Testing was a bit underwhelming yesterday with a few showers causing problems for the teams. Ferrari decided not to venture out at all so we can all start making fun about the red cars hating the wet weather again.

  • Elsewhere, it's emerged that Mallya had input in the decision for Mercedes to supply the Team Formerly Known as Honda with engines. I can't imagine he would have much say in the final decision, but he might have been able to throw his weight around a bit. What do we think?
  • Pedalo has spoken out about the lack of in-season testing, suggesting that if a third driver is required in the middle of race weekend, he's going to be completely out of practice. Does this present an inherent safety risk, or is there anything teams can do to make it work?
  • Despite running last for two days in a row, Piquet is adamant that Renault will be fighting at the top end of the grid. He also reckons the car has improved enormously since it's first test. And yet they're still last?

That'll do for now. I'm not sure what the forecast is for today, but we should see some more action in Jerez. Until then, I'll see you in the comments.

505 responses

  • me03/03/2009 at 00:10

    That’ll do for now. I’m not sure what the forecast is for today, but we should see some more action in Jerez.

    i just visited weather.com (ahh, it's been so long!), and it says:

    so, umm, not much running expected :(

  • Flibster03/03/2009 at 00:19

    You sure they haven't moved the test circuit to Scotland?

    Weather seems about right for there...

  • me03/03/2009 at 00:24

    You sure they haven’t moved the test circuit to Scotland?

    kinda looking that way isn't it? :)

    never known anything like it.

  • Steven Roy03/03/2009 at 00:27

    You sure they haven’t moved the test circuit to Scotland?

    Those temperatures are practically tropical compared to here.

  • Pat W03/03/2009 at 00:41

    Dunno if it's bad form for one of my first non-live comments to be OT but it is still technically off-season and I enjoyed it (and it does mention Blundell... so there's a sort of F1 link). It's a sort of travelogue blog of an NZ TV crew visiting the IndyCar test in Miami but that's not the main focus. The main thing is, it's about racing and it's funny.

    http://tvnz.co.nz/motorsport-news/bob-mcmurrays-pre-season-indycar-blog-2510737

    (found on the Indy Racing Revolution blog)

    Okay, I'm off to bed.. On the live show MrC asked me to tell you about myself, there wasn't time during it, must remember to do that this week if yer still interested 'cos I'm hoping to stick around! Oh that sounds really presumptuous now.. And I need to get my Wii code... I should write a list.

  • Alianora La Canta03/03/2009 at 00:41

    I hope Ferrari are prepared to let Massa and/or Raikkonen get wet at some point, otherwise they'll have another virtually useless week.

  • me03/03/2009 at 00:45

    Okay, I’m off to bed.. On the live show MrC asked me to tell you about myself, there wasn’t time during it, must remember to do that this week if yer still interested ‘cos I’m hoping to stick around!

    yay :)

    and yep we're certainly v.interested pat. glad we didn't scare you off t'other day.

    ...I should write a list.

    you and me both ;)

  • Alianora La Canta03/03/2009 at 00:45

    Dunno if it’s bad form for one of my first non-live comments to be OT {Comment #5}

    The daily post practically exists for the purpose of going off-topic. Between that and "oh-by-the-way" relevant comments, that's pretty much what an entire daily blog post is. So what you've done there is good form :D

  • Pat W03/03/2009 at 00:52

    and yep we’re certainly v.interested pat. glad we didn’t scare you off t’other day.

    No way - it was fun!

    I've got college work (that I meant to do yesterday, and err, today.. and didn't) that I need to get done first, although knowing me it'll be the first thing I do when I'm home tomorrow...

  • Pat W03/03/2009 at 00:53

    No way - it was fun!

    I’ve got college work (that I meant to do yesterday, and err, today.. and didn’t) that I need to get done first, although knowing me it’ll be the first thing I do when I’m home tomorrow…

    The intro not the work, but then you go that...right?

  • Pat W03/03/2009 at 00:53

    The daily post practically exists for the purpose of going off-topic. Between that and “oh-by-the-way” relevant comments, that’s pretty much what an entire daily blog post is. So what you’ve done there is good form :D

    It's also ridiculously addictive. Now I really am going.

  • me03/03/2009 at 01:19

    http://tvnz.co.nz/motorsport-news/bob-mcmurrays-pre-season-indycar-blog-2510737

    that is a quality piece of writing, although i now have no intention of flying to the US in a hurry. madness.

  • Aitch03/03/2009 at 02:16

    If anyone is interested the F1Weekly.com podcast has an interview with Jackie Oliver. The interview starts around the 44 minute mark.

  • me (please ignore)03/03/2009 at 03:35

    just testing something. nothing to see here.

  • me (please ignore - again)03/03/2009 at 03:36

    just testing something. nothing to see here.

    still nothing.

  • me (please ignore - again, again)03/03/2009 at 03:36

    still nothing.

    testing from live comments too.

  • me03/03/2009 at 03:37

    testing from live comments too.

    sorry. was just testing cookies again. hopefully all is in order.

  • me03/03/2009 at 04:00

    le bol is at the test in jerez this week. he's uploaded some video here:

    http://thewombatofthebol.blogspot.com/2009/03/piquet-jerez-rf1-march-09.html

    and pictures here:

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/dobol/sets/72157614726970142/

    well worth checking out.

  • me03/03/2009 at 04:13

    di resta says, 2-3 weeks before confirmation of a drive:

    "...there’s still a few fine details which need to be ironed out and agreed. I should be in a position to let you all know in two or three weeks; you’ll be the first to know."

    i'm amazed mercedes haven't insisted he gets a honda seat in exchange for a last minute engine.

    http://www.pauldiresta.com/2009/03/02/race-for-success-starts-now/0088

  • F1Wolf03/03/2009 at 04:46

    Despite running last for two days in a row, Piquet is adamant that Renault will be fighting at the top end of the grid. He also reckons the car has improved enormously since it’s first test. And yet they’re still last?

    well, he is not saying that Piquet will be fighting at the top end the grid, he is saying that Renault will :-)

  • F1198003/03/2009 at 06:15

    I was suprised Mallya said that. One more team means more chance of FI scoring 0 points plus less TV revenue for him.

  • Journeyer03/03/2009 at 06:23

    I was suprised Mallya said that. One more team means more chance of FI scoring 0 points plus less TV revenue for him.

    But one less team, and all of a sudden, they might be asked to run 3 cars each - and that's something Mallya couldn't afford at this point.

  • Jackie03/03/2009 at 06:57

    I'm just stunned by the number of comments Steven made last month .. that's 50 a day! wow .. and again WOW

  • Gavin Brown (RubberGoat)03/03/2009 at 07:33

    Dunno if it’s bad form for one of my first non-live comments to be OT but it is still technically off-season and I enjoyed it (and it does mention Blundell… so there’s a sort of F1 link). It’s a sort of travelogue blog of an NZ TV crew visiting the IndyCar test in Miami but that’s not the main focus. The main thing is, it’s about racing and it’s funny.

    http://tvnz.co.nz/motorsport-news/bob-mcmurrays-pre-season-indycar-blog-2510737

    (found on the Indy Racing Revolution blog)

    Okay, I’m off to bed.. On the live show MrC asked me to tell you about myself, there wasn’t time during it, must remember to do that this week if yer still interested ‘cos I’m hoping to stick around! Oh that sounds really presumptuous now.. And I need to get my Wii code… I should write a list.

    Cheers for posting that - Bob McMurray was in the Mclaren team for a long time, then he retired back to NZ and became the studio pundit for TV One's F1 coverage and now the Indycar coverage. An opinion worth listening to and a great blog piece - I especially enjoyed the bit about LAX and the 'dig' at Danica ;-)

  • Gavin Brown (RubberGoat)03/03/2009 at 07:36

    http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2009/mar/02/felipe-massa-formula-one-ferrari

    Another great piece of writing about Felipe Massa. I couldn't stand him before the start of 2008 - now I think he's awesome and my opinion grows higher by the day.

    The way he reacted in Brazil was truly that of a champion - the crushing defeat he must have felt and yet to act like a proper sportsman - now that's true class and not what we have become expected to see from Ferrari drivers recently!

  • Journeyer03/03/2009 at 07:50

    Cheers for posting that - Bob McMurray was in the Mclaren team for a long time, then he retired back to NZ and became the studio pundit for TV One’s F1 coverage and now the Indycar coverage. An opinion worth listening to and a great blog piece - I especially enjoyed the bit about LAX and the ‘dig’ at Danica ;-)

    Oooh, Danica's head getting just a wee bit too big... :P

  • Journeyer03/03/2009 at 07:51

    The way he reacted in Brazil was truly that of a champion - the crushing defeat he must have felt and yet to act like a proper sportsman - now that’s true class and not what we have become expected to see from Ferrari drivers recently!

    Indeed - he's grown by leaps and bounds. That year off testing in 2003 was the best thing that ever happened in his career. Had he stayed in Sauber or some other team for 2003, he would've been dumped anyway - and probably not had a Ferrari test seat to run to.

  • Alex Andronov03/03/2009 at 08:54

    Another great piece of writing about Felipe Massa. I couldn’t stand him before the start of 2008 - now I think he’s awesome and my opinion grows higher by the day.

    Weirdly I have always liked him. Each year a mate and I pick out of the rookies which ones win world championships in their careers. Hard to define when the book closes but... my guesses so far have been:

    Alonso, Kimi, Massa, Sato, Lewis and Vettel. Yes, yes Sato is in there what was I thinking, etc etc.

  • Gavin Brown (RubberGoat)03/03/2009 at 08:59

    I’m just stunned by the number of comments Steven made last month .. that’s 50 a day! wow .. and again WOW

    Smiley faces and one word comments count too, remember, and I have certainly provided a lot of those (whereas Steven is often a tad more insightful)...

  • Gavin Brown (RubberGoat)03/03/2009 at 09:45

    Alonso, Kimi, Massa, Sato, Lewis and Vettel. Yes, yes Sato is in there what was I thinking, etc etc.

    You can blame Sato on hype and optimism, right?

  • Lukeh03/03/2009 at 09:48

    Autosport just dashed my hopes quite magnificently. I see 'Montreal secures three-year deal' and smile happily...

    http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/73520

    ...then notice it's NASCAR. Boo. :(

  • Gavin Brown (RubberGoat)03/03/2009 at 09:53

    In Gone-da news:

    http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/73522

    Great news, if at all true. I am awaiting the flip-flop denial story before dinner time today - just like all the others have been...

  • Gavin Brown (RubberGoat)03/03/2009 at 09:54

    Autosport just dashed my hopes quite magnificently. I see ‘Montreal secures three-year deal’ and smile happily…

    http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/73520

    …then notice it’s NASCAR. Boo. :(

    Last year's Busch race was an absolute shambles though :-(

  • Alex Andronov03/03/2009 at 09:55

    You can blame Sato on hype and optimism, right?

    I don't know what I blamed it on really. Sometimes when you're looking for someone near the beginning of their career you want somebody a little crazy. Certainly Massa had that and I think Alonso and Kimi in their first seasons both had an element of uncontained raw skill.

    Sato had this strange style and when he arrived he had admitted that he had only been driving for a few years so he was way behind everyone else in terms of driving time. So I figured that what I was seeing was a raw talent which needed taming. Who knows what happened? Maybe it was never tamed? Or maybe the taming was too strong and he lost his forward momentum? Or maybe it wasn't there in the first place.

  • Dank03/03/2009 at 09:55
  • Lukeh03/03/2009 at 09:55

    Great news, if at all true. I am awaiting the flip-flop denial story before dinner time today - just like all the others have been…

    Aww, I really hope this isn't fake :( we've got the same old sources line in there though so we'll just have to wait.

    One day we may actually hear something from the team!

  • Christine03/03/2009 at 09:56

    Photos of BBC F1 launch (I heart Lee McKenzie)

    Not you as well ;)

  • Dank03/03/2009 at 10:03

    Rubens to remain at Honda: http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/73522

  • Gavin Brown (RubberGoat)03/03/2009 at 10:06
  • Journeyer03/03/2009 at 10:11

    Wolf!

    Well, I'll be darned. Bruno Senna off to DTM, then? Lord knows if he'll ever make it back to F1 now.

  • me03/03/2009 at 10:13

    Photos of BBC F1 launch (I heart Lee McKenzie)

    hehe.

  • me03/03/2009 at 10:16

    I’m just stunned by the number of comments Steven made last month .. that’s 50 a day! wow .. and again WOW

    don't forget x3 guest articles. and he's been on the phone too.

    he's actually working harder on spc than we are :)

  • Journeyer03/03/2009 at 10:17

    hehe.

    Martin Brundell?

    I hope he didn't get Mark's speech patterns. :P

  • Journeyer03/03/2009 at 10:18

    he’s actually working harder on spc than we are :)

    Stopping short of having his own blog, then? :P

  • me03/03/2009 at 10:19

    Stopping short of having his own blog, then? :P

    i can't see how he'd have the time!

  • Gavin Brown (RubberGoat)03/03/2009 at 10:22

    Wolf!

    Well, I’ll be darned. Bruno Senna off to DTM, then? Lord knows if he’ll ever make it back to F1 now.

    That would be a weird surprise ... and yet DTM is so boring I still wouldn't watch it, even with Tom Kristensen and Bruno Senna in it!

  • Journeyer03/03/2009 at 10:22

    Interesting, though, how Barrichello and Fisichella got the nod over younger talent such as Senna and di Resta, who both end up in DTM instead. Is this a sign of the times?

  • me03/03/2009 at 10:23

    BBC to launch their brand-new F1 website this Thursday?

    that's ace. do we have any predictions of what they might do? are there any cool bbc sites out there, they should be looking to copy?

  • Journeyer03/03/2009 at 10:24

    That would be a weird surprise … and yet DTM is so boring I still wouldn’t watch it, even with Tom Kristensen and Bruno Senna in it!

    Well, that IS the rumor! It has its bright spots, for sure, but even a line-up with Kristensen, Senna, Ekstrom, and Ralf Schumacher (as well as previous drivers Alesi, Frentzen, and Hakkinen) isn't enough for them to go to the next level of popularity and prestige.

  • Gavin Brown (RubberGoat)03/03/2009 at 10:26

    That would be a weird surprise … and yet DTM is so boring I still wouldn’t watch it, even with Tom Kristensen and Bruno Senna in it!

    Well, that IS the rumor! It has its bright spots, for sure, but even a line-up with Kristensen, Senna, Ekstrom, and Ralf Schumacher (as well as previous drivers Alesi, Frentzen, and Hakkinen) isn’t enough for them to go to the next level of popularity and prestige.

    Basically the DTM cars are so well engineered, aero-reliant and fragile that they can't race wheel to wheel. Add in the fact that two fuel and tyre stops are mandatory and you get a Touring Car series with the action levels of F1 on a bad day. Completely the wrong idea in my opinion - I want to see big grunty beasts shoving each other out of the way!!!

  • Journeyer03/03/2009 at 10:30

    Basically the DTM cars are so well engineered, aero-reliant and fragile that they can’t race wheel to wheel. Add in the fact that two fuel and tyre stops are mandatory and you get a Touring Car series with the action levels of F1 on a bad day. Completely the wrong idea in my opinion - I want to see big grunty beasts shoving each other out of the way!!!

    Not to mention that only Mercedes and Audi are involved now. The worst part is that there have been unsporting incidents. In particular, there's the en-masse Audi pullout - in the middle of a race! This happened sometime in 2007. They blamed Mercedes, whose cars seemed to keep hitting theirs - and Audi got ******. Everyone else saw it differently.

  • Gavin Brown (RubberGoat)03/03/2009 at 10:46

    Basically the DTM cars are so well engineered, aero-reliant and fragile that they can’t race wheel to wheel. Add in the fact that two fuel and tyre stops are mandatory and you get a Touring Car series with the action levels of F1 on a bad day. Completely the wrong idea in my opinion - I want to see big grunty beasts shoving each other out of the way!!!

    Not to mention that only Mercedes and Audi are involved now. The worst part is that there have been unsporting incidents. In particular, there’s the en-masse Audi pullout - in the middle of a race! This happened sometime in 2007. They blamed Mercedes, whose cars seemed to keep hitting theirs - and Audi got ******. Everyone else saw it differently.

    The revived DTM is no better than the one it replaced, unfortunately. Yet another example of excess Technology spoiling a racing series.

  • me03/03/2009 at 10:49

    and Audi got ******

    - a little bit miffed

    - somewhat upset

    - marginally riled

    - mildly angry

    - a smidge cheesed-off

    - all hot and bothered.

    ;)

  • Journeyer03/03/2009 at 10:51

    ;)

    Alright... can I say peeved? Your proposed replacements are rather... understatements. :P

  • me03/03/2009 at 10:51

    Alright… can I say peeved? Your proposed replacements are rather… understatements. :P

    :D

    of course.

  • me03/03/2009 at 10:55

    btw: cimaracing says it may not be dtm:

    http://twitter.com/CimaRacing/status/1273267176

  • Gavin Brown (RubberGoat)03/03/2009 at 10:57

    and Audi got ******

    - a little bit miffed

    - somewhat upset

    - marginally riled

    - mildly angry

    - a smidge cheesed-off

    - all hot and bothered.

    ;)

    Sorry, should have removed it from the quote. Thanks for editing it :-)

  • Journeyer03/03/2009 at 10:57

    btw: cimaracing says it may not be dtm:

    Well, his single-seater options are limited. Unless it's a WSR drive, it will almost certainly be a tin-top drive. Maybe in the WTCC, perhaps?

  • me03/03/2009 at 11:04

    Well, his single-seater options are limited. Unless it’s a WSR drive, it will almost certainly be a tin-top drive. Maybe in the WTCC, perhaps?

    i can't imagine?

  • me03/03/2009 at 11:08

    check out the headline:

    http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/73525

    can we just get through '09 already?

  • Flibster03/03/2009 at 11:21

    can we just get through ‘09 already?

    When else are they going to test them?

  • me03/03/2009 at 11:23

    When else are they going to test them?

    in april and may when all the teams back out of the testing ban :)

  • me03/03/2009 at 11:25

    couple of testing pictures. could he look any more shifty:

    http://drop.io/sidepodcast/asset/dodgy-kovi-jpg

    ooops...

    http://drop.io/sidepodcast/asset/massa-in-the-gravel-in-jerez-jpg

  • Dank03/03/2009 at 11:30

    I hadn't realised until last night that the ban on testing is until Dec 31st, not until the chequered flag is dropped in Abu Dhabi.

    Rubbish, Nov to Jan is going to be a bit of a drag.

  • Dank03/03/2009 at 11:32

    Brundle doing a straw poll on twitter: http://twitter.com/MartinBrundle

    Keep the gridwalk?!!

  • Journeyer03/03/2009 at 11:33

    Keep the gridwalk?!!

    Um, I don't know... YES?!?

  • Alianora La Canta03/03/2009 at 11:34

    check out the headline: {Comment #60}

    Hooray! They've found something Pedro de la Rosa is happy about!

  • Christine03/03/2009 at 11:34

    Keep the gridwalk?!!

    Ugh, I hope not.

  • Journeyer03/03/2009 at 11:36

    Ugh, I hope not.

    Why not? The gridwalk in and of itself is a great concept - it's just its policy of who should be interviewed that needs changing.

  • Alianora La Canta03/03/2009 at 11:38

    I like the gridwalks. It would be nice if he could find some people who were willing to be interviewed* though - perhaps he needs to base his walks further down the grid more often?

    * - I amend that. "People who were willing to be interviewed and are at least somewhat relevant to the race at hand" would be more accurate.

  • Journeyer03/03/2009 at 11:38

    I like the gridwalks. It would be nice if he could find some people who were willing to be interviewed though - perhaps he needs to base his walks further down the grid more often?

    But the news is usually up front - they can go to the midfield a bit more often, but basing the gridwalks there may be a bit too extreme.

  • Christine03/03/2009 at 11:39

    Why not? The gridwalk in and of itself is a great concept - it’s just its policy of who should be interviewed that needs changing.

    The gridwalk makes me uncomfortable. That is usually the time I disappear into the kitchen to make nachos.

  • Flibster03/03/2009 at 11:41

    The gridwalk makes me uncomfortable. That is usually the time I disappear into the kitchen to make nachos.

    So removing it would mean no nachos?

    Definately keep it! :D

  • Journeyer03/03/2009 at 11:42

    The gridwalk makes me uncomfortable. That is usually the time I disappear into the kitchen to make nachos.

    Why do you feel that way? As someone who has to stick with Star Sports, you guys are lucky that your man Brundle is on the grid - most networks don't get that kind of access.

  • Christine03/03/2009 at 11:42

    So removing it would mean no nachos?

    Considering there are no ad breaks anymore, either, it could very well end up that way :)

  • Christine03/03/2009 at 11:45

    Why do you feel that way? As someone who has to stick with Star Sports, you guys are lucky that your man Brundle is on the grid - most networks don’t get that kind of access.

    If you take ITV's coverage as an example, I would much rather have seen more of Ted and Louise interviewing on the grid and in the pitlane. They had already found their subject, they had questions planned, it was useful.

    It's all very well having live access to the grid, but if you are just going to flail around hoping that someone, anyone, will talk to you, I feel it is a waste of precious airtime. Martin does the best he can, but to me, the concept is flawed.

  • Journeyer03/03/2009 at 11:46

    It’s all very well having live access to the grid, but if you are just going to flail around hoping that someone, anyone, will talk to you, I feel it is a waste of precious airtime. Martin does the best he can, but to me, the concept is flawed.

    That's the beauty of it: the unpredictability of live coverage. Without it, we'd never have had Kimi in Brazil 2006 saying he missed Schumi's awarding because he was out having a... well, you know what I mean. ;)

  • Christine03/03/2009 at 11:48

    That’s the beauty of it: the unpredictability of live coverage. Without it, we’d never have had Kimi in Brazil 2006 saying he missed Schumi’s awarding because he was out having a… well, you know what I mean. ;)

    That's not really something I wanted to hear, but fair enough.

    If the overwhelming majority want it to stay, then I hope they keep it, Mr C will still get his nachos, and everyone will be happy.

  • Flibster03/03/2009 at 11:49

    That’s the beauty of it: the unpredictability of live coverage. Without it, we’d never have had Kimi in Brazil 2006 saying he missed Schumi’s awarding because he was out having a… well, you know what I mean.

    One of the best comments ever! Brundles comeback was excellent and extremely quick

  • Lukeh03/03/2009 at 11:52

    Hooray! They’ve found something Pedro de la Rosa is happy about!

    Is it a full moon today? :D

  • Gavin Brown (RubberGoat)03/03/2009 at 11:58

    If the overwhelming majority want it to stay, then I hope they keep it, Mr C will still get his nachos, and everyone will be happy.

    That HAS to be put on the quote of the year wiki page!

  • Journeyer03/03/2009 at 11:59

    That HAS to be put on the quote of the year wiki page!

    Be our guest. ;)

  • me03/03/2009 at 12:30

    Brundle doing a straw poll on twitter: http://twitter.com/MartinBrundle

    bit of a landslide at the moment :)

  • Christine03/03/2009 at 12:31

    bit of a landslide at the moment :)

    Boo. :)

  • me03/03/2009 at 12:32

    test times thus far:

    http://drop.io/sidepodcast/asset/f1-morning-test-times-png

    not looking great for poor sutil. according to google translate:

    "Force India did in the early hours of this test easy, but now is Adrian Sutil steam come. The German finished the last half hour for several stints and is now out for its test operations to prosecute."

    so, umm, now you know.

  • Alex Andronov03/03/2009 at 12:33

    I enjoy the grid walk. The biggest problem seems to be the kind of questions that Martin asks. He tends to ask closed questions like, "I see a lot of people are putting their umbrellas up, and those tires covers are looking ominous, so do you think it's likely there will be a rolling start?" Answer: "Yes" or "No".

    I think it would be better if he asked questions like, "How is the weather going to affect the start?"

    But I like the access and the randomness, so I hope it stays.

  • me03/03/2009 at 12:33

    Boo. :)

    i blame steven.

  • me03/03/2009 at 12:52

    just read on the autosport forum that any team testing 2010 tyres have been granted a 'free' day of testing. anyone know any more about that? it would at least explain why they would test next year's tyres now.

  • Alex Andronov03/03/2009 at 12:59

    Me. Is your theory that no uk company can do hosting? I think that's what you said before.

    This deal came across my radar earlier today. Don't know them though: http://www.superbhosting.net/dedicated-servers/cheap-dedicated-servers.php

    No idea if 2,000 Gb per month is enough though

  • Alex Andronov03/03/2009 at 13:02

    Me. Is your theory that no uk company can do hosting? I think that’s what you said before.

    I realised that I've been confusing. This thought isn't related to that company which is American.

  • me03/03/2009 at 13:03

    I realised that I’ve been confusing. This thought isn’t related to that company which is American.

    i'm lost?

  • Alex Andronov03/03/2009 at 13:06

    i’m lost?

    Sorry...

    I noticed that company... and thought I'd mention it. I then thought, "Mr C doesn't like hosting companies from somewhere is it UK" and so I posted both the question about that and the details of the company in the same comment when actually they had nothing to do with each other.

    It was quite confusing wasn't it! :)

  • me03/03/2009 at 13:21

    I noticed that company… and thought I’d mention it. I then thought, “Mr C doesn’t like hosting companies from somewhere is it UK” and so I posted both the question about that and the details of the company in the same comment when actually they had nothing to do with each other.

    ok. but the link you provided points a us / canadian web host?

  • Gavin+Brown+(RubberGoat)03/03/2009 at 13:21

    ...but now is Adrian Sutil steam come...

    O RLY?

  • Christine03/03/2009 at 13:23

    ok. but the link you provided points a us / canadian web host?

    I think that was the point. He wasn't sure whether to share the link dependant on whether you liked/disliked US hosting.

    Two parts to the comment:

    1) Is it UK or US hosting you dislike?

    2) If US is okay by you, check out this company.

  • me03/03/2009 at 13:27

    1) Is it UK or US hosting you dislike?

    ahh, okay. yes i prefer US hosting, more choice and better pricing.

    however since the pound has fallen through the floor, our hosting costs have shot up. some are billed in dollars, and others billed in euros. either way, we pay more :(

    2) If US is okay by you, check out this company.

    i did, but it's too expensive :)

  • Alex Andronov03/03/2009 at 13:34

    I think that was the point. He wasn’t sure whether to share the link dependant on whether you liked/disliked US hosting.

    Thank you Christine... My brain isn't working properly :)

  • Alex Andronov03/03/2009 at 13:35

    i did, but it’s too expensive :)

    Aha! Okay.

  • me03/03/2009 at 13:35

    Thank you Christine… My brain isn’t working properly :)

    mine neither. christinetranslate.com?

  • Christine03/03/2009 at 13:36

    mine neither. christinetranslate.com?

    Hehe, I like it :)

  • Andy Taylor03/03/2009 at 13:46

    I think the closed questions on the Gridwalk are probably semi intentional - given he has little time to actually talk to people once he's stopped them from doing final preparations / tripping over team members who are actually there for a reason, he doesn't want them to go into an open ended reply.

  • Andy Taylor03/03/2009 at 13:47

    Me - check out the Apple online store :)

  • Journeyer03/03/2009 at 14:05

    I think the closed questions on the Gridwalk are probably semi intentional - given he has little time to actually talk to people once he’s stopped them from doing final preparations / tripping over team members who are actually there for a reason, he doesn’t want them to go into an open ended reply.

    Hmmm. Good point. Give them easy questions to answer, so that they'll bother answering them. Pre-USF1, that's good enough for now.

  • me03/03/2009 at 14:09

    Me - check out the Apple online store :)

    w00t!

  • Andy+Taylor03/03/2009 at 14:12

    w00t!

    Indeed. By the way, the 17" Macbook Pro with anti-glare display has finall arrived in the stores. It looks fantastic.

  • Kathi03/03/2009 at 14:14
  • Flibster03/03/2009 at 14:15

    It looks far to expensive.

  • Andy+Taylor03/03/2009 at 14:16

    It looks far to expensive.

    I didn't say anything about the price, but it is fabulous.

  • Flibster03/03/2009 at 14:18

    I didn’t say anything about the price, but it is fabulous.

    I'll stick with my 17" Dell which cost around £900 less!

  • Journeyer03/03/2009 at 14:21

    w00t!

    Feeling w00t enough to buy it, then? :P

  • Gavin Brown (RubberGoat)03/03/2009 at 14:32

    Me, do you want to ask Nick why he’s not answering? :)

    I might submit some questions later - will keep you posted...

  • me03/03/2009 at 14:35

    Feeling w00t enough to buy it, then? :P

    holy smokes. am still reeling from the shock of the prices!

  • Andy+Taylor03/03/2009 at 14:38

    holy smokes. am still reeling from the shock of the prices!

    That's due to the exchange rate, but the cheapest iMac is now over £900!

  • me03/03/2009 at 14:51

    That’s due to the exchange rate, but the cheapest iMac is now over £900!

    i'm not sure they're worth that much.

  • me03/03/2009 at 14:51

    I might submit some questions later - will keep you posted…

    me too. cheers kathi :)

  • Andy+Taylor03/03/2009 at 14:55

    i’m not sure they’re worth that much.

    I'm shocked you can even think that, let alone post it :)

  • Andy Taylor03/03/2009 at 14:55

    I seem to have gained the + in my name again.

  • me03/03/2009 at 14:56

    I seem to have gained the + in my name again.

    soz. if you remove it. does it stay removed? did a bunch of updates last night.

  • Flibster03/03/2009 at 14:56

    i’m not sure they’re worth that much.

    Depends if they come with a tuve of KY or not. ;)

  • Flibster03/03/2009 at 14:57

    Depends if they come with a tuve of KY or not.

    tube even - really can't type on a normal keyboard anymore.

  • me03/03/2009 at 15:00

    I’m shocked you can even think that, let alone post it :)

    am most disappointed in the mini. £499 is £150 more than:

    a) the machine is worth

    b) what we were expecting

    :(

  • Christine03/03/2009 at 15:01

    a) the machine is worth

    b) what we were expecting

    c) what we can afford.

  • me03/03/2009 at 15:04

    c) what we can afford.

    also true. but even if we could afford it. we couldn't justify paying that much for that little.

  • Flibster03/03/2009 at 15:04

    Trying to find a car that's fun and reasonably practical to use for only 10 months is a real pain in the bot.

  • me03/03/2009 at 15:15

    I seem to have gained the + in my name again.

    actually, i think it's a caching issue. i just had a similar problem on an old browser session. the only fix was to clear my cache (forced reload didn't help).

    i'll try and do something on the server this evening to ensure everybody gets the latest files. apologies (again).

  • Alex Andronov03/03/2009 at 15:35

    Mmmm... Installing my own laconi.ca server this afternoon! Should be fun :)

  • Danny03/03/2009 at 15:36

    Rubens to remain at Honda: http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/73522

    I'm tired of waiting for the official announcement so have added Jenson and Rubens to the Drivers List at FantasyRacers.

    If that doesn't make it official I don't know what does :D

  • Christine03/03/2009 at 15:39

    If that doesn’t make it official I don’t know what does :D

    Woohoo! Well done Danny :)

  • Flibster03/03/2009 at 15:42

    Iiiiinteresting

    Apple seems to have ecided that no-one uses numberpads anymore. - new iMac keyboard doesn't have one.

    Strangely, that the main reason I bought a 17" laptop - it has a numberpad.

  • me03/03/2009 at 15:44

    Mmmm… Installing my own laconi.ca server this afternoon! Should be fun :)

    yippeee.

    umm, why?

  • Alex Andronov03/03/2009 at 15:51

    umm, why?

    Well It's an idea I'm trying for internal status updates for my team. We need to know what we're all working on etc. And we can't have all of that out in public so an internal lanoni.ca would work a treat. That's the theory anyway.

  • me03/03/2009 at 15:53

    Well It’s an idea I’m trying for internal status updates for my team. We need to know what we’re all working on etc. And we can’t have all of that out in public so an internal lanoni.ca would work a treat. That’s the theory anyway.

    sounds brilliant! do let us know how it goes.

    my understanding is the initial install is the worst thing, but once it's running, it goes like clockwork.

  • me03/03/2009 at 15:53

    Apple seems to have ecided that no-one uses numberpads anymore. - new iMac keyboard doesn’t have one.

    not a fan of that. at least not until touch-whatever becomes more of a reality.

  • Christine03/03/2009 at 15:53

    Turned out nice:

  • me03/03/2009 at 15:54

    Turned out nice:

    what did?

  • Christine03/03/2009 at 15:54

    Turned out nice:

    http://drop.io/sidepodcast/asset/cloudysky-jpg

  • me03/03/2009 at 15:55
  • Alex Andronov03/03/2009 at 15:56

    Turned out nice:

    It has been horrible cloudy rainy grey day here :(

  • lou03/03/2009 at 15:57

    Rubens to remain at Honda:

    :D that's just made my day :D

  • lou03/03/2009 at 15:58

    I’m tired of waiting for the official announcement so have added Jenson and Rubens to the Drivers List at FantasyRacers.

    yay!! i can now select my fantasy racers line up :D

  • Christine03/03/2009 at 16:00

    From yesterday, perhaps this is why he was looking so shifty this morning?

  • Christine03/03/2009 at 16:00

    From yesterday, perhaps this is why he was looking so shifty this morning?

    Bah. Do embeds not work anymore?

    http://drop.io/sidepodcast/asset/mondayheikki-jpeg

  • me03/03/2009 at 16:02

    Bah. Do embeds not work anymore?

    are you logged in?

  • me03/03/2009 at 16:03

    are you logged in?

    also. isn't that why you have a preview button?

  • Christine03/03/2009 at 16:05

    are you logged in?

    I was logged in, somewhere along the way it logged me out. Never mind.

  • me03/03/2009 at 16:06

    I was logged in, somewhere along the way it logged me out. Never mind.

    no worries, blame wordpress, or steven.

  • Alex Andronov03/03/2009 at 16:09

    my understanding is the initial install is the worst thing, but once it’s running, it goes like clockwork.

    First things first... I need to also run IIS on the same server... Hmmm...

  • me03/03/2009 at 16:10

    First things first… I need to also run IIS on the same server… Hmmm…

    oh.

  • me03/03/2009 at 16:10

    First things first… I need to also run IIS on the same server… Hmmm…

    actually, is it iis7?

  • Alex Andronov03/03/2009 at 16:11

    actually, is it iis7?

    6 :(

    And I only just had this server commissioned for me today! Cuh!

  • Christine03/03/2009 at 16:12

    Just testing:

    w00t!

  • me03/03/2009 at 16:13

    And I only just had this server commissioned for me today! Cuh!

    :(

    7 would've let you run some pretty snazzy php extensions. 6 means you'll need to squeeze apache through another port, i'm guessing.

  • Alex Andronov03/03/2009 at 16:14

    7 would’ve let you run some pretty snazzy php extensions. 6 means you’ll need to squeeze apache through another port, i’m guessing.

    Hmmm... I'm going to have to do some juggling...

  • Alex Andronov03/03/2009 at 16:21

    Hmmm… I’m going to have to do some juggling…

    And Apache is running on 8080! w00t!

  • me03/03/2009 at 16:21

    And Apache is running on 8080! w00t!

    hehe.

  • Alex Andronov03/03/2009 at 16:23

    hehe.

    I am live commenting installing a web service. I have officially passed to the other side of geek.

  • Christine03/03/2009 at 16:24

    I am live commenting installing a web service. I have officially passed to the other side of geek.

    Not only that, but you're bringing us all with you :)

  • Alex Andronov03/03/2009 at 16:25

    Not only that, but you’re bringing us all with you :)

    :) I do apologise:)

    You'll all be writing gray and color soon :)

  • Jon Waldock03/03/2009 at 16:28

    OH MY GOODNESS!!! BEST QUOTE EVER!!!!

    "Swiss Buemi also gave a predictable preview of the Adrian Newey-designed car. "It's like the Red Bull, only in our colours!" he said."

  • me03/03/2009 at 16:29

    final times:

    http://drop.io/sidepodcast/asset/final-f1-jerez-times-for-tuesday-png

    "That's it for today. Noted that the time McLaren has been achieved with the spoiler in 2008, once again, trying to wash the face of the team. The other times have been achieved with configuration of all the teams classification. We said goodbye until tomorrow, when a new session can be viewed in that match in both Hamilton and Alonso track. The duel will continue."

    can't wait :)

  • Alex Andronov03/03/2009 at 16:32

    I am checking out a copy of laconica from the repository using darcs which I have just installed.

    Yes I know it sounds like gibberish innit?

  • Jon Waldock03/03/2009 at 16:32

    Massa wants shorter races....he thinks they should be shortened by 15 laps....is this a "if Brazil was shorter i'd have got the world championship" type comment?

  • Alex Andronov03/03/2009 at 16:32

    “Swiss Buemi also gave a predictable preview of the Adrian Newey-designed car. “It’s like the Red Bull, only in our colours!” he said.”

    :)

  • me03/03/2009 at 16:34

    Massa wants shorter races….he thinks they should be shortened by 15 laps….is this a “if Brazil was shorter i’d have got the world championship” type comment?

    if it was shorter he'd still have lost. however, less laps = less opportunity to spin ;)

  • me03/03/2009 at 16:35

    Yes I know it sounds like gibberish innit?

    *cough* geek.

    are you planning to use twhirl on every desktop, or just use the web interface?

  • Christine03/03/2009 at 16:38

    are you planning to use twhirl on every desktop, or just use the web interface?

    Or, or, or, make a new version of Twhirl that is ten times better and share it with us??

  • me03/03/2009 at 16:39

    Or, or, or, make a new version of Twhirl that is ten times better and share it with us??

    :D

  • Mattw03/03/2009 at 16:42

    “That’s it for today. Noted that the time McLaren has been achieved with the spoiler in 2008, once again, trying to wash the face of the team

    Is this true? McLaren poped the old wing back onto the car to get their competitive laptime?

    Doesn't look good if true. The very fact of McLaren having to waste time to showboat in the false way shows volumes (if this is true)

  • Christine03/03/2009 at 16:43

    Is this true? McLaren poped the old wing back onto the car to get their competitive laptime?

    Also, is that the same wavy 'ring-wing' Dank was talking about?

  • Flibster03/03/2009 at 16:44

    It has been horrible cloudy rainy grey day here

    Had a couple of hailstorms here. :(

  • Alex Andronov03/03/2009 at 16:45

    Or, or, or, make a new version of Twhirl that is ten times better and share it with us??

    :) I had to explain to one of my guys that he couldn't go and write our own version of twitter / laconica which is actually what he wanted to do. So sadly I think we'll have to go with what already exists. I'm all for letting people code their own things though.

  • RG03/03/2009 at 16:45

    Guten tag jeder.

    Brundle doing a straw poll on twitter: http://twitter.com/MartinBrundle

    Everyone one is on these twitter things aren't they. Where am I in this world?

    Photos of BBC F1 launch (I heart Lee McKenzie)

    Looking good I must say.

    For quote below

    Oh sweet god he didn't say that.

    “Swiss Buemi also gave a predictable preview of the Adrian Newey-designed car. “It’s like the Red Bull, only in our colours!” he said.

  • Alex Andronov03/03/2009 at 16:46

    are you planning to use twhirl on every desktop, or just use the web interface?

    I think the answer is... whatever people are more comfortable using. We don't really want it to be "office chat" so... it's more likely to be the web interface, but I don't think it matters.

  • me03/03/2009 at 16:47

    Also, is that the same wavy ‘ring-wing’ Dank was talking about?

    i think they're running a bunch of different configurations for comparison. i would assume that last year's rear wing was pretty good, and a well known in terms of data.

    don't forget teams are limited to running a single car this year. in the past they could've stuck one out with and old wing and one with a new one and we wouldn't think much of it.

  • Bassano Clapper03/03/2009 at 16:47

    Hey peeps!

  • me03/03/2009 at 16:48

    Hey peeps!

    wow!

    hullo. where are ya?

  • Bassano Clapper03/03/2009 at 16:48

    Prescott, Arizona - Altitude 5000ft

  • Christine03/03/2009 at 16:48

    i think they’re running a bunch of different configurations for comparison. i would assume that last year’s rear wing was pretty good, and a well known in terms of data.

    Are they allowed to have a curvy wing this year?

  • Bassano Clapper03/03/2009 at 16:50

    Upgraded the hire car at the airport and got a Dodge Challenger, is mucho fun ;)

  • RG03/03/2009 at 16:50

    Prescott, Arizona - Altitude 5000ft

    You call that high? Actually it is. What the hell am I talking about?

  • me03/03/2009 at 16:50

    Prescott, Arizona - Altitude 5000ft

    what??

    you are not live commenting from there?

  • me03/03/2009 at 16:51

    You call that high? Actually it is. What the hell am I talking about?

    :D

  • Bassano Clapper03/03/2009 at 16:51

    You call that high? Actually it is. What the hell am I talking about?

    Is 1 mile high, feels like we have mild asthma

  • Mattw03/03/2009 at 16:51

    Also, is that the same wavy ‘ring-wing’ Dank was talking about?

    The 'wavy wing' they were running yesterday was tall and thin - so 2009 spec.

    But they put the car onto 2010 tyres so the times were not comparable with everyone else.

    The question is - did they run in full 2009 spec today, or another hybrid spec?

    If they did put the old wing back on, then the question is: are they sandbagging, or are they in trouble?

  • me03/03/2009 at 16:51

    Upgraded the hire car at the airport and got a Dodge Challenger, is mucho fun ;)

    what are you connecting with?

  • Bassano Clapper03/03/2009 at 16:52

    Prescott, Arizona - Altitude 5000ft

    Going another 2000ft tomorrow. Stunning scenery, cannot recommend highly enough

  • Alex Andronov03/03/2009 at 16:52

    you are not live commenting from there?

    That's dedication :)

  • me03/03/2009 at 16:52

    If they did put the old wing back on, then the question is: are they sandbagging, or are they in trouble?

    neither. just learning.

  • RG03/03/2009 at 16:52

    Going another 2000ft tomorrow. Stunning scenery, cannot recommend highly enough

    7k into the air?

  • Bassano Clapper03/03/2009 at 16:52

    The library computers :D

  • Bassano Clapper03/03/2009 at 16:52

    7k into the air?

    No, Flagstaff Arizona is at 7000ft altitude

  • Flibster03/03/2009 at 16:53

    Bassano Clapper: 03/03/2009 at 16:50:04

    Upgraded the hire car at the airport and got a Dodge Challenger, is mucho fun

    Nice. :D

    Much sideways fun ;)

  • Bassano Clapper03/03/2009 at 16:56

    Much sideways fun ;)

    Uh huh, have to be careful up in the hills here - there's still snow and the temps are in the 20s in town, very odd

  • Steven Roy03/03/2009 at 17:00

    di resta says, 2-3 weeks before confirmation of a drive:

    I am starting to wonder if Mercedes are going to announce some top secret sportscar program. I really don't understand how it can take this long to announce a program for him.

  • Mattw03/03/2009 at 17:01

    neither. just learning.

    OK, point taken - we don't know their testing scheadule, and they maybe using thr 2008 wing as a basline reference. However if so, it is a bit of a strange reference. for they will never be able to race the car in that configuration.

  • Steven Roy03/03/2009 at 17:02

    I’m just stunned by the number of comments Steven made last month .. that’s 50 a day! wow .. and again WOW

    They make me do it. They are blackmailing me.

  • Bassano Clapper03/03/2009 at 17:03

    They make me do it. They are blackmailing me.

    I've said it before, but you only have yourself to blame ;)

  • Steven Roy03/03/2009 at 17:03

    Smiley faces and one word comments count too, remember, and I have certainly provided a lot of those (whereas Steven is often a tad more insightful)…

    :D

  • Alex Andronov03/03/2009 at 17:09

    I'm having terrible trouble updating my pear :(

  • lou03/03/2009 at 17:13

    Upgraded the hire car at the airport and got a Dodge Challenger, is mucho fun ;)

    :o cool!

  • Steven Roy03/03/2009 at 17:13

    The revived DTM is no better than the one it replaced, unfortunately. Yet another example of excess Technology spoiling a racing series.

    You have to wonder how many times a new touring car formula is designed then works really well for two or three seasons before aero is allowed to take over and ruin it. DTM is far too technologically advanced to produce good racing.

    The BTCC used to produce fabulous racing then they allowed aero development and it got silly. Because they used a homologation formula Alfa-Romeo started fitting spacers in the rear spoilers of their road cars so that the racing team could adjust their spoiler. Fortunately they were eventually stopped when another manufacturer said that if that practise was allowed they would put a roll of aluminium and a pop rivet gun in their new cars so their racing team can fit any new pieces they could develop.

    Technology ruins racing.

  • lou03/03/2009 at 17:14

    Going another 2000ft tomorrow. Stunning scenery, cannot recommend highly enough

    i hope you're taking loads of photos to show us when you get back :)

  • Bassano Clapper03/03/2009 at 17:15

    i hope you’re taking loads of photos to show us when you get back :)

    Yup, plenty

    Have remembered some good advice that the key to good photos is editing!

  • lou03/03/2009 at 17:17

    Have remembered some good advice that the key to good photos is editing!

    lol :) can't wait to see them

  • Bassano Clapper03/03/2009 at 17:18

    Upgraded the hire car at the airport and got a Dodge Challenger, is mucho fun ;)

    Am trying to drop.io an image via MMS as have not set phone up for email. Don't think it's worked

    Giggles, if I pass it to you can you oblige at some point please?

  • Alex Andronov03/03/2009 at 17:19

    Giggles, if I pass it to you can you oblige at some point please?

    Absolutely!

  • Bassano Clapper03/03/2009 at 17:19

    lol :) can’t wait to see them

    Grand Canyon & Sedona National Park tomorrow & Thurs

    John Wayne country!

  • Bassano Clapper03/03/2009 at 17:20

    Absolutely!

    Cheers matey, will buy you an Elderflower Spritzer on my return ;)

  • Alex Andronov03/03/2009 at 17:20

    Cheers matey, will buy you an Elderflower Spritzer on my return ;)

    Well that makes it all worth it :)

  • Bassano Clapper03/03/2009 at 17:22

    Chat soon folks, will there be a show on Sunday?

  • RG03/03/2009 at 17:23

    Chat soon folks, will there be a show on Sunday?

    I think its a mini series this week

  • Flibster03/03/2009 at 17:27

    Am trying to drop.io an image via MMS as have not set phone up for email. Don’t think it’s worked

    Oooooh. Proper colour too. Nice and orange...

    Sorry... ORANGE!

  • Lukeh03/03/2009 at 17:27

    Now it absolutely looks definite Rubens is staying on!

    http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/73535

    Senna himself said:

    ""I'm kind of resigned to trying something else. I had a meeting today (Monday) with Ross Brawn and he cancelled,"

    I feel bad for Senna of course because it seemed like he'll get the drive but I'm soooooooooo pleased Rubens at least gets another year, albeit most likely his last. Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay!!!!! :D:D

  • Mattw03/03/2009 at 17:31

    I am starting to wonder if Mercedes are going to announce some top secret sportscar program. I really don’t understand how it can take this long to announce a program for him.

    Me niether, he was their top driver in the DTM last year, and they already chosen to promote Ralf, not Paul to the 2009 spec car this year.

    Whoever a sportscar program will be a huge surprise. Without LeMans (and the 2009 entry has been finalised), a ELMS campin on it's own does not make sense - the ALMS does make sense - but Sebring is only days away now

  • Steven Roy03/03/2009 at 17:31

    I have officially passed to the other side of geek.

    That should be in the dictionary

  • Steven Roy03/03/2009 at 17:36

    OK, point taken - we don’t know their testing scheadule, and they maybe using thr 2008 wing as a basline reference. However if so, it is a bit of a strange reference. for they will never be able to race the car in that configuration.

    They have good hard data on the 2008 wing. I think they will be fine. When it comes to the real thing they will be setting the pace. All they are doing is making sure their wind tunnel and CFD data tie up with reality.

  • Steven Roy03/03/2009 at 17:39

    Oooooh. Proper colour too. Nice and orange…

    Just needs a confederate flag on the roof.

  • Mattw03/03/2009 at 17:43

    Have remembered some good advice that the key to good photos is editing!

    Editing is a key skill - but I'm not refering to wholesale changes to the photo- but rather optimising the image so that contrast,colour balance and sharpness is correct for the mediumn on which you are displaying on (Monitor, web or print.

    The KEY skil in photography is working with your subject and light.

  • Alex Andronov03/03/2009 at 17:48

    The KEY skil in photography is working with your subject and light.

    I think Bassano might even have been talking of another kind of Editing i.e. selecting which photos to share.

  • me03/03/2009 at 17:48

    didn't know these guys were on twitter:

    http://twitter.com/5LiveF1/

    however, it looks like maurice hamilton is not longer on the team. the account only lists:

    DC, HS, AD and JS

    i'm assuming JS = jason swales (the producer). presumably no more ian phillips in the box this year either?

  • Jon Waldock03/03/2009 at 17:49

    presumably no more ian phillips in the box this year either?

    boo :( liked him last year

  • me03/03/2009 at 17:52

    boo :( liked him last year

    me too. hope he's still around in the paddock.

  • me03/03/2009 at 17:54

    I’m having terrible trouble updating my pear :(

    i thought trouble came in three's?

  • Dom03/03/2009 at 17:57

    Rubens to remain at Honda

    Brilliant news! :D

  • Alex Andronov03/03/2009 at 18:04

    i thought trouble came in three’s?

    I seem to have 3 php.inis that sounds like precisely 2 too many.

  • me03/03/2009 at 18:04

    I seem to have 3 php.inis that sounds like precisely 2 too many.

    that is quite an achievement :)

  • Dom03/03/2009 at 18:05

    Rubens at least gets another year, albeit most likely his last.

    Am hoping if this whole USF1 thing goes ahead, they'll sign him up. Would like to see Bruno join Honda soon, but Rubens deserves this year.

  • Mattw03/03/2009 at 18:06

    I feel bad for Senna of course because it seemed like he’ll get the drive but I’m soooooooooo pleased Rubens at least gets another year, albeit most likely his last.

    It's great to see Rubens back - but I do feel for Senna.

    I gusess, with only a couple days of testing (at most) before the season, and then limited testing through the year, Ross went for a drive he could trust to develop the car.

    Then again, if the car is only going to be trooling around at the back this year... could have been a good time to try out a rookie, and give him some experience.

  • Alex Andronov03/03/2009 at 18:11

    that is quite an achievement :)

    Thanks :) I have deleted a couple - I like to live dangerously!

  • Dirty Scarab03/03/2009 at 18:12

    Great news about Rubens!!!!

    It's the best decision in my opinion. The last thing 'Brawn Racing(?)' needs this season is a rookie in the car I think.

    Also, it would have been horrible if Rubens didn't get a proper send off like DC did last year.

  • Steven Roy03/03/2009 at 18:15

    Seems like yesterday could have been a really bad day.

    http://uk.news.yahoo.com/18/20090303/tsc-space-rock-gives-earth-a-close-shave-50a9c9d.html

  • me03/03/2009 at 18:27

    Everyone one is on these twitter things aren’t they. Where am I in this world?

    you mean you're not following these r.g.?

    http://twitter.com/BMWSauberF1Team

  • me03/03/2009 at 18:29

    Seems like yesterday could have been a really bad day.

    should we be concerned it was only spotted on saturday? hardly seems like enough time to rally bruce willis and his team?

  • RG03/03/2009 at 18:29

    you mean you’re not following these r.g.?

    At this moment in time, RG has fainted

  • Junior03/03/2009 at 18:30

    Great news about Rubens!!!!

    It’s the best decision in my opinion. The last thing ‘Brawn Racing(?)’ needs this season is a rookie in the car I think.

    Also, it would have been horrible if Rubens didn’t get a proper send off like DC did last year.

    For-crying-out-loud! OK: Bruno is no Ayrton, but all the media attention with 'a' Senna is worth a whole lot more than any Barrichello!

    All they are now is Honda with a different name. And probably a more empty car on ads than the Honda...

  • Flibster03/03/2009 at 18:32

    And probably a more empty car on ads than the Honda…

    If it's emptier than the Williams they they will be in huge problems.

    Then again, they could surprise us by announcing they have Coke or Microsoft as title sponsors...

  • me03/03/2009 at 18:35

    At this moment in time, RG has fainted

    hehe :)

  • Junior03/03/2009 at 18:36

    Then again, they could surprise us by announcing they have Coke or Microsoft as title sponsors…

    Then I wonder why such a sponsor agrees to run 2 'oldtimers' rather than a big name like Senna?

  • Steven Roy03/03/2009 at 18:37

    should be concerned it was only spotted on saturday? hardly seems like enough time to rally bruce willis and his team?

    The biggest threat to the human race is not gloabl warming or anything else here it is a collision with a near earth object(NEO) and there has been a movement to try to get some international government program to track them but governments don't take the matter seriously.

    It is not a case as they think of if an NEO hits us but when. It has happened many times in our past and will happen again. Remember what happened to the dinosaurs? That will happen to us but governments won't fund it. There is always unlimited amounts of money to go and fight over a little bit ofrock on the planet but not to stop big bits of rock hitting the planet.

  • Steven Roy03/03/2009 at 18:42

    should be concerned it was only spotted on saturday? hardly seems like enough time to rally bruce willis and his team?

    Unfortunately Bruce Willis's tactics don't work in reality nor does the normal knee jerk response of nuke it. If we know about it far enough in advance and NASA don't dealy the launch for three months the best tactic is to bolt a rocket on it and alter its trajectory by less than a degree.

    Of course to do that you have to be tracking these things some of which have orbits that take them out past Pluto and you need to have a vehicle designed that can land on it and give it a nudge. Until then we are screwed.

  • Christine03/03/2009 at 18:43

    Unfortunately Bruce Willis’s tactics don’t work in reality nor does the normal knee jerk response of nuke it. If we know about it far enough in advance and NASA don’t dealy the launch for three months the best tactic is to bolt a rocket on it and alter its trajectory by less than a degree.

    Not drilling? Boo.

  • Steven Roy03/03/2009 at 18:44

    Not drilling? Boo.

    They could drill holes to put the bolts in and install rawl plugs if that makes you happy.

  • me03/03/2009 at 18:44

    They could drill holes to put the bolts in and install rawl plugs if that makes you happy.

    :D

  • Christine03/03/2009 at 18:45

    They could drill holes to put the bolts in and install rawl plugs if that makes you happy.

    Will Bruce Willis do it?

  • Steven Roy03/03/2009 at 18:46

    Will Bruce Willis do it?

    No-one else has a plan to deal with the situation so it may have to be him. Either that or launch Sato to crash into it.

  • Alex Andronov03/03/2009 at 18:46

    Will Bruce Willis do it?

    Can Bruce do it? Yes he can :)

  • Steven Roy03/03/2009 at 18:48

    Yes he can :)

    Is that not Bob the Builder or Barak Obama

  • Pat+W03/03/2009 at 18:49

    Not drilling? Boo.

    Send a team of cats?

  • Christine03/03/2009 at 18:49

    Is that not Bob the Builder or Barak Obama

    We can get Bob the Builder to do it? This just gets better.

  • Steven Roy03/03/2009 at 18:51

    We can get Bob the Builder to do it? This just gets better.

    We could send Christian Klien. It won't do any good but at least he can crash Franck's car if he is parked near Jupiter waiting for a big rock.

  • Alex Andronov03/03/2009 at 18:51

    Hmmm... I'm getting Parse error: parse error in C:\xampplite\htdocs\laconica\index.php on line 19

    that sounds bad to me :(

  • me03/03/2009 at 18:51

    that sounds bad to me :(

    you broke it already?

  • Christine03/03/2009 at 18:52

    We could send Christian Klien. It won’t do any good but at least he can crash Franck’s car if he is parked near Jupiter waiting for a big rock.

    'Cept... then he'd be a big hero.

  • Alex Andronov03/03/2009 at 18:53

    you broke it already?

    Well it hasn't worked yet :(

    I finished all of the configuration and then that's what it said.

  • Ollie03/03/2009 at 18:54

    Seems like yesterday could have been a really bad day.

    That puts Monday mornings into perspective!

    It’s great to see Rubens back - but I do feel for Senna.

    I don't think Senna is ready for F1 just yet, so am pleased he has been given a chance to race in some lower formulae for another year. Just my opinion, of course.

    I'm also a bit miffed by Senna's attitude. He passes up opportunities to race elsewhere because he naively thinks a Honda drive is in the bag, which from the outside, it is still unconfirmed (in the true sense of the word) if the team is saved, yet alone anything else. And then he has a bit of a hissy.

    What is it with these youngsters!?

  • me03/03/2009 at 18:55

    I finished all of the configuration and then that’s what it said.

    oh.

    anything exciting going on at line 19?

  • me03/03/2009 at 18:55

    I’m also a bit miffed by Senna’s attitude. He passes up opportunities to race elsewhere because he naively thinks a Honda drive is in the bag, which from the outside, it is still unconfirmed (in the true sense of the word) if the team is saved, yet alone anything else. And then he has a bit of a hissy.

    that is a very good summary :)

  • lou03/03/2009 at 18:55

    just watched a short story about f2 on our local news.They say it's the future of motorsport and will be the main path for new up and coming drivers to get into F1... i can't see how it's going to beat GP2 just yet though.

  • Alex Andronov03/03/2009 at 18:55

    you broke it already?

    What worries me... and I don't know much about PHP is that the line in question 19 only contains this:

    ?>

    Which makes me think this problem is going to be hard to debug.

  • Ollie03/03/2009 at 18:56

    And then he has a bit of a hissy.

    Of course, Senna could have been led up the garden path. But even then, you'd have a back-up of sorts, wouldn't you?

  • me03/03/2009 at 18:58

    Of course, Senna could have been led up the garden path. But even then, you’d have a back-up of sorts, wouldn’t you?

    i think bourdais played it about right.

  • Ollie03/03/2009 at 18:59

    i think bourdais played it about right.

    And Bourdais playing may have actually helped him in the negotiations.

  • me03/03/2009 at 19:00

    And Bourdais playing may have actually helped him in the negotiations.

    good point.

  • me03/03/2009 at 19:00

    Which makes me think this problem is going to be hard to debug.

    yikes! no kidding. sounds like you maybe deleted the wrong php.ini?

  • Alex Andronov03/03/2009 at 19:06

    yikes! no kidding. sounds like you maybe deleted the wrong php.ini?

    Well something even stranger seems to be going on... php seems to be working... which is good.

    But index.php in the laconica directory doesn't have the correct number of } in it. So I guess the error is saying unexpected end of application. So I added one where I would guess that it would make sense... Then that tells me that there is another problem in one of the included files an unexpected ( which when I look at it looks to me like there is a , missing in the line above (although this is my first PHP program I'm editing so it's a bit like shooting in the dark). Both of these have got me to another error:

    Fatal error: Class 'DB' not found in C:\xampplite\htdocs\laconica\config.php on line 21

    and on line 21 we see require_once('DB.php'); which does seem to be missing.

    But before I start chasing this down... doesn't it seem weird to anyone else that in the installed code I'm getting syntax errors?!?!

  • Christine03/03/2009 at 19:07

    It's no coincidence, is it, that Renault were last for two out of two days, then Alonso gets in the car and they are third.

  • Ollie03/03/2009 at 19:08

    It’s no coincidence, is it, that Renault were last for two out of two days, then Alonso gets in the car and they are third.

    Nope, no coincidence at all. Remind me, why is Piquet in the second car again?

  • Alex Andronov03/03/2009 at 19:09

    Nope, no coincidence at all. Remind me, why is Piquet in the second car again?

    To ensure Alonso isn't challenged?

  • me03/03/2009 at 19:09

    But before I start chasing this down… doesn’t it seem weird to anyone else that in the installed code I’m getting syntax errors?!?!

    yes. have you tried downloading the zip file from here:

    http://laconi.ca/trac/wiki/Source

  • me03/03/2009 at 19:11

    radio1 are sending newsbeat's david garrido to melbourne as well:

    http://twitter.com/davidgarrido/status/1275021310

    pretty sure radio 1 were only ever interested in the british gp?

  • RG03/03/2009 at 19:12

    pretty sure radio 1 were only ever interested in the british gp?

    I didn't even know radio 1 cared about f1

  • Ollie03/03/2009 at 19:12

    Nope, no coincidence at all. Remind me, why is Piquet in the second car again?

    To ensure Alonso isn’t challenged?

    But there's a difference between not challenging Alonso and plum last. :)

  • Alex Andronov03/03/2009 at 19:14

    yes. have you tried downloading the zip file from here:

    I've been using this: http://laconi.ca/trac/wiki/InstallationWindows

    So I'll try that.

  • me03/03/2009 at 19:14

    I didn’t even know radio 1 cared about f1

    they were on site at the bgp (christine borrowed garrido's desk / power for f1 minute).

    but i had no idea they'd ever show interest beyond that? am v.impressed.

  • Jon Waldock03/03/2009 at 19:17

    radio1 are sending newsbeat’s david garrido to melbourne as well:

    i dont know what it is about him, or Radio 1 and sports reporting, i guess i have a distinct hatred for football and cricket, so that wont help

  • RG03/03/2009 at 19:17

    but i had no idea they’d ever show interest beyond that? am v.impressed.

    Or its the BBC trying to promote f1 even more

  • lou03/03/2009 at 19:18

    i dont know what it is about him, or Radio 1 and sports reporting, i guess i have a distinct hatred for football and cricket, so that wont help

    what's wrong with cricket?

  • RG03/03/2009 at 19:19

    what’s wrong with cricket?

    I do find it a wee bit boring during the tests and occasionally at times the One Dayers. Football I don't understand ;)

  • Jon Waldock03/03/2009 at 19:20

    what’s wrong with cricket?

    you are asking the wrong person lol, it just bores me. i like a sport where things happen, although being an F1 fan thats possibly a stupid thing to say.

  • RG03/03/2009 at 19:22

    Plus it gets stopped when a drop of rain falls, which doesn't help at all.

  • Jon Waldock03/03/2009 at 19:22

    Plus it gets stopped when a drop of rain falls, which doesn’t help at all.

    like Nascar :P

  • Gavin Brown (RubberGoat)03/03/2009 at 19:28

    #241 - Christine said:

    Unfortunately Bruce Willis’s tactics don’t work in reality nor does the normal knee jerk response of nuke it. If we know about it far enough in advance and NASA don’t dealy the launch for three months the best tactic is to bolt a rocket on it and alter its trajectory by less than a degree.

    Not drilling? Boo.

    I reckon. Drilling with an Oil Rig in space is a fantastic idea - but how would they get the drilling rig, bits, pipe and mud up there? Plus, if the topdrive breaks or something goes wrong (which it usually does), they had better be real good at fixing it!

    That'd be one hell of a rig supervisor's job too!

  • lou03/03/2009 at 19:28

    Plus it gets stopped when a drop of rain falls, which doesn’t help at all.

    yeah that does get a little annoying, but i certainly don't find it dull to watch probably because my parents have always watched it.

  • Gavin+Brown+(RubberGoat)03/03/2009 at 19:29

    Plus it gets stopped when a drop of rain falls, which doesn’t help at all.

    yeah that does get a little annoying, but i certainly don’t find it dull to watch probably because my parents have always watched it.

    I am a casual fan, I cannot watch it on TV but it's great to go and see it...

  • RG03/03/2009 at 19:34

    I am a casual fan, I cannot watch it on TV but it’s great to go and see it…

    I don't mind it, I do check Durham's results every now and then and a friend of mine (who is an absolute cricket nut) took me to a 20/20 match, which was great fun.

    My god is it pouring outside.

  • lou03/03/2009 at 19:35

    I am a casual fan, I cannot watch it on TV but it’s great to go and see it…

    yeah going to watch it always better :)

  • Gavin+Brown+(RubberGoat)03/03/2009 at 19:37

    http://mantovani.zip.net/arch2009-03-01_2009-03-31.html#2009_03-03_14_44_15-100063171-0

    Bruno Mantovani's Red Bull 2009 Caricature - brilliant!

  • Ollie03/03/2009 at 19:38

    Bruno Mantovani’s Red Bull 2009 Caricature - brilliant!

    Love the crutch. :D

  • Andy Taylor03/03/2009 at 19:38

    Love the crutch. :D

    That's ace!

  • Alex Andronov03/03/2009 at 19:39

    yes. have you tried downloading the zip file from here:

    That seems to be better... I mean all I'm getting is a never ending "loading" page but at least it's not erroring :)

    I feel like Mr C must do on one of his late night coding extravaganzas. I've been up since 5:30 coding for most of the day and then switched to all this PHP fun stuff overnight! Although if it doesn't start working soon I think I'm going to be a bit cross!

  • Alex Andronov03/03/2009 at 19:51

    I have decided to go for a, hopefully winning strategy.

    I have:

    a) rebooted the server

    and

    b) gone and fetched a beer!

    :)

  • Ollie03/03/2009 at 19:53

    b) gone and fetched a beer!

    I've only recently got home and haven't been following your problem. But I do know that this will help. :D

  • Jackie03/03/2009 at 19:53

    Good evening boys and girls :)

    25 days to go, I'll get more hyper by the day!

  • Ollie03/03/2009 at 19:54

    Good evening boys and girls :)

    25 days to go, I’ll get more hyper by the day!

    Bouncing off the walls already! :)

  • RG03/03/2009 at 19:55

    Okay, joined this identica malarky, but why on sidepodcasts page with Mr C, is two words that shalt not be named the most popular?

  • lou03/03/2009 at 19:55

    Good evening boys and girls :)

    25 days to go, I’ll get more hyper by the day!

    Evening Jackie :)

    i'm exactly the same :D

  • Jackie03/03/2009 at 19:55

    Isn't it great, planning your weekend round about the F1 schedule :D

    Ooh 2 pending .. I like that big grey box thing!

  • Alex Andronov03/03/2009 at 19:56

    Ooh 2 pending .. I like that big grey box thing!

    It is ace :)

  • Steven Roy03/03/2009 at 19:57

    what’s wrong with cricket?

    Just think of all the good karting tracks that could be built if someone in power did the sensible thing and banned cricket on the basis that any game that takes a week and ends up without a winner is too stupid to be allowed to continue.

  • RG03/03/2009 at 19:57

    25 days to go, I’ll get more hyper by the day!

    My first concern is surviving relegation, but when push comes to pushing someone over a cliff, I think I'm excited to see BMW cruising to a few 1-2s this season...

  • Jackie03/03/2009 at 19:57

    Okay, joined this identica malarky, but why on sidepodcasts page with Mr C, is two words that shalt not be named the most popular?

    I can't see you :P

  • Lukeh03/03/2009 at 19:58

    Good evening boys and girls :)

    25 days to go, I’ll get more hyper by the day!

    I found out today I'll definitely have the weekend off from work when F1 starts from holiday hours and then the amazing Rubens news! bring on Australia! :D:D

  • Jackie03/03/2009 at 19:58

    Just think of all the good karting tracks that could be built if someone in power did the sensible thing and banned cricket on the basis that any game that takes a week and ends up without a winner is too stupid to be allowed to continue.

    Isn't cricket just rounders for big boys? .. run!

  • Steven Roy03/03/2009 at 19:58

    I reckon. Drilling with an Oil Rig in space is a fantastic idea - but how would they get the drilling rig, bits, pipe and mud up there? Plus, if the topdrive breaks or something goes wrong (which it usually does), they had better be real good at fixing it!

    If it is the difference between humanity being wiped out or survivng launching a few tons of metal is a fairly minor problem.

  • Jackie03/03/2009 at 19:58

    I found out today I’ll definitely have the weekend off from work when F1 starts from holiday hours and then the amazing Rubens news! bring on Australia! :D:D

    Amazing Rubens news?

  • lou03/03/2009 at 19:59

    I can’t see you :P

    he is here http://identi.ca/rg ;)

  • Gavin+Brown+(RubberGoat)03/03/2009 at 20:00

    I reckon. Drilling with an Oil Rig in space is a fantastic idea - but how would they get the drilling rig, bits, pipe and mud up there? Plus, if the topdrive breaks or something goes wrong (which it usually does), they had better be real good at fixing it!

    If it is the difference between humanity being wiped out or survivng launching a few tons of metal is a fairly minor problem.

    Especially when the Oil industry gets involved. When those guys have to get something done, they find the way to get it done! ;-)

  • Lukeh03/03/2009 at 20:00

    Amazing Rubens news?

    That he's pretty much signed up for 2009 and Senna won't be in Brawn/Honda/Brackley :)

  • RG03/03/2009 at 20:01

    That he’s pretty much signed up for 2009 and Senna won’t be in Brawn/Honda/Brackley

    Has anyone said anything about Jenson yet?

  • Jackie03/03/2009 at 20:01

    Pity there isn't a dancing smiley :D :D :D I was really sad to think Rubens would go without a bye bye so that's cooooooooooooooolllll :)

  • Steven Roy03/03/2009 at 20:01

    Amazing Rubens news?

    So am I the only one who would rather have Senna? Strange because normally I am defending the older drivers against the onslaught of youth.

  • Jackie03/03/2009 at 20:02

    So am I the only one who would rather have Senna? Strange because normally I am defending the older drivers against the onslaught of youth.

    Do you rate Senna, Steven?

  • lou03/03/2009 at 20:02

    Has anyone said anything about Jenson yet?

    he'll be racing for them if they survive, i think that's been a given since the begining of this whole saga.

  • Dom03/03/2009 at 20:02

    Has anyone said anything about Jenson yet?

    He has a contract.

  • lou03/03/2009 at 20:03

    So am I the only one who would rather have Senna? Strange because normally I am defending the older drivers against the onslaught of youth.

    you'd rather Senna?? why?

  • Steven Roy03/03/2009 at 20:03

    Especially when the Oil industry gets involved. When those guys have to get something done, they find the way to get it done!

    Then NASA will put back the launch dates ten times.

  • Ollie03/03/2009 at 20:03

    Has anyone said anything about Jenson yet?

    he’ll be racing for them if they survive, i think that’s been a given since the begining of this whole saga.

    Doesn't he actually have a contract anyway?

  • lou03/03/2009 at 20:03

    He has a contract.

    is it signed then?

  • Ollie03/03/2009 at 20:04

    @me: What's with the grey pending box? What does it mean? Should I be concerned I have 1 pending? :)

  • Steven Roy03/03/2009 at 20:05

    Do you rate Senna, Steven?

    Yes. I reckon he could be good. He missed out on ten years of karting because his father died soon after Ayrton so the family stopped him racing. Ayrton used to rave about how quick Bruno was when he was only about 10 or 11 years old. Given what he has done so far with so little experience I reckon he could be very useful.

  • Ollie03/03/2009 at 20:05

    So am I the only one who would rather have Senna? Strange because normally I am defending the older drivers against the onslaught of youth.

    So you won't be commenting on my most recent post then! :D

  • Alex Andronov03/03/2009 at 20:05

    @me: What’s with the grey pending box? What does it mean? Should I be concerned I have 1 pending? :)

    You get it when you are typing to stop the box that you are typing in from sliding down the screen. V useful on iPhones

  • Gavin+Brown+(RubberGoat)03/03/2009 at 20:05

    So you won’t be commenting on my most recent post then!

    Wot, no plug?

  • Ollie03/03/2009 at 20:05

    You get it when you are typing to stop the box that you are typing in from sliding down the screen. V useful on iPhones

    Cheers me dears. :)

  • Gavin+Brown+(RubberGoat)03/03/2009 at 20:06

    Do you rate Senna, Steven?

    Yes. I reckon he could be good. He missed out on ten years of karting because his father died soon after Ayrton so the family stopped him racing. Ayrton used to rave about how quick Bruno was when he was only about 10 or 11 years old. Given what he has done so far with so little experience I reckon he could be very useful.

    Don't forget the PR value of having a Senna in your team...

  • Dom03/03/2009 at 20:06

    is it signed then?

    Think so. The team were trying to keep it quiet until a second driver was signed, but that was kinda hard for obvious reasons.

  • Ollie03/03/2009 at 20:07

    Wot, no plug?

    http://blogf1.co.uk/2009/03/03/bruno-senna-resigned-to-stepping-back/

    Essentially, I believe Bruno has approached this whole situation completely inappropriately. And now his upset. Boo hoo.

  • Steven Roy03/03/2009 at 20:08

    you’d rather Senna?? why?

    We know how good Rubens is and he is not going to get any better. I would have liked him to choose to quit but I think Bruno like di Resta is ready for F1 and putting them on hold will not help them. Too many promising drivers have missed a key step in their careers and not recovered from it. I also think it would help Button because he would have to demonstrate that he was better than Senna where if he matches Ruben that is enough.

  • Steven Roy03/03/2009 at 20:08

    So you won’t be commenting on my most recent post then!

    I will have a look at it later and consider my response.

  • Gavin+Brown+(RubberGoat)03/03/2009 at 20:09

    Wot, no plug?

    http://blogf1.co.uk/2009/03/03/bruno-senna-resigned-to-stepping-back/

    Essentially, I believe Bruno has approached this whole situation completely inappropriately. And now his upset. Boo hoo.

    I am not sure. He put all his hopes on an F1 drive - which to be honest, I would have done the same. So what if he loses a year? He knows that he will get there eventually!

  • Alex Andronov03/03/2009 at 20:09

    w00t!

    http://drop.io/sidepodcast/asset/laconica-gif

    :)

  • Flibster03/03/2009 at 20:09

    Dom: 03/03/2009 at 20:02:49

    Has anyone said anything about Jenson yet?

    He has a contract.

    Sadly....

  • me03/03/2009 at 20:10

    w00t!

    well done you :)

  • Dom03/03/2009 at 20:10

    Essentially, I believe Bruno has approached this whole situation completely inappropriately. And now his upset. Boo hoo.

    Bruno should be in F1 this year, but Rubens should too. They are two very good drivers who were both let down by Honda this year, and that annoys me.

  • Steven Roy03/03/2009 at 20:10

    Don’t forget the PR value of having a Senna in your team…

    I am well aware of that. I also know the value of that name in Japan especially when Sato doesn't have a drive. It could actually do Honda some good politically if they are putting money into the team and giving Senna a break.

  • Steven Roy03/03/2009 at 20:11

    I am not sure. He put all his hopes on an F1 drive - which to be honest, I would have done the same. So what if he loses a year? He knows that he will get there eventually!

    I remember saying that about Allan McNish and a few others.

  • Ollie03/03/2009 at 20:11

    I am not sure. He put all his hopes on an F1 drive - which to be honest, I would have done the same. So what if he loses a year? He knows that he will get there eventually!

    Really? You'd have put all your hopes on a team that is still, as far as we know, in murky water, so to speak.

  • Alex Andronov03/03/2009 at 20:11

    well done you :)

    What a relief!

  • me03/03/2009 at 20:11

    @me: What’s with the grey pending box? What does it mean? Should I be concerned I have 1 pending? :)

    exactly what alex said.

    you can also click the pending box to show queued messages - in case you fancy reading what people are saying whilst ya think about your own comment.

  • Gavin+Brown+(RubberGoat)03/03/2009 at 20:11

    I am not sure. He put all his hopes on an F1 drive - which to be honest, I would have done the same. So what if he loses a year? He knows that he will get there eventually!

    Really? You’d have put all your hopes on a team that is still, as far as we know, in murky water, so to speak.

    Jenson had no problems doing that though, did he?

  • Ollie03/03/2009 at 20:11

    you can also click the pending box to show queued messages - in case you fancy reading what people are saying whilst ya think about your own comment.

    Sweet. :)

  • me03/03/2009 at 20:12

    What a relief!

    are you working late on this, or from home?

  • Ollie03/03/2009 at 20:12

    What a relief!

    So the beer helped then. :)

  • Dom03/03/2009 at 20:12

    you can also click the pending box to show queued messages - in case you fancy reading what people are saying whilst ya think about your own comment.

    Ooh, didn't know that.

  • me03/03/2009 at 20:13

    Ooh, didn’t know that.

    we gotta write some instructions :)

    have you tried clicking the "refresh" checkbox (top right)? does the same thing if you're catching up with the conversation.

  • Steven Roy03/03/2009 at 20:13

    Really? You’d have put all your hopes on a team that is still, as far as we know, in murky water, so to speak.

    His only other sensible option was GP2 but he would have had to win that championship or his reputation would have taken a hit. Bear in mind Lucas di Grassi is doing that championship again and he did all the development driving on the GP2 car so it suits him perfectly as he demonstrated last season. Bruno losing GP2 to another Brazilian who has a technical advantage would not help his case.

  • Ollie03/03/2009 at 20:13

    Jenson had no problems doing that though, did he?

    I thought Jenson was already under contract. Therefore, contractually, he could little else unless, as the team stated themselves, if it all went under he would be released immediately of all and any pending duties. There's a difference.

    Plus, Jense has history with the team and those people there.

  • RG03/03/2009 at 20:13

    Ooh, didn’t know that.

    I think I should try that.

    It's always when you want to check commenting when no one posts for a bit I'll tell you that much, bloomin annoying, ooh wait, someone has posted.

    It works, cheers Mr C (for the comment, I was waffling there)

  • Alex Andronov03/03/2009 at 20:14

    are you working late on this, or from home?

    I have been working from home all day... The transition between the two is slight in this case!

  • Alex Andronov03/03/2009 at 20:14

    So the beer helped then. :)

    Absolutely!

  • me03/03/2009 at 20:14

    I have been working from home all day… The transition between the two is slight in this case!

    ahh, ok. glad you've got it working!

  • Steven Roy03/03/2009 at 20:15

    I thought Jenson was already under contract. Therefore, contractually, he could little else unless, as the team stated themselves, if it all went under he would be released immediately of all and any pending duties. There’s a difference.

    He was under contract to a team that had announced its withdrawal from the sport. That is breach of contract by them and would have left him free to seek alternative employment.

  • Alex Andronov03/03/2009 at 20:15

    ahh, ok. glad you’ve got it working!

    Yes. I wouldn't have attempted this from the office... At the moment it is very difficult to concentrate on one thing at a time. This has been a nice context shift :)

  • Gavin+Brown+(RubberGoat)03/03/2009 at 20:16

    Jenson had no problems doing that though, did he?

    I thought Jenson was already under contract. Therefore, contractually, he could little else unless, as the team stated themselves, if it all went under he would be released immediately of all and any pending duties. There’s a difference.

    Plus, Jense has history with the team and those people there.

    Jense has been known to flip-flop and get out of contracts in the past though. I am sure if he really wanted to he could have joined another team by now.

  • Ollie03/03/2009 at 20:18

    Jense has been known to flip-flop and get out of contracts in the past though. I am sure if he really wanted to he could have joined another team by now.

    That is true. Very, very true.

  • Steven Roy03/03/2009 at 20:18

    Jense has been known to flip-flop and get out of contracts in the past though. I am sure if he really wanted to he could have joined another team by now.

    Of course had Honda shut the team down as they said they would have had to pay him the full three year amount an I am sure that is what he was after.

  • Alex Andronov03/03/2009 at 20:18

    Yes. I wouldn’t have attempted this from the office… At the moment it is very difficult to concentrate on one thing at a time. This has been a nice context shift :)

    Lummy is it really 8:17?

    I have been at my desk for 14 and 3/4 hours :(

    I better go and take a break!

  • Jackie03/03/2009 at 20:19

    Jense has been known to flip-flop and get out of contracts in the past though. I am sure if he really wanted to he could have joined another team by now.

    So has has been the more unfortunate with picking their teams .. Jenson or Webber?

  • Gavin Brown (RubberGoat)03/03/2009 at 20:20

    Jense has been known to flip-flop and get out of contracts in the past though. I am sure if he really wanted to he could have joined another team by now.

    Of course had Honda shut the team down as they said they would have had to pay him the full three year amount an I am sure that is what he was after.

    Is Jense all about the money? I thought he was still hungry for success?

  • lou03/03/2009 at 20:20

    Sadly….

    erm??

  • Ollie03/03/2009 at 20:21

    He was under contract to a team that had announced its withdrawal from the sport. That is breach of contract by them and would have left him free to seek alternative employment.

    Having not seen the contract, I can't say if it's a breach. Maybe it was said at the time and I'm being too harsh. And in all likely, the team withdrawing is a breach. But like I said, Jenson knows the people who work in the factory etc... although he has remained very loyal to Honda during this process, his relationship with the team is different to Senna's.

  • Gavin Brown (RubberGoat)03/03/2009 at 20:21

    Jense has been known to flip-flop and get out of contracts in the past though. I am sure if he really wanted to he could have joined another team by now.

    So has has been the more unfortunate with picking their teams .. Jenson or Webber?

    Webber. He joined every team at the wrong time and has passed his peak already. Jenson could still do well if given a good car.

  • lou03/03/2009 at 20:22

    you can also click the pending box to show queued messages - in case you fancy reading what people are saying whilst ya think about your own comment.

    really? i didn't realise you could do that...

  • Dom03/03/2009 at 20:22

    So has has been the more unfortunate with picking their teams .. Jenson or Webber?

    Jenson was kicked out of Renault. Things could have been a lot different if that hadn't happened.

  • Gavin Brown (RubberGoat)03/03/2009 at 20:22

    So has has been the more unfortunate with picking their teams .. Jenson or Webber?

    Jenson was kicked out of Renault. Things could have been a lot different if that hadn’t happened.

    And Williams (for the fat kid, too!)

  • me03/03/2009 at 20:23

    really? i didn’t realise you could do that…

    soz. my bad, thought it was a given.

  • Ollie03/03/2009 at 20:25

    So has has been the more unfortunate with picking their teams .. Jenson or Webber?

    Fisichella. :) Whether you rate him or not is irrelevant. Minardi to Jordan - good move. Jordan - Benetton - bad move. Benetton - Jordan - Sauber, pretty much all bad. Move to Renault, goodish, but then he encountered Alonso. Bad. Renault - Force India, bad, but little choice came his way for obvious reasons.

  • me03/03/2009 at 20:26

    minor upgrade to drop.io. you can now listen to audio files on a page, using the player on the sidebar:

    http://drop.io/sidepodcast

    not sure how useful that is, but it's an option if you're looking for an easy way to listen to a collection of dropped mp3 files.

  • Dom03/03/2009 at 20:27

    Fisichella. :) Whether you rate him or not is irrelevant. Minardi to Jordan - good move. Jordan - Benetton - bad move. Benetton - Jordan - Sauber, pretty much all bad. Move to Renault, goodish, but then he encountered Alonso. Bad. Renault - Force India, bad, but little choice came his way for obvious reasons.

    But he had a championship winning car? Neither Jenson or Mark have had one of them.

  • lou03/03/2009 at 20:27

    soz. my bad, thought it was a given.

    oo just tried it, the doohickey just got cooler. :P

  • RG03/03/2009 at 20:27

    But he had a championship winning car? Neither Jenson or Mark have had one of them.

    In a team that probably favoured one driver, and one driver only.

  • Ollie03/03/2009 at 20:28

    But he had a championship winning car? Neither Jenson or Mark have had one of them.

    Of course, I meant bad from his perspective because he clearly couldn't keep up.

  • Andy Taylor03/03/2009 at 20:28

    oo just tried it, the doohickey just got cooler. :P

    It's great, just tried it myself.

  • Gavin Brown (RubberGoat)03/03/2009 at 20:28

    Fisichella. Whether you rate him or not is irrelevant. Minardi to Jordan - good move. Jordan - Benetton - bad move. Benetton - Jordan - Sauber, pretty much all bad. Move to Renault, goodish, but then he encountered Alonso. Bad. Renault - Force India, bad, but little choice came his way for obvious reasons.

    But he had a championship winning car? Neither Jenson or Mark have had one of them.

    It's bad when your team mate wins two championships and your average finish is just below the podium. Alonso made Fisi look ordinary and effectively ended his career.

  • Dom03/03/2009 at 20:29

    oo just tried it, the doohickey just got cooler. :P

    Why is there no doohickey fan club?

  • Ollie03/03/2009 at 20:29

    But he had a championship winning car? Neither Jenson or Mark have had one of them.

    Also, they [F1 journo's] always said the Ferraris were only as good as Irvine and Barrichello (and Salo) made them out to be. Maybe the Renault was really only as good as Fisichella made it out to be? Just a thought.

  • Flibster03/03/2009 at 20:30

    lou: 03/03/2009 at 20:20:55

    Sadly….

    erm??

    Yes?

  • lou03/03/2009 at 20:31

    Yes?

    why sadly?

  • me03/03/2009 at 20:31

    Yes?

    anyone else still waiting for lou's rant?

    :)

  • lou03/03/2009 at 20:32

    anyone else still waiting for lou’s rant?

    haha :D am waiting for the explanation first ;)

    oh yeah i have an article to write at some point don't i... hmm must finish essay quickly.

  • Flibster03/03/2009 at 20:33

    lou: 03/03/2009 at 20:31:22

    Yes?

    why sadly?

    I don't think that Barrichello or Button should be race drivers for Bronda. Barrichello I think would be an excellent development driver, but other than eye candy for ladies, I can't see the point in giving Jenson another year on the grid.

  • Dom03/03/2009 at 20:35

    but other than eye candy for ladies, I can’t see the point in giving Jenson another year on the grid.

    There's still a lot he's perfectly able to achieve in F1?

  • Steven Roy03/03/2009 at 20:35

    I just stuck my head out into the real world and it is covered in snow. No wonder I don't like it.

  • RG03/03/2009 at 20:36

    I just stuck my head out into the real world and it is covered in snow. No wonder I don’t like it.

    Its been pouring with rain since I got home, how fun

  • Ollie03/03/2009 at 20:36

    I just stuck my head out into the real world and it is covered in snow. No wonder I don’t like it.

    Scary, ain't it. Thankfully it's just raining in the south. But still just as miserable. Best stay virtual this evening, me thinks.

  • Jackie03/03/2009 at 20:37

    haha :D am waiting for the explanation first ;)

    oh yeah i have an article to write at some point don’t i… hmm must finish essay quickly.

    .. and RG has to practice his signing voice for YMCA :P

  • Flibster03/03/2009 at 20:37

    There’s still a lot he’s perfectly able to achieve in F1?

    Is he after Coulthards record for most disapointing driver?

  • Jackie03/03/2009 at 20:38

    Is he after Coulthards record for most disapointing driver?

    :(

  • me03/03/2009 at 20:38

    this twitter thing has just gone bananas. now following us:

    http://twitter.com/Murray_Walker

    :)

  • Lukeh03/03/2009 at 20:39

    this twitter thing has just gone bananas. now following us:

    Unless I'm very much mistaken, I'm currently tying my shoelaces.

    Oh that has to be fake.... surely?

  • Dom03/03/2009 at 20:40

    this twitter thing has just gone bananas. now following us:

    That's not Murray!

  • Ollie03/03/2009 at 20:40

    this twitter thing has just gone bananas. now following us:

    Same here. So many. Too many. I gave up following, and may even cull a few just for my own sanity's sake.

  • Andy Taylor03/03/2009 at 20:40

    this twitter thing has just gone bananas. now following us:

    But is it really him?

  • RG03/03/2009 at 20:40

    this twitter thing has just gone bananas. now following us:

    No, no, no, no, please no.

  • me03/03/2009 at 20:40

    Oh that has to be fake…. surely?

    yeah, no question. still trying to figure out if the brundle one is legit though?

  • Gavin Brown (RubberGoat)03/03/2009 at 20:40

    this twitter thing has just gone bananas. now following us:

    That’s not Murray!

    Unless I'm very much mistaken....

    Twitter is a bit odd. A lot of links to stories or just random stuff...

  • me03/03/2009 at 20:41

    Same here. So many. Too many. I gave up following, and may even cull a few just for my own sanity’s sake.

    have you tried tweetdeck? makes things nice and easy.

  • Dom03/03/2009 at 20:41

    yeah, no question. still trying to figure out if the brundle one is legit though?

    Am doubting it.

  • Dom03/03/2009 at 20:41

    Oh that has to be fake…. surely?

    "I used to eat a whole slab of garibaldi during the ITV-F1 ad breaks. It was br-r-r-illiant."

    Oh dear...

  • Ollie03/03/2009 at 20:42

    yeah, no question. still trying to figure out if the brundle one is legit though?

    Why don't you email him and ask? Surely webmaster [at] his_official_domain would work. Getting a response though may not happen.

  • Andy Taylor03/03/2009 at 20:42

    Twitter is a bit odd. A lot of links to stories or just random stuff…

    One of my colleagues twittered about getting rid of the JWs yesterday - they called to ask him about the bible, he replied he'd never read it as he's more of a McNab man.

  • Lukeh03/03/2009 at 20:42

    “I used to eat a whole slab of garibaldi during the ITV-F1 ad breaks. It was br-r-r-illiant.”

    Ohh why did I laugh :D

  • me03/03/2009 at 20:42

    Why don’t you email him and ask? Surely webmaster [at] his_official_domain would work. Getting a response though may not happen.

    i think ms. mckenzie is already on to that.

  • Ollie03/03/2009 at 20:43

    have you tried tweetdeck? makes things nice and easy.

    Will it incorporate identi.ca as well? And multiple accounts on both? I have heard other good things about tweetdeck though. It's a MacApp as far as I can tell, which is a bonus.

  • Steven Roy03/03/2009 at 20:44

    I can't get dropio to open. The little twirly dot circle thing goes round and round like the wheels on the bus but it never reaches the bus stop

  • Ollie03/03/2009 at 20:44

    I can’t get dropio to open. The little twirly dot circle thing goes round and round like the wheels on the bus but it never reaches the bus stop

    You need to press the button to make it stop. :D

  • lou03/03/2009 at 20:44

    but other than eye candy for ladies, I can’t see the point in giving Jenson another year on the grid.

    who knows what he would be able to achieve in a desent car though. I mean, he's never really been in a race winning/ championship winning car. He is only 29, and from what i can see has driven really well in some utterly crap cars. Put him in a race winning car and THEN judge him. He hasn't truley been able to show his abilities in my opinion.

  • me03/03/2009 at 20:45

    Will it incorporate identi.ca as well? And multiple accounts on both? I have heard other good things about tweetdeck though. It’s a MacApp as far as I can tell, which is a bonus.

    nope and nope. not sure if it doesn't run on adobe air (so win / mac / linux). it's good, but you probably need a whole screen dedicated to it.

  • Steven Roy03/03/2009 at 20:45

    You need to press the button to make it stop. :D

    Tried rining the bell but the driver ignored it.

  • Dom03/03/2009 at 20:45

    "Murray Walker is now following you."

    That's a strange thing to be told...

  • me03/03/2009 at 20:45

    I can’t get dropio to open. The little twirly dot circle thing goes round and round like the wheels on the bus but it never reaches the bus stop

    "a wee bit of unplanned deployments rippling through... sorry, be back up to speed in just a moment"

    http://twitter.com/dropio/statuses/1275434037

  • Ollie03/03/2009 at 20:46

    nope and nope. not sure if it doesn’t run on adobe air (so win / mac / linux). it’s good, but you probably need a whole screen dedicated to it.

    Nope and nope is not good. Hence why I'm still on twhirl (*shudders*). Although I have looking for an excuse to buy another monitor...

  • Ollie03/03/2009 at 20:47

    “Murray Walker is now following you.”

    That’s a strange thing to be told…

    The best one I had last year, and not a word of a lie:

    Skin cancer is now following you on Twitter.

  • Dom03/03/2009 at 20:48

    The best one I had last year, and not a word of a lie:

    Skin cancer is now following you on Twitter.

    :D

  • me03/03/2009 at 20:48

    Nope and nope is not good. Hence why I’m still on twhirl (*shudders*). Although I have looking for an excuse to buy another monitor…

    it's a struggle, and we're a long way from where microblogging needs to be sadly.

    what's worse is twitter has gotten more and more unstable these past couple of days.

  • RG03/03/2009 at 20:49

    The best one I had last year, and not a word of a lie:

    Skin cancer is now following you on Twitter.

    :D Brilliant

  • RG03/03/2009 at 20:50

    what’s worse is twitter has gotten more and more unstable these past couple of days.

    Everyone in the bloomin worlds using it, I think the local radio's breakfast, mid-morning, afternoon and nightshift has one. Ridiculous.

  • Lukeh03/03/2009 at 20:52

    Everyone in the bloomin worlds using it, I think the local radio’s breakfast, mid-morning, afternoon and nightshift has one. Ridiculous.

    It's strange when you've been using it long term. I've used it for a good year and a half and never imagined it'd ever get as popular as it is at the moment.

  • Ollie03/03/2009 at 20:53

    Everyone in the bloomin worlds using it, I think the local radio’s breakfast, mid-morning, afternoon and nightshift has one. Ridiculous.

    You see, us geeks (sorry for the blanket statement, but in this case, it's warranted) either create or find a great little thing like Twitter, or whatever. We love it and help it along. Then the big wide world finds it, uses it and promotes it and ultimately, ruins it. It's good, and bad. I guess it's life.

  • Dom03/03/2009 at 20:54

    It’s strange when you’ve been using it long term. I’ve used it for a good year and a half and never imagined it’d ever get as popular as it is at the moment.

    I blame Steven.

    Fry, that is.

  • RG03/03/2009 at 20:54

    Fry, that is.

    Now that would have worked if you spelt it Stephen ;)

  • Dom03/03/2009 at 20:55

    Now that would have worked if you spelt it Stephen ;)

    Shhh. ;)

  • me03/03/2009 at 20:55

    You see, us geeks (sorry for the blanket statement, but in this case, it’s warranted) either create or find a great little thing like Twitter, or whatever. We love it and help it along. Then the big wide world finds it, uses it and promotes it and ultimately, ruins it. It’s good, and bad. I guess it’s life.

    that's an interesting point. but then we still have identica.

  • Ollie03/03/2009 at 20:56

    Then the big wide world finds it, uses it and promotes it and ultimately, ruins it. It’s good, and bad. I guess it’s life.

    Just to be clear, the big wide world is everybody, so everybody is to blame. It's like that perfect break that no one else knows about. Give it time, give it time...

  • Andy Taylor03/03/2009 at 20:56

    that’s an interesting point. but then we still have identica.

    Well keep quiet about it then. :)

    LPG is suggesting that Jenson is the James Blunt of F1.

  • me03/03/2009 at 20:56

    LPG is suggesting that Jenson is the James Blunt of F1.

    from dorset?

  • Steven Roy03/03/2009 at 20:58

    LPG is suggesting that Jenson is the James Blunt of F1.

    You mean he should have sat on his guitar and strapped his tank round his neck.

  • Ollie03/03/2009 at 20:58

    that’s an interesting point. but then we still have identica.

    ID.ca is like a copy of Twitter though. How often is ID.ca mentioned by the BBC? Twitter was on the news not so long ago with the guy who photo'd the Hudson plane crash/perfect landing at tweeted. ID.ca won't get that promo because in the eyes of the public, it is the same service, but Twitter was first and more popular.

    Ultimately, I'm saying that I'm thankful for ID.ca. Long may she remain largely unnoticed.

  • me03/03/2009 at 20:58

    You see, us geeks (sorry for the blanket statement, but in this case, it’s warranted) either create or find a great little thing like Twitter, or whatever. We love it and help it along. Then the big wide world finds it, uses it and promotes it and ultimately, ruins it. It’s good, and bad. I guess it’s life.

    just had to dig out the first mention of twitter on spc:

    "It might well be a fad..."

    or not!

    more: http://www.sidepodcast.com/2007/03/22/wittering-away/

  • Andy Taylor03/03/2009 at 20:59

    from dorset?

    LPG: Does the best he can with some dodgy material.

    LPG: Is quite a nice bloke, but a bit bland.

    Sadly Jenson isn't his own rhyming slang though.

  • lou03/03/2009 at 20:59

    LPG is suggesting that Jenson is the James Blunt of F1.

    mmmm.....

  • Ollie03/03/2009 at 20:59

    “It might well be a fad…”

    :D

    That was my first approach to it as well. :)

  • Andy Taylor03/03/2009 at 20:59

    You mean he should have sat on his guitar and strapped his tank round his neck.

    You've heard the Mitch Benn song too then? :D

  • Andy Taylor03/03/2009 at 21:00

    mmmm…..

    If that's the mmmmm we think it might be, it's not what LPG meant at all. :p

  • me03/03/2009 at 21:01

    Ultimately, I’m saying that I’m thankful for ID.ca. Long may she remain largely unnoticed.

    it's geeky enough, and ugly enough never to go mainstream :)

  • Lukeh03/03/2009 at 21:01

    LPG is suggesting that Jenson is the James Blunt of F1.

    But Jenson is good :(

  • lou03/03/2009 at 21:01

    If that’s the mmmmm we think it might be, it’s not what LPG meant at all. :p

    i just don't agree tis all.

  • Dom03/03/2009 at 21:02

    just had to dig out the first mention of twitter on spc:

    "I’m not convinced about Twitter myself, so I’ll let “me” come and try and sell it to you!!"

    Or maybe tell us to all to move to identi.ca. ;)

  • Ollie03/03/2009 at 21:02

    Can I just add I kept thinking: Liquid Petroleum Gas...?

    Sorry, Little Purple Goth.

    It all makes sense now. I'm in the right frame of mind.

  • Ollie03/03/2009 at 21:03

    it’s geeky enough, and ugly enough never to go mainstream :)

    Ah, the redesign makes sense now! :)

  • me03/03/2009 at 21:03

    Or maybe tell us to all to move to identi.ca. ;)

    and so you should ;)

  • Flibster03/03/2009 at 21:03

    LPG is suggesting that Jenson is the James Blunt of F1.

    :D *rofl*

    I agree though. Middle of the road noncense. Didn't deserve an album in the first place.

    Sadly Jenson isn’t his own rhyming slang though.

    Mitch Benn did a great song with a line like that in it. ;)

  • me03/03/2009 at 21:03

    Ah, the redesign makes sense now! :)

    :D

  • Andy Taylor03/03/2009 at 21:04

    It all makes sense now. I’m in the right frame of mind.

    :).

    Here's a link to Mitch Benn singing his James Blunt song. Warning contains naughty words.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=etYvtT7q5XA

  • Steven Roy03/03/2009 at 21:10

    You’ve heard the Mitch Benn song too then? :D

    No. youtube?

  • Steven Roy03/03/2009 at 21:11

    Or maybe tell us to all to move to identi.ca. ;)

    He told us all to move to identica months ago.

  • Andy Taylor03/03/2009 at 21:12

    No. youtube?

    Yes, just posted the link

  • Ollie03/03/2009 at 21:14

    He told us all to move to identica months ago.

    As far as I remember, I wasn't told either. I had the account set up for me and was emailed my password. :D

    [That is all a lie, but as much as I remember, it could have happened like that.]

  • Alianora La Canta03/03/2009 at 21:19

    The gridwalk makes me uncomfortable. That is usually the time I disappear into the kitchen to make nachos. {Comment #72}

    I suppose if the gridwalk is scrapped you could make the nachos before the build-up starts, though how you'd fit that in with everything you do for us Sidepodders is anyone's guess.

  • Steven Roy03/03/2009 at 21:21

    dropio has gone loopy. First it had a bucket of red noses and nothing else now it says database maintenance time. I was going to dropio a pic of the bucket of red noses but I can't.

  • me03/03/2009 at 21:22

    dropio has gone loopy. First it had a bucket of red noses and nothing else now it says database maintenance time. I was going to dropio a pic of the bucket of red noses but I can’t.

    wow :D

  • Mattw03/03/2009 at 21:24

    you’d rather Senna?? why?

    Well, I would turn that around - will trolling around at the back of the grid for another year do Rubens any good?

    He is still a good driver, but will be an asset to the team - but will he ever find his way into another front running car?

    Perhaps it is time for him to look for pastures new (sportscars? IRL?)

    As for Senna - a year gaining experience out of the spotlight could have been very usefull - and if he were to beat Button, people would notice.

  • Alianora La Canta03/03/2009 at 21:25

    “Force India did in the early hours of this test easy, but now is Adrian Sutil steam come. The German finished the last half hour for several stints and is now out for its test operations to prosecute.” {Comment #85}

    Does anyone have a Google-English translator handy?

  • me03/03/2009 at 21:25

    Well, I would turn that around - will trolling around at the back of the grid for another year do Rubens any good?

    it'll increase his race starts totalizer thingy.

  • Andy Taylor03/03/2009 at 21:26

    it’ll increase his race starts totalizer thingy.

    He's not the subject of a Blue Peter appeal, although that might have been a way to raise some cash to buy Honda...

  • Ollie03/03/2009 at 21:27

    He’s not the subject of a Blue Peter appeal, although that might have been a way to raise some cash to buy Honda…

    That's a brilliant idea. Sponsor Rubens per race start. :)

  • me03/03/2009 at 21:27

    That’s a brilliant idea. Sponsor Rubens per race start. :)

    :D

    :D

  • me03/03/2009 at 21:31

    i think drop.io is back.

  • Steven Roy03/03/2009 at 21:35

    He’s not the subject of a Blue Peter appeal, although that might have been a way to raise some cash to buy Honda…

    So do we need to send him stamps or milk bottle tops or something.

  • Steven Roy03/03/2009 at 21:37

    i think drop.io is back.

    Dropioed a bucket of red noses.

  • Dom03/03/2009 at 21:37

    So do we need to send him stamps or milk bottle tops or something.

    We were going to send him some cupcakes in the post a while back...

  • Steven Roy03/03/2009 at 21:39

    As for Senna - a year gaining experience out of the spotlight could have been very usefull - and if he were to beat Button, people would notice.

    Either the Honda is as good as was claimed in which case Bruno can be judged in a pressure situation or the car is the normal Honda rubbish and he would get a year's experience. Either way there is no advantage to running Rubens for one more year unless the car is good enought to get podiums.

  • Andy Taylor03/03/2009 at 21:51

    So do we need to send him stamps or milk bottle tops or something.

    I think they made last year's Red Bull out of milk bottle tops given the way it fell apart with the slightest knock.

  • me03/03/2009 at 22:07

    Dropioed a bucket of red noses.

    have seen that before, cool :)

  • me03/03/2009 at 22:07

    have seen that before, cool :)

    the missing word there, was *never*.

  • Mattw03/03/2009 at 22:09

    Either way there is no advantage to running Rubens for one more year unless the car is good enought to get podiums

    I agree... Except that one thing you can say about Rubens is that he can bring the car home in those crazy topsy-turvy races. Last years car was not good enouph for podiums - but look at Silverstone.

    Even if he only sneeks in a 7th ot 8th on that sort of race - that could be the only points the team see all year.

    Button is the quicker driver, but Rubens is better at snatching the opportunity when it comes.

  • Ollie03/03/2009 at 22:14

    Either way there is no advantage to running Rubens for one more year unless the car is good enought to get podiums

    He can take the pressure off a new team infrastructure (possibly) by avoiding the need to develop an up-and-coming driver. Rubens is at the end of his career, not the beginning. Senna can wait until the right moment. I don't think 2009 is the right moment, especially not in a Honda(-esque) car.

  • Alex Andronov03/03/2009 at 22:51

    Seems to be a bit of drop.io spam... :(

  • Alianora La Canta03/03/2009 at 22:51

    I've just checked my Fantasy Racers teams. My eyes boggled when I noted that my balance for La Canta Magnifico Aléman stands at minus £5.8 million. Considering I only got £40 million to start with, it seems like Messrs Sutil, Rosberg, Heidfeld, Glock and/or Vettel have increased a lot in value since I first selected them. And it's not even Melbourne yet!

  • Ollie03/03/2009 at 22:52

    I’ve just checked my Fantasy Racers teams. My eyes boggled when I noted that my balance for La Canta Magnifico Aléman stands at minus £5.8 million. Considering I only got £40 million to start with, it seems like Messrs Sutil, Rosberg, Heidfeld, Glock and/or Vettel have increased a lot in value since I first selected them. And it’s not even Melbourne yet!

    I reckons Glock and Vettel might be the culprits, considering how many headlines they've got out of testing recently.

  • me03/03/2009 at 22:54

    Seems to be a bit of drop.io spam… :(

    have fixed. wonder if they changed something? will keep an eye on it, cheers.

  • Alianora La Canta03/03/2009 at 22:57

    I’m having terrible trouble updating my pear {Comment #199}

    If it's the sort of pear I'm thinking of, that is not a surprise. Soft green fruit doesn't update very readily.

  • Alex Andronov03/03/2009 at 22:58

    If it’s the sort of pear I’m thinking of, that is not a surprise. Soft green fruit doesn’t update very readily.

    I'm still not certain what it was / is. Something to do with PHP I think though. I needed updating though apparently!

  • me03/03/2009 at 23:00

    I’m still not certain what it was / is. Something to do with PHP I think though. I needed updating though apparently!

    basically a bunch of useful functions that php probably should've shipped with in the first place.

  • Alianora La Canta03/03/2009 at 23:08

    me too. hope he’s [Ian Phillips] still around in the paddock. {Comment #222}

    He'd better be, considering he's second-in-command at Force India at race weekends. We were lucky he could spare a session a weekend to talk to Five Live, really...

  • Alianora La Canta03/03/2009 at 23:10

    At this moment in time, RG has fainted {Comment #234}

    Oh no!

  • Alex Andronov03/03/2009 at 23:12

    basically a bunch of useful functions that php probably should’ve shipped with in the first place.

    Ah makes sense! In other news I have discovered what on earth was causing my computer to use up so much bandwidth...

    My virus scanner's default scan had changed to daily during an upgrade... And during an upgrade to Jungledisk they had made their virtual disk containing my backup files "more integrated with Windows". Good right? No bad... My computer was just constantly sitting there downloading files that it had already backed up to check if they had viruses on them... Because the virus scanner could no longer tell that the jungle disk was actually a network disk!

    :(

  • me03/03/2009 at 23:12

    He’d better be, considering he’s second-in-command at Force India at race weekends. We were lucky he could spare a session a weekend to talk to Five Live, really…

    i figured. i meant maurice :)

  • Alianora La Canta03/03/2009 at 23:14

    I’m also a bit miffed by Senna’s attitude. He passes up opportunities to race elsewhere because he naively thinks a Honda drive is in the bag, which from the outside, it is still unconfirmed (in the true sense of the word) if the team is saved, yet alone anything else. And then he has a bit of a hissy. {Comment #255}

    Bruno won't impress anyone behaving like that.

  • me03/03/2009 at 23:17

    ...Because the virus scanner could no longer tell that the jungle disk was actually a network disk!

    that is a new one. i guess it's a learning curve as we all go "cloudy".

  • Alianora La Canta03/03/2009 at 23:19

    What worries me… and I don’t know much about PHP is that the line in question 19 only contains this:

    ?>

    Which makes me think this problem is going to be hard to debug. {Comment #259}

    Maybe the program is expecting something that isn't there? It can't possibly be finding something that shouldn't be there because there's nothing there for it to find (unless a question mark and a greater than symbol constitute "something").

    Hope the program behaves itself soon.

  • Alianora La Canta03/03/2009 at 23:21

    i figured. i meant maurice {Comment #478}

    OK, I misunderstood. Maurice deserves something good to do - I wonder if this means somebody's commisioned him to gather material for a book?

  • me03/03/2009 at 23:24

    OK, I misunderstood.

    no, no. it's okay, my original comment was just nonsense :)

    Maurice deserves something good to do - I wonder if this means somebody’s commisioned him to gather material for a book?

    agreed.

  • Jon Waldock03/03/2009 at 23:24

    ta to whoever put the F2 video on drop.io i love that corner at brands, good to see that the car isnt too slow either

  • me03/03/2009 at 23:25

    ta to whoever put the F2 video on drop.io i love that corner at brands, good to see that the car isnt too slow either

    oooh, not seen it. brb.

  • Alianora La Canta03/03/2009 at 23:25

    Nope, no coincidence at all. Remind me, why is Piquet in the second car again? {Comment #267}

    Because some of his sponsors are helping to pay Renault's bills (particularly concerning Alonso?)

  • me03/03/2009 at 23:28

    ta to whoever put the F2 video on drop.io i love that corner at brands, good to see that the car isnt too slow either

    i would guess keiththemarshall uploaded it. not sure if i missed a comment somewhere. but cheers keith.

  • Jon Waldock03/03/2009 at 23:29

    i would guess keiththemarshall uploaded it. not sure if i missed a comment somewhere. but cheers keith.

    ah yes, im sure your right. it was Brands 2009 Launch today, looked quite good, they had the new Focus BTCC car too, its quite nice.

  • Ollie03/03/2009 at 23:29

    Nope, no coincidence at all. Remind me, why is Piquet in the second car again? {Comment #267}

    Because some of his sponsors are helping to pay Renault’s bills (particularly concerning Alonso?)

    Oh, so it's on talent then. That's okay, was just checking in with reality. Thanks Alia. :)

  • Ollie03/03/2009 at 23:30

    Oh, so it’s on talent then. That’s okay, was just checking in with reality. Thanks Alia. :)

    And the missing word this time is *not*...

  • me03/03/2009 at 23:31

    And the missing word this time is *not*…

    we're on fire tonight aren't we?

  • Ollie03/03/2009 at 23:32

    we’re on fire tonight aren’t we?

    I'm always on fire when it comes to missing words. The more important the word, the more I burn! :D

  • me03/03/2009 at 23:33

    I’m always on fire when it comes to missing words. The more important the word, the more I burn! :D

    :D

  • Andy Taylor03/03/2009 at 23:33

    we’re on fire tonight aren’t we?

    :)

  • Alianora La Canta03/03/2009 at 23:36

    I just stuck my head out into the real world and it is covered in snow. No wonder I don’t like it. {Comment #383}

    I was watching the forecast of 25cm of snow up there and thought "Ooh-er, that's an awful lot of white stuff"...

  • Alianora La Canta03/03/2009 at 23:41

    Everyone in the worlds using it, {Cmment #417}

    I'm not using it and I'm not about to start ;)

  • Nigel Mac03/03/2009 at 23:41

    Hi All

    I have just signed up with BATracer and want to join the SPC league, how do I do it?

  • Alianora La Canta03/03/2009 at 23:44

    dropio has gone loopy. First it had a bucket of red noses and nothing else now it says database maintenance time. {Comment #450}

    Do I take it the Comic Relief charity gesture went slightly wrong?

  • Steven Roy03/03/2009 at 23:46

    I was watching the forecast of 25cm of snow up there and thought “Ooh-er, that’s an awful lot of white stuff”…

    I guess that is a bit further north and in the mountains. We haven't had that much snow total over the last 20 years.

  • Steven Roy03/03/2009 at 23:49

    I have just signed up with BATracer and want to join the SPC league, how do I do it?

    Go to http://batracer.com/-cj?&D&37543

    The password is bourdais

  • Nigel Mac03/03/2009 at 23:54

    Thanks!

  • Steven Roy03/03/2009 at 23:56

    Thanks!

    Which team did you sign up for?

  • Steven Roy03/03/2009 at 23:59

    If you are new to BATracer you may find Scott's guide very useful

  • Steven Roy04/03/2009 at 00:01

    If you are new to BATracer you may find Scott’s guide very useful

    http://wiki.sidepodcast.com/page/Fantasy+F1

  • littlepurplegoth04/03/2009 at 23:09

    I think they made last year’s Red Bull out of milk bottle tops given the way it fell apart with the slightest knock.

    And there I was wondering who the 'big client' that the local recycling guy was saying the local plant sent all the metal to was....