How theme parks can improve mental health

Roller coasters and mental health sound like words that don't belong in the same sentence. Wrong! A lot of people say that going on rides like roller coasters actually improves their mental health. According to Week99er.com, here's their take on mental health and roller coasters.

Banshee at Kings Island, Mason, Ohio. This is my all time favorite ride here. This is what I call a "locker ride" because you need to rent a locker to put your belongings in otherwise you lose them on the barrel rolls and inversions. This has to be the one ride here I was super excited to ride. Riding it at night affords the opportunity to see the beautiful cathedral lights at the station all illuminated

It's a getaway

Everyone needs an occasional getaway from the rut we wear ourselves into. Every day, we are, more or less, on autopilot. We need a getaway to de-stress, relax and just enjoy life. Theme parks are good for the mind because they allow you to escape your troubles for a time. Not surprisingly, counselors can also help with that. But, theme parks allow you to just breathe and relax for a time. Getting away from stress is very good for you

Face those fears

There are two types of people in theme parks: those who love thrill rides and those who don't. For the "those who don't" people, it's understandable. Sharp turns, steep drops, fast running rides. Theme parks help you tackle those fears head on. Tackling a fear head on is the best way to conquer it. You can start off small by getting on smaller rides with less thrill and working your way up to the top of the line thrill machines. Eventually, your fear of coasters will be far behind you

Bonding experience

Most if not all people go to theme parks with at least one other person, if not a group. Families with gaggles of kids go to theme parks. Couples go to theme parks. You're rarely alone. Doing all of the activities a theme park has to offer allows you to bond with the ones you're going with. You can even make new friends at the park

A great teacher of planning

A lot of people go to theme parks with a set plan in mind. Do not stray. Stay on track. Going to theme parks should be about exploring all the little nooks and crannies it offers. Exploring the different restaurants and themed areas. Exploring the attractions within those themed areas. Going to a theme park far from your home does require some pre-planning. Planning your work schedule, in other words, how much time off from work you'll need. Financial planning, how much money you will need or if you can use your bank card. Having an idea of what you want to do once you reach that park also helps. Staying organized and having a goal in mind helps keep mental health in check

Exercise

Some people jokingly say "extra fries". One thing theme parks offer is plenty of exercise. Constantly walking will burn off the calories from the pretzel you just ate or the food you ate at lunch. Exercise releases endorphins, the "feel good" chemicals. You don't need to overdo it on the exercise to get those feel good feelings. Going to a theme park and just imagining what you can do also gives that great feeling. By the end of the day, you'll have a rush of good feeling come over you

Travel experience

It's quite common to make a vacation out of going to a theme park. Many theme parks are out of state or in another city. It makes for an interesting vacation because going to that park, you can see how the locals near the park live every day. Travel benefits mental health in many ways. Besides the feeling of escaping the every day norm, you can expand your horizons and find out how other parts of the world live their lives. Even other towns or cities can be good; it can be an experience that stimulates the senses

Being outside

Being outside always does good for mental health. Breathing in fresh air. Seeing sunshine. Feeling the warm sun wash over you. Vitamin D is one of the vitamins you can get from the sun. In that case, soak it up, as long as you put on sunscreen or tanning oil; you want Vitamin D, not skin cancer.

SWAT (2017)

A revamped version of the classic 1975 TV show, this show, just like the original, follows a team of highly trained men and women on the Los Angeles Police Department's SWAT task force.

Summary

-A group of highly trained men and women under a local SWAT team leader solve crime in Los Angeles

Cast

-Shemar Moore: Sgt. Daniel "Hondo" Harrelson

-Jay Harrington: Sgt. David "Deacon" Kay

-David Lim: Officer Victor Tan

-Alex Russell: Officer Jim Street

-Kenny Johnson: Officer Dominique Luca

-Patrick St. Esprit: Commander Robert "Bob" Hicks

-Lina Esco: Officer Chris Alonso

-Stephanie Sigman: Captain Jessica Cortez

-Rochelle Aytes: Nichelle Carmichael

-Amy Farrington: Lt. Piper Lynch

Did You Know?

