Seven or so days since I've had an internet connection, and secretly, I was kind of hoping the world wide web had collapsed, and the pace of modern life had slowed down slightly.

It hasn't. So until it does, I've dropped out, abandoned my responsibilities and hit the road. For the next two months I'm going to be driving across America, starting in Canada and making my way south, painting some walls, upsetting some locals and meeting some new friends along the way.

I just received the new Autechre album 'Quaristice' from Warp. It came packaged in an immaculate, cut-throat, laser-etched aluminium case.

Opening the case and removing the CD was like a ceremonial act. Absolutely beautiful, and totally on point with the two and a half hours of music enclosed. So good.

Then to the other end of the scale - Tony Joe White and Black Mountain.

Saw this on the Tube the other day.

Orwell is spinning in his grave.

Hiroshi's identified a gap in the market - Nine year olds with an overdeveloped awareness of Japanese niche brands.

Coming soon -  'Dr. Fujiwara's Brand Training'. Test your knowledge and develop you brand consciousness with a number of fun tasks.

Logo Test - Say the names of the logos as they appear.

Food blogger - Blog as many expensive meals as you can before the time limit expires.

Collab' Count - Count the number of collaborating parties on one project.

Logo Placement - Design your own project, then choose where to put your logo; on the left? Or on the right? White? Or Black?

I painted a board for a friend recently. Some might call it a 'private commission' but payment in Jack Daniels doesn't really cut it. Especially when said art buyer drinks half of it with you, and then skates the art home.

He's a serious Stones fan...

Shawn Kerri. The man who brought us the original Germs skull... and this...

...A one stop reference sheet for Urban Outfitters' in-house designers.

Müdwig, the duke of West Country Vandalism has some new work for sale. I've already placed my order...

Is what you get - Tania Mouraud.

Sign up U.K.

Beat The Devil. Lead vocalist kills it with a voice that sounds like she's summoning all kinds of hell.

A point I've made before, but a point that can be made over and over - Add the distant, echoing sound of tolling bells to any heavy metal, and go from good, to epic in one easy move.

Case in point...

Iron Maiden - Hallowed be Thy Name.  This as well, filmed before skate shoes had air-bubbles, zebra-skin accents and florescent highlights.

Metallica - For whom the bell tolls.

AC/DC - Hell's Bells.

The best, saved 'till last; Black Sabbath - Black Sabbath.