Just Hilarious

SWIMWEAR PARTY @ T.R.A.C.S

BEACH at RIVER ISLAND

Land Mark: http://slurl.com/secondlife/River%20Island/221/249/22

SWIMWEAR

Definitions

• Clothing designed to be worn for swimming or with swimsuits. 
• Items of clothing appropriate for swimming.
• Tight fitting garment worn for swimming

A swimsuit, bathing suit, swimming costume, swimming suit, tog, bathers, or cossie (short for "costume"), or swimming trunks for men, is an item of clothing designed to be worn by people engaging in a water-based activity or water sports, such as swimming, water polo, diving, surfing, water skiing, or during activities in the sun, such as sun bathing. Different types are worn by men, women, and children.

A swimsuit can be worn as an undergarment in sports that require a wetsuit such as water skiing, scuba diving, surfing, and wakeboarding. Swimsuits are also worn when there is a need to display the body, as in the case of beauty pageants or bodybuilding contests. Glamour photography and magazines like the annual Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue feature models and sports personalities in swimsuits.

There is a very wide range of styles of modern swimsuits, which vary in relation to body coverage and materials. The choice of style of swimsuit is dependent on current fashions and community standards of modesty, as well as on personal preferences. Swimwear for men usually exposes the chest, which women do not usually do.

History of Men's Swimwear

The swimsuit begins its history in ancient Greece and Rome. In these ancient civilizations, public bathing was a common and popular tradition, although on the whole men bathed in the nude. By the fall of the Roman Empire, public bathing and the accompanying swimwear worn by women fell out of style for several hundred years. During the Middle Ages in Europe, men and women rarely bathed, in fact public bathing was viewed as immoral and unhealthy. When public bathing returned to popularity in the 1800s, cozzies for both sexes were somewhat similar in appearance. Women wore dresses and men wore shirts and shorts, ending at the knee and covering the arms.

During the 1880's, men's styles stuck close to the traditional skivvies. Improvements were made gradually. The first prototypes of the first "modern" swim trunks were cumbersome and made the action of swimming itself more difficult. The first Jantzen suit weighed 9 lb. when fully soaked, making them extremely heavy in water. They also had the unfortunate tendency of slipping down!

 

Until the 1920s, most swimwear was made of knitted woolen materials that were extremely heavy when wet and flouted the safety values we prize so highly in this water-encased nation of ours. But gradually suits became tighter fitting, and materials used chose swimming speed over modesty with outfits made of lighter and more comfortable silk.

Modesty was an issue well into the 1920's. Under the "Bathing Suit Regulations" published in May 17, 1917, men's suits had to be worn with a skirt or have at least a skirt effect. The skirt had to be worn outside of the trunks. The other alternative was to wear a flannel knee pants with a vest and a fly front. During this time, the knitting mills were rapidly churning out many styles of suits, including the "speed suit," an one piece suit with deeply slashed armholes and closed leg trunks. The introduction of Lastex (synthetic rubber yarn) created a whole new era in men's swim wear.

 

The introduction of Lastex (synthetic rubber yarn) created a whole new era in men's swim wear. With the popularity of the "nude" look during the 1930's providing the backdrop for beach-going attire, this "miracle fiber" made it possible to give the wearer control as well as the appearance of a fit form. Even chubby males had the chance to be "Mr. Muscles." Athletic supports, called "Sunaka" supports were sewn directly into the trunks, providing comfort and a trim appearance in front.

Though men were getting the opportunity to look 

better, there was still the little matter of baring the chest. Quite simply, it was frowned upon. However, men continued to fight for their right to expose their chest and by the early 1933, the result was a convertible-style suit that allowed the top to be removed. The introduction of the "Men's Topper" introduced a new thrill in men's swim wear. This unprecedented belted, two-tone wool suit gave the wearer the option to go bare (or not to go bare...). The deeply scooped top was attached to the front of the trunks with the newly-invented zipper. Instead of being connected, the back of the suit featured a "y" arrangement of straps to secure the top to the chest. The top was removed by just unzipping the zipper. Unfortunately for many of those who did, this led to arrests for "indecent exposure."

