It was an emotional day at Nova Rock Festival 2024 and an unexpectedly heavy downpour that soaked the grounds in so much water that it turned into a muddy playground Nothing seemed cut out to quash the spirits of an endless number of revelers enjoying this chaos and excitement the Austrian metalcore act We Blame The Empire kicked it off getting everybody’s blood up with a robust set refreshed by a new singer and renewed energy again engaging the audience because of their high spirits Against the Current were somewhat afflicted by a little mishap when their sound went out on the third song but the band didn’t waste a second getting things rolling again and hauled in the crowd with their resilience and charm The cheering from the crowd didn’t falter one bit proving them to be fans standing by them through thick and thin Granada brought some summer vibe with them: carefree and feel-good Their set imitated an early Sunday afternoon to a T and made everyone forget with all of their ancient charm but somehow imbued with the vigor of modern-day rock The whole thing combined to be something both completely theatrical and completely able to keep up with the momentum of this festival tapped right into that vein of nostalgia and performed big hits including “Youth of a Nation” and “Alive,” reminding us all why we ever fell in love with music but it was most definitely a trip down memory lane Sum 41’s farewell show was the authentic tug at the heartstrings today colossal performance celebrating their legacy to which the fans have responded with so much love and nostalgia Steel Panther did as was expected of them: completely wild and ridiculous with lots of half-naked women hanging off men’s shoulders The over-the-top antics and infectious energy really added a feel of wild fun to the festival where not smiling and joining in wasn’t an option performing such hits as “Complicated” and “Girlfriend,” throwing us back into puberty she delivered a highly nostalgic show with the crowd singing word by word and living vicariously through memories from their youth It was impossible not to get swept up by Ice-T’s charisma or hear the political venom in his lyrics Including his son and daughter on stage made for a nightly+-very personal touch making this a performance that cemented itself in the memory banks Alice Cooper’s Theatrical Show Ends the Day Ending Performance Amid Heavy Rain The evening was dramatic and topped by the last act of the day Alice Cooper—the closing artist—who put in an pretty effectual theatrics act that included a real snake on stage Cooper’s horror-themed rock show seemed to miss very few beats Thoroughly drenched fans proved that nothing—not even the elements—will ever snatch the spirit of rock ‘n’ roll from anyone Mud Fail to Dampen Festival Spirit The rain may have turned the festival site into a big mess of mud but it deterred none of the fans from having a fantastic day of music Nova Rock 2024 has already been etched in memory—full of nostalgia among festivalgoers and the unpredictable whim that always goes with attending a live music festival Written words and pictures: Mariam Osman Day 1 / Day 2 / Day 4 Jeff Kunze Aggie Anthimidou TotalRock’s beginnings go way back to 1997 – founded as ‘Rock Radio Network’ by the voice of metal Tommy Vance and his trusty producer of the BBC Friday Rock Show along with the walking encyclopaedia of metal the project fully respects the pre-existing site and its topographical characteristics discouraging any radical alterations to the terrain the architects have realized a brightly illuminated and well-ventilated residence and a big balcony that offers unobstructed urban views. the building by estúdio HAA! consists of three blocks with the lower one housing the common TV room and a toilet the staircase connecting the two floors is made with wood and custom-made metallic parts the side protection of the stairs was made with steel cables that connect the wooden steps and reach up to the ceiling slab. the second block is a lighter structure that contains the dining and living room this volume is built with a metal structure and glass with the transparency achieving a close integration with the outside courtyard and blurring the limits between the interior and exterior the roofing of this block also adds to this concept with its lightweight nature offering generous natural light and allowing residents to observe the rain and leaves’ rustles. one can find the volume that houses the main suite on the ground floor a close connection to the exterior is achieved once again this outdoor part of the residence features a pool and a garden along with a pool house containing a service area and a living room with barbecue space. architects: estúdio HAA! designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here. edited by: myrto katsikopoulou | designboom AXOR presents three bathroom concepts that are not merely places of function but destinations in themselves — sanctuaries of style Your Ads Privacy ChoicesIMDb This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page The web server reported a bad gateway error it is the largest collection featuring California as an island in private hands in the world," said McLaughlin in a press release by the university "The collection was built over a 40-year time period "California and the Northwest coast of America was one of the unexplored places on Earth, along with Antarctica and Australia," McLaughlin said in a press release from Stanford University Here's how it started, from the Stanford release: The earliest Spanish maps from the 16th century show a continuous coastline accompanied Sebastian Vizcaíno on his West Coast expedition of 1602-03 and apparently drew a map depicting California as an island around 1620 It's generally accepted that the Dutch captured a ship en route What we know for sure is that the maps were widely copied suggested [says Stanford Library fellow Rebecca] Solnit "I've been told that Spain knew it wasn't an island but it was politically expedient for others to think it was They weren't going to share what they knew with everybody else." when King Ferdinand VI of Spain issued a royal decree proclaiming The representation of California as an island was present on a few Asian maps even into the 1860s Here are several of the beautiful historic maps that show California as an Island Glen McLaughlin picked these maps out as iconic examples of the collection ORMOND BEACH — In the age of smart phones and artificial intelligence the notion of shoe repair seems positively ancient a skill to be demonstrated next to the blacksmith shop in some historic village the gregarious patriarch of Ira & Son Shoe Repair a fixture for more than 30 years in the Rivergate Plaza at the corner of Nova Road and Granada Boulevard planet-friendly service in the age of recycling people want to keep using things over and over We’re providing the service of keeping something alive.” is the lone original tenant in the Rivergate Plaza where he has watched four different owners at the helm of the dry cleaners next door half a dozen owners rotate through at a neighboring nail salon “We’ve seen all the other businesses come and go,” said Freedman who started his customer service career as a tailor in a big clothing store in Detroit “They would ring a bell and I would come out and do the measurements,” Freedman said Freedman recalls bringing a sense of salesmanship and showmanship to that job a trait that he continues to exhibit in the shoe shop With his prominent spectacles and close-cropped haircut Freedman exudes the energy of an old-school comedian he immediately demonstrates that his SpongeBob SquarePants necktie is customized with a