Latest news with #Lambos
Time of India
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Who are The Outdoor Boys? Social media in disbelief as their favorite content creator says 'Goodbye'
If you've ever gone down the YouTube rabbit hole of survival hacks, cabin building, or just wholesome family adventures, then you've probably come across The Outdoor Boys . It's a channel led by Luke Nichols and his three sons—Tommy, Nate, and Jacob—and it's been all about mixing wild outdoor skills with those heartwarming father-son moments. But just when their fanbase was booming, Luke dropped a surprise bomb: they're stepping back from posting regularly. So, what's the deal? The Outdoor Boys started back in 2015 and it's basically a window into the Nichols family's outdoor life. We're talking building off-grid cabins in Alaska, fishing trips, camping, and even nerf gun battles—yes, nerf guns in the wilderness! Luke, who's originally from Anchorage, Alaska, is the brains behind it all, with his boys always right by his side. The family splits their time between Fairfax, Virginia, and a remote cabin up in Alaska, living that nature-immersed life and sharing it all with millions of fans. The channel grew steadily over the years, but things really blew up in 2024. In just a year and a half, The Outdoor Boys gained over 12 million subscribers, hitting nearly 15 million total. Their videos racked up billions of views, with everything from tough survival challenges to fun family projects. Then, in May 2025, Luke posted a heartfelt five-minute video called 'Goodbye,' where he explained why they're hitting pause on regular uploads. The main reasons? Fame got a little too intense, and he wants to focus on keeping his family safe and happy. With all the attention they suddenly got, it became harder for the family to have a normal life. Luke was worried about how the nonstop spotlight might affect his kids, and he wants to protect their privacy. That 'Goodbye' video blew up—13 million views in just three days. Fans and the internet just can't wrap their heads around it. One user tweeted, 'BREAKING: Outdoor Boys (14.8m subs) just announced they're retiring the channel for now. One of the most wholesome creators stepping back because of fame and to focus on his kids and helping others. End of an era.' Another said, 'Outdoor Boys quits YouTube? Man came out of nowhere, made thousands of hours of solid videos, hit 14 million subs, then quits at the peak to protect his family. What a legend.' And one more chimed in, 'Outdoor Boys went out on top. In a world full of fake watches, rented Lambos, and scammy crypto courses, they did it right. Left when everyone wanted more. That rarely happens these days. Respect.' The Outdoor Boys have definitely left a mark on the YouTube scene, showing off the beauty of nature and what family time really means. Their decision to step back reminds us that internet fame isn't always as glamorous as it looks, and sometimes, you gotta put family first. Fans are still sending love and thanking them for all the amazing memories and adventures they shared.
Al Nahar Egypt
03-05-2025
- Automotive
- Al Nahar Egypt
Car Wrapping vs. Traditional Paint - What Dubai Drivers Choose
Have you ever seen a car that looks like it rolled out of a sci-fi movie, sleek matte black, flawless finish, maybe even a chrome that hits different in the Dubai sun? That's probably car wrapping, not paint. And here's the kicker: most people do not realize the difference until it is too late. They drop a fortune on paint, only to find out it chips, scratches, or fades faster than expected. Worse, once it is on, it is on. Let me be blunt, your car is not just a ride, it is a statement, especially in a city like Dubai. Every corner has Lambos, G-Wagens, and even humble Civics with insane custom jobs. So yeah, looks matter. Car Wrapping vs. Traditional Paint is not just a trend comparison. It is a choice between regret and results. 