Glum puppy dog find unlikely playmates!

When worry is etched on your face, friends can offer a different perspective - even if they can't quite stop you frowning.

These two glum-looking bulldog puppies found some unlikely playmates to entertain them at a studio in Surrey.

Angel Star got close to a chirpy feathered friend, while Prince George showed he was too gentle to let the fur fly with his companions.

Photographer Mark Taylor, 46, said: 'I had no idea that bulldogs were such good fun.

'I expected them to be rather sedate and ponderous.'

Mr Taylor has an animal assistant who positions the pets but whips them out of the way if any claws come out.

His work with the iconic breed has seen him contacted by major calendar companies in the United States.

He said: 'A calendar company in the USA was keen on me supplying images for their 'Bulldogs & Friends' calendar so I arranged for the pups to come back in three weeks time.

'The dogs were absolute stars and they are extremely characterful and have such lovely natures.'

Super Yacht that comes with its own VOLCANO!

Click to enlarge Images!

This is the next super-yacht set to hit the world's oceans - which comes complete with its own functioning volcano and floating tropical islands.

The vessel - dubbed the 'Tropical island Paradise' - has been designed by British boat builders Yacht Island Design, from Derby, Derbys - some 90 miles from the sea.

The extravagant 295ft ship boasts a towering volcano with a cascading waterfall which feeds the swimming pool.

And playboys will feel right at home with the ships helicopter landing pad and huge bar set behind a series of beach cabanas.

Studio director Rob McPherson at the Derbyshire firm, who have also created the Streets of Monaco super-yacht, said: 'The exterior was designed to give the impression of waves breaking around a volcanic island, whilst maintaining the look of a contemporary yacht design.

'It comes with its own private beach cove and a waterfall cascading down from a volcano.

'This design centres around a secluded island paradise, with elements inspired by the islands of the Caribbean, Indian Ocean and Polynesia. It is set to be a big hit when it comes onto the market.'

The lavish yacht can accommodate up to 10 guests - and can travel along at a top speed of 15 knots.

The main deck is a secluded beach 'cove' of cabanas surrounding a massive ocean view swimming pool.

And should the millionaire future owners get tired of taking a dip in the pool, they can sail out into the sea on their very own floating island complete with deck chairs and palm trees.

McPherson added: 'We had two reasons for designing such a boat. The first being that it's good fun, and secondly the current market is pretty saturated with designs that look fairly similar.

'Our mission is to work on incredibly fun designs and carve a niche for ourselves within the market, a place where other designers fear to tread.'

Inside the huge, towering volcano is a cinema, library, games room, gym, spa and VIP suites - including an owners pad spread over two decks.

The boat - which has yet to hit the market and hasn't had a price set - is causing waves in the boat building world with its unique design.

The Flying Car finally gets its driving licence

It's been cleared to take to the skies for more than a year - but that's not much use when you're supposed to be able to drive it, too.

But now the flying car has at least been declared officially road legal.

It means the Terrafugia Transition could be in U.S. garages as early as next autumn, after two years of delays.

It may not be the world's first flying car, but its makers say it is the first to have wings that fold up automatically at the push of a button.

It costs $200,000 - about the same price as a Ferrari - and can be reserved online for what Terrafugia describes as a 'modest' $10,000 deposit.

The polycarbonate windscreens can withstand the impact of birds, so they won't fracture.

The administration has also granted Terrafugia permission to use heavier-grade tyres, which are not normally allowed on multi-purpose vehicles.

It's the second hurdle the Transition had to overcome before it could go on sale, after the Federal Aviation Administration ruled last year it could fly with its current weight, 110lbs over the normal legal limit for light sport aircraft category.

Terrafugia had originally hoped to deliver its first production vehicles as early as this year, but after problems with suppliers it has had to delay the release date to late 2012.

According to Terrafugia, it 'combines the unique convenience of being able to fold its wings with the ability to drive on any surface road in a modern personal airplane platform.'

THE FLYING CAR'S SPEC

Cost: $200,000

Length: 19ft

Width: 5ft 6ins when wings are folded, 27ft when they're open

Top speed on the road: 65mph

Top speed in the air: 115mph

Range in the air: 500 miles on one 20-gallon tank of fuel

Power: 100hp four-stroke engine

Prospective owners will need plenty of space for their new toy - it requires 1,700ft of road for take-off.

Its creators, which include former Nasa engineers, say the vehicle is easy to keep and run because it can fit into a normal domestic garage and uses regular gas.

