CubeStormers on Show!

Back in March of this year I posted a video of the ARM-powered CubeStormer robot made of Lego that solves standard Rubik's Cubes in just a few seconds.

Since the first model, the team including ARM's David Gilday has developed the range, including the ability to handle larger versions of the cube up to seven-a-side (the original cube was three-a-side; and in fact they go up to at least twenty-per-side), and David will be bringing several along to a computer club event in central London in a couple of weeks from now.

If you're interested, do come along to The Blue-Eyed Maid public house in Borough High Street (London SE1 1HR) on Monday 16 July, where the club will be meeting upstairs from 6 pm (David Gilday's talk/demo event itself starts at 7.45), and I hope to join them on this occasion – which will be the day before I turn 63 years of age – health permitting.

In the meantime, here's another video, this one featuring a seven-per-side cube full solution...

Rosie and Raggles at West End Live 2012

Yes, it's true! That great duo, Rosie and Raggles, were at West End Live (which featured acts from every one of the 39 shows currently on the West End) in London's Trafalgar Square today – and they'll be back tomorrow. Rosie is a really lovely character, and Raggles is just about the best-written and nuanced character in pre-schoolers' TV. Here they are in a scene from the programme...

Not only were the two around during the event, they also put on a short item on the stage. That performance, and some of their other appearances around the double-width Everything's Rosie activities tent, is in this movie I have today edited and uploaded overnight.

There were plenty of their production staff on hand too, including the producers Stephen and Vickie Corner. Indeed, just for the weekend, Trafalgar Square became a square with six Corners...

Oh, in case you were wondering: the numerous cuts and dissolves were done simply to keep children's faces out of the finished product as far as practicable. I've done the best job I could without losing anything vital...


UPDATE: Here are some photographs I took on the Sunday. Clicking on any image will, as usual, display a larger version...

One for Latin Fans

Invented by JuliaM, commenting at this post...

"This was a classic Homo Knickerstwistius defending its offspring situation.. "

JuliaM's own take on the same story is here.

I know we have at least one fan of Latin in my own local area.

Reading the story, though, one can easily understand Julia's reference. One to remember, as it will no doubt come in handy from time to time....

Music – The Ecstasy of Gold

For some reason, it seems to me at least that a work such as this is even more powerful and stirring in live performance with orchestra, chorus and soprano (Susanna Rigacci, I think) with the master himself conducting...

Music – Sukiyaki

Here's another very distinctive musical item from the days of my youth (early teens when it came out, I seem to recall) by the Japanese fellow Kyu Sakamoto. Sukiyaki wasn't its real title but was easier for us Westerners to say than its proper title Ue O Muite Arakou, which means "I look up as I walk".

This video includes English subtitles, so we can all now appreciate what Sakamoto-san was singing about, all those years ago...