Having moved to Belgium to study and model, the French femme fatale Sonia Dronier was discovered by Francis Depryck, the producer who had made Plastic Bertrand. She re-invented herself as Viktor Lazlo stepping out of Casablanca. In many ways she rese[…]

Today’s Office Debate – where did the word “OK” come from? Pausing only to lament the way in which promising office conversations can be ruthlessly squished by Google, we discover two conflicting origin tales – the more […]

Dirrrty Pop: Another pop blog, if you like “Talent In A Previous Life” or “Enthusiastic But Mediocre” you should look this one up too. I really should give my links sidebar a good kicking, I should also categorise them a bit m[…]

On the Achievement of No Spoilers: I’m quite pleased with myself that last night, when I finally viewed Kill Bill I, I had not read a SINGLE THING about it more discursive than a billboard. Unfortunately I now suddenly realise this means anythi[…]

“I met my husband through D&D and we are still playing regularly twice a week, some 16 years later.” — LJS, Stockport, UK
Clearly a lie. It must be. This is taken from comments on 30 Years of D&D on the BBC site. Less of a[…]

It was interesting to hear opinions on Maradona’s heart attack. There is an e-mail doing the rounds with a distorted photo and something along the lines of ‘Get well soon, you cheating fat midget’. Eighteen years on from that goal a[…]

Thank Me For The Music: new MP3 blog! Very pop! Lead track currently is the stupendous “Never Felt As Good” by Belvedere Kane. If everyone goes there and hears it maybe I can play it at the next FT night and people will know what it is an[…]

Michael Hann on Gastropubs: I started reading with scepticism but gradually this turned to head-nodding and by the time he finished I was ready to march behind him shouting his noble message Tango Blackcurrant Ad style. My only quibble really is that[…]

Eamon’s on the radio! Good old Eamon with his novelty swearing. Of course it’s the ‘radio edit’, which reduces Eamon’s foul mouth to an impotent stutter – but it does make me think of how the technology of swear-re[…]

Better Late Than Never: Stereophonics ex-drummer says they were “a little bland”. Very perceptive of him.[…]