Born on February 29th? If so... happy birthday, leap babies! Make a wish and blow out the candles on the birthday cake! This blog post salutes those born on February 29. Because they were born on that day, they have to wait every four years to celebrate their proper February 29th birthday. Most of these days usually is a celebration that falls between February 28 and March 1st. But every four years, that magical day of February 29th comes along. I had initially intended this blog be a proper post about all leap babies. However, the only famous leap baby I'm familiar with is hip-hop artist Ja Rule (every thug needs a lady! :D), born on February 29 in 1976. Anyhow, this blog post is a brief one about leap babies (or "leapers").
Thank you for visiting my primary blog, John's Blog Space! By the way... this is officially Post #888! :)
--- Leap Year Birthdays ---
So what is it like to celebrate or anticipate a leap year birthday? Well, check this out:
Here are some websites you can visit to learn more about leap years and leap babies:
The premier motorsports series in Australia is the Australian V8 Supercar Series. Australia has had decades of racing as the V8 Supercar Series stemmed from the now-defunct Australian Touring Car Championship. The V8 Supercar Series has been around since 1994. Its exponential growth in popularity and hard-fought racing has made it one of the best racing series in the world. For Australians, it is a season-long battle of bragging rights- either you are a Holden fan, or you are a Ford [Australia] fan. In the near future, Nissan will return to the V8 Supercar lineup, so you're either with the Aussie brands or with Japan. There is even a rumor about Chrysler wanting to join the V8 Supercar grid as well. Either way, this is one of the greatest racing series in the world.
I never really got to make a general blog post regarding "The Greatest Show on Wheels." So therefore, consider this my general post regarding the Australian V8 Supercar Series. I would like to make a special hello to all of my Australian and New Zealand readers before I begin.
LATEST UPDATE(S)/REVISION(S):
MAR 21 2012 - added an extra section (cross-promotion and other reading)
--- The Australian V8 Supercar Series at a Glance ---
Allow me to set the mood regarding the Australian V8 Supercar Series. What is this motorsports series all about? This video gives you a GREAT look at the Australian V8 Supercar Series. This video only requires about 2:25.000 of your time:
The Australian V8 Supercar Series was inaugurated in 1997 and is the successor to the former Australian Touring Car Championship (ATCC). The cars that compete in this series are silhouettes of road-going cars in Australia. All cars are powered by 5.0-liter normally-aspirated V8 engines pushing north of 600 horsepower. The cars have body shells derived from their road-going variants. The minimum weight (excluding driver) of these cars is about 2987 lbs. (or just below 1355 kg). The two cars that race in today's V8 Supercar Series are the Holden Commodore and the Ford Falcon- two of the best-selling cars in Australia. According to specifications I read on the 2009 Ford Falcon FG V8 Supercar, these cars can reach speeds of up to 182 mph (or about 294 kph).
Most races in this championship are primarily dual or triple race weekends. However, there are some weekends where there is one long race. These endurance events require teams to have a two-driver lineup to take on each event. So while the majority of races are multi-race events, there are also some endurance events. The double and triple race weekends make up one long distance event. So for example, the Clipsal 500 consists of two 250-kilometer races to make up the 500 kilometer distance for the race weekend. To my knowledge, the Trading Post Perth Challenge is the only three-race weekend on the V8 Supercar Series calendar. The biggest of which is (of course) the Bathurst 1000, which lasts more than 6 hours and 30 minutes. At least from the provisional calendar for 2012, the 2012 schedule features 29 events running from the beginning of March to the beginning of December.
A number of drivers have become champion in this series. Among the champions of the series include the likes of Jamie Whincup, Marcos Ambrose, Craig Lowndes, and Mark Skaife among others. Some of today's V8 Supercar racers include Shane Van Gisbergen (nicknamed "Cheeseburger"), Steven Richards, Garth Tander, and Lee Holdsworth among many others.
How did I get into the Australian V8 Supercar Series?
It was 2000 or 2001 when I saw a show that aired on Speedvision (now Speed Channel) called "Motorsport Mundial." I had a chance to see some of the racing action on TV in this half-hour digest of motorsports from around the world. The first thing that stuck out at me was in hearing how beautiful these Australian V8 engines sound. It is such sweet engine music!
When I saw some of the first Australian V8 Supercars, the cars of choice were the Holden Commodore VX and the Ford Falcon AU. Today's V8 Supercars include the Holden Commodore VE and the Ford Falcon FG. There is a push to make cars of updated specification to make them safer and more efficient.
Tracks.
The Australian V8 Supercar Series races both in Australia and in New Zealand. They even compete in a few events outside of Australia and New Zealand. Here are some of the many venues that the V8 Supercars race at:
• Mount Panorama Circuit (Bathurst) - a semi-permanent race track that is the ultimate battleground. It is an Australian roller coaster ride complete with many elevation changes and narrow roads. It is home to the Bathurst 1000- a race that lasts over 1000 kilometers and takes just over six and a half hours to complete. Racing is hard-fought from beginning to end as two-driver teams take on this intense challenge.
• Adelaide - former home of the F1 Australian Grand Prix, it is one of the most challenging temporary race tracks in the world.
• Albert Park (non-points) - the Australian V8 Supercar Series races around the current home of the Australian Grand Prix, Albert Park in Melbourne; but it is not a points race.
• Sandown - high speeds and technical corners make the somewhat simplistic Sandown a real challenge. It has been around since 1962.
• Phillip Island - this track plays host to the Australian Grand Prix in World Superbike and in MotoGP. A considerable distance from Melbourne, this track plays host to the Philip Island 500 endurance race in V8 Supercars.
• Barbagallo - Western Australia's racing challenge offers undulating corners and high speeds. This track is based around Perth (one of Houston's Sister Cities).
• Winton - high speeds and tricky corners make this course a tough and action-packed one.
• Hidden Valley - the northernmost track in Australia is based in the city of Darwin in the Australian state of Queensland. This track is known for its high-speeds in the event known as the Skycity Triple Crown.
• Hamilton - a temporary street course in New Zealand with many technical corners.
• Queensland - simplistic in layout but tough in racing, Queensland is often called a paper clip
• Symmons Plains - a short high-speed course dominated by a super-slow and action-packed hairpin.
• Townsville - Reid Park plays host to this lovely temporary course. The western half of the track crosses over Ross Creek several times.
• Surfers Paradise - it has long been a stop for Indy cars. These days, it mostly serves now as an intense street course for the V8 Supercars. The Gold Coast offers one of the most intense racing challenges in Australia. Think of it as the Long Beach of Australia.
• Homebush Park - this temporary street course is a romp around Sydney's Homebush Park. A number of fans miss seeing the V8 Supercars race around Eastern Creek as opposed to Homebush Park.
• Yas Marina Circuit - the home of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in Formula 1 is the futuristic and ultra-modern Yas Marina Circuit. It plays host to the Desert 400 on a modified configuration.
Of all the tracks both past and present, I am most saddened that Oran Park is no longer with us. Oran Park used to be one of the finest racing facilities in Australia with its unique layout. Sadly, what used to be Oran Park is now housing development.
I sometimes wonder just how much motorsport means to Australia with a number of racing facilities no longer being raced on or rarely raced on. Take the United States, for example. One of the finest courses here used to be Riverside International Raceway in California. That track was mostly taken down to make way for a big shopping center. Riverside used to be great for racing ranging from NASCAR to even a Formula 1 Grand Prix at Riverside. I feel for you Australians who miss Oran Park. Oran Park is not the only former racing facility, though. A lot of other race tracks in Australia have either not been raced on in a while or are long gone. Among others- Surfers Paradise International Raceway, Adelaide International Raceway, Catalina Park, and Warwick Farm Raceway. Oran Park is just another track to sadly add to the list of long-gone great race tracks.
--- Australian V8 Supercar Series: Why Should You Care? ---
If you care anything about hard-fought racing from start to finish, you should definitely care about the Australian V8 Supercar Series. The racers in this series bring it every day, every race. No shortage of action from flag to flag. I think an American fan who enjoys NASCAR can definitely appreciate the action in this series.
