tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25123362638328402892024-03-06T08:42:13.177+00:00Duck2WaterDuck2Waterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17052795794633561332noreply@blogger.comBlogger224125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2512336263832840289.post-53105385952423230532012-09-10T10:35:00.001+01:002012-09-10T10:35:09.604+01:00£3.1 billion for nothingIt really pays to compare car insurance – according to a recent survey by one specialist, drivers could save a collective £3.1 billion a year simply by going online, comparing quotes and looking for the best deal.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim8EpzDgQ8OWu-0mwyrWbrmoC2Xdesx8rCMAfceVTOGEP-zvDk-fNTkoYPmrvp-ZzHS8bqgfLfADD53QW9KWropiYGxD04S9PvLl3rAGpECtFhkdmIuFDyY9mI_aiRJi17u9sJiHvhVHE/s1600/1908434227_9d470ac08d.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim8EpzDgQ8OWu-0mwyrWbrmoC2Xdesx8rCMAfceVTOGEP-zvDk-fNTkoYPmrvp-ZzHS8bqgfLfADD53QW9KWropiYGxD04S9PvLl3rAGpECtFhkdmIuFDyY9mI_aiRJi17u9sJiHvhVHE/s320/1908434227_9d470ac08d.jpg" width="320" /></a>This is hardly likely to be news to the discerning quote seeker. However, it will be to the 20 percent of motorists who, astonishingly, just decide to renew with their existing provider without bothering to shop around.<br />
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Perhaps the most amazing thing about this is that it actually only takes a few minutes to make a quick survey of the quotes available on the market.<br />
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And it seems that when it comes to comparing car insurance, it is not always the oldest who are the wisest – the same survey revealed that younger drivers were the group most likely to make comparisons of the motor insurance market, while drivers over 55 were the least likely, perhaps because they’re less internet savvy.<br />
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But don’t let age be an excuse! Here at duck2water we’re proud to say that we’ve recently got our grandparents using iPads (other tablets are available). In fact the money you save by comparing the market could be enough to buy a whole new iPad, outright.<br />
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<span style="color: #999999;"><i>Image © DaveBleasdale via Flickr, under Creative Commons Licence</i></span>Fusehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12172400389421704788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2512336263832840289.post-31110012059597256302012-09-07T08:35:00.000+01:002012-09-07T08:35:30.225+01:00Beating the breathaliserWe at duck2water are not a fan of Alcopal, the new pill which “allows” drivers to drink as many as five pints of full strength beer and still remain under the drink driving limit.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUwRPf4Op5DUpmhdweJ3ZyiwX1Xs7Hw-3upO6heKgHz0hRxbsWguFuBmxKQXOzAYWmxlq4NC4PlzNb9iWP57JpT-H4qY4yHJsntqbMbFqAYu592RfBPLIwL50edyNai-RMet9kNwSA1y8/s1600/6613046827_2e08905026.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUwRPf4Op5DUpmhdweJ3ZyiwX1Xs7Hw-3upO6heKgHz0hRxbsWguFuBmxKQXOzAYWmxlq4NC4PlzNb9iWP57JpT-H4qY4yHJsntqbMbFqAYu592RfBPLIwL50edyNai-RMet9kNwSA1y8/s320/6613046827_2e08905026.jpg" width="320" /></a>“The product is for blokes like me who do go down to the pub and have more than just one pint,” said the product’s seller.<br />
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"You could lose your licence, your job and your home all for the sake of being 1% over the limit.”<br />
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It’s a real worry. This pill sends out all the wrong messages. Although it might reduce the body’s ability to absorb alcohol and therefore help drinkers “beat the breathalyser”, the fact remains that it will not improve the performance or ability of drink drivers.<br />
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Furthermore, using this pill to get behind the wheel while drunk will not be looked on kindly by anyone’s car insurance company. Also, it’s illegal.<br />
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As a spokesperson from West Midlands Police says, “If you’re driving while over the limit, we will catch you.”<br />
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I don’t think we’re alone in hoping that this pill is soon taken off the UK market.<br />
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<span style="color: #999999;"><i>Image © West Midlands Police via Flickr, under Creative Commons Licence</i></span>Fusehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12172400389421704788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2512336263832840289.post-43497959463214105262012-09-03T08:52:00.000+01:002012-09-03T08:52:38.472+01:00Wheel Clamp Man – hero or menace?A man from Perth in Western Australia has turned superhero and begun removing motorists’ wheel clamps. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP4J64dkLV_QUTsOIl_MlasT2gzQh0iFcEmCmC3SFcesvRTli4uFpt8i4H2kXHTnZd30RskFCIlnuy2mK_QfVVCOVITdg1W0Jm22mWCv0l7Se_OfQOh8mfdpaCvI0fk6K6sYFn_T72WEk/s1600/6195349092_b423393c70.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP4J64dkLV_QUTsOIl_MlasT2gzQh0iFcEmCmC3SFcesvRTli4uFpt8i4H2kXHTnZd30RskFCIlnuy2mK_QfVVCOVITdg1W0Jm22mWCv0l7Se_OfQOh8mfdpaCvI0fk6K6sYFn_T72WEk/s320/6195349092_b423393c70.jpg" width="320" /></a>Apparently taking inspiration from Britain’s Angle-grinder Man (active around ten years ago), Wheel Clamp Man dons a green leotard, long rainbow socks, a fake mustache, and red eye mask, and takes to the streets to aid those in need.<br />
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After removing a clamp he asks drivers for a small donation, which he then reportedly gives to the homeless. <br />
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This all sounds very amusing and kindhearted, but the problem is that what he’s doing is illegal. The police state that he is causing criminal damage, and would very much like the public to help track him down. <br />
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Wheel clamps are put in place for a reason – and anyone unauthorised to remove them shouldn’t try. If they feel they’ve been clamped unfairly, which does happen sometimes, they should follow the appeal process available to them. <br />
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I’m not sure how much longer Wheel Clamp Man will be coming to the rescue of road users, but hopefully soon he will see that he’s saving road users’ money the wrong way. <br />
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Perhaps he should stop cutting off clamps to prevent motorists from having to pay a fine, and instead get a job with a telematics car insurance company. <br />
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<span style="color: #999999;"><i>Photo © ecastro via Flickr, under Creative Commons Licence</i></span>Fusehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12172400389421704788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2512336263832840289.post-71396770470238017922012-08-30T16:19:00.001+01:002012-08-30T16:19:25.222+01:00Hair-raising highway ordealDriving can sometimes be a frightening business, but one woman driver in the United States recently had a particularly terrifying behind-the-wheel experience.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8DEfDC5sErZrfbkTNGI2b7m1hD1Qk2lBT5dDeJo-gTs4Wic90JbpCgcUKDh8alMeUui6cucJu9kG4yBhn_FX11E2dPWGPv7C-WaxPbDtlzKpbOPBtf1xaOgWfgHvBpLcMSXw5peDTMgg/s1600/5641084164_5a70fe3509.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8DEfDC5sErZrfbkTNGI2b7m1hD1Qk2lBT5dDeJo-gTs4Wic90JbpCgcUKDh8alMeUui6cucJu9kG4yBhn_FX11E2dPWGPv7C-WaxPbDtlzKpbOPBtf1xaOgWfgHvBpLcMSXw5peDTMgg/s320/5641084164_5a70fe3509.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
While driving along the highway, her car suddenly accelerated and could not be slowed down.<br />
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Over the course of 58 miles, she consistently reached speeds of 120 mph.<br />
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Initially police thought that they had a speeding car in their hand and tried to get the driver to pull over – and although they were right about the speeding, they were wrong about having a criminal driver on their hands.<br />
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Understandably alarmed that she could not get her KIA 4WD to stop or slow down, the woman called her husband and the emergency services in the hope they would be able to help.<br />
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First she was told that she should put her car into neutral, but that didn’t help, so police then cleared the highway while clearly preparing for the worst.<br />
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Finally, she was told to lift her stuck accelerator pedal while simultaneously braking. Relief all around: it worked.<br />
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What an astonishing and hair-raising ordeal! Certainly a far cry from the more humdrum motoring dilemma of looking for the cheapest car insurance quote!
