Thursday, March 31, 2011

Finally, An Inspirational Formula 1 Story

The Formula 1 season began last Sunday with the first race at the street circuit in Melbourne, Australia. It was a very exciting and interesting race with some twists and turns at the end.

But that's by the by.

I follow F1 quite seriously and thus read 50 - 100 blog entries a day on the subject. Recently one has really come to the fore with their interesting but personable attitude to the sport, and to their followers.

www.formula1blog.com is where they are and if you even consider following any open wheeled racing - listen to their blog. It rocks.

Normally F1 stories are quite dry and technical; how will the new wings affect down-force, how will the new tires perform and what will Grace be drinking next week? But they came up with a great story about Lewis Hamilton's younger brother;

This coming weekend, another Hamilton will be making his motorsports debut at England’s famous and historic Brands Hatch circuit. A constant figure of familial support in the McLaren garage over the last several seasons, Nicolas Hamilton, younger brother of 2008 World Champion Lewis, has signed with the championship winning Total Control Racing team for the 2011 ELF Renault Clio Cup series.

Nineteen-year old Nicolas, who has cerebral palsy, has already tested a BMW M3 GTP, race prepped by PalmerSport, as well as one of TCR’s Renault Clio Cup racers. Team principal Lee Brooks said, “Obviously it’s fantastic for the team to be running Nicolas in his first season in the sport. As Lewis’ brother, it’s guaranteed he’ll attract a lot of attention in the paddock throughout the year but we’re confident he’ll make good progress and become a very quick racer in his own right. Nicolas has superb passion for motor racing and great support behind him so it is a great honor for Total Control Racing that he will be racing with us.”

The deal for Nicolas to drive in the series was brokered by his father, Anthony Hamilton, who said “Nicolas has followed his brother’s career from an early age and it was natural he would want to get behind the wheel competitively himself.”

“I have loved motor sport from a young age and watching my brother achieve so much has given me inspiration to make my racing debut.” Nicolas himself admitted. “I know this will not be easy, but I hope that my doing this will give inspiration to others who have challenges in their life. I can’t wait to be racing.”


kthanxbai!

Angry Birds

Until recently I had an iPhone 4 from work and, if all goes well, I intend to have another by the end of the week for myself too.

One of the most fun and addictive games I have ever played on a was Angry Birds by Rovio. And it appears that I am not alone. International diplomacy is being feted with them;




kthanxbai!

Sunday, March 27, 2011

An un Jumbled Rant

I don't want you to think that I'm a complete raving fool, so here is a pair of video-clips about where I'm coming from.

I would love to hear what your thoughts are.



Oh, and the BBC wouldn't let me embed this video so here is the link: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-12846841


kthanxbai!

Friday, March 25, 2011

Google Rule The World

In my post,'iLike it' i explained that I wasn't much of a techno-geek. I do work in cutting edge hi-tech so I guess I actually am a bit more of a techno-geek than I thought.

Anyhoo.... a close friend of mine insists that Google is taking over the world, and thus he hates them with a passion. Not that this stance is actually doing him any good!

I love Google. I love what they stand for which is boiled down to, wait for it, ... The Truth.

The more truthful your website the better ranking you get. The longer you've been telling the truth, the higher you go and so on.

And if you didn't believe that they were taking over the world or you are just interested - here is how Google have shaped the internet;

Google's Collateral Damage.
Infographic by SEO Book

For the whole story go over to SEOBook.com

kthanxbai!

Thursday, March 24, 2011

Dyslexic Author Giving Back

I recently came across this article and was uplifted by the spirit of the dyslexic author, Claire, in not only writing a book, or two - well actually 3! But, she also donates BIG TIME to great UK charities such as Dyslexia Action  and Help for Heroes.




