Things are gradually picking up again in the Formula 1 world, which is good because we are reduced to playing golf games. Although, the golf game is quite good, so perhaps that's not a bad thing. Anyway, here are some of the stories floating around today:
- After all our excitement of yesterday, the Carlos Slim Buys Honda headline has died down suddenly. ITV just managed to write the story, when Autosport said they were sure nothing had changed since before Christmas, and then AFP corrected themselves on their earlier article, with a source saying Mr Slim isn't even in negotiations with the team. Oh well, looks like we got all excited a bit prematurely.
- The age old story of Alonso moving to Ferrari is back again, but this time there is added weight to the rumours. With sponsors moving around, and driver contracts up at the end of 2009, the speculation is that Fernando could be donning red overalls for 2010 and onwards. We've been talking about it all year and it looks like that will continue through 2009 as well.
- Don't forget we're looking for your predictions. If you haven't already, head on over to the predictions post and leave your thoughts. Be warned though, we will look back in 12 months time and hold you to them.
The daily post finally returns to it's midnight slot, it looks like the holiday is nearing an end. We're constantly working on behind the scenes stuff for Sidepodcast, so while we do, please keep us amused in the comments discussing anything that's on your mind. I'll see you there.
What's this? A Daily post, and its on time. I don't think I quite believe it.
Cheeky.
:D
I write strange and unusual stuff for my personality at 00:09
Third!
I'm using the doohickey. I don't like it, but helpful for when I'm commenting in about 6,273 topics.
This is the first time I have used it over a long period. I have 3 lcl...ts open and can't keep up with them so I switched to the doohickey earlier.
You get used to it
But I like 'Lauda, Coulthard, Liuzzi, Trulli'. I feel used to it, all smug and comfy in it.
Doohickey is like a thorny chair.
it's what happens when christine starts posting a lot.
normally if there's a one or two a day, there's no issue. if we post more in '09 though it could be really useful.
As Steven said, when you've 3 tabs open or just keep switching to each thread, it's time to switch
But then of course, if there is a new blog post, you have to go to the main page to read it, then comment on it etc.
Gets all complex
The danger of the Doohickey is that the front page can get missed entirely and you're commenting on . . . the comments.
At least with lclt the original post is at the top
that's true, but you have to reload lclt to even find that new post, so both have issues in equal measure at the moment.
yup, that's true.
Bernie on Medals
That just makes it stupid
I think with my golf supremacy established it is time for bed even if I did sleep through Top Gear. No doubt i will pop in again tomorrow.
please do :)
Goodnight from me too.
I will see you on the green tomorrow
hehehe.
night all.
Night Steven and Bassano.
Right, I need practice from the best, Tiger Woods PGA Tour 09 here I come.
In other words, night from me
Hey everyone!Slim-Honda was funny. If Slim wasn't in negotiations with them, why would he go to Brackley in the first place?
Maybe he was tired of landing in places where his helicopter could fit? And he just needed somewhere small to land so he could show off?
Haha! That's a creative, if flimsy, excuse. :P
But if it DOES push through, I expect to see Button-Senna. If Senna shines, Renault will swap Piquet for Senna.
Maybe Slim was checking out whether it was really a good idea to leave the driver he is sponsoring in a team that's about to change owner. I assume he concluded that it was the best choice right now, otherwise we'd have heard about Senna looking for a GP2 drive about now.
But why go to Brackley to do just that? Surely he could've done that without going himself?
what honda is, well, better than renault. he may stay.
and everyone knows wha renault do to young drivers, it'd be better for him to stay away for a couple of years
I've just recieved an email from honda (i signed up to their newsletter ages ago, so long ago i'd forgotten about it)
Inevitable i know, but sad all the same. Honda racing tv was awesome, i just hope the new team or in fact another team pick up on just how good it was and start up their own.
Maybe he was considering it but after a tour and a chat decided he would go no further
No negotiations but a LOT of selling going on :D
WooT! My new toy has just arrived
http://www.play.com/PC/PCs/4-/7977460/Western-Digital-WD-TV-HD-Media-Player/Product.html
Oooh. Let us know how you get on :)
I was wondering, what ever happened about that online 'Best web community' award thing Sidepodcast was nominated for last month?