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<span style="color: #999999;"><i>Photo © The Tire Zoo via Flickr, under Creative Commons Licence</i></span>Fusehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12172400389421704788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2512336263832840289.post-78435054303177409792012-08-28T09:07:00.001+01:002012-08-28T09:07:28.095+01:00Our speeding nation is slowing down<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7g4E0GWHsn9zP_yv6ILemeRWKjOQAPciUmiT5mVAvrmGf0TdGWsuIV4Ys6l9IP9VvIhmqUcmap7Dq5M_5qVAfHZ9opxr5LNmXydejnht8eYRn0xAj9rk-aBQDmRObMpPLI2DvwfTti94/s1600/5598018770_edfbd00276.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7g4E0GWHsn9zP_yv6ILemeRWKjOQAPciUmiT5mVAvrmGf0TdGWsuIV4Ys6l9IP9VvIhmqUcmap7Dq5M_5qVAfHZ9opxr5LNmXydejnht8eYRn0xAj9rk-aBQDmRObMpPLI2DvwfTti94/s320/5598018770_edfbd00276.jpg" width="320" /></a>I have some news which should brighten every safe and considerate motorist’s day.<br />
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According to the RAC Foundation, working alongside the Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety – quite a mouthful – the number of people speeding on the UK’s roads is decreasing!<br />
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In 1998, around 69% of drivers were breaking 30mph speed limits, however, in 2010 this figure dropped to 46%.<br />
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Likewise, the amount of road users choosing to travel at over 70mph on motorways has reduced from 57% in 2003 to 49% in 2010.<br />
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Apparently, says the director of the RAC Foundation, part of the reason for this reduction in speeding motorists, is the high cost of fuel during an economic downturn.<br />
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However, I hope the main reason is that people are finally starting to realise that by speeding they are putting their life and the lives of others in danger.<br />
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I suppose we’ll just have to see what happens if fuel prices get lower and people start feeling better off. Will speeding figures increase again? Only time will tell.
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<i>Photo © Pug50 via Flickr, under Creative Commons Licence</i></div>
Fusehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12172400389421704788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2512336263832840289.post-73946914314890571462012-08-24T09:14:00.001+01:002012-08-24T09:14:17.597+01:00Poor diet and car analogies<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifpprLZaSKGid2LBvS6ENIigccdDI90xFjm3EhagUQV2Px-veXOxCPE6axCbOJN1ecoI814MfDPBdREJPXzZbiVzrEMm1RpG4uY87srRox__KOgPB5q_pMcGSr_7-lDKXhPwsgI56k5zs/s1600/2872043180_9cb4cf973e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifpprLZaSKGid2LBvS6ENIigccdDI90xFjm3EhagUQV2Px-veXOxCPE6axCbOJN1ecoI814MfDPBdREJPXzZbiVzrEMm1RpG4uY87srRox__KOgPB5q_pMcGSr_7-lDKXhPwsgI56k5zs/s320/2872043180_9cb4cf973e.jpg" width="320" /></a>Having a balanced diet is vital to living a long and healthy life. Well, that’s what everyone keeps saying – but is it true?<br />
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After all, William Staub – the American mechanical engineer who developed the first commercial treadmill, and who died at the respectable age of 96 last month from natural causes – didn’t have the broadest of diets.<br />
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Apparently he lived on tomatoes, toast – without butter or other spreads, and tea. Occasionally he would have some salad or cheese, but, other than that, he didn’t exactly eat a wide range of items from the ‘food pyramid’.<br />
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Other cases of people eating seemingly unhealthy diets but not encountering any real health problems exist, such as the woman who lives on cheese and chips or the individual who survives solely on one flavour of Monster Munch (how boring).<br />
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Yet I feel that, just as a car will eventually show signs of wear and tear if a driver continues to brake harshly and accelerate too quickly, these people are bound to feel the effects of their poor diet.<br />
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The body is an amazing thing, but where are they getting all the vitamins and other nutrients they need to keep functioning?<br />
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William Staub may have had a relatively plain diet, but it was quite a healthy one. Living on only Monster Munch though – I don’t think it can be done.<br />
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What makes original flavour Monster Munch? Vegetable oil, potato puree powder (hmm...tasty), corn starch, wheat flour, potato starch (oh, potato again), sugar, salt, sweet whey powder, cheese powder (can’t get enough of that yummy cheese powder), paprika powder, yeast, flavour enhancer (real food doesn’t need this), monosodium glutamate, and paprika extract.<br />
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I have no problem with people having this stuff as a snack. Live on it though – or any other extremely restricted diet – and, like a vehicle without coolant, you are heading for breakdown in my opinion.<br />
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Disclaimer: I am not a medical professional, but I think your GP or doctor will basically say what I just said (minus the car analogies).
