Lord

Caveat before story-

We are doing an absolutely ginormous wedding this weekend (50+ reception pieces) and a bridal fair, too. So this story might not actually be THAT funny, I just might be mildly hysterical.

My mom and dad are going on vacation at the end of the month to the Dominican Republic. They are very excited, and as upper Midwesterners of German and Swedish descent, a bit concerned about frying up in the tropical sun like a piece of chicken. So, Mom has started tanning- yes, I know it's terrible, but so is getting 3rd degree burns because you are so very chalk-white.

We were working on the flowers for the aforementioned wedding today when Dad came into the shop. He went over to the sink where Mom was conditioning flowers, and asked her, "What are we doing about tanning?" Meaning, he decided he needed to tan.

To truly get how hysterical this is, you need to know that my dad is a tall, skinny man who drives a cement truck for a living. Tanning. Hee hee.

But, the story's not over yet. Our friend, who is a state trooper, came in shortly after hilarity ensued, and joined the discussion. Dad said, "How do you, uh, know if things are getting burned?" Our trooper buddy responded, "Well, if you smell burning hot dogs, get out of the tanning bed."

I just cried.

WOOOOOOO!

Noel Gallagher is hoping to make Oasis' most ambitious album in years when the band reconvene in the studio later this year. Though recently explaining that he had four "great" songs left over from the 'Don't Believe The Truth' sessions, the guitarist has told NME.COM that he has expanded his vision for his band's seventh studio album.

I am sincerely hoping this is a new picture of Noel. The sideburns do not appear to be venturing off into Neil Young-ish territory. Seriously, I adore him, but they were truly horrid. This is a massive improvement.

Random Ten

1. The False Husband- Isobel Campbell and Mark Lanegan
2. Getting Away With It- Electronic
3. What She Said- The Smiths
4. Sea Song- Doves
5. Chiquitita- ABBA
6. Bob's Yer Uncle- Happy Mondays
7. Columbia- Oasis
8. Neighborhood #3- Arcade Fire
9. Anarchy In the U.K.- Sex Pistols
10. The Gene Genie- David Bowie

Bonus-
11. Ride A White Horse- Goldfrapp
12. Movin' On Up- Primal Scream

Killers for V

The Killers have been announced as one of the headlining acts for this year's V Festival.

The Las Vegas quartet will headline nights at both the Chelmsford and Staffordshire venues in August, and will also play a set at the Princess Diana Memorial gig at Wembley in July.

The news will almost definitely mean the band are out of the running for the Glastonbury headlining slots, which are yet to be announced.

The Killers and Kasabian were rumored to be Glasto headliners. This leaves the field wide open.

I'll take Arctic Monkeys and Scissor Sisters as Headliners #2 and #3 for $5000, Alex.

I'm also betting that second, third and whatever stages will include the following-

"Diamond" Lily Allen
The Kooks
Ian Brown
Franz Ferdinand
Bloc Party
Dirty Pretty Things
Gnarls Barkley
"La" Amy Winehouse
Charlatans


*Potential wild card for headliner? Oasis.

Madge at The Hacienda

Since this is at FAC 51, maybe I'm just hallucinating (how appropriate) Manc music-type people, but I swear that's the Reverend Shaun Ryder turning to the camera and waving about 35 seconds in.

Holy crap

Oh my Gawd! At some point, my cat was apparently cloned!

Because, my friends, this kitty cat looks exactly like my little furry buddy, Holden Catfield. (I know, I know). Though Holdy has better eyebrow whisker-action.

AND look at the Killer Rabbit! Crazy world, y'all.

Heh. Euuuuuwwwwwwwww!

Seems like the pseudo-incestuous nastiness of Purity Balls is clear to everyone but the folks that throw them.

via Feministing

Uh, NO!

So, the top four are predictable. I think I'd drop Queen, and add in, take your pick, The Stone Roses, The Jam or The Smiths.

But TAKE THAT?????? Jesus, it isn't just the American public that has crap taste.

Rockers Queen have beaten The Beatles to be crowned greatest British band of all time by BBC Radio 2 listeners.

They pipped the Fab Four in a live contest, trouncing other finalists The Rolling Stones, Oasis and Take That.

Suicide Sally and Johnny Guitar get hitched?

Did they or didn't they? Has the tumultuous, on-off, up-down, controversy-laden relationship of Kate Moss and Pete Doherty finally been transformed into a union of man and wife?

According to reports emerging from Thailand, the pair took vows in a Buddhist ceremony at a villa overlooking the shores of a Phuket beach on New Year's Day.

I'm hoping that Kate has the prenup that Macca SHOULD have gotten. And on that note, here's La Winehouse with Rehab, live on Jools Holland.