'Do you want to protect your car or repaint it every few years?' What Exactly Is Car Wrapping? So let's break this down without the fluff. Vehicle Wrapping UAE is when a thin, adhesive vinyl film is applied over your car's paint. Not some cheap sticker. We're talking high-performance automotive-grade vinyl—stuff engineered to handle Dubai's brutal sun, sand, and salty air near the coast. You can get it in matte, gloss, satin, chrome, color-shifting, and even carbon fiber textures. And the best part? You can take it off without damaging the original paint underneath. That is why car wrapping is big with exotic car owners, folks leasing vehicles, and honestly, anyone who just wants to change things up without going all-in on permanent paint. Let's say you drive a 2020 BMW M4. You picked silver, but now it feels…meh. Instead of a full respray (which costs a bomb and tanks resale), you go for a vehicle wrap in deep satin blue. A couple of days later? Whole new vibe. Tip: High-end vinyl, like 3M and Avery Dennison, can last 5 to 7 years when installed properly. But do not go to a random garage—bad installs look like wrinkled gift wrap. In short? Car wrapping is paint without the commitment. And in a city that lives on aesthetic flex? That is a game changer. Traditional Paint | Looks Great… Until It Doesn't Alright. So here's the thing about traditional paint it has been around forever. Spray booth, primer, base coat, clear coat... the whole dance. It can look fantastic, no doubt about that. Deep gloss, showroom shine, that factory-fresh look. But let's not pretend it is all roses. First off, it is expensive, especially if you want something custom or high quality. A proper custom paint job with decent prep work? And that is just for a solid color. Throw in designs or special effects? You are doubling that. Now think about Dubai. Heat that bakes the paint. Sand that acts like sandpaper. Sunlight that fades red into orange in six months. If the paint is not ceramic-coated or PPF-protected, it takes a beating fast. And here's the catch: once it chips or fades, there is no easy fix. You are stuck with repainting panels or the entire car. No going back. Car Wrapping vs. Traditional Paint? One lets you experiment. The other locks you in. Real talk: A friend of mine painted his Mustang candy red. Looked amazing... until six months in, it peeled around the door trim. No warranty. No refund. Choose wisely. Car Wrapping vs. Traditional Paint | Let's Talk Cost iturn0image0turn0image6turn0image8turn0image17Based on recent market research, here's an updated comparison of car wrapping and traditional car painting costs in the UAE, specifically tailored for 2025. Car Wrapping Costs in the UAE Car wrapping in the UAE typically ranges from AED 3,500 to AED 35,000, depending on vehicle type, finish, and customization. Full Car Wraps Sedans:AED 3,500 – AED 8,00 SUVs/MPVs: AED 5,000 – AED 12,00 Luxury/Specialty Finishes (e.g., carbon fiber, chrome): AED 23,000 – AED 35,00 citeturn0search6 Partial Wraps Hood, Roof, or Trunk: AED 800 – AED 2,50 citeturn0search Additional Costs Design Customization: AED 2,000 – AED 10,00 Vehicle Preparation: AED 750 – AED 1,80 Wrap Removal (if needed): AED 1,100 – AED 3,00 citeturn0search6 Benefits -Protects original paint -Easily removable -Wide range of colors and finishes -Shorter installation time compared to painting. Traditional Car Painting Costs in the UAE Traditional car painting in the UAE starts from AED 2,000 and can exceed AED 28,000 for luxury vehicles or custom finishes. Full Car Repainting Standard Paint Job: AED 2,000 – AED 5,00 Custom Paint Job: AED 3,000 – AED 7,00 citeturn0search11 Luxury Vehicles (e.g., Porsche): AED 14,000 – AED 28,00 citeturn0search13 Partial Painting Per Panel (e.g., door, bumper): AED 350 – AED 1,40 Roof Painting (SUV/Minivan): AED 2,200 – AED 3,30 citeturn0search17 Additional Costs Matte or Three-Layer Paint: Approximately 30% more expensive citeturn0search17 Custom Designs or Graphics: Additional charges based on complexity Considerations Longer turnaround time (2–4 weeks). Potential for paint fading or chipping over time. Higher maintenance is required to preserve the finish. Cost Comparison iturn0image0turn0image6turn0image8turn0image17Based on recent market research, here's an updated comparison of car wrapping and traditional car painting costs in the UAE, specifically tailored for 2025. Service Type Estimated Cost (AED) Notes Full Car Wrap (Sedan) 3,500 – 8,000 Quick installation, removable Full Car Repaint (Standard) 2,000 – 5,000 Permanent, longer process Luxury Car Wrap (Chrome, etc.) 23,000 – 35,000 High-end finishes, exclusive designs Luxury Car Repaint 14,000 – 28,000 Premium paints and finishes Partial Wrap (Hood/Roof/Trim) 800 – 2,500 Covers specific panels, customizable Panel Repainting (Door, Bumper) 350 – 1,400 Ideal for minor repairs or touch-ups Wrap Removal 1,100 – 3,000 If needed