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<i>Photo © teacher_caroline_acsp via Flickr, under Creative Commons Licence</i></div>
Fusehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12172400389421704788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2512336263832840289.post-84867782132800628382012-08-20T09:08:00.001+01:002012-08-20T09:08:27.011+01:00Ignoring sun-soaked pedestriansIn the summer it’s only to be expected that people will stop wearing their scarfs, trousers and long-sleeved tops, and start enjoying the sunshine.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Lj1XKiRMBcBtH03iFTDj5EyK2VWwx80BRdeIuiLVVx63ORdExATm-UeKB8idct3lXvEOyfAtigA25sDy1Y8XFd5Kq5tzAgR21GaVbbnyxWXK8F4_7HyFIBjUGv02yclWuGPeDW3XbIE/s1600/1672248322_83097ec6b2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Lj1XKiRMBcBtH03iFTDj5EyK2VWwx80BRdeIuiLVVx63ORdExATm-UeKB8idct3lXvEOyfAtigA25sDy1Y8XFd5Kq5tzAgR21GaVbbnyxWXK8F4_7HyFIBjUGv02yclWuGPeDW3XbIE/s320/1672248322_83097ec6b2.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
However, for some drivers this is causing a bit of a problem, because they get distracted by pedestrians when they should be paying attention to the road ahead.<br />
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Apparently, according to some research undertaken by a provider of car insurance, 60% of men and 12% of women have been distracted while behind the wheel due to an attractive pedestrian.<br />
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Furthermore, an astonishing 21% are even distracted by billboards which have good-looking models on them.<br />
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Distracted driving can lead to traffic accidents, so it’s important that drivers avoid staring at pedestrians and re-direct their attentions to the highway.<br />
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One moment of inattention could result in a motorist running a red light, colliding with a vehicle, or even clipping a cyclist.<br />
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So – everyone just take a cold shower and remain focused on driving safely!
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<i>Photo © GrrLash via Flickr, under Creative Commons Licence</i></div>
Fusehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12172400389421704788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2512336263832840289.post-7388852318902255002012-08-17T11:17:00.001+01:002012-08-17T11:17:33.114+01:00Unlucky number 13<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL7bh5c2bypEq3tceFuu4yGLxP7uXI4n7iUcao0G0MFODHW8iE-iLbztTViu_bd5i8WF83rF-uYXH_tqLVJgLTj5-yh74PI93s-bVxyFVJucc_VrEU6_BgeJx7_AnZo7WXae5t8GGV_Lc/s1600/5333203272_4489901b2f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL7bh5c2bypEq3tceFuu4yGLxP7uXI4n7iUcao0G0MFODHW8iE-iLbztTViu_bd5i8WF83rF-uYXH_tqLVJgLTj5-yh74PI93s-bVxyFVJucc_VrEU6_BgeJx7_AnZo7WXae5t8GGV_Lc/s320/5333203272_4489901b2f.jpg" width="320" /></a>Do you get worried when a black cat crosses your path? Are you horrified if you break a mirror? Are you dreading March the 1st 2013, when all new registrations will contain the unluckiest of numbers?<br />
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If you are, then you might be pleased to know that the DVLA are going to allow people to keep using the 62-plate which will be available from the beginning of next month.<br />
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However, it will be treated like a personalised registration plate, so you’ll have to fork out at least £250 for it.<br />
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Nevertheless, although I don’t believe that the number 13 has any properties which will directly cause bad luck – like failing to get a good car insurance quote – I do think that superstitious motorists could experience some misfortune if they have a number 13 registration plate.<br />
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It’s all to do with psychology. If someone believes that they have an unlucky car, they’re probably going to be a little on edge when behind the wheel. As a result, this might actually cause them to be involved in a crash – just because they were driving in a nervous manner.<br />
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Still, for some, having the number 13 in their registration will be a blessing. Many people actually believe the number to be lucky instead of cursed, so I expect that they’ll be looking forward to building up their no-claims bonus and passing all their MOT’s with full marks.
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<i>Photo © kirstyhall via Flickr, under Creative Commons Licence</i></div>
Fusehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12172400389421704788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2512336263832840289.post-73314897612943007422012-08-13T09:08:00.001+01:002012-08-13T09:08:33.287+01:00Driving as a hobbyAccording to a survey undertaken by a car insurance company and Populus, out of more than 20,000 respondents, 55% of motorists have been on an aimless drive.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBpVshhs3kL3eSotff43Vzkdrv_SADeKEjMlUg9UImDiBzZS1jXwrRDIVJ8A4OT_4Vfml1lrzFI-K2oWgKYZqGVzr1RDSkAuxWuzLIF-W0rrnaezvLwqilhcrG-QRDcaSztyFc57_BWLw/s1600/Winding+road.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBpVshhs3kL3eSotff43Vzkdrv_SADeKEjMlUg9UImDiBzZS1jXwrRDIVJ8A4OT_4Vfml1lrzFI-K2oWgKYZqGVzr1RDSkAuxWuzLIF-W0rrnaezvLwqilhcrG-QRDcaSztyFc57_BWLw/s320/Winding+road.jpg" width="320" /></a>It might sound like an odd thing to do, but, just like any other hobby, such as fishing or painting, it’s all about having some time to enjoy an activity without other distractions.<br />
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Similarly to how fishing as a career or painting as a trade are perhaps not as enjoyable as having these activities as past-times, driving to get somewhere is sometimes not as fun as just driving to drive.<br />
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However, there should be a limit as to how often someone gets behind the wheel on a road to nowhere. Ten per cent of people reportedly go on a purposeless drive every week!<br />
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Think of how much fuel and money they’re wasting! I know I certainly can’t afford to be driving from point A to point A once a week.<br />
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Still, it would be nice to get away from my usual routes every now and then and just explore. There are a lot of streets I never have to go down to get to the shops or to work, and I’ve often wondered where they lead…
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<i>Photo © Dominic’s pics via Flickr, under Creative Commons Licence</i></div>
Fusehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12172400389421704788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2512336263832840289.post-91767708010553988242012-08-10T10:01:00.001+01:002012-08-10T10:02:19.218+01:00A competitive outlet<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixP_2E2ycIeIf5gvOY4rennKHb9IglPrGAsu6AburaWbC4cMQxANes2i61W064QibQNs2pXa8K8QeymFs9H1wV3F4W5CKNERHnAyc31H07VYxAJ5wdQJEHOhyphenhyphenAQ66q3ZdtFtZrZO0w1ls/s1600/5301647628_bef635ccc0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixP_2E2ycIeIf5gvOY4rennKHb9IglPrGAsu6AburaWbC4cMQxANes2i61W064QibQNs2pXa8K8QeymFs9H1wV3F4W5CKNERHnAyc31H07VYxAJ5wdQJEHOhyphenhyphenAQ66q3ZdtFtZrZO0w1ls/s320/5301647628_bef635ccc0.jpg" width="307" /></a>The Olympics have had me shouting at the TV! I’m feeling so competitive at the moment, I find that I’m making mini competitions out of everything, because I’ve no sporting outlet for my frustrations.<br />
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Yesterday I walked extra quickly up a set of steps in a shopping centre, just to beat some complete stranger who’d started climbing them at the same time as me. I know – sad, right?<br />
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Well, I won’t be doing that sort of thing anymore, because now I’ve found the perfect competition.<br />
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Mercedes-Benz is looking for the best young motorist in the UK! Perfect!<br />
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It does cost to enter, but the prize is a year’s membership as a Mercedes-Benz Driving Academy VIP – which involves brushing shoudlers with celebrities and test-driving the newest models of Mercedes vehicles.<br />
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It’s the competition I’ve been waiting for, and I’m not going to let it slip by just because I need to hand over a little currency.<br />
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Even if I don’t win anything, I know I’ll enjoy the challenges presented to me.<br />
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I’m raring to go! Anything to stop me competing against people who don’t know I’ve challenged them to a race in the first place!<br />
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<i>Photo © MoneyBlogNewz via Flickr, under Creative Commons Licence</i></div>Fusehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12172400389421704788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2512336263832840289.post-4302025887277882552012-08-06T09:16:00.001+01:002012-08-06T09:16:49.845+01:00Cheaper car insurance and a healthier car and bodyFollowing on from a recent post which explained how inactivity can be as deadly as smoking, we at Duck2Water have been alarmed to learn that medical students are not being taught about the benefits of exercise.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2wbTAdnaz7D5Pp0VI-w6sqYj0nVmHkRGw4kE4ZTHfei7YJxksWpE7ZBsoQSq1dKgKAhaExRgsrJrMFOCou6cWc9_kthx1RkD-9GUYDU395cW0wY0Hf2Y0txJFPd02yiQIWZJUS22DaDs/s1600/5829417199_66dbabfeaa_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2wbTAdnaz7D5Pp0VI-w6sqYj0nVmHkRGw4kE4ZTHfei7YJxksWpE7ZBsoQSq1dKgKAhaExRgsrJrMFOCou6cWc9_kthx1RkD-9GUYDU395cW0wY0Hf2Y0txJFPd02yiQIWZJUS22DaDs/s320/5829417199_66dbabfeaa_z.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
This, clearly, is a ludicrous situation. As we all know, prevention will always be preferable to cure and if doctors know little about fitness and exercise, what hope can we have for the health of the nation.<br />
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Why, it would be like a mechanic not knowing about the benefits of regularly topping up oil or ensuring safe tyre tread, or indeed like a car insurance company not knowing about the cost benefits of having a no-claims bonus, or buying a reliable and modest motor.<br />
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But health and fitness, matters of life and death, are surely more important than either of the above analogies.<br />
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Yet, according to research carried out in 31 of the United Kingdom’s medical schools the instruction and learning on the benefits of exercise was found to be "sparse or non-existent".<br />
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One way of course that you can help protect your car’s engine from wear and tear, reduce the cost of your car insurance <b>and</b> get some exercise is to cut out short journeys in and around town by walking or cycling instead. There! We didn’t need to go medical school to learn that nugget!
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<i>Photo © London Attractions Guide via Flickr, under Creative Commons Licence</i></div>Fusehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12172400389421704788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2512336263832840289.post-63817121264424483482012-08-03T09:18:00.001+01:002012-08-03T09:18:32.314+01:00Amazing bravery under pressureDuck2Water’s Bravery Award this week goes to the 12-year-old girl who managed to steer a car to safety when, as passenger in her grandfather’s vehicle, he died suddenly while driving along the motorway.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAHOmPCtT_1mV4p2NUFSLiroIffUh6j-pbdEl3oQ-6dZd2Css9OIXWTELUz_5mK387z8QaPKx3nTWg1xreTmdZKpGboSnjkcNgpLlFa37WV8BjESYpsNxTzGJgDHXmexTjpw6de7MTisg/s1600/5282664284_ae7bf0a5cb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAHOmPCtT_1mV4p2NUFSLiroIffUh6j-pbdEl3oQ-6dZd2Css9OIXWTELUz_5mK387z8QaPKx3nTWg1xreTmdZKpGboSnjkcNgpLlFa37WV8BjESYpsNxTzGJgDHXmexTjpw6de7MTisg/s320/5282664284_ae7bf0a5cb.jpg" width="212" /></a>Although he had let his granddaughter know that he was feeling below par, it still came as a total surprise to the girl when her granddad’s head hit the driver window and he lost consciousness, all with his foot still placed firmly on the accelerator.<br />
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Tragically, the 63-year-old had died of a heart attack. "He said he was scared, closed his eyes, and put his head on the glass. That’s when I knew he was dead," said the brave girl.<br />
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"I didn’t know what to do. I took off my seat belt and slid over to put my foot on the brake. I was looking around and thought, should I go into the corn field, should I keep going?'" she added.<br />
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Amazingly, she managed to make the car come to a standstill after driving it into a field and into some trees – all without suffering injury.<br />
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Just like her mother said, this young woman driver is a real hero. She lost her grandfather and saved her own life and, potentially, those of other road users all within the space of a few minutes. Amazing! We at Duck2Water car insurance salute her!
