Have you ever wondered what on Earth those poor souls who are stuck managing “the list” at the doors of clubs and music venues do for hours and hours while everyone else is inside enjoying themselves?

What could they possibly be doing to keep themselves from perpetual boredom as they’re positioned behind those podiums, or standing around with those official-looking clipboards?

One door girl has decided to reveal the fruits of all that seemingly less-than-interesting labor with her new blog “Door Girl Art,” which showcases all the music-inspired doodles she draws while guarding the door.

Recently entries reveal that a Lissy Truly show inspired sharp, concentrated asterisks (above), while a Rakes concert produced frenetic zigzags and stripes.

But why doodle at all? According to a recent NPR report, doodling actually helps the brain on task and prevents you from daydreaming.

You knew it couldn’t last long…that’s right, Ryan Adams‘s addiction to the internet has called him back to the blogging world, this time complete with real-time updates via his new Twitter account @ryanada_ms.

Clearly he was inspired by the few minutes he hijacked wifey Mandy Moore’s Twitter account @themandymoore last week.

Guess who’s back…and who’s taking the photos…

In addition to the up-to-the minute tweets, everyone’s favorite oversharing musician has also unleashed a brand new website, ryanada.ms which features a pretty mean picture of Ry Ry shredding up some bowl or swimming pool whilst on a skateboard emblazoned with the word “WEREWOLPH” (see below).

The new site also includes some of the things we’ve grown to love about Ryan Adams’s websites…

That’s right, random songs and videos! The latest installment is a hard-rock song called “Saturday Again,” perfect for playing this weekend:

The best part is where he describes some of the things he might do…like cleaning up his CD stack. Hahaha!

Sorry, just had to laugh about this one… a recent New York Times article harshly examined the skepticism that has been generated by Gwyneth Paltrow‘s lifestyle site, Goop.com.

Although Gwyneth reportedly refused to speak to the NY Times while the reporter, Bob Morris, was writing the article–with her publicist Stephen Huvane stating that it would be “’premature’ to discuss her lifestyle ventures,” for the purpose of the piece, it seems as though Gwynie has decided to peel back some of her silence about her internet project.

Speaking to People at a benefit in NYC for Bent On Learning, Gwyneth said, “I think the people who are criticizing it or criticizing the idea of it, don’t really get it, because if they did, they would like it.”

Paltrow went on to defend the validity of her website by commenting, “My friends call me all the time to say, ‘Where should I go?’ or ‘What should I do?’ And I thought, you know maybe some other people would be interested in it as well, so I started it, and it’s doing great.”

Oh if I had a dime for every time I heard someone say that…

What do you think of GP’s site, Goop.com? A waste of digital space, or a valuable new source of information?

In related news, Robert Downey Jr. thinks of Chris Martin every time he reaches for a muffin.

This video makes my obsessive/compulsive/dependent Twitter useage appear to be social/fun/friendly.

Clearly it’s all lies.

Anyone else sadly addicted to Twitter?

Hey dudes and dudettes, if you are so inclined to listen to podcasts on the interweb, please check out the slew of shows being released at Blog Fresh Radio in partnership with The Hype Machine. They are counting down the top artists/albums of 2008, and you can catch lil’ old me mindlessly blathering about a few of them on said program.

In one episode I obsessively gush about Ryan Adams (Are you surprised?) and my girl-crush on Zooey Deschanel.

In another I comment on the Santogold phenomenon.

Check out the release tomorrow, where they’ll reveal the Top 10 albums of 2008… and you’ll hear me defend one of the most beloved/hated bands of last year.

Music blog monolith Stereogum has got a brands news looks! According to the official post on the redesign, it has now been “formatted especially for people who live in 2008.”

The kids have gotten rid of the beloved headphones from their logo, and you can now…er.. RATE THE COMMENTS. (I suspect that this is what Dante meant when he was describing the “Nine Layers of Blogging Hell.”)

But do you like it better?

A little shout-out to my friend Sarah. You may know her as the top banana over at indie music label Stolen Transmission or as international arbiter of mirth and merriment, Ultragrrrl, but she’s got a new job as the blogger for a new blog called Almack’s Dance Hall (which is run by Universal records). She will be going out every night to a different show and reporting on it, which makes me simultaneously jealous and exhausted thinking about this ambitious feat.

Ah yes, there was once a time when I would go out every night, go see a band (or two… or three!), crash into my little extra long twin bed at my college dorm and then stumble in, bleary-eyed, into class only a few hours later.

Anyhoo, best of luck to Sarah in that new endeavor. Also of note, Ultra has a new book out, Pocket Karaoke, which was released last week.

There was a star-studded karaoke release party at Angels & Kings that I was dying to go to (BECAUSE I LOVE KARAOKE! Sarah, Dan, and I once through a joint bday party in Brian’s loft apartment that resulted in approx. 400 hipsters and general mayhem), but sadly I got sick AGAIN–having never really fully recovered from that not-flu-flu thing that has been going around. (It’s EVERYWHERE! You wake up one morning with a full body ache, fever, chills, nausea, BUT IT’S NOT THE FLU. You will not be able to go outside for about 2-3 days. Awful.)

As of tonight I have a lot in common with the Arctic Monkeys, Kate Nash, the Klaxons, and Facebook. We are all 2008 Shockwave NME Award WINNERS! Muwahahah.

YOUR VOTING was the key in helping this lil’ ol’ blog win a 2008 Shockwave NME Award for Best Music Blog.

I would like to thank YOU, the people who have faithfully visited this labor of love since 2001. Thanks for putting up with all my stupid posts about the White Stripes (who could forget the “Jack White in a bathing suit” post or “Meg White’s Disco Boobs” entry?), Ryan Adams (he loves puppies, remember?), and everyone else who created music pre-2003. Thanks again guys, couldn’t have done it without you.

If and when I receive my golden middle finger statue I will surely post photos.

Did some sleuthing this morning and FINALLY fixed the RSS feed. Yay!

You can now subscribe to the RSS feed by plugging in themodernage.org/feed/ into your RSS reader of choice.

Here’s to minor victories!

Move over Arctic Monkeys, Jack Penate, Lily Allen, and Jenny Lewis! Just when you thought that this blog wasn’t about music, NME has decided to nominate this lil’ old website as one of the Best Music Blogs for the Shockwaves NME Awards 2008 MUWAHAHAHAHAH!

Of course it’s just an honor to be nominated alongside fellow nominees: The Hype Machine, Nothing But Green Lights, Spinner, and Stereogum.

BUT THE GLORY OF WINNING WOULD BE MORE DELICIOUS.

Why should you vote for me? Which other blog nominated is perpetually stuck in 2002? Which other blog is certifiably obsessed with the White Stripes and The Strokes? Which other blog is brave enough to tell the world that their cellphone ring tone is “Move Along” by the All-American Rejects? ONLY THEMODERNAGE.ORG!

Do you want to see me continue to become a power-hungry megalomaniac? You can make that happen by voting The Modern Age for Best Music Blog over at NME.COM/awardsnominees. Get your votes in by 10am (GMT aka 5am EST) on Monday February 25. According to the site, you could win VIP tickets to the ceremony, which takes place in London on February 28.

What could I do to persuade you to vote for me? KEEP IT REASONABLE!