Honda DreamTech Roadshow - Brockenhurst 26 April 2025

 

Get ready to take Honda’s latest technology for a spin! The Honda DreamTech Roadshow is hitting the road for four weekends, starting at the end of April, bringing you the chance to test ride some of Honda’s most advanced motorcycles. Whether you're curious about the seamless E-Clutch system or the smooth performance of DCT (Dual Clutch Transmission), this is your opportunity to experience the next generation of riding firsthand.

I was really pleased to attend the Honda DreamTech Roadshow session at the stunning Rhinefield House Hotel, Brockenhurst on 26th April. Honestly - what a setting, in the heart of the beautiful New Forest! Honda had provided a number of demonstration bikes, including: NC750X, Africa Twin, NT1100, CB650R, CBR650R - the day was provided to experience their revolutionary gear shift technologies.

After a warm welcome, I spent the morning session riding a NT1100 DCT with Electronic Suspension. I've ridden a similar bike a year or two ago - and didn't gel with it, can't remember why though. This time - I loved it! Physically, quite a large motorbike (it has been referred to as a "baby Gold Wing"). However, as always, the weight disappears as soon as you start moving. Honda's latest generation of DCT makes for silky smooth gearshifts. I kept the bike in sport mode - which holds lower gears, and allows the bike to rev out somewhat. There's "paddles" to manually select gears too - on the admittedly fairly complex switch cluster. A really comfy ride, with a relaxed riding position. The parallel twin engine made a great sound, and had plenty of torque - picked up really well! I really liked this bike & believe it would make a fantastic sports tourer for Kim & me.

After a very tasty lunch (thanks Honda 👍) I took out the CB650R with E-Clutch. This bike is the little brother of my CB1000R - so I was looking forward to going for a spin! The E-Clutch allows you to ride this sporty naked motorcycle (sort of) like a twist'n'go moped - but with a manual gearbox! The E-Clutch handles up & down shifts sweetly - on or off the gas. I really liked the bike, but found the E-Clutch a bit confusing - my fault as I kept going for the clutch lever - which seemed to put the system back in manual gear shift mode. If I left the clutch lever alone, the E-Clutch worked really well. It's sort of like the quick shifter on my bike - but at a cracking price of £100 over the manual gearbox - honestly, why wouldn't you?

Thanks Honda - what a great day. The CB650R was fun, but the NT1100 was viable... Might have to make some room in the garage!

Click here to see some photos from this great day

Happy Easter! Jesus Christ is Risen - Alleluia!

But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.

Alleluia, He Is Risen! He is Risen Indeed, Alleluia!
Easter Blessings to you & all who you hold dear.

www.biblegateway.com

The Outlook isn't great for Microsoft - even more issues!

Far be it from us to suggest Microsoft is trying to force people onto its New Outlook application, but it has admitted Classic Outlook occasionally and mysteriously turns into a system resource hog.

It's a SNAFU that may just push folks over the edge to the new app – or to a full alternative.

The Windows behemoth earlier this week confirmed its software goes awry, and said users may experience CPU usage spikes of up to 30 to 50 percent and increased power consumption.

Users flagged the issue as far back as November 2024, and Microsoft has finally acknowledged that something odd is going on. Affected customers say it happens on Windows 10 and 11.

The issue can be observed by opening Task Manager and watching the CPU usage rise. Microsoft offered little in the way of a fix, saying only that "the Outlook Team is investigating this issue."

www.theregister.com

The Chosen - what could be better to watch during Holy Week?

 

The Chosen is a ground-breaking historical drama based on the life of Jesus, seen through the eyes of those who knew him. Set against the backdrop of Jewish oppression in first-century Israel, the seven-season show shares an authentic and intimate look at Jesus’ revolutionary life and teachings.

The Chosen is, and always will be, free to watch! All episodes and content are available via the official app and online. We want to reach as many people as possible though, so currently in the UK, The Chosen is also available on Apple TV, Amazon Prime and YouTube.

www.thechosen.tv

Holy week and Easter - how to follow in Jesus' footsteps

 

Easter is the most significant event in the Christian church calendar. Without the events of Holy Week, there wouldn’t be a Christian faith. Easter is the reason the Christian church exists!

Easter commemorates the resurrection of Jesus Christ three days after his execution on a Roman cross. That moment of resurrection is the core of Easter — but the days leading up to Easter are key parts of the story, too. The interplay of prophecy, friendship, betrayal, and grace during the final days before Jesus’ crucifixion is full of insight into human nature — and God’s love.

