Google Reader and MotoringFile

Posted on by Ian C.

I happened to visit the actual MotoringFile website today to see if they’d got the latest MINI sales figures; my first reaction was along the lines of “EEK!” related to the formatting of that site (the bold and fat headline font disturbed me!):

But formatting is personal (yes, Robert, I’m thinking of you), so no doubt lots of MF folks like it …

My second reaction was “oh, lots of stories I don’t remember” … Turns out, the Google Reader feed I set up were using the MotoringFile Clippings feed which they appear to not support even though they offer the link – so it’s not had stories updated since mid last year!

Oh well, so I’ve updated the Google Reader feed and it now includes recent MotoringFile stories. I wonder how often a website feed breaks like that? I suppose to some extent, MotoringFile actually doesn’t want me to use the feed, since then I don’t see all their advertising – but I would have expected a broken feed link to give an error, rather than just give many month old data.
Having the non-clipped feed from MotoringFile is a bit disappointing, since they have a habit of blasting a HUGE amount of copied-from-press-release-and-not-edited stuff into a post sometimes, but overall I prefer to read newer news even if it’s a bit of a flood.

Q5 recall

Posted on by Ian C.

My first Audi Q5 recall (and with luck, the only one) … apparently I might get hurt by a piece of plastic if I crash the car – there’s a revelation!

Not a very big concern (certainly not like the Toyota recall!) – but maybe Audi can fix my “Audi advanced key”, since in the cold weather it no longer senses me and unlocks the car … I have to go through the awful drudgery of pressing a button on the remote! 😉

A secret message from Orlando MINI

Posted on by Ian C.

Amusing …

What you (and I) can’t read is the information about tires written between “Dear Ian Cull” and “Tire Tips”:
Aside from your engine, your tires are the hardest working components on your car. Make sure to get the most out of your tires by having a 4-wheel alignment performed @ Orlando Mini. An alignment is recommended every 12-15,000 miles or annually. Benefits of an alignment are minimized tire wear, better fuel mileage, increased road handling and a sense of security of knowing that your alignment was performed by a factory trained technician on a state-of-the art laser alignment machine.

Is this secret only in Safari, or only in Gmail, I wonder …
(can’t see it in Chrome/Gmail either)