Thankfully, improvements were forthcoming. In 1933, the B.V.D company used Olympic swimmer Johnny Weismuller to promote its swimsuit line. Due to his recommendations of extra low cut arm holes on tank tops, a natural waist, and an extra full seat, the final outcome was the first pair of bathing trunks -- which actually came out first in France while conservatives in America still insisted on the two-piece suit. In an attempt to gain more public acceptance, companies tried to streamline the trunks by giving them more of a "dressed" look. This was done by showing a simulated fly front and giving them a kind of belt or buckle effect. In 1937, men finally had the right to go topless, when only a year earlier in 1936, the "no- shirt" movement had generated much controversy, with reported cases of topless men being banned from Atlantic City beaches in New Jersey.

The public's concern with nudity eroded as time passed. Shorts were the typical swim wear for men, with men's swimsuits during the 1940's looking very similar to the narrow hips and smooth abdomen of the women's styles. Of course, those males with a little more modesty in mind could always opt for the "boxer-type" shorts. Successful swim wear campaigns were not intended for the timid. In 1947, the Jantzen company hired James Garner as their "Mr. Jantzen" to model their line of "savage swim trunks."

 

In the 1940s boxer style shorts became the typical swim wear for men, but the 1946 introduction of the bikini threw the swimsuit fashion world into a frenzy, and men didn’t want their bathing costumes to be outdone on shock factor. The result was an explosion of colour, patterns and fancy detailing. Although tighter, high waisted, underwear-like suits were popular, bright ‘Cabana’ sets of matching boxer trunks and shirts remained the usual beach attire through until the 1960s.

The sexual revolution and rise in popularity of competitive 

swimming in the 1960s saw a huge revolution in swimwear. Realising that mere fractions of seconds could be the difference between Gold and Silver medals, the Amateur Swimming Association commissioned a report into the issue of drag caused by swimwear – and the resulting competitive costumes were specifically designed to reduce friction while moving through the water. The fashion world followed suit, (no pun intended) and men’s swimwear got smaller and smaller.

The 1970s marked the beginning of a period during which no modesty was considered. A return to an obsession with physical fitness and body building in the 1980s continued this trend, with slightly more flashy colours returning to favour. Few style changes were made until the popularity of Calvin Klien’s boxer briefs and the rise of surfer culture in the 1990s made the board short popular again.

Today, men’s swimsuits come in many varieties. Board shorts remain the most popular for casual wear, while competitive swimmers focusing on tight, all-in-one bodysuits designed to mimic the movement of a shark and facilitate speed.

But men’s swimwear seems to be on a backwards trajectory, so perhaps it won’t be long before nudity is once again en vogue!

ICE CREAM PARTY @ T.R.A.C.S

We all screamed for Ice cream last Saturday at the harbor at River Island.

DJ Infa had made a great a set of dance able music. 
Our guest did, as always, a great job to come in theme. 

Here is a selection of snapshot I made during the party.

The place looks almost empty after I took the dance floor and party items. Next Saturday we go to the beach. I am very happy that I could finish Rod's Ice cart, before the party started. It is almost full mesh.
No I am not a mesh creator but used mesh parts that mesh creators sell. The LI (land impact) is 15 and it gives ice cream.

ICE CREAM PARTY @ T.R.A.C.S

I scream, you scream, we all scream for Ice Cream......................................................... 

Harbor at River Island

Land Mark: http://slurl.com/secondlife/River%20Island/36/209/22

ICE CREAM chapter III

Ice Cream Truck

An ice cream van (British) or ice cream truck (American) is a commercial vehicle which serves as a traveling retail outlet for ice cream, usually during the summer. Ice cream vans are often seen parked at public events, or near parks, beaches, or other areas where people congregate. Ice cream vans often travel near where children play — outside schools, in residential areas, or in other locations. They usually stop briefly before moving on to the next street.

There were many stages of mobile ice cream vending until the soft ice cream vans appeared, from hand carts to horse drawn carts, trailers and trikes. Then in the early 1900's the motorised hard ice cream vehicles appeared.

The horse drawn carts sold ices and flavoured ice cream; they were the early mobile ice cream vendor of their time. The hand drawn ice cream carts were also mobile ice cream vendors and both announced their presence with a large hand bell.

