• Religious people! If you subscribe to any of the following religions, we would like to hear from you. The religions in question are: Hindu, Buddhist, Confucian, Taoist, Jewish, Islamic, Shinto. Our Religious Studies department is working on a paper about the day-to-day experience of the faithful, and this will help towards a college paper. If you're willing to help, send an email marked Religion to this address:
• Quizzing people! If you are reading this blog and applying for the new series of Only Connect, do please drop us a line. Our Ethics department wishes to keep everything so far above board it's visible from a mile off. If this is you, send an email marked Teacup to the same address:
• Everyone! Blogging will tend to be a bit light over the coming week or so. If you want something else to read, go consult our extensive archives. We have history stretching back to the start of 2002, if you're that desperate. Or look at the curated list of links on the left of the homepage, they're all worth it.

And if you don't have a working email program, there's always the comments.

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The second half of 1985, then. As before, we're giving a capsule review of every top 3 single, and others that made significant forays into the top five. Number one titles are linked to their review on the Popular blog, with which we're keeping pace, and videos are from Dailymotion where we think they're worth reviewing. Or, for younger readers, viewing.

Sister Sledge's Frankie continued its run at number one into July, keeping Harold Faltemeyer at number 2 with Axel F. It's a simple synth loop, taken from one of the big films of the summer, and once heard, never forgotten. Kool and the Gang were also kept at bay, the sloppy love song Cherish spent five weeks at numbers 4 and 5. As sloppy love songs go, it's not the worst. But it's not There must be an angel (playing with my heart) (video), which spent a week at number 1 for The Eurythmics. It was the only chart-topper for Dave and Annie - indeed, we'll not see Dave in this project again. The song was taken from the group's celebrity duets album - Stevie Wonder played the mouth-organ on this track, soul diva Arthur Franklin popped up on the next single.

(More: The remaining songs from late 1985. Red Box! Dame David! UB40! Phil Collins (again!) Jennifer Rush! Shakin' Stevie!)

The back end of 1985, then, and with the possible exception of Feargal Sharkey, no chart topper from the last four months of the year has stood the test of a quarter-century. That will change as we cover the first half of 1986. As ever, we'll be riding on the coat-tails of Tom Ewing's Popular project, which we do recommend to readers.

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McDougals announced its withdrawal from Iceland. Never before has the burgers-to-burgers behemoth voluntarily pulled out of any country, but it claims that people in Iceland just don't want to eat their expensive over-processed imported slop. They'd rather eat fresh food, grown and reared locally.

Man fired for doing his job. After the British government's official advisor on drugs gave the British government some advice, the British government sacked their advisor because he'd given them some advice. This shows two things. First, Alan Johnson is entirely incompetent and unfit to direct a school play, never mind the UK's interior ministry. Second, doing a competent and good job is now a firing offence, which explains why Mr. Johnson has not been fired.

The opposition candidate in Afghanistan's presidential election has withdrawn his name from Saturday's ballot. Abdullah Abdullah states that the election process is not lawful, as the people who presided over August's fradulent election are still in place. Hamid Kharzai will be the only candidate in the vote.

The death has been reported of David Shepherd, the cricket umpire; and of Norman Painting, gardener and actor.

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Tuesday Nico Baird performance as Jacko, moonwalk demonstration, Jacko biog / Joel in Edinburgh castle, making a film for the t-shirt appeal, Helen filming it in helicopter / TARDIS competition entries / Barney treatments and health check / Jackoettes dance out. Three main items in this show, and we wonder if the Blue Peter audience (born 2000) knew about Jackson. Edinburgh film was fine, and Barney is clearly proving a good draw for the viewers.

Wednesday Jeremy Warmsley and piranhas / Andy - truck racing training / Badge-winners Theo and Isaac at the London Dungeon / Makes: nut in balloon, vinegared and decorated eggs, glove over vinegar and bicarb mixture / Badge filler / Foaming pumpkins. Piranha item failed when the fish refused to eat the meat dropped in their tanks. Andy's truck racing was to promo his appearance at Brand's Hatch on Saturday. The makes turned into a mess after Joel dropped an egg, and the glove flew off its mounting - that's two makes in a row that have gone horridly wrong.

• On Glickoblog: Taking shape Tables for France and the Netherlands, troubles for the Buccaneers organisation, and news of the newcomers to the FA Cup.
• On Glickoblog: The decline and fall of Real Madrid Another year, another early cup exit; plus tables for England and Germany.
• On our private journal: Whooosh! A brief trip to London, and other news.

After another calm and settled week, autumn arrived with a bang in the early hours of Sunday morning, as a depression moped over northern England. Ahead of it came a vicious cold front, bringing heavy rain to all parts for about four hours, and heavier rain to Scotland - a top-flight football match in Dundee was abandoned for the rain. The front also carried strong winds, most spectacular in the south. Now that the logjam has been broken, the UK is bang in the firing line for more fronts. The rain is likely to be worst in the north and west, with Monday and next weekend likely to be the best conditions. Temperatures will be significantly down from the recent warmth, so do wrap up.

26 Mo cloud              12/15
27 Tu cloud              12/17, 1.0
28 We sunny spells       11/18
29 Th sunny spells        6/17
30 Fr cloud               9/15
31 Sa sunny spells       13/17, 0.5
01 Su rain am, wind      12/16,16.5

Rainfall in October: 23.0mm; monthly average: 69mm

Rainfall in November: 16.5mm; monthly average: 84mm

Degree heating days: 6
2008/9: 54.5/926.5
2007/8: 27/809.5
2006/7: 2.5/499
2005/6: 0/684
2004/5: 15.5/556
2003/4: 61.5/754

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