South Africa Car Hire

Volkswagen has unveiled its compact 4x4, the Concept Tiguan, at the Los Angeles Motor Show.

At the same time the German carmaker has announced that the first production models will go on sale by the end of next year. It will probably only arrive in South Africa in early 2008.

The first news of the Tiguan's development came with the debut of Concept A in Berlin earlier this year.

This was followed by the naming of the model in July, the result of a poll of more than 350 000 readers of magazines of the AutoBild group.

This latest development in Los Angeles takes the Tiguan one step closer to production and hints strongly at how the final version could look.

Maintaining the "baby Touareg" appearance of the Concept A, the new concept Tiguan makes a bold styling statement.

At 4.4 metres long, 1.85 m wide and 1.69 m high, it is very similar in size to the Touran compact MPV (4.4 m, 1.8 m, 1.6 m).

The Concept Tiguan's "face" and side profile are immediately recognisable as those of a Volkswagen, and yet they are different from all existing models in the range.

The dark-anodised metallic tone of the front grille contrasts with the body colour, while a grid pattern and two dominant cross fins to the left and right of the Volkswagen roundel complete the look.

At the rear, the lights are integrated into the shoulder section similar to those on the Eos and Passat, while the steeply sloping tailgate extends right down to the bumpers, giving the Tiguan an unmistakably SUV design.

Under the bonnet, the concept car features a completely new type of diesel engine, called BLUETEC.

Developed in partnership with Audi and Mercedes-Benz and presented for the first time at the LA show, BLUETEC employs a modular concept of different systems to reduce emissions significantly.

One of these systems is the NOx storage catalytic converter which cuts nitrogen oxides by up to 90% over current diesel units. This 'Clean TDI' will comply with the strictest emissions standards in the world and is one of the first components of the BLUETEC offensive.


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This is going to be a nice car to hire
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Berlin - German sex educators plan to launch a spray-on condom tailor-made for all sizes.

Jan Vinzenz Krause from the institute for condom consultancy, a Singen-based practice that offers advice on condom use, said on Thursday the product aimed to help people enjoy better and safer sex lives.

"We're trying to develop the perfect condom for men that's suited to every size of penis," he said. "We're very serious."

Krause's team (spraykondom.de) is developing a type of spray can into which the man inserts his penis first. At the push of a button it is then coated in a rubber condom.

"It works by spraying on latex from nozzles on all sides," he said. "We call it the '360 degree procedure' - once round and from top to bottom.

'Car wash'

It's a bit like a car wash."

Krause said the plan was to make the product ready for use in about five seconds. He said it would function more effectively as a contraceptive because it would fit better and not slip.

However, before the new condom can be sold in shops, the firm must ensure that the latex is evenly spread when sprayed, as well as optimise the vulcanisation process.

Krause hopes the hi-tech condom, which will be available in different strengths and colours, will on the market by 2008.

He said the spray can would probably cost about $26 as a one-off purchase.

The latex cartridges - sufficient for up to 20 applications - would cost about $13, he said.

Krause said he had hit upon the idea when considering the difficulties some people faced using condoms, and drew inspiration from spray-on plasters now used in medicine.


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Sex crazed Germans. Love 'em
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Berlin - German sex educators plan to launch a spray-on condom tailor-made for all sizes.

Jan Vinzenz Krause from the institute for condom consultancy, a Singen-based practice that offers advice on condom use, said on Thursday the product aimed to help people enjoy better and safer sex lives.

"We're trying to develop the perfect condom for men that's suited to every size of penis," he said. "We're very serious."

Krause's team (spraykondom.de) is developing a type of spray can into which the man inserts his penis first. At the push of a button it is then coated in a rubber condom.

"It works by spraying on latex from nozzles on all sides," he said. "We call it the '360 degree procedure' - once round and from top to bottom.

'Car wash'

It's a bit like a car wash."

Krause said the plan was to make the product ready for use in about five seconds. He said it would function more effectively as a contraceptive because it would fit better and not slip.

However, before the new condom can be sold in shops, the firm must ensure that the latex is evenly spread when sprayed, as well as optimise the vulcanisation process.

Krause hopes the hi-tech condom, which will be available in different strengths and colours, will on the market by 2008.

He said the spray can would probably cost about $26 as a one-off purchase.

The latex cartridges - sufficient for up to 20 applications - would cost about $13, he said.

Krause said he had hit upon the idea when considering the difficulties some people faced using condoms, and drew inspiration from spray-on plasters now used in medicine.


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Sex crazed Germans. Love 'em
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Johannesburg - Gauteng's transport authorities have denied losing track of the amount of money being collected in traffic fines.

Gauteng transport MEC Iganatius Jacobs said on Thursday the department, in fact, did not collect traffic fines.

