Today's culture club

There are broadly two types of people in this world: those who waste time on matters of popular culture and those who don't. And just like with any continuum there are gradual transitions in range: in this case from the Big Brother watching, Heat magazine reading addicts to the look down nose at, 'yaya dahling' brigade.

As a fringe member of the former circle of shame, life was easier in the States, all I had to do was turn on Oprah and my finger pulsated to the cultural current. But that was then and there, and we are here and now. And in this day and age times are too serious, too tormented, too cataclysmic to frivol away our time with folderol. Or are they?

I propose we check by going straight to the undisputed source, the BBC, because after all Auntie knows best. So for a bit of fun, let's all play: "Guess the top 3 most popular subjects read on the BBC today." Not to fret, any hard core Type A's, over lack of preparation, I will get us going: 1. Heathrow security 2. Edinburgh Fringe Festival 3. Lebanon. Seems logical. First address any personal concerns and second wider political ones. This is how most of us prioritise our thoughts, by order of personal relevance, a means of self preservation.

With such in mind, the top 3 should come with muted surprise:

1. Time lists 50 'coolest websites'
2. Burglars steal Van der Meyde's (football player) dog
3. Staunton (football manager) unharmed after gun scare

So there we have it. Today's world unites around MySpace and football. And whilst only a momentary blip on this morning's BBC rankings, they are probably not bad proxy cultural bellwethers the world over. So it really is a good thing Premiership football kicks off at the weekend then, to give us some popular news to talk about.

Oh, and for those interested in poor Boy George. Not to fret, his litter picking order video sits pride of place at BBC's most watched. Quite a fall from MTV grace, but in this world we all 'Come and Go, Come and Go'.

For anyone looking to escape the silly season:

Tonight, Rory McCarthy, The Guardian’s Iraq correspondent for two years following the American invasion, will be talking about his new book, Nobody Told Us We Are Defeated: Stories from the New Iraq.

Email: Reply@guardian.co.uk (returns only)
Time: 7-8.30pm (doors open at 6.30)
Venue: The News, 60 Farringdon Road, London, EC1R 3ER
Price: £5 each (payable on the door, all proceeds will go to charity)