Looking Back - Millions Rock To Live8 Message

On this day in 2005, the worlds biggest music stars performed at Live8 concerts around the globe aimed at persuading political leaders to tackle poverty in Africa. Concerts in 10 cities, including London, Philadelphia, Paris, Berlin, Johannesburg, Rome and Moscow played to hundreds of thousands of people. A TV audience of several hundred million watched the gigs, ahead of the G8 summit of leaders on global poverty and climate change next week.

Bob Geldof (pictured) said the day had been "full of hope and possibility and life".

In London Madonna, U2, Coldplay, Sir Elton John and Sting all performed. Almost all of the singers involved took the opportunity to explain their reasons for performing.

The G8 summit did agree to a $50bn aid programmed for the developing countries and Bob Geldof was quick to claim success for the 'Make Poverty History' campaign. The G8 nations also agreed to cancel the debts of 18 poorest countries - while Africa continued to press for all African debts to be cancelled.

On the question of climate change there was little progress with US firmly opposed.

Why Boys Need Parents

(Click on image to enlarge)

Brainteaser

For today's brainteaser we are going to return to trivia. Ten general knowledge questions to make you think. Good luck with your answers!

o1 What is a vixen?
02 Where is the worlds highest waterfall?
03 What is the colour of mourning in Moslem countries?
04 Where is the House of Keys?
05 Who invented the telephone?
06 What nationality was the great painter Picasso?
07 What was the name of the ship in which Sir Francis Drake sailed round the world?
08 Why is Dame Margot Fonteyn famous?
09 Which is the largest planet in the solar system?
10 Two very famous Chinese political leaders died in 1976.Name on of them.

A fairly tough set of questions, see how you get on!

Famous London Pubs - Prospect Of Whitby

The Prospect Of Whitby is a historic public house on the banks of the Thames at Wapping in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. It lays claims to being the site of the oldest riverside tavern, dating from around 1520. It was formerly known as the Devil's Tavern, on account of its dubious reputation. Before that it was officially called 'The Pelican'. All that remains from the building's earliest period is the 400 year old stone floor.
In former times it was a meeting place for sailors, smugglers, cut-throats and footpads. Sir Hugh Willoughby sailed from here in 1533 in a disastrous attempt to discover the North-East Passage To China.
In the 17th century, it became the hostelry of choice of 'Hanging' Judge Jeffreys, scourge of the Monmouth Rebellion. He lived nearby and a noose hangs by a window commemorating his custom. He was chased by anti-Royalists into the nearby Town of Ramsgate, captured and taken to the Tower for his own safety. According to legend, criminals would be tied up to the posts at low tide and left there to drown when the tide came in. Execution Dock was actually by Wapping Old Stairs and generally used for pirates.
Views from the pub were sketched by both Turner and Whistler, Writers Charles Dickens and Samuel Pepys are known to have paused to sup here.
The public house features briefly in an episode of 'Only Fools And Horses'. When Uncle Albert goes missing in one episode , Del Boy travels round London looking for him. David Jason is shown in one scene walking out of the pub.
In the comic book 'The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen', Mina Harker pauses in front of the public house and says it brings back memories. She is referring to the beaching of the 'Demeter' at Whitby in the novel Dracula.

Thought For Today

The only time a woman really succeeds in changing a man is when he is a baby.
Natalie Wood

The Good, The Bad And The Ugly

Isn't it nice when occassionally common sense prevails. It's a rare happening these days but here is one example when sanity prevailed.
Marketing standards for 26 types of produce that prevent oddly-sized or misshapen fruit and vegetables being sold in Europe are being scrapped. It is a move by the European Commission to streamline and simplify EU rules and cut red tape. Some 20% of produce is rejected by shops across the EU because it fails to meet the current requirements.
But will poeple really want 'wonky' fruit and veg? Click on the following video link to see and hear what some people think:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/8127586.stm

Quiz Show Howlers

AMES O'BRIEN SHOW (LBC)
Obrien: How many King's of England have been called Henry?
Contestant: Er, well, I know there was a Henry the Eighth....er....er....three.

CHRIS SEARLE SHOW (BBC RADIO BRISTOL)
Searle: In which European country is Mount Etna?
Caller: Japan
Searle: I did say which European country, so in case you didn't hear that, I can let you try again.
Caller: Mexico?

PAUL WAPPAT (BBC RADIO NEWCASTLE)
Paul Wappat: How long did the Six-Day War between Egypt and Israel last?
Contestant: (after a long pause) : Fourteen days

DARYL DENHAM'S DRIVE TIME (VIRGIN RADIO)
Daryl Denham: In which country would you spend shekels?
Contestant: Holland?
Denham: Try the next letter of the alphabet.
Contestant: Iceland? Ireland?
Denham (helpfully) It's a bad line. Did you say Israel?
Contestant: No