The Amazing Hummingbird Hawk Moth

It hovers, it hums – but it is not a hummingbird. Take a look at one of, if not the most amazing, certainly the coolest insects on the planet - The Hummingbird Hawk Moth.  The Ark in Space has a great feature on this very unusual species, an example of what is known as convergent evolution.  When you see the full screen pictures this little guy will take your breath away.

Image Credit Flickr User ComputerHotline

Why Are the Giant Trees of the Tropics Dying? And Why Is One Species Thriving?

When the Panama Canal was created, so was an island.  The island of Barro Colorado sprang into being when the surrounding mountainous terrain was turned into a lake thanks to the canal.  Since then, the island has become on of the most studied on the planet, because its isolation allows scientists to see what is happening to our flora and fauna when they are not still being impacted by constant human intervention. And, oh dear, we do have a problem.  Many of the islands giant trees seem to be dying – and this is a pattern being repeated around the tropics.

This will have a massive impact on the environment as these giant trees are responsible for holding so much carbon and releasing it back due to premature death is not exactly what we want. And we don’t understand what is happening either.  Yet among the trees on the island of Barro Colorado, one giant is doing something unexpected.  Dipteryx Oleifera is thriving, not dying. Hosted by Joe Hanson, this video (which using stunning drone footage to reveal the forest on the island) explains what is happening – and what, perhaps, could be the solution.

Pixar’s Fruit & Nut: A Wild Ride Through the Dark Underbelly of the Snack World

When it comes to bonkers animated shorts, Pixar’s Fruit & Nut must come somewhere near the top of the list.  It tells the story of a peanut, down on his luck and desperate for the love of a good strawberry.  Things don’t seem to be going his way until one day, he picks up a hitchhiker and the connection is immediate.  Unfortunately for him, his new fruity girlfriend is intent on leading him astray in the pursuit of bread – and soon they become the Bonnie and Clyde of the snack world.  With a great ending that I didn’t see coming at all (stick around for it – it gives you one of those “aha” moments), Fruit & Nut is a great showcase for the talents of the Pixar animators who created it.

The short was written and directed by Rej Bourdages and Tony Maki and shows what can happen when animators are allowed to throw off their constraints for approximately seven minutes.  It is a joy to watch, and I am sure that all the team involved will continue to have thriving careers, whether at Pixar or elsewhere.  Watch Fruit & Nut below.

The Bicheno Blowhole: Geology at its Most Playful

Nature may often be cruel but from time to time it can also be almost sublimely daft.  Close to the small town of Bicheno on the east coast of the Australian island of Tasmania, a rare geological feature known as a blowhole provides endless hours of fun for visitors. Each time the blowhole ‘erupts’ you never quite know what you are going to get in terms of the shape and size of the water.  One thing is for sure, though: you are going to get wet.
Image Credit Flickr User  ScottWeatherson

A blowhole is a sea cave which grows inwards and up, resulting in a perpendicular shaft open at the surface. They occur when there is a weak joint in the rock and as the waves pound and erode the rock just above the waterline a cave is slowly but surely formed.

This can get to quite a length but if, as it develops, it hits a vertical weakness in the rock then it will head upwards – until it breaks the surface and hits daylight.

Blackadder: The Cavalier Years – Watch The Hilarious Blackadder Special Set in the English Civil War

Ask anyone of a certain age and disposition in the UK about Blackadder, and they will be able to trot off several facts. It was spread over four series, each in a different time, culminating in Blackadder Goes Forth, set at the height of the First World War.  They might also add – although opinion on this is somewhat divided - that contrary to the law of diminishing return, each series was better than the last (and the first was bloody good to start with). What they sometimes overlook, of course, is that there were two short specials made for charity, with Blackadder – The Cavalier Years being the one this little post is about.

Now, chronologically it nestles between seasons 2 (Elizabethan) and 3 (Georgian), being set at the time of the English Civil War – and you can watch it in full below.  However, it was filmed after the third series had aired. Created for the Comic Relief charity in 1988 (good grief, has it really been almost forty years?), it tells the story of how Edmund Blackadder and his “trusty” manservant Sodoff Baldrick shelter King Charles I, who has been defeated in the civil war.  Unfortunately, the shelter is shortlived and King Charles is sentenced to death by Oliver Cromwell (here played by Warrem Clarke) and his roundheads.    

