Puppy vs Cat

Awwww!

Weird Mobile Apps

123 reg's blog has a list of weird mobile apps, compiled in Oct 2010, showing that your mobile phone has myriad other uses that trawling the internet and checking your bank balance. Here we go:

• The ASBOrometer. Ever wondered how where you live or work ranks in the anti-social behaviour league tables? Wonder no longer: the ASBOrometer uses government data to give you statistics for anti-social behaviour right on your iPhone. Just the thing if you’re the jumpy sort – next time you’re wandering in a strange neighbourhood, you can check exactly how safe you are.
• Wheretheladies.at. This app is in development. It was recently covered on TechCrunch and uses information from Foursquare to find places near you which have the most women ‘checking in’ to them. Seriously. Whatever your opinion, it’s quite telling that there’s no corresponding service to help find where the men are at.
• MEanderthal. This app comes from the highly-respected Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, yet still has the ability to make your photos look decidedly odd. It does this by transforming your face into the face of an early human. Disturbing? Yes. Educational? Probably. Give it a go to decide for yourself (warning: it’ll probably make your nose much bigger).
• HealthMap. If the ASBOrometer hasn’t done enough for your levels of paranoia, hop on over to HealthMap, a service which tracks the global state of infectious diseases. Of course, it plots them on a nice map, so you can see exactly what outbreaks are happening near you. It could be essential, if swine flue returns this winter. Honest.
• iLickIt. Like the website says, ‘to make the iPhone hygienic, clean it with an alcoholic wrap’ before you use this app. It’s the first iPhone game you can play with your tongue – you have to lick clean a plate displayed on the screen. Ideal for a gadget which gets carried all day in grubby or dusty bags and pockets and doesn’t react well to water.

The Duck song

Random, but we like it

Unusual car accidents

A video compilation of unusual car accidents, difficult to see if anyone suffered serious injury. Its also difficult to imagine how some of these came about!

Barra Dancers Perform at Disneyland Paris

This photo of Radisson Blu Hotel at Disneyland Paris is courtesy of TripAdvisor

Dancers from the Jane Douglas School of Dance performed a 30 minute program to a 3000 strong crowd on the Videopolis stage at Disneyland Paris, as part of the International Festival of Highland Dancing.

Organiser Billy Forsythe MBE congratulated all the dancers taking part and said,” For those who had travelled furthest, be it in time (that was definitely from the Western Isles) or in distance ( that might have been from Alberta/Saskatchewan) I can only say well done for putting on a show that was incredibly polished and professional and would have been a WOW in any location around the world. And the sight of that Pre-Parade was simply stupendous. The whole of Disneyland’s Main Street, USA, was a tartan carpet constantly moving and changing - and the lines of the dancers were wonderful, straight as a die down the full length of the street. The Disney Artistic Director, who is responsible for all the shows and Parades at Disneyland, and her colleague, who is responsible for all the Cultural Development programme were Mega-Impressed by the Pre-Parade and said it was the best rehearsed and performed Pre-Parade they had ever had, and it had drawn more visitors to the Pre-Parade than any other they had put on. Well done Everyone ! “

The dancers and thir families also got to spend time in the park as well as embarking on a tour of Paris before heading home. The article doesn't mention where they stayed, but the Radisson Blu Disneyland Paris hotel is situated just minutes from the park.

BBC Alba’s De a Nis followed the dancers through rehearsals, excitement and preparation back stage and on the park rides, The programme will be shown on their Christmas special on 23rd December at 18:00.

Janice Anne from Radio nan Gaidheal’s Aileag also accompanied the dancers and captured an hour long programme which will be broadcast on the 16th of December at 4pm, which will be repeated on the 17th. You can also listen again for a week after the broadcast date.

Call to crack the whip on compensation claims

Car and van drivers are paying higher insurance costs because of a sharp rise in fraudulent whiplash claims, which cost the insuarance industry nearly £2 billion a year.

Insurers are now calling for a clampdown on the fraud after it was revealed that one in every 140 people claims for a whiplash injury every year – the highest figure compared to the rest of Europe.

The NHS spends around £8 million a year treating injuries of this kind but insurers have been forced to pay out nearly £2 billion to claimants, according to The Association of British Insurers.

This drives up the cost of motor insurance premiums for honest consumers by 20 per cent, or £74, at a time when motor cover has soared by 40 per cent in the past year.

Around 1,200 whiplash claims are made in the UK every day, six times more than the number of people who claim for work-place related injuries each year. Three-quarters of personal injury claims in the UK are for whiplash, the highest level in Europe.

Speaking at this year’s Whiplash Conference in Leeds, James Dalton, the ABI’s assistant director of motor and liability, said: “Despite the statistics I doubt that that the UK has some of the weakest necks in Europe.

