This is exciting.

This struck me as beautifully farcical.

British security agents were forced to change secret data including codes and signal frequencies after a helicopter dropped boxes containing sensitive information over Baghdad. The boxes, which included a number of different codes, were allowed to fall from a Puma helicopter flying over Baghdad in April 2006.

I have an image in my mind of an intelligence officer for the Republican Guard taking a dressing down for having found no useful information, only to have a couple of dossiers drop into his pleading outstretched hands.

A semi-thorough rundown is available from The Telegraph.

Some insightful quotes here from Radiohead, a comparison between file-sharers and paedophiles from U2, predictable cut-throat capitalism from Gene Simmons, but my personal favourite comes from Iggy Pop:

I’m in favour of all forms of piracy.

See what your band’s got to say at Pirate Verbatim.

So Channel 4 have released the results of the 100 greatest stand-ups of all time survey.  Here’s the top 20:

1 BILLY CONNOLLY
2 RICHARD PRYOR
3 RICKY GERVAIS
4 BILL HICKS
5 EDDIE IZZARD
6 PETER KAY
7 BILL BAILEY
8 CHRIS ROCK
9 MICHAEL MCINTYRE
10 VICTORIA WOOD
11 ROSS NOBLE
12 STEWART LEE
13 JIMMY CARR
14 DYLAN MORAN
15 WOODY ALLEN
16 DARA O’BRIAIN
17 LEE EVANS
18 HARRY HILL
19 SEAN LOCK
20 TOMMY COOPER

I’d much prefer to see a top 100 compiled by actual comedians.  Michael McIntyre?  Victoria Wood?  Ricky Gervais?

According to the Daily Mail and the Telegraph:

The former manager of the Sex Pistols and impresario, died in Switzerland with his son Joe Corre by his side.

According to everyone else:

The British agent for former Sex Pistols manager Malcolm McLaren says the music impresario has died in New York.

It seems his agent is saying he died in New York, and his son and his girlfriend are saying he died in Switzerland.

Malcolm McLaren sadly died this afternoon, aged 64.  Here’s his excellent cover of The Zombies’ About Her: