THE WEEKEND STARTS HERE:

...with SHINDIG SOUL! This compilation is Tubed into three parts. Part One includes James Brown with "Please Please Please," Tina Turner with "A Fool In Love" and Booker T. & The MG's with "Green Onions." Part Two includes Major Lance with "Monkey Time," Joe Tex with "Hold What You've Got," Tina Turner with "Money" and Marvin Gaye with "I'll Be Doggone." Part Three serves up James Brown with "Papa's Got A Brand New Bag," Aretha Franklin with "Rock-a-Bye Your Baby With A Dixie Melody" and Marvin Gaye with "Hitch Hike."

THE WHITE ALBUM gets a 40th Anniversary special at PopMatters.

THE SOUNDTRACK TO OUR LIVES' new album "Communion" is currently streaming in its entirety.

HOW OLD ARE YOU NOW? Jason Kottke lays out timelines for classic rock and movies: "Listening to Michael Jackson's Thriller today is equivalent to listening to Elvis Presley's first album (1956) at the time of Thriller's release in 1982."

THE UGLYSUIT does the four free songs thing for Daytrotter.  The band is from Oklahoma City, but two of these tracks were inspired by the Windy City.

ELVIS COSTELLO now has a promo site for his new TV show, Spectacle, which will air on the Sundance Channel in the US.  Clips of El C talking and playing with Elton John are posted now.

THE DECEMBERISTS: Colin Meloy says everyone will be calling the band's next album a rock opera.

SHEARWATER: Jonathan Meiburg gives Drowned In Sound his rundown of his band's latest album, Rook.

THE GREAT MOUSTACHES OF ROCK, courtesy of Yahoo's Get Back blog.

CUTOUT BIN:  Covers aplenty this week from Counting Crows, My Brightest Diamond, Michael Barone, Nico, Mary Lou Lord, Bob Dylan, M Ward, David Ruffin and X -- this Friday's fortuitous finds can be jukeboxed or streamed separately via the Pate page at the ol' HM.

NOW PLAYING: This weekend's wide releases are the animated animal adventure Bolt, which is currently scoring 86 percent on the ol' Tomatometer, and teen vampire sensation Twilight, currently scoring 47 percent.

MADONNA & GUY RITCHIE have reached agreement on their divorce - with the British film director reportedly refusing to take a penny of the Madge's cash.

JENNIFER GARNER has obtained a temporary restraining order against a 36-year-old fan she claims has been stalking her since at least 2002.

BRITNEY SPEARS unleashes some more wacky comments in documentary clips posted by People magazine.

HEATHER MILLS has made several complaints to the UK's press watchdog about inaccurate reporting and invasion of privacy in three national newspapers.

ROBERT DOWNEY, JR. gets Salon's award for the Sexiest Man Living 2008.

WINONA RYDER: Wonder why she was briefly hospitalized after a flight to London?  The Daily Mail suggests it was an accidental overdose of tranquillizers.

THE FRENCH HOTEL and Benji Madden called it quits Tuesday after nine months of dating.  Is Prince William to blame? 

JEAN-CLAUDE VAN DAMME totally hits on a 22-year-old Newsweek reporter in a Q&A for JCVD.

PARTICK SWAYZE talks to the Chicago Tribune about the Windy City, his career and his health.

MEGAN FOX, contrary to some reports, is still engaged to Brian Austin Green and planning a small wedding. Which is just enough news to link some outtakes from her recent GQ photo shoot.  Call it Gratuitous Friday.

STAR TREK: This week's new trailer inspired Trekker backlash, and this mash-up with Beverly Hills 90210.

THE END OF THE WORLD is coming to a theater near you many times before the end of the year.

MONTY PYTHON have started their own YouTube channel. There goes your weekend.

IRAN has now produced roughly enough nuclear material to make, with added purification, a single atom bomb, according to experts analyzing the latest report from UN nuke inspectors.

IRAQ: Members of Parliament clashed over the US security pact; supporters of the agreement rallied in Sunni and Shia cities. The Iraqi Army is equiping seven to eight light divisions, including commando, air assault, and mountain units.

CAT vs. RABBIT: Let's go to the video, for the patented rabbit hold.

AND NOW FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT: A kitten with two faces.

DEAD PREGNANT ANACONDA: Not something you see every day.  WARNING: Some of the pics are pretty graphic.

AND THERE WAS WHALE all over the highway. A scooter owner's day is ruined.

LIVE WORM discovered during brain surgery. Video at the link.

ROGUE FLAMINGO recaptured in Des Moines, IA.