'Mappy Holidays'

strangemaps.wordpress.com is brilliant

Green

Sound of 2009

The Airing of Grievances

Belbury Penguins

This recent advert for WWF's Adopt a Wild Penguin scheme features music, specially comissioned for it, by Ghost Box magus Belbury Poly.

Squeekwel

70 minute long review of The Phantom Menace - worth every second

Ooo Laa

The Kooks' Luke Pritchard once remarked that he was 'a hit factory' - clearly he had never heard of Desmond Child. A Victorian Workhouse of pop production, the man has churned out of some of the biggest hits of the last 30 years, yet remains virtually unheard of outside the industry.

First coming to the attention of Paul Stanley in the late 70's, Desmond co-wrote the faux disco romp of'I Was Made For Loving You' - a pivotal moment for the band who unsurprisingly chose sucess before anything else. Yet the next decade would be even more lucrative for Desmond.

Think Bon Jovi write popular songs? Think again: Livin' On A Prayer, You Give Love A Bad Name, Keep The Faith - All Desmond

Alice Cooper's short time stadium rock comeback, Poison? You Guessed it, Desmond

Aerosmith's longer stadium rock comeback? Probably wouldn't have been as succesful without Crazy and Dude Looks Like Lady.

But the hits don't end with 80's hair metal, Desmond has worked with some of pop music's biggest international stars (Michael Bolton?).

Ricky Martin practically owes his career to the guy, penning Living La Vida Loca AND She Bangs - both cementing his celebrity in pop culture and even convincing the world for a time that he was straight.

Even Robbie Williams managed to wring a hit out of him in 1997.

But Desmond hasn't stopped this side of the 21st Century: working with Shakira, Mika, Hanson and The Jonas Brothers. Plus writing the banger that is Waking Up In Vegas for Katy Perry this year.

Some pop duds want a song for their album? Look no further: Hilary Duff, Lindsay Lohan and Rhydian. In fact the list of credits for his awful pop back catalogue could go on and on (Michelle Mcmanus, Lean Rhymes, The Rock Star Soundtrack)

Yet 'Dezzy' still keeps it real, helping out on occasion The Rasmus, Tokio Hotel and err... Dream Theater to stay metal with thier chops.

But if that list hasn't impressed you or even thinking about the sheer number of people who have sang along and/or danced to his songs at at least one point in their life doesn't either - He co-wrote Thong Song

Desmondchild.com

Danish Dreams

Clunge

Directed by Patrick Bergh

Life Imitates Ballard

Boy with aspergers rides train for 11 days straight

Azurre

www.peopleinpizzaslicecostumesbecomingpizzas.com"

NY

Saxon

Who would have thought a bear with no hair could be so completely terrifying? Surprisingly though "Dolores", here, isn't alone.

Cesky

Orson Welles' The Trial set to Josef K

Rus

Since the fall of the Soviet Union, Moscow's street dogs have started living on and off the cities public transport system in ever more ingenious ways - sleeping in carriages, getting off at correct stations, startling passers-by into dropping their food and melting ladies hearts into giving them theirs. Info, pictures and videos here.

Actually was this on someone's facebook not too long ago? Apologies if it was.

Rus

Rus

82°06′S 54°58′E is the most inaccessible point in Antarctica, the farthest from the ocean and the coldest place in the world.

It's also where you'll find a bust of Lenin with his head facing towards Moscow.

Dig down 20 feet and you’ll uncover an old Soviet research hut, with a golden visitors’ book to sign.