My morning

8AM- cat wakes me up by nudging my hand

8:02- turn on sink on for cat, vow to buy a kitty water fountain

8:05- head downstairs to read NME, er, foreign policy journal, before getting ready for work AKA throwing clothes in dryer for a quick de-wrinkling and spraying hair into Horrors-looking shape

8:50- put on makeup on in the car on the way to work (I'm not driving, of course).Listen to "Car Park Catchphrase" on Radio1. Moyles is amusing. Adore Jo Whiley.

9:05- make coffee. Coffee v.v.v.v. good and vital to my not falling back asleep

9:07- first attempt at re-formatting store business cards

9:09- mmmmmmm, coffee

9:15- give up on business cards. Jack around with stereo for a while. Seems like a Mark Ronson, Paul Weller, Aretha, Teenage Fanclub and Blur sort of day

9:20- make a second pass at fresh arrangement that I started on Thursday at 4:30PM. Goes better this time

9:25- text Kaz with important Kasabian, er, foreign policy-related information

9:30- second attempt at business cards

9:34- mmmmm, more coffee

9:38- divvy up samples stolen, ahem, OBTAINED, at gift show last week

9:45- phone rings. As person on the line is supa dupa annoying, play hot potato with phone. Am successful in avoiding convo

9:47- Mmmm, Diet Dr. Pepper

10:10- go outside to hang balloons on sale sign. As is extremely humid, sunglasses fog up immediately upon leaving air conditioning

10:11- hair goes straight to hell

10:15- go into cooler to get flowers for an order

10:17- emerge from cooler to hear a man talking loudly to my mom and co-workers from the showroom

10:17-the hair on the back of my neck stands straight-the-fuck up

10:17- Mom sends me a "Holy hell, what is going on?" look

10:17- grab my cell phone and head into Mom's office

10:17-call the store's line, and ask Mom if she wants me to call someone. She says "yes."

10:17-call Traci and ask her if her dad can come over, STAT

10:18- crazy tweaked-the-hell-out guy starts screaming about fireworks, potato salad and the Holocaust. Am not kidding.

10:20- call neighbor, who is married to an Iowa State Trooper, to get her hubby's cell phone

10:21- call cell phone. Leave VM

10:22- Tweaker starts ranting about how much he loves Jesus, and how he's also a country songwriter.

I'm like, "Dude, you can love Jesus as much as you want, but you're still off your head on Drano and anhydrous ammonia."

10:23- Notice that he has on a Iowa Hawkeyes hat. Just a coincidence, I'm sure;)

10:24- possible escape routes are running through head

10:25- Tweaker McTweakersons feels the need to prove that he is actually a budding Willie Nelson, and goes out to his car to get some examples of his work

10:26- we all freak the fuck out

10:26- Mom calls auto dealer next door and asks them to send someone with testosterone over

10:27- Tweakaleeza Rice reappears, bearing the fruits of his labor. An old Quad Cities Times and an issue of Country Weekly with Carrie Underwood on the cover. Am suspicious for some reason.

10:28- Tweaky tells us that he's not trying to scare us, he's just happy and loves the Lord. Strangely, I'm just as reassured by this as I am when a boy tells me that he's "just a nice guy, and women don't want nice guys......"

10:29- Tweaker Aaron Presley leaves the building. Mom casually goes over and locks the front door, then sprints for the work room

10:30- I stand near the window in the work room, and copy down Tweaker Limbaugh's license plate number, make and model of car, and a description of the person in the car with him. Am grateful that my hours of watching 'Law and Order: Criminal Intent' have finally paid off.

10:31- Tweaker Cruise whips out a paintball gun and starts waving it around in the parking lot

10:31- I hit the deck

10:31- Briefly think that if I die before I see Primal Scream, The Fratellis, Dirty Pretty Things, The View, Diamond Lil, Oasis, Kasabian or Grahhhhhmay in concert, I'm going to haunt the hell out of someone.

Bitchiest. Ghost. Ever.

10:32- They leave the parking lot

10:33- Traci's bad self shows up, as does a guy from the auto dealership next door.

10:33- Being the daughter of the town's fire chief, Trace has the non-emergency police number programmed into her phone

10:34- call non-emergency number. Dispatcher is impressed with the amount of info that I gathered. Resist the temptation to tell her that it's all due to watching Dick Wolf productions (the non-Fred Thompson ones- he's just irritating to me)

10:39- Traci and the guy from next door leave. We re-lock the door

10:43- Oooo, new email. I'm so glad I can check it on my cell phone. And it's celeb gossip from QB! YAYS! Hmmm, what could it be about...... did Peter do something stupi.......

10:43- Oh, fuck-Tweakeriffic pulls back into parking lot. We hit the lights, and pull everyone into the office.

10:44- He tries to get in the door. Is unsuccessful

10:45- After leaping about, leaves parking lot

10:46- we freak the hell out

10:50- Traci calls and says that the cops have the guy pulled over at a gas station up the road, and are searching the car

10:52- cops let the guy loose, he dances in the parking lot, then heads north

Obviously, we were a bit wigged out. And may I point out, this all happened before 11AM and my third cup of coffee this morning.

Hopefully, tomorrow will be less exciting.

Oooo

Nice dress, Ana!

If this is true,

hooooolllleeee crap! GO AMY! Wonder if she'll be rockin' the beehive?

If there were any doubts about Amy Winehouse being a trans-Atlantic sensation - there ain't now. The jazz babe has been afforded the ultimate accolade - the front cover of American Vogue - on the orders of ubercool editor Anna Wintour.