-On the show, Dominique Luca (Kenny Johnson) will often arm wrestle to win money for charity. In real life, Kenny Johnson was a top grade arm wrestler until he retired from competing in 1995

-Angelica Scarlet Johnson, who plays Kelly, is the real life daughter of Kenny Johnson off screen

-Normally, the only time SWAT officers are called in is in situations involving heavily armed suspects or hostage situations. The team on this show is seen performing duties that regular police officers could do. It's only to add more story lines for episodes

-Rochelle Aytes, who plays Hondo's girlfriend on SWAT, also appeared on Criminal Minds, playing his girlfriend

-A lot of police terminology was used on the show. GND is Gangs and Narcotics Division of the Los Angeles Police. The method to clearing out a house or room uses numbers. The main entrance is labeled 1. The other sides of the house are labelled 2,3,4, etc., in a clockwise pattern. The corners where these sides meet are labeled with numbers and slashes in the middle: 1/2, 2/3, 3/4, etc.

-The character Jim Street was played by Irish actor Colin Farrell in the movie version and by Australian actor Alex Russell in the TV version

-Three of the actors on this show also appeared on the FX program Sons of Anarchy. Kenny Johnson, Patrick St. Esprit and Chandler Long

10 health benefits of visiting theme parks

Whether you believe it or not, there are health benefits to visiting theme parks. All the walking you do burns off any unhealthy food you may have eaten. You can sweat out any bad stuff. Going on rides gets the adrenaline racing and thus, destroys stress.

1. A lot of walking

Walking is perfect cardio. It gets the heart rate up and thus, allows you to burn calories. Perfect for burning off that pretzel you bought or the pizza you ate

2. Burn calories on the coasters and fast rides

While riding these intense rides, you are actually burning calories screaming and riding those intense rides

3. Reduce stress

This is a big one for a lot of people. Riding roller coasters and going to theme parks can drastically reduce stress. Our brains release the "good fear" feeling, telling the rest of our bodies that, despite the nauseating drops and zig zagging tracks, the rides are "safe". They become therapeutic and thus, allow us to relax and have fun. And besides, if it was not safe, the attendants would not allow anyone on

4. Boost for mood

You get an incredibly high adrenaline rush after riding a roller coaster. It will leave you happy and excited. It's said that the higher the altitude, the more endorphins that get released. These are the good chemicals. The ones that are usually associated with good feelings. The endorphins sharpen your senses and makes you feel recharged. Going to theme parks is a great way to improve your mood and reduce stress

5. Adrenaline rush

Nothing gets the heart pumping like slowing climbing a hill to go sailing over it down a steep hill. Roller coasters and thrill rides get the adrenaline pumping through your body. The endorphins that get released in our bodies is responsible for the "good fear" we experience. It gives you the same natural high as if you had just finished a set of intense exercise

6. Muscle toner

As you're getting tossed from side to side around the curves on roller coasters and going down steep drops, you're actually building muscle. When you anticipate the drops and curves, you're especially working your core muscles, the same types of muscles you'd normally exercise at the gym

7. Great for workouts

This is a great workout. Your body is releasing adrenaline and endorphins, which is telling you "again, again". These chemicals help work out your muscles and cause you to start sweating, even while walking through the park. Going to a theme park will give you the same amount of exercise as a day at the gym

8. Defeating fears

It can be fearsome going to a theme park. Looking at the rides from the ground up can be daunting. But, looks are deceiving. If the rides weren't safe, no one would be allowed on. Going to theme parks is a perfect way to overcome fear. Fear of large crowds and thrill rides actually harms the immune system. Visiting theme parks helps you overcome this fear. Just plunge head first into the crowd and you will find increased confidence, self esteem and overcome fears. Just remember, everyone is probably going to be as nervous as you riding that big coaster. And it also helps to talk to veteran riders of the ride; they'll tell you how it is on the rides

9. Strengthen bonding time with family and friends

It's no surprise that amusement parks make popular destinations for vacations. Families and groups of friends will go to amusement parks together. You'll create memories, have fun, get away from the autopilot way of life and get entertainment

10. Great for socialization

You can meet all sorts of people at amusement parks. You can meet locals and even citizens of other countries and cultures. Going with a group of people provides ample opportunity to meet people. Even being with a group, you can still talk to people who seem interesting to you

Blaze Bayley dismisses grunge - "It was trying to kill Iron Maiden"

Blaze Bayley dismisses the whole grunge genre, describing it as "trying to kill Iron Maiden".

