As many of you will be aware, one of the casualties of the insane London riots last night (August 8) was the Sony warehouse used by distributor PIAS, which was set alight, destroying the bulding and, presumably, all the content.

PIAS are the main distributor in the UK for indie film and music labels - the very labels that release much of the stuff you read about on Strange Things. Arrow, Eureka, Network, Terracotta, Crabtree... the list goes on. And some 30% of independent record labels also use PIAS. As well as back catalogue stock being lost, this will also delay new releases reaching shops (shops that have also been looted and destroyed).

These are small companies, not giant multinationals. For them to lose all their stock is a huge, and for some quite possibly fatal, blow. We feel terrible for everyone who has lost their business, their home and their community during these pathetic riots. For our friends at the labels affected by this - and for those we don't know - we can only offer our condolences and support.

If you want to play your part, this week might be the week to buy that indie DVD or CD you'd been putting off. Or to (legally) download a movie or album. Hopefully, once things settle down, film screenings, gigs and events can also take place to help all the innocent victims of this week of insanity. If anyone is organising anything, let us know.