Wed, 10 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.claudepate.com/ PostNuke Powered Site en-us http://www.claudepate.com/images/logo.gif http://www.claudepate.com/ admin@claudepate.com http://www.claudepate.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=1484 SHE & HIM are "In the Sun." Zooey. Dancing.IAN McCULLOCH of Echo and the Bunnymen did the four free songs thing for Daytrotter.CURSIVE dropped a new track, "Discovering America," at the 'Gum.THE BIRD & BEE are streaming "Sara Smile" from their Hall & Oates tribute via Entertainment Weekly.CAROLINA CHOCOLATE DROPS got a lengthy feature plus tracks on Fresh Air.SPOON "Got Nuffin" but rawk at the Ed Sullivan Theater.NEIL YOUNG & RONNIE VAN ZANDT: Thrasher's Wheat looks at the pseudo-feud between two classic rockers. (Thx, LHB.)BASIA BULAT talks to the Portland Mercury about her autoharp and her Subaru commercial.MAJOR RECORD LABELS are still important, say major record labels!RADIO SILENCE: The Slow Death of Rock 'n Roll on the Airwaves.TRON: LEGACY has new trailer online.LINDSAY LOHAN is suing the financial company E-Trade, insisting that a boyfriend-stealing, "milkaholic" baby in its latest commercial - who happens to be named Lindsay - was modeled after her.CHARLIE SHEEN will be out of rehab to resume taping his hit show Two and a Half Men on March 19.TIGER WOODS and his wife were... wait for it... caught canoodling, according to the ever-reliable RadarOnline.MICHAEL JACKSON enjoyed spending time with his children, cruising the Vegas strip and even ordering fast food through a drive through, but his life was filled with "stress, paranoia and pain," according to three of his former bodyguards.CONAN O'BRIEN is following one person on Twitter -- and it has changed her life.DAVID LETTERMAN: Robert "Joe" Halderman pleaded guilty to attempted grand larceny, acknowledging he tried to chisel two million from the late-night icon. The plea deal also spares Letterman the prospect of a trial that could have put his private life on display.HEIDI MONTAG is poking fun at her own 10 plastic surgeries.CAPTAIN AMERICA may well be John Krasinski -- which gives me the exact opposite feeling I had about Robert Downey, Jr., as Iron Man. Small wonder that Marvel is expanding its search.THE REAL HURT LOCKER: Foreign Policy has a photo essay of an actual Iraq Bomb Disposal Unit.AFGHANISTAN: Defense Secretary Gates says recent military offensives against the Taliban in southern Afghanistan had gained momentum but that a reconciliation effort proposed by Afghan Pres. Karzai was unlikely in the near term to cause senior Taliban leaders to lay down their arms.  Indeed, the Taliban has been fighting their allies Hezb-i-Islami -- which may prove to be a major boon to Afghan President Hamid Karzai.BUCKING BULL escapes Texas rodeo.RASCAL took the Ugliest Dog title in Del Mar, California this year. Slideshow of nominees at the link.PABS: A chastity belt for dogs.A GREAT WHITE SHARK is photographed painfully close to caged divers. Did no one see this movie? Wed, 10 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.claudepate.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=1483 JOANNA NEWSOM played "Soft As Chalk" at 30 Rock, but not on 30 Rock.  Add in Flett Foxes' Robin Peckhold rehearsing a cover of her "On a Good Day," and you have Twofer Tuesday.NEW RELEASES: Broken Bells, Ted Leo, Pavement, BRMC, Morning Benders, Jason Collett, Besnard Lakes, The Runaways' soundtrack, and more are streaming this week via Spinner.THE WHITE STRIPES are advance streaming their live album via NPR.THE BIRD & BEE are serving up "She's Gone" and "One on One" from their upcoming Hall & Oates tribute LP.BEN SOLEE and DANIEL MARTIN MOORE did the four free songs thing for Daytrotter, all upcoming or unreleased.THE KINKS: "Victoria," live in Rhode Island, circa 1979.LIARS talk to Pitchfork about how living in different cities has impacted their music, the group's creative process, and the merits of escapist music during dark times.BESNARD LAKES: Captain Jace Lasek gives a decidedly trippy interview to The Quietus.SPARKLEHOUSE: PopMatters is among those paying tribute to the late Mark Linkous.TOM MORELLO is contributing to the soundrack for Iron Man 2.IRON MAN 2: Speaking of which, here's the new trailer.THE OSCARS had their best ratings in years, which is not surprising given the rise in movie attendance in the past year, and the fact that they nominated big hits like Avatar, instead of snubbing them (as they did last time with The Dark Knight).  Salon probes the show's "Kanye moment."  More folks are upset that Farrah Fawcett and Bea Arthur were left out of the memorial clip.MO'NIQUE was apparently a rude pain in the rear to Barbara Walters. Shocka.SEAN PENN was banned from the post-Oscars Governors Ball after a confrontation with Hurt Locker producer Greg Shapiro, who just happens to be dating Penn's ex, Robin Wright.MILEY CYRUS thinks that she are her co-star/by are "deeper than normal people,"  Which is what a lot of teenagers think about themselves.BETTY WHITE will appear on Saturday Night Live in the near future.JOHN HUGHES: The late writer has at least one unproduced screenplay that may go into production.ROMAN POLANSKI's wife is officially bummed out that her fugitive, child-molesting husband may have to face justice.IRAN: Vitol, Glencore, and Trafigura agreed to stop supplying refined petroleum products to Iran. China signed a deal with Iran that allows it to drill in the Persian Gulf.AFGHANISTAN: Gen. McChrystal talks about lessons of the Marja offensive, esp. for future ops in Kandahar.IRAQ: Candidates and coalitions began positioning themselves in an evolving political landscape on Monday, following an election on Sunday that keeps the withdrawal of American troops on pace.TRAMPOLINE DOG: Let's go to the video.THE SQUIRREL THREAT: Militant rodents fashion helmets from coconuts.SWISS DOGS lost their bid for legal rights.A BABY MAMMOTH is going on display at Chicago's Field Museum. Yes, they have extracted DNA. What could go wrong? Tue, 09 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.claudepate.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=1482 SPARKLEHORSE: Mark Linkous took his own life over the weekend, an event all the more tragic in light of his near-death experience in the Nineties.  Many will pay tribute by linking his collaboration with Radiohead's Thom Yorke on Pink Floyd's "Wish You Were Here," but Frank Yang adds covers of Rod Stewart's "Maggie Mae" and GbV's "Smothered in Hugs." Fans can look forward to the posthumous, delayed release of Dark Night of the Soul, a collaboration with Danger Mouse and director David Lynch.JIMI HENDRIX -- and the posthumous Valleys of Neptune -- got a lengthy feature from the World Cafe.TODD SNIDER played the World Cafe on Friday; you can stream the whole gig on demand via NPR.MEGAFAUN did the four free songs thing for Daytrotter.RY COODER & THE CHIEFTAINS are advance streaming San Patricio, which is Spanish for St. Patrick, but which is probably not about what you might think.REDBONE: "Come and Get Your Love."SHE & HIM both talk to BlackBook about inspirations outside music.JOANNA NEWSOM talks to The Independent about the structure of her triple LP and her beverages of choice.ROGUE WAVE: The Boston Globe and The A.V. Club both cover the band's new, more danceable turn.THE CLIENTELE talks to the L.A. Times about how a British band ends up with West Coast influences.WEEKEND BOX OFFICE: Alice in Wonderland blew away expectations with a 116.3 million debut, far beyond the tracking estimates of 65-75 million (mind you, Avatar opened with 77 million).  It's the sixth biggest opening ever, and the biggest March opening ever.  Brooklyn's Finest's second place debut also exceeded expectations, bringing in 13.5 million.  Shutter Island drops to No. 3, but a 41 percent drop -- and another 13.3 million -- isn't bad at all.  The No.4 film, Cop Out, drops 50 percent, but has made back its production budget and is (sadly) Kevin Smith's biggest movie.  Avatar rounds out the Top Five, dropping 44 percent as it lost IMAX screens and 3-D screens to Alice.THE OSCARS went to these folks. Kudos to The Hurt Locker and director Katherine Bigelow, to Best Actor Jeff Bridges (Dude!) and Sandra Bullock for collecting hers in person. James Cameron had to consloe himself with a midnight swim in his money bin. Kudos to the Academy for doing a special tribute to the late John Hughes. Anti-kudos for leaving Farrah Fawcett out of the memoriam montage.THE RAZZIES went to these folks. Special kudos to Sandra Bullock for collecting hers in person.THE INDEPENDENT SPIRIT AWARDS went to these folks. Congrats to (500) Days of Summer for Best Screenplay.ANGELINA JOLIE had an affair with Mick Jagger whilst he was still married to Jerry Hall, a new book has sensationally claimed.TOM CRUISE was reportedly injured in a motorcycle accident, though I presume he healed himself with his Scientology powers.NICOLE KIDMAN was replaced by 17-year-old Selena Gomez on Monte Carlo, a movie produced by Kidman.SEAN PENN wishes that his critics "die screaming of rectal cancer," because he's so compassionate.MICKEY ROURKE boasted of sleeping with 14 women in one night, according to the ever-reliable Sun.BEN ROETHLISBERGER: The Steelers QB has been accused of sexual assault by a young woman in Georgia.IRAN is building a massive rocket launch site with North Korean assistance, Israel Radio quoted IHS Jane's as reporting overnight Friday.  Ahmadinejad on Saturday called the September 11 attacks on the United States a "big fabrication" that was used to justify the US war on terrorism.PAKISTAN: American born Al Qaeda member, Adam Gadahn, may or may not have been arrested.IRAQ: Violent attacks on election day didn't stop large numbers of Iraqis from successfully casting their votes in key parliamentary elections Sunday.A BABY BUNNY and  A FLOWER: Let's go to the video.A MONKEY that has eluded capture in the Tampa Bay area for more than a year has again escaped from Florida wildlife officials.DOGS may get the right to an attorney in Switzerland.SHARK ATTACKS are on the decline. Gonna need a smaller boat. I blame global warming. Mon, 08 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.claudepate.