“Often difficult to diagnose, easy to fake and exaggerate, whiplash is a fraudster’s dream.”

The number of claims is rising thanks to ambulance chasing lawyers and claims management firms, as well as “cash for crash” incidents, whereby drivers stage an accident to make a claim, the ABI said. Last month a “cash for crash” gang was jailed for a £5.3 million insurance scam.

The ABI is now calling on insurers, doctors and lawyers to create a partnership, which aims to prevent whiplash, improve treatment and crackdown on fake claims.

Expert medical guidance is required on how genuine injuries can be diagnosed and treated. The association also wants to raise awareness among consumers about safe breaking distances, as tailgating is the main cause of the injury.

“We seem ill-equipped to effectively identify and treat whiplash, our compensation system is too slow in offering rehabilitation and paying fair compensation for whiplash injury to genuine claimants, and our compensation culture encourages fraud. All this must change.”

The ABI is also encouraging implementation of the Government’s proposals on civil justice reform, which would ensure genuine claimants get the compensation they deserve and access to rehabilitation more quickly.

Fleet World Awards

Even if you are just purchasing the one vehicle for your business or personal use, what fleet buyers are thinking is a useful thing to know. The Fleet World Awards are seen by many as a helpful insight into the best value vehicles on the market. This years ceremony was recently held at the Royal Automobile Club in London's Pall Mall.

The Toyota Hilux is a make of pickup that has developed a reputation for being exceptionally tough, thanks in part to TV stunts. The reputation seems set to continue with the award for best pick up truck.

Both the Best Small Van and Best Large Van prizes were scooped by Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles ever popular vans. Best Large Van went to the Crafter and Best Small Van went to the Caddy. The Caddy also landed the award for Best New Van, as the latest iteration of this pint-sized work horse is entirely reworked. Interestingly the car from which the Caddy was originally derived, the Golf, also picked up an award.

Fiat Professional’s Doblò Cargo van was awarded the title of Best Light Van. This is the second year running where it has picked up this prize. Citroën saw recognition for their fuel efficient LCV range with the Environmental Award.

Video: VW Califormia Review

Review of a factory fitted VW California camper van.

Video: Fiat Doblo Review

Van Factory In Luton To Stay Open

Good news for the workers at the Luton Vauxhall factory. After much wrangling a deal has been reached which will see the plant produce the latest incarnation of the popular Vivaro van.

The Luton factory is Britain's largest van plant and it employees over 1,500 staff. The new deal is a joint venture between the General Motors owned Opel/Vauxhall group and Renault and will secure the future of the plant until beyond 2020.

It is planned that the plant will produce 62,000 vans a year. The Renault Traffic variant of the Vivaro that is currently produced in Luton will have production shifted to France in 2013. This will be at Renaults plant in Sandouville.

The news of the deal will come as a relief to the staff of the plant. There had been fears that it would be shut down. The Luton plant is the last large scale producer of vans in the UK. Although manufacturing is far from being in the forefront when it comes to financial investments at the moment perhaps Britain will be able to emulate the success that Germany has seen in reviving its economy by focusing on the sector.

At The Races

The Volkswagen Racing Cup is a pretty unique racing series. As well as being the best supported 'saloon racing series' the cup is the only single manufacturer series where different models of various ages are allowed to compete with each other.

Obviously a variety of Golf's have proven popular in the series in the years since it started in 2000, but the companies vans have also made a strong strong showing. The charm of the series is really that such different vehicles that each have their own unique strengths. The small cars like the Lupo have their light weight on their side. There are entrants with powerful V6 engines, such as the Beetle. Where the vans get their edge is, of course, the superior amount of torque that they are able to deliver from their turbo diesel engines.

There are very relaxed and consistent rules that make it an easy series to get involved with. Any VW that has either raced in one of the last two seasons or is less than ten years old qualifies for a Volkswagen racing log book and entry to the series. This means you can give one of their used vans the new life it always dreamed of!

It is the Golf derived Caddy that has proven to be most suited to life on the track, notably in the capable hands of Simon Elliot, who you can see in action in the clip below, showing that van drivers are a force to be reckoned with.




Eliot will be behind the wheel of an updated Caddy in this year's series - and it will be great to see what the new model can do. If you would like to win a pair of tickets to the double-header at Oulton Park in Cheshire on 25th April, then there is a prize draw you can enter.

Cyclists - Listen to the Van Man

Reading an article about the alarming increase of cycling accidents prompted me to point out one or two observations that I as a van driver have made when driving around doing my duties.

Cyclists are reminded that by observing some sensible practices they can remain safe on the road and are less likely to confuse other road users such as delivery drivers, have many other distractions - after all you don't want your expensice bike lookig like this do you?



