Bryn Lucas

www.brynlucas.com

[brynlucas]

Are you as moody as me?

The Collin’s dictionary describes a pet hate as:

‘a minor annoyance that a person identifies as particularly annoying to them, to a greater degree than it may be to others’

A survey by Good Morning Britain in 2017 revealed queue jumping as the UK’s biggest collective pet hate. 

Rude shop assistants, littering and not being able to connect to the Wi-Fi all featured on the list.

The ever changing world means our personal list of “hates” will naturally increase, or at the very least be regularly amended.

As I write this the following are all sitting at the forefront of my personal inventory:

* people wearing too much fake tan

* middle lane drivers (and those who don’t read the road)

* people who leave their litter

* anyone wearing sunglasses indoors

* super market petrol stations

* late payers (i’m self employed)

* people who don’t clean up after their dog

* cat owners who moan about people who don’t clean up after their dog

* ill thought out traffic lights

* men who walk around town centres with their shirts off

This list is in no way exhaustive but it certainly provides a solid base to build from.

If I were to add people to my list it would start with Donald Trump and include Piers Morgan and Jacob Rees-Mogg but can a person be a pet hate? 

My only argument for being able to include the likes of Trump is the very first thing on my list - fake tan. All in all though, I think people should be removed from such lists and saved for a totally another day.

Airing your grievances is very therapeutic so have a go yourself. Which of mine do you also identify with and what would you put on your list?

[brynlucas]

Our obsession with Rooney.

Why do we aim to build up and then systematically hack down those we have created as heroes?

What good can come of being so obsessed with someone that we set them up to fail with such consistency that we should be ashamed of ourselves? I am lucky enough to remember Paul "Gazza" Gascoigne when he burst onto the scene. This figure of a young man whose only true talent was far far greater than any skill I possess in any aspect of my life.

The era was different of course back then. The media was savage and the people within football were not best equip to deal with it. It was a time before the internet was in our homes, before mobile phones were commonplace, before our lives changed to beyond recognition in such a short space of time. The media destroyed Paul Gascoigne. They painted him in such a way that his genius on a football field became his oh so public downfall.

Prior to him a certain George Best was heralded a hero by all. A poster boy, a star in his own right. Much like James Hunt in the Formula One world - the media was not content with reporting on what it was the person did to such a level they were an inspiration, they had to carry it on. Hound them until they became a freak show, a parody of themselves and eventually, in the case of Hunt, Best and Gasciogne, kill their chance of a normal existence. All three fought and fight alcohol addiction, all three were victims of our obsession.

Courting the media isn't a new thing, it's been happening for years, yet Paul Gascoigne did not actively get himself in the public eye, it was a by product of his sheer commercial value. He sold newspapers. Images of a teary Gazza during the 1990 World Cup semi final after being booked (meaning he would have to miss the final if we made it through) as still shown today, they are iconic. Gary Lineker turning to the dugout and mouthing "he's crying", will always be remembered.

We loved Gazza for his openness, for his passion, but our obsession destroyed the man it helped create. Paul Gascoigne was and is a tragic hero for many. Cut to France 1998, another World Cup. Gazza was omitted from the team. We were all shocked. A fit Gazza was a must have. Yes he wasn't the player he used to be, but he was a legend and was still able to unlock the oppositions defense with one moment of genius, and we all wanted Gazza to have one final go at conquering the world. We were all invested in the man. The flawed persona, the one person who encapsulated our hopes. So no Gazza in France, so who could be become fixated with? Cue a certain Mr Beckham.

We needed another obsession and he was to become it. In one moment of stupidity (and perhaps an over zealous referee) David Beckham became our hate figure. He was built up to be the hero of English football, we could win the world cup with the generation of special ones and Beckham fit the mould. A true talent? yes. The same as Gazza? No! Gazza was a flair player, Beckham was not. He didn't do the fancy flicks, the turns, the tricks, he just put amazing passes onto the toe of the target man, from 45 yards away. The trademark curve of the ball became an obsession of every school boy. He revolutionised the way we practiced playing football as we tried to copy his style.

We cut our hair like his, wore clothes like he did, became infatuated with the idea we too could be like him - he was swiftly our hero. Yet such a hero we needed a villain, and he unwittingly took the title.

A young man, only 23 and a national hate figure. How could he cope with it? I to this day do not know. Yet he managed to shake of the shackles placed on him by the blood thirsty press and regain the crown of national treasure, hero to many. Beckham was fortunate in many ways, he was well looked after by Manchester United who had learned from past experiences how to cope with such celebrity and they are perhaps the main reason he did not end up another Gazza. So what now of Wayne Rooney?

He arrived on the scene at Everton and announced himself as our one true world class player. The boy who was going to make England great, win the Cup sole handed, be our poster boy. Following his move to Manchester United the frenzy took over - not conventionally good looking, a stocky man, the media became obsessed with him. Was he over weight? What was his state of mind? Why this, why that...He has been built up to be our only hope, yet the knives are being sharpened at the self same time. He can and will never be allowed to be our hero, that is the sad reality. If he scores we say "well he should do really", if he doesn't, we say "he shouldn't be selected". How can he deal with the level of expectation and the constantly moving goal posts? Even today in the news there is a column about Rooney being able to cope with the pressure - the cyclical news stories are what is creating the pressure. Let the man play football, let him enjoy himself without the constant criticism. THEN and ONLY then will we see Wayne Rooney playing football with the smile on his face, the one thing he needs to do to perform to his best.

A happy Rooney is a force to be reckoned with, an unhappy player will not have the self belief to be able to relax and play with freedom - this statement fits pretty much any person in any walk of life. To be happy in yourself makes you more productive - not a difficult thing to understand. If we stop riding Wayne all the live long day then the man will achieve the success he rightly deserves. Stop the obsession, stop the constant attack on just one person. He can only do what he can do.

In this World Cup he is being played out of position which will always make his task harder, we all know this, yet we fail to consider this during our constant attack - although that is for another blog! I firmly believe Rooney to be one the people we can pin our hopes on, but lets get some perspective. Football is a team sport, a game requiring all to be as one. Messi is an amazing player, but the team help him to do what he does, if the England team play to Rooney's strengths then we too will see him shine. Whatever happens, lets not forget he is a person, a family man, a human being....he is no god...so let him be, and we will all see his star emerge. Life is short, enjoy it while you can without obsessing over the simple things. I'd love England to win the World Cup, it would be incredible, but it isn't something that will define me as a human. It might help define the players concerned, but lets not get so hung up on it, and lets cut them a bit of slack...it is after all, just a game!

Please leave your comments on my Twitter: www.twitter.com/BrynLucas That's all for now. Over and out.

[brynlucas]

The death of a comedy icon

This week saw the sad news of the death of Rik Mayall, a comedian loved by so many people who each had their own favourite characters.

Of course he wasn't loved by all, but that is a part of the charm of a man who's on stage and on screen persona is so far removed from his everyday life you wouldn't believe. Ok, he might be described as foul mouthed, but so what? Who cares? He was generous, kind, warm hearted...and a "bloody good bloke" - in the words of his erstwhile character in 'Bottom'!

The Young Ones was probably where I first encountered Rik Mayall. Actually to be more precise, it was when "The Young Ones" performed Living Doll with Cliff Richard. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ta18JnQyZks I remember my mum not liking me watching this video or listening to the song when I was young, I'm not sure why, but I am guessing she felt it would be a bad influence on me! Well I turned out as I did no matter what, and Rik Mayall is definitely not to blame! The young ones as a show was a bit before my time (it ran from 1982 -84 and I was born in 1979!). I was too young to watch it really, and so it passed me by! What I did watch though, and LOVE, was 'Bottom'. It was so stupid, so utterly over the top and ridiculous, yet also somehow so believable. In some bizarre turn of events Rik Mayall (and Ade Edmondson) managed to make characters so devoid of hope and good hygiene completely loveable. You actually wanted Richie to succeed, felt sorry for him and sympathised with his bad luck, while at the same time also thinking he was a complete prat! While Eddie was the more "normal" of the two (it's all relative!) and you almost wanted him to give Richie a bit of a break! Bottom was my favourite of his and Ade Edmondson creations. Yet Rik Mayall's career is so much more than that. Appearing in Blackadder, The New Statesman, even Watership Down (voice) to name a few, he managed to cross over the line of comedy warm the hearts of the audience and entertain the masses like very few people can and have. A true legend in the comedy world and a man who brought so much happiness to those around him. I remember the aftermath of his quad bike accident in 1998, a catalyst to his death it appears. The news really shocked me. I was 19 at the time and really into 'Bottom' (the show!). I can recall the concern etched on those reporting on the event as he was sedated and in a coma for several days. He could have been brain damaged or worse, yet pulled through. He and Ade would joke about the accident while performing the live stage show of 'Bottom' over the following years.

On his death, 'The Guardian' described Mayall as an actor whose "onscreen performances were so full of life. His characters weren't neatly drawn sketches: they were vast mad scribbles, jammed to the margins with noise and energy". Commenting of his role in the sitcom Blackadder, it noted, "Upstaging an entire fleet of world-class comedians should have been impossible. Mayall made it look effortless". Rik leaves behind a wife and three children, as well as his lifelong friend Ade Edmondson, who said of his death: "There were times when Rik and I were writing together when we almost died laughing. They were some of the most carefree stupid days I ever had, and I feel privileged to have shared them with him. And now he's died for real. Without me. Selfish bastard."

