THE WEEKEND STARTS HERE:

...with the HOODOO GURUS! As Trouser Press reminds us: "Australia has produced few bands as crazily entertaining as Sydney's Hoodoo Gurus." In their prime, few could match Dave Faulkner and Co. in the marriage of pop hooks and garage rock riffs. Their debut album contained "I Want You Back," "Leilani," "Tojo" and "My Girl" -- and that leaves out some of my favorite tracks from the LP.  The gems kept coming on later albums, too: "Bittersweet," "What's My Scene" and "Good Times" (featuring backup vox from the Bangles), the incredible "Come Anytime," and "Axegrinder," the psychedelic "Miss Freelove '69" and the crunching rawk of "The Right Time" -- again, just to name a few.  The Hoodoos could (and can) also deliver the goods live as these vintage live clips of "Like Wow, Wipeout!", "In the Wild" and "Middle of the Land" prove.

THE FLAMING LIPS are advance streaming their Embryonic album via The Colbert Report. Yes, really.

ISLANDS are advance streaming their Vapours album via Exclaim!

DRIVIN ' N' CRYIN' is streaming their first album in 12 years via Entertainment Weekly.

THE BEASTIE BOYS are streaming their remastered Hello Nasty album.

ALL SONGS CONSIDERED: New tracks from A.A. Bondy, Noah and the Whale, The Field and more are featured in the latest installment of the long-running series.

MEYER HAWTHORNE gets a review from Soul-Sides' Oliver Wang (with video)  at NPR.

TIM EASTON stopped by the World Cafe for a chat and mini-set of "soft Americana," streaming via NPR.

GLASVEGAS have a video for "It's My Own Cheating Heart That Makes Me Cry" at Spinner. (Thx, Chromewaves.)

DIANE BIRCH talks to the L.A. Times about her past as a lounge singer, Betty Wright, soul music and whether she's a soul artist.

GRIZZLY BEAR: Ed Drozte talks to GQ UK about the band's latest album, cocktails, and more...

SMASHING PUMPKINS plan to release 11 four-song EPs digitally, and compile them on to a box set.

IDA MARIA talks to Jim DeRogatis about Lollapalooza, songwriting and more...

FRIGHTENED RABBIT drummer Grant Hutchison talks to the Salt Lake Tribune about William Wallace and the band's next album.

JOHNNY MARR and THE CRIBS talk to The Quietus about their new record, with an obligatory nod to The Smiths.

THE CUTOUT BIN: From Pres. Obama to Ace Frehley, from Television to Styx, from the Flamin' Groovies to Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings, plus Elvis Costello, Broken Social Scene, The Replacements, Otis Redding and more  -- this Friday's fortuitous finds are streaming from the Pate page at the ol' HM.

NOW SHOWING: This weekend's wide releases are the animated Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, currenly scoring 91 percent on the ol' Tomatometer; the Diablo Cody-penned, Megan Fox-led Jennifer's Body, currently scoring 35 percent, the Soderberg-drected, Damon-led The Informant, which is scoring 66 percent; and the Aniston-Eckhart rom-com Love Happens, scoring 23x percent on a small number of reviews.

AVRIL LAVIGNE and Deryck Whibley have split, after three years of marriage.

JESSICA SIMPSON has called in experts  to find her missing dog -- last seen in the clutches of a wild coyote.  Martha Stewart faults the pneumatic blonde.

KERMIT THE FROG denies rumors that he is dating Lady Gaga, after accompanying her to the MTV VMAs.

BURT REYNOLDS has checked into a rehab clinic for treatment of addiction to prescription medication.

RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK (1951).

LINDSAY LOHAN took to Twitter early Thursday morning to quash rumors that she's been hospitalized in a psych ward.

KATHY IRELAND received seven stitches in her leg after a Dancing With the Stars-related injury.

BEYONCE is getting sued by Abercrombie & Fitch Co. over her "Fierce" fragrance.

SPIDER-MAN 4 is booked for IMAX screens in 2011.

AFGHANISTAN: America's top diplomat at the UN mission in Afghanistan has been ordered out of the country after a row with his boss over how to respond to last month's fraud-riddled presidential elections, it has been alleged.

IRAN: Experts at the world's top atomic watchdog are in agreement that Tehran has the ability to make a nuclear bomb and is on the way to developing a missile system able to carry an atomic warhead.

IRAQ's political parties are moving into high gear looking for partners to run with in the January 2010 parliamentary elections. Some old alliances are being reformed, and new ones are in the process of forming.

DOG and SQUIRREL, living together... mass hysteria!

THIRSTY BATS swooping to lick water from a pond, caught on camera.

A MILLION GEESE caught on camera at the Squaw Creek National Wildlife Refuge near Mound City, Missouri.

