* Posts by Pete James

360 publicly visible posts • joined 13 Apr 2007

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AA sniffs out Blighty's best bacon sarnie

Pete James
Happy

@ Matt Smart

Sorry folks - unless you're from the area then this is likely to bore the pants off you. Ho hum.

Matt, I'm 15 minutes away from Stourbridge via the rabbit run (make that 10 when it's quiet!) and I can't think where it could be either. The only roadside cafe I can recall is on the A491 as you come off J4A of the M5 - and that's not Stourbridge! So unless it's on one of the main routes in/out (A449, A491, A458) then I'd be a bit stumped where to start finding the place.

Of course, it might appear in the Express & Star, but you'll know as well as me that it's the worst paper in the world and they'll get the location completely wrong.

Thinking about it, wasn't there a roadside place off the ring road going towards Lye?

I'd suggest putting this on Twitter* but I think that would incur the wrath of Web Goth Orlowski!

* I don't use Twitter by the way. It's for tossers.

Info chief slaps Met on CCTV in pubs

Pete James

Liars

The Met are lying, conniving control freaks who believe they have a divine right to instruct people who to go about their legitimate affairs. They're supported by a Government that blatently disregards any notion for the right of indivudal freedom or liberty. They're all mad, and I have nothing but contempt for them.

Sadly the Met in it's current form, along with HM Government, remain in a position of power as the citizen is either ignorant, uncaring or confused about their disgraceful behaviour to bring about a change for the better.

Spy boss damns government's culture of fear

Pete James

One Question....

.... why did this appear in a Spanish publication? I would have thought a UK newspaper would have liked to interview her.

Nice to read some commonsense from someone who was at the sharp end of things. Not that our idiotic Home Secretary is able to take on board such wise words.

Hydrogen motoring too heavy for pundit

Pete James
Happy

Decent point made

Dan does make a valid point about the energy required to generate hydrogen, although he only faintly touches on the local production of the stuff at the station - this would help to reduce some of the costs otherwise incurred by centralised production and transport. Dan forgot to mention that hydrogen escapes from the storage, so unless you are a frequent user then it's entirely possible to see your money literally disappear over time as the fuel gradually seeps away. He's also rather more bowled over by the Clarity than you perhaps made out Alun. He seems to have a ocean-deep emotional bond with his example, quite out of kilter with a brand that makes some superbly efficient but not really loveable vehicles.

But Dan leaves out the one big overriding issue with plug-in technology; convenience. Filling up with petrol or diesel takes mere seconds. So does hydrogen by the same token. Plug-in, even for the most advanced cell technology, requires a lot more time. Now of course if people had a bit of a sit down and offered recharging points at supermarkets, or installed free wireless internet at fuelling stations then you could continue with your daily routine, doing those chores while your car gets charged up. But that then means your life revolves around your car, and that's a pretty upside-down way to run your life.

An option here is to offer swappable power packs, a little like a portable drill; slide out the flat battery pack and push in a charged up one to get you back on the road. But that idea comes with a whole heap of issues by itself, and would be a labour intensive process ( a bit like the the early days of petrol stations, with attendants to do the job for you).

When plug-ins become as convenient to use in the real world as hydrogen then we may see this to be the cul-de-sac it certainly threatens to be. Until then however both are alternative energy ideas with substantial hurdles to overcome.

Besides, neither will ever work anyway. The unsprung weight is too high.

GM Volt to get regular software-style updates

Pete James
Stop

@ Danny van der Weide

Danny, steel per se isn't heavy, it's the usage of the material through over-engineering and/or poor design that is the issue. In fact if you want to look at traditional and heavy materials, take a peak at the weight per square metre of glass and compare that to steel. Then try thinking about the significant weight savings that could be found by use of plastics. You may also want to take a look at the technology involved in making a bodyshell, such as variable thickness pressings (now actually quite an old idea but still not used anywhere near enough).

Obviously clever use of more advanced or exotic materials could make the Volt lighter, but it could well make it less efficient to make, service, repair and recycle. Steel performs well across all these areas. That's not to say other materials couldn't be used more extensively of course, but sometiems the headline advantage becomes irrelevant when other factors come into play.

