Long live Prince!

Today would have been the birthday of one of the most talented musical artists to have lived. Sadly he passed away last year, that's not to say he wont live on forever.

His musical performances were electrifying, he wanted to make sure you were having a good time and if you weren't he would find a way to change that. Take this performance in the middle of a storm at the super bowl, even the rain could not stop his reign.

On this day back in 1901 Queen Victoria died. She was the monarch that oversaw the arguably most successful period in British History, she lived a very interesting life. She had nine children and going by the evidence put forward in the excellent BBC documentaries about her life, she wasn't that keen on motherhood. The sad loss of her husband, Prince Albert,  in 1861 was something she never did get over. Until the end of her life she had her maids nightly lay out Albert's clothes for the next day and in the morning replace the water in the basin in his room.

The Kinks wrote a great little song about her:-

www.youtube.com/watch?v=TraFxjPyDns

"Dr. Livingstone, I presume?"

On this day in 1813 the famous Scottish explorers/ medical missionary David Livingstone was born. He was perhaps one of the most popular national heroes of the late 19th century in Victorian Britain. Much like all things empirical the myth seems to be larger than the man himself but there is no doubting the impact he had on British life at the time of his travels.

Although I am not a Rugby fan I do hope Scotland can avoid the wooden spoon today.

Oh well its the weekend so I think I'll go for a walk, but unlike Livingstone on his search for the source of the river Nile, I will try not to get lost.

I just made a new Voki. See it here:

It's been a while

Ok so I have not posted for a while. I have been busy and access at school is no existent but that's just not good enough so I will post more from now on.

Today in 1938 Germany invaded Austria. A union of Austria and Germany was proclaimed by Adolf Hitler. The storm clouds were gathering in Europe.

However our world today has had a shock. If you can click and give....

http://www.redcross.org.uk/Donate-Now/Make-a-single-donation/Japan-Tsunami-Appeal

Television

Way back in 1926 John Baird, a Scottish inventor, demonstrated a pictorial transmission machine called television. This invention was to change life forever.

He was born in Helensburgh, Dunbartonshire. He was educated at Larchfield Academy (now part of Lomond School), Helensburgh; the Glasgow and West of Scotland Technical College (which later became the University of Strathclyde); and the University of Glasgow. His degree course was interrupted by World War I and he never returned to graduate.

Imagine what life would be without television. This is a still a reality for billions of people so we should be thankful for our privilege.

Oh Yes!

On this day back in 1965 Sir Winston Churchill died.

Of course he will be remembered as the man who lead Britain through WWII but he had a long and varied career. Some, myself included, say he was controversial character at times.

To find out more you can click on the link below:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/churchill_winston.shtml

Big Brother's Father

Today back in 1950 Acclaimed author George Orwell passed away.

He began writing 1984 after resigning from the BBC World Service in September 1943 where he had been employed writing and producing news for India.

It was his increasing frustration with the Ministry of Information, which censored the news during World War II, which led to his resignation and subsequently became the central theme of 1984

George Orwell's name itself has become an adjective -"Orwellian" - meaning an oppressive system.

1984 and Animal Farm frequently appear in lists of the world's best-ever selling novels.

Have a great weekend everyone. It's almost pay day and I am off to Dublin next weekend to visit one of my oldest friends. Can not wait.

Peace perfect peace?

On this day back in 1919 The World War I Peace Congress opened in Versailles, France (the palace where this took place is in the picture).

Well it was supposed to be a peace conference but the resulting peace settlement caused huge resentment in Germany and has a major part to play in the rise of the Nazi party. Take note all in Standard grade!!

Oh baby its cold outside

On this day in 1912 the English explorer Robert Falcon Scott reached the South Pole. Norwegian Roald Amundsen had beaten him there by one month. Scott and his party died during the return trip.

Now Scott of the Antarctic is a very famous and enduring image, there is something very bold and brave about the courageous failure. That being said we don't give enough credit to the man that actually made it (that's him in the picture), thanks in part to a better bit of planning. If this tale tells us one thing preparation is vital if you want anything to succeed.

Monday over!

Back once again

Again I am sorry for not blogging more, it has been a mixture of being really busy and not being able to get a shot of the computer at home.

