Adrenaline is a dangerous thing. Although useful in small doses, it’s highly addictive and, like any drug, your tolerance only increases the more you get. That’s how you find yourself, one day, looking at a bungee cord tied to a precarious bridge, 1000ft above a churning river and thinking ‘what if we added crocodiles?’ Here are 10 sports specifically designed for those who reached the absolute limits of intensity, then leapt off them on a flaming motorbike, giving fate a double finger:
1. BASE Jumping
BASE Jumping is either shockingly admirable or utterly, utterly insane. With at least 200 confirmed fatalities since 1980, a sudden gust of wind, a split-second miscalculation or simple bad luck are all that’s needed to reduce you to a sticky mess they’ll have to scrape up with a shovel. The competitive element comes in seeing who can go the longest without dying.
2. Ghost Riding
The rules of Ghost Riding are simple: get in car. Start car. Wait until car has built up sufficient speed. Exit car and do tricks on roof as you cruise toward certain death. This ‘sport’ from the San Francisco area checks all the boxes required of the extreme pastime: it’s pointless, dangerous and predominantly enjoyed by young males so numbed by apathy it takes a near-death experience for them to feel anything at all.
3. Encierro
Running with the bulls at Pamplona, Spain is a rite of passage enjoyed by drunks, tourists and the insane; resulting each year in a handful of poor sods getting trampled, often by their fellow humans. Gorings and actual deaths are relatively rare (14 in the last century), but the statistics neglect to mention the number of underpants lost to sudden soiling.
4. Volcano Boarding
Like snowboarding, but down the side of an active volcano, Nicaragua’s latest (tourist) sport attracts thrill-seekers who want to combine the rush of hurtling down a mountainside with the thrill of doing it on a goddamn active volcano. Given the blending of speed and the potential for explosions it’s only a matter of time before Hollywood snaps it up for Point Break 2.
5. Buzkashi
Afghanistan’s national sport involves charging around on horseback, whip in hand, dragging a headless goat carcass behind you as you attempt to… actually, we’re not sure. While national leagues have mellowed the practice out a good deal, traditional forms of the game can last for days and are noted for their brutal violence.
6. The Iditarod Trail
Ever wanted to recreate Scott’s last expedition, but can’t get to Antarctica? Alaska’s race from Anchorage to Nome on the Bearing Sea has everything you require for your themed-suicide: bitter winds, endless night and temperatures routinely below -30c. Expect frostbite, hypothermia and frozen huskies; and for the winner… nothing. Just the glory of knowing you managed to survive.
7. Solo Climbing
What could make dangling high above the Earth, with only a sheer cliff face to cling to and a single rope between you and death even more extreme? Removing the rope.
8. Cheese Rolling
Every year, inebriated adults gather at Cooper’s Hill, England to hurl themselves headfirst down a steep slope in pursuit of a runaway cheese. Unsurprisingly there are injuries. The perfect blend of whimsy, drunkenness, and cheese, Cheese Rolling is for those who like their sports insane in more ways than one.
9. Cave Diving
Find an aquatic cave, preferably one with sub-zero temperatures, jagged rocks and aggressive marine life. Enter cave with little oxygen and no real plan, wash up dead on a beach 3 weeks later. That is cave diving; a sport that has claimed over 500 lives in half a century. It’s the deadliest sport on the planet, and will probably remain so, until someone finds a way of combining it with BASE jumping.
10. Train Surfing
Popular in Germany in the 80’s, Train Surfing disappeared for a while, only to resurface in South Africa a few years ago. The premise is simple: find a train and cling to it as it reaches speeds no human should ever endure. For maximum effect, try it on a speeding intercity.
Author: Alfie Davenport works for Ladbrokes Games. Whilst he enjoys the mild thrill of the occasional bet, he doesn’t think he has it in him to try out any of these crazy sports.
his tourist attraction is in Japan and the person who thought of the idea obviously felt that a bath filled with water and soap was too mundane. Therefore, the Noodle Bath is filled with noodles and pepper collagen which is meant to improve one’s complexion. The same owner previously owned a bath which was filled with chocolate and wine.
This attraction is in Cuba and includes structures of life-size creatures which are meant to belong to the prehistoric era. A prison is located nearby and it is said that the inmates were called over to finish the construction. The ‘park’ extends over 11 hectares and also features a few cave men here and there.
This temple is in India and is located in Rajasthan which is said to be the land of camels, palaces and Maharajas. Rats reside in this temple and are worshipped here. If you accidentally kill a rat by stepping over it or swatting at it, you will have to replace it with solid gold.
