Another bad week for blogging I'm afraid. Smokesignals is in danger of whithering on the vine - damn work is just taking far too much time. I had intended to post a few things - comparisons between the versions of 'Sweet Child of Mine' played by the band (Breakpoint) in the Roisin on Tuesday and the band in Soldeu (Redshift) the previous Saturday. (And whats with the technical/spectroscopic names?? It's only big hair power rock). That and how fantastically good the new Calexico album is - but you knew that anyway.

New R.E.M. protest song against the war in Iraq: Final Straw.

Nostalgia corner - there was a time when Castlebar Co. Mayo looked like it could be Ireland's answer to Woodstock. I was only a young fella at the time but I clearly remember the Occaision at the Castle clearly. While the organisers had the good sense to organise mass for the revellers on Sunday morning, they failed to ensure the security of the unfortunate Guinness lorry that was hijacked as it made it's way through the throngs that turned the Mall into campsite central no.1.

I'm back in one piece after a great week away in Andorra. So, anything new happening in the World while I was away?

Not a moment too soon, I'm off to Soldeu for a week's skiing this weekend. So the likelihood is there will be no further postings here until March 24th when I will return with a far better state of mental (and hopefully physical) well-being.

Lebanese celebrities arrested for engaging in devil worship. The influence of Ozzy Osbourne perhaps?

Signs are I've been watching too much Newsnight. I had a dream last night that I and my family were in Iraq and that the big meanie Saddam (who just happened to be in the room with us) had marked us out for death in the event of a war. Under protest he capitulated and let the Women go - but my major concern was that I wouldn't be able to go Skiing next week. As an aside, Saddam mentioned he was a pretty handy skiier himself and tough shit to Western dogs like me........

More rumours of Bin Laden's capture. Something is up for sure.

Now that's not a bad deal at all. For their first ever gigs in China, the Stones are only allowed to play tracks off "40 Licks" - with the exception of "Brown Sugar," "Honky Tonk Woman," "Beast of Burden," and "Let's Spend the Night Together". Sure maybe they might slip in "Cocksucker Blues" or even the brilliantly provocative "Stray Cat Blues" (which happens to be my second favourite Stones song of all time) into the encore of the second show. (Then again they could always do a cover of Beefheart's 'China Pig'?).

The Cheltenham festival of National Hunt racing kicked off today - and I marked my participation by placing a few bob on Iznogoud in the 4:00. Unfortunately he lived up to his name. I should have guessed he was a dead loss from the entry on the card: Iznogoud No Trainer b f Unknown Sire - Unknown Dam .

The Perpetual War Portfolio. Money from blood.

And from Invention and Technology's sister publication - American Heritage - here's an interesting piece by Kevin Baker who's historical novel set during the New York City draft riots has recently been published.

"It uses structural mechanics and materials science to counteract the law of gravity". Interesting.

I attempted to book a couple of tickets for the Neil Young show this morning - unfortunately I was scuppered by a slowish connection to TicketMaster. Not to worry - it's probably for the best that I didn't get them. After all, it is a rip-off of the highest order. Now I can spend my €105 on 6 or 7 albums or a few gigs by someone who's still making decent music. Or maybe even see another Sixties survivor who was responsible for the greatest album of psychedelic west-coast guitar pop ever recorded - an album that was originally going to be co-produced by Mr. Young himself.

Bin Laden Captured in Pakistan? I'll believe it when I see it.

€105 a ticket for the upcoming Neil Young gig in Dublin's Vicar St. It's a tad pricey. Will it be worth it though?

NME - Top 100 albums of all time. This is all over the place... The Stroke's 'Is This It' is at no. 7 - beating the Clash's 'London Calling' at no. 12. Explain that to me. Or Coldplay's 'A Rush of Blood to the Head' at no. 40 while Led Zeppelin IV is only at no. 45 and 'Blood on the Tracks' is at a measly 47. And any list that places Andrew WK's album 14 places above 'Astral Weeks' has to be absolutely devoid of credibility. If this list was actually based on the votes of the NME writers then it's a sad indictment of the state of that once great music magazine.

Today's Indo reports that thousands of drivers caught speeding have not had penalty points added to their licences because the boxes on the tickets are too small for the lump handed Gardai....