Petrol is liquid energy. As a fuel, it’s so damn good that few people even stop to consider you’re taking on board an astonishing two billion Joules of energy. Unfortunately, it's running out. Here are the alternatives.
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Meet George's jet, son...
Is it a bird? Is it a helicopter? Well, the PAL-V is neither really. Nor is it a helicopter. It's a prototype three-wheeled gyrocopter, which offers motorcycle-like road performance, plus two seats, as well as short takeoff and landing capability. Theoretically you could whip yourself up into the wild blue yonder and cruise at 180km/h above the gridlock, with as little as 165 metres of clear road ahead. (You need a little run-up to take off, but less runway to land.)
Key difference between an auto gyro (gyrocopter) and a helicopter? The main rotor isn't powered with an auto gyro. Propulsion comes from a fan/propellor at the rear (neat fold-out jobbie a la Transformers). The main rotor overhead is merely a rotating wing - but like a helicopter it is articulated for directional control purposes.
Additional video below.
Are you a road-rule idiot? Take this multiple-choice road rules test for dummies and find out
Note: This road rules test is based on road rules for NSW (Australia) – but it's broadly applicable to the rest of Australia too. Should prove very confusing for overseas visitors – especially those from left-hand drive markets (like Europe, America, China, Korea, etc.) If that’s you, just imagine what driving looks like in the mirror…
Read MoreGot an old car stereo? Want to play music wirelessly to it from an iPod, iPad or iPhone? Here's the iPod to car stereo solution:
I got an e-mail about this the other day, from a regular 2UE listener. With the average car about 10 years old in Australia, it's a problem.
If you want to play your music from your iPod, iPad or iPhone in your (older) car stereo, there's a simple solution that will see you playing your music wirelessly to you old car stereo system - without investing in an expensive new car audio system with Bluetooth. All you need is a car stereo modern enough to contain a tunable FM radio receiver and it's a done deal.
We're assuming here that you don't have a car stereo system with Bluetooth audio streaming. We're also assuming the stereo doesn't have an 'aux' input either - because the simplest solution if it does is just put a 3.2mm stereo-to-3.2mm stereo (male) cable from the headphone out jack of the 'i' device and into the 'aux' port in the stereo. Same thing if you have a USB port in the car stereo: just use a cable.
But if you don't have Bluetooth, aux, or USB inputs in your car audio unit, what you need is an
Canadian trendsetter or morbid automotive kook? You Decide.
You can almost feel Stephen King cranking up a sequel to Christine based on this…
Jeffery Tcakzuk, a 20-year Edmonton (Canada) mechanic has change career course and is now an automotive undertaker … and proprietor of ‘Motordale’, a burial ground for beloved automobiles that have passed over to that great traffic jam in the sky. It’s about 50km north of the city.
He still wears mechanic’s overalls … only these days with a cleric’s collar.
Once the loved one has passed on, there are two options: