Galea S Galactic Networks Corporation.com

Fuel-saving

---

 

It’s been quite a-lot of time now. I can’t remember when I last wrote on this space because I’ve so busy doing work, exams, criticizing local motoring journalists and other rubbish I forget that time flew. Worry no more, because it will be regularly updated from now on. Of course, you can imagine with what I will start…and how I will start: with cars and something that’s bothering me.

 

In a new world where environmentalists have been created who see cars as gas-guzzling-animal-killing-life-threatening pieces of metal, the car has been having quite a hard time. So people are talking at great lengths about the advantages motorcycles such as…erm…well, I have no idea of any examples motorcycles. I’m that bad. However, I do understand that they should be sent to hell.

 

You see, although they’re small and light, they don’t have any space to fit any filters to clean their exhausts, which means all of the thousands of pollutants are released into the air. Cars, on the other hand, have sophisticated technology and all sorts of chemicals and filters so that they release only a tiny amount of pollutants. This means that cars are much greener than motorcycles and yet to still find a fool trying to encourage us to buy that will kill us; not only with its pollutants, but in a crash you have absolutely no protection.

 

So, what can we do? This brings us to the hybrids. These use two engines as a source of power. The problem is, currently hybrids have no power. No, really. Let us take the Toyota Prius.

 

It has a top speed of 99mph in a world where it has been proven that a production car can go at 252mph. 0-60mph in 11 seconds, also known in the motoring world as a lifetime. But wait for the power; well, there isn’t any. 76bhp from a 1.5-litre electrically-assisted engine is pitiful. Even a diesel Renault Clio 2 classes below it has more power! Of course, you might think that all of this is a small price to pay if we are going to save the world from certain death (or they’re trying to make us believe). I’m afraid you are very mistaken.

 

Let’s start with the good stuff. It does 65mph, which is very very good; it is quite spacious and it doesn’t look too bad either. It’s also surprisingly comfortable and its interior looks quite futuristic. Also, according to the JD Power 2008 it’s also the most satisfying car money can buy.

Now the bad stuff; all the cars in its class look better; it’s steering gives absolutely no feedback making it the most boring car in history; it’s got rubbish headroom at the back; it’s got too much buttons on the dash; it’s got a computer that can distract you while you’re driving (although you’ll never actually hit anything because it’s so slow), it’s got rubbish plastics and it is quite expensive. But here’s the worst bit; it’ neither economical nor environmentally friendly.

 

In a recent study which took into account the damage it does to the environemtent during its whole lifetime, it came worse than a Jeep mainly because its' made from many materials that need to be transported many thousands of miles. Meanwhile, not one, not two, but three tests proved that it is rather uneconomical. An independent tester drove the Prius as economically as possible and found that it could only achieve around 47mpg. The second test saw the Prius being tested against a Jeep Cherokee. On a test route, the cars’ computers showed that the Prius did 57mpg while the Jeep did 42mpg. However, when they worked it out using a pencil, paper and calculators, they found that the Jeep did 38.9mph while the Prius did 39.9mpg. That’s 17.1mpg less than that on-board computer and only 1mpg better than a larger, heavier 4x4 with a larger engine, worse aerodynamics, normal tyres and more friction due to the four-wheel drive system.

 

However, you can still be thinking about that customer satisfaction survey. However, their owners are all wrong. They described the Prius as quite good-looking  (it isn’t), fuel-efficient (well the computer manipulated the figures, so what do you expect?) and very good overall. Of course, like I just said above, it just isn’t.

I think it did so well because it is driven by environmentalists who want to show the world that hybrids are the way forwards, so they couldn’t say that the car has any bad points, so that they could make a nice promotion and hopefully everyone would buy them. Please, just don’t; buy a VW Golf diesel, or a Smart, or Clio, or something else but not a Prius. In fact, the third test proved this. This involved a Prius going as fast as possible for 10 laps on a track in Britain. A BMW M3 with 4 times its power, four times is cubic capacity and twice the amount of cylinders was keeping up behind it. You would expect the M3 to consume much much more fuel than the hybrid. However, the results showed that the Prius did 17.2mpg and the M3 did 19.4mpg.

 

So, there you are. All the proof in the world that motorbikes are rubbish and hybrids are even worse than them because they are so boring to drive that you would die by the time you arrive at your destination. So, save yourself, save the world, drive economically and shut the mouths of the environmentalists by buying anything other than a motorcycle, a Prius, a Honda Civic or any hybrid Lexus (which is owned by Toyota and uses the same technology as the Prius). This also means that you have plenty of reason not to sell your car to get an eco box; just drive better by accelerating more gently, braking at a greater stage, taking out any extra weight, closing windows and switching off any electrical equipment.   

 

             

---

 

 

---

 

 

1. Vest which simulates bullet hits in FPS (First Person Shooters)

 

 

 If you have been reading my section on gaming then you must know of course that I am some what of a game fanatic, so it’s not surprising that this first gadget has to do with just that.

