Pop AND sense?

We here at AlcO-bEAt aren't very sensible ourselves, but I've got to second Harry's recommendation to check out Popsensible, which bills itself as the home of one or more "sensible pop-culturalists." Right on, man. I'd put 'em on the blogroll for the Ramones wallpaper alone, but this description of the first ginger blows of the Hitchens-Mickelthwaite-Leonard-Hattersley tag match from the much-written-about Hay Festival is the best I've read:

"Micklethwaite – in the contrarian spirit occasionally found in the pages of The Economist – begins by painting the Bush administration as the default visionary radicals of foreign affairs who should be commended in their stated commitment to freedom and democracy, if not for their many flaws (from Guantanamo Bay to Uzbekistan). In spite of this intentionally challenging introduction, Micklethwaite has to compete for audience attention with the grimacing Hattersley who, in attempting indignation, looks like he’s shat himself."