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=1481 THE WEEKEND STARTS HERE:...with THE YARDBIRDS! Live circa 1967, featuring someone the announcer calls "Timmy Page."  Your setlist inlcudes "Shapes of Things," "Happenings Ten Years Time Ago," "Over Under Sideways Down," and "I'm a Man."BOAT stopped by Oregon Public Broadcasting for a chat and mini-set in audio and video, including a musical allusion to GbV's "Motor Away." Sloppy pop from Seattle. Friends with Tullycraft.SOLID GOLD did the four free songs thing for Daytrotter, including a cover of Chris Issak's "Wicked Game."PERRO DEL MAR and TAKEN BY TREES stopped by Morning Becomes Eclectic for a twin bill.LAURA VEIRS stopped by The Current for a chat and mini-set.WILD BEASTS also stopped by The Current for a chat and mini-set.JAWBREAKER: Captain's Dead has a collection of odds and sods, including deconstructions of the Psychedelic Furs' "Into You Like a Train," REM's "Pretty Persuasion" and U2's "With or Without You" (which actually turns into another 80s classic).ELLIOT SMITH: Kill Rock Stars is offering two free downloads from their reissues of his first and last full albums.FUNKADELIC: "I Got a Thing" on Upbeat in 1970. The intro and outro are almost as good as the song.BEACH HOUSE is profiled by The Irish Times.THE TEN MOST DOWNLOADED SONGS FROM iTUNES: Read 'em and weep.PANDORA is coming to TiVo.YOU COULDN'T IGNORE ME IF YOU TRIED: I heard the author of this book about The Brat Pack, John Hughes, And Their Impact on a Generation, and it sounded interesting.  The promo site will hook you up with videos from the youth films of the 80s.WILCO (The Sandwich Shop).THE CUTOUT BIN: From Duane Eddy to Echo & the Bunnymen, from the Jesus & Mary Chain to the Jackson 5, from Howlin' Wolf to Big Country, plus the Dead Kennedys, Jimmy Soul, the Damned, Herb Alpert and more -- this weekend's fortuitous finds are streaming from the Pate page at the ol' HM.NOW SHOWING: This weekend's wide releases are Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland, currently scoring 57 percent on the ol' Tomatometer; and Brooklyn's Finest, which is scoring 33 percent.ALICE in WONDERLAND: Against my better judgment, I ventured to the advance screening, solely as a courtesy to you, the reader.  And while Tim Burton was eminently well-suited to breathe life into the work of Lewis Carroll (and even moreso Sir John Tenniel), I found Burton's re-imagining of this material as a battle quest in the vein of Tolkien/Narnia ultimately unimaginitive.  Johnny Depp does his thing well enough as the Mad Hatter, though I enjoyed Helena Bonham Carter's Red Queen more, and Anne Hathaway's White Queen much less.  Not a bad movie, and sure to do well.  But I cannot help thinking it a missed opportunity.THE OSCARS: Predictions from Roger Ebert and many, many more.TIGER WOODS: Elin has agreed to move home with Tiger, according to RadarOnline.JOHNNY DEPP's longtime gal pal reportedly asked him to quit a film with Angelina Jolie.LINDSAY LOHAN and BOY GEORGE exchanged beauty secrets in London.HEIDI MONTAG's plastic surgeon refuses to perform any more work on her.BRITNEY SPEARS' boyfriend hates her music.THE SHADOW may be headed back to the big screen.PAKISTAN intelligence has detained Mullah Omar's son-in-law, the fmr chief administrator of the Taliban.AFGHANISTAN: US forces who pushed the Taliban out of their main stronghold in Marjah, southern Afghanistan, have found residents there deeply sceptical of the Afghan government's promises to rebuild.IRAQ: Despite various warnings of an increase in violence before Iraq's March 7, 2010 parliamentary elections, the latest casualty counts do not show a significant increase in deaths.MARU the BOX CAT has a brand new bag.BENGAL TIGERS have a pool party.POLAR BEAR & CUB trapped on a melting ice floe. But they'll probably be OK.A HEN and PUPPIES, living together... Mass hysteria! Fri, 05 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.claudepate.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=1480 OK GO goes Rube Goldberg in the video for "This Too Shall Pass." SxSW: There's a streaming mix of 100 picks to click from festival artists at NPR.PHANTOGRAM stopped by The Current for a chat and mini-set streaming via MPR.ALEC OUNSWORTH also stopped by The Current for a chat and mini-set streaming via MPR.ALL SONGS CONSIDERED: Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings, Owen Pallett, The White Stripes, Joanna Newsom and more are featured in the latest installment of the long-running series.ALLISON MOORER stops by the World Cafe for a chat and mini-set.FOALS have some beautiful cinematography in the video for the slow-building "Spanish Sahara."PAVEMENT: Stephen Malkmus talks to Chuck Klosterman at GQ.PETER GABRIEL has scratched backs, but others are slow to scratch his.TITUS ANDRONICUS: Patrick Stickles talks to the Village Voice about The Monitor album... and the USS Monitor.LIVE AID: 95 per cent of the millions intended for victims of the 1984 famine was diverted to anti-government rebel leaders - including the current Ethiopian Prime Minister, according to former rebel compatriots of Meles Zenawi. (Given that the Marxist gov't was trying to starve the opposition, this story would not surprise me. And it probably does not surprise Geldof or Bono.)CHARLIE SHEEN and Brooke Mueller have had multiple sex partners together in the short time that they have been married, according to RadarOnline. One source estimates that they have shared as many as 10 partners - some male and some female. Giving an extra dimension to "Two and a Half Men."NAOMI CAMPBELL was on the lam Tuesday night after cops said she beat up her driver in a Manhattan meltdown. But by Tuesday evening, the magnitude of the incident had been downgraded: the police said they were no longer interested in speaking with Ms. Campbell and considered the matter closed. No charges were filed.SACHA BARON COHEN's Oscars skit has been cut, to avoid crushing the delicate feelings of Avatar director James Cameron.MEGAN FOX does not go for one-night stands.ROGER EBERT debuted his new robot voice on Oprah.THE HURT LOCKER is under fire for being unrealistic and too realistic.GILLIGAN'S ISLAND is headed to the big screen. One hopes it will be less than a three hour tour.ABRAHAM LINCOLN: VAMPIRE HUNTER is being developed for Tim Burton.IRAN announced plans to test a prototype of the Qassed 2 laser-guided bomb.  Italian police have arrested seven people, including alleged Iranian secret service agents, on suspicion of supplying military equipment to Tehran in violation of international sanctions.IRAQ: Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, Iraq's senior Shiite spiritual leader, has repeatedly refused to endorse any of the electoral coalitions fighting for votes among the country's Shiite majority.KNUTS! An animal rights group called on Tuesday for Knut the polar bear, who shot to global stardom as a cub in 2007, to be castrated to avert incest with his cousin.AN ERRANT EMU in El Paso snarled rush hour traffic near Interstate 10 on Tuesday morning and attacked deputies trying to restrain it.ICE, the Super-Husky. Aw.A BABY TAPIR debuts at the San Diego Zoo. Double Awww... Thu, 04 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.claudepate.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=1479 MEYER HAWTHORNE: "I Wish it Would Rain" is not the Temptations classic, but I'm pretty sure he knows about it.THE MORNING BENDERS are advance streaming the Big Echo album.TITUS ANDRONICUS is advance streaming The Monitor album.LAURA VEIRS played a Tiny Desk Concert at the offices of NPR.ANDREW W.K. did the four free songs thing for Daytrotter, all previously unreleased jams.  GORILLAZ are not a fave of mine, but the clip for "Stylo" features a surprise cameo.SURFER BLOOD: John Paul Pitts tells Prefix he does not want to become Brian Wilson or Rivers Cuomo.PITCHFORK REVIEW RATINGS: A statistical study from Part-Time Music (Thx, LHB.)THE ROCK & ROLL HALL of FAME prepares to open a library and archives on Cuyahoga Community College's Metropolitan Campus, two miles away from the hall itself.THE CULT of the iPOD: The Atlantic predicts its death.CHARLIE SHEEN: A woman who slept with Charlie and wife Brooke Mueller at the same time is about to come forward and tell her story, according to RadarOnline.RANDY QUAID and his wife were back in court on Monday to appear for a preliminary hearing on their individual felony charges of defrauding an innkeeper.CHYNNA PHILLIPS filed for divorce from Billy Baldwin on Friday -- but then had a dramatic change of heart Sunday. So, how's that anxiety rehab working out?BRITTANY MURPHY left her entire estate to her mother in a handwritten will made years before she married.JESSICA SIMPSON finally opening up about John Mayer's raunchy Playboy mag comments.LADY GaGa says she is currently single and celibate.SIMON COWELL's engagement is more than rumor now.O.J. SIMPSON will likely be rejected by the Smithsonian.AFGHANISTAN: The government may have a hard time getting Marja to stop growing opium poppies.PAKISTAN: The US government has decided to establish a Quick Reaction Force for the protection of its diplomatic missions in Pakistan. Meanwhile, a Pakistani court has restrained the government from extraditing Afghan Taliban leaders recently detained by its intelligence services to any other country, raising the prospects of a new row between Kabul and Islamabad.IRAQ: Across the country, voters are reaping a windfall as candidates in Sunday's parliamentary elections offer gifts like heating oil and rice.CAT vs BALLOON: Let's go to the video.SPANGLED PERCH rain down on the remote Australian desert town of Lajamanu.WILD GOAT CHASE for police in Odessa, TX.FOX vs. HENHOUSE: Who you got?COWS fatally trampled a farmer after being spooked by a fire engine. The firefighter has been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter. Wed, 03 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.claudepate.