You can buy US iTunes cards on eBay and Apple gives these instructions to set-up an account without a credit card (redeem the card first, then create a new account).

If you have someone you trust in the US, you could bypass eBay, send them money and have them purchase either a gift card or a gift certificate and send it to you.

This should also work for stores in other countries, but start with the minimum amount of money possible in case it doesn't work. The amount of eBay action suggests it does work, but I haven't tried it myself and I don't want anyone getting screwed over.

Ooooh. thank you for posting that, eleanor. I may have to ask one of the UKistas to purchase an iTunes card for me. It looks like the particular digital "single" with two b-sides (so what, a b and a c side?) that I want is only going to be available in the UK.

Peaches! Iggy!! Zombies!!! [link]

Wow -- Iggy has to be at least 60 now, right? He's looking good, considering.

That was fun!

I love Iggy. a crush that has lasted since highschool.

I love the John Varvatoe ads featuring him: [link] under campaigns, fall/winter 2006

I'm listening to Next Brel which is a collection of Jacques Brel covers done in English by a variety of artists: Scott Walker, David Bowie, Marc Almond, Dusty Springfield, Divine Comedy, Dionne Warwick et al.

I'll probably always prefer the Scott Walker versions but this is an excellent introduction if you've never heard Brel's songs, which are distinctively dark, gritty, mordant, literate and achingly romantic.

They're sort of like...telling The Aristocrats joke in French, but with a great melody. Lyrics like "cute cute / but in a stupid ass way" and "I swear on the wet head / of my first case of gonnorhea" occur.

Musical Sidenote: Went to the new bar/restaurant Alembic (great name!) tonight and sampled their cocktails. Their musical mix ran through some good songs and "Blue Monday" came up. "Oh, is that New Order?" the woman next to me said. Her companion said, "No, no." Prat. Nothing is more New Order, eh?

"Blue Monday" came up. "Oh, is that New Order?" the woman next to me said. Her companion said, "No, no." Prat. Nothing is more New Order, eh?

The guy's probably only heard the Orgy cover that was all over the radio a few years back. Apart from a few harsh tones, it was pretty hard to tell from the original (thus rendering it completely unnecessary).

Oh, another commercial: The The's "This is the Day" in that commercial where people randomly turn into M&Ms.

Very odd.

sumi, I saw that one last night! Disturbing.