Steampunks gather for Great Exhibition

Steampunks gather for Great Exhibition

News here of a recent party, held in London, called The Great Exhibition - a gathering of Steampunks, retro-futurists, Chaps and other splendidly turned-out ladies and gentlemen. The good Herr Döktor was the BBC's man on the spot, and many more people went along too. It all looks hugely enjoyable, I think you'll agree, if a trifle bizarre to those not familiar with the Steampunk movement. But with coverage like that given by the BBC perhaps it is starting to emerge from relative obscurity and enjoy a wider following, or at least a greater understanding. Let us hope so!

Horse-drawn Hummer takes to the streets in New York

Horse-drawn Hummer takes to the streets in New York

It is a well-known fact that the world's supply of fossil fuels is finite and will one day be exhausted. Already the major car manufacturers are working on alternatives for when the oil pumps run dry. Some people think hydrogen fuel cells are the future, others say electricity. It is too early to say yet which will eventually get the nod.

However the fellow responsible for this oddity, above, has looked to the past for his inspiration. Horse-drawn motor cars! It's happened before, as the article makes mention of. In this particular case, though, it is nothing more than an amusing lampoon on the recent predilection of some people for these gargantuan vehicles and the current economic situation that has made them largely redundant. I salute the fellow for making the statement in such a novel, historical and technical fashion.

Attack of the giant handtools

Fear not, intrepid readers. Great Britain is not under attack from a hitherto unknown menace. Do not expect to look out of your lounge window and see huge hammers, colossal chisels, super-sized spanners and whacking great wrenches appearing in the sky above. To the good people of Compton Road, West Bromwich, where this apparition is shown to be, I say - do not panic. Some eejit has just left a pair of pliers on the roof of a Google Street View car, that's all.

Penguin couple pose for photograph

Penguin couple pose for photograph

Just as I read of one amusing animal story, along comes another! This one features a bird everyone loves - the penguin. Or rather two penguins, who to our eyes look for all the world as though they deliberately posed for the picture accompanying the article. Their behaviour prior to the photograph being taken makes the subsequent snap all the more hilarious. Once again it shows how endearing we find these funny little animals and the bizarre way in which our minds imprint human characteristics onto other creatures.

Zebra cleans hippopotamus's teeth

Zebra cleans hippopotamus's teeth

A rare animal-related post here. Normally such things do not interest me, but the humorous aspect of this story so tickled my funny bone that I had to include it. Top marks to the photographer for catching such a fantastic image, but then if you see a zebra with its head in a hippopotamus's mouth you're bound to want to take a picture of it I suppose. Rather a strange to-do all round, eh what? OK, so the hippo gets a clean pair of gnashers, but what's in it for the zebra? Food? Interesting company? A dentistry qualification? Very odd indeed, and proof that there is still much about the animal kingdom that remains unknown to us.

Flying Scotsman tested on East Lancashire Railway

Flying Scotsman tested on East Lancashire Railway

More steam locomotive goodness now, with this welcome news that what is rightly considered to be one of the greatest steam trains ever built is nearing the end of its restoration. Soon, with any luck, it will be back on the main line and carrying passengers, which will be absolutely thrilling. What with the new-build A1 Peppercorn 'Tornado' and now this, 2010 looks like being a great year for steam trains. Splendid stuff!

Elgar £20 note no longer legal tender

Elgar £20 note no longer legal tender

If, like me, you are a numismatist, then this will be of interest as we see another piece of British currency pass into history. If, also like me, you are a fan of Sir Edward Elgar and his music then you may be sorry to see his portrait disappear from this everyday denomination particularly as its replacement was introduced in the 15oth anniversary year of his birth. If you are neither of these, there is still valuable information to be taken from this article. Should you have any of these old £20 notes in your possession, get rid of 'em before the end of June otherwise the only place you'll be able to get them changed is at the Bank of England. Alternatively you could keep hold of them as one day, no doubt, they will be valuable to collectors and maybe even command a price higher than that of their original face value.

Film noir femmes fatales

Film noir femmes fatales

A set of photographs now, courtesy of the Daily Telegraph, celebrating the dark and supremely stylish genre that is film noir. Double-crosses, blackmail, murder, crime passionnel and all in gloriously intense black-and-white. A gritty, complex world full of private eyes, suspicious strangers and killer dames. These girls are beautiful, elegant but oh-so-deadly! Watch out chaps!