So, of course, Blackadder and Baldrick hatch a cunning plan to replace the head of the monarch with a pumpkin during the process of his execution by beheading.  What happens, you will have to watch the video below. However, as well as the usual brilliant turns by Rowan Atkinson and Tony Robinson, Blackadder The Cavalier Years has a great supporting cast, notably Stephen Fry as the beleaguered soon-to-be ex-monarch.  He based his performance on the characteristics of the (then) Prince Charles, who in 2022 would become King Charles III.  For example, when he is asked "Are you ready to meet your maker?"  he replies with "Well, I'm always absolutely fascinated to meet people from all walks of life... yes, particularly manufacturing industries."  Perfect.  

The cast is rounded off by Harry Enfield, who serves as narrator.

Watch the full minisode of Blackadder The Cavalier Years below.

Butter Boy: A Delightful 2-Minute Animated Musical

Fancy an animated musical, but don’t have the time to fit one in to your busy schedule?  The try Butter Boy, the new project from Amelia Kim.  The story is simple – and so I will keep this quicj to allow you to enjoy the video.  There’s a boy made of butter, whose life is less than perfect because basically he is unhygienic and sticky.  In the great tradition of young heroes of animated musicals, he bursts into song to wonder what his life would be like if he wasn’t… made of butter.  That’s it – it’s that simple – and in less than two minutes you have a wholly satisfying complete animated musical with a great little ending.  It’s adorable, quite frankly. The music, lyrics and song performance are all supplied by teenage wunderkind Oliver Richman, who you may remember from his debut video of Defying Gravity almost a decade ago.

Watch Butter Boy below.

Why do Data Centers Use So Much Electricity and Water?

My real-world job is as an English lecturer and every time I use even a little AI to enhance a resource (it avoids copyright and it’s, well, free), I am met by waves (occasionally the odd tsunami) of approbation by my students that I am single-handedly killing the planet.  I would wearily point out the hypocrisy of their statements – so many of the digital devices that they cover end up in landfill because they are hard to recycle – and that’s just a starter), but I refrain.  However, the question does come up in my mind – why is it that data centers (especially those who are hosting AI platforms) use up so much electricity – not to mention water?

1,000 huge warehouse-sized data centers have popped up around the world since 2019 and the resources they use are staggering.  This Ted-Ed video has popped up in my stream just when I wanted the answers.  I might just play this to my students – these customised complexes come with a whole new set of complications.  Will my students have the tenacity to sit through six whole minutes of explanation? I hope so – I found this video revelatory.  Watch it below.

The Boy Who Rode the Wind

A simple story can have so many layers, it’s sometimes difficult to keep up.  Whatever layer you get from The Boy Who Rode the Wind, this animated short by Spaghetti Tree Productions is a rewarding watch, but, if, like me, you are easily brought to tears, then have your handkerchief ready.  That makes this sound like a very drab watch, but honestly, the workmanship that has gone into this is nothing short of astounding (using tools such as Higgsfield, Adobe, Suno, Claude, Davinci) and I love the use of colour in this short.  Now, yes, this makes the animation something of a hybrid, but the company’s blurb on YouTube reassuringly tells us that their processes keep “human intent and the animator's touch firmly at the center”.

The story, written by Tanem Davidson, is about a boy and his father – in that particular state of limbo that bereavement often brings and the necessary urge to carry on living (in fact to celebrate life) that hopefully will emerge at some point in the process of grieving.  It’s a lovely story, and honestly made my day.  I do wonder if this short represents the coming together of AI and human “talents”.  Who can say – perhaps leave your own thoughts in the comments.

How the Moon Formed: The Giant Impact Theory Explained by Its Creators

In the 1980s there was a conference held in Hawaii, its main objective being to come to a collective decision about how the moon had been formed.  As Hawaii is not unknown for its desirability as a holiday destination, it wasn’t long before there was a queue of astronomers asking to attend the conference.  It was in Hawaii that the giant impact hypothesis finally won out.

The astronomer referred to as Bill throughout the video is William Hartmann. Alongside his colleague Don Davis, he is credited with developing the giant impact hypothesis in the 1970s, which proposes that the Moon formed from debris following a massive collision between Earth and another smaller planet.  In this video, the two reminisce about the fateful Hawaii conference, as well as talking about three theories about the moon’s remaining mystery (you need to watch the video to discover what that it!).

Take a Flight through Shanghai at Night

This amazing footage of the extraordinary Chinese city of Shanghai was captured by China Photography and LaLin Photography and gives us a drone-driven close up of the city, perhaps the most Blade Runneresque on the planet.  You can take in all the views from wherever you are – from The Bund – the historic waterfront promenade with famous colonial-era architecture and views across the Huangpu River to the Oriental Pearl TV Tower, one of Shanghai's most recognizable landmarks, standing 468 metres tall.