A GOLLUM-LIKE CREATURE emerges from a lake in Panama.

CATS secretly build their war machines.

DRAGONETTE wants you to "Pick Up the Phone." Might be the Breakfast Club on the line.

THE MONSTERS OF FOLK are advance streaming their album.

VOLCANO CHOIR, featuring Bon Iver's Justin Vernon, is advance streaming their album this week via NPR.

THE RIFLES: Frank Yang (of Chromewaves) notes that this London-based band is working a Mod/Jam vibe on their new album, which is streaming in full this week via Spinner.

MEGAFAUN stopped by The Current for a chat and mini-set streaming now via MPR.

PAVEMENT -- after years of rumors -- is reuniting for a benefit concert a year from now.

SONDRE LERCHE turns on the "Heartbeat Radio."

ART BRUT: Eddie Argoes visits the offices of DC Comics on PitchforkTV.

FREE SAMPLERS from Anti- and Rykodisc are available via Amazon.

THE BEATLES: America's Newest Hit-makers.

BEST OF THE 2000s Pitchfork presents Guest Lists from indie luminaries including Britt Daniel (Spoon) and John Darnielle (Mountain Goats).

MARY TRAVERS of Peter, Paul and Mary, has died of cancer at age 72.

MEGAN FOX is the cover of the Rolling Stone. And she serves up a heaping helping of crazy in the accompanying interview, including revealing she once threatened to kill on-again/off-again boyfriend Brian Austin Green.

HENRY GIBSON, a wry comic character actor whose career included "Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In," "Nashville" and "Boston Legal," died Monday at his home in Malibu after a brief battle with cancer. He was 73. I hate Illinois Nazis, but Gibson was good in The Blues Brothers.

JENNA ELFMAN is knocked up.

LEELEE SOBIESKI is also knocked up.

LINDSAY LOHAN seems to be making a habit of clubbing with her 15-year-old sister.

SEAN PENN has a new galpal.

HARRY POTTER and the GINORMOUS PROFIT: Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson have entered the Guinness World Records book as the highest grossing lead actors of the decade.

PARANORMAL ACTIVITY, a low-budget haunted house flick in the mode of Blair With or Cloverfield, has a trailer onlne.

TERROR in NYC: The FBI's elite Hostage Rescue Team arrived in New York in anticipation of the offensive to thwart a Denver-based terror cell with ties to Al Qaeda, police sources told the NY Daily News. Law enforcement officials tell ABC News that agents discovered 14 brand new black backpacks in the New York raids, leading to concern the men may have been planning to use the backpacks to carry suicide bombs.

IRAN: Presidents Obama and Sarkozy discussed Iran's nuclear "compliance." Sarkozy said on Tuesday that France's intelligence agencies are certain that Iran is pursuing a nuclear bomb. Tehran agreed to the new framework of agreements with the IAEA.

PAKISTAN: The Long War Journal takes detailed look at the Predator strikes against Taliban and al Qaeda fighters.

AFGHANISTAN: EU election observers said more than 1.5 million of the estimated 6 million votes cast are "suspicious."

A SPANISH SOCCER TEAM has a trick-performing bear as their mascot. C'mon, Chicago!

HYBRID MAN-EATING PYTHONS could emerge from non-native breeds currently slithering free in south Florida.

WILCO, a staffordshire ridgeback cross, demonstrated why dogs should never be left alone in a running vehicle.

A GOAT SHORTAGE threatens a big religious festival in Kathmandu.

EDWARD SHARPE and the MAGNETIC ZEROS played "Home" for the network TV debut at the Ed Sullivan Theater.

RICHARD HAWLEY is advance streaming Truelove's Gutter via The Guardian.

GIRLS are advance streaming their Album via the Matablog.

TIMES NEW VIKING also are advance streaming their Born Again Revisited album via the Matablog. Same link, in fact.

MASON JENNINGS stopped by The Current for a chat and mini-set streaming now via MPR.

THE PROCLAIMERS passed through town yesterday, so I caught a little "500 Miles" on the AM radio.

BILLY BRAGG has an audio interview with SoCal Public Radio. (Thx, LHB.)

SON VOLT: Jay Farrar talks to Prefix about the latest turns in the band's journey.

FANFARLO frontman Simon Balthazar talks to LAist about the band's current album, with embedded audio and video.

YO LA TENGO: Ira Kaplan talks to The A.V. Club about the changes in the music business over the past quarter-century, how the band resolves disputes, and how to manufacture spontaneity.

CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM returns Sunday with a story arc that will include a Seinfeld reunion.  HBO is promoting the show with a behind-the-scenes video. Language warning.