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<i>Photo © Horia Varlan via Flickr, under Creative Commons Licence</i></div>Fusehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12172400389421704788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2512336263832840289.post-43968267014369090542012-07-30T09:12:00.001+01:002012-07-30T09:12:06.855+01:00Lexus in lift shaft freefallI’ve no idea how it would impact on your chances of getting a cheap car insurance quote, but I can say that driving down a lift shaft is <b>never</b> a good idea.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVKzANdFhU27__ZVOLiFxPRj9DNbZ74XQUt5FZaboS8cdUX-AGHMEqN3rSyu9LJXtNr4HrpqgtC6AGApGYZtLNFTL22K4F_aB8qP_oOOnWOCyO8LLaL_yWUc0Fc78eNhhTm2m5hEQqGGU/s1600/4271132211_e76b1c59f1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVKzANdFhU27__ZVOLiFxPRj9DNbZ74XQUt5FZaboS8cdUX-AGHMEqN3rSyu9LJXtNr4HrpqgtC6AGApGYZtLNFTL22K4F_aB8qP_oOOnWOCyO8LLaL_yWUc0Fc78eNhhTm2m5hEQqGGU/s320/4271132211_e76b1c59f1.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
Someone should have said this to a parking garage attendant in New York who accidentally drove a Lexus five floors down a lift shaft.<br />
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Before you start thinking this is a bit of a light-hearted or macabre way to report a tragedy, I’d like to say that it wasn’t a disaster.<br />
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This is because the man in question somehow survived with only minor injuries.<br />
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“A guy drove into an empty elevator shaft. The elevator wasn’t there, he went all the way down,” said one observer, succinctly while at the same time sounding like he was leading into a punch-line.<br />
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It was a freak accident said another, perhaps putting it mildly.<br />
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Others in the area reported hearing an explosion-like sound while some were worried that a bomb had gone off.<br />
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I’ve often had nightmares about falling down a lift shaft, but never in a car, not until now anyway.<br />
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<i>Photo © donebythehandsofabrokenartist via Flickr, under Creative Commons Licence</i></div>Fusehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12172400389421704788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2512336263832840289.post-20019021908405415152012-07-27T12:46:00.001+01:002012-07-27T12:46:23.325+01:00A near missWe at Duck2Water are never going to leave our kids unattended in the car again, not even for a moment – well, that’s if the keys are in the ignition anyway.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzyB2Lq7LAqaI2XOO7dZpxiFoXaEdffaREyFhiSjiMJIvZP0gMnKi15sBzsDVuw4noCLOuzddzguss3v02xxCmxfXO7gBHMNjOyBZEEe9XbL5Pge32Ib-mQxgC-JmZb1HzzhMWK98rrq8/s1600/448449613_9934b8e5ac.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzyB2Lq7LAqaI2XOO7dZpxiFoXaEdffaREyFhiSjiMJIvZP0gMnKi15sBzsDVuw4noCLOuzddzguss3v02xxCmxfXO7gBHMNjOyBZEEe9XbL5Pge32Ib-mQxgC-JmZb1HzzhMWK98rrq8/s320/448449613_9934b8e5ac.jpg" width="320" /></a>This resolution follows the recent ordeal of a 28-year-old German mother who left the kids in her Peugeot as she loaded the shopping into the boot.<br />
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She said, "I put the key in the ignition to use the electronic button to open the boot and load up the shopping, and I left it there as the engine was not running.” <br />
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Well, so far, so good, but it is what happened next which caused alarm. As the mother moved round to the backseat to buckle up her toddler, her older son (not pictured) got behind the wheel and turned on the ignition.<br />
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Before she knew it the car was heading towards the sea – yes, the sea! – because the car was parked on Dusseldorf harbour.<br />
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In a sight which was reminiscent of the Italian Job, the car came to a standstill precariously perched between land and sea.<br />
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"If it had gone over the edge it could have been a disaster, instead my son had a very valuable lesson and the car was not damaged. But either way I will be more careful with the ignition keys in future,” said the mother.<br />
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Yes, and so will we all, including everyone at Duck2Water car insurance HQ.<br />
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<i>Image © Leonid Mamchenkov via Flickr, under Creative Commons Licence</i></div>Fusehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12172400389421704788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2512336263832840289.post-14931247717139810882012-07-23T09:12:00.001+01:002012-07-23T09:12:15.633+01:00Keeping fit without becoming brokeReports have revealed that not only is Britain amongst the laziest nations in the world, but that a lack of exercise can be as deadly on a person’s health as smoking.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFj6ikKC9GTtgc5CEkvWsuAyx5Ulo16HKMvp8dY-cGo7S8rYT49pEg6aSfqCJvfTtO_c_QHyzyiv1LAotKNpJtOWr3rI4Bk7saq8xdqtXmsfDPEDxFD1MR2D50eUVhvUQHWFh1v3lgomk/s1600/2819551282_8ccd858a3e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFj6ikKC9GTtgc5CEkvWsuAyx5Ulo16HKMvp8dY-cGo7S8rYT49pEg6aSfqCJvfTtO_c_QHyzyiv1LAotKNpJtOWr3rI4Bk7saq8xdqtXmsfDPEDxFD1MR2D50eUVhvUQHWFh1v3lgomk/s320/2819551282_8ccd858a3e.jpg" width="320" /></a>While plenty of people manage a great deal of exercise everyday, for others it’s not so easy – especially for those who work long hours and find it difficult to make the time to get their blood pumping.<br />
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However, getting fitter doesn’t necessarily have to be difficult and there are ways to squeeze some more exercise into your daily routine.<br />
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For example, a thirty-minute power walk could be made in a lunch hour, and you’ll even be left with half an hour to eat lunch and read a few pages of your favourite book.<br />
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Or, if you live within walking distance of your work, you could give your car a break and travel by foot. You’ll even save some money on petrol too!<br />
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There are plenty of ways of getting some more exercise into your day, and absolutely no need to break the bank by joining the gym!<br />
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<i>Photo © Ed Yourdon via Flickr, under Creative Commons Licence</i></div>Fusehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12172400389421704788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2512336263832840289.post-27857836567908132572012-07-19T12:27:00.000+01:002012-07-19T12:30:26.684+01:00Be careful where you park your lifeboat<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTBhZcHb2L_rb6n5in5KBazHPNqb9BLCizICN07TDPFOY-oj0Aaz4dWp-uyo-gJStFrQn4U6Uviky-FY9kThp3nBc7VRk3gBCt_601m3AcldHuaTjjPFjKBL21IP0rEqoGPYnnmBWqDSI/s1600/4920100975_6c11b9d7da.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTBhZcHb2L_rb6n5in5KBazHPNqb9BLCizICN07TDPFOY-oj0Aaz4dWp-uyo-gJStFrQn4U6Uviky-FY9kThp3nBc7VRk3gBCt_601m3AcldHuaTjjPFjKBL21IP0rEqoGPYnnmBWqDSI/s320/4920100975_6c11b9d7da.jpg" width="320" /></a>Getting a parking ticket is always frustrating, particularly if you are only a minute or two late in returning to your car. However, it’s generally only cars, vans and motorbikes that get issued with the fines.<br />
