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This is a serious safety warning to all my loyal readers: it is vitally, vitally important that you are extremely careful when you clean your lawnmower with a vacuum cleaner. Especially if it’s in your bedroom. And especially if you haven’t emptied the fuel tank. And especially if you’re smoking at the time. And especially if there is a pile of loose carpet nearby.

In late 2008, Mount Gambier woman Lauren Goldsworthy was unfortunate enough to find herself in this predicament. When she tipped the lawnmower over in a spare bedroom to clean it, fuel spilled onto the floor. Then her cigarette fell from her mouth. Here’s the full article, including Lauren’s account of events:

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My manager wore a “Where’s My Jetpack?” T-shirt to work the other day, and that got me thinking. A lot, actually. About all of the stuff that could exist now, given current levels of technology, and all the stuff that might exist in the future for consumers to purchase and operate.

After some very careful pondering, I have reached the conclusion that despite frequent appearances in science fiction tales (including mine) a flying car or hovercar will probably never make it onto the market. Here are some reasons why.

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