Oh, hell

This is just awful.

Mrs. Edwards, 57, was first diagnosed with cancer in the final weeks of the 2004 campaign. The day after Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry and Edwards, his running mate, conceded the election to George W. Bush, Edwards announced that his wife had invasive ductal cancer, the most common type of breast cancer, and would undergo treatment.

Mrs. Edwards underwent several months of radiation and chemotherapy for the lump in her breast. Her husband's campaign has said she had recovered from the illness.

``I don't look sickly, I don't feel sickly. I am as ready as any person can be for that,'' she said at the news conference.

John Edwards said a biopsy of her rib had showed that the cancer had returned.

The bone is one of the most common places where breast cancer spreads, and once it does so it is not considered curable.

Mark Ronson

regarding The Winehouse:

“I think if the music wasn’t as good as it was maybe she would become maybe just tabloid fodder, but there’s no denying that talent. There’s nothing you could say.”

Manchester loves Ms. Dolly

and I do, too. There aren't too many songwriters more talented,

It's little wonder her British fans cleared the M.E.N. Arena box office of tickets for her show on Tuesday in less than a day. She's the woman who brought us THE anthem for the working classes, 9 to 5, the most poignant appeal to the other woman ever committed to song, Jolene, and the track that put Whitney Houston back on the musical map, I Will Always Love You (only, Dolly's version didn't come with a warning to protect any nearby glass objects from potential sound-related damage).

performers more witty

Take her retort to a reporter who asked whether her breasts (or as Dolly refers to them, her 'show dogs') were real: "They're real big and real expensive," she quipped. And then there's her unforgettable assertion that "it takes a lot of money to look this cheap".

But there's plenty of others; "If I have one more face lift I'll have a beard", "If I see something sagging, bagging and dragging, I'm going to nip it, tuck it and suck it", her wig confessional "wherever I hang my hair that's my home", the tale that her famous busty blonde image is based on a local prostitute, or the story of the day she lost a Dolly Parton look-alike competition that she sneaked into, unbeknown to the judges.

and more generous than Dolly Parton.

But she's been generous with the bounty. Dolly set a literacy programme - inspired by her father's illiteracy - called the Imagination Library, which mails a book each month to every child in Sevier County, where Dolly grew up, from their birth to their first day in kindergarten.

The scheme has been replicated in more than 550 counties in America and exported to Canada, and Dolly has won countless awards for it. In addition, she's opened a bald eagle sanctuary at her theme park and worked with AIDs victims and cancer patients to raise money for associated charitable groups.

I have to tell you

I think I'd rather live next door to Pete and La Moss rather than Chris Martin and Gwyneth Paltrow.

Seriously, who'd have the best parties? The Libertine and the libertine, er, supermodel, or a Coldplay-er and a talented but rather insufferable actress

I think we know my answer to that particular question....

Carling Weekend

Can't say that I'm particularly excited about the headliners, but the second and third stages? Oh, but those are quite good....

Razorlight, Red Hot Chili Peppers and Smashing Pumpkins have been confirmed as the headliners for the Carling Weekend: Reading And Leeds Festivals 2007, NME.COM can announce tonight (March 19).

Meanwhile Ash, The View and Klaxons are set to headline the NME/Radio One Stage.

Others acts confirmed to play include Kings of Leon, Interpol, Arcade Fire, Bloc Party, Panic! At The Disco, Biffy Clyro, Fall Out Boy, CSS and LCD Soundsystem.

The three day even will take place between August 24-26.

Pop and literature

Using song titles as writing prompts, a new series of short stories is being published this summer. The Fall's book is first, with others to follow. Sounds interesting. I'm thinking that the chapter on 'This Charming Man' will be a bit slashy.

And while Mr Wild originally intended to publish the anthology himself, Serpent's Tail then took on the project. Perverted by Language: Fiction Inspired by The Fall will be launched on 1 July at the inaugural Manchester International Festival with a gig by the band.

A further five volumes along the same lines are already in the works. A clutch of American authors are among those to have contributed to the second book, The Empty Page: Fiction Inspired by Sonic Youth, the American rockers, which will be issued in April next year. Writers including Mike Gayle, Nic Kelman, Mil Millington and Kate Pullinger have contributed to Paint a Vulgar Picture, a volume based on The Smiths, and Pleasant Dreams, inspired by The Ramones, will follow.

There will be a Joy Division anthology entitled Incubation, for which The Damned Utd author David Peace has already agreed to write, and the series will conclude with What Goes On, inspired by the Velvet Underground.

The Fratellis - Chelsea Dagger (Jools)

I purchased this Cd yesterday, and I've listened to this song, oh, about 50 times. Seriously.

Cortina, Cortina

The 1974 Ford Cortina used in hit BBC police drama Life on Mars has been auctioned on eBay, raising almost £13,000 for Comic Relief.

The car, seen in two hit series of the show about a modern-day police officer who finds himself transported to the 1970s, sold for £12,800.

Lucky bastards

At SXSW

Buzzcocks played a rousing set at South by Southwest today (March 16), closing out Spin Magazine's party at Stubb's Barbeque on a high note.

The seminal punk-pop band were introduced by former Jane's Addiction frontman and Lollapalooza founder Perry Farrell, who emphasised the band's longevity and tremendous influence.

Guitarist/vocalist Pete Shelley exhibited the energy of a 20-year-old, and led his band through the paces during their hour-plus set.

"Austin power, yeah baby!" he said, and the crowd erupted.

