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Bugatti Veyron Super Sport Takes Back its Crown – Guinness World Records Does a 180

April 14, 2013 By Greg Kentuck

Bugatti Veyron Super Sport Takes Back its Crown – Guinness World Records Does a 180 And there you have it – the Bugatti Veyron Super Sport is once again the official fastest production car in the world once again!

Earlier this week, Guinness World Records stripped the Veyron Super Sport of its prestigious title after it came to light that it may in fact have broken the pretty specific rules governing the record. Roughly summarized, it’s 267.8MPH world record was deemed invalid following the revelation that the actual production version of the Veyron Super Sport was limited to 258MPH and in order to hit the 267.8MPH record top speed, the limiter had to be deactivated.

And this, according to those gunning for the Veyron’s blood, counts as a modification – a big no-no in the eyes of Guinness.

So, the Hennessey Performance Venom GT summarily won the battle by default and became the new fastest production car in the world with its top speed of 265.7MPH – an achievement that would prove to be rather short-lived.

Bugatti insisted that Guinness had been aware of the limiter fitted to the production version of the Veyron Super Sport all along and that every single owner of the vehicle – which is only about 30 lucky sods the world over – can have their limiters deactivated by Bugatti and thus reach the record-breaking top-speed.

After a little bit of sabre rattling from both sides of the argument. Guinness eventually conceded that it is “satisfied that a change to the speed limiter does not alter the fundamental design of the car or its engine.”

Not that the Veyron’s time in limbo was about to stop Bugatti from going about business as normal – while all this was going on they also managed to break another world record with the Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse, which is not officially the world’s fastest open top production car with a top speed of 245MPH.

Why Fear Nuclear War When There’s Cheap Flights to be Had? – Australians on Cloud Nine

April 12, 2013 By Greg Kentuck

Why Fear Nuclear War When There’s Cheap Flights to be Had? – Australians on Cloud Nine There’s always a silver lining in even the darkest of grey clouds and when it comes to the threat of nuclear war, what better way to make the best of it than by scoring cheap flights?

It sounds a bit far-fetched I know, but nonetheless is exactly what’s happening down under. Ever since things started taking a turn for the worst…or even worse still…in the Korean peninsula, cheap flights have been abundantly available between Australia and Seoul. And not the type to pass up such bargains, Australians are apparently snapping up the cheap tickets and making the very best of what’s undoubtedly a pretty bad situation.

Scoot recently announced the opening of its route between Coolangatta and Seoul, with the budget airline having now pretty much sold out of its cheapest tickets for the next month or two.

And it isn’t just Scoot that’s seen something of a boom since the latest round of muscle-flexing, as Air Asia X has also seen the vast majority of its cheap flight offers to Seoul booked up for some time to come. It would appear that nuclear war isn’t even close to the kind of deterrent needed to keep plucky travelers at bay from bargain flights.

According to political experts, the surge in interest really isn’t that surprising as the vast majority of everyday folk the world over are so used to nothing but bad news coming out of North Korea that they’ve become disinterested in the latest developments. There’s such a fine line between a genuine threat from the isolated state and the pretty pointless rhetoric its leader practices in that there’s little to no point in curbing everyday habits on a ‘just in case’ basis, experts say.

So it’s back to making the best of a bad situation and shy of a certain troublemaker in the north pressing that big red button he may or may not even have access to, there’s never been a better time to score cheap flights to Korea.

Just be sure to get some decent travel insurance, if they’re willing to insure you at all!

Iranian Scientist Registers the World’s First Time Machine – Pinch of Salt on Standby…

April 12, 2013 By Edward Jones

Iranian Scientist Registers the World’s First Time Machine – Pinch of Salt on Standby… Think your Samsung Galaxy S4 of Xbox 720 is an impressive piece of kit to look forward to? Well try this one on for size – a scientist in Tehran has officially registered what he at least claims to be the world/universe’s first fully-functional time machine.

Yep…a time machine. Born and built in Iran.

The plucky soul goes by the name of Ali Razeghi and made the registration of his…erm, ‘device’ with the Centre for Strategic Inventions. And so as not to confuse anyone as to its purpose, he calls it the “The Aryayek Time Traveling Machine”.

