Blondie - "The Tide is High"

Blondie's "The Tide is High" was on the radio this morning.  I remember Blondie from when her records were first in the charts . . .  :(

However, and not wanting to make it sound like I'm always knocking local radio, I did think it an odd choice for the presenter to play as he talked over the tune's instrumental intro . . . talking about the recent flooding in Cornwall . . .


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"Safety is . . . "

I've posted a couple of times about things said on my local BBC radio station, Berkshire (here's the most recent: http://the-ride-info.blogspot.com/2010/10/open-prison.html ).

Yesterday morning I had the radio on, and heard possibly the best yet.  The presenter was Debbie McGee, and she was talking to a fireworks supplier about health and safety, during which she said:

"Safety is a double-edged sword"
 
Errr . . . really?
 
Well, if you say so.  But it reminded me of a badge I found many years ago, one Sunday morning during a BMF-RTS training session based at a local school.
 
Very simply, the button badge stated:
 
"Be safe with fireworks"
 
So ever since then I've made a point of carrying fireworks in order to be safe.
 
 
 
 
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World's Fastest Mobility Scooter

Yes, a World Record!

The fastest mobility scooter in the World - powered by a 125cc motocrosser engine!


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DSA - No more theory test Q&A availability

Latest update from the DSA:

DSA to stop publishing questions used in theory tests

• Candidates need to understand theory
• End to memorising answers
• Unpublished questions used from 1 January 2012

The Driving Standards Agency is to stop publishing the multiple choice questions and answers used in theory tests, Road Safety Minister Mike Penning announced today.

 

This will help to ensure that new drivers learn the principles behind driving theory rather than just learning answers.

 

The move follows the introduction of independent driving into the driving test and the DSA's decision to stop publishing test routes in October 2010, to make sure the test assesses a learner's ability to drive and not their capacity to memorise routes.

 

Mike Penning said: “The driving theory test should help to prepare drivers for real life on the road - good driving is not just about vehicle-handling skills, but also about having the knowledge and understanding of safe driving theory.

 

“No longer publishing these questions and answers will mean that successful candidates will have to understand the theory rather than simply memorising answers.

 

“I believe that this - along with the other changes we are making to the driving test regime - will lead to better drivers and safer roads.”

 

In September 2011 DSA will change the format of books and other learning materials available to help people prepare for theory tests. This will take place at the same time as more challenging case studies are introduced to car and motorcycle theory tests.

 

Then, from 1 January 2012, DSA will create theory tests using questions which will not be published.

 

Practice questions and answers, not used in theory tests, will still be available to help candidates with revision.

 

Other companies which publish products containing DSA theory test questions will also no longer have access to the questions used in the tests.

 

 

 

What I find of concern with this is that some of the multi-choice questions are, well, 'odd'.  May favourite example is - for car drivers [probably] - this:

"What should you do when driving into a tunnel?"

 

I won't give you the full list of options, but the answer is 'Turn on your car radio' . . .

 

I can assure you that I didn't know that until I read a theory test Q&A book!

 

 

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Riders for Health

I mentioned Riders for Health in the Ross Noble tour post.

In case you don't know about RfH, here's some info from their web site:

http://www.riders.org/default.aspx

http://www.riders.org/about.aspx

Vision and Mission


Riders for Health’s vision is of a world in which no one will die of an easily preventable or curable disease because barriers of distance, terrain or poverty prevent them from being reached.

Riders for Health manages and maintains the vehicles used in the delivery of health care and other vital services to rural communities in Africa . We manage them on a planned, preventive basis so that the vehicles do not break down however difficult the conditions. In this way our partners can deliver their services predictably and cost-effectively.

Despite the fact that access to public health, as well as prevention and cure for disease, are basic human needs, men women and children in Africa die of easily preventable and curable disease because they do not have that access. The knowledge and resources exist to prevent this waste of human life and the associated suffering, but those resources routinely fail to reach the people who need them because of lack of reliable transport.

Riders works with ministries of health and other agencies working to improve the health and lives of rural communities in Zimbabwe, Lesotho, the Gambia, Zambia, Nigeria, Kenya and Tanzania.

The management of transport is the most neglected and yet one of the most vital aspects of development. It enables the Millennium Development Goals to be addressed and conserves the high costs of vehicle purchase and operation, so that resources can be refocused on direct humanitarian support.

Their shop http://www.riders.org/shop.aspx has some interesting ideas - rather than just buying something there's also the option of 'sponsorship' so that if you make a donation you'll know exactly what level of support that money will offer them, such as £55 - the most expensive option - buying a day's training for a health worker.

So if you're looking for an unusal Christmas or birthday present for the biker (or motorcyclist :) ) in the family, look no further!



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Ross Noble - Nonsenory Overload!

Last week I was thoroughly entertained for two hours by the man that is Ross Noble, during a performance from his Nonsensory Overload tour.

Rather than try to describe the show, here's a quote from his web site 'reviews' page:

“All good comics are adept at weaving the odd heckler or late-comer into a stream of material. But I have never before seen anyone create an entire first half - about 50 minutes - from rapport with a couple of customers in the front stalls.” Daily Mail


Put it like this:  a few people arrived late (I don't recommend you do that).  From them came disabled Ninja warriors in wheelchairs causing grievous head injuries to a person waiting for critical medical test results, and the spectre of hooked lip poercings being used to display AlphaBeti Sphagetti . . .