"We want to correct the article written in The Star by indicating that the department does not collect traffic fines from municipalities," he said.

He was responding to a report in newspaper that while Gauteng's metro police collected hundreds of thousands of rands in unpaid traffic fines, it was unclear what happened to the revenue.

Jacobs said that while the department did not collect money from municipalities for traffic fines, governance techniques had been put in place to effectively monitor municipalities and the revenue brought in.

He said a vulnerability audit would be conducted to check all institutions under the department to ensure proper governance and accountability and to assess capacity to deliver.

The auditing firm PriceWaterhouseCoopers (PWC) would help the department.

Penalties if money is late

"This includes the enlisting of additional skills from PWC to address backlogs in finance, human resources and to develop best practice as it relates to revenue collection, reconciliation of books and support documentation."

To address challenges in revenue collection for motor licensing fees, municipalities that acted as collecting agents, would be penalised if all revenue collected was not submitted on time.

Jacobs said: "The penalty system means the department will retain the money due to respective municipalities."

The department also launched the Gauteng traffic information system to ensure accuracy of information between municipalities and the department's provincial office.


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Losing track of the money making racket?
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Johann de Jager, Die Volksblad

Johannesburg - Graeme Smith still maintains there is nothing wrong with his batting technique. His run drought is caused by psychological reasons, he says.

However, former SA captain and opening batsman Kepler Wessels does not agree. He says the current Proteas captain should try to rectify matters by playing some provincial cricket.

Smith believes he has not been comfortable at the crease since undergoing ankle surgery earlier this year.

His inability to score runs for the Proteas is not caused by a technical problem. It is more of a psychological thing; he has to get his head right, he says.

As opening batsman he has now scored 1, 0 and 0 off 12 balls in consecutive one-day internationals against India.

Left-arm seamer Zaheer Kahn has dismissed him in every one of those matches - leg before wicket twice and clean bowled once.

The Proteas play the Indians in a Twenty20 match at the Wanderers on Friday before the last match in the ODI series in Centurion on Sunday.

Smith said on Thursday it was the first time in two years that his batting in one-day cricket had landed in a rut; and only in the last three or four matches.

Play for his provincial side

However, Wessels has advised Smith to try to spend some time in the middle by playing for his provincial side, the Cape Cobras.

"He clearly has no confidence," Wessels told John Goliath.

The best thing to do is to send him back to the Cobras to play in a four-day match," Wessels said on Thursday. "He needs time at the crease."

Despite Smith's opinions, Wessels feels there is something wrong with his technique. "His footwork is not right. He overbalances.

"There's nothing wrong with his leadership, but he is putting a lot of pressure on his fellow batsmen. It could be considered to move him down the order, but where will he fit in?"

Has taken six catches

Smith knows he has to start contributing runs to his team's efforts. And he feels the pressure, having learnt during the last few seasons how tall trees catch most of the wind.

"If you're a leader, people are quick to turn against you, which is disappointing," he said on Thursday.

"People watch you closely and are quick to ask questions."

Smith believes he has been making amends for his disappointing batting by doing well in other facets of the game.

He is happy with his captaincy and has taken six catches in the three ODIs.

For a recognised batsman to hold more catches than he scores runs, is certainly rare.

Smith scored only 72 runs in seven innings in the ICC Champions Trophy tournament in India. After making 42 in the first match, he scored only 30 in the next six.

The Cape Cobras play the Dolphins in a SuperSport Series match in Cape Town from next Thursday.


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You should always to whats best for the team.
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Virginia Keppler, Beeld

Pretoria - It looked like a movie-chase scene (but, with real bullets) when two Pretoria police officers chased four car thieves on Thursday, at speeds of up to 195km/h, on the infamous Moloto road, north of Pretoria.

Several shots were fired during the chase, which began in Mamelodi in the east of the city, and ended a few kilometres short of the Mpumalanga border.

Inspector Katlego Mogale said two members of the Mamelodi crime prevention task force had picked up a signal from a Jetta that had been stolen in Roodepoort on Wednesday night. They tried to stop the vehicle in Mamelodi.

When the suspects saw the police they sped off, with the law in hot pursuit.

Took to the dirt

The high-speed chase took them through Cullinan and on to the Moloto road, heading towards Mpumalanga.

Mogale said: "The suspects tried to force the police vehicle into oncoming traffic."

The police driver realised what was happening and when he saw buses approaching, he decided he had a better chance on "the grass and dirt" on the left side of the road.

"I veered against the Jetta, pulled out my firearm, and shot at it, while trying to control the vehicle with my left hand.

"That was scary. I believe now that you haven't lived until you've nearly died," he said.

The suspects were forced off the road and arrested a short while later.