 Here's an excerpt -

The main aim of World Book Day is to celebrate books and encourage children to explore the pleasures of reading them.  The questions and answers session I did with the children at my local secondary school was inspiring.  A handful of the children had already read Dead Game so the questions were much tailored to Dead Game’s characters, plot and sequel.  That said, they really grasped the emotions that I poured into Dead Game and the questions quickly turned from that of basic ‘plotting the adventure’ questions to ‘the inspiration behind the story’, which fascinated them, it seems, just as much as the actual book did.
Read the rest of the blog here


kthanxbai!

Monday, March 21, 2011

iLike it

I don't think of myself as a techno-geek. My computer is 5 years old, my iTouch I won in a raffle and my iPhone 4 (ahem) is from work. My 'ipod' is actually a Sansa something-or-other and I love it.

So what is it that people so adore about Apple?

The iPhone is great. I get to send photos of my 2yr old from the camera directly by email to his grandparents, aunties and uncles. No need to wait until I remember to upload the photos from the camera - or, like we did 15 yrs ago - wait for the photos to be sent back by mail from the developer!

But here is something to explain Apple's secrets;




Its by College Humor so you just know its going to be a hoot! 

kthanxbai!

Thursday, March 17, 2011

Sell-out or buy-in?

A friend of mine on Facebook (oh yeah Princess L., I'm talking about you) mentioned the marvelous OKGO and their videos.

Admittedly. she is a bit behind as I have mentioned them a few times in my blog: like here and here  and more...

But it got me thinking and so I went over to the OKGO YouTube site and looked at their latest video. And I was disappointed, I think....

You see, their latest video is fun, and colorful and interesting but was sponsored by Land Rover. Now I get that they make music because they love it and that they need to eat and pay the rent but really? Get sponsored to make the video? I think that's a bit much.



So what do you think? How does the latest video compare with their previous vids?

Heck, a video with musicians in ghillie suits? Respect!!







kthanxbai!

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Getting Personal Now

The horrendous earthquake and tsunamis in Japan were a shocking event for me. But the same as a bus flipping over in New York and killing 14 or the uprisings in Bahrain, Libya and Egypt they don't actually affect me in any way, shape or form.

Not how you want your local nuclear power plant to look


So the 3rd explosion at the Fukushima Daiichi facility should have no affect on my life. At all. Whatsoever.

How many people do you know who fly to the Far East on a regular basis? I only have 1 friend who goes there at all. One of the few friends I have been in contact with over the last 12 years, through thick and thin. He works with airports and cameras and technology and stuff.

What are the odds that he'll be at a Japanese Nuclear Power Plant for crying out loud? Seriously? Infinitesimal. And what are the odds that if he is there, it'll be when two tectonic plates decide to release the energy of their movement?

Well, you guessed it. He was in the area.

He is home now, and we'll have a beer or three when he pops over next Sunday. But heck, I learnt that NOTHING is to be taken for granted these days.


kthanxbai!

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Hows the weather by you?

You think you've had it bad over this dismal winter?

Check out the Japanese Alps in Honshu, Japan’s largest island, where plows open winter roads by digging through 56 feet of snow:







Just amazing. Here is how they cut the roadway out;




kthanxbai!

Monday, February 21, 2011

Thursday, February 10, 2011

Robert Kubica injury

Robert Kubica is a Formula Driver. He is pretty fast, coming in regularly in the top 10. He seems like a nice chap and is originally from Poland. I was a bit dismayed when I read that he had been in a serious crash whilst rallying in the off season for Formula 1.

Robert Kubica
Robert Kubica and Lewis Hamilton


There was teeth grinding and angry shouts from fans that no F1 drivers should be allowed to do this kind of dangerous work. My answer was that not only are they big enough to make their own decisions but but these drivers are some of the most competitive, fit, and lets be honest, arrogant, drivers alive today. Telling them not to do something driving  and competitive really isn't very clever.

Like Mark Webber last year, admitting that he actually had an injured shoulder through some races but didn't tell his team in case they got angry.

