What on earth does "The" Word think it is doing putting the Lady bloody Gaga on the cover? Have you given up being a "serious" rock magazine and decided to become a teenage rag?

Selling records is NOT the same as being talented. Have we really reached the stage where scrubbers wearing thongs and silly hats is valued over real, hard-earned musicianship? Do you really need to sell copies of your "magazine" that much?

Additionally, that's THREE months recently you have had a woman on the cover. OK, one was dead and the other was pictured next to Derek Jameson (or Leonard Cohen, I wasn't sure), but still, are you turning the magazine into some sort of PC-crazed organ which has to show the "girls" regardless of merit?

I'm fairly sure that this will turn A LOT of readers off. Bad show, "the" Word, bad show.

*wipes brow with Creedence Clearwater Revival t-shirt*

I was at a school nativity today.

My little friend was playing Buzz Lightyear (yes, I too was unaware that Woody, Jess, Buzz, Mr Potato Head et al were present at Jesus' birth, but apparently...) and he was ace, obviously.

Unfortunately, just as the Wise Men/Three Kings arrived, Joseph saw fit to throw baby Jesus across the stage. Twice. (To be honest, I think he was a bit put out by the frankincense and myrrh gifts. Joseph looked more of a Lightning McQueen or Lego kind of guy.)

Joseph's mother was mortified, but the rest of us enjoyed it enormously. It also reminded me of my god-daughter's nativity about 17 years ago. It was a church school, so it was quite a serious, straight nativity (no aliens, Toy Story or Star Wars characters). As Mary & Joseph arrived and asked if there was any room at the inn, the helpful innkeeper said: "Yes, there's loads of room. Come in!" and opened a pretend door.

End of navitity play in chaos when Mary cried and cried at the mistake and Angel Gabriel had a tantrum.

So, any stories about your little darlings' nativities, christmas plays or school concerts?

Every day this week* Radio 4 is running a second series of Joan Armatrading talking to guitarists.

This week's include Baaba Maal, Alex Kapranos and some bloke called Richard Thompson. It's on after the World at One at 13.45 each day.

Thought it was something many of you would be interested in:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b017v9b8/episodes/upcoming

*Of course, I cannot guarantee that when Radio 4 realise they have scheduled at least 72 hours without Stephen Fry banging on about gadgets, they won't pull this at the last minute.

Despite admiring Nick Lowe for many years, I don't actually own anything but Jesus of Cool and the latest one, The Old Magic.

So, what I want is some 'How To Buy Nick Lowe' recommendations. What are the 2/3 LPs I MUST HAVE, or if that is impossible, in which order should I be buying five or so?

Is it worth getting the double CD best of that was released a couple of years ago instead?

All help much appreciated.

Listening to the always good, usually excellent, Sound Opinions podcast, which was 'dissecting' Rust Never Sleeps, it was mentioned that it was influenced by Devo (which I think is quite well known).

He found out about Devo because Toni Basil had a tape that she gave to her boyfriend of the time, who happened to be Dean Stockwell. Dean Stockwell then gave it to Neil Young.

I know Toni Basil had a more varied career than the massive hit Mickey may suggest, but I think the Toni Basil-Dean Stockwell-Neil Young chain may be my favourite fact of the year.

Are there any other examples of unlikely third party recommendations? Did Max Bygravers buy up all of Zappa's catalogue after hearing about them from Des O'Conner's first wife, Princess Margaret? Did Ben Affleck read One Day after Matt Damon saw Uri Geller read it on a plane?

I'm rather new to Twitter and rather keen on it, so this is not a Twitter-refusenik post.

However, I am sick of seeing Twitter updates being used in lieu of actual quotes or indeed actual news. I'm losing count of the time I see a story padded out by what people have said via Twitter. Especially celebrities. I accept that what, say, Myleene Klass says about Lily Allen's horrible news and what, say, Simon Mayo has to say about Danny Baker's diagnosis is no different from asking their agent for a rent-a-quote, but there are so many news articles filled with Twitter responses from Sexygirl93 or Beaverboy72 (the Standard is particularly guilty, but so are all newspapers and broadcasters), it concerns me.

Or, am I just living in the past, and is an anonymous, pseudonymous Twitter post as good as a sourced quote or vox-pop?

I bought the Mirror this morning to get the new Prince LP.

This despite the fact I've not truly liked a Prince LP since Lovesexy (there's been the odd moment since then. Gett Off especially, but nothing like a whole LP). Also despite the fact that I had three copies of his last giveaway from the Daily Mail and his gigs. One I gave away, and the other two are still in cellophane.

So, why did I buy it? Will I ever listen to it? If I do will it be any good?