Picture Yourself There

The Times Top Ten Film Scenes

This week, The Times newspaper has compiled its Top Ten Film Scenes and there are some real corkers. Included are scenes from Apocalypse Now (we love it), Withnail & I (oh so English) and Field of Dreams (er…why?!) and you can contribute too. Go on, get involved.

The pick of the bunch is from Kubrick’s stone-cold classic, The Shining; the “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy” scene is certainly chilling to say the very least. Although most filming was done at Pinewood studios in London (Kubrick didn’t like leaving the UK) the famous panoramic shot at the beginning of the movie was of Timberline Lodge in Mount Hood, Oregon. If you’ve got the guts to stay there for just one night, you’re a much braver person than us.

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The Japanese Grand Prix

If you’re a fan of roaring motor engines and the smell of burning rubber, then Formula One racing is probably for you. Tomorrow, the Japanese Grand Prix returns to the legendary Fuji speedway for the first time in 30 years. This is one of the most beautiful locations for a racetrack, surrounded by stunning mountain scenery including world famous volcano Fuji (still officially classed as active..eek!).

The racetrack has undergone extensive refurbishment, led by track design guru, Hermann Tilke, so expect pristine racing conditions for the drivers who’ll be exceeding speeds of 200mph.

Historically, the Japanese Grand Prix has been held towards the end of the season and consequently has been the scene of numerous championship deciders and this year is no exception. Bitter rivals McClaren and Ferrari travel to the Far East still locked in battle so expect fireworks.

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Porthemmet Beach, Cornwall

As an April fool in years gone by, long-suffering parents - having tipped off the local shopkeeper - would ask their pesky kids to go to the store for a ‘long weight’. After standing around for three hours children would realise not only that they just had a very long wait indeed, but also that dads’ jokes really don’t get any better. These days, technology means that our practical jokes can be a little more ambitious – and today, it was revealed that a big joke has been played on anyone planning to visit Cornwall’s Porthemmet beach.

You see, the beach, which features exquisite turquoise seas and topless sunbathing, doesn’t actually exist: it is merely the creation of an ex-Cambridge graduate with some time on his hands and a sense of humour. With ‘emmet’ being a disparaging Cornish term for tourists, the ‘official Porthemmet website’ claims that Cornish locals all share a private joke of refusing to let on where the beach actually is…

But don’t pack up that bucket and spade just yet. All you disappointed emmets can visit Carbis Bay beach instead - OK, so there's no topless sunbathing, but it's one of the most picturesque places you'll find in Cornwall.

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The International Oyster Festival

We realise that the blog has been a bit ‘festival heavy’ recently, but we’re simply astounded at how many there are around the world. Rest assured, it is only through painstaking research that we’re making sure the very best (or the strangest) get chosen.   

Take Galway’s Oyster Festival starting this weekend. At first glance one may mistake this for being a local, low key event; it is, in fact, widely esteemed and considered “one of the greatest shows on Earth” according to The Sunday Times. It is also one of the longest running festivals ever and continues to attract thousands of oyster fans from all over the world.

The weekend’s highlight is surely the World Oyster Opening Championship, at which 100,000 Galway oysters are washed down with large quantities of Guinness (what else!). There is also a beauty pageant, live jazz and a gala ball so that is the music and dancing covered if oysters aren't to your taste.

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International Balloon Fiesta

The International Balloon Fiesta in Albuquerque is billed as being not only America’s largest annual festival, but also ‘the most photographed event on earth’. Even more photographed than Britney Spears on a night out in Tinseltown you may ask? Apparently so, and with good reason. Imagine the sight of several hundred hot air balloons rising majestically above New Mexico’s desert at dawn and you get a pretty good idea of how spectacular ‘Mass Ascension’ really is. Kicking off on October 5th, the event runs until October 14 and attracts over 750,000 visitors with competitors hailing from over 20 countries. Definitely not for those with a fear of heights.

