Back on top

Fergie happy to be back a the top according to James Lawton
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/ferguson-content-in-his-natural-habitat-1419313.html

Is Scholes on the wane asks Oliver Kay in the Times
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/article5543052.ece?token=null&offset=12&page=2
You can't be sure but it is a bit early to be suggesting it he has only just got back from a couple of months out and hasn't really had a run of games to show whether he has still got it or not.

Benitez seems to have a lot to say for himself at the moment and seems to have a rather inflated belief in himself.
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news-and-comment/sam-wallace-control-freak-benitez-picked-the-wrong-week-to-go-to-war-with-the-boardroom-1419309.html

Is a depression around the corner as the banks face meltdown again.
http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/banking_and_finance/article5546850.ece

Is this what to expect if the stupid party win the next election
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/tory-chiefs-firm-cost-councils-163470m-1419272.html
I would obviously be gutted if they did win the next election but one bright side would be watching them fall apart as they would be forced by the economic meltdown to do things they completely abhor, namely trying to buck the market. This would of course be a complete anathma to the majority of the party but especially the euro sceptic right which would assuredly revisit it's mid 90's phase of tearing the party in two again.

The Madoff case gets even more embarrasing for the US regulatory authorities
http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2009/jan/16/madoff-ponzi-scheme-investor-shares

Larry Elliot on what he thinks Obama needs to do at the start of his presidency
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/jan/19/obama-us-economy

Music
Bad brains - Bad brains: I wasn't sure what i would think of this, the black US hardcore and reggae act from the 80's . But after a few listens i quite liked it i'm not mad on all the hardcore tracks but there are a few pearlers and all the reggae tracks hit the button.
Blonde redhead - 23: Pretty good indie pop from the US outfit.
David Crosby - If i could only remember my name: A good album that fits into the west coast scene of the early 70's that you either love or hate i suppose.
Eric Dolphy - Out to lunch: It's abit since i listened to some out there free jazz from the 60's. This takes some getting your head round but when you do it's superb. As long as you like 60's free jazz that is.
Field Music - Tones of town: I had read good things about this and indeed about each of their solo outings since. It lives up to the hype, there is an element of the Futureheads sound about them. But that is probably as much about the vocalist retaing the geordie accent whilst singing. Myself i heard bits of the Beatles floating around in it.
Loenard Cohen - Songs from a room: A classic that i have heard before so i don't know why i put on this list.