The Battle of Wine in Haro, La Rioja We've all heeded the call (or ducked out of the way) upon hearing the hearty cry for a food fight. In Spain, this type of culinary free-for-all reaches new heights. You may already be familiar with La Tomatina, the tomato-lobbing pulp fest that brings people by the thousands to the village of Bunyol every year. But have you heard about the great Riscos de Bilibio Wine Battle? On June 29th, wine literally flows through this sleepy little hamlet's streets in honor of San Pedro. Decked out in spotless white duds, celebrants arm themselves with boda bags, buckets, and super soakers, dousing anything that moves until everyone is wearing purple. And this is no spectator sport, amigos. Spray or get out of the way. A good time is had by all, although it does seem a waste of good Rioja wine. Maybe they could combine La Tomatina and the Batalla de Vino into one event, and at least get a good gazpacho out of the deal. Suggested Sites... Ciudad de Haro - most of the time, they drink the wine here. Find out about their history, traditions, and wine industry. RiojaWine.com - history, tasting manual, and a visitor's guide to the bodegas of Rioja. lastminute.com - find other weird and wonderful events in Spain, like the Running of the Nudes. Japanese Human Art - watch a performance of food fight in slow motion and reverse action.

Directory categories: Spain Travel Guides, Spain, La Tomatina, Wine Tours, Wine Events

Archived under: Cultures, Festivals, Holidays, Spain, Weird Stuff, Wine

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(Photo by Henk L.) Today, the nation honors the humble handshake, the underappreciated social ritual that can make or break a first impression. Leading with a good firm handshake distinguishes you as a confident straight shooter -- but commit one of the cardinal handshaking sins and that good impression is forever tarnished. Nobody likes clasping a soggy limp paw; same goes for those four ladylike fingers bestowed in hand-kissing position; and please, please, cool it with the he-man grip. Really, there's no great secret to giving good shake. Make and maintain eye contact, insert hand so palms meet, and then squeeze firmly but gently. Save the secret handshakes, fancy flourishes, and half-hugs for people you already know. Germaphobes may have to suck it up during a job interview, but once they hit the big time, they can switch to an alternative like the fist bump. And if shaking hands strikes you as too formal, don't worry. Your time will come next April on National High Five day. Suggested Sites... How to Give a Great Handshake - watch and learn. Whole Lotta Shaking - Bill Richardson crushed Teddy Roosevelt's record for most handshakes by a politician. Why Is Handwashing Important? - one word: cooties. How to Teach Your Cat to Give a Handshake - if kitty can handle it, so can you. Wikipedia: Greetings - all the greetings and salutations you'll ever need.

Directory categories: Business Etiquette, Hygiene, Nail Care, Gloves and Mittens

Archived under: Etiquette, Health, Holidays, How-To, Society and Culture

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(Photo by Bryce Mullet) Looking for an off-site team-building activity to rough up the sluggish sales team or enliven the executives? We suggest a nice game of paintball. Really, who doesn't get pumped up over the idea of nailing a co-worker with a paint-splatter head shot, or peppering that sassy young upstart with a barrage of blind fire? In fact, we got so amped up at the thought of ambushing our editor that we ended up digging into some paintball history. It turns out that today is the anniversary of the first ever paintball game. Ever since this day in 1981, when a couple of aggro dudes donned goggles and camo, millions of other aggro dudes (and a fair number of aggro ladies) have been running around forests and fields, trying to capture the thrill of the hunt. Whether it's woodsball strategy, speedball, or scenario paintball, revved up shooters have been making paintball one of the fastest growing sports in America. So the next time you feel like blowing off a little steam, grab your marker and keep your head low -- it looks like it hurts to get smacked by a paintball. Suggested Sites... WARPIG - that's the World and Regional Paintball Information Guide to you newbies. PBVids.com - uniting paintballers around the world. Paintball.com - paintball gear, safety information, and a field locator. Special Ops Paintball - a piantball podcast. Arm Chair Commandos - well, of course there's a reality series about paintball.

Directory categories: Paintball, Paintball Gear, Paintball Magazines, Clubs and Teams,

Archived under: Games, Guns, Outdoors, Paintball, Recreation and Travel, Sports

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Cover of the book Wicked Beyond Belief: The Hunt for the Yorkshire Ripper by Michael Bilton During the late 1970s, Britain was rocked by the murders of several young women in Northern England. Though serial killers were not unknown at the time, the hunt for Peter Sutcliffe, aka "The Yorkshire Ripper," had more impact than any previous case, and significantly changed police work in the United Kingdom. Detectives interviewed Sutcliffe nine times before his arrest, but couldn't connect him to the killings. The mass of paperwork in the case made cross-referencing a nightmare. Finally, in May 1981, he was found guilty of 13 counts of murder and was sentenced to life imprisonment. This led to 1982's Byford Report which introduced the major incident room for all big crimes, the computerization of records, extensive training for officers, and recognition for the role that the media and the public can play in helping solve crimes. Many years later, the Yorkshire Ripper story continues to fascinate and cause controversy. Just last year, a prominent Ripper hoaxer was imprisoned, and some writers have even claimed that Sutcliffe was not the true murderer. Is "The Real Yorkshire Ripper" still at large? For everyone's sake, let's hope that's not the case. Suggested Sites... The Yorkshire Ripper - everything you need to know, and probably quite a lot you don't. Britain's Famous Yorkshire Ripper - 16 pages of horror. Murder in the UK - cheery reading from dear old Blighty. BBC: Infamous British Serial Killers - a not-so-pretty list.

Directory categories: Peter Sutcliffe, The Yorkshire Ripper, Serial Killers, Crime in the UK, Serial Killers in the UK

Archived under: Crime, England, Law Enforcement, Murder, Serial Killers, United Kingdom

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The forest-mimicking columns inside Gaudi's temple La Sagrada Familia, Barcelona, Spain (Photo by Juan Salmoral) If there is any one principle resonating through the work of architectural legend Antoni Gaudí, it's that nothing beats the beautiful ingenuity of nature. Born on this day in 1852, Gaudí was infatuated with the natural world. He immersed himself in nature's forms -- from sea shells to mushrooms. Organic shapes inspired Gaudí's stunningly original monuments in and around Spain's cultural mecca, Barcelona. His bizarre buildings are wrought with swirling ceilings, gill-like window vents, molten facades, ruffled rooftops, and whimsical chimney creatures. Even the structural elements of Gaudí's buildings take on surreal, nature-inspired forms through tree-like columns, bone supports, helicoid staircases, and rib-shaped rafters. Despite his innovations, Barcelonians didn't think much of him during his lifetime, aside from the few rich clients who adored (and funded) his artistry. At the time, citizens and colleagues alike scoffed at his major works. Nevertheless, the Catalan creator of biomorphic curves eventually earned posthumous praise from master architects and artists, solidifying his status as a forefather of modernism. Suggested Sites... Casa Battló (1905-1907) - Gaudí's gaudy apartment, inspired by sea forms. Casa Milà (1905-1907) - Gaudí's undulating building called "The Quarry." Parque Guëll (1900-1914) - Gaudí's park featuring his home, bridges, mosaics, terraces, and sculptures. La Sagrada Familia (1882-?) - his massive masterpiece-in-progress, full of cave forms and unforgettable towers. NYC Grand Hotel Plans (1908) - Gaudí fans proposed his design for the new World Trade Center.

Directory categories: Antoni Gaudí, Master Architects, Barcelona Local Guides, Art Nouveau

Archived under: Antoni Gaudi, Architects, Arts, Regional, Spain

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