--- Australian V8 Supercars vs. DTM: Who Would Win? ---
You know, I always wondered what would happen if DTM and the Australian V8 Supercar Series had an exhibition. Could a Holden beat a DTM Audi? Could a Ford outpace a DTM Mercedes-Benz? Part of me says that DTM would win since the DTM cars are very sophisticated and capable. But come on now- wouldn't you want to see these Australian V8 Supercars match up against Germany's premier motorsports series?
Part of me says that DTM would win if it was an Australian V8 Supercar vs. DTM exhibition. DTM cars are much more sophisticated and capable even if they give up about 150+ horsepower to Australian V8 Supercars.
--- What If: Australian V8 Supercars World Tour? ---
The Australian V8 Supercar Series does race at a few locales outside of Australia and New Zealand during the course of the season. They may even be planned to race here in the United States at the Circuit of the Americas facility just outside of Austin, Texas, USA. What if they had a World Tour? Here are venues that I think would be great to see the series have more racing action in...
North and South America.
• Infineon Raceway - love to see these cars weave left and right at this track. • Laguna Seca - imagine Holden vs. Ford being decided at the Corkscrew! • Road America - 4+ miles of road in Wisconsin meant to punish all who race it. • Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course - this track is challenging for novices and experts alike. • Barber Motorsports Park - Australian race cars at a great track in the Deep South, anyone? • Road Atlanta - long-standing race track with a competitive layout • Virginia International Raceway - a take-no-prisoners, old school race track. • Circuit de Gilles Villeneuve - Canada's premier racing facility that has hosted many Canadian Grands Prix. • Circuit Mont-Tremblant - a tricky race track in a beautiful natural setting. • Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez - former F1 Mexican Grand Prix venue. • Puebla - a competitive oval that also has a challenging road course configuration. • Interlagos - the finest race track in Brazil combining high speeds with intense corners. • Brasilia - Autodromo Internacional Nelson Piquet delivers intense racing on a twisty track. • Buenos Aires - former home of the F1 Argentine Grand Prix, this technical track delivers amazing action.
Europe and Africa.
• Donnington Park - would be a great challenge for the V8 supercars with its weaving roads. • Valencia (Ricardo Tormo Circuit) - mostly flat, this track is a very tough and technical Spanish race course. • Catalunya - the premier racing facility in Spain is one of the most challenging courses in the world. • Magny-Cours - a great rhythm-based track in France, former F1 French Grand Prix. • Dijon-Prenois - a tricky French track that's great for touring car racing. • Zandvoort - a formidable Dutch venue not far from a beach. • Zolder - a demanding and technical Belgian race track. • Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps - the legendary Belgian battleground for racing. • Kyalami - South Africa's formidable racing challenge. It is a challenging course for any machines that race here.
Asia.
• Istanbul Park - a rhythm-based race track in Turkey that is home to the Turkish Grand Prix of F1. • Buddh International Circuit - the new world-class Indian race track delivers high speed and intense thrills. • Sepang - Malaysia's premier world-class racing track that's been around since about 1999. • Sentul International Circuit - a challenging motor racing facility in Indonesia. • Goldenport Park - a very popular Chinese race course based in China's capital of Beijing. • Zhuhai - once considered as a possible F1 stop, it has since played host mostly to touring cars and GT racing. • Suzuka - one of the world's most rewarding race tracks is in Japan's Mie Prefecture. • Okayama - this Japanese circuit served as home of the former Pacific Grand Prix in F1. • Autopolis - once considered a potential F1 Japanese Grand Prix venue, it remains a challenging Grand Prix course despite never hosting an F1 Grand Prix.
In addition to these tracks, I'd even be interested in seeing today's V8 Supercar Series race at Taupo Motorsports Park or even Teretonga International Raceway. Both of those courses are in New Zealand, by the way.
Again- I felt I should have posted about the Australian V8 Supercar Series long ago. I love and respect all of my fans and readers worldwide, and Australia is one of the most popular locales to visit "John's Blog Space." I hope this blog post has been to your liking. For more information on this series, I have included the following links for all of you:
Please be sure to visit those links if you enjoyed this post. I hope you enjoyed your time here on John's Blog Space; and if you did, please show your support by clicking on links below to show your support for my work. Thank you for reading!
On YouTube long ago, I once told a story of how I even remotely became interested recording myself on video cameras or camcorders. It was about 1994 after I had been on a field trip. My (5th Grade?) class and I went out to Miller Outdoor Theater in Hermann Park here in Houston. I began to envision having my own daytime talk show in the likeness of certain famous personalities. This dream show of mine was to be simply called "The John Marine Show." It was merely a dream, but it was a dream that I wouldn't mind making into reality.
Fast forward to 2008- more than 14 years later. I started making and uploading my first video of any kind. I joined YouTube with the intent of offering videos to the online realm. Even looking back to my past, I remembered my ambition to make certain videos special. Most of my videos were 320 × 200 in resolution. I did not want to make videos of larger resolution unless they were really special videos I think people would want to enjoy. The idea of High Quality and High Definition videos were a new concept around the time I joined YouTube. I did not want to make any High Quality videos unless they were actual video projects where I felt like looking and performing at my best were paramount. I had even planned on using a certain musical theme to denote my special videos. At this point, these was where I wanted to make my "John Marine Show" videos. No such video EVER materialized.
So where do I stand today? Like a lot of vast dreams I've had, they remain just those- dreams. I don't have any sort of aspirations being in the business of daytime (or even nighttime) talk shows. At least the ambition to make my own daytime talk show resonated with me for quite some time especially in the mid-1990s. This ambition is perhaps my only driving force to record myself on a webcam or a video camera prior to joining YouTube. Even today, I feel lending my voice and offering my image is important in the various topics I discuss and share. Some people have made several rants about me ranging from how I look to how I sound. The most important thing to me is in projecting my points in my own way whether you agree or disagree with them.
Follow your dreams and make the most of making those dreams reality. In the future, I may consider doing a blog post about daytime talk shows, including the ones that inspired me the most to consider getting into the daytime talk show circuit. For now, though... thank you for reading! And don't forget- visit www.youtube.com/JohnMarineTube to see my YouTube videos and to subscribe (if you love my videos)!
Alexz (pronounced like "Alex") Johnson is both a singer and an actress. The young Canadian lady makes some enjoyable music. She has a smooth and sexy voice when speaking and a fun voice when singing. A blogging friend actually inspired me to at least learn more about her and blog about her. With this inspiration, it is time to blog again. So here is my blog post on Alexz Johnson.
A little note before I begin... "Alexz" is pronounced the same way you'd normally pronounce "Alex." So don't be confused by how the name "Alexz" looks in trying to pronounce it. Also, I mostly will focus more on her music than her acting. Anyhow, I would like to send a special hello to the Canadian audience who may be reading this blog and this blog post. This American here is about to blog about one of your own Canadians!
LATEST UPDATE(S)/REVISION(S)
APR 9 2012 - added two more songs and edited some content
--- Alexz Johnson ---
(Some information provided by Wikipedia)
So how about we get started and take a look at her at a glance? This lady is (born: November 4, 1986)-year old Alexzandra Spencer Johnson (Alexz Johnson):
^ from: www.sweetslyrics.com (best I could find) - This is Canadian pop singer and actress, Alexzandra (Alexz) Johnson. Isn't she a cutie? :)
Alexz Johnson sort of has the pop singer flow with the beautiful singing style the likes of Leona Lewis, or one of her fellow Canadians- Celine Dion. She was born in New Westminster, British Columbia, Canada. She has a beautiful singing voice. Many people know of Alexz Johnson best from "Instant Star." Alexz Johnson has a musical style that ranges from fun pop songs to even some more beautiful songs of hers. She has a singing style that is pretty deep and hot. When not singing, she has a sultry and silky deep voice. Some of her singing is sort of like old-style or old-time singing with a modern twist. I think Alexz is a lovely lady.