Speaking of

the dance, here it is! Yay, Pepto Bismol. When I was still teaching in Houston, and having a bad day, one of my chunky monkey students- great kid, BTW- would do this dance to cheer me up. (I taught the same group of TAG kids for 2 years) Almost always worked. The effect was something like Chunk's truffle shuffle in The Goonies.

Gee, I'm thinking I wasn't cut out for teaching.

Effing Hell!

Bowie's 60?

Cats

My favorite commercial. Ever. Well, besides the Pepto Bismol dance.

Current

I feel no sorrow about the death of Saddam Hussein. He was a truly horrible person, who caused much suffering amongst his people. (Though we helped him maintain his strongman position in the 1980s).

However, I worry about the repercussions of the United States invading another country, capturing, and for all intents and purposes, executing their leader, no matter how awful said leader might be. I don't think we should be opening up that particular can of precedent.

Sorry. Will return to the 'vapid' pop culture stuff soon. But this crap pisses me off.

I Think We're Alone Now

I adore Girls Aloud, mainly because of their production team, Xenomania, who try to cram 100 hooks into every piece of pop candy that they produce. And also because the Girls could drink for England.

Easy

Fantastic, filthy song.

Ah, but this made me smile

Later civil rights leader and close friend, Reverend Al Sharpton made a special tribute to the Godfather Of Soul explaining that Brown "was the star for the common people. He looked like us and he performed for us."

He then sent out a message to St Peter asking him to "open up the gates of heaven wide because James Brown likes a lot of room to swagger".

Billy Elliot

One of my favorite movies, one of my favorite Jam songs. Besides Strange Town, Dreams of Children, Going Underground, Beat Surrender, Liza Radley, English Rose.....

Guh

Daniel. Craig. Good. God. Guuuuh. And let me say, there is no such thing as 'too Northern.' Guh. Must retire to the fainting couch.

For some fans he was too short, too blond, too Northern... yet Daniel Craig's 007 has made him the hottest film star of the year. But before you typecast him, his next role is as the gay convicted killer Perry Smith in the Capote biopic Infamous. Liz Hoggard meets Liverpool's shooting star

Oh yeah!

I'm giving a resounding "HELL, YES" to the Independent television critic's choice for best drama.

Drama Life on Mars

Proof that the dead horse of the cop show could be flogged back into life again.

Darlene? Dave. Dave? Darlene.

Ah, that break at the end where Ms. Love gets happy? Sublime. You know Dave feels it, too.

Jay Thomas on Letterman

This, my friends? Is funnier than hell....

Top Ten

Ooo, good one....

1. F*&k Me Pumps- Amy Winehouse
2. Mersey Paradise- Stone Roses
3. Age Of Consent- New Order
4. Working My Way Back To You/Forgive Me Girl- Spinners
5. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town- The Crystals
6. Rise- Doves
7. Love the One You're With- Aretha Franklin
8. Long Hot Summer- Style Council
9. The Payback- Mr. James Brown
10. Love Train- O'Jays

Bonus-
11. Respect Yourself- Staples Singers
12. I Wanna Be Sedated- Ramones
13. Elizabeth, My Dear- Stone Roses
14. Stagger Lee- Lloyd Price

Teach Me Tonight

La Winehouse. Lord, that girl can SING.

Big hearts

This just warms my frozen heart.

Scissor Sisters donated money from their recent sold out tour of the UK to a number of specially chosen charities, according to reports.

The New York City pop icons selected 17 different organisations to benefit from the profits made from their arena shows.

The Simon Centre in Glasgow is understood to have been one of the 17 charities that received money, receiving £1,300 from Jake Shears and co.

Huh?

Ponch, LaToya Jackson (being billed as a singer AND actor), and Jack Freaking Osbourne are taking part in CBS's new duck-out-water reality show, based in Muncie, Indiana. They're cops.

I'm assuming the term 'famous' is being used very loosely here, as well as 'police officer.'

Sex Machine

Gorillaz - Dare

Sex Pistols

Sex Pistols, originally uploaded by modena_musicrock.


Merry Christmas, from the Sex Pistols.

JB

God, I'm a weepy fucking mess about this right now. The world just ain't right without the Hardest Working Man In Show Business, Soul Brother #1, etc.....

James Brown singer and songwriter has died today (December 25) at the age of 73 after being admitted to the Emory Crawford Long Hospital in Atlanta suffering with pneumonia.

It's CHRISSSSSSSTMASSSSSS

The Jam

The Jam, originally uploaded by modena_musicrock.

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas

Sadly, this seemed appropriate for the holiday weekend. Happy birthday, Baby Jesus. We're in Bat Country now..... I know, I know, I'm twisted.

Dirty Pretty Things feat. Tim Burgess

My favorite Charlatans song, North Country Boy, performed by Dirty Pretty Things. With added Tim Burgess goodness!

Nan, You're a Window Shopper

One of the best song titles ever. Seriously. I adore Lily.

Stone Roses - She Bangs the Drums (V.2)

My boys, mugging for the camera.

THIS

is case-in-point why I adore Girls Aloud.

From hipsters to housewives, they're Britain's most untouchable popstars. Teenyboppers love their sparkly style, indie bands love hanging out with the kind of girls who dissed them at school and David Cameron loves them because... well, there's an election to win, right? They're scientific proof that pop music - when done with sass, style and lots of fizzy synth bits - works . And, unlike the production line of media-tamed drones clogging up the rest of the charts, you can spot Girls Aloud a mile off, the kind of group who don't just settle at being snapped getting carried out of clubs - they get snapped being carried into them as well (as Sarah did after this year's Q awards).

Friday 10

1. Hallelujah- Rufus Wainwright
2. Santa Claus Goes Straight To the Ghetto- James Brown
3. Standing In the Way Of Control- The Gossip
4. You Know I'm No Good- Amy Winehouse
5. Satin Chic-Though the Mystic remix (Flaming Lips)- Goldfrapp
6. Hong Kong Garden- Siouxsie and the Banshees
7. Some Velvet Morning- Primal Scream Feat. Kate Moss
8. My Way- Aretha Franklin
9. Christmas (Baby, Please Come Home)- Darlene Love
10. Ramblin' Man- Isobel Campbell and Mark Lanegan

Bonus-
11. Can't Get Out Of Bed- Charlatans
12. Fool's Gold- The Stone Roses

Quote of the year

I have to agree with Alexis Petridis's (The Guardian) choice for quote of the year:

Noel Gallagher on his brother's non-appearance at an awards ceremony: "He's gone to the zoo. The monkeys are bringing their families along to have a look at him."

Party People

This is totally cool- a listing of articles on 24 Hour Party People.

What Winterbottom’s film seems to be examining among other things is the inevitable tensions between the creation of a youth culture which is dependent upon naivety combined with lashings of energy and enthusiasm and the workings of industry and business. Here, as we see, Factory Records and the Hacienda Club cannot sell out. There is quite literally nothing to sell, instead the idealism is eroded and eventually heavily compromised by the real forces of chaos and anarchy in society the ‘lumpen’ criminal classes.

There is no such thing as a utopian 24 Hour Party in which the workings of the system can somehow be ignored in some utopian space. The criminal classes eventually come to control the door and the massive drug fuelled scene in the Hacienda. The drug scene itself can be seen as a part of the reaction of young people to a ‘no future’ type’ of a culture in which the living is done for today not tomorrow.

via BBC America

You Know I'm No Good

Awesome song by Amy Winehouse.

Abbey Road

abbey road, originally uploaded by Bugsy Rocker.

Someday, when I figure out my scanner, I'll upload my ultra-cool pics from London to Flickr. Seriously.

Darlene!

Woo! Ms. Darlene Love is going to be on Letterman on Friday night! Am officially in a festive mood now!

Note- I have a huge soft spot for Dave Letterman. Anyone who would dub his music crew "The World's Most Dangerous Band," have a segment called "Will It Float," have his mom on for Olympic coverage, have Regis wrestle a bear, et al... is a man after my heart.

Also, I've been watching him since I was but a wee girl, when my parents fell asleep. Slackasses.

You learn something new every day

Things that I was not aware of:

1. It's been 6! years since Kirsty MacColl was killed
2. Shane MacGowan is writing for the Guardian

Dafydd? No longer a singleton

Congrats to Matt and Kevin.

When it comes to comedy, Matt Lucas has been inseparable from David Walliams ever since they launched the Little Britain phenomenon more than five years ago. Yesterday, however, the other man in his life emerged when Lucas wed his long-term partner, Kevin McGee.

Spoonbridge and Cherry

Spoonbridge and Cherry, originally uploaded by EmiEmerald.

One of my favorite bits of sculpture.

Random Ten

Let's key up the old iTunes, and see what happens. Okay, that was quite lame, but I really feel I need a segue for these lists.

1. The Man Who Would Be King- The Libertines
2. You Know My Name- Chris Cornell
3. Merry Xmas Everybody- Slade
4. Comfortably Numb- Scissor Sisters
5. Morning Glory- Oasis
6. Wannabe- Spice Girls OH GOD, WHERE DID THAT COME FROM?
7. Breathe- The Prodigy
8. Elephant Stone- The Stone Roses
9. Easy- Sugababes
10. Both Sides Now- Joni Mitchell

Bonus-
Friday Night- Lily Allen

The Queen Of Soul

Oh, I'm going to NEED to see this.....Have listened to the music lots, and have actually read the book.

