Best Posh and Bex Interview Ever

Despite the fact that in my 10 years in the states I seem to have been home for an inordinate number of Comic Relief Nights, I somehow missed Ali G interview Posh and Bex. It's obviously from a while ago, but it had me laughing out loud - usual warnings apply (it was on UK National TV, so if you work in an American office that isn't populated by a load of foreigners, you probably need your headphones on).

And I know it's 10 minutes long, but trust me, it's worth it....

Worlds Smallest Camper Van?

And it's for sale on EBay - how could you not put in a bid at that price?

Mouse Magic

Not really magic as such, but the first new mouse innovation I've seen in a very long time that looks like it might actually be useful.

Just coz you're little

Doesn't mean you can't join in with the famous peoples crusade to all get DUI's.

The guy from Little People Big World got a DUI - I wonder how much it took to get him over the limit?

Bachelor Party Survived

CIMG0577
Originally uploaded by Tonks'.

Just - it was touch and go for a while.

Superman made an appearance, and obviously left a few children a little traumatized, either by the tightness in the crotch area, or the jack and cokes he seemed to be drinking all night. A good weekend (massive understatement) was had by all, although I'm glad we're getting towards the end of the people I know who still have marriage in their future - I'm getting too old for the all weekend drinking sessions.

Phil was the only one who broke the "no camera on bachelor/stag/bucks party" rule, so there may be some pics to emerge from the haze. It might help me piece together where I actually was all weekend, although I do remember Tangerine and Ghost Bar providing a large number of drinks for our enjoyment.

And cheers to Ash for sorting the whole thing out - great job mate!

PS - Sime, if you're reading this, book your bloody ticket for the wedding.......

Hasta La Vis(t)a, Baby!

Chase, the issuing bank of my United Visa Card suck. I had been in the thoughts of changing cards since United was no longer my airline of choice (prices too high, staff who hate their jobs and refuse to smile at you, slim chances of ever getting upgrades no matter how good your status and various other crap that pissed me off), but the thought of spending time updating my automatic payments was just too much to bear.

However, Chase decided to make it a lot easier for me today - the card got rejected when I tried to fill the car up this lunchtime (despite it working this morning for my BMW Car Club membership - I'll post about that at some point when I'm not so angry). So, having had them shut down the card at inopportune moments in the past (think week of the wedding when trying to pay for the flowers, despite me making a courtesy call to them the week before I left for England telling them that there were going to be a lot of big charges from a foreign country on there), I thought I knew the drill - ring up, tell them the charges were legit, and they'd apologize, re-instate the card and I'd be good to go.

Of course, they have to throw in a curve ball, given that I'm about to embark on one of those nightmare travel few months when you grab a day or two here and there in your own bed while desperately trying to stay sane. The card was just cancelled - no discussion, no negotiation, no explanation of any worth (the security team decided it had been compromised was the most I got out of anyone), and the new one won't arrive for another 4 or 5 business days (meaning 2 hotels, 2 flights, a rental car and untold meals etc later). And they can't automatically transfer my regular payments over to some other account because the number has to change, and that's just beyond their capabilities.

So, if I have to do all the leg work anyway to change that stuff, I may as well take the opportunity to never use the card again. American Express, you now have the chance to win my business for life, so please, don't let me down.....

Real Flying Car

This thing is amazing. I want one, now. And it's in production apparently!!!

Maserati GranTurismo

This was just too pretty not to post. I don't really have any extra info on this thing, but Jalopnik has more pictures to lust over here.

The Rise of the Helmet

It seems like only yesterday when the big Vegas trip was planned for my stag/bachelor/bucks party, but it turns out it was well over 2 years ago now. Plenty of great memories, lots of friends, a blow up sheep, and the Captain America helmet, which I was somehow persuaded to wear all the way up the strip (and then even in a few bars and clubs if memory serves me right, although the whole night got a little vague towards the end).