It’s an exhilarating site, made more so by the fact that this was all shot at night, giving the city an almost ethereal (yet still elegant) look.  Watch the video below. 

Troye Sivan’s “Party” Video: Medieval France, Sir Ian McKellen and Incredible Choreography

This is rather naughty, but I think you might enjoy it.  Troye Sivan’s new track Party is a mix of infectious musical joie de vivre (even throwing a little old school Madonna in at certain points). So, why not spend a million bucks on a music video for it, set it in medieval France and get Sir Ian McKellen to do the voiceover at the beginning?  It’s outrageous, flamboyant and sensual – and at its centre is Sivan, loving every moment of it.  You have to admit, he’s come a long way since he appeared as the young James “Logan” Howlett in 2009’s X-Men Origins: Wolverine.  The video was directed, as have many of his others, by Gordon von Steiner.

The image above from the video is like a lost Caravaggio painting - and gives you some idea what to expect - some.  While the song itself may be overshadowed a little by the visuals, I cannot help but think that this track must be filling the dancefloors of clubs around the world because of the "Party in the park, party in the bush, party under the bridge, party at the restaurant, party at the club," - and so on until it comes full circle back to the park .  For dancing, it's a banger.

Talking of which, it's the dancing that stands out (among other things!) about the video – and I thought I recognised a certain style.  Sergio Reis, whose Bohemian Rhapsody dance video was featured on Kuriositas earlier this year, was responsible for the choreography and it’s elegant and raucous in equal measures. As a precursor to his new album ‘She’s The Best,’ , Sivan has released Party to a great deal of acclaim.  One YoutTube commenter has gushed “this is why music videos were invented”, while another admits it is a little to, erm, flamboyant for him but that “the cinematography, choreography, set design and outfits are insanely cool.”  I like this one the most – “Game of Thrones if Renly Baratheon had become King of the Seven Kingdoms."   Watch the video below - and don't say you weren't warned.

Moving Day: A Charming Animated Short About Change, Courage and New Beginnings

As a moving truck veers through woodland roads, a few boxes tumble from its back.  In one is  a pet mouse, thrown into a world it has never known – one with, for example, a sky that throws down soft globules of water…  He has a typical reaction for a city dweller thrown into an unknow forest.  At first terrified, the mouse is drawn out by a friendly ladybird who shows him around a little until he begins to find his feet.  Yes, that’s it.  That’s all there is to this animated short.  But it does it in such a gently entrancing way that the minutes fly by, and we’re caught up in the situation.   As such, it’s a lovely little metaphor for the unexpected difficulties and changes that we experience through life’s journey – and how we can overcome them with a little spirited tenacity.

This was Ye-won Kim’s graduation project, which she created during her time at Hongik University (홍익대학교) in South Korea.  The comments on YouTube may put it better than I have.  One says “Simple, profound, and full of tenderness. What a beautiful combination! Beautiful animation. Thank you for conveying so much,” while another says “Simple, profound, and full of tenderness. What a beautiful combination! Beautiful animation. Thank you for conveying so much”.  Have a lovely time watching Moving Day. 

Why Tom Baker Was the Perfect Doctor Who: Memories of a 1970s Childhood

Everyone in the UK has their doctor and Tom Baker was mine.  When he took on the role of Doctor Who, I was nine years old.  I already loved the show but his appearance as the doctor took my appreciation to another level – one that would last for many years and still has its moments.  My parents did not have a colour TV (they were not badly off by any means, but having been brought up in the war, they made do with things until they fell apart).  My brother and I would ultimately pour enough water down the back of the television set for it not to be noticed but nevertheless be render it defunct – but that’s another story.  I was allowed to go and watch the show at the house next door – an elderly childless widower (Mr Taylor) in his late eighties, who enjoyed the company and who had – miracle of miracles – a very large colour TV.

His house was like a time capsule – he had bought it in the 1920s and it hadn’t really changed. No gas fire – coal.  Lamps used to light the rooms – dark, thick curtain, giant aspidistras.  You  get the idea – so going to watch Doctor Who there was like being in an episode of it myself, in many ways.  When the show had a slightly gothic turn, the setting was perfect, much better than my parents' house with its bright lights and modern furniture - Mr Taylor's house, with its low lighting and bygone-age decor, the old paintings on the wall - perfect.  Even the walk up his driveway was like a prologue to the episode – dark and more than a little spooky, with trees creaking overhead and the lights of his house shining dimly in the near-distance.