The band, which recently celebrated their 30th anniversary, played several hits from their early days including 'Orgasm Addict', 'Sick City Sometimes', 'Promises' and 'Ever Fallen In Love'.

The View- Wasted Little Dj's

Warning- I'm going to be yapping A LOT about the boys from Dundee in the near future.

Random ten

1. Baby Fratelli- The Fratellis
2. Oh My God- Kaiser Chiefs
3. Shattered- The Rolling Stones
4. Take A Chance On Me- ABBA
5. Don't Leave Me This Way- Thelma Houston
6. Shoot To Thrill- AC/DC
7. Pornography- Client feat. Carl Barat
8. Oh My Gosh- Basement Jaxx
9. Girls and Boys- Blur
10. Sin Wagon- Dixie Chicks

Bonus-
11. Overjoyed- Stevie Wonder
12. Brianstorm- Arctic Monkeys
13. Ooh La La- Goldfrapp
14. Hit The Ground Running- Doves

Hail, Hail, Rock and Roll

Director Taylor Hackford talking about the documentary he made (with Keith Richards) about Chuck Berry. The process of making this movie about drove Keef around the bend. Horse didn't do what Chuck almost did. (He was prickly and uncooperative)

This bit is unreal.

And then, finally, the thing that I thought was incredibly fascinating was the tour that he did of England in 1973, and the fact that he insisted on being paid in pounds. In the end he had something like £250,000, which disappeared, and then inevitably the American tax service caught him, and instead of just coming clean - I mean, the man had the money - and paying the fine, he went to jail. And took an accounting class.

In the process of making this film, my wife, who is English [she is Dame Helen Mirren] was along with us. One time, Chuck asked her: "If you have a lot of pounds, and you want to get them back to the US, how would you do that?" She said: "Well, Chuck, I think what I would do is buy Victorian antiques and bring them in and then sell them because there's a big market for that". And he said: "Oh, very interesting." I need say no more.

The NME is trying to kill me, part 750

Part of an ongoing series.

Following his band Primal Scream being named Godlike Geniuses at this year's Shockwaves NME Awards, the band are now set to answer your questions.

NME.COM's sister title Uncut is staging an audience with the band's legendary bass player - and former Stone Roses man - Mani next week, and they want your queries.

Ever wondered how wide those Madchester flares were? What is his favourite fashion statement: the bucket hats or the white suit? Or perhaps you want to know who the ultimate frontman is: Ian Brown or Bobby Gillespie?

If there's anything you want to ask the "World's Greatest Bass Player" then send your questions to uncutaudiencewith@ipcmedia.com with Mani in the subject line.

I know of a question that I'd like to ask Mr. Mounfield. "Fancy a....." whoops, was that out loud? Naughty Cygirl....

From the DPT website

Yes, that sign says "More cowbell." Too cool for school.

Girls Aloud - Medley Live At Wembley

Amy Winehouse-Back to Black

"All thoughts of sleep desert me, there is no time,

thirty minutes brings me round to her number nine."

This is why I'm going to hell.

Last weekend, the flower shop that I work at, was hit with a last minute funeral, necessitating my working on a Sunday (we're not usually open that day).

So, I'm designing away and singing along to a song on of my Stone Roses Cd's.

What's the problem?

Well, I was putting together several arrangements for the funeral, one from a church and the other from a Bible study group from that church. And the song I was singing?

"Going Down."

For those of you unfamiliar with the collected works of Ian, John, Mani and Reni, yes, THAT type of going down.

I'm in soooooo much trouble......

Stuff On My Mutt

Coming soon from the crazy bastards who brought you Stuff On My Cat.

La Moss's Topshop collection

I must have this outfit. Must. Have. It.

Thanks for finding the scans, QB!
via

Amy, Amy, Amy

Y'all-

I've been preaching the Winehouse gospel since last November. Her album dropped here today, and girlfriend sobered up enough to perform on Dave Letterman's show last night.

Go get the album. Now. It's fantastic. You won't regret it. Her voice is unreal. Her songwriting is better. And she even invented a new curse word- "Fuckery."

Go get it. Seriously. Why are you still reading this? You should be opening iTunes or on your way to the store!

Kisses,
Cygirl

If I were Yoko Ono

I'd be calling my financial manager and having them cut a check. Say what you will about Mrs. Lennon, but there are very few people who have guarded their dead spouse's legacy more fiercely than she. For 25+ years, even.

Pop superstar Michael Jackson is being forced to sell the remaining rights to The Beatles songs he owns in a bid to pay off outstanding debts.

The Thriller star purchased the group's back catalogue in 1985, but sold part ownership of the songs to record company Sony in 1995, using the rest as security for loans in a deal rumoured to have made the star GBP750 million.

However, under the deal, Jackson must sell the rest of the rights to Sony by 31 May next year after they helped him repay a GBP140 million loan.

Great dress

The link is to an arcticle about photographer Richard Young auctioning off some of his work. Interesting. But the reason I linked to it? I love the dress La Moss has on.

picture by Richard Young

DPT

DPT.39, originally uploaded by scottspy.

Boy love is wonderful, isn't it? Oh yeah, the Stanley Monster rears it's mop-topped head again.

Marina City Towers

Marina.Tower, originally uploaded by scottspy.

AKA the Wilco towers. From Yankee Hotel Foxtrot

Oh, LORD

The following is why I love Athenae from First Draft. There are very few people who can rant as coherently as she.