If you get tired of balloons, there is also (slightly bizarrely) the ‘Chainsaw Fiesta’, a sister event that runs in tandem with the main festival. Keep a look out for the tents ‘that are buzzing with chainsaws and where the chips are flying’. We’re sure it is perfectly safe…

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Honda's New Asimo Robot makes European Debut

Every technology fan can remember Honda’s Asimo robot; it achieved media saturation and attained star status around the the world. This week, an advanced second generation version is making its European debut in Barcelona. This little fella can walk hand-in-hand with a human, push a trolley and even play butler, delivering the afternoon tea on a tray. It can also break into ‘running’, although a top speed of 4mph will hardly qualify it as an Olympic athlete. Creators are now working on improving intelligence so it can work on other household tasks. Lets hope that includes doing the washing up. 

The robot’s visit to Barcelona has been arranged as part of the city’s 2007 Celebration of Science. This is being held to commemorate the one hundred year anniversary of The High Council for Scientific Research, and includes literally hundred of exhibitions, concerts, workshops and courses throughout the year.

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Berlin Marathaon

After gorging yourself on chocolate (see yesterday’s post), it might be a good idea to dig out those running shoes you haven’t worn in six months and start burning off those extra calories. If you’re the kind of person who gets exhausted just walking to the chip shop, perhaps pace yourself and start with some brisk walking or jogging – on the other hand, if you’re more iron man than Michelin man, you might be interested to know that fellow fitness fanatics (or freaks – you be the judge) will be taking part in the Berlin marathon on Sunday 30th September.

Beginning and ending next to the Brandenburg Gate, the course takes runners around some of the city’s historic sites such as Reichstag and Berliner Dom. However, the participants are probably more excited about the fact that, as marathons go, it’s extremely flat. Perfect for beginners, then – so you’ve got no excuse…

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Eurochocolate Fair, Perugia

Now, gentlemen. Pay attention. If you’re looking to woo the woman of your dreams, you can ditch the dozen roses. Dump the diamond necklaces (well, OK, maybe not dump them, just save them for later). If you really want to make the lady in your life swoon, then take her to the fabulous Eurochocolate Fair in Perugia where she’ll find the town transformed into an enormous open-air patisserie, all in celebration of this, the ‘food of the gods’. With events such as exhibitions, cookery classes and banquets all taking place between 13th and 21st October – along with the all-important opportunity to sample the goods – this is one event dedicated chocoholics won’t want to miss.

OK, so you’ll have to listen to her whining all the way home about how she feels like she’s put on four stone, and how it’s going to be salads for the pair of you from now on (that it, after this 500g bar of 75% cocoa is finished with). But at least munching on all that chocolate will keep her quiet for a while.

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Labour Party Conference, Bournemouth

It’s party time again. Hang on, put your glowstick down – we’re not talking about that kind of party. We’re talking about the political party conferences about to begin across the country, beginning with Labour’s event in Bournemouth on 23rd September. Alright then, take the glowstick if you want to, but I’m telling you they won’t take you seriously.

This year, Prime Minister Gordon Brown will be looking to finally exorcise the memory of Tony Blair – he’s so eager to get his point across that he’ll be making his speech on Monday rather than waiting until Tuesday as tradition would dictate. With the polls currently looking good for Labour, Mr Brown will be hoping to maintain the positive mood throughout the five-day conference.

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Sex Pistols to play at Brixton Academy, London

We’ve had the triumphant Take That, the less successful All Saints, and soon it’ll be the turn of the Spice Girls… all these bands we had thought (and hoped) had finally hung up their microphone cables are coming out of the woodwork for ‘comeback’ shows. But we were pretty surprised to hear that this list of 90s pop starlets will soon be followed by none other than punk legends the Sex Pistols.

Love them or hate them, this is a band which changed the course of music history. To mark the 30th anniversary of their seminal album (which we can’t name, since this is a family show), the four remaining members of the group will perform at the Brixton Academy on 8th November.

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