in the future Design Customization (Wrap) 2,000 – 10,000 Based on complexity and color choice Matte or Tri-Coat Paint +30% above base cost More expensive than standard finishes In the UAE market, car wrapping offers a cost-effective, flexible, and protective alternative to traditional painting, especially for those looking to customize their vehicle's appearance without committing to a permanent change. However, for a long-lasting, factory-finish look, traditional painting remains a viable option, albeit with higher costs and maintenance considerations. Durability in Dubai | What Lasts Longer? Let's be real—Dubai does not go easy on cars. We've got heat that hits triple digits, fine sand blowing in from everywhere, and sunlight that feels like a UV laser. So when it comes to durability, you'd better pick smart. Here is how the two stack up: Car Wrapping Built to handle Dubai's heat with minimal maintenance and easy car repair options. Lifespan: 5 to 7 years with quality vinyl like 3M or Avery Dennison. Fade resistance: Solid. High-grade wraps hold up under Dubai's sun way better than you'd expect. Scratch protection: Yes, to an extent. It absorbs light scuffs, shielding your paint. Maintenance No waxing. Just hand wash with wrap-safe soap. If one panel gets damaged, you replace just that panel, not the whole car. Traditional Paint Long-lasting but high-maintenance, and vulnerable to fading, chipping, and costly touch-ups. Lifespan: Can last 10+ years if maintained and protected. Fade and peel: This is a big issue here, especially with darker colors and daily sun exposure. Scratch resistance: Depends on the clear coat. But once it's scratched? It is scratched. Maintenance: Needs regular waxing, sometimes ceramic coating. Polishing adds cost and time. Chips usually mean repainting whole panels. Idea: Try a wrap first. See if it fits your vibe. Paint? No take-backs. Durability winner? For Dubai's climate and convenience, car wrapping takes it. Car Wrapping vs. Traditional Paint in the Looks Department Let's not pretend—how your car looks matters. Especially in Dubai, where the roads are filled with cars that could pass for magazine covers. Here is where car wrapping really flexes: Car Wrapping Offers endless style options and quick, reversible makeovers perfect for Dubai's trend-driven scene. Limitless styles: Matte black, satin green, chrome rose gold, camo, carbon fiber... You name it. Custom graphics? No problem. Logos, stripes, full-body art—design it and wrap it. Quick turnaround: Full wraps can be done in 2 to 4 days. Temporary change: Want a new look every year? You can do that. No damage to original paint. Fact: Many exotic rentals in Dubai get wrapped up between clients. It's a new color, a new identity, and the same car. Traditional Paint Limited in variety and permanently locks you into one look, changes cost time and money. Limited finish types: Mostly gloss, with a few satin or matte options (usually cost more). Complex designs require airbrushing or stencils—more time, more money. Permanent: Change your mind? You are repainting. Again. Quick story: One guy wrapped his Range Rover in brushed steel. Looked insane. Two months later? Swapped to midnight green without losing a dirham on paint. Bottom line? Paint might look great once. Wraps let you change, experiment, and stay ahead of the curve. What Helps Resale, What Hurts It | Car Wrapping or Traditional Paint You might love your custom matte olive G-Class today. But five years from now? You might be handing it off to someone else or trading up. So let's talk resale. Car Wrapping vs. Traditional Paint plays a massive role here. Car Wrapping Preserves factory paint, which matters a lot for resale. Easy to remove. You peel the wrap, and the original paint underneath is still protected. If you want to sell fast, you can re-wrap in a neutral color that appeals to more buyers. Dealers love wrapped cars with clean paint underneath. Fewer questions. Better offers. Tip: A car with original factory paint holds more value than a repainted one, no matter how glossy. Traditional Paint Repainting—even high-end—raises suspicion. Buyers often assume accident damage. Aftermarket paint rarely matches OEM quality. Fading, chips, or mismatched panels can kill resale fast. Permanent. Once painted, it is not coming back. So, when it comes to Car Wrapping vs. Traditional Paint for resale? Wraps win, hands down. They give you flexibility