New Planet?
Apparently. we may be on the verge of re-defining the solar system.
Or not, if they decide that Sedna isn't really a 'proper' planet. I sense a heated debate coming on.
Well, maybe not that heated....
I Sense A Challenge Coming On
So I'm not tired and I'm still listening to random tracks from my CD singles, so I thought I'd see if anyone wanted to waste some time identifying the artists who commited the following to posterity. If you feel like it, identify them in the comments. Don't worry if you're not interested, this is me killing time more than anything else. But if you play, play fair and don't do searches. You're only cheating yourself....
Item One
"I found you now I know that it's true;
I was down on my luck from a lack of trying."
Item Two
"You need some common sense to plan ahead and
Stay in bed on a Monday morning."
Item Three
"I was making myself the usual cup of tea
When the doorbell strangely rang."
Item Four
"Let's not do the wrong thing and I'll swear it might be fun
It's a long way down when all the knots we've tied have come undone"
Item Five
"Sometimes the sun shines on unkind people,
And some nights the spotlight's on shy people.
People like you."
Item Six
"Something's coming over me, I'm so dizzy I can't see.
Can't make out the forest for the trees."
(Two possible answers to this one - I have the original and the cover.)
Item Seven
"Health insurance rip off lying FDA big bankers buying
Fake computer crashes dining"
Item Eight
"How can I help it if I think you're funny when you're mad
Tryin' hard not to smile though I feel bad"
Alternatively
"Blue canary in the outlet by the lightswitch
Who watches over you?
Build a little birdhouse in your soul."
Was another possiblity.
Pearly
"A tenement, a dirty street
Walked and worn by shoeless feet
Inside it's long and so complete
Watched by a shivering sun
Old eyes in a small child's face
Watching as the shadows race
Through walls and cracks and leave no trace
And daylight's brightness shuns"
I could have quoted from lots of different tracks at this point, given that conversation with Dave and Octavia this evening covered such a wide range, but I decided that Marc Almond's The Days of Pearly Spencer would take the honours, given that it was the uniformly recognised and approved-of item in the discussion.
Which was partly triggered by me mentioning that I'd started playing random items from my CD collection today while I've been doing some more clearing out. I've realised that I have items I not only don't remember obtaining, but items by artists of whom I'm quite certain I've never heard.
Freaky Coincidence
Oddest thing - having been thinking about Gordon and feeling a little low as a result, I've just had the best pick-me-up: One of the TV Producers I used to work with who I haven't heard from in yonks just sent me a 'how are you doing?' email that put a smile on my face:
"I've just finished a science programme. I packed in science ASAP at school because I fancied the Latin teacher. So I'm crap at science but if you want a gravestone reading I'm your woman."
Goodbye Gordon
You don't know him, but I heard this morning that a friend of mine died yesterday. Not a close friend really. Someone I worked with a few times back in my radio days, and saw socially from time to time once I got out of old media, but a presence, certainly, and one whose loss will certainly be felt.
Gordon was a radio producer of the old school. Committed to making the very best programmes that he could, with attention to detail and integrity, a wicked sense of humour and a quality of leadership I couldn't emulate on my best day. He was the kind of person who it could quite genuinely be said no one ever had a bad word for. At the risk of lapsing into anachronism, a Gentlman.
He'd been ill for some little while, so his death isn't a shocking one, but it's still odd to think that I won't see him again.
Sad day.
Bonkers Weather
It's snowing out. Well, sleeting I suppose is more accurate. It's not settling, whichever it is.
Anyway, as I've been so woefully uncommunicative this week, I'll offer a couple of news items that caught my eye:
The George Michael thing, and
The latest on Gay Marriage in San Francisco.
The Saga Of Greg
For about a week now I've been meaning to post an enquiry about whether the result of Greg Rusedski's drugs charge appeal had *ever* been announced and I'd somehow missed it - It seems like weeks ago that he said he expected it to be nine days.
Obviously I hadn't missed it, as it's now reported that he's been cleared.
Though apparently this outcome leaves the ATP on the rack.
Socialising Shock!
Well, in one of those work-night rarities, I actually went out last night for my first proper catch-up in ages with Barbara, though in typical fashion I've started to feel really grotty and had to curtail the evening. I was in bed by about ten past ten....