You're very, very wrong to be so dissmissive about the contribution sub-components can make to saving weight and thus energy consumption. The success of the GB cycle team in the Olympics was attibuted to the attention paid on the details and not just the fitness of the cyclist. Now apply that idea to the automotive sector. It's those details that can make a vehicle travel further, consume less energy and be more efficient in the space they utilise. Now, widen your scope to seats, interior trim, suspension, wiring, sound proofing, safety equipment, engine ancilliaries, transmissions, even paint, and you begin to get an idea of the multitude of areas where Kilos can be shaved off. So the 3Kg (where on earth did you get that figure? A head unit weighs nowhere near that!) saving suddenly transforms into upwards of 100Kg. That's heading towards the the weight of a medium sized Japanese engine - or well over the weight of the über-light K Series lump.

Significant, isn't it?

Pete James

@ TeeCee

Sorry TeeCee, I mean the McLaren F1 road car. As much as Lewis Hamilton may enjoy the company of his current squeeze I don't think he would be allowed to barrell down Hangar Straight listeningto the latest single from the Pussycat Dolls.

One or two other F1 drivers rather like girl groups too. Ahem....

Pete James

Bit obvious but still welcome

In some ways - and as mentioned above - the titbits handed out by GM aren't al that new. Software updates on vehicles aren't actually performed all that often but they do occur on sub systems such as built-in satnav for example. Also, some vehicles have a limit to the number of times their systems can be updated before demanding more serious inspection or replacement.

A good bit of news was slightly buried in here. The ICE from Bose will be measurably lighter and more efficient than previous offerings. Now, while this again isn't revolutionary (Gordon Murray demanded the ICE system in the F1 be lightened by 50% for example) it's a good sign that auto makers may start getting serious about the weight and energy use of components. The less drain on the energy pack, then obviously the longer its range.

I would be expecting to see some rethinking at some point of the various restraint and crash systems vehicles have to stuffed with, along with the weightier solutions for passenger protection built into the bodyshell. If they can get really serious about shedding weight, and it's not going to be that hard to do actually, then the performance of these vehicles will start to improve markedly.

Tesla opens skirt, flashes bit of S

Pete James

More sneak previews on the way.....

Expect another one of these sneak previews soon I would imagine. Well, they have to get some attention and excitement round this model. If it falls over they're doomed.

Styling-wise I'd like to think it will be handsome. I'm suspicious it will be far from original though. Oh well, let's see.

Lenovo cuts 550 jobs across Europe

Pete James

What you mean is......

Lenovo are removing the cost of staff who have a clue about their local regions and scrapping the hard-won brand reputation gained from years of work by IBM and the efforts over the last 4 years by the incumbent staff.

They will replace the local knowledge and expertise that helps them to win accounts based on quality products and good service with global support based in cheap labour markets within Eastern Europe and the Indian sub continent, and have a single, worldwide brand push based on one common theme.

Cheap.

To the company heads of Lenovo; Hide behind your words if you like but you're not that smart. You've now shown everyone how spineless, uninspiring and greedy you truly are.

Dell launches perfume ad teaser site for Macbook Air rival

Pete James

@@ Liam Johnson

Liam, I had no idea she said that. 20 Brownie (sorry) points to you squire.

Pete James

@Liam Johnson

Liam, since when was the PM called Gordon Ramsay?

Of course, the current squatter at Number 10 has often been accused of cooking the books.

That was a really obvious joke. Sorry.

Pete James

It's rubbish!

It's like MacDonalds trying to market a Gordon Ramsay range.

The teaser site is contrived and the wording used is clumsy and ill-conceived. It smacks of second-year student project thought. Which is about par for the course for that bunch.

Dell really should stop any pretence at being an aspirational brand and just stick to what they're already bad at - plastic bricks.

The only whorthwhile alternative to the Air is Lenovo's offering, which is some detail areas is a mile better. And they're retreating like the French in a handbag fight; the UK presence will be decimated pretty soon by the way.

Bletchley Park fires up Big Green-Eyed Monster

Pete James

Excellent stuff

Everyone involved in Bletchley deserves a huge amount of thanks, and not just because of the IT angle of their work, but because they do so much to record the historical significance of computing and technology - much of it unrewarding and beyond the call of duty.

Freeway-averse Peapod runabout to go on sale in April

Pete James

Good grief

Where one earth do you start with this?

Derisory range and performance, immature styling that gets worse across the derivatives and the design has a couple of minor features but nothing more.

How did this get approved?

DSA looks at 3D animated driving tests

Pete James

Driving Tests Go Web2.0 Then?