now and confidence later. Car Wrapping vs. Traditional Paint | What's the Smarter Move in Dubai? Let's not overcomplicate it. If you care about looks, cost, protection, and resale, the answer is clear. Car Wrapping vs. Traditional Paint? Wrapping wins in every way that matters—especially in a place like Dubai, where the sun cooks everything and style speaks louder than words. You get bold customization, less long-term damage, better resale, and the power to switch it up without regret. Paint has its place—sure. But it is permanent, pricey, and painful if it goes wrong. Story time: A guy I know had his Tesla wrapped in satin white with gloss black accents. Looked like a spaceship. Two years later, the wrap came off, car underneath was still mint. Sold it the next week. Try doing that with repainted panels. Final word? If you want flexibility, flair, and future value, go with car wrapping. You will not regret it. Page 2
The Guardian
31-03-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
grentperez: the Gen-Z crooner who started on YouTube at 13 – and now sings to millions
It's 10.30 in the morning in the western Sydney suburb of St Clair, the sky low and white and muggy. Grant Perez is posing with his car as the Guardian's photographer snaps away. It's not uncommon to see rappers and pop idols draping themselves over Lambos and Maseratis, with Calabasas palm trees waving in the background; Perez's whip is a sticker-plastered four-door Toyota JXZ100 Mark II which he works on in his spare time, often posting videos of himself installing coilovers or lovingly washing it in the driveway of the family home. Three weeks from now, Perez – better known online and on the charts as grentperez – will be out of the suburbs and on a 36-show North American tour for his new debut full-length album, Backflips in a Restaurant. The 24-year-old has more than 770,000 YouTube subscribers and fans all over the world, after nearly a decade of uploading videos filmed in his bedroom upstairs, singing sweet, soulful covers and his own songs. Backflips is the sleek, confidently understated culmination of that decade – of karaoke sessions with family and friends in the Filipino diaspora, learning his parents' favourite 70s ballads on guitar, putting melancholy twists on pop hits, effortlessly effective at getting people to click and then stick around for that voice. 'I'm just drawn to the melodies,' he says. 'Music from the 70s has such lovely melodies. Bread, the Carpenters, you just fall into the music … With bossa nova, you're just drawn to this feeling, you're just forced to sway your head.' One of his favourite songs at the moment is Gilbert O'Sullivan's Alone Again (Naturally), he says, crooning the titular line. As the shoot wraps, a FedEx truck pulls up and the driver hands Perez an oversized, pink-foiled padded envelope. Inside is a hefty hardcover magazine – the kind with 33 luxury fashion ads before you even get to an article – that he did a shoot for in New York on a recent trip. His mother, Mary, pops out the front door of the house and peers at the shiny package with interest, but without fuss. 'When did you do that one?' she asks, absolutely unfazed. She nips back inside and returns to hand me a huge, cold glass of apple juice, then a little wooden tray with red grapes and triangle-cut chicken sandwiches. (Later, halfway through our interview at their kitchen table, her son stops mid-sentence and looks intently at the tray: 'I made this in high school, I just realised.') Sign up for the fun stuff with our rundown of must-reads, pop culture and tips for the weekend, every Saturday morning While this is the first time he has done an interview at the family home, Perez has been virtually inviting people in since he posted his first YouTube video aged 13. Sort his 463 (at the time of writing) videos from oldest to newest, and you can track his growth from a slightly shy kid doing Musiq Soulchild covers with his older sister, his voice reedy but already showing off a beautiful warm timbre, to an earnest boy next door serenading the camera with weapons-grade melisma. Perez sprinkled his own compositions in among the covers, which include Filipino hits and some classics like The Carpenters' Yesterday Once More and Bread's 1973 single Aubrey – although it is his takes on Gen Z pop and coffeehouse croonercore that really rack up the views: Billie Eilish, Bruno Major, Norah Jones, Harry Styles, Daniel Caesar, Rex Orange County. (The latter got in touch after seeing one of Perez's covers and invited him to open all the dates on his Australia and New Zealand tour in 2023.) 