This Is Radio Free Europe

This week! A Scandinavian special!

Two songs, one from Sweden, the other from Norway, both harking back to the magic discontinuity of 1982-3, when New Pop was in ascendence. The Knife is helped by the stilted voice and a jaunty Cyndi Lauper-esque backing track, snarling rage and disappointment bubbling under the surface. Annie, on the other hand, is silky smooth, channelling Trevor Horn and ABC to come up with The Look of Love (Part 23). Annoyingly, Annie's new album, Anniemal (yes, I know. Take it from me — what I heard almost makes up for the criminal pun), keeps on being delayed; it was supposed to be released in the UK this week, but it's now looking likely for early 2005. See if you can get hold of a pre-release copy from the usual file-sharing networks.

Oh, and finally, because nobody demanded it!

You like those windows?

The US Army is good at persuasion, isn’t it?

Greatest Crossovers In History!

Muahahahaha

Warning: Post may involve lots of laughter at the Countryside Alliance.

Despite an invasion of the House of Commons, and a 20,000 strong protest outside Parliament (which turned violent, something which last year's anti-war demonstration, consisting of one million people, didn't. Funny that, considering how the Left are always portrayed as the ones who cause all the problems), the House of Commons passed a Bill to outlaw fox-hunting, by 356 votes to 166. The Government has also warned the House of Lords that if they try to reject the bill, the Parliament Act of 1911 will be invoked and the Lords will be overruled.

It took them look enough. The Countryside Alliance would have you believe that fox-hunting is a tradition, a fine sport, and the only way to humanely control the fox population, and as such deserves to continue. Which is total bobbins. Even if being ripped to pieces by hounds is more humane than other methods (somehow, I'm not convinced), you don't go out on a fox hunt with the express purpose of animal control. They call it a sport. From Webster's 1913 dictionary, sport is defined as:

That which diverts, and makes mirth; pastime; amusement.

It's not animal control; it's a bunch of people getting on horses having a good time killing animals. And surely, we're beyond that sort of sport by now.

And tradition? Please. Tell me, if tradition is so important, then why are dogfighting, cockfighting, and badger-baiting banned? These also have a long history, but were banned long ago. Perhaps because they weren't protected by the aristocracy in the Lords, seeing as how they were "working-class" sports. If they can be outlawed, then I see no reason why the equally brutal fox hunts can't.

I feel sorry for the people that will lose their jobs, and I hope the Government will be able to provide assistance for either retraining them or establishing drag hunts (a hunt which uses an artificial scent instead), but I'm not sorry that their jobs are going.

Apologies

It’s been rather quiet around here for the past week, I know. Normal service will hopefully be resumed soon (if it helps, in the past week, my being back at work for a little while has meant you have avoided essays of Sesame Street, Animaniacs, and Impactor’s death in Target: 2006 (he died twice to save us all!). I think you got off lightly, to be honest).

In The Meantime, Please Enjoy These Messages

Bah! Who let the colonials in? They’ll be after coffee in the pavilion, I tell you…

Photographs that changed the world

A typewriter. Possibly an important one.

It's been almost a year since I went here, but I've been invited back tonight!

Hurrah for NASA!

Debunking the latest round of piracy scaremongering in the UK

Note to terrorists: superhero costumes will get you in anywhere…

And finally, on a terrorist note again: Russia decides that to combat terrorism, it's going to re-establish the USSR's voting procedures. I'm sure that the Chechens will take note. "They've removed democratic elections? Sod it, lads, the game's up."

This is not a rebel song

u2 and george w. bush

Music News!

There’s a new Nirvana box set coming out, featuring over fifty unreleased recordings, rarities, and b-sides. Plus a DVD featuring performances by the band. No word yet as to whether the box will, in fact, be shaped like a heart (I’m so sorry).

If you have iTunes, , this link will take you to a three-minute preview of the new R.E.M. album. I'm reserving judgement until I hear the whole thing.

Nashville finally gets back at rap and hip-hop.

New Order work on Gwen Stefani's new album, and are almost finished mixing the follow-up to 2001's Get Ready.

Problems with iTunes Japan.

For everybody in America: the new Saturday Looks Good To Me album is out now. I have an advance copy and I assure that it's great. Buy it!

Whoops

What Are We Going To Do Tonight, Brain?