Karl 
BOWERBIRDS stick close to their name with "In Our Talons," though insects and crustaceans also appear in the animated clip.
OKKERVIL RIVER has dropped a new song, "Lost Coastlines," in advance of their upcoming album; you can stream the tune via the ol' HM at the moment.
PETER HOLSAPPLE has joined the NYT's Measure for Measure blog, starting with the germ of a new song (with audio), a discussion of bridges (with the demo for the dB's "Molly Says") and recording demos then and now (with two demos of the new song, "It's All Talk"). Cool backstories, a pic of his first band at age 9, etc.
BAD VEINS do the four free songs thing for Daytrotter, all as yet unreleased.
FRANZ FERDINAND is streaming a new song, "Lucid Dreams," via their website.
SPIRIT: In the 1969 clip for "I Got A Line On You," there's a moment that just screams, "Hey baby, I'll be back to pick you up later!" Plus some raelly bad "psychedelic" effects.
THE KOOKS figure in an Olympic mini-scandal.
INARA GEORGE (The Bird and the Bee, daughter of Lowell George) talks to All Things Considered about her collaboration with lifelong family friend Van Dyke Parks. Plus a track to stream or download.
MARTHA WAINWRIGHT stopped by the World Cafe for a chat and mini-set you can stream on demand via NPR.
THE BEATLES: Coming to Branson?
JENNIFER ANISTON & JOHN MAYER dunzo? The Mirror claims Mayer has ended it because he wasn't ready for the level of commitment that Aniston deserved (or demanded), The NYDN runs the Ansiton spin that Mayer is crying and she has already moved on. Better still, maybe she picked her dog over Mayer. US Weekly claims the pair is just "on a break," but Friends fans know that's a recipe for disaster.
BRITNEY SPEARS gives her first interview since her breakdown to OK! magazine.
JAMIE LYNN SPEARS's alleged baby daddy allegedly cheated on her during the pregnancy.
CARRIE UNDERWOOD: The American Idol winner tells Allure that ex-beau Tony Romo still phones her. Which will thrill Jessica Simpson.
LINDSAY LOHAN & SAMANTHA RONSON: The latter is amazed at the public interest in her relationship with the former.
ADAM WEST may be busting a move on "Dancing With the Stars." They will not be able to resist the Batusi.
RACHEL HUNTER announced that she is marrying 26-year-old ice hockey star Jarret Stoll, ten years after splitting from former husband Rod Stewart. Stacy's Mom has got it going on.
JESSICA ALBA has got a fee-vah! And the only prescription is more Olympics.
GEORGIA, GEORGIA: Georgia and Russia accused each other of violating the cease-fire agreement. Separatist fighters and Russian troops looted and set homes ablaze in Georgia amid the mutual recriminations. Human Rights Watch said its researchers in South Ossetia had "witnessed terrifying scenes of destruction in four villages that used to be populated exclusively by ethnic Georgians." While many Russians said they regretted the loss of life, the conflict appeared mainly to have stoked nationalist pride. US officials demand an end to the conflict in increasingly stroner terms: "This is not 1968 and the invasion of Czechoslovakia where Russia can threaten a neighbor, occupy a capital, overthrow a government and get away with it," Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said. NATO cancels an naval exercise with Russia, while the West considers dropping Russia from the G-8. Pres. Bush said the Pentagon had begun a "vigorous and ongoing" humanitarian mission to ease the suffering in Georgia, adding that Russia must not interfere with aid arriving in Georgia by air, land or water — sounding like a Berlin Airlift-style gambit. Some experts doubt claims of Russian cyber-attacks on Georgia.
ALLEGED AL QAEDA "MATA HARI" is a potential "treasure trove" of information on terrorist supporters, sympathizers or 'sleepers' in the United States and overseas.
IRAN: Parliament declared Wednesday that suggesting that Iran is a friend of the Israeli people is an "unforgivable mistake." Lawmakers called on Pres. Ahmadinejad to dismiss Esfandiar Rahim Mashai, a vice president for tourism, after he repeated on Sunday his earlier comments that "we are a friend of all people in the world, even Israelis and Americans."
IRAQ: The latest draft security pact would have US troops withdraw from the cities by next summer, but not withdraw from the country for three years, provided the violence remains low. Insurgents, who have increasingly turned to women to stage suicide bombings, on Tuesday used a man dressed as a woman in a failed assassination attempt on a provincial governor. The head of an anti-Qaeda militia survived a truck bombing in Kirkuk, the ninth assassination attempt against him.
A TINY CHINESE BOX TURTLE is small enough to creep inside a matchbox. No wonder the species is critically endangered. More pics at the link.
OCTOPUSES have two legs and six arms, according to a new study, which also reveals the most common arm used for feeding.
PET HOARDING: More than 360 domestic and farm animals, many of them emaciated, injured and suffering from mange and parasites, were rescued Tuesday from a filthy southwest Missouri property. And the hoarder looks like she wasn't exactly caring for herself, either.
A HUMPBACK WHALE is vacationing near one of Germany's favorite nude beach destinations, the idyllic island of Rügen.
BIGFOOT FOUND? Two Georgia men claim to have a body, photos of the body, and DNA evidence – some or all of which will be revealed this Friday, Aug. 15, at a press conference in Palo Alto, Calif.