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=1478 TOM "T-BONE" WOLK, who played bass for nearly 30 years with Daryl Hall and John Oates, led the SNL band from 1986-92, and recorded with Elvis Costello, Billy Joel and many more, died Saturday (Feb. 27) of an apparent heart attack. H & O have issued official statements, natch. You can see Wolk in the video for "Private Eyes," though he wasn't with H & O when it was recorded. But it's definitely Wolk with the signature line on "Maneater" to complete your Twofer Tuesday.NEW RELEASES: Rogue Wave, Shooter Jennings, Besnard Lakes, and more are streaming this week via Spinner.GORILLAZ are advance streaming the Plastic Beach album.BROKEN BELLS are advance streaming their self-titled debut.LIGHTSPEED CHAMPION has an interview plus tracks from Weekend Edition Sunday.GRACE POTTER & THE NOCTURNALS deliver a crunchy cover of the Jefferson Airplane's "White Rabbit," to get us ready for Tim Burton's Alice this weekend.THE ROLLING STONES forthcoming reissue of Exile On Main St will reportedly include 10 previously unheard songs.  As a complement to the release of Exile on Main Street, a documentary, "Stones in Exile," has just been completed for fans to view on US Network television and through BBC Worldwide internationally -- including ten minutes from that bootleg documentary with the NSFW name.THE VELVET UNDERGROUND: John Cale has ruled out any possibility of any reunion, due to bad memories and the death of guitarist Sterling Morrison. LAURA VEIRS talks to the Chicago Tribune about the recording of her July Flame album.MIDNIGHT OIL: Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd demoted his Environment Minister, former rock star Peter Garrett, on Friday as his government faces an election year slide in opinion polls over a bungled home insulation scheme. How can they sleep while their roofs are burning?CHARLIE SHEEN's wife Brooke Mueller wants a divorce after his court case for domestic violence is over, according to RadarOnline.TOM-KAT UPDATE: Holmes has been undergoing intense Scientology "auditing" - sparking rumors that she's "being prepared" for her second baby with high-priest husband.MARCIA, MARCIA, MARCIA... The feud between Maureen McCormick and Eve Plumb has been raging for years and caused the cancelation of a televised Brady reunion planned for this week, according to RadarOnline.MICHAEL DOUGLAS -- and his family matters -- are featured at Vanity Fair.SHARON OSBOURNE writes that the cult of celebrity is destroying today's children.JESSICA SIMPSON: Sharing words of wisdom on the Twitter.MATT. DAMON. and PAUL GREENGRASS seem to be bailing on Bourne.IRAN: Russia's president said Moscow was ready to consider new sanctions on Iran for its nuclear defiance and the chief of the IAEA warned that he cannot confirm that all of Tehran's atomic activities are peaceful. Shocka.IRAQ: Prime Minister al-Maliki's office denied an arrest order was signed for Muqtada al Sadr upon his return from Afghanistan.PAKISTAN: Significant leaders of the Pakistani Taliban have been killed or captured in an onslaught of frontier ground and air attacks, according to a Pakistani general.AFGHANISTAN: As Sahab released a posthumous videotape of Abu Dujanah al Khurasani, the al-Qaeda operative who carried out the suicide attack against the CIA at Combat Outpost Chapman in Khost province.TORTOISE vs TOMATO: Let's go to the video.A WEDDING ELEPHANT trampled 20 limos trying to reach an in-heat female in a nearby sugar cane field in the Indian capital New Delhi.BRITISH DOG OWNERS may be forced to pass a test before they can own any pooch under a planned clampdown on dangerous animals... like Yorkies.MOZART, the iguana whose penis was surgically removed after he got a permanent erection, is back with his girlfriends and enjoying a healthy sex life again. Tue, 02 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.claudepate.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=1477 SHANE MacGOWAN & FRIENDS (including Johnny Depp, Chrissie Hynde, Nick Cave, Primal Screamer Bobby Gillespie, the Clash's Mick Jones, Glen Matlock, Paloma Faith, and Eliza Doolittle) cover "I Put a Spell on You" for Haiti relief.PRINCE gave a new song, "Cause and Effect," to The Current, just because. I don't think he's been quite this pop since the 80s.JOHNNY CASH got a birthday feature on Fresh Air.SPOON stopped by the World Cafe for a chat and mini-set.STEPHIN MERRITT had a pre-Magnetic Fields band called The Zinnias -- and the music is out there.FRIGHTENED RABBIT is also streaming The Winter of Mixed Drinks via NPR.VAMPIRE WEEKEND talk to The Obaerver about topping the charts, battles of the bands, day jobs, etc.  They also perform "White Sky" unplugged.JOANNA NEWSOM talks to the Wall Street Journal about the themes and secrecy surrounding her new triple-LP.PATTERSON HOOD talks to DCist about the Drive-By Truckers documentary, The Secret to a Happy Ending.CHARLOTTE GAINSBOURG talks to the London Evening Standard about how three difficult years resulted in her IRM album.CARLY SIMON may or may not have revealed the subject of "You're So Vain."WEEKEND BOX OFFICE: Shutter Island repeats at No.1 with 22 million.  However, the Scorsese flick drops 46 percent, perhaps due to competition from the better-than-expected remake of The Crazies, which landed in the No. 3 spot with 16.5 million.  Sandwiched between them in the No. 2 slot was the debut of Cop Out, which made 18.6 million.  Despite poor reviews, this is Kevin Smith's biggest opening, and the best for Bruce Willis since Live Free or Die Hard.  Cop Out had a budget budget -- 30 million -- so this will likely turn out well for those involved.  Avatar plugs away in the No. 4 slot, making another 14 million on top of the gajillion it's already made worldwide. Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief rounds out the Top Five with 9.8 million -- its last clear shot at the family market before Tim Burton brings Alice in Wonderland this week.  Overall, the box office is way up over last year.CHARLIE SHEEN: Ex Denise Richards may be a witness for the prosecution.MARIE OSMOND's son Michael Blosil leapt to his death Friday night in Los Angeles.  His suicide note showed sadness, which is very Royal Tenenbaums.ANDREW KOENIG got a nice memorial from his colleagues at FakeRadio,net. (Thx, Lance.)BRITTANY MURPHY's husband is furious over a published report that claims the actress obtained a prescription for 120 hydrocodone pills just 11 days before her death - and only 11 pills were left in the bottle.CHYNNA PHILLLIPS has checked out of the facility where she was being treated for anxiety.PAULA ABDUL has decided against doing Dancing With the Stars, but is still in talks with Simon Cowell about joining his upcoming "X Factor" show.VARIETY killed a bad review for a movie advertised on and promoted by Variety.AFGHANISTAN: Behind the combat troops and military trainers, alongside the aid workers and agriculture experts, come the lawyers.IRAN: How the mullocracy is getting its hands on nuclear equipment.IRAQ: Impressions of the election from Basra.LLAMAS are digging the snow in Oregon.A RUSSIAN CHIMP has been sent to rehab by zookeepers to cure the smoking and beer-drinking habits he has picked up.THE 15 CUTEST ANIMALS in the world that could kill you.THE GREAT PYTHON HUNT: Python season starts this weekend in Florida.COWS make lousy house guests, an Arkansas woman learns. Mon, 01 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.claudepate.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=1476 THE WEEKEND STARTS HERE:...at the DEVOLYMPICS! Devo plays live in Vancouver for the Games, before a crowd sporting the new-look blue Energy Domes.  Your set list includes "Gates of Steel," "Uncontrollable Urge," "That's Good," and the new song, "Fresh."FRUIT BATS stopped by the World Cafe for a chat and mini-set, and did three free songs for Daytrotter.ST. VINCENT also stopped by the World Cafe for a chat and mini-set.QUASI stopped by Oregon Public Broadcasting for a chat and mini-set in audio and video.ALEC OUNSWORTH played a Tiny Desk Concert at the offices of NPR.JEREMY MESSERSMITH did four free songs for Daytrotter, one previously unreleased.BRIGHT EYES has a video teaser featuring clips from Conor Oberst's first LP under this moniker since Cassadaga.KENNY ROGERS & THE FIRST EDITION: "I Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In)." Yeah. Yeah. Oh, Yeah.JOAN JETT does an Interview on the upcoming Runaways biopic.ROCKY VOTOLATO talks to PopMatters about dealing with depression and the album that came out of it.ODDS & SODS: 35 B-side/rarity/outtakes collections as essential as the "official" albums.CULT of the iPOD:  Apple celebrates delivering 10 billion songs from its iTunes store, but only runs a bit over break-even.  The store helps sell iPods, iPhones and not iPads.  It's the reverse of razors and computer printes.CUTOUT BIN: From the Sonics to En Vogue, from Johnny Cash to Country Dick Montana, from Lightspeed Champion to Edwin Starr, plus Stevie Ray Vaughn, Joan Jett, the B-52s, Glenn Campbell, Mott the Hoople and more -- this weekend's fortuitous finds are streaming from the Pate page at the ol' HM.NOW SHOWING: This weekend's wide releases are Cop Out, which is currently scoring 14 percent on the ol' Tomatometer; and the remake of The Crazies, which is scoring 83 percent.TIGER WOODS: Elin Nordegren is returning to Orlando with their children, after flying to Arizona last week with the golfer.  Woods is reportedly staying in Arizona to complete treatment for sex addiction.CHARLIE SHEEN's wife Brooke Mueller has been hiding her addiction to crack and her alcoholism for months, according to RadarOnline.ANDREW KOENIG, the former "Growing Pains" star, committed suicide, according to his father, Walter "Chekhov"Koenig, JON VOIGHT is overjoyed at his reconciliation with Angelina Jolie.JOHN MAYER is trying to rehab his reputation after that disastrous Plyayboy interview.SETH GREEN is engaged.THE OSCARS: Looks like the Academy has clamped down hard on "The Hurt Locker" co-producer Nicolas Chartier for sending out an e-mail blast that urged colleagues to campaign aggressively for his movie to win the Oscar for best picture over "Avatar."PAKISTAN: The BBC joins the list of media outlets wondering about the recent Taliban arrests.IRAN: Arab nations will usher in a new Middle East "without Zionists and without colonialists," Ahmadinejad said Thursday.OLY the OLYMPIC PUPPY keeps a speed skater sane.THE SEAGULL SYNDROME: A cull is being considered of gulls which may have become contaminated with radiation from the Sellafield nuclear reprocessing plant in Cumbria.A HEN lays a mega-egg in Britain.KILLER WHALE spared by SeaWorld.WATER BUFFALO are making milk for cheese while rocking out to Classic Hits 95.5. Fri, 26 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.claudepate.