Today way back in 1547 Ivan the Terrible was crowned Czar of Russia.He was responsible for transforming Russia into a multi ethnic and multiconfessional state spanning almost one billion acres, approximately 4,046,856 km2 (1,562,500 sq mi). Ivan was terrible not only due to his fits of anger and rage but he also blew up people with explosives, impaled people and he fried them, too.

Its not really fair for us to judge him by today's standards as life back in the 16th century was more brutal than what we are hopefully used to in our normal lives. Also Ivan was believed to have suffered from mercury poising causing poor mental health.

Purple Haze

Today in 1967 Jimi Hendrix recorded "Purple Haze." If you don't know the song click on the video. Jimi Hendrix was an amazing artist and arguably the finest guitar player ever.

Wait a minute Mr Postman

Today in 1840 The penny post, whereby mail was delivered at a standard charge rather than paid for by the recipient, began in Britain.

In our paperless world this may not mean a lot but the ability this afforded common people to communicate meant that no matter how far flung your family was you could always stay in touch. This was important too in a time where people were moving to a variety of locations for jobs and a better life.

Sorry for the lack of posts. Laziness and an inability to get near the laptop has held me back. I promise to do more.

Happy new year, I hope you had a great time.

Excellent

Happy Birthday Harry Shearer. You may not know the name right away but apart from being bass legend Derek Smalls in one of my favourite movies 'Spinal Tap', he is also the voice of Mr. Burns, Waylon Smithers, Ned Flanders, Reverend Timothy Lovejoy, Kent Brockman, Dr. Hibbert, Lenny Leonard, Principal Skinner, Otto Mann and Rainier Wolfcastle.

The picture is actually of Derek Smalls in The Simpsons.

2 more sleeps.

Alive!

Today back in 1972 fourteen survivors were found 10 weeks after plane crash. The Chilean Air force found the survivors from a plane that crashed in the Argentine Andes over two months before.

Four days after the rescue, a Santiago paper alleged that the survivors became cannibals to ward off starvation. The group confirmed that they ate human flesh at a press conference two days later.

A film based on the event was released in 1993, starring Ethan Hawke.

Fourteen of the survivors retraced their fateful flight route on the 30th anniversary in 2002.

Its a new day

Today in 1997 The Scotland Act 1998 was introduced and elections to the Scottish Assemblies were held in May 1999.

Donald Dewar became Scotland's First Minister (his statue in Glasgow city centre is pictured) and later the same month the Scottish parliament met for the first time.

Its snowing!

The Wright Stuff

Today in 1903 The first successful gasoline-powered airplane flight took place near Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. Orville and Wilbur Wright made the flight. The Wright brothers were two Americans who are generally credited with inventing and building the world's first successful airplane.

Can you imagine a world without airplanes?

Wrap up warm it's cold out there.

Sisters are doing it for themselves

Today in 1913 Suffragette's caused a dynamite explosion at Holloway Prison where Emmeline Pankhurst (pictured being arrested on the left) and Lady Constance Lytton were detained. Take note third years as this is whats coming your way after the winter break, the topic not prison.

Sorry for the lack of posts recently as I have had a hard time getting to a computer outside of work.

Santa is on his way soon

And the wind cries Mary

Today back in 1542 saw the birth of Mary Queen of Scots. She was the Scottish Queen who ascended to the throne when she was just 6 days old. A rebellion led to her abdication and later Elizabeth I (her cousin) imprisoned her for the plot to restore the Roman Catholic religion and to take the throne from her. In fact the whole saga seems like the twisted plot of a movie but it was real life and very exciting.

The roads are still awful out there so be careful.

Snow Joke

Sorry there was no post on Sunday but I forgot and as for yesterday...

I was one of the people you heard about being stuck in their car, I left for school a little earlier than normal as I thought the traffic might be slow. I ran into a blizzard and was advised to turn round and head home (See picture for my view for approx 8 hours). What a mistake. I was there for ever so long and finally got home at 10:35 pm. Sat outside Denny (near Falkirk) for most of the time. Only exciting thing was getting to walk on the Motorway. No cars moving at all. It was cold and I was tired but apart from that all is well.

On this day in 1941 Japanese planes bombed Pearl harbour. Within two hours, six battleships had been sunk, another 112 vessels sunk or damaged, and 164 aircraft destroyed. Only chance saved three US aircraft carriers, usually stationed at Pearl Harbor but assigned elsewhere on the day.

Pearl Harbor united an outraged American nation behind President Roosevelt and behind the war against Japan.