He (always dapper in a suit and tie, even at his age, and looking more than a little like the first doctor, William Harnell) positioned two high-backed chairs in front of the TV and always made sure that we didn’t miss a second. We kept the Saturday evening visits going for years – even after my parents had reluctantly had to buy their own colour TV, due to the mysterious demise of their black and white.

I would regularly stay for the next couple of Saturday night shows, and both of us were usually fast asleep by about 8pm – the only light in the room coming from the fire.  In the early days of my visitations, when it got a little late for a nine-year old, my father sometimes came and picked my recumbent form up from where I was dozing, carrying me home and depositing me safely on my bed.

The visits went on for a few years, until one day on my return home from school, I learned that Mr Taylor had had a fall.  He had stood on a kitchen stool to reach a tin from the top of a cupboard and had fallen.  He had managed to reach the tin – that was on the kitchen floor, but so was he. I was reassured by my mum that he wouldn’t have felt a thing, and it was a very speedy death – something the old man had always said he wanted anyway – no hanging around in hospitals waiting for the inevitable for him.

So, a nine year old and a ninety year old (rounding up) brought together by the love of Doctor Who (he had adored it since it began).  Of course, there were always three people in the room.  Mr Taylor, me and Tom Baker.  That brings me to this video.  Baker has always had a larger-than-life presence in anything he does, and coming across the video below in my feed was a nice bit of serendipity, so I thought I would share (it is made by Eat My Shorts).  It brought me back to those autumn and winter nights in the 1970s, sat in the chair next to the lovely Mr Taylor, scared out of my wits over the daleks, the wirrrn and other assorted monsters.  Not that I ever felt in any danger – Tom Baker (sorry, Doctor Who) would always triumph in the end.  And even if he didn’t, I suspected that Mr Taylor had a Tardis of his own secreted somewhere in his house…  Take a look at what made Tom Baker an amazing choice for Doctor Who.

The greatest gaming sites around the world

Some places are worth visiting for the games they offer, while others turn the experience into something much bigger. Around the world, casino resorts have become destinations in their own right, combining gaming with spectacular architecture, restaurants, entertainment, shopping and some seriously impressive hotels. From the bright lights of Las Vegas to the grand surroundings of Monaco, these physical gaming destinations have made a lasting impression.

For anyone looking for a casino experience with plenty happening beyond the gaming floor, Macau is difficult to overlook. The Venetian Macao is enormous, with its own canals, gondola rides, restaurants, shopping and extensive recreational facilities. Its casino features around 3,000 slot machines and 750 table games, while the resort itself covers almost 10.8 million square feet. For visitors who want something equally striking but more contemporary, the Morpheus Hotel at City of Dreams features the distinctive architecture associated with Zaha Hadid, along with restaurants, bars, a spa, an art gallery and a rooftop pool. Put simply, there is no doubt all your favourite casino games will be here.

Las Vegas naturally has several names that belong in any conversation about famous gaming destinations. Bellagio is instantly recognisable for its spectacular fountains, but inside it also has a casino with around 2,000 slot machines and high-end poker rooms. It has even appeared in films including Ocean's Eleven. MGM Grand offers another huge experience, with a 171,500-square-foot gaming floor containing 139 gaming tables and 2,500 slot machines. Then there is Caesars Palace, where Roman-inspired architecture, marble statues, fountains and an enormous gaming space create a very different atmosphere.

The Letters of Claudius Terentianus: A 2nd-Century Roman Soldier’s Life

Claudius Terentianus (imagined above) was a Roman soldier who lived almost two thousand years ago, but what did it take to become a part of the Roman legions?  Well, for a start, it was a hard life but because he couldn’t get a good enough letter of recommendation, poor old Claudius couldn’t get in except as an auxiliary – and then he had to write a begging letter to his father asking for equipment.  Amazingly, this letter - and others from the son - still survives to this day. 

The letters of Claudius Terentianus survived because they were written on papyrus and preserved by the unusually dry conditions of Roman Egypt (he was a Greek speaking Egyptian, not uncommon at the time).  They tell a story of a fairly miserable time, but because he could read and write, this was the key to his advancement.  His letters to his father were probably discarded at some point, buried in a rubbish heap among dry sands where the conditions allowed them to survive for almost two thousand years.

