all talk and no action
Tuesday, March 21, 2006
Did you mean "adoption"?
Amazon has changed the way its search engine handles searches for the word "abortion", after receiving a complaint from a customer. Before the change, people searching for "abortion" were asked: "Did you mean adoption?"
[From Wired News]
[From Wired News]
Five top driving tips
I've noticed on my journeys to and from work that there are a few new driving customs that don't seem to have made it into the AA's driving handbook. So to help acquaint you with these new techniques I've put together the all talk and no action five-point guide to sensible motoring.
1. If the road narrows, do not slow down or pull onto the side of the road, especially if you are driving a 4x4. That would be a sign of weakness. Instead, fix your stare ahead and keep driving as oncoming traffic veers quickly into the verge. There's no need to wave to thank anyone for pulling over, either: that would mean taking the mobile phone from your ear.
2. When the traffic lights turn green, take your time to put your car into gear and drive through, ideally tapping your brakes a couple of times to make sure that the drivers behind you are awake. Try to ensure that there is no time for any other cars to get through the lights, thus ensuring you a few minutes' relaxing view of open road in your rear view mirror.
3. When traffic is stationary and the vehicle behind you is blocking a box junction, on no account should you move forward to give it space to clear the junction. Always leave at least a car length of clear space in front of you in case an engine falls from a passing jet.
4. While you're sitting at traffic lights or at a road junction, keep your foot on the brake pedal, especially if it's night time. Far from dazzling the driver behind, this merely provides a comforting glow for them to focus on.
5. When you leave a 30mph limit keep your speed at 30 for the next five miles just in case the 60mph sign was a fake put up by modern-day Cornish wreckers.
1. If the road narrows, do not slow down or pull onto the side of the road, especially if you are driving a 4x4. That would be a sign of weakness. Instead, fix your stare ahead and keep driving as oncoming traffic veers quickly into the verge. There's no need to wave to thank anyone for pulling over, either: that would mean taking the mobile phone from your ear.
2. When the traffic lights turn green, take your time to put your car into gear and drive through, ideally tapping your brakes a couple of times to make sure that the drivers behind you are awake. Try to ensure that there is no time for any other cars to get through the lights, thus ensuring you a few minutes' relaxing view of open road in your rear view mirror.
3. When traffic is stationary and the vehicle behind you is blocking a box junction, on no account should you move forward to give it space to clear the junction. Always leave at least a car length of clear space in front of you in case an engine falls from a passing jet.
4. While you're sitting at traffic lights or at a road junction, keep your foot on the brake pedal, especially if it's night time. Far from dazzling the driver behind, this merely provides a comforting glow for them to focus on.
5. When you leave a 30mph limit keep your speed at 30 for the next five miles just in case the 60mph sign was a fake put up by modern-day Cornish wreckers.
Thursday, March 16, 2006
Lightly boiled cheerleaders
Some parents in the US would prefer that their daughters don't join the cheerleading squad, according to yesterday's Guardian:
"If a daughter of mine wanted to be a cheerleader I would boil her alive," claims Marty Beckerman. "But not 'till I killed her, just until I killed her dreams. But if it was my son I'd drag him behind my truck 'till he died."
Er, ok.
"If a daughter of mine wanted to be a cheerleader I would boil her alive," claims Marty Beckerman. "But not 'till I killed her, just until I killed her dreams. But if it was my son I'd drag him behind my truck 'till he died."
Er, ok.
Wednesday, March 15, 2006
The phone box phone
The phone that looks like a sports car is so last month. What you want is the London Calling mobile, a phone that looks like a phone box. To add to your credibility you can even choose from ringtones such as God Save The Queen and Rule Britannia. If you want one you can buy it at C&D Wireless for $129.
[via PhoneyWorld]
Friday, March 10, 2006
Great headlines, part one
IS THIS THE WAY TO ASBO-RILLO?
A Bath woman has been given an anti-social behaviour order for playing Is This The Way To Amarillo? too loud.
From yesterday's Bath Chronicle.
A Bath woman has been given an anti-social behaviour order for playing Is This The Way To Amarillo? too loud.
From yesterday's Bath Chronicle.
Wednesday, March 08, 2006
Big bad bass
This is what my car is missing: the biggest subwoofer in the world. Built by Richard Clark and David Navone in 1997, this 60" monster is comparable to around 160 ten-inch woofers and can produce 188 decibels -- which is louder than a jet engine at 100 feet. No wonder it blew the doors off the first vehicle it was fitted inside. Perfect for a bit of Roni Size.
Read the full story over at DigitalGrabber.
Tuesday, March 07, 2006
What's in a name?
Marketing author Seth Godin reckons that one reason for people's apathy towards global warming is that it's got the wrong brand name. Global warming, Godin points out, just doesn't sound scary enough: "Global is good. Warm is good. Even greenhouses are good places. If the problem were called 'Atmosphere cancer' or 'Pollution death' the entire conversation would be framed in a different way."
[via WeBreakStuff]
[via WeBreakStuff]
Wednesday, March 01, 2006
Hi-fi's low point
Over at Alphabet Scoop, Rob Mead has written a good piece about the sorry state of the British hi-fi industry.
I went to my first hi-fi show last year, and was expecting it to be a lot of fun, filled as it would be with the POWER OF ROCK. But instead I was treated to beard-stroking conversations about audio reproduction and why vinyl is still the only way to listen to music ("music" meaning The Eagles and Yes, as Rob says in his post). Asking how the equipment performed with an iPod felt like asking for a bacon sandwich at a Bar Mitzvah.
No doubt vinyl does sound better than CDs, and I'm sure it's very important to situate your speakers correctly rather than sticking them in the bookcase, but as Rob points out, while the industry is obsessing over high-end kit with high-end prices, the rest of the world is happily downloading low quality MP3s and sticking them on their iPods to listen to on the bus.
I went to my first hi-fi show last year, and was expecting it to be a lot of fun, filled as it would be with the POWER OF ROCK. But instead I was treated to beard-stroking conversations about audio reproduction and why vinyl is still the only way to listen to music ("music" meaning The Eagles and Yes, as Rob says in his post). Asking how the equipment performed with an iPod felt like asking for a bacon sandwich at a Bar Mitzvah.
No doubt vinyl does sound better than CDs, and I'm sure it's very important to situate your speakers correctly rather than sticking them in the bookcase, but as Rob points out, while the industry is obsessing over high-end kit with high-end prices, the rest of the world is happily downloading low quality MP3s and sticking them on their iPods to listen to on the bus.