However, for anyone thinking of celebrating a device that could see all their Marty McFly dreams coming true with a trip back to the decade that taste forgot, think again. Rather than a time machine in the conventional sense…if there is such a sense….the The Aryayek Time Traveling Machine instead predicts the future.

According to Razeghi, who for the record is still a rather tender 27 years of age, his machine uses a massively intricate set of processes and calculations in order to “predict five to eight years of the future life of any individual, with 98 percent accuracy”.

He’s already staked up no less than 179 inventions during his time as the Centre for Strategic Inventions’ MD and has apparently been working on the time machine since he was 17.

“My invention easily fits into the size of a personal computer case and can predict details of the next 5-8 years of the life of its users. It will not take you into the future, it will bring the future to you.”

His claim is that the device could be used by the Iranian military to predict with superb accuracy when and where the country would come under attack from foreign nations, while keeping a watchful eye on oil and currency prices years in the future.

“Naturally a government that can see five years into the future would be able to prepare itself for challenges that might destabilise it. As such we expect to market this invention among states as well as individuals once we reach a mass production stage.”

You can reach your own conclusions on this one…what a legend!

The Price of Texting Behind the Wheel – Unfinished Message of Car Crash Victim a Stark Warning

April 12, 2013 By Greg Kentuck

The Price of Texting Behind the Wheel – Unfinished Message of Car Crash Victim a Stark Warning A stark and haunting warning has this week been published by the parents of a young student who was killed as he wrote a text message to a friend while at the wheel of his car. He crashed before finishing the text message and his final words by way of the unfinished text have been released by his parents, who hope the somber warning will encourage more young drivers to stop dangerous calling and texting while driving.

22-year-old Alexander Heit was killed on April 3^rd when his car strayed into the path of incoming traffic and his subsequent pull on the steering wheel caused his car to roll. He was writing a casual and unimportant text message at the time.

His parents hope that a photograph of his iPhone with the unfinished text will convey the importance of the safety message.

“Sounds good my man, seeya soon, ill tw” – his final words before the fatal crash.

In an interview with the Greeley Tribune, his mother Sharon Heit pleaded with the public to exercise genuine care and attention behind the wheel.

“I can’t bear the thought of anyone else having to go through something like this,” che told reporters.

“Please, vow to never, NEVER text and drive. In a split second you could ruin your whole future, injure or kill others, and tear a hole in the heart of everyone who loves you.”

A report into the accident found that the young man’s driving record was spotless, he was not under the influence at the time and wasn’t speeding – the crash is therefore blamed 100% on carelessness due to text messaging.

Oil Production Up, Domestic Demand Down, Gas Prices Soaring…? What Gives?

March 25, 2013 By Greg Kentuck

Oil Production Up, Domestic Demand Down, Gas Prices Soaring…? What Gives? Take a look at gas prices at the pumps today and you’d have no idea that not only is consumer gas consumption way down, but domestic oil production in the US is accelerating like there’s no tomorrow.

Despite all of the above, gas prices are creeping higher by the day and we could be looking at the $4 per gallon mark as early as May, unless something gives in the meantime.

Why? Not a clue…most seem to be completely stumped by it all.

Over the course of last year, domestic oil production in the US increased to a solid 6.5 million barrels per day, representing gains of at least 14% which is by rights an all-time record. And over the course of the next 17 years, the US is expected to become the biggest producer of crude oil in the world, overtaking Saudi Arabia comfortably by 2020.

And as if this wouldn’t be enough to see prices tumbling, demand for gasoline in the US has plummeted to its lowest level in 12 years – now coming out at 8.7 million barrels per day as a result of more frugal driving habits and vehicle fuel-efficiency.

Instead however, gap prices are going up, up and as far as the future outlook goes, up some more.

So what gives? Has something gone unnoticed?

Not in the slightest, it’s just a case of the markets being played in favor of those making the big bucks behind the scenes.