A bitch adores Aretha Franklin, so my ass was beyond excited to hear that her autobiography Aretha: From These Roots is being turned into a musical which will tour America.

Putting On the Ritz

RIP, Mr. Peter Boyle. Did you know that John Lennon (yes, THAT John Lennon) was the best man at Boyle's wedding? I sure didn't. You learn something new every day.

This scene from 'Young Frankenstein' reduces me to helpless giggles every time.

RS's Songs Of the Year

Can't say I completely agree with this list, but I'm happy to see Gnarls and two of my fav Brits, La Goldfrapp and La Allen, in the top ten.

Velvet Goldmine

Lucky bastards....

Forty years after it was made, The Velvet Underground's first recording has become a financial hit — in cyberspace. Bought for 75 cents four years ago at a Manhattan flea market, the rare recording of music that ended up on the influential New York band's first album, "The Velvet Underground & Nico," sold on eBay for a closing bid of $155,401.

I think the following would go in the "Holy Crap" category-

Warren Hill, a collector from Montreal, bought the record in September 2002 at the flea market, according to an article written by his friend, Eric Isaacson of Mississippi Records in Portland, Ore. in the current issue of Goldmine Magazine.

Isaacson helped Hill decipher the nature of the lucky find.

"We cued it up and were stunned — the first song was not 'Sunday Morning' as on the 'Velvet Underground & Nico' Verve LP, but rather it was 'European Son' — the song that is last on that LP, and it was a version neither of us had ever heard before!" Isaacson wrote.

Yeah, but no, but yeah, but no, but HELL YEAH!

It's a real challenge to find an actress to take on the role of Vicky Pollard's mother.

Who could fit the bill as having spawned the loathsome teen?

Well, there's one lady who is taking it all in her stride...

Dawn French has donned the tracksuit and trainers to play Vicky's mother Shelley in a two-part festive edition of Little Britain.

goldfrapp

There Is A Light That Never Goes Out

Oh, but this song is lovely....

Oh, Lord

The medical professional consulted for this Savage Love column? My cousin's Republican husband, who has an fantastic sense of humor. Seriously. He once said to me, at his wife's grandmother's wake-directly after the Rosary, mind you, "I didn't know they were letting prostitutes in here tonight."

This would have been mildly amusing, but for the fact that the priest who just conducted the service was standing directly behind him, and made some comment that we should watch what we said, blah, blah, blah.... Also, Jeff said that with a live microphone in his vocal range. My family? Still hasn't recovered. I have not laughed that hard in many a year..... My parents laughed until they cried.

Medical and legal risks

Dan Savage discussed the subject in his October 25, 2006 "Savage Love" newspaper column. Savage wrote, "attempting a Donkey Punch can lead to ... unpleasant outcomes", including "injury, death, or incarceration"; he also pointed out that it "doesn't even work". He quoted Dr. Jeffrey Bahr, a faculty member at the Medical College of Wisconsin,

To the best of my knowledge, there is no definitive reflex in the human neurophysiology that induces involuntary tightening of the anal sphincter after receiving blunt-force trauma to the occiput, or back of the head.... Trauma to any part of the skull can have serious ramifications. Pain, intracranial hemorrhage, memory loss, neck injury, and possibly some related sensory deficits in the arms and legs. A strong enough blow to the back of an unsuspecting person's head could result in a vertebral fracture which, I hope most people know, could cause paralysis or even death.

Savage concludes, "Attempt a Donkey Punch and it's likely that your asshole will wind up constricting spasmodically — around your cellmate's cock."^[6]

A Festivus For the Rest Of Us

Dear God, Festivus has it's own Wikipedia entry.....

Festivus is a nondenominational holiday featured in "The Strike" episode of Seinfeld, a popular United States based television sitcom of the 1990s. The holiday was a plot device in the episode, which first aired on December 18, 1997. Many people, influenced or inspired by Seinfeld, now celebrate the holiday, in varying degrees of seriousness. Some do it religiously; others do it with good tidings in their respect to Seinfeld.

According to Seinfeld, Festivus is celebrated each year on December 23, but many people celebrate it other times, often in early December. Its slogan is "A Festivus for the rest of us!!" An aluminium pole is generally used in lieu of a Christmas tree or other holiday decoration, shedding holiday materialism. Those attending participate in the "Airing of Grievances" in which each person tells each and everyone else all the ways they've disappointed him/her over the past year, and after a Festivus dinner, The "Feats of Strength" are performed. Traditionally, Festivus is not over until the head of the household is wrestled to the floor and pinned.

