2010 — 25 August: Wednesday
For a change, I paused the West Wing at the half way point of Season #3 to catch up on a delightful little indie film — 10 items or less1 — directed by the chap who did the Lemony Snicket film. It arrived just a week ago. If you blinked, you'd easily miss the amusing cameo from Danny DeVito and his wife. Not to mention the guy who plays "Sheldon" in the Big Bang Theory TV show. (I was quite surprised to see he's 37, assuming IMDB is correct.)
That's it for today. It's 00:35 and I'm tired.
A cool, grey start...
... and, at 19C, just one degree above the trigger for my new heating system. Brrr. (Is it still August?) It's 08:46 and cuppa #1 has sunk without trace.
It's a mad world out there
Today's random examples:
- We track violent, mentally-ill, criminal offenders out on authorised (and, in some cases, unaccompanied) "leave" to prepare them for life in the community. How safe doesn't that make me feel? (Source.)
- It's taken two years to decide that a doctor's rights were placed ahead of patient safety. (Source.)
- Sex and relationship education in our schools (and, I assume, in our homes) is self-evidently failing if measured by the rate of STIs in youngsters. (Source.)
- Apparently, "The computing A-level is about how computers work and if you ask anyone how it works they will not be able to tell you". (Source.)
Mind you, these are all from the BBC, which is also telling me that I'm about to begin experiencing heavy rain.
As for the New York Times...
Odd
Listening to, and enjoying, an interview on the BBC's "Woman's Hour" with Wendy Perriam, while knowing that none of her books is still on my shelves. Then switching over to 6Music and hearing "21st Century Schizoid Man".
While paddling gently along in pursuit of outliers last night (I was trying to find out if I had been complimented or insulted in a recent email exchange), I stumbled across (allegedly) the smartest chap in North America. He writes worryingly clearly, too. Mind you, his web site is a bit of a mess. Try his essay "Which came first..." (the chicken or the egg?)2 Or his "Theory of Theories".
Even odder
As a "valued online energy customer" I am Scottish Power's #1 priority, and they've redesigned their web site just for little ol' me. Further, they assert I'll love it. Thing is, they never asked me about any aspect of it. What are their chances of being correct, I (don't) wonder?
Wheel turnin' 'round and 'round...
... You go back, Jack, do it again.
I was sitting in "Mad Dogs and Englishmen" in Windsor, munching my supper burger3 in March 1974, less than a month before I met Christa. I never dreamt that I'd be sitting in my favourite local restaurant today still listening to the same fine music from Steely Dan. I'd nipped out in search of a 25Kg sack of salt for the water softener. No luck in B&Q but success in Homebase at the End of the Hedge.
Why, when it's raining, visibility is poor, and there's loads of spray on the motorway, do motorists cluster ever closer together? Time (14:27) for the cup that soothes.
Later
Good job I like the sound of rain splatting against a window. I also tweaked the central heating thermostat up a whole degree. It works! Next excitement: an evening meal. But there's always time for a cuppa first. It's 17:57 and rather wet out there.