Blaze Bayley, formerly of the band Wolfsbane, was hired by Iron Maiden in the mid 1990s to replace former vocalist Bruce Dickinson. Blaze dismissed the grunge bands, saying it was "trying to kill Iron Maiden". During a recent interview on the Crowcast podcast, Bayley said "When I was in Maiden, we were at war with grunge. Grunge was trying to kill us. The U.K. press, they thought the sun shone out of various bands' bottoms and they wanted Maiden to die." When he refers to "those bands", he is referencing bands like Soundgarden, Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Stone Temple Pilots, Alice in Chains and others, who released albums from 1991-1994. He also referenced a show that Iron Maiden played in Seattle, which he referred to as "the heartland of death". He said it was not a good show at at all. "There were these people looking at us like we were some kind of dinosaur, and they were going 'Why aren't they dead yet?' And then you've got a few rows at the front going 'Maiden! Yes!' It's just unbelievable. And that's the war that we had with The X Factor and Virtual XI. We were fighting for the very existence of real heavy metal. And where are they now? Metal is forever, 'cause it's in the heart of fans."

Glenn Hughes is still embarrassed about 1986 Seventh Star tour with Black Sabbath

The 1986 Black Sabbath album Seventh Star was meant to be a solo album for Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi. The record label it was on wanted the name Black Sabbath on it. As such, Tony brought in his good friend Glenn Hughes to sing on it. Unfortunately, to this day, Glenn is still embarrassed by his behavior during those years.

A lot of people still, to this day, don't know what to make of the 1986 album by Black Sabbath Seventh Star. Tony Iommi insisted it was a solo album. But his label made him put the Black Sabbath name on it. Unfortunately, recording the album got off on the wrong foot to begin with. Tony's good friend Glenn Hughes was basically all but blacklisted from the music world at that point. He was seen as a letdown, a failure. His good friend Tony had a project that he believed Glenn would be perfect for. Unfortunately, Glenn was in the throes of deep drug addiction. The tour supporting the album went well for a period, but then a violent fight started backstage, with Glenn in the middle. He had to be replaced. Tony replaced Glenn with Ray Gillen to finish out the tour. When Hughes looks back on that period, he says, to this day, it still embarrasses him

During an interview with Soundclash, Glenn Hughes had said "The worst and most embarrassing moments for me in my career was when I was with Tony Iommi on those five shows where I had a very bad fight with someone and I had some bones broken in my nose and it consequently stopped me from singing. That was embarrassing for me." Hughes had come to success in the 1970s with three piece band Trapeze, with Mel Galley and future Judas Priest drummer Dave Holland. Then he hit the big time when he joined Deep Purple. He would go on to work with Chad Smith of The Red Hot Chili Peppers and Tony Iommi again. He would have two projects called California Breed and Black Country Communion (which morphed into California Breed). The most important thing is that he got his act together and got sober. He's now more than 25 years clean and sober and working every day to make sure his addiction issues don't rear their ugly head again

"I'm not frightened to dream. I've worked with the greatest, and I'll probably work with some more. I just think that I don't try to think too much about what's coming down the pipeline for me. All I know is that tonight I'm going to have some dinner with my friends. Tomorrow is not here yet. I'm really being serious with that. I don't know what the h--- is going to happen. I just need to get some sleep and the rest is history."

Why it's not a bad thing to visit theme parks alone

Some people think it's stupid to go to theme parks alone. They say it's no fun. But when you weigh the pros against the cons, the pros outweigh the cons by a vast stretch. According to a December 2018 article from Theme Park Insider Robert Niles, he has quite a few pros for going to the theme parks alone.

This is Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio. The yellow ride that looks like an arch is Top Thrill Dragster. The blue ride at left is Millennium Force. The ride second from the right, with the dome on top is Power Tower, a four way ride that takes riders to the top and then drops them unexpectedly

Also, if you plan on visiting Cedar Point and you don't want to drive, your best best is to fly into Cleveland Airport and rent a car to drive to the park

Single rider lines

A lot of rides offer single rider lines. These are often employed by every theme park to fill the ride to maximum capacity. It ensures that almost every seat has a rider. It reduces the waiting time for not just those waiting in the multi rider line, but also the ones flying solo. While it is normal to go to parks in groups, sometimes those groups get split up by getting on the rides.

