Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Star Cars - Silver Screen Objects Of Desire, On Tyres

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Who makes a movie? Usually, it's a joint effort. In some films, however, it isn't only the actors, director, crew and backroom staff that make the result memorable. It's a car or cars and here are some we all know and love...

Roald Dahl and Ken Hughes scripted the 1968 film 'Chitty Chitty Bang Bang'. Dick Van Dyck and Sally Anne Howes appeared in it but its specially-built star made it come alive. There were in fact six Chittys and not all ran on car tyres. One was the car in its dilapidated state, another appeared in all its rebuilt glory. Of the four others, the 'hovercraft car' is probably best remembered. This variation was lightened with aluminium copies of many of the brass parts. When the car had to be filmed suspended from a crane or helicopter during 'flying' sequences, its engine was removed to lighten it further.

Could you create a legend in just over seven weeks? In August 1965, US custom car builder George Barris was given a job to do. He had to produce a special car for TV and film work, as fast as possible. Luckily for him, a division of the Ford Motor Company had built a concept car ten years earlier. The Lincoln Futura made an ideal starting point. Barris fitted the 390 cubic inch (6.4 litre) V8-powered car with 15 inch cast alloy wheels, carrying Firestone Wide Oval tyres. Into the recipe went Cumming & Sander impact safety belts, a Moon aluminium gas tank, 2 Deist parachute packs with 10ft. diameter parachutes, and the 'exhaust turbine' was made from a five gallon paint can. If you need any further clues, the giveaway lies in the colour scheme. Threequarter inch fluorescent cerise stripes relieved the 'Velvet Bat-Fuzz Black' surface finish. Yes, we've been looking at the original 1966 Batmobile.

Now for a collection of vehicles, all but one of which set tyres to tarmac in reality. In 1969's film 'The Italian Job', it wasn't a real Lamborghini Muira that went into a river. It was a bodyshell on a crash-damaged chassis. However, when the film crew returned to pick up the pieces next day, they'd been stolen overnight!

Speaking of car tyres, the production crew got through quite a number with the Italian Job Minis. These were Mk.1 Austin Mini Cooper S cars; in the hands of stunt driving team L'Equipe Remy Julienne, they became legendary.

The film's two E-Type Jaguars were Series One models, bought for a measly (for the time) 900 apiece. The red convertible registered 848 CRY, however, was restored and survives to this day. Michael Caine's character's 1961 Aston Martin DB4 convertible, scooped off its tyres by a digger, really did go down the mountainside - twice. In fact, the first take was unsatisfactory because the car was supposed to burst into flames (it didn't because the man with the 'explode button' had to run for his life as the Aston plummeted towards him.) The 'Aston Martin' that we did see destroyed was a Lancia Flaminia 3c Cabriolet, dressed up by an excellent and obliging bodywork firm in Turin.

To close this little trip down memory lane, we can look at what is arguably the world's most famous coach - ever. The six-wheeler that ended up with its rear tyres clawing at empty air at the close of The Italian Job was a Harrington Legionnaire. Perhaps the notion of reinforcing the cab so that the boarding Mini Coopers didn't squash the driver was heralded with this: 'Listen lads, I've got a great idea - er - er'.

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Monday, April 12, 2010

Achieve A Movie Star Body

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We watch TV and we see these amazing movie or music star bodies, and we are like how do I get a bod like that. Most people dismiss that they could never look like a movie star. Though very few people are blessed with the looks and body of Halle Berry, learning what it takes to have a movie star body will give you a hot body as well. Live Lean Today looks at the fitness and diet plans that create sexy bodies.

No matter whom you are if you want to look like a movie star than you have to exercise and eat healthy. If you want the magic pill; exercise and diet are it. Exercise builds the sexy tone lean muscles we like and your diet trains your body to burn fat and lose those love handles.

The movie star plan combines cardio and strength training with a balanced 5 small meals a day diet. What works for movie stars is exactly how Live Lean Today set up their fitness and diet plans. You don’t need expensive equipment or a lot of time. A few hours a day and some dumbbells and a stability ball will have you on your way to the new hot sexy movie star you.

