| Hi everyone I have been been nominated for an award, its for Vegan entertainer of the year :) A pretty big honour that! I would consider it a HUGE favour if you would vote for me. I will probably lose to Rubber Richie in any case. But would rather not lose by to many votes :) The voting page is linked below. It asks for your email address, but as far as I know they only send you a confirmation of your vote and a flyer for the Bristol Vegan Fayre. I will be performing at the Fayre myself. So if you are in the area, please come along. Its one of my favourite events of the year. The awards can be found here: http://www.bristolveganfayre.co.uk/awards.htm The fayre can be found here: http://www.bristolveganfayre.co.uk/ An official press release from the event is below. Have fun! David Straitjacket ------------------------------------------------ The Most Coveted Awards in the Vegan Diary are Here Again Following the successful launch of the awards in 2007 The Yaoh Vegan Environmental Awards 008 are in place for voting to start online. The purposes of the awards are to help highlight the achievements of outstanding vegan people, organisations, businesses and products, many of whom are relatively unknown to the public at large. They are also designed to reach out to a larger audience by involving colleagues, customers, friends and family, to help highlight the benefits of a vegan lifestyle to the environment and introduce a number of vegan options to people who may otherwise be unaware of the ease in which we can all access the best of the vegan lifestyle available today. There are a number of reasons why the vegan lifestyle has such a positive effect on the environment, and there are a number of excellent campaigns running that highlight these issue. This year we welcome on board VeggieVision.com who are sponsoring the awards. VeggieVision is the world's first online veggie TV station, and founder Karin Ridgers is a high profile UK vegan expert and driving force behind many media projects. With the additional expertise of Tony Bishop Weston and PeaPR behind the awards, and a team effort from everyone involved, we hope to reach out to the four corners of the globe as the Vegan Lifestyle gathers pace around the world. Notes to the Editor: 1 vote per person each month is allowed until the lines close May 31st 08 Midnight. The winners will be announced June 1st 08 at the Bristol Vegan Farye. Every voter will be entered into a prize draw each month and the winner will receive a free vegan hamper worth £50. You can vote once a month up until May 31 st 2008, and you can vote for as many or as few nominees as you like. The results will be announced at the Bristol Vegan Farye on June 1st 2008, and once again vegan superhero Wonderpig will be presenting the awards. Notes to the Editor: • The awards will be announced at the worlds biggest vegan Farye held in Bristol annually. The event attracts people from America and Europe as well as from all over the UK. There will be over 160 stalls offering advice, information and products. • 60 interesting talks and cookery demonstrations run through out the day. • There is a dedicated kids area and Victorian Circus so the younger family members are entertained too. • An acoustic stage with Jazz, folk, Blues and Opera music • The main stage with headline bands (Bands to be announced shortly) The Farye is open from 11am to 9pm 31 May 2008 and 1 June 2008. More information can be seen here: www.bristolveganfayre.co.uk More information about the awards can be seen here: www.bristolveganfayre.co.uk/awards.htm Quotes from Winners 2007 "Everyone at Infinity is very pleased with the award, especially as it was a vote by the public" - Eliz, Infinity Foods, winners of the '7 Best Independent Health Stores' "We were very flattered to be presented with the award for 'Best Vegan Company' in the 007 Vegan Environmental Awards. A big, big thank you to everyone who voted for us." Caroline – Redwood Foods "I am inspired to persevere and do more, do more to support people's vegan choices by creating extraordinarily delicious and benign vegan delicacies that happily recognize the human reality of a desire for occasional treats. And thank you to Tim at Yaoh for organizing these awards and the Bristol Vegan Farye. A massive service." Colin Mace, The Booja Booja Company This year's categories include: 8 Best Vegan Entertainers 8 Best Vegan Publications 8 Best Vegan Distributors 8 Best Vegan Campaigners 8 Best Dairy Alternatives 8 Best Vegan Shows and Events 8 Best Vegan Local Campaigning /Social Groups 8 Best Vegan Raw/Superfood Suppliers * With thanks to our Awards sponsors VeggieVision www.veggievision.co.uk *Awards inspired by PeaPR www.foodsforlife.org.uk Who is Yaoh? Mainly, sell hemp products - dehulled seeds, hemp oil, the massively popular hemp protein (including a 95% hemp protein isolate) and of course their stunning range of natural Bodycare products, including lipbalms, shampoo and conditioner, shower gel, moisturisers, sunblocks and deodorants – all rich in organic hemp seed oil, and all free from unnecessary chemical additives – and of course, all vegan. Yaoh also produce the Vegan Guide Bristol and have organised the BVF for 6 years. For samples of any of the products, for media tickets or more information please contact Karin at MAD Promotions on 01277 653603. |
David Straitjacket's Blog
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David Straitjacket nominated for an award!