'If I were to view my career from the start – if I didn't go through YouTube, I don't know what I would do. Maybe just kept doing competitions?' he wonders. He began testing the waters in 2019, entering two local singing competitions and winning both. 'I've got one here, actually,' he says, pulling an A4 card from a shelf over the fridge emblazoned with GRAND FINAL WINNER! CONGRATULATIONS! The reverse has a judge's handwritten feedback taped to it: 'Melisma/riffing is gorgeous … great connection with the audience … beautiful storytelling … very intelligent mature performance. Try to release a bit more in the top of the voice.' Perez briefly studied industrial design before dropping out in 2020 to focus on music; if he was just going to be sitting at home, he reasoned, he would rather keep recording than pay thousands for an online-only degree during the pandemic. When his views began to tip over from hundreds of thousands to millions, he informed his parents that he had a manager. ('Just make sure it's legit,' was Mary's advice.) He had promised his parents he would give himself two years to make music work, then go back to uni if it didn't. He only needed one: in 2021 his debut single Cherry Wine racked up 1m YouTube views in six weeks, and went Gold on the Aria charts. 'What could I say about that time?' he says, with the note of guilt that often afflicts those fortunate enough to have found positives during the pandemic. 'It was weird, but it was good for me … It was a blessing and a curse in a way.' The pandemic meant that, apart from performances at school and singing competitions, Perez had almost no live performing experience by the time he was being booked for professional shows: 'I'd say the first time I performed as me, where there were community and fans, was Groovin the Moo, funnily enough. I was on at like 10am.' There were maybe 100 people, he estimates – which is no small feat for the first slot of the day, but his 'community' is a passionate bunch. Backflips, much like his earlier EPs and singles, draws on the aesthetics of what used to be called adult contemporary: underscored by bossa nova beats and wide-eyed love stories, sharp edges not so much sanded off as simply surplus to requirements. Who needs edgy, abrasive noise when you have a voice that sounds like a sunbeam through honey? At a grentperez live show, though, the front rows are going off like a bucket of prawns in the sun; they're thrilled to be there, and their joy and his are equally contagious. The personal connection he has built with his fans doesn't have the whiff of parasocial creepiness that often grows in extremely-online fandoms; he says he's still friends with people in the Philippines who were among his earliest fans. What is more complex for him is the line between musician and content creator, which is being blurred by record labels, who are putting pressure on major artists and indies alike to make video content for promo purposes – to emulate the organically-viral success of artists like Perez. 'When I see artists I follow do the TikTok side of things, a part of me dies,' he laughs. 'I'm just like, 'Just keep it underground! If no one listens to it, that's all right' … Unless you're an actual content creator, and you know how the algorithm works for you, it's hard.' He second-guessed himself constantly about posting silly skits over carefully chosen covers, worried that variety would 'confuse' the algorithm: 'There was this whole motto in the beginning to upload more content, more often. But I don't even know if that's working.' But he had few qualms about putting himself out there as a performer – and no plans to scrub his older, less polished videos now that he's hitting the big time. 'I really respect myself for doing that,' he says. 