BUSKING FOR CHARITY: Bono, Damien Rice, Glen Hansard and Mundy played "Stand by Me" and "One" on Grafton Street in Dublin on Christmas Eve.

LAURA GIBSON did five free songs for Daytrotter.

THE SANDWITCHES turned up on a few best-of lists this year -- MOKB called their debut "the best album of the year that no one seems to be talking about" -- so you may want to stream a few tracks.

THE CURRENT, in addition to its regular stream, also hosts Wonderground Radio and Radio Heartland, End-of-year-slowness presented an opportune reminder.

THE 50 WORST SONGS OF THE DECADE, according to the Village Voice.

JULIAN CASABLANCAS has released a video for "11th Dimension," which strikes me as having an 80s vibe.

PATTI SMITH talks to the Winnipeg Free Press about her PBS/P.O.V. profile, and the current state of rock 'n' roll.

MP3 ALBUMS FOR FIVE BUCKS at Amazon. No, I don't get a kickback, just noting deals.

THE TOP FIVE MOUNTAING GOATS LOVE SONGS, according to Peter and Rob Make Lists of Things. (Thx, LHB.)

VAN MORRISON has become a father again at the age of 64.

CHARLIE SHEEN and Brooke Mueller's heated holiday argument was sparked by Sheen's daughter?  Mueller reportedly met with a divorce attorney before the blowup that landed Sheen in jail.  CNN reminds us that Sheen is essentially scandal-proof.

TIGER WOODS: In sex rehab?

TAYLOR SWIFT and New Moon star Taylor Lautner have split, according to Us Weekly.

HUGH GRANT dreams of running away from Hollywood and publishing a book. It's a dream shared by most people who saw his latest movie.

JOHN MAYER and SAMANTHA RONSON shared some NSFW conversation with the paparazzi.

MADONNA has been blamed for a downturn in donations to an orphanage in Malawi, Africa - because people wrongly assume the pop superstar has handed the owners thousands of dollars.

SHERLOCK HOLMES 2 may include Brad Pitt.

THE QUENTIN TARANTINO MIXTAPE: With the obligatory language warning.

YEMEN: Hundreds of al-Qaeda militants are planning terror attacks from Yemen, the country's Foreign Minister said, while appealing for more international help to train and equip counter-terrorist forces.

IRAN: Britain has been given a warning by Iran's foreign minister that it will "get slapped in the mouth" if it does not "stop the nonsense." By which he means Britain's verbal support for Iranians protesting a regime that stole its own rigged election. Meanwhile, diplomats are concerned about an intell report that says Iran is trying to import 1350 tons of purified uranium ore from Kazakhstan in violation of UN Security Council sanctions.

IS THIS CAT happy or angry at being brushed? Only its hairdresser knows for sure.

GIANT GEORGE, a 7 foot tall Great Dane, may be the the world's biggest dog.

A CAT employs string torture to force its owner into making an emergency police call.

A BABY GIRAFFE debuts at Niabi Zoo. Aww...