Good question. Does anyone still have the URL?
will have a look back in the archives, i think they did a post about it...
here's the link for the voting - http://2008.weblogawards.org/nominations/best-online-community/index.php#comment-13003
thanks lou. looks like it was supposed to be released on the 28th. we're now midway through the 29th, and no new posts as of yet.
They keep putting the date of the nominee announcement back and back. To be honest, I gave up looking cos I thought we'd be waiting forever.
Yup. And it looks like their forum reeks of spam. Not much hope there then.
Finalists announced very soon and voting begins Jan. 5
Holy Smokes! I get sent out on a weekend deployment to a place were a telegraph is considered an advanced form of communication and you guys decide to hit me with 10 articles fr a totla of around 655 comments and counting?
Weasels!
Link? :D
Any hope for our beloved F1 websites?
Plenty more to come as well.
All there is is this coming soon message, they are already a day late announcing the finlists
http://2008.weblogawards.org/coming-soon-finalists/
That entry is NOT easy to find. Thanks for that!
I'm feeling my age here but what does WooT mean .. it sounds though as though it's something good?
Woot is just an exclamation of joy, like YAY!
technically it's written:
w00t!
that's lower case 'w', zero, zero, lower case 't'. followed by an exclamation mark. and yup it's really good thing :)
It is from gaming innit?
That's because i'm no Leet Haxor "D
"D = :D
think so, either that, or a hacker thing that bassano mentions.
first i ever heard of it:
http://www.reuters.com/article/internetNews/idUSN1155159520071212
I think it's the gaming nerds equivalent of ebonics
LOL whats ebonics
Haha, I'm getting an education here. .. cool!
Think of Ali G's influence on the language of the youth on the street. Also parodied very well by Catherine Tate's "But am I bovvered" or Little Britain's "Yeah, but No"
Ebonics translator :D
http://www.joel.net/EBONICS/translator.asp
Cheers.
tight
an don't make me pull mah gat!
Examples of ebonics :D :
Ebonics: "Yo G, you frontin me?"
English: "Excuse me, my peer, are you attempting to influence me to engage in a violent action with you?"
Ebonics: "You gots to git those Benjamins so you cin git dat bling-bling fo yo ride"
English: "You need to get money so that you can get expensive accessories for your car."
Oh god, I give up :doh:
It reminds me of that Ronspeak translator http://www.pitpass.com/fes_php/pitpass_ronspeak.php
Evenin' all.
What be ye all be talking about todays?
anything but golf. damnnit.
Whatever happened to the lets meet up at Autosport idea?
My dad beat me at Tiger Woods Golf on the Wii.
Luke Donald was having a bad day, ie, bunker-to-bunker
http://sidepodcast.wetpaint.com/page/Autosport+International
that's the up to date list of who's attending and when. not sure if we're planning a big meet up, or just accosting people as we find 'em :)
Thanks, saw that already. You guys having a stall then? I've been trying to convince Jolly to come along as well.
at those prices? no chance :)
we're just walking and talking. mostly photographing things.
quick heads up for anyone using the realtime doohickey. it's about to go very mental. if you remember back in november we had server problems, so we switched to another server which was even worse.
during that switchover we ended up with approx 100+ comments from the fp3 thread left on the wrong site:
http://www.sidepodcast.com/2008/11/01/live-commenting-brazil-free-practice-3/
now christine's going to copy them across to here and they will appear in the doohickey. they're all old comments, they won't make and sense, so please ignore them all. cheers.
I have no idea what youre waffling on about, but in the end, I am using lclt
in that case you're ace. carry on.
Yay!
I've recently had to acquire one of those mobile phone thingums that can pick up emails. The manual advised me to buy "an official Blackberry (TM) body-worn carrying solution with integrated belt clip." I think they mean "a holster". Has Ron been moonighting?
It's a very odd feeling working on a stage with people pointing their cameras at you...
There's a biography of Sebastien Loeb on Dave tonight from 19:00-20:00. Should be worth watching.
Fancy wasting an hour or two?
http://www.mcgov.co.uk/riddles/level1.html
I suck at these sorts of things. The other-half has been trying to crack it for the past day or so!
Because I haven't wasted enough in the past 24hrs with that golf thing, grrr! [sorry, didn't mean to start Tremayning there] :D
What level is the other half at? It's quite good, makes you think... a lot!
Twenty-six I believe. I got to level three before giving up!
Level 3: Pay heed to the look (absolutely) everywhere instruction
Apparently they are currently facing some empty spaces... so prices may fall....
I can't even find level 2...
Level 1 may seem like a trick question but when you get it, you'll realise it's staring you in the face.
The answer is on the page
ARGH! I can't figure it out :-(
I've looked everywhere. No doubt the glaringly obvious is managing to bypass my brain at the moment.
Obviously, you haven't. Look ALL over
ahh, cool. how do we find out when they do?
Done it! :-D
I hate riddles end of, got l1, l2, pass.
Bah. The only obvious answer I hadn't tried.
Level six. Brain is hurting. I hate trying to think outside of the box!
Talk to the organising company?
I heard because a friend of mine makes/prints childrens tshirts, and they did another show (organised by the same lot) earlier in the year... had a phone call on the 23rd!! saying that they wondered if they might like to, um, print some appropriate t-shirts and bring them along to sell and that the stand price would be 'below list due to a lack of demand from your sort of retailer....'
Although - given that the smallest available on the plan is apparently 3 by 3 metres, and prices are per square meter, it would probably still be cheaper to, um, buy all your 'people' a ticket and surreptitiously hand out cards with links to your productstore.... but one would hope that you've got a press pass anyway? haven't you??
That one irritated me.
Remember: Sometimes it is a single word, sometimes a string of letters or numbers
Try saying what you see in the " "
In theory, what would be on the SPC stand - apart from Mr C in a Panda suit :D
Sell SPC related goods, play classic podcasts (SPP 2, the one I was in :D ) stuff like that.
I'd still like to see the Panda suit
That alone is worth the price of admission :)
and the Panda suit.
nope, have you seen the information they want from you to get one of those? passport photo, inside leg measurement, the works.
Your name? What is this, the spanish inquisition?
(Nobody expects that!)
doohickey officially going mental.... now.
:)
i can't be arsed to fill in the request on the off chance they might give us a pass... or they just might decide not too. especially as dank found us the cool bogof.
Not much happening here...
ummmm.
Or here
stand down nothing to see here... although i have nooo idea why?
Level seven was verging on the ridiculous!
comments have appeared here:
http://www.sidepodcast.com/2008/11/01/live-commenting-brazil-free-practice-3/
but not in the realtime thing. which is good. but unexpected.
Stuck on that now
Indeed, not very good for Netbooks I'd imagine
Questions aren't that hard.
Publication, number of daily hits etc.
I'm just stuck on level 4
Pic is quite hi rez, easier to look at closely if you save it to desktop
that's odd. before there was a huge online form to fill in?
Read the last 2 lines again
for Level 4
As mentioned. Save the image and zoom in VERY close and look around for the answer.
If it's a game you're playing, link please :D
we can point and giggle too?
will you be attending this year?
Bingo, cheers Bassano
http://www.mcgov.co.uk/riddles/level1.html
Pretty normal stuff for a presspass :-) Basically there are a lot of 'chancers' who'll try, but don't actually *do* what they are claiming to, its just about screening them out.
Christine's got plenty of stuff up online (not just on this 'site, all the bella stuff and similar) wrt 'proof', plus send it in on headed paper etc. making sure that you are credited as her director (pretty normal for a crew to go with the presenter, even if they self-produce/op, if only to be security for the kit!) Don't forget to mention that Honda accredited you for the GP!! (that alone will/should be a huge help - would have been when I was pressofficering)
that wasn't the form though, i swear?
that's easy to fill in, we may even do so.
The form I saw was brown and at least three pages filled with questions.
I don't get it. Where do you have to go to start?
why did they change it then?
And it gets even harder than that!
Look very closely. Read the instructions. Again.
Aha!
The answer is on the page, sometimes right in front of you
Level ten is rock-hard. I'm assuming the numbers equal letters?
I got distracted, am on 9
I give up. Other-half gave me the answer to 10 as it is the hardest of the lot!
They say 6 is stares you in the face (saying the word empty) but I can't work out one of the words.
Is getting silly now, 11 + 12 you need to look at source code for page. FFS
Damn I can't figure out Level 4
Never mind, got it. Now just trying to get Level 5
As I said to R.G. earlier: read the last two lines again
Try the redacted pdf trick on the page - highlight ALL the text, that should help
I've highlighted the text, I just can't work out the two words.
Maybe it's 2 letters
ALL the text? try highlighting the blank area under the writing.
Maybe I should read the hints better next time :D
Any hints for number 7. I am guessing it has soemthing to do with something around th epurple area, but I do not know the name of the fish, I am on the right track.
Save it, and zoom in on it. Its written and you'll be able to see it.
Nothing to do with fish or the purple
Mentioned earlier I think
I really don't get number 5 :S
1st line says it twice, 2nd says it once, 3rd refers to it
Also read the web page header (right at the top)
barbeque, thank you.
Similar similies.
number 6? two letters. hmm...
say what you see
And don't confuse it with words :D
A hint on number 2, please... And yes, I am embarassed to ask...
I just thought of something else regarding the Honda issue.
Wasn't Danica Patrick rumoured to get a test for Honda at the end of the season after winning her maiden race?
I'm not sure whether it was ever confirmed though, could just have been a rumour.
Think of a letter
If I remember she said she'd only do a test if it was a serious one, which I think means being considered for a role within the team, probably test driver.
NUmber 7 was nuttier than a fruitcake!
ugh, so obvious... thanks
The notes I have made so far for q.10 are quite, long
No idea what red herring has to do with ninety, but there we go... :-P
Red herring is meant to put you off course so to speak
I see.
Not gonna happen anytime soon then, I'm afraid
Especially as they said something about getting rid of the grid girls...
When did they say that? The rotters :(
God knows what the grid girls have done wrong
Part of the cost cutting probably. All I was saying is that it would be the closest Danica Patrick can get to a F1 car. Not that I approve of this, I think some more diversity in the driver line-up would be a good thing.
Any ideas for No. 9?
I reckoned it would be because of cost cutting indeed. I just don't see a reason to get rid of them though, it's not like they are paid millions each.
At the moment I think she's better off in American racing anyway. F1 is going through some rough times and it would be sad if her chances were ruined because of that.
Last line isn't text.
Stuck at 6 myself at the moment.
"Empty"
Answer is two letters... And red herring pops up again too... AAAAH!
say it aloud
genius. and i'm not even playing :)
oh dear, at first I thought "but that makes it mpt"... then I realised the p is not pronunced.
You Brits and your silly language :-P
I used to support a computer program that used a small database. The empty database file used to add entries to was called MT.CDB
Get in there, got level 10!
love it :)
7 is insane.
Love it :D
Getting rid of the grid girls is just mean
where's that come from? news to i.
Andy T mentioned it earlier
Um, I may have imagined it. Oh, LittlePurpleGoth tells me she read it somewhere too.
No grid girls is an outrage and the races will not be watched by I until this situation is sorted out.
That, or, Max gets kicked out for it.
Can anyone confirm or find a decent source
Surely this is now a priority
:)
shall have a look.
The girls would be more likely to be the ones doing the kicking if Max were involved :)
:D What have I started now?
Google & Yahoo searches for news items on 'grid girls' brought nothing :(
It gives us a break from the Zahada puzzle :D
I find that hard to believe. Have you tried switching safe search off?
Nothing useful
Unless they mean Red Bull Formula Unas
"Despite Red Bull's lavish spending in 2007, they have revealed that they will be cutting back on F1 frills such as their Red Bulletin magazine and even their Formula Una grid girls"
Speaking of Zahada
I can't figure out what letters go with 5, 4 and 1, can anyone help?
Ow, wait, just found out my mouse indicator can be very useful
That's not the same thing though, surely?
nope. but i can see how some news outlet might have gotten their wires crossed.
That would probably be my brain then. Sorry. Make that very sorry and pleased as well :)
Panic over then, I need a cup of tea now
Level?
:)
Was level 10, but am at 11 now
26 is very clever
I'm stuck on 23
Found this clue elsewhere
"This is really tedious. You need a letter from the answers of each level. To check if your answer is correct, it's got something to do with the picture."
Ok, need help with eleven
this is not a red herring: 10+101+1010
Tried adding them, tried 10101, tried adding the three and then 10101, but nothing.
Pretty please?
Think binary
Boy, Level 10 was a piece of cake one you figured out the logic... (Thre's only two ( possible) numeric solutions to the one + one = two and Four + one + IR = five part.
Ah. Got it. Tedious is the word.
Still not a clue./
Does it have to do with level "11"?
Can anyone tell me what is the real question behind Level 13?
Look at the web page header
Note: not the highest but the tallest
(you'll need google)
Check your Bi-nary math....
There now. Is it anything to do with character sets/fonts?
Yep
That could be tricky on a Mac...
Use Google or Wiki to see what the symbol of the word looks like
Done that, still not making sense :(
Each word (ie it's symbol) is a letter of the answer
Got it now. Confused by the inclusion of the punctuation :)
No I am stuck on level 15
Ok, I'm done.
Tired of this game now, made it to level 11 and that's good enough for me :-P
Just noticed a new audio post. Let's see what that's all about!
The coloured 'o's are a clue to google
Level 9 help please
I'm really cold too, my teeth are chattering and I'm shivering a bit. Brrrrr.
the last line isn't text. play around with it
41 fooled me quite a few times - be careful
Ah, yes, the Internet puzzle has made its way to Sidepodcast. :P This will be fun!
Does level 15 have anything to do with the quote?
ok, that game you guys have been playing is strange...
What level are you at, Lou?
lol well i clicked on the link, did the first level without even reading through it and just thought the whole thing was a little strange, and decided i would listen to the new show and read through comments instead. may have a go in a second though.
Level 15 would be helpful if you had any fricken idea of what you where supposed to know about this quote....
Copy it into google and find out who said it
Google it, it's from a song
The answer is the title
How do you get past Level 1 on Zahada? I can't even find the question, let alone puzzle out the answer...
Never mind - I'm on Level 2 now...
Oops. I solved No. 4 before solving No. 3. Is that supposed to happen?
I'm now stuck on No. 6.
13 minutes after you started? shheeesh.
Say it Alinora! It is in quotes....
Level 16 is starting to bug me. And for Lvl 15, once if figured it out, that's when I start posting that stuff. I mean, that specific knowledge...
Try highlighting the whole page
What are the bold letters, and why does it say 51 when it's level 16?
On to Level 17, thank you boldness
Level 17 was a bad pun and a piece of cake!
Level 18 was the easiest question yet.
13 minutes after you started? shheeesh. {me - 8 comments ago}
This is having missed 4 because I got the answer to it while attempting to solve 3.
My current situation is that I am on 9.
What are the bold letters, and why does it say 51 when it’s level 16? {Bassano Clapper - 5 comments ago}
You may have guessed the answer to No. 50 in your quest to find the answer to 16. Congratulations if so :)
No, the number 51 is relevant to Level 16's answer
No, it just says that, you are in fact on question 16
I'm off now. I've posted a Zahada tips link on Drop.io
No answers, just a little help if required
cheers, bassano.
That makes no sense. But then 9 doesn't either :(
I've looked on both the fora Zahuda itself recommends, neither of which appear to have any useful suggestions for me. The tips, by and large, don't even make sense to me with regard to the ones I've already solved, let alone the ones I haven't.
Hooray! I've finally got to double figures.
Once I figure out the meaning behind the bold letters in queation No. 16 I was able to get teh answer. I suspect that level 51 is another very helpful hint to give you the answer. I would say, a unique hint.
Level 9 has a change in data types, hence the clue provided.
I did the maths for 10, got it wrong and can't see any mistake in the calculations. I think I'll call it a night.
I know you did the calculations right, Alinora, but there are two possible solutions of R + R + E = E.
Oh yes, if ONE + ONE = TWO then 4E's = T, and there are two possbile solutions for this as well.
Hexidecmal nor Octal numbering systems are not allowed.
I am supposed to type in numbers or letters for the answer to Level 19?
Number 20 does not even make sence. Do I type in numbers or letters?