In a Tube Train

These are other peoples' stories.

Read Pfff tell from one of the trains.

And then the after effects.

And another...

Paris

In Paris today, near la Defence.

The texts and emails started arriving at around 10:00 local time. London's phones were jammed and the mobile network appeared to be down.

By 11:00 we had pieced together the story.

London 2012 Olympics

Maura told me that we'd won.

I'd heard the build up to the decision on Radio 4 earlier in the morning. The UK representative Tessa Jowell sounded very bouyant. We all knew that Paris was the only real competition. Another Britain/France Moment.

Hmm. I'm in Paris tomorrow - I wonder what Bertrand will say!


Some of my preferred coverage of the build-up comes from an East London based blog from Diamond Geezer who has captured the environment and the local spirit of sometimes faltering hope well. Bow, Stratford, and all points East do well from this decision.

New beer keeps me awake at nights

So someone has invented a beer which contains caffeine.

Anheuser-Busch is launching its caffeinated beer in the UK. BE (Beer With Extra) contains 5% alcohol, 60.4mg of caffeine, guarana, and ginseng. In the US, BE is sold as B-to-the-E (BE).

No chance of falling asleep after a beer now.

Arrange those chairs

Vestibular Unisinos is a simple point and click game which simply asks you to arrange chairs in various picturesque settings. Waste some hours.

Film School - Point 'n Click

Great Generation

Live8 London late evening

Half an hour later, huge applause greeted Pink Floyd's arrival on stage at 11pm. Today's concert marks the first time the legendary band have played together in over 20 years. Speaking earlier to reporters, they were reluctant to suggest this could be the start of a reunion tour.

Under the slogan NO MORE EXCUSES the band played Breathe, Money, Wish You Were Here and then finished with Comfortably Numb.


The Who's Pete Townsend

Peter Kay apologised for not being Robbie, and led the crowd in a mass karaoke version of Do You Know the Way to Amarillo? The comedian introduced "the Spice Girls! No. The Who? The Who!" Appropriately enough, the classic band performed Who Are You and Won't Get Fooled Again.


As night fell, David Beckham came on stage to introduce "his good friend" Robbie Williams. Williams is one of the day's most eagerly anticipated performers. His arrival brought a much needed shot of adrenalin; he opened with Queen's We Will Rock You, segueing into Let Me Entertain You, mixed with the Killers' "I've got soul but I'm not a soldier" riff. A rendition of his classic track Angels finished the brief set.


Sting followed, performing hits including Message in a Bottle and Every Breath You Take.


Mariah Carey, backed by the African Children's Choir, and, true to form, wearing a dress at least two sizes too small, sang Make It Happen, Hero and We Belong Together.


Shortly after 8pm The Scissor Sisters bounced onto stage. Singer Ana Matronic told the crowd to "put on your dancing shoes", and the New York group sang Laura, Take Your Mama, and a new song - the first act to do so - called Everybody Wants the Same Thing.

Matronic told the crowd they were going to "rewrite history."

Live8 London early evening

Geldof reappeared to introduce 24-year-old Birhan Woldu, one of the starving children featured in footage broadcast during the original Live Aid concert. Geldof explained that through Live Aid money, Birhan's life was saved, and now, 20 years later, she has just passed her agricultural exams at home in Ethiopia. Madonna clasped Birhan's hand, keeping hold while performing her set opener Like a Prayer.

The Queen of pop and her band were dressed all in white, like many of tonight's performers. The singer asked London if it was "Ready to start a revolution? Ready to change history?"

She also sang Ray of Light and Music


Killers


A barefoot Joss Stone - the youngest performer on the London lineup, performed Super Duper Love and I had a Dream.

Live8 London continues

Travis
Why does it always rain on me?


Ms Dynamite


Brad Pitt


At 5pm Bob Geldof came on stage to announce that over three billion people were watching the event. Over in Philadelphia, events were just beginning, with Will Smith on stage to open the US's Live 8 concert. The actor and singer introduced live link-ups with the crowds in Berlin, Paris and Canada. He spoke of a Declaration of 'Interdependence' and urged the crowds to help end world poverty. "Every three seconds, somebody's son, somebodys' daughter, somebody's future is gone. Dead" he said. "With a stroke of a pen eight men can make a difference and end the misery of millions of people."

Geldof returned to the stage in London, this time to perform. "I know it's cheeky, but I couldn't resist playing on this stage," he told the crowd. He sang a powerful version of the Boomtown Rats' hit single, I Don't Like Mondays. "Thanks for letting me do that," he said, leaving the stage to huge cheers.


Annie Lennox knows what sweet dreams are made of.

Live8 London gets started

"Ladies and gentlemen, it's two o'clock. Welcome to the greatest rock concert in the world." And thus, a few minutes after 2pm, Live 8 began simultaneously at venues in London, Paris, Rome and Berlin.


Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band:
'It was 20 years ago today'.


Macca


Bono and U2 then took over, performing It's a Beautiful Day with lyrics especially customised for the event. Overhead, grey clouds gathered, but the crowd greeted the performers enthusiastically.


Coldplay opened with In My Place. Among the spectators were Chris Martin's wife, Gwyneth Paltrow and their daughter Apple. Richard Ashcroft sang his best known song, Bitter Sweet Symphony, backed by Coldplay. Martin sneaked in a small tribute to Status Quo - who opened Live Aid 20 years previously, singing a few words from their song Rocking All Over The World. The singer called Bob Geldof "a hero" and thanked the organiser, referring to those who were cynical as 'stupid'. Their brief set ended with Fix You.


Elton


Geldof then made a brief appearance, to introduce Bill Gates as "the greatest philanthropist of our age." Gates - the richest man in the world - and his wife Melinda have given $5bn (£2.82 bn) towards relieving poverty. Gates paid tribute to Geldof and the event's other organisers. "I believe that if you show people the problems and you show them the solutions they will be moved to act," he said.

"I have learned that success depends on knowing what works and bringing resources to the problem. We know what to do. The generosity we are asking for can save millions of lives. Some day in the future all people no matter where they are born will be able to lead a healthy life."


Dido was up next. The North Londoner sang White Flag, and then was joined on stage by Sengalese singer Youssou N'Dour to sing her breakthrough hit, Thank You. The two then performed N'Dour's 1994 smash hit Seven Seconds

Make Poverty History

The G8 brings together the leaders of the worlds most powerful countries - the USA, Canada, Great Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and Russia. This year they meet from 6th - 9th July in Gleneagles with Britain’s Prime Minister, Tony Blair hosting the summit.

Tony Blair has put the challenges faced in Africa on the top of the agenda – but the leaders need to know when they sit down that the world is watching them and waiting for them to deliver.