Toms View of the World

Oh well, it’s that time of year again - and not even starting the show with last years winners can really help it…

However this year’s videos between the songs at least had Linnanmäki’s  Vuoristorata scenic railway coaster - but then went back to the expected and stereotypical scenes of ice and snow… with the occasional stadium sized IT conference and Bog Football (and at the time of writing we’re only about 45 minutes into the show…)

As for the songs, well, nothing stands out - half the acts are using pyrotechnics in some form - and there’s a distinct lack of Lordi Wannabes doing heavy metal power songs…  this is probably for the best.

The less said about our entry the better really…  I mean, why do we go into this so expecting to lose that we field “Scooch” as our best hope…

Sometimes I wonder why I’m bothering watching it at all…

Give a geek a challenge, like “Bake a birthday cake for Engadget” and see what a geek can do with…

• Cake mix
• Baking Trays
• Oven
• CAD Software
• 45w Computer Guided Laser Cutter
• Fresh Cream
• Food Colouring

Huh, CAD Software and a Laser?

See the pictures here

A bit of overly sensational reporting from the BBC - a woman who happened to be using SatNav, uses the incorrect procedure for negotiating an unmanned level crossing (see highway code rules 217 and 269), and has her car crushed by a train.

Fortunately, she wasn’t in it.

The SatNav had nothing to do with it - if she’d used the crossing in the correct manner, she’d have been fine.

Another argument for refresher driving courses and tests being compulsory, especially for less common situations (there can’t be that many user-operated level crossings left)…

There’s an article on Gizmodo about a machine that allows you to get the benefits of 8 hours sleep in 4.

I need one of those - I already feel like I’m trying to cram 28 hours into every day sometimes - maybe I can push it to 30…

Via Jason Bradbury

The BBC are reporting that there is a plan afoot to create an email “snapshot” of modern life.

However they’re asking for emails representing your interests and life - rather than a true representation of the contents of your inbox.

Sensible I suppose - ‘cos a true indication would be one or two “real” emails, then a few hundred offering cheap pharmaceticals, loans, stock advice, dating services, “male enhancements” etc.

(is it just me, or is anyone else seeing a massive increase in “foreign language” spam - I’ve got loads using Cryllic typefaces with subject lines like - “подключение телефонии” )

Some of you, my regular readers are probably aware through various sources, that Blackpool Pleasure Beach have opened a new ride today.

This particular post/rant is about the marketing and publicity this second-hand machine seems to have attracted…

Shown here, is a small screen-grab from Blackpool’s own website - boldly claiming “Infusion Opens Today - Infusion is the world’s first suspended looping coaster”

Well, it’s not.

Not even close.

There are, 22 examples of the standard SLC worldwide, plus the 2 original prototype models, plus 5 extended versions. So there’s 29 of these out there (including Infusion), the first one of which was built in 1994 in the Netherlands. I’ve ridden it.

Infusion is however not a new ride - it was first installed in 1999, at the now defunct Southport Pleasureland (not coincidently owned by Blackpool Pleasure Beach) under the name “TraumaTizer“, when it was the first SLC in the UK.

However when you click the link into the BPB site - you discover the rest of that headline grabbing quote. “Infusion the world’s first suspended looping coaster completely over water“.

Yup, completely over water. (they couldn’t omit the word “completely” as there’s a MK2 in Italy which is built partially over water)

OK, let’s look at another claim - ” Infusion is the tallest, fastest SLC in the UK, and represents an £8 million investment for Pleasure Beach.

Let’s break that claim down:

Tallest, Fastest SLC in the UK

Well, if we’re only counting standard SLC’s (of which we have already established there are 30 worldwide), then yes, it is. Given that it’s the only standard SLC in the UK, we can give them that - however it’s also the smallest and slowest - which is a claim which will stand up under closer scrutiny.

If we include the two custom layout SLCs in the UK however the story is very different.

Infusion stands 109ft high and reaches a top speed of 50mph (in common with the other 21 Mk3 SLC’s in the world)

Flamingoland’s “Kumali” has a 111ft drop, and a top speed of 55mph

Fantasy Island’s “Jubilee Odyssey” has a 141 foot drop, and a top speed of 63mph.

However it probably was an £8m investment. When they bought it in the late 90’s. I doubt it cost £8m to dismantle, paint and reassemble at Blackpool.

Now, I’ll admit I’m not a huge fan of BPB’s management after what the company did to Southport, (despite them having some fun and enjoyable rides) and I’ve never been a big fan of the SLC as a ride (I’ve ridden a few of them - none were really any fun - far too painful really) - but Blackpool’s marketing divison seem to have worked miracles and really pulled the wool over some people’s eyes in the media today - and it would seem, their website team too.

(all coaster stats taken from the Roller Coaster Database)

Now, it seems that “magic numbers” are everywhere at the moment, whether you’re a fan of LOST or not..

It seems that there’s a situation over at Digg, where a user posted a secret encryption key for the new HD-DVD platform, the post was pulled from the system, and now the regular users of Digg are having a riot reposting it…

Now whether or not what was done is correct or not is not something I’m going to go into here - I have my feelings on Copy Protection and Piracy (they’re not really related - serious pirates won’t be stopped by it, but it will inconvenience regular folks who’ve bought their music/movies) - but Digg should now be realising that the thing which made it great - it’s userbase, it now the thing which could be it’s undoing.

For those who are interested in what those numbers are - a quick perusal of the Digg front page should give you some hints (at least, at the time of writing it will)

(Thanks to Jason Bradbury and Gizmodo)

Update: Digg are listening!