In the simplest terms, the global market for gasoline is exploding at record-pace which in turn means that every last drop of gas produced in the US is in huge demand all over the world. Or in other words, drivers in the US are competing with drivers all over the world for supply of gasoline. Gas can and most probably always will be sold to the highest bidder as supply and demand dictates, which means that while the US might be enjoying the most bountiful supply of gas and lowest demand to date, the picture is quite to the contrary in other nations.

And the bad news – it’s only likely to get worse before it gets any better, so don’t be expecting much relief at the pumps anytime soon.

For Cheap Car Insurance Move to Iowa, Avoid Louisiana – Top Ten Best and Worst

March 20, 2013 By Edward Jones

For Cheap Car Insurance Move to Iowa, Avoid Louisiana – Top Ten Best and Worst Cheap car insurance is something of an endangered species at the best of times, though we’ve just found out where the most expensive car insurance in the US can be found. According to the latest round of figures form Insure.com, drivers in Maine and Iowa enjoy the cheapest care insurance in the country, while their friends in Michigan and Louisiana are more likely to be taken for a ride…so to speak.

And we’re most talking a few hundred bucks here and there, but differences in average annual insurance policies of almost 300% – just because of where you happen to live.

Speaking on behalf of the firm, Amy Danise said that one of the reasons why drivers in Louisiana are subject to average premiums as high as $2,699 is the fact that volumes of injury claims resulting from RTA are comparatively high. And in Michigan, the state offers limitless injury treatment and benefits for anyone injured in a car crash – a policy that demands the initial half-million dollars be covered by the insurance companies themselves.

As far as cheap car insurance goes, the firm stated that it’s no more than a case of less dense populations coupled with “rural sensibilities” that add up to safer driving, fewer claims and thus the cheapest insurance policies in the country.

Wondering where your home state fits in among the rankings?

Here’s the official top-ten cheapest places to insure your car in the US:

Maine: $934
Iowa: $1,028
North Carolina: $1,085
Ohio: $1,106
New Hampshire: $1,112
Idaho: $1,133
Vermont: $1,176
Indiana: $1,183
Washington: $1,226
Arizona: $1,227

…and the most expensive:

Louisiana: $2,699
Michigan: $2,520
Georgia: $2,155
Oklahoma: $2,074
Washington, D.C.: $2,006
Montana: $1,914
California: $1,819
West Virginia: $1,816
Rhode Island: $1,735
Kentucky: $1,725

Honda Torneo Grabs Least Coveted Award of 2013 – Most Stolen Car in New Zealand!

March 10, 2013 By Greg Kentuck

Honda Torneo Grabs Least Coveted Award of 2013 – Most Stolen Car in New Zealand! One of the key considerations the next time you’re considering buying a new car or used car should probably be how likely you are to find that some lowlife has decided to steal it from you. The insurance giant, the AA has released a list of cars that are most often stolen and it makes for harrowing reading if you happen to own one of the models featuring in the dubious top ten.

The Honda Torneo takes the top spot, followed very closely by Subaru and Nissan; with the second top spot taken by the Subaru Impreza. There are also a number of more recent models that have made the list including the MPV and Atenza from Mazda.

So what makes it more likely that your car will be stolen? It seems that the older the car is, the more likely it is that it will be easier to steal and therefore appeal to the car thieves. For example, if your car is over thirteen years old then it is over twice as likely to be taken without your consent.

The AA goes on to give further advice in that the addition of security features such as alarms, immobilisers and the like will further decrease your chances of waking up to find your wheels gone. This follows the simple premise that if a thief finds it more difficult to steal your car, he is likely to try and find an easier target.

Also where you live and where you keep your car parked are risk factors. In New Zealand your car is more likely to go missing if you live in the major cities; Auckland coming in at the top spot closely followed by other cities such as Wellington and Christchurch.

Sensible advice about where to park your car also features, including making sure it is in a well lit area and if parking in a car park, keeping it as close to an attended station as possible.

Secret to Cheap Flights Revealed Following Massive Annual Study

February 26, 2013 By Andrea Weidlemeyer

Secret to Cheap Flights Revealed Following Massive Annual Study Cheap flights aren’t quite extinct, but they’re definitely making their way further up the endangered species list.