KANYE WEST was called a jackass by Pres. Obama in off the record comments accidentally tweeted (then leaked) online. And here I was hoping he was going to arrange a summit between West and Taylor Swift.

PATRICK SWAYZE is remembered by Dirty Dancing co-star Jennifer Grey.

JESSICA SIMPSON's malti-poo was snatched by a coyote. (Maybe a dingo ate her baby.)

KATY PERRY and RUSSELL BRAND were... wait for it... caught canoodling at Lady Gaga's MTV VMAs after-party.

BORED TO DEATH: The debut of the new HBO series starring Jason Schwartzman, Ted Danson and Zach Galifianakis, can be seen online at Fancast.  And at Amazon. Schwartzman plays a writer who moonlights as a private detective.

JAY LENO got off to a strong start in the ratings for his new primetime show.

SOMALIA: Airborne US Special Operations forces attacked a car in southern Somalia on Monday and killed one of east Africa's most wanted al Qaeda militants.

PAKISTAN provided nuclear tech to Iran and likely cooperated with North Korea, according to AQ Khan, the architect of the Pakistani nuclear program and an infamous proliferator of nuclear weapons designs and technology.

AFGHANISTAN: More American troops likely will be needed to win the war, Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told the Senate Armed Services Committee. Premature Western military disengagement from Afghanistan would risk catastrophic turmoil in the region, Western and Afghan officials say.

KITTEH WATCHES A CAT VIDEO: So very meta.

KITTEH in a COUCH, discovered by Goodwill.

TWEET the GIRAFFE, star of  Toys R Us ads and "Ace Ventura: Pet Detective" has died at a Boston zoo.

BUFFY THE GATOR SLAYER: A Midlands teenager spent Saturday night on a boat hunting of all things, alligators--and she came back with a big one.

GIRLS: "Lust For Life" is not the Iggy Pop classic, but is lovely little pop nugget with a NSFW lyric.

NEW RELEASES: Cotton Jones, Stars of Track and Field, Big Star, Taken by Trees and more are streaming this week via Spinner.

SONDRE LERCHE has an interview + tracks streaming via All Things Considered.

THE MEAT PUPPETS are profiled by the Arizona Republic, with embedded audio.

CAMPER VAN BEETHOVEN embraces their cult status.

WAYNE FONTANA and the MINDBENDERS serve up "Game of Love" and "Groovy Kind of Love" for Twofer Tuesday.

THE TOP 20 BEATLES SONGS are getting a countdown at American Songwriter.

THE ROLLING STONES' former guitarist Mick Taylor scrapes a hand-to-mouth existence by playing pub gigs and hasn't seen a penny in royalties since 1982.

AMY MILLAN talks to ChartAttack about her next solo LP, plus tidbits on Stars and Broken Social Scene.

TELEKINESIS: Michael Benjamin Lerner talks to Under the Radar about the recording of his demos and debut.

PATRICK SWAYZE, star of films including "Dirty Dancing," "Road House," "Ghost" and "Point Break," has died after a nearly two-year battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 57.

KANYE WEST apologized for interrupting Taylor Swift at Sunday's MTV Video Music Awards, though he had refused to apologize to the 19-year-old's mother backstage. Beyoncé -- West's choice for the Best Female Award -- brought Swift onstage for a do-over at the event. Swift said she doesn't have any ill-will toward West, of whom she said she was once a fan.

ELTON JOHN will be banned from adopting a Ukrainian toddler he found in an orphanage because he is too old and unmarried, a minister for the country has confirmed.

HARRISON FORD gives a status report on the next Indiana Jones flick.

DAVID DUCHOVNY, arriving stag at the Toronto Film Festival, assures us everything is great at home.

TWILIGHT: The third New Moon trailer is online, for those who didn't suffer through Kanye to watch it on the VMAs.

NEIL PATRICK HARRIS used to be an underage doctor on TV. Now he's another Hollywood first: an out gay actor who can host award shows, play a womanizer, walk the red carpet with his boyfriend, and then get cast in movies as a straight dad.

MICHAEL MOORE: Shut out at the Venice Film Festival.

TERROR in the USA: Authorities raided properties in New York City Monday in an effort that was intended to disrupt the plans of a terror suspect whose travels had been tracked by the FBI, according to an official briefed on the raids. US Senate committees were briefed on the investigation that led to the raids.  A senior official familiar with the case said some counterterrorism officials were concerned that the individual at the center of the investigation may have had access to, or an interest in acquiring, materials that could be used for a chemical, biological or radiological device.

ISLAMISM in INDONESIA: The province of Aceh has passed a new law making adultery punishable by stoning to death.

