I hope everyone appreciates why I took such an interest in hurricanes over the years, now that they're all over the headlines. Wilma is now the strongest hurricane on record according to some reports (although the National Hurricane Center urges caution over that assertion, since it's based on unconfirmed readings from an air force reconnaissance craft in the eye of the storm). It also makes this year a record-tying year for named storms and hurricanes (which are two different things). The next named storm, if there is one before the season ends in November, will have to be called Alpha, the first time the Greek alphabet has had to be called upon.

Elsewhere, I'm working on a couple of plans for podcasts. Podcasts, for the uninitiated (hi dad), are similar to weblogs like this, except audio. This means that whenever someone 'posts' some audio, you can download it and listen to it, be that on your PC or on a mobile device (e.g. an iPod) or whatever. The audio I put on here is an irregular form of podcasting.

The new ideas are first, a Dayorama podcast involving all three of us, and second, a music podcast with Clare, who's also on my broadcasting course. That might expand into a fully fledged LCC podcast involving as many people as possible, depending on interest in the idea. It'd be great fun to do if lots of people wanted to contribute, it'd be like producing our own weekly drivetime programme, and our course director likes the idea. Both ideas would use the LCC studios - for Dayorama, I'd probably have OJ on a phone line into the studio (I tried it successfully with him earlier today) and Amy with me in the studio itself.

I've also had a chat with my course director about work placements over Christmas and Easter, and have got an idea of what to aim for (neither of these would be official LCC placements, that one takes place after Easter). I'm going to make my enquiries and see what happens, it's all a bit up in the air.

This afternoon I left a couple of messages on people's answering machines and with their PAs for a story I'm researching on local bus routes. A couple of hours later I got a call back from Gordon Taylor of the West London Residents' Association, about a 'funeral procession' they are staging tomorrow in protest against the congestion charge. I have never heard of Gordon Taylor or his association, and none of my messages were left for him, yet he knew my name and my phone number and was sure I'd wanted to talk to him. Either someone left him a message pretending to be me, or I phoned him in my sleep. I acted quickly and interviewed him anyway, but I'm at a loss for how he got my details and why he thought I wanted to talk to him. It makes no sense at all. However, I am not one to discourage people from phoning me with good London stories, even if I don't solicit them. It can only help.

Still haven't forgotten that audio... honest.