WELCOME... TO THE NEW YEAR: You can stream a live version of Pate's "New Year" (and three others from the 2003 reunion) at PateSpace.

U2: Crushingly obvious, I know.

OTIS & CARLA: "New Year's Resolution."

EARL GREYHOUND rawks out on four free songs for Daytrotter, three previously unreleased: "It's the sound of a Trans-am kicking buckets full of gray gravel and driveway dust into our faces as it peels away to carry its Hendrix and 80s arena rock-loving passengers off to do some bowling, hit the county fair for some hellraising and then cap the night off with some drunk driving."

TIM FITE has a downloadable song clelebrating the fishes and loaves and ducks at the Linesville Spillway in northwest Pennsylvania -- one of America's oldest roadside attractions.  Video at the link also.

THE HOLD STEADY's Franz Nicolay talks to C-Ville (Charlottesville) about his new solo album and tour, and busking before proper gigs. (Thx, Chromewaves.)

ABBA wishes you a "Happy New Year,"  but it doesn't sound anywhere as celebratory as "Take A Chance On Me." 

BEATLES vs. STONES:  Magnet matches three albums from each, head-to-head.

ROBERT PLANT was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire by the Queen.

BJORK has turned venture capitalist, with a new fund that aims to revive Iceland's economy.

COLDPLAY frontman Chris Martin took the London Tube to his recent concert at the O2 arena. Not only was he unrecognized on the train, but he was stopped by security at the arena gate.

THE MOUNTAIN GOATS perform "This Year" at the M-Shop in Ames, IA.

MATT DILLON: Busted driving 106 miles per hour on Interstate 91 in Newbury, VT.

CHARLES BARKLEY: Busted on suspicion of DUI.

DANE COOK's  brother/ business manager was busted for allegedly stealing millions from the comedian.

JOAQUIN PHOENIX is looking bloated and dishevelled since claiming he would quit acting.

JENNIFER GARNER & BEN AFFLECK may be delivering a kid to celebrate the new year.

MADONNA's Ray of Light Foundation gave away 3.1 million last year -- nearly all to the Kabbalah Center of Los Angeles.  Madge gave no money to her other charity, Raising Malawi, in 2007 -- even though that was the year she adopted little David Banda from that country.

THE UNITED STATES OF TARA: Here's a sneak preview of the first episode of the Showtime series created by Steven Spielberg, written by Diablo Cody (Juno) and starring Toni Collete as a mom with a split personality. The password is "Tara."

THE FRENCH HOTEL: Trying to save the global economy with an Aussie spending splurge.

TIME WARNER CABLE subscribers might be missing a few channels today.

INDIA: Lashkar-e-Taiba operatives directly linked to Mumbai attacks.

IRAN: Volunteer suicide bombers seek to attack Israel.

AFGHANISTAN: The complexity of the military undertaking in Afghanistan, and the US approach to it, can be seen in miniature in the Army Corps of Engineers' plans to build a forward operating base next year in western Afghanistan.

IRAQ: Seventy-six percent of the Sons of Iraq members will be under Iraqi government responsibility by today. Police arrested a leading figure in a messianic Shiite cult that has battled Iraqi and US forces, possibly thwarting attacks against hundreds of thousands of pilgrims that will gather next week at one of Iraq's holiest shrines.

FERRET GHOST RIDES A MOP: Let's go to the video.

FERRET & DOG, living together... I think you know what this means.

LOVELORN BEAVER hunted in Britain.

PET HANGOVERS: Veterinarian Lee Woods said his south Boulder clinic sees a spike in alcohol-related dog and cat illnesses around the holidays.

FREAKIEST WORM-LIKE THING I've seen all week. Let's go to the video.