What's particularly interesting is that Terentianus' letters contain numerous spelling and grammatical mistakes, which gives historians evidence of how ordinary people actually wrote Latin, as opposed to the polished Latin found in literature.  And yes, he would have been called Terentianus rather than Claudius by his friends.  In the Roman naming system, Claudius was his nomen (clan or family name), while Terentianus was his cognomen (the more personal identifier). In everyday life, Romans were often known by their cognomen, especially when the nomen was very common.

His friends, when calling him would have cried Terentiane! (it’s the vocative form of his name, don’t you know).  Perhaps close friends would call him Tere – whether they did is certainly lost to history.  However, as many people who gained citizenship in Egypt were given the Latin name Claudius, we don’t know anything else about him except for the things he mentions (like getting himself a woman) in his letters.  Well, almost...

The video below is by the British Museum and features curators Richard Abdy and Carolina Rangel de Lima, who walk us through the life of Claudius Terentianus – and give some wonderful insight into what life was like as a Roman soldier at that time – as well as what ultimately happened to poor old Tere!

Confused by AI? 6 Key Concepts Explained in Plain English

If you are at a funny age, as I am, then you are probably not unaware of Artificial Intelligence (AI).  You probably even use it to one extent or another.  However, this area of technology – both attractive and scary as hell at the same time, develops so quickly that perhaps a lot of us simply shrug our shoulders and let the tsunami of terminology flow over us, nod knowingly (or give our best approximation of being fully savvy with it all) and carry on regardless.  If you are nodding knowingly right now, then perhaps it’s time to have a look at the video below, which compartmentalises AI into six core concepts and then continues by explaining them in words that most of us will understand.  It all boils down to trying to make a computer as smart or smarter than we are. 

The six core concepts covered are LLM, Model Training, RAG, Agents, MCP and System Prompt.  If these mean little or nothing to you, then hang around, perhaps.  Or, as my grandmother probably would have done, suck on a sherbet lemon, tut loudly, and walk away.

This video is presented by Jeff Crume of IBM, whose job title is apparently Distinguished Engineer.  I think I am going to start putting distinguished before my own job title – it seems like a good idea to me (in fact, an excellent one).  Crome uses an analogy (us!) to explain AI and I definitely felt a little the wiser by the end of it.  However, why did I keep on thinking Terminator as it played?  Watch the video explaining AI below.

Strictly Come Dancing 2026 Opener Review: A Bold New Era Begins in Series 24

The Strictly Come Dancing series opener for 2026 has now been broadcast – and it is something else.  The show, which is now in its 24^th season, opened with a launch show complete with celebrities, presenters, judges and professional dancers taking to the stage to present an opener which fans will be talking about for years to come.  Like another of the BBC’s flagship shows, Doctor Who, Strictly has just undergone something of a regeneration. For readers outside the UK, Strictly is the British format that inspired the American hit Dancing with the Stars.  This opener reflects the rebirth (renaissance?) of the show by introducing us (eventually) to the show’s new presenters, Emma Willis, Johannes Radebe and Josh Widdicombe.  This change was reflected in the sharing of presenting duties during the show, which created a distinctly new feel.

Back to the opener, a clapboard announces the show and the opening notes of Peter Gabriel’s Sledgehammer (was that chosen deliberately to indicate the sledgehammer that might be taken to the show’s format? Who can say!) and off we go into a dizzyingly colourful Hollywood set, where cast and crew are preparing to put on the show – and they’re already putting on the show. The opening number (well, numbers as it is a montage, after all) is kicked off by Motsi Mabuse, is a long-standing professional dancer and is part of the show's returning judging panel alongside Craig Revel Horwood, Shirley Ballas, and Anton Du Beke for this 24th series.

The focus quickly shifts to a vibrant, rhythmic musical production. The mood transitions from the news studio into a stylized, high-production performance space.  Then, of course, we have to have the elaborate ballroom dance sequences, to give a taste of the professional artistry, synchronization, and the scale of the production for the new series.  Some of the returning dancers are Dianne Buswell, Nikita Kuzmin, Katya Jones and Jowita Przystał who all strut their stuff in this remarkable opener. If this is anything to go by, this series will be the most expensive – my grandmother would have said “they’ve spent a bob or two on that” while she sucked on a sherbet lemon.

I doubt very much that she would have recognised many of the celebrities who have joined the show this year.  If there were any in the opener, they didn't register with me.  Perhaps I am not up enough on my Eastenders actors, ex-footballers and YouTubers - but I suspect that many will be seeing Strictlty as positive exposure for their not-so-glittering careers. OK, I'm sure they're all lovely people and I probably have been hiding under a rock!

The performance culminates in an enthusiastic, choreographed routine that confirms the start of the new series with the iconic show sign-off, now proclaimed by Emma Willis: "This is Strictly Come Dancing".    Loud, yes? Gorgeous? Absolutely? Is this regeneration going to satisfy the fans? Only time will tell, but the BBC isn’t going half-measures on the show, if this is anything to go by! Here is the entire opener for Season 24 (2026) of Strictly Come Dancing.

The Eight Biggest Dog Breeds in the World

Our sibling site, the Ark in Space, is today showcasing the biggest dogs on the planet.  Above you can see an Irish Wolfhound – what a glorious creature – a breed which does rank inside the top ten of the biggest dogs in the world.  Among them you will find the Great Dane, the Neapolitan Mastiff and the St Bernard.  You can find out which other dogs make the list over at the site - as well as a gorgeous gallery of pictures to accompany the article.  I have to say, if I were to choose a canine companion, it would probably be a smaller breed – my house isn’t large enough for anything bigger than a labrador and neither, I suspect, am I.  Picture

Glass Beach – Nature Corrects Another of Our Mistakes

No one would have believed in the last years of the nineteenth century that a rubbish dump being created would, in the space of a century, become a protected area.  Yet that is exactly what happened to what has come to be known as Glass Beach, just outside Fort Bragg in California.

Image Credit Flickr User mlhradio

The residents there had no refuse collection so, with the sea so close by the solution seemed obvious – throw the garbage over the edge of the cliffs above their local beach.  The burgeoning population of the town proceeded, with abandon reckless if not gleeful (after all, it must have been more fun than the usual taking out of the garbage) to do just that.

The Cat and the Camera - 묘와 카메라

A girl who lives on a small island shaped like a cat’s paw awakes to see her own cat kidnapped by a furry dragon.  Well, yes, you might say that’s a strange beginning to an animated short film, but that’s about the least odd thing about The Cat and the Camera.  Visually stunning, this story is one that that might leave you scratching your head at the end, but I for one can say that it was a satisfactory itch!

This animated short was created and directed by Park Jisoo for their thesis project at the Kongju National University Division of Comics and Animation in South Korea.  It is amazing that this is a single-person project – quite remarkable.  Although there has been debate on the comments about YouTube about when homage to creators like Studio Ghibli ends and plagiarism begins, I think there is a better approach.  Young creators often imitate a variety of sources in order to find their own style. I think as a work of juvenalia, we can look forward to seeing much greater and more original works from Park Jisoo.

Ian McKellen and Judi Dench Share Tea and Memories of Their Legendary Macbeth

Back in 1979, Judy Dench and Ian McKellen (then without the Dame and the Sir in front of their names) gave me one of life’s Uh huh moments, when I sat down to watch them star in a TV production of Macbeth.  I had studied the play at school and, frankly, it hadn’t lit my candle, let alone fire.  I think I struggled to relate to Macbeth and his wife – and although I didn’t find the text impenetrable, I think the fact that the “performances” were left to me and my classmates (we didn’t have a video player in my school) – not to mention my frazzled English teacher, the real power of the dialogue did not hit home. 

Shakespeare didn’t write his plays for them to be read, let alone by (fairly) bored schoolchildren many centuries later.  He wrote them to be performed, and so the experience of watching McKellen and Dench immerse themselves in these roles – accompanied by very few props – was transformative.  That uh huh moment was realising that not only were their performances brilliant, but the play was too.  Staged by the Royal Shakespeare Company with Trevor Nunn at the helm, the production began with all the characters sitting on blocks around a dark circle – immediately catching my attention.  From there, Dame Judy and Sir Ian took centre stage and the rest (along with my love of Shakespeare) is history.

Cut to today, and it’s great to see these two giants of acting sitting together for a cup of tea and a chat.  Watch the video below.

Oh, and if you are interested in watching the Shakespeare production that entirely changed my view of Shakespeare in two hours, here is the 1979 production of Macbeth, starring Ian McKellen and Judy Dench in its entirety – it was remastered this year.

Plus, here they are reminiscing about the prodction of Macbeth. THey are obviously the best of friends!

 

How Do You Restore a 600-Year-Old Painting? Jan van Eyck’s Portrait of a Man

 
Portrait of a Man by Jan van Eyk was painted in 1433, and it is believed to be a self-portrait.  If that is the case, then van Eyk would probably reject the idea of the filters we use on our everyday snaps – his painting is unsparing to say the least, stubble, wrinkles and bloodshot eyes all infer that Jan was probably not a vain man.  But the execution is exquisite – no wonder, then, that it has been prized for so long.