Ice queen Anna (pictured below) insisted on the singer after falling in love with her award-winning album Back To Black. Our Amy was then chosen to front the style bible's September issue, traditionally the highest-selling of the year.

A mag insider tells us: "An order from Anna Wintour is like a royal command and the order was 'get me Amy'. "Anna loved Amy's album so much that she just had to have her. But at the end of the day, it's not just about the music, it's about her rawness, her kooky style and her outspokenness. "She's very much a one-off - but incredibly talented with it."

The shoot by world-renowned photographer Bruce Weber was done in Miami where Amy and hubby Blake Fielder-Civil got married. Our insider continues:
"Wintour was instantly delighted with the outcome and thought Amy oozed cool."

Random Ten

1. Holiday- Green Day
2. Fuck Me Pumps- Amy Winehouse
3. Girls Just Want To Have Fun- Cyndi Lauper (WTF?)
4. When You Are King- Sadie Frost
5. Fire, Fire- M.I.A.
6. Manic Monday- The Bangles
7. Voulez Vous- ABBA
8. Take Me Out- Franz Ferdinand
9. Laid- James
10. An Innocent Man- Billy Joel

Bonus-
11. Butterfly- Corinne Bailey Rae
12. What's He Got?- Graham Coxon

My taste in music scares the shit out of me

As I just realized that I've been singing along to a My Chemical Romance song for the past two weeks on BBC Radio1, I'm thinking I might as well grow my fringe into emo-bangs.

The song is very Fabulous Thunderbirds.....and quite catchy, no?

But what's next? Fall Out Boy? I need a megadose of Libertines, STAT!

LOVEFOXXX and BETH DITTO

LOVEFOXXX and BETH DITTO, originally uploaded by James Looker.

These two kick all sorts of ass.....

Stanley! Get down from there this instant!

Mistah Anthony Rossomondo, before he was a Libertine or a Dirty Pretty Thing.

The Damned Personals- 'Orange Felix'




from QB, via email

Awwwwwww

Fluff and stuff.

*cuddles widdle puppeh*

Monkeys On Film

Now this is interesting......God, I love Paddy.

MANCHESTER has been the back-drop for a radical new documentary following indie sensations the Arctic Monkeys as they played their landmark gigs at Old Trafford over the weekend.

The band, who played to around 100,000 fans over two nights at Lancashire County Cricket Ground, were being followed by uber-cool Britflick director Shane Meadows - the man behind acclaimed films This Is England and Dead Man's Shoes for a new rockumentary.

The Sheffield band are huge fans of the director - and even played clips of his films on big screens at the gigs on Saturday and Sunday night.The new film was made over five days, following the lads as they prepared for their massive open-air concerts and as they relaxed with family and friends at the five-star Lowry Hotel in Salford.

But the twist is that the "star" of the film is fictional break-dancing roadie "Le Donk", a comedy character played by movie star Paddy Considine and first created by the actor with long-time collaborator Shane eight years ago.

Well, crap

This? Not good. Again, wouldn't it be lovely if the National Guard were around to assist in rescue efforts?

MINNEAPOLIS (Reuters) - A highway bridge collapsed and hurled vehicles into the Mississippi River in central Minneapolis during evening rush hour on Wednesday, killing at least three people, officials and media said.

...

A 500-foot (150-metre) span of the eight-lane steel and concrete bridge, which was under repair, buckled and fell into the river and onto concrete embankments at about 6:05 p.m. CDT (2305 GMT).

The mysteries of fangirldom

The thing about being a fangirl is that you never quite know what is going to set you off on another obsession.

-Comments about dimples
-mentions in idle conversation that certain footie-god guitar players resemble pirates and/or The Prince Of Darkness (no, not Justin Hawkins)
-Dan Abnormal in a dress
-Carlos just being his Timmy-baiting self
-Stanley's hoodies
- realizing that Graham Coxon's glasses=hot, hot sex- well, there's really no pattern....

Yeah, I'm a dork. And so are my friends. So I'm not embarrassed at all to reveal that I actually fell off my desk chair when reading the bit in bold-

Kasabian brought the iTunes festival to an emphatic close in London tonight (July 31st). Playing to just 300 people at London’s ICA on The Mall, in what was one of their most intimate performances in recent years, the band played a set which included hits from both their albums.

After opening with an empowering rendition of ‘Shoot The Runner,’ the bands lead singer Tom Meighan – who took to the stage in his now familiar black spectacles - thanked the crowd for “coming down to the nice little venue” before launching into first album smash, ‘Reason Is Treason.’

Meighan continually praised the crowd throughout the performance which he boasted – in reference to the intimate venue - was “like being in bed with Kasabian.”

JESUS, Thomas! You're trying to kill me and Kaz! Play nice!

I can't explain it, there's something about them, something about ALL the bands that I fangirl, that I really just adore. Glasses and comments about bed just confirm our how noble and pure our love is. Okay, maybe not so pure....

What. An. Asshole.

Christina Aguilera had to cancel a few concerts because of a throat infection.

Upon hearing this, most normal people, fans or not, would hope for a speedy recovery for Christina. Not this dickhead, who is affiliated with Baptists For Brownback. This is his statement-

Christina Aguilera Finally Tastes Her Just Desserts!

Folks, sometimes God works in mysterious ways. He’ll do something for reasons you, in your puny mortal ignorance, cannot fathom. So be it. It is not up to us, and especially you, to question His wisdom. However, events such as tornadoes, earthquakes and the unending persecution of President George W. Bush can have the effect of drying up your well of faith. Jesus and I understand this, even as we rebuke you for your weakness.

