at university, but they do need to knuckle down. Hopefully they’ll be moving out [in the future], and they need to be able to look after themselves.”2. Discuss overnight guests Parents may already have had ‘the talk’ about girlfriends or boyfriends staying overnight and what’s acceptable, but if not, now is the time to do it, says Hines. “They’re more likely to have a partner or be in a sexual relationship at this age, and may be playing around because they’re at that stage of life. Parents need to have a chat with their child about it, and also with each other about how comfortable they are with overnight guests, and some rules need to be outlined.” She suggests that, if possible, it may help to move their bedroom closer to an outside door, so they can come and go with more freedom. “I know it’s not possible for everybody,” she notes, “but if you can change an upstairs room to one downstairs for them, it might help them to not have to trail right through the house with their guests, and they’ll have a sense of being more independent.” 3. Don’t treat them like a child Hines says it can be tempting for parents whose young people live at home to treat them like children, but treat them as adults and they’re more likely to behave like one. “They’re that bit older, and they no longer get the right to be a child who’s looked after 24/7,” she stresses. Getting themselves up, getting themselves to uni, and getting their work done on time is not the parents’ responsibility anymore. “You need to be clear about that,” she stresses. “The whole point of university is for them to grow up. It’s all down to them now – you’re no longer responsible for their day-to-day life – they are.” 4. Explain what you’ll do if they break your rules Hines points out that although parents of adult children don’t have many sanctions if their house rules aren’t followed (they’re too old to be grounded) be aware of what you pay for. “If you pay for their phone and their travel and food or anything else, they need to accept that not every parent is doing that for their child at the age of 18,” she says. “It’s not a right, it’s a privilege, and some of it can be taken away.” 5. Encourage them to get a job Hines points out that many students living away from home while at university have to get a part-time job to make ends meet, and says: “I would encourage them to get an income – as well as needing the money, it’s good experience.” 6. Discuss finances Although once teens are earning, some parents may expect a contribution to room and board, Hines says if they’re students with a part-time job it might not be a feasible request. “I don’t think they should be contributing to the financial running of the home – at that age, I think it’s unrealistic to expect them to – but I think they should be contributing in other ways, like helping around the house.”
2023-08-10 13:59

A Slew of Wacky Exchange Rates Are at Stake in Argentina’s Election
A mishmash of exchange rates for Argentina’s chaotic currency system are hanging in the balance as the nation
2023-11-18 03:57

Who are the UAP whistleblowers and what are they telling congress?
On July 26, 2023, three former military officials testified before a House Oversight subcommittee to
2023-08-03 02:46

