Iconic Engineering
Today, the historic Transporter Bridge in Newport celebrates 100 years of service - despite having a new, 4 lane road bridge a few hundred yards further up the river, many people still choose to pay their 50p toll to cross the river Usk on the suspended platform of the bridge.
Full story on the BBC News Website.
Other Links:
The Transporter Bridge Website
Friends of Newport Transporter Bridge
Finally some good news…
Woohoo! I’ve actually found petrol for under 90p a litre recently, and Diesel at 93…
Steve Irwin
As is now well known, the famous Austrailian naturalist and explorer Steve Irwin was tragically killed by a stingray while filming for his TV series. Obviously this is a tragic loss for his family and fans alike - and he will no doubt be sorely missed.
However, the debate currently going on seems to be “should the tape be aired”.
I can’t beleive that anyone (outside of the marine science community, for whom there could be some interest in seeing how the ray defended itself) could be interested in viewing footage of a well known and respected man meeting a grisly end.
There is of course the consideration of the pain and misery that this video being “out there” will cause his wife and kids - ‘cos once something is broadcast, someone will record it and no doubt post it on the internet. The video will then never go away.
So here’s the question - would you want to see the tape, and if so, please explain why
The discussion and arguments are posted on the BBC News site
Farewell Pleasureland
It’s rare that a post like this needs to written - but this is a sad day for the amusement industry here in the UK.
The UK has today lost another long-standing seaside park - Southport Pleasureland. Now I have to admit I have only visited the place once, but it had a classic charm that many modern parks lack - and a decent selection of both historic and modern rides.
Early reports, including this one from the BBC weren’t clear on the date of the closure. Further posts to other coaster forums and websites have revealed that the date of closure is not at the end of the season, but was in fact today. Staff laid off with no notice, rides shut down and closed, in some cases possibly for the last time.
For a company the size of that which owns the park (and also, owns another park up the road - Blackpool Pleasure Beach) to do this to their staff is disgraceful, being told “tomorrow you have no job” is not the way to lay off your staff.
Despite all this, the parks website still shows the park as being open tomorrow. I hope their lost customers aren’t too disappointed when they reach the park and find the eerie silence of a deserted themepark behind the locked and chained gates, rather than a day of fun and excitement in the fun-house and on the rollercoasters. Update: the website is now showing a “the park is closed” message, and it appears the Fun House will remain trading as a seperate entity
Southport Pleasureland is the home to many rides, some classics of a bygone era, including one of the last seaside fun-houses remaining, one of the last 2 wooden wild mouse coasters, and many other classic rides, including a traditional “River Caves”.
Many of the rides will more than likely be sold and relocated, especially those which are modern enough (Traumatizer - already rumoured to be heading to the sister park in Blackpool) or designed to be portable anyway. However, it’s the old, classic rides which will be missed, and these are the ones less likely to be saved, the wooden coasters, the river caves, the fun house. These rides which cannot or do not get sold, will likely meet a messy and destructive end at the steel jaws of the demolition crane. If these historic rides aren’t saved, it’ll be a great shame.
Some pictures of the rides at Southport, all seen in happier times (thanks the the European Coaster Club for these pictures - follow the links, please, then look around these galleries)
Cyclone - Wooden coaster
Flying Scooters
Social Mixer (one of many unique attractions in the fun house)
Yours truely on King Solomon’s Mines
Sources and further reading:
UK Rides
Rideas - where at least one poster was employed at the park.
Southport Forums
Driving while stupid…
I think the UK needs a new motoring offence. Being too stupid to drive.
So, in a continuation of the moronic motoring theme, including my past posts on dogs driving, and number-plate-reading speed limit signs… here we have a man who was pulled over for poor driving, and it quickly became apparent he was totally blind.
Yes, you read that right. Totally Blind. Zero ability to see. Yet, he still felt competant to take a car out on the road (albeit with the help of a friend, who was already banned from driving…).
Speeder - yes, you in the Beemer…
Here’s a new twist on an old idea…
Those electronic radar-boards that flash the current speed limit at you if you’re speeding… now read and display back the number plate of the car they’re targetting - so now there’s no argument as to whether the sign is indicating you, or the car in front…
Motorists of the UK, it’s not hard to obey the law, little things ranging from common courtesy (indicating for example), to not speeding through roadworks where some fairly exposed and vulnerable people are putting their lives on the line to maintain our worn-out road network.
There’s plenty of discussion going on there too…
I’m looking for a new RSS reader
I’m looking for a new RSS reader - bloglines seems to be getting less and less reliable (for example, feeds not showing as updated when they are - I’ve not been getting the BBC News feeds for example)
I’m looking for an RSS reader which is web-based, rather than a client on a PC - so I can keep up to date without having to “synchronise” - just log on.
Any suggestions are appreciated!
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