breakaway Velcro strip beneath his shirt collar a safety measure lest the tie become entangled in the shop’s machinery Freedman moved south from Detroit to Ormond Beach to live with his parents he watched a team of cobblers churn out repaired shoes in a blaze of assembly-line efficiency he opened the shop and business has flourished officially became a business partner seven years ago after bagging orders and doing odd jobs at the shop throughout his childhood The company has a database of roughly 30,000 customers “Just doing the right stuff at the right time,” Freedman said It can’t just look good; it has to feel good That service has yielded longtime regular customers such as Vinny Santoriello who has traveled from DeLand for 10 years to have Freedman repair his work boots a tricky task because one of Santoriello's feet is shorter than the other "Ira does orthopedic work for me," Santoriello said "My back and height is always shifting and he’ll work with you on trying to get it right He'll put a boot together for me and have me walk in the parking lot I've never met anybody who worked on my boots who was that dedicated to making sure it’s right the father and son employ two additional workers deployed as part of a four-man assembly line that melds a combination of skill sets a former jeweler who has worked at the shop for 14 years is known for his touch with leather wallets and he sees similarities between the two jobs you still have to do a lot of delicate work with your hands.” the hammering and hand-stitching is combined with industrial machinery such as the Master Finisher a blue metal floor-to-ceiling beast equipped with multiple sanding wheels for smoothing and polishing soles another contraption works like an oversized sewing machine to make stitches in all kinds of leather and canvas footwear When the assembly line is rolling at full speed Scents of leather and glue meld together in the air above the sharp smack of a cobbler’s mallet exerting its will on a strip of cowhide and the clattering noise of the automated sanding wheels The shop also does work on high-end sneakers part of a philosophy of taking on any potential job for anyone “People bring in their Gucci sneakers for us to wash,” Freedman said is that the sneaker-wearing customer will return encapsulated in one of the many catchy slogans coined by the elder Freedman: “If you can’t wear 'em where he pored through the Yellow Pages for every catchy bit of footwear marketing he could adapt to promote his new business with style Enduring slogans include “We only want to work on your favorite shoes” and “If the shoe fits repair it,” the latter emblazoned on the company logo Freedman and his crew strive to back up the flashy wordplay with a serious respect for the work It’s the reason that each repaired shoe is presented individually to customers with two hands specializing in work on leather footwear as well as wallets A South Daytona man who crashed his Chevrolet Camaro into a Cadillac SUV was arrested at the scene and charged with two misdemeanors according to the Ormond Beach Police Department was charged Tuesday with racing on the highway and reckless driving resulting in personal injury or property damage He was released from the Volusia County Branch Jail after posting $1,500 bail police responded to the corner of North Nova and Shadow Lakes Boulevard Investigators concluded that Worthington's 2010 Camaro was racing another vehicle northbound along the highway "at a high rate of speed" when it crashed into a silver Cadillac SUV and flipped it over The driver of the second vehicle that was racing left the scene A total of seven witnesses told police they saw the Camaro and the other vehicle "revving their engines at each other" at the red light at the corner of North Nova and West Granada Boulevard moments before the crash Police said another witness told them she saw the vehicles drive past the Dunkin' Donuts on North Nova going more than 100 mph The impact of the crash was so severe the Cadillac flipped 180 degrees and was lying on its roof when first-responders arrived The investigation remains open and additional charges are forthcoming DON'T MISS AN EPISODE, SUBSCRIBE: iTunes |Google Play ORMOND BEACH — Greektown Taverna is the new restaurant at Ormond Beach Marketplace shopping center fills a storefront space that has been vacant since April the 21-year-old son of veteran restaurateur George Dimitrakopoulos He purchased the restaurant equipment and furnishings from Chris Mavronas who owned the now-closed Steve's Famous Diner at Ormond Beach Marketplace and continues to run a Steve's Famous Diner at 2011 N owns the original Steve's Famous Diner at 1584 S “Dad always liked this spot and had his eye on it,” Dimitrakopoulos said of the Ormond Beach Marketplace location “It’s in the middle of a busy intersection close to Publix and has several neighborhoods nearby We hope to attract those people and bring them in.” Mavronas said he closed his restaurant at the shopping center to focus on his beachside eatery Dimitrakopoulos grew up in the restaurant business In addition to learning the restaurant business from his father Taki Dimitrakopoulos also participated in the culinary academy at Seabreeze High School and worked three years in a local restaurant Greektown Taverna offers lunch and dinner menus that feature various traditional Greek dishes The eatery seats 160 and employs 30 workers “What this area needs is a good authentic Greek restaurant you could only get it at the annual Greek festival Now it’s available all the time,” Dimitrakopoulos said The fast-growing Jeremiah’s Italian Ice franchise has four locations planned for Volusia County Jeremiah’s locations are set to open in DeLand and Ormond Beach this fall and two more are planned for New Smyrna Beach and Port Orange The brightly decorated dessert shops are known for their signature dessert with layers of Italian ice and soft serve ice cream stacked in a cup There are 40 flavors of Italian ice to choose from [READ ALSO: Bird of Paradise tropical eatery opens in NSB; more restaurant openings-closings in Volusia-Flagler] [READ MORE: The Daytona Beach News-Journal’s business coverage] who formerly worked for Spectra Food and Beverage in Orlando is co-franchisee for Jeremiah’s locations in Ormond Beach along with father-son duo Glenn and Brian Repple Nova Road is currently undergoing renovations and is in the permitting phase The building near the Granada Boulevard-Nova Road intersection is the former home of a Little Caesars Pizza “The whole site will look like a brand new building cool place where you can come hang out with your family and friends,” Boyd said “It’ll be the only Jeremiah’s with both a dining room Boyd said he hasn’t yet found a spot for the New Smyrna Beach or Port Orange locations. The new restaurants will join a Jeremiah’s currently located at One Daytona in Daytona Beach since January 2018 to make five locations total in Volusia County Boyd said he originally planned to open in Ormond Beach in June Chris Bartholet is the franchisee for the DeLand location and formerly worked in insurance for 35 years That store had also planned a June opening Local journalism helps keep you informed about our community. Please SUBSCRIBE HERE.