This Hall is in North Korea and houses over 90,000 gifts that have been collected over the years by Kim II Sung. These include chopsticks that have been brought over form Mongolia, a cigarette case which has been covered in gold, a number of odd-looking chess boards as well as an alligator which is grinning or smirking- one cannot tell.
Julián Santana Barrera liked to collect dolls but he discarded them because he wanted to quiet down a little girl’s spirit who apparently drowned to death. This collection of dolls is hung onto the branches of trees that can be found if you go through the Xochimico canals.
This was released in 1998 and stars James Wood who plays the character of a vampire hunter. His parents were killed by vampires which is why he takes it upon himself to kill each and every vampire in town.
Released in 1987, Lost Boys is very popular amongst hardcore vampire movie goers. Two boys along with their single mother move to a new town after which the younger son befriends a few odd boys. These kids say that they are vampire hunters while the older brother starts showing signs of becoming a vampire and the younger one takes it upon himself to save his brother.
This movie is based on a book by the same name by Anne Rice. It revolves around Louis, a plantation owner who becomes lifeless after his brother dies. Lestat, a vampire asks him if he wishes to become like him and Louis accepts. However, he does not enjoy his new life very much and the two change a little girl after which the two start living as a family during the 1700s. A young journalist then interviews a vampire who says that he is about 200 years old and delves into his life story.
This legendary film was released in 1958 and starred Christopher Lee. After getting attacked by Jonathan Harker, Dracula starts preying on Harker’s fiancée’s family after moving away. Dr. Van Helsing is the one and only vampire hunter who can protect them. This movie was critically acclaimed and was laced with both sexuality and gore.
This film was released in 1992 and was created keeping a modern audience in mind. The cast was great and the director did a great job which became apparent after it won innumerable awards.
This book was basically a guide-book for those who called themselves witch-hunters. Over 36 editions have been released and it is believed that it single-handedly gave rise to out-of-control witch hunts.
Margaret Mead interviewed several teenage girls in Samoa who told her made-up stories about their sexual promiscuity. However, Mead did not know that and she reported them all in her book as fact.
This book is now considered to be a guide-book full of rules for those who want their society to live in tyranny. It talks about how a ‘prince’ need not have morals or scruples as long as he can pretend to have them. He also points out how society can be made to understand that evil is more beneficial than good. This book impacted the likes of Hitler and Stalin.
This book by Adolf Hitler was not accepted by any publishing house but once he rose to power, it was circulated all over the world. Mein Kampf talks about Hitler’s plan to remove each and every Jew from the world in order to allow the Germans to live peacefully.
Margaret Sanger supported the use of contraceptive because she felt that inferior human beings had no right to live and that the superior category should solely survive so that the world could be filled with only intelligent and able-bodied people. She lists out the benefits of eugenics as well as purity amongst different races.
Tom Hanks was brilliant in Big. His acting was effortless and perfect and when asked about it, he said that all he did was tap into a child’s mind. Needless to say, he should have won an Oscar- make that several Oscars!
Al Pacino plays the character of a homosexual man in Dog Day Afternoon who robs a bank because he is not financially stable enough to sponsor partner’s sex affirmation surgery. The plot of the film is hilarious and this actor knows exactly what to do in order to make a film stand out. The audience is supposed to think of him as a hero and not a villain and the best part is that this goal was achieved!
It has been said that Sir Peter O’Toole’s performance in Venus was one of his best. The plot revolves around an aging man, namely him, who falls in love with Venus, an underage but undeniable beautiful teenage girl.
Peter Sellers has achieved the impossible in Dr. Strangelove – he plays four roles and interestingly, they are all very different from each other. He manages to change his colors like a chameleon as and when the director commands him to do so.
His performance in A Man for All Seasons was nothing if not flawless in every way. His character was extremely knowledgeable when it came to Jesus and the Bible and needless to say, he knew almost everything about the religion.
You can download this media player on the internet or load it onto your computer with the CD that comes along with your iPod. You can play both media and video files with great ease. The library can accommodate thousands of songs and your computer will not freeze up.
The VLC media player is very popular because sometimes movies cannot be played on players like Winamp or Windows Media Player. This is when the VLC media player becomes useful- it can play any movie in the world! People say that if you even put a photograph on it, it will start playing it!
This media player is definitely the oldest and was doing well even before anybody had heard of MP3 players and therefore, iTunes. However, try not to use it if you have a choice- it does not play certain songs if it is not in a particular format and will sometimes destroy the quality of your songs.
Nero is a software that is used to burn CDs and as far as its media playing facilities are concerned, it is pretty decent. It will not tarnish the quality of the video or the song. You can also create libraries and listen to one song after the other- a feature that is not supported by VLC Media Player.
Winamp is as old as Windows Media Player and is pretty reliable because you can create folders of your favorite songs and add it onto the player. Users can also the change the skin as and when their moods change. However, if you want to watch videos, you are better off using VLC.
