Good Morning from the desert, the news here today is that Summer has finally ended – it happened in the last few hours when a ‘cold’ front blew into Phoenix finally taking temperatures in the 60’s for the first time since June. This is a good thing!

Regular visitors to the blog will recognise the image of these Clash figures. They were of course a favoured photo captured by Pete during Mick Jones Rock and Roll Public Library this summer. I’m excited to say I’ve found a set of 4 on sale directly from the artist Nobartco who resides in Japan. You can buy them via this link and he also has some great Joe Strummer and the Mescaleros T-Shirts from their Japanese tour. The website I found these on ETSY.COM is also worthy of interest. They are almost the antithesis of ebay in that you can buy and sell things that have been made individually and not mass produced. As a result there is a lot of art, jewelry and clothing at prices that actually are approachable. I’ve found some great Clash items in the days ahead, I should become a broker for Strummerville so that some percentage of each sale goes to the Strummer charity…that might be cool. I’ve also toyed with selling some things via this site featuring the Clash Blog logo and sending 75% of the proceeds to Strummerville. I’ll keep you posted but I thought it would bring some value to something worthy and yet be Clash related.

On the subject of unique images (I’m a pushover for a signature) this image just beneath seemed both fun but very very Joe. Speaking of Strummer, hats off to KBOO in Portland for this great little post about Joe. It’s all too easy to celebrate anniversaries and such and then go back to what we doing before, so it’s very positive to celebrate something ‘just because’ . The same applies with that old standard of being nice at Christmas…what’s that all about? Does it give you license to kick the cat the rest of the year? Anyway, it a good piece but also links out to a audio file that Joe did as a guest DJ on a US station in July, 2001 shortly before his death. He’s so upbeat and his love for music just bleeds from the speakers – I hope you enjoy it.

Finally, The Clash make another TOP 20 list and although it’s not the happiest one I think they do merit their high position on it.  Happy anniversary (13 years) Arsene Wenger.          Cheers then….Tim

1. New Years Day Clash event in Boston and some cheers to send
2. Mick Jones interview, Nike Strummer shoes
3. Two weeks til Austin
4. Arty Bastard
5. Clash books and playing in the snow
6. Strummerville…February news (get me to Austin post haste)
7. Clash concerts audio, The Specials in the desert, Vampire Weekend and more