Ice cream vans are often brightly decorated and carry images of ice cream, or some other adornment, such as cartoon characters. They may have painted-on notices, which can serve a commercial purpose ("Stop me and buy one!") or a more serious one ("Don't Skid on a Kid!") - serving as a warning to passing motorists that children may run out into the road at the sight of the van, or appear without warning from behind it. Along the sides, a large sliding window acts as a serving hatch, and this is often covered with small pictures of the available products, with their associated prices. A distinctive feature of ice cream vans is their melodic chimes, and often these take the form of a famous and recognizable tune, usually "The Mister Softee Jingle", "Turkey in the Straw", "Do Your Ears Hang Low?, "Pop Goes The Weasel" "The Entertainer", "Music Box Dancer", "Home on the Range", "It's a Small World", "Super Mario Bros. Theme" or "Camptown Races"; or, in Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, "Greensleeves", "Whistle While You Work" in Crewe and Nantwich, "You Are My Sunshine" in Vale Royal, "Teddy Bears' Picnic" in Sheffield, and "Match of the Day" in other places. In some places in the US, ice cream trucks play the song "Ice Cream" by Andre Nickatina (essentially just Turkey in the Straw with bass).

Most ice cream vans tend to sell both pre-manufactured ice lollies (American English: popsicles) in wrappers, and soft serve ice cream from a machine, served in a cone, and often with a chocolate flake (in Britain) or a sugary syrup flavoured with, for example, strawberry. Soft serve ice cream is served topped with sprinkles for a slight extra charge. While franchises or chains are rare within the ice cream truck community (most trucks are independently owned/run), there are a few chains.

In some locations, ice cream van operators have diversified to fill gaps in the market for soft drinks, using their capacity for refrigerated storage to sell chilled cans and bottles.

Early ice cream vans carried simple ice cream, during a time when most families did not own a freezer. As freezers became more commonplace, ice cream vans moved towards selling novelty ice cream items, such as bars and popsicles. Early vans used relatively primitive techniques: their refrigeration was ensured by large blocks of dry ice so the motor was always turned off when the van was stopped for sales. The chimes were operated by a hand driven crank or a take-off from the motor, so they were not heard as often.

Big Gay Ice Cream Truck

The Big Gay Ice Cream Truck, or BGICT, is a New York City-based ice cream truck that serves soft serve ice cream cones, cups, and novelties with a menu of unique and unusual flavors and toppings. Some examples? Olive oil, sea salt, cayenne pepper, ground wasabi peas, bacon, maple syrup, and sriracha just to name a few.

The "gay" in the name of the truck has a double meaning, referring to the sexual orientation of co-founders Doug Quint and Bryan Petroff, as well as simply "happy". According to Quint: "If I weren't gay, I wouldn't call it the Big Gay Ice Cream Truck. And if I weren't happy, I wouldn't have the Big Gay Ice Cream Truck. It would just be the big crabby ice cream truck."

Use of social media

The Big Gay Ice Cream Truck has made use of social media outlets such as Twitter and Facebook to connect directly with their clientele rather than through traditional means of advertising. Quint and Petroff also frequently blog about their experience both on and off the truck.

Official website: http://biggayicecream.com

History

Doug Quint is a free-lance classical bassoonist and was looking for a secondary occupation in the summer off-season. A flutist friend had been operating an ice cream truck of her own and suggested doing the same to Quint, who took her up on the suggestion. In June, 2009, Doug Quint and his partner, Bryan Petroff, founded and began operating the Big Gay Ice Cream Truck at Brooklyn Pride in Prospect Park, Brooklyn. They currently operate the Big Gay Ice Cream truck during the summer months, parking at various locations throughout New York City, and tweeting their location and specialty items du jour to their followers.

Theme song

The Big Gay Ice Cream Truck has an "official" theme song composed and recorded by Go-Go's guitarist and singer/songwriter Jane Wiedlin, who is also a personal friend of Quint. http://vimeo.com/17483523

Melting Ice Cream Truck

Every year since 1997 in Australia, the Sculpture by the Sea Exhibition takes place.

Orest Keywan won $30,000 for the Sulpture by the Sea prize in 2006. Constructed with steel, stainless steel, sandstone and limestone, the piece evokes memories of shifting landscapes. Also a reference to global warming? Perhaps.

.... and last but no least.