But then, every once in a while, the Lord will take action so obviously necessary, so clear in its intent, that Christians everywhere find their faith-wells overflowing with the sweet, crystal waters of Christ’s eternal justice. Just such an event occurred over the weekend.

I am speaking of course of the “upper respiratory infection” that has struck down Miss Christina Aguilera, her “dancers” and various members of her “crew”. A “singer” of popular “music”, Aguilera has lost her voice, and has been forced to cancel a series of concerts in Australia. Lord only knows how this strumpet contracted her throat infection. I do not want to know. But suffice to say these lyrics, from one of her songs, provide a clue:

“Hush now, don’t say a word,
I’m gonna give you what you deserve.
Now you better give me a little taste
Put your icing on my cake
You nasty boy (boy)
Oh no, ooh there I go again
I need a spanking,
’cause I’ve been bad
So let my body do the talkin’
I’ll slip you that hot, sweet, sexy lovin’ (lovin’)”

Those words come from a song titled, “Naughty, Nasty Boy”, which may as well be the official anthem for harlotry and sodomy. One can only imagine how many unplanned sexual events occurred as a result of impressionable young minds being exposed to such filth.

But thanks to the majesty and power of God, the blaring megaphone of Chrisina Aguilera’s sexual terrorism has been muffled. And Praise Jesus is all I can say to that!

In Christ’s Name,
Tobin Maker, resident pastor, Baptists For Brownback 2008

Several things-

a- It's Just DESERTS, shit for brains

b- If God is sending natural disasters as "punishment for the unending persecution" of Bush, then why does the south keeps getting hit repeatedly? Hmmmmm?

3. Those lyrics are crap. However, I've seen dirtier. USUALLY SUNG BY MEN.

Oh, but that's DIFFERENT. They're allowed to be sexual beings. Not women, though. Nope, no sexy time for them. Unless it's for procreation, of course. And they shouldn't enjoy it, even then. Just lay back and think of the snowflake babies.

Also, if there's an "official anthem for harlotry and sodomy," I'm not thinking this is it. Isn't it interesting how everything boils down to the buttsex for these people?

Hmmm, what would be a good anthem for harlots and sodomites? To the iTunes!

4. Strumpet. Hee.

5. If this asshat is on the same wavelength as Jesus, which I somehow doubt, why is he taking pleasure in the misfortune of another? I must have slept through that bit at church. Was the edict to kick people while they're down issued during Jesus's "lost weekend," when He got liquored up and.....

Oh, that didn't happen, either. Sorry.

6. "Sexual Terrorism" would be a great name for a band. Someone needs to make this happen.

Crap like this makes me slightly crazy. But not as crazy as this motherfucker, though.

Whiskeytown- 16 Days

One of my all-time favorite vocal combinations- Caitlin Cary and Ryan Adams.

About You- Teenage Fanclub

I'm just going to cry

You couldn't have just laid off the bud a bit, Ian......

HE admits he's barely strummed a guitar in the past year, but who needs rock 'n' roll when you can take the art world by storm instead?

Former Stone Roses legend John Squire unveiled his new artwork this week to critical and commercial acclaim.I hear that just a day after the launch he's already sold more than half of his collection - with pieces ranging from £2,000 up to
£28,000. And John tells me he's enjoying his art so much that he's now shelved-for good - any more music projects. He says: "Music and art are both disciplines that fulfil the same need, that is the need to create. I get the same buzz from creating a successful painting as writing a great song - it comes from the same place.

Contrary to

some reports, Dontatella Versace will not be designing the stagewear for the Spice Girls's tour. This is yet another example of crap that I should not care about, yet still do. (Though I must disagree with UK Vogue's assesment of the outfits at the presser last month. Both Mels looked FANTASTIC)

REPORTS in today's papers claimed the Spice Girls had found their much-needed fairy style godmother in the shape of Donatella Versace, who was said to be designing £200,000-worth of designer stage outfits for their comeback reunion tour - but a spokesperson for Versace has denied that this is the case. "It's simply not true," he told us. "I have no idea where the rumours have come from." The Nineties supergroup appeared under-styled and sartorially out of tune at the photo call to officially announce their reunion last month and, without the backing of one of the world's most highly-respected fashion houses, they may yet be delving deep into their wardrobes for their trademark platform trainers, leopard-print catsuits and Union Jack minis. (July 30, PM)

Go lads!

Our boys did well this weekend, Queen Bee!

Arctic Monkeys have played their biggest shows of their lives, as they performed at Lancashire County Cricket Club's Old Trafford ground this weekend (July 28 and 29). Recalling generation-defining performances from the likes of The Stone
Roses at Spike Island or Oasis at Knebworth, the band performed to 100,000 people over the two shows.Despite suffering a bit of technical trouble on the first night (28), the band rose to occasioning, playing two storming sets.

Gorgeous

So, it's not enough that I'm completely envious of Nicola Roberts being lovely, funny and a good singer, now I have to envy her mad writing skills? Shit, girl, leave something for the rest of us.....

They call it manufactured pop, as if that was something to be ashamed of- but we are a manufacturing country. Down our conveyor belts come cars, and shoes, and biscuits, and guns and pop bands. Useful things and beautiful things. Things that make us go faster, and things that make us feel like we're going faster. Things that we love passionately for a day and then throw away, and things that we love passionately for a day, and then keep forever.

Being able to plan for and make our necessary things- instead of relying on accidents or nature to supply them- is one of the first signs that a society has achieved civilization. And what could be more necessary than pop? What else should we aim to pump out in such greedy, thrilling, giddying amounts?

The factory is a democratic place. Sometimes, people working on the floor come cruising in on a Monday morning, still wearing Saturday night's makeup, and Sunday morning's smile, and say "sod this." They pull off their hairnets, and jump on the conveyor belts themselves. They announce that they are pop stars, now. They make a band.

