VICE Essentials

The desert may be one of the last places on Earth you'd expect to find a beauty pageant. But on Christmas Day, while you were busy testing the limits of your digestive system, VICE's Charlet Duboc was traipsing through sand dunes in Abu Dhabi's remote Western Region, all in the name of beauty.

In 2014 convicted fraudster and infamous British socialite "Lord" Edward Davenport was released early from prison in controversial circumstances. With exclusive access to Eddie and his world, VICE charts Eddie's meteoric rise to fame in 80s as the brains behind the infamous elite underage Gatecrasher Balls, to him conning the Sierra Leone government out of their London embassy, only to hold exclusive sex parties in it, to his dramatic fall as a result of a multimillion pound fraud, of which he was cited as the "puppet master".

A Florida church whose parishioners desire to achieve immortality through science is spotlighted.

A group of filmmakers revive the quicksand scene, which was popularized by classic cinema but has since lost its relevance in modern films.

Middle Eastern refugees seeking a safe haven in Greece; a treatment that saves lives after a drug overdose; a Ugandan tribe struggling to retain its history.

A man who gained online fame by posting videos of himself eating strange items is profiled.

JD Samson travels to San Francisco, New York, Washington, D.C. and New Orleans to investigate why lesbian bars are closing across the U.S.

Thomas Morton travels to the Panamanian jungle to learn about how sloths could hold the key to curing new drug-resistant diseases.

An investigation into synthetic marijuana that's hooking addicts in the U.K. Also: a journey to the Arctic with a man who was attacked by a polar bear.

Chef Matty Matheson cooks Halloween donuts, Thanksgiving turkey, fried chicken, rib-eye steak and power potatoes.

The owner of a vending-machine-toy empire is profiled; a legally-blind hunter in North Dakota is spotlighted.

An investigation into a South Korean digital-food-trend involving people who post videos of themselves eating large quantities of food. Also: the lead singer of Cro-Mags demonstrates his Ironman-training regimen.

A profile of professional skateboarder Sean Malto.

Charlet Duboc visits Scotland and samples the country's traditional cuisine.

Tech enthusiasts attempting to merge man and machine are profiled.

A marijuana-tour of Colorado; a pot-pizza party in Portland; a Shabbat dinner with a weed twist; a Caribbean feast.

A 91-year-old grandmother in California who makes homemade Italian dishes infused with cannabis is spotlighted.

A British defense attorney who spent 16 years in prison before earning a law degree is spotlighted.

Two filmmakers leading a revolution in cinema in Iraq are profiled.

An over-populated maximum-security prison in California working to rehabilitate criminals before their release is spotlighted.

The origins of the militia movement in the U.S. and armed citizens who are training to defend the country are examined.

An exploration into cryonics and the people who believe reanimation will become an alternative to death.

Water issues in Detroit are examined.

An investigation into the conditions of a slum in Manila that's located inside Navotas Cemetery, where 6,000 people live among the dead.

A Bulgarian clan's bride market, an event in which young virgins are bid on by suitors, is spotlighted.

A controversial theme park in China operated by little people; a congregation of "Sailor Moon" fans; and a wildlife team dedicated to saving sea lions.

An artist who documents the world through telescopic photography is profiled.

An eccentric criminal-defense attorney from Brooklyn and a British skater who had a mental illness are profiled.

Infomercial personality Matthew Lesko shares tips for making money off the government; and professional eater Randy Santel goes on a month-long tour of Europe. Also: a Mexican boot craze is spotlighted.

Chef Andy Ricker's Pok Pok restaurant empire, an authentic tribute to the food and culture of northern Thailand, is spotlighted.

A Florida church whose parishioners desire to achieve immortality through science is spotlighted.

People who consider Ibiza the dance-party capital of the world are spotlighted. Also: kids who perform patriotic songs for Donald Trump; and a partying robot.

Chef Matty Matheson makes the ultimate lasagna.

A look at the lives of Sumo wrestlers in Japan after they stop competing in the sport.

Carb loading with a strongman.

Follow rapper Riff Raff as he heads to the gym to demonstrate how he gained 30 pounds of muscle in one month on a diet of junk food and dumbbells.

The Mexican boot craze is highlighted

A treatment that can save a life after a drug overdose is highlighted

A legally-blind hunter in North Dakota is featured

A tribe in Uganda struggles to retain its history