The day - today

[Pigmy Pony]

For a chain reaction?

Don't know yet, "I'm still waiting".

[Pigmy Pony]

60 years ago today Radio Caroline's first transmission from a ship in the North Sea.

In 2020, a new station using the Caroline name and logo was launched in Burnham-on-Crouch, broadcasting to the Maldon district of Essex, on 94.7 FM. The station also has technical support enabling it to broadcast on DAB and DAB+ in some parts of the country. Also on the internet.

I'm now listening via Amazon's Alexa, where they were playing "Dancing in the Street" by Martha Reeves and the Vandellas, and now it's "I'm Waiting for the Man" by Keith Richards(!) Not bad

[Barry]

Ah, Radio Caroline! It was the soundtrack to my life in the mid to late '70s.

I think the ship was called the Mia Migo, and the music the DJs played there were instrumental in forming my tastes in music.

The BBC replacement(s) were never as satisfying to my ears.

[Pigmy Pony]

It's definitely worth giving it a try Barry. I listened to it quite a bit today, and a good selection of tracks from Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, Fleetwood Mac, Beatles, and importantly, no adverts and no chat Unfortunately (for you) there was also Genesis, Alice Cooper and T.Rex, but then nothing's perfect.

[Barry]

It's definitely worth giving it a try Barry. I listened to it quite a bit today, and a good selection of tracks from Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, Fleetwood Mac, Beatles, and importantly, no adverts and no chat Unfortunately (for you) there was also Genesis, Alice Cooper and T.Rex, but then nothing's perfect.

Oh you never know, I might learn to like them.

[Barry]

Also now I think about it, the ship was probably called the Mi Amigo. That would make sense.

[Pigmy Pony]

30th March 1867 - U.S. buys Alaska from Russia for $7.2 million (roughly 2 cents an acre). Bet they wouldn't mind getting it back.

[Macca]

Yes the native Americans want Manhattan back too.
I think they are fine with returning the glass beads and the smallpox impregnated blankets.

[Barry]

Again my apologies for posting this a day late - but I've been up to my neck with redecorating. So without further ado:

2 April 1873
British trains were fitted with toilets - but only in sleeper cars.

2 April 1877
The first human cannonball act was performed at London's Amphitheatre, where acrobat Lady Zazal was shot by elastic springs into a safety net.

2 April 1982
Argentinian forces invaded and occupied the British Falkland Islands in the South Atlantic.


And some birthdays:

Paul Gabaccini, DJ, 75 years
Linford Christie, athlete, 64 years
Keren Woodward, singer and founding member of Bananarama, 63 years.

[Barry]

Now on this day:

3 April 1860
Pony express service, from Missouri to Sacramento, began.

3 April 1973
The first hand-held portable phone call was made by Motorola executive Martin Cooper in New York.

3 April 2010
Apple released the iPad.


And some more birthdays:

Jane Goodall, conservationist, 90.

Tony Orlando, singer, 80.

Alec Baldwin, actor, 66.

Eddie Murphy, actor and comic, 63.

Leona Lewis, singer, 39.