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So imagine the surprise of an emergency crew when they returned to their lifeboat to find a parking ticket attached to the covers. <br />
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The Atlantic 75 lifeboat, which was positioned on a trailer, had only been left unattended for a few minutes as crew members signed paperwork to have it decommissioned.<br />
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They were reportedly fuming when they discovered the fine, stating that it hadn’t even crossed their mind that they might get a ticket.<br />
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Fortunately the local council has now cancelled the fine and the crew can go back to saving lives without the fear of receiving a parking ticket for their efforts.<br />
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<i>Photo © sgetliffe via Flickr under Creative Commons Licence</i></div>Fusehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12172400389421704788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2512336263832840289.post-77215793105196928202012-07-16T09:14:00.001+01:002012-07-16T09:14:19.654+01:00An electrifying way to lower our carbon footprintThere’s undoubtedly loads of research time going into making motoring more ecological and economical.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHujLfSS8ScBzMh6sHszYDnASSmbURdFCAC867TxbKba7P2YV2NcXIYVu_7ci_iH8Z5HG6HRf_O-eH-NB2sypDtnejbd3DMfcnwfNvztbXkLzZH5cB9LTsiMMD7mMGlHP3AVf-AUG8VMk/s1600/3741760206_e174ee3f05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHujLfSS8ScBzMh6sHszYDnASSmbURdFCAC867TxbKba7P2YV2NcXIYVu_7ci_iH8Z5HG6HRf_O-eH-NB2sypDtnejbd3DMfcnwfNvztbXkLzZH5cB9LTsiMMD7mMGlHP3AVf-AUG8VMk/s320/3741760206_e174ee3f05.jpg" width="320" /></a>Many scientists and manufacturers are scrambling over each other in an attempt to lower everyone’s carbon footprint.<br />
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One recent break-through is the work of a Japanese research team at The Toyohashi University of Technology.
They have devised a way for electric cars of the future to charge as they drive – rendering the need for car charging points obsolete.<br />
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They are going to electrify the roads.<br />
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Yes – the surface pedestrians cross over regularly and drivers step onto to access their vehicles – they believe that pumping electricity through it is a good idea.<br />
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The team managed to send electrical current through six inches of concrete, through tyres, to a light bulb which lit up to show the experiment had been successful.<br />
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Apparently that experiment could be scaled up so the current would go through 12 inches of concrete and be viable as an actual way of powering electric cars, but the current’s strength would also have to be increased.<br />
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Forgive me if I’m not that taken with the idea. Don’t we already have enough road accidents annually? Let’s not add electrocution to those stats.
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<i>Photo © Icronic.com via Flickr, under Creative Commons Licence</i></div>Fusehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12172400389421704788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2512336263832840289.post-29152483931955727382012-07-13T09:37:00.001+01:002012-07-13T09:37:14.247+01:00Crossing the line with a zebra and a parrotOne American farmer has done his next car insurance quote no favours at all after taking his zebra and his macaw for a drunken spin. Yes, you read it right the first time, <i>zebra</i> and <i>macaw</i>.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK9tGH3LbqgpHOYKfvqeFolS-IXsh1jDDTsonq_6qp3aVu_a36v6y4_abdx7cTd24urjChTgb5O7UHvWORopKtHCP4i755vf3s0WgFtuw-Uq-v-sg57RAsrRCKgo3efiDozwkSr0L7ugQ/s1600/5602040008_49957b5075.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK9tGH3LbqgpHOYKfvqeFolS-IXsh1jDDTsonq_6qp3aVu_a36v6y4_abdx7cTd24urjChTgb5O7UHvWORopKtHCP4i755vf3s0WgFtuw-Uq-v-sg57RAsrRCKgo3efiDozwkSr0L7ugQ/s320/5602040008_49957b5075.jpg" width="320" /></a>As if to make the whole scene even more surreal, the two animals were actually front seat passengers. Yes, that’s right, <i>front seat passengers</i>.<br />
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The farmer made it all sound as if it was the most natural thing in the world. "I said, 'Let's go for a ride.' I ain't been away from the farm for almost two months because I've been planting corn and everything else. So I opened the door, the zebra jumps in, the macaw loves to go for a ride, so we went for a ride.” Right then…<br />
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The farmer said that he regretted drink driving and was about to let a passenger take over (it’s not known whether this would have been the zebra or the macaw) when he was stopped by traffic police. <br />
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I would venture that the farmer’s actions are definitely something you should not be looking to <i>parrot</i>, particularly if you want to earn your <i>car insurance stripes</i>.<br />
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Here at duck2water we’ve used our connections in the avian world to get an exclusive copy of one of the police mugshots. <br />
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<i>Image © Tripiale via Flickr, under Creative Commons Licence</i></div>Fusehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12172400389421704788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2512336263832840289.post-23064364982392477322012-07-09T09:05:00.001+01:002012-07-09T09:06:14.542+01:00Giant toys for giant boysAny of you out there have Hot Wheels toys when you were kids? I did. I used to love sending the cars round the tracks, racing them for hours on end every weekend. That is if I could keep my destructive little brother at bay.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMWCsRCpzMqgNy1dlShOwzhSRz2Q8hyEgQQo1I9KINrTzq2jO4fhyerrzHIGMMqOuqOjpXOBsDrAf2DbdVeEMir4ejGOsEWof7zs2E9PjfnIaPVQjC8FZGmj8LCPGaMVaPblqtz08qjMI/s1600/3711993002_8612523311.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMWCsRCpzMqgNy1dlShOwzhSRz2Q8hyEgQQo1I9KINrTzq2jO4fhyerrzHIGMMqOuqOjpXOBsDrAf2DbdVeEMir4ejGOsEWof7zs2E9PjfnIaPVQjC8FZGmj8LCPGaMVaPblqtz08qjMI/s320/3711993002_8612523311.jpg" width="320" /></a>I’d hate to think what our little imaginary drivers had to pay for their car insurance. They certainly had to endure some hairy moments, not least when they were being propelled down concrete stairs or made to travel a collapsing loop-the-loop. Thankfully, nothing like that ever happens in real life...<br />
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But what’s this, I hear? What, a real 60ft high loop-the-loop track, complete with two death-defying drivers?<br />
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Yes, at the X Games in Los Angeles this month, two drivers broke the loop-the-loop world record when they successful negotiated the live-sized toy in a stunt that smashed the previous world record.<br />