The piece she's having kittens about? Said that Hillary Clinton could take some lessons from Katie Couric. Yes, it makes my head hurt, too.

Diplomacy, intelligence, and genuine leadership abilities a plus.

THEY'RE NECESSITIES. Jesus Christ with a root beer popsicle, they're fucking necessities in the presidency. Woodrow Wilson was a sexist asshole. Bill Clinton fucked around on his wife. George Washington, even by the standards of the day, was pretty fugly. Abraham Lincoln was not the dude you'd invite to your party to liven it up. Yet: smart guys. Leaders. Their "diplomacy, intelligence, and genuine leadership abilities" weren't "pluses," they were reasons they succeeded in the job. These things aren't optional in our candidates. They aren't like getting a spoiler on the back of your car. They're the fucking transmission.

Exhaustion

Since my mom is out of town and we had a wedding* this weekend, we kind of figured that all hell would break loose at the flower shop. And how! We now have a funeral visitation both tomorrow and Monday, and since funerals generally come in threes, we're due another one.

Jen and I were going to stay late today and make both the casket sprays, but when we were both incapable of forming a sentence, we decided to make a fresh start tomorrow.

But it's all good now- I've had a glass of Chardonnay and a Benadryl, and am settling in for a lovely nap. Yay!

*this was a fairly small wedding- only 10 corsages and bouts, 3 bouquets and a few church pieces, but it's never that simple. First, you have to make the arrangements, then on the day of the wedding, double check to make sure that everything is done, then get it to the church on time and set up. It takes time and skill- even for a small wedding.

New obsessions, late nite edition

So as previously mentioned, The Bees have turned me into a Dirty Pretty Things fan. Especially Anthony "Stanley" Rossamondo. And, obviously, Carl "Carlos" Barat. The appeal of the former cannot be more clearly stated than in this post of Odd Bee's. Isn't he darling?

And let me give a "Laurel and Hardy handshake" to the boy-love thing. Mmmm.....

Why we love Stanley so....

This is why we started to love Stanley immediately after the concert where we had full intentions to just worship Mr. Barat. (The first photo where Miss Odd Bee said hmmm, I'm glad I stood on the right side of the stage!)

1. With those curls, he totally fits into our whole Dogs In Space era Michael Hutchence thing.


2. Those curls.

3. He and Carlos love each other and we love Boy Love.


4. Kate was after him and he did hang with her one night and then later admitted he had spent a little too long in her company. HA HA

5. Those curls.

6. He's a Connecticut Yankee and part of the Boston scene (where I lived for five years) so he's our boy.

7. Want a sandwich?


This concludes our ode to Anthony "Stanley" Rossomando.

As you were.

Dirty Pretty Things - Bang Bang You're Dead

The Bees have made a believer of me. Thanks, ladies. Like I need another band to be obsessed with. Oh well, there's always room for more.....

Random Ten

1. Out Of the Sinking- Paul Weller
2. I Hope You're Happy Now- Elvis Costello
3. Tired Of Hanging Around- The Zutons
4. Addicted- Amy Winehouse
5. Pounding- Doves
6. Levon- Elton John
7. Atomic Dog- George Clinton
8. Hard To Beat- Hard-Fi
9. Girlfriend In a Coma- The Smiths
10. Love Bites- Def Leppard

Bonus-
11. Going Down- The Stone Roses
12. Bang Bang You're Dead- Dirty Pretty Things
13. Wasted Little DJ's- The View
14. What Became Of the Likely Lads- The Libertines

Billboard is trying to kill me

First in the series.

New Order bassist Peter Hook is gathering some famous friends to collaborate on his "supergroup" project, Freebase.

The trio -- which comprises Hook, Smiths bassist Andy Rourke and Primal Scream bassist Mani (formerly of Stone Roses) -- will turn the mic over to some of Manchester, England's best-known frontmen.

"We've been working with some great singers," Hook tells Billboard. "(The Charlatan's) Tim Burgess has done a vocal for us. (Oasis') Liam Gallagher, I believe, is doing one [song], (Stone Roses') Ian Brown and (Primal Scream's) Bobby Gillespie."

I am telling you now. The versuscancer concert? Two of the Roses are going to be there. (Ian and my darling Mani)

John? Reni? Whatcha doin' at the end of March?

The NME is trying to kill me

Part of a ongoing series.

Noel Gallagher has joined pal Paul Weller in confirming that he will play at the gig at the Versus CancerMEN Arena, Manchester on March 30.

The Oasis star also joins the likes of Ian Brown, The Charlatans and Echo & The Bunnymen at the charity bash organised by former member of The Smiths, Andy Rourke.

After a number of collaborations at last year's event, including Andy Rourke and Johnny Marr playing together, there is speculation that Weller may join up with Gallagher, as he did in London late last year, and Tim Burgess.

I have no money

Yet I just found 15 bucks to purchase this book. The Stone Roses by Alex Green. All about the Roses first album. SQQQUUUUUUUUUUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!

A bow in the general direction of Kazza....

Digital

Yes, this is New Order playing "Digital," the Joy Division song they haven't done in years. Yes, that is my favorite actor, John "24 Hour Party People; Life On Mars" singing alongside Bernard. The person he portrayed in 'Party People.' And my first crush, Peter Hook. I need to lay down now.

Doves - Caught by the river

Fantastic song.

backstreet in the neighborhood

backstreet in the neighborhood, originally uploaded by motocchio.

Such a cool picture. The street lights seem to extend to infinity.