In addition to singing, she is also an actress. Among some of her work includes roles in "So Weird, the "Instant Star" series, and "Final Destination 3" among others. I also learned that she's a petite- Alexz is 5'4" (the same height as Madonna). Maybe I should add her to my "Sweet Petite!" blog post (and I did. See for yourself: "Sweet Petite!" on John's Blog Space). In fashion, Alexz Johnson is big on vintage fashion. I like her creativity in fashion.
Really, it was Gabriella of the blog "Principessa Gabriella" that inspired me to blog about Alexz Johnson.
--- Alexz Johnson Songs ---
So you've never heard of Alexz Johnson or her singing? That changes today! I selected these videos to showcase Alexz Johnson and her style of singing. If a video does not enable embedding, I will share with you a link rather than a video. Thanks to everyone who allowed videos to be embedded. The songs I've chosen for this blog post are semi-random. I wasn't really considering the most popular songs to feature here. So check these out:
• "Trip Around the World" Let's have some fun! This one is a very fun song from Alexz Johnson. I love the old style of her singing and the cinematic feel. It's kind of like a song you might hear in a fashion video. Very fun song! See/Hear for yourself:
And here is a BONUS VIDEO! This is a live version of the song you just heard above:
I am about to break this post up to improve the performance of this blog for those not viewing the full post. If you are not reading the full post and want to enjoy the rest of this post (as well as find out what I'd tell Alexz Johnson if she read this), then please click on "Read More" to read the remainder of this post and to see more music videos from Alexz Johnson. Disregard this section if you are reading the full post.
Love John's Blog Space? If so (and if you haven't yet subscribed or followed), Subscribe and/or Follow!
• "I Still Love You" This song is beautifully-sung with lovely vocals and a mellow piano. Have a listen to Alexz sing sweetly:
• "I Just Wanted Your Love" Alexz Johnson wants to rock out here. If "I Still Love You" was too soft for you, see if this one tickles your fancy:
• "Perfect" How about another Alexz Johnson song? This song called "Perfect" has a rock edge while being a fun and smooth style. This is Alexz Johnson singing "Perfect" below:
• "Skin" Very old YouTube video, but it still is a song from Alexz Johnson. The background song is "Skin" from Alexz Johnson. She delivers a powerful and emotional singing performance with a somewhat mellow guitar background.
• "Hurricane Girl" (ADDED: February 23, 2012) I added this song to this post because I heard the live version. Here is a look at "Hurricane Girl" below:
• "Weight" (ADDED: April 9, 2012) Get ready for a powerful singing performance by Alexz Johnson here.
• "Damaged" (ADDED: April 9, 2012) Smooth singing with mellow background instrumentals describe this performance. Some powerful singing and powerful lyrics don't hurt, either:
That's Alexz Johnson for you! You like? Her singing and her talent are just amazing. How can you not love a voice like what she has as well as how wonderfully her songs flow? I have new respect for Alexz Johnson thanks in part to influence from my friend Gabriella (of "Principessa Gabriella").
--- What I Would Tell Alexz Johnson (if she read this) ---
Thanks to a blogging friend of mine, I was inspired to learn more about you. I have some great respect for you and your singing because of this inspiration. You are certainly a star as of right now. You are an awesome singer. Had it not been for inspiration and motivation from a blogging friend of mine, I wouldn't have cared to blog about you. So I'm glad I did get this motivation. I wish you continued success in all that you do.
Would I Want to Meet Alexz Johnson (if given the chance)?
You know, I sure would. Why not?
I am done covering Alexz Johnson. And if Alexz Johnson surely gets to tour the United States, I especially want my friend Gabriella (of "Principessa Gabriella") to get to see her because it was Gabriella who inspired me to learn more about and blog about Alexz Johnson. Had it not been for Gabriella (as well as me being curious about Alexz), this post wouldn't be possible.
If you want to know more about the lady you've just read about, please visit the links below for more information and to get social with Alexz Johnson:
Now, it's time for you to get social with me! This is your chance to connect with me if you enjoyed this blog post or my blog in general. Thank you for reading!
Californian Colbie Caillat (also known as "Coco") is a pop singer with a country-pop style and a sultry voice. The (born: May 28, 1985)-year old from Newbury Park, CA, USA became successful thanks in part to fans on Myspace. She brings a certain flow to her songs that has made her quite popular to those who hear her sing. This blog post is a look at Colbie Caillat as well as the music she makes.
I would once again like to welcome all of my readers and subscribers to "John's Blog Space." Thank you so much for your continued support!
Colbie Marie Caillat (also known as "Coco") is not a country-style singer, but the style of her singing has a country feel to it. You can hear her style in some of her songs from the videos I will feature later in this post. For many people, it was "Realize" that really got the ball rolling as far as Colbie becoming popular. She delivers a soulful performance that has somewhat of a country-pop feel to it. Maybe not country-pop to the level of Taylor Swift, but certainly country-style with a good dose of soul. Colbie Caillat has done some songs before with the likes of Jason Mraz and Taylor Swift before.
To be honest, I'm not really into Colbie Caillat at all. I don't like her music enough to really praise her. I don't hate her, though. Anyone I feature in posts will still be mentioned in a classy and professional way. It would be counterproductive and classless to devote an entire post on someone just to trash them. And if there was something I'd disagree to, I'd do so in a classy way.
--- Colbie Caillat Songs ---
I want to thank everyone who allowed embedding of these YouTube videos. If you can't view the YouTube videos, I have included direct links to each featured video. Just click on the title of the video below each embedded video. The only song of hers I really like is "Rainbow" for its flow and the nice singing.
Realize.
This is one of Colbie Caillat's first songs, and really one of the ones that has helped her to become popular. Here is "Realize" below:
Here is a video featuring "Rainbow" below. I first heard this song from a video done by Arielle Lee Bair (I blogged about this Arielle in "A Salute to Arielle" here on John's Blog Space). And again, this is the only real song of Colbie Caillat that I actually like:
I mentioned Arielle in introducing "Rainbow" to you all. Well, here's the video featuring Colbie Caillat's "Rainbow" song as well as some great advice from Arielle:
--- What I Would Tell Colbie Caillat (if she read this) ---
While I'm not really a fan of yours, I do respect you. So keep up the great work with your music. You're building this audience for good reason- great singing and pure talent.
Would I Want to Meet Colbie Caillat?
Not really, but it would be nice if we did meet.
I am not really a fan of Colbie Caillat, but you probably are. So to learn more about Colbie Caillat and her music, check these links out and show your support for this young talent:
I always encourage my readers and subscribers to support my work any way you can. One way is to visit Amazon. Here are some items on Amazon from Colbie Caillat. Click on the link to check out Colbie Caillat on Amazon.
Sometimes, for fun, I like looking at the very first items posted in blogs and YouTube channels. I just become interested in how certain blogs and YouTube channels start out. Especially when you have blogs or YouTube channels that have a good number of followers, you sometimes want to know how such material started out. My first post was back in January 2009. However, I've somehow been a Blogger/Blogspot user since (reportedly) May 2007. I made my first YouTube video one week after I joined YouTube in November 2008. This blog post is all about those humble beginnings and the curiosity of wondering how a blog or YouTube channel started out.
--- Humble Beginnings ---
Why do you look back in time on blogs and YouTube channels? The main reason to me is to see how your favorite blogs and YouTube channels started out. It helps you to appreciate how far the material has come up to this point. Especially if people are still producing content for a blog or a YouTube channel, you learn about humble beginnings.
Usually, when I start up something up, I set up an introduction. I find it important because I feel people have to have an idea as to what kind of material you are actually visiting. The content can tell you what a blog or YouTube channel is about, but I prefer a proper introduction.
Humble Beginnings: With Blogs.
