Weird and Wonderful

Image from 1904 Dictionary of Technology showing an 1880 bicycle on the left and an 1886 rover on the right. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The bicycle has been around for a while now. Bicycles were introduced in the 19th century and now number more than a billion worldwide, twice as many as automobiles.


They are the principal means of transportation in many regions. They also provide a popular form of recreation, and have been adapted for such uses as children's toys, adult fitness, military and police applications, courier services and bicycle racing.

The basic shape and configuration of a typical upright bicycle has changed little since the first chain-driven model was developed around 1885. However, many details have been improved, especially since the advent of modern materials and computer-aided design. These have allowed for a proliferation of specialized designs for diverse types of cycling.

And then this chap came along and had the gall to change it all! This Bicymple is a surprisingly interesting little thing and I wonder what applications can be found for it:

kthanxbai!

 http://jumblerant.blogspot.com

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You Couldn't Make This Up! Prince Roy of Sealand

Prince Roy of Sealand. Never heard of him?

Or Sealand?

English: Royal Standard of the Prince of Sealand. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Well neither had I until I read his obituary in the Daily Telegraph this week.

Prince Roy of Sealand, who has died aged 91, was plain Roy Bates until, on Christmas Eve 1966, he established his own micro-nation on an abandoned wartime sea fort off the Suffolk coast and declared himself head of state.   

The Telegraph continues;

 He claimed Sealand as the world’s smallest sovereign state, even though it was not recognised by the British government — which largely ignored it — or any foreign power. During the 1970s Bates created Sealand’s own constitution, flag (red and black with white diagonal stripe), passports, stamps, currency (the Sealand dollar, bearing his wife’s image), national anthem and motto: “E Mare Libertas” (“From the Sea, Freedom”)....

After being overthrown as Sealand's leader, Prince Roy, from 100ft above the sea,  rappelled down a rope to the tiny helipad below. His son, Michael, did likewise. The rebelling Germans later confessed to being taken aback on encountering, in combat gear, an Englishman they had only known to wear a natty Savile Row suit and bowler hat.  

I suggest you read Prince Roy's whole story over at The Telegraph, he sounds like an extraordinary character, even by British standards!




kthanxbai!

 http://jumblerant.blogspot.com

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This Should Worry You

We all know that the TSA (Transportation Security Administration) is about as useful as a chocolate fire-guard or a rice paper condom as shown by these articles here;

FBI anti-terrorism expert: TSA is useless
Engineer Shows TSA Nude Scanners are Useless, Sues TSA

And this is what they boast what the TSA did find in 2011:

And then I read this today and it got me really scared;

Fake Pilot 'Hitched A Free Ride In Cockpit'

Yup, with all of the European and American technology and the fear that the good lord put into us on 9/11 - we still managed somehow to let someone who should not be there, into the cockpit.

Nice work everyone involved.

Now, where did I put that railway timetable???

kthanxbai! 

 http://jumblerant.blogspot.com

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Robert Kubica's Injury - Part 2

Back in February 2011 Formula 1 racing driver and upcoming star, Robert Kubica had a serious crash whilst rallying in the off season. Here is my blog about Robert Kubica's crash.

Very much like his fellow driver Felippe Massa's near death experience with a piece of debris entering his cranium, Robert's injury put all of Formula 1's eyes on him. Unlike Felippe, Robert was unable (so far!) to return to the pinnacle of open wheel racing, which is Formula 1.

But good news! Robert is back to racing.

Autosport had this to say:

Robert Kubica took victory on his return to competition in an Italian domestic rally on Sunday.
The event was the first motorsport contest the Pole had entered since sustaining horrific injuries in a rally accident in Italy in February 2011.
...Kubica won all four stages of the Ronde Gomitolo di Lana rally to claim victory by nearly a minute over Omar Bergo's WRC Mini.

Before the start of the rally, Kubica told Italian television channel SkySport24 that the event marked the start of "a more active phase" in a recovery that he still hopes will bring him back to Formula 1 eventually.

And we're all sitting here waiting for your return sir!

Get well soon Bob.

kthanxbai!

 http://jumblerant.blogspot.com

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Top Gear Laughs

I've been a fan of Jeremy Clarkson, James May and The Hamster from the TV show 'Top gear' for the last 10 years or so. Its always fun to see someone discuss the pros and cons of cars you will never, ever, in your life drive. I guess its some kind of 'living by proxy' (or do I have that completely wrong?).

Anyhoo, in the last few years they've become sillier and funnier and their collection of laughs and antics just cracked me up. So much so, in fact, that I had to put my coffee down for fear of snorting it out of my nose! 

Here it is:

My personal favourite show of the entire show was their special trip to Vietnam, it was just so up close and personal about the trio and I think we got to see a bit of who they really are.



kthanxbai!

 http://jumblerant.blogspot.com

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All Those Single Ladies

I recently read a blog regarding covers of 'Single Ladies' by Beyonce Knowles and I was impressed by the wide variety of musicians who had taken the time and energy to rehash the popular tune.

My personal favourite has appeared here before;

Because Pomplamoose are amazing and fantabulous.

Just saying. So here are the other covers. And the last one is just a fun little thing to make you giggle.

 

kthanxbai!

http://jumblerant.blogspot.com

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Even Tough Men Cry

Yes, even tough men cry, but in this case its a war cry.

Corporal Luke Tamata, 31, Lance Corporal Jacinda Baker, 26, and Private Richard Harris, 21, of the Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment were killed by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan. Two hundred soldiers of the 1st and 2nd battalions greeted the coffins when the dead soldiers were repatriated.

That, my friends, is how we say goodbye to comrades in arms.

Hat-tip to 200 weeks

kthanxbai!

 http://jumblerant.blogspot.com

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Happy Rosh Hashana

Sunday 16th of September is Rosh Hashana, the Jewish New Year. So to all you celebrants out there - enjoy:

Rock Anthem and a bit of bouncing off rocks and stuff!




Oh we love the Maccabeats - I mean, if we were all 14 year old girls.






Happy New year in a variety of languages



kthanxbai!

http://jumblerant.blogspot.com

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