Have you read the Easter story recently? You’ve probably heard or read many of the most famous episodes in the Easter account, but it’s truly a story meant to be read as a coherent whole. In this post, we’ll tell you everything you need to know to explore the Easter story. READ MORE...

www.biblegateway.com

Wintershall is BACK - The Passion of Jesus in Trafalgar Square

Wintershall, a renowned Christian theatre company, is set to bring the powerful and moving story of the Passion of Jesus to life in Trafalgar Square, London, on April 18, 2025. The annual open-air performance, which has captivated thousands of people since 2010, will take place on the iconic square in the heart of London, offering a profound and immersive experience for audiences from all walks of life.

Event Details
● Date: Friday, April 18, 2025
● Time: Performances at 12 noon and at 3:15 PM (BST)
● Location: Trafalgar Square, London
● Admission: Free

The event will include a series of live scenes, including the Last Supper, Jesus’ trial before Pilate, His journey through the streets of Jerusalem, the crucifixion, and the resurrection. The cast will be complemented by a moving musical score, bringing an added layer of emotional depth to the presentation.

www.premier.org.uk

Microsoft Outlook - a bit like Coke!

Baffled by the plethora of Outlook options out there? You aren't alone. Microsoft veteran Scott Hanselman posted a list of some more variants that could be used to do the same thing.

It's a problem common to several Microsoft products. A file needs to be opened, but which app should be used? Should it be Outlook New, or Outlook (New)? With tongue firmly in cheek, Hanselman listed some more options: Outlook (Zero Sugar), Outlook (Caffeine Free), and so on.

Hanselman, Developer Community veep at Microsoft, also included Outlook '95, although to our mind the peak came with the version of Outlook in Office 97. A happier, more trusting time when security was less important.

While users can create multiple Outlook profiles to store email account details and data locations, Hanselman's post on Bluesky highlights an issue facing many users of Microsoft's software: which incarnation of the application to use.

Teams users often find themselves presented with a variety of applications – Microsoft Teams and Microsoft Teams (Personal), for example, can often appear side by side in the system tray.

As for Outlook, users are likely to have multiple versions installed. Microsoft forced the new version onto devices as part of a Windows update and renamed the previous version to Outlook (Classic) so the pair could run side by side. While support for the Classic version of Outlook will persist until at least 2029, Microsoft would like users to move to the new version despite it lacking many of its predecessor's functions.

According to Microsoft: "The new Outlook for Windows, built upon modern service architecture, is inspired by the Outlook web experience." It also does not support the COM add-ins used by many enterprises to glue corporate workflows together. READ MORE...

www.theregister.com

Go back to the Grid in TRON: Ares trailer

It's difficult to underestimate the massive influence that Disney's 1982 cult science fiction film, TRON, had on both the film industry—thanks to combining live action with what were then ground-breaking visual effects, rife with computer-generated imagery—and on nerd culture at large. Over the ensuing decades there has been one sequel, an animated TV series, a comic book miniseries, video games, and theme park attractions, all modelled on director Steve Lisberg's original fictional world.

Now we're getting a third instalment in the film franchise: TRON: Ares, directed by Joachim Rønning (Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales, Maleficent: Mistress of Evil), that serves as a standalone sequel to 2010's TRON: Legacy. Disney just released the first trailer and poster art, and while the footage is short on plot, it's got the show-stopping visuals we've come to expect from all things TRON.

www.arstechnica.com

Five VPN apps in the App Store had links to Chinese military

 

At least five VPN apps in the App Store were found to have links to the Chinese military, according to a new report today. Three of them have racked up more than a million downloads.

A subsidiary of one of the Chinese companies behind the apps is currently hiring for a role in “monitoring and analysing platform data,” with a familiarity with American culture listed as a job requirement …

Virtual Private Network (VPN) apps are designed to protect the privacy of internet usage, protecting against man-in-the-middle attacks using fake public Wi-Fi hotspots, as well as ensuring your ISP or mobile carrier can’t track the websites you visit.

Additionally, VPNs can be used to circumvent geoblocks on anything from streaming video services to content banned by a country’s government.

However, VPNs are only as trustworthy as the companies behind them. A fake VPN can expose all your browsing data to its developer.

www.9to5mac.com