MEMORIAL DAY has become -- in the minds of some -- a day devoted to uncovering their swimming pools and barbeques. So take a moment (preferably at 3 p.m. local time) to remember what it's really about. At least I think, that's still the deal -- the government's website seems to be down (good job, feds).  Joyce Johnson and the "Arlington Ladies" who attend every funeral in Arlington National Cemetery, to ensure no soldier is buried alone, take more than a moment.  Re-read "A Death in the Family," as powerful as it was when Christopher Hitchens wrote it in 2007.  Revisit the Mudville Gazette for items like William Wyler's footage of the last mission of the Memphis Belle and Alfred Hitchcock's footage of the liberation of the Belsen concentration camp.  The Wikipedia entry for Memorial Day notes a race track connection unrelated to the Indy 500.  It's a good day -- as good as we are likely to get -- for Sgt. Barry Sadler's No. 1 smash, "Ballad of the Green Beret."  or the movie adaptation of Gen. George S. Patton's "Speech to the Third Army."  As "Greyhawk" once wrote at the Mudville Gazette, "This is Memorial Day weekend. Enjoy it. Celebrate it - the people who died to give you that right would appreciate it. But they didn't die peaceably in their beds, these dogs who fell protecting sheep from wolves."

UPDATE: This week is a-gonna be jam-packed with great music. Y'all stop back now, y'hear?

THE LONG WEEKEND STARTS HERE:

...with POWER POP! A few of these may be well-known generally, like Cheap Trick's  "Way of the World" and Nick Lowe's "Cruel to Be Kind"... and some well-known to fans of the genre, like Shoes "Too Late," The Records' "Starry Eyes," the Flamin' Groovies' "Shake Some Action" and the Plimsouls'  "A Million Miles Away" (seen here in a rare live TV slot).  Others are well-known to longtime Pate fans, like the Three O'Clock's "Her Head's Revolving" or Let's Active's "Waters Part." 

EDDIE VEDDER is advance streaming Ukulele Songs. 

GOLDHEART ASSEMBLY did the four free songs thing for Daytrotter. Harmonic folk for fans of Fleet Foxes and Dawes.

DAVID BAZAN stopped by All Things Considered for an interview plus tracks.

PARTS & LABOR did the four free songs thing for Daytrotter.

SASQUATCH: NPR has a pre-festival mix, but will be streaming live sets over the weekend.

TOWNES VAN ZANDT, Live at the Whole Coffeehouse, November 1973.

CROSBY, NASH & FALLON cover Miley Cyrus's "Party In The USA."

DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE: Ben Gibbard talks about the new LP's L.A. roots at BlackBook.

WILL OLDHAM talks Florida, punk, country, Bonnie Prince Billy and more with the Broward New Times. (Thx, LHB.)

THE TOP 50 COVER SONGS, according to Gibson.com.

CUTOUT BIN: From Bob Dylan to the Cult, from the Temptations to the Tubes, from Jimi Hendrix to Joe Jackson, plus Paul Weller, John Sebastian, XTC, Darlene Love, Grant Hart, King Harvest and more -- this Friday's fortuitous finds are now streaming from the Pate page at the ol' HM.

ARNOLD & MARIA: Shriver met with her divorce lawyer today in Beverly Hills and all systems are go to end her marriage to Schwarzenegger. Arnold's mistress is threatening to sue "Entertainment Tonight" over an interview with her ex-husband, claiming the show paid him "in excess of six figures to spew lies."

NOW SHOWING ran Thursday, if you need to scroll down.

CHARLIE SHEEN is selling his Beverly Hills mansion. Because he's winning, of course.

LINDSAY LOHAN began serving house arrest Thursday morning at her Venice, Calif., townhouse after turning herself in to the Lynwood Jail hours earlier.

RYAN REYNOLDS talks Green Lantern and his divorce from Scarlett Johansson at Details.

BRYCE DALLAS HOWARD is pregnant with her second child.

JEFF CONAWAY will be taken off life support machines after doctors told the ‘Grease' actor's family that he has had no brain activity since being admitted to a hospital May 11.

THE TOP 10 PIRATE MOVIES at the Chicago Tribune. (Thx, Dad.)

TOTAL RECALL: Bill Nighy will star opposite Colin Farrell is the seemingly unnecessary remake.

YEMEN: Pres Saleh ordered the arrest of rival rival leader Sheikh Sadiq al- Ahmar and nine of his brothers for fomenting "armed rebellion."

PAKISTAN: The Pakistani government had complained to the US about being unaware of American funding provided directly to the Pakistan military, according to previously unpublished American diplomatic cables. The reports also disclose tensions between the civilian government and the army over the use funds provided for counterinsurgency operations. Islamabad has told the Obama administration to reduce the number of US troops in the country and has moved to close three military intelligence liaison centers, setting back American efforts to eliminate insurgent sanctuaries in largely lawless areas bordering Afghanistan,

IRAQ: The spokesman for US Forces-Iraq said that attacks against US troops are on the rise as the December 2011 drawdown deadline nears. Thousands of supporters of Muqtada al Sadr protested against a continued US military presence in Iraq.

