2010 — 28 August: Saturday

I never expected to hear Frank Zappa on Brian Matthew's "Sounds of the 60s" show.1 The morning snailmail has delivered a couple of goodies, and there's sunshine blazing out of a cloudless blue sky. "Looking good, Louis!"

Munching breakfast, and listening to yet another recording of "Carmina Burana", I found this tale of woe from a lady I'd never heard of quite interesting, but the interview with Posy Simmonds much more to my taste. Learning that Lynne Truss regards J Woss as a genius is pretty disturbing. Particularly if it's true.

Scuse I, I have a crockpot that needs stuffing. Wonder what volume it holds in Bulgarian air-bags? [Pause] Oops. Guess who forgot to buy any cooking apples? Been there. Done that. It's 12:08 and stuffing is now a little later than planned. No matter.

BBC future viewing orgy

Well, if you discount the Channel 4 RSC production of "Nicholas Nickleby" I mentioned here that also arrived today...

DVDs and BD

The fact that "Last Chance" doesn't admit its resolution makes me assume it will be 1080i. But it has a 2.0 LPCM soundtrack which is now perfect for my simple stereo setup. As for the jammy Jerusalem, I've only relatively recently realised just what a comic genius Jennifer Saunders is. Christa was a great fan of "AbFab" and, indeed, made a point of rewatching this during her final months. I don't think any TV series can get a better recommendation than that!

It's 14:06 and I'm feeling a bit peckish.

Later

I've been idly browsing the annual masterpiece of expensive obfuscation that is the Members' Report produced by the Pensions Trust on behalf of the (for want of a better word) "scheme" that is now on the hook to pay me a monthly pittance until my death. I wonder what visual design consultant Edward Tufte (whom I've met) would make of this innocuous graphic?

Membership

Let alone the late Darrell Huff. I suppose I should just be thankful the numbers add up...

  

Footnote

1  Cruisin' with Reuben (and the Jets).