Gordon Brown to ask OPEC to increase oil supply
Why?
Why is Gordon Brown asking OPEC to increase supply? Ah, so the oil price drops bringing lower petrol prices and much relief to the British public. But it is Gordon Brown's policy of high energy prices. And his taxes make up most (about 75%) of the petrol price. So therefore if he actually wanted to lower petrol prices and bring some much needed relief to the British public, he wouldn't need to ask anyone anything, he would just do it. <

But he doesn't; so what is he bothering with OPEC for? I suspect he isn't actually; he's just spinning.

Amazon ads amended

On the left hand side you can see a different type of Amazon ad. This time, rather than poor contextual choices, I have carefully selected books and DVD's for your pleasure. I have also included an Amazon search box on the right. If you use these two ads for your Amazon purchases, we get a small amount. It slightly dents the costs of running the site. Please use.

SEO'd the site
Welcome to all the expected extra readers. Now the site has been SEO'd it will be easier to find in search listing. So, many more hits expected.

Amazon ads added
New Amazon ads have been added along the left. I chose context ads and expected books and videos about cars mentioned in articles; however the context bit is really poor, even worse than Google. I will probably select books and dvd's to be listed. Right now I don't have the time so this will have to wait.

Gordon Browns hands
Anyone noticed that when new PM Gordon Brown stands giving a speech, every few minutes he briefly arches his hands together. It looks so wooden, has his media person told him it makes him look good? Maybe if done naturally, or at least look naturally. As it is it just look ridiculous. Look out for it next time you see him.

New light seen in USA
I am of course talking about Barakh Obama. Even though I am many miles away from the action, I can still feel a positively overwhelming optimism coming through. The fact that no incumbent is running makes this a most interesting race. There are interesting candidates all round. John Edwards is experienced, likeable and intelligent. On the Republican side, I like John McCain. He goes his own way even whilst being part of the establishment. His promotion of funding reform and explicit indignation of torture shows he has principles and is willing to stand up for them. Mike Huckabee and Ron Paul are different and controversial; they truly would ruffle feathers if they ascended to the White House. I don’t at all like Clinton, Romney, or Giuliani. They represent stagnation, more of the same, and would continue seamlessly from Bush.
A couple of days ago, Hillary Clinton decided that people wanted ‘change’. So that would be her campaign statement. Flanked by Albright and Bill Clinton she talked about ‘change’. That says it all about her!

I have another blog where I have compared the British and US political systems.

Amistad to CarScribe.com
In spring 2008 this Amistad website will split into two. All the car stuff will go to a new domain CarScribe.com (and CarScribe.co.uk, CarScribe.eu), but the general, life and politics stuff will remain at Amistad. I decided it would be better if there was a division, it would also let the more non-car articles to flourish.
I also want to know what to sell on the site devoted to cars. I need to generate some funds so this seems the ideal way. Presently I am thinking about car covers (which also keep cars dry with a steady flow of air), and (low level) ozone generator which plugs into the lighter socket. But I really need a few more things. Any ideas?
My politically incorrect climate change article will be posted within 48 hours. Please tune back in to read and please comment on it.

Today is the first Sunday for some time without Top Gear (forgetting some disruptions due to billiards). I know there was a ‘Best Of’ on but the bits which I really like tend not to be the bits which they like. I wonder if other people feel similar. I don’t really enjoy Jeremy going around the track in some fantastically expensive and fast supercar. Maybe it’s because I’m not a schoolboy anymore or realise I’m never going to afford those cars and so interest has just waned. It’s somewhat like when the first (and I think only) time I visited a lap dancing club. I was just bored. Sure the girls were attractive and largely naked, but since I couldn’t touch them, I couldn’t see the point. See if I’m out on the town and a similarly attractive and dressed women in seen, there is at least the possibility I might get my hands on her –and that small miniscule possibility makes all the difference. Anyway, back to Top Gear. I prefer the challenges and down-to-earth stuff. I particularly like

It's been a long time since I posted. I need to get organised - the longer a post is left the easier it is to leave longer.
So much happening on the world of motoring and petrol prices keep going up, so much to write about....
I'll start with petrol price protest which never happened. About 8 years ago the country was bought to its knees by trucks blockading oil refineries. The government backed down on tax increases. This time, nothing. No effect seen on the street and no reaction from government. Some members of the public even swallowed the government line about increases were caused by international events and nothing to do with the government. Whilst that is true, it doesn't answer the question on who is responsible for the price of petrol. The government. They take 75p out of 100p in tax. They could easily just put a flat 50p on a litre of fuel with the price coming down to 75p. Of course they won't do it. And we won't make them -that’s the disappointment.