Interview with Alex Arctic at the NME Awards

If you've forgotten what loopily drunk looks like, let me direct you towards this interview with young Mr. Turner at the Shockwave awards. Absolutely adorable. And regarding the potential Monkeys/ Girls Aloud collaboration, well, you can't blame the boys for trying. Look at them! They're obviously attempting to not burst into laughter at their good fortune. Bless them.

Amy & the Arctics

The Winehouse to open for the Sheffield lads at Old Trafford.

Arctic Monkeys have named the groups that will support them at their upcoming summer stadium shows.

Supergrass, The Coral and Amy Winehouse will play warm-up to the Sheffield indie sensation at the Lancashire County Cricket Ground shows.

Speaking about the acts, The Monkeys said: "When we decided to do our own event, we wanted to play with people whose music we love and just make it a really fun day out for the fans.

"Supergrass, The Coral and Amy Winehouse are all amazing live acts and three of our favourite artists. We're really looking forward to playing together. It's going to be two days of great music."

The shows, which support the new Arctic Monkeys album, "Favourite Worst Nightmares", take place on July 28 and 29.

Do-doo-doo-doo-doooh-DAH!

Please excuse the conga line. My current bout with stomach flu be damned, IT'S FITZMAS!

Vice President Dick Cheney's former chief of staff, I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, was convicted Tuesday of lying and obstructing a leak investigation that reached into the highest levels of the Bush administration.

Libby is the highest-ranking White House official to be convicted of a felony since the Iran-Contra scandal of the mid-1980s. The case brought new attention to the Bush administration's much-criticized handling of weapons of mass destruction intelligence in the run-up to the Iraq war.

The verdict culminated a nearly four-year investigation into how CIA official Valerie Plame's name was leaked to reporters in 2003. The trial revealed how top members of the administration were eager to discredit Plame's husband, former Ambassador Joseph Wilson, who accused the administration of doctoring prewar intelligence on Iraq.

Dior Homme

Gee, I'm thinking that Hedi Slimane has been listening to a lot of Joy Division.


His collection circa 2007-






















Ian Curtis circa late 1970's-













picture via

Hermes

When I first saw the pics from Jean-Paul Gaultier's collection for Hermes, I thought, "My God, that's too Francoise Hardy for words." Yep, I nailed the cultural reference. And I want that jacket. And hat.

The Libertines - Boys In The Band

For my friends who have never understood what all the fuss was about Messrs. Doherty and Barat.

More Fashion Week

Well, now I've started looking at all the shows. Loved, loved, LOVED the fitted jackets at Balenciaga. I'm quite curvy, so fitted jackets are my best defense against looking, uh, chubby, rather than va-va-voom.

Paris fashion week

I've not quite caught up on the happenings from Paris fashion week, but this coat from Vionnet is my favorite look thus far. It looks soft, warm and cuddly yet extremely chic.

Hysterical

From The Onion

GWYNEDD, WALES—Calling it the planet's last, best hope for saving rock music, the Guardians of the Protectorate of Rock announced Monday that they would take the extraordinary step of unleashing a never-before-heard Jimmy Page riff, hidden for decades in a mythic, impenetrable vault.

....

"Citizens of Rock, we refuse to stand idly by any longer," ZZ Top founder and Protectorate High Elder Billy Gibbons said. "When a puss like James Blunt is allowed to rule the airwaves, we must respond by exposing this monster riff, and blowing minds into the stratosphere."

....

However, after piecing together clues hidden in Yes album covers and Pink Floyd liner notes, rock historians now believe the riff is locked away deep beneath the Welsh countryside house known as Bron-Yr-Aur, at rock-grid coordinates SH735026. British weather satellites have also photographed an enormous cloud, shaped like a hybrid of an upside-down question mark and cross, forming above these exact coordinates.

Primal Scream - Burning Wheel

On Jools Holland's show.

Sisters are doing it for themselves

This article mentions many of the things about Lily Allen and Amy Winehouse that made me develop mad straight-girly crushes on them. As much as I enjoy the whole celebrity red-carpet thing, it's nice to see women who aren't primped, waxed, styled and starved to within an inch of their lives. Behaving themselves.

Amy has been very honest about her issues with bulimia, alcohol, drugs and men. No apologies, it's just who she is. When Diamond Lil didn't win at the Brit Awards, did she smile pretty for the camera and tell reporters that she was honored to be nominated? HELL NO! She went and got knee-walking drunk with the Brothers Gallagher. (lucky)

It's just refreshing, the lack of apologizing for being young.

cross-posted at Oh, Bee-Have

Doves - Pounding

Live on Jools. I could not love this song more. Doves are a regular on my playlist at the flowershop on Saturday mornings, along with The Smiths, The Mondays, New Order, Oasis and The Roses. Manchester bands feel like Saturday to me. Especially rainy Saturdays. And I mean that in the Goldfrapp sort of way. "You're my Saturday."

I hope that doesn't sound too insane. Oh well.

Boy, Liz Hurley knows how to throw weddings

I can hardly wait to see the piccies in Hello!

Although the invitation given to guests said they would be going to the pair's 'marriage' it emerged yesterday that they had actually wed the day before in a private civil ceremony at the castle.

That did not stop 41-year-old Hurley from throwing an extravagant affair to celebrate her nuptials. She arrived in the morning and had a team of four hairdressers, three make-up artists and a dresser to help her prepare. Nayar, 42, arrived at 3.15pm in a blue Bentley.

