ANIMAL COLLECTIVE has a new video for "In the Flowers," as freaky as usual. Plus carny footage.

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

FASTBALL did the four free songs thing for Daytrotter. Nice, esp. "Soul Radio."

GREAT LAKE SWIMMERS played the Mountain Stage for a short set streaming via NPR.

PATRICK WOLF did a chat and mini-set with The Quietus.

PSYCHEDELIC FURS perform an unpluggedy "Love My Way."

THURSTON MOORE talks to Carrie Brownstein about the decade, music and his Ecstatic Peace label.

DEVO: Mark Mothersbaugh talks to the Chicago Tribune and The Stranger about doing a retro tour before a new album.

BISHOP ALLEN's Justin Rice talks to the Village Voice about making the "True or False" video.

KING KHAN was busted in Kentucky "for allegedly possessing hallucinogenic mushrooms."

WEEKEND BOX OFFICE: 2012 predictably won the weekend with 65 million in receipts; that's a litlle above the range predicted, and director Roland Emmerich's flicks tend to do very well overseas, justifying the the 200 million budget.  A Christmas Carol dropped only 25 percent with 23.3 million; giving it a shot at recoping its 200 million budget domestically.  The Men Who Stare at Goats held onto the third slot, but dropped 51 percent and took in 6.2 million. The black comedy has almost recouped its 25 million budget, and Overture paid only 5 million for the rights.  Precious - a movie touted by Oprah - leapt from No. 12 to No.4, taking in 6 million on only 174 screens.  Michael Jackson rounds out the Top 5, but This is It tumbled 61 percent to take in another 5.1 million.  Pirate Radio opened near-wide, but debuted at No. 11, which may be disappointing for Focus Features, but maybe not shocking, given its tepid performance overseas (under the title The Boat That Rocked).

KRISTEN STEWART, who returns to theaters this week in the Twilight sequel, gets praise for her acting from Oscar winners in a New York Times profile.

LINDSAY LOHAN caught on camera having a party in the bathroom.

NICOLAS CAGE lost his two historic French Quarter homes in a foreclosure auction Thursday.  Will Johnny Depp rescue him?

ANGELINA JOLIE waged "a mean-spirited but effective campaign" against Jennifer Aniston around the time that Brad Pitt divorced her, according to a new book.

CLINT EASTWOOD was made a commander in France's prestigious Legion of Honour on Friday.

ROGER CORMAN, undisputed B-movie mogul, is getting an honorary Academy Award.  EW has tributes from Martin Scorsese, William Shatner, Dennis Hoper,, Sylvester Stallone, Ron Howard, and more.

THE TOP 7 CELEBRITY PARENTS, according to ABCNews.

WES ANDERSON's 10 Best Movie Music Moments.

OUR FRIENDS, THE SAUDIS may allow women lawyers to represent women in court, close on the heels of the kingdom opening its first co-educational university.

PAKISTAN: The CIA says it gets its money's worth from Pakistan's spy agency, despite fears of corruption. If only the CIA had a better track record on such judgments.

AFGHANISTAN: David Kilcullen, one of the world's leading authorities on counter-insurgency and an adviser to the British government as well as the US State Dept, is concerned the US will fudge on troop levels: "Do it or not do it."

HEY, NICE BEAVER: Let's go to the video.

1000 LIVE SPIDERS in the luggage.

PELICAN blamed for the crash of a million-dollar sports car.

A MOOSE became the first victim of Canada's newly armed border guards. That's a Dudley Do-Wrong.

A BUFFALO was abducted by a UFO. M'kay.