Want your own Column?
Anyone one who wants an occasional or regular column on this site please Contact me. You can write about anything motoring related. I can’t pay you but you can have all the plaudits. And this might be a stepping stone for something bigger….Top Gear!

Links and more Links
I am doing a link exchange. Any site, especially a motoring site, which wants to exchange links, please get in touch via the Contact page. Please also provide me a synopsis about your site.

The Lewis Hamilton phenomena
I'm a long time watcher of F1 and I've never seen anything like it. Yes, if Senna had started in a Mclaren rather than a Toleman, we might have seen this before. Yes Senna had the pace, probably more pace. But he still made mistakes. Especially in the early days. The real story about Lewis isn't the wins, or the podium finishes. It's the lack of mistakes and the sheer consistency. This shows massive strengh, mental toughness and intelligence. This is extremely rare if not unique. And this would have ben seen, if not so easily noticed, in a lesser car.

Daimler Chrysler divorce.
Article has been written with my take in this de-merger. Has anybody noticed how similar the DC story is with BMW-Rover? Hopefully there will be some differences with Chrysler prospering rather than slowly being strangled with the skeleton sold to the Chinese.

EU could send Poprsche to the gallows
The EU are considering stopping sales of any new car with emissions greater than 130g/km. And this will kill Porsche, probably Mercedes and BMW (amongst others). Porsche actually make very efficient cars (apart from the Cayenne). They are very innovative and their cars are very economical for their speed.
Is this due to the lack of democratic accountability of European Commission? The untold damage to the economy obviously isn't a concern. And for what? Americans will continue to emit massive amounts of carbon; flying accounts for much more carbon emission than cars and since humans are only responsible to 10% of all carbon emissions per year, what will be the benefit?
Lobby your MP’s folks

New York, New York
I'm going to New York on 9th July (for work). I like going to foreign countries to see the different cars on offer. Most places have only a small variation of cars compared to Britain, but the US (and Japan) are really different. And really interesting.

Anybody got any information on AMG E36 W124 Estate?
I think this is the model I want. The price and upkeep will be expensive, but surely this is the 'enthusiasts' choice.

Dust to Dust
If politicions are serious about energy reduction they would encourage keeping cars running longer and discourage sale of new cars. Yes, new cars may use less energy to run, but producing a car is hugely energy intensive. But of course that would upset to many powerful interests. I'm not a classic car freak, I love cars. Old cars and new cars. But facts are facts.

Citroen gone and recycling
The Citroen has gone. The guy came and collected it. I think he will enjoy it. It did look nice, lying there, sunk close to the ground. But it was in the way, so I'm glad it's gone.

I read that some rubbish collected for recycling gets taken to other countries and dumped. Thus hoodwinking the public who think they are saving the planet and by-passing EU landfill laws.
I think the type of recycling we do is half-hearted and not-very-beneficial. A glass bottle collected for recycling gets crushed and re-made into bottles. So some sand gets saved. I remember when bottles had a deposit on them, giving an incentive to take them back to the shop. From there they would go back to the same factory, and refilled. Surely this is the way to recycle. Why is this type not introduced. I suspect the big supermarkets wouldn't stand for it and big-business-big-money hold the balls of politicians' in their hands. Quick squeeze and they sing t

Oops. Link missing. Here it is: Proqual-Amistad blog: pictures

Another Blog
I have set up another blog. This is a blog for the Amistad, Online Car Magazine. With a little bit for Proqual, the Online Store. The second blog is mainly Proqual and a little for Amistad.
I have posted some pictures of the most beautiful cars as chosen by me (see the News tab for the actual article).
Here is a link to that blog:

Thoughts for today
The Mercedes E320 estate 1994 5 speed auto which I was after has gone. I'm so disappointed. So the search goes on. I shouldn't really mind: I still have the Citroen to sell. And my Honda FRV hasn't yet gone (that is another story, which I will elaborate upon), and I like searching.
Other news. I need to go to New York early next month for work. That should be interesting.
And I'm writing articles on:
Mercedes quality and Chrysler.
Climate change and what I don't believe.
Which cars would I buy with a lottery win.

These are my targets for next week. Together with blogging 2 times a day

I'm not getting many comments in the articles. Please give me your views. I'm particularly interested in your 10 most beautiful cars.

If anybody has for sale a very good Mercedes E320 Estate 1994, 95 or 1996 (W124) especially with a 5 speed auto box, please get in touch. We may be able to do a deal