British Caravan Grand Prix
Those looking for a unique way to spend a day while in the UK might want to give the British Caravan Grand Prix a try. It’s all that one could expect from a racing event, except that in this race most of the vehicles end up falling apart during their struggle for first place. It takes place and the Angmering Raceway at different times each year, but has become such a tradition that it never skips an event.
People bring their caravans, hitched to the back of more race-worthy vehicles, with the expectation that they’ll never see them in one piece again. Last year saw 16 different vehicles competing though as the Grand Prix grows in popularity the number of contestants is likely to rise as well.
The object of the race is to complete 10 laps around a track that measures about 1600 feet. Few of the caravan-car combos actually make it to that final lap. Being towed at speeds that are unacceptable for these trailers means that they end up flipping, tipping and getting rattled apart by the bumps of the track. And those are only the “natural” hazards of the race. As they try to beat their opponents, drivers bump and smash into their opponents and further destroy the caravans. Most of them are little more than frames by the time they get done, the rest of the caravan spread across the length of the course.
For safety’s sake, the caravans are all gutted before they make their laps. The interior elements are removed, making them lighter and slightly less dangerous should there be a massive pile-up.
In addition to this pseudo-demolition derby, there are some stock car races at the Grand Prix, featuring drivers between the ages of 10 and 16. Their vehicles, however, are much safer and not towing giant trailers behind them.
If you happen to be a fan of racing, or just want to see some caravans get severely decimated, check out the British Caravan Grand Prix. As I said before, they keep changing the dates of the event, so you’ll have to keep an eye open for developments and the official announcement.
Halloween costumes suck.
I could go on this rant about quality. Let's face it: most costumes really are made pretty poorly, with the idea that they will be disposable, one-time use things. That is unless you pay a ton of money for really fancy ones, or are good at making them yourself. This rant however goes in a different direction: variance.
When it comes to costumes, I noticed one thing in my life. Men actually get screwed over. When it comes to selection, varieties, quality or attention to detail it seems men's costumes come across more as an afterthought than women's. Sure, there are a ton of costumes for men, though it strikes me how oddly generic they are, or really bad jokes, or just...bland. Sure, you get your super hero ones, fake padding and the likes (again, unless you pay out the rear for high-end studio quality things) but that's really about it.
Women seem to get so many more options, more color variances and better-detailed accessories. Want to do the super hero things too? Sure! Want a iconic Wonder Woman? Take your pick; there are about 20 styles. Or how about Emma Frost? Oh like four different versions.
How about Thor? Well what do you know, they have cross play versions of male heroes. The whole thing could just be a trick of marketing. I'm well aware this carries over into normal everyday clothing as well and it begs the question: Is this because the consumers differ that much? Or is it because once upon a time, men preferred generic more and that's all they are force fed today to the point that even costumes suffer?
Bardolino’s Italian Bodypainting Festival
The practice of body painting has become a popular trend over the last decade or so, making its way into many aspects of culture, from art displays to television commercials. In Bardolino, Verona they celebrate this emerging artistic tradition at the Italian Bodypainting Festival, one of the most well-known events of its kind in the world and the only one in the country of Italy.
This bodypainting festival has only been around for less than 10 years, but each year sees the number of people attending getting bigger and bigger. People are beginning to appreciate the artistic merit of bodypainting, a medium that uses human beings as the canvas and puts them on display, often completely nude except for the paint.
Each year, the festival picks a different theme for the artists to follow. Given the nature of bodypainting, all the art is created on-site and almost immediately before the presentations. Anyone is welcome to come to the event and compete, professionals and amateurs alike, as long as they make sure to use one of the accepted techniques.
In addition to the body painting fashion show, there are other events happening at the festival. There is singing and dancing and there are live music performances. Those who want to learn more about the art form can take one of several workshops. And at the end of the festival is a special photo shoot parade, so people can take pictures of all the art, all at once and before it gets washed away in the shower.
