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We're all used to smelling those dastardly perfume samples in magazines, but now it looks like advertisers may have found an even more effective way to torment our senses while trying to trick us into buying something. McCain Foods is using a new kind of scent technology to promote a product called Ready Baked Jackets, which are frozen baked potatoes that are supposed to have the same smell and taste of oven-cooked potatoes but only take five minutes to cook. To advertise this revolution in potato-making, they've outfitted several bus shelters in U.K. cities with posters and a 3D fiberglass model of a Ready Baked Jacket potato. There's a button you can press that turns on a heating element which then releases the scent and fills the whole area with warmth and the delicious smell of baked potato. Naturally, the potato ad also dispenses coupons for the product. More »
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A UK government program that allows teenager girls to receive birth control implants at school without their parents' knowledge and consent has some parents outraged. Government officials say it's an effective way to combat teen pregnancy. Parents say it's a complete violation of their rights as parents. Morality-minded individuals are concerned that this will result in rampant sluttiness. Teenage girls sit sullenly texting and rolling their eyes. It's a tense situation all around. More »
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Okay, Patrick Stewart probably doesn't like being typecast as Star Trek: The Next Generation's captain. He's also an anti-domestic violence advocate, and he's written a powerful piece in the Guardian protesting budget cuts to women's shelters in the UK. He says, More »
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Somebody at the Snaresbrook crown court must be a shitty tipper, because the food in the cafeteria has allegedly been contaminated with urine. Traces of it were apparently found in soup, salad, and even sandwiches, which customers had complained "smelled a bit off." Since only legal officers eat in the cafeteria, the errant pee-er probably has a vendetta against a judge or lawyer. Police are investigating; thankfully, the cafeteria is now closed. More »
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A former plumber was arrested for throwing her glass at a man's face after he hit on her in a bar. But a judge gave her a lenient sentence, ruling that she lost control because of prior sexual harassment at work. Are we seeing the birth of a new kind of defense? More »
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In a statement that reads like parody but is apparently real, a Christian group claims that UK supermarket chain Tesco's recent sales slump is actually the Almighty's answer to their prayers. More »
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A sex education CD-ROM designed for 9 to 11-year-old schoolchildren is getting some flack from government officials after it was discovered that the presentation contains realistic, computer generated and cartoon fucking. Sorry — "lovemaking." More »
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Are you eating right now? If so, please stop before continuing to read. A UK mother of six has been credited with saving her own life after hacking up what turned out to be a fucking tumor. Holy shit. More »
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A recent survey found that one third of married couples splitting up in the UK last year mention Facebook as a costar in their divorces. Facebook: is there anything it can't help fuck up? More »
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In a move that is sure to go down in adorable bear history, the BBC has named a female panda named Sweetie one of its female Faces of the Year. 2011 was either lacking severely in girlchievements or a banner year for lady pandas. So what was Sweetie's glorious achievement that elevated her, a bear, over that of all female humans who did stuff? More »
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British TV regulators are ruining psychic readings by decreeing that TV psychics may no longer actually predict anything. And there are separate rules about crystal balls. More »
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Too often, well-meaning campaigns to prevent sexual assault end up putting the onus of rape prevention on the victims— don't wear sexy clothes, don't walk in bad neighborhoods, don't drink too much, don't get raped. But in the UK, authorities are taking a novel approach to preventing sexual assault this holiday season: by telling rapists not to rape people. More »
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A UK toy store has eliminated its girls' and boys' toys sections, instead grouping toys by category. A blogger has claimed this decision as a victory, but the store says it's just responding to customer confusion. More »
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A 34-year-old English woman will be spending Christmas in jail after her request for bail was denied. She was originally thrown in the clink after she let out a racist (and apparently drunken) rant during a train ride, yelling about how immigrants should just go back to their own countries — naturally, the episode went viral on YouTube. She's been receiving death threats, and white supremacist groups are rallying to support their barely coherent hero. Meanwhile, here in the US, we call that sort of talk a "Republican Presidential Debate" with nary a batted eyelash and everyone just watches whatever else is on TV instead. Things sure are nutty across the pond. More »
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Shameless harlots of Britain can rest easily this holiday season: a British women's health agency is giving away free emergency contraception on Christmas and New Year's Day. Now, thanks to the efforts of the BPAS, any and all pregnancy related "12 Days of Christmas" parody songs can start with "On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me a convenient and free dose of Plan B" rather than "On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me a tragic unplanned pregnancy." Progress! More »
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A British woman is in a coma after collapsing while dying her hair with L'Oreal Preference hair dye. Doctors think she's experiencing a severe allergic reaction to a chemical in the dye. More »
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Larry the Downing Street cat has been criticized recently for his failure to tackle a mouse who appeared at a state dinner. However, the Prime Minister's spokesman says the cat will not resign: "Larry brings a lot of pleasure to a lot of people." One of those people is apparently our president — the Prime Minister said that although upon his arrival in February, Larry was "'not very keen on men,' he had made an exception in May when he was happy to be stroked by US President Barack Obama." More »
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You might have noticed British celebrities and politicians sporting red flower pins over the past few days — even Julian Assange wore one. Allow us to explain what they're all about. More »
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In one British County, teachers apparently have some pretty unhelpful responses to bullying. Some allegedly told victims to try "acting less gay." More »
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A new book written by a former servant of the British royal family reveals that the line to the throne is fraught with secrecy, painfully rigid decorum, and sort of adorable nuttiness. We should have been tipped off to this by their taste in hats. More »