Fairytale of New York

Speaking of the Pogues... Shane McGowan and Kirsty McColl's voices are absolutely fantastic together. And yes, that is Matt Dillon in the video.

This made my day

From Stuff On My Cat. Totally sweet.



Heather, will you marry me? Love, Jeff.
(McMinnville, Oregon)

Christmas #1

Most of us in the US were introduced to the concept of the 'importance' of the Christmas #1 music single in the UK through the movie, "Love, Actually." This article is quite interesting, but I found this bit particularly true for all music, at holiday time or otherwise....

For all their rabble-rousing punk swagger, meanwhile, The Pogues are best remembered for "Fairy Tale of New York". Held at No 2 in 1987 by the Pet Shop Boys' "Always On My Mind", it has grown into a perennial. Challenged by Elvis Costello to write a Christmas classic, Shane MacGowan's lyrics, finding the remaining sparks of love between a boozing, ageing Irish couple, one possibly dying of alcoholism, allied to Jem Finer's redemptive melody, make a heartbreaking record. It was intended to combat "the torture of packaged party time", Finer told Uncut, and every year its mix of harsh Christmas realism and transcendent romance does just that.

The Pogues proved beyond doubt that Christmas is as rich a time as any to write about, once you fight past clichés; and that you can enter the rhythm of people's lives if you succeed.

(War is Over ) Happy Christmas

Lennon died 26 years ago today. His plea for peace? Still quite relevant.

I'm so smart sometimes

When I first heard about Liam loving 'X-Factor,' I thought to myself, "There is not a chance in hell that Big Brother is going to let Our Kid on that show." Guess what? I was right!

Winter Wonderland

Looking through the gallery of pictures in UK Vogue from the Garrard party, I had the following questions flash through my head.....




1. THAT'S Lisa Moorish? (Mother of both Liam Gallagher AND Pete Doherty's children)









2. THAT'S Jemima French? (fashion designer)

















3. THAT'S a woman? (Designer Selina Blow)

Top Ten

1. Come Pick Me Up- Ryan Adams
2. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas- Diana Krall
3. Higher Ground- RHCP
4. Welcome To the Black Parade- MCR
5. Nobody Does It Better- Carly Simon
6. 20th Century Boy- T.Rex
7. Hips Don't Lie- Shakira
8. Peacock Suit- Paul Weller
9. Strange Town- The Jam
10. The Eton Rifles- The Jam

*I swear I didn't screw around with the shuffle function to get 8-10... (former) Girl Scout's Honor.

Bonus-
11. Strict Machine- Goldfrapp
12. Thriller- Ian Brown

Darlene Love on Letterman (2005)

To paraphrase a comment from YouTube, it isn't Christmas until the Divine Darlene Love performs this song on Letterman.

Lab overload

Too cute...... So tie-tie....

Freebase

When I saw this on RS's website, I thought, "Holy fuck, why is there a picture of my darling Mani on Rolling Stone online? Did some writer get religion?" Then I realized that the aforementioned website/magazine is 'getting ideas' from nme.com, again.

You know My Name

I'd like to write something eloquent about how much I enjoyed Casino Royale today, but I seem to be only capable of laughing ala Beavis and Butthead, while visions of Daniel Craig's perfectly formed pecs dance through my head. Like visions of sugarplums, only sexy. Grrrr......

So here's the theme song from the movie.

Joy Division

Joy Division, originally uploaded by disco saturday.

Cool pic of Stephen, Hooky, Ian and Barney.

Amy

What a voice! What a mouth!

So, while we have the chance, let us salute not just that song, but its author. Ames has been in trouble of late - first for heckling Bono at the Q Awards (mid-way through his list of thanks, she said "Shut up. I don't give a fuck," which is not exactly Wildean, though it will do), and then thanks to a rum old duet with Charlotte Church on the latter's TV show. (For anyone who missed it, the pair did their thing on a version of Michael Jackson's Beat It, for which Amy tumbled well away from metre, precise diction and other such trifles and played a strange kind of blinder. You can find out more by going on YouTube and looking for "Church, Winehouse", and you will laugh until it hurts.)

