[Anonymouse]

What annoys me about the whole thing is that most likely very few members of the current generation even know who Guy Fawkes was, or why Nov. 5th is the particular date for Bonfire Night. If they don't even know what they're supposed to be celebrating, why bother?

While I was at grammar school, I recall reading accounts of what - allegedly - happened on 05/11/1605; there is some doubt as to whether there was in fact a plot at all. Guy Fawkes may have been the biggest fall guy of all time.

Either that, or the only person ever to enter Parliament with honest intent.

I also can't help wondering about all those alkali metals, useful in industry and getting scarcer all the time, effectively going to waste. If the resulting oxides were somehow recoverable, I'd be more in favour.