Cops praised

Mogale said the driver of the stolen vehicle was wounded in the left arm.

Police stopped the traffic on the Moloto road, which is known for its high accident rate, to load the suspects, aged between 16 and 25, into a police van.

Senior superintendent Rudi van Olst of the Mamelodi East police office said the officers had done good work.


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Hope he didnt shoot at a rental car
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I still remember the day I watched Fifa award the 2010 Soccer World Cup to South Africa. I had this warm patriotic feeling of how great it is to be South African.

Of course, being selfish, I also wondered what I'll get out of this World Cup. All indications are that it will not be the national team that will make us proud.

It was only during the last couple of months that I realised the impact the World Cup will actually have. Over the course of the next two weeks I will look into the implications this event will have on the South African technology sector.

For years now we could only envy television viewers in other countries, especially those with the latest and greatest that television technology has to offer, pay-per-view or even High Definition Television (HDTV). With the World Cup less than 1 217 days away, South African media companies need to show what they can actually do. There is nothing better than a deadline to make someone perform.

Companies like Sentech, Telkom Media, MTN, Vodacom and MultiChoice are spending millions to be ready by 2010.

Mobile/internet television

On the mobile front MultiChoice and MTN are testing and campaigning DVB-H mobile television. DVB-H (Digital Video Broadcasting - Handheld) is being tested by the two companies to overcome the current problems with 3G Mobile TV currently offered by the Vodacom Live! Service.

3G Mobile TV currently only works in 3G enabled areas and offers a less than perfect picture and sound quality; it works on a one-to-one basis, whereas DVB-H works on a one-to-many basis, allowing for higher quality video and sound and can offer a wider range and options.

MTN made a R460m payment to Fifa to secure sponsorship rights for the World Cup and securing exclusive rights to broadcast live matches via DVB-H.

Even though we can soon start watching high quality TV on our cellphones, there is one thing a DVB-H can't give us, watching a game of rugby or soccer with our friends on a big screen. On the other side, it may help the person nominated (democratic or otherwise) to stand outside in the wind and rain to braai.

Telkom Media, a BEE division of Telkom, is conducting trials on IPTV (Internet Protocol TV). The trials are being done on Telkom DSL 4 Mbps lines and are mostly focused on the high income market in South Africa. This is due to the high cost of broadband and the computer infrastructure needed.

Unfortunately the DSL 4 Mbps is not ideal for running internet television - at best this is still inconstant with speed and quality, but all is forgiven since this is still on trial. It has been said that you will need at least a DLS speed of between 10Mbps and 20Mbps to provide proper resolution.

This IPTV trials of Telkom can be a blessing in disguise as this will, hopefully, force Telkom to firstly bring down the price of their ADSL offering and secondly will give us, the consumers, a world class standard ADSL offering.

High definition television

In simple terms HDTV (High definition television) is exactly what it's called, a significantly higher resolution than our standard PAL format (standard used by most countries outside the USA). HDTV, however, was first introduced in the US in the early '90s and has now become the standard to provide near photographic video.

MultiChoice has been broadcasting in digital for years now, but is still limited by the television set. Newer LCD televisions are capable of displaying HDTV, unfortunately neither the SABC nor MultiChoice are broadcasting the correct format yet.

To be ready for 2010, Sentech is updating its more than 30-year-old analogue system to digital. The last of the analogue broadcasting stations will be switched off just after the World Cup. We can only hope that this process goes better than Sentech's broadband internet.

A fully digitised system will, apart from the high definition visuals provide for much better sound such as full 5.1 surround sound.

South African media companies achieved some major advancement over the last 20 years, and it is time for us to start enjoying some of these exciting new technologies that are internationally available.

The 2010 deadline is the ideal opportunity to close the ever increasing technology gap between the 1st world and South Africa. I for one just cannot wait!


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2010 soccer madness
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Rome - The Milan prosecutor is investigating two legal representatives of Google for being accessories to "aggravated defamation" after the internet search engine posted a video showing the violent bullying of a disabled teenager.

Ansa news agency reported on Friday that the two Americans could be held accountable for not controlling the content of the site, in what might be a landmark case in the regulation of the internet.

The footage, filmed by students in a Turin high school, shows a Down's Syndrome teenager being violently bullied by four students and watched by 15 more without protest.

The four students and the teacher, absent at the time of the bullying but responsible for the class, were also being investigated.

A lawyer from the Guido Camera association welcomed the decision, saying it was "a very important step contributing to shed some light on the world of the internet".

The investigation, the first stage in a judiciary process, was prompted by a complaint from Vividown, a Down's Syndrome campaign group.