It is staggering, sometimes, to look at an old painting and come to the realisation that it is over 600 years old.  The very fact that it still exists is a triumph not only over time, but with the social changes it brings with it – so much stuff ends up in bins because it is out of fashion, but wait a few decades and it would probably bounce right back into our hearts and minds.  Then, of course, there are things like war, which make the likelihood of something surviving for so long even slimmer. 

Then there is the introduction of tobacco, the smoke from which has covered many a fine piece of art with a layer of dirt that is very difficult for an “amateur” to successfully remove.  Finally, there is the attempts at restoration – or even the decision to add elements to a painting – which often make things worse rather than better.  The infamous example of Ecce Homo (look it up!) serves as a warning to the well-meaning but effectively inept hand of the untrained.  Thank goodness, then, that there are people like conservator Jill Dunkerton, who works for The National Gallery in London.  Here, she takes us through the processes involved in restoring and conserving Jan van Eyk’s sublime Portrait of a Man (the painting has resided at The National since 1851). Watch the fascinating video below.

Pearl: A Moving Animated Short About Drag, Family Rejection and Finding Acceptance

Pearl is a drag queen – and a young one at that.  And even though she has managed to bloom into her drag persona there is still one thing that hurts inside.  That is the rejection that she has faced from her mother.   One night, during her performance, she notices a familiar face in the audience…

Parental rejection is still something that impacts a lot of young people, which is a great shame in this day and age.  This animated short from a group of students tells the story of just one young person – who fortunately seems to have created their own support network already.  It’s bright, gaudy and irrepressible in its depiction of the drag queen, but carries something of a sombre message below the bright lights and the makeup. Bravo to the students (Aurélien David, Lisa Soulie; Meïssan Couren, Sabine Fabbiani, Erwan Barhmi, Julien Commercon, Yaël Balanca, Thomas Corvalan, Emma Ohlicher) who directed the film and all the others involved in this entertaining and worthy project.

Visiting Skellig Michael: Tommy Tiernan Explores Ireland’s Ancient Monastery

We have “visited” Skellig Michael before at Kuriositas, but this video is a wonderful, personal tour of the island and its famous monastery (as featured in Star Wars!).  Nine miles off the coast of County Kerry in what most people would call the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, the island is home to lots and lots of birds and, of course, the monastery, which operated for 800 years.  Irish comedian, actor and writer Tommy Tiernan takes a trip to the island, and it has a profound effect on him.  One of the first things he realises is how steep the stairs up to the monastery are – and it’s not a pleasant walk up, but he is astounded by the sheer beauty of the place.  I can’t get over how cold the place must have been in the winter – I am unsure whether I could survive a day or tow there at any time of the year, but in the middle of our coldest season… it must have been brutal. image

Watch Tommy visit Skellig Michael below.

The Monument for a Dead Parrot and Other “Hidden” London Landmarks

London is quite big – and most people have heard of Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, the Tower of London – and so on.  Yet there are numerous other landmarks in London that often go unnoticed by the throngs of tourists.  Perhaps that isn’t such a bad thing, but some must be seen to be believed and others make you scratch your head about why they exist in the first place.  Take the Monument for a Dead Parrot, situated in the grounds of Devonport House in Greenwich.  It is thought to be a homage to Monty Python’s Dead Parrot sketch (look it up if you don’t know it), even though it is a sulfur-crested cockatoo rather than the entirely fictitious Norwegian Blue which featured in the infamous comedy sketch.  Created by artist Jon Reardon, it was placed in the grounds in 2009, with a short holiday away for the London Olympics in 2012. Image

YouTuber JackSucksAtLife gives us a tour of a number of strange, sometimes bewildering – even occasionally touching – London landmarks that you may not know exist.  They include the Cornhill Devils (the origins of which Jack explains in the video below), the stretcher railings, the grave of an unknown Roman girl, the dead parrot (of course) and many others.  Jack has a nice way of presenting, and if you want a guided tour of London’s more peculiar and less known landmarks and monuments, then Jack’s the lad for you…

Georgia’s Apkhazeti: Traditional Dance Meets Modern Music | Born from Culture

Born from Culture travels the world and tells stories of culture, told through movement. As part of its global film series created by James Fenwick, it recently travelled to Georgia, where this video was made.  It features the State Academic Song and Dance Ensemble “Apkhazeti” which is one of the most prominent folk ensembles associated with Abkhazia (part of Georgia, not part of Georgia – very much depends who you ask). The ensemble was founded in 1931 in Sukhumi and is dedicated to preserving and performing the traditional songs, dances, and folklore of the Abkhazian region. Following the conflict in Abkhazia in the early 1990s, the ensemble relocated to Tbilisi, Georgia. 