Best burgers in London: Ranking the capital’s burger joints
Yes, the omnipresence of burgers in London is getting a little overbearing and yes, we've seen about every permutation of them by this point - but this does nothing to tarnish their inherent deliciousness, godamnit! Here are London's finest patties as we see it. 10. Electric Diner/Soho Kitchen and Bar Burger Very similar to the burger at Chicago’s Au Cheval, often rated among America’s best, the cheeseburger at Electric Diner (and Soho Kitchen and Bar) is a delightful assault on the senses. Go for a single and you get two patties; a double comes with three. The patties are thin enough to not be a belly bomb and are accompanied by a profusion of pickles, onions and a tangy, mustardy mayo. Joint Exposed brick, leather booths and a long bar with stools all feature, but don't overwhelm with kitsch at either venue. Both are bright and airy and basically quite pleasant to be in. Feels more like the Upper East Side than Uxbridge, which is a positive. 9. Elliot’s Burger Beer-braised onions, Comté cheese, buns that they bake in house and possibly the beefiest beef in any burger on this list all combine to grant Elliot’s its spot. The dill butter complements wonderfully and provides the classic ‘Big Mac’ taste that most of us grew up with. Joint Quite similar to the Electric/Soho Kitchen & Bar, but with the seats packed in and the constant hum reminding you you're in Borough Market. It can get a little noisy, but there's really no time for talking when you're in zen burger-eating mode anyway. 8. Byron Burger Long gone are the days of floury baps and just trying too hard. Nowadays Byron is selling burgers so good that they make the stock opinion of chain restaurants always being bad seem ridiculous. The basic menu is short, to-the-point and has possibly the best burger readily available to most Londoners. Rotating specials are always on point and the Smoky, which recently went full-time, should be your burger-of choice (those crispy onions!) Vital to the London burger ‘scene’. Joint Byrons vary hugely depending on the location, which is again refreshing for a chain. Go to Kensington and you'll see dadaist wall doodles and diner stalls, head to Angel and you'll find a peeling shack with patio furniture. 7. Shake Shack Burger Fine, it’s an American chain and fine, you probably can’t imagine why people would queue up for a burger - but trust us, Shake Shack brings one of the finest examples of truly American food available in London - an ode to the Steak ‘n’ Shake chain. Juicy beef is topped with bright American cheese, nestled in a steaming Martin’s Potato Roll. Get the SmokeShack, which is topped with smokey bacon and absurdly tangy chopped cherry peppers. Joint McDonald’s dressed up for an Ofsted inspection. A bit on the clinical inside, and out in Covent Garden piazza you’re met with the furious din of tourists and spontaneous opera, but it does the job and there's ample seating and an insanely high volume of helpful staff. 6. MeatLiquor/MeatMarket/MeatMission Burger The MeatWagon produced the burger that changed London’s dining scene and made sure hamburgers were a full-blown trend. That was in late 2009/early 2010 and since then things have changed a fair bit, including a few new restaurants (actual restaurants) in the MEAT family. For our money the quality probably goes MeatLiquor, MeatMission, MeatMarket, in that order, but there’s barely much to choose from when it comes to the eating. As more and more rivals have opened up, the MEAT empire has had to ensure quality hasn’t dropped and although they don’t top our list, they’re still producing hundreds of the best burgers you’ll find in London every single day. From the cheeseburger to the Dead Hippie via the Mushroom Swiss, there’s a lot still to like here. Joint Imagine a gothic cathedral with bootleggers and a cult as previous owners and you might have an idea of what MeatLiquor looks like on the inside. It is the most thrillingly decorated of the three restaurants in London and the best if you're there more for the booze than the burgers, with MeatMarket going for a more straight forward fast food vibe, and MeatMission housing stained-glass windows, photo booths and a circular bar with alcoholic slushie machines. 5. Dip & Flip Burger Aah, Dip & Flip! If you’ve never tried a burger and considered just how much better it would be with the addition of gravy, wait until you try one here. The burger to get is the eponymous Dip & Flip - a cheeseburger topped with roast beef and an abundance of gravy. Also not to be overlooked is the patty melt, but whichever way you go, a pot of gravy comes on the side. Make sure you dip. Joint Fun and functional, rather than cosy, you'll probably be in and out (no pun intended) of here within the hour. There's a mix of high and low tables, the former usually occupied by people fuelling up before heading out and the latter usually occupied by families with pushchairs. The music is good and staff are extremely personable. 4. Honest Burgers Burger When Honest Burgers launched a few years ago, they were bizarrely criticised for being a bit too, well, clean. The trend for ‘dirty’ food - particularly burgers - is quite transparent (although possibly on the wane) and Honest seemed to go against that. Their burgers are as straightforward as the name suggests. The beef is 100% ground chuck from The Ginger Pig, liberally seasoned with salt and pepper, as it should be, while the toppings and buns celebrate British produce, with mature Cheddar, Red Leicester and Stilton all available. Honest have since evolved the menu to include rotating specials and the peerless Tribute - their take on a classic American burger, with bacon, American cheese, burger sauce and pickles. It’s a showstopper. Joint Wilfully avoiding the Americana-theme of so many burger restaurants, Honest feels distinctly British. Its restaurants are simple but elegant, putting the emphasis on the burgers. 