Moving through a crowded park

Trying to move through a crowded park can sometimes be stressful, especially when you're with a group. Going solo means you move at your own pace. As a solo visitor, you can swerve around the lovey dovey couples who want to hold hands constantly, the family with the gaggle of kids running around and those who walk at a slower pace

Moving to your own pace

It doesn't have to be go, go go when you go solo. You can move to your own pace. By going solo, you are the captain of your adventure. You can move at your own pace and seek out all the unique insights that park has to offer with out any lip from other people. Going in a group is fine, but it's give and take. Some want to do one thing while others want to do another. Some want to ride only intense rides while some only want to play games. Going solo, you can move at your own pace

You almost never have to wait for the next show, car, etc

A lot of parks will try to fill as many of the seats as they can on rides. Attendants will, more often than not, call for parties of one or two to skip ahead in the line to fill the seats. Going solo ensures you get on the rides faster. That's not to say you have to go to the park solo all the time, but big groups tend to present more problems. Going solo means you can get on rides faster

When paying for just one airfare, you can go pretty far

There are not just solo advantages inside parks. If you're the one footing a bill for a family vacation, wait until the children are grown and you don't have to pay for their airfare to Orlando. The money that would have been spent on their airfare can now be put towards an international theme park, like Disney Tokyo or Cheshire Park / Alton Towers / Flamingo Land in England. Or you can afford to visit both Disney Land and Disney World in the same year. Going solo does allow for more flexibility in booking a room because you only need one bed. Hotels do have rooms for single travellers and even if they book you in a room with two beds, just sleep in the one bed. And you can have peace of mind knowing the whole room is yours. No sharing the bathroom with anyone

You can blend into the crowd

Amusement parks are typically high energy, crowded places. You won't get just families with gaggles of kids, but also adults in couples, adults travelling solo and even the odd occasional family from another country who has travelled to that park on vacation (or holiday, depending on what country they are from). If you have any sort of social anxiety, don't worry about standing out because you won't be labelled a solo traveler. People going to these parks will most likely assume you're part of a group who went off in another direction. Honestly, no one cares if you are there alone. Parks are filled with people on solo missions all the time. You can blend into the crowd, totally fine. You can also chat up random strangers and end up coming out with a new friend or two. You can visit theme parks alone and it will still end up being fine

Hugh Jackman on rumors of taking steroids for the role of Wolverine

Anyone who has seen the X-Men movies and seen Hugh Jackman as the claw-wielding mutant Wolverine will see that he's incredibly muscular. Hugh Jackman has vehemently denied taking steroids to put on that kind of muscle tone.

During a recent interview with Chris Wallace on the HBO program Who's Talking to Chris Wallace, Hugh Jackman stated he has never taken steroids to put on that kind of muscle tone. Wallace asked "Over the years, people have wondered did he juice? Did he take steroids?" Jackman answered flat out "No, I love my job and I love Wolverine. I got to be careful what I say here, but I had been told anecdotally what the side effects are of that. And I was like 'I don't love it that much.' So no, I just did it the old school way. And I tell you, I've eaten more chickens - I'm so sorry to all the vegans and vegetarians and to the chickens of the world. Literally the karma is not good for me. If the deity has anything related to chickens, I'm in trouble."

Also in the interview, he admitted he studied wolves after accepting the role of Wolverine ahead of the 2000 film X-Men. "I had never read the comic book, I got the part. I didn't really know anything about...I didn't, in Australia, we don't have wolverines. I didn't know that was a real animal. I'd never heard of a wolverine. I thought it was a made-up animal. You know, like, he's got man hands of steel, made up. And so I was passing as I was doing rehearsal at the Imax, they had this documentary about wolves. And I was like, perfect, because obviously I'm a wolf, part wolf. So I went [to set] with all these wolf moves and I was doing these moves, and the director said 'What are you doing?' And I said 'Well, I was just thinking wolves are always looking like this because they're actually smelling, they've got their nose to the ground. That's why they're looking like this all the time. And he goes 'What do you mean a wolf?' And I said 'Well, you know, Wolverine - I'm part wolf, so...' and he goes 'No, you're a wolverine'."

Hugh Jackman is bringing back his iconic role as the claw-wielding mutant Wolverine alongside Deadpool in Deadpool 3. He has to wait, however, after he concludes his Broadway run of The Music Man

Steve Harris is against the concept of "pay to play"

This is a ridiculous concept where bands literally have to pay money just to play to people. Iron Maiden bassist Steve Harris is strongly against it.