The perimeter of the castle was protected by security guards who stopped passers-by walking along footpaths that were too close to the walls.

The couple were determined to protect their lucrative Hello! magazine, rumoured to be worth £2m, that gives the publication exclusive rights to photographs inside the party, set in a white marquee on the castle's grounds.

Afterwards Hurley and Nayar will take guests to Mumbai where there will be a week of events, including a traditional Hindu ceremony and cricket match.

Empire - NME awards 2007

Um, Senator Reid?

Senator Lieberman is NOT a Democrat.

He's an Independent. An actual Democrat, Ned Lamont, beat him in the primary. Therefore, and I'm going out on a limb here, I don't think he should give the Democratic radio address this week. Because he's not a Democrat.

Bootlicking pissant, yes.

Democrat, no.

Thanks,
Phoebe

Girls just wanna have fun

Looks like Nicola and Sarah had a good time at the NME awards, bless them.

Modfather for versuscancer

FUCK ME! This is going to be a hell of a show!

MODFATHER Paul Weller is the latest legend to sign up for Manchester charity extravaganza Versus Cancer.

The former Jam and Style Council frontman, who has topped charts over three decades with tracks like The Eton Rifles, Shout to the Top, and Wild Wood, will join a star-studded line-up at the MEN Arena show.

The March 30 concert, organised by former The Smiths' bassist Andy Rourke and his charity the Great Northern Aid Trust, promises to raise thousands for cancer research, with charities like Christie Hospital set to benefit.

Stone Roses singer Ian Brown, Echo and the Bunnymen, and nineties soul-rockers McAlmont and Butler are already confirmed, and Paul Weller is expected to team-up on stage with Charlatans singer Tim Burgess.

Random Ten

1. Bad Reputation- Joan Jett and the Blackhearts
2. Goodbye Earl- Dixie Chicks
3. Round Round- Sugababes
4. Half The World Away- Oasis
5. Can't Get Out Of Bed- Charlatans
6. Take Me To The River- Al Green
7. Mr. Brownstone- GNR
8. Hot Soft Light- The Hold Steady
9. The Winner Takes It All- ABBA
10. Ruby- Kaiser Chiefs

Bonus-
11. Judy Is a Punk- Ramones
12. Out On the Tiles- Led Zeppelin
13. Sound Of the Underground- Girls Aloud
14. Strict Machine- Goldfrapp

Scream Team with special guest....

Mick Jones! See previous post as to why Conor McNicholas presented the Screamers with the award.

Primal Scream have bagged the prestigious Godlike Genius prize at the Shockwaves NME Awards tonight (March 1) - and they celebrated by offering up a major surprise during their live performance.

The band's name was announced at London's Hammersmith Palais by NME editor Conor McNicholas and Clash legend Mick Jones.

Jones then joined them onstage to play a version of The Clash's legendary 1978 single '(White Man) In Hammersmith Palais'.

The band also performed their classic singles 'Movin' On Up', 'Country Girl', 'Rocks' and 'Swastika Eyes'.

During their acceptance speech, frontman Bobby Gillespie thanked new bands such as The View and The Gossip.

Snicker

No comment-

Pete Doherty and his model girlfriend Kate Moss left the Shockwaves NME Awards 2007 early tonight (March 1).

The couple were were asked to leave the ceremony by security after a series of incidents at the ceremony held at Hammersmith Palais.

According to a source who spoke to NME.COM on the condition of remaining anonymous, the couple got into trouble after becoming too amorous for the security personel's liking.

The source said the loved-up pair were first caught trying to get into the venue's toilets together and were later caught in an alleyway at the back of the building together.

The anonymous source said: "Pete and Kate were trying to get into the premises' toilets but they were removed by the bouncers and told to go back to their table.

"Later they were both caught in a dark alleyway at the back of the building. So we got their own security guards to put them in a car and take them home."

For the record

I think it's freaking ridiculous that I'm still using my heavy duvet and electric blanket, and we're supposed to have thunderstorms, potentially severe storms, tonight. It's 35 degrees.

FUCKING SNOW ALREADY! NO MORE OF THIS ICE SHIT.

Thank you.

NME awards

To say that there is some potential for mayhem at the NME awards tomorrow, is a massive understatement. There's an open bar and rock stars. Tewtelly cool.

Oscar fashion roundup

My thoughts are as follows:

Trends
a- Navy blue and aubergine (Emily Blunt and Reese Witherspoon)
b- One-shouldered dresses (Kate Winslet and Cate Blanchett)
c- straight hair is back (Mrs. Urban and Mrs. Martin)

Unfortunate mishaps
a- Jennifer Hudson being led astray by Andre Leon Talley (Vogue) and Oscar De La Renta. I think Andre took his weight off too fast, and this resulted in his thinking that it was Studio 54 in the late 1970's, not the Academy Awards in 2007.
Mr. Talley, let's just put it this way- Bianca Jagger ain't going to be riding a horse through this after-party.

And Mr. De La Renta? He dresses skinny socialites, wives of Dr. Strangelove (Annette Kissinger) and SJP, who haven't consumed actual food since, well, Studio 54 in the 1970's. It's not J-Hud's fault.

b- I've said for a while that Chanel and Valentino were slipping. And now, this is being shifted from theory to scientific (fashion) law. Case in point- Kirsten Dunst and Cameron Diaz's respective dresses.

