Chuck Palahniuk's "Romance" available for free download

Some of you may already know the name Chuck Palahniuk, others of you might not. I'm fairly certain all of you will be familiar with Fight Club though, it was the first of Palahniuk's novels to be published. That's right, Fight Club was a book before it was a movie starring Brad Pitt and Edward Norton, and Chuck Palahniuk is its kick-ass writer.

I recently discovered that the audiobook for Palahniuk's short story Romance was available as a free download (sign up required) across at Downpour.

According to Downpour, "Romance is a twisted love story like only Chuck could tell." As such it could be a fun listen/ read before doing whomever whatever you have planned for Thursday.

Adopt a Penguin for Valentine's Day

Do you want to do something different for your loved one this Valentine's Day? Why not adopt a pair of African Penguins (Spheniscus demersus), and name it after yourselves? 

No, that is not a joke. The South African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds, or SANCOBB, are running a Valentine's promotion that will allow for the adoption of two penguins for the price of one. By adopting a penguin you will help cover the cost of rehabilitating an injured or ill bird, allowing for it to be released back into the wild when it is strong and healthy enough.

In addition to be being able to name the pair of penguins, as part of the adoption package you will also receive a  letter containing the history (where they were found, what type of ailments they were suffering from, their weights, etc.) of the birds you've adopted, photographs of your adopted penguins, and certificates of adoption.

Why adopt a pair of African penguins for Valentine's Day, you ask? For starters, African Penguins mate for life, and as a result penguin symbols are often used to signify love. More importantly, by adopting two penguins you will be contributing towards the conservation of these world-renowned birds, which have seen a rapid decline in number over the last decade, largely due to food shortages. As a result of the decrease in the number of breeding pairs, the conservation status of the species was changed from vulnerable to endangered in 2010.

If you're ready to adopt your pair of African Penguins for only R 500*, then go here, and if you have a few more questions, look here. If you don't want to adopt a penguin, but would still like to help, then you may still make a monetary donation here, or purchase stickers, books, DVDs, plush toys, etc. from SANCOBB's online shop here.

If none of those options tickle your fancy, then maybe you'd prefer to buy a bottle of wine with a penguin on the label for your better half this Valentine's Day.

--

*ZAR 500 is the equivalent to about US$ 56, or EUR 42.

Mr. Lif & DJ Qbert freestyle Magnet Jam

A little while ago Sibot released his Magnet Jam EP to critical acclaim. Then along came Mr. Lif and DJ Qbert. They got hold of a vinyl pressing with the title track, and created the following:

Puscifer have a surprise waiting for you

This morning there was a post on Facebook by Puscifer simply reading, "Hmmm... if you visit Puscifer.com there might be a surprise waiting for you. http://www.puscifer.com/"

I haven't been over to the Puscifer website in some time, but I'm guessing the surprise is being able to listen to Breathe, the first single off their third EP, Donkey Punch the Night.

The EP features two new tracks, two cover versions, and several reworkings by the likes of Drumcell and Sonoio.

You can preorder the EP from the above links.

If that wasn't the surprise, then please let me know, because then I've missed it.

Beast like to Smoke, Swig & Swear

What do you get when two bassists, a drummer and a trained opera singer get together and form a band? The answer is Beast, a group of immensely talented musicians with diverse backgrounds, yet a single goal; to make powerful rock 'n roll music.

After having taken a quick listen to Smoke Swig Swear, the stand out track for me was Hand of God. It's a track that should played every day, by every radio station, everywhere. It's just that good. 

If you'd like to hear what Beast's music sounds like, you're in luck, as their first album Smoke Swig Swear is currently available as a free download. 

Cape Town skater caught on speed camera

Cape Town based downhill skater, Decio, passed the infamous speed camera on Kloof Nek Drive at sufficient speed to set it off. Below is the video of him getting caught by the camera:

Get 'Sound City' for only $10

Dave Grohl will be hosting an Ask me anything (AMA) session on Reddit on 8 February 2013. In the meantime, you can download Sound City for only US$ 10 by using the discount code provided on the following site.

This is another excellent opportunity to get a DRM-free download of Sound City at a reduced price. I'm going to continue to be patient and wait for the DVD release of the documentary. I'm a sucker for the physical product.