A FORMER SHELTER DOG that's missing a foot is now learning to walk on all fours again. Video at the link.

TENNESSEE TORTOISES finally get fast dates.

BIZARRE SHRIMP-LIKE MONSTERS that were the world's largest predators for millions of years grew even larger and survived much longer than thought, scientists find.

DOGS make lousy backseat drivers.

MOUNTAIN LION on the front porch. This is what happens when you live in Montana.

THE DODOS hit the road for "Companions."

BLACK LIPS are advance streaming Arabia Mountain.

MEAT PUPPETS stopped by The Current for a chat and mini-set.

STEVE EARLE stopped by World Cafe for a chat and mini-set.

BUDDY MILLER stopped by the World Cafe for a chat and the first live performance by The Majestic Strings.

FOOL'S GOLD drops "Street Clothes" in advance of Leave No Trace.

HOT CHOCOLATE: "You Sexy Thing." Believe in miracles?

PETER MURPHY premieres a new track, and talks influence, 'gothlings,' spiritualism, and Bauhaus at Pop and Hiss.

BRIAN WILSON talks to Q Radio about how his difficult past influences him now.

ROCK POSTER ART is a booming market.

169 SONG TITLES WITH PARENTHETICALS (In order of Parenthetical Charm).

NOW SHOWING: The holiday weekend starts at the cineplex toady with: Kung Fu Panda 2, currently scoring 72 percent on the ol' Tomatometer; and The Hangover Part II, which is scoring 33 percent.

ARNOLD & MARIA: Shriver may file for a divorce from Schwarzenegger as early as this week. The estranged husband of the maid proclaims that Arnold was his hero. Schwarzenegger began a secret affair with his housekeeper after complaining about his 'sexless' marriage with wife Maria, according to the National Enquirer.  Alleged second mistress Gigi Goyette talked to Extra about her alleged secret love affair with Arnold. The Today show reports on how Arnold's relationship with the tabloids helped cover up his adultery. The Californian Attorney General will conduct what's being termed an "inquiry" into the former Governator's alleged misuse of taxpayer funds to cover up sexual liaisons.

LINDSAY LOHAN partied harder than she worked in Miami this weekend. She gets slapped with the monitoring bracelet on June 17.

KIM KARDASHIAN is engaged to New Jersey Nets forward Kris Humphries. The ring reportedly cost two million bucks.

BRADLEY COOPER & OLIVIA WILDE were flirty and inseparable at an afterparty for The Hangover 2. Looks like they've been on more than one date.

JENNIFER ANISTON is secretly dating Justin Theroux, according to Us Weekly.

LADY GAGA is on the cover of the Rolling Stone.

ANNA KOURNIKOVA repleces Jillian Michaels as the trainer for The Biggest Loser.

THE THREE STOOGES: A First Look.

IRAN: The world's global nuclear inspection agency, frustrated by Iran's refusal to answer questions, revealed for the first time on Tuesday that it possesses evidence that Tehran has conducted work on a highly sophisticated nuclear triggering technology that experts said could be used only to set off a nuclear weapon.

PAKISTAN: A raid by militants on a Pakistani naval base this week has raised fresh anxiety about the country's ability to protect its nuclear sites.

AFGHANISTAN: A recent security operation in the southeast part of the country suggests an influx of foreign fighters - including a growing number of Europeans - may be underway, just as the Taliban begins its "fighting season" against NATO troops.

A DOG picked up by a tornado crawls home on 2 broken legs, weeks late.

A BLIND HORSE is cared for by a seeing-eye sheep and goats.

HORSES can drive-thru at KFC.

A CAT mothers 30 chicks...

WORST. HUNTING DOG. EVAH.

OF MONTREAL crushes the White Stripes' "Fell In Love With a Girl" for the A.V. Club Undercover.

WOODEN BIRDS are advance streaming Two Matchsticks.

CULTS is advance streaming their self-titled album.

LOW played a Tiny Desk Concert at the NPR offices.

BOB DYLAN: Folk Alley is offering a four-hour stream of his Dylan songs to celebrate his birthday week.

FOUNTAINS OF WAYNE drop "Richie and Ruben" ahead of Sky Full of Holes.

BON IVER: Justin Vernon got to do a full interview with Fallon and performed a medley of Bonnie Raitt's "I Can't Make You Love Me" and "Nick of Time" and Leon Russell's "A Song For You."

GRUFF RHYS talks to the Nashville Scene about the influences on his Hotel Shampoo LP, and the future of Super Furry Animals.

ADELE tells The Independent how staying small has made her massive enough to be mortified by her tax bill.

PHIL SPECTOR is the subject of an HBO pic starring Al Pacino.

THE 10 WORST SONGS ABOUT CALIFORNIA That Aren't "California" By Datarock. (Thx, LHB.)

ARNOLD & MARIA: The Schwarzenegger baby drama story was leaked to the media by Shriver's own people ... and they did it because Maria was so angry at Arnold, she wanted to do it herself.  Shriver has has hired a private investigator to probe her philandering husband's double life as she readies a plan for divorce. Also (as I would expect), there was a secret DNA test on the love child. Wanna see the aleged mistress imitating Marilyn Monroe's rendition of "Happy Birthday"? No, you really don't.

LINDSAY LOHAN: Another day, another wardobe malfunction pic.

ESTELLA WARREN: The actress/model was busted for DUI, after allegedly slamming into three cars, kicking a cop and escaping from the police station.

OPRAH's final guest, revealed.

ROSIE HUNTINGTON-WHITELY (Transformers 3) is featured at Complex in time for Gratuitous Wednesday.

LOST: Evengeline Lilly just gave birth, but the L.A. Times has an update on the rest of the cast, a year after they all went to the great beyond.

CANDY LAND: THE MOVIE. You won't believe the pitch.

IRAN: The International Atomic Energy Agency said Iran is increasing its uranium stockpiles. The US imposed economic sanctions on seven foreign firms, including Venezuela's state oil company, for their dealings with Iran.

SYRIA: The International Atomic Energy Agency said the site bombed by the Israelis in 2007 was "very likely" a nuclear facility. A human rights group claimed more than 1,100 people have been killed by government forces during the last two months of protests.

EGYPT: Former President Hosni Mubarak will be tried for "pre-meditated killing" of protesters during anti-government demonstrations this year. His two sons have also been referred to the court.

AFGHANISTAN: The embarrassment over the trend for rainbow flags on cars in Kabul reminds us how far the country is from the liberal west.

LIGER CUBS, raised by a dog...Mass hysteria!

A STOWAWAY GROUNDHOG created quite a mess, not to mention a neighborhood ruckus that drew police, a state wildlife officer and even the mayor, when it became trapped inside a car in suburban Allentown, PA.

A RAT stole her front teeth... and she wants them back?

SNAKE HUNT goes horribly wrong.

MODERN DOGHOUSES: Pics and video.

OUR CONCERT COULD BE YOUR LIFE: 14 current bands performing the songs of 13 icons of indie rock at the Bowery Ballroom in Manhattan. Stream the whole thing or individual sets.  Either way, it's St. Vincent shredding thru Big Black's "Kerosene" and Titus Andronicus thrashing thru the Replacements' "Kids Don't Follow" (with an assist from the Hold Steady's Craig Finn) for Twofer Tuesday.

NEW RELEASES from White Demin, David Bazan, Friendly Fires and more are streaming this week via Spinner.

MY MORNING JACKET is advance streaming Circuital.

DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE is advance streaming Codes and Keys.

ARCADE FIRE: Two new songs, including a cover of "Speaking in Tongues," with David Byrne.

BOB DYLAN turns 70 today. NME has the stories behind 70 Dylan songs, starting with "Subterranean Homesick Blues."

VIDEO makes the radio star? 

THE 25 BEST PROGRESSIVE SONGS, according to PopMatters.

DAMON & NAOMI look back at Galaxie 500 and talk about their current projects. (Thx, Chromewaves.)

KIMYA DAWSON talks to the Mpls City Pages about her upcoming album (Thunder Thighs), life after Juno, and her live-and-let-live approach to television commercials that bite her style.

ARNOLD & MARIA: If Maria Shriver terminates her marriage with Arnold Schwarzenegger, it could be one of the costliest celebrity splits ever. Meanwhile, actress Jane Seymour claims Ahnold has two other love children.

LINDSAY LOHAN: Back to wardrobe malfunctions and upshirt photos.

ASHTON KUTCHER, Two and a Half Men, One Year Contract.

GWYENTH PALTROW's record deal with Atlantic Records has gone kaput... for now.

DAVID SCHWIMMER and his wife delivered their daughter on May 8.

CHRISTINA HENDRICKS (Mad Men) talks to the Daily Mail about relishing her curves, marrying ‘the best husband ever' - and modelling Vivienne Westwood's new jewellery collection.

OUR FRIENDS, THE SAUDIS arrested a female activist who launched a campaign to challenge a ban on women driving in the conservative kingdom and posted a video on the Internet of her driving, activists said.

IRAN: The European Union has tightened sanctions on Iran due to its nuclear program. Ahmedinejad said Western countries are "using special equipment" to drain clouds of rain and cause droughts in the Middle East.

IRAQ: The Hot-Money Cowboys of Baghdad.

72-YEAR-OLD FIGHTS OFF A GATOR, saves his dog.

EVIL, DRUNK BIRDS are falling from the sky in Darwin.

AN ANGRY BEAVER roams Fort Smith in the Northwest Territory. Video at the link.

OUT: SHRIMP FISHERMEN. In: Jellyfishermen!