Henry Heyer-Walsh's top twenty must-have songs of the week

This is the best thing I read this weekend. Harold Pinter's acceptance speech for the Nobel Prize. To my mind, it should have been plastered on the front page of every newspaper in the country the day after he gave it, but the country does not live in my mind. It's a long, wise rant on Americans' head-in-the-sand addiction to comfort and what it has gotten us and the world into, but that's too easy. Here's an excerpt:

"A writer's life is a highly vulnerable, almost naked activity. We don't have to weep about that. The writer makes his choice and is stuck with it. But it is true to say that you are open to all the winds, some of them icy indeed. You are out on your own, out on a limb. You find no shelter, no protection--unless you lie--in which case of course you have constructed your own protection and, it could be argued, become a politician."

This is the most beautiful thing I saw this weekend.

This is the song I've had on my mind since Saturday: "Richard Pryor Addresses A Tearful Nation," Joe Henry.

This week's (12/12) playlist and comments comes courtesy of ten-year-old Henry Heyer-Walsh. Take it away, Bud:

1. "Jingle Bells (Single Mix)," Crazy Frog. This song makes me happy because it's a lot a happier version of "Jingle Bells."

2. "Jesus Walks," Kanye West. I've always liked and it's with cool riffs and it's just a cool song.

3. "Lonely," Akon. My sister gets all sad when she hears this song, she cries because it sounds like a poor little mouse praying for its life and I think it's like that too (poor mousie).

4. "Chocolate," Snow Patrol. This song makes me happy because it's not like a poor little mousie praying for it's life

5. "Wicked And Weird," Buck 65. My dad turned me on to this song, he has a lot of songs by Buck.

6. "Turn It Up," Perfect. This song just sounds PERFECT.

7. "Helena," My Chemical Romance. This song has a great music video, not that that matters but I like this song.

8. "I'm Sprung," T-Pain. This song almost goes slow but on www.miniclip.com it's a song they are advertising for a cell phone ring tone.

9. "Tubular Bells (Theme from "The Exorcist")," Mike Oldfield. This song most people will remember from "The Exorcist" theme. I like it because it has beautiful sounding bells.

10. "Life Less Ordinary," Carbon Leaf. I heard this song too much on cities 97 and I needed to know what this song is.

11. "What About Everything?" Carbon Leaf. I have no idea how I got in touch with this song. I think I like it because Zero (my dog) likes it.

12. "Laffy Taffy," D4L. This was also a ring tone from www.miniclip.com that was being advertised.

13. "Warning," Green Day. For this song, I'm just gonna say, "I'm attached to Green Day!"

14. "Basket Case," Green Day. The same thing goes for this song "I HEART GREEN DAY!!!!!!"

15. "When I Come Around," Green Day. My dad and two of my friends went to the concert and we heard this song. The concert was good because I got to go with my dad and Sam and Billy and we had a party and we filled up on Dew before we went. When Green Day came on stage it blew my eardrums. I couldn't hear myself because the crowd was so loud. I forgot what he said about Mr. Prez but he said "you can call me A** hole."

16. "No News Is Good News," New Found Glory. I like how the singer kinda yells.

17. "Singing in My Sleep," Semisonic. I know Dan Wilson. He's a good friend of my daddy's. This song actually puts me to sleep (I think it tries to taunt me!)

18. "Blue Orchid," The White Stripes. When I first heard this song I went crazy for some reason.

19. "Starfish and Coffee," Prince. The song makes me hungry

20. "Another One Rides the Bus," "Weird Al" Yankovic. This song really freaks me out man!!!!!!!!!!!! No wonder they called him "weird."

I have no idea why I want to do this but if you would like to find some fun on the Internet here are some websites you should visit. If you are a parent reading it tell your child! Please.

1. Miniclip
2. JibJab
3. Homestar Runner
4. ArcadeTown
5. Game Arcade
6. Pogo
7. Daily Show
8. Super Arcade
9. Postopia

Check those out!