The red alder tree grows in such areas that are practically barren or have burnt down in the past. They grow rapidly and can create lush forests in a very short period of time. These trees are usually grown in those soils that need certain compounds to get healthier.
These trees are particularly common in those countries that have harsh climates- that is, the summers are too hot and the winters are too chilly. However, the green ash is susceptible to pest invasion which is why it is slowly dying out in countries like Michigan wherein the emerald ash borer tends to feed on it.
The leaves of the white ash are white in color, hence the name. As far as appearance is concerned, it could be identical to the green ash which is why it becomes difficult to distinguish between the two. The tree is nothing if not beautiful- imagine coming across a white tree!
The leaves of the quaking aspen are wide but overall, they are quite small. The petioles are very flat which is why it looks like the tree is trembling even when it is not all that windy. Contrary to popular belief, root sprouts usually give rise to quaking aspens and not seeds.
This tree isn’t as pretty as the rest on this, especially when compared to the white or green ash. Unlike other trees, it likes the shade and can flourish very well without too much sunlight. The bark and branches of the American Beech are quite hard and strong.
Gravity hills are found all over the world. Those who have been on such streets will know that if you park your vehicle at its foot, an illusion will be created that will make you believe that the car or bike is actually going up the hill!
This street is in Scotland and is considered to be the shortest in the world as it is only 6.8 feet long. Naturally, there is only one house on this tiny street which was constructed in 1883.
If Ebenezer Place is the shortest street in the world, this one is the longest. Earlier a street in Japan held the title but over the years because of several changes, this one has replaced it. It stretches across 29,800 miles and goes through nations like El Salvador, USA, Mexico and 12 others.
Parliament Street in England is said to be the narrowest of its kind in the world. It measures about 25 inches and is 50 meters in terms of length and has been around since the 1300s.
Road to Giza is mesmerizing because it is about 46,000 years old which makes it the oldest paved street in the world. It stretches across 7.5 miles and was initially used for the movement of basalt from one location to another.
The entire Harry Potter series has been an immense success with children and adults alike. The first film of the series set the groundwork for a phenomenal group of movies which went on to achieve immense box office success. Visually enchanting, with some great sci-fi effects, the films have been apt visualizations of great books.
A classic story line, some superb performances and music which has survived for many decades, this is one of the all time favourite children’s films. Released in 1939, it achieved it’s major success only after it was shown on television. Down the Yellow Brick Road to Oz, Judy Garland and her beloved dog Toto, accompanied by the Scarecrow, the Cowardly Lion and the Tin Man have become an integral part in the annals of movie history.
Once again a musical which has withstood the passage of time with Julie Andrews at her best, Sound of Music is among the best films ever made for children and adults alike. The story of the Von Trapp family, the catchy lyrics, the feel-good story and Switzerland in all it’s cinematic glory have all contributed to the film’s success.
Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!
This story has been made and remade umpteen times, but our all-time favourite remains the version with Hayley Mills released in 1961. The mischief engineered by the twins has made this into a light and heart-warming film which charms all ages. Many other versions have followed but none of them have the charm and allure of this film.
One of the world’s most popular food blogs, this one is authored by Heidi Swanson, she “focuses mainly on natural whole foods and ingredients that are good for you and the planet”. The blog is very user friendly and her writing style is very casual and friendly. She has indexed her recipes ingredient wise and also category wise. The photographs are simple and so are the recipes. This blog is believed to one of the most popular food blogs all over the world.
Based in Paris, David Lebowitz has made a reputation for himself due to his insightful comments about restaurants and recipes and also his interview with other food industry celebrities. A cookbook author and a former pastry chef, he has over 25,000 visitors’ every day to his blog. Witty and droll, he gives an excellent guide on all the culinary stories and secrets about Paris.
Pim quit her job in 2005 to start her blog and has become a celebrity in her own right. She writes about food, recipes and restaurants. Her chatty style and her ability to write authoritatively about all aspects of food have made her blog a very popular one. Somehow she makes cooking seem so simple and easy!
Molly Wizenberg’s blog has been described as the “ultimate food-lover’s blog.” Her recipes range from the elaborate to the simple and each one is accompanied by her chatty comments about them and also about anything else that she can think of.
An odd combination for a name of a blog – but this blog is also a showcase of the author’s passion for everything connected with food. As she says in her blog – ” The blog was created in September of 2003 as an outlet for someone who feared her friends might tire of hearing about what she cooked/ate/baked/bought, though they didn’t seem to have a problem with being fed dinner.” Once again there are recipes which make cooking look easy and simple, and encourage you to venture into the kitchen.