I usually learn why people started certain blogs when I look at some of the oldest posts on them. In the case of fashion blogs (for example), I get some insight as to how certain people look way back then compared to now. You have nothing to really be ashamed of if you post something from the past and still have it in your blog. You may have a very successful blog but have some sort of post that helps define the tone of the blog. Many blogs that have some very old posts may have a post that introduces the blog creator and what it is about. Some people don't know what to blog about as a first post, so they decide to introduce themselves and what the blog hopes to be about. I knew I had my own thoughts and dreams for "John's Blog Space" when I released my first post in January 2009.
Some blogs have been around for much longer. The oldest blog I've encountered here on Blogger/Blogspot is Xiaxue (featured in my Southeastern Asian Beauties blog post), where its first post was released back on April 23, 2003! Some fashion bloggers look radically different then compared to recent posts. Some even were as beautiful then as they are now. It all depends on some of the past pictures and how they looked then compared to now. You really note the evolution of people in their respective mindsets and how much they've learned and evolved as bloggers. Some people blogged about only so many things. Some people just post one or two blog posts... and almost never come back with a new post! Those who stick to blogging and continually contribute to their blogs allow you a chance to see how much certain bloggers (especially successful/popular ones) have changed and evolved over time. And when you see some of their oldest posts, it makes you appreciate just how far they've come and how much times have changed. You gain a new sense of respect from such bloggers when doing this and seeing how they've come up.
So are there any bloggers that have very old posts? Ever looked back at some of their oldest posts to see how they started off? Ever wondered what their first posts were like? Go ahead- look back into the archives of your favorite bloggers! :D You can even see archives of my past posts by looking at the "Blog Archive" section in the sidebar. Please note that many of my old posts may be edited, or they may get deleted and replaced with new versions.
Believe it or not, I actually considered a blog post in late 2009 regarding becoming a YouTube success. What I tried to do was focus on how some of YouTube's premier channels started out and how far they've come since then. I have since canceled that project long ago. The real important point, though, was in seeing how certain YouTube channels started out. I think you should keep some of your very first videos for archiving purposes. Especially if you become popular, you want people to take a look back in time to see what you were like back then.
YouTube is a curious case because technology was different. Video formats were different. I still remember when things like High Quality and HD were far-fetched concepts when I started out. Let me tell you about my experience. My first video was called "Introducing Myself," where I simply introduced myself to all of you. Then began one of my most-viewed videos, which would also be one of my most controversial. I did a video talking about college football at historically-black colleges and universities (HBCUs). The point was to talk about black college football, and some of YouTube's racist-happy people found this as the perfect opportunity to lash out at me. I later did another video about college football at historically-black schools many months later. At that point, I learned an important lesson- don't make ANY videos regarding a certain race or ethnicity because some people are too trigger-happy to lash out at you.
From a technology standpoint, I was using a webcam at 320×200 resolution. I was not confident enough to use 640×480 resolution. Anyone who watches "JohnMarineTube" know that my videos are more about efficiency rather than just going for balls-out incredible videos. If my computer can't handle certain things, I'm not going to spend time editing and releasing material online. I am still like this to an extent.
IN CASE YOU'RE INTERESTED: My YouTube channel is JohnMarineTube. Visit it at www.youtube.com/JohnMarineTube, and don't forget to subscribe if you love my YouTube material!
Some material doesn't have any sort of backtracking on the past, so you may not be able to see any first posted material on some sites.
This was a Just for Fun post. Do any of you sometimes look back in time to see how a certain blog or YouTube channel was like with the very first videos? Have you really noted a certain kind of evolution in your favorite blogs and YouTube channels? Thank you for reading!
The Potrero de los Funes circuit in Argentina was created in 1987 and rebuilt in 2008. It is a 3.896-mile (6.27-km) course built around Lago Potrero de los Funes within an extinct volcano. It is a semi-permanent course that boasts 23 corners and offers some spectacular views from TV replays. The moment I saw FIA GT1 highlights from around this course, I instantly loved just how beautiful this track is. I honestly think this is a track Formula 1 should be racing. After all, F1 is thinking of returning to Argentina with a supposed venue to be planned in or near Buenos Aires. However, this track within distance of San Luis, Argentina is a track of great character and charm. This track is only a few miles/kilometers shorter than Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps. This blog post is a look at the recently-rebuilt Potrero de los Funes Circuit.
--- Potrero de los Funes Circuit ---
Here is a look at Circuito de Potrero de los Funes:
^ from: www.automobilsport.com (best I could find) - Built around Lago Potrero de los Funes, this course boasts a configuration sure to make almost any F1 driver can dream racing around.
It was said that this track once held a Turismo Carretera race in 1987, and it was no longer raced because two spectators were killed during that race in 1987. The track was rebuilt and hosted racing again in 2008. TC2000, Turismo Carretera, FIA GT, and the FIA GT1 World Championship racing both have raced here before. This track is in a beautiful setting. Some people have likened this track to Argentina like Monte Carlo to Monaco. The roads are wide with various elevation changes and challenging corners. This track is more like the combination of a proper race track and a temporary course. It is a great-looking circuit that would be great for almost any kind of racing. Formula 1 would be great around here for an Argentinian Grand Prix. Strides would have to made to make this track just a bit more appealing to the likes of F1 to make a race there happen. Besides- can you imagine today's F1 cars running hot laps around this track? Heck, even Roush-Fenway Racing's NASCAR team took some exhibition laps around this track with some of their machines!
This course has a lot of corners that would greatly challenge the Grand Prix-type racer. I honestly think that when you challenge a course like this, you are racing a classic Formula 1-type race track. It has a variety of corners that will test you. Turns 3 and 4 are pretty sharp. It is around Turn 5 when you begin to view the lake itself (or at least be around it). After going uphill to Turn 9, you start to really see Lago Potrero de los Funes come into the horizon. The most decisive section is the complex of turns from Turn 15 to Turn 19. This is a track where you really need to think ahead in attacking each corner.
Here is a video lap of this fantastic course. This video was done in a NASCAR stock car and was uploaded in 2009:
How do you like it?
Lap Record.
The lap record here was set by Marcel Fassler in a Corvette C6.R in 2008. His time was 2:13.236 around this course.
Could F1 Race at Potrero de los Funes Someday?
There is a rumor going about that Formula 1 wants to return to Argentina. F1 previously raced around el Autódromo Juan y Oscar Gálvez. I've read/heard that a track is to be built in the Buenos Aires area. However, I would really love to see Potrero de los Funes Circuit be used for F1 racing. This track just seems to have so much more character than most modern F1 courses. Why not race this course? I mean... it's a long-enough track, it has intense corners... this is an F1 Grand Prix track! Only that F1 has never raced at this track. Unless someone thinks this track isn't good enough to run a modern F1 race in Argentina, this track should definitely be used for Formula 1 racing.
From what I have read, Potrero de los Funes is an FIA B-Grade circuit. It means that almost any series can race there, except F1. A lot would have to be done to fully enhance this course to one A-Grade course. Maybe since this track is far from Buenos Aires, you don't really have that sort of attractive factor of being within distance of a major city. This track and this location (from what I've read) is being aggressively marketed so that Formula 1 could race this track). I'm sorry, people- this track has modern F1 written all over it. I couldn't care less about anything super-exotic or anything like that... this track would be great for Formula 1 racing. It has the character and charm of a classic F1 track. Or is today's F1 too good to be raced on a track like Potrero de los Funes? Even this track's long length is more than sufficient for a modern F1 race. F1 Argentinian Grand Prix at Potrero de los Funes... MAKE THIS HAPPEN, FORMULA ONE!!!
This track has a website, but every time I pull it up, I get nothing. If you want to see pictures of this course, here are some links you can check out:
Fashion week means many things to many people. It can signal a reflection of a culture. It may reflect current times. It may be the catalyst to trigger and incite hot trends and looks. It can also be a celebration of style. Regardless, a fashion week can represent many things to many people. The ones deeply into fashion often can't wait to see what some of the latest styles and trends are reflected from designers minor and major. Most fashion bloggers usually highlight on specific pieces from certain collections. So really, these Fashion Week events can be quite a big deal.
