Birthday boys and girls often get given badges; I resisted wearing those I am 40 ones I got the other year, too cruel, what were people thinking, giving me those? But today I was given one, as a nice surprise, by the bloke serving me at Virgin with the new White Stripes cd. I like it. It's square. But not square, if y'see what I mean. And a pretty good expression with which to begin another year.