Dynamic, Periodic

Have a look at this.  Play with it.
It's a super-duper, interactive Web Periodic Table

Unregulated, Unfit

So.
And so.
I stand by what I wrote about the horrid Murdochs  in 2009.  They are unfit, completely unfit, to own any media whatsoever.  Period.  
(Just thought I'd put my oar in again).

Poem of the Week

Porlock
Robert Southey

Porlock! thy verdant vale so fair to sight,
Thy lofty hills which fern and furze imbrown,
The waters that roll musically down
Thy woody glens, the traveller with delight
Recalls to memory, and the channel grey
Circling its surges in thy level bay.
Porlock! I shall forget thee not,
Here by the unwelcome summer rain confined;
But often shall hereafter call to mind
How here, a patient prisoner, 'twas my lot
To wear the lonely, lingering close of day,
Making my sonnet by the alehouse fire,
Whilst Idleness and Solitude inspire
Dull rhymes to pass the duller hours away.

Cryptic Island

Well that was worthwhile. As I mentioned last week, John Graham (Araucaria) was this week's Desert Island Castaway. 

The show was never going to give great insights into crosswords, particularly as young Kirsty doesn't do then herself - or so she claimed - and put herself in the role of the naive (ignorant) enquirer.  Probably something about standing in as the listener's representative, to get an explnation for the intelligent novice.  Or some such.  Either way, when explaining that "Altered sets in North? O don't I care! (11)" meant Orthodontic, the enjoyable misdirection in 'altered sets' wasn't mentioned.  The Jeffrey Archer uber-anagram was wheeled out again (John Graham sighed) - but I enjoyed hearing his favourite clue was "Go to the country? Let Green Line coach drop off companion. (7, 8)"  (**)

Most of his music was choral, classical.  But there was some Procul Harem (B side of "Stairway to Heaven") from the days when he was the chaplain to Reading University.

And it was interesting to be told about his first ministry - St John's East Dulwich.  Which apparently in those days expected its priests to be celibate, so when he fell in love with a member of the congregation,he was moved a long way away (to Durham).

Although enjoyable, there was a sense that they only really touched upon some subjects - and others (like his politics) weren't mentioned at all.  But that may be a failure of the format.

But next week will be Michael McIntyre - and I won't be listening...


(** --> Answer:  "General Election")

Bo Rap

I've acquired a small and only slightly damaging Amazon habit, and recently bought Queen's "A Night At The Opera" - mostly for Bohemian Rhapsody.

But, hey, it isn't as good as the original...

Oh Dear, Oh Dear

Graham James, Bishop of Norwich got Archimedes' Principle completely wrong on Thought for Today this morning.  Quite annoying...

Recognition

So, the boy playing the Artful Dodger in the original West End run of Oliver! bunked off, and this fresh-faced chap took over at short notice:

After just a moment, it is possible to see who this is.  You can recognise the young Tony Robinson - Baldrick in Blackadder.  And of course, the presenter of Time Team, the Worst Jobs in History and (urghh) Codex.

He's been recognised by several institutions who've awarded him honorary degrees, he's president of the Young Archeologist's Club, has been a vice-President of Equity, and he was on the Labour NEC from 2000 to 2004.

Although he has no Honours Young Tony has also just been recognised by Radio 4 - he got to pick his Desert Island Discs on Saturday.  Hurrah!

The next question is, can you recognise this man?

He has been recognised with an MBE, and is the subject, it appears, of next week's Desert Island Discs:

Quite so.  It is John Galbraith Graham, ex C of E priest, briefly chaplain and tutor at St Chad's, Durham,  cruciverbalist extraordinaire and,  indeed, Araucaria of The Guardian.  He remains leftwing, and, it appears,  will never work for a Murdoch paper.

Again, Hurrah!