Recent news stated a band called The Raskins is suing Motley Crue because they had to pay $1 million dollars to join Crue's tour. This opening band stated that Motley Crue ran out on stage with monkey masks on and "sprayed water guns filled with urine" at them. This band had opened for Crue in 2014 and are also stating that, in addition to the high fee they had to "pay to play", they had to play short sets in arenas that were mostly empty when managers refused to open the doors. The PA (public address) system was turned off or messed with during their concerts. The band was not allowed to sell their own merchandise or were given dressing rooms. They were even hit with heavy equipment.

This practice is known as "pay-to-play". According to newspaper The Berkeley Beacon, "Pay-to-play is a business strategy that some concert promoters use, claiming it as a foolproof way to get an audience to a show. It can work a couple of ways. When someone books a big name [artist], who will definitely sell out the venue, an unknown band can pay a lot of money upfront to be put on the bill as the opening act. The hope is that by playing for such a large audience, the opener will make up the difference in new fans. The other type of pay-to-play is when the promoter will only let a band onto a bill if they can sell a quota of tickets. In the past, [a company such as the] Keynote Company has required openers to sell up to $300 worth of tickets for a show, cutting them only $50 if they are successful. This can be extremely detrimental for newer artists, who inevitably end up paying for the unsold passes out of pocket. We all know most novice musicians' pockets are pretty empty to start with, so it is a high-risk scenario either way."

One person who is extremely angry and outspoken against this practice is Iron Maiden bassist Steve Harris. He told The Metal Journal in an interview "I hate it when people charge bands to play with them - I hate that. I've never done that and I will never do it. To me, it's just wrong. A band should get at least some expenses to pay a gig, and they shouldn't have to pay to play. I've always been really against that. I've always tried to help people out." When he was asked why Iron Maiden continue to advocate for upcoming musicians, he said "Well, because we can. Anybody who's in a position Maiden is, any band that can potentially take another band on tour, you can help people. It doesn't take much effort to do that." Harris is also of the firm belief that it's one way to repay the music world for his "fantastic life and career. I've worked very hard, but maybe I've had a bit of luck along the way. At the end of the day it's nice to give something back."

Glenn Hughes is celebrating 25 years of sobriety

Glenn Hughes was known for his massive drug addiction. It came as a surprise to a lot of people when they found out he had gotten sober. And has been sober for now, so far, 25 years.

He said "G'mornin everyone. so full of gratitude, for these past 25 years of clean & sober living. I give thx each & every morning, for another day on planet earth. sending my love to my sober brothers & sisters, and more importantly to those who are still suffering. #loveistheanswer". He posted this on his Twitter account. He even received congratulations from various people in the music industry, including Frank Bello of Anthrax.

In a 2016 Wikipedia: Fact or Fiction segment on Loudwire, Hughes talked about his years of substance abuse and the path to sobriety he currently walks. "I can't remember the 80s." He's been with various bands over the years, including Deep Purple, Black Sabbath, The Dead Daisies, California Breed and Black County Communion. You can read more about the path to sobriety he chose to walk in the excellent autobiography Glenn Hughes: The Autobiography: From Deep Purple to Black County Communion. In it he does not hold back on what it is like to be an addict. He lays it all out on what it's truly like to be addicted to drugs. It's written by him and Joel McIver.

Getting to Know Sebastian Vettel Better

Here are some things you may or may not know about former Formula 1 driver Sebastian Vettel.

In an interview with F1 correspondent and presenter Lawrence Barretto, he learns more than ever about the media shy driver.

By the way, if you see that words like "sceptical" or "organising" are misspelled, he spelled them that way. It's most likely the European spelling of those words instead of American English spelling

He loves to take notes

"When you write with a pen, it's like you write it into your head"

Mario Thiessen, the man in charge of BMW at the time when Vettel was racing for Formula BMW, noted that Vettel would take notes about everything. He would scribble notes about every session and bring them to the following race. He was and still is a note taker. "In general, I love to take notes. I take digital notes with an iPad a bit now, but I prefer just pen and paper. When you write with a pen, it's like you write it into your head, you remember it. Also, these days, the hardware in the iPad or computer changes so often and while I'm very organised in life, with that stuff, I'm not so organised. So I don't have folders to keep for the next generation of computer/platform, and so a lot of the stuff gets lost. But if I write it down, I'm not going to chuck the notebooks away. I still have the notebooks from 2007 and so on. They're useless now, but they are still there. They are still stacked up in a bookshelf."

