Ford Mustang

I was fortunate enough to borrow the new Ford Mustang from the Classic Car Club a few days ago.

This is what Clarkson has to say in the Times Online.

What are my impressions? Great looks, but other than that, very very cheap!

The live rear axle meant that I had it sideways around once every 10-20 miles. The most interesting moment was in 3rd gear at 60mph on the motorway. I eased down the throttle and the rear stepped out. Fortunately not scary for me as I've had excellent training from 1st Lotus (highly recommended) Come on Ford! This car is based on the medium sized Jaguar S-Type. Give it the same suspension!

The engine sounds nice, but needs a louder exhaust! Come on CCC, please…

It’s an interesting car, but personally, I’d take a second hand TVR Chimera every time!

Cormorants

Every day I take the Thames Path to and from work through the heart of London. Each light morning I watch the cormorants drying their feathers and preening on the various posts in the thames. Yet every night on my way home they have vanished. Where do they sleep?

Q.E.D.

It's been an interesting morning. After several years of not using it, the useful acronym Q.E.D. popped into my head. It was a phrase that was better known in the UK when the BBC used it as the title for an award winning documentary programme. I wonder how widely understood it is today?

House Prices

The economist views are split on what house prices will do in the UK this year. Here is my opinion.

There are lots of different indicators that can hint at what house prices will do. The Bank of England base rate for example. It’s a fairly simple correlation. Rates up, results in more expensive mortgage payments and this tends to have a reducing effect on house prices (or more accurately a negative impact on the rate of increase).

I propose this actually means little. House prices are determined by the buyer. It’s consumer driven, pure and simple. I propose that it’s even more specialist than that. I believe it is driven by the first time buyer. He’s an interesting chap, driven by market forces and in a bit of a flap because he considers:
- the need to get on the ladder, owning property is still king in the UK
- the shortage of housing, people stay single longer, not enough new houses are being built
- interest rates are low and have been for some time (he probably doesn’t remember the high rates of the ‘80s)
- house prices are still going up, needs to buy now before he’s priced out
- lenders are offering even more, and he feels he can remortgage to get a better deal later

The real deciding factor these days is how much the bank will lend to him. People buy now, pay later (financially, emotionally and with their health). Increasingly people are also buying together or in new part ownership deals.

Hence I think we’ll continue to see another upward trend. My prediction – 20% increase by December 2007.

For anyone thinking of buying, check out the excellent resources at Fool.

The word "but"

I remember it was once described to me as "ignore everything I just said, I am about to tell you something completely different!"

A couple of examples (headlines from today's news articles):
Christmas sales up but tough year seen
ETA says it set Madrid bomb but truce stays

Dispatches : Fighting the Taliban

I don’t often rant, but one thing that I do dislike it when journalists blow trumpets to fanfare and portray things in a sensationalist light.

Take the Dispatches program last night for example. Portrayed by TV advertising as “the program the MOD didn’t want us to make” and supposedly portraying the difficulties and lack of supplies faced by British soldiers.

What does the program actually show?
- the MOD didn’t think it was safe for reporter Sean Langan to be in the area
- he bribes the local police to catch a lift with them
- the British forces give him a helmet and body armour
- he doesn’t do up his helmet straps properly – they are there for a reason, Sean
- he can’t distinguish between incoming or outgoing fire, nor between RPGs and rockets
- the British were short on resupply of ammo and rations, however this didn’t come across as a problem, only an inconvenience
- The British had close air support from A-10 Warthogs and Apache helicopters, probably the two most feared weapons if you happen to be enemy infantry!

Come on C4, come on Sean, make real documentaries, not sensationalist tripe that plays on the media hype already in place. Don’t go to war zones with an agenda and story already written. Here’s a new word for you – objective. ;)

Obesity

I can’t help but think that obesity is where the next really good business idea will come from.

We all know that being overweight is an increasing problem. Indeed, a recent survey also produced an interesting article. The Torygraph also reports that there are even diet pills for dogs!

So what will these businesses be? A revolutionary new diet pill? A new food with no calories. Probably not. Scientists have long realised the potential of such breakthroughs and have been active in their pursuit. No, I believe the next big thing will be a franchise restaurant. When we look at the franchises that do well – KFC, Pizza Hut, Nandos and the like, a lot of their appeal comes from the unique seasoning they use. How about the same, but with a health food restaurant? Blow away the old stigmas of healthy food being boring, by making it really tasty.

I think it’s a great idea. I’m sure 1000 other people have thought of it first, but you read it here. So, when you do it, my fees are a very reasonable 1% of turnover. ;)

Battlefield 2142

I think I'm finally over my addiction for EA Games' excellent Battlefield 2142. SWMBO will be pleased. The first ten hours are tricky as you're up against experienced players. From hours ten to eighty is where the real fun is. Very much about discovery and refinement of your technique. Up to around 100 hours now. Excellent entertainment for only £30.

It's created a bit of a stir with it's in game advertising. It's just few billboards in the game and they report which you look at and how long.I don't mind that. It keeps the online gaming experience free of subscription.

I'm sure there's a post in there somwhere about total immersion games and escapism, or perhaps the relaxation of a repetative task, or maybe online gaming in more detail. In the mean time, time to catch up on lifes chores (like doing my tax return to avoid the £100 fine at the end of January).

Darts

It's been a while since I've watched much darts. My my, what great entertainment. It's a shame that it has the ring of a sport that is dominated by beer and pubs. Many would say it's not a sport at all, however it's much like tennis in it's scoring, often leading to sudden death. I also believe it has more personalities and variety than a lot of other sports. Take these guys:
- Klassen - current champion, yet throws darts like he doesn't care and can't wait to get rid of them
- Stompe - just beaten Klassen (quite an upset!), must be in the running an OCD award. His throw is quite unique with a double feint.
- Adams vs O'Shea - another fine match, with the defending champion getting a good run for his money (despite what the 3-0 score would suggest). 140s and 100+ three dart out shots all the way. Very impressive!

The final will definately be one to watch on Sunday 14th January!

Carbonite

Carbonite is an excellent tool for backing up your PC. Does exactly what it says on the website. In a nutshell, it's unlimited online backup over the internet.

$5 a month to archive ALL your pictures, documents and other important things? Best of all, it's off site, so no worries about fire or theft. Perfect.

Blakes 7

We watched the first three episodes of the 1973 show Blakes 7 a couple of days ago.

I really enjoyed it because:
- it's pure classic sci fi from the same man who brought us Daleks
- the main characters sometimes die (and don't come back)
- the main characters have character, Avon would sell them all out for a petty reward
- the BBC Radiophonic Workshop sounds
- the guard on the prison ship offering concessions in exchange for certain 'favours' from a female prisoner - nicely dispels the myth that the world was a nicer place in decades past!
- the american guard on the prison ship (I didn't say Abu Ghraib!)
- even SWMBO enjoyed it!

Where do they find Orac (the terse, short tempered, sarcastic, mobile supercomputer)? Can't wait to find out.

Avenue Q

The first item in the adventure. Not that my adventure started today, just this blog of course.

I went to see Avenue Q last night. What can I say? It was great. The perfect entertainment to make even the most determined Dilbert smile and laugh.

I don't like musicals or the theatre. Yet I loved this. Good work SWMBO for a great Xmas gift.

I loved the musical classics of "The Internet is for Porn" and "Everyone's a Little Bit Racist". Bang up to date with the times and very funny doing it. Be sure to check out the audio and video clips on the website!