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=1475 THE RAVEONETTES have a brand new video for "Heart of Stone."FRIGHTENED RABBIT is advance streaming The Winter of Mixed Drinks.  DR. DOG played the Mountain Stage; you can stream the gig via NPR.SURFER BLOOD stopped by the World Cafe for a chat and twofer streaming via NPR.CLASSIC STONES OUTTAKES, courtesy of Captain's Dead.SPLIT ENZ: "I Got You." Because.RAY DAVIES is recording an album of Kinks duets with folks like Bruce Springsteen and Jon Bon Jovi, and possibly the Killers, Metallica and Lucinda Williams.TEGAN & SARA: The former talks to the Las Vegas Sun about career goals, social networking, fan requests, and more...TORTOISE multi-instrumentalist Dan Bitney talked to Prefix about "returning to form," high-concept music, and the impossibility of re-creating classic Springsteen on late-night television.THE RAMONES: Natavia Lowery, the personal assistant to former Ramones manager Linda Stein has been convicted in a New York court of bludgeoning her boss to death. CHARLIE SHEEN checked into rehab because he was using cocaine and alcohol, according to RadarOnline. Shocka!MATTHEW FOX of Lost is caught up in a sex scandal with a stripper who is young enough to be his daughter. InTouch scores the exclusive interview with the stripper.TIGER WOODS: Howard Stern is roundng up the golfer's mistresses for a 100K beauty pageant.LINDSAY LOHAN tells all about her lesbian relationship with Samantha Ronson - and says she wants her lover back.KIEFER SUTHERLAND returned to the set of 24 after filming was halted because he needed to undergo surgery.MARY-KATE OLSEN is back on the market.MATT DAMON & JAKE GYLLENAAL both turned down Avatar.CAPTAIN AMERICA: Marvel's casting candidates for the super-soldier have leaked online.MY SO-CALLED LIFE: Angela Chase and Jordan Catalano meet again, 15 years later.IRAN aims to spread its Islamic revolution beyond its borders, Ahmadinejad pledged on Tuesday.PAKISTAN works with the CIA, but are moving warily toward conflicting goals, with each maneuvering to protect its influence after the shooting stops in Afghanistan.WATCH XANTE on the Golden Retriever Puppy Cam, before he goes off to seeing eye dog school.RATS in a Mailbox. Special Delivery!KOMODO DRAGON's attack on an Indonesian park ranger thwarted.KILLER WHALE meets expectations at SeaWorld's Shamu Stadium in Orlando. Thu, 25 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.claudepate.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=1474 FEIST debuted "He Was Free" at the 2010 Cultural Olympiad. Sneaky-cam was there.JOANNA NEWSOM is streaming her new Have One on Me triple-LP via NPR.SHE & HIM drop "Thieves" as an advance track to their sophomore LP. Yum.ROKY ERIKSON & OKKERVIL RIVER drop "Goodbye Sweet Dreams" as an advance track from their collaboration. Streamable via Hypem.APPLES IN STEREO dropped "Dance Floor" as an advance track at the relaunched 'Gum.MIDLAKE stopped by the World Cafe for a chat and mini-set, now streaming on demand.16 FOLK COVERS of the Talking Heads. Naive Melodies.  BOWERBIRDS' latest video is "Northern Lights."RICHARD THOMPSON is curating the Meltdown music fest in the UK, earning him an audio slideshow.GLASVEGAS guitarist Rab Allan talks to PopMatters about recording a new album in Los Angeles, taking rock star lessons from Noel Gallagher, and throwing Beethoven into their music just because they can.DEVO's first album in 20 years is to be determined by focus group.ABBEY ROAD now has protected status as a historic building from the British government.MAY 4TH, 2010: New albums from Broken Social Scene, The New Pr0nographers and the Hold Steady. Circle your calendar.CHARLIE SHEEN is taking time off from "Two and a Half Men" and checking into a rehab facility "as a preventative measure."  His wife is in a new rehab clinic, and plans to sue the one she just left for allegedly violating her privacy.  The couple's twin sons are with their mom, "along with the nannies and a counselor."TIGER WOODS' wife Elin refused to pose for a family portrait with him the night before his televised apology.HILARY DUFF has a million-dollar engagement ring.JOHNNY DEPP will appear on CBS's 48 Hours Mystery on Saturday to advocate the release of the "West Memphis Three."ROBERT PATTINSON has finally confirmed he is dating his Twilight co-star Kristen Stewart.JESSICA SIMPSON is slammed by PETA over her plan to get a pet pig. And was the focus of a bar fight.PIRATES 4: Deadwood's Ian McShane is in negotiations to play Blackbeard.JEFF BRIDGES abides in a feature article at GQ.YEMEN: The Pentagon has approved 150 million in military assistance to the country, to equip and train local forces in the fight against al-Qaeda.A PIGEON rides the subway.A JACK RUSSELL TERRIER outed its fugitive owner to the police.SPORK the DACHSHUND fights a death sentence for biting a veterinary technician during an exam.COURTHOUSE DOGS help calm victims and witnesses of violent attacks during testimony. Wed, 24 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.claudepate.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=1473 BETTIE SERVEERT "Deny All" and rock out in this video. Their first LP in four years comes out here in March.NEW RELEASES: Alkaline Trio, the Brian Jonestown Massacre, Buzzcocks, Clem Snide, Locksley, Shearwater, Quasi, Sambassadeur, Shout Out Louds and more are streaming this week via Spinner.NEW PR0NOGRAPHERS dropped the title track to the upcoming "Together" LP.MUMFORD & SONS got a feature plus tracks on All Things Considered.EXENE CERVENKA stopped by Morning Becomes Eclectic for a chat and mini-set featuring her new solo project.PAUL REVERE & THE RAIDERS sync through "Steppin' Out" and "Louie, Louie" on Canada's Swingin' Time for Twofer Tuesday.MICHAEL AZERRAD defends "NPR Rock" against an indictment by Carrie Brownstein (who blogs at... NPR).FIELD MUSIC: Chris Roberts talks to The Quietus about sibling relationships and a love for Led Zeppelin - apart from "their Tolkien stuff", of course...BROKEN BELLS: Danger Mouse talks to Dose about his collaboration with The Shins' James Mercer.NOUVELLE VAGUE talks to Prefix about copyright issues, touring in the US, and working with some of the biggest names in the new-wave gestalt.ANGELINA JOLIE and JON VOIGHT reunite after a years-long feud.LINDSAY LOHAN lays bare the extent of her drug addiction - and confesses she came close to killing herself through a heady mix of alcohol, cocaine and mind-bending drugs.CHARLIE SHEEN: Wife Brooke Mueller bailed on rehab, saying, "No, no, no."TIGER WOODS is reportedly in Scottsdale, Arizona this week.SIENNA MILLER speaks for the first time about reignited romance with Jude Law.BILLY CORGAN talked to the Chicago Tribune about pro wrestling, Jessica Simpson and his plans to write a memoir.RYAN PHILIPPE and ABBIE CORNISH are dunzo.PADMA LAKSHMI of Top Chef gave birth to a daughter.BETTY WHITE may yet host SNL."PIRATES" 4: Johnny Depp confirms that Keira Knightley and Orlando Bloom will not return to the franchise.TERROR IN THE USA: An airport shuttle bus driver who plotted to detonate potent explosives in New York's subway system pleaded guilty Monday for his role in a "martyrdom operation" that authorities called one of the most serious terrorism plots on American soil since Sept. 11, 2001.IRAN: Senior Iranian opposition figure Mehdi Karoubi called for a referendum to end the turmoil that erupted in the Islamic Republic after its disputed June presidential election, opposition websites said.AFGHANISTAN: The top UN official there has called for direct peace talks with Mullah Omar's Taliban leadership to find a political settlement to the eight year war.WHEN A PUPPY ATTACKS... a dandelion.BORDER COLLIE... AND GIRL caught in foothold traps, drag themselves and a log a half-mile to safety.THE GOLDEN RETRIEVER was unable to retrieve the car from the swimming pool.GIANT GEORGE was officially named the world's Tallest Living Dog and Tallest Dog Ever by Guinness World Records on Monday. (Thx, Rebecca.) Tue, 23 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.claudepate.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=1472 VAMPIRE WEEKEND is "Giving Up the Gun," along with a bizzare cast of cameos, including RZA, Lil' Jon, Jake Gyllenhaal and Joe Jonas.BEACH HOUSE stopped by the World Cafe for a chat and mini-set streaming via NPR.KINGS OF CONVENIENCE stopped by WFUV for a chat and mini-set.GIRLS: Their cover of Skeeter Davis' "End of the World" is now a free download.BROKEN SOCIAL SCENE will give you an advance track, "World Sick," in return for your e-mail address.CHARLOTTE GAINSBOURG did an intervew and tracks with Weekend Edition Sunday.THE MAMAS & PAPAS: Can't trust that day.JOANNA NEWSOM is profiled by the Times of London, while her imminent triple-LP is reviewed by The Observer.ABBEY ROAD will not be sold, EMI announces.OK GO: Damian Kulash, Jr., blasts the Tube from the op-ed pages of the New York Times.TICKETMASTER settled charges with the Federal Trade Commission that the company and its affiliates used deceptive bait-and-switch tactics to sell event tickets to consumers.ELTON JOHN: "I think Jesus was a compassionate, super-intelligent gay man who understood human problems."WEEKEND BOX OFFICE: Shutter Island tops the chart with 40.2 million in receipts -- a record for both Martin Scorsese and Leonardo DiCaprio. Valentine's Day skidded 69 percent, taking in only 17.2 million (though it's well in the black). Avatar climbs back into the third slot, even as it dropped another 32 percent, making another 16.1 million. Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief dropped 51 percent to the fourth slot; Fox probably failed to guess that Avatar would be taking its business.  The Wolfman skidded 69 percent from second to fifth, taking in 9.8 million.  