THE WEEKEND STARTS HERE:

...with SQUEEZE!  One of the things about curating this blog is the continuing reminder of how old I am.  Last month, after puttingThe Shins cover of "Goodbye Girl" in the Cutout Bin, I got nice feedback via Twitter from a young lady who as a big fan of The Shins, but who never heard of Difford, Tilbrook & Co., despite their stellar string of pop gems, including "Take Me I'm Yours", "Cool for Cats", "Up the Junction", "Another Nail in My Heart", "Pulling Mussels (From the Shell)", "If I Didn't Love You", and the one most people know -- even if they don't know it's Squeeze -- "Tempted", which features transient member Paul Carrack on vox and keys.  Fun fact: Carrack was also responsible for the classic, "How Long" as a member of Ace.

BEST COAST stopped by the World Cafe for a chat and mini-set.

CRASH TEST DUMMIES also stopped by the World Cafe for a chat and mini-set.

THE WALKMEN stopped by The Current for a chat and mini-set. Peter Bauer talked to the Louisville Courier-Journal about the art of the setlist. (Thx, LHB.)

DINOSAUR, JR: Jayloumurph.

THE UNTOUCHABLES: "I Spy For the FBI."

OF MONTREAL: Kevin Barnes talks to Westword about packaging, the Elephant 6 collective, and Yoko Ono.

THE DRUMS: Singer Jonny Pierce talks to the Boston Globe about simplicity, losing guitarist Adam Kessler, and more...

LIZ PHAIR talks to SPIN about embracing her polarizing quality.

ARI-UP of The Slits died at 48.

CUTOUT BIN: From Elvis Costello to Jimi Hendrix, from Belle & Sebastian to Led Zeppelin, from the Velvet Underground to Hall & Oates, plus Bruce Springsteen, Cee-Lo Green, Bob Dylan, Sky Larkin and more -- this Friday's fortuitous finds are streaming from the Pate page at the ol' HM.

NOW SHOWING:  This weekend's wide releases are Paranormal Activity 2, which is currently scoring 83 percent -- on early reviews -- on the ol' Tomatometer; and Clint Eastwood's Hereafter, which is scoring 52 percent.

LINDSAY LOHAN could be sentenced to up to one year behind bars when she appears for her probation violation hearing today. Meanwhile, here she is naked on a hog.

CHRISTINA AGUILERA made a late-night trip to a Los Angeles hospital in the days leading up to her divorce from husband Jordan Bratman, according to RadarOnline.

BEYONCE not pregnant, according to her Mom.

MAD MEL UPDATE: Gibson is out of The Hangover sequel.

KATY PERRY got an Indian bridal nose ring ahead of her wedding to Russell Brand, rumored for this weekend.

JENNIFER LOPEZ rolled out her twins as the faces of Gucci's new children's line.

GLEE's Mark Salling thinks the cast's risque GQ photo spread is not a big deal.  Dianna Agron apologized to anyone who might be "hurt" or "uncomfortable" by the shot, while noting the mag is not for kids. (Which is true, but irrelevant to grownup skeevy pervs.)

THE HOBBIT cast is announced.

50 GOOD PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLERS, courtesy of Only Good Movies.

TOP 20 HORROR FILMS, according to Fangoria's Blood-Spattered Blog.

NORTH KOREA: A US satellite has detected increased activity at a NoKo nuclear weapons test site, suggesting it could be preparing for a third test, a South Korean government source was quoted as saying on Thursday.

IRAN: Ahmadinejad and Argentinian Pres. Hugo Chavez vowed to form a "new world order." Turkey's deputy prime minister said Iran sanctions will not serve to further negotiations.

AFGHANISTAN: A Taliban commander has told Sky News the bulk of its funding comes from the UK, where dedicated fighters are ready to launch terrorist attacks upon his order.

MONKEY TRAINMASTERS: Let's go to the video.

GIANT PIRANHA caught on the Congo River.

RARE BOARS to be killed for their semen.

THE SQUIRREL THREAT emerges from a toilet. Awww...