In the round-up: Pascal Wehrlein says Mercedes told him he didn?t have enough experience to take Nico Rosberg?s empty seat at the team.
Alain Prost took pole position in his first appearance as a Williams driver on this day in 1993 in qualifying for the last South African Grand Prix.
When watching a movie, most filmmakers are content with shoving all the information we need to understand a story right into our stupid faces. Because film is a medium designed for telling stories, right? Writers and directors don’t need to be coy about what it is they’re trying to say.
Unless what they’re trying to say is completely at your expense, of course, as is the case with most of the hidden messages we’ve assembled here (none of which are Disney entries, by the way, ‚cause they’ve been done death elsewhere). Ask yourself, this, though: why did the filmmakers associated with these flicks take the time out of their busy schedules to ensure that these subtle inclusions made it into theatres?
The logical answer? To reward viewers patient enough to search for hidden clues, you say? Probably not. More than likely, it was all done to either make them feel good about themselves, or to ridicule our growing obsession with analysing each and every frame of everything we happen to gaze upon…
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In the round-up: Max Verstappen shrugs off Renault?s reliability problems.
Your daily digest of F1 news, views, features and more from hundreds of sites across the web:
Verstappen ?not too worried? by Red Bull deficit (Crash)
„They can solve the issues for Melbourne. It is nothing major what is happening, which is good.“
Hulkenberg doubtful Renault can score points consistently in 2017 (F1i)
„Points will be difficult as I think four teams are clearly in front. Then there’s not much left.“
Top three teams more than 1s clear of pack (Autosport)
„It is aero, and we need to work on it. It won’t be for Australia.“
Tech insight – the secrets to the Ferrari SF70H’s speed (F1)
„Arguably the most interesting – and clever – solution on the SF70H, however, is the cooling system for the gearbox and its hydraulics.“
Tech update: Sauber’s unique monkey seat solution (Motorsport)
„Monkey seats have become pretty common in F1, but Sauber’s solution suggests a new trend – with the U-shape (see above) being fitted very close to the exhaust.“
Pagenaud driving French F1 fans to IndyCar (Reuters)
„I think the interest in Formula One has gone down,
Ross Brawn’s non-championship race idea vindicated by 1969 shambles (ESPN)
„After much dithering, a drying track prompted the abandonment of qualifying and a continuation of free practice. By which time, the McLaren team had packed up and were heading back to their factory at Colnbrook.“
Got a tip for a link to feature in the next F1 Fanatic round-up? Send it in here:
Happy birthday to Derek Daly who is 64 today. It?s also Arturo Merzario?s 74th.
Annabel Croft, the former British tennis champ and broadcaster, has played tennis all over the world, winning Wimbledon and competing at the top levels of the sport. Yet when she talks about that moment when children who have never even tossed a tennis ball discover the joy of the sport, her enthusiasm brims over. ?It?s so exciting!? she says.
Croft, along with other celebrated players such as Greg Rusedski, is helping instruct the Lawn Tennis Association?s #TennisForKids coaches, getting these seasoned coaches ready to provide free tennis lessons all around the country. It?s all about getting kids interested and involved in this great sport. BritMums, along with 2 bloggers whose children experienced the LTA free tennis lessons last year, chatted with Croft about the lessons and the experience. (Read Karen Beddow?s post about last year on Mini Travellers.)
The lessons start with ball skills such as games of catch, practicing the ?warrior? position (knees bent, on toes, looking like a sports star?) and other activities that are fun ? and far away from the frustration of swinging wildly as the balls sail past. Then kids quickly move to trying their skills on mini-courses with a low net.
And that can be an exciting moment, says Croft.
With a racket in their hand, a ball shoots across the net and you can see their thought process, she says. ??I?ve got a racket in my hand and I?m hitting the ball across the net and I look like a tennis player.‘?
Girls do a drill, tossing a ball to each other in a free LTA lesson
Annabel Croft works with a young player on a mini court
Last year almost 14,000 kids age 5-8 played tennis for the first time through the scheme which offered a free 6-week tennis course. Budding tennis players even received a racket of their own to take home.
This year Tennis for Kids is back, with the opportunity for even more kids to get active and out on the court ? with FREE lessons at local clubs across the the country and a free racket for participants at the end!
Visit clubspark.lta.org.uk/TennisForKids for more information and to sign up when registration opens.
Softer balls make learning easier
BritMums got the chance last year to see some of the techniques coaches employ to make learning tennis fun. The programme uses soft, squishy balls so there?s no chance of a painful errant hit. Children start with hand-eye games tailored to the internet-screen generation ? activities such as bouncing the ball to each other and holding hands as if in a handshake and tossing the ball to each other?s free hand. There are creative games, with milestones to hit along the way so kids? confidence builds the more they play.
Then it?s on to the mini court, working with a coach and hitting a ball tossed across, finally graduating to hitting back and forth, just like real tennis players (!).
The programme has been updated with feedback from last year, to make it even more fun, more engaging and more of what kids and parents want. At the training session coaches exchanged their learnings. The whole thing is fast-paced and good-humored, to ensure kids don?t get bored.
?These coaches are the people out on the front line delivering sessions to the community in all kinds of weather, all kinds of conditions. They are the ones inspiring the new generation,? says Croft.