Kirsten's was couture. I get couture. It was still weird. And Cameron's looked like an odd combo of the curtains in my posh Aunt Sandy's front living room (the one where you can't sit on the furniture) and my junior prom dress. Only my prom dress wasn't a Valen-Freaking-Tino.

And I'd like to state for the record, I want to look like Helen Mirren when I finally grow up.

Hookerific

Why am I not terribly surprised that Steve Jones is the only one who doesn't deny knowing the madam? Once a Sex Pistol, always a Sex Pistol.

That was awful. My apologies.

In "Secrets of a Hollywood SuperMadam," an autobiography due in bookstores Thursday, Gibson names two dozen celebrities she says patronized her call-girl service.

Many of the names also appear in her phone books, a payment log and other records from the case that have been unsealed by Los Angeles Superior Court and can now be viewed in unredacted form.

A review of the court file shows that Gibson listed actor Bruce Willis; former Dodgers Manager Tom Lasorda; Steve Jones, the Sex Pistols guitarist and KDLE-FM (103.1) radio jock; and the late film producer Don Simpson, among others.

via Salon

V Festival lineup

I'm dying here, people! Lookit this! Kasabian, Basement Jaxx, Amy, Lily, KT and OH MY GOD, HAPPY MONDAYS! AND PRIMAL SCREAM????

The Killers
Foo Fighters
Snow Patrol
Kasabian
Pink
James
Basement Jaxx
The Kooks
Amy Winehouse
Manic Street Preachers
The Fratellis
Primal Scream
Lily Allen
Damien Rice
Babyshambles
Happy Mondays
Paolo Nutini
KT Tunstall
Mika
James Morrison
Sophie Ellis-Bextor
The Coral
The Fray
The Proclaimers
The Goo Goo Dolls

Am I crazy?

I just downloaded the Kaiser Chiefs's new single, 'Ruby,' and I swear that the guitar solo sounds familiar. Not ripped off (though there's nothing wrong with that, a long-honored rock tradition), maybe just the same key? What the hell does it sound like? This will make me crazy.

Oh God, to me, it sounds like the guitar in 'The Final Countdown' by Europe. My hair-metal fan past rears it's ugly, Rave-hairsprayed head again.

Good song, though. Ricky Wilson is a hot ginger.

Housekeeping

For my fives (maybe tens:) of readers, as of yesterday, I will be posting regularly at Oh, Beehave, in addition to my ramblings here.

It's nice to know that I'm not the only Anglophile in the U.S.

This? Kicks Ass

This is ridiculous-

Worried that a negative stereotype of the sorority was contributing to a decline in membership that had left its Greek-columned house here half empty, Delta Zeta’s national officers interviewed 35 DePauw members in November, quizzing them about their dedication to recruitment. They judged 23 of the women insufficiently committed and later told them to vacate the sorority house.

This is disgusting-

The 23 members included every woman who was overweight. They also included the only black, Korean and Vietnamese members. The dozen students allowed to stay were slender and popular with fraternity men — conventionally pretty women the sorority hoped could attract new recruits. Six of the 12 were so infuriated they quit.

But then, it gets REAL interesting-

If you read in between the lines of the news story, it's fabulous: they kicked out a computer science major with the research skills to go track down evidence of past discrimination in the library; a junior with the organizational skills and chutzpah to put together an open meeting at the student union to tell the DePauw student body what had really happened; and the editor of the DePauw student paper (what were they thinking?!?).

I love it when college women make trouble, don't you? Rock on, ladies.


via Broadsheet

Storm, trois

This is what it looks like all over SE Iowa. Ice, snow & collapsed electric poles.

The storm, part two

I actually left the house today (my day off) and ran into town for a while. There are trees snapped in half all along the road, and the storm fence (to prevent snow from drifting) along Hwy. 61 had collapsed in places. I kept thinking, "Chet's going to declare a state of emergency." And so he did. Thanks, Gov. Culver.

Most of my hometown* should get power back tomorrow, but the rural areas are especially hard-hit. There's a 2-3 mile stretch that might not get power back till several days into March. This includes my friend Jen and her hubby's dairy farm. And let me tell you, cows do not understand that the electric is out. I'm so glad they have a generator.

Y'all, it's Iowa at the end of February, and it's cold here. This is not good.

*My mom's flower shop avoided disaster. When the power went out in town, my dad went in and pulled all of the flowers out of the cooler and put them in the garage. In a few hours, the temp went from 36 degrees in the cooler to 45**. Again, not good. We were almost physically ill thinking about if this had happened at Valentine's Day.

**That still may sound cool, but believe me, flowers are picky little bitches who are constantly having hot flashes. You want that temp cooler than cool. Ice cold, if you will.

LDN, live

Oscars commentary at the Guardian

This post by Xan Brooks is the funniest damn thing I've read in days.....

7.40pm: "I was just backstage drinking with Jack Nicholson and Al Gore," says George Clooney. "I don't think he's running for president."

Clooney is here to hand out the Oscar for best supporting actress. His line is funny, but it is effortlessly trumped by the response of Dreamgirls' Jennifer Hudson, which is purely hilarious. "Oh God," she screams. "Look what God can do."

Needless to say this raises all kinds of theological issues. Principal among these is that if God's greatest miracle is His ability to bestow supporting actress Oscars on losing American Idol contestants, then one wonders if He is using His time as wisely as He might.

What God cannot do, apparently, is extend J-Hud's time at the podium. The music soars and drowns out her tears.

Eat your Wheaties

Now with added Beckham!

