The World's Largest Gathering of Accordion Stars!

That's the claim made by The Las Vegas International Accordion Convention. The lineup does look good: Walter Ostanek, Art Van Damme and many more (including former Those Darn Accordions riffmeister Ron Borelli).

The big big shoooo runs June 18 to 21 at the Gold Coast Hotel in Sin City, and celebrates "the centennial of the piano accordion" (although it's not clear how they pegged that date, given the instrument's murky history).

Barbecue, Beer and Music

That's a great trio. You can enjoy all three (plus the music of The Mad Maggies) next Sunday, April 29, at Speisekammer Restaurant in Alameda, Calif.

World's Worst Band Photos

As members of both TDA and the Mad Maggies prepare themselves mentally for the grueling task of having a band photo taken, Maggie forwards a fun-filled link to Rock and Roll Confidential's foul-mouthed-yet-cautionary web gallery.

Yes, the title and captions in this seemingly endless display of bad fashion decisions contain certain unsavory words. So if that's not your cup of tea, please just skip the link. If, however, you can handle a few four- or 10-letter dirty words, then enter the Hall of D*****bags. And prepare to laugh and laugh.

Warning from the site: "Rock And Roll Confidential/Your Band Sucks is a humor/parody/satire site. It is not intended to be viewed by anyone under the age of 18."

Now That's Some Cheesy TV

Cheddarvision.tv could only be better if it broadcast out of Wisconsin rather than merry ol' England. Read up on the brains behind the cheese-watching webcam in The New York Times' in-depth story on cheddarvision.tv (and other notorious webcams).

This Kitty's a Lover, Not a Fighter

Funny pix ahead ... For Sale: One Useless Cat

(Via reddit)

Red Elvises Add an Accordion

TDA's one-time Summerfest stagemates the Red Elvises are expanding their sound -- and their lineup. "We’ve got two girls in the band now," lead singer/guitarist Igor Yuzov tells Tacoma, Washington's News Tribune. "One is playing accordion and one is playing guitar and banjo."

You gotta love it: "rokenrol" women with accordions. (No word on whether the banjo player is a hippie chick.)

Amazing Pix From the Bottom of the World

All I can say is, "Wow." This photo gallery of the Dry Valleys of Antarctica is beautiful and mind-blowing.

(Via reddit)