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Friday, July 29, 2011
Young women in music industry need support
Like everyone else, we at CoverGirl were both saddened and shocked to learn this week of the tragically premature death of Amy Winehouse.
Although she had a sound and a style that harked back to the glory years of Motown, Winehouse, with her dark beehive, rockabilly tattoos and diminutive frame, which belied her deep and capacious sound, was truly inimitable.
Already the consensus is that, despite being just 27-years-old and only two studio albums into her career, Winehouse’s place in the pantheon of great British vocalists is truly assured.
In a sense, there is a feeling that the singer, like other members of the “27-club”, such as Jim Morrison, Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin, didn’t live any less of a life than many of us who go on to live well into dignified old age – It could be said that all of these artists lived a kind of distilled existence, where in their short lives they produced truly remarkable music that will still be resounding loudly and profoundly in the world long after most of us are forgotten.
But this does not in anyway lessen the tragedy or the thoughts of what might have been had they gone on to live longer lives.
The death also reminds us of the unique pressures endured by young people and, increasingly, young women, in the music business.
For whatever reasons, drug addiction and alcoholism are rife in an industry where younger people surely need more protection.
This, no doubt, is a truism, yet we should be wary of stereotyping. There are plenty of responsible and sober young women in the music business who are frequently and unfairly tarred with the brush of prejudice, a fact which can cause especial problems when they are trying to obtain insurance policies, whether for life insurance, workplace insurance or car insurance, and come against insure algorithms that bracket them as “high risk”.
Although she had a sound and a style that harked back to the glory years of Motown, Winehouse, with her dark beehive, rockabilly tattoos and diminutive frame, which belied her deep and capacious sound, was truly inimitable.
Already the consensus is that, despite being just 27-years-old and only two studio albums into her career, Winehouse’s place in the pantheon of great British vocalists is truly assured.
In a sense, there is a feeling that the singer, like other members of the “27-club”, such as Jim Morrison, Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin, didn’t live any less of a life than many of us who go on to live well into dignified old age – It could be said that all of these artists lived a kind of distilled existence, where in their short lives they produced truly remarkable music that will still be resounding loudly and profoundly in the world long after most of us are forgotten.
But this does not in anyway lessen the tragedy or the thoughts of what might have been had they gone on to live longer lives.
The death also reminds us of the unique pressures endured by young people and, increasingly, young women, in the music business.
For whatever reasons, drug addiction and alcoholism are rife in an industry where younger people surely need more protection.
This, no doubt, is a truism, yet we should be wary of stereotyping. There are plenty of responsible and sober young women in the music business who are frequently and unfairly tarred with the brush of prejudice, a fact which can cause especial problems when they are trying to obtain insurance policies, whether for life insurance, workplace insurance or car insurance, and come against insure algorithms that bracket them as “high risk”.
Photo by 55Laney69 via Flickr, under Creative Commons Licence
Labels: 27 Club, Amy Winehouse, car insurance, Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison, Jimi Hendrix, young women
Monday, July 25, 2011
A Mini in bloom
It’s nice getting a bunch of flowers from someone and it’s nice seeing a classic British car proudly trundling along next to all the new models on the UK highways.
Birmingham City Council seems to think so too because for the Royal Horticultural Society National Flowerbed competition at the Tatton Flower Show in Cheshire this year, it covered an iconic 1959 Mini in flowers and foliage.
The rest of the council’s flowerbed scene included a vegetal road, and a shrubbery person about to use a leafy zebra crossing, complete with bushy belisha beacons on either side of a flower-adorned pavement.
The flowery Mini was in competition with many other entries from a variety of local authorities, other councils, and community groups from all over the country.
It didn’t win gold at this event, but it managed to gain a Silver-Gilt Flora award, and prior to that it did win gold at the Gardeners’ World Live Show and silver at the Chelsea Flower Show.
Well done Birmingham City Council and congratulations to you, classic Mini!
Birmingham City Council seems to think so too because for the Royal Horticultural Society National Flowerbed competition at the Tatton Flower Show in Cheshire this year, it covered an iconic 1959 Mini in flowers and foliage.The rest of the council’s flowerbed scene included a vegetal road, and a shrubbery person about to use a leafy zebra crossing, complete with bushy belisha beacons on either side of a flower-adorned pavement.
The flowery Mini was in competition with many other entries from a variety of local authorities, other councils, and community groups from all over the country.
It didn’t win gold at this event, but it managed to gain a Silver-Gilt Flora award, and prior to that it did win gold at the Gardeners’ World Live Show and silver at the Chelsea Flower Show.
Well done Birmingham City Council and congratulations to you, classic Mini!
Image © Birmingham News Room via Flickr, under Creative Commons Licence
Labels: Birmingham City Council, British, car, classic, flower, highway, Mini
Friday, July 22, 2011
Little car – big racing
If, like me, you love Citroen 2CVs, you should get yourself to Snetterton Race track in Norfolk for the annual Classic 2CV 24-hour race on the 27th and 28th August.
Ok, so 2CVs don’t readily spring to mind when you think about endurance racing, and you might think that spending that amount of time in the rickety tin box which forms the greater part of the endearing little French vehicle may be a bit tough on your bones, but, so the Classic 2CV Racing Club says, the humble car lends itself particularly well to the challenges posed by a 24 hour duel.
The organisers say that many driver/enthusiasts believe that endurance racing is more “civilised” than sprint racing and that the ethos is about preserving the cars rather than smashing and crashing into each other at the first corner.
I’ve never raced one, but they say the little vehicles are really fun to race and their lack of horsepower (most have a mere 49bhp) mean that it’s important to get the hang of sliding through corners so you don’t lose speed in braking.
If all this has whetted your appetite and you’re thinking that maybe you’d like to enter next year’s race, then here’s what you’ll need (apart from a Citroen 2CV of course):
So, is anyone up for making the CoverGirl 2CV Racing Team a reality – I would love to have a go!
Ok, so 2CVs don’t readily spring to mind when you think about endurance racing, and you might think that spending that amount of time in the rickety tin box which forms the greater part of the endearing little French vehicle may be a bit tough on your bones, but, so the Classic 2CV Racing Club says, the humble car lends itself particularly well to the challenges posed by a 24 hour duel.The organisers say that many driver/enthusiasts believe that endurance racing is more “civilised” than sprint racing and that the ethos is about preserving the cars rather than smashing and crashing into each other at the first corner.
I’ve never raced one, but they say the little vehicles are really fun to race and their lack of horsepower (most have a mere 49bhp) mean that it’s important to get the hang of sliding through corners so you don’t lose speed in braking.
If all this has whetted your appetite and you’re thinking that maybe you’d like to enter next year’s race, then here’s what you’ll need (apart from a Citroen 2CV of course):
- Three or four drivers (men or women) – depending on budget
- A team manager – to report driver changes among other tasks
- A refueller – wearing fire-retardant clothing
- A fireman, or fire marshal – to be ready with a fire extinguisher at pit stops
- Mechanics – to carry out repairs, top up fluids, change engines, etc.
So, is anyone up for making the CoverGirl 2CV Racing Team a reality – I would love to have a go!
Image © Martin Pettitt, via Flickr under Creative Commons Licence
Labels: 24-hour race, 2CV, drivers, women
Monday, July 18, 2011
Trapped in a chocolate shop? I don’t BEElieve it.
Can you think of anything much better than being trapped in a chocolate shop? Well, unless you’re on a diet at the moment – no, probably not.
Come on! There are much worse places to be trapped aren’t there? The motorway, for example!
Well recently that’s exactly what happened to the staff of a Thorntons chocolate shop in Herefordshire.
Noticing some bees around the shop entrance, they closed the door to stop them coming in and suddenly found themselves incarcerated in their delicious store when a whole swarm of bees landed on and around the door.
“It was like something from a horror film,” an employee explained, “one minute the sky was clear and then suddenly there was a cloud of black and yellow coming straight for us.”
It took them two and a half hours to rid themselves of the bees with the help of a beekeeper.
Apparently the queen bee had been expelled from her hive by a younger female bee, and most of her loyal courtiers had flown off with her to act as royal bodyguards.
It must have been a relatively frightening experience, but we can’t help but feel a little less sorry for them because of their location at the time.
Come on! There are much worse places to be trapped aren’t there? The motorway, for example!
Well recently that’s exactly what happened to the staff of a Thorntons chocolate shop in Herefordshire. Noticing some bees around the shop entrance, they closed the door to stop them coming in and suddenly found themselves incarcerated in their delicious store when a whole swarm of bees landed on and around the door.
“It was like something from a horror film,” an employee explained, “one minute the sky was clear and then suddenly there was a cloud of black and yellow coming straight for us.”
It took them two and a half hours to rid themselves of the bees with the help of a beekeeper.
Apparently the queen bee had been expelled from her hive by a younger female bee, and most of her loyal courtiers had flown off with her to act as royal bodyguards.
It must have been a relatively frightening experience, but we can’t help but feel a little less sorry for them because of their location at the time.
Photo by blumenbiene via Flickr, under Creative Commons Licence
Labels: bees, chocolate, motorway, Thorntons, trapped
Friday, July 15, 2011
Driving? Don’t hurt yourselves ladies!
