THE NATIONAL bring on John Slattery and Kristen Schaal for "Conversation 16."

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

MARGOT & THE NUCLEAR SO AND SO'S did the four free songs thing for Daytrotter.

HOT CHIP stopped by Morning Becomes Eclectic. Not really my bag, but maybe yours.

DR. JOHN is profiled by Morning Edition in advance of his Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction.

OKKERVIL RIVER drops "Wake and Be Fine" in advance of I Am Very Far, while Will Scheff talks on video with Rolling Stone.

ALELA DIANE drops "To Begin" as a freebie from Alela Diane & Wild Divine.

BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN breaks out a 12-string to cover Jackie DeShannon's "When You Walk in the Room," which was also a hit for The Searchers.

DeVotchKa is profiled by the National Post.

EXENE CERVENKA talks to Heard Mentality about punk rock and her new album. (Thx, LHB.)

QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE: Josh Homme recalls the inspiration behind the band's hard-to-find (before the reissue) debut album.

PHIL COLLINS: On third thought... why, yes, I am retiring. To spend more time with my family.

CHARLIE SHEEN took his fans for another ride on his ever accelerating crazy train Tuesday night, in what could be his most bizarre appearance yet. However, those who tuned in early know it was totally scripted. In another round of radio call-ins, Sheen apologized to fmr co-star Jon Cryer and endorsed Rob Lowe as a replacement on Two and a Half Men. Would we be surprised if Sheen is "cash poor" and desperately needs the money to maintain his vast, complicated estate? Nope.

MAD MEL UPDATE: Gibson reportedly struck a plea deal in his looming criminal domestic violence case that will keep him out of jail.

CHRIS BROWN calls his assault on Rhianna a "mishap."

LINDSAY LOHAN: The store with the allegedly purloined necklace is auctioning it off.

ASHLEE SIMPSON & PETE WENTZ are or are not having a child custody fight. Pick 'em.

BRITNEY SPEARS is showing off her crotch tattoos. Klassy.

SIENNA MILLER says she and ex-fiance Jude Law were nowhere near marriage when they split up for the second time last month.

MARY STUART MASTERSON and husband Jeremy Davidson are expecting twins this summer.

IRAN: World powers reiterated their willingness to negotiate, watering down a joint statement even as the Islamic theocracy's nuclear program races ahead. NATO troops found a major shipment of Iranian-supplied munitions in the Afghan province of Nimruz. Iran and Syria announced plans to establish a joint bank.

LIBYA: Government forces continued to press rebels in the towns of Zawiyah and Ras Lanuf in an effort to recapture key oil towns on the east coast.

PAKISTAN's Islamist political parties are uniting behind their hatred of the US, emboldened by a weak government that looks increasingly reluctant to stand up to extremism and a society where radicalism is widely tolerated.

WHEN CATERPILLARS INVADE: Let's go to the video.

MILLIONS OF DEAD ANCHOVIES swamped Redondo Beach, California.

"GOOSE PULLING" draws an animal cruelty complaint, despite the geese already being dead.

HOW TO SURVIVE A Bear Attack. You're welcome.