It is quite incredible to see how tech gadgetry has developed alongside Royal Wedding events, and this one is no different. In fact, in some ways it may rival them all.

The first Royal Wedding of 1011 saw the advent of verbal messenging. Prior to this people used a primitive form of Makaton.¹

When Princess Elisabethany finally conjoined herself in mutual participation with Colonel Begley-Morrow in 1947, a clever man named Jason Marconi devised a new form of one-way Social Media that could assist powerful anti-democratisation motion. 'Radiography' (as it was then known) became a favoured media outlet within hours of the Royal Devulgement.

Everyone knows of course that Di & Charles assisted the popularisation of the DVD (and particularly alongside the release of films like The Matrix)²

And what of today? How has this event redefined our media-rich cyber landgrab? Twitter and Fakebook have invested significant amounts of innovative energy to counter the most popular networks³ with the 'Hashtag'.

The 'Hashtag' is new way of labelling messages so that the sender can make sure that he or she reaches the end and intended participant. In the old days we used phone numbers, email addresses and coordinates, but now the HT (as it is called on blogs) is King.

Since employing HT as a New standard, the Royal Wedding was seen to run much more smoothly. From Kate Middleton's sisters fabulous outfit, to the gesturing of the Archbishop to the final flyby, this wedding has been HTed like None Other!

¹popularised by Something Special presenter Justin Lewis
²The Daily Mail was famous for distributing similar Right-wing propaganda subliminal texts in innocent collectible editions of this new smart media using the 2for1 method. Ofcom have now banned such use as a form of cruel gambling. in innocent collectible editions of this new smart media.
³ Google Buzz, Friends Reunited and Color to name just three.

Love Divine, all loves excelling,
Joy of heaven, to earth come down,
Fix in us thy humble dwelling,
All thy faithful mercies crown.
Jesus, thou art all compassion,
Pure unbounded love thou art;
Visit us with thy salvation,
Enter every trembling heart.
Come, almighty to deliver,
Let us all thy grace receive;
Suddenly return, and never,
Never more thy temples leave.
Thee we would be always blessing,
Serve thee as thy hosts above,
Pray, and praise thee, without ceasing, Glory in thy perfect love.
Finish then thy new creation
Pure and spotless let us be;
Let us see thy great salvation,
Perfectly restored in thee,
Changed from glory into glory,
Till in heaven we take our place,
Till we cast our crowns before thee,
Lost in wonder, love, and praise!

The meaning of the word 'sheen' and the person Charlie Sheen. So much in common as his Detroit opener¹ showed.

Here are some very half-formed thoughts:

• Twitter is illusory and can be confused with substance. Having millions of followers does not equal the ability to be great with a live audience. Fleshbloodspirit community and all that.
• The good/great writing is still something which people mainly don't link to the writer(s) behind the scenes. Many of his fans equate his words with the words of a thoughtful, intelligent, reflective, considered re-drafter of materials. 
• If 90% of what we write is 'guff' (I half remember Mamet attributing it someone somewhere - there I just confirmed it in practice) then the materials that we foist on an audience need careful drafting and redrafting. You can't do a hastily prepared show unless it is a hastily prepared show full of well-seasoned material. 

¹thanks @ellardent  ²update: it is ironic that I wrote and published this as a first draft. I would, however, argue that I have a lot of experience with delivering material and addressing audiences. These aren't new observations. So shaddaap.

Surely this is the height of the five series. As a teacher it doesn't take long to recognise that they have the school atmosphere down perfectly. So much heartache, a few joys and all of it wrapped up in great storytelling. 

The main problem now for me is that series 5 never hit the same standard. I will watch it but I can't promise the same level of interest. 

So then - I just propelled myself through this little lot. Partly I was quite unwell and partly I needed a break from some intense stuff happening in the old day job.

Here are a few thoughts:

• lots of great highlight moments - Carver's "I am boss" moment in episode 1 is neatly fed into the "You ain't no Police" chat with Bunny much later on. In fact, that chat is one of my favourite things in the entire five series run. It carries uncanny observations about working with people. Too many people are high on bizarre power trips or are trying manipulate those they have responsibility for - this speech suggests a different approach. Get to know people, care for them, work your way into community trust and then serve them. I love this stuff. 
• Freamon's chat with McNulty about "what is left when the case is closed" is fabulous. The error of making your work your centre is so helpfully raised. 
• This series (probably more than the preceding two) blends the political, law and street levels in a balanced and powerful way. 
• The Hamsterdam chapter feels almost too fictional at times, but then works brilliantly as a catalyst for so much else in the narrative. 
• The Bowtie/Omar hit is still shocking. 
• The Marlowe Crew is frightening. 
• The almost-missable moment where Rowls turns up in a G-Bar is funny but also maybe a joke too far. I also dug the Apocalypse Now reference.
• The transition from Cutty to Dennis Wise the Boxing Trainer is profound and makes me so happy. He believes in those kids and wants better. Awesome.

Series 4 (from memory) is by far the best of the lot, but this has been a great series. It keeps so much in tension, lifts you into genuinely dazzling discussions and continues to punch well above it's weight. Bravo those people. Bravo.