That's allowed, in the factory, because we are a manufacturing country, and that means we are also allowed to manufacture ourselves. We are allowed to change our futures. We are Girls Aloud.

And in the band that we manufacture, we don't have to smile, if we don't want to. We won't have dance routines that ruin our hair. We don't sing songs where we pretend we're scared, or that we can't run in our heels, or that we don't know exactly what we want. We don't need no beauty sleep. We think you're off your head. We text as we eat. We flirt while we work. We flick our finger to the world below. If we'd know, or if we'd care, we would have stood around the kitchen in our underwear.

When Jack Kerouac wrote On the Road in 1957, he said that the people that he oved the most were the Fabulous Yellow Roman Candles, who were mad to live, mad to talk. We saw it on a t-shirt once. But anyone who was mad to live wouldn't want to be a Roman Candle. Roman Candles are the rubbish ones. They're over in thirty seconds. They don't even spin, or fly. If we were a firework, we'd be a limousine full of dynamite. And we'd put the fire out with vodka. If we could be bothered.

If you know someone that sounds like us, we'll give you a tenner. If you like someone better than us, frankly, we don't care.

We're Girls Aloud.

We're Made In Britain.

Top 25 most played

On me iTunes. And at work, too, if we're being honest.

Obviously, I can't sleep, though I have to say, this is a HELL of a playlist.

1. This Old Town- Graham Coxon and Paul Weller
2. Your Love Alone Is Not Enough- Manic Street Preachers
3. Shoot the Runner- Kasabian
4. Claudia- The View
5. Chelsea Dagger- The Fratellis
6. (Songs For My) Sugar-Spun Sister- The Stone Roses
7. Dance Into the Night- The View
8. Vince the Lovable Stoner- The Fratellis
9. Hung Up- Paul Weller
10. Autumn Song- Manic Street Preachers
11. L.S.F.- Kasabian
12. Detroit- Primal Scream
13. Going Down- The Stone Roses
14. Wasted Little DJs- The View
15. Boys In the Band- The Libertines
16. Not Big- Lily Allen
17. Listen Up- Oasis
18. Jealous Girls- Gossip
19. Living For the Weekend- Hard-Fi
20. Love Machine- Girls Aloud
21. You Know I'm No Good- Amy Winehouse
22. Fluorescent Adolescent- Arctic Monkeys
23. 20th Century Boy- T.Rex
24. Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is- Jet
25. Round Round- Sugababes

OMG! LOLZ!

I WANNA GO, I WANNA GO

to tomorrow's show.

The Winehouse showed up with her game, sober face on, and the Arctics ripped it up. And I'm in Iowa.

Crap.

Hope the lads repeat this on Sunday. I am so proud of them.

So there we have it: the definitive lesson in how to rise to stadium-band level whilst totally retaining your cool and not turning in Bono or Johnny Borrell-style dickheads.

Make no mistake, tonight the Arctics were incredible.

Rather than drape the stage in huge set pieces, rely on fireworks and gimmicks, the lads played it like they were still playing the Barnsley Birdwell, standing no further than a few feet from each other and not bothering with a drum riser - a tight rock’n’roll unit blasting out hit after hit after hit. There was no sign of nerves and they looked comfortable in being up there – even after the technical hitch – but were more humble than cocky.

And then, of course, there’s the tunes.

If there was any doubt that ‘A Certain Romance’, ‘Fake Tales Of San Francisco’ and ‘I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor’ – once scratchy post-Libs garage rock tunes - could work in front of 50,000 people were blown out the water tonight.

North By Northwest

Tomorrow the Arctic Monkeys (featuring The Coral, The Winehouse, a Japanese Beatles tribute band and Supergrass)kick off their 2-night stand of ginormous shows at Old Trafford, continuing the grand tradition of Spike Island and Knebworth.

So as the NME says, "No pressure, then."

I'd like to state for the record, that I am completely unable to distinguish which I find more adorable-

a. that the Sheffie boys wanted a "bouncy castle" at the gig

or

b. that they call giant inflatables "bouncy castles."

I hope Helders busts out his Spidey costume again. Love that kid.

And hopefully, someone calls Amo off Al. Darling, you're married to the U.K.'s Federline. You shouldn't want to 'Do The Bad Thing' with anyone but him. Back off the Mistah Turner! Stop looking at him like he's a Rickstasy

pic from

'Miss Lucifer'

My fav track off Evil Heat.

For Kazza

Since girlfriend is on vacay, here's a great moment in both Thomas and Sergio to torture her, and remind her of her non-access to a non-husband-owned computer......

With added Miss Moss! Hee hee.

I told you I'd get you back for comparing Graham to Louis from 'Revenge Of the Nerds.'

Mr. Joyce and Mr. Rourke are right

'Pounding' IS a great song....

Pounding, Doves, from the album The Last Broadcast

Mike Joyce: Pounding is used a couple of times in the DVD [Inside the Smiths] because, like all great Manchester records, it never feels overplayed. It's such a feel-good song, and I love the bass. This song was like the soundtrack to my and Andy's DJing tour of America and reminded us of home

Random Ten

1. Driving South- The Stone Roses
2. The Boy Looked At Johnny- The Libertines
3. Toxic- Mark Ronson feat. O.D.B. and Tiggers
4. Why Can't I Touch It?- Buzzcocks
5. Come On Closer- Jem
6. Sexy! No, No, No-Girls Aloud
7. Night And Day- Bette Midler
8. Hazy Shade Of Winter- The Bangles
9. The Moneymaker- Rilo Kiley
10. Stutter- Elastica

Bonus-
11. Our Bovine Public- The Cribs
12. Listen Up- Noel Gallagher

I'm going to hell

the worst place in the world!

