The joys of stupid computer databases!

I am going to see Lloyd Cole tomorrow night, so I had a look at his latest album on Amazon just now.

Amazon has this little facility that tells you other things you might be interested based on whatever object you are looking at just now.

This always plays silly games with me. For instance, I was once looking at Bobby Hutcherson's CD "Oblique", and Amazon told me I might be interested in a perfume called "Oblique". Because obviously I am interested in things called "Oblique". (Or maybe I just like being oblique.)

Anyhow, please guess what Amazon thought I would be interested in just because I was interested in Lloyd Cole.

( The answer is behind the cut, just to build up the suspense... )

The joys of stupid computer databases!

I am going to see Lloyd Cole tomorrow night, so I had a look at his latest album on Amazon just now.

Amazon has this little facility that tells you other things you might be interested based on whatever object you are looking at just now.

This always plays silly games with me. For instance, I was once looking at Bobby Hutcherson's CD "Oblique", and Amazon told me I might be interested in a perfume called "Oblique". Because obviously I am interested in things called "Oblique". (Or maybe I just like being oblique.)

Anyhow, please guess what Amazon thought I would be interested in just because I was interested in Lloyd Cole.

( The answer is behind the cut, just to build up the suspense... )

Cats. Big Cats!

( I recently went to Edinburgh Zoo. There are some pictures behind the cut. (Lots of pictures...) )

Cats. Big Cats!

( I recently went to Edinburgh Zoo. There are some pictures behind the cut. (Lots of pictures...) )

Ooh! Minis!

For reasons I don't fully understand, many of the people who sometimes look at my journal seem to be in love with the Mini. I don't share the obsession - it seems incredibly girly to like a car because it looks cute - but I did think you might be interested in this article from today's Independent: Mini Marvel: simply brilliant. The end.

And here is a little picture for you...


"Mini marvel: all new, all lovable" - that's their quote, not mine!

Ooh! Minis!

For reasons I don't fully understand, many of the people who sometimes look at my journal seem to be in love with the Mini. I don't share the obsession - it seems incredibly girly to like a car because it looks cute - but I did think you might be interested in this article from today's Independent: Mini Marvel: simply brilliant. The end.

And here is a little picture for you...


"Mini marvel: all new, all lovable" - that's their quote, not mine!

Autumn Leaves

I used to have my answerphone message suited to the season. At Christmas, it would play a rather cheesy Charlie Parker recording of “White Christmas”; spring would be Clifford Brown’s “Joy Spring”; then Basie’s version of “April in Paris”, and several month’s of the Miles Davis/Gil Evans’ “Summertime”.

( Read more... )

Autumn Leaves

I used to have my answerphone message suited to the season. At Christmas, it would play a rather cheesy Charlie Parker recording of “White Christmas”; spring would be Clifford Brown’s “Joy Spring”; then Basie’s version of “April in Paris”, and several month’s of the Miles Davis/Gil Evans’ “Summertime”.

( Read more... )