Bonnie Mayall, his youngest daughter (18 years) led the online tributes to her father who died aged just 56. Alongside a photo of her dad she wrote: “We will never forget him and neither will the world.” “R.I.P to the man, the myth, the legend — my wonderful, generous, foul mouthed and hysterical father. “My idol now and forever.” “We love you daddy.” His comedy legacy will always live on, but this tribute from his daughter is arguably the greatest accolade he will ever receive. I never met Rik Mayall and I never will now, but I feel honoured to have shared the same air as him and witnessed his work in the era he lived.

One last thing. His wife Barbera said the following recently, and it really made me smile: She thanked the press "for their discretion" and "all the wonderful coverage", adding: "It would have made him very happy." She went on to say "I am sure that you all know Rik's response would be something along the lines of.....' well thanks very much all of you.............now f*** off!!!'" I only hope that when I leave this Earth that there are some people to say some nice things about me too. Rik Mayall clearly enriched the lives of those around him and was taken from us way too soon. Thank you Rik for all the laughs, you leg-end. Please leave your comments on my Twitter as usual: www.twitter.com/BrynLucas Over and out...for now!

[brynlucas]

The merry-go-round of football.

If at first you don't succeed, try try again. That's how the old saying goes.

In the world of the football manager it seems to be slightly different. "If at first you don't succeed, get sacked and get another job if you're lucky" seems to be the subtle difference - can you spot it?!

This season the top flight of English football has gone insane. Managers hired and fired at the whim of the club's owners, a number of whom aren't really the best people to be able to decide the fate of the business they own because they simply do not appear to understand the managers task or means to achieve the goals set out. Who has been fired this year and how long have they been in their job?

Let's see: * First up was Paolo Di Caneo who lost his job on 22nd September after only 13 games in charge of the black cats. * Ian Holloway left Crystal Palace on 23rd October by mutual consent after he decided the club had gone as far as they could under his tutelage. * Martin Jol was next (1st December) as Fulham decided they needed a new direction to avoid the drop - they appear a couple of times on this list and yet still failed to meet their target! * West Brom then decided they needed to change their manager on 14th December and so waved goodbye to Steve Clarke. * Two days later Tottenham Hotspurs removed Andre Villas-Boas as their leader because chairman Daniel Levy got itchy with his trigger finger once again - watch out for Spur on this list, they too feature more than once! * Malky Mackay was next to go just a couple of days after Christmas, in what was a very bizarre argument with his chairman (Vincent Tan) which angered the clubs fans as Mackay was seen as the right man for the club according to the teams supporters. * After a period of disappointing results, Swansea called time on Michael Laudrup’s time in Wales, on 4th February. * There was no love for Rene Meulensteen at Fulham as he was sacked on Valentines day, becoming the 2nd casualty of the season at Fulham! * Chris Hughton was next, losing his role at Norwich on 6th April. * Manchester United decided to then join the party. Having not fired a manager since 1986 and yet up they pop, with David Moyes finally put out of his misery on 22nd April, just 10 months into his 6 year contract! * West Brom then decided they needed to sack another manager and so on 12th May Pepe Mel cleared his desk, less that 6 months into his tenure! - West Brom, it appears, did not want to be outdone by Fulham! * Then last but no least came Daniel Levy once more. On 13th May Tim Sherwood lost his job despite having the highest win rate of any Spurs manager since the Premier League has been in existence! Out of 20 clubs there have been 12 managerial changes in a period of 9 months involving 9 teams. Failure is not an option it seems, nor is success either apparently!

Looking at the months or even weeks to come and there are a number of potential fatalities about to be discovered. With Cardiff City being relegated there is a chance Ole Gunner Solskjaer will fall on his sword, Fulham could also move Felix Magath on but there are as yet no noises to that end. Even though Gus Poyet presided over a "miracle", he might even move on due to lack of ambition on the part of his current bosses, and then there is the free falling Aston Villa and Paul Lambert. With Villa being put up for sale by their owner Randy Lerner, the likelihood of a new owner coming in and not deciding to change the team manager is extremely slim and so he seems almost certain to be packing his suitcase soon. We have Alan Pardew at Newcastle United too. This season has seen him headbutt a player and lose his cool on more occasions that a bottle of brown ale has been deflowered, although reports are that he is currently safe - but for how long? One more slip up and you will imagine he will be removed – the fans have been calling for his head for some time now. Lastly we have "big" Sam Allardyce who has done extremely well at West Ham yet seems to also be swiftly approaching the chopping board. Even Arsene Wenger at Arsenal seems to be tipped for losing his job, yet the recent FA Cup victory probably means he has guaranteed his future for as long as he wishes to remain at the club - and rightly so in my opinion.

This means that out of all the 20 football clubs who started the 2013 season in the Premier League, only a tiny handful are content with who they have in charge, and even then, they might change their mind after a bad day at the office. Football needs continuity. Players need to believe in the methods of their manager. If the boss is constantly being questioned or undermined then the team will fall apart.

One question that constantly features in my mind though is this: If a manager fails surely the board are at fault too and should be held to account? The board hire and fire the management staff but take no blame for an appointment that fails to be a success. Why is this? Blame culture is rife among the modern world in general, yet a club owner or board seem infallible. Surely if a manager fails, the board should look at why they have done so and take measures to rectify this situation? Obviously there will be occasions where the jigsaw just doesn't fit, but in the main you have to wonder whether the emphasis should not be on the manager not achieving the success the club feel they should expect, but rather the board taking responsibility to determine the reasons, and then implement a plan to prevent future struggles? How many times are we going to see itchy trigger fingers at play, a manager having to speak out at unfair treatment or a board of directors sitting upon high and having carte blanche on what goes on within the walls of a business that relies so heavily on the average Joe who watches them week in, week out and spends their hard earned money on the latest kit?

I am expecting many more managerial changes in the closed season, with a number of names already being touted about to take over the three hot seats that currently sit empty within our top flight. Some of the names are already with other clubs which would cause a domino effect. Let the merry go round start up again…when will it stop? My guess is never! Thanks for reading. Plesae leave your thoughts and comments on my Twitter: www.twitter.com/BrynLucas Over and out…for now!

[brynlucas]

St George who?

It’s St Georges Day today. Can’t you tell? All the English flags a fluttering in the wind, the atmosphere of carnival and celebration, the happiness and pageantry around our fair land.

That’s right, it’s the patron saint of England’s day and we couldn’t give a flying monkeys about it, but come St Patricks day and we all spray paint our pets, pull on a pair of green tights over our faces and go and compete to consume more alcoholic fluid than our bodies are able to contain!

Why is this? Why do we feel more of an affinity with our friends across the sea than we do pride in our own celebration?

Is it a fear of seeming racist? A dislike for self celebration? A lack of pride in our history and heritage? Or that we just don’t care about o’l Georgieboy and prefer to read the paper and drink our cappuccinos in silence?

A few years ago we had the Jubilee and a royal wedding in quick succession and I remember feeling somewhat proud to be English. Flags adorned many a building and the atmosphere was truly something astonishing. People smiled in the street, talked to each other when normally they would look at the floor or pretend to construct a text. All in all, we had a great time being proud of our heritage.

I recall feeling a sense of sadness knowing the flags would come down, the atmosphere would return to normality and people would once again stare longingly at their shoes to prevent good honest person to person contact.

Well here we are, on the day where being English is surely allowed, where having pride in a white rectangle with a red cross can actually be accepted without there being some comment of racial insensitivity, and what do we do? Absolutely nothing, that’s what!

Can you imagine the Americans NOT celebrating the 4th July (the day they prevented aliens from destroying the world), or the Irish failing to have a good old sing song and knees up on their day? No, of course not. So why do we let our day slide away with the only mention being a “happy St Georges Day” written on Twitter?!

There’s still time folks, get out the face paints, spray paint the goldfish and do something wacky - let’s show the world that us English actually do have a pulse and aren’t all as beige as we may appear!

Failing that, enjoy Eastenders or Coronation Street tonight, it’s bound to be a hell of a watch!

If you are up to something fun today, please please tell me on Twitter, I need to see what tomfoolery the patriotic among us can actually come up with.

It isn’t racist to be proud of where you come from and the sooner we separate racism from nationality, the better.

Thanks for reading, please tweet me www.twitter.com/brynlucas

[brynlucas]

Safe but not dull cycling...what is the solution?

Cycling is a great sport, a great pass time and a great way to keep fit. I have long been an advocate of promoting cycling to the masses and have blogged and tweeted on numerous occasions about my concern for the safety of the cycling fraternity.

