VIDEO : A round-up of clips from the web

5:33pm Saturday 6th September 2008

Comments (0)   Have your say »

This week I have been catching up with series five of The Wire, so my selection of videos is a homage to the show using clips (mainly) from the News Shopper area.

It is pretty chilling when you see comparable scenes of urban deprivation, moral decay and violence as a way-of-life, in an epic US TV drama and a few home movies made by kids living on your doorstep.

Before we get into all that though, I want to flag up this clip of extreme swimmer, Lewis Gordon Pugh - the first man to swim in all five oceans of the world - eating cream crackers.

He couldn't do it either and I hope that makes Dan feel better as he gets ready for his next Dan Dares challenge.

But going back to the streets - word. Check out these bad boys from The Streets of Brockley and The Green Borough.

I know it isn't news but find the absence of irony in both these clips deeply troubling.

Which means I am getting old and maybe all us old fogies should just be happy these kids are making music instead of killing one another.

But where did all the flowers go?

On the flip side Lewisham Guns - which sound like it should have you running for cover, carries a positive anti-gun massage.

My experience of young people in the News Shopper area is they are as anxious as any adult for the violence to stop.

Who knows - if we all get behind them maybe they will bring about the change in attitudes we all want to see.

Peace.

This short film about homelessness - afterall I am watching series five, as I said - is not strictly about the News Shopper area. But it is about London - and it is very good.

Last but by no means least is this clip from The Wire, with a laughter track added. Bizarre? Hilarious? I'm not sure which - but it has swearing in it, so don't tell anyone you heard it from me.