I don't do crosswords or sudokus but I do like a mental challenge. My own version is done in the head as a memory test and can be done anywhere - walking to town, driving, having a shower etc. I started with A-Z of group names, then refined it to group names of one word, two, three, four etc. Some letters are obviously much harder than others and in some cases impossible. I do not allow myself any cheating by looking things up - what would be the point? I've then widened my field to album titles and song titles. Of course the answers are restricted to my own knowledge so some genres are much more strongly represented than others. As a variation I've moved on to numbers 1-100. I've started with song titles that include the numbers and have done quite well. I've done most of my self-imposed tasks. Does anyone have any other such games I can play in my head?

Just listening to the Byrds box set and remembered that 'Turn! Turn! Turn!' has one of my favourite composer credits - Book of Ecclesiastes/Pete Seeger. This triggered the memory of another, Steppenwolf's 'Born To be Wild' by Mars Bonfire (not his real name, alas). Anyone else have a favourite composer credit?

Nick plays four songs solo, including new song 'House For Sale'. Both video and audio available.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=130870090

DLM's post on callers who won't give up made me think of the hassles I've had at the door in the last couple of weeks. I've been offered a religion/a new religion/a new God, new windows/replacement windows, new energy suppliers, tarmac for the drive, surveys of the house's worth etc etc. Very few start with a straightforward statement of their business. They ask me if I'm having a good day, or if I am the householder, or if I have considered XYZ, or am I getting my full entitlement. I'm not sure who are worse, those who stick strictly to their script or those who try to make it up as they go along. I've tried a variety of responses, depending on context and state of mind. So I tell them I am Jewish/atheist/Buddhist/annoyed, it's a council house/no it's not mine and my dad's out, we're moving/I'm in court next week etc.

What's been your worst door step call? And what's your most effective message to get them to leave?

I enjoyed DH's piece on 'super-hits' in the new issue. I was amazed to see 'You Raise Me Up' named as the 'third most popular father/daughter dance at American weddings'. Who collects these statistics and how? How accurate are they? And what's at number 1?

Anyone heard any explanation of why the site has disappeared?

http://theultimatebootlegexperience.blogspot.com/

Did I miss the news? Anyone know the story? Other artists too?

Just been listening to the first part of the Lee Scratch Perry documentary on 6music last night, recorded on my DAB radio. It made me realise that I have a large number of documentaries from radio on my iPod, and wonder if anyone else does the same. 6music is good at broadcasting old ones that I missed in the past (enjoyed parts 1 and 2 of The Story of Ska), Radio 2 does lots (many about artists, or albums, or events) and I've some from Radio 4 and World Service too.
I'm sure many of us listen to these programmes, but do others carry them about on their iPods?

Tony Blair reckoned if he could sing like Paul Rodgers he wouldn't have been in politics. Barack Obama said he was doing what he was doing because he couldn't be Bruce Springsteen. So what of our current politicians?
Which pop star would David ('did I say twat?') Cameron like to have been?
Which rocker (folkie?) did Gordon Brown aspire to be?
Any suggestions?

Maybe I've not been paying attention. Does anyone know what's happened to this website run by Larry Klug? Often used to check the board for info and comments. Now I seem to get a forthcoming 'official' website and no board. What's going on?

Horrible stuff. All over the pavement etc etc. But when did chewing it move into general acceptability? In the recent past I've been greeted by the doctor's receptionist chewing, by the lady in the chemists chewing while taking my prescription and by the very smart lady on the checkout in Marks and Spencers chewing as she took my money. Is this now the norm or do I live in a chewing gum blackspot?

NPR in the States is streaming Bruce Springsteen's new album ahead of release next week.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=99173117
I listened to it and was struck by the track about the queen of the supermarket.
My brain switched into word association football mode and remembered an early Tyrannosaurus Rex song called Grace Fat Sheba (she works with a meat cleaver, sweating behind the meat counter).
Those of you who do not know this gem can hear it at last.fm
http://www.last.fm/music/T.+Rex/_/Graceful+Fat+Sheba

What are all the other tracks about shop workers I should have remembered? (And no, the Miracles' 'Shop Around' does not count.)

My grown-up daughter is interested in learning to play the lap steel guitar. My main sources of examples from my own collection have been David Lindley and Ry Cooder. Can worthies of the Massive suggest others?

We have lots of family sayings based on things family members said ('no hold the bum'), TV sitcoms ('I've got a slug'), books ('any fule kno'), etc, but we also have some from music sources. Particular favourites include 'just the name of the shop', 'it's a long time to be with a man, ain't it?' and 'how do you get your water so dark?'. Can you identify the origin of these? And, more interestingly, do you have any similar music-based family sayings?

Just choosing some music to play and found that I had three attractive but quite different choices sitting next to each other on the shelf. Anyone else looking for their own 'packet of three' would obviously have different choices but might also have a different filing structure for their music, as has been discussed many times in this parish. But here's my set of three in a row:

Steel Pulse
Steeleye Span
Steely Dan

Anyone else have such a varied threesome next to each other?