This blog post was semi-inspired by the upcoming 2012 edition of New York Fashion Week.
--- Fashion Week at a Glance ---
^ from: realitychicblog.com - Models. Clothes. Trends. You think fashion week doesn't mean anything to all involved?
Fashion Week is a week-long celebration of fashion featuring various designers showcasing their latest fashions. Designers let loose their models to strut the runway to be photographed. Dozens of onlookers take note of the newer fashions and either enjoy them or have something to write about (or blog about). As the designer's collection has all been unveiled, you usually see all the models come out followed by the designer himself/herself (or even themselves) greet the crowd.
Some of the more famous fashion shows are all in most major cities. Among others- New York, Los Angeles, São Paulo, London, Madrid, Paris, Milan, Hong Kong, Sydney... you go from there. Some Fashion Week events happen annually; some happen semi-annually.
Some people have even arranged special fashion week events devoted to places and cultures that don't have their own fashion week show. For example, Glenda Lugay (whom I've featured in my "Caribbean Beauties" blog post) has been responsible for setting up the Caribbean International Fashion Week in New York City. For my readers from the South Pacific, there has been talk about trying to set up a Fashion Week in the South Pacific. I think I've once read about a South Pacific Fashion Week in Suva, Fiji.
Excited for Fashion Week events and all the designers ready to show off their latest fashions? You now have a general idea of what Fashion Week is all about. One of the greatest supporters of these Fashion Week events is Mercedes-Benz. Mercedes-Benz makes some stylish and beautiful cars, and I'm pretty sure they think the fashions at these Fashion Week events are just as stylish as the cars and trucks Mercedes-Benz builds. This video below is an example of a collection being presented in a Fashion Week event. This one features fashions Charlotte Ronson's Spring/Summer 2012 collection at the September 2011 New York Fashion Week:
A Fashion Week can be a huge deal depending on who you ask. I mentioned from the outset that a fashion week can mean much more than just models and fashions. Fashions and fashion designers can trigger and inspire trends. They surely can bring back past styles and trends and try to make them stylish again in the current age. Alternatively, Fashion Week can also reflect changes in culture as well as signs of the current times. Most designers usually embrace certain trends and styles and try to make fashions to reflect such times.
Rather than just look on trends and styles, it is also a chance for designers to showcase different styles. Offering a pleasant surprise in design can be a key element in one designer exposing his/her/its brand to the general public-at-large. Wouldn't it be interesting if one designer known for vibrant and expressive fashions comes along with a collection that is dark and edgy? Sometimes, the element of surprise in fashion can yield unexpected results at Fashion Week (or at any fashion show in general).
--- Fashion Week Websites ---
Various fashion week websites will be provided here. Find out about when the latest fashion week shows are up and coming. I will include as many as possible to spur your interest. Links may be updated from time to time to keep this post current. All links are provided for educational purposes, and these are just some of many different events I was able to find legitimate websites for.
I may find some more sites to keep you all interested.
To anyone going to or getting involved in Fashion Week events, I hope you have a great time! As always, Thank you for reading! What do you think about Fashion Week events? Share your ideas here. Don't be scared! :)
If you are blogging, chances are, you may find someone who loves your work and wants to share his/her material with you. So this bit of blogging advice is simply about connecting with other bloggers. Us bloggers are (and should be) one big happy international family. We all share the same love of posting material online for the world to see.
Meeting Other Bloggers: Why Bother?
There are key reasons why you want to meet other bloggers and be friendly with them. Here are some of the many:
1.) More exposure. Don't you want yourself to be exposed to others? Don't you want the opportunity to connect with more people? Anyone who wants to attract more attention from visitors have to find ways to branch out and get exposed.
2.) Communication. Blogging is like YouTube- it is not a competition. I am not competing with other blogs for supremacy in the blogosphere. I do want to meet more people and get more loyal readers. I do want to have more Facebook fans, Google FriendConnect followers, and more.
On the Blogger/Blogspot platform, I mostly like to think of all of us as an international family. Same goes for any blogging platform, really.
Getting Yourself Out There.
Often times in blogs, I see bloggers posting links to their own blog in posts. Blogs and sites that allow for commenters to post HTML links usually will grant you the chance to post links in posts. A simple HTML tag that links to your blog/site will allow visitors reading your comments to visit your blog. Or, they may find out about your primary blog through your Blogger/Blogspot profile and visit there. If you are commenting on other peoples' blogs and websites, it is best to provide a link to your own blog so people who enjoyed your comment.
People look for new blogs almost every day. Why not help your own blog's cause by promoting your own blog? You may meet some completely new people and gain support from newer people. If you need help with HTML code, here are two sites I recommend so you can learn HTML:
The biggest way to get yourself noticed is to meet bloggers in person. For example, would you love the opportunity to meet your favorite blogger(s) in person? There are some bloggers and loyal readers (not naming any) whom I'd love to meet in person. People may know my personality in blogging, but how many know how I can be in person? That's one thing about the Internet- you know only so much about the people we honor and cherish that we don't really know how they are away from the Internet. I think doing blogging and videos only provides only a closed view of who we really are on the inside.
It isn't as if I get invited to or accept any blogger meetups on a regular basis. I am not sure of the Houston/Galveston blogging community, but I do know that Mike McGuff is perhaps the best blogger here in the Houston/Galveston area. Most of the ones who show up at these blogging deals are basically some of the better bloggers online whose popularity warrants a meet-and-greet event. Then again, some are just casual blogger meetups where various bloggers just come together and meet each other.
As of this post, I have NEVER been involved in any sort of blogger meetup; nor have I actually met any fellow bloggers in person. There are a number of peoples' blogs whom I follow which I wouldn't mind or love to meet in person.
--- Various Bloggers ---
You should be able to meet more bloggers online and introduce yourself to their blogs. So what I decided to do is show you some of the many blogs I follow. The majority of these are recent blogs I've followed or certain blogs I've followed for a long time, and are mostly feminine fashion blogs. I actually didn't intend on featuring so many here. However, you need to meet more people if you want to meet more people and get more exposure online. So I want to introduce you to some of the blogs that I follow.
These are miscellaneous blogs I want to feature just to share with you all. A lot of these are blogs that have recently Followed my work or even are just some I want to make a shout out to. Some of these are blogs I rarely mention in my posts.
Maytedoll ^ Meet Mayte. She is a beautiful fashion blogger deeply influenced by the style and charm of the Kardashian sisters. This Mexican fashion diva based here in Texas has a sense of style that will truly charm you. She often times sport some lovely platforms and high heels. You may see her in garments ranging from jeans to lovely dresses. Mayte and her styles are a rainbow of fashionable goodness.
Deconstruction ^ Deconstruction is the blog of a Florida-based beauty named Mackenzie. What makes her fashion blog different from most others is that her fashions are either created or altered by herself, or are mostly affordable fashions she showcases. I respect her a lot for both her fashion as well as her education in fashion. Have a visit to Mackenzie's blog if this description of it interests you.
Burst of Color ^ This young girl named Lily has a colorful sense of style. Just about all of her outfit posts are casual. She smiles sweetly. Check out some of her colorful and casual styles by visiting "Burst of Color."
COMBO-MONSTER ^ This is the blog of a young fashion blogger named Duygu. This blogger from Turkey is a beautiful young lady with great charm in her many outfits. Lovely long hair and an angelic face make her a truly lovely lady.
SAZI'S TOP SECRET ^ Recently, a lady commented about her blog to me. The blog "SAZI'S TOP SECRET" showcases fashion style of the lady named Sazi. A lot of her styles are chic styles along with a few more casual outfits.
Glam and Fab Chameleon ^ Born in Serbia and based in Greece, Jelena offers up some of her own fashion charm. This lovely lady has a great sense of style and various styles ranging from casual clothing to swimwear. She even can glam things up with her own classy style. So why not visit this blog and check out her style.
mioprincess loves pink! ^ Marina is a Greek goddess who is all about beauty and fashion. Let this blogger showcase her style to you. She loves pink, and I'm sure she would also love it if you visit her blog and take note of her fashions and styles.