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I am sure Brin and Page are just shaking
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Los Angeles - The tap-dancing penguin of Happy Feet trod over the newest 007 flick Casino Royale for a second straight weekend, with its total take since opening topping $100m, industry estimates said on Sunday.

The animated kids film sold an estimated $37.9m in tickets in the United States and Canada over the three-day weekend, according to box office tracker Exhibitor Relations, leading the field as it did in its debut last week.

Exhibitor Relations said its five-day gross - for the period including the US Thanksgiving holiday on Thursday - hit $51.6m, taking its estimated total since opening to $100.1m.

Meanwhile Casino Royale, which sports Daniel Craig in his first appearance as British super-sleuth James Bond, registered solid sales at the weekend box, tallying $31m for the three-day weekend and $45.1m over five days, taking its total since debuting last week to a respectable $94.2m, the company said.

New releases Deja Vu and Deck the Halls took third and fourth respectively on the weekend North American box office.

With Hollywood star Denzel Washington in the lead, Deja Vu pulled in $29m over the five days, and Christmas comedy Deck the Halls earned $16.9m.

Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan - dropped to fifth with $15.4m earned over the five day period.

Borat's total since opening broke through the $100m barrier at $109.3m.

The rest of the five-day period's top ten: The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause ($13.8m); Stranger Than Fiction ($8.4m); Flushed Away ($7.7m); Bobby ($6.0m); and The Fountain ($5.4m).

Exhibitor Relations said the weekend's top 12 films grossed an estimated $208m over the five-day period, down from $215.4m for the same period last year, when the region's screens were saturated with the hit Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.


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They have similar clothing
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Adnaan Mohamed, Son

London - Jake White says his Springbok jigsaw puzzle is nearing completion.

After eight attempts the Boks finally managed to beat England by 25-14 at Twickenham last Saturday. The last time the Boks tasted success in the English capital was nine years ago in 1997.

However, even though the Boks won the Test, White's job is still on the line.

The Boks only managed to win only one of their three games on their European tour of Ireland and England.

Despite the fact that they still have to play a World XV in Leicester on Sunday, White has been summoned to appear before the SA Rugby's presidents' council in Cape Town on Wednesday.

SA Rugby is clearly not happy with White's performance otherwise they would not have taken the unprecedented step of calling home a Bok coach before the completion of an overseas tour.

Questioned whether the weekend's victory over England helped to relieve the pressure a bit, White replied: "There will always be pressure on a national coach. You know in a country like ours where rugby is the national game, there will always be pressure. But victories like this help us to put together the pieces for next year's the World Cup."

Despite the Boks' defeats to Ireland and England on two consecutive Saturday's, White says the most important thing for him is how the team has developed over the last three weeks.

"To play England at Twickenham and to win is huge. We haven't won here since 1997. It's a massive boost for us before the World Cup. We are now in a position where we can choose 35 to 40 players," said White.

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yeehaaa, yoohooo, go boks gooo. Well done, good game, keep it up
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Johannesburg - The rand was trading firmer against the dollar on Monday, hitting its highest mark in almost three months, buoyed by a solid gold price and a stronger euro.

The local currency was at R7.1035/US$ at 07:20 GMT, 0.5% firmer than its New York close on Friday, after briefly touching R7.0650 - its highest level since August 31.

Traders said the rand should trade within the R7.07- 7.17/$ range during the session ahead of a slew of domestic economic data due this week, but could test the key psychological level of R7 to the greenback over the next few days.

"With the inflation data due towards the end of the week, I expect people to be a bit cautious," one trader said.

South Africa is due to release consumer inflation figures for October on Wednesday and producer price data on Thursday, which will point to whether the central bank is winning the war against inflation.

Statistics South Africa also releases third quarter economic growth numbers on Tuesday, while October credit extension data is due Wednesday and trade figures on Thursday.

"A push in the rand towards R7 (to the dollar) seems inevitable in the short-term if the euro maintains the current momentum," said Absa Capital analyst Nyiko Mageza, in a market report.

The euro hit a 20-month high against the dollar, adding to recent gains to trade at $1.3128 compared to a $1.3090 close in New York on Friday.

But Mageza said the market remained cautious of central bank activity around the R7/$ level as the South African Reserve Bank had before shown an interest to buy dollars for reserves accumulation around current levels.

Market players are looking to events this week, including US data and a speech on the economic outlook from Federal Reserve chairperson Ben Bernanke on Tuesday, to see whether the dollar tumbles further or starts to recover.

Gold rose above $640 an ounce on Monday to its highest level since August as investment funds bought the precious metal as an alternative to the slumping dollar.

Government bonds were stronger with yields on the most-traded R153 dropping by five basis points to 8.105% compared to Friday's close and those of the benchmark R157 falling by four basis points to 7.905%.


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C'mon, spend those pounds!
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