In the past 12 months there have sadly been too many deaths to cyclists on UK roads with London being high on the list of traffic incidents. I get very angry when I see a cyclist taking risks on the roads, jumping red signals, not having enough lights to make themselves seen and not wearing any protective clothing at all - and I feel I am right to do so.

http://www.standard.co.uk/news/woman-cyclist-crushed-to-death-by-lorry-as-she-turns-corner-6887847.html I am not one to blame all cyclists for the accidents on the roads, as us car drivers are more often than not simply not paying enough attention to our surroundings whilst we sit in our cosy metal boxes. What I am though is a realist. I know a too large a percentage of cyclists jump lights at certain times, don't fully obey the traffic laws and yet seem to have a belief they are doing nothing wrong. This blog is not to point fingers or to even make a case for who is to blame, this blog is to look at the different technology and gadgetry available to the discernible bike rider to help keep them safe and sound, and perhaps enable them to get even more pleasure out of their transport method.

The actual catalyst to me writing this blog is because of a lady I drove past on the way to work one evening recently. It was around 10:45pm (therefore dark), and she was riding along in dark clothing, on a very poorly lit bike too, but that isn't what annoyed me the greatest, what really bugged me was that she had a helmet, not on her head where it could just help save her life, but attached to her ruck sack! Now, unless she was carrying a cat or a dog in her bag and had placed the helmet on their head to protect them (which I can almost 100% say she did not), this complete lack of common sense could cost her extremely dearly.

So what can be done? What needs to be done for ALL cyclists to take a moment to consider their own actions, their own safety and ultimately their own lives? In the past I suggested that a £4.99 high visibility jacket from Halford's is probably a worthwhile purchase, as £4.99 is not a lot of money when compared to a human life and the effect on loved ones if something were to happen. A high viz could just be all you need to be seen that extra amount more and keep you cycling along happily.

The idea was knocked down though by certain cycling groups who said that making people wear a fluorescent bib would in fact reduce the number of cyclists as so many people would not want to look so silly. This would then make motorists more blasé and ignorant of cyclists on the road, causing a higher likelihood of incidents. I am not sure I concur, but decided to get on with my own life, hoping that maybe, just maybe, someone had gone out and made themselves safer after reading my words of wisdom. After my recent anger incident I decided to have a look at the many varied and inspiring things that you can buy and place on your bicycle that will help you been seen and hopefully quash the argument that cyclists shouldn't need to be more careful but motorists should. That argument is pointless as there will only be one winner in a bike v's car battle, and it's survival of the fittest with this one - whether you like it or not. So what can you use? Here are some pretty exciting items to whet your appetite! LIGHTS:

Obviously lights are something we know help be seen, but the sheer number of people who chose inadequate lighting is remarkable. A tiny little dot of red or white will not be good enough to make other road users aware of your existence in the blur of the many other lights and distractions on our roads - you need to stand out. So, other than buying some good quality led lights (cheap and very effective), what other light options are there? Well, how about Revolights?

The amazing people at Revolights have created a beam of light that attaches to the front and back wheels of your bike to provide not only a front and rear point of reference for motorists, but also a side light too which means you can be seen from all angles (i.e: when crossing a junction). http://revolights.com/ or what about Helios Bars?

The bars incorporate GPS tracking and built-in front- and rear-facing LED lights. The rear-facing lights change color according to your speed and function as turn signals and indicators and are available in straight, bullhorn and drop bar styles - maybe not effective on their own, but when used with other items they really are. http://www.ridehelios.com/ LED wheels

These lights aren't intended to help you see where you are riding, but to make your bike jump out of the road and into the eyes of the motorists. After all, it's side impact on cyclists and a lack clear visuals for motorists that causes many incidents. https://gadget.brando.com/safety-bike-led-wheels_p2333c049d001.html Lastly, what about laser lights to give dimension to the bike?

Its a halo around your cycle that literally gives your bike a more defined shape and a nice and potentially useful option to help motorists see how much room they need to give you. http://www.ecofriend.com/eco-gadgets-self-powered-laser-makes-bicycling-safe.html SAFETY HEADGEAR: Every cyclist should wear some kind of headgear when on the road. You can find many stylish yet high performance examples in all reputable cycle shops and the sales advisers will be sure to give you all the info you need. But if you really refuse to wear a helmet there is another option. the inflatable helmet or "cyclist airbag" (created by Hövding) is worn around your neck.and uses sensors and algorithms to detect when a crash occurs, and immediately inflates itself to protect your head.

http://www.hovding.com/ The drawback? well It’s a one-use wonder. Upon inflation, you have to buy another one. It also comes in a variety of different external shell options to match your other clothing. For those who want to know about conventional helmets, there is the Kask Vertigo team skye, a helmet worn by Team Sky. If you used this model you would be investing in the best kit worn by one of the best teams in professional cycling. Costing around £165 it isn’t cheap, but it is proven to be a very useful piece of kit. http://www.wiggle.co.uk/kask-vertigo-team-sky-edition-2013/ CLOTHING: High Visibility clothing isn't the sexiest choice but it is ultra effective and a simple purchase or two is all you need.

There are also high visibility ruck sacks and ruck sack covers too so you can be seen even when covering your back with a bag, after all, what is the point in wearing a reflective jacket if you are going to cover the rear area with a bit of luggage? FLUORESCENT BIKE PAINT: You could give your bike your own personal touch by spraying it with fluorescent paint and making it really stand out. This will really only be effective when lights are shone on your cycle but it is very effective at helping you be seen.

Now obviously I have highlighted more items that will illuminate your bike at night than anything else, and that is crucial to your safety, but don't overlook the simple aspect of clothing, headgear and more. Answer this simple question - If you were in a car, how easily would you be able to see your bike? If the honest answer is "not that well", do something about it, and fast. If the answer is "i'm not sure", do something about it fast! You are precious, your body is fragile...don't get in a fight with a car, lorry, bus etc as there will only be one winner. Decent head gear, good clothing and lights are all the basics, the other items will just give you that extra edge. Happy and safe cycling all. Thanks for reading. Please leave your comments on my Twitter wall as usual: www.twitter.com/BrynLucas

[brynlucas]

Formula One - Who will reign supreme?

It's that time of the year again when those fire proof suit, helmet wearing thrill seekers climb aboard their power house wheels of doom and set the world alight with one of the most high performance sports available.

The Formula One machine has started to fire up again and this season the fire is burning brighter than it has in a fair few years. Sebastian Vettel has been hitting his protected head against a fairly solid and immovable object - namely his car, while those who have been lamenting the Red Bull team for so many years are finding joy in the shortcomings of the sports most potent of competitors. So who is going to lead the way this season and why are Red Bull suffering so badly?

To begin with you have to look at the rule changes and the results on the cars. No longer are we confronted with the awesome power and sounds of the V8 engine. 2014 sees the introduction of the 1.6 litre V6 turbo "power unit" (a term that will take a while to fully be embraced), with eight gears rather than seven resulting in less speed but more torque and a little bit quieter than its screaming predecessor. Other changes of note for the F1 fanatic are the improvement of the energy recovery system which turns waste energy from breaking into more horsepower for that extra oomph!

In recent years we have seen teams argue over the way their rivals direct the exhaust to blow air onto the rear of the car and generate further down force (which pushes the car onto the track and in turn improving cornering speeds and grip), possibly most famously taken advantage of by the now defunct and rebranded Braun team in Jenson Button's championship winning year of 2009. Well 2014 has waved goodbye to all of that by ensuring exhausts now point skywards, although you can be sure that some clever bending of the rules will result in exhausts being used to aid the car in some way or other!

The exhaust change will hopefully improve the quality of the racing. Less grip means more room for individual driver error and an increase in overtaking. 2014 should hopefully level the playing field that little bit more, resulting in some potentially surprising outcomes. On top of these changes, the cars now have lower noses to make them safer during collisions, plus the rather "interesting" front end additions which have to been seen to be believed - and sniggered at when done so. The reason why Red Bull are struggling is simple. Red Bull use Renault engines and Renault have been a bit slow in producing something that could enable the Red Bull team to really get to grips with their design and development. The result? Red Bull are weeks behind in development terms, of most of the other teams. Any team using Renault as a “power unit” are also having some issues but for some reason Red Bull have found the new restrictions coupled with Renaults delay more troublesome.

Mercedes however have been flourishing in early testing as they were planning for this season a good long while ago and forfeited results in 2013 to focus on the new regulations. If Mercedes do not win both the constructors AND the drivers championships there will be a great deal of head scratching and finger pointing (presumably from a combination of both hands!). Separate from the alterations to the cars themselves is the rather controversial points issue as Mr Ecclestone (Formula One's head honcho) has seen fit to make the final race results worth double points! In recent seasons, Red Bull have been so strong that the final race is pretty much a celebration of their awesomeness. This points change was engineered to try to ensure the last round remains competitive and can have an impact on the championship and who is crowned the drivers champion.

In a bizarre change of fortunes though, this might play into the hands of the Red Bull team. At present they are severely struggling with performance and reliability, and their pre season testing has been blighted with a vast array of problems, resulting in a significantly hampered run up to the opening round Australia. It might just be that Red Bull will start slowly but find a winning formula just in time to save their season and make use of the double points to snatch another championship. Time will tell on that one! So, the rule changes really have stirred the pot and opened the championship up in one of the most welcomed ways possible. Whether you agree with the changes or not, there is no doubt the sport needed to be freshly invigorated.