Koltunovskaya ^ Natalie Koltunovskaya is a Russian fashion blogger who has many chic outfits to showcase. Her smile captivates just as wonderfully as her outfits. Natalie will not disappoint you with her sense of style.
My Silk Fairytale ^ As one of the most versatile fashion bloggers online, Alina of "My Silk Fairytale" showcases many of her unique looks. They can range from chic to casual. This sweet blogger from Romania can do it all- girly, tough, rocker-chic, beautiful, classy... you name it, and she will not disappoint in showing you a nice look as well as giving a nice little story on each look.
Lucky Packet ^ She is honestly one of the cutest bloggers you will ever come across. This ray of fashionable sunshine who runs "Lucky Packet" is Laiqah (pronounced "lah-ee-kah"). The petite South African has a lovely sense of style through many cute outfits. Laiqah boasts a pretty smile, a cute face, and lovely hair. I really think she's one of the cutest fashion bloggers anywhere online.
Style 4 Curves --For the Curvy Confident Woman ^ I don't know too many people from Mississippi, but one proud representative of the Magnolia State is one curvy beauty named Venessia. Let this stylish lady showcase you her style through many of her lovely outfits.
Viva Voluptuous! ^ The Canadian blogger Marisa is a plus size beauty with a host of blog posts regarding plus size fashion. The blog mostly consists of a lot of picture inspirations as well as many different outfit posts.
Sachê e Bombom ^ Camille is a young curvy blogger from Brazil who exudes absolute cuteness. She has a cute smile, a cute face, and some cute hair. Her blog, "Sachê e Bombom," is bilingual. Each post features text in Portuguese and translated to English. So fear not about any sort of language barrier here.
Amy a la Mode ^ Aspiring actress and fashion model Amy lends her unique pictures and charm to "Amy a la Mode." A lot of her pictures are very vintage-inspired. Have a look at her blog and enjoy her pictures.
Now some more people I just want to shout out to...
Musings of a Sega Racing Fan ^ Eric has been a long-time supporter of my blog and all of my online work. I usually mention him whenever I review Sega racing games here on "John's Blog Space." The least you could do is check out his blog. He mostly discusses racing games as well as his recent game programming and various other life issues.
Principessa Gabriella ^ It sometimes seems like I can't go one Salute-type post without mentioning Gabriella. Since I discovered "Principessa Gabriella" long ago, Gabriella herself has been nothing but fun and friendly. Her blog is a combination of outfits and various other musings from the plus size beauty.
Chris Morales Racing Blog ^ Sharing his love of racing and his desire to be a pro racing driver, Chris Morales offers up his blog. It is a fairly young blog started by him.
Ericaritish ^ The journey through life can be either very enjoyable or very taxing. Joana Erica Danielle is a teenage girl whom shares her journey through life with a combination of deep thinking and lighthearted humor. It's one girl's look at life through the eyes and heart of this young Filipino lady.
Axis Of Oversteer ^ Axis Of Oversteer is a blog I read from time to time. It's funny that a guy who loves racing hardly ever visits a blog about racing. Axis Of Oversteer is a great racing blog with lots of great content for racing fans.
I actually didn't want this to be a huge Salute post. I only wanted to mention a few people, but ended up mentioning MANY more people. A majority of blogs I follow on here are feminine fashion blogs. Therefore, you fashionable types will have plenty to be proud of that I've featured here. I make salutes to people often times. If you want to see all of my latest posts in the "Salutes" category, click the following link to see all of my latest "Salutes" category blog posts.
The main point of this blog post is that if you want to get more readers and more subscribers, you need to branch out and expand. Read other peoples' blogs. Respond to other peoples' material (respectfully). Just get yourself out there and exposed. You want to be able to get people to care about your work should they find interest in visiting your own blog. You never know who actually respects your work and comes back time and time again to read your content.
With this said, go meet some new bloggers! :) Thank you for reading!
Ranma ½ was one of Rumiko Takahashi's finest masterpieces in anime. It is my all-time favorite anime series. It is very funny along with some great fight scenes. Ranma ½ is also a great romantic anime series. This blog post is just a little look at this great series. Maybe after reading this post, you'll become a fan as well.
This blog label features topics or elements related to anime and/or manga. Such posts may include reviews of anime and manga series, shows, movies, characters, or some basic commentary on anime and manga.
--- Ranma ½ at a Glance ---
^ from: www.sweetslyrics.com - Various characters of Ranma ½.
The story of Ranma ½ is basically centered around a high schooler named Ranma Saotome. He and his father, Genma, were out martial arts training in China in an area full of many cursed springs. Falling into any of these springs turns you into whatever drowned into it. The curse takes form when splashed with cold water. When splashed with hot water, you return to your original form. Unfortunately, Ranma and Genma both fell into the springs. Genma turns into a giant panda when splashed with cold water. Ranma, however, becomes a girl when splashed with cold water.
Ranma Saotome is met by the Tendo sisters, as Ranma has to pick one to be his girlfriend- Kasumi, Nabiki, and Akane. Kasumi is the eldest of the Tendo sisters and is very sweet-natured. Nabiki is the sly and sneaky sister always trying to make quick cash. Akane is gentle and sweet... until you get on her bad side or complain about her cooking skills. Ranma eventually chooses Akane Tendo. The two get along quite well... most of the time.
What I love most about the Ranma series are the fights. Most importantly, the battles between Ranma and Ryoga. Ryoga is my favorite character of all. He is a strong fighter, but he's... dumb. Ryoga is known as the "eternally lost boy" for a reason. What can be reached within walking distance takes him hours and weeks. He is an idiot... but, he can fight!
Various Characters.
There are also some other characters of note. I'll name a few of them. • Soun - the Tendo family father. • Ukyo - okonomiyaki chef. She's mistaken for a boy. • Shampoo - Shampoo is a super-cute character. She loves boy-type Ranma and detests girl-type Ranma. Shampoo turns into a cat when splashed with cold water. • Tatewaki Kuno - the "Blue Thunder" of Furinkan High is a rival of boy-type Ranma, but madly in love with girl-type Ranma. • Kodachi - Kodachi is Tatewaki Kuno's sister, and is known as the black rose. She's as big of a nut as as Kuno. • Happosai - a perverted and short old man notorious for stealing womens' panties.
In addition to the various TV episodes of Ranma ½, there have been countless other installments of Ranma that are all equally funny. Some of the other installments include Ryoga learning the Breaking Point technique- a technique where large rocks could be broken with a single point. There was also an episode where Ranma and company had to fight a legendary phoenix that was going haywire around Tokyo. Also unique were various martial arts competitions in unlikely situations, including martial arts figure skating (very funny episode!) and even a martial arts running race. There is NEVER a dull moment watching Ranma ½. It is a fantastic anime series and one of the true classic anime series.
I tried to find a brief video to showcase Ranma ½, but I was unable to find one for you. To see YouTube videos on the Ranma ½ series on your own time, click on the following link to see "Ranma 1/2" YouTube search results.
Play DVDs? Want to get into the Ranma ½ series? Check out these Amazon items and feel free to enjoy the Ranma ½ series:
THIS LINE (left to right): • Ranma 1/2: Season One: The Digital Dojo; TV Anime Season 1 DVD Box Set (2006) • Ranma 1/2, Season 2-Anything Goes Starring Ranma 1 and 2 (2007) • Ranma 1/2: Season Three - Hard Battle (2007) • Ranma 1/2 Season 4 - Outta Control Starring Ranma 1/2 (2007) • Ranma 1/2: Season 5 - Martial Mayhem Starring Ranma (2008)
I can't find any good Ranma videos to show on John's Blog Space. However, I do want to shout out to my tomodachi ("friend" in Japanese) Yuki singing two Ranma ½ songs. The first one was the first I had seen from roconamente, and another was a more recent Ranma cover done by roconamente:
Sometimes, you need time to yourself. You sometimes need to treat yourself to things rather than put up with other people. These moments of "me" time allows one to relax and unwind while treating ourselves and spoiling ourselves to good things. The blog post you are about to read is all about the "me" time we sometimes need to help us feel better from within.