Maybe they could do this in the style of SecondLife? I can't wait to see the questions....

1 The first video is of you driving along and you pass a female with disproportionate breasts walking a dog. Do you:

Continue to drive and be aware of possible hazards ahead

Stop and shag her?

Shag her dog?

Ignore her, you shagged her 5 minutes ago

2 The next video clip shows you approaching a major junction with traffic lights. Do you:

Approach with caution

Keep going, the place hasn't rezzed yet so you'll be fine

Stop and shag her

3 The third video clip show you proceeding along a single lane carriageway with parked cars on the opposide side. A fire engine approaches with it's emergecy lights lit. Do you:

Stop and shag her

*/*/*DJ RASPUTIN PARTY NIGHT!*\*\* WEAR WHAT YOU DARE AND DANCE! $LINDENS PRIZES FOR BEST COSTUME! WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

IM: Brian Cockface: can someone tp me? Im stuck in a gay bar.

Scotland to battle grey squirrel invaders

Pete James

Tree huggers

The problem here has been the belief that the grey squirrel is somehow all cute and cuddly. They're anything but. But it's good to see that someone in power has realised the need to at least control - if not eradicate - the grey squirrel population. Foxes and rabbits next I hope.

OLPC designer styles goes-like-stink electric motorbike

Pete James

It's nice, but.....

As much as I would like to see a good, high performance leccy bike showing their backwards 4-wheel brethren how to do the job properly I feel this won't quite be the one. And that's a shame because I'd love to see this be successful. As the detailed spec doesn't seem to be available - well, I couldn't find it anyway - it's difficult to comment about the layout beyond that it appears to have a clutch; if it contains a small CVT in the drivetrain then it would really get me very interested.

The relative silence of such a bike wouldn't be the major handicap you may think either. As any biker will tell you, you don't hope other people hear you, it's more whether the average car/HGV/bus driver is actually conscious that it uppermost in your mind.

But the killer is the price. £47,178. That's more than a Ducati Desmosedici RR, and one of those would go very nicely indeed with my Monster 750 and old 750SS. Why namecheck a very nice Honda when you could instead plump for an outageously gorgeous Italian?

Anyway, I think I'll go and wipe down my Termi's.........

Ford partners with British e-van maker to kickstart US EV drive

Pete James

Short term but

I can see this only being a short term arrangement, 10 years at most perhaps. I also feel it's an announcement more to do with Uncle Henry getting their hands on some US Government cash rather than a real desire to change the market. But well done to Ford and Smiths getting serious about providing a prodiuct for the short-range delivery market. I'm a bit worried how big that market might really be though, even in the US.

I recall the Duke of Edingburgh having an electric powered Bedford van many years ago. Of course, the batteries were there to power the vehicle, not him!

California to get 'space age' three-wheel EV

Pete James

A better attempt than some, but......

Something I do find curious is the reaction to it looking 'futuristic'. I would say it just shows that this word is interpreted differently between individuals. To me, it's far from being futuristic; the rear wheel shroud for example was being touted round by RCA students as far back as the mid-Eighties, while the styling gives the game away about the materials used for the body/structure.

The configuration is good; a reverse three wheeler has a lot going for it dynamically, and it's pretty evident that safety has been given some decent thought. The styling badly compromises the design however, and that's a big black mark. It could be a lot more efficient in using the space it takes up and be far more versatile in the process.

Tazzari specs up UK-friendly electric runabout

Pete James

Another con job

You know, I think this personifies the current (sorry) rash of electric powered vehicles. It's not really very versatile. It's performance and range is pretty abysmal. And the R&D has been kept to the bare minimum. But the most telling part is the price.

There is just no justification for asking so much cash for a vehicle with such a low parts count and lack of any infrastructure behind it, that provides vastly inferior protection, performance and practicality when compared to other vehicles, and has no meaningful reason behind it's design. These vehicles aren't being created to satisfy a demand but to make people a fast buck. And that is a fundamental mistake which today's market can see right through.

The article mentioned Issigonis, and it's worth thinking about him here in the context of designing an alternative fulled vehicle. The mini was created to respond to the sales of the bubble cars. Issigonis believed he could do far better and provide transportation to the average family within a small package. His focus was on that, not on raking in some quick money. Now, if he were alive today, I somehow doubt very much that he would conjure up anything quite so backwards or badly reasoned as the Tazzari - or the G-Wizz or Tesla or others. His ideas would not, in isolation, be far-fetched either. Just clever, practical and reasoned. But as a whole he would quite probably swat away these pretenders with something quite extraordinary.

Sadly Sir Alec was a real one-off. Gordon Murray, for his cleverness, is perhaps thinking along some slightly wrong lines with the T25 mentioned by another contributor recently - but he's about the only one having a real go. The rest, as so amply demonstrated by this misguided offering, are a complete waste of time.

Swiss EV coupé gets Berlin runabout

Pete James

Well, it's consistent

Design-wise it's pathetic.

Engineering-wise it's a botch job.

Styling-wise it's horrific.

This brings absolutely nothing new to the party.

Birmingham drops the possessive apostrophe

Pete James

Wipe it off the map

It's a small-minded decision made by a small-minded little tinpot town that continually calls itself the second city despite having NOTHING of any note within it's boundaries.

Remember the Capital of Culture farce? For some wacky reason the bhurgers of Birmingham decided to put in a bid. Slight problem; the entire place has no culture at all. None. Zip. Zilch. So they just used neighbouring counties instead. Did you know that Shakespeare was a Brummie? The Industrial revolution began in Brum? According to that lot it was all true. Thank God the panel saw through their deceit.

So, what has Birmingham ever given us? Jasper Carrott. Adrian Chiles. And UB40. Great, a second rate comic, a miserable TV presenter and a reggae-lite band. Thanks, Birmingham!

Rover 75 to be reborn as hybrid

Pete James

...as Vulcan plummets from his skies........

Sadly Vulcan V5 you are extremely wrong. But consistently so, I'll give you that.

The Omega was made in Rüsselheim, Germany.

The R40 platform was engineered by Rover with parent company BMW at first keeping deliberately out the way, later on getting more involved to sort out minor areas as the clouds started to gather around Rover. Now, BMW's reliability record is not actually as good as some may have you believe, but they're a pretty thorough firm and they helped to ensure the 75 was, on launch, a very sorted motor. But if you like to believe and then repeat what your fat mate in the pub says then more fool you.

Pete James

Ricardo name check

I wouldn't necessarily expect to see the Roewe 750 on UK streets in anything other than prototype form. SAIC's sales strategy for Europe has not been at all clear. Apart from the investment they made over at Ricardo's office in Leamington to develop a new model based on the R40 platform (Rover 75 to you) their presence here has been a bit sporadic, to say the least.

Whether the now rather old underpinnings they are reportedly developing will work in this iteration is going to be worth watching. The R40 platform is extremely good; it's a very strong base but on the weighty side. The 75 got a mixed review from UK press after an initial barnstorming start, caused mainly by the then BMW boss Bernd Pischetsrieder committing a massive PR gaff at the launch. The MG ZT iteration got a much better review but sales never really recovered from the parent's torpedoes and it struggled on before finally dying with the closure of the factory, moving East to be reborn. It was a misunderstood car not helped, if one is to be honest, by a very pretty but distinctly retro look about it and a setup that promoted a relaxing ride instead of the then current fashion for sportiness.

Engineering firm Ricardo have finally got a bit of a name check here too - and not before time really. Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) have been using their services for a while now as they were desperately trying to get a hybrid off the ground to counter the change in consumer perception os large, rumbling off-roaders. Business has been pretty good for them in this field.

On a last point, the plans at Longbridge are a bit murky right now. SAIC are shuffling round the place, leaving some sections that they had previously rented. In fact their stay in some parts has gone over the agreed periods, and exactly what will happen to their presence remains up in the air. The MG TF is already being produced there, albeit in CKD form, but numbers remain unsold, holding up plans for any further development of the site as the recession bites globally.

Mitsubishi to unveil i MiEV Sport Air at Geneva Motor Show

Pete James

@ Adam Foxton

"Or it could have surprisingly good handling, making it nipper round a shopping center than some baddies in a black Corvette."

And you can have the prize of a romantic candle-lit supper with Alun Taylor if you can guess correctly the name of the shopping arcade. You would be all-knowing if you get it right. That was a clue by the way. ;)

The development time isn't so surprising when you consider that Mitusbishi have been on the case of electric power for some time now. They also had a slightly unusual approach to development and testing; basically there wasn't any. Draw it, build it, sell it. I'm not joking either. When the Daimler-Chrysler combine began their ill-fated partnership with Mitsubishi they got to hear about this from a casual reply made about prototypes. Predictably, D-C were gobsmacked.