In addition, this season, for the first time in many years sees less of a disadvantage for the rookie drivers, and this year there are a lot of fresh faces around the paddock. Mclaren have Kevin Magnussen, Toro Rosso have Daniil Kvyat, Caterham have Marcus Ericsson and Marussia have Jules Bianchi. Being a rookie in Formula One is always going to be tough. The media circus is crazy, and experience in the seat and the ability to shut it all out and concentrate purely on the driving is what often proves to be the key to success. This year though, with all the drivers having to learn a completely new system being new in the car is less of an issue. Naturally the experience of being in the environment is new, but the car itself - how it handles, feels and performs is new for everyone. Adapting might be the most simplistic way to get results, but learning a way without any prior knowledge of what once was is also a great advantage. It wouldn't be a surprise to see Magnussen thrive alongside the leadership of Button, nor for the so called "smaller teams" to find themselves scoring points in the early rounds while the big guns get to grips with all the reliability issues that come with pushing for extra power and speed.

It seems, for the first few races at least that a cautious approach will provide the best chance of winning points where as all-out attack will, result in cars ending up in a sand trap or a tyre wall. So who is going to win the championship? You can't write of either of the Mercedes drivers, nor can you the Ferrari line up too. Both are former champions and both are desperate to win. Mclaren are also looking better again and Williams are looking like finally getting back up the grid. Though you would be foolish to bet on Vettel again this year, you would also be foolish to discount him too. My money is on Hamilton...Where is yours? With all the changes to the cars and the huge amount of lead drivers playing musical chairs with the teams, this is the season to watch Formula One, and the year to expect the unexpected. Thanks for reading. Please leave your comments on my Twitter:

www.twitter.com/BrynLucas Over and out…for now!

[brynlucas]

An idiots guide - Snooker

Balls on a table, holes to hit the balls into and sticks to use to propel them to their destination. Simple...and yet not so! For those who have never encountered a snooker table, let me enlighten you. The construction:

A rectangle of slate cut to 3.7m by 1.86m is the basis of a good quality professional standard table. This is then placed on a framework made of wood and is at the very start of the whole creation. Six holes are cut into the slate, one in each corner and one along each long edge, equidistant from each end, making a symmetry one can only dream of - these are known as "pockets" and some kind of catching method was devised by some clever chap (or chapette - but likely a chap) to claim the balls sent packing into the dark recesses.

Wood (chopped down by a burly Scandanavian logging enthusiast) is then used to create a border around the table to stop the balls from rolling onto the floor and generating a farcical scene involving an old lady, a shopping trolley, a box of hobnobs and an passing vicar. The edging wood is then further improved by a piece (or pieces) of rubber to make it lovely and bouncy - to which the balls can be rolled against and a satisfying "thunk" heard, followed by the offending ball moving off in an altogether different direction. The table is then covered in a cloth or felt layer which feels lovely to the touch and provides a wonderfully comfortable place to sleep on while your opponent selects their shot (more on this later).

Lines are then drawn on the table and et viola, everything is ready for a set of Snooker! But how can there be a ball game without any balls? I hear you silently scream at this page. Hold your horses...or hold your cues I might add (this is the kind of joke you will hear in snooker halls up and down the land). Snooker requires balls. That isn't to say it's a male only sport, oh no, not at all, women's Lib and all that jazz. But it DOES require balls. hard, shiny ones of many varied colours.

Yes, Snooker is a colourful sport - mostly of the colour is concentrated on the table of play and not by the characters that attempt the task of points accumulation - to win the bout and become the victor of the ball bashing frenzy. What colour's do a Snooker player need to know about? In the words of a certain Meerkat its "simples". 15 red balls all worth one point, 1 yellow ball worth 2 points 1 green ball worth 3 points 1 brown ball worth 4 points 1 blue ball worth 5 points 1 pink ball worth 6 points 1 black ball worth 7 points and a white ball used by the players stick to hit into whatever ball the owner of the previously mentioned wooden rod is attempting to lose down a hole (any hole - no questions asked). Scoring:

The first player hits first, they strike the white ball (with their pole into the red balls and either hope to lose a red one into a receptacle or hide the white ball behind another colour ball making the other players job of hitting a red ball before any other colour ball that bit more tricky. With me so far? good! If a player smacks a red ball (by use of the white as a conduit) into any of the six cleverly placed holes then they score 1 point and get another "bat" or "play" but have to hit another colour ball (they can chose which). If they hit the selected ball into a hole they get the points that ball is worth and the ball is placed back on the table in the positions it started life out at at the beginning of the contest. They then have to hit another red ball - by use of the white ball, in an attempt to hide it from the field of play and score another of the points. This basically goes on until a required ball does not "play ball" and fall into a hole that has been Placed in the theatre of combat. When this occasion occurs, the opponent then has their go...and this process continues until all the balls have been hidden, one player has scored enough points to stop the other from being able to equal their total or until one player decides they want to go for a wee, or a bite of KFC (other fast food options are available). Other bits and bobs:

It should be noted that penalty points can be awarded to an opponent if: A player hits a wrong coloured ball, A coloured ball goes in followed by the white ball, A coloured ball goes into a hole and another coloured ball (including the black which isn't technically a colour) follows the same theme and also decides to duck and cover, If a player tuts too loudly during another players go, If an aggressive hairstyle is sported by either player This is a pretty comprehensive set of rules for you, so off you pop, play a round of snooker and see just how impossible a game to master it really is. Or alternatively - sit back, relax - perhaps even have a little snooze in the process, and enjoy the wonder that is Snooker. Thanks for reading. Please leave your comments on my twitter: https://twitter.com/BrynLucas Over and out...for now

[brynlucas]

What makes sport, sport?!

I have often found myself slipping into a deep, dark place within my head and considering the finer points about life and mortal existence. Why are we here? What is life's true meaning? Why is it that the middle drawer never shuts even though you know full well that no socks or pants are blocking the runners? That sort of thing.

One question never seems to get an answer - not that any of the above have been satisfactorily concluded either by the way. The question is, if you haven't already worked out by the ingenious heading of this blog, "What makes sport, sport?"

The Oxford English Dictionary says: "An activity involving physical exertion and skill in which an individual or team competes against another or others for entertainment" Whereas the Urban Dictionary says: Sport is the "home of the overpaid dumb-asses who flunked most of their school classes except p.e" So where do we go from these two polar opposites then? Maybe somewhere in the middle perhaps?

If we take a moment to analyse mainstream sports it is clear that physical exertion is high on the list of attributes required to make them what they are. Rugby, football, tennis, athletics, hockey, etc are all linked by that one golden rule - physical exertion is undeniably a main component. So we have physical exertion on the list then - a good starting point. Skill is clearly another very important feature. You won't get anywhere in sport if you don't have a certain aptitude to the task at hand. It could be a learnt skill - acquired through hour upon hour of diligent study and practice, or it could be a natural talent you happened to be born with and somehow stumbled upon while playing cops and robbers in the back garden. But if we take skill and physical excursion as two of the main ingredients that would rule out certain activities that fall into the "sports" category.

Snooker is a sport. It certainly involves a great deal of skill. Anyone who sees a snooker table for the first time will normally make a comment like "blimey, they're larger than I thought" - not dissimilar to the same thought process one goes through when seeing Katie Price in the flesh for the first time!

Anyone who has played (Snooker - not "Katie Price watching") the game will certainly understand just how darn hard it is to get those coloured balls into those little baskets in the correct order without missing or leaving a simple pot for their opponent. The higher the level you get, the harder it is to succeed - also a constant in the world of sport. Snooker is a very difficult game. It requires a great deal of skill and the level of concentration is also undeniable, but does it fall into the physical exertion bracket? Yes the action requires body movement which therefore means it is classed as a sport, but the level of exertion is the troublesome part for me. No snooker player gets sweaty from the exertion.

Where though is it written that a sport needs to make you sweaty? Somewhere in my head that rule must reside because there are so many sports out there that also fall into the "no sweat" category. So if snooker is a sport (which it is described as), we cannot say that physical exertion to the level of over heating is a necessary criteria to make a sport a sport. Physical exertion merely means " performing an action" - in that event almost any activity covers that parameter. If we then alter our guidelines to say a sport isn't all about exertion then we then have to look at second part of the three part list - skill.

Now, if skill is a major aspect of defining a sport should we include chess as one? What about croquet? Both require a physical movement and and both certainly require skill. Both are apparently regarded as sports - but where does a game become a sport? Are drinking games also sport? They involve physical exertion and it could be argued that they also require a certain element of skill...otherwise the "athletes" would all end up sozzled in the corner with kebab meat all over their faces - oh hang on a minute! The third criteria has to be competition. Sport without competition is like going shopping without your wallet - pointless.

The trouble with competition being a main defining aspect is that we can make pretty much anything competitive - and if it also has physical exertion and skill involved, it is surely, as eggs are eggs, a sport?!

Who can get the rolled up paper ball into the waste basket the most = sport Who can eat the most sausages while playing and winning a game of chess = sport Who can hop on one leg while playing a guitar for the longest = a sport You see my point? The distinction between a game and a sport is one that I am yet to find complete transparency - even after this very in depth analysis! I am certain something clear needs to be decided, otherwise the door is always open to more and more fantastical competition all wrapped up in the title of "sport".