He has a love / hate relationship with technology

"It's designed to give you more time, but it actually does the opposite"

"I'm quite a fan of the written word. I get the whole point of emails but I think the actual letter is very nice and very personal." Vettel has a clear opinion on emails and technology. While he does acknowledge technology does makes things faster and better, he does say technological advances "are great, it has helped us to be so much faster and more efficient". He thinks it's a "fine line". To explain further, he means there is some negative impact. "A lot of the stuff is designed to actually steal your time to get you hooked. It annoys me, so I'm not a fan of that. Ultimately there is no solution, there is only yourself, and your behavior with the tools you have and the funny thing is that a lot of the stuff is designed to make life simpler and give you more time, but it actually does the opposite, it makes life complicated. I use the stuff, and I think some of the stuff is great, but sometimes I wish it didn't exist so there wouldn't be the temptation. So I think it's a fine line. It allows us to do a lot of stuff, so generally it's progressive and happy to go forward - I don't think we should go back to only pen and paper but I just think as a side effect, it speeds up life in areas where it shouldn't and that's not good for us, for the bigger picture, for our stress and our health."

His take on mobile phones

"If it's an emergency, you get a hold of people, but nowadays we treat everything as if it's an emergency"

Kimi Raikkonen, Vettel's former teammate but good friend is not a fan of phones either. It's particularly text messages that Raikkonen doesn't like. So if you plan on texting either one of these guys, don't expect a quick reply, you simply won't get it. Raikkonen is of the mindset that if someone has something dire that needs to be said, they will call. Vettel thinks the same way.

"How many times does your phone ring in a day? Almost never. And it's supposed to be a phone and now it's doing everything else. What I mean is, if it's an emergency, you get a hold of people, but nowadays we treat everything as if it's an emergency, but we actually don't act the same way about it. People send an email and they want a reply straight away, but it's not important. Not all the emails are important."

Considering the latest technology, such as the Apple iPhone? Does he have it? "I do. To be honest, the main motivator for that is the camera. I tried to go back to digital camera because I hated the fact you could do everything with your phone. I would say the coolest thing about phone is maps. I really love directions and stuff like this. And then the pictures, which allows you to capture a moment, especially with kids and so on. I think that's great. It's also very small. I went back to a digital camera, but it's quite clumsy to have in your pocket."

Why he avoids social media

"I have never tried it, so I'm not missing it"

Vettel is the only driver in Formula 1 not to have some sort of presence on social media. That even extends to the point of having apps to follow other people. The various forms of social media hold no interest for him. "I'm not big on apps, so I don't have lots of apps on phones. I don't do social media and also don't do the social media apps, so I'm not following other people."

"I never tried it and I think it's a good thing because a lot of people tell me they can't get away from it. I have never tried it so I'm not missing it. I've seen how it works with other people roughly and as far as I can tell, it's done in a way that obviously you're addicted. So yeah. Not for me."

He's a massive bookworm

"I have to finish it, because otherwise I feel guilty"

Vettel says he enjoys watching Netflix, but not often, like some people do. If has has the time, his preference is reading - which means reading actual newspapers or physical books rather than the electronic newspapers or books. "I'm a big fan of Sunday newspapers. I don't read news online, more newspaper. A lot of the news nowadays are just headlines, there's actually no content. Nothing against the journalists behind it, but it's mostly the headline, then it's repeating the headline, but actually no new information in the article. That's why Sunday newspapers or certain magazines are good - you know they have to do proper research. I read about all sorts. I don't like one particular subject. It's more about the people I find interesting. If this guy looks funny, I read the article. Of course the headline grabs you as well and then you read. But once I've started, I have to finish it. I have to finish the article, even if it bores me and it's stupid. I always hope it gets better, so I have to finish it, because otherwise I'd feel guilty. I shouldn't - that I haven't read the whole thing. I can't judge until I've read everything."

His attitude towards food

"When I was young, I just accepted it as fuel"

He's simple in his tastes for food. When he's at home, he prefers to cook his own food. One of his weaknesses is pancakes the way his mother used to make them. As he's grown up, his take on food had changed. "When I was young, I just accepted it as fuel. Being a sportsman, you get the fact it literally becomes fuel, you fuel your body to perform blah blah blah, so you try to get the best mix to enhance your performance and have a positive impact on your health. But going even further, I think there is more dynamics around this, as to where does the food come from? To become aware of what you're eating, not just which ingredients, how many calories and what it does to my body, but where does it come from? How was it grown? How was the animal grown/treated? That I find is not yet presented enough in our society, and should be. Now it's completely left to the consumer in a way. But I think there should be some way of organising where you take responsibility a bit away from the consumer, and equally the consumer should be educated more, awareness should be improved so you can make better decisions in a big picture."

