Following the success of the recent Boy's Own features in the magazine, a crack team of magazine publishing consultants has been brainstorming, workshopping and focus-grouping. As a result, the brand will be consolidated with a series of features designed to appeal to the notoriously hard-to-reach Word Reader with a Y-chromosome deficiency.

MARVEL: as Mark Ellen explores the impact of Judy Blume's menstrual "mistress-piece", Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret.

GASP: as your favourite contributors (including Rob Fitzpatrick, Eamonn Forde and Dorian Lynskey) bare all for the Naked Centrefold special.

WATCH THE MONEY ROLL IN: as David Hepworth "road-tests" the latest in lipgloss technology from Rimmel.

I'm moving house this week, and while tidying out long abandoned drawers I found a box full of old mix-tapes.

*wipes tear from eye*

(From Questionable Content)

From the movie Lost,Lonely and Vicious, 1958. (Via here)

I was reading the Robert Plant interview in The Observer today, and thought of the Massive as I read this...

We talk vinyl and how the loss of one's record collection is greater than that of the wealth of a king, or even a lady: "Whenever I have bid a hasty goodbye to a loved one, I've always made sure that my record collection was safely stored away in the boot of the car," insists Plant. "Sometimes the parting was so fast, I was not able to get them into alphabetical order, but I still got away with my records, that was essential."

Not so much bros before hos, but 78s before dates. Or something.

Sheev and I got into a discussion about songs that are all about someone begging for love (or sometimes "love").

Key examples:

Kind Woman - Buffalo Springfield
"Kind woman, won't you love me tonight
I've seen that look in your eyes
Kind woman, don't leave me lonely tonight
Please say it's alright."

It Won't Be Wrong - The Byrds
"Every time you're in my arms, come to me, don't be long,
You know that I'd never do you harm,
Please let me love you and it won't be wrong."

Ain't Too Proud To Beg - The Temptation
This one's pretty self-explanatory, actually.

Somehow what might be weirdly off-putting in real life makes for perfect pop songs. There must be loads more - so show me what you got...

From College Humor. More decades are available there - I particularly liked the 1900s...

Full size image here

what Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This) would sound like played on a shamisen and traditional Japanese drums? Then wonder no more...

(Via The Electronical Rattle Bag)

I found this attractively priced offer while looking up some train tickets earlier today. As I booked the marginally cheaper standard class fare, I found myself pondering what exactly one million pounds would buy you in terms of rail travel.

Obviously, there will be no other passengers travelling on this train to spoil it with their talking on the phone loudly, screaming children or tinny music escaping from their headphones. I imagine the train itself will be gold-plated, perhaps encrusted with diamonds and other precious gems. Clearly the inside of the carriages will be opulently decorated... I’m thinking some sort of fin de siècle boudoir theme – all heavy red velvet drapes, chaises longue, silk throws and elaborate chandeliers. Of course, there will be an extensive staff to take care of my every whim, and frankly I’m hopeful that a besuited Jon Hamm in character as Don Draper will be present to fix drinks and provide a little light seduction.

No possibilities of delays or engine failures, as this magnificent machine is in fact pulled by a team of magical unicorns...

(Mon cher Capitaine, I hope I got all the French right this time?)

since I saw it during the week, so I thought I'd share...

Full instructions not available sadly, but if you want to try and replicate the look she does tell us what colours she used.

From here. Because I know you all love bad musical puns...