Skill, physical exertion and competition are listed as the criteria of sport. Yet something like wrestling (American W.W.E style I am referring to) doesn't fall into all three of these as the competition is absent (the outcome of the match is known by the wrestlers before they enter the ring). Both skill and physical exertion are clearly vital in such an activity - yet it is called "sports entertainment". So do we conclude that a sport MUST contain 2 out of 3 of the following? Skill Physical exertion competition If that's the case we are totally up the creek without a paddle (two teams or a stopwatch and "up the creek without a paddle" is clearly a sport) because pretty much everything we do - that can be measured and given a score is a sport...at which point my brain has melted and my fingers have grown tired. Is typing a sport?!

And I'm done! Thanks for reading. Please leave your comments in the usual place: www.twitter.com/BrynLucas

Over and out...for now

[brynlucas]

Depression - a very real illness.

We all have low days where we feel grumpy, moody and a bit flat. Sometimes it can extend to a period of a couple of days, but ultimately you will "snap out of it" (a phrase I feel only heightens the angst within someone who is feeling particularly down). I myself have had periods of lowness and on some level have probably been on the verge of depression (clinical or not). As I have said already, we all suffer from these bouts from time to time, and it's the way we are able to cope with it that ultimately decides upon our fate and whether or not we will become - in a medical sense - depressed or not.

Depression is a pretty horrific illness. Silent and invisible to the naked eye, the sufferer will often appear to be "normal". Yet what is going on in their mind is far from silent and invisible (although it is actually "normal" and the stigma associated with it should therefore be dissolved immediately). I remember a particularly tough time in my own career a few years ago when I was unsure as to my future. This uncertainty had a huge impact on my confidence, which in turn had implications with the way I acted towards my girlfriend. I was extremely low. I didn't want to go to the studio to present the show I had been on for a while in case I did a bad job. I didn't want to try to get other work because I felt there was little to no point and my waking moments were spent agonising over the situation I was in and the hopelessness of where or what I could do about it all. To those who I regarded as my friends, I tried to hide the fact I was low by playing the role of a confident person, but it was all a facade and the amount of effort it took to cover my real emotions was extremely tiring which in turn compelled the situation further. A real catch 22 situation.

Most performers in one way or another suffer from these feelings. Our career is shaped by adulation - no matter what level we achieve. We seek approval at every turn. This may not be a conscious requirement, but it is a very real one. A show off is not a show off if there is no one to see them! When we are on stage or on screen we feel at our most comfortable because we have an audience to hopefully impress. There is a pressure that goes with this and from time to time you hear about people suffering stage fright - a condition where someone is too scared to go on stage for fear of complete failure. This description makes it sound like a very simple and straight forward thing and not worthy of a mention. If a performer forgets their lines or a dance routine or makes a total fool of themselves the impact on the world is pretty minimal, but the feeling of fear and insecurity is very real and I believe it is the same as depression, just manifested in another form. I myself have never suffered stage fright (and I am very grateful of the fact), but I have had complete memory blanks on stage and forgotten all of my lines - no way around it but to take a breath and relax, and hope it will all come flooding back - it did - and the show carried on without the audience knowing. This moment though has stuck with me, I do fear it happening, but also am currently in a positive mindset that enables me to not let it take over. My identity with depression is something that I feel is important to speak out about. While we all like to pretend we are happy and carefree, the reality is that most of us from time to time are not. We struggle with finances, job security, household related troubles, car issues and much, much more. The day to day running of our lives is extremely stressful and so it is no surprise our brains sometimes need to reboot. The reason behind this blog is simple. Jonathan Trott, the England cricketer has just announced he is to return home from Australia after just one test in the Ashes series down under. He is struggling with form, which has knocked his confidence to such an extent that he is in need of a break from the spotlight.

Marcus Trescothick - the former England batsman suffered from pretty much the exact same symptoms and decided to speak out about how it affected him - he has been very open about his depression and this sort of admission should be greatly applauded.

The term depression is seen as a bad thing, a demon that we should hide away from. Also the term "mental health" has such strong ramifications we all pretend it's not us that could possibly be a sufferer from "issues". Mental health is exactly that, it's the health of our mind. If your car breaks down you get it fixed, if your internet drops out you reboot. Why do we feel the health of our mind should be ignored or shied away from? For someone to suffer alone will surely only heighten their depression as they will feel isolated and meaningless. For high profile people like Trescothick to admit to his emotions, feelings and thoughts, simply makes us all aware how normal we are to also have these self doubts and insecurities. Depression is far more than just an insecurity and a bit of self doubt though, it is a total shut down of comprehension and by my understanding needs complete care and support from all those around.

The following link is to the Mental Health Foundation: http://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/ Please visit their site and have a look at all they do and how they can help. Depression in sport is extremely common (if not announced publicly) and when analysed, the reasons are clear. I played a bit of cricket as a teenager (but not to any standard). When batting you are part of a partnership - with your team mate at the other end of the pitch. Together you aim to score as many runs as you can collectively by supporting each other. But all the while, you also have your other team mates watching from afar. These colleagues only want the best for you, but the pressure to not let them down is be clear. If you take that feeling of pressure and multiply it to the level Trescothik played and Trott plays (international standard). The pressure to be a success - not just by your team mates, but by the entire public is incredible. As is the desire for you to fail, which emanates from your opposition team and fans - all of which are doing all they can to unsettle you. "Sledging" - as it is known in cricket is the art of insulting your opposition in the attempt to unsettle them into making a mistake in which you can capitalise upon. Cricket has been guilty of overstepping the mark on some occasions because of the very personal nature of the jibes and for the isolation the recipient has to contend with, It is little surprise to me that self doubt and a lack of confidence, on a cricket field can result in someone falling into depression, and perhaps this needs to be considered more by all concerned? As I have said, depression is a hugely destructive illness and we should all work together to aid and assist sufferers recovery. We could all be a sufferer at some stage in our lives and so a bit of compassion goes a long way. Sports personalities, television celebrities and you and I should all be a bit more vocal about our feelings. This inclusion would promote "normality" and in turn aid the recovery of those who feel they are far from normal. Depression has no concept of material belongings. You cannot argue "how can someone with everything be depressed". It doesn't work that way. Depression is a state of mind, a debilitating illness which has the power to cost lives - either through the sufferers death or through the limitations the suffer feels upon themselves - resulting in a focus on "survival" rather than "living". I wish Jonathan Trott well in his recovery from whatever he is suffering. I do not know if he is experiencing clinical depression, but that is irrelevant.

For support and information, either visit your GP who can start to assess and aid your recovery or contact The Samaritans. They offer emotional support 24 hours a day, and you can contact them using the following numbers: Call 08457 90 90 90 (UK) Call 1850 60 90 90 (ROI) Don't delay any further, you can begin your recovery right now. Thank you for reading this blog, I hope it can help in some small way anyone who is struggling with their own problems and troubles. There is always support out there for you and you are not alone or abnormal - far, far from it.

Please leave your comments on my Twitter: www.twitter.com/BrynLucas or Facebook: www.facebook.com/brynlucasfanpage Over and out...for now.

[brynlucas]

"Ransomware" - the latest in computer crime.

We've all heard about computer viruses, and we've all taken precautions to make sure we have the latest in antivirus software downloaded to prevent these viruses attacking our documentation photos and videos. But what about the latest in virus technology? There is a new 'King of the Virus' on the block and you really do not want to be a victim.

"Ransomware" is what this new system has been called and it has been designed to literally hold you to ransom if you want your files to remain on your computer. Using the very highest level military style encryption, the virus is activated when you open a link sent to you via email. Phishing scams are not a new thing but it seems people are still blissfully unaware of what they can do.

The urban dictionary says this of "phishing" (I particularly like the 6th definition!): http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=phishing If you open a "ransomware" link (remember, you won't be able to tell from the look of the link), an encryption is immediately placed into all of your documentation, photos, videos and other files, followed by a message (like something out of a Hollywood blockbuster) giving you 72 hours to pay a substantial fine (reported to be around $300) for the encryption to be removed.

If you do not pay the ransom fee within the time frame, the encryption deletes all of your files and there is NOTHING you can do about it. "CryptoLocker" is perhaps the most common name of this type of criminal activity, and due to the level of complexity to what they do, you are left with no choice but to pay up. Some people have reported trying to ignore the threat, believing it to be a hoax, the result? On occasion they have been given an extended period of time to make the transaction, but with it comes at a cost - $2300 or more.

How does it work? Very simply, if a link is opened the malware attempts to encrypt the files on the users computer across BOTH local and mapped hard drives. This malware uses a key (code) that has been created on a command and control server which is sent directly to the infected computer.

If this infection is a success, "CryptoLocker" will encrypt the files on the users computer using an asymmetric encryption which has both a public and a private key. What is Asymmetric encryption? As usual, I have turned to Wikipedia for them to explain the finer details: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public-key_cryptography The computer then displays a countdown clock plus details of how to pay the ransom - either via anonymous pre-paid cash or through Bitcoin. Wiki definition of Bitcoin: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bitcoin The way "ransomware" works is by giving you a time limit to effectively pay for the private encryption key to be sent to your computer for the files to be released back to you.