Well, it's all going to be happening again this weekend - not mine of course - you only get one of those (or two I guess if you can squeeze in an extra one back in your home country ;-), but the incredible Mr Tonkin's. The usual suspects, plus a couple of early arrivers from Oz are heading there tomorrow, which is unfortunately a little too soon for me to be able to order this fantastic Pac-Man Helmet and have it arrive in time. I guess it's the thought that counts, right? And I'm sure Ash has something equally fitting sorted out, so I guess we'll just have to wait and see.

Man vs Wild Fake?

So there's a report in The Times that everything isn't quite as it seems for Bear Grylls and his Man vs Wild adventures.

Reports of cushy hotel rooms and people helping him build stuff have appeared, and now Channel 4 are doing their own investigation.

To be honest, I'm not really sure I care - I saw him swim over an alligator infested river, jump down a waterfall, eat a live fish and then bite the head off a snake before eating the non-head end. If every now and again a couple of guys help him put some stuff together, or he needs a night in a hotel, so be it. And what a name (although I would have hated my parents if they had given me a name like that - anything out of the ordinary used to get you a decent kicking in Shields growing up, so Bear Grylls would have been a shocker - maybe that's how he ended up so tough.....)

Lighters allowed again

Finally, lighters are going to be allowed on planes again. Despite there being no logical reason for banning these in the first place (you could take 4 books of matches still), it took a good couple of years for this to finally get revoked.

This is going to save me untold levels of stress, and should hopefully reduce the number of half books of matches I end up having laying around the house in preparation for my trips.

Heidi's Birthday Party

P1030097.JPG
Originally uploaded by Aaron in Denver.

It was a good one (as always). I was relieved of my cooking duties this year, and we got the help of Maggianos to provide the food for the troops. Of course, we totally forgot the portion sizes when we ordered, so I think everyone went home with a big bag of food, and the fridge and freezer are now fully stocked for the foreseeable future.

Fynn made it through her first party, although I think by the end it all got too much for her. We also managed to successfully recreate the Purple Hooter experience, so that made me and Ash happy anyway.

The rest of the photos are up on Flickr here, although I did totally forget that I had put the camera on charge until later in the night.....

New Esprit

If you ignore the dodgy paint and mismatched wheels, you at least get a little idea. I'm sure it's going to look a lot prettier when it finally emerges. This has got to be one of the longest time periods for a car in development ever (after the first ever car I guess) - Lotus has been talking about building this thing since Pretty Woman came out (or something like that.

Anyway, more pics are here (all with the same dodgy paint scheme of course).

David Beckham at the MLS All Star Game in Denver

David Beckham at the MLS All Star Game in Denver
Originally uploaded by ebatty.

So Mr Beckham was at the All Start game in Denver last night. I didn't get a chance to go as I was renewing my love for Atlanta airport for 7 hours yesterday, but luckily Mr Batty was there.

As you can see from the pic, he got pretty close to "Golden Balls" himself (rumors of a stalking charge are unfounded) - no playing for him last night - they're still hoping that he's going to be fit for Saturdays friendly with Chelsea (Beckham, not Batty.... ) so they're nursing the dodgy ankle like it's a newborn baby.

Donuts are coming....

Or maybe just the advance marketing for Homer's new film.....



So, fulfilling the marketers dream, here's a trailer

Atlanta Travel Tactics

If you've ever been stuck on the connector in Atlanta, you probably dreamed of doing this one day.

In case you didn't realize, it's Baghdad, not Atlanta (although some days the news is similar), and even if the tactics are necessary to get safely through the city, you can kinda understand why the Iraqis seem like they're getting more pissed off with the occupation. If anyone comes within 5 feet of the back of my car I start freaking out - giving me a friendly nudge wouldn't be appreciated....

Oh, and if you're reading this at work, with the volume at full, don't blame me if you get fired - there's a dodgy rap song as the soundtrack, with the usual swearing etc in it. You have been warned.

New STi?

If only - this is just another keen persons mock-up, but they're definitely on the right track if you ask me.

