DAVID ADAMS provides a round-up of some stories on the odder side of life…
• Star Wars characters paraded through the streets of Mexico City on Saturday to express their fanaticism for one of the most influential film series in history. Darth Vader, Jedi, Stormtroopers, Mandalorians and a host of characters from the Star Wars saga marched from Mexico City’s iconic Angel of Independence monument to the Monument to the Revolution on Saturday morning, an event also known as “training day”. Some 300 people dressed as Star Wars characters participated in the parade organised by the 501st Mexican Legion, a group of George Lucas fans in Mexico. Entire families attended the parade, with children dressed up in costume. “It is a saga that unites families,” said participant Andres Juarez. “I became a fan of this saga to get to know my children a little more. It allowed us to meet a new family. Many colleagues share our hobby, and now we all see each other as a family.” – Reuters TV
• The world’s richest man, Elon Musk, released a new fragrance last week – the oddly named ‘Burnt Hair’ – and claims to have sold 10,000 bottles in just a few hours. “With a name like mine, getting into the fragrance business was inevitable – why did I even fight it for so long!?” Musk asked on Twitter, adding later: “Please buy my perfume, so I can buy Twitter”. ‘Burnt Hair’, which Musk says is an “omnigender product”, is described as “The Essence of Repugnant Desire” on his Boring Company website where it can be purchased.
Picture of a Barbie doll created by Mattel resembling singer Tina Turner due to the celebration of the 40th anniversary of her hit song, in this image obtained by Reuters on 13th October. PICTURE: MATTEL/Handout via Reuters.
• Toy company Mattel is honouring Tina Turner on the 40th anniversary of her hit song What’s Love Got To Do With It with a Barbie doll created in her likeness. The doll, which is part of their Barbie Signature Music Series, is wearing an outfit inspired by the music video for the song – a black mini dress paired with a denim jacket and her signature hairstyle. “I am honoured to welcome my Barbie into the group of trailblazing women already represented and introduce more kids to my journey,” Turner, 82, said in a statement. The eight-time Grammy winner enjoyed huge success in the late 1960s and early 1970s performing with her former husband, Ike Turner, but the couple divorced in 1978 after a stormy marriage. In early November 2019, Turner attended the opening night of The Tina Turner Musical on Broadway, which chronicles her life and work. She retired from performing after her last tour, which ended in 2009. Turner, who was born in Tennessee, moved to Switzerland in 1995 to join her German-born record producer partner Erwin Bach, who she later married in 2013, and became a citizen in April of that year. The doll is available for purchase on MattelCreations.com and through Amazon, Walmart and Target. – ALICIA POWELL/Reuters