What can you do? Unfortunately, at this present time there isn't a lot you can do to be secure apart from stop opening phishing links (emails containing a link). Email links are still the main source of infection and so by eliminating this aspect, you will be making a huge increase in your security. Obviously we all open links (you are potentially reading this blog from a link on your computer) and so in reality what you should do is make sure you keep your computer up to date. You can do this by turning it off properly so that any updates will be sourced. Make sure you have antivirus AND anti-malware protection with real-time detection installed. Do be aware that having a number of similar antivirus programs on your computer can actually be extremely negative as they often impact on each other and become ineffective. Better to have one than two in this case! Lastly, back up your files on a remote hard drive that you connect via a USB cable. Once you have made your back-up be sure to remove the drive - keeping it remote. This way, if you do get attacked by "ransomware", you can ignore the ransom, wait for the files to be destroyed and start afresh, but with all your files still available to you. Incidentally, if you were to attempt to put infected files onto your remote hard drive, it would result in the entire hard drive being infected - so if you are hit by "ransomware" - DO NOT attempt this. In essence "CryptoLocker" is easier and cheaper to block than to heal, and by following the security steps i've mentioned, you will be doing yourself a huge favour.

For a bit more of an insight, check out this Yahoo finance clip from CNBC: http://finance.yahoo.com/video/cryptolocker-holding-digital-life-ransom-181300812.html Thanks for reading, please leave your comments on either Twitter: www.twitter.com/BrynLucas or Facebook: www.facebook.com/brynlucasfanpage Hopefully you won't get caught out. Over and out....for now

[brynlucas]

Go go gadget tent - technology meets the great out-doors!

Camping is a pretty popular choice when it comes to holidaying in Britain-land. The choice of tents is simply incredible nowadays with four berth, six berth, dividing rooms, integrated ground sheet, how about solar panels and wi-fi enabled? WHAT?? To begin with it should be made clear that this tent is just a concept at present but who knows where that concept might lead? It is going to take "glamping" to a new level!

Incidently, the Urban dictionary says this about clamping: "camping - The Act of staying in one spot in a map in a first person shooter video game to gain a tactical advantage over an enemy or group of enemies." And I thought it was simply a way to holiday while having the freedom to roam around the countryside, cook on barbecues mounted on bricks and complete a record breaking amount of crosswords while drinking the fermented beverages brewed from the fruits f this land?!

Picture the scene. You are at a camp site, maybe even at a music festival, you return to the area where you know your tent is based but due to the sheer volume of revelers you cannot locate the exact position of your sleeping accommodation. Cue the "glo-tec" function. You, the camper sends a text to the tent which then omits a glowing light enabling you to be able to navigate directly to your slumber! In the morning you decide to check online which acts are performing at the festival but don't want to use up any mobile data. Simple, you turn on the WiFi hub and surf to your hearts content! How about a bit of central heating for those cold evenings? No problem for the solar power tent. The ground sheet has an inbuilt heating element that kicks in once the temperature drops below a certain level meaning you will never wake up in need of an extra cover (unless you go camping in extreme conditions of course!).

For more information on camping in general, check out the amazing site: http://www.inspiredcamping.com/ Thanks for reading. Please leave your comments on mt Twitter: www.twitter.com/BrynLucas or Facebook: www.facebook.com/brynlucasfanpage Over and out...for now!

[brynlucas]

Energy prices...the dispiriting truth!

It’s been a while since I went to my cupboard and took out my soap box before ascending upon high and declaring my latest concern, but here I am, standing 2 foot off the ground with a loud speaker in hand!

This morning I received a letter from Southern Electric announcing the price increase that has been all over the press of late.

I don’t care who created the “big 6” and I don’t care why it happened. Whenever this question is asked one is often met with a ridiculous point scoring battle that in no way gets to the real crux of the issue.

Politicians are, in my opinion, mostly a bunch of out of touch idiots who firmly believe in deflecting questions or rewording them to be able to throw a barbed arrow at their opposition and gain the upper hand! Why can’t they see that being honest and answering sometimes awkward questions is a far more appealing attribute to a large number of the populous? You never know “lets be clear about” might actually have some meaning one day!

The Urban dictionary says:

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=politician

Anyway, I digress!

Back to my energy issue.

The letter from Southern Electric.

First of all let me say that I have no problem with a price increase, in principal. Companies need to make a profit and that is just the way the world works (I also try to operate at a profit).

What really got me riled though was how the letter was worded.

Here is a little quote that elevated my blood temperature to simmer: “As a customer, you would have a right to be concerned if this price increase led to unfair profits for us, but it won’t. In fact, the profit we make on your energy is likely to remain about the same as last year. On the average dual fuel energy bill we make less than £2 profit per week.”

Lets analyse this for just a moment.

Firstly, the word “likely” means there is no assurance their profit will not rise - a sort of political side step which ultimately makes the sentence meaningless.

Secondly, “a right to be concerned”. As a consumer I have a right to do what the hell I want with my money without invitation. This misuse of the word is highly inappropriate.

Lastly (I could go on, but I won’t!), The price increase is to maintain a profit margin. Not forced because they are losing money or not earning much, but to maintain a margin of approximately £2 per household.

I do now know how many households SSE supplies but lets for arguments sake say its 5 million homes. That’s an average profit of £10 million or £10,000,000.00 per WEEK or £520,000,000.00 per year! £500 million pounds per year, and they can’t help out their customers by perhaps relaxing their profit margin a little? Seriously?

Then there comes the kicker!

It has been reported that, “This year, the top three directors at SSE were due to see their pay double, with the highest paid director set to pocket a total pay packet of just under £2 million (1.9m) compared to £1.1 million in 2012.”

http://www.leftfootforward.org/2013/10/sse-makes-1500-profit-a-minute/

So where is our extra money going? Yep, in part to the bosses of the company so they can have a nicer car, house, swimming pool, new look wife - perhaps?!

It is a relief though to see this price increase isn’t happening just as the usage of heating increases with the cold weather. That would just be too much of coincidence…oh, hang on!!

What ever happened to treating customers with respect? Increasing market share? Not being so openly against those you rely on?

There is an old saying” don’t defecate on your own doorstep”. I only hope that in the not too distant future SSE and the other companies who treat us with such disdain, hit hard times and feel the full force of karma (although by wishing that upon them I am probably due a bought of flu or worse!).

Surely lowering the price would encourage people to switch to your supply and therefore you would increase market share and profitability would grow (I know it’s not that clear cut as there will be a period where profit would drop until the market share reached a certain level)?

It’s just a thought, but in such an economic situation as we are in, isn’t it right we all look out for each other? Service providers included?

The biggest problem we all face is that we rely on energy suppliers so much at this point in time that they have us over a barrel with out pants pulled low…and it’s clear they know this all too well!

This blog isn’t just aimed at Southern Energy, but ALL the companies out there who feel they have a right to treat us with such contempt.

One day, when we have solar panels on our heads and store kinetic energy in batteries inserted into our buttocks we will have the last laugh…although that would use up valuable energy…so perhaps a slight smirk will suffice?!

Let me leave you with the BBC’s take on the issue - a warning that more companies will follow SSE’s example!

Happy Monday - enjoy your week!

Thanks for reading.

Please leave your comments in the usual places:

Twitter:

https://twitter.com/BrynLucas

or Facebook:

www.facebook.com/brynlucasfanpage

Over and out…for now!

[brynlucas]

Drag racing - what's it all about?

Over the past few months I have been welcomed into the arms of the drag racing fraternity as I nestle my buttocks into the comfy seat within the control tower at the home of European drag racing - Santa Pod.

I have to admit to not knowing a huge amount about the spectacle that is the 1/4 sprint to the line but have luckily been taught by the ever so knowledgeable folks within the weird and wonderful world of all things high octane!

video of the Fireforce jet funny car - see more below: http://youtu.be/d1B-TfGdhBk

To begin with I should probably explain what drag racing is and where it originated.

Origins:

It originated in America and is all about who has the quickest car over a short straight section of road (originally traffic lights). The winner would be deemed the better male and would get to fondle the more appealing female forms!

That’s enough about that, now to the sport!

Okay okay, lets get serious for a moment!

Drag racing did indeed originate in the good ol’ U.S of A and came about pretty much as soon as vehicles became commonplace on our roads.

People would line up side by side and have an illegal “face off” between sets of traffic lights to deem who was faster. This competition grew and grew in popularity, started generating spectators and rules began to be formed to make the competition more exciting.

This competitive creation eventually led to the NHRA (National Hot Rod Association) being formed, which has shaped the sport to how it is now.

In 1950 a man by the name C.J Hart opened the first ever drag racing strip and the whole 1/4 mile drag racing scene that we know today was unleashed!

So what is so special about drag racing?

I’m glad I asked myself this question, as to be completely honest, I wasn’t sure until I well and truly got to grips with it all!

To begin with its open to all people.You don’t need to spend a huge sum of money to enjoy seeing how fast you can get your car to go over a fixed distance - plus with the variations in the sport, anyone can compete against anyone (see “bracket racing” below).

The beauty of drag racing is just how intoxicating it is.