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"I tell you what, I'm at a loss for words. That was absolutely the coolest thing I've ever done,” said one of the stuntmen.<br />
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Having been traumatized by having a baby brother who used to smash my sets up I’m half expecting there to be a 1000ft tall toddler somewhere nearby waiting to pick the cars up and hurl them before destroying the loops by landing on them with the nappy-crash wrestling move.<br />
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<i>Photo © JacobEnos via Flickr, under Creative Commons Licence</i></div>Fusehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12172400389421704788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2512336263832840289.post-62708221178947690692012-07-06T08:56:00.002+01:002012-07-06T08:56:55.510+01:00The racing driver who likes to take it slowWho would have thought it? Damon Hill, once famed for travelling round an asphalt track at 200mph, has told us that he thinks the speed limit should be set at 55mph.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguhUWLZjiE5enIcMEgR_lODSlWj00QRFdExPKIOBtoFRlb4oqr2VL9ZiQr3g8g73TGjGwnnM4FnSW7hVD4uCF7dKSR2BRh-wIj_VYUtQczKgBV8VjK8fNXFcg0qLXnS-ZJqct-KSbrmkE/s1600/7227928412_3627c55488.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguhUWLZjiE5enIcMEgR_lODSlWj00QRFdExPKIOBtoFRlb4oqr2VL9ZiQr3g8g73TGjGwnnM4FnSW7hVD4uCF7dKSR2BRh-wIj_VYUtQczKgBV8VjK8fNXFcg0qLXnS-ZJqct-KSbrmkE/s320/7227928412_3627c55488.jpg" width="320" /></a>It is certainly a shock to fans of motor racing, many of whom imagine that their helmeted heroes spend their leisure driving at 100mph-plus expertly avoiding traffic police and speed cameras.<br />
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Hill couldn’t have done more to disillusion fans. “I’m not interested in cars,” he said, while also confessing that he drivers a decade-old VW Golf and never goes above 70mph because he finds it too stressful.<br />
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So, Hill might not be the most electric figure, but considering his safe and sensible driving message, he certainly is a good and slightly unconventional role model. <br />
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Also, if younger drivers were to follow his lead and slow down en masse, he just might help many find cheaper car insurance.<br />
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What next? Chefs who don’t like food? Lawyers who don’t like arguing? Swimmers who don’t like getting wet?<br />
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<i>Photo © Supermac1961 via Flickr, under Creative Commons Licence</i></div>Fusehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12172400389421704788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2512336263832840289.post-36626595846496617952012-07-02T09:11:00.000+01:002012-07-02T09:11:22.556+01:00Watch out for Rupert the chartered surveyor!A recent study by a car insurance provider found that depending on what your name is, you are apparently more or less likely to break the speed limit. <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitvbgpJQxzD6EE-VcWzAt0mwiDricjjDybFflo9IM6xUJMQm96wqoR77gxArJJT9yjlWf3aaDan4nTwRggooD2lyBI3C8xmEeBxZOQm2Hu3guZsq4bS92_wcRTVJI2Ccj0Jz_v0V31hs8/s1600/139718371_780146588a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitvbgpJQxzD6EE-VcWzAt0mwiDricjjDybFflo9IM6xUJMQm96wqoR77gxArJJT9yjlWf3aaDan4nTwRggooD2lyBI3C8xmEeBxZOQm2Hu3guZsq4bS92_wcRTVJI2Ccj0Jz_v0V31hs8/s320/139718371_780146588a.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
Furthermore, which profession you’re in also has an impact on your need for speed. <br />
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Reportedly, if you are called Juliet, Susannah, Justine, Deirdre or Alexis, or Rupert, Julian, Piers, Giles or Justin, you’re much less likely to decide to stick to the speed limit, preferring rather to leave other motorists in a cloud of your dust.<br />
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On the other hand, anyone called Molly, Shannon, Bethany, Lily, Courtney or Caitlin, or Terrence, Jake, Jordan, Joshua, Jacob or Declan, tends to stay safe by obeying speed signs. <br />
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Apparently men employed as chartered surveyors, sales managers, surgeons, TV producers, company chairmen or barristers are the worst offenders when it comes to driving too fast, and for women the speediest professions are commissioned officers in the Armed Forces, chartered surveyors, GPs, business consultants, heads of personnel and vets.<br />
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Looks like chartered surveyors are the very worst on both sides then!<br />
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Is there any science behind these findings? Erm, I’m not sure. But it’s certainly interesting, I can’t deny! <br />
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<i>Photo © oddsock via Flickr, under Creative Commons Licence</i></div>Fusehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12172400389421704788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2512336263832840289.post-38993456524441262482012-06-29T09:05:00.001+01:002012-06-29T09:05:59.029+01:00Airbag seatbelts from FordHaving airbags for the front passenger and driver is all very well and good, but what about the backseat passengers?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEURIiFeTsQ4YC-tbgLPguZX9Xdy5D9SAEtiJlDLhyJ_0C6ZEnGz0wYv5qqmw2oim236AJi_rzvXL89md2PK2225DAIriHmoKjR0ZuWCOZeXxqikEqsqYoI7eGHbb3eZiPGHKqdnCyqRY/s1600/3092893948_781ea3747b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEURIiFeTsQ4YC-tbgLPguZX9Xdy5D9SAEtiJlDLhyJ_0C6ZEnGz0wYv5qqmw2oim236AJi_rzvXL89md2PK2225DAIriHmoKjR0ZuWCOZeXxqikEqsqYoI7eGHbb3eZiPGHKqdnCyqRY/s320/3092893948_781ea3747b.jpg" width="179" /></a>It’s quite rare, in my opinion, to have any safety equipment ready to leap into action to save backseaters from injury in a collision. <br />
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Well, next year Ford will be offering inflatable seatbelts for backseat passengers as an extra – which will probably cost around £250. <br />
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Initially the belts will be available only in the Mondeo, but the company plans on having it available in all of their family cars eventually.<br />
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The seatbelts, which will act as airbags for anyone in the rear of the vehicle, are safe for use with a booster seat and wil fully inflate in 40 milliseconds.<br />
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Hopefully this will lead to a reduction in the number of whiplash, back and head injuries suffered annually in the UK. <br />
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The inflatable belts have already been available to the American public since late last year, and apparently the company states that so far 40% of customers have elected to have the safety extra. <br />
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I’m not surprised! Changing the paintwork colour of a Ford Mondeo can cost anything from £200 to £545 – with that in mind £250 for something which will protect someone from suffering harm in a crash is a very good price!<br />