Cardio Training has two major goals. The first goal is to train your body to use fat effectively as a fuel source. This allows your body to adequately burn fat on a daily basis. The second goal is to increase your metabolism so you burn more energy on a daily basis. Studies have demonstrated that people who do interval cardio training burn more fat while not exercising that doing other forms of cardio. Live Lean Today customizes your personal cardio program to optimize these results.

The best bodies have slender tone lean muscles and this is what strength training provides. The key to movie star looks from your strength training is to incorporate core training. Core training engages your abdominal muscles throughout the movements which burns more energy and develops nice looking abs.

lea newmanFive small meals may seem like a lot though it doesn’t have to be. Most people when switching from their current diet to 5 small meals eat fewer calories. When you eat throughout the day your cravings go away and your body starts to burn more fat that ever before. You know this is working because you will have more energy than ever before.

The last step to creating a movie star body is a personal trainer. Always on the news we here what the next celebrity trainer is talking about. You probably can’t afford your own celebrity trainer though with Live Lean Today you get all the benefits of a personal trainer and dietician for less than a gym membership. Live Lean Today is the only personal training website that allows you talk in real time to your own online personal trainer and dietician. Professional support is the key to overcome the weight loss and fitness challenges and personal trainers are the difference for movie stars to create their amazing bodies.

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Wednesday, April 7, 2010

Governor Schwarzenegger Issues Challenge To All California Schools' Students

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Long before Arnold Schwarzenegger ran for governor of California, physical fitness was at the forefront of his career. He won a succession of bodybuilding titles from 1964 to 1970. He had been named Mr. Germany and Mr. Universe by the age of twenty. Schwarzenegger brought bodybuilding to the national spotlight, when he won the Mr. Olympia title, holding it from 1970-1975 and 1980.

His acting career took off with the successful Conan the Barbarian with Schwarzenegger in the lead and chosen specifically for his perfect physique. In 1997, he was proclaimed the greatest bodybuilder of the 20th century, and the Guiness Book of World Records named him the most perfectly developed man in the history of the world.

Among his many business ventures, Schwarzenegger owns World Gym Enterprises and All Star Fitness Products, and is co-responsible for the Arnold Classic Pro Bodybuilding and Fitness shows. Additionally, he headed the Council on Physical Fitness and Sports for former President Bush.

Is it any wonder that, as governor for the state of California, Schwarzenegger wants California schools' students to exercise more, eat better, and be more physically fit. To that end, he has issued a challenge to all California schools' students in order promote an increased level of physical activity.

He wants all kindergarten through 12th grade California schools' students to run, jump and squat for 30-to-60 minutes a day, at least three times a week for the next four weeks. The incentive the school with the highest percentage of participation at the end of the four-week challenge wins a new fitness center/gymnasium. The next eleven school runner-ups will each receive $1,000 with which to purchase fitness equipment.

Schwarzenegger's promotion of healthy California schools' students doesn't end there. Two bills have been introduced to improve school nutrition, effective July 2007. One bill requires all foods sold in California schools' vending machines to meet high nutritional standards, regulating the number of calories for both fat and sugar. The second bill limits the type of drinks sold at California schools to water, milk, and some fruit and sport drinks that are low in sweeteners.

Not only is Schwarzenegger big on physical fitness and its benefits to California schools' children, who are among the nation's growing obese statistics, but a statewide review on physical fitness within the California schools was released last November 2006. The findings were atrocious.

The study found that nearly half of the California school's ninth graders could not briskly run one mile. Almost 1.4 million California school's students were tested in fifth, seventh and ninth grades. Less than a third met all minimum benchmarks for body fat, abdominal strength, and flexibility.

Governor Schwarzenegger is doing what it takes to help California schools' students become and stay physically fit. If children do not do it while in school, it can affect their entire adult life with obese-related illnesses and health problems.

Parents, teachers and California schools interested in participating can register online and track their schools' progress against other California schools at: http://www.calgovcouncil.org.

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