There’s a whole new category of fear of flying that’s sweeping the world faster than a modern day plague – fear of the inability to snag cheap tickets and thus end up paying way over the odds. Recent years have seen various fuel-duty hikes and airport tax increased send the price of airline tickets through the stratosphere and in many regions wiped out the very concept of cheap flights as a whole.

Well, the one shred of good news is that it seems millions of us are asking the same questions every day of every week, which to some extent have now been answered by popular airline comparison service CheapAir.com.

After studying a whopping 560 million consumer queries for last year covering at least 11,000 markets, the firm concluded that the best time to score cheap flights for domestic routes was on average about seven weeks prior to departure. And as far as last-minute bargains go, the same study proved beyond all reasonable doubt that the most expensive flights come to those booking just 24-hours before.

Second-worst was two days before departure, third-worst was three days and so on…notice something of a pattern emerging?

Roughly summarized, the research carried out by CheapAir.com concluded that the most expensive seats came through booking too early or too late.

The general pattern is one whereby flights tend to hit the market at pretty top-tier rates and then very slowly decrease in cost until they hit said seven-week prior-to-departure lows. After this, they then start climbing again for the desperate and needy who have no choice but to pay top-whack for their journeys.

And for international flights the pattern was largely similar, with the cheapest airfares surfacing in this instance around 12 weeks prior to departure and summarily climbing.

Of course, there are dozens of contributing factors to take into account according to the research firm, including peak hours, busy departure days, time of year and so on. However, the general advice overall for those intent on scoring cheap seats is to remain as flexible as possible and not to fall victim to panic-buying as soon as the flights go on sale, or waiting around for a last-second bargain which in all probability will never happen.

Ground Breaking Dog Cancer Study Begins in Colorado

January 26, 2013 By Sandy James

Golden Retriever, Wikimedia Commons

DENVER, CO: A new study is being conducted in Colorado and it’s being hailed as the first of its kind in the United States. With cancer as the leading cause of death in all dogs, the well-known Morris Animal Foundation (MAF), is beginning a long-term study to hopefully change the lives and health of dogs for generations to come. The Flint Animal Cancer Center at Colorado State University is assisting in the study.

This is great news for pet owners who have lost a dog to cancer. The study, however, will take 10-14 years to determine what role genetics and environmental conditions play in a dog’s life. Current dog owners may not benefit from this new study, however, future dog owners will.

The study is called The Golden Retriever Lifetime Study as golden retrievers will be the major focus. Golden retrievers have a very high cancer risk rate as more than half of them die from cancer. The MAF currently has about 300 golden retrievers enrolled in the study, and their goal is to have 3,000 participants from the contiguous United States.

The Study Needs More Participants

If you own a golden retriever that’s under two years of age and would like to participate in this study, please visit this link at the Morris Animal Foundation. Your dog’s health will be tracked throughout its lifetime. Veterinarians interested in participating in this study, should also follow the link to sign up.

Dog cancer has unfortunately become so common with our pets, that the FDA approved the first drug for treating canine cancer in June of 2009. The treatment of cancer in dogs uses many of the same methods available for human cancers, such as radiation, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and hypothermia.

According to the College of Veterinary Medicine at Colorado State University, cancer is the leading cause of death in dogs over two years of age. Many breeds are at high risk for cancer including golden retrievers, boxers, Bernese Mountain dogs, and flat-coated retrievers. There are some breeds that are more prone to certain types of cancers.

Statistics on Canine Cancer

Current statistics are not promising for dog owners, and that’s the reason for this study. If today’s dogs can give researchers some insight into this disease, future dogs may have a better chance of surviving or preventing cancer. Currently, VPI Pet Insurance shows the following statistics on canine cancer:

Dogs are four times more likely to develop breast cancer than humans

Dogs are eight times more likely to develop bone cancer than humans
Dogs are thirty-five times more likely to develop skin cancer than humans
Mouth cancer is the fourth leading cause of deaths in dogs

At Rainbow’sBridge.com, you’ll find a special chat room for pet owners who have pets with cancer. Many countries can participate in the chat room, including the US, UK, Central Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. The chat room is open once a week at specific times. The US can visit on Wednesday evenings, while Tuesday’s are for all other countries. For more information, please visit Rainbow’sBridge.