But with all the utter dross from snake-oil salesmen with their silly dreamcars that will never happen this is at least something tangible, as Adam pointed out. So kudos to Mitsubishi for that.

Veteran F1 designer readies 'affordable' sportster

Pete James

Another dreamer

It's disappointing to read such a load of old guff. The original concept - which was being bandied about 12 months ago I think - was about 200Kg lighter and the projected price was lower by about £20,000 as well.

Styling was done by - Alejandro Loya Iturralde. Even for a very so-so stylist this is not something to be proud of; a one-trick pony with the clumsy, Bugatti homage, massing of the bodywork around the rear wheels (a common theme in his uninspired work) and a lumpy, contrived effort all round. Seeing as Dowle has decided to - conveniently - embrace the electric idea he could also take the opportunity to ditch the now completely irrelevant styling and come up with something better. And a lot more original.

Dowle worked under the legendary Gordon Murray. Sadly it would appear he didn't appear to actually learn anything.

Iron Maiden axe cut ribbon on 'rock’n’roll' hotel

Pete James

Ah, but just how exclusive?

I bet the concierge will be a busy man. Will he be offering the to help spend the 'flowers' expenses?

And will the rooms come with a handy little mirror, or small shallow frying pans for impromptu, er, cooking? (ahem)

Not to mention the choice of scales..........

Police seize Indymedia server (again)

Pete James

thinking about it....

I was thinking the ISP had an obligation under RIPA to provide certain details but thinking about it I think it's voluntary and a bit of a buggers muddle at the mo, so you're probably right there AC.

I still think it a bit odd that IndyMedia don't keep a record. A fair bit of the content on their website drones on about the oppressive state and even includes an open comment to 'those from the Police reading this site'. Of course it could be just a (probably accurate) wild stab in the dark on their part but it does have the whiff of paranoia about it. Having said that I didn't see any articles stating that any Government or related bodies had been actively snooping round, which similarly I can bet they would have made a song and dance about by now if they had any proof.

I think the latest idea on there I read was that the address thing was a put-up job - I say think because being continually battered with oppressive regime rants and other bilge on that place made me give up and move on. But with this Government's track record I really wouldn't be surprised if the idea was true.

Pete James

poor excuse

Indymedia don't keep server logs? I find that a bit hard to believe.

Well the ISP will probably produce them then for plod if they ask.

'Evening all.....

Lords rule nurses blacklist 'unfair'

Pete James

Another shining example

This is just another manifestation of a Government policy to remove all elements of fairness and responsibility from any legal process. Who knows, maybe soon we'll see more legal reforms to finally get rid of any pretence of the need to emphatically prove the guilt of a person.

German engineers punt 'open source' OLED-clad car

Pete James

Some interesting ideas

Okay, the use of the term 'open source' is a bit wonky to geekworld but beyond that it's a curio. Intersting that basalt is being pushed. It's been around for a good few years. It's a good material and has some real plus points over the likes of steel, GRP and carbon fibre, as you pointed out. Very good for fire protection iirc as the melting point is very high.

The styling is the usual wet dream and they really should learn to use the width more effectively for crash protection and storage options. However the dimensions are fairly close to the original mini, which is encouraging. About time someone made a serious effort on space efficiency.

Fisker posts Karma Sunset shots

Pete James

@ James Dore etc

Just to correct a point wrongly made. Ian Callum (who moved to Jaguar a good few years back) designed the Aston DB9; Fisker finished off detail work only. The Vantage was merely a continuation of the theme already hammered out.

Aston Martin was part of Ford's PAG setup. So yes, it was for a time ultimately American owned.

As for the Espace James, schoolboy error there. The Espace was created by Fergus Pollock. In Coventry. Just because Renault like to claim the title of the inventors of the MPV - which is rubbish - doesn't mean you should believe their PR guff. So who actually brought the MPV to the world? Ah, Chrysler. Cab forward? US makers were trying out such a concept before the Second World War! It's a terrible shame when people elevate the French to such a lofty position when the facts show otherwise. Italy deserves it's historical position (with the UK right on their coat tails) but to ignore the US contribution is a very poor show.

Granted Harvey Earl's work in the Fifties may seem ludicrous to some now, but his influence was felt around the world and trickled down into mainstream cars for over a decade - and you forget the impact of the Mustang, Charger, Corvette etc. I would also come striaght back to the present and include the current Cadillac range but that's actually from a Brit - like an awful lot of vehicles over the years.