It measures 19ft long and just 5ft 6ins wide when the wings are folded up, but they have a full span of 27ft.

It has a top speed of 65mph on the road, but that soars to 115mph in the air.

Drivers can convert it from a two-seater road car to a plane in less than 30 seconds with the touch of a button.

It doesn't have a gearstick, but on the road can be controlled with brake and accelerator pedals and a steering wheel like an ordinary car. In the air it is operated with a joystick near the steering wheel.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2011985/Flying-car-Terrafugia-Transition-declared-road-legal.html#ixzz1RMwymgM6

UK Fixed Broadband Map 2011 - see how your area fairs with the rest of the UK

The UK's first interactive map showing accurate information on broadband take-up, speeds and availability has been produced by Ofcom, using data provided by communications providers.

It forms part of Ofcom's ongoing work to provide useful information about broadband in the UK.

Ofcom

Download Speed Report:

http://maps.ofcom.org.uk/broadband/downloads/ofcom-uk-broadband-speed-report-2011.pdf

More Info here:
http://maps.ofcom.org.uk/broadband/

Squirrel cheats death

As much I hate the Grey squirrel, I have to admit they're intelligent, and this one got away within a whisker of its dear life!

Footage of a brave squirrel narrowly dodging a speeding Lamborghini at 100mph has become a web sensation.

The amazing video shows a plucky rodent scurry across a track just as a bright orange Lamborghini speeds past.

World's first flying motorbike

Helicopter pilot invents the 'hoverbike' in his garage


Traffic jams could soon become a thing of the past thanks to an amateur inventor who has built the world's first flying motorcycle in his garage.

Australian Christopher Malloy ploughed his entire life-savings into the project which took him two and a half years to complete. His futuristic creation - dubbed the Hoverbike - can reach an altitude of 10,000ft and speeds of over 100mph.

Fans of the design have already compared Mr Malloy's work to the 'speeder bikes' from the Star Wars sequel Return Of The Jedi or the hovering car from Back To The Future.

The 32-year-old former helicopter pilot built the incredible machine in his Sydney garage using a custom-built carbon-fiber airframe and a BMW engine.

The futuristic prototype has the potential to travel up to 92 miles or for about 45 minutes on one tank of fuel and is expected to come with a hefty price tag of more than £45,000.

So far the bike, which weighs 270kgs, has only been tested while tethered to the ground to prevent it flying too high. But plans to test it's capabilities without any restrictions are set to go-ahead soon.

HOVERBIKE FACT FILE

* Airspeed - 150 knots
* Hover - 10,000ft (estimated)
* Dry weight - 110kg
* Max gross weight - 270kg
* Total thrust - 295kg
* Engine - 80kw @ 7500rpm

Mr Malloy explained: 'I am still ground testing at the moment only because I'm not 100 per cent sure what will happen so the straps are there to cover the unknown. I haven't had the pleasure of flying round the countryside yet.

'It is quite stable and doesn't want to tip over but if something unplanned happened during testing I wouldn't want to break the prototype.

'The Hoverbike was built with safety in mind so at least three components have to fail before you might have a serious airborne failure.

'There are also two explosive parachutes attached to the airframe and of course the rider could choose to wear their own parachute too.

Nice wheels: The Hoverbike is built from carbon fibre and can reach an altitude of 10,000ft and speeds of over 100mph

Mr Malloy is unwilling to reveal exactly how much he has spent on the project, but claims it is costing him roughly £140 a week.

He said the basic principle was similar to that of a Chinook helicopter and a normal motorbike.

He added: 'To lift off into a hover you just need to increase the thrust via a throttle grip with the right hand - exactly the same as the throttle on a motorbike.

'Flying forward involves a combination of an increase in thrust and the deflection of air from the front control vanes by twisting the left handle grip. You twist forward to accelerate and backwards to reverse.

'To make the bike turn left and right, all one needs to do is push the handle bars down on the side you wish to turn just like a bicycle.

'You could lean in the appropriate direction as you would on a motorbike but this isn't proving to be very sensitive.

'Having previous experience in a helicopter or plane would be a great help. That said, this is a new way to fly and one would need to learn to ride the hoverbike in much the same manner as a helicopter or riding a motorcycle.

'If you live in the USA or your country has similar civil aviation regulations, then the hoverbike will be classed as a 'ultralite' which means you do not need a pilot's license to fly it.'

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2009009/Chris-Malloy-hoverbike-Helicopter-pilot-invents-worlds-1st-flying-motorbike-garage.html#ixzz1Qrs8wNFx