Dudes chose Shutter Island instead, almost ensuring a flop for Universal.TIGER WOODS and his wife may be on a family trip with the kids.HILARY DUFF got engaged to Mike Comrie of the Edmonton Oilers.SEAN PENN has been charged with battery and vandalism for an October attack on a photographer.JESSICA SIMPSON: Back with Dane Cook?CONAN O'BRIEN has a plan that would keep him in front of audiences: putting on a series of live theatrical shows.SUSAN SARANDON was struck by projectile vomit from a transsexual cabaret performer at the third anniversary of The Box in New York's Lower East Side.THE BAFTAS went to these folks, most notably The Hurt Locker and Kathryn Bigelow over Avatar and James Cameron. Then again, Kristen Stewart got the award for Rising Young Star.THE WRITERS GUILD AWARDS went to these folks. Kudos for Hurt Locker, Up in the Air, Mad Men and 30 Rock.TIM BURTON'S ALICE in WONDERLAND may fall victim to a fight between Disney and British cinema owners.PAKISTAN'S decision to go after the Afghan Taliban leadership reflects a quiet shift underway since last fall, the result of carrots (military and economic assistance and help easing tensions with India) and sticks (unspecified threats by the US).  However, Pakistan will not turn over the Afghan Taliban's No. 2 leader and two other high-value militants captured this month to the United States, but may deport them to Afghanistan. Mulvi Kabir, the former Taliban governor in Afghanistan's Nangahar Province, becomes another key figure in the Taliban regime captured in Pakistan.AFGHANISTAN: Gen. Petraeus said in a speech at Princeton University that after more than eight years of fighting in Afghanistan, the US finally is getting enough troops, diplomats and organizational structure to be able to keep extremist groups from taking over again there.CAT on CAT MASSAGE: Let's go to the video.DOLPHINS were spotted in downtown Hackensack, NJ, last week.ONE IN THREE BRITISH DOGS is overweight because owners feed their pets too many treats and do not give them enough exercise.A LYNX is checking out the Olympic luge and downhill skiing.RARE RHINO PREGNANCY fuels hope for endangered species.PANDAS: Scientists have found that the combination of pr0n, exercises, and the occasional menage a trois -- to get young male pandas curious about sex -- have proved successful. Mon, 22 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.claudepate.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=1471 THE WEEKEND STARTS HERE:...with ECHO and the BUNNYMEN!  Live at the Royal Albert Hall, circa July 1983.  Your setlist includes: "Going Up," "With A Hip" and "All That Jazz"; "All My Colours (Zimbo)" and "Silver"; "The Cutter" and "The Killing Moon"; "Rescue" and "Never Stop"; and "Over the Wall." Your encores are "Crocodiles" and "Do It Clean."GRANT HART has a chat and twofer with the World Cafe to promote Hot Wax, which arrived last fall after a 10-year hiatus.THE CONSTANTINES did the four free songs thing for Daytrotter, one previously unreleased.THE RETRIBUTION GOSPEL CHOIR stopped by The Current for a chat and mini-set, streaming via MPR.ROCKY VOTOLATO is advance streaming the True Devotion LP via Paste.NURSES did three free songs for Daytrotter, one previously unreleased.GLOSSARY, a band hailing from Murfreesboro, TN, get a review and twofer from the World Cafe.SHEARWATER drops a video for "Hidden Lakes," from The Golden Archipelago. MY SHARONA:  Sharona Alperin, the subject of The Knack's signature hit, is profiled by the L.A. Times and the BBC. (Thx, TV's Andy Levy.)WILCO: Jeff Tweedy talks to the Calgary Herald about the response to his latest work: "I think it's absurd..." (Thx, Chromewaves.)SAM COOKE: His career is essayed at Gaper's Block.GORDON LIGHTFOOT: The reports of his death were greatly exaggerated.CUTOUT BIN: From the Replacements to the Beach Boys, from Marvin Gaye to Muse, from Jerry Lee Lewis to the Jesus & Mary Chain, plus CCR, the Go-Gos, the Morning Benders, Mickey & Sylvia and more -- this weekend's fortuitous finds are streaming from the Pate page at the ol' HM.NOW SHOWING: This weekend's wide release is Martin Scorsese's Shutter Island, which is currently scoring 64 percent on the ol' Tomatometer.TIGER WOODS: Will his wife be there when he makes his big public apology? Radar reports that she will be a no-show.ANGELINA JOLIE: Did she have work done?SIMON COWELL is denying online reports that he is engaged to American Idol makeup artist Mezhgan Hussainy.JESSE JAMES and SANDRA BULLOCK got their dog back. Aw.ROGER EBERT reviews the Esquire profile linked here yesterday.GARY COLEMAN FREAKS OUT: Let's go to the video.IRAN: An International Atomic Energy Agency report expresses worry that Iran may be working on a nuclear warhead, despite a 2007 US intelligence assessment that found the Islamic Republic stopped such work in 2003. The report by the new head of the IAEA, Yukiya Amano, appears to raise greater concerns about Iran's capabilities than the assessments of his predecessor, Mohamed ElBaradei. At some point, it should become obvious to the media that (a) the 2007 NIE was a political document drafted to protect the agencies that over-estimated Iraq's program; and (b) ElBaradei was never interested in stopping Iran from getting nuclear weapons. But I'm not betting on it.PAKISTAN: A third senior Taliban leader was captured -- Mullah Mir Mohammed, "shadow governor" of Baghlan Province.  And there have been about a dozen arrests of Taliban leaders as part of this effort. Senior government officials claimed both Mullah Baradar and those arrested with him were giving information they believed would lead to others in the Taliban's new Karachi and Sindh headquarters. I have been rhetorically asking why Pakistan has started cooperating on this level. The answer may be that Pakistan feared losing influence within peace overtures between the US and the Afghan Taliban. AFGHANISTAN: Snipers -- and sniper teams -- are the latest Taliban tactic against NATO forces in the Marja campaign.WHEN A PELICAN ATTACKS: Let's go to the video.CAPTAIN ROUS: The world's largest pet rodent is an Internet star.A CIRCUS ZEBRA escaped his handler and led police on a chase through downtown Atlanta Thursday afternoon.FAT BIRDS have more fun.THE CANE TOAD PLAGUE down under has met its match. The key is... cat food?SQUIRREL and CAT, living together... Fri, 19 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.claudepate.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=1470 FANFARLO introduced the vast American TV audience to "Harold T. Wilkins."FIELD MUSIC is advance streaming its Measure LP via MBV. There's a track-by-track tour at Drowned in Sound.LIGHTSPEED CHAMPION is advance streaming Life is Sweet! Nice to Meet You.MORNING BENDERS have another advance track, "Excuses," to stream and download.DAVID VANDERVELDE drops "Learn How to Hang" as an advance track.  PILOT works their "Magic" on TOTP.FRIGHTENED RABBIT: Scott Hutchison takes ClashMusic on a track-by-track tour of The Winter Of Mixed Drinks.PAVEMENT guitarist Scott Kannberg, a/k/a Spiral Stairs, talks to PopMatters about THE ANTLERS: Peter Silberman talked to Aquarium Drunkard about the Hospice album.FLAMING LIPS frontman Wayne Coyne chews the fat with Crawdaddy.CHARLIE SHEEN: People close to the sitcom star are urging him to go to rehab, just like his wife. His legal woes put an aura of uncertainty around 'Two and a Half Men.' TIGER WOODS: Elin reportedly will not move back in with him.  The golfer will end nearly three months of silence Friday when he speaks to the media for the first time about his middle-of-the-night accident sparked shocking revelations about his infidelity.BRADGELINA and the brood arrive in their new home in Venice.JESSICA SIMPSON publicly laughed off John Mayer's Playboy interview, but OK! claims she feels betrayed.LINDSAY LOHAN is reduced to partying with London's Z-List.BRITNEY SPEARS is still doing ads for Candie's? Really?ROGER EBERT is profiled by Esquire.PAKISTAN: The WaPo looks a bit more into the capture of the Afghan Taliban's operational commander: "His whereabouts, I think, were extremely well-known to the Pakistanis for a long time," said Ahmed Rashid, a Pakistani journalist and Taliban expert. Yet the L.A. Times is referring to it as a "rare" intell break on the US side. And yet again, the Taliban's "shadow governor" of Afghanistan's Kunduz province has been captured.WOMAN CHASES RAT back into a toilet.PYTHON stolen from... a petting zoo?BEAR SLAPS MAN, man is busted.A CAT that wandered into a Fife rescue center with a can stuck on its head has left staff wondering how it reached them without being knocked down.CHUPACABRA SIGHTING: Alcohol may have been involved. Thu, 18 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.claudepate.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=1469 THE SOFT PACK cranked out "Answer to Yourself" at the Ed Sullivan Theater.THE CURE's Robert E. Smith covers "Very Good Advice" for the Alice in Wonderland soundtrack.TED LEO drops "The Mighty Sparrow" as an advance track from The Brutalist Bricks.THE REPLACEMENTS: Captain's Dead is again loaded with B-sides and outtakes.CAROLINA CHOCOLATE DROPS get a feature plus tracks on All Things Considered.REHEARSAL VIDEO: From 1984. More here.ANDREW PARTRIDGE talks to PopMatters about the Dukes of the Stratosphear.PATTERSON HOOD talks to the Raleigh News-Observer about The Big To-Do, due in March.ABBEY ROAD STUDIOS are reportedly up for sale by EMI.THE WORST ROCK MOVIES, according to Jim DeRogatis.MEGAN FOX tells W magazine that she does not look classy in underwear, and that no one believes her claim that she is really maternal.  Say, you don't think all the plastic surgery has anything to do with either of those, do you?NICOLE RICHIE AND JOEL MADDEN are getting hitched.  