Travelling often makes it hard to eat local. "Travelling is the b---- really, as you don't always have the time to look behind the scenes." When he's at home in Switzerland, he makes an effort to eat local and meet the local farmers. "I go to meet them, and see what they do. I want to first-hand convince myself, not that I'm super sceptical with everything, but you're more at peace with yourself. If you have seen it, if you see how it works, and you've spoken to the guy, and you think generally it stacks up, you can make a judgement."

He's unique

He possesses an eagle eye for details and that is what helps Vettel on the F1 grid and seen him take home 53 Grand Prix victories, 120 podiums and four World Championships. It's why he's usually the last driver to leave a circuit; he wants to talk to the team engineers, the team principals and so on. He's busy asking questions about the ins and outs of his car or the strategies the team principals or engineers have. Michael Schumacher, his hero, was successful. Vettel wants to be like him in that sense

Valtteri Bottas Believes That Formula 1 Caused Him to Develop an Eating Disorder

Valtteri Bottas, a Formula 1 driver on the Alfa Romeo team, believes Formula 1 caused him to develop an eating disorder

Three points related to this include: he went to extremes to keep his body weight low early in his career, he is of the firm belief he developed an eating disorder that has gone undiagnosed and the limits on drivers' weights have been strict, but have relaxed in years past

Valtteri Bottas is a happier, and also healthier driver in Formula 1. In his home country of Finland, Bottas did a recent interview where he stated that, early in his career, he pushed himself to extreme limits to keep his weight down. Because of this, he developed an undiagnosed eating disorder. "I trained myself to pain, physically and mentally. It got out of hand, and became an addiction. No eating disorder was officially diagnosed, but it was definitely there." Between long workouts, he would only eat steamed broccoli and other diet choices from the team he was on. "It wasn't very healthy. I wanted to be the best, and I thought I had to do that. If the team says that I have to weigh 68 kilos (150 pounds) and I naturally weigh 73 kilos (161 pounds), then they will do everything for that."

Size and weight limits in Formula 1 are strict, but have been improved

Any extra weight slows the car down, so teams want their drivers lightweight and streamlined. That means the drivers have to train hard to keep their bodies in top condition, which means being at or below the 161 pound minimum. If they're under that, weights must be added to the cars to reach the required weight.

Bottas does not have the height of other drivers. He's only 5'8'' while Thai-British driver Alexander Albon is listed as 6'2''. Bottas has more bulky muscle behind him, though. Thankfully, F1 has made a change to the rule about weight. The minimum weight is now 80 kgs (171 pounds), including the fireproof gear they wear. The gear the drivers wear is 15 pounds (7 kgs) and this figures in with the drivers' weight

Bottas describes his second year in Formula 1, 2014, as being especially hard. That season had strict requirements on weight, meaning heavier drivers were even more under the gun to lose weight. That year saw Daniel Ricciardo being forced to lose weight to get his weight down by at least 4.5 pounds (2 kilos). Ricciardo was 5'10'' and weighed 143 pounds (65 kilos). The drivers had extreme pressure on them to keep their weight down otherwise their jobs were on the line. Because of his size, 6' and 165 pound (75 kg) driver Nico Hulkenberg was, supposedly, kept from a position on the McLaren team because of his size. Then McLaren CEO Martin Whitmarsh said in a 2013 Sky Sports interview "Heavier drivers will be less attractive. It has happened by accident. We have raised the minimum weight, but the new powertrains are heavier than people expected, and now have a situation where heavier drivers could be a disadvantage."

In his 2007 autobiography, former McLaren and Red Bull Racing driver David Coulthard said that what he put himself through as a teen trying to get into Formula 1, including conditions sounding too close to bulimia. "It was an essential part of being an oversized teenager in karting, making weight. I would have my dinner, weigh myself and if I was too heavy, I'd go swimming and exercise and try to control my weight by being sick."