Best of all, by signing up your child to these lessons that don?t cost a thing, you?re introducing them to an enjoyment of the sport and skills they will have forever.
?The earlier you engage a child with something like tennis,? says Croft, ?they enjoy it for the rest of their life.?
clubspark.lta.org.uk/TennisForKids
BritMums is working with the LTA to promote #TennisforKids.
BritMums is the UK’s largest parent blogger collective. We offer bloggers the latest support, advice and how-tos as well as feature great content on food, travel, relationships, health, charities, crafting and much more. Our social network is free to join and helps bloggers connect with others; our BritMums Pro programme connects bloggers with brands on our high-quality projects and our annual conference, BritMums Live, is the blogging event of the year.
The final day of pre-season testing has concluded at the Circuit de Catalunya.
Here are the best times set by all drivers over the full eight days of testing, and the tyre they used to set their best times.
Browse all 2017 F1 season articles
Happy birthday, Buffy!
Yes, it’s time to feel really old, because today Buffy the Vampire Slayer (the TV show, as the movie obviously doesn’t count) turns 20-years-old.
Though still not old enough to drink in the United States, it’s nonetheless surprising to find that Buffy first aired two decades ago.
The outfits may have aged hilariously, but the rest of the series holds up as well as ever, and remains a major part of pop-culture lexicon and an inspiration for generations of shows since.
It remains the best work any of the cast have done, and despite Firefly, Angel, and The Avengers all coming after, it still stands as Joss Whedon’s magnum opus.
Given the milestone, it feels an appropriate time to go back in time and look over each of the seven seasons the show offered between 1997-2003. During that time the show became a TV phenomenon, a landmark high school series, a high entry point into the vampire genre, and simply put one of the greatest TV shows of all time.
Now, there isn’t an outright bad season of Buffy, but not all seasons are created equally. Instead, they go from good, but with a lot of issues, to utterly incredible.
We do seem to be doing a pretty bad job of looking after our planet at the moment and I mean it is the only one we?ve got. The polar caps are breaking, even though some people would tell your differently, we seem to be edging closer to international conflict by the day and countless animals are on the endangered list including African and Asian Elephants, Lion, Blue Whales and Tigers !
Someone who is trying to do something to make the world a better place, particularly with regard to the last matter is Mike Swig co-founder of Endangered Apparel. Who as well as trying to do the right thing, is encouraging us to purchase some rather stylish apparel, which can not only makes us look but feel better too, in knowing we are helping worthwhile projects, as for every item sold they donate 20% to a corresponding animal sanctuary, working to the idea ?One Shirt. One Donation.?
Mike has been surrounded by nature ever since he was a young child. He grew up in a neighborhood encompassed by wildlife and nature. His love for animals and nature continued to grow while traveling to over 60 countries around the world. On his journey he has been able to visit multiple animal sanctuaries and develop his knowledge and compassion for animals and endangered species. While on this journey, Mike thought of the idea to start a brand to help endangered animals. After discussing the idea with Branon, his co-founder, Endangered Apparel was formed.
The guys have spent a lot of time researching the best sanctuaries around the world and have selected four great ones to support!
The Elephant Sanctuary-The Elephant Sanctuary is located in Tennessee. It was founded in 1995 and is America?s largest natural habitat refuge developed specifically for endangered African and Asian elephants.
The Australian Koala Foundation (AKF)- is the principal non-profit, non-government organisation dedicated to the conservation and effective management of the wild koala and its habitat.
Smithsonian National Zoological Park- (Giant Panda Conservation) The world?s largest museum and research complex. The Smithsonian includes 18 museums and galleries, as well as the National Zoo. Watch the Panda Cam here to see the pandas you are directly helping!
Big Cat Rescue- One of the largest accredited sanctuaries in the world dedicated to abused and abandoned big cats. Founded in 1992, they have helped save the lives of hundreds of cats and currently are caring for 80+ lions, tigers and cougars.
Their website is not only a place to purchase their goods but a great source of information without being too worthy or sanctimonious and includes such great articles on topics including, why is the Bumblebee now an endangered Species? To When to wear a slim fit Polo Shirt and five interesting facts about Koalas.
A group of RPS readers are embarking upon a merry tour of Guild Wars 2 this weekend, and you?re all invited ? no purchase necessary. The folks of Rock, Paper, Signet are visiting the American servers for the first time for a whistlestop ?Fresh Start? tour of each race?s starting zone. Expect adventure, action, and plenty of larking about. Focusing on the starting zones means all and sundry can join in with only the free version of Guild Wars 2. Here, see some of there adventures from the last tour in this trailer by community member ?Ravbek?:
As the forum thread explains, the adventure will start at 21:00 GMT on Saturday, March 11th and they?ll be gabbing on the community Discord server. ?Krathor? says:
?Like the Fresh Start event we hosted on EU servers way back in December 2015, this will be based around all the awesome things found in the starting areas, skipping over all the boring stuff and focusing on nice event chains, mini-dungeons, jumping puzzles and world bosses. If you?ve wanted to roll on NA for a while but haven?t had the opportunity, or wish to avoid the grind of playing somewhat solo, here?s a good opportunity to create a new one and breeze through the early levels.?
Do also read his fine article on the joys of playing with communities.
This poster by ?RebelMaren? has more details on Saturday?s who, what, when, where, how, and why:
