Cos I haven't done it in a while - today's random links dump

The pedal powered rollercoaster.

Top 25 movie posters.

The Two Ronnies Mastermind sketch.

Praying mantis ice sculpture.

Some car wrecks are harder to explain than others.

The Mile High Club - in a hot air balloon. Um...

Pluto is a planet again - but only in New Mexico.

Peter Cook and Dudley Moore - Pete and Dud at the art gallery.

An interesting documentary about Global Warming that, well, states that the idea that climate change is a man-made phenomenon is a load of bollocks, basically.

Secret Service investigate satanic vampire who is running for president.

A little light music for your consideration

Lily Allen - Alfie
I ranted about Lily Allen a few months back, commenting that she's utterly likable and this latest song from her is a bright and breezy number - think how a Disney musical would sound if Mary Poppins had started singing about her younger stoner brother.

Steve Earle - Copperhead Road
A redneck epic that rolls along like an engine full of moonshine, complete with Vietnam references, rolling percussion and bagpipes. A wonderful aural assault that is a borderline modern classic, and deservedly so.

Kirsty MacColl - As Long As You Hold Me
A beautiful beautiful song, achingly simply and counterpointing Kirsty's haunting voice wonderfully. I was listening to it the other day driving home at night and it tore at my heartstrings and almost reduced me to tears. What a talent we lost and this song holds extra pathos now.

Mika - Grace Kelly
Apparently really, really popular. And it's not like me to enjoy artists so universally liked. Riding the wave of pop that's reclaiming the UK charts comes Mika, with this single that's so unashamedly a Freddie Mercury tribute and so nicely done, I can't help but like it. The best song Queen never did.

Hayseed Dixie - Gin and Juice
It's a bluegrass cover of Snoop Doggy Dogg's Gin and Juice from a band famous for countryfying AC-DC tracks. What's not to like? No, seriously, it could be taken as a joke, but it's utterly wonderful driving music, fun and fresh and such a strange concept that it should never work as anything more than comedy. But it does.

Loreena McKennitt
Now this is a more safe bet - the traditional folk song previously covered by Van Morrison gets a stark treatment with McKennitt's soaring vocals and very little in the way of accompaniment. The haunting melody is really all that's needed and the stunning vocals work wonderfully without much in the way of instrumental.

Carter USM - Skywest and Crooked/The Impossible Dream
The climax to 1992: The Love Album, this duo of songs blend into each other - one an original composition, almost hampered by playing card puns, but raised above the norm by a solid tune and a wonderful section from guest vocalist Ian Dury, quoting "Man of La Mancha", which neatly segways into the cover of the song from the same musical - all searing London-accented vocals and kitchen sink instrumental. The soundtrack to my mid teens.

(All mp3s deleted after seven days, for review purposes only. If you require they be taken down before that time, contact me.)