“The opening date has been creeping from June so I’m just going to give it a vague opening date of sometime this fall,” Bartholet said The DeLand location will have a dining room and a service window inside the building A common patio area adjacent to Jeremiah’s will have picnic tables seating roughly 25 people in the Country Club Corners Shopping Center anchored by a Publix at the busy intersection of Orange Camp Road and South Woodland Boulevard Bartholet said he’s optimistic the high traffic area will bring steady business for his location so I think it will be a really good location for it,” Bartholet said “I searched for drive-thru opportunities in DeLand and couldn’t find it so that’s the only box I couldn’t check with this location.” Bartholet said he’s seen high interest from the community on his Jeremiah’s Facebook page for DeLand “There’s been really good reception from DeLand residents,” he said “It seems like people are really excited to have their own Jeremiah’s There’s definitely high brand recognition in Central Florida People have been going to Lake Mary and other places to go to a Jeremiah’s.” Both Boyd and Bartholet said the “atmosphere” and “environment” they enjoyed as customers of Jeremiah’s inspired them to consider opening their own franchises the music we play in there will make for a nice atmosphere and just a cool place to hang out with friends,” Boyd said Boyd said they plan to not only “bring everyone together” in a “fun safe space,” but to partner with local charities and make community partnerships in Ormond Beach and to partner with the school system to host events A percentage of our sales will go back into schools at sporting events,“ he said ”We’re looking at local nonprofits right now to partner with and to focus on local communities that are in need.“ Jeremiah’s first location opened in Winter Park in 1996 locations have popped up throughout Florida and as far away as Arizona and Texas ORMOND BEACH — A soon-to-open fitness center will be the latest addition to the reinvigorated Trails Shopping Center, which has seen a flurry of new and renovated businesses. Delta Life Fitness is expected to open early to mid-August Owner Bobby Wise said the gym is patterned after an idea that originated in Texas with one of Wise’s Marine Corps colleagues who ran boot camp-style workouts in the open “People would come and lead classes in a very similar manner to how we would run a boot camp-style class in the Marine Corps,” said Wise who became a Marine after the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center towers and the Pentagon on Sept The Trails: SoNaPa Grille, Burntwood Tavern, Keke's coming to Ormond Beach shopping center Photos: Check out the new SoNapa Grille at Trails Shopping Center in Ormond Beach Delta Life Fitness offers a “group fitness program designed for women on the go who want to tone up and slim down in a non-judgmental environment.” the struggle some women find with body image and self-esteem are connected to the beauty and fitness industries’ perpetuation of idyllic beauty standards. “One of our core values is 'love where you are while working to get to where you want to be,'” Wise said “There is nothing wrong with you now." is inspired by the mathematical connotation of the word “delta,” when the symbol “represents change — the difference between two sums.” “Delta Life means a change to life,” Wise said “We want to take you where you are now and progress you to the best version of yourself." He said the Trails was the right spot from a business perspective due to its proximity to residences in all directions. The shopping center is located just north of the intersection of Granada Boulevard and Nova Road. “One of the big things for a fitness center is convenience," Wise said they are probably going to cancel on you.” Wise also noted the immediate and continuing popularity of the upscale SoNapa restaurant that opened in the Trails this spring SoNapa owner Adam Barringer's restaurant is in New Smyrna Beach. “They look at rooftops — ‘Where are the houses?’ People want to eat where they live,” Wise said People also want to work out where they live.” Wise said “several hundred” women have already signed up for his new gym “Ormond has been a pleasure to do business in I absolutely love it here,” Wise said “Everyone has been so supportive and so helpful And the community of Ormond has responded so well we are getting a ton of interest — lots of ladies are signing up.” the shopping center has the right tenant mix combination for businesses to benefit from each other The businesses include a variety of clothing stores and several restaurants credits the diverse assortment of businesses in the Trails for its success. That diversity was an attraction to Debbie Presley which has been in the Trails since 2015. “We read the writing on the wall with malls,” Presley said J&B Jewelers also had a store at Volusia Mall they like the feel of it.” A major part of J&B Jewelers’ business is in jewelry repair and cleaning which is one of the reasons why the family-owned store was able to maintain some level of operation during the pandemic “After we reopened people had saved up their repairs and then all the big buck stores weren’t cleaning and checking jewelry because they were closed,” Presley said they weren’t even cleaning people’s jewelry.” Presley said she was moved by customers’ actions to help keep the store open in the face of possible pandemic-related difficulties “People just came in to check on us and buy things because they didn’t want us to go anywhere,” Presley said and that’s what it’s all about.” had just opened her new yoga and pilates studio in February 2020 only to face a state-mandated closure when the COVID-19 pandemic arrived. “We were shut down for two months straight,” Altes said “That was a little disheartening at first.” But Altes was able to stay in business via virtual lessons. so thankfully they started doing Zoom with me online,” Atles explained which helped keep the lights on here.” Altes said she chose the Trails because of remodeling and updates being made by the plaza’s new owners at the time Among the stores that remodeled is the shopping area's main anchor The grocery store is now much roomier and features a large deli section among other improvements. Previously: New, bigger Publix opens at the Trails shopping center “There were a lot of empty spots when I first signed my lease here,” Altes said “But I knew that it would get better I knew it was someone was taking over that actually cared about this space.” The promise of many restaurants and other businesses coming to the plaza — as with Wise’s decision to open at the Ormond location and J&B Jewelers’ unique opportunity for success — was also part of Altes’ preference for choosing the Trails “I had faith that this would become a really central place for people in Ormond for shopping “So I was trying to think future wise — this is going to be a nice spot Other recently new businesses in Trails include Wine Not? where people can enjoy a glass of wine or purchase bottles to take with them also are expected to open coming months. ALDI, the German discount grocery chain is buying Winn-Dixie and Harveys Supermarkets from the Jacksonville-based Southeastern Grocers said in a news release Wednesday that some Winn-Dixie and Harveys Supermarkets stores will be converted to ALDI's format while others will continue to operate as Winn-Dixie and Harveys Supermarkets There are no Harveys locations in Volusia or Flagler The newest location in Volusia County opened this month in Orange City ALDI and Winn-Dixie are located across the street from one another Grocery shopping: Aldi buying Jacksonville-based Winn-Dixie, Harveys Supermarkets ALDI opens in Orange City: What shopping is like at the discount grocery store There are 10 ALDI stores across Volusia and Flagler counties Winn-Dixie stores in Volusia and Flagler: Where are they?There are a dozen Winn-Dixie grocery stores across Volusia and Flagler counties ORMOND BEACH — The city is moving forward with a plan to build monument signs in several locations to greet visitors coming