This year’s event already passed by on July 14th, though next year is likely to be around the same time. If you want to witness this growing art form while taking a vacation in Italy, spend a day or two in Bardolino. Or, if you have the guts and the skills, sign up to do your own presentation. You might have to bring your own model, however, so make sure you have a vacation buddy with you.
Switzerland’s Carnival of Basel
The Carnival of Basel is an event in northern Switzerland that mimics Mardi Gras in a number of ways, but doesn’t take place until the Monday after Ash Wednesday, as opposed to the weekend before. It lasts for three days and during that time features masks, costumes, parades and processions, but with a socio-political bent.
Originally started in the Middle Ages, the carnival was just one more version of Mardi Gras. It was celebrated before Lent, just as the rest of these types of events are, in order to prepare for the coming fast by overindulging. When Protestantism took over in the region, the Catholic tradition was stopped. People didn’t let it die, however, and eventually, thanks in no small part to the various trade guilds in the area, it was revitalized, albeit in a different incarnation. It has since become what it is today while retaining the underlying theme of partying for days in a row.
The first day starts with a 4 a.m. parade nearly 20,000 people strong. It is made up of hundreds of different groups, each with their own theme that reflects in their choice of costumes. They wander the city streets in two areas. One procession travels through the outer part of the city in a counterclockwise pattern while the other marches down the inner streets in a clockwise fashion.
Aside from the marching people and bands, the parade also features a number of “floats.” These are actually trucks and other large vehicles that have been converted to act as floats and from which people throw flowers, confetti, oranges and other objects. In addition, each group in the parade carries with them a lantern, the outside of which is decorated with a message of some sort, usually something of political or social importance within the country.
The parade continues until dawn, takes a rest and then starts up again at 1:30 in the afternoon. The second day of the Carnival of Basel is reserved primarily for children’s’ and family activities. And on the third day the parade schedule is repeated. When people aren’t enjoying the parade, they head to eating and drinking establishments and celebrate in their own way. There are also bands roaming the streets playing music as they go and often stopping to put on impromptu concerts.
The Carnival of Basel is an interesting local Swiss festival and a grand and colorful parade. It can be a fun way for visitors to experience a piece of Switzerland while continuing the Mardi Gras festivities that they’ve no doubt just come from (and recovered from).
The Bournemouth 7s Festival
England is home to what is the largest sporting and music festival in the world. It’s the Bournemouth 7s Festival and it takes place every year during bank holiday weekend in late May. This event features three days of rugby, netball, live music and a variety of other events to suit all tastes. It was first organized recently, in 2008, and became such a hit that by 2012 it was spread across six arena venues and brought in more than 20,000 people.
The 2013 Bournemouth 7s has expanded yet again, from six to eight arenas. In addition to the nearly non-stop live music, other things to do at the festival include visiting the beer tents and food stalls, karaoke, fancy dress parties, camping and more. There’s even a celebrity lounge, as the celebration frequently attracts some famous names to perform.
It’s the sporting competitions that are the main highlight of Bournemouth 7s. There are 12 rugby competitions that pit nearly 200 teams up against each other. In netball there are six contests featuring 144 teams. If watching the teams battle it out isn’t your thing, there are many BMX bike performances to enjoy.
This festival isn’t just one big party, however. The organizers are dedicated to making it a family-friendly event and there are many activities geared towards kids. All-in-all, there are so many different things going on over the three days that it’s pretty hard to get bored.
Attending Bournemouth 7s can be a great way to enjoy some rugby, netball and music and get a taste of England’s sporting culture via a friendly and energetic event. But its popularity comes with a price - if you decide you want to go, you’ve got to buy tickets as early as possible, since it sells out quick. Next year’s Bournemouth 7s Festival will take place from May 24th to the 26th.