We may all be a little too used to jokes about women drivers – but it’s no surprise that they exist when in the 50’s, right up until the early 70s, cars were being sold by very sexist advertising.
We can laugh at it now, but the Daimler 104 Ladies’ Model, which had electric windows so that women didn’t have to ruin their nails, and simplified gears so that we wouldn’t get confused behind the wheel, did exist.
As did a warning film about women drivers produced by the British government, a young lady in an advert who marvelled at the Morris Mini Cooper’s winding windows cheerfully stating “I like the way it goes up and down!”, and the Cortina/Reliant Scimitar hybrid’s slogan “Men! Let There Be No Sleepless Nights If the Wife Can Drive!”
Charming.
We put up with a lot, us women drivers! Nice to know that nowadays we’re generally considered safer motorists than our male counterparts.
We can laugh at it now, but the Daimler 104 Ladies’ Model, which had electric windows so that women didn’t have to ruin their nails, and simplified gears so that we wouldn’t get confused behind the wheel, did exist. As did a warning film about women drivers produced by the British government, a young lady in an advert who marvelled at the Morris Mini Cooper’s winding windows cheerfully stating “I like the way it goes up and down!”, and the Cortina/Reliant Scimitar hybrid’s slogan “Men! Let There Be No Sleepless Nights If the Wife Can Drive!”
Charming.
We put up with a lot, us women drivers! Nice to know that nowadays we’re generally considered safer motorists than our male counterparts.
Image from kchrist_album via photobucket
Labels: Daimler 104, gears, Morris Mini Cooper, motorist, wheel, women drivers
Thursday, July 7, 2011
New car Evoques frantic advanced purchasing
Did you think that the Range Rover Evoque was stylish? Were you thinking about trying to buy one?
Well they’ve sold out for the year already, so you can just join the waiting list with everyone else.
Yes, the production line only churned out the very first one on Monday, but what is apparently the most eco-friendly Range Rover vehicle yet has proven very popular already and there’s an advanced orders queue of 18,000 long.
According to the Range Rover Evoque, Pulse of the City site the car designers took inspiration “from the architecture of the greatest cities around the world,” giving the vehicle “dramatic lines, muscular shoulders and signature floating roofline”.
It certainly sounds inviting, and since Victoria Beckham has been named the new creative design executive of the brand maybe Range Rover will be the car to be seen in.
We doubt Mrs Beckham will have to wait in line with everyone else if she wants and Evoque…
As for the remaining rabble – come join us at the back of the queue.
Well they’ve sold out for the year already, so you can just join the waiting list with everyone else.
Yes, the production line only churned out the very first one on Monday, but what is apparently the most eco-friendly Range Rover vehicle yet has proven very popular already and there’s an advanced orders queue of 18,000 long.According to the Range Rover Evoque, Pulse of the City site the car designers took inspiration “from the architecture of the greatest cities around the world,” giving the vehicle “dramatic lines, muscular shoulders and signature floating roofline”.
It certainly sounds inviting, and since Victoria Beckham has been named the new creative design executive of the brand maybe Range Rover will be the car to be seen in.
We doubt Mrs Beckham will have to wait in line with everyone else if she wants and Evoque…
As for the remaining rabble – come join us at the back of the queue.
Image by Land Rover Our Planet via Flickr, under Creative Commons Licence
Labels: car, Evoque, Range Rover, vehicle, Victoria Beckham
Beautiful blue Bugatti bought
If you bought something in a sale, kept it preciously for many years, and then managed to sell it on for more than 300 times its original value – you’d be pleased, right?
Well, the family of a man who found an old Bugatti type 35B at an aerodrome 61 years ago have done just that.
Jack Perkins paid £60 for it (£1,300 in today’s money) and was determined to make the vehicle as good as new and faster than it had ever been before.
When the Bugatti’s saviour died in 1992, the vehicle was given to his widow who made sure that her late husband’s beloved automobile was displayed at Haynes Motor Museum in Somerset for all to see.
Recently however, the family decided it was time that the car was given a real home again and put it up for auction during this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed. It fetched £430,500.
The car was bought by a private British buyer, a fact that the auction house are reportedly very pleased about.
Mr Perkins raced the car many times, and, although the engine was not quite up to speed after its lengthy time off the tarmac, hopefully the classic motor will once again have a chance to grace a UK race track after receiving a little love, affection and a thorough service from its new owner.
Well, the family of a man who found an old Bugatti type 35B at an aerodrome 61 years ago have done just that.Jack Perkins paid £60 for it (£1,300 in today’s money) and was determined to make the vehicle as good as new and faster than it had ever been before.