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Christmas is coming (in several months), and British kids' heads are already swimming with visions of sugarplums — and dog poop. Yes, apparently the "it toy" in the UK this season is an adorable pooping dachshund. More »
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If you're looking for a nice place to settle down, try Nottingham, England because apparently the town has so few problems that it's cracking down on people who leave dog hair in parks. While brushing his dog on a blanket, Roy Wyre was approached by a community protection officer and later a cop, who accused him of impersonating an officer for wearing a high-visibility jacket. Then he was given a ticket for "litter, large amounts." As he points out, "You could brush Spencer all day and there wouldn't be more than a handful of hair. If there is a little bit of hair coming off, one of the birds will pick it up for a nest." Wyre fought the ticket, and today town officials dropped the $120 fine and apologized. More »
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A British hospital is conducting an internal investigation after a job ad on its website concluded with the line, "Usual rubbish about equal opportunities employer etc." The hospital was quick to state that it does not actually consider equal employment opportunity to be "rubbish": More »
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The British government plans to pack the three prisons on the Isle of Wight full of sex offenders. And unsurprisingly, islanders aren't thrilled with this plan. More »
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A new report from the British Equality and Human Rights Commission, examining women's representation in top roles, shows that some indicators have worsened and others have improved. In other words, "It is a trend of waxing and waning; not one of constant upward movement." What does this mean for how we think of social change? More »
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Highclere Castle, where Downton Abbey is filmed, has been home to the Carnarvon family since 1679. The 8th Earl of Carnavon and his wife live there now, but also allow the property to be opened to the public. One may explore the grounds, hold a banquet, or even use the manse as the backdrop for a wedding. But much like the television series, Highclere Castle has seen its share of scandal and turmoil. It once housed an eccentric abortionist. More »
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I'm huddled in the front room with some shell-shocked friends, watching my city burn. Britain is a tinderbox, and on Friday, somebody lit a match. How the hell did this happen? And what are we going to do now? More »
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The UK is on fire, and ladies are to blame. Or, to be slightly more precise, essential oils in linens washed at low temperatures have caused a "spate" of house fires around Britain, according to the Telegraph. More »
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Britain's Advertising Standards Authority has banned two ads featuring Julia Roberts and Christy Turlington for misleading consumers by being overly airbrushed. It had to come to its conclusion without before-and-after shots, since apparently Roberts has stipulated in her contract that no unairbrushed shots can be released. More »
]]> http://jezebel.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5825117&view=rss&microfeed=true British people are really mad about "Americanisms" entering the Queen's English. Some of the most hated make sense — nobody likes "It is what it is." But Brits apparently also hate "train station," "burglarize," and "gotten." And here's one Chris Fackrell's peeve: More »
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In what may be the very best article the Daily Mail has ever published, Rebecca Evans drops her monocle into her cup of Earl Grey tea as she reports that there was a scuffle at the Royal Ascot — the Queen's favourite racing event, which is celebrating its 300th year. More »
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An analysis of recent abortion statistics from the UK indicates that in the 2000s, the abortion rate among women in their forties rose by 30 percent. Cue references to the fab four! No, really. More »
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A British TV regulator has called an "emergency meeting" to discuss how Rihanna's "S&M" video is corrupting the youth, and how to keep this from happening in the future. More »
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A (quite) young British would-be politician has provided a cautionary tale for all of us: if you plan to run for public office, do not complain about "sluts" on Facebook. More »
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Margaret Thatcher's black Asprey handbag is not fancy. It is, in fact, quite plain. Simple. Minimalist. Rigidly structured. Square. Devoid of decoration. But, as the Daily Mail reports, Margaret Thatcher's handbag holds an important place in political history. Thatcher used the handbag to carry important documents and state papers, and the paper notes: More »
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Exciting news! Chain-smoking, Champagne-guzzling self-centered and vulgar fashionistas Edina Monsoon and Patsy Stone are being resurrected. This summer, Joanna Lumley and Jennifer Saunders will shoot three new episodes of AbFab, and the show should return to BBC1 in the fall. It's been almost 20 years since the show first aired, but many of the issues it touched on — a mother being parented and scolded by a daughter; weight-loss hysteria and anxiety; adoption of brown kids as a "trend"; adventures in plastic surgery — remain fresh, relevant and current topics. More »
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"She may be pretty, wealthy and about to marry a prince, but an overwhelming majority of British women do not envy Kate Middleton." Shocking. More »
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As we get closer and closer to April 29, the Day of Days, Royal Wedding Mania reaches a fever pitch. Each day brings more and more "news" about Prince William and Kate Middleton, even though neither of them have done anything new or noteworthy! More »
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A British man has been left by his wife, who's Malaysian, after he spent his life savings helping her get permanent residency in the UK. She's also transgender — and the treatment she faced over her gender identity is an inescapable part of their story. More »
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One of the UK's largest costume collections has been destroyed by a fire. Military uniforms worn in The King's Speech were among the items burned, as well as costumes worn in BBC period dramas. The owner of the establishment, 76-year-old Lionel Digby, says: "It took me 45 years to build up the collection and now it's gone, just like that. Some of the military uniforms you just can't get any more... Everything went up. All of it is key stuff. The uniforms are from the Roman era upwards. Everything you can think of is in there. It is irreplaceable and if you lose part of a uniform you can't hire it out — it needs to be a complete set." The blaze was caused by an arsonist; a 29-year-old man has already been charged. Ironically, the company is called Flame Theatrical Costumes. More »
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