I have discovered that there is a way to use my msn addiction for good. By changing your messenger name just a little you can make money for a charity of your choice. Check out this link to find out more and change your name. http://im.live.com/Messenger/IM/Home/. I am supporting Unicef but you can pick the charity of your choice. Once you’ve got your changed messenger name msn will donate money to your charity for every conversation you have. From there you can also add smarterchild@hotmail.com as a friend. This little AI bot will chat to you and give you info on everything from weather to cinema listings to dictionary definitions. And if you’re bored it will even play hangman with you. Thank-you to my blog buddy Jacqui for this little nugget. I am not, however, going to follow in her footsteps and encourage you to try and antagonise the bot by asking it unanswerable questions and poking fun at it.

Last night Justin and Barbara made us watch Airwolf… yes really… I’m not sure I ever watched it when it was on in the 80’s and I can’t say I’m sorry. But then on the occasions that I’ve decided to stop on Nightrider or MacGyver, which were my childhood favourites, they have been beyond cringeworthy. Were the shows always this lame and we just didn’t notice or has society changed so much that cheese just doesn’t cut it anymore? Maybe it’s just the bad 80’s fashion and mullets? Adam and Justin followed this up with some kind of “shocking videos” show that had people punching each other in the streets. In the words of Mat Devine, “I can no longer relate to my own species.”

Today’s band to love is Parallel Animals. They get my top props for releasing their first single entitled, “I Hope You Die Alone” on Valentine’s Day. These bluesy indie rockers are powered by the exceptional musical talent of brilliant but reclusive John Hampden (vocalist/guitarist/whatever other instrument you put in front of him) and his long-suffering brother Sam (formerly an unpaid roadie now providing vocals and bass). Characterised by jazzy piano tones and John’s sleepy-sexy vocals they manage to sound oddly Cure-esque with a splash of Hot Hot Heat and just a little OK GO thrown in. Trust me, if we can get John out of the basement, they’ll be huge and you’ll want to say you were there from the start.

Must-have album: No albums yet but download whatever you can

My favourite song: Alley Cat

Gigs attended: I did see them quite a few times in a number of random pubs in 2005 when they were known as Ape

Hot band members: I am declining to comment since I know some of the WAGs.

 http://www.myspace.com/parallelanimals