Amsterdam Russ

Looks like some fantastic pics the - except I can't see them properly. Click on them and they're huge - much bigger than the computer screen I'm using anyway. Any chance you can resize them so they're a bit smaller?

There is no *need* for anything. It's all about choice in the form of personal preference - and tolerance for the preferences of others (with the exception of baggies and circle skirts ).

Well said, Aaron! There's hope and the future just got a little bit brighter. One small point though; this 'baggie' thing doesn't really represent the scene as it was. Sure, some people wore baggies, but they came and they went - it was a fad. To me at least, Northern Soul doesn't have a uniform. Only the media and those on the nostalgia trip think it does.

BBC trainee journalist: "How do you think the macroeconomic climate of 1960s America affected the income and job creation opportunities of the microeconomic music industry players that comprised independent record label owners, producers and promoters, especially when considering the rising spending power of pre-work experience teens and the backdrop of racial disharmony and Vietnam?" Paul Masonic "Against the backdrop of what? Forget that economics crap. Have you seen me doing a backdrop? I did it on telly, didn't I? Have I told you about that? You didn't see it? Oh, look. Let me show you…" Trainee: "Oh, that looks painful. Can I help you up?" Paul Masonic "Oh, yes please…. That hurts. Ooooh... I have to be honest; it took three weeks of training and six takes before I got it right on telly. And even then I had to have an ice pack and a massage afterwards." Trainee: "I didn't know you were a gambler…" Paul Masonic: "What…?" Trainee: "Well, since the TV show last year you're always telling everyone how you went to that casino." Paul Masonic: "No, you daft 'apeth! I went dancing! More than that; I was a rebel fighting against the system that would eventually land me the top job I've got today. I was part of the underground elite that would eventually reach its rebellious pinnacle by making it onto Top of the Pops - what a day that was!" Trainee: "Wasn't it all about drugs?" Paul Masonic: "No, pet. I was never drawn into the downwardly spinning cycle of debauchery, drugs, baggies and crap disco records. I was dressed in my best Italian clobber at all times." Trainee: "How do you do backdrops in tight Italian trousers?" Paul Masonic: "Very carefully! Listen love, how about I take you home and let you have a feel of me patches? If you're lucky, I might let you have play with me cover-ups!" Trainee: "Ooh, get you. Cheeky. Has anyone told you that you dance like me dad?" Paul Masonic: "Doh!"

Plumage patterns do vary in young birds, of course, so that could explain it. More exotically, could it have been one of these? A white-breasted cormorant. It would have been well out of it's usual geographical zone, but then that's not really so unusual among our feathered friends, is it? And what with all that 'climate change' taking place...

Looks fairly standard for a juvenile to me. To confirm I had a quick look online and basically that's all you see - white bellies. Here's an example I 'nabbed' from Mr Google.

Great to read, but his story's getting a bit inconsistent now. In this one, he comments about the attire worn on the scene thus: In his blog post from a few days ago, he commented: Which is it?

No obvious hints of the changing season in your part of the world, Dave? None of those classic red, brown and golden hues, or is it all a near-permanent state of summer? Looking out the window, the horse chestnut trees flanking the canal in front of us are a lovely coppery gold colour now. Although the leaves are rapidly dwindling, some foliage will remain for a few weeks yet. Thinking autumnal thoughts yesterday, and admiring the colours of an almost dead bouquet of flowers we have indoors, I took some time out to set up a still life of them on the dinner table. The last remaining spotlight I had in a softbox set died as soon as I turned it on, so that wasn't a good start. The only option was to use a couple of floor/reading lamps for lighting. I wanted to try and get a subdued, autumny feel and at the same time portray that even though the flowers are faded and almost dead, they still have a beauty about them. Here's one of the results...

First new comp I've done in about a year or so! This one contains a mix of classics, obscurities, oddities (radio ad for a 1970 Dells/Joe Bataan/Hector Rivera concert), a few unidentified tracks taken from acetates, a bit of Gospel and R&B and a number of the best new "Old Soul" releases of recent months. https://www.mixcloud.com/LomaRuss/hang-loose-northern-soul-new-soul-unknown-soul/

A fiver is nothing for postage these days. Is the email address you've given in the first post the one to use for Paypal?

Thanks, Gary. Sounds like it should be a very good read. Can you let me know what the postage will be to the Netherlands, please? I wonder if this is the best place for this. Might be worth asking Mike or one of the Mods if it would be better off somewhere it can get more exposure - just a thought...

Have you got a bigger cover scan - and any info you can give about how the subject's tackled? For example, is the book broken down by year, artists, musical styles, decades…?

How about Swifty… Swifty Swallow!

You can download the audio from the videoclip as an mp3. Just go here... https://www.youtube-mp3.org …copy/paste in the web address of the vid and click on download. Sorted.

Now there's a Disney film in the making. Let's hope the little critter makes it!

Interesting... A friend in the UK was complaining just the other day about chips nowadays being served in cups/jugs/bowls, etc. Basically anything that's smaller than the usual portion on a plate. Sounds like a trend that needs stopping - and quickly!

Payment sent - thanks!

What's the total cost for that and the Panama 45 (x1 copy each and shipping to EU)?

Couple of pics of a jackdaw preening itself. There were taken a little while ago through the window of our second floor apartment - the bird is standing on top of a street lamp post.

I've had yhis in my bookmrks for ages and refer to it when needed. You might find it helpful, but as said, it all depends! https://tipnut.com/25-helpful-items-to-remove-sticky-adhesive-goo/

It worked for me - although when the page opened up, I had to click on the YouTube link so that I could actually get it to play.

Stunning footage. Nice one!

Yup, I vaguely recall having read about this before, but it's one if the countless bits of info that have gone in one ear and out the other. Ask me in six months and I'll have forgotten again!

I'd presumed that the equinoxes played a part, Steve, but didn't know what - until now... Ignore the bit about Canada and apply the lesson as a general principle and there's the answer. Source: http://rooseveltsuw.blogspot.nl/2012/10/why-are-autumn-sunsets-so-vivid.html

Took this pic from the balcony this evening. Yesterday's sunset was also stunning, but not as much as this one. Seems we always get them at this time of the year although not sure why exactly.