So I thought I'd hunt out some authority information about road sense and share:

Solicitors from Access Legal's Cycle Accident Claims team include a number of cycling enthusiasts who are committed to spreading safe cycling messages to reduce the number of accident cyclists suffer - see regular updates about cycling issues on their blog. The following guide is from the blog's main website - www.access-legal.co.uk

Family and group riding tips from Legal-Access

• It is advised that the adults themselves ride behind the children to keep them in view. However if there is two or more adults present, then the ideal set up would be one at the front of the group and one at the back
• When in back you should only go as fast as the slowest rider
• Don't cycle any closer than 1 foot between your front wheel and the back of the wheel of the rider in front of you
• If cycling at the front, remember that you have people behind you, and will need more time to break then you will, increasing the danger. Try to avoid suddenly breaking or weaving
• Ride no more than in a row of two, allowed plenty of room for traffic to pass. If traffic has built up behind you, you might want to pull to the side and allow it to pass

You can download the entire safer cycling guide from the site.

Vantastic

Vantastic video about....you guessed it VANS

Volkswagen Van Gets Olympic Champion On The Road To 2012

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles is supporting Bryony Shaw, the Team GB Olympic windsurfer, as she goes for gold at the 2012 Olympics in London. Bryony, who won a bronze medal in the Beijing Olympics 2008, has been provided with a new Volkswagen Transporter Kombi to carry all her equipment as she competes at championships across Europe in preparation for 2012.

Bryony is Britain's number one female windsurfer and second in the RS:X world rankings. She has recently won silver in the 2010 World Cup Series and a proven medal winner over the last four years at the Weymouth World Cup event, which as the 2012 Olympic venue means she will be sailing on her home waters!

‘This is the perfect vehicle for my lifestyle and an extremely valuable tool in my bid for gold in 2012. The Transporter is great to drive, really comfortable over the long distances I have to travel, and has plenty of space to carry all my equipment – plus it looks cool,’ said Bryony.

The Volkswagen Transporter has evolved during its 60 years of production to become the most popular and iconic vans used by surfers and windsurfers, and in the tradition of surfer vans, Bryony’s has been customised with a roof spoiler, alloy wheels, tinted glass and bespoke, colourful graphics featuring her sport.

Her van is also fitted with a towbar, as she often needs to tow equipment, including a rib, and as it is a Kombi, it also has the added versatility of a second row of seats which fold forward to create a longer load length when needed.

David George, Head of Marketing for Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles said: ‘We are delighted to be able to support Bryony as she strives to achieve her target of gold in 2012. Bryony is a great ambassador because she’s so passionate about our brand, and just like many of our customers, uses the van to carry the tools of her trade.’

Video: Two Wheeled Van Driving

The star of this video is a man named Michele Stuntman. With a name like that it's no wonder he ended up in this line of work! Here he demonstrates the correct technique for two wheeled van driving.

The Evolution of Van Man

by Elena Price

To mark the launch of the new version of the iconic Transporter van earlier this year, and celebrate how it has evolved during five generations and 60 years of production, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles has commissioned research to take an in depth look at how the modern van driver’s interests and habits have evolved during this time.

The research sheds light on the stereotype of the modern van driver, sometimes known as ‘white van man’, and shows that today’s van drivers are now fitter, better read, healthier and more tech savvy than ever before. The study also found that an increasing number (over a third) are women.

Key to the research was how van drivers are perceived and how they perceive themselves. Over 53 per cent of the public feel that van drivers suffer from outdated and outmoded stereotypes of the 80s and 90s ‘white van driver’.

Over 65 per cent of the van drivers questioned take some form of frequent exercise, with over a third exercising more than three times a week. Keeping fit and healthy is also not a premise of just young van drivers with a large proportion (70 per cent) of van drivers over 55 exercising regularly. Staying healthy doesn’t just mean exercise either, as diet is important for the modern van driver with over 40 per cent passing on a pasty or packet of crisps in favour of an apple or a salad whilst on the road.

Whilst keeping fit is important to the modern van driver, a healthy and active mind is now also important. Over a third (37 per cent) regularly support the arts, enjoying great films, plays, and exhibitions - maybe even an opera or two.

Today’s van drivers are also keen to stay abreast of current affairs with over 80 per cent of respondents following the news agenda, with Scottish drivers being the biggest newshounds at 91 per cent. Whilst the modern driver is a great fan of traditional media, social online sites now play an increasingly important role in their lives – with over 60 per cent using a social network and nearly 20 per cent regularly tweeting .

Technology plays an integral part in both a van driver’s home and professional life with 72 per cent owning a laptop so they can now take their office on the road with them, while 57 per cent own a Smartphone or iPhone, and over half have already embraced HD TV.

