A Lark Ascending

Thanks, Big Wheel. I'll try what you say. It's not a laptop. And it seems to do other tasks fine - films through BBC IPlayer show fine, for example, once I've got there. It's just the moving between pages.

I've just noticed over recent months using IE that there's a growing hiatus between clicking a link and connecting. Becomes even longer when pressing the back button to return to the previous page. Something to do with all these Twitter, Facebook etc links that need loading to every time a page is opened, perhaps? Is it just the sheer volume that my connection cannot keep up with? Not the end of the world - but gets annoying, especially when working on a tight schedule.

Must read Melly's trilogy.

Wasn't he a vicar? - so sermon style came naturally I guess. He was. It very much comes across as 'the truth sent from above'. Doesn't work for fundamentalist relativists! I love Humphrey Lyttelton's two books on early jazz. None of the arty-farty nonsense that encrusts so much jazz writing with unsubstantiated projection. He just does a damn good job at explaining why the pieces he chooses were so remarkable for the time they emerged.

I have the reprints of 'The Essential Jazz Records' from the 90s (2 volumes). Very useful, though at times they adopt that imperious 'delivering the tablets of stone from Mt. Sinai' pretension about their judgments - Thacker is the worst offender, if I recall correctly. I loved Gioia's West Coast book because it overtly refused to do that - recognised that it was possible to interpret music with a range of reactions and responses dependent on ones context.

Should set you up nicely for Parsifal!

I hate to think what that chap is saying!

I love Saturday mornings. Especially when the sun shines.

Is soda what we Brits call lemonade? My parents had something like this in the late-70s/early 80s. Recall my younger brothers and sisters using it quite a bit. Went completely off carbonated drinks ten + years back. Give me a cup of tea (or a bottle of unfizzy beer!)

Almost!

The key words are 'H-bomb' and 'airborne'. Edit: Sorry - just saw JSngry's post after posting. The one I always think of is the 1954 test where a Japanese fishing vessel got caught: http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/march/1/newsid_2781000/2781419.stm First H Bomb was 1952 (with the Soviets catching up the following year): http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/2388027.stm

The UK version of e-music promised us some major labels when they shifted to the US pricing system last Autumn. No sign yet. Not that I'm complaining - I have no trouble using up my monthy quota with what is there.

I like the look of that!

Afraid not. Though these programmes tend to get repeated within the year.

Fascinating, especially in the light of recent events.

Started series 1 of 'Spiral'. Laure seems much happier than she gets by series 3. I've decided never to go to Paris again. It seems even more violent than Oxford.

Almost a chair! Not just a chair but a full suite. [A rather good "I'm doing 'Art'" scowl on his face there] Think that's a bizarre sort of chair. Look at those shoes. Nick could have been in the Bay City Rollers.

Good to have my cynicism undermined by a reissue that genuinely improves on previous versions. Pity it wasn't easier to distinguish between real improvement editions and chocolate box sets. I suppose that's what a forum like this does!

Now airing - conversation with Alyn Shipton from Cheltenham. Nice stuff so far - Surman, Azimuth, Wheeler and of course, John himself. http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0112crt

No expert, but I really enjoy them. Given what I have is on some pretty ropey cheapo discs I might be tempted.

You can have my CD - at several point there's definite tape wobble (or whatever it is called), causing the music to change pitch unpleasantly. Maybe Columbia are so embarrassed they are sneaking into houses and reclaiming the product. I'd better check!

I wish it would stop glowering and just rain.

Tut! Tut! The Andorran version! ****** Series 3 of Spiral finished this weekend: Left lots of threads hanging for a fourth series. I've ordered Series 1 + 2 from the rental company to catch up. Do hope BBC4 keeps up using Saturday night for these continental thrillers. Makes a nice change from the usual British/American fare.