Robert's Nasty Crash Last Year - you can see a hose with liquid squirting out of it, and shockingly, Robert's feet being exposed to serious injury.
I just wanted to see how injured poor Robert was so I downloaded this video. I'm sharing it because its interesting to see the simulation - and there is definitely an 'oh my God!' moment in there too. Key thing to look out for? Large lump of metal in the form of a girder!



In the crash Robert suffered multiple fractures to his right arm, leg and hand.

We all wish him a speedy recovery.

kthanxbai!

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

I Like It Clever

I like clever stuff. The wittier the better, the more interesting - the more fun. So watch this video from www.findajobalready.com and try to convince me that it doesn't extract a little grin from you.



And if you know anyone who is looking for a job, maybe pass it on to them too.

kthanxbai!

Going One Way or Another

A tough looking group of bikers were riding when they saw a girl about to jump off a bridge so they stop.

The leader, a big burly man, gets off his bike and says, “What are you doing?”

“I’m going to commit a suicide,” she says.

While he did not want to appear insensitive, he didn’t want to miss an opportunity he asked “Well, before you jump, why don’t you give me a kiss?”

So, she does and it was a long, deep lingering kiss.

After she’s finished, the biker says, “Wow! That was the best kiss I have ever had. That’s a real talent you are wasting. You could be famous. Why are you committing suicide?”



“My parents don’t like me dressing up like a girl…”

hat-tip Mostly Cajun, All American and Opinionated

kthanxbai!

Monday, February 7, 2011

Travelling Soon?

With the Christmas and New Year's holidays over we're all starting to look forwards to the summer.

Well, I am anyway! So here is a little video explaining how to pack your case.



kthanxbai!

Friday, February 4, 2011

Where Broccoli Comes From

In an effort to help educate kids about the countryside, and where their food comes from, the comedian Bill Bailey shows just how easy it is to downright lie to kids;



Whats the best lie you ever told a kid?

kthanxbai!

Thursday, February 3, 2011

Jon Stewart Makes It Into The Top 10 - Twice

I've been trawling through some great websites recently, trying to find out what 2010 was all about, what we can learn from it and what we can do better this year.

But I didn't find much.

Jon Stewart did stand out though, not only in my personal top 10, but in many bloggers' and websites' too. So here is why he is seen as one of, if not the, top TV show host out there today;

The Daily Show With Jon StewartMon - Thurs 11p / 10c
Arizona Shootings Reaction
www.thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full EpisodesPolitical Humor & Satire Blog</a>The Daily Show on Facebook









kthanxbai!

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

It Gets Better

2010 wasn’t an easy year for the LGBT community. Despite political victories like a federal judge’s overturning of California’s Proposition 8 (which made gay marriage illegal) and the recent repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” a series of suicides of gay teens cast a dark shadow over the movement and pointed out how long our society still has to go on the long road towards tolerance.

In an attempt to reach out to other young LGBT people, there was a huge outpouring of support from the comedy community, organized by Dan Savage. With a simple, powerful message -– “It gets better” -– comedians all over the country reminded young homosexuals that there is light at the end of the tunnel, and that if you ever feel under attack for your sexual orientation, hey, you can always take improv classes.



kthanxbai!

Egypt, oh my Egypt

 If you want some focused and personal views on whats happening in Egypt right now then these are the blogs to read:

Dear Cairo (and the rest of Masri) by Rantings of an Arab Chick

 The true dimensions of the Egyptian crisis by Bayou Renaissance Man





kthanxbai!

Monday, January 31, 2011

Sunday, January 30, 2011

Some good bloggage

De flu as got me in it's evil clutches. On the other hand, the time away from work, household duties and generally running around like a headless chicken has allowed me the time to relax. It really means that I've just been catching up with some of my favorite blogs.

And this one is possibly the favorite of my favorites. He always has something to say, always emotive, and always a funky twist, somewhere in the tale...

The Insomniac Medic - He's a good bloke.



kthanxbai!