Friday Random Ten

1. I Am the Resurrection- The Stone Roses
2. I'll See It Through- Texas
3. Move Your Body- Marshall Jefferson
4. Run, Run Rudolph- Chuck Berry
5. When You Were Young- The Killers
6. I'm Bad- Rick Ross
7. Shoot the Runner- Kasabian
8. Turn Me On- Norah Jones
9. Koko- Goldfrapp
10. Fade Away- Oasis

Bonus-
11. I Feel Fine- Beatles

The Holiday premiere

Though the Go Fug girls chose to focus on the tragic outfit that Cameron Diaz wore to the premiere of her new movie, The Holiday, I feel they missed an opportunity with the get-up that (alleged) stylist Rachel Roy wore to the same event.

Where to start? The coat with the rumpled hem and weird leather trim? Too many necklaces? The pulled-back hair which is much to severe for such a grandma-esque look? Gray handbag with an otherwise brown ensemble? Not to mention that she appears to have forgotten her skirt, but not in a saucy Cleaver-flirting-with-Jones way. Yikes.....


Hold on, Elroy. I think this is THE Rachel Roy that is married to music-type dude Damon Dash, whom I believe is quite successful. Despite the fact that-if he is whom I think he is- he produced Posh's last (unsuccessful) solo album. Rachel! You have money! Get A Tailor. And also, gray and brown? Not so much.

Baby, It's Cold Outside

As it will be December soon, here in the upper Midwest, the weather is starting to turn freezing-ass cold. (Yikes, December starts in about an hour. Crap, I really need to get cracking on my present-buying/requesting).

Due to a front moving through, we're supposed to get between 4 to 304 inches of snow tonight. Though it hasn't started to snow yet, the news channels have begun their "Breaking News" updates. We've no snow yet, but lots of breaking news.

All is well here, though. I have a Kashwere robe, DSL, a snuggly kitty cat and an electric blanket to keep me warm. Those aren't going to do a DAMN thing for me when I have to go to work tomorrow, though. Shit.

Heh

In my eyes, Billy Crudup has been a skeeve for quite some time. While the post is typically funny, the following is what clinched it for me.

Additional Note: The GFY Terror Watch squad would also like to announce that Wilmer Valderrama has been ejected from the "Guarded" category for looking really rather presentable lately, and not at all as if he hasn't slept in three days. Congratulations, Wilmer. He has been replaced by Chad Michael Murray, who, while appearing relatively physically clean, is a Hilton-banging cheating douchebag pig-dog and therefore merits placement on the scale.

Official Order of the Phoenix Teaser Trailer!

Oh, Lord. I am so excited for this movie!

Shoot The Runner

Oh, this is cool.

Gah. GAH! Part two

Oh, FUCK me! And Kasabian opened? Sweet Baby Jesus on a cracker!

Solo acoustic set list-

'It's Good To Be Free'
'Talk Tonight'
'Fade Away'
'Cast No Shadow'
'The Importance Of Being Idle'
'Listen Up'
'Half The World Away'
'Wonderwall'
'Whatever'
'Slide Away'
'Strawberry Fields'
'Don't Look Back In Anger'
'Married With Children'

Country House

Goodness, Damon was pretty, wasn't he? And looky! Matt Lucas from Little Britain!

What's the Story?

Morning Glory

Stop The Clocks

Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

Cool

ITALY 2006 Portofino 01, originally uploaded by Omunene.

I love random-seeming photos like this.

Turkey Day Random Ten

1. What Is Hip?- Tower Of Power
2. Holidays In the Sun- Sex Pistols
3. Handle With Care- Jenny Lewis
4. Tupelo Honey- Van Morrison
5. Doctor Jimmy- The Who
6. Kill All Hippies- Primal Scream
7. Baby, I Love You- Aretha Franklin
8. Smithers-Jones- The Jam
9. Riot Van- Arctic Monkeys
10. Twist- Goldfrapp

Bonus-
11. Part Of the Queue- Oasis
12. Lucky Star- Basement Jaxx Feat. Dizee Rascal

Gold-FINGA

"He's the man with the MY-das touch."


I want to look as good as Shirley Bassey when I'm older. Crap, she even out-does La Moss!

Good Lord

Simon, I have no idea what you were thinking with this outfit, especially the unfortunate shoes. Hon, you look like a dork. A big one.

I'm going to watch the 'Rio' and 'Hungry Like the Wolf' videos about 25 times each to erase this image from my brain. And I'm not sure that even the table-tossing scene in the latter is going to do the job.

For God's Sake, man, your wife is a supermodel! Let her do your hair. Look at how cute she looks! And let her pick out your clothes, since you obviously can't do it yourself. Do you think that Gela lets John leave the house looking like this? I'm not thinking so!

Sam and the Gene-Genie win big

Oh, HELL yes!

British shows Life on Mars and Little Britain were among the winners at this year's International Emmy awards

Life On Mars was named best drama series at the New York event, while Little Britain won best comedy.