Pete James

@ AC

"American cars are shit anyway.

Bearable in a straight line but awful in corners."

Bit predictable, if also true of old offerings.

Sadly, you ignored the difference in values for the typical American consumer. You also forgot the rather impressive contribution the Americans have made to automotive styling over the years*. Damn sight more than the French, let's put it that way.

*Fisker's ego machine excepted.

Pete James

Drool over that?

It displays little in the way of imagination, copying complete sections of other models and lumping them together in a moderately well proportioned whole. An uninspired pick n' mix special, nothing more.

I don't wish to be harsh on the staffer responsible for this but please get in someone who is a bit less accepting of some PR guff and a polaroid snap.

Govt uses Obscenity Law to stuff up cartoon sex loophole

Pete James

It's this that worries me

"It is possible that this exemplifies that category mentioned by Lord Hunt in summing up on extreme porn: people whom the police would like to "do something about", but who haven’t actually broken any laws."

Now that really does worry me. At which point does the liberty of an individual become a line not to be crossed? I'm becoming more and more minded that this Government would dearly like to have something about every citizen's private life in order to control and govern the population. With that sort of sentiment it could move very rapidly into nothing but intrusive and unbearable monitoring.

And, I wonder, when will the Government turn their attention to fiction? Cartoons are a visual media, so the written word will surely have to be next.

Prison warders told to can 'hurtful' language

Pete James

A Good Idea

To some extent I support the work done here. People in prison shouldn't be abused, either by other inmates or by their custodians. The article quite clearly states that this should apply to prisoners just as much as those who guard them.

And Fuzzy Wotnot, it might be a good idea to consider properly why some terms have been created. "victims of sexual assault" for example is used out of respect for the victim. Think about it.

Online campaign urges MPs to block secret expenses

Pete James

Selling England By The Pound

With the economy effectively in tatters you would think there were more pressing worries than making up silly rules that only serve to make the Government even more opaque. But no, instead we have a group of people who really do think this should happen, that as elected representatives we approve of them spending the time on this for no purpose of value other than to avoid embarrassing revelations which we, as the population and the provider of the funds, should be informed.

I think I will monitor what my MP does. Rob Marris, I will be watching out for your name.

Fiat shows solar-panel wrapped 'Panda of the future'

Pete James

well.....

Firstly, to the smurf's idea that it will take "80 hours of maximum strength sunlight" to charge the vehicle, as previous solar cars have demonstrated normal days of ambient light provide a faster charging rate than the cloudless scorchios that you may think would be best for solar energy production.

Anyway, moving on to this latest pile of scrap. The Phylla looks as if it makes a decent contribution to the concept of electric-powered cars, although there seems to be no thought gone into having a switchable power pack and the drive could be more imaginitive. It's a platform though, and the main weight is way down low so at least they got that right if nothing else.

So why - dear Lord WHY - did they let loose some mincing munter of a stylist onto what was a promising vehicle base and turn this into a concept as gay as a Christmas tree?

The Long-John Silver front treatment is just contrived. I'll avoid the Jolly Roger (ahem) jokes for now. So is the diagonal slit in the roof, containing no value beyond a bit of poncing about with a marker pen. The flanks have no definition, rendering the whole as a rather grotesque blob with no feature points or detail to trap the eye. It's, well, very poor, unfinished in a rather rejected way.

What is worse than the frankly rather cretinous doodling that this vehicle has been subjected to is the avoidance of even a pretence of thinking about productionising the thing. Why have solar panels on the doors, right where they'll get damaged and cost a fortune to replace? Why have monoside panels when this vehicle will have to live in urban environments and suffer dings, scrapes and dents? Why no attempt to make sure the poor thing offers some sort of protection against daily life, but take the time to stick on the inside of the door a plastic shopping bag so camp no-one this side of Graham Norton would venture out with it?

The whole point of a Panda was a car that was easy and very cheap to build. This takes the legacy of Guigiaro's little bit of brilliance and sctatches its eyes out before playing YMCA turned up to 11.

I expect the French to produce a piss-poor effort like this because they continually bore us all that they are the best at design and - as with their cooking - they're not, far from it in fact. But the real contender for that title - the Italians - come up with a lumpy turd and scupper their chance to be taken seriously.

