RIP J.D. Salinger

J.D. Salinger, the reclusive author of The Catcher in the Rye and Franny and Zooey, died yesterday of natural causes.



"People coming and putting a bunch of your flowers on your stomach on Sunday, and all that crap. Who wants flowers when you're dead? Nobody." - Excerpt from The Catcher in the Rye.

Apple unveil new device, fanboys swoon.

Apple have revealed their new tablet to delight of Mac fans the world over. The iPad is supposed to be a PC on the go, a device for internet use, movies, books and everything else you have ever dreamed of all rolled up in one handy package. And, being an Apple product, it is unfathomably thin.



Incredible! Great! Tremendous! While the tablet looks like a pretty useful device, the prices are likely to be astronomical. And, when you look at it, it's not really much more than a bigger iPod Touch. Also, any company referring to their new product as "magical" on the official website ( see http://www.apple.com/ipad/) is bound to lose a certain degree of gravitas.

Chris Morris film 'Four Lions'

Chris Morris has been quiet of late, so it is great to hear that his debut film is showing at the Sundance film festival next week. 'Four Lions' is described as a "jihadist comedy", and from the looks of the clip below, it is a return to form for the satirist who brought us Brass Eye, The Day Today and others. Can't wait to see this.

Exclusive clip available at
http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/video/2010/jan/21/chris-morris-four-lions-sundance

Generic News Report

Charlie Brooker explains how a typical news report is prepared and presented to us. From his Newswipe program, it's a real Regent's Treat.

An electro-opera about Charles Darwin's life?

While I initially found the idea of the opera 'Tomorrow, In a Year' quite intriguing, I wasn't convinced that a bunch of songs about Charles Darwin would translate well as an album. The project is a collaboration between Mt. Sims, Planningtorock and The Knife. And the results are amazing.



An album version of the opera is to be released in March this year.

UPDATE: Listen to the whole album free at NPR
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=122944293&sc=fb&cc=fp

New Portishead - Chase The Tear

Portishead have released a new track for Amnesty International. Proceeds from the single will support the Charity's work with human rights.



While Beth Gibbons voice is wonderful as ever, the track isn't quite as good as songs from the band's recent album, 'Third'. Note: Just to clarify, the title doesn't refer to the type of tear that comes from your eye, rather a tear in a sheet of paper.