Clarity
How a Halloween?
Posted 31 Oct 2008
How did Halloween evolve as a holiday into what it is today? For those of you who aren’t familiar with the specifics of the American holiday (particularly as it is in America), children dress up in costumes and go door-to-door threatening the occupiers with harm unless given candy. No, that’s not the exact tone, but it is effectively what happens. Masked children, often in large groups, occasionally wielding an imitation firearm or sword, rove through neighbourhoods demanding sweets from those citizens foolish enough to open the door to their brigandage. Surely, that’s what ‘Trick or treat’ means!
Hollywood is no circus
Posted 6 Oct 2008
Over the weekend, I did a first. I went to the circus. In real life. The Moscow State Circus came to Oxford and I went to see it. In fact, I should admit that I spent much of the previous week talking about the circus, wondering what it would be like and what I might see. I was almost giddy with excitement as I passed through the entrance flaps and under the big top. Yeah!
And for two hours, I was dazzled and amazed. I laughed, I clapped, I whistled and I shouted with excitement. I was even frightened by some of the high-wire acts. I had a great time.
As I left the circus, I considered my expectations versus the reality of the circus. I have to say that I believe Hollywood gave me false hopes. There certainly weren’t three rings, nor were there elephants, lions, tigers or bears; nor were there a dozen clowns running everywhere. The Moscow State Circus was more intimate, more personal and less Hollywood. Whether or not my expectations were realistic is probably debatable, but I did feel a wee bit of resentment towards the movie industry.
Glasses required?
Posted 17 Sep 2008
Events, News | 3 Comments
It’s Wednesday, people, and we think it’s time for a guest comment. Today’s note comes from a reader in New York … and given all the bad news coming out of that city this week, we’re happy to spread some of the funnier stuff.
Last Wednesday, our reader was surfing the net (perhaps fearing the end of world) as he surfed up to post about the amazing work going on a CERN on Tom Feilden’s blog on the BBC Radio Today Programme website. He saw the first photo in that post and he was amused.
Our reader writes:
I saw the photo, and it just made me smile – and though one shouldn’t generalise, they all look exactly as one would envisage particle physicists to look. No doubt the eye-strain from the result of years spent in dark labs, and reading long hours. As a glasses wearer too, I can empathise, though sadly I lack the genius that no doubt they have. I just hope that they know what they are doing, recreating the big bang – even if on a micro-scale!
Our many thanks to our reader for sending in this in. And we’ll end by reminding all that we continue to welcome contributions via email.
Was Michael Phelps cheating?
Posted 5 Sep 2008
The Beijing Olympics may be over, but we’re not prepared to let them go just yet.
I think we owe a debt of gratitude to the astute photographer – Eileen Bass – from the USA Today who captured what apparently NOBODY else saw in the Olympics. In the USA Today on Monday, 25 August, I found the following:
Pictured below is Michael Phelps clearly crossing lanes while swimming the mens 200 butterfly.
Redneck Games
Posted 27 Aug 2008
Events, People, Signs | 4 Comments
As it’s Wednesday again, today’s post comes from UP, one of our readers from Orlando, Florida, in the USA.
This flyer was discovered in a restaurant in Orlando, having caught our reader’s eye because of the "redneck" games on August 23rd, as opposed to the "regular" racing happening on August 16th. Our reader’s first assumption then, is that the "redneck" games must be somewhat "irregular".
Furthermore, what exactly does "Unlimited Tire-Pull" mean? I am conjuring up images of people grabbing a hold of as many tires as they can and pulling them in a race. Turns out, I don’t think I am too far off on that. Note the girl in front, who thought it out a bit and decided it was best to ROLL THE TIRE! Seems like a good idea, right? I cannot explain why she is losing.
Perhaps if you think you may have a hidden talent for pulling tires, or you’ve got a truck you’d like to enter in the Beater Truck Challenge, or maybe if you just think you’d like to learn more about redneck athletics, head on down! Make sure you get the right weekend though, or you could end up at just ordinary plain-old racing.
A big thank-you to our Orlando reader for the contribution.
