v/a "Welsh Rare Beat"

This is a Finders Keepers compilation of eclectic weirdo stuff released on some Welsh language record label, Sain or something like that. Yet again I have to marvel at the high quality and varied styles of music with Welsh-language lyrics. I reckon that of all the Finders Keepers records knocking around Heyte Mansions these days, this is probably my favourite, just for the total quality of what it features.

See also The Crazy Sounds of Finders Keepers

Sometimes I wonder why the Irish-speaker scene in Ireland has never produced anything other than tradders.

Finders Pandas

A special service for special customers

The Irish Independent reports that Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary has announced that planned transatlantic flights will offer a premium "beds and blow jobs" service to customers willing to fork out €4,000 to €5,000 fares. The remarks were apparently made somewhere in Germany, before an audience. It is not clear whether Mr O'Leary will be personally performing this service to Ryanair's most valued customers.

EDIT - my correspondent "Chocolate Socialist" has apparent footage of the press conference here, and links to a report in the German press here

Hahnlandwirtbild

Toto "Past to Present 1977-1990"

I bought this, came home, and put it on to play, all without saying anything to Mrs Panda. She thought initially that I had gone mad, until she recognised opening chords of 'Africa'. Then she realised that I had gone mad in a good way. This album features a lot of less thrill powered later Toto tunes, but you can't really knock 'Africa'. Well, you could, but you would be wrong, as anyone who listens objectively to the drums coming in on the first chorus will vouch.

Aside from its awesomeness as a tune, a big part of the appeal of 'Africa' is that we are going to that fascinating continent soon, in particular to Ethiopia. Wikipedia reports that Toto became very popular in Africa following their success with the song. There is no citation for this contention, but I am hoping that learning all the lyrics to the tune will help me to get down with the people there.

Hurry boy, it's waiting there for you.

oh yeah, wasn't yesterday Bloomsday?

Or maybe it is tomorrow. Or next month. Anyway, what better way to commemorate it than by looking at a film of James Joyce and Samuel Beckett playing pitch and putt? You can do that by going to Slugger O'Toole

As you can see, I have not worked out how to post my own direct links to YouTube things.

Orphaned Birds Taught To Sing

RSPCA centres are teaching orphaned baby birds how to sing, using CDs (of birds singing). It is very important for male birds to be able to sing, as they need to be able to do this to defend territory and find a mate. It is not clear whether the RSPCA's programme may accidentally teach female baby birds how to sing, leading to an outbreak of bird feminism.

More (click on the link, it has film of little baby birds being taught how to sing)

v/a "Paul Watts' Best of 2007"

You may know Paul Watts, bon viveur and man about town. We swapped 2007 round-up CDs (which had no songs in common). I reckon he probably hated mine, but I found much to recommend here, notably the Battles song, the Von Südenfed song, and an engagingly yeow! track by High On Fire. A lot of the rest sounded like the kind of warptronica that many people I know love. Listening to it all here I started thinking that maybe I like it too.

Oh yeah, maybe I should post about my best of 2007 CD. Or maybe not.

Panda Watts

God Dog Donates Most of Fortune to Charity

Trouble is a little dog who was left $12 million by rich property tycoon Leona Helmsley. However, Trouble has, through his trustees, pointed out that this money is far more than he needs to eat all the bones he wants and live a thoroughly comfortable life. $10 million of this sum is therefore being transferred to a Ms Helmsley's charitable foundation.

More

Caravan "In The Land of Grey and Pink"

I met my old pal Mark W in record shop when I was buying something else, and he said I should buy this as well. Having listened to this record (a product of something called The Canterbury Scene), I can see it as being not without merit, but I suspect it is not fated to long remain in Panda Mansions.

Scenester Pandas

Comics Roundup 15/6/2008

100 Bullets # 100, by Brian Azzarello and Eduaro Risso

I can no longer remember how the characters relate to each other and what they are meant to be doing, so a lot of this is semi-incomprehensible, the main story in particular. The subplot about the kiddie gangsters has more coherence. That said, the art is still very likeable, and for all that the main story might not make much sense on its own, I was still able to roll along with it.

This issue contained an excerpt from some new Vertigo title called Air, by G. Willow Wilson and M.K. Perker, which seems to be about an air hostess. It seems sufficiently interesting that I might give the first issue a go, perhaps because I am getting sufficiently excited about my forthcoming trip to Ethiopia to find anything flight-related fascinating.

Star Wars: Rebellion # 14, by Jeremy Barlow and Colin Wilson

I feel like this title is my secret shame, as there is something very sad about reading Star Wars comics. It was the Colin Wilson art that sucked me into this; older readers may remember his work in 2000 AD, where he crafted an endearingly wreck-tech look for Judge Dredd and Rogue Trooper. His style suits well all the Star Wars stuff, with everything looking just a little bit grotty at the edges. The story is by no means awful, but this is a title I buy for the art; as Wilson is leaving with this issue I will be able to put this sordid part of my life away. For now.

Problem of work, free time solved

I now have a Facebook account.