Posts tagged wtf

Wednesday Links #5

A round up of interesting stuff from the internet this week.

1. Erik Elstran is a bmx rider who’s style is unique and more importantly good fun. I can’t really explain any of the moves but trust me, this video is worth watching. Skip past the first 30 seconds though because it starts out with a parody of bad Youtube bmx videos.

2. A Beluga Whale saves (?) a diver in distress in China. The diver was taking part in a Free-diving competition when she found herself unable to use her legs to swim back to the surface, luckily she was diving in a Whale tank at the time.

3. The World’s Most Bizarre Sports.

4.  Look out rubbish faux-punk bands, Buddyhead Records has relaunched it’s infamous Gossip Page (not for the easily offended).

5. The roads are packed full of caravans at this time of year but none of them are this cool. This one doesn’t need a car and manages to reach a decent speed all by itself…

Woman Drives Car Off 100ft Cliff And Survives.

A woman has survived an amazing 100 foot plunge over a cliff in her car, without her seatbelt on. Barbara Tyreman from Whitby, North Yorkshire was left shocked but unharmed after the incident last week. Her Mini was completely ruined but Mrs Tyreman is just happy to be alive.

“I can’t believe I escaped unhurt, It’s unbelievable. When I look at the car I just think ‘How did I survive without a scratch?”

Mrs Tyreman was trying to put her seatbelt on when she accidentally stepped on the accelerator. Then when she trying to stamp on the break she pressed the accelerator again before swerving to avoid another car and plunging over the cliff. She was cut out of the car by firefighters before being airlifted to Scarborough Hospital where she was given the all clear.

Luckily two trees had stopped the car from hitting the ground despite Mrs Tyreman’s best efforts. If I worked for a car rental or car insurance company I would keep a note of Mrs Tyreman’s name ;)

Compare The Meerkat: The Outtakes Video

The Compare The Meerkats ad campaign was created by VCCP for CompareTheMarket.com and is a rare example of a viral ad actually going viral. Lots of companies have tried and failed (See Radio 4’s really quite bad attempt) to capture a bit of online buzz. The idea and the execution was good enough for people to actually seek out comparethemeerkat.com and possibly even comparethemarket.com.

It helps that Aleksandr_Orlov (the Meerkat who stars in the advert) has his own Twitter account as well as a functional Meerkat comparing site. The latest part of the campaign is an out-takes video showing bloopers featuring Aleksandr fluffing his lines and struggling with the English language.

10 Celebrities Who Have Insured Their Body Parts.

1. Dolly Parton.

The country singer and founder of ‘Dollywood’ has insured her breasts for $600,000 back in the 1970s when that was a lot of money. Dolly is understandably proud of her breasts and is quoted as saying “I was the first woman to burn my bra – it took the fire department four days to put it out.”

2. Heidi Klum.

The Supermodel and wife to Seal insured her extra long legs for $2.2 million.

3. Jennifer Lopez.

J-Lo is several things including a daft name and a tendency to sing 10 notes where one would have been sufficient. She is also known for her sizeable backside which is reportedly insured for $1 billion.

4. Keith Richards.

With the amount of drugs Keith Richards has taken it’s amazing that he can get health insurance at all. He has insured his fingers (and thus his guitar playing abilities) for £1 million.

5. Fred Astaire.

At the height of his career Astaire insured his legs for a reported $75,000 each.

6. Bruce Springsteen.

Springsteen’s vocal chords have earned him Millions of pounds over the years, they are now insured for £3.5 million.

7. Betty Grable.

The American dancer, singer, and actress was famed for her perfect legs. She was a pin up icon at the time of the second world war and insured her studio insured her legs for $1,000,00.

8. Michael Flatley.

Legendary Irish dancing star Flatley is worth an estimated £350 million most of which can be attributed to Riverdance. His legs where insured for $40,000,000 in 1999.

9. America Ferrera.

Ugly Betty star and perhaps the world most high profile (ex) braces wearer Ferrera has insured her smile for a reported 10 million dollars. That’s about $312 500 per tooth.

10. Ken Dodd.

Kenn Dodd was completely unreconizable when he hid his oversized buck teeth which is why he insured them for £4 million at the height of his fame.

Model Banned From Boxing Due To Breast Implants.

Sarah Blewden took up boxing two year ago in order to keep fit. She soon discovered that she had a natural talent for the sport and decided that she wanted to box competitively. Unfortunately the Amateur Boxing Association of England (ABAE) have turned down her application because of her breast implants.

Ms Blewden who is a part time model and also runs a hair salon says that the decision is unfair:

“My surgeon said they make me no more vulnerable than any other woman. They are not enormous ones – they are in proportion. They are gel implants and not liquid so they won’t burst.”

Tony Attwood of the ABAE says that all women with implants are banned from the association due to possible health risks which could result from a jab to the chest. Ms Blewden feels that she is being discriminated against. Sarah’s coach Mark Plunkett thinks she is up to the task:

“Sarah is very talented at boxing. She wants to box at a very high standard and is desperate to go to the Olympics. They believe that if she gets hit too many time her implants might burst but that is not the case as she has gel ones.”

Women’s boxing is not currently an olympic sport but the Olympics Minister Tessa Jowell wants all sports to be equal opportunities by 2012. Womens boxing is becoming increasingly popular as people get used to the sight of two women fighting. Sport betting and online gambling sites are begining to cover matches and the AIBA (International Boxing Association) also wants the sport to be represented at the 2012 olympics.