3. Flat Iron Burger If you’ve never read Hamburger America, George Motz’s indispensable ode to America’s favourite fast food, or seen the complementary documentary, then the name Dyer’s Burgers possibly won’t mean much to you. As Motz explains, Dyer’s is a Memphis institution that’s been around for over 100 years. Their USP? They deep fry their hamburgers. It may sound revolting and it’s definitely not great for you, but you probably won't care after you try a Flat Iron burger, available as a regularly occurring special. It goes without saying that the meat is great quality at this steak restaurant, but the frying gives it an incredible texture; it’s slightly crispy on the outside while also being tender and maintaining a loose structure. The bun is supplied by St John and does a wonderful job of holding everything together - including the outstanding bearnaise sauce and chopped shallots. Follow them on Twitter and go whenever it’s available next. Joint With its white-washed and exposed brick walls and circular metal lamps you feel a little like you're in an abattoir in Flat Iron, which is appropriate given they serve their steaks up on a slab with a mini meat cleaver. Downstairs is all dim candelabras and dark wood and worth heading down to if you can get a seat. 2. Patty & BunPatty & Bun is among the restaurants taking part Burger You know when you see a burger in a TV advert and think, ‘Hey, I’ve never had a burger that looks that good’? Well, Patty & Bun is serving up cheeseburgers that could have been produced in a studio. Or a burger laboratory. Every single aspect has been considered, tweaked and is produced to deliver an outstanding eating experience, every time. The bun, beef and toppings are all superlative - it’s the Real Madrid Galacticos of the hamburger world, in a little package. It could be said that the best (and worst) thing here is the intensity of eating a P&B burger. Whether it’s the Ari Gold, Smokey Robinson or Lambshank Redemption, you’re almost forced to drop your head and not come up for air until you’ve finished eating. You’ll stumble outside and wonder what just hit you. Joint Patty & Bun has a very DIY, pop-up feel inside, with the walls covered with chipboard and the art being scrawled on flattened cardboard boxes. It makes for a laid back atmosphere and the music is always great, avoiding AC/DC cliches and instead going down the Ginuwine, Erykah Badu, Ashanti route. 1. Tommi’s Burger Although it looks like a cartoon hamburger, possibly from a tray carried by J. Wellington Wimpy, Tommi’s is currently producing the best patties in London. The beef is supplied by the exceptional H G Walter, the bun is shiny and soft and the toppings are up to you. Although you can upgrade to slightly more lavish cuts of meat in the form of the steak burger, it’s the regular cheeseburger that gets the nod from us. In some ways it’s like something your dad would produce at a barbecue, if he spent endless summers out there in the rain honing it to perfection. Why is it above Patty & Bun? Essentially it’s the simplicity. Tommi’s is, in some ways, the antithesis of P&B and the former just edges it for us for London’s best burger. Joint Succeeds where many others in London fail by not trying too hard. It’s a burger, not a fillet steak and Tommi’s knows this, taping a few Sopranos posters to the walls, stringing up a couple of sets of fairy lights, writing the specials on some cardboard and calling it a day. There’s something very casual and humble about the restaurant, queues rarely reach the street and there isn’t a hashtag in sight. The most authentically American burger joint you’ll find in London (even if it is run by Icelanders). Honourable mentions The burgers which didn't quite make the grade or are too transient to be included. Bleecker St Burger and Burger Bear, for example, would have been in our top ten if they had more permanent locations. Bleecker St Burger Mother Flipper Lucky Chip Tongue 'N Cheek Burger Bear View Best burgers in London in a larger map Read More Best burgers in London: Where to eat top patties in the city The best outdoor restaurants, terraces and rooftop bars in London to book now Is bottomless prosecco going to be killed off by climate change? National Burger Day: your beefy questions answered Get 20% off basically all good London burgers Fancy a McLobster, McCurry or McBeer? Here's the burger porn you've been looking for
2023-09-07 17:25

When Is Amazon Prime Day 2023? Everything You Need To Know
Hear ye, hear ye! Get excited — Amazon just announced that its next installment of Prime Day will be from July 11-12. Oh, and you can start shopping early deals right now.
2023-06-22 00:56

TikTok goes full 'Big Brother'
If the NPC streamer trend taught us anything, it's that TikTok Live is a breeding
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Henry Cavill, Dua Lipa, and a very good cat star in action-packed 'Argylle' trailer
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Rare Turkish Surplus in Current Account Spells Relief But No Fix
Turkey’s current account moved into surplus for the first time in nearly two years, as a boom in
2023-08-11 17:54

Putin, Erdogan Talks End Without Reviving Ukraine Grain Deal
President Vladimir Putin said he wouldn’t revive a UN-backed deal that had eased global food prices by allowing
2023-09-04 23:46

Here's everything coming to Netflix this June
Summer is officially upon us, which means it's time to blast the A/C and binge-watch
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