Week Ten In Which I Have Actually Been Useful!

I was told by ChrisC that apparently, I can get on air as a radio amateur with a licence on more than one level and that many TA-ers are on air, including Daddy-O And that the low level exam was passed by a six year old in one case, so I may just stand a chance! My call sign? FATMAN62!
I do apologise for my low output last week but some evil twerp vectored some rhinovirus that has become known as ‘The Big One Epidemic’ at the fishing show of the same name, the weekend before. Laid me out useless, achy and snotting so much it actually gurgled. But I am convalescing a treat now, so shall be on full bore for Expo on Wednesday. I plan on playing with a sexyful new breed of Parrot, hosing down the Alpine Europe demo car, seeing some all new engineering-y things to talk about and best of all, I AM BECOME MOGUL! BWA HAHAHA!
Errm, well, that might just be a tiny bit hyperbolic of me but it does feel odd. For, albeit little more than glory – (and a credit that will googlebitch so well that he’ll get press accreditation for CES in a New York Second, which IS worth a shizzle!) I am to employ a Talk Audio REPORTER for the first time as an actual, like ‘editor’!

Yes, welcome Simon ‘ShadowTD’ King to the fold of mobile electronics journalism. For Shads is going to rock up at the Ricoh Arena at sparrow’s fart to join me for breakfast before we BOTH hit the show floor. Make no mistake, this is a trade show and the public cain’t get in. He is going to read this as YOU do, but he’s going to get a bit of cameraman action going first thing and then he’ll be off into the deep end!
And the useful bit? Well, an old and dear chum is thankfully OK and no-one was hurt but he and his wife, child and mum are in an hotel, courtesy of a thankfully sane and rapid insurance company after a house fire burnt their upper storey to ruin, with smoke and water destroying the rest of their possessions. This was started by a small fan heater, unobstructed, left unattended less than five minutes after a year of use and ownership. All that is left is the motor and control board as the plastic is burned. But point of sale and product were easy to recall as the purchase was from a major retailer and the product a globally respected white goods brand.
It’d be wrong for me to name the retailer or the fan heater model and make BUT do not ever rely on these products’ auto-safety features and leave them to run unattended. We know about keeping such things’ vents unobstructed but the fact is, this product was way too ‘young’ to do this without creating the possible need for a recall. A very real possibility exists of a manufacturing fault. As we speak, I gather the item is being pulled from stock at head office for testing.
Because right now, top bods at both the retailer and the UK arm of the manufacturer are on my friend’s case. Rapidly, this morning, NOW. Having taken the issue VERY seriously indeed. I am deeply grateful to these top level executives at each outfit, for listening and for responding so fast. Meanwhile, the cold weather is nearly gone but do be careful with electric heaters, as sick ones kill people. I’ll keep you posted and tell you if there is a recall.
Must get on&;.
Adam Rayner On Line Editor