Why? Because the following came out of my mouth in regards to the pic at your left:

God, Wee Kyle needs to go without a top more often.

I'm not exactly the best Catholic in the world, but I think I need to do at least 3 Rosaries to compensate for lusting after young Mr. Falconer.

Tummy.

Shit, make that 4 Rosaries.

Face For the Radio- TITP

Fwaaaah, Wee The View lads......

Sexy! Yes, yes, yes.....

I've heard this song, which premiered on Chris Moyles's show last week. It features the typical GA bizarro production and insanely catchy chorus....

Girls Aloud are set to release their new single 'Sexy! No, no, no..' on September 3.The track is taken from the band's fourth studio album, which is yet to be named. The group will team up with songwriters Xenomania again, who have worked with since they began life on the 'Popstars' reality TV programme.

Oh, MY! Part 2

Um, Wellah is looking, uh, FIT, in this pic.

Oh, MY

Kazza, you're right. That shirt IS a great moment in Thomas. But you neglected to mention appearances by Carlito, Stanley, My Beloved Noel and The Fratellis in this video. I may have to retreat to my fainting couch. Or bed, as it's a bit late. Whatevs....

Dirty Pretty Things, Eden project, 22/07/07

Dirty Pretty Things, Eden project, 22/07/07, originally uploaded by RosieFoster.

Mmmmmm.........

. The Wast Bank .

. The Wast Bank ., originally uploaded by 3amfromkyoto.

She's So High

And the obsession continues......

Hot diggity dog!

This weekend is starting to look better and better.

1. I saw "Harry Potter and the Order Of the Phoenix" tonight. It was good, though "Azkaban" will always be my favorite movie, because of the Ian Brown* cameo.

2. I don't have to work because.....

3. .....of a family friend's wedding tomorrow night. OPEN BAR! WHITE PEOPLE FLAILING ABOUT TO 'YMCA.' (quit giggling, Joy)

The last wedding this group all went to, my dad "went to sleep" at the after-party,and woke up the next day with a full face of makeup. My cement truck-driving dad.

I am ignoring the fact that the final Harry Potter book is being released as I write this because, well, I've no time to read it till Sunday. This is absolutely killing me, by the way. KILLING ME.

*I swear, my iTunes started playing 'This Is the One' as I typed that. Scaaaarrryyy.

OMG

I hate to alarm you, Kaz, but this clip involves nearly all of our favorite Brit rock stars....

Love it when Wee Kieran throws the award up and catches it one-handed. Also, there is an appearance of The Best Trench Coat Ever. And My Beloved Noel and My Darling Mani....

I would be lying my ass off

if I claimed that I didn't squee when reading the following-

According to an industry insider, Jimmy Page and Jeff Beck are going to tour as The Yardbirds this fall alongside founding bassist Chris Dreja and drummer Jim McCarty. The tour is said to kick off this October. It’s unclear who will be the reformed Yardbirds’ lead singer (original vocalist Keith Relf died of electrocution in 1976).

Heavyweight Champion Of the World

I know I'm a bit behind on this, but I absolutely love this song by Reverend and the Makers. The Rev (Jon McClure) is a F.O.A.T. (Friend Of Alex Turner). Song has a fantastic groove....And Jon's a nice Northern boy.

Salisbury Crags

Salisbury Crags, originally uploaded by Christopher Chan.

Cool picture

Random ten

1. Love Like A Fountain- Ian Brown
2. With A Little Help From My Friends- Razorlight
3. Sister Golden Hair- America
4. Straight Up- Paula Abdul
5. House Of Fire-Alice Cooper
6. Got To Give It Up-Marvin Gaye
7. Time For Heroes- Graham Coxon
8. Song For Mutya- Groove Armada
9. Fast Fuse- Kasabian
10. Hey Boy, Hey Girl- Chemical Brothers

Bonus-
11. Hung Up- Paul Weller
12. Posh Boys- The View

Awesome

In an effort to be more serious,

I wasn't going to post any more pictures of my favorite musicians for a while. But then I thought, "Who the hell am I kidding? It's rock boy season!" So here is a picture from Ibiza Rocks, of Serge in The Best T-Shirt Ever and Thomas in his glasses. I adore his glasses.

I'm a feminist, for God's Sake. I'm not supposed to objectify people based on their appearance. But. These. Two. Make. This. Next. To. Fucking. Impossible.

Lovely

A picture of shirtless Carl Barat with crazy face is still, well, a picture of Carlito with no top on!

pic by Roger Sargent

I would love to see this!

Though not really in keeping with my Cinderella-esque existence, this would make a wonderful birthday present for me.

So cool!

Cheap Trick are set to perform The Beatles' 'Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band' in Los Angeles from start to finish in celebration of the 40th anniversary of the landmark album.

The performance will take place at the Hollywood Bowl on August 10 and 11.

The American rockers will be accompanied by the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra as well as Aimee Mann, Joan Osborne and other special guests.

In addition to performing the entire album, the artists will play several Beatles favourites including 'Magical Mystery Tour', 'Norwegian Wood' and 'Eleanor Rigby'.

Rolling Stone's Italian edition

Is the best magazine, ever. Why? This photoshoot with Kasabian. Possibly the best picture in the history of photography.

Okay, maybe not- but it's right up there.....

Blimey, is it hot in here?

Thank God

Though I may have gone over to the dark *cough, cough, Blur* side, I was still thrilled beyond words when Kazza found EVERY OASIS B-SIDE EVAH! for me to download today.