to the city “I feel we need to go back and do some more work,” Deputy Mayor Bill Partington said Commissioners Tuesday night were presented with the proposal as an alternative to a grander sign that would have been built at the corner of Granada and Williamson Boulevard in front of the Ormond Towne Square shopping center The commission at that time sent city staff back to the drawing board City officials later could not come to an agreement on the land in front of the shopping center But despite seven months of working on a design commissioners weren’t totally sold this time around The proposal considered Tuesday night called for 18-foot-tall towers topped by a cupola and adorned with raised lettering spelling out “Ormond Beach” and the city’s seal The planned locations include Granada Boulevard east of Williamson Boulevard; Nova Road at the southern city limit; Nova Road at the U.S 1 south of Hernandez Avenue; State Road A1A at Harvard Drive; and A1A North of State Road 40 The cost of each tower is expected to be about $33,000 with an average of $10,000 extra for lighting and irrigation Partington and Commissioner Rick Boehm said they would like to see the words “welcome” and “thank you” to let people know when they are entering and exiting the city Commissioner James Stowers suggested the city seal be made larger Partington added he would like to be able to choose from more options Mayor Ed Kelley said he believed the proposed signs are too skinny he compared the monuments to obelisks in Egypt “I still think it looks like it should be out with the pyramids,” he said Many of the commissioners agreed some of the locations were not ideal 1 and Nova Road and the one planned for North A1A City staff said state regulations prevent the city from placing a sign in the median on U.S ORMOND BEACH — After multiple trips back to the drawing board Ormond Beach officials hope they’ve found a way to give residents and visitors a proper greeting The City Commission Tuesday approved plans that will add gateway signs to several key entry points throughout Ormond Beach “We’ve been back and forth on this for years,” Deputy Mayor Bill Partington said the city has been looking to build a welcome sign after it leased a portion of land at the southeast corner of Granada and Williamson Boulevard but later staff determined that spot would not work after failed negotiations with the property owner Other designs — and costs associated with them — have been rejected by the commission in recent years The current proposal calls for vertical monument signs with the city insignia and “Welcome to Ormond Beach” on the side The monuments mirror other city landmarks like Andy Romano Beachfront Park and the old fire station with a cupola on top and tan siding The monuments would be located in the medians at Granada Boulevard Ormond landscape architect Paul MacDonald said the city is considering alternative designs at North State Road A1A and the North U.S the city will look to put in welcome signs underneath the overpass along with decorative flowers Some commissioners were impressed with the designs and the price “This is very much needed in our community,” said City Commissioner Troy Kent Mayor Ed Kelley added that it will “let people know we’re proud of Ormond Beach.” Total costs of four monument signs and the wall signs is estimated at slightly less than $100,000 1 and A1A will raise that amount to about $130,000 — $50,000 of which will be paid for through a private donation MacDonald said the project will have to be permitted through the Community Aesthetic Features program through the Florida Department of Transportation Concerned customers took to social media to express their confusion after being met with a sign that read “Sorry Thank you,” taped to the restaurant’s front door “Does anyone know what happened to Cavatelli Pasta Kitchen at Granada and Nova?” one user posted in a local Facebook group “I literally just saw them posting on Facebook … and now their page is gone and the restaurant has a sign about being closed!” We were just there this past week for a sitdown/waited on meal.” Cavatelli Pasta Kitchen is noted as “permanently closed” on Google while its website and social media pages can no longer be found Owner Phil Martin confirmed the restaurant's closure via text message to The News-Journal on Thursday afternoon further stating "we love Ormond Beach and are saddened to leave." He did not wish to comment on further details surrounding the closure Cavatelli Pasta Kitchen opened as a fast-casual Italian-American restaurant earlier this year The eatery offered “Panera-style” quick counter service until recently transitioning to a full-service restaurant in the weeks leading up to its closure The restaurant, located within The Nova Shoppes plaza on Ormond’s South Nova Road, offered well-portioned pasta plates with a medley of homemade sauce, pasta, meat and cheese combos, alongside an assortment of paninis, salads and locally sourced desserts. Ars Nova, a Granada-based quartet, will be playing at El Molino de Cajiz on Sunday 6 May and then on Thursday 10 May at the Sala Unicaja de Conciertos María Cristina in Malaga. They will be accompanied by pianist and owner of the Molino de Cajiz, Cornelia Lezin. Ars Nova have been performing together for almost 30 years. The quartet is formed by two violinists, Peter Biely from Bratislavia in Slovakia and Joachim Kopyto, from Freiburg in Germany. Matthias Stern is from Basel in Switzerland and plays the cello and Andrzej Skrobiszewski, from Gdansk in Poland, plays the viola.As you can see, we are a typical Spanish quartet, Matthias Stern jokes. Joachim, Andrzej and Matthias are founding members of the Orquesta Ciudad de Granada (OCG) and have lived in the city since 1989 and Peter joined the group later. Matthias describes the group and their style as a four wheel drive quartet as they like not to play exclusively standard classical music. Sunday and Thursday's concerts will both include A. Dvoák's piano quintet and an unknown funny piece as Matthias puts it, by P. Hindemith, called Minimax. Matthias adds that the quartet like to do the performances with a small introduction, explaining that this relaxes the public and helps them enjoy the music. Cornelia Lezin is from Basel, like Matthias, but he explains that they met here in Spain although Matthias's brother had heard about her and suggested the two Swiss musicians should meet. The first rehearsal we did was just amazing, full of understanding and harmony, recalls Matthias. Comentar es una ventaja exclusiva para registrados Registered office Málaga, Avda. Dr. Marañón, 48. ORMOND BEACH — If you like comfort food and a family atmosphere, then the Rivergate Coffee Shop is the place to go. The small diner is big on homemade food. It's easy to miss, tucked next to Tuesday Morning toward the back of the Rivergate shopping center at the southwest corner of Nova Road and Granada Boulevard. Just look for the steady stream of regulars coming in for breakfast or lunch. "It's just a family restaurant," said Mary Theel, who has cooked and waited tables at the diner for nearly 20 years. "We have customers who come here every day. The restaurant is owned by Cathy Sandkowski. Besides great food, the ambiance includes photos of Corvettes interspersed with photos of Elvis Pressley, Marilyn Monroe, John Wayne and James Dean. What could be more American that that? My dinner guests on a rainy day last week included News-Journal entertainment writer Suzanne Hirt and assistant managing editor Dave Wersinger. We came hungry; we left full and satisfied — including the price of our meals, which was very reasonable. Dave ordered an open-face turkey sandwich