When the Bugatti’s saviour died in 1992, the vehicle was given to his widow who made sure that her late husband’s beloved automobile was displayed at Haynes Motor Museum in Somerset for all to see.
Recently however, the family decided it was time that the car was given a real home again and put it up for auction during this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed. It fetched £430,500.
The car was bought by a private British buyer, a fact that the auction house are reportedly very pleased about.
Mr Perkins raced the car many times, and, although the engine was not quite up to speed after its lengthy time off the tarmac, hopefully the classic motor will once again have a chance to grace a UK race track after receiving a little love, affection and a thorough service from its new owner.
Image by Starcowboy via photobucket
Friday, July 1, 2011
Legalisation of automated cars – it has begun!
Before the news broke some months ago, Google had been testing their driverless cars secretly in California with very few hitches.
However, many motorists won’t be expecting these vehicles’ introduction onto showroom floors for a long time yet. Electric cars had a hard enough time getting accepted by the wider public and they’re still driven, reassuringly for some, by human beings.
Yet, the state of Nevada in America seems to be getting ready for the automated hybrid cars’ arrival onto the roads already.
Legislation which would allow the driverless cars to legally circulate on Nevada’s roads, having been purchased by private owners just like “normal” vehicles, is being given the thumbs up by the state.
One bill amendment involves the licensing and testing of automated cars and the other amendment, which has yet to be passed, would allow for driverless car owners to be exempt from texting behind the wheel offences.
Who knows, since Nevada is gearing up for automated vehicles, maybe they’ll be on the roads sooner than we think.
We can’t wait – it will mean longer lie-ins in the mornings because we’ll be able to do our make-up and hair in the car.
However, many motorists won’t be expecting these vehicles’ introduction onto showroom floors for a long time yet. Electric cars had a hard enough time getting accepted by the wider public and they’re still driven, reassuringly for some, by human beings.
Yet, the state of Nevada in America seems to be getting ready for the automated hybrid cars’ arrival onto the roads already.
Legislation which would allow the driverless cars to legally circulate on Nevada’s roads, having been purchased by private owners just like “normal” vehicles, is being given the thumbs up by the state.
One bill amendment involves the licensing and testing of automated cars and the other amendment, which has yet to be passed, would allow for driverless car owners to be exempt from texting behind the wheel offences.
Who knows, since Nevada is gearing up for automated vehicles, maybe they’ll be on the roads sooner than we think.
We can’t wait – it will mean longer lie-ins in the mornings because we’ll be able to do our make-up and hair in the car.
Image from warrentedarrest via Flickr, under Creative Commons Licence
Labels: automated, car, driverless, Google, motorists, vehicle
Nissan at the Goodwood Festival of Speed
At the Goodwood Festival of Speed this weekend, Nissan will try to break two records using the Leaf and the Juke.
One record it hopes to set, using the Nissan Leaf and professional stunt driver Terry Grant (right), is the fastest vehicle reverse up the Goodwood Hillclimb course which rises more than 300ft from the start-line to the finish.
This feat will only be achievable because engineers will have removed the car’s reverse-speed limiter – enabling the vehicle to reach a maximum of 90mph while travelling backwards.
The second record attempt will potentially be set by the Nissan Juke when Mr Grant will drive the car up the course on two wheels only. This attempt will, thankfully, not be performed backwards.
The stunt driver stated, "I've experienced Goodwood before but never attempted to set a new record.
"To have the chance to grab not only one but two records at the same event will hopefully provide everyone with a very entertaining spectacle."
We have no doubt that it will be – good luck Nissan and good luck Terry Grant!
One record it hopes to set, using the Nissan Leaf and professional stunt driver Terry Grant (right), is the fastest vehicle reverse up the Goodwood Hillclimb course which rises more than 300ft from the start-line to the finish.This feat will only be achievable because engineers will have removed the car’s reverse-speed limiter – enabling the vehicle to reach a maximum of 90mph while travelling backwards.
The second record attempt will potentially be set by the Nissan Juke when Mr Grant will drive the car up the course on two wheels only. This attempt will, thankfully, not be performed backwards.
The stunt driver stated, "I've experienced Goodwood before but never attempted to set a new record.
"To have the chance to grab not only one but two records at the same event will hopefully provide everyone with a very entertaining spectacle."
We have no doubt that it will be – good luck Nissan and good luck Terry Grant!
Image by helena.40proof via Flickr, under Creative Commons Licence
Labels: Festival of Speed, Goodwood, Nissan Juke, Nissan Leaf, stunt driver