A chunk of news

Here's a very odd story I found today on the BBC News website.
Who said fat cats were just restricted to the City's financial companies??!
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/7534589.stm

The hole truth?

Last week, a QANTAS Boeing 747 had to make an emergency descent and landing in the Philippines following an 'explosion' - since that time, investigators have been trying to work out its cause. The latest theory is that an oxygen tank blew up, causing the damage to the fuselage. It's still only a theory though, and the final conclusion may not be known for a few months. Let's hope the mystery is resolved soon - especially as I'll be using QANTAS jumbo jets on my forthcoming trip. I think the most worrying part of the story so far is that there is apparently no record of what happended on the 'black box' flight recorder, as all the information got 'wiped' during the incident. Seems to defeat the reason for having a flight recorder?! Fortunately, none of the crew or passengers were injured during the incident, but it must have been a heck of a shock to all concerned when the oxygen masks came down. (Maybe this is a good reminder to all those passengers who rudely carry on talking when the safety announcement is being given before each flight - have the courtesy to shut up just for a couple of minutes, so that everyone does understand what to do when things go wrong!)

Not so super

Weston-Super-Mare lost its major landmark today. A huge fire destroyed the newly refurbished pier - although the metal structure may be sufficiently intact to allow a rebuild. Whatever the summer weather was like in Britain today (it was foggy for most of the day in Edinburgh), at least one place had guaranteed heat.

Top show

The latest series of Top Gear came to an end this evening but I'm very glad to know it'll be returning in the Autumn. Apart from being disappointed over the greater dominance that Jeremy C has had over his fellow presenters Hammond & May this time around, it's been another brilliant series, albeit restricted to just six programmes. I firmly believe that Top Gear has some of the best cinematography and use of background music in television - in fact, miles ahead of most other programmes. Over the past six weeks, we've seen some truly amazing cars, some cars you'd rather forget, some great challenges and many humorous moments. Roll on Autumn...

Worried about inflation?

Spare a thought for the people of Zimbabwe... I've just read that a bank-note worth Z$100bn is about to be introduced in response to rampant inflation - but here's the amazing thing... the note will barely cover the cost of a single loaf of bread. Some Zimbabweans are already calling for higher denominations in a country where the official annual inflation rate has now reached levels in excess of 2,200,000%. Independent economists believe the real rate is many times higher. So, while we're all moaning in the UK about the downturn in our economy, and the impact of the so-called "credit crunch", let's spare a thought for those who really are facing financial difficulties and real hardship.

Take an old bag shopping

I saw this advert recently - a great new campaign from Sainsbury's. Hopefully it will encourage people to re-use their old carrier bags - with no offence caused to any grumpy female pensioners!

Every office should have one

Next trip now booked

Pleased to report that I have now booked up my latest round-the-world ticket, thanks to my chums at Trailfinders in Edinburgh. I'll be spending the next few weeks updating my travel website, so that you'll be able to find out where I'm planning to go. I'm due to leave the UK on the 1st of October. It sounds a long way away, but I know that it'll creep up very quickly. At this stage, I plan not to have any last minute panics! Fingers crossed.

Mind your language

Here are some great new translation tools...

(1) to turn English into 'Scottish':
http://www.whoohoo.co.uk/scottish-translator.asp

(2) to turn English into 'Oirish':
http://www.whoohoo.co.uk/irish-translator.asp

(3) to turn English into 'Geordie':
http://www.whoohoo.co.uk/geordie-translator.asp

(4) to turn English into 'Jolly good English':
http://www.whoohoo.co.uk/posh-translator.asp

An epic final

Just finished watching the men's singles final from Wimbledon - a brilliant match between Nadal and Federer, with the former eventually lifting the winner's trophy at the end of the 5th set. Federer fans will no doubt be disappointed that he didn't get his 6th victory in a row. But look on the bright side... at least the price of strawberries will come back down to a reasonable level. And even better... to my knowledge, there was no performance by Cliff Richard singing in the rain.

Tower 7 - You decide...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/7485331.stm

Something sounds a bit fishy about the collapse of Tower 7 at the WTC on 11 September 2001... or does it? You decide.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/conspiracy_files/7434230.stm

Riddle: When is a grand less than a grand but so much more than a grand?

... when it's a Yamaha Portable Grand. My new toy. I love it!