You may not be a struggling actor waiting on tables in an LA restaurant, but nevertheless BackStage provides a fascinating insight into the thespian’s life. As well as industry news and casting calendars, there are two insider blogs called “Cuts and Cues” devoted to film, TV and stage. And for those who really do dream of making it big over there, there is always the “Performing Arts Resources” in the form of expert career advice, a CV database, resources and a training directory. www.backstage.com

CULTURE VULTURES

“The European Guide to Arts and Culture Worldwide”, Culturekiosque is a worthy and longstanding primer on the personalities and events at the highbrow end of the arts spectrum. Thankfully devoid of the Anglo-centricism that afflicts similar English- language sites, it has sections devoted to art, archaeology, haute cuisine, opera, jazz, dance and classical music, as well as film and cutting-edge pop culture. It is being upgraded, but content is still regularly added. Registration is required, but it is free.

www.culturekiosque.com

PODCAST OF THE WEEK

Thanks to their chronic inability to attract star interviews, many podcasts are resource- starved exercises that live and die on their central, hopefully catchy, concept. However, glorying in the mundane hasn’t hurt the likes of The Idler or TheCommute.Org podcast. Back in late 2004, Voice One started taking lifts to work with Voice Two, who began recording their in-car chats. More than 300 podcasts — and much talk about the news, and stuff no listener will “know about or understand” — later, they are still going. Voice One claims “it is entirely boring”, but it could be a Beckettian examination of the human condition. Worth listening to.

www.thecommute.org

BLOG OF THE WEEK

The web has opened up music criticism to anyone who wants to say why they think the Strokes’ new album is another disappointment. But some rare blogs have risen above the mass of mediocrity to deliver interesting opinions. One such is The Art of Noise. It is not the usual reviews- driven enterprise; instead, several contributors analyse popular music in a highly personal way, with posts devoted to each letter of the alphabet. So, “A” covers Adam and the Ants (left), the concept of “amplification” and Asian Dub Foundation. A simple idea, but compulsive reading. the-art-of-noise.blogspot.com