Bridget

I am unable to hear this book's title without thinking, "Oh, it's like Kafka's Motorbike. Is that Mr. Titzherbert, er, Fitzherbert, there?"

Obviously, I am a fan of the collected works of Helen Fielding.

Give me an E!

The Happy Mondays, Oct 05, originally uploaded by barney britton.

Bez sez, "Dance, you bastards!"

Posh! Nice Hat!

I know this will sound vaguely insane, but ever since I saw the hat that Posh wore to the TomKat nuptials, or cosmic space odessey, or whatever they're calling it, I've been dying to know what the Go Fug girls were going to say about it.

(BTW, I thought the hat was fantastic. Phillip Treacy maybe? Could have done without the big string bow on the dress, however. And Becks? Don't wear sweaters. Weller could barely carry them off during his French-ciggie smoking, Style Council days, and you're not the Modfather, love. Just look pretty for the camera).

This? Is hysterical.

PopBitch brought us this seriously entertaining little story about Wolf Gillespie, son of Bobbie Gillespie and fashion stylist Katy England. Apparently Wolf recently got in trouble for doing something vaguely naughty at nursery school, earning him a scolding from his teacher. Instead of sobbing or throwing an appropriately melodramatic fit, the four-year-old reportedly shrugged and said, “It’s only rock & roll.”

I Needed So Much More

Rainclouds, oh they used to chase me,
down they would pour.
Join my tears,
allay my fears,
sent to me from heaven,
Sally Cinnamon, you're my world.


Back Turner Street , Manchester UK, originally uploaded by marky1969.

This picture made me smile, like the song always does.

Bridge over Mississippi River: Burlington, IA USA

Bridge over Mississippi River: Burlington, IA USA, originally uploaded by troeth.

This is what we see when we drive into downtown B-ton.

Venteux...!*

Venteux...!*, originally uploaded by imapix.

Wow- what a gorgeous composition to this photo.

Oooo, chocolate

Recipes from the Guardian. Anything that contains the words 'molten, chocolate and pudding' in the description, I'm going to be wild about. Now, if I could just figure out what the hell 'caster sugar' was, we'd be set. Or what the UK measurements meant in Iowegian. Shit. I'm screwed.

Molten Chocolate Pudding

This pudding can be likened to a volcano. When you cut into it, molten chocolate 'lava' will erupt from the centre. You will need a pudding bowl with a capacity of 1.5-1.8 litres or small individual ramekins, and a lidded saucepan into which it or they will fit. The saucepan needs to fit in the oven.

For the molten centre

125g dark chocolate (70% cocoa solids)
15g butter
50ml double cream
25g caster sugar

For the pudding

200g dark chocolate (70% cocoa solids)
100g unsalted butter, at room temperature
100g caster sugar
6 eggs, separated
100g plain flour
40g cornflour
11/2; tsp baking powder

First make the centre. Melt all the ingredients over very low heat. Pour into a small bowl, cover it and leave in the freezer for approximately 20 minutes until firm.

Preheat the oven to 180C/gas 4. Grease the bowl with a little butter smeared on its wrapper. Sift in a little flour and shake the bowl around until covered with a dusting of flour. Slowly melt the chocolate in a small bowl over hot water or in a microwave. Cream the butter and sugar in a large bowl with a wooden spoon for a minute or two until pale and fluffy. Then take a whisk and whisk in the egg yolks one by one. Whip the egg whites into soft peaks and reserve. Add the flour, cornflour and baking powder to the butter/sugar/egg mix and stir in with a wooden spoon. Fold in the melted chocolate, then the egg whites. Start with just a small proportion of the whites, then when the mixture has loosened up fold in the rest. Pour a third of the mix into the pudding bowl, then retrieve the chocolate from the freezer and lay the set 'plug' on top. Add the rest of the pudding mix. Cover the bowl with greaseproof paper and tin foil.

Place the pudding in its bowl in the saucepan and pour in water until it comes halfway up the bowl. Put the lid on the saucepan and bring to the boil on the stove top. As soon as the contents begin to bubble, place the saucepan in the oven for 1 hour. If you are making small puddings, bake for 30 minutes. You can also cook the puddings in a steamer. Take the saucepan out of the oven, extract the pudding from the bowl and leave it to rest for 15 minutes before serving with double cream or vanilla ice cream.

This is cool

How to make your own fresh evergreen wreath! Believe me, these are usually very expensive. Pretty, but pricey.

Big Wheel, Edinburgh, Scotland

Big Wheel, Edinburgh, Scotland
Originally uploaded by David Hall Photography.

This is from flickr. I'm going to be wasting way too much time on this site, I fear.

