We finally saw the Heavy Metal in Baghdad documentary last night and walked away rather stunned. It follows the one and only metal band in Iraq, Acrassicauda, from just after Saddam's defeat through 2006 when they are seeking refugee status in Syria. (Currently the band is in Turkey.) In the beginning we see a band that is hopeful yet apolitical, and that plays its music for the sheer joy of doing so. The single......

We guess this is what happens when you live in the suburbs. Oak Lawn has recently had a rash of theft. The object, manhole covers. There's been eight stolen since mid March, but authorities think it's more than just a prank. Police suspect that the 125-pound covers are being sold to recyclers for cash, as the price of metal is at an all-time high. In fact, MetalPrices.com, which tracks the market price of metals, announced......

It's been a long week, the weather sucks, this day seems like it's never going to end ... so leave it to Thor, the God of Metal, to cheer us up. Also, total kudos for the inclusion of Walt Simonson's Beta Ray Bill. Thanks to Sweet Lou for the tip......