Blogwatch

A warm welcome to the SWSL blogroll to Fractionals, the brainchild of Stylus stalwart Ian Mathers, and Secret Knowledge Of Backroads, the work of someone who, like him and me, is currently raving about Sons & Daughters.

Congratulations to He Who Cannot Be Named on finishing his book after much blood, sweat and tears. There's more of the same to come in the editing process though...

Forget Googlism, the current pastime du jour in the blogosphere seems to be doodlism. Mike's taken part in the Guild Of Ghostwriters Doodle-Blog Guest Fortnight (you can see his fantastically surreal and self-deprecating comic strip contribution here). Meanwhile, as part of The Big Draw, Jonathan spent his Sunday afternoon sketching Manchester Town Hall and getting it put on a T-shirt. (While you're over at Crinklybee, don't miss Jonathan's brilliant Life Story As Told In Bumps And Bruises.)

Elsewhere:

Jonny B has added an 'About' section to his blog, in which he assuages any fears that he might in fact be David Baddiel;

Martin's posted a new poem, 'Which Of Course I Don't' - "Too far away / to see but not far enough away to ignore, / something is happening to someone. / You really ought to live life to the full";

Nick has been to see Embrace again, this time in Bristol, and shares my disgust at Carling venues;

Alex has been to see the first full-length offering from Warp's new film division, 'Dead Man's Shoes' - "One of the best films of the year, then, but absolutely not for the faint hearted";

Neil writes about the paranoia of losing touch with people, something I can certainly identify with - "what's so wrong with wanting to hold on to the people you meet in life that aren't utter cunts?";

Ken reviews Grant Morrison's graphic novel 'The Filth' - "Morrison successfully brings the surreal paranoia of William Burroughs and Philip K Dick into the present day with a gritty, visceral bang";

and Simon has a few typically waspish and sharp comments about the Destiny's Child / McDonalds love-in and the news that the next Westlife LP will be an album of Rat Pack covers called Let Us Be Frank - "It's like the sea scouts trying to be Hell's Angels".

And finally... Invisible Stranger is appalled and aggrieved at being called "sweet". Look, some of us never even get the opportunity to be appalled and aggrieved at being called "sweet"...