TopGear Season 10 Episode 4 Review – Drive Across African Desert

This week’s show was not the funniest one ever. It was really about jaw dropping risk and edge of your seat drama in a more serious sense. I was drawn to the show’s risky challenges of driving across most of the continent of Africa in old used cars and was suprised that they were able to pull off as much as they were. Many times they even decided to reveal the team of 20 people or so that were traveling with them to ensure saftey, fix the cars repeatedly, film everything and manage camping all along the way.

I think this is good because the idea that they really travel on these far away expeditions by themselves is beginning to get a little hard to believe. In fact those of us that have been watching for a few years now are pretty wise to the idea that they have a huge crew to make these situations which look unplanned work. Sure it’s not scripted but it is very planned out. So that was nice to see and it is always cool to see them demolish some cars and run them on the frames only.

And it was nice to see that James was right for once that his Mercedes (not merc, that is a mercury guys) was really quite good in the challenge and held up the best overall minus the weight issue in the salt flats. That wouldn’t be legal here or in europe probably so it’s good they did it there. Anyway check out the site and see clips from the show.

95% DVR Households Watch Live TV

This wasn an interesting statistic both for the advertisers that DVR households still watch 95% of their TV live and interesting because these people have invested 2-400.00 in a new piece of technology that they only use 5% of the time. It hardly seems justifiable then. I am not sure I would buy one now, knowing how little use it would get.  Check out the full report here.

TopGear is Back! Season 10 starts of with a bang

I was probably not the only american poised at my computer eagerly waiting for my friends on the other side of the pond to send me the first show of the new TopGear season this afternoon. It aired in the UK at 8pm their time and about an hour after the show ended I got to see it too. Thanks to the friends that make this possible!! And technology of course. I am sure the people who create the show are a bit pissed that I have friends that send it to me, but they just don’t understand our enthusiasm for the show in the US and no amount of money paid for access to it will bring it here at the same time as the UK.

What they don’t know is that we are such fanatical fans that we want to film our own version of TG but we don’t personally have the money for fancy cameras and editing equipment. We think that would be the best job in the WORLD. I think you have to also know that this show has already put me into a tizzy finding a region free dvd player to watch the dvds that were released and it has become a big social event here with sharing the shows. I drive it over to someone’s house and we all text eachother to get over to watch TopGear together like we did tonight. Then the DVD goes to work and to a friend that is part of a car club here and they watch it next. It’s just too good not to share. I have personally probably introduced like 25 people to the shows that are now loyal fans. And the BBC thinks that Americans don’t like the show?? We love it, and agree with being made fun of when they do that.

Anyway all logistics aside, the 1st episode of the 10th season tonight was good, although we got to see more of James May than many of us had ever thought we would, considering his fear of being shown running on TV a few years ago. The cars are great, and so is the excursion but we got the biggest laugh of the night when they pointed out that James had fallen comfortably into the new furniture like it was his own. We also think James and Richard seriously both need a haircut. But then again, maybe that’s why they both got the uglier chairs to sit in. They also need a new digital cool wall to replace the old charred one. I also suggest some Buick seats to replace the ones lost in the fire. Buicks have the most comfortable seats ever. Don’t they sell Buicks in the UK or Europe? Ok, I guess not, let me know if you guys want some though, and I’ll have some sent. Until next week, we will be driving with the sport option turned on. Happy Motoring.

Green Energy Policy to Stop Climate Change

I am not sure how many people still believe that climate change and global warming is not going to happen, but it has to be dwindling. People every day see the effects of smog, pollution, extreme weather, melting glaciers and ice caps and rising temperatures. I just wish we could get on to the next stage after recognizing it is here, and start making changes already! Time is running out and it is hard to justify the oil we burn and the energy we consume just because it is affordable right now. The big businesses that give us that energy would like us to think we can afford it, but really it is about a lot more than just money. It is about the earth and the survival of this planet. One thing you and everyone should do is to inform yourself about climate change and it’s causes. then stay informed of what your congressman and representatives are doing about it when they vote on bills that are related to energy policy. One place you can find videos of these speeches in the house and senate is http://video.energypolicytv.com/ They list as many as they can and they are free to everyone to view. I think that the one on solar power is particularly informative. Check them out and follow up with your local government officials and tell them how you want them to vote!