Everything is right with my world. I still believe in peace, justice and the Mancunian Way.

Feeling rather smug

as I own the Mercury Prize-nominated albums by Klaxons, Arctics, View and Winehouse.....but where the hell is 'Empire' on the list?

Arctic Monkeys - 'Favourite Worst Nightmare'
Klaxons - 'Myths Of The Near Future'
Amy Winehouse - 'Back To Black'
Maps - 'We Can Create'
The View - 'Hats Off To The Buskers'
Jamie T - 'Panic Prevention'
Dizzee Rascal - 'Maths & English'
Bat For Lashes - 'Fur And Gold'
Young Knives - 'Voices of Animals And Men'
Fionn Regan - 'The End Of History'
New Young Pony Club - 'Fantastic Playroom'
Basquiat Strings - 'Basquiat Strings'

Oh, Sweet Jeebus

Damo and Graham. Sleepy Damo and Graham.

Lisa does Lanvin

Love the Simpsons.....

Suburban Knights

New from Hard-Fi

Of course,

I am spending my free time tonight reading foreign policy journals, and am by no means watching this.

But DAMN, does Becks look great!

I can't top this title line

"Dinna Look Back Into the Sun"

The View head into the recording studio over the next couple of weeks to record their own version of Libertines favourite ´Don't Look Back Into The Sun´. The song will be produced by the ex Suede star Bernard Butler and will be showcased on a show celebrating 20 years of BBC Radio 1. They´re also hoping to persuade a couple of likely lads to join them on backing vocals.

from The View Are On Fire

Please, God

I've been trying to be a very good girl, so I would very much appreciate you facilitating this reunion, and making it not suck. Please also help me get over my guilty, shameful feelings about liking Blur now, despite being an Oasis fan.

Kisses,
Cygirl

Blur drummer Dave Rowntree has hinted that the band, including previously absent guitarist Graham Coxon, are to record together in September.Rumours have been ciculating for a while that the original members of the group are to unite to work on their first record together since 1999's '13'. Coxon was sacked in 2002, and the rest of the band put out one record without him, 2003's 'Think Tank'.

Rowntree told NME: "There is a week in the diary in September. But it's a very small thing - it could either be a seed or a full-stop."It is understood that the sticksman was referring to a week of studio time the band have booked as a four-piece, including Coxon. "I'm up for having a jam," the guitarist had said to bassist
Alex James, as James revealed in his recent book, 'A Bit Of A Blur'.

Random ten

1. Valerie- Mark Ronson feat. Amy Winehouse
2. Borderline- Madonna
3. Mama Told Me Not To Come- Three Dog Night
4. Fade Away- Oasis
5. New Dawn Fades- Joy Division
6. Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is- Jet
7. Cowboy, Take Me Away- Dixie Chicks
8. Since You've Been Gone- Kelly Clarkson
9. This Old Town (live on Jonathan Ross)- Paul Weller, Graham Coxon, Zak Starkey and Mani
10. Firefight- Manic Street Preachers

Bonus-
11. Thick As Thieves- The Jam
12. The Headmaster Ritual- The Smiths

God Bless

Mr. James Walcott. I nearly died laughing upon reading this post.

I wonder if Mrs. Vitter has given thought to what she will do with her husband’s penis once she lops it off. Tossing it out the car window ala Lorena Bobbitt is a bit déclassé and unworthy of a senator’s spouse. Perhaps she should consider packing it in ice and preserving it in a Baggie before deciding on final dispensation. Perhaps she could have it bronzed and carry it around in her pocketbook as an admonitory keepsake, though the unseemly bulge of a bronze penis might conflict with the sleek contours of her designer bag. Then again, she may simply want to hold it hostage.

I'm So Tired

I'm just going to melt into a puddle of goo...

I love Hilary Alexander

Via Fashionologie

After the Armani couture show last week, as reported by Cathy Horyn:

Hilary Alexander, the intrepid fashion correspondent for The Daily Telegraph in London, hurried up to Mr. Armani after the show for an explanation.

“A quote, Mr. Armani,” she said. “Just three words!” Not getting his attention, she shouted, “Are you on acid?”

This is why I lean towards agnostic

Because religion is capable of making some act like ASSHOLES.

a religious and political milestone of sorts took place early today when a Hindu delivered the morning invocation in the Senate chamber — only to find the ceremony disrupted by three activists from the Christian Right anti-abortion group Operation Save America.

Convos I should not have with my mother

Me- "Guess what I bought at Target today?"

Mom- "What? Ann Coulter's book? Ha ha!"

Me- "No, the new Mark Ronson album."

Mom- "Ooooh, yay! We can listen to it at work tomorrow!"

My life is somewhat bizarre.....

In retrospect,

I don't think they needed to worry about Noel trashing the place......

Former Prime Minister Tony Blair was worried that Oasis would "do something crazy" when they attended a reception at 10 Downing Street in 1997.

The then newly-elected leader was holding a music industry reception when he discovered that the band's guitarist Noel Gallagher was attending. However, according to the diaries of his spokesperson Alistair Campbell, which were published yesterday (July 8), Blair had no idea how the Oasis man had been invited, and was then worried he might be the victim of a spot of rock 'n' roll behaviour."TB (Tony Blair) was worried that Noel Gallagher was coming to the reception tomorrow. He said he had no idea he had been invited," wrote Campbell. "TB felt he was bound to do something crazy. I spoke to (Creation Records boss) Alan McGee and said can we be assured he would behave."The record label boss assured them it would be fine, explaining had they invited frontman Liam they might have been in trouble.

Standing On My Own Again

My lovely Graham...

Yum

One of the best parts about living in a small town? Friends stop round to bring you produce from their gardens. Specifically, tomatoes.

I could exist on tomatoes in the summer. Mmmm, yummers. This is the salad I made tonight*-

Take red wine vinegar and extra-virgin olive oil (1 part vinegar to 2 parts oil), a tablespoon of Kosher salt and a teaspoon of cracked black pepper, and whisk them together until they emulsify.

Cut up 3 fresh tomatoes and a package of mushrooms and add to vinaigrette. Refrigerate for an hour, then devour.

*I'm totally guessing on measurements. These sound about right to me.

I'm going to NEED this book

in the worst way.....

Paul Weller has collaborated with legendary Beatles artist Peter Blake on a new book. Blake, famous for designing the cover of the 1967 classic 'Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band', the cover of Oasis' best of 'Stop The Clocks' plus Weller's own 'Stanley Road' album, has created the cover for 'Suburban 100', a collection of Weller lyrics.The volume, out September 6, will bring together lyrics from 100 of the star's songs, and features personal annotations by Weller himself.

graphic via

Because nothing says "punk rock" quite like

backup dancers in matching costumes.

pic by Sonia Melot

"You'd be amazed at what you can achieve in a year"

Seems that my lads did well this weekend.....

I'm so tired of this crap

This article about birth order and sibling rivalry made my head hurt. To begin with, no author was listed, unless someone is unfortunate enough to be saddled with the name "Web Exclusive."

Who are the first set of famous siblings up for comparison? The Big Dog and Roger.
*rolls eyes*

But, you guessed it, there were musical siblings mentioned in the article, and that was the bit that made me slightly crazy. The Brothers from Burnage, natch.

Check out this masterpiece (my emphasis in bold)-

Liam and Noel Gallagher

Though famous for their public squabbles, both the combative brothers were essential to the success of British rock band Oasis in the 1990s. But elder brother Noel, who plays guitar, allegedly wrote most of the band’s songs—despite the fact that Liam was Oasis's lead singer. Though Liam has contributed songs to more recent albums, his habit of starting fights and wreaking havoc has led fans to believe that Noel is the one who has kept the band on track. The British music mag New Musical Express has even called Noel “the wisest man in rock.”

I'm going to ignore the Noel keeping the band on track thing (even though I believe he did), and go straight to the songwriting bit.

Allegedly? ALLEGEDLY? Listen, Web Exclusive, let me clue you into a fantastic thing called Google. It's lovely, and would help you see that Noel is credited as primary songwriter on the vast majority of Oasis tracks and that Our Kid didn't have A SINGLE SONGWRITING CREDIT until 'Standing On the Shoulders Of Giants.'

And if Noel "allegedly" wrote the songs, and if Our Kid only "has contributed songs to more recent albums," then who the hell was actually writing the tunes? The Tooth Fairy? Santa Claus? Richey Edwards?

And also, Web Exclusive, lead singer does not automatically equal lead songwriter. Duh.

This Old Town

Mr. Weller, Mr. Coxon, Mr. Starkey and Mr. Mounfield on Jonathan Ross's show last night.

Cheeky Monkey

Had to go for the obvious. Unlike Queen Bee, who may have an ever-so-tiny bit of purient interest in Young Alex (who is yummy), my absolute fav Arctic is Matthew Helders. I love that kid. Why?

-He used his acceptance speech for the Arctics winning Best Album at the NME awards to hit on (successfully according to some) my girl, Sarah from Girls Aloud. This was much to the amusement of My Beloved Noel and Captain Thomas Meighan in the audience.

-This is how he was dressed when they took the stage for their

set at Glasto. Their HEADLINING SET.

It's so nice when two obsessions come together

SQUEEEEEE!

New Burberry ad! Wee Kieran! Wee Pete! And some other people that I don't care about!

Nice attempt at a mustache, Pedro.....

Regarding the scrap....

At a warm-up gig for T, my beloved Wee The View lads had a bit of a rough time.

What happened?

-the crowd? Got carried away with the traditional throwing of beer into the air (I've never understood this compulsion. Beer is for drinking!)

-one of their sound men-depending on who's talking- either needed stitches or lost a tooth due to the glasses being thrown

-Wee Kieran jumped off the speakers and punched one of the hecklers. I'm sure he's adorable even when he's fighting

Concerned about my lads, I went to The View's forum, where I was reassured that all was eventually well and the parties involved calmed down quite a bit, even posing for pictures afterwards.

I dearly love lurking in the forum, since the lads are Scots, they have lots of Scottish fans, who not only speak with a brogue, they WRITE with one, too.

Here's what really happened.The guy that got smacked is ma mate. He's a top guy man. He's got carried away and launched a plastic pint tumbler and it's just happened to hit the bass player, the bass player has obviously no been happy with this and skelped him! It was handbags really and my mate, 27, got bleached aff a wee laddie. Hilarious.

Outside wee Kyle and ma mate had some words but the wee man clearly wasn't wanting any hassle. Ma birds like "leave him alane" feeling aw sorry for the weguy who came to Falkirk to entertain us and ended up in the middle of it aw. I walked him back to his tour bus and he was clearly gutted at what had happened.

Before all that kicked off it was a great night, unbelievable seeing them in such a small venue and being able to talk to them, have a laugh wi them and get pictures taken wi them. That made ma burds nite! But anyway, that's what happened. I hope they're not put off coming back to Falkirk.