Cars are split into various categories (check this link to find out: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drag_racing#Classes), which vary from what essentially look like the regular road cars you see pootling about on the streets today to the more iconic dragsters with the large rear wheel and imposing engine block sticking out the back - and then there are the “funny” cars. These are meant to retain the look of a road car but are in no way similar!

Santa Pod is the home of the Fireforce JET funny car - an amazing piece of machinery that combines the look and shape of a funny car with a jet engine that is as powerful as it is shiny!

http://www.fireforce.co.uk/

You will, without doubt hear the term “top fuel” dragster if you wander around the scene long enough. Their name comes directly from the mix of fuel used which consists of 90% nitro/methane and 10% alcohol.

This heady mix, used instead of regular fuel, enables the cars to produce much greater power.

"Top fuel" dragsters have the iconic smaller front wheel, long narrow frame in which the driver sits (with a very important roll cage of course) and the engine in the back (although it is in front of the large rear wheels making it mid engine) .

The large rear wheels are designed for one reason, and one reason only - to get the immense power onto the ground as efficiently as possible AND get the car going in a straight line as quickly as possible too!

"Top fuellers" travel so quickly that they require a parachute to slow them down and times in the 4 seconds are fairly standard with this form of racing - crossing the 1/4 mile at around 330 mph.

As I have said, there are way too many different classes within drag racing to be able to cover off on my simple little blog, plus there are many varied types of races themselves.

Bracket racing is a case in point.

This form of drag racing is all about consistency. The driver has to “dial in” an elapsed time in which he (or she) believes they will complete the 1/4 mile.

The cars line up side by side and the one that requires longer will get the green light to go before their opponent.

For example: Car A dials in a 12.5 second time and car B a 13.1 second time. Car B will get the green light to go 0.6 seconds earlier than car A.

The result should be that the cars cross the line at the same time (or there about!). The car over the line first wins…unless they go faster than the time they have dialed in - in which case they lose, or if they jump the green light, in which case they are eliminated - unless they jump the light slower than the other driver if they themselves jumped the green light! Make sense?

Bracket racing means that cars of different classes and spec can race together using a handicap system, plus the drivers have to be completely at one with their own performance too as not only are they racing an opponent but they are also racing against their own eagerness to finish! This form of drag racing takes the emphasis out of how much you need to spend on the sport and places it firmly in the driver skill as reaction time of the line plays a huge part in the result.

Good old Wikipedia has this to say:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bracket_racing

As I have said a number of times (twice I think), there are way too many car classes within drag racing for me to go into, plus of course there are motorbike drag racers too - an area I haven’t even touched upon in the slightest in this blog.

The best place to find out about drag racing is at a track near you.

The UK is fortunate enough to have a number of strips which can be found at http://www.motorsportcircuits.co.uk/.

Shakespeare (or Shakey as it’s known) is a highly popular location, as is the home of British drag racing - Santa Pod Raceway.

Check out their website for full listings of events:

http://www.santapod.co.uk/

and Shakey:

http://www.shakespearecountyraceway.com/

Be sure to check out all the other venues too!

Lastly, I always harp on about how Wikipedia is a great place to get your information, and drag racing is a case in point:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drag_racing#Basics_of_drag_racing

I hope to see you at a track one day soon, you will surely love it as there is often so much more to see and do at these meetings.

Thanks for reading, please leave your comments on my Twitter:

https://twitter.com/BrynLucas

or Facebook:

www.facebook.com/brynlucasfanpage

That really is all folks!

[brynlucas]

Auto-tune - friend or foe?

Before delving into the technical detail of auto tune I think it's worth explaining the reasons for writing about it in the first place.

I was recently shown the Miley Cyrus "performance" at the VMA awards and was struck by how out of tune she was. I am not suggesting for one moment that Miley has a problem with vocals, if so, being a singer is probably not the vocation for her, but she seems to be doing pretty well for herself and so I have to draw the conclusion that it was just an off day for her or the fold-back was switched off when she needed it aligned to the "on" position! It could just be a simple issue that Miley appears to have too big a tongue to fit in her mouth and pushing the notes out is extra tricky for her at the moment!

What is Auto-tune? Auto-tune was originally created by Antares Audio Technologies to correct or disguise off key notes performed and recorded. The technology itself is relatively simple, yet has been a revolutionary creation used in the modern music market. How it works: The auto-tune processor bends pitches (either in real time or in post production) to the nearest true semitone. The result is a pitch "perfect" note. That's it, very simple indeed isn't it?! Auto-tune has most recently started being used in live performances and is a pretty commonplace piece of kit within the pop music culture.

It has however become the focus of a lot of negative press due to the perceived miss-use or overuse and taken away the actual vocal performance of the "artist" it has been cunningly used upon. If you listen to current pop music, you might just hear a sort of synthesised quality to the overall sound, this is likely to be the work of the note correction tool and not an issue with your stereo or speakers! Auto-Tune can also be used as an effect to distort the human voice when pitch is raised or lowered significantly. The overall effect to the discerning ear can be described as hearing the voice leap from note to note step-wise, like a synthesizer. Some "artists" have taken to using the system as a theme in their music to either highlight its use, or give them freedom to use it to disguise vocal shortfalls.

While I am on the topic of singers vocal performance, I do have to mention that shows like X-Factor that use a huge amount of echo on voices, actually make judging whether someone can sing or not all the more tricky. A "wet" reverb level (where the sound has more echo than when it is "dry"), makes being able to focus on the quality of the notes sung all that more difficult. Anyone who sounds like they are singing in the shower is likely to be using too much echo...as is someone who sounds like c3-p0! Thanks for reading. Please leave your comments on my Twitter: www.twitter.com/brynlucas or facebook: www.facebook.com/brynlucasfanpage The next blog is all about fossils!

[brynlucas]

Formula E - the future of Motorsport?

Those of you who have been keeping up to speed with my blogs will know I have been taking a huge interest in electric powered vehicles for a while now.

The technology needed to make electric cars a viable option is finally catching up with the desire to make it a reality and the proof of this is the debut season of the FIA Formula E, which revs up (or not as the case may be!) in London in September of next year. So what is Formula E and how will the championship work? A good question indeed (and one I am glad you asked!). When you think of the pinnacle of motorsport, "ones" mind always goes right to Formula One - the top of the pile - with all the finances, the glamour and the high pace elite teams and drivers.

That is exactly what Formula E has positioned itself to be. The shop window, the flag bearer and the catalyst for the electric car movement. The inaugural season will see ten cities around the globe (namely London, Berlin, Rome, Putrajaya - Malaysia, Beijing, Bangkok, Rio De Janeiro, Buenos aires, Miami and Los Angeles) all host a round on a street circuit. At this stage the season calender is under review but final announcements are due at the end of September 2013.

The use of street circuits is perhaps one of the most surprising of the announcements. Formula E is for people to see. It is a spectacle of speed, power and technology all fused and placed right in the public eye. No need to venture off to a circuit, it is very much in public domain! In a bid to contain the event and to reduce disruption to each host city, Formula E rounds will include practice, qualifying AND the race all in the same day. This swift "in/out" approach will also appeal to the short attention spans of the great and good among us. For such a revolutionary competition to work there are a number of fundamental issues that need to be overcome:

Due to constraints on vehicle size, power generated and battery charge lifespan, Formula E has had to work around a number electric specific issues, which they have done with a great deal of mathematical genius! How do you get a car to complete a race of a certain distance when it has a range that is less than required? You use more than one car of course! The breakdown of the day is as follows (taken directly from the Formula E website as it is best described by them and to which which I have linked to at end of this piece): "Practice All events will open with a one-hour practice session giving drivers their first experience of the circuit. They will have up to two cars available to them giving them the option to change cars should they wish. Full power (200kw / 270bhp) will be available throughout. Qualifying The qualifying session is a straight fight for the fastest laptime and determines the order for the day's race. Drivers will only be able to use one car and have a maximum of four laps - two timed laps plus and out and an in lap - in order to set their fastest time. Cars will take to the track in stages in order to avoid congestion with the running order being chosen by the driver who sets the quickest time in practice. Full power (200kw / 270bhp) will be available throughout. Race Races will begin by standing start and last for approximately one hour with drivers making two mandatory pit stops in order to change cars. Engines will be restricted to power saving mode (133kw / 180bhp) but can be temporarily increased to maximum power (200kw / 270bhp) by using the 'Push-to-Pass' boost system." In addition there are also two other aspects (again taken directly from the Formula E website): "Pit stops/Car changes During races, drivers must make two mandatory pit stops in order to change cars. This must take place in their box and be observed by an FIA steward to ensure all safety equipment is correctly applied. Tyre changes, unless a puncture, are not permitted during this pit stop. Push-to-Pass During races only, drivers will be able to use a pre-determined number of power boosts to aid overtaking. This will increase the car's power output from 133kw (180bhp) to 200Kw (270bhp) for a limited period of time." The use of "push to pass" is similar to KERS in Formula One. KERS provides an extra level of acceleration as it stores energy created under braking and is later available to the driver.