If you get a chance - get tickets and go see!

And if you go see, spare some change for Rider for Health, who is is supporting.

http://www.rossnoble.co.uk/

http://www.rossnoble.co.uk/tour/


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Open Prison

This week, the former Huntercombe Young Offenders Institution became Huntercombe Prison, with a change in the ages of its clientele.  The former young offenders institution in Oxfordshire had been housing 15 to 18-year-old males since 2000, but because of a drop in the number of younger people being imprisoned it was decommissioned and has now reopened as a Category C prison for up to 370 adults.


Intriguingly, the BBC reporter who interviewed the new Governor said "It opens its doors today".

Errr . . . Hang on . . .


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US Police Training Video

OK, it's not actually a 'training' video in that it isn't intended to 'teach' you the viewer.

What it 'is', is a US police instructor and one of his two trainees, practicing tight turns under 'adverse' camber.




Worth noting that, in the words of the instructor . . .

"One of my trainees wouldn't even attempt (a wise move) and the other one did great until he had a HUGE brain fart and grabbed a whole lot of front brake while still in a turn. After the bike went over it slid downhill about 5' until we grabbed hold of it."



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Save!!!

Raffaele De Rosa making an incredible save, and in the process showing that - given a chance - the bike doesn't want to crash, it's down to the rider to keep things under control.

Bet he's glad of the metal plates on the knees of his leathers . . .



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Scooter Safety

From the BBC's 'Odd Box' weekly video collection:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/hi/newsbeat/newsid_7875000/7875393.stm

[The videos are changed weekly, so I'm not sure how long this link will remain active]

This particular collection features a BBC News report on scotter safety, withe orange-jacketed and be-helmeted kiddies on their small-wheeled scooters in the playground of a Brighton school.

Sadly, all didn't go to plan:

What's that old showbiz saying?  Ah yes, "Never work with . . . . "



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Belstaff 'Iron Man'

Belstaff - a name from UK biking history, now owned by an Italian company.

Italians - renowed for style.

"Fail", as the modern saying goes, when they release the Iron Man range . . .


IRON MAN JACKET MAN


Fabric composition: 100% Leather


GBP 1189.00


The official Belstaff Iron Man Jacket has been created using Belstaff’s trademark design of combining protection with style. Every Iron Man Jacket is hand-made (just like the Iron Man suit) using the most durable yet finest leather in the Iron Man signature colours of red and gold, with each limited edition jacket tagged with its’ own unique number and official Marvel trademark.

Yes, that's £1189 of your Engleesh pounds!
 
 

 
 
 
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CBT by Distance Learning?

Have to admit, this had me confused.

One of the forums (yes 'fora', for the experts) I use is funded partly by advertising, with content-specific 'Ads by Google'.  Every now and again, it (the software driving the advert allocation) will understand  the content but not the context.

For example: it was with some confusion that I noticed - in the header of a motorcycle training forum - an advert for CBT;

CBT Training Course Diploma Through Distance Learning Leading UK College, Find Out More!

So, interested to know howDSA-controlled rider training could be managed on-line, I clicked on the ad.

It led to:

http://www.oxford-learning.com/product_info.php?cPath=11&products_id=355&gclid=CKnGmrbHtqQCFQFI4wodayKI1g

This Ascentis Quality Assured Level 3 Diploma course is the fundamental foundation for people looking to offer cognitive therapy either via Counselling or Psychotherapy. Many counsellors use a person centred approach, but many are now using cognitive therapy within their sessions.
This course will be a pre-requisite to further studies in this area. The course offers the student great knowledge of the subject areas in which to progress from. The course is a fascinating insight into the world of both cognitive therapy and psychotherapy and asks the students to look inwards as well as outward during their studies.

The course comprises of a series of assignments, a thesis and concludes with an online examination.

Ah!  That sort of CBT - Cognitive Behavioural Therapy!
 
However, I was also intrigued to note that the final exam is an on-line multi-choice, after a series of assignments.  When I was involved in the Edexcel-accredited BTEC L3 Advanced motorcycle instructor courses, we were heavily into observation of actual training, whether real or role play.  How much easier if we could have done it all from teh comfort of our homes . . .
 
 
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Commuter Survival Guide for Motorcyclists

A new DVD, suposed to be hitting the shelves soon (well, Amazon), from the makers of the Highways Agency 'Great Roads Great Rides'  and 'Max Rider'.

The Commuter Survival Guide for Motorcyclists will be a fresh approach to providing practical tips and guidance for today's commuter rider.

More info here:

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=153777&id=109569872423252

Not to be confused with:

http://www.commutersurvivalguide.com/


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Independant Riding

Although it's been fairly well publicised that there's a forthcoming change to the driving test - the inclusion of 'Independant Driving' - I don't think it's so well known that this also applies to riders taking the accompanied test motorcycle.

Further details of independant driving and riding in the test here:
http://www.dsa.gov.uk/Documents/MPTC/2010/dsa_atb_newsletter_issue_22.pdf
In a DSA newsletter.

And more info here:
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/LearnerAndNewDrivers/PracticalTest/DG_189979


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Quiz Answer

Thanks to Voyager for providing the correct answer and also suggesting chevrons - which since that bend is preceded by a long straight might actually be beneficial. That said, I can't ever recall hearing of a crash there.


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