PAKISTAN: Former Pres. Musharraf has admitted that Pakistan diverted US aid to programs designed to strengthen the military against India. The Times of London reports on former CIA agents hunting Osama bin Laden and other top al-Qaeda leaders.

FANTIK the LLAMA and children's entertainer Dmitry are roommates.

THREE ITALIAN GREYHOUNDS, trying to get it on.

CRAZY ANTS spread destruction northward in Texas.

AND NOW FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT: A snake with a foot.

AN 18-FT PYTHON NAMED DELILAH was recaptured by Florida Wildlife officials.

GRIZZLY BEAR have a new video for "While You Wait for the Others."

NEKO CASE stopped by the World Cafe for a chat and mini-set now streaming via NPR. Find out what a "shigby" is!

REGINA SPEKTOR stopped by The Current for a chat and mini-set now streaming via MPR.

YO LA TENGO's Ira Kaplan gives listening recommendations at Paste.

GANG OF FOUR singer Jon King gives ClashMusic a track-by-track tour of the band's classic debut, Entertainment!

JIM CARROLL, author of The Basketball Diaries, and "People Who Died," died. He was 60.

KANYE WEST stormed the stage of the MTV Music Video Awards, taking the microphone from Best Female Video Taylor Swift to announce Beyoncé deserved the award. Swift was seen hysterically crying backstage after Kanye's outburst. Kanye was promptly tossed from the VMAs after interrupting Swift's speech.

TEN MODERN ALBUMS INSPIRED BY SPRINGSTEEN, according to the Arizona Republic, with ebedded audio.

THE 25 BEST BEATLES SONGS, according to Entertainment Weekly, with embedded audio and video.

THE PAINS OF BEING PURE AT HEART lead singer/guitarist Kip Berman sat down with The A.V. Club to discuss the band's painfully long moniker, the lo-fi movement, and ripping off his favorite bands.

THE FLAMING LIPS: Wayne Coyne continues criticizing Arcade Fire at The Independent.

WEEKEND BOX OFFICE: The No. 1 movie this weekend was Tyler Perry's I Can Do Bad All By Myself, which made 24 million -- not nearly as big as his Madea Goes to Jail (40 million), but well in excess of its 13 million budget.  The animated 9 came in second with 10.9 million; it will likely recoup its 33 million budget in theaters before cashing in on DVD. Inglourious Basterds drops to the third slot, but sits just a few million short of Pulp Fiction's 108 million total. All About Steve came in fourth (surprising given the reveiews and word of mouth), dropping 48 percent to make 5.8 million. The Final Destination rounds out the Top Five, dropping 56 percent and making 5.5 million.  Below the fold, Sorority Row opened in sixth place with 5.3 million, with Whiteout debuting right behind it with 5.1 million.  Moral of the story: Kate Beckinsale does much better in a catsuit than in a parka. Who knew?

TOM BRADY and GISELE BUNDCHEN are expecting a child in December.

MEGAN FOX is trashed by anonymous Transformers crew members defending Michael Bay from her comments about the director.

TILA TEQUILA is lashing out at the San Diego D.A.'s office for their decision to not file criminal charges against her ex-boyfriend Shawne Merriman. Purely coincidentally, TMZ has obtained photos of her bruises taken the day after her alleged run-in with the NFL star.

MERYL STREEP tells The Times of London whether playing Julia Child improved her cooking, and why Hollywood does not trust "chick flicks."

A CHRISTMAS CAROL, the latest mo-cap animated flick from Robert Zemeckis, starring Jim Carrey, has a trailer online, hinting at how it will exploit the Disney 3-D tech.

PENELOPE CRUZ denies pregnancy rumors.

LARRY GELBART, the award-winning comedy writer best known for developing the landmark TV series "MASH," co-writing the book for the hit Broadway musical "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum" and co-writing the classic movie comedy "Tootsie," died Friday morning. He was 81.

BRUCE CAMPBELL says Spider-Man 4 starts shooting in January, with a bigger part for him.

THE VAMPIRE DIARIES cast was nabbed by police for vamping it up and distracting passing motorists during a promotional photo shoot last month in Georgia. Free head shots!

STEPHEN FRY creates a best-seller with a single tweet.

HIPPOS MAKE LOVE: Let's go to the video.

CELEBRITY PARROT attacked a police officer after its owner was pulled over for driving with the bird perched on her shoulder.

LEVITATING MICE could lead to advances in treating bone loss for astronauts living for extended periods in low gravity environments.

SMOKA the CAT, presumed to have perished in a fire, was found alive last week, 26 days after a blaze broke out in her owner's apartment building in Franklin, Ohio.

RARE RED PANDA TRIPLETS were born at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo.

ALICE, the daughter of the world's biggest rabbit, has hopped off with the title herself - after her huge mum died of stage fright.