Random Ten

1. Atlantis To Interzone- Klaxons
2. The House That Jack Built- Aretha Franklin
3. I Want You Around- The Ramones
4. Handle With Care- Jenny Lewis and the Watson Twins
5. Talk Dirty To Me- Poison
6. Charmless Man- Blur
7. Patrol- Charlatans
8. She's A Lady- Tom Jones
9. Girls On Film- Duran Duran
10. Twist- Goldfrapp

Bonus-
11. Like A Virgin- Madonna
12. The Show- Girls Aloud

I'm dying here

Weller, my new boy-Graham, Mani and Zak Starkey. Wossy is trying to kill me, too.

Please, Gods of YouTube, have this up and running ASAP this weekend.

PAUL WELLER and GRAHAM COXON have formed a supergroup for a one-off
performance on Friday Night With Jonathan Ross tomorrow. The ex-JAM frontman and former BLUR guitarist have called on ex-STONE ROSES bassist MANI to help them play tracks from their new double A-sided single.
They’ve also enlisted OASIS drummer ZAK STARKEY for the pots and pans.

Lovely

This is quickly becoming one of my favorite cover versions...

Awesome!

I'm NC-17! Damn fucking straight!

You know

I don't really think that anyone who, in order to avoid the draft, shat themselves, took pride in the screwing of underage girls and was a member of DAMN fucking YANKEES,* should be casting any stones in the direction of hippies.

As for this from "Father Ted" blaming-

“stoned, dirty, stinky hippies” for “rising rates of divorce, high school
drop-outs, drug use, abortion, sexual diseases and crime, not to mention the
exponential expansion of government and taxes.”

Because, you know, divorce was non-existent, dropping out, drugging, unplanned pregnancies, STDs and crime were unheard of, government was small and taxes weren't a reality before the Summer Of Love.

No, no, no- the damned dirty hippies caused all of that to change..... The patchouli made them all-powerful. And eeeevil.

*rolls eyes*

Before the damn dirty hippies took over, they walked to school uphill both ways in the winter, and LIKED it. And only bathed once a month. I see that some old habits die hard....

I have to say, if being sober like the Nuge causes you to go on a Grandpa Simpson-esque rant to Rolling Stone, well, spark it up, my friends. Because the alternative ain't pretty.

*that was a low blow. My apologies.

Whimper

I know, I know, don't look back. Especially in anger. But the following sentence reduced me to a quivering fangirl wreck-

With the Verve and the Spice Girls announcing comebacks this week, it's only Abba, the Jam, the Stone Roses and the Smiths resisting the lure to reform.

That's just cruel. I know it's never gonna happen- at least with the Brits on that list. Abba? Well, if the tax evasion issues continue, I wouldn't be real surprised.....

T

While Glastonbury is the grand dame of the U.K. festival scene ( and Queen Bee and I are sooooo going next year), with its cool hippy vibe and mud treatments and all that, my favorite festival (that I've never been to) is T In the Park, taking place this weekend.

Why?

Well, like Glasto, it has hordes of drunk and God-Knows what people jumping about, but it has one thing going for it that Somerset cannot provide mass quantities of.

Batshit crazy Scots. Bless 'em.

Speaking of Scots, check out this pic of Wee The View lads from T last year. They've gotten so big! Musically and otherwise. Because they're excellent, and you know, teenagers tend to have growth spurts.

Wee Kieran's hats kill me. And thank God, Wee Pete has gotten his hair under control. Nice jumper, Wee Kyle, and HOLY HELL! Wee Steve has a top on. No way. Didn't know the boy owned any....

pic by Drew Farrell

Where have I seen this before?

I am (before I eventually collapse into a raspberry schnapps and lemonade-induced "slumber)" perusing the NME's pics from the T In the Park music festival in Kinross, Scotland last summer, when I came upon this photo of the divine Ms. Alison Goldfrapp.

Ignore the freaky dancers in the background, and look at Alison's sunglasses. They're heart-shaped. Darling. But I kept thinking, where have I seen heart-shaped sunnies since then? Moschino's spring collection, that's where....

piccie by Tom Oxley

The rich aren't like you and me

Unlike we serfs, they can commit motherfucking perjury in a federal court and have their sentence commuted by our so-lame-as-to-be-circling-the-drain-duck President.

WASHINGTON - President Bush spared former White House aide I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby from a 2 1/2-year prison term on Monday, issuing an order that commutes his sentence.

It's not like it wasn't expected, but I need a drink, STAT, all the same.

Shit.

This is a low

I blame Kazza.*

She's the one that started me on my current Blur kick, most likely by accident.

Though I think this may be retribution for getting us started on our mutal lusting for Thomas and Sergio....

For the love of God, I'm an Oasis fan! How can I suddenly fall for the many charms of Damon Albarn?

The winking, the mugging for the camera... Oh, God. This is not good when I consider those positives.....

I've resisted for a really long time, and what put me over the edge? The picture of Damon dressed as Debbie Harry in Blondie circa the early '80s.

First of all, I'd kill for those shoes. And the legs.... Dammit, KAZ! You did this on purpose!

You're making me question whether I picked the right team in the battle of Britpop! I mean, Dave was totally acceptable looking and has the right politics, and I love a delightfully dorky Graham and pretty, pretty Alex.....guh.

You couldn't have said that about Guigsy, Bonehead, Tony or Whitey. Or even my beloved Noel pre-2002 (getting his teeth fixed and growing his hair out= very good things. Yay Sarah, well done!)

And they never would have done a video that referenced 'A Clockwork Orange,' because the concept would have taken too long to explain to Our Kid.

Crap, I'm going to have to re-evaluate my whole existence now. I fucking hate that.

*it's also entirely possible that I've finally watched 'Dress To Kill' one too many times.