Last ever Top of the Pops

The end of an era for television. Amazing to think it used to get 25 million viewers. I suppose we all have memories of watching this show and finding things either really exciting or dire beyond belief. It used to be quite painful watching it but the week you didn't bother would have the Saints or Generation X on. It must have sparked off more rows between parents and their offspring than any other show - 'look at that idiot!' 'He's brilliant, you're the idiot' - that sort of thing. I suppose the last such argument like that in our house was when the Pistols were on doing Pretty Vacant. Happy Days.

Pinewood studio fire

Caught fire during shooting for Casino Royale, the new Bond movie. I personally don't like Bond movies and I don't think I've ever been able to watch one all the way through. Some of the older movies have some period charm these days but they are to me an example of lowest common denominator cinema. Like a trashy seaside town the explosions and the ludicrous characters probably say some pretty sad things about what we consider fun.

Irish bog find

War that made America clip

This short piece depicts the incident in 1763 when a native lacrosse game was the pretext for a surprise assault on the garrison.

Hastings 2006

A website with the guidelines for authenticity and safety for participation in the major reenactment taking place in October.

Goth

Have you noticed there are a lot fewer Goths about than there used to be - among the teenage kids of our fair land? I think it is safe to say that the recent Goth craze has died out - mostly replaced by Emo culture, or so it seems. Who knows? Maybe it's been replaced by something more individualistic but no doubt things will change again soon.

Battle of Neerwinden

Anniversary today of the French victory at Neerwinden (Landen) in 1693. Interestingly there was another battle of Neerwinden a hundred years later during the French Revolution, but this one is most famous for the death of Irish hero Patrick Sarsfield.
Oh Patrick Sarsfield, Ireland's Wonder,
Who fought in the fields like any thunder,
One of King James's chief commanders,
Now lies the food of crows in Flanders .

Wiki on Sarsfield
French language site on Neerwinden here

Nazi Aircraft Carrier found

German aircraft carrier Graf Zeppelin discovered in the Baltic. Wiki on the GZ

Black-footed ferret

I know you're probably bored with me going on about ferrets but this is an interesting anniversary - it's 25 years this September that this creature was rediscovered - it being originally thought extinct. Since then it has been successfully introduced into areas to control the prairie dog population on which it almost exclusively feeds on. So check out the above website to learn more about these beautiful creatures and what can be done in the US to help bring them back from the brink. Why not adopt one?

Punk survivors Buzzcocks still relevant

Recent piece about the success of Manchester punks the Buzzcocks.

Ferret Couture

Now that Paris Hilton has a pet ferret - Cinderella - they are considered officially fashionable. But we knew that already didn't we? Anyway jumping on the bandwagon Breakfast news featured Ferret Couture - a company that specialises in fashion for fuzzies. Looks pretty good with camo clothing, hoodies and so on. Worth checking out if you are thinking of getting a ferret.
The American experience with ferrets is very different to ours - they don't have a tradition of hunting with them and most people keep them neutered and descented living indoors like a cat. In the UK they tend to be kept outdoors though its not unknown in urban environments to have indoor ferrets, having the run of the place. There is evidence that ferrets occupied the same space occupied by cats in medieval times gradually being usurped by the feline, so maybe a comeback is overdue. Anyway, time to go feed ours...

Bristol Harbour Festival

If you like boats then the place to be this weekend is Bristol harbour with its mixture of ships and music, starting at 6 pm this evening. One of the main attractions is a famine ship the Jeanie Johnston coming over from Ireland. Wiki on Bristol harbour

Adventures in Oz

A collection of artwork based on the L Frank Baum Oz tales by Eric Shanower. Info here

Battle of Killiecrankie 1689

Today is the anniversary of this battle fought in Scotland between supporters of William of Orange and Jacobite Highlanders. Famous for highlighting the deficiencies of the plug bayonet - a knife that fitted inside the muzzle - fixing it too soon reduced firepower of the muskets enabling the Highlanders to close relatively unmolested.
Images and so on here
Battlefield resource centre piece

Genghis

This is another of the little darlings - named after Genghis Khan - a great ferret owner apparently. Also a great lover if the DNA evidence is correct.
It's quite a good time to name something Genghis as this year marks the 8ooth anniversary of his conquests. 'For Mongolians, he's almost like Jesus Christ. They feel very close to him.'
BBC article about Mongolians celebrating the great man.

Imdb top 250 films

This is an interesting list of movies - there's been quite a few votes so it seems a fairly representative selection. Not keen on the Lord of the Rings films so I think they are overrated - not that bothered about the Godfather either, but the rest seems good. Channel 4's 50 films to see before you die was a tragic list - more like 50 films we own and are showing all the time.

Robert Johnson's guitar

Interesting article about the legendary bluesman's guitar up for sale. Estimated to reach 3 million pounds.
Johnson is one of the most influential of all the great delta bluesmen - particularly among white rock guitarists as his King of the Delta Singers compilation was a widely owned album in the early 60s. I think he's brilliant, particularly lyrically. I used to listen to him a lot way back when though these days I prefer to listen to Charley Patton. Definitely you need at least one Robert Johnson album in your collection - the guitar isn't so essential.
Wiki on Robert Johnson

Low level Spitfire clip

If you are a fan of the supermarine spitfire you'll love this footage.

Water Pistol wars come to London

Warnings abound about sparking a terror alert - see above link as water pistol game comes to London. Guardian article here
The official website says
StreetWars is a 3 week long, 24/7, watergun assassination tournament that has already taken place in New York City, Vancouver, Vienna, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and is now coming to London.
At the start of the game you will receive a manila envelope containing the following:
A picture of your intended target(s)
The home address of your intended target(s)
The work address of your intended target(s)
The name of your intended target(s)
Contact information of your intended target(s)
Upon receipt of these items, your (or your team's) mission is to find and kill (by way of water gun, water balloon or super soaker) your target(s).
You can hunt your target down any way you see fit; you can pose as a delivery person and jack them when they open the door, disguise yourself and take them out on the street, etc.
If you are successful in your assassination attempt, the person you killed will give you their envelope and the person they were supposed to kill becomes your new target. This continues until you work yourself through all the players and retrieve the envelope with your (or your team's) picture(s) and name(s). Then you win. Cash…but first live in fear.

Shangri-Las 'Long Live Our Love'

This is a classic from the best girl group in the world ever, the Shangri-Las. As this is presumably a song that was about the Vietnam War, the backgrounds seem surreal to say the least. If you don't own one Shangri-las compilation then go out and buy one now. It is the perfect sound of summer. It's hard to put down in words why the records are so great - they are like perfectly drawn teen love story comics that capture the emotions of being young and dramatic. Mary Weiss is apparently recording a solo album for Norton records. Watch this space.