with mashed potatoes and turkey gravy, and a sweet iced tea. Suzanne lightly battered fried chicken strips, fried okra, homemade macaroni and cheese, and also had a sweet iced tea. Me, I ordered the pot roast with mashed potatoes and gravy, and green beans. I also had a Diet coke. (I know, a "diet" drink with pot roast and taters. It's paradoxical.) Dave pronounced his turkey to be very good, and his mashed potatoes excellent. Suzanne raved about the lightness of the batter on her chicken strips. The okra was equally delightful. And the homemade mac and cheese was delicious, just as waitress Mary Theel said it would be. As for the pot roast, well, imagine the most moist, tender, flavorful pot roast you've ever eaten, and that will still only come close to how good the pot roast tastes at Rivergate Coffee Shoppe. It's the special on Wednesdays, and I've never had better. The mashed potatoes, beef gravy and green beans were also well above par. The Rivergate Coffee Shop is also know for its exceptional breakfasts, which is a main reason for their very loyal following. In particular, the restaurant serves a variety of killer three-egg omelettes. Comments on various online travel sites also mention large cinnamon buns. AND FINALLY, WHAT ABOUT PRICE AND SERVICE? The bill for all three meals came to $29.42 — very reasonable considering the generous portions. And the service was exceptionally fast and friendly from start to finish. If you're looking for a diner where everyone makes you feel at home, the Rivergate Coffee Shop is it. Open daily from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. John Wick is a movie about a man who goes on a kill-crazy rampage after his dog is killed and car is stolen But, as we’ve written about at some considerable length, it’s not just a car that gets stolen, and it’s not just a puppy that meets an untimely end. It’s what these things represent. Viewers get the whole story behind why the puppy means as much as it does, but we’re not spoon-fed why the car matters enough for John to absolutely unleash the beast to get it back. Perhaps because it’s an action movie, this Hemingway-esque bit of Iceberg Theory seems to have slipped past the bulk of its audience. But as we’re the sort to read into a set of Duplo instructions, we caught it. The Mustang goes far beyond a mere movie MacGuffin; what this machine means to John is as tangible as it is inscrutable. Like ships on the ocean, we can only ever appreciate the depths of what we navigate from the surface. Maybe we don’t move in the right circles. Maybe there are vast throngs of people for whom Death Proof, and its very specifically modified Chevy Nova, are nothing but the ultimate expression of film and form. But in our little bubble, Death Proof was very much a thing for a little while, then very much not. Apparently even Tarantino calls it his worst film. So we’re happy enough to call the eponymous death-proof Nova unsung. Or maybe it’s all a matter of perspective. To truly get the benefit of it... you really need to be sitting in our seat. On the surface, the Lincoln’s little more than a car that young limo driver Argyle spends the bulk of the movie obliviously hanging out in, and then the tool he uses to rather fix a certain bad guy’s wagon. And as hilarious as the former might be – and satisfying as the latter definitely is – this limo means much more. Look, we could spend thousands of words talking about Red Dawn, the story it was supposed to tell, the film it eventually became and the people who adopted it as a totem. Lord knows enough people have already. What we’re interested in is the Chevy K-10 stepside. In no uncertain terms, the K-10 is the only reason the Wolverines mount any resistance in the first place. They flee the opening salvos of the invasion, fill the truck bed with supplies from a sporting store (albeit an American one, so of course there’s an arsenal of guns), dodge roadblocks and scarper into the mountains. They named themselves after their high school mascot, but really, they should have been called the K-10 squadron. What do you remember about Speed, apart from the bus? Sandra Bullock saying ‘Oh my god’ a bunch, possibly, or Dennis Hopper’s menacing turn as antagonist Howard Payne. Maybe it’s just all the explosions. But what about Jack Traven’s (yeah, it’s not a great character name) singularly brilliant Ford Bronco? It is absolutely the wrong car for Los Angeles highways, and yet he threads – and throws – it through traffic like a Lotus. A boxy, wildly oversteering Lotus. Chasing the bus down in the Bronco gives way to the sequence with a drop-top Jag XJS, which Jack drives every bit as ‘sympathetically’ as his own wheels. When it comes to the world of film, props don’t get enough... um, props. Yeah, not happy with that one either. But the point remains. It’s only when you discover the depth of thought that goes into what a character interacts with – right down to the chair they sit in – that you appreciate how each prop can act as an extension of the character. And nowhere is this more evident than in the cars they drive. Dom Toretto’s gigantic, fearsome and muscular Dodge Charger. Bond’s timelessly cool Aston DB5. The Dude’s crappy old Torino. Which brings us to the Granada from The World’s End. Life has taken an absolute kicking to it. Disreputability and smoke belch from it in equal measure. And each new day is one further from its glory days. The Granada explains and reveals so much about its driver that it probably deserves an acting credit. Brian de Palma’s 1983 masterpiece is many things. But what it patently isn’t is a car movie. Sure, Scarface has some lovely cars – Citroen DS, Porsche 928 and so on – but there’s probably enough strings to its bow without drawing the whole thing far enough to call it a car film. But that doesn’t mean it’s not home to another perfectly cast, totally unsung automobile. When writers gush over movie cars, it’s generally thanks to the car itself, or the way it’s been driven, or (in a pinch) what it says about its owner. Cool Hand Luke’s DeSoto Custom ticks none of these boxes, yet still manages to earn a spot on this list. How? Well, when a scene as simple as a woman washing a regular car in front of a prisoner work gang manages to encapsulate what the convicts had lost, what they’d gone so long without and very obviously what they wanted, it’s done more standing still than most movie cars manage in motion. Could it have been almost any other contemporaneous car? Well, DeSoto being a mid-tier brand does make a lot of sense in context, but yeah, pretty much. But it’s the right car for the scene, and conveys so much without moving a single inch. And you have to doff your cap to that. Takin’ it off here, boss. When we started doing this gig, we never really did expect to be discussing Pretty Woman at any point in time. But here we are, expectations abandoned and yada yada yada. The fact is that there’s a gorgeous Lotus Esprit that gets left out in the cold in just about every ‘best movie cars’ list. Is it because there’s no 15-minute car chase? Are there just too many cars in too many movies that do it better? Or maybe no man wants to admit to having seen, let alone having liked Pretty Woman? In any case, the Esprit does exactly what it needs to – demonstrating Julia Roberts’ worldliness and Richard Gere’s immense wealth and pampered naiveté. Well, not theirs, but their characters. We don’t remember the characters' names, obviously. It’s not like we like the film or anything. Look out for your regular round-up of news No money from the licence fee was used to create this website The profits we make from it go back to BBC programme-makers to help fund great