Morris Animal Foundation

The Morris Animal Foundation is a global leader in animal health science. They are a nonprofit based in Denver, Colorado. Their vision is simple: A healthier tomorrow for animals. Researchers at MAF are committed to finding breakthrough veterinary medicines, treatments, and diagnostics for pets, horses, and wildlife. Many animal studies are conducted here, and they’ve had many breakthrough results in animal care. If you’d like to know more on the Morris Animal Foundation, just visit the link.

If you’d like to give a donation to the study, you can follow the above link to donate.

References: Morris Animal Foundation

9News in Denver

Rainbow’s Bridge

Ten Rising Destinations for Travelers

January 19, 2013 By Sandy James

Mar del Plata, Argentina. Photo courtesy of Fernandopascullo.

TripAdvisor has come out with their list of rising destinations for travelers in 2012. It’s interesting to see which off-the-beaten path destinations people are visiting. Not every traveler likes to visit the most popular destinations and this list provides some new choices to think about.

It’s not surprising that five of the top ten are places in South America. Besides the warm tropical climate these locations have, they’re also relatively inexpensive compared to the more highly traveled cities and countries. With the global economy still struggling, you can easily stretch your hard earned money in South America.

Here is TripAdvisor’s top ten rising destinations for 2012:

Mar del Plata, Argentina: Topping the list is Mar del Plata which is a beautiful beach resort on the Atlantic coast. There are elaborate Victorian summer homes, and ten miles of soft sandy beaches to play in. Their summer season is November through March which makes it more inviting to those who are in the winter months during the same timeframe.
Sao Paulo, Brazil: Sao Paulo is the largest city in South America and very historic. It has a multinational population and a diverse cuisine. There’s excellent international shopping, world-class museums, and lots of art galleries.
Kiev, Ukraine: Not surprisingly, Kiev tops this list with its historic sites and culture. Once shut off to the world, Kiev has many famous historical landmarks including two World Heritage Sites: The Monastery of Caves and Saint Sophia Cathedral.

Montevideo, Uruguay: Described as a “vibrant, eclectic place with a rich cultural heritage”, Montevideo is the southernmost capital city in South America. In addition to its beautiful sandy beaches, the nightlife here is vibrant. If you like to Tango, this place comes alive at night with dancers.
Perth, Australia: Perth is located on the western shores of Australia, far away from the bigger cities in Australia. Summers are from December to March and are usually hot and dry. This family friendly city has many beaches, parks, and several islands to explore.

Mexico City, Mexico: Mexico City is at an altitude of 7,350 ft. which most visitors don’t realize. It has a subtropical climate, and its summer months are June through August. Visit old Mexico City known as Tenochtitlan, which was also the Aztec capital. Lots of Aztec ruins, good authentic Mexican food, and culture.

Hobart, Australia: Located on the island of Tasmania, this Australian town used to be a penal colony. Many historic buildings and sites to see here. Walk the waterfront where old commercial buildings have been turned into seaside shops and restaurants overlooking the busy port. The summer months are from December through March.

Guadalajara, Mexico: This is where Mariachi music was born and is still played today. It’s also adjacent to Tequila where, you guessed it, Tequila is produced. Although the city is inland, it’s a short drive to beaches along the Pacific coast. Many historic buildings, museums, and local retailers can be found here.
Moscow, Russia: Some of the world’s most recognizable buildings are in Moscow. Red Square is a must see with its beautifully architectured buildings such as St. Basil’s Cathedral, the Kremlin, and the Spasskaya Clocktower. Rich in history and culture, this is a great educational trip.
Turin, Italy: Located in northern Italy, Turin is well-known for its cuisine, piazzas, parks, gardens, and palaces. Dining is always a pleasure in Turin. Here you can visit a medieval village complete with an 18^th century castle and its beautiful gardens.

TripAdvisor is a travel website with over 30 million members. TripAdvisor assists travelers with reviews on locations and there’s more than 75 million reviews. This top ten rising destinations list is a result of reviews by their members.

References: TripAdvisor

Wikipedia