Hottest Easter since records began.

No complaints here!

Amplify’d from www.telegraph.co.uk

Britain is on course for the hottest Easter since records began in 1960 and the warmest April in more than a century.

Millions of holidaymakers flocked to beaches across the country to make the most of the unseasonably warm weather.

But forecasters warned the glorious sunshine will be short-lived as temperatures look set to drop gradually throughout the week, starting on Sunday.

Some parts of the country were even hit by torrential downpours on Saturday afternoon.

In Sheffield, South Yorkshire, some roads became impassable as hailstorms fell and flood water formed several inches deep.

Parts of Kent, London, east Wales, the East Midlands, and Yorkshire were also hit by heavy rain. Read more at www.telegraph.co.uk

 

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Lost Taser

Not Good!

Amplify’d from www.bbc.co.uk

West Yorkshire Police has admitted one of its Taser weapons has gone missing and appealed to the public for information on its whereabouts.

The force said an extensive search was under way for the stun gun, used by police to deliver an electric shock.

It has gone missing from a storage unit at the force's Leeds training ground.

The Taser was being used for training

A spokesman said it was likely to still be on police premises, but a public appeal was being made "on the off-chance" anyone has information.

The Taser was being used for training purposes, he added.

The spokesman said: "It is very likely the training Taser's battery is now inert and unable to be discharged.

"We would like to remind the public it is a prohibited weapon and as such it is illegal for a member of the public to possess one." Read more at www.bbc.co.uk

 

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BBC News - Japan: Tsunami warning for north-east after earthquake

7 April 2011 Last updated at 15:57

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Japan: Tsunami warning for north-east after earthquake

A tsunami warning has been issued for north-eastern Japan after an earthquake with a magnitude of 7.4 struck off the east coast of Honshu.

The tsunami is predicted to have a wave 1m (3ft) high. Those in the warning zone should move to high ground, Japanese TV said.

The area was ravaged by an earthquake and tsunami last month which severely damaged the Fukushima nuclear plant.

Thursday's quake was 118km (78 miles) north of Fukushima, 40km offshore.

The Tokyo Electric Power Company (Tepco), which operates Fukushima, says it is checking on the situation at the damaged plant following the latest earthquake.

The quake was strong enough to shake buildings in Tokyo.

via bbc.co.uk

Yet another ordeal for the Japanese!

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BBC Sport - Masters 2011: Fire forces Lee Westwood jet to land

Masters 2011

• Venue: Augusta National, Georgia:
• Date: 7-10 April
• Coverage: All rounds live on BBC Radio 5 live and online from 2100 BST; third round live from 2030 BST and final round live from 1900 BST on BBC2, BBC HD and online (UK only); scores, highlights and live text on BBC website

Westwood was runner-up at Augusta last year.

World number two Lee Westwood's private jet made an emergency landing as he flew to the Masters at Augusta after a fire broke out in the cockpit.

Westwood, who was travelling from the Houston Open with Ryder Cup team-mate Ross Fisher, said it was "a bit scary".

"It never looks good when you can smell smoke and the pilots have put masks on," added the 2010 Masters runner-up.

Earlier he had asked on Twitter: "Do the fire engines normally follow you down the runway?"

He continued: "Only when there's smoke in the cabin I guess!!! They're not here to put my putter out! That's not on fire! Gone a bit quiet on here!!!"

On arrival at Augusta National on Monday the Englishman stated: "The smoke was coming from the cockpit and they told us later they couldn't drop our masks because they feed oxygen into the cabin and if there was a fire it would have fanned the flames.

"The plane came down in a bit of a nose dive because you obviously have to get down as quick as you can.

"There had been a small fire somewhere in the instruments and we had the three fire tenders chasing us down the runaway, but I think that's just a precaution."

Westwood's manager Andrew "Chubby" Chandler told BBC Sport it had "definitely got a bit cloudy in the cabin.

"There were a few quizzical looks, then we turned round and saw the pilots had full gasmasks on.

"We came down fairly quickly and it was the usual story of two or three vans and fire engines all standing down the runway."

via news.bbc.co.uk

Hope his luck continues in the MASTERS.

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BBC News - UK radio pushes online listening

31 March 2011 Last updated at 15:40

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UK radio pushes online listening

Users will be able to search across BBC and commercial radio stations

Continue reading the main story

Related Stories

• Date set for online radio service
• Radio 'scrappage' scheme launched

Many of the UK's biggest radio broadcasters have joined forces to launch a system for listening to their stations over the internet.

UK Radioplayer brings together commercial outlets alongside BBC stations in an attempt to boost online listening.

Only 3% of people access radio via the web and growth has been sluggish.

Although broadcasters will now use the same interface, they are free to customise it and include advertising.

Among the radio groups supporting the project are Global, GMG, Bauer Media and UTV Radio, as well as the BBC.

Tim Davie, director of audio and music at the BBC, welcomed the move, but conceded it was perhaps overdue.

"It is true that, to a certain extent, the radio industry has lacked the level of innovation of television," he said.

Mr Davie suggested that the launch of UK Radioplayer, along with a BBC trial of high bitrate HD radio, indicated a renewed determination to innovate.

No guarantee of quality

The UK Radioplayer is intended to offer some consistency to users, with all players having the same basic controls, search function and favourites option.

However the system does not guarantee that all radio stations will provide the same quality of audio stream.

Broadcasters remain free to chose lower or higher bitrates, said Michael Hill, managing director of Radioplayer Ltd.

He told BBC News: "We wanted to leave it to stations to chose their own bitrate. That is the way for small stations to keep their costs down."

At launch, the Radioplayer will only work on devices that are capable of running Adobe's Flash platform. That includes most personal computers and some mobile phones and tablets.

A version capable of running on Apple devices will follow shortly, said Mr Hill.

UK Radioplayer has been broadly welcomed, even by those who have previously voiced scepticism about industry's digital strategy.

William Rogers, chief executive of radio group UKRD, is a critic of the DAB system. He believes that internet broadcasting may be a better way to proceed.

"This will improve the online offering of radio and undoubtedly assist listening.

"I do not think it will be a panacea," he said. "But it is a step in the right direction."

via bbc.co.uk

A good idea-and it WORKS!

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