Beyonce to perform at the Super Bowl XLVII Halftime Show
Beyonce will perform her hits at the Super Bowl XLVII Halftime Show. Fans are excited and Beyonce has stated many times that this would be her dream. I wonder if there will be any wardrobe malfunctions this time!
There isn’t much out there with regards to what to expect. Will Destiny’s Child make an appearance? And what about Jay-Z? Solange Knowles could possibly do a cameo. I've always been a big fan of Beyonce's sister. Anyway, the Super Bowl XLVII halftime show will be buzzing with the Queen Bey performing.
It has been reported that Beyonce will not be acting in Clint Eastwood’s remake of the classic film “A Star is Born.” This was due to scheduling conflicts, but one can’t help but wonder if Eastwood’s bizarre speech at the Republican National Convention might have had something to do with it.
We all know that Beyonce and Jay-Z are close friends of President Obama and his family. The power couple have been to the White House a number of times. President Obama talks about family and other stuff that he only discusses with close friends with Mr. and Mrs. Carter. I am not starting something here but I thought it would be a great segway to talk about Jay-Z’s new campaign ad for Obama.
President Obama needs as much help as he can to bring some of the 2008 magic to the current campaign. Who better to help him than Beyonce and Jay-Z? Beyonce sang at President Obama’s inauguration and her rap star husband was a prominent feature in get out the vote concerts leading up to the 2008 presidential election.
Orionid Meteor Shower: A nice sight to see
NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope has been great for understanding space and the universe. It was the Hubble and Keck telescopes that have given great insights into the formation of galaxies. Galaxies take ages to mature and this time span is in the billions of years. Being a space enthusiast for so long, this is actually not news to me.
What to watch for tonight?
The Orionid meteor shower will be a sight to see. The Earth is moving through some debris left over by Halley’s Comet in its orbit around our Sun. The debris are moving at speeds of 148,000 mph and the brilliant flash of light we see is due to it burning up in the atmosphere. There is another meteor shower that Halley’s Comet is responsible for and it occurs every summer in May. The shower is best seen by getting away from the city.
Halley’s Comet will next be seen in our skies in 2061.
Mass extinction event attributed to global warming
There was a mass extinction event that happened after the Permian Era. This was about 250 million years ago and was probably the hottest the Earth has ever been. This period of extreme global warming wiped out 95 percent of the species on this planet at the time. Fossil fuels from this period have been examined and the low diversity of live around the time of this extreme global warming confirms this.
The good thing is that the current global warming levels are nowhere near the end-Permian level.
Two little-known stocks to add to your retirement portfolio
I love writing posts on this blog because I am such a future-oriented person. It's also a lot more fun to take the time and write a good post on a long-term investment strategy as opposed to rushing in a post on stocks that traders can quickly make a profit on.
When talking about stocks around here, I want to steer clear of the Citigroups of the world and bring to light stocks like Banco Latinoamericano de Comercio Exterior, S.A. (BLX). If an investors bought $10K worth of this stock a decade ago, it would be worth an incredible $139K today. This is such a big return, when compared with most bank stocks like Citigroup that have suffered over the last decade with the financial crisis to boot.
The moral of the story is that an investor needs to look carefully at his investment options and not rush headlong into the big brand names that are at large. You are still not late to cash in on Banco Latinoamerica which investors are still bullish about after looking at its valuation.
On the subject of great long-term stocks, here is another little-known one. Freeport-McMoran Copper & Gold Inc. (FCX) has the high dividend yield, high revenues and strong balance sheet that will make stock market investors absolutely love it. The two things investors will have to watch out for are the macro economy and the foreign exchange rate. There is a higher demand for copper when the global economy is doing well. Additionally, Freeport has a sizable revenue coming from the Indonesian rupiah and the Chilean peso. If the USD falls against these foreign currencies, it will impact Freeport's bottom line.
Steve Aoki's new reality show
Anyone who has been a fan of electronic dance music over the last couple of years will be extremely familiar with Steve Aoki’s name. Aoki is listed in the 15th spot on the controversial DJMag list of top DJs, and is fifth on the Forbes Magazine list of top-earning EDM artists, above such dance music icons as Deadmau5.