Until now "Brand Beckham" has not been as strong in the US as in the rest of the world, but all that appears to be changing since the iconic athlete signed to promote Wheaties. By appearing on packaging for the product, which dubs itself "the breakfast of champions", Becks follows in the footsteps of one of his greatest sporting idols, Michael Jordan.

I didn't realize

that vintage LaBelle stage costumes were acceptable Oscar wear.

picture from Reuters

Note to idiot commentators on E!

J-Lo's Marchesa dress? Not vintage.

The storm

Meteorologist Donna Dubberke predicted additional ice and snow accumulation overnight.

"Saturday in the Burlington area there were lots of reports of 1/4– to 1/2–inch ice," she said. "It was mostly rapid rain accumulation that caused all the damage going on down there."

This, kiddies? Is a cautionary tale.

Shaun's life so far

Born 23 August 1962, in Salford, Greater Manchester, eldest son of a postman and a nursery nurse. One brother, Paul.

Early Life Left school at 15 and, until the age of 28, could not get past the letter H in the alphabet. Sacked for stealing credit cards from his first and only non-music job as a messenger for the Post Office. Heroin-user since 18; moved on to crack but is now clean.

Career 1981 Formed Happy Mondays, a band at the forefront of the Madchester scene notorious for their heavy drug use.

1992 Happy Mondays split after four albums.

1995 Formed Black Grape with Mondays sidekick Bez and rapper Kermit.

1998 Black Grape split.

1999 Happy Mondays re-formed for one year.

2005 Co-wrote, with Damon Albarn, and rapped on Gorillaz' single 'DARE'.

Family Three children by three different women.

Ice, ice, baby

Y'all, we are in the middle of an Ice. Storm. Trees are down all over the place, power lines have snapped and we still have power. For now. On my way into work this AM, I almost went into the opposite ditch twice. While driving 25 miles an hour.

This? Is not good.

I fumble for the clock

alarmed by the seduction.

The Jam - STRANGE TOWN

my fav Jam song

The Jam -Eton Rifles- Live Granada TV

Good Times

In 1977, disco bestrode the globe like an afro-haired, stack-heeled colossus. There had been disco records before, notably Donna Summer's Love to Love You Baby and George McCrae's Rock Your Baby. But by 1977, disco - dance music's logical next step after the orchestrated, soul-based Philadelphia sound of the early 70s - came to seem less like a series of wonderful flukes and more like the soundtrack to a pop era. The Trammps and Tavares, Thelma Houston and T-Connection, the Brothers Johnson and the Fatback Band were all over the radio and the charts. The real indicator of its popularity was that other artists latched on and began to "go disco", with Marvin Gaye one of the first to succumb with Got to Give It Up, Abba following suit, and even behemoths of white rock - notably the Rolling Stones, Kiss and Rod Stewart - getting in on the act.

The year also saw the debut British chart entries from disco's prime movers, Chic and Earth, Wind & Fire. And, in March, the Bee Gees' manager, Robert Stigwood, made a phone call to his charges that cemented forever the popular perception of disco: he asked the Gibb brothers to provide new songs for the soundtrack to his latest project, a movie called Saturday Night Fever. Finally, there was a bolt of sequencer-driven electro-disco strangeness called I Feel Love by Donna Summer and Giorgio Moroder, one of two trailblazing singles from summer 1977 that transformed the way people thought about popular music - the other being God Save the Queen.

Someone I aspire to resemble

in both form and function is Heather B. Armstrong from Dooce. She is, quite simply, a fantastic writer, and this piece regarding Britney is so compassionate and knowing, that I wish I was her (Heather's) friend.

You wouldn’t have ever found me out at night flashing my bare vagina, but so what? I did things that were far worse, a lot of yelling, a lot of walking away, a lot of wishing I had never had a child. But I forgive myself for all of that because I was sick. I am not that person anymore. I wasn’t that person before my breakdown, and I’m doing everything I can to not ever become her again.

And while I understand that Britney Spears is not everyone’s cup of tea, that to most people she’s just a spoiled celebrity who has more money than sense, I would hope that other women and other mothers are looking at her with a little bit of compassion right now, if only for the sake of those two baby boys who are innocent in all of this. She is their mother. I had too many people pulling for me when I went through it to not extend that sympathy to her or to any other woman who might feel out of control enough to start sabotaging her life.

Random Ten

1. Me and Mr. Jones- Amy Winehouse
2. Let's Make Love and Listen To Death From Above- CSS
3. Tempted- Squeeze
4. We Can Work It Out- Stevie Wonder
5. Detroit- Primal Scream
6. Mardy Bum- Arctic Monkeys
7. Shame For You- Lily Allen
8. She's Lost Control- Joy Division
9. Sally Cinnamon- The Stone Roses
10. I'll Stand By You- Girls Aloud

Bonus-
11. It's Not Unusual- Tom Jones
12. Pump It Up- Elvis Costello
13. Valerie- The Zutons
14. Age Of Consent- New Order

Awwweeesome

I just got a new ringtone. 'Rehab.' From The Winehouse's myspace page. Tewtelly awesome.

That is all.

I Heart Posh

Posh was by far my favorite Spice Girl, and I still adore Victoria Beckham. Yeah, I had a favorite Spice Girl. What's your point? Oh, alright, I loved Ginger. And Baby, too.

She was, by all accounts, not the most talented, yet she snagged a footie GOD, and has a profitable sideline in fashion design. And she should know fashion. MAJOR clotheshorse.