'An art teacher in high school told me that people would rip out pages of their visual art process diaries and she'd get really angry at them. She'd say, it's a process diary for a reason. You want to see all of your steps to get to where you are now. And I used that in a lot of my life. A lot of old YouTube videos that I cringe at now, I just keep up. I think it's important to remind people that change exists, because a lot of people get complacent – or when you're unfamiliar with change, you're a little bit fearful and whatnot. But I think it's natural.' grentperez's album Backflips In A Restaurant is out now AWAL. Sign up to Saved for Later Catch up on the fun stuff with Guardian Australia's culture and lifestyle rundown of pop culture, trends and tips after newsletter promotion Each month we ask our headline act to share the songs that have accompanied them through love, life, lust and death. What was the best year for music, and which albums prove it? Dang. 2017? Daniel Caesar released Freudian, Rex Orange County released Apricot Princess, Tyler, the Creator with Flower Boy, and Bruno Major's A Song For Every Moon. I personally just associate them with good memories and good times. I would've been in year 10 – times were so silly, all you had to worry about was whose party you'd be invited to. What music do you clean the house to? Usually instrumental or Japanese music like Yumi Arai or Ichiko Aoba. You don't have to think too much when you listen and it just feels so lovely. There's something about Japanese music that tickles my brain. What's the song you wish you wrote? I Wish by Stevie Wonder. What a track. That bass line, the arrangement, the lyrics – how good. I roughly recall the first times I listened to this; it made me feel a little defeated. 'This is music, huh?! I'm never going to be able to make this. It's too good.' What is the song you have listened to the most times this year? 何もきかないで (Don't Ask Me Anything / Nani mo Kikanai De) by Yumi Arai. Once again a Japanese track. I FALL IN LOVE WITH HER VOICE EVERYTIME. So good. Such a good melody. If your life was a movie, what would the opening credits song be? Dancing in the Moonlight by Toploader. It is so reminiscent of 2000s romcoms, and my go-to feel good track. What is the first album you bought? Mahal by Toro Y Moi What is the best song to have sex to? Easily by Bruno Major
Miami Herald
26-03-2025
- Automotive
- Miami Herald
Car-obsessed 4-year-old gets birthday surprise. See his ‘personal car show' in Florida
A 4-year-old's obsession with what was once trucks turned him into a 'Porsche loving little boy' who got a 'special birthday surprise' in Florida. In February, Nadja Jovanovic asked her Winter Springs community Facebook page if anyone would be willing to help make her son Kosta's birthday one to remember. Jovanovic didn't think the request would end up 'accidentally creating a car meet' the day before Kosta's March 24 birthday. 'It's a very active Facebook group, we have like 15,000 members and randomly I got this idea because he loves race cars, McLarens and all that,' Jovanovic told McClatchy News in a March 26 phone interview. At first, her family's plan was to take Kosta to the McLaren dealership so he could 'see everything up close,' she said. 'I said, 'you know if anyone with a cool car, any car, could come by' and a lot of people responded to it,' she said. And through that Facebook group interaction, Jovanovic met Mike Mallozzi, someone who would surprise even Jovanovic during the birthday celebration. Mallozzi, who's close with an organization called Dream Cars 4 Kids, a nonprofit that goes to children's hospitals and gives kids experiences with luxury cars, is also friendly with local police. 'I didn't know it at the time but Mike is also close with our local police department so on top of organizing Audis, Porches, Lambos, beautiful cars, to come, he even had the police come with their sirens and everything,' she said. Although she only posted the TikTok video of a 'personal car show' for her friends and family, she said 'I have never seen that many positive comments on a video.' 'Everyone was just so kind, saying it restored their faith in humanity,' she said. That's not all they said, though. Some talked about how lovely it was to have a community band together for a celebration with one person saying, 'Something about strangers showing up for kids will always make me emotional. I just know this brought so much joy to all parties.' And others talked about how the car owners were helping a dream they might've had as a child come true for a little boy. 'The drivers were once little boys who loved cars. This is so wholesome.' 'I just know the car guys were prolly even more excited than your son to do this haha,' another wrote. 'Sometimes the world is a beautiful place,' someone else commented. Winter Springs is about a 260-mile drive northwest of Miami.