Cue the Lionel jokes.CHARLIE SHEEN's wife's rehab reportedly involves crack addiction.BETTY WHITE seems amused at the online effort to land her an SNL hosting slot.OPRAH won't have John Mayer on her show, but maybe not for the obvious reasons.JESSICA SIMPSON is the cover story for Allure magazine, in which she discloses that it never occurred to her that her 15 minutes might expire.JENNIFER ANISTON and GERARD BUTLER are just friends. Why it's almost as if they're promoting a movie or something.FRANKENSTEIN may be returning to the big screen, Dean Koontz style.THE OSCARS will not be inflicting the Best Song nominees on its viewers.PAKISTAN: The capture of the Taliban's top military commander several days ago during a secret raid by CIA and Pakistani intelligence agents would mark a significant departure from Pakistan's policy toward the Taliban. (It also pulls back the curtain on the degree to which the Pakistani military or intell knows exactly where such people are.) The real question -- not being widely asked -- is why that policy is shifting.AFGHANISTAN: From Jan. 24 to Feb. 14, a total of 17 suicide bombers took aim at one coalition member after another but failed to kill any of them.GUITAR KITTEH: Let's go to the video.SADIE the SCOTTIE won best in show at the Westminster Kennel Club. Sadie was the huge favorite.18 PRIZE PIGEONS were stolen from a loft at Ballymena in County Antrim.FIGHTING FINCHES seized by police in Ashland, MA.A FEISTY GRANDMA survived a horror shark attack by punching it in the head after it bit off part of her bottom. Gonna need a bigger shark. Wed, 17 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.claudepate.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=1468 LOST THE KNACK: Doug Fieger, leader of the power pop band The Knack, died Sunday after battling cancer. He was 57.  Obviously, "My Sharona" and the clean version of "Good Girls Don't" are your Twofer Tuesday.  But I'll throw in "Frustrated" and "Let Me Out" as bonus tracks.  Oddly, video for "Your Number or Your Name" is not found at any of the usual places.NEW RELEASES: Albums from Adam Green, Buzzcocks, Jason Falkner, Ben Sollee and Daniel Miller, and more are streaming this week via Spinner.CLEM SNIDE is advance streaming The Meat of Life via NPR.FRONTIER RUCKUS did three free songs for Daytrotter, all previously unreleased. Somewhere between Meat Puppets and The Band.THE STROKES: Julian Casablancas has a solo chat and mini-set from the World Cafe, while Pitchfork has details and a making-of video for the band's next LP.WILCO are kicking off encores with Neil Young's "Broken Arrow," prefaced by a few bars of "Mr. Soul."BEACH HOUSE talks to Pitchfork about creating Teen Dream, the move to Sub Pop, and what it means to find themselves now playing to a much bigger audience.NELLIE McKAY shuffled her iPod for the Boston Globe.ANTLERS: Peter Silberman talks to the Boston Globe about the band's current almbum, and the next one.THE TOP TEN ROCK AND POP ALBUMS, according to the Vatican. Yes, really.TIGER WOODS: Two women in Phoenix, Arizona, allegedly had a threesome with the golfer and were paid to stay quiet. Allegedly. And adult film actress Joslyn James claims Woods impregnated her twice while he was married to Elin. Allegedly (her stepmom says she's a compulsive liar. Allegedly).KIEFER SUTHERLAND is having surgery related to a ruptured cyst near his kidney, temporarily shutting down production on 24.CHARLIE SHEEN's wife entered rehab.CHYNNA PHILIPPS extered rehab for anxiety.THE BRITTANY MURPHY FOUNDATION is a foundation in name alone - because according to state and federal records, it does not exist. The foundation promises to give back all the donations.THE OSCARS: The nominees luncheon was held Monday.BARBARA WALTERS is breaking up with Oscar after this year.KEVIN SMITH was kicked off a weekend Southwest Airlines flight for being overweight.QUENTIN TARANTINO talks about casting actors.YEMEN: American intelli officials appear to have obtained access to what could turn out to be a significant trove of phone numbers, photographs and documents detailing the links between Al Qaeda's leaders in northwest Pakistan and the terror group's increasingly menacing affiliate in Yemen.IRAN: Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Monday that she fears Iran is moving to a military dictatorship and urged allies to back efforts to help change its course.PAKISTAN: The Taliban's top military commander was captured several days ago in Karachi, in a secret joint operation by Pakistani and US intell forces, according to American government officials.AFGHANISTAN: US and Afghan officials claimed gains in ejecting the Taliban from Marja. Local residents and officials also said most of the Taliban in Marja had fled even before the offensive had started.A CHIMP is overcome by his own smell.RALPH, THE MONSTER BUNNY: Was he channelling the spirit of a ghoul?THE SQUIRREL THREAT: A theme park has been forced to ban a daredevil squirrel from revamped Sonic Spinball roller coaster as its antics posed a health and safety risk.PITBULL vs PORCUPINE: Who you got? Tue, 16 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.claudepate.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=1467 MONSTERS OF FOLK released a video for "Dear God."THE WATSON TWINS played the World Cafe on Friday; you can stream the whole gig on demand.DAWES stopped by The Current for a chat and mini-set streaming via MPR.THE MAGNETIC FIELDS did a chat and mini-set for All Things Considered.SONGS OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT: Smokey Robinson, Bob Dylan, Jennifer Hudson, Joan Baez, John Mellencamp, The Blind Boys of Alabama, Natalie Cole, and Dr. Bernice Johnson Reagon played the White House.THE BOOMTOWN RATS: "I Don't Like Mondays," live at the Secret Policemen's Other Ball.SPOON is profiled by The Scotsman.THE MOUNTAIN GOATS: John Darnielle talks to JamBase about the reception of The Life of the World to Come, Moon Colony Bloodbath, the Bible, writing lyrical poetry, hip hop and more.ST. VINCENT: Annie Clark talks to Westword about David Mamet, her guitar style, and more...THURSTON MOORE has started a new blog called Flowers & Cream.WEEKEND BOX OFFICE: February got a lot hotter, led by Valentine's Day, which took in 52 million -- about what it cost to make. But the other new releases did well, too. Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief made 31.1 million against a 95 million budget, with The Wolfman not far behind at 30.6 million on a 150 million budget. Avatar is in fourth, but dropped only 3.7 percent to make 22 million.  Dear John, last weeks champ, drops to fifth in the face of the V-Day juggernaut.  But it has made 53 million on a 25 million budget.TIGER WOODS is reportedly back in Orlando, FL, and living apart from his wife.JESSICA SIMPSON laughed off being called "crazy" in the sack by John Mayer, as it's the best PR she's had in years.ALEC BALDWIN: It turns out daughter Ireland called 911 when she couldn't reach her father.ANGELINA JOLIE is not adopting a Haitian. Yet.ROBERT PATTINSON talks to Details about tropical diseases, getting groped by an elephant, and so on.MADONNA is going to be a judge on The Marriage Ref. Yes, really.ELIZABETH BANKS will host the sci-tech Oscars. The nerds always get better hosts than the real show.PRESIDENTS DAY is recognized now instead of Washington's birthday, But in 1776, David McCullough notes that when Washington took command in July 1775, he thought he would be home at Mount Vernon by Christmas. McCullough catalogs Washington's blunders -- many of them nearly fatal to the Cause -- but concludes: "He was not a brilliant strategist or tactician, nor a gifted orator, not an intellectual... He had made serious mistakes in judgment. But experience had been his great teacher from boyhood... and above all, Washington never forgot what was at stake, and he never gave up." That, as much as anything, is why Washington is usually ranked among the greatest of US presidents.PAKISTAN: Hip young romantics in Pakistan's most dangerous city splashed out on text messages and teddy bears, defying Taliban bombers and conservative parents to find love on Valentine's Day.AFGHANISTAN: The first stage of the biggest military offensive ever launched by Nato troops in Afghanistan has been declared a success as thousands of US and British troops seized a string of Taliban strongholds across central Helmand.  THE BIRDS: It's a scene from High Anxiety in Sacramento.CRABZILLA has a body the size of a basketball and its legs can straddle a car.A GORILLA wandered away from her compound at the Dallas Zoo.WHY SPAY OR NEUTER your dog, when you can get a chastity belt? Mon, 15 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.claudepate.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=1466 THE WEEKEND STARTS HERE:...with U2! Live at the US Festival in May, 1983. Your setlist includes "Gloria" and "I Threw A Brick," "A Day Without Me," "An Cat Dubh and "Into The Heart," "New Year's Day," "Surrender," "Two Hearts Beat As One," "Sunday Bloody Sunday," "The Cry" and "Electric Co."  Your encores are "I Will Follow" and "40."ST. VINCENT stopped by for a chat and mini-set at Morning Becomes Eclectic.BENJY FEREE did three free songs for Daytrotter, one previously unreleased.VALENTINE'S DAY at NPR: Stream the Make-out Mix, the Break-up mix, or Carrie Brownstein's Something for Everyone.THE REPLACEMENTS: Captain's Dead has their Sire-era demos to stream and download.THE THERMALS are streaming "Canada" as an advance track.THE STRANGE BOYS have a video out for the title track to the upcoming "Be Brave" LP.CRACKER guitarist Johnny Hickman talks to the Washington Examiner about the band's biggest hit since its 1993 platinum-selling album "Kerosene Hat."BASIA BULAT talks to the Ottawa Citizen about possible future plans.GOOGLE shut down at least six popular music blogs that it claims violated copyright law. Fortunately, faves like GvsB and MOKB were unaffected.  