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New Promo Video
Hello
Firstly, happy new year, I hope 2008 has started well.
I just wanted to let everyone know that I have a new website and new promo video for 2008, and am currently taking bookings for the year.
My new website can be found at:
http://www.davidescapes.com
My new promo video can be downloaded from my website, or watched online at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HKae6O1SHpQ
Some recent TV appearances are also available to watch and download at both the above links.
Best wishes
David Straitjacket -
David / straitjacket - Infusion escape
Current mood:
Hi everyone
bouncy
Below is a review of my recent challenge escape at Blackpool Pleasure Beach. I have posted a video here at myspace, but after 24hrs it still won't show up :( So I posted it at Youtube too:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E-EQwjuwWC0
Hope you like it!
Have fun
David / straitjacket
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October 2007 - David was chained and padlocked into the most extreme rollercoaster in the UK, the Infusion ride at Blackpool Pleasure Beach. The escape had come about as a challenge from master locksmith Mick Hanzlik, a Houdini expert and escape enthusiast who runs his own locksmithing company in Northampton, UK.
Before I write a review of the escape, there is a little back story I need to go through.
In 1984, the English escape artist David Deval was challenged to escape from the 'Revolution' rollercoaster at Blackpool pleasure beach by Mick Hanzlik and Blackpool based magician Derek Lever. A challenge he gladly took on and succeeded in. The original stunt was filmed for the popular BBC entertainment programme, Hotline. This escape can be seen on youtube here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9E0jwmAEd08
Going forward 20 years, David had been asked to perform a stunt by the pleasure beach. A few months earlier, David had received an email from Mick Hanzlik, whom he had briefly chatted to at an escapology convention. The email was to ask if David might be interested in taking on a challenge at some point. Having been a fan of Mr Deval, who died suddenly in 2002, David asked Mick Hanzlik if he would be willing to put him through a similar challenge, which Mick agreed to.
The escape attempt had to be carried out early in the day, before the park was open to the public, due to concerns about padlocks and handcuffs coming loose and causing injury. The challenge rules, which were set by Mick Hanzlik, were as follows:
1) David will be locked into a variety of handcuffs and padlocks, to be chosen and supplied by the challenger. These would in turn be locked onto David, and then onto the ride itself.
2) David will not be permitted to see any of the restraints until the actual escape itself.
3) David will be permitted to take a maximum of three lock picks with him on the ride.
4) Mick Hanzlik could, at any time, search David for hidden picks, tools etc.
5) David may only attempt to escape while the ride is in motion.
6) There will be no time limit, however, David must effect the escape himself with no outside help.
7) If David wishes any or all of the restraints to be released, at any time, he must first admit defeat, and end the attempt.
On Friday, October 19th at 9am, with a great media turn out, David was chained to the parks newest and most extreme thrill ride, Infusion. To attempt an escape whilst travelling at speeds of up to 80kph and experiencing forces in excess of +4.5Gs. Infusion is the world's first suspended looping coaster completely over water, and has a total of five loops and rolls.
Using three pairs of handcuffs, two padlocks, including a complex and difficult combination lock, a short length of chain and a heavy Eastern European prisoner transport belt, Mick attached the escape artist to the ride. Before restraining him though, Mick had a little surprise up his sleeve, a full search, which included a careful check with an airport metal detector.
After a brief final word with the press, the ride was in motion. After three turns on the ride (a total of approximately four minutes of escape time), David was free of all the restraints.
"I had hoped to complete the escape in one, perhaps two goes around the track, but the challenger had brought some tricky locks with him, the worst of these being the combination lock, which was a nasty surprise and a very clever move by the challenger. These locks require great care and a delicate touch to defeat. A delicate touch is very hard to achieve on a 80kph ride, especially while being thrown in all directions at high G-Forces.
Another big issue was handling the lock picks. Infusion is an exciting ride, and a lot of fun, but it can be quite rough in places. You wouldn't notice if you were riding it for fun, but you certainly would if you ever tried to pick locks while riding it. It took me half a go around just to get the pick in the first keyhole, every time I almost got it there the ride would turn sharply, and knock my hand away. In total I had eight locks to pick, and am pleased to have managed this in such a short time. It was quite a challenge, but possibly the most fun I have ever had while attempting an escape!"
After the escape was over David had a short press conference, some one on one newspaper interviews, and a radio interview before he was free to enjoy a day by the seaside. -
New Photos - Infusion Escape
In case you have an urge to see a lunatic chained to a roller coaster, I have just uploaded lots of photos of the recent Infusion escape to the pics area.
Enjoy :)
David Straitjacket
You got my vote. :o)
Cheers!
U got it m8! We don't want u 2 lose to Rubber Jonnie...soz...Richie do we, lol?