Welch Ave. Station

Welch Ave. Station, originally uploaded by r3dcurlz.

This was my bar of choice in college. Why? Let me count the ways....

1. Cheap
2. Dollar daiquiris on Thursday nights.
3. Easily manipulated rock-snob DJ's. I'm telling you, request the Spinners, and you're golden.
4. 'South Park' Wednesday nights
5. My friends were there.
6. The Pizza Pit, home of the world's best cheese bread? Upstairs.
7. I only vomited there once. Less humiliating glances from the aforementioned wait staff...

Awesome

Since it's getting to be Turkey Day time, I thought I'd post my friend, Jenn's Sour Cream Apple Pie recipe. It's truly killer. Make it, and try not to eat the whole thing. Yourself.

Sour Cream Apple Pie
Filling
2 T. flour
1/8 tsp. salt
3/4 c. sugar
1 egg
1 c. sour cream
1 tsp. vanilla
1/4 tsp nutmeg
little bit of cinnamon
3 cups of diced apples
9″ pie crust (unbaked)

Topping
1/2 cup flour
1/3 cup sugar
1/3 cup dark brown sugar
1/2 tsp cinnamon
5 T. butter

Sift together flour, salt and sugar in a large mixing bowl. Add egg, sour cream, vanilla and nutmeg. Beat to a thick, smooth batter; stir in apples. Pour into 9-inch unbaked pie crust. Bake at 400 degrees for 15 minutes. Reduce heat to 350 and bake for 30 minutes. Mix flour, sugar, dark brown sugar and cinnamon. Cut in butter. Remove pie from oven and top with sugar mixture. Return to 400 degree oven for 10 minutes.

Friday Random Ten

On Thursday, that is....

1. Ugly- Sugababes
2. And So This Is Christmas- Lennon
3. Acquiesce- Oasis
4. Noise Annoys- Buzzcocks
5. Can't Knock 'Em Out- Lily Allen
6. Lido Shuffle- Boz Scaggs
7. Every Time I Roll the Dice- Delbert McClinton
8. Levon- Elton John
9. I Shall Be Released- The Band
10. Transmission- Joy Division

Bonus-
11. Rehab- Amy Winehouse
12. Long Hot Summer- The Style Council

Salon has a point

Okay, so The Clooney has been the Most Shaggable Man On Earth or similar before. I have to get behind their list, which includes:

Stephen Colbert
Alton Brown
Jon Stewart

and the Piece De Freaking Resistance-
Alan Rickman

A-freaking-men, Salon. A-FREAKING-MEN.

Several questions

Full disclosure here. Despite the fact that I am very open-minded, groovy and multi-cultural and everything, the Black-Eyed Peas (the musical group, not the lovely food) annoy the hell out of me. Specifically, Fergie.

I used to think that it was just the song 'My Humps,' but no, it's her. And I try, as a rule, to stay away from bashing females, because of the rampant anti-female vibe that often lies underneath said bashing.

Why does she irritate me? Because of crap like this.

The woman responsible for introducing “fergilicious” into our pop-cultural vocabulary recently sat down with Vibe and calmly explained that those who mock her voice mock God. “I may not have the type of voice you like, but I can sing,” the Dutchess reportedly said. “You can’t take that away from me, ‘cause singing is a gift from God, and when people say I can’t sing, it’s kind of like insulting God.”

Okay, why is it necessary to bring God into it? Also, if mocking her voice is mocking the Big Guy (or Girl- again, I'm very groovy and non-gender specific in the addressing of deities), then it wouldn't be a big stretch to say Fergie herself not liking her face would be disrespectful to the Person Upstairs. So why would you (allegedly) have massive amounts of 'work' done? Wouldn't that be against God's Plan? Hmmmm?

Buzzcocks On Tour

Yet another cruel reminder that I live in the Midwest. And have no $$ to go to the U.K. to attend concerts. Oh Shit.

The Buzzcocks have announced a special birthday tour to round off the year.

The tour “Buzzcocks 30” will also include a retrospective photo exhibition at the shows with classic shots from the 70s and 80s by Chris Gabrin and Kevin Cummins.

The exhibition will also feature the band’s original album artwork by pioneering graphic designer Malcolm Garrett. He was responsible for designing the eye-catching sleeve artwork for all of their early records including 1980’s “A Different Kind Of Tension.”

Oh, he brought sexy back a while ago

Articulate, amusing, handsome, knows how to work a tux like nobody's business.

And he's the Go Fug Yourself girls's intern!
(This would be in the same universe where I'm the future Mrs.
Noel Gallagher).

The 'Intern George' files. Works of comic genius.

Your Sexiest Man Alive, people. The Clooney.