The Pelican Grief: St James's Park mourns an untimely death

Rusalka, the St James’s Park Pelican known for sitting on benches and generally being friendly, has died after failing to recover from an operation on her foot.

London agenda for Friday 5 August

Everything to do today as recommended by everyone else.

Great Victorian wresting moves: the "cross-buttock"

The cross-buttock was a move for which Taylor was renowned, which involved holding the waistband of the opponent’s breaches with his right hand and the right shoulder with his left hand, then throwing him [head first] over his right hip and buttock.

Any intro with the words "Beefeater", "veranda" and "cannabis" in it is a winner

The former governor of the Tower of London today sensationally claimed that Beefeaters tried to frame him by planting cannabis on his veranda.

Very funny map of Maida Vale as it really is

Now is a good time to pick and eat London's blackberries

They are ripe, and they are juicy. Here are some good places to pick them and ways to eat them.

London agenda for Thursday 4 August

Everything to do today as recommended by everyone else.

Cassetteboy takes on Obama over Guantanamo

It’s all part of Amnesty International’s new video platform, which is trying to raise awareness of human rights issues and also be funny at the same time. This video isn’t quite as good as the Alan Sugar genius from a while back, but it makes rather more of a point.