Google blogged its explanation.CUTOUT BIN: From CSN & Y to the Ramones, from Apples in Stereo to the Baby Huey Story, from the Velvet Underground to the George Baker Selection, plus Doug Sham, Raphael Saadiq, Cat Stevens, the Undertones, Wanda Jackson, Wilco and more -- this weekend's fortuitous finds are streaming from the Pate page at the ol' HM.NOW PLAYING: This weekend's wide releases include the ensemble rom-com Valentine's Day, which is currently scoring 13 percent on the ol' Tomatometer; Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief, which is scoring 57 percent; and The Wolfman, scoring 35 percent.VALENTINE'S DAY: National Review's Jonah Goldberg won't be seeing it, for reasons having nothing to do with politics.THE TOP 10 WEREWOLF MOVIES, according to the Contra Costa Times.ALEC BALDWIN was taken to Manhattan hospital from his Central Park West apartment shortly after midnight Thursday morning following a 911 call from his 14-year-old daughter Ireland, sources said. But his rep says he went to work.JOHN MAYER had a bit of a breakdown onstage in the wake of his crazed Playboy interview.PENELOPE CRUZ is in negotiations to join Johnny Depp and sail the seven seas in "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides," the fourth installment of the movie series being directed by Rob Marshall.EWAN McGREGOR was spotted looking cozy with co-star Mélanie Laurent, which is not a good look for a married man.HOLLYWOOD'S TOP-EARNING ONSCREEN COUPLES, according to Forbes magazine.ALEXANDER McQUEEN: The British fashion designer was found dead after taking his own life, just days after the death of his mother, Joyce.ABRAHAM LINCOLN: Happy 201st birthday to the 16th President of the United States. Two things you may not have known about Honest Abe: (1) he was an early adopter of the telegraph; and (2) he once sported a punky haircut.IRAN: On the anniversary of Islamic Revolution, Ahmadinejad announced that Iran is "a nuclear state." Opposition leaders Karroubi and former President Khatami were attacked when they attended an opposition rally. Tehran cracked down on internet access in the wake of anniversary protests.A TURKEY VULTURE crashes through a copter windshield, enjoys the landing.THE SQUIRREL THREAT: They are now armed with hi-tech weaponry.PSA: Don't tell a police dog to sit on the job.BULL vs TIGER: Who you got? Fri, 12 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.claudepate.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=1465 REGINA SPECTOR played "Machine" for Fallon.PETER GABRIEL is advance streaming his orchestral all-covers album.LOCAL NATIVES are advance streaming their Gorilla Manor LP via NPR.RADIO FREE SONG CLUB is a a group of veteran writers with a monthly song deadline, including Victoria Williams, Freedy Johnson, Laura Cantrell, Peter Holsapple, and fmr. Golden Palominos like Peter Blegvad and Jody Harris.  You can stream or download the first "issue" now. (Thx, Ken!)MUMFORD & SONS stopped by the World Cafe for a chat and mini-set streaming via NPR.WILD BEASTS: Tom Fleming shares a few of his favorite things for Pitchfork's Guest List as the band drops a video for "We Still Got The Taste Dancin' On Our Tongues."  The band also stopped by Morning Becomes Eclectic for a chat and mini-set.VIVIAN GIRLS guitarist Cassie Ramone and drummer Ali Koehler shuffle their iPods for the San Francisco Bay Guardian.BUZZCOCKS: Steve Diggle talks to Spinner about the deluxe reissues of their first three albums.WARNER MUSIC will stop licensing its artists' content on free music software, though it should not affect current deals with services like Spotify. Yet.BANDS AS PEOPLE: For example, "Weezer is your best friend from high school who you lost touch with in college, and when you finally bump into him again after graduation he has somehow become a total f***ing douchebag."JOHN MAYER overshares with Playboy, including the revelation that Jessica Simpson is "sexual napalm." Not sure what that smells like in the morning.ANGELINA JOLIE had two days of meetings with Haiti earthquake victims in her role as a goodwill ambassador for the U.N. refugee agency. No word on how many orphans she slipped into her knapsack.TIGER WOODS' number one mistress, Rachel Uchitel, has landed a TV job on "Extra."LINDSAY LOHAN denies that Samantha Ronson raised a hand to her. Can we get Bill Clinton to translate?JENNIFER GARNER & JENNIFER BIEL: Hasenfeffer Incorporated?THE 25 WORST ROM-COMS, according to Moviefone.PAKISTAN: The Taliban again denied Hakeemullah was killed; the interior minister said he was certain Hakeemullah is dead.IRAN: Ahmadinejad moved to give the Basij more political power. Pres. Obama sought new sanctions to target the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps. Nuclear specialists say the country is striving to make real technical progress toward producing a bomb.A GIANT OARFISH: Perhaps the first sighting of the fish in its natural setting.WHY YES, you may borrow my gerbil.DOG rescues family from cat.LAME DUCK shows disabled boy how to walk.PETS are chosen over people on Valentine's Day about 20 percent of the time. Thu, 11 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.claudepate.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=1464 OVER 50 COVER SONGS BY THE DECEMBERISTS, courtesy of YANP, which also has the video for a new Colin Meloy song, "Springville."NICOLE ATKINS & THE SEA did the four free songs thing for Daytrotter, all previously unreleased.THE BEATLES: Captain's Dead has "The Forgotten Abbey Road Sessions" to stream and download.JOANNA NEWSOM is now streaming the nine-plus minute "Kingfisher" from her upcoming triple-LP.DR. DOG premiered "Shadow People" at the 'Gum. Takes a minute to kick in, but nice.EELS get "Unhinged."VAMPIRE WEEKEND, class and syncretism are essayed by Robert Christgau.YOKO ONO: You could be reading an interview with Yoko Ono at PopMatters, right now.OWEN PALLETT is profiled at The Globe and Mail.BIKINI KILL: Kathleen Hanna has started a BK blog.CHARLIE SHEEN: Brooke Mueller is moving back into the house, following their holiday fracas.ANGELINA JOLIE is headed to Haiti. Make your own adoption joke here.HOWARD STERN may replace Simon Cowell when American Idol's tenth season begins in 2011.HUGH HEFNER is the target of a class action lawsuit filed by a Playboy shareholder.BARBRA STREISAND turned down a 100 million Vegas payday.MISSION IMPOSSIBLE 4: Tom Cruise and J.J. Abrams return.CHRISTOPHER NOLAN is connected to the next Batman... and the next Superman?THE TERMINATOR: Rights to the franchise were auctioned off for 29.5 million to a hedge fund creditor, which outbid Sony and Lionsgate.IRAN: In recent weeks, Iranian security officials have unleashed a wave of arrests across the country in an effort to neutralize the political opposition, silence critical voices and head off widespread protests when the nation marks the anniversary of the revolution on Thursday.PAKISTAN: The Taliban based in Orakzai Agency confirmed on Tuesday that Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan chief Hakeemullah Mehsud is dead.DINNER FOR ONE: Let's go to the video."ALIEN" FISH discovered in a lake in a mountain cave 1000m below the ground in China.EATING SCORPIONS and drinking Cobra blood is all in a day's work for the Marines.AND THERE WERE cows, goats, pigs and chickens all over the highway.COWS stare unamazed as they outnumber humans in New Zealand. Wed, 10 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.claudepate.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=1463 THE HEAVY: After soundtracking the Kia ad in the Super Bowl, "How Do You Like Me Now?"NEW RELEASES: The Watson Twins, Hot Chip, Yeasayer, Xiu Xiu, Massive attack, a Buzzcocks reissue and more are streaming this week via Spinner.SHEARWATER is advance streaming The Golden Archipeligo via NPR.NO AGE did three free songs for Daytrotter, all previously unreleased.LYLE LOVETT stopped by the World Cafe for a chat and mini-set, streaming now via NPR.THE WHO: The Super Bowl halftime show had me craving the real thing, like "Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere" (some great Moon moments) and Pate fave "The Kids Are Alright." A super Twofer Tuesday.VAN DYKE PARKS, who has worked with everyone from the Beach Boys and Bob Dylan, to U2, Joanna Newsom and Clare and the Reasons, talks to the San Francisco Chronicle about his eccentric career.THE DRUMS, blending early rock'n'roll and girl-group pop with mid-1980s Manchester, are profiled at the Times of London.THE MAGNETIC FIELDS: At the Toronto Star, Stephin Merritt chalks up his experimentation up to restlessness.MTV is no longer Music Television. As always, they're the last to know.BRADGELINA have begun legal action against the News of th World for reporting they were going to split.LINDSAY LOHAN and SAMANTHA RONSON have turned violent?CHARLIE SHEEN was officially charged with three crimes in Aspen, Colorado: felony menacing, misdemeanor 3rd degree assault and misdemeanor criminal mischief.MICHAEL JACKSON: Dr. Conrad Murray pleaded not guilty to involuntary manslaughter in the death of the late singer.CAMERON DIAZ and A-ROD: "Totally hooking up"?SACHA BARON COHEN and ISLA FISHER plotting a secret wedding?JESSICA BIEL eats a chocolate-covered cricket.SARAH SILVERMAN discusses her new boyfriend in a way that's not at all a slam on ex Jimmy Kimmel, nosiree.TIM ROBBINS is joining the cast of Green Lantern.THE THING is getting a threeboot, with Mary Elizabeth Winstead and Joel Edgerton.THE SPORTS ILLUSTRATED SWIMSUIT ISSUE: Just in time for Gratuitous Tuesday.  The cover model is Brooklyn Decker.IRAN: Officials from the US, France and Russia called Monday for stronger measures against Tehran after Iran told the United Nations nuclear watchdog agency that it would begin enriching its stockpile of uranium for a medical reactor in Tehran as early as Tuesday. But China is not onboard.  The developments coincided with new indications on Monday that Iran was seeking to develop a more sophisticated military capability, including a powerful antiaircraft missile system and remotely piloted drones for surveillance and attacks.IRAQ: The Iranian-backed League of the Righteous has kidnapped a US citizen and backed out of "reconciliation talks" with the Iraqi government. The kidnapping comes only a month after the US released the top leader of the group.KITTEHS were the halftime show at the Puppy Bowl.DOGS have their own beach in the heart of downtown Tampa.CAT OWNERS are more likely to have university degrees than those with dogs, according to a scientific survey of pet ownership.A GIANT PANDA is to be given a language instructor to teach her Chinese when shes returns 'home' from the US.AN EAGLE'S BEAK was repaired by a dentist with a highlighter. Tue, 09 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.claudepate.