Let me begin with a quote:
"I ain't tryna do you, I'm tryin' do me..."
-lyric to "I Luv It" from Young Jeezy
...and let's continue with a picture (best I could find to represent this post):
^ from: www.bornfreemumanddad.co.uk - Other people bringing you down? Stress getting to you? Need to chill out? Have yourself some "me" time!
Let's continue on with the post.
--- What Does "Me" Time Do For Us? ---
Having "me" time gives us a chance to relax and humble ourselves. It is an assuring feeling to know we do these things for ourselves to feel better. These "me" moments are like reminders to ourselves that we are amazing people. If others don't love you as much, having "me" time is a good bit of self-confidence and self-love.
The one thing to be careful of is that you don't act too selfishly or regard yourself higher than anybody else (including family and friends). You want these "me" time moments to be self-encouraging; not in being any sort of Narcissist.
--- "Me" Time Examples ---
Here are some examples of "me" time and people spoiling themselves:
• A young male decides to head out alone a nightclub or lounge rather than hang out with his friends at a sports bar.
• A single young lady treats herself to getting a manicure and pedicure at a salon, then goes out shopping for herself at a mall or a department store. She may also decide to go to a nightclub for the night alone and treat herself to a party.
• A teenage male unwinds from the rigors of High School by playing tunes with his guitar.
• A married woman prepares a delicious and satisfying dinner for herself at home rather than have a dinner with her husband or be with her girl friends.
Many people have many different ways of treating themselves. What do you normally do with your "me" time? What was maybe the most memorable "me" time moment you had? Did you have "me" time in response to something negative that has happened in your life? Regardless of the reason or what you do, we all need some "me" time, just these moments that help us to feel better and relax. While not generally appreciated by other people whom we love, this is at least a time where us individuals can spoil ourselves and feel good all the while.
How do you spend your "me" time? Do you allow yourself some "me" time? By the way, I was preparing this blog post during the Super Bowl XLVI halftime show. :)
Thank you for reading! I hope you enjoy this blog post as well as my others. To keep up with my blog and keep pace with my blog, you need to Subscribe to JBS and even Follow via Google Friend Connect. I also encourage you Facebook users to "like" my Facebook fan page. How do you get involved? It's as simple as this:
Country style is what this blog post is all about. You don't have to be from the country or from Small Town America to enjoy country style. You don't have to like Texas' own George Strait or Martina McBride or Lady Antebellum (who I love) to show country style. You don't have to be a Southern gentleman or a Southern belle to enjoy country style. This post is primarily a look at country/Western fashion.
A Special Hello... ...to all the proud Southerners and country folk out there! I may be a city boy for the most part, but I hope you get to enjoy this blog post. Now get to reading! ^_^
LATEST UPDATE(S)/REVISION(S):
FEB 6 2012 - corrected a spelling error, added extra Cross-Promotion links.
--- Country Chic at a Glance ---
Country style is mostly a style where you could get away with wearing denim to look stylish. Western wear and Western-type fashions can exude stylish charm for both males and females.
In the mid-2000s, there was a fashion trend towards Western country styles. Part of it was brought about by things like the "Dukes of Hazard" movie featuring the likes of Jessica Simpson as Daisy Duke (Catherine Bach is the original Daisy Duke). I would casually see a lot of Western-themed casual clothes back in the mid-2000s relating to either the West or to cowboys and cowgirls.
Country Cute!
You don't have to be a Southern girl or a true country girl to enjoy country chic. One of my most popular posts on "John's Blog Space" is my post on dresses with cowboy boots. Cowboy boots with a sundress is a somewhat unexpected look. For one, the softness of a sundress is met with the toughness of a pair of cowboy boots. It's soft meeting hard. Often times, you will see girly dresses paired with a tough, yet chic pair of boots. This look of dresses with cowboy boots can best be traced to Taylor Swift.
For the girl looking to channel her inner Miley Cyrus, there is the country look of denim short shorts paired with cowboy boots. That's the look she sported in her "Party in the USA" music video. Those more in tune with the past can best remember a character named Daisy Duke from the original Dukes of Hazard (not the 2000s movie featuring Jessica Simpson as Daisy Duke; I'm talking about Catherine Bach).
There are many ways a girl can enjoy country chic.
--- Country Chic: Fashion Pieces ---
Let's look at a few pieces which define country/Western style. I am trying to stay as true to traditional Western wear as possible rather than costumes. So here goes...
All images based on Google Images searches, and many of the ones I found are the best I could find to describe each item. Please contact me if there are some items I am forbidden to use in my post.
Cowboy Boots.
^ from: www.discoverhorses.com - Good old cowboy boots. This pair has spurs to them, though most fashion cowboy boots don't have spurs. Quintessential Western chic.
More than anything, nothing cries country chic quite like a good pair of cowboy boots. These boots can range from fashionable cowboy boots to traditional cowboy boots. What remains as one of my most popular posts on John's Blog Space, "Dresses With Cowboy Boots," my female audience have constantly visited that blog post trying to grab the style the likes of Taylor Swift have provided.
Western wear retailers provide the most authentic cowboy boots. So if authenticity is what you desire, seek cowboy boots from proper Western wear retailers. Maybe the most popular Western retailer here in Houston is Cavender's Boot City. Maybe the most popular boot company here in Texas is Texas' own Lucchese. Cowboy boots offer up perhaps the most basic way to show country style.
Western Shirts and Blouses.
^ from: kaboodle.com - A nice Western shirt can easily compliment a good pair of jeans.
^ from: www.crazyhorsewest.com - This woman knotted the front of her Western shirt, showing some midriff. This can be a sexy touch to a basic Western shirt.
A good button-down shirt is a nice compliment to a country look. These Western shirts can come in a variety of styles, both in solids and patterns. Plaid is usually a common style of Western shirt. There are also other Western shirt styles that are vintage or even have fringe details to them. There are even Western shirts made from denim, gingham, and other materials. Western shirts can also range from long sleeves to short sleeves. A feminine touch to a Western shirt can be made by either wearing it normally, or by tying up the front of the shirt to show some midriff a la Daisy Duke. You may even unbutton as many buttons upward to show off your navel as the rest of the shirt flies into the wind.
No matter what your style, there is a country/Western shirt for both males and females to enjoy.
Good Ol' Denim.
^ from: www.carefreecasuals.com - Western-style jeans for men from Wrangler.
^ from: www.sntack.com - Western-style jeans for women from Cruel Girl.
And I quote:
"...A pair of jeans that fit just right..."
-lyric to "Chicken Fried" by the Zac Brown Band
It is safe to say that country chic allows you to wear denim and NOT be in any violation of style. If you want to be authentic, it's best to go with quality Western-appropriate denim. Most of the jeans offered by Western fashion retailers are usually meant to be worn out on the ranch or perhaps to various Western-themed functions and parties. On the feminine side, you're not going to see any of the usual denim trends usually associated with casual style- such as ripped denim, acid-washed denim, or anything like that. Just keep it classy.
^ from: www.myfashionbeautytips.com - Country chic with denim short shorts and cowboy boots.
If you females care to tap into your inner Daisy Duke or Miley Cyrus, you can go with denim short shorts to go with cowboy boots. Other celebrities, such as Zoe Kravitz and Vanessa Hudgens (among many others) have embraced wearing denim short shorts with cowboy boots. You could say that cowboy boots with shorts is a nice alternative from Converses or flip-flop/thong sandals with shorts.
Did you know there are even denim wedding dresses? Some country weddings have these lovely denim wedding dresses for Western-style weddings. Here is an example of a denim wedding dress below:
^ from: www.bridella.com - Get married in denim! What denim diva wouldn't want to get hitched in denim?