new BBC programmes BBC is a trademark of the British Broadcasting Corporation For many football fans who enjoyed seeing the Argentine star in his prime Diego Maradona remains the best player to have ever graced a football pitch He was a player who quite literally had the world at his feet mesmerising crowds with his phenomenal natural talent accompanied by a dazzling repertoire of skills and tricks; and that was just when he was warming up before a match juggling the ball with careless ease and style Maradona was the footballing equivalent of a master artist and stadiums were the galleries in which he displayed his masterpieces With one brushstroke of his exceptional talent he could make the difference in games and inspire those around him it could be argued that distinctly average Napoli and Argentina sides wouldn’t have achieved their success of the 1980s Napoli are currently amongst the favourites at Sportsbet to win Serie A this season but prior to the arrival of Maradona at Stadio San Paolo in the 1980s the Italian side had never won a league title Coppa Italia and Supercoppa Italia during his seven seasons The Scudetto hasn’t been won again since and whilst murals of Maradona can still be found all around the city of Naples almost like shrines revering a religious saint Just a year after Argentina had lifted the World Cup, in a tournament which also featured the infamous Hand of God incident against England Maradona led Napoli to their first ever Italian league triumph wearing his famous number 10 jersey He was at the peak of his international stardom who were queueing up to get his face on their latest advertising campaigns In one such campaign, Diego appeared with his younger brothers, Hugo (El Turco) and Eduardo (Lalo), publicising the popular Japanese brand of coffee, Nova. The ad campaign was a huge commercial success for the company and others wanted a piece of the action. When they signed Lalo Maradona at the start of the 1987/88 campaign this gave Segunda División Spanish side Granada a somewhat novel idea The unique nature of this friendly encounter and the Maradona appeal attracted widespread media interest leading to the game being televised throughout Spain the game also generated record revenues for the live broadcast of a friendly match in the country boosted by the added international interest as networks bought rights to full recordings and highlights Some estimates suggest this netted Granada around 20 million pesetas and welcome for a club continually struggling with debts at the old Estadio de Los Cármenes near to the bullring in the centre of town the terraces were packed as local fans eagerly awaited a gala performance Diego appeared in a number 9 shirt without any sponsor advertising opting to honour Lalo’s signing for Granada by letting him wear the number 10 instead Despite having such a prominent trio of players in their ranks it was Malmö who opened the scoring at Los Cármenes with Anders Palmer powerfully heading in after a free-kick from the visitors Granada and the Maradona brothers soon found their rhythm and began to dominate as Diego gathered the ball deep in midfield and played an exquisite defence-splitting pass for the run of Lalo through the middle As if the first half of the encounter hadn’t been entertaining enough for the crowd, the second half was an end to end spectacular for them to enjoy. In the presence of one of his football icons, a very young Martin Dahlin was equally keen to show his impressive bag of tricks putting Malmö 2-1 ahead with a finish that struck the keeper and looped into the back of the net Granada almost immediately levelled with a stinging strike from Hugo Having struck the crossbar in the first half and coming agonisingly close a couple of times in the second half the moment came that Granada fans had been waiting for and there was no doubting who would take the resulting free-kick Despite there being seven players in the Malmö wall Diego perfectly dipped his left-footed shot over their heads and into the bottom right corner Diego wheeled away in jubilant celebration with Lalo and Hugo almost as if it was the most important goal of his life it was certainly a special moment to savour with his siblings Shortly after having levelled the game at 2-2 and even with the Maradona brothers clearly the focus of attention the next goal was very much a ‘made in Granada’ production Victor produced a perfectly timed through-ball for the diagonal run of striker Manolo who took just one touch to control before applying a precision finish The first to congratulate the scorer was none other than Diego with the crowd celebrating the third and winning goal of the game as if they’d won the European Cup ‘El Día de los Tres Maradonas’ (The Day of the Three Maradonas) is how the Granadino fans fondly remember this unique occasion one that anyone attending will never forget including a certain little boy called Daniel Hurtado who relished the opportunity to meet his footballing idol as the match mascot on the day Daniel is an officer in the Civil Guard and president of the official Granada Supporters Association He’s also still without any doubts in his mind that Diego Maradona is the greatest footballer ever to play the beautiful game 30 años de este día…. que alegría era ser joven y no pensar en problemas. pic.twitter.com/0s84futvdZ — Daniel A. Hurtado (@dahurtadoh) November 15, 2017 By Heath Chesters @HeathGCF Eight new mission presidents, called by the First Presidency, have been announced. The new leaders and their wives will begin service about July 1. Mission presidents' assignments were announced in the Feb. 26, 2005, issue of the Church News. A Church service missionary, Sister Batchelor is a former stake Young Women secretary, ward Relief Society president, ward choir director and missionary in the Micronesia Guam Mission. Born in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Edwin Virl and Louise Andersen Hickman. Robert David Call, 50; El Salvador San Salvador West Mission; Juarez 1st Ward, Colonia Juarez Mexico Stake; high councilor; former stake Young Men president, counselor in a bishopric, branch president, Blazer Scout leader and missionary in the Mexico Torreon Mission. Principal at Colonia Juarez Grade School and fruit grower. Born in Provo, Utah, to Waldo Pratt and Beverly Johnson Call. Married Michele Coburn, seven children. A teacher improvement coordinator, Sister Call is a former counselor in stake and ward Relief Society presidencies, ward Young Women and Primary president and Relief Society teacher. Born in Peoria, Ill., to Hal Jeremy and Edna Peggy Wood Coburn. Mark Owen Lords, 49; Tennessee Nashville Mission; Canyons Ward, Park City Utah Stake; former counselor in a mission presidency, counselor in a stake presidency, stake executive secretary, high councilor and missionary in the Minnesota Minneapolis Mission. Partner and CEO at Snyder companies. Born in Honolulu, Hawaii, to Spencer Lutz and Kathleen Beth Owen Lords. Married Gwen Steinman, six children. Sister Lords is a former ward Relief Society, Young Women and Primary president, Sunday School teacher and Relief Society enrichment leader. Born in Rexburg, Idaho, to William Theodore and LaRue Jeffs Fowler Steinman. Joseph Craig Merrell, 54; France Toulouse Mission; Bennett's Creek Ward, Chesapeake Virginia Stake; former counselor in a mission presidency, stake president and counselor, high councilor and missionary in the France-Switzerland Mission. Plastic and reconstructive surgeon. Born in Washington, D.C., to John Yates and Majorie Merle Clark Merrell. Married Teresa Ann Johnson, eight children. A counselor in the ward Relief Society presidency, Sister Merrell is a