I'm waiting for the British entrant in the leccy shopping trolley ideas next. Normally it would be just that bit shoddy and half-baked. Compared to this Phil thing it might be worthwhile looking at.

IBM crossed off ID application shortlist

Pete James

big risk

I'm quite surprised that anyone is now seriously involved in going for this tender as this Government is staring down the barrel of the gun come the next election. Or is this another contract negotiated by the Administration containing lots of payouts to the winner should it be canned by a successor? If so then surely such beligerent, overt, malicious, political intent is just another illustration of the nasty, spiteful people holding the keys to power in the UK.

Either way, if we're paying for something we don't want we should at least be told about how it could cost us in the future.

Fugitive Danish IT chief surrenders at LA copshop

Pete James

Sharp fellows the LA constabulary

"The police did not believe him, it's reported, until they noticed his Rolex watch and Armani suit."

Careful everyone - nothing gets past these chaps.

Danish IT chief 'on the run', suspected of fraud

Pete James

And I Thought Danes Were Nice Folk!

Well, if he was hoping to get e short sentence based on this being a so-called white collar crime the attack on the business partner may have blown it big style.

Of course, growing your figures via some dodgy book keeping is a bit of a pastime in the UK. Azlan anyone?

ASA slaps beer-punting ladyboy

Pete James

A load of balls

...and you can make up your own reference to the ladyboy with that title.

I would say I'm within the target market for this advert. I didn't find it offensive. I did find it utter rubbish.

The person shown didn't for a second look to me as if they were a cabaret artist. Not for a moment did the image look remotely burlesque. They did however look like someone dressed and posed in a sexually provocative fashion. So stop trying to defend it on that basis as it's just crap. Yes it is, grow up.

It's just a fifth grade effort thrown out into the public space so that Tiger Beer can get some headlines in the full knowledge it would cause some comment. And all you defendants of the advert have fallen for it big time. The joke's on you, suckers.

Net pedants dismantle Quantum of Solace

Pete James

@Sarah

"....there was a goddamn typo in a news story that someone looked up on their Vaio in Casino Royale"

Sarah, that was a very moment in the film. They were looking at the Grauniad online.

Pete James

but I like cat food!

Stevie, it was an Aston Martin DB5, not a DB4. Dear oh dear!

There's a great tale about The New Avengers and the cars they used. British Leyland (as they were back then) delivered the cars for the first bit of filming at one point and had the cars back. They then delivered the cars for the next bit of filming. And the cars were different colours.........

Brand new Star Trek prequel pics and trailer

Pete James

Obvious joke time

The previous captain was called Pike?

Stupid boy!

(I know, just couldn't resist)

Story withdrawn

Pete James

Not voting

You haven't included cockwomble.

DCSF reins in ContactPoint scope for police and A&E staff

Pete James

You couldn't make it up

From what i can see, the ACPO wanted access to the database, the Ministry said no, the ACPO said it could mean a child could be at risk, the Ministry said that could happen anyway.

What was the point of this again? Apart from CapGemini waltzing off with another bag of cash?

Follow the Somali pirate scourge via Google mashup

Pete James

<sigh...>

While the idea of having a shoot on sight policy for piracy in the area sounds just fine to the simple folk here, perhaps it is worth reminding you all that these pirates already have a sizeable number of captured vessels and crew under their control moored off the Somali coast around Eyl.

The first concern should be to release the hostage merchants seamen otherwise there will be a very real risk of the pirates adopting a tit-for-tat shootings policy and raising their ransom demands for the captured cargos.

Additionally the country has been without any effective government for years. The piracy has been bred out of a completely lawless state and won't be stamped out until this is resolved - and even then there may be a long struggle to stamp out this menace with groups forming to resist any new authorities attempt to deliver law and order to communities that have enjoyed some considerable cash payments to date.

Alternatively all the armchair Rambos out there who spout off about simply killing the pirates could club together, buy a boat and sail out to the region themselves. That's if they can tear themselves away from their porn and JCvD videos of course.

Hitler had one ball: Official

Pete James

What a coincidence

The Sun ran this story on Wednesday, the day England play Germany in Berlin?

Shameful. Utterly shameful.

Google torches own brand Sadville

Pete James
Paris Hilton

Missed a trick

If Lively had Viagra, Vitoria's Secret, Ann Summers, Private and Rampant Rabbit ads then it would have been a knuckle-shuffling success!

Paris, she's neither virtual or virtuous.

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