Bottas said that the rule changes in 2019 helped immensely. He stated they helped his immune system because he was not cutting as much weight off. "I think the regulation is good, especially for the taller drivers. It makes life a bit easier. Many drivers had to be below our natural weight, and it is very easy to get ill or sick. This is the first winter for many years that I didn't get any flu or any sickness."

James Jagger admits to being embarrassed about being Mick Jagger's son

Sometimes it's hard to be a rock star's son or daughter. James Jagger certainly admits he is embarrassed to be the son of Rolling Stones front man Mick Jagger

James, who mother is model Jerry Hall, opened up in a new interview with OK Magazine, stating what it is like growing up with the sort of attention that comes with his father in the Rolling Stones and how uncomfortable it often made him feel. "I'm incredibly proud to be a member of the family. I absolutely adore my dad and I'm incredibly proud of all his achievements, so I'm proud to be his son. At times, you kind of wish you had more anononymity and, when you're a teenager, it can be embarrassing at times, but I've gotten over it." He talked about the struggle to make a name for himself in the entertainment world, being saddled with a famous last name, and how that acted as more of a hindrance than a help. "If you come from any family with a name, the British press prefer to shoot you down. They want a working class hero to be successful, a boy done good, not someone from a family of entertainers."

Certainly he's done good for himself, despite his last name.

February Birthdays

Since it's February, time to say Happy Birthday

George Russell

-Birth name: George William Russell

-DOB: 2/15/1998

-Where: King's Lynn, Norfolk, England

-Has a brother named Benjy

Pierre Gasly

-Birth name: Pierre Jean-Jean Gasly

-DOB: 2/7/1996

-Where: Rouen, France

-Like many Formula 1 drivers, as a child he was involved with go karting

Tony Iommi

-Birth name: Anthony Frank Iommi

-DOB: 2/19/1948

-Where: Aston, Birmingham, England

-He is one of the founding members of Black Sabbath

Paul Wight

-Birth name: Paul Donald Wight II

-DOB: 2/8/1972

-Where: Aiken, South Carolina

-Wrestled under the moniker "The Giant" because of his massive size

Rod Smallwood

-Birth name: Roderick Charles Smallwood

-DOB: 2/17/1950

-Where: Huddersfield, Yorkshire, England

-Like Andy Taylor, Rod's father was a policeman

Adrian Smith

-Birth name: Adrian Frederick Smith

-DOB: 2/27/1957

-Where: Hackney, London, England

-He was initially considered by close friend Phil Collen as a future member of Def Leppard when the band first formed, but at the time, Smith had joined Iron Maiden

Alice Cooper

-Birth name: Vincent Damon Furnier

-DOB: 2/4/1948

-Where: Detroit, Michigan

-His father is a preacher

Alan Rickman

-Birth name: Alan Sidney Patrick Rickman

-DOB: 2/21/1946

-Where: London, England

-DOD: 1/14/2016

-Where: London, England

-He was J.K. Rowling's initial choice to play the role of Professor Severus Snape. In fact, she envisioned him while writing this character. And he got the role in Harry Potter and The Sorcerer's Stone only because Tim Roth, who was originally considered for the role, backed out to star in 2001's Planet of the Apes

Steve Irwin

-Birth name: Stephen Robert Irwin

-DOB: 2/22/1962

-Where: Upper Ferntree Gully, Australia

-DOD: 9/4/2006

-Where: Batt Reef, Australia

-He was known for his strong love of animals

George Harrison

-DOB: 2/25/1943

-Where: Liverpool, England

-DOD: 11/29/2001

-Where: Los Angeles, California

-The place of death on his death certificate was falsified to keep his home from becoming a Beatles shrine

Henry Rollins

-Birth name: Henry Lawrence Garfield

-DOB: 2/13/1961

-Where: Washington, D.C.

-He started working out at the Bullis School in tenth grade at the suggestion of a Vietnam vet who was also a history teacher

Rickey Medlocke

-DOB: 2/17/1950

-Where: Jacksonville, Florida

-During his first run with Lynyrd Skynyrd, from 1971-1972, he played drums

Billie Joe Armstrong

-DOB: 2/17/1972

-Where: Oakland, California

-Wrote "Wake Me Up When September Ends" about losing his father

Johnny Van Zandt

-Birth name: John Roy Van Zant

-DOB: 2/27/1960

-Where: Jacksonville, Florida

-His older brothers are former Lynyrd Skynyrd vocalist and founding member Ronnie Van Zant and .38 Special vocalist Donnie Van Zant