M WARD has released a Video for "Hold Time," from the upcoming album of the same name.

DEATH VESSEL did three free songs for Daytrotter, one previously unreleased. "This is pretty like flower beds and daisy chains and Dolly Parton or Karen Carpenter pretty."

PAPER ROUTE did five free songs for Daytrotter, one previously unreleased. " In nearly every one of the ephemeral songs that Paper Route writes, there's a sense of intense foreboding - like someone's got a foot out of the door and there are outstretched arms reaching to reverse the momentum carrying them away."

MERGE RECORDS is offering its 2008 sampler free with registration.

BUFFETLIBRE has unleashed about 90 covers of 80s songs by indie bands.  Downloads and videos at the link.

BLITZEN TRAPPER has a new stop-motion video for "Furr."

JOHN LENNON's MBE has turned up. Buckingham Palace will leave its fate to Yoko Ono.

JACKO hopes to bury his 24-year feud with Sir Paul McCartney - by leaving his share of the Beatles back catalog to him in his will.

BROKEN SOCIAL SCENE: Land of Talk's Liz Powell is now an official member of the collective.

EURYTHMICS: Dave Stewart has bizarre new project.

BRADGELINA: Pitt has an interview in W Magazine, in which he acquits Jolie of the charge of home-wrecking, and Aniston of the last round of catty remarks.

BRITNEY SPEARS goes into permanent conservatorship.

LINDSAY LOHAN & SAMANTHA RONSON: Lohan has moved out of Ronson's pad and has been seen on the town alone, but reportedly wants back with Sam.

SCARLETT JOHANSSON is not planning parenthood anytime soon.

SARAH JESSICA PARKER is moving out on Matthew Broderick, according to the ever-reliable Star.

CARMEN ELECTRA says she's found a hot new use for hangers, but refuses to go into details.

THE PRISONER:  You can watch the entire original series via AMC's website in advance of their reimagined miniseries, which stars Ian McKellen and Jim Caviezel.

LARRY FLYNT & JOE FRANCIS want a government bailout, but will settle for publicity.

JENNIFER CONNELLY's sudden weight loss may be a reaction to the recent death of her father.

INDIA: Transcripts of phone calls Indian authorities say they intercepted during the November Mumbai attacks were part of a dossier of evidence New Delhi handed Pakistan this week that it says definitively proves that the siege was launched from across the border.

PAKISTAN: The Taliban murdered two more "US spies" in North Waziristan. The Taliban killed four policemen during an attack on a checkpoint in Hangu; another policeman was killed while defusing a bomb in Bannu. Four more beheaded bodies were found in Swat. Ajmal Amir Qasab, the only surviving gunman from November's deadly Mumbai terrorist attacks, is a Pakistani citizen, the government confirmed on Wednesday.

A CAT & COCKATOO, living together...  I think you know what I'm saying.

THE SQUIRREL THREAT: The "Save Our Squirrels" campaign begun in 2006 to rescue Britain's red squirrels, with its rallying motto of "Save a red, eat a gray!", created a market for culled squirrel meat.

ANGELINA the LABRADOR saved her owner's life by knocking her out of the way as the roof of her house fell in.

CHINESE ZOO ANIMALS are huddling next a fire and electric heaters to beat the cold weather. Pic of giraffes living like hoboes at the link.

HEDGEHOGS are legalized in Lawrence, KS, after a three-year lobbying effort by 11 year-old Judson King.  Video at the link.