Sun, 29 Jan, 2006
UK Theme
Radio Four wasn't the only radio station to have a theme tune first thing in the morning. Radio One, before it went twenty-four hour had a peculiar brassy one, too. Some BBC local services had theme tunes written by the late Delia Derbyshire, which may have been the last progressive thing they ever did.
The latest series of Doctor Who, at least from my standpoint in the kitchen making the tea and only hearing it rather than seeing it, was dreadful, all space-opera cliche with no sense of the alien. Even the opening notes of Fritz Spiegl's UK Theme are more frightening. I discovered this yesterday morning when they played it on Today at about 0830. It wasn't the time of day after all.
You don't need the defunct Radiophonic Workshop to make unsettling music. If they replaced Sailing By with James McMillan's Tuireadh, nobody would ever get on a boat again.
I wonder whether the incidental music for Doctor Who was commissioned by people who not only don't like music, but don't even like the sound it makes?
posted at: 18:18 | path: /N | permanent link to this entry
From the tiled room
AJAX is the new Flash, apparently. I think this is a subliminal way of encouraging web designers to clean the bathroom more often. Crystallographers have been using CIF for years, of course. But does it make a difference?
posted at: 17:49 | path: /simulations | permanent link to this entry
Darts of passion
At international darts competitions you don't see the dartboard closed, like you do in pubs, so you can't appreciate the detailed grisaille work on the backs of the wings.
In the better sort of pub you can walk all the way round the back, where there is more grisaille work, often another crucifixion, or SS Sebastian or Edmund.
posted at: 17:31 | path: /artism | permanent link to this entry
No traveller returns (first posted 2002-07-10)
The number fourteen bus goes past Hardwick to Cambourn, which is apparently going to be a commuter suburb. Except that, working to the east of the town throughout the day and sleeping at night to the west of the city, Cambourn commuters will have the sun in their eyes in both directions. Therefore, we conclude, the town has been built to serve commuters to St Neots. Perhaps I should go to St Neots to find out what's drawing them?
The alternative, that Cambourn has been built for night shift workers, is too nonsensical to consider.
posted at: 17:24 | path: /maunderings | permanent link to this entry