former counselor in a stake Primary presidency, ward Young Women and Primary president, Primary music leader and gospel doctrine teacher. Born in Billings, Mont., to Glen Barnett and Gwen Smith Johnson. Joao Luis dos Santos Oppe, 39; Brazil Rio de Janeiro North Mission; Nova Granada Ward, Osasco Brazil Stake; stake president; former counselor in a stake presidency, stake and ward Young Men president, high councilor and bishop. Financial assistant for the Church. Born in Osasco, Brazil, to Jose Joao and Maria Celia dos Santos Oppe. Married Sueli Delgado Lopes, three children. A gospel principles teacher, Sister Oppe is a former stake Young Women president, counselor in ward Relief Society, Young Women and Primary presidencies and seminary teacher. Born in Osasco, Brazil, to Nelson and Jandira Lopes. Noel Beldon Reynolds, 63; Florida Ft. Lauderdale Mission; Sharon 5th Ward, Orem Utah Sharon Stake; former stake president, bishop, gospel doctrine teacher, Scoutmaster and missionary in the Uruguay Mission. Executive director of FARMS. Born in Los Angeles, Calif., to Beldon Heber and Virginia Noel Reynolds. Married Sydney Sharon Smith, 11 children. A counselor in the Primary general presidency, Sister Reynolds is a former member of the Primary general board, stake and ward Young Women president, ward Relief Society president and Primary teacher. Born in Idaho Falls, Idaho, to Joseph Alvin and Marguerite Rees Smith. Donald V Shakespear, 61; Argentina Resistencia Mission; Bear River 3rd Ward, Brigham City Utah North Stake; former stake president, high councilor, bishop, elders quorum president and missionary in the West Spanish American Mission. Former principal for Box Elder School District. Born in Panguitch, Utah, to William Vernal Shakespear and Marian Dalley Winters Mecham. Married Karma Durfee, nine children. A ward music chairman, Sister Shakespear is a former stake Relief Society president, counselor in ward Relief Society and Young Women presidencies, Sunday School teacher and Primary chorister. Born in Rupert, Idaho, to Elbert Lorenzo and Grace Afton Rooker Durfee. Richard Jay Trask, 50; Philippines Tacloban Mission; Creekside Ward, Ontario California Stake; former counselor in a stake presidency, stake and ward Young Men president, high councilor and missionary in the Philippines Manila Mission. Self-employed in interior renovation. Born in Pasadena, Calif., to Robert and Idonna Hansen Trask. Married Genevieve Diane Trujillo, four children. The ward Relief Society president, Sister Trask is a former Relief Society teacher, nursery leader, Primary teacher, newsletter editor and ward compassionate service leader. Born in Montebello, Calif., to Jose Napoleon and Agnes Ortiz Trujillo. Looks like something went completely wrong. The page you are looking for cannot be found. Don't worry, just go back or browse our latest articles below. the male named Hercules stood at just 30cm tall and weighed only two kilograms The species is thought to be close to extinction The new arrival is part of a conservation breeding programme between zoos in Europe which was set up at the request of the Philippine government to ensure the future survival of the highly endangered species Recent estimates suggest that there could be as few as 300 Philippine spotted deer remaining in the wild Experts at the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) say the species faces a very high chance of becoming extinct in the future the tiny newcomer has taken its very first steps outside alongside proud new mum Nova said: “After eagerly waiting 240 days for his arrival it was a huge relief when we saw a little bundle of fur curled up next to mum Nova one morning "She’s a great mum and has been doing everything perfectly so far – feeding him every few hours and keeping him right by her side “We have a team tradition of naming newborn deer within the theme of ‘space’ and given the importance of our new arrival to his species "Standing at only 30cm tall he’s still got lots of growing to do and will eventually live up to his new moniker!" “Philippine spotted deer are incredibly rare and their decline has flown under the radar and only a few hundred now remain in the wild "Every birth is therefore absolutely critical in boosting the safety-net population in conservation zoos across Europe.” As well as caring for the species in Chester the zoo has also supported efforts in the Philippines to protect and restore the habitats including supporting a number of special breeding centres for the region’s most endangered species 'Vulnerable' penguins named Ryan and Rob after Wrexham FC owners at Chester Zoo Regional Field Programme Manager for South East Asian Islands at the zoo “Philippine spotted deer have already disappeared across many parts of the Visayan islands where they were once found roaming in large herds Hunting and deforestation has led to the animals now only being found on two small islands funded and helped to build vital conservation breeding centres on the two islands sharing the skills and knowledge that has been gathered by experts here at the zoo to help successfully breed this highly endangered species in its homeland A result of these efforts saw 32 Philippine spotted deer safely reintroduced into a protected nature reserve in 2020 Since then a number of births in the wild has almost doubled the population and we’re very happy to report that they are thriving.” Chester Zoo welcomes new Andean bear to 'help save his species' Rare baby Bornean Orangutan born at Chester Zoo gives conservation hope We all know that performance cars and hot hatches of the 80s and 90s are in demand but what about the other cars that are seemingly appreciating in value identifying the everyday old cars that are worth more than you might think the asking prices aren’t necessarily reflective of the market value While we’d struggle to class a Porsche as an ‘everyday’ old car the 924 is very much the entry-level to the brand it was destined to wear a Volkswagen badge and was launched with a four-cylinder Audi engine You could buy a five-year-old Cayman for that money… Buy this car on Auto Trader The Figaro was Nissan’s way of saying happy 50th birthday to itself: a retro-inspired cutesy based on the humble Micra the self-proclaimed ‘home of the Nissan Figaro’ claims that “good examples appreciate by about £1,000 per annum” which might explain why this Royston dealer is asking for £22,995 for this example Buy this car on Auto Trader “Macho for not mucho,” proclaimed the 1985 press ad for the Vauxhall Nova SR the 1.3-litre upstart would set you back a mere £5,766 This admittedly delightful low-mileage example is available for a smidgen less Buy this car on Auto Trader the Anglia 105E is most famous for its Harry Potter connection but this was a ground-breaking car for Ford with production commencing in 1959 and continuing until 1967 This late example was imported from South Africa one of three countries to produce the forerunner to the Escort Buy this car on Auto Trader We’ve grown accustomed to the rising prices of RS and XR models but £11,500 for a common or garden 1.4L seems optimistic The last MOT listed some advisories for rust Buy this car on Auto Trader The second generation CR-X arrived in 1988: an altogether more grown-up successor to the mad-as-a-box-of-frogs original falling somewhere between a hot hatch and a genuine sports car The 1.6-litre 16v engine was an obvious highlight Buy this car on Auto Trader “Where would you find another like this?” asks the dealer selling this 1986 Ford Granada 2.8i Ghia because we can’t remember the last time we saw a Mk3 ‘Granny’ Buy this car on Auto Trader The Michelotti-styled Triumph 2000 was unveiled