Word of the day

Fugacious: fleeting, volatile, soon falling away. Like my enthusiasms, largely. From the Latin, of course: fugax, fleet.

You may now all line up to tell me that you knew this word already. All I seek to do is to chart my own ignorance, not yours.

T E Bailey, RIP

The Boil has died in a fire.

I never knew him as a player, but anyone who grew up listening to Test Match Special through the '70s and '80s will be intimately familiar with Trevor Bailey's voice, his knowledge and his character. They don't make 'em like that any more: neither as a player ("His stubborn refusal to be out normally brought more pleasure to the team than to the spectators" - not I fear in these days of Twenty20) nor as a commentator and writer on the game. I feel ... well, bereaved.

Locus poll

The Locus poll is up, collecting your opinions on the best SF & Fantasy of the year. Good things to vote for, and write-in spots for what's not on the list. If you have opinions, hie thee and express them! (Only a cad would point out that Jade Man's Skin doesn't need writing in, for lo, it is actually on the list...) (*twirls moustachios caddishly*)