As you can tell from these pictures, there are no things like acid washed denim, destroyed denim, or anything like that with country-style denim.
Cowboy Hats.
^ from: fashionstyleclothingblog.wordpress.com - This cowgirl proudly wears her cowboy hat along with a Western shirt and her jeans.
Don't have to be a cowboy to rock a cowboy hat. I certainly can attest to this, being too much of a city boy. These are good hats to wear when out in the heat. Of course here in Texas (and mostly here in the Mid-South), days in the sun can be pretty brutal. Working out on a ranch or someplace can be pretty tough to not have a hat to wear. From a style standpoint, a cowboy hat is just as quintessential of Western chic as cowboy boots.
Riding Skirts and Gaucho Pants.
^ from: fashionrevival.com - A Western riding skirt is a great garment to wear when you want to wear a skirt while riding horses.
When I introduced Western riding skirts to my blog post on gaucho pants, I've gained a new viewing audience for that post. Riding skirts are essentially skirts more appropriate for riding horses on. Their legs are voluminous and wide. These split skirts were meant to be comfortable skirts to wear while riding horses, and their material makes them rugged enough and more than suitable for riding. The skirt-like legs of riding skirts have lent to their appeal to gaucho pants.
Country/Western Belts and Belt Buckles.
^ from: www.al-bar.com - a Western-style belt for men.
^ from: www.mensbeltbuckles.net (best I could find) - A Western-style belt buckle can easily compliment and enhance any Western belt. Many belt buckle makers offer a variety of belt buckles in various styles for males and females.
A Western-style belt is often a great finishing touch for any Western outfit. Equally assuring of a great Western look is a creative belt buckle. Belts and belt buckles can vary in style for both males and females. To be consistent with the country/Western theme, let's just stick to Western-style belt buckles.
Let me conclude this part with a little humor. And I quote:
"If someone asks to see your ID and you show them your belt buckle, you might be a redneck."
-comedian Jeff Foxworthy
Those are only so many different pieces regarding country style. I was going to include chaps in my initial blog post, but I wanted to talk about fashionable pieces commonly worn out and about in the realm of country chic; and it isn't often you see chaps worn as part of a fashionable outfit. So I've excluded chaps.
--- Should You Go Country/Western? ---
It's entirely up to you. Country/Western style is a not a bad way to embrace warmer weather. Even basic elements of Western clothing can likely be incorporated into your wardrobe. Country/Western shirts can be pretty stylish almost all year 'round. Especially more authentic Western shirts can be great to wear with their great designs. If you're a female wanting to sex up a Western shirt, one can always tie up the front of the shirt and show off some midriff, a la Daisy Duke. Cowboy boots are basically an all-year deal, so feel free to wear cowboy boots with almost any sort of clothing combination. As if jeans or sundresses already are paired with cowboy boots, even various cute skirts can go along with cowboy boots seamlessly. I even have a little interest in getting myself a cowboy hat to go along with the straw hat that I have.
So experiment to your heart's desire in incorporating country/Western chic into your wardrobe. For you true country folk, I'm sure you know full well how to style most of the clothing pieces I've discussed in this blog post.
--- Country/Western Fashion Resources ---
So do you want to enjoy some country chic for yourself? I can help you by pointing you towards some websites online where you can shop online for country and Western fashions. Have a look around and thanks for visiting John's Blog Space!
Each section has a heading. To visit that website, click on the heading. But first, read the description to know what exactly I am talking about. I am not sure if any international shipping is done with any of these. If you're any of my international readers or not from a specific market these sites are related to, you may want to check the website(s) in question. This post was primarily meant to concern mostly my American audience.
NOTE: I am not paid by anyone to post these links and talk about these companies/websites.
Cavender's Boot City is one of the premier Western wear retailers in America. This company has been around since 1965 providing great Western fashions for males and females and across various age groups. Authentic Western wear can be had through Cavender's. I've known them as Texas' premier Western wear retailer, but there are also stores in Oklahoma, Louisiana, Arkansas, and Kansas according to their website.
When I mentioned riding skirts in my blog post about gaucho pants, I attracted a certain new audience. This blog post on Western fashion was almost sort of inspired by the viewing support I've received from visitors. So I am including 1880 Western Wear into this section. A multitude of authentic Western clothing and accessories are available for everyone here.
This online retailer of Western wear offers many Western clothes and decor for those who love the Western lifestyle. This was another site I featured in my blog post on gaucho pants. Various items are offered from a variety of brands including Scully, John Deere, and even Converse.
The items offered by Ann N Eve are vast and varied, ranging from Western wear for men and women as well as formal and plus size items. Wedding wear can even be bought from this company. This site was yet another site posted in my gaucho pants blog post.
Rod's features everything from Western wear to Western accessories. It was one of many different companies I featured in my blog post about gaucho pants. You can check out all of the many different Western wear pieces by visiting Rods.com.
Planning on getting married... country style? The site billed as the "Official Home of the Western Wedding Dress" is Sat'n Spurs. This site features many items for you to enjoy having a Western-style wedding. It even includes some items for the groom. Even if you aren't shopping for a Western-style wedding, at least check out what their denim wedding dresses look like. That alone is worth the visit!
One of the most well-respected boot companies here in Texas is none other than Lucchese. The history of the Lucchese Boot Company dates back to 1883 as the Lucchese family immigrated to the United States. What Sam Lucchese has established for decades in making boots remains true even today. They hand-craft each boot for the ultimate in authenticity. This San Antonio, TX, USA-based company makes some of the most exquisite boots you will ever see or wear. Check out their entire line of authentic cowboy boots by visiting Lucchese's website. These boots are even offered on Amazon, if you can believe it.
It's tough to refer to a boot maker from Toronto, Ontario, Canada as a Western company; but Liberty Boot Co. makes their own stylish boots. Liberty Boot Company even custom-made a pair of boots worn by Taylor Swift (popularized by my "Dresses with Cowboy Boots" post).
The Netherlands has its own online destination for Western clothing. Offered up in four different languages (including English), my Dutch fans/readers who have enjoyed this blog post can find some Western wear that spur their interest.
More links may be added in future edits.
--- Cross-Promotion ---
Here are some other blog posts of mine you may be interested in based on what you've read here:
"Gaucho Pants and Culotte Skirts" - John's Blog Space ^ I made notion of Western riding skirts in my blog post on gaucho pants. Have a look at one of my oldest, yet still one of my most popular posts about gaucho pants.
"Dresses With Cowboy Boots" - John's Blog Space ^ A look popularized by Taylor Swift is with wearing a cute sundress with cowboy boots. This remains one of my most popular blog posts. What do you think about wearing a sundress with cowboy boots? Visit my blog post and see this look in action!
"Horses" - John's Blog Space ^ Those cowboys and cowgirls need an animal to ride! So what do cowboys and cowgirls ride on? Horses! This is a post about the beautiful and majestic creatures.
"Lady Antebellum" - John's Blog Space ^ I mentioned Lady Antebellum in the introduction. This blog post REALLY needs some views, so please view my blog post regarding this outstanding country trio.
"Taylor Swift" - John's Blog Space ^ Taylor Swift's style of wearing dresses with cowboy boots is a huge highlight to my blog post regarding the look. This very old (December 2009) blog post on Taylor Swift is for you Taylor Swift fans to enjoy if you love Taylor Swift and also if you love "John's Blog Space." So please take a look at this old post if you're interested.
That's just a little cross-promotion from me to you. I just want my blog to appeal better to more people. It's the least I can do.
Thank you for reading this post on country/Western chic! I didn't exactly create this post in honor of the upcoming Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, but I was a bit encouraged by the Houston Rodeo to come up with this blog post. I still hope you enjoyed this post. Let me know if there are any topics you want to see me make mention to in the future by contacting me via Email or through my Facebook fan page. Before riding off into the sunset, do me some favors if you love my blog:
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