And it is Tbilisi where this remarkable film was made.  Combining the ancient traditions of Georgian dance with modern music, I love the way that this has been filmed.  It’s a great showcase for the spectacular folk dance performances of the country, featuring its trademark athletic leaps, precise footwork, and colourful traditional costumes - not to mention the Georgian dance acrobatic pyramid.  Have a watch below.

Godzilla Rocks

Do you see what I see? Utoro is a minor working fishing port on Japan’s second largest island, Hokkaido. It attracts a number of a tourists in its own right but for travellers it is best known as the principle access point for the beautiful Shiretoko Peninsula National Park.  However, as you can see from these pictures there is a rather large rock formation in the town which bears a close resemblance to an even larger creature of modern Japanese mythology – Godzilla.

Image Credit Flickr User alberth2

Jungle Race: A Blood-Soaked Planet of the Apes Meets Wacky Races

If you cross Planet of the Apes (featuring more simian species than usual) with Wacky Races and get Quentin Tarantino to direct, then I am pretty sure the result would be something like Jungle Race in all its blood and guts brilliance.  It is set at some point in the near future (love the city backdrops, overtaken by nature) where humanity has disappeared, leaving behind the ruins and a few parting gifts -cars that still work is the one the monkeys most prize (and there are even some motorbikes too).  There’s even a little homage to Herbie inside here – the Volkswagen one chimp character is driving has the number 53 painted on its rear (yay!).

This is gloriously gory stuff – please don’t watch it if you are of a delicate disposition.  Its mindless violence is something that will keep you up at night.  On the other hand, Jungle Race is also a fierce satire of our spectacle-driven society, where violence becomes entertainment, driven by an energetic, fast-paced edit, colourful art direction and a succession of spectacular action scenes.  Jungle Race was created by ten little monkeys from Brassart Grenoble (I spent a wonderful exchange visit there when I was 15), Nathan Stefen, Thomas Marsaudon, Tristan Forcheron, Justine Perrin, Loïc Noailhat, Charles Lardenois, Cyprien Cotton, Ezvin Manhes, Quentin Steinhilber, and Camille Tessier. Music is by Rémi Dutriez and Axel Leclère “Dogma”, with sound design by Coline ColombeT, Dan Ravot, and Benjamin Macé.

Titanic Recreated by Drones in Belfast to the Sound of “Nearer My God to Thee”

The Titanic tragedy continues to fascinate people around the world, and in March the ghost of the ship returned to Belfast – recreated by drones and a multitude of coloured lights.  This particular footage, which has only recently been released, allows us to witness the sheer scale of the Titanic as it was built.  It must have been a glorious sight, watching it sail out of Belfast Harbour on April 2, 1912.  The full-scale drone Titanic looks amazing in the video.  I am not sure how much this cost, or how many hours it collectively took to set this up, but bravo to everyone involved.

The drone display is accompanied by the complete performance of 'Nearer My God to Thee', arranged by Garth McConaghie, featuring Miadhachlughain (how do you pronounce that name?) O’Donnell on vocals and David McCann on cello. The hymn became strongly associated with the Titanic because of reports that the ship’s musicians played it as the vessel was sinking.  As such, it has become one of the most famous pieces of music connected with the disaster.  It is certainly a moving accompaniment to the drone display.

Radiohead’s Creep Covered by The Harvard-Radcliffe Veritones: Brilliant or Too Polished?

Radiohead’s Creep is one of my favourite songs, so when a cover pops up in my feed, I feel obliged to give it a listen (even though that word seems to have been permanently excised from the song, which makes it lose half its power).  Here’s another version by The Harvard-Radcliffe Veritones – it’s done a cappella and, well I’m not sure.  You make up your own mind.  I did enjoy it – I have to say, but perhaps it’s just a little too smooth for such an angsty song. There is no doubt that the execution of the song, from a technical perspective, is as near perfect as you can get.  The singers, too, are giving it all they have (and more), but I am not sure that the song’s lyrics lend themselves to this kind of style.  Still, I thought I would share it with you as it’s interesting.  My jury is out.  What do you think?