But before we go on to that, I've got a few Announcements to make:

Discoveries

Person: Stanley Unwin

Stanley Unwin was born in South Africa in 1911. He moved to England and, in 1940, joined the BBC as a sound engineer. His gobbledygook performances, the first of which was broadcast on the radio in 1948, evolved from Edward-Lear-ish versions of bedtime stories that he originally created to entertain his children. By the 1960s he had become a star of film and television. In 1968 he appeared as narrator on the Small Faces' concept album Ogden's Nut Gone Flake, describing (in fluent Unwinese) a quest to discover what becomes of the Moon when it's not in the sky. He continued working right up to his death at the age of 90 on 12 January 2002. (Information stolen from http://www.scbd.connectfree.co.uk/unwin/)

I discovered Professor Stanley Unwin through listening to James H. Reeve's show t'other week. Shaun (his producer/side-kick) downloaded a couple of clips off his website, played them on the show, and I was just comedically entranced, listening to Stanley waffling on about whatever it was he was waffling on about. Very funny. And exceptionally witty.

Arrivals

Music: David Pajo's new album, entitled Pajo

Well, Dave Pajo (pronounced Pei-ho, or, more simply, Pay-ho) is one of my favourite musicians. He helped form my favourite band, Slint, and he played on two of Tortoise's (probably my second favourite band) albums: Millions Now Living Will Never Die and TNT, not to mention his solo work (Aerial M, Papa M, and latterly, simply Pajo). He's played on more albums, but those ones I've mentioned are the ones I Love, and am half-qualified to talk about. Despite this, I'm going to pass you over to Amazon, now, to do a better job than I can.

The story goes that this was recorded very cheaply on a home computer (which comes as no surprise, given Pajo’s past works), though the resulting songs don’t sound lo-fi, and are strong enough to shine through the basic production. Mostly reduced to a heavily reverbed voice and acoustic guitar with light percussion (or processed beats) underpinning the song’s meandering charm-filled overtones. Only on "War Is Dead" does the tone approach anything more than a laid-back tempo when the minor key guitar and heavier percussion intrudes.

Light on obvious hooks or choruses, the songs still resonate in their stark simplicity, enveloping the listener in a blanket of sweet sound. Reminiscent in some places of early Simon & Garfunkel (especially on "Manson Twins"), the feel is open and airy with a slight undercurrent of eeriness to balance it out. Highly recommended. (Review by Thom Allott - whoever he is)

Book: The Count of Monte Cristo by Dumas

The Count of Monte Cristo is one of the great literary adventures, indeed William Thackeray was so enthralled he began reading 'at six one morning and never stopped till eleven at night'.

The hero is Edmond Dantès, a young sailor who, falsely accused of treason, is arrested on his wedding day and imprisoned in the island fortress of Château d'If. After staging a dramatic escape he sets out to discover the fabulous treasure of Monte Cristo and catch up with his enemies. A novel of enormous tension and excitement, Monte Cristo is also a tale of obsession and revenge, with Dantès, believing himself to be an 'Angel of Providence', pursuing his vengeance to the bitter end before realizing that he himself is a victim of fate. (Description stolen from Amazon)

Book: Don Quixote by Cervantes

Cervantes' tale of the deranged gentleman who turns knight-errant, tilts at windmills and battles with sheep in the service of the lady of his dreams, Dulcinea del Toboso, has fascinated generations of readers, and inspired other creative artists such as Flaubert, Picasso and Richard Strauss. The tall, thin knight and his short, fat squire, Sancho Panza, have found their way into films, cartoons and even computer games. Supposedly intended as a parody of the most popular escapist fiction of the day, the 'books of chivalry', this precursor of the modern novel broadened and deepened into a sophisticated, comic account of the contradictions of human nature.

On his 'heroic' journey Don Quixote meets characters of every class and condition, from the prostitute Maritones, who is commended for her Christian charity, to the Knight of the Green Coat, who seems to embody some of the constraints of virtue.

Cervantes' greatest work can be enjoyed on many levels, all suffused with a subtle irony that reaches out to encompass the reader, and does not leave the author outside its circle. (Description stolen from the back of the book)

Plea for help

Good god, that was hard work typing all that out. Anyway, believe it or not, I have a problem. I decided to join Tortoise's Forums last week, submitted the old application (as you do) and proceeded to enter the forums with my fresh, new account, all ready to start bombarding the place with my - well, what do you call it? - ideas. So there I was, merrily going about the place, setting my profile up, the way I wanted it, when I came to the 'Skins' option. With me being of the experimental sort, I decided I'd change the skin to the second option, just to see what it'd look like. Having done that, I got a screen saying (something along the lines of), 'Congratulations, you've successfully changed the appearance of the forums. You will be redirected back to the forums in 5 seconds - if you can't be bothered waiting, click here to continue.' I was in an excitable mood, so I clicked there, and got a page saying (and I quote):

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phpBB : Critical Error

Could not open TRTS template config file

DEBUG MODE

Line : 361
File : functions.php

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So, if anyone's a member of the Tortoise Forums, please could they contact the admins, telling them about my predicament, and ask them if they could set my Skin Setting back to the default (if that's possible). My user-name on the forums is Miblo. Thank you.