Paul-in-London

Arthur Smith tells it like it is

70s cult classic Thundercrack gets a hammering from frenzied Fox newsreader who calls in a Floridian Republician to froth at the mouth with her. Worth watching if only to hear the news reader read the film's synopsis in the sort of voice you would use if you had just eaten shit. Great to see them all make such fools of themselves on what was obviously a no-news day

Gormley's piece for the 4th plinth follows on in his tradition of involving people in major arts installations. I like this. Simple and democratic

The hottest day of the year and Hyde Park was buzzing with what is already shaping up to be one of those concerts that people talk about for years to come. As a long time Blur fan (yes, I'm old enough to have been to see them and bought the t-shirt before they even released their first single) I was a little worried whether this would be a stagnant 'only in it for the money' affair. How wrong I was!

The excitement in the park was palpable as the band returned to the city that inspired much of their music. As the sun set Damon and the guys worked their way through a fantastic set that combined the popular "Parklife" hits with the psych pop of the likes of Oily Water and She's So High. The sun was warm, the band was hot and Blur melted 50,000 hearts who all joined in with the emotional closer The Universal.
This was one of those rare moments that seemed to bring everyone together. Tube stations echoed with the 'come on come on come on' refrain from Tender and one bemused tourist asked whether England had won the tennis or something. It was better than that though - it was simply a band who had bought people together to sing, celebrate and have one of the best nights of the year

Sparklehorse/David Lynch collaboration. Ye Gods!
But, just to piss on everyone's sandwiches, EMI have apparently blocked its release! Who said the big companies were trying to move with the times?

a bad day for 70s icons. (OK i know he was more successful in the 80s but I prefer the 70s stuff with the Jacksons and Off The Wall)

Lets hope that BA remember how their workers rallied round them in the tough times. I wonder just how much the company gave to their employees in the years that they made huge profits and their executives took home huge bonuses. I think that when the company recovers they should give all staff shares in the company as acknowledgement of their support. It also makes me laugh that Willie Walsh is bravely giving a months work unpaid and losing £61,000, yes, thats a months pay for him. When you are on that sort of salary you really can afford unpaid work for a month or longer.

a true 70s icon. I remember THAT poster in the 70s - it adorned every boy's wall