This interview with VB is totally adorable. She smiles and laughs, things that I didn't know she was capable of. And her interaction with the little boys is too cute. Again, she should know, as she has 3 little guys.

via Pop Sugar

Manchester v. Cancer*

I love that the versuscancer website looks like the classic Factory posters. Headliners so far- King Monkey, The Charlies and Echo and the Bunnymen.

*annual concert put on by Andy Rourke (Smiths) to benefit the Christie Hospital in Manchester. Last year's performers included Doves and New Order- who did an entire Joy Division set.

T headliners

Killer lineup, with more to be announced later. Bands heading to Kinross, Scotland July 6-8 include:

Friday (July 6)

Main Stage
Arctic Monkeys
Bloc Party
The Coral
Lily Allen

Saturday (July 7)

Main Stage
The Killers
Razorlight
Arcade Fire
James
James Morrison

Radio 1/NME Stage
The Kooks
My Chemical Romance
Babyshambles
CSS

King Tuts Tent
The View
Klaxons
Jamie T

Sunday (July 8)

Main Stage
Snow Patrol
Scissor Sisters
Kings of Leon
The Fratellis
Paolo Nutini
Goo Goo Dolls

Radio1/NME Stage
Kasabian
Interpol
Maximo Park
Mika

King Tuts Tent
Editors

Pet Sounds Arena
Damien Rice
Amy Winehouse
Tori Amos

Slam Tent
Dave Clarke
Slam

How appropriate is it that Diamond Lil is on Friday night?

20th Century Boy

The reason I do not care for Radiohead

is because of associated memories of an assclown ex-boyfriend who listened to them. Constantly. I mean, ALL THE TIME. And he was a total jerkface/stupidhead. (Yes, I'm 10)

So, when I make fun of Thom Yorke, this is the reasoning behind it. That, and I truly don't give a fuck about Radiohead. The only whiners* I like? The Smiths and Moz.

If I've said it once, I've said it a thousand times, I like big, dumb rock and roll.

Trolls, BEGONE.

*all perspective, mind

Good Lord

The dress Emmy Rossum is wearing? A dead ringer for one my grandmother wore. To my mom and dad's wedding. In 1973. When she was 53 years old.

Again, in 1973. When she was well into her middle age. And the mother of the bride.

Dancing With The "Stars"

I know the term 'star' is used VERY loosely here, but let me get this straight.

The contestants for this season of "Dancing With the Stars" include the fat dancer from N*Sync, Clyde the Glide, Leeza Gibbons, Achy Breaky Cyrus, Steve Sanders, Mrs. Ric Ocasek, Big Pussy and Heather Mills? HEATHER MILLS? HEATHER MILLS?

Holy crap. This I gotta see.

I'm forseeing lots of ballgowns and trainers

And big jewelry!

Lily Allen is set to design a "capsule wardrobe" for high street clothes chain New Look, to be titled 'Lily Loves'.

Known for her quirky dress sense and penchant for gold jewellery and vintage pieces, the range will feature six dresses, two pairs of shoes and assorted brightly coloured accessories.

Speaking about Lily Allen's individual style, New Look's head of fashion communications Sarah Walter explained: "She's an absolute dressaholic."

The collection is due to hit UK stores in May.

Aspens

Aspens. Fall Colors, Colorado, originally uploaded by bridgepix.

In honor of the Scooter and Judy show

Happy birthday, Ian!

King Monkey is 44 today. Doll, talk to John already, please?

Exactly

As a female who likes a drink or two, it really twists me when I see headlines cautioning women about the risks of drinking, because you might be "taken advantage of." However, you never see similar headlines cautioning men to not drink to excess because they might "take advantage of someone."

So I loved this-

Which clearly means the onus is on women to protect themselves. Sigh.

Some alternate headline suggestions:

Men warned to stop raping drunk women

Men warned of rape drink risk

Stop getting drunk and raping women, asshole

via Feministing

New Order - Blue Monday

I Don't Feel Like Dancing at the Brit Awards

LFW

that La Moss was doing a collection for TopShop.

Indeed, the whole thing might have been something of a loss if Topshop hadn't chosen Thursday afternoon to unveil the first samples of their Kate Moss collection, which will launch on 1 May. Everyone was required to sign an agreement forbidding them from publishing a word about it until late April. 'But it will be a massive hit,' a loose-lipped editor assured me. 'Kate's stuff is gorgeous.' It seems that this season's London Fashion Week will be remembered mostly for the collaboration between a high-street giant and a supermodel with a magnificent and dubious reputation

More Amy

She sang "Rehab" with a sweet uncertainty, hitching up her red frock to mid-thigh level, but delicately, carefully, as though primly fastidious about revealing her knickers. Her acceptance speech, far from being a rant about the awfulness of Dido or the rapacity of A&R men, was a little-girl stutter of "ers" and "ums" before she declared "I'm just glad my mum and dad are here" and exited, probably for a lovely family night out. It was hopeless. "They tried to make me go to rehab?" More like, "They tried to persuade me to have a small sherry and enjoy myself, but I said no, no, no...". At this rate, we'll soon have to stop waiting for her to self-destruct, and start listening to her singing.

I love riders

you know, the list of items that bands require backstage to prepare them for their performance? Oasis's from the Brits included:

six bottles of Veuve Clicquot champagne, 100 bottles of Becks lager, 12 bottles of wine and a THOUSAND Marlboro Lights.

Oh and eye masks from Estee Lauder (to prevent puffiness). I don't judge.

via Queen Bee