The IG Blog has put up two interesting posts recently. The first post, The Key to Guitar Practice, brings up a very good point:

“In a craft practice, HOW we do what we do is primary, and WHAT we do is secondary. Our concern is with process rather than result.”

For me this would be an issue of how intently I'm practicing. If I'm mainly watching tv and happen to be playing guitar at the same time, am I actually practicing, or am I just fidgeting with my hands in a musical way? Playing through chord progressions and riffs that I've known for years is not practice. But trying to learn a new part or actually focusing on music theory is the type of practice that will actually make me a better guitar player.

The second post of interest references an old Guitar World interview with Eric Clapton where he discusses his guitar tone. Specifically, why he switched from a telecaster in his early Yardbirds days to a Les Paul and a Marshall amp when he was with the John Mayall and the Blues Breakers.

And finally, Guitar Noize points us towards some incredibly cool guitar cases by Kaces. They have a special line of cases featuring national flags (UK, USA, Mexico) with a weathered look to them. See examples below.