Jerry rolls over in his grave. Checks his wallet.

Even the Dead get into the act.

"Sorry gang, we, uh, we gotta protect those files of our recordings. Because even though you've been great fans, and have bought t-shirts, and posters, and concert tickets, and told your friends about us for years so that we didn't really need to do any marketing or promotion, and donated all those brain cells of yours during our concerts... well, we didn't put any of that money we made away for the future, see. So what we're gonna need to do is put an end to the downloading of the recordings from our live shows up on this free website. You know - that thing that was kind of the cornerstone of who we were as a band...? 'its about the music, man', and all that? See if you guys are downloading files for free, you won't go buy them from our outlets, and that's bad. Because it's all about the money, man. And we're tired of touring, man."

"Ok, man?"

Hall of Fame and Miles Davis

Miles is one of this year Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees.

Now, this begs one of two questions:

1. Does Miles Davis really belong in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame? As much as they wax poetic on how he "created a fusion of jazz with rock and roll, soul, funk and hip hop", let's face it - Davis was a Jazz Man.

2. If the answer to question 1 is actually "Yes", isn't it a trifle embarrassing to the RRHF that it's taken them THIS LONG to actually enshrine him?

Up is down, war is peace, Miles is rock and roll.

If you believe that one....

We've got a bridge to sell you.

Nice article on the history of people trying to sell (and buy) the Brooklyn Bridge.

Democracy, with a hall pass.

USATODAY.com - 'Go-getter,' 18, ousts mayor in Michigan

Michael Sessions, an 18 year old from Hillsdale, Michigan, was elected mayor of his town earlier this month. The swearing in is today.

Haven't we seen this before?

The Ghost in the CD - New York Times

OK, so Sony wants to keep people from copying CD's by installing spyware on people's computers. Nice work, guys. Flash back 30 years, when casette tapes were going to 'ruin' the music industry. Never mind that my local station WZZO would actually play whole albums when they came out, and encourage us to tape them.

Here's a choice quote, though, from the artist mentioned in the article:

"Look, what we do is write music; we make music," said Donnie Van Zant, who like most artists had no had no idea what sort of security features, if any, his label would place on the album. "I really don't even know what D.R.M. means, to be honest with you."

Um, yeah. Hey man - if you don't know what DRM is, and are not keeping up on things related to your industry, it's your own fault. Classic ostrich-head-in-the-sand approach there, super.

I hope this takes hold at the major labels, I really do. No greater victory for indie musicians, than to have the majors declare war on their own artist's fans.

Ah, testing...

A List Apart: Articles: Design Choices Can Cripple a Website: "Testing like that is a beautiful thing. There is no space for fancy arguments. An expert’s credentials and opinions mean squat. When you serve alternative versions, one after the other, and measure reader actions, you get the real deal. You get what is."

Now, about that website...

Darwin and ID meet. Fight ensues. ID gets bloody nose.

Evolution Slate Outpolls Rivals - New York Times

So the good folks of Dover, PA have cleaned house of their Intelligent-Design school board members, at least those up for re-election. Darwin 2, Non-Darwin 0.

Democrats to gain edge on County Council : The Morning Call Online

Democrats to gain edge on County Council : The Morning Call Online: "Behind Neiper was Republican John Cusick, 39, a high school math teacher and the lone Republican on Williams Township's three-member board of supervisors. Cusick received 15,791, and should the results hold up, he will win a seat."

We're crossing our fingers for brother John this morning...

Blame the bloggers! They burned it all

- toledoblade.com -: "Rioters have been using mobile phone text messages and the Internet to organize arson attacks, said police, who arrested two teenage bloggers accused of inciting other youths to riot."

In what may qualify as the most misleading characterization ever, the French Police have actually identified two youths as "bloggers". Sounds like an attempt to paint us all as bad apples...

Civil Mayhem Rocks France for 12th Night

Civil Mayhem Rocks France for 12th Night

So this is pretty crazy - they're raising all kinds of hell in France right now. Is what is was like to watch what happened during Katrina for people across the ocean?

I suppose it would be limited to horrid detachment, if my brother wasn't in Europe right now.

San Francisco in Jello

Alamo Square