Name Change, Same Result

The long rumored, often lusted after F430 Challenge Stradale turned into the F430 Scuderia. Not sure I like the name, but I do like the results - power up to 510 bhp, weight shaved by 100kg, integration between the F1 traction control and E-Diff, and lots of smiles guaranteed.

Despite the press release from Ferrari, the official release is at the Frankfurt Motor Show (how does that work then....) by the retiree with the best job, Herr Michael Schumaker. One day, when I grow up, I'm going to race cars.....

Wedding Fly-By

When you're drunk, you sometimes forget some of the things that happened during a night. This is especially true of weddings, where free beer (and gin, and vodka, and red bull and then whiskey) is in abundance. This video was one of those things (at least my appearance in it anyway).

See if you can spot to people more used to being subjected to Mr Flannery's fly-bys than the innocent bystanders caught in shock.

French and Saunders

I totally forgot how funny they were.

The Best Ever Windows Error

I know, it's a big list, and I'm sure everyone has their favorite. Most people get excited when they see the blue screen of death (unless they're in the middle of something mildly important with a deadline looming....

Anyway, the following is direct from the Microsoft Suppost Pages

Your password must be at least 18770 characters and cannot repeat any of your previous 30689 passwords. Please type a different password. Type a password that meets these requirements in both text boxes.

Aussies Beat the Speed Camera

Trust me, it's worth a read....

Kohler Rain Tile

Rain Tile

Originally uploaded by Aaron in Denver.

The bathroom is starting to come together now - the rain tile is in as you can see from the photo, along with all the rest of the plumbing and electrical stuff. We're just fitting the final few bits and pieces, and we should be ready to go. Most of it is bought - we still need a shower curtain and rail, new towels and a rug I guess, and then that's it. I can't wait to start using it again, coz it's been almost a year now....

Just in case you didn't realize

The Beckhams arrived in the US yesterday. So much coverage, I think it even shocked the US paparazzi, but needless to say, he was all over TV, Radio and Web yesterday. One good thing though, it did allow me to find out that my neighbours (the cool ones, not the dodgy walk into your house uninvited with a made up story about having to move a car from their "driveway") have a good mate who works in the LA Galaxy marketing department, so there's still a chance I might get a ticket for a game.

I guess the big question will be whether or not he actually makes any difference to how "soccer" is perceived over here. I know Pele came over a few years ago (make that 30 or something now I guess - I really am getting old), but that didn't pan out once he packed up and left, but this time there's a decent shot given all the work that's gone on behind the scenes with the clubs and infrastructure etc etc. The pay for your average player in the league is still crap, which I guess will always be the case until more big bucks get pumped in by the sponsors and advertisers, but living over here, you realize how many kids actually play this sport, at least until they hit 11 or 12 and get swept off into the excitement of making billions playing NFL, basketball or baseball or something. Seeing that "soccer" can actually make you a huge star (and rich) might just be enough to tempt a few more players to not leave the sport when they have a few choices, and that might just be the tipping point.

Anyway, some of the links here if you're interested.

SI
BBC
ESPN
Sky
New York Times
The "real" Times
And it even made news over in Oz!

If that's not enough, you're a sadder man than me and you should learn to use Google....

Grope on a Rope????

Continuing the dodgy posts this morning comes "Grope on a Rope" - I kid you not. Who thinks of these names?

It's actually a bar of soap (on a rope), for the people who don't get enough physical contact. Another bargain at 7.50 (pounds this time - not sure if you can get it over here).

This is just wrong

On so many different levels. I just don't want to talk about it. At least there's no visible tails.

May the Force be with You

For the bargain price of only 20 bucks, you too can declare your move to the Dark Side (while looking like an arse.....)

Update: this one looks so much better (even though the wearer seems scared out of his/her wits)

Apple Ring

Too geeky for me, and that's saying something, but I'm sure this apple ring will appeal to someone, especially as it's only 4 bucks...