KERS: http://www.formula1.com/inside_f1/understanding_the_sport/8763.html As with Formula One, there will be both a drivers and a team (or constructors) championship. The drivers are awarded points based on their finishing position and the teams points are an amalgamation of their drivers points. To make the season competitive and consistent, each team has two drivers in their line up and both compete at each race meeting. There are ten teams lined up for the inaugural season although only three have been announced at this stage:

- Drayson Racing - http://www.draysonracingfe.com/

- China Racing - http://www.teamchina-racing.com/

- Andretti Autosport - http://andrettiautosport.com/ (Andretti Autosport is owned by former Formula One and Indy Car driver Michael Andretti - son of former Formula One world champion Mario Andretti). At this stage no drivers names have been announced although there are various rumours and media rumblings taking place - it would be futile to begin to speculate on this but expect to see top names from the world of IndyCar, GP2 and Formula One. Specifics: Each team will be running four Spark-Renault SRT_01E single-seat cars (two per driver), with the cars being transported to and from each race venue by Formula E themselves.

The reason Formula E have decided upon this for the debut season is central to the success of the series. In an attempt to reduce teams running costs, not only will Formula E be housing the cars in it's central garage but each team will have restrictions on the number of team personnel. This control over the cars also maintains each team has the same constraints per round - as well as fixed gear ratios the cars will also not require in race tyre changes - all designed to reduce expensive pit stop equipment. Although the constraints are in place, Formula E is all about design and development. Teams are allowed to develop their own cars - in accordance with the specifications put in place by the FIA (the governing body of worldwide motorsport) intended to allow electrical energy and innovations to be showcased in a competitive and exciting racing arena.

http://www.fia.com/ For full car specifics including dimensions, tyre information, motor technicals and all updates on the championship, visit the Formula E website: http://www.fiaformulae.com/

Formula E official trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aDmagYyotNU Thanks for reading...please leave your comments on Twitter: www.twitter.com/BrynLucas or Facebook: www.facebook.com/brynlucasfanpage

For a history of electric cars - visit my blog pages: http://brynlucas.tumblr.com/post/54528592965/electric-cars-history-lesson and http://brynlucas.tumblr.com/post/54529270313/the-future-of-motoring

[brynlucas]

Goal line technology - what is it? How does it work?

Football fans around the world have been debating the use of goal line technology ever since England won the World Cup back in 1066 (I think it was?!). THAT goal against zee Germans sparked debate that has continued to rear its head each and every time a goal is disallowed or awarded when it can be proven via video replay to have been an error in officiating.

You have to feel sorry for the referees. They only have a split second to judge whether a spherical object has fully crossed a white painted line in a field and have 22 players on the park - plus those watching from the side (team and fans alike) - all ready to lynch them, whatever their decision may be.

Goal line technology would remove the errors and make referees better equipped to deal with the baying mob - or so we hope. So what is goal line technology and how does it work? Goal line technology refer to systems that analyse the flight of a ball to determine whether or not it completely crossed the goal line during a football match. Football is MASSIVE business nowadays, with millions upon millions of pounds spent on the running of the teams. The prize money for league positions is £755,000 per place and doesn’t include television rights, payments and prize money for cup competitions; nor does it include ticket and merchandise sales but you get to see just how financially important it is that the major decisions in football (goals are key) are crucial to such a high value business.

Not so long ago I wrote a blog about tennis and Hawk-eye. If you read that you will get an idea of how triangulation works. For those who didn’t read it then here is a basic summary:

To track the flight of a ball (or even for your GPS to work on your smart phone), a method of triangulation is used. Place a number of cameras (3 is the minimum number - tri-angulation) into an arena. Naturally, the more cameras the better because they become more precise and accurate. Working in synch, these camera images are put through a processor. The result is the location of the object which is placed into a map or plot of the area in which it is situated.

With tennis, the Hawk-eye system literally predicts the flight of the ball and uses this prediction to place a ball either in or out. With your GPS it’s used to show you where you are on a map (GPS uses satellites, transmitters and receivers) and is accurate to approximately 10 meters for most consumer GPS devices.

To find out more about GPS etc visit: http://www.pocketgpsworld.com/howgpsworks.php Back to football!

http://www.premierleague.com The Premier League (in England) opted to hand the contract for goal line technology to perhaps the best known company in the UK to provide such a service. Hawk-eye (developed by Dr Paul Hawkins originally for cricket broadcasting - and used to show whether a ball bowled would have hit the stumps) has been around for a pretty long time.

Those cricket fans out there will remember seeing a graphical flight of a ball used in commentary on television prior to its use as a review system for the umpires themselves during game play.

The system for football works in exactly the same way as the system for cricket and tennis. A number of cameras are used to plot the flight of the object (ball) and placed into a 3 dimensional map of the environment.

For football, seven cameras are placed at either end of the football pitch and all trained on the goal area alone. These seven cameras will record the ball when it comes into their view. As they track the object, the data is sent through to a central computer which uses a minimum of three cameras to precisely locate the ball and place it into its 3D environment. The computer program is effectively watching for the entire ball to cross a line (a parameter in the system). IF Hawk-eye determines the ball has crossed the line it will send a signal to a device worn on the referees wrist, who will in turn award a goal.

Factors such as player’s bodies or fog obscuring the ball from the camera will not be a problem using Hawk-eyes system for a couple of reasons: The placement and number of cameras mean there will always be a view of the ball to locate it and therefore “predict” its path (Hawk-eye uses the flight of the ball to predict it’s trajectory rather than review it after an incident).The cameras are of such high quality that fog will not obscure their ability to “see” the target.. All this takes place within one second and therefore delays in play are not likely to become an issue! Hawk-eye (in football) is accurate to 3cm. While this is extremely accurate, it has been argued that more than an inch is too great a margin when the object is only 9 inches across (a professional football is between 27 and 28 inches in circumference). As with most broadcast sports that use a Hawk-eye system the graphical images are available for television usage.There is currently a discussion to allow them to also be used on the large screens within the stadia itself but at present this has not been given the go ahead!

http://www.hawkeyeinnovations.co.uk It is worth stating at this point that while The Premier League has adopted this system, UEFA is currently still against the use of any goal line system. So any club that has this technology within its stadia will have to turn it off for an UEFA based competition.

FIFA on the other hand has given the green light for goal line technology to be used in its sanctioned competitions and is considering using a form of system in the 2014 World Cup. Other versions of goal line technology that didn’t get the thumbs up treatment from The Premier League hierarchy include:

http://www.cairos.com/ Cairos Technologies AG Cairos Technologies AG developed a system which incorporated a magnetic field in the penalty area with a sensor that is suspended within the ball itself.

To generate the magnetic field they would place thin cables with an electrical current running through under the turf in the penalty box and behind the goal line to create a grid. The sensor within the ball measures the magnetic grid as it moves across the area and relays data to a computer which in turn determines if the ball has crossed the line or not.

If the system believes a goal to have been scored, a signal is sent to the referees watch within one second of the incident occurring. To make this system workable, Adidas designed a football that could contain a sensor suspended within that would remain intact even when the ball is struck with great force.

Goalminder Perhaps the cheapest of all the options, Goalminder places high speed cameras (taking 2000 frames per second) onto the goal posts and the cross bar. These images are then used to deliver visual evidence to the referee to enable him (or her) to make a decision – in less than 5 seconds. This system has been ruled as the simplest but most time consuming method. It is the fact that it could take a period of time for a human to analyse the footage to determine an outcome that has caused it to be the least successful of the options in terms of it's bid for use.

Goalref http://www.alexandra.dk/uk/projects/pages/goalref-intelligent-football.aspx A second technology involving electronic circuits and the ball directly. GoalRef uses a passive electronic circuit which is embedded in the ball and a low-frequency magnetic field around the goal itself. If the electric field that is generated is changed at all it is detected by coils which are imbedded in the goal frame, that in turn determine whether the ball crosses the line. This is extremely technical as the electric field is very minimal, yet the circuit in the ball is enough to trigger the system WHEN the ball fully crosses the (electric) field itself.

Picture a sheet of fog across the goal line. If the full dimension of the ball were to pass through this fog, the system would detect it and the referee would receive a signal on their wrist watch device. So which system is best? Which will be “the” future? The million dollar question! The answer is very much dependant on which organisation you wish to know about, which tournaments and which countries! The Premier League has given the go ahead for Hawk-eye to be used in the 2013/14 Premier league season after a closely run tussle between them and GoalRef. Last year saw FIFA award both Hawk-eye and GoalRef the go ahead to be used in the 2012 FIFA World Club Cup in Japan. FIFA have also identified the Cairos Technologies AG version as a viable option and are now weighing up the systems for successful implementation at the World Cup in Brazil in 2014. This decision is (at the point of writing the article) awaiting announcement.

I hope you have found this of some interest! Please leave your comments on my Twitter: www. twitter.com/BrynLucas or Facebook: www.facebook.com/brynlucasfanpage Sources: Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goal-line_technology Goal Control: http://goalcontrol.de/gc4d.html Hawk-eye: http://www.hawkeyeinnovations.co.uk/ Cairos Technologies AG: http://www.cairos.com/ GoalRef technology: http://www.alexandra.dk/uk/projects/pages/goalref-intelligent-football.aspx UEFA: http://www.uefa.com/ FIFA: http://www.fifa.com/