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<i>Photo © Criterion via Flickr, under Creative Commons Licence</i></div>Fusehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12172400389421704788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2512336263832840289.post-27071070870918871992012-06-25T09:33:00.001+01:002012-06-25T09:33:48.990+01:00Even the cars are watching usBack in the 1990s, before the advent and eventual ubiquity of the internet, many of us thought that by buying an electric shredder we would be able to embrace the 21st century confident in the knowledge that we were protecting our identities and keeping our personal details and documents private.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYB_VJ5By0xcJyMmY2czcaPzS2Uk_225iiI_QAKjidqgFw3H1xQoJIFv2HMsjGuY_a8MrnsUGhBN6tCyCzQRtO2YUedR2WUVSjJZxae828JM1wfeaUz57orpcHEklgWZcqj3dMn3imZgY/s1600/5226577623_5585d6a56f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYB_VJ5By0xcJyMmY2czcaPzS2Uk_225iiI_QAKjidqgFw3H1xQoJIFv2HMsjGuY_a8MrnsUGhBN6tCyCzQRtO2YUedR2WUVSjJZxae828JM1wfeaUz57orpcHEklgWZcqj3dMn3imZgY/s320/5226577623_5585d6a56f.jpg" width="320" /></a>Few were able to predict just how profoundly online and wireless technologies would alter the way we store, send and protect personal information.<br />
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These days, without the right knowledge and firewalls just about every piece of information, from our bank details to our love letters and our passwords are available to the unscrupulous hacker.<br />
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Take Google’s Street View cars. It’s recently been revealed that Google knew that the vehicle’s had the power and potential to capture and store the online data of millions of people, including emails, text messages and images.<br />
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It’s a pretty frightening prospect. There can be no doubt that Google is a great company that has been a real pioneer in making society more open and competitive, from enabling political reform in totalitarian states to comparing the car insurance market for the cheapest deals at home in Britain – for these things and just about everything in between, it’s been a real game-changer. But it’s also true that we need to remain wise to the dangers of letting gremlins in the system.<br />
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<i>Photo © DoNotLick, under Creative Commons Licence</i></div>Fusehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12172400389421704788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2512336263832840289.post-87801278478056366662012-06-22T09:02:00.000+01:002012-06-22T09:02:08.138+01:00The birdsIf you want to make sure that when you come to sell your car, you get the most money for it possible, you should protect the paintwork. <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaZmsee0Jn7t3nBjoUdJ4SDXQUyyX4L-5vI6rJy91i8iP_GQDGp348CBZfA_O95z2CdrmhGyfGFTk7-X8u2HCGbXEQcbhFGZQE0R0C-GT8R0LCo4GNWwioz3B4rMzOOEmBsl1mU8UnwO4/s1600/81938785_7755757d8a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaZmsee0Jn7t3nBjoUdJ4SDXQUyyX4L-5vI6rJy91i8iP_GQDGp348CBZfA_O95z2CdrmhGyfGFTk7-X8u2HCGbXEQcbhFGZQE0R0C-GT8R0LCo4GNWwioz3B4rMzOOEmBsl1mU8UnwO4/s320/81938785_7755757d8a.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
Yes, there are other things to worry about – obviously your car won’t get sold for much if it’s failed its MOT or is likely to fail its next one – but taking care of your vehicle’s paintwork is a step in the right direction. <br />
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And what of all things might stand in the way of you achieving the goal of shiny, unblemished paintwork?<br />
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The birds.<br />
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Yes, it’s a little like that Alfred Hitchcock film. Your car is immaculate one day – and the next it’s splattered with bird poo.<br />
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Halfords recently conducted a study which revealed that birds poo on red cars the most, and green cars the least. <br />
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But, whatever colour your car, if you see bird poo on it, clean it off asap. If you let it stick around for a while, it could ruin your car paintwork. Don’t let the birds win their war!<br />
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<i>Photo © Picture Perfect Pose via Flickr, under Creative Commons Licence</i></div>Fusehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12172400389421704788noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2512336263832840289.post-43217978159492241912012-06-18T09:02:00.000+01:002012-06-18T09:02:29.646+01:00You can sell me a patriotic MINI anydayNow I’m a bit of an Olympic cheerleader. Yes, I managed to get tickets – one night of athletics and a day of paralympic equestrianism – and I have purchased a total of five official 2012 pin badges (one for each member of my family and a spare for me in neutral tones to mix and match with whatever I am wearing).<br />
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I have also bought, as gifts mostly, two Olympic posters, a blue Union Jack Olympic towel, a Mandeville plush toy (the Paralympic mascot), a team GB lion-head mug and a car sticker. As you can probably tell, I am ever-so-slightly enthused by the prospect of the forthcoming games.<br />
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In fact, when it comes to all things Olympian, I am a bit of a fan – except… when it comes to Daley Thompson’s acting skills. Don’t get me wrong any man who can whistle his way through his country’s national anthem and still get a job promoting MINI/Olympics is okay by me – especially as his feats in the decathlon are legendary – but, and I pause to bow here and apologise profusely to Mr Daley, somebody should have told the former giant in multi-eventing to “STEP AWAY FROM THE MINI FILM SCRIPT!”<br />
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I am in fact talking about MINI’s promotional video, nattily nicknamed “The Britalian Job”, in which three gold medal-winning GB Olympians drive three MINIs, in red, white and blue of course, through the streets of London.<br />
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The plot involves Daley Thompson in his underground lair overseeing three drivers, James Cracknell, Matthew Pinsent and Jonathan Edwards (but not really them) in their pursuit of Jodie Kidd (errr, why???) who has stolen the nation’s gold medals.<br />
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Following some clever stunts and funny scenes, the culmination of the video comes as the three MINIs go spectacularly airborne in front of the Olympic Stadium just in time to corner the thief and retrieve the loot.<br />
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I have to say, I loved the video – I love any homage to the original film (the 1969 version, not the 2003 shameless remake) and it appears that you could sell me just about anything at the moment as long as it is painted red, white and blue.<br />
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Patriotic MINIs, Olympians and London by night – combine all that with car driving stunts and a glimpse of Olympic park, and for me you have the perfect combination. But, for my son, hmmmm…not so much. I must be getting old.
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/SuQZtqNNrZU" width="560"></iframe>Fusehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12172400389421704788noreply@blogger.com0