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=1462 SPOON went the live-in-studio route for "Written in Reverse."DENT MAY & HIS MAGNIFICENT UKULELE did the four free songs thing for Daytrotter.LA STRADA also did the four free songs thing for Daytrotter. Two good sets for a Monday.ALLISON MOORER played the World Cafe on Friday; you can stream the whole gig via NPR.SOUL TRAIN TURNS 40: All Things Considered celebrates, with video.THE DEL FUEGOS: "Don't Run Wild."SLEIGH BELLS talks to the Seattle University Spectator about their buzz and their "delirious fuzzed-out sound." (Thx, LHB.)POPTIMIST: Music as commodity and as art: "Not long ago a man who wrote a hit song could not only buy that house in the country but everything that went with it... now a man who writes a hit song is lucky if he gets his last year's overcoat out of hock with the proceeds." That was written in 1932.LATE NIGHT WALK-ON MUSIC: Questo of The Roots explains the fees charged for the songs played when guests walk on alte night talk shows. (Thx, TV's Andy Levy.)VIC CHESTNUTT is memorialized at the Oxford American.WEEKEND BOX OFFICE: In a shockingly good debut, Dear John dethrones Avatar as cinema champ, taking in an estimated 32.4 million on Super Bowl weekend.  The Nicolas Sparks adaptation was projected to land somewhere in the low 20-millions, where it would still have given Avatar a run for its money -- but it is now almost certainly in the black, given a 25 million production budget.  Avatar drops to second place, with 23.6 million domestic, and a 630 million domestic total. From Paris with Love opened in the third slot with 8.1 million, which is the worst Travolta debut since Lucky Numbers in 2000.  Good luck making back that 55 million budget.  Edge of Darkness plummeted 59 percent, taking in only 7 million in the fourth slot.  The Tooth Fairy rounds out the Top Five with 6.5 million.  Below the fold, a number of films suffered from Super Bowl weekend, though Crazy Heart rode the Oscar bounce to about 3.7 million on 819 screens.LINDSAY LOHAN reportedly threw a drink in the face of former galpal Samantha Ronson.CHARLIE SHEEN's Mercedes was found crashed in a steep ravine near his home in Sherman Oaks, Calif. Sheen claims he was notified at 4 a.m. by an OnStar-like diagnostics company that the car had been involved in a wreck and the airbags had deployed.TIGER WOODS has been reunited with his two children after leaving the rehab clinic where he was being treated.WARREN SAPP was arrested by Miami Beach police and charged with misdemeanor domestic battery stemming from an allegedly violent confrontation with his girlfriend.JENNIFER ANISTON celebrated her 41st b-day in Cabo with Gerard Butler, her costar in the upcoming comedy, The Bounty Hunter.JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE picked up his Hasty Pudding Award, with gf Jessica Biel in tow.DAREDEVIL is getting a reboot, but probably not with the best intent.THE SUPERBOWL ADS are all on Hulu.TURKEY: A 16-year-old girl was buried alive by relatives in southeastern Turkey in a gruesome honor killing carried out because she reportedly befriended boys.IRAN has drawn up tough conditions on its proposed deal to ship out stocks of nuclear fuel, condemning the agreement to failure. Shocka. And Ahmadinejad ordered his atomic agency to significantly enrich the country's stockpile of uranium.XTEA CUP CHIHUAHUAS: Let's go to the video. (Thx, Rebecca.)DEAD IGUANAS are killing dogs in Florida.SIXTEEN PANDA CUBS, photographed in their new home for the first time after being separated from their mothers. Awww...some pics at the link.MONKEY spotted in Darwin.COYOTE spotted in Central Park. Mon, 08 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.claudepate.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=1461 THE WEEKEND STARTS HERE:...with R.E.M! Live at the Capital Theater, in Passaic, NJ, on June 9, 1984.  Your set list includes: "Pale Blue Eyes";  "Second Guessing"; "Hyena"; "Letter Never Sent"; "Harborcoat"; "7 Chinese Brothers"; "Pretty Persuasion"; "So. Central Rain (I'm Sorry)"; "Gardening At Night"; "9-9"; "Windout"; "Old Man Kensey"; "Sitting Still"; "Driver 8"; "Carnival Of Sorts (Boxcars)"; "Radio Free Europe"; and "Little America."YEASAYER is advance streaming their new album.AMANDA PALMER stopped by the World Cafe for a chat and twofer streaming via NPR.BLITZEN TRAPPER stopped by the World Cafe for a chat and mini-set, also via NPR.DAWES: I missed their World Cafe session last week, but better late than never.BIG STAR, "the unluckiest band in America," got a feature on Fresh Air.SOUL ASYLUM: Captain's Dead has them Live at the Aragon Ballroom, on Sept. 15, 1995.ST. VINCENT is "Laughing with a Mouth of Blood." And Fred Armisen and Carrie Brownstein.SHANE MacGOWAN recruited singer Nick Cave, Primal Scream frontman Bobby Gillespie, the Pretenders' Chrissie Hynde, Sex Pistols bassist Glen Matlock Clash guitarist Mick Jones, Johnny Depp and singer Paloma Faith to cover "I Put a Spell on You" for Haiti relief.DEERHOOF and XIU XIU will cover Joy Division's Unknown Pleasures at an Austrian music fest this spring.DEAD MILKMEN frontman Joe Jack Talcum talks to the Chico News and Review about his current projects. (Thx, LHB.)PITCHFORK FEST tix go on sale today.JAY REATARD died January 13 due to "cocaine toxicity," and "alcohol was a contributing factor in his death."KISS vs. MINI-KISS: Coming to a Super Bowl near you.CUTOUT BIN: From Husker Du to Mama Cass, from Buddy Holly to Pavement, from Cheap Trick to Fairport Convention, plus Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings, the Beach Boys, the Zombies, Mountain Goats and more -- this weekend's fortuitous finds are streaming from the Pate page at the ol' HM.NOW SHOWING: This weekend's wide releases are From Paris With Love, which is currently scoring 37 percent; and Dear John, which is scoring 28 percent.TIGER WOODS is leaving sex addiction rehab by the end of this week, and his wife is picking him up.BRITTANY MURPHY died from multiple drug intoxication, pneumonia and "iron deficiency anemia" in what the coroner has concluded was a accidental death.  L.A. County Coroner officials believe Brittany's condition was "treatable" but no one took her to the hospital in time.CHARLIE SHEEN will be charged with felony menacing in connection with the Christmas Day incident with wife Brooke Mueller, according to law enforcement sources.LINDSAY LOHAN, secret hoarder? Let's go to the video.REESE WITHERSPOON: Back in the dating pool?JENNIFER ANISTON wants to be set up with a wealthy businessman.IRAN said on Wednesday that it had fired a rocket into space carrying living organisms - a rat, two turtles and worms.PAKISTAN: In their joint operations against Taliban militants hiding in the tribal areas, the United States and Pakistan seem to have embraced a classic bit of battlefield advice: Don't get mad, get even.AFGHANISTAN: Domestic political resistance is building to Pres. Karzai's two-track plan to end the war by negotiating with Taliban leaders while enticing their foot soldiers with the promise of jobs and development projects. Meanwhile, in a rare break from traditional military secrecy, the US and its allies are announcing the precise target of their first big offensive of the Afghanistan surge in an apparent bid to intimidate the Taliban.CAT IN BED: Your moment of Zen.GOTH KITTENS = Cruelty.A PHEASANT is terrorizing a North Yorkshire village - trapping people in their homes and attacking people in the street.AN AUSSIE is facing charges after his attempts to kiss a police sniffer dog led to a row in which he was pepper sprayed and arrested.THREE CHEETAHS spare tiny antelope's life and play with him instead... Mass hysteria!SHARKS attacked and killed a 38-year-old man near Stuart Beach in southern Florida on Wednesday. What say you, Police Chief Brody? Fri, 05 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.claudepate.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=1460 MUMFORD & SONS have a video for their latest single, "The Cave."SHARON JONES & THE DAP-KINGS will give you "I Learned the Hard Way" - the title track from their upcoming LP - in exchange for an e-mail address. (You can also stream it via the ol' HM.)AA BONDY did the four free songs thing for Daytrotter.THE PARSON REDHEADS stopped by Oregon Public Broadcasting for a session in audio and videoALL SONGS CONSIDERED: Tracks from The Magnetic Fields, Giant Drag, Heligoats and more feature in the current installment of the long-running series.FRESH & ONLYS drop a video for "Invisible Forces."NEW PORNOGRPAHERS: A.C. Newman spills all sorts of details about the upcoming Together LP to Paste: "The first germ of an idea was that I wanted a song that started like ‘New Day Rising' by Hüsker Dü..."SURFER BLOOD: JP Pitts shares a few of his favorite things for Pitchfork's Guest List.PHOENIX singer Thomas Mars chatted with Pitchfork about the surreal experience of winning a Grammy -- and his mixed feelings about it.GREIL MARCUS: PopMatters essays "one of a handful of critics who have quite simply changed the way we think about popular culture.MAD MEL GIBSON strikes again, swearing at his interviewer on WGN while promoting his new movie, "Edge of Darkness."MACKENZIE PHILLIPS says her relationship with her father was non-consensual.HEIDI MONTAG's mother looked at her like a "circus freak," just because she had 10 plastic-surgery procedures in one day. Go figure.PAM ANDERSON: Dancing With the Stars?  She might need to.LEIF GARRETT: Busted. Again.IRAN: Ahmadinejad said Iran had "no problem" with a nuclear deal initially brokered by the International Atomic Energy Agency.  US State Dept. spokesman P.J. Crowley noted that when Iranian diplomats met with US officials in Geneva in October, "they said yes, and then they said no."IRAQ once again stepped back from a political crisis of its own making when an appeals court on Wednesday temporarily overruled a controversial step to disqualify hundreds of candidates in next month's election for having ties to Saddam Hussein's Baath Party.DANCING OWL breaks it down.GIANT SQUID invade California.A MOUNTAIN LION may be prowling the west side of Houston.A NEW JERSEY MAN has been indicted for shooting his pet parrot, allegedly because it was interfering with watching NASCAR. Thu, 04 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0700