Tech Know: Flashback to the future

Tech Know: Flashback to the future

Well, after a few days of respite where not much of interest has happened that I feel is worthy of comment, along comes this from the B.B.C., detailing the wonderful æsthetic movement that is Steampunk. A splendid group of ladies and chaps all round, I'll warrant, and what fantastic creations, I think you'll agree! The perfect marriage of Victorian style and modern technology. Form and function. If only it could all look like this. To see more of the same, I recommend this fellow, whose creation you can see illustrated here, in addition to the links within the article itself. I admire anyone who takes the modern, anodyne designs that befoul our lives and put in so much effort to make them into works of art in their own right. Carry on!

Bentley unveils world's most luxurious charity bus

Bentley renovates London Routemaster double-decker bus for St Luke hospice

Bentleys are amongst my favourite make of motor car, and I've always had a soft spot for Routemaster buses too. So what better than a Bentley Routemaster, of sorts? What is even more delightful is that it is all for charity, so plenty of well-deserving people will benefit too. St Lukes does sterling work without a doubt, and it comes as no surprise to me that a company of Bentley's pedigree and ethos should be involved in such a venture. The kind of story which is full of happy aspects. Hats off to the chaps at Crewe for such a splendid effort.

1920s disaster movie restored

1920s disaster movie restored

In the 1920s you didn't have special effects, CGI and whatnot. So if you wanted a steam train crash as part of your moving picture, you got a steam train and arranged to have it derailed along a stretch of railway line. This is just what happens in the newly-restored British silent film, The Wrecker. Sixty-five years before a similar scene in The Fugitive, here we have an equally-spectacular train wreck captured on celluloid and a reminder that the British film industry was just as capable as Hollywood at the time.

Now - who is The Wrecker?! Where will he strike next? Can no-one stop this madman?! Your guess is as good as mine. The best way to find out would be to buy the DVD, and I think that is just what I shall do myself.

Jetman Yves Rossy fails in Africa-Europe flight attempt

Jetman Yves Rossy fails in Africa-Europe flight attempt

I followed this chap's exploits last year when he flew across the Channel and I was sorry to see that he has been unsuccessful this time in his attempt to cross from Africa to Europe. While I don't think we'll all be strapping rocket-powered wings on our backs and jetting around the world any time soon, M. Rossy is one of those irrepressible chaps who help to make the world a more interesting place. Like Bleriot 100 years ago, or Alcock & Brown, Lindbergh, and Earhart, they capture the imagination and epitomise mankind's quest to push boundaries and to come up with ever more inventive ways to travel and make the world a smaller place. Bonne chance to this fellow, I say, and may he put this episode behind him go on to ever greater successes.

Queen most trusted public figure to fix a car - poll

Queen most trusted public figure to fix a car - poll

This humorous story was one that fell into my inbox today and made me laugh out loud, and if it passes that test it will more often than not wind up on here.

The idea of Her Majesty as she is now, in overalls, lying on a wheeled dolly working underneath the Bentley state limousine is just too incongruous. Of course, Her Majesty did do a mechanics course during the war when she was Princess Elizabeth but I fancy, even if she were so inclined, that the modern motor car is a trifle more advanced than a 1940s Army lorry and would be a bit beyond Her Majesty's skills.

On another note, it is slightly worrying that 16% of the motoring population feel that Her Majesty is the best person available to fix their cars. Makes you wonder what else they think is best or normal in the world of driving...

How to have fun in a blackout

How to have fun in a blackout

Not that there's any reason for you to have a blackout, unless you're susceptible to power cuts, but it's an excuse to play a song by the fantastic Mills Brothers if nothing else. Of course, should you ever wish to experience what a blackout might have been like, you need only draw the curtains, switch off all the lights and get a few candles out. If you've got a gramophone and a recording of the Mills Brothers, or the Ink Spots, then so much the better!

Peter Jackson says Tintin film is 'finished'

Peter Jackson says Tintin film is 'finished'

One of my favourite-ever comic book characters is Tintin. I have read, but sadly do not own, almost all of the original books and have the early '90s cartoon series on DVD. The kind of upstanding, decent and adventurous hero that any right-thinking child (or adult, come to that) would be proud to hold up as a role model. His longevity (recently celebrating his 80th birthday) means he can be enjoyed by children of all ages(!). He shows no signs of fading away, either, with the announcement last year of a trilogy of motion-capture films to be directed by Peter Jackson and Steven Spielberg. So no great expectations, then! I have been following this latest development since its inception, and I am glad to see that the first film is "in the can" bar the actual motion-capture procedure. Can I and my fellow Tintin fans wait a further two years? Looks like we'll have to! It's going to be worth it, I feel sure!