The World’s Largest Fire Truck

 

Check out the World’s biggest fire extinguisher from Evergreen

Now isn’t that quite something.  Need a couple permanently based in Melbourne during the fire season.

Can the Met Office Deliver Accurate Weather Forecasts?

On the basis of the Met Office’s performance this Winter the answer must surely be a resounding no.  Throughout the Winter the Met Office forecasts have been completely different to the BBC, Metcheck and the Weather Channel, at least for Dunblane (and to be fair the other providers are different from each other – I have blogged about this before).

Of particular difference between the providers has been the forecast temperature. Often the Met Office has been up to 10 degrees different from the BBC (which uses the same raw data feed) – on the pessimistic side usually, often changing their mind markedly every half hour.  For example below is the current forecast from the Met Office for Dunblane.  The actual conditions today (at 1800) are clear sky and a temperature of 4 degrees! This is by no means an unusual disparity.

In the current Winter it’s really important to know what sort of weather is coming. So come on Met Office get yourself a new Cray or better meteorologists.

Ferrari's fantastic four-wheel-drive FF flagship four-seat fastback

 

Wowie, Zowie a new Ferrari, replacing the 612 Scaglietti, and what an elegant four seater it is.  Totally different to Porsche's try at the the same thing which is Totally Teutonic and hence by definition pug ugly.

But not this Ferrari.  Does FF stand for Fab Ferrari?

Read all about it at Autoblog

RAF Gunners welcomed home from Helmand

The latest lot of RAF Regiment gunners have returned from Helmand and we are relieved and proud to see them back.  Read more…Ministry of Defence | Defence News | History and Honour | RAF Gunners welcomed home from Helmand

One of the accompanying photos is captioned “The Mayor of St Edmundsbury, Councillor Ian Houlder, and Officer Commanding 1 Squadron RAF Regiment, Squadron Leader Dave Crook, take the salute”

Now SQNLDR Crook must have had a good deployment because he has apparently been promoted to Group Captain as you can see from the photograph:

 

It’s a real pity (and a bit worrying) that the truth makers at the MoD don’t know their badges of rank and can’t tell a Group Captain from a Squadron Leader!

Would David Brown Roll in his Grave?

 

Probably yes is the answer if this add for Aston Martin is anything to go by: http://www.astonmartin.com/eng/rapidetruepower

Puerile, hackneyed and utterly toe curling (who on earth is it aimed at?).  Can’t wait for Part 2 to feed my masochistic tendencies.

A New Caterham

Like the appearance of Halley’s comet or the discovery of donkey horse droppings a completely new Caterham is the rarest of automotive events.  The UK manufacturer of niche sports cars has announced a brand new car at the Autosport International show at the NEC and incredibly exciting it is too.  For all the details see PistonHeads Headlines

This is just so different from the Lotus 7 inspired Caterhams that we all love and that go like stink but, if truth be known, are now just a tad old fashioned.

But the new Caterham changes the game and has so many firsts for the company.  Stunning looks, even more stunning performance and  an emphasis on track days and motorsport. 

Can’t wait to see the UK model.  Regrettably it is certain that I won’t be able to afford it.