Porsche 911 (997) GT2 Details

The last version of this was known as the widow maker, but loved by people who could actually drive very well (as in the race driver type, not the "I can change from 1st to 2nd pretty smoothly" type).

The GT2 tends to have loads of power, rear wheel drive, and the wildest body kit of any of the factory 911's, and this one doesn't disappoint. 530 bhp this time, and the usual GT spec weight saving program, meaning the Porsche acceleration figures (which are routinely beaten by the mags) are 3.6 secs for the 0-60 and a mind blowing 7.2 secs for the 0-100 dash. This also happens to be the first road production car that officially tops 200mph, with 204 being what the brochure said (that's what the Top Gear site is saying anyway, but didn't the Carrera GT get over 200???).

The price for one of these is never going to be pretty (the UK price, which is the only one that's been leaked so far as I can tell is over 130k (pounds, so that translates to around $250k over here), but it does include some high performance driving course (definitely will be needed unless you're already a Porsche factory driver), and Porsche's version of Tracker/LoJack (depending on your country), which hopefully you won't need.

Obviously, I want one, but having been addicted to reading about one of my other favorite cars recently (post to come sometime soon) the price (and snow over here in Winter ;-) might be a little prohibitive. I'm definitely getting a little too sensible in my old age.

Coffin Craziness

More for Mr Bland than anyone else (especially after the month long bender, combined with exercise and a very healthy Chipolte diet), here's the Crazy Coffins site - if you don't fancy spending the rest of your (dead) life stuck in a boring old wooden box, spice up the life of those worms and creep crawlies by giving them something interesting to eat through.

Brother Makes the Press

Nope - not for his dodgy IM photo, although this one in particular is definitely worth some sort of award, but coz he can paint. Not walls, or furniture, but cars (real ones) and wheels, and other difficult stuff. So well in fact that he got nominated for Young Painter of the Year in the UK, and had to go all the way down south for the final competition.

He did great, and ended up coming second, just missing out on representing England in the European competition, but still coming away with a few worthwhile goodies (and his photo in the article below).

So congrat's bro, and good luck with the bike test on Tuesday. And take it easy when you pass - I'm not flying back home just to visit you in hospital.....

MathewArticle.pdf

Evo X in Full

Finally, some pics, but after all the press photos, seeing one on the road was kinda disappointing. The front still looks good - that big gaping mouth to suck in all the air for the intercooler looks kinda cool and mean), but the back end and 3/4 view - I'm not so sure - it looks kinda fat to be honest. Maybe it's just the gun metal gray instead of red, or the lack of lights shining directly on it or something.

Anyway, Moto Authority are the ones with these pics and more, so check it out here.

New WRX Ad

It looks better when it's moving I guess, and going sideways around corners is always fun, but I still like the old versions better (yes, even the bug-eyed or dodgy nose ones). I'm holding out until I see the STi one properly (might have a pic saved somewhere - I'll post it if I find it/get a chance today)

Evo X Techie Details

Not of the engine output (yet), but if you're interested in what all the random letters mean that are associated with getting power to the wheels, this is your link.

Lance and Steph Get Married

P1030009.JPG
Originally uploaded by Aaron in Denver.

And we had the pleasure of attending, along with a lot of other smiling happy people. It was a great night, we even got there on time (just...), and despite the weather not co-operating at the last minute, everything went off without a hitch (that's what it looked like from where I was sitting, anyway).

I did manage to take a few photos, so they're here, and the video below when they were all arriving (9 groomsmen and bridesmaids - a new record for a wedding I've attended).

Parallels for Mac Ads

Harmony in the world (or something like that). Maybe I'm still a little in shock (and happy) that Microsoft actually stepped up to the plate and made everyones XBox360 warranty magically last for 3 years instead of the original 3 months/12 months). It means I get my $140 back - now if they could only get the delivery process to be a little quicker ;-)

In a real magazine..

I somehow got persuaded to try and fit in writing an article with a couple of colleagues. about work type stuff (nothing as exciting as cars and gadgets). Anyway, it turns out it got picked up by one of the magazines, and even made the front cover, and the theme for the editors notes.

So, if you're interested in mergers and acquisitions in the utility applications industry (and lets face it, who isn't ;-), the magazine is here (page 4 and 14 mother, as I know you're the only one who'll click)

Vacation Couple of Days

P1020618.JPG
Originally uploaded by Aaron in Denver.

Fitting in a couple of days on vacation to catch up on some sleep, reading, relaxing and random stuff that I never seem to get to (that Season 1 of Sopranos has been staring at me in a longing fashion since my birthday). Also going to see if I can get a place on Mr Bland's busy schedule for an afternoon sesh before he heads back (like I said to Mr Tonkin - vacation isn't vacation until you get wasted in the daylight hours).

Anyway, this means either there will be a load of posts on this blog while I catch up on all the stuff I should have posted over the last few months, or there will be nothing at all, coz I couldn't be bothered. How's that for decisiveness - I'm taking the "I'm not at work, time to make no decisions approach" to the next few days. Wish me luck....

It's a Jack In The Box

Still laughing so hard, I'm having trouble typing....

iPhone's Extra Functionality?

Still resisting, despite an ongoing full pressure assault (mainly by myself on myself, in my head - although Nick did post a comment on Pete's site that he still can't believe I didn't get one - trust me mate, it's day to day).



Oh, and might I take this completely inopportune moment to announce that FROSTIES IS BACK!!!! And Mr Hartley at some point in the past decided that he'd start updating his site again. The world is a better place, although I'm not really into the whole discussion on how to write musical notes. If you've ever been anywhere near me when I felt compelled to sing, or try to play an instrument, you'd understand. Not pretty, and definitely not clever.

Holly Dances Again

Obviously way too cute for words - she's a star in the making. Due to some technically difficulties (mainly her uncle being a bit of an arse and forgetting to charge the camera before arriving at the concert), Meaghans dances this year aren't on (our) camera. I'm hoping D&G managed to tape it, but haven't seen anything yet.

Oh, and Happy 4th (if you're over here) - I wore this last night just to make sure everyone was clear where my loyalties stand ;-)

Bush Decides Law isn't for him - commutes Scooter's sentence

I'm surprised this didn't come out on Friday when it was guaranteed any sort of real news would be drowned out in the iPhone frenzy, but wait until today the President did.

In a move that didn't really surprise anyone, he found a way to prevent Scooter Libby going to jail, by commuting his sentence before he had to spend a day behind bars. This is a little less than giving him the full pardon (which is still an option at some point in the future, and I'm guessing it'll be sneaked in there) - he has a fine to pay, plus the conviction will remain on his record, but no jail time is no jail time. Guess it's ok to obstruct justice if you're doing it to protect the President and Cheney show.

Anyway, CNN has the details here if you care to read it all.

The Phone From Jesus?

Not really, but as Brad said, probably the best product lauch ever (in terms of user generated hype anyway). I'm still holding out (I guess you can't activate the iPhone yet with a biz account, and the thought of having to pay for my own phone plan after so many years having one company or another pick up the tag gives me cold sweats these days), but not sure how long that will last.

Anyway, Pete (after chastising me for my lack of patience) posted a decent number of reviews on what he thinks so far, and they're all on his blog.



Oh, and given I made it back into town at the weekend (first time for way too long), I did manage to download the Apple TV update for viewing YouTube on your TV. And it's bloody great!

Other things I managed to catch up on were finally speaking to a real live person on the XBox support line, who kindly removed $140 from my bank account for the priveledge of fixing their self destructing 360 one month after the warranty ran out (very bitter, can you tell...), getting the car washed, mowing the lawn (cutting the grass in English), and spending some quality time hanging out with Heidi and Fynn.

I now get (if the plans stay in place) at least a whole 2 weeks in Denver to enjoy the decent weather (almost a 100 for the next 3 days), and try and catch up on a little sleep.