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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• 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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From customer reviews of a teasmade: I had to return the item because the instructions were of poor quality. The equipment was of average quality but the complicated operation needed clear instructions. It's a teasmade. Put water in, set the alarm, then get woken up five minutes earlier by the whirr of heating water.

Commentators: Mary Dejevsky, on why Mister Blair would be wrong for Europe... Johann Hari, on why the biggest terrorist threat comes from the far right... Project Censored on the mysterious and unreported death of the man who stole the Ohio election in 2004. It's almost as if someone wanted to silence the proof that Candidate X could only ever claim victory by cheating, treating his presidential election like a game of football with a bribed ref.

Fury in Frankfurt at G****e's global library project. One of the many reasons we really can't abide the unmentionable advertising brokerage is that they're utter hypocrites about copyright. They defend their own works to the point of absurdity, but treat everyone else's work as a common resource they can pilfer without compensation. Thank goodness Frau Merkel is leading the opposition, and what a shame the three largest British parties have all drunk from the chalice of denseness.

We believe that letters to the Irish Times are only put online for a day following publication, which means that this gem is lost for all time. It's from last Wednesday's edition.

Madam, - May I suggest that the future method of claiming expenses would mirror an experience of my own (and one adopted by many larger companies).

The rules were set out covering what could and could not be reclaimed and what were reasonable levels. We claimed for our expenses which would be automatically paid without further verification at that time.

However, the expenses were subject to audit twice each year with no prescription on which month's expenses or when (ie, it was a "surprise" audit). Any discrepancies were highlighted to the head of finance. Three strikes and you were out of your job.

This self-regulation worked because it had a significant downside. Ironically the system was put in place not because of concerns over what people were claiming but because of the cost of checking every single claim.

The Government has an additional control in that most TDs qualify for pensions even if they lose their seats so any reclamation required should they leave could be taken from their pensions. By linking expense payments to their jobs I suspect you'd get a very high level of compliance and conscientiousness. And it would not cause trouble for all of those who play by the rules already. - Yours, etc,

John Finn,
Ballyorban,
Monkstown,
Cork.

If Miss McCain wishes to publish a tasteful picture of her cleavage, let her do so. It asserts nothing about her sexual proclivities, merely that she wishes to publish tasteful pictures and that she is not as ashamed of her body as some repressive Puritans wish her to be.

Changes have been confirmed for Radio 5 once Simon Mayo moves away in the new year. Victoria Derbyshire will now run from 10 till 12, Gabby Logan presents from 12 till 2, and Richard Bacon takes over the 2 till 4 slot (except on Friday, when it's Mayo and Kermode). We wonder... could they call these shows The Magazine, Lunchtime with Logan, and Richard and Company and be done with it? Tony Livesey takes over the after-sport 10.30 till 1am slot, and don't panic, Stephen Nolan remains on the weekends. Panic!

Donal Og Cusack has announced that he is gay. The Cork hurling goalkeeper is the first senior sportsman in Ireland to announce his homosexuality. The Irish Times wrote of the fear felt by gays, and British sports press continued to peddle the myth that all its footballers are straighter than the proverbial Roman road.

And finally, many happy returns to Martin Gardner, top mathematical puzzler.

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