David George, Head of Marketing, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles commented:

‘Our research looked to challenge some of the more outdated perceptions of modern van drivers and it certainly has. Van drivers, much like the iconic Volkswagen vans over the last 60 years, have most certainly kept up with the times.’

The research also looked at how ‘van proud’ modern drivers were with over a third taking pride in their vehicles and regularly cleaning them. Indeed younger drivers are the proudest with 62 per cent regularly taking to the chamois and polish to keep the dirt away, whilst across the country those in the East Midlands are the most proud of their van’s appearance.

Looking at van drivers across the country:

The fittest van drivers by region:
1. South West
2. North West
3. Scotland, Northern Ireland and Greater London
4. West Midlands
5. East of England

The biggest news fans
1. Scotland
2. North East
3. South East
4. West Midlands and South West
5. Yorkshireand North West

The most ‘van proud’ drivers
1. East Midlands
2. West Midlands
3. Greater London
4. South East and Scotland
5. North East

Automotive Markets Show Improvement in September

The automotive industry witnessed a slight revival through the September period, following the disappointing figures of August. The stronger sales in September are not expected to be a sign of long term rebound after the recession however, but instead more of a positive note in a long term slump.

Brian Johnson, an analyst at BarclayCapital said on Monday that an upturn in those sales at retailers would be coupled with lower sales to those who buy in bulk, such as car hire and van rental companies. However this would be a positive nod to automotive manufactures as individual sales yield a much higher profit margin then fleet sales to larger firms or companies that deal in car and van rental, leasing, or other fields.

“We continue to expect sales to remain around current levels for the remainder of 2010,” he wrote, adding that he is sticking with his forecast of 12 million in sales for next year.

September sales numbers were predicted to be in the area of 11.7 million cars, vans, and trucks, a small but still increased margin from 11.5 million in the August period.

Brian Johnson went on to say “This would make September the best retail month in two years except for August of 2009, which was artificially boosted by the government’s Cash for Clunkers rebates. The numbers will be far higher than last September, which was a depressed month because Cash for Clunkers drew out buyers who would have otherwise waited until September.”

Across the nation this week is when the automakers report their figures for the month and on a year to year ratio. These results show that although sales are down the average price of of vehicles per is on the rise which means a higher profit. It seems although less people are buying those who are value paying the price for a quality reliable car van or truck.

The general consensus over low sales volumes is that consumers are still shaken in the economy, and employment, debt, and financial security are still issues. They believe that there are a large number of people that are stepping back and waiting for prices to fall before buying.However, automotive manufactures are now reducing their overheads and still profiting even with a lower sales volume. Those waiting for lower prices might be waiting a long time.

Van News Roundup

Here are some Van and Commercial Vehicle related stories from around the internet this week:

30 Van's I'd Be Tempted to Get Into

30 Vans with crazy paint jobs including the Scooby Doo themed one below.


Mobil 1 Announces Britain's Best and Worst Roads.

"“The Mobil 1 Mission was a grueling test, travelling a long distance across a variety of terrain. But there were some real adrenaline-fuelled highlights. I experienced some phenomenal drives through scenery I didn’t even realise we had in this country.”"

Tyre safety campaign receives Highways Agency backing

"Organised by TyreSafe, tyre safety month will educate drivers about the importance and simplicity of checking tyre tread depth. With the Highways Agency’s endorsement, campaign materials will be distributed across the UK"

Video: World's Most Amazing Limos.

This features the ultimate Limousine collection, From the 1960 VW Beetle to the Rolls Royce Phantom & Maybach 62S Stretch Limo's
Also Includes: Ferrari F40, F360 Lamborghini Diablo, Countach,
VW Passat, Beetle, Porcshe Cayenne,
BMW 760Li, Hummer H2, The worlds longest Limo at 100 FEET!

Who Let The White Van Man Out?

If you are queuing in traffic and somebody is waiting to pull out do you let them in front of you? Chances are, if you are a decent human being and not in a hurry, you would let them out. you know what it's like to have people drive past ignoring your plight and you know what is the right thing to do. You might however base your decision on whether to let someone out on what car they are driving.

A recent survey has shown that people are least likely to let out from junctions those driving a white van. Why is it that people in commercial vehicles are our least favorite road users? Is a man driving a used van less deserving of the 'after you' hand wave? Perhaps it is because we assume that these people are being paid to drive rather than spending their leisure time trying to get somewhere?

Those driving Lorries, BMWs, Land Rovers and sports cars were also near the bottom of the list. Those most likely to get let out were Peugeot 207 and Vauxhall Astra drivers and good looking drivers in any vehicle. I wonder if good looking women in white vans get let out at junctions?