iblog

Anna: At a recent trade exhibition in Monaco, French company Dotmobil unveiled a Renault Scenic. Nothing very earth-shattering you might think, but this was no ordinary model. In fact the car is potentially capable of finding its bearings in urban traffic without anyone at the wheel! The vehicle "feels" and "sees" the way using an onboard camera, laser telemeters to measure distances, a GPS receiver and a lot of clever computation. The prototype is also capable of detecting a traffic light, a pedestrian walking across the road and can anticipate the trajectories of other road-users. So, is this the future of car travel? Given how many accidents result from human error due to recklessness, carelessness, tiredness, drink and drugs perhaps we should start putting out faith in computers rather than our own abilities as drivers...

Rushda: Apparently dementia sufferers are on the increase, with estimates suggesting that almost one million people will suffer it in the next decade. A study is therefore being launched to see if a change in diet could reduce the risk. Researchers at the Alzheimer's Society will investigate the effects of foods such as fruit juice, red wine and oily fish to see if there is a link between intake and risk of disease. The first findings will be shown in July and it is expected, as ever, that a "Mediterranean diet" of plentiful fruit and vegetables with very little dairy and meat will be shown to be beneficial in combatting mental illness.

Rushda: He may not wear the costume, do funky jumps or shoot web out of his hands, but a man has been nicknamed Spiderman and has been scaling towers all over Germany without any safety equipment... just for fun. The latest one he did was in Berlin and a video of him can be seen here. Too bad, however, that he doesn't have as much respect as his superhero - his latest feat involved getting caught by police when he descended again!

Caroline: If you've read William Golding's "Lord of the Flies" you'll no doubt be wondering at the wisdom of creating a reality TV show inspired by the book. In Golding's Nobel prize-winning work the group of children abandoned on an island struggle with their primitive instincts and eventually, reverting to savages, hunt and kill one of their number. Kid Nation, as the show is to be called, follows forty children between the ages of eight and fifteen who have been left in a deserted New Mexican town for forty days, to see whether they can set up a well-ordered community or whether chaos will ensue. There will be no Big Brother-type evictions although each week the children will be able to vote to give someone a reward. The children can also leave the show whenever they wish, which, if the fate of poor Piggy in the book is anything to go by, is just as well.

Caroline: A year or two ago, it was cattle with Scottish accents that hit the headlines. Now marine scientists from Bangor University and the Shannon Dolphin Foundation have discovered a decidedly Welsh lilt amongst the dolphins of Cardigan Bay. They have been analysing sounds from the bottlenose dolphins to see whether certain whistles,clicks and groans can be associated with certain behaviour. Academics concur with the scientists' findings of regional accents and believe it or not (and I'm not sure whether I do!) ornithologists have found that the great tits in the grounds of Buckingham Palace have a much more urban accent nowadays!

Rushda: Residents are being warned about a breeding boom of poisonous caterpillars in Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. The inch-long caterpillar of the brown tailed moth has caused serious asthma attacks, rashes and headaches to many who have been in contact with it or its blown-away hairs. The caterpillars, which are usually found in parks and beaches, will stick around till the end of May when they will cocoon and turn into moths. Until then, a spokesman for North East Lincolnshire Council urges that we all remain cautious around these caterpillars. Anyone who does come into contact with them is advised to wash hands with soap and clear their eyes with eyewash.

Caroline: I have a friend who has such a hatred of traffic jams that she will drive miles on the back roads to avoid jams and plan the timing of her journeys meticulously to make sure she is not stuck in traffic. However, even she has never thought of taking to the skies like David Grimes. He "commutes" from his home in Shoreham to his office in Brighton by kitesurfing. It takes him about thirty minutes each morning which is faster than it would be by car. The only problem is that coming home in the evening would take two hours because of the prevailing winds so Mr Grimes packs his wet suit and kite up and gets on the bus. Not only is it far less frustrating than sitting in traffic but it's good for the environment too!

Rushda: Just when I was getting excited about how finally celebrities such as Paris Hilton are getting their just desserts and will for once live long meagre existences in dark and dirty prison cells with violent inmates, my hopes were drained when I read an article about how her sentence has been halved. Apparently the cause of this is that she has "been a good girl" since she was convicted - and by that the officials mean they were impressed by things like the fact that Paris came to court on time on her last court date. Not only is her sentence now only 23 days long but her prison sentence will be a stay in a special room designed for only two people, a unit which has been reserved for high-profile prisoners. And if that doesn't get you frustrated enough, here's something to top it all off: Paris will get time each day to watch television, participate in outdoor recreation and talk on the telephone. Argh!

Anna: A proposed "Bridge of Reeds" that will connect Cambridge to a green and pleasant hinterland is, I think, a great idea. The bridge, and don't worry it's actually made of steel not reeds, will link the University town to Wicken Fen via a network of paths for cyclists and walkers alike. Providing traffic-free spaces where Britain's city dwellers can breathe fresh air and relax is not a new concept, but it's one we need to make sure is preserved and put into practice as more and more of the urban periphery is consumed by somewhat soulless housing developments. Jonathan Porritt, former Director of Freinds of the Earth and well-known environmental crusader, sums it up:

"The bridge of reeds is going to be an enormously important landmark for the East of England. Too often people take for granted the precious natural habitats in and around our cities. The Cambridge area is thriving, one of the fastest areas for development in the country, and so it is more crucial than ever that nature reserves such as Wicken Fen and the surrounding countryside are valued and even greater access is provided for people in local communities. "

Anna: Browsing a travel forum about essential pieces of kit to take on a long tour, I found myself reading about the Whiz Away. This gadget is described on the official website as "The World's First Antibacterial and Hydrophobic Urine Director for Leisure Use and for Mobility Impaired Users". In short, the device allows women to pee like a man! Remember that scene in The Full Monty? This is admittedly far more hygienic, but I hope I'm not alone in still finding it a bit of a weird concept! Of course it is inconvenient to be female when there is a dearth of toilets or even, in the outdoors, a lack of suitable cover behind which you might be able to crouch. I think it's a great invention for women whose mobility is impaired, whether permanently due to disability or illness, or temporarily following an operation or because of a broken limb, for example. Excellent, then, that Whiz products are available on the NHS for those who need them. Also, because it allows you to expel urine while lying down and without undressing, I should think the Whiz Away is a hit with female high-altitude mountaineers. And the idea that this device "preserves Dignity and Liberty whatever the circumstances" is also commendable. But, personally, I'm not sure I'd have used a Whizz Away when cycling through Africa - perhaps it's just me, but I'd rather hang on and wait until a nice big tree appears on the scene.