in 1963 “Totally original the best,” says the dealer selling this 1971 example which is said to be “rust free” with an interior that “still smells new” It was effectively replaced by the Rover SD1 meaning the big Triumph had no direct successor Buy this car on Auto Trader “The ZX Turbo is not what you might call an exciting car to drive but it does everything a driver asks of it with extreme competence,” said Autocar in 1986 before admitting that “it’s probably the best saloon car the company [Nissan] has offered to British drivers.” We want this 1988 example more than is probably healthy Buy this car on Auto Trader Often unfairly named as yet another British Leyland disaster the Austin Maxi was a thoroughly decent car offering hatchback practicality at time when four-door saloons were the norm This 1978 example was formerly owned by the club secretary of the Austin Maxi Owners Club Buy this car on Auto Trader which was very much the thinking man’s Escort XR3i of the time This Orion 1.6 Ghia automatic offers a more sedate hint of motoring in the mid 80s but the slush ‘box should ensure that it escapes the attention of retro-modifiers Buy this car on Auto Trader This 1986 Vauxhall Nova 1.2 Merit ‘Shatchback’ was supplied new by Shaw & Kilburn of Luton and Berkhamsted and delivered to a Vauxhall Motors employee this one ought to be part of Vauxhall’s amazing heritage collection Buy this car on Auto Trader we’re not sure this meets the ‘worth more than you think’ criteria we’re giving it pride of place in our list This Triumph Dolomite looks resplendent in Inca Yellow and it’s ready for the summer season of classic car shows Just add ‘Jerusalem’ to this photo for the quintessential English scene Buy this car on Auto Trader This Vauxhall Cavalier GSi has covered around 170,000 miles and appears to be on sale at a dealer offering more illustrious motors the 2.0-litre 16v engine is a peach and there’s something rather appealing about this go-faster rep special Buy this car on Auto Trader The ‘Dub’ scene will always inflate the prices of retro Volkswagens which means that the £3,250 being asked for this Jetta is not entirely unrealistic “You will struggle to find a car in better condition,” claims the seller Buy this car on Auto Trader it had been sitting in a locked garage which is part of the house until 2016 when [it] had been pulled out for sale,” says the ad The K10 Micra was a driving school favourite of the 80s and early 90s but we’re not sure the nostalgia factor will be enough for this 1991 automatic to realise £3,000 Buy this car on Auto Trader the Citroen BX is fast becoming an endangered species grab a BX while they’re still relatively cheap This car sold already? Find another Citroen BX on Auto Trader The GRD and GTi might sit at opposite ends of the Peugeot 205 range Contemporary reviews praised the 1.8-litre diesel for its smoothness and “truck-like pulling power” not to mention its dislike of filling stations With 205 GTi prices fast approaching re-mortgage territory gems such as this 1990 example become all the more appealing Buy this car on Auto Trader Austin and Rover Metros have become desirable “NO RUST ANYWHERE WHATSOEVER,” screams the description Buy this car on Auto Trader A Mk2 facelift Volkswagen Polo owned by one family since new and with 10 main dealer service stamps is sure to excite diehard Dub fans while the original dealer number plates is a good sign of originality Buy this car on Auto Trader This ‘hearing aid beige’ Rover 213 is being offered by a Kia main dealer and has probably been ‘chopped in’ for a Picanto or Rio The MOT history makes for encouraging reading with the annual trips to the test station seemingly the only journeys made by this ‘classic’ Buy this car on Auto Trader Fancy a practical retro workhorse for less than £2,000 Buy this car on Auto Trader While you probably don’t lie awake at night dreaming of a white Toyota Corolla automatic this 1984 example will earn you more kudos points than a Yaris Hybrid or Aygo Buy this car on Auto Trader Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed. Merging in turn or jumping the queue? A motorist’s guide Hot Wheels takes on Lego with new ‘Brick Shop’ self-build car kits Rolls-Royce celebrates 100 years of its flagship Phantom 2025 Roush Nitemare is a sportier, scarier take on the Ford F-150 It was the dog's first day out wearing a muzzle in line with new laws in England and Wales restricting the ownership of the XL Bully breed.Katie and her mum Karen say they had struggled to get Nova used to wearing the muzzle but eventually managed to persuade her to put it on leaving the usually "cuddly and bouncy" pet covered in blood said that Nova has since been withdrawn and reluctant to leave the house She said: "The cat just came racing over and dug its claws into her face "Nova loves going out for walks," Karen said "She really didn't like wearing the muzzle but we know she has no choice "It's so sad that this was her first walk wearing the muzzle and she's had this experience." Ownership of American XL Bully is being restricted under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 in England and Wales.It is against the law to sell abandon or breed from an XL Bully and all dogs They must be kept on a lead and muzzled in public.From 1 February it will be a criminal offence to own an XL Bully without an exemption certificate Police will have the power to can seize prohibited dogs Want a quick and expert briefing on the biggest news stories Listen to our latest podcasts to find out What You Need To Know.. Want more Junkee in your life? Sign up to our newsletter, and follow us on Instagram and Facebook so you always know where to find us We’ve had a lot of Cow Content™️ crop up over the years and it’s always been good fun But I don’t think there’s ever been Friday news more chaotic than a cow celebrating his escape from a slaughterhouse by wandering into a hotel and voluntarily going down a water slide Remember Knickers the unbelievably large cow and Lil’ Bill the very tiny one? Or how about the chill cows who were majestically airlifted over the Swiss Alps let me introduce you to the icon that is Slide a cow reportedly escaped from imminent slaughter on a cattle ranch and wound up in nearby Nova Granada hotel To celebrate evading death by simply walking off the ranch the cow voluntarily hopped onto a water slide and shuffled down it on his knees — and yes While not captured in the video posted by Brazilian outlet Diário da Região local news site G1 reported that the cow eventually made it to the end of the slide and plopped into the water with the help of a man and a rope the cow was pulled to the surface of the water and was eventually removed from the pool back to the safety of dry land Weirdly, a rep for the hotel said the cow’s cheeky dip was not the first time an animal that size had come onto pool grounds but it was definitely the first one that found its way onto the slide And despite the water slide having a 205kg weight limit the cow’s 320kg body somehow didn’t make the plastic collapse under his weight it’s just cleaner,” joked João Luiz Andrade Zevole My life in a nutshell https://t.co/1S0P6HVWCp — Julia Song (@realjuliasong) November 13, 2021 But in a positive end to a truly baffling story, the cow’s owner allegedly decided to spare the bovine once they got him off the slide and out of the water the owner apparently even named the cow Tobogã — which means slide in Portuguese — in honour of his impressive poolside adventures I don’t know about you but I really do stan Slide Want more Junkee in your life? Sign up to our newsletter, and follow us on Instagram and Facebook so you always know where to find us.