Not the usual fayre that gets on here but I love it so I thought I'd share it with y'all -

Madeon, Pop Culture

And, if you're interested, here's a playlist of all the tracks that were sampled for it -

http://open.spotify.com/user/gustavxerxes/playlist/6SygL3AOL8ndMMbpGGisT...

This blog gives me more pleasure than I have any right to hope for or expect. A complex, conflicted pleasure at times but, nevertheless, I would miss it like a close friend were it ever to disappear.

With that in mind, here's a few 'gifts' - at least one of which I 1st saw here - to say a sincere Thank You and Happy Christmas to all of you.

God Bless us every one! (not literally, obviously - I don't want to start one of those threads)

Steve XXX

Bon Ivor, I Can't Make You Love Me
(Sorry, Sheev, you're just wrong :-))

James Naughtie being naughty (NSFW)

Stevie Nicks, Wild Heart (backstage)

Masterchef, Synesthesia
(Oh come on! It's Christmas!)

A game for Friday and beyond - if you're up for it - based on Douglas Adams and John Lloyds' book The Meaning of Liff which uses place names to describe things that exist but have no name.
For example - ABERYSTWYTH (n.) A nostalgic yearning which is in itself more pleasant than the thing being yearned for.

This being the Word Blog, instead of place names, bands, band members or solo artists must be used.

Here's 2 to start:

Boz Scaggs: The pieces of lint that attach to stubble after drying with a fluffy towel.

Devon Sproule: The mess left on an afternoon tea tray in a provincial hotel.

Over to you...

I can't wait until they get on to Michael McIntire v Stewart Lee.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-14843549

Not sure that this is worth a post but I'm curious so what the hey -

I've noticed that a lot of posters will put something like '(insert smiley face here)' or 'winking smiley' rather than type :-) or ;-).

Why?

<:-*? (me being puzzled in a dunce's hat while stroking my beard)

Due to various changes in my life (plus the fact that they appear to be here to stay) I've decided that it's time for me to buy an iphone.

I've only owned a bog standard mobile phone till now and I'd be really grateful if anyone can tell me if I should plump for an iphone3, 4 or wait for the 5 (due Sep 2011 apparently)and why.

Please feel free to tell me why I'd be wasting my money or what other smartphone would be better.

Thanks Massive.

Stewart Lee is on Richard Bacon's show on 5 live tomorrow. Have a listen, they're quite similar - I think you may enjoy it.

Surely a headline somewhere next time they bomb his compound.

Does anyone else have any vaguely funny headlines featuring a despot & old cartoon characters I wonder?

...anyone fancy a boogie?

Adam & Joe are back in their old slot on 6Music next month. Yipee!

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2011/mar/01/adam-and-joe-return-to-bbc-6...

Browsing through a book sale at Keele University today, I bought 'Infinite Jest' by David Foster Wallace for £1.

I read and loved a speech by him a while ago - http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2008/sep/20/fiction - but I've also read that this book's a bit of a battle and crikey, it is a monster and the print's tiny.

So, has anyone here read it &, if so, would you recommend it?

Don't worry, I won't blame you if you loved it & I end up hating it.

Happy new year everyone!

Here's a clip of Mark Hollis and co bringing a little bit of the east end to Sweden, hope you enjoy it.

Much like the Wonderstuff, I'm left cold by the hound dog hitmaker but I find it curious that I can't remember a single post on here about him.

I'm thinking that it can't be because he's American or too popular or been done to death (no offence) because people like Dylan, Springsteen & the HJHs feature here regularly.

Anyone care to share a reason/opinion/thought?

I've just been listening to The Damned's 'Machine Gun Etiquette' on Spotify. Off kicks 'Love Song' and as it nears the end I sit grinning expectantly at my computer waiting for the 'GO!' that brilliantly seperates/joins it from/to the title track. Instead I get Arthur Smith telling me about British Gas.

Understand me - I'm not complaining (free music? Yes please!) but it got me thinking about those little moments in between tracks that add so much. The 'Thankyou!' at the beginning of 'Don't Believe a Word' on Live and Dangerous is another that springs to mind (I've heard that the album was practically re-recorded in the studio but hey - who cares?).

I was wondering if other readers, etc, etc...

Damned, Love Song
http://open.spotify.com/track/0duoRNYX3uT4F4HUTmURxY
Thin Lizzy, Don't Believe a Word
http://open.spotify.com/track/3clZ5FgAtktIVPSLu4wkPU

I'd like to second Gareth Brisbane's inspired idea of adding a crossword to The Word (Inbox Word 76). Would it be presumptuous to suggest a '1 Down' to Mr Brisbane's cunning '1 Across'?

If not, may I suggest:

Sad little man left confused dried and old (3,6)