The cake-throwing DJ, producer and promoter has built a name and a brand from innovative beats and performing at more than 200 wild stage shows per year. Now he is about to venture into territory that no DJ before him has dared to enter: the world of reality TV.
The name of Aoki’s new show will be Chasing and the basic idea will already be familiar to anyone who has ever watched any reality contest show. As in everything from Survivor to The Amazing Race, it will involve people competing against each other to see which team can win enough points to get the big prize. What’s the big prize?
A night out with the man himself. The teams, each consisting of DJs, will compete in a number of challenges to earn their points. The challenges will all be based on Aoki’s well-known party antics and consist of things like crowd surfing via an inflatable raft along with the inevitable throwing of cake.
Aoki’s popularity is unquestionable as may be gathered from the fact that he has more than a million Facebook friends, and has recently collaborated with artists like Lil Jon and the up-and-coming rapper, Chiddy Bang. It may be that the only truly new arena for him to conquer is television.
Chasing will available for viewing on the Internet at Fuse.tv starting October 23rd.
College Stats 'n' Stuff for the SEC (Week Seven)
SOUTHEASTERN CONFERENCE [Scores] [Standings]
Best Wins:
- LSU rebounded from its loss to Florida by upending South Carolina, 23-21.
- Remember how Tennessee was going to get itself back in the conversation? Uh, no. It's Mississippi State who's in the conversation now after a 41-31 pasting of the Volunteers. The Bulldogs are 3-0 in the conference and 6-0 overall, while the Vols dropped to 0-3 in the SEC.
- But it's former Big XII school Missouri that's bombing the most, dropping to 0-4 after Alabama punched them 41-10 in Columbia.
- On the other hand, fellow Big XII transferee Texas A&M is 5-1 overall after a wild nonconference win over Louisiana Tech, 59-57.
- And, finally, after being given up for dead, Arkansas got its second win in a row by blasting Kentucky, 49-7.
Stats Smorgasbord:
- Last week, we pointed to emerging star Mike Gillislee of Florida who had taken the conference lead in rushing. No more.
- The emerging star this week is Johnny Manziel of the Aggies. The freshman had 181 yards rushing and 395 yards passing in that Louisiana Tech shootout, and, this week, he has taken the conference lead in rushing with 112.7 yards per game.
- He's also second in the conference in passing efficiency with 14 TDs and 3 INT, a 67.4 completion percentage and 8.8 yards per attempt.
- Alabama QB A.J. McCarron still has a big goose egg in the interceptions column and is No. 5 in the nation in passing efficiency. Will he ever be the leading SEC Heisman candidate? Not this week ... he was passed by Manziel.
Football Factoids:
- ESPN Heisman Watch: 6. Manziel; 9-T. McCarron; 11-T. Marcus Lattimore, South Carolina.
- SEC in the AP poll: 1. Alabama; 3. Florida; 6. LSU; 9. South Carolina; 13. Georgia; 15. Mississipi State; 20. Texas A&M.
- SEC in the BCS standings: 1. Alabama; 2. Florida; 6. LSU; 7. South Carolina; 11. Georgia; 12. Mississipi State; 18. Texas A&M.
- You will note that in each case the BCS formula puts the SEC schools at a higher ranking than the voters (or at least the same).
- How seriously do we take Mississippi State? Well ... they are undefeated and 3-0 in the conference. They beat Auburn and Tennessee. They still have to play Alabama and LSU. And who else is in the West Division this year? Texas A&M and red-hot Manziel. They play them too.
- So all they have to do is beat the Tide, the Aggies, LSU and revived Arkansas in consecutive weeks. That would get them into the SEC championship against the Gators (or Gamecocks). Oh yeah, no sweat. But ... if they do it, that would be one of the great accomplishments of college football history.