Wednesday, August 07, 2002

Here's a list from Total Guitar Magazine of the top 20 guitar players as voted by their readers:

1. Jimi Hendrix

2. Jimmy Page

3. Eric Clapton

4. Slash

5. Brian May

6. Joe Satriani (soloist)

7. Eddie Van Halen (Van Halen)

8. Dave Gilmour (Pink Floyd)

9. Kirk Hammett (Metallica)

10. Steve Vai (soloist)

11. Carlos Santana (Santana)

12. James Hetfield (Metallica)

13. Tom Morello (Rage Against The Machine)

14. Kurt Cobain (Nirvana)

15. Mark Knopfler (Dire Straits)

16. Zakk Wylde (Ozzy Osbourne)

17. Gary Moore (Thin Lizzy, others)

18. Jeff Beck (Yardbirds, Jeff Beck Group)

19. Stevie Ray Vaughan (Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble)

20. Angus Young (AC/DC)

Not too sure about the guy from RATM but I kind of agree with all the others. Although maybe not in quite that order.

And then there is this from the BBC. A story they've been featuring a lot on Radio Suffolk over the last couple of days and everyone seems to feel the same about it!

Protest over children's play bans


Children are to campaign against a "culture of caution", which charities fear is restricting youngsters' experience of play and stifling their social and physical development.
The protest will see the children make a giant daisy chain, play with yo-yos and ride skateboards and bicycles - activities which many schools and public playgrounds have banned, research suggests.

Survey of 500 children
45% can't play with water
36% can't climb trees
27% can't use climbing equipment
23% can't ride bikes and skateboards

Source: Children's Society and Children's Play Council

The survey of 500 children up to the age of 15 by the Children's Society and Children's Play Council found many thought public playgrounds were boring and unadventurous. The two charities also found that traditional childhood games from daisy-chain making to doing handstands had been banned for fear children might catch germs or injure themselves.

Now the charities are calling on every council and school in Britain to carry out a "daisy chain audit" to uncover the extent of bans and restrictions on children's play.

To mark National Playday on Wednesday, the two charities are asking play providers to look again at what is on offer in schools and parks.

If traditional games - such as tag and conkers - are banned, councils and schools are urged to consider whether this is in the best interest of children.

The theme for the fifteenth National Playday is "take a chance on play" and more than 100,000 youngsters are expected to take part in events across the country. Penny Dean, a director of the Children's Society, said: "We are asking councils and schools to look at what activities children can't take part in."

Should children be more exposed to risk?

"Where there are bans, or equipment removed, we want adults to question whether this is necessary. Children must be allowed to take risks in safe and well managed places," she said.

Tim Gill, director of Children's Play Council, added: "We are not pointing the finger of blame for a growing culture of caution at any one group, but individuals and organisations have an important role in making play exciting."

The campaign comes as experts grow increasingly concerned that restricting children's play may stifle their social and physical development and contribute to the growing levels of childhood obesity.

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I'm not sure what the real reason is for this trend. I think it is partly overprotectiveness but more likely the fear that parents will start sueing schools if their sprogs graze a knee or fall off a climbing frame. They tried to get rid of a lot of competetive sports and games a few years back too as it was bad for those who came last. OK, so I usually came last but I can't see that being the real cause of all my hassles and wories.

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