 

This cool vest actually simulates bullet hits (surprise surprise :P) However, the company has even managed to adjust the vest so that bullet hits in the game correspond with the area which is activated on the vest. This therefore enhances gaming experience. Moreover, it is interesting to note that the company has also released a prototype helmet using the same technology. This for now has not gone through the same success for obvious reasons….who would want to wear a helmet which delivers punches (slam bang) on the persons head!?! 

 

2. Mind Control headset.

This next gadget is a damn crazy one! The headset’s main purpose is to convert brain signals to output on a screen. This headset is currently being developed under the careful hands of SEGA and NeuroSky and their combined effort has resulted with some very positive results! Just keep your fingers crossed so that the technology doesn’t fall into the wrong hands…you don’t want somebody else controlling your mind. 

3. The perfect Bowling Game for Boring Mondays

Ok may be I’m going a bit overboard here but I warned you…the gadgets may look odd! This is the perfect solution to a rainy day…(:P ok I have better things to do!). Basically this is a mini bowling alley. If you just want to get away from it all just let go of the metal ball at the top of the ramp and it will send those *&^**(@!!!?!?  Skittles flying all over your office. Yes I know you probably still thing this is *!?@#%$ but hey your bound to get a strike! 

4. The Flexible USB keyboard

There have been many USB gadgets made throughout the course of history. However, nothing has touched me as much as the flexible keyboard. It can fit in your coat pocket, it can fit inside your drawer, it’s water resistant, it’s light and what’s more it may also be illuminated! However, the great plus must be, without doubt, silent typing. The fact that all the keys are made from rubber and have less moving parts make the device as quiet as a mouse. 

 5. The USB Battery Stick

   Have you ever faced the dilemma where you end up without your laptop because of a flat battery? The USB Cell/Battery Stick is the solution to all your problems! The Cell can store a considerable amount of charge considering its small size. Just fit the Cell into any USB port and watch your device suck up the juice. This is one very handy USB device…just don’t leave Cells next to your grandmother or you’ll find them squashed, cracked and forced onto the back of a old stereo requiring 4 AA batteries…   

6. The Hidden Camera Detector

In this present day and age we find ourselves confronted with many challenges. To make things worse we are being continually recorded by cameras everywhere…and I mean everywhere! I’m looking at you right now and you don’t even know it! Ok stop being paranoid and listen. Your faithful friend will from now on be the Hidden Camera Detector. It might not find all the cameras in this *(^Y*&(( world but it’s worth giving it a try. Who knows it might come in handy while driving…hint hint.

 

---

 

At around 10:50 this morning, a big explosion occurred at Naxxar, resulting in a dead person, another one still not found, 3 destoyed houses and several broken cars.

 

Sina Sammut, 33, motehr of 2 young children, was just at her mother-in-law when she returned home to start cleaning the house when the explosion occurred. Up to a few weeks ago, at Wednesday mornings, she used to go at the Naxxar Primary School to do some crafts with students. Until now, she has not been found, and hopes of finding her alive are low.

 

Meanwhile, 3 houses were completely destroyed, together with the family's possessions including their cars. The explosion was so immense that it blew a pick-up truck across the road, hit a house and burst into flames. Also, 3 people were taken to Mater Dei hospital due to minor wounds, while a dog was saved when he was trapped in a house.

 

This all happened due to illegal firework making in a garage. Together with this garage, another 2 garages were found with fireworks. Luckily, these did not fire off. A neigbor in the vicinity, who has some pigeons, noticed that the pigeon eggs had cracked.

 

Various important people went onto the scene, including the President of Malta Dr. Eddie Fenech Adami, Prime Minister Dr. Lawrence Gonzi, the Maltese Archbishop and various members of Parliament.

 

The man doing the fireworks, aged 55, died in the explosion, buried under all the debris. Ironically, he had recently gained permission to demolish the house to build a block of flats...

 

 

---

 

Once again, the Geneva Motor Show is with us, and with it brings many unveilings of production-ready cars and concepts which preview what we will see in a few months' time. Some of the highlights are:

 

Alfa Romeo 8C Spider

Audi TT TDi

Bentley Brroklands

BMW Efficient Dynamics

Bugatti Veyron Hermes Edition

Citroen C5 Tourer

Fiat 500 Abarth

Ford Fiesta

Honda Accord

Infiniti FX50

Jaguar XKR-S

Lamborghini Gallardo LP650-4

Lancia Delta

Land Rover LRX II

Lexus LF-A

Mazda 2

Mercedes-Benz CLS, SL and BlueEfficiency

Nissan Murano and GT-R

Renault Megane Conept, Koleos and Twingo RS

Seat Bocanegra

Subaru Forester

Tata Nano

VW Passat CC and Scirocco