Monday, February 11, 2008

 

Movin to those pastures of green


Well now, time flies when you're moving along in this life doesn't it? Not much reason for my absence other than the never-ending saga of a dog, too many work hours, and a social life. I guess I felt I was tired of writing what, after 5 years, felt like the same bit of history repeating itself. And I was tired of having to adhere to the whole structure that blogging seemed to take on over time...you had to post, you had to have numbers, you had to blahblahblahblah. I just liked to write and wanted a place in which to do so.

After a little bit of time passed, I found I missed being able to write missives because the urge hit, or I was bored, or I was drunk, or I was sitting down near a computer. As well, I needed a cool name on my badge at SXSW in March so I decided the time had come...call it sunnier real estate, call it a change of visual scenery, call it that first page of a new fresh notebook on the first day of school when you swear you'll be the bestest student EVER this year....but I'm over at Between Love & Like.

If I see you over there, great. If I don't, thanks for the hits kid. In the immortal words of Bob Stinson, "You rock harder than a urinary trac infection."

Labels: farewell

| posted by BetweenLoveandLike 4:29 PM

Monday, August 27, 2007

 

How to cry laughing in your cubicle


I dunno, I found this maybe-made-up-possibly-had conversation rather hilarious. You may too if you listen to music and a) are old enough to remember the song "On the Dark Side" (I dunno, "Ninja Cheerleaders" may have had some good roles), or b) if you are old enough to remember Nirvana when they came out. Or at least "Heart Shaped Box" (the dissection of the lyrics here is priceless). All I know is I was giggling so hard I snorted in a very quiet office. Then my face went as red as a heart-shaped heart. Or Courtney Love's lipstick. But then that would lead my mind back to the "Heart Shaped Box" lyrics about her and all's I gotta say about that is "EEEEWWWWWWW!!! There are bums' bums cleaner than her, EEEWWWWW!!!"

Labels: music

| posted by BetweenLoveandLike 4:07 PM

 

Peace out homeslice!


About friggin time....I think the Church accepted Galileo in less time than it's taken this mook to get the fudge out.

Embattled Attorney General Resigns

By STEVEN LEE MYERS, Published: August 27, 2007
WACO, Tex., Aug. 27 — Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales, whose tenure has been marred by controversy and accusations of perjury before Congress, has resigned. A senior administration official said he would announce the decision later this morning in Washington.

Mr. Gonzales, who had rebuffed calls for his resignation, submitted his to President Bush by telephone on Friday, the official said. His decision was not immediately announced, the official added, until after the president invited him and his wife to lunch at his ranch near here.

Mr. Bush has not yet chosen a replacement but will not leave the position open long, the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity because the resignation had not yet been made public.

Mr. Bush had repeatedly stood by Mr. Gonzales, an old friend and colleague from Texas, even as Mr. Gonzales faced increasing scrutiny for his leadership of the Justice Department, over issues including his role in the dismissals of nine United States attorneys late last year and whether he testified truthfully about the National Security Agency’s surveillance programs.

Earlier this month, at a news conference, Mr. Bush dismissed accusations that Mr. Gonzales had stonewalled or misled a congressional inquiry. “We’re watching a political exercise,” Mr. Bush said. “I mean, this is a man who has testified, he’s sent thousands of papers up there. There’s no proof of wrong.”

Mr. Gonzales’s resignation is the latest in a series of high-level departures that has reshaped the end of Mr. Bush’s second term. Karl Rove, another of Mr. Bush’s close circle of aides from Texas, stepped down two weeks ago.

The official who disclosed the resignation today said that the decision was Mr. Gonzales’s and that the president accepted it grudgingly. At the same time, the official acknowledged that the turmoil over Mr. Gonzales had made his continuing as attorney general difficult.

“The unfair treatment that he’s been on the receiving end of has been a distraction for the department,” the official said.

As recently as Sunday afternoon, Mr. Gonzales was denying through his press spokesman, Brian Roehrkasse, that he intended to leave.

Mr. Roehrkasse said Sunday afternoon that he had telephoned Mr. Gonzales about the reports circulating in Washington that a resignation was imminent, “and he said it wasn’t true, so I don’t know what more I can say.”

White House spokesmen also insisted on Sunday that they did not believe that Mr. Gonzales was planning to resign. Aides to senior members of the Senate Judiciary Committee said over the weekend that they had received no suggestion from the administration that Mr. Gonzales intended to resign.

Senator Charles Schumer, the New York Democrat who sits on the committee and has been calling for Mr. Gonzales’s resignation for months, said this morning: “It has been a long and difficult struggle, but at last the attorney general has done the right thing and stepped down. For the previous six months, the Justice Department has been virtually nonfunctional, and desperately needs new readership.”

Senator Schumer said that “Democrats will not obstruct or impede a nominee who we are confident will put the rule of law above political considerations.”

Labels: politics

| posted by BetweenLoveandLike 9:20 AM

Monday, August 20, 2007

 

MMMMMMM MATCHBOX; BLEEECCCCH JORDANS 8


From today's DCist:
Matchbox Coming to the Hill

As if we needed any more proof that Barracks Row is flexing its muscle in bringing business to the Hill. But, we have it anyway. Last week's TomChat gave us the news that Matchbox, the over-popular Gallery Place pizza and mini-burger heaven, has signed a lease for a second location along Barracks Row—521 8th Street SE to be precise. According to Tom, the owner expects the new place to open in the next 9 or 10 months (under optimal conditions). With Jordans 8 (not related to Michael Jordan's steakhouse; Jordans 8 is owned by the same folks as Tapatinis), a new Italian/Mediterranean place going into the old Ellington's on 8th space, and Locanda joining Row venerables like Belga, Starfish, and Las Placitas; Barracks Row and Eastern Market are really coming into their own as a dining destination.

As far as Matchbox, we're looking forward to some good miniburgers (step it up, Ugly Mug), wood fired pizza, and hopefully a shorter wait. Guess we shouldn't count on that last one, though, right? We'll just go ahead and send someone down to get in line now for a table on Friday, June 27, 2008.

As for Jordans 8, I went there on Saturday pm with a friend...This is what I wrote as a review for Chowhound board topic about the place:

Y'all 31cricketagee is being kind (and dead on): the place is perhaps good for a drink or for some sushi but full on dinner, hell no.

We went there on Sat and like 31c, we only heard there was outdoor and upstairs seating from our waiter b/c I'd remarked how I thought the place would be bigger. As Sat's weather was stunning, that option would have been nice. Strike 1.

The food, one one word: bland. I had steak, my friend had salmon. If you're a steak place, one hopes you're gonna kick ass at it. Not the case, no flavor at all. We ordered a bunch of sides (spinach, garlic truffle mashed, risotto, wild mushroom ragout). No seasoning, no flavor, nothing. We started with grilled calamari which was again bland. I'm an ok cook but I go out to eat to try stuff I myself couldn't make or create- for the amount we spent (roughly 20-24 for entrees, 5 for each side), even a little salt would be nice.....or pepper. Which we weren't offered by the waitstaff or busser either (though we saw another table offered). I even got a lobster claw side ($9). Now why would you serve a plain lobster claw w/o any drawn butter? I wondered that too and asked for it....and then had to ask for it again....and we finally wound up with 2 containers for a single claw (obvious lack of communication b/t busser and waitstaff). I don't care but on a busy night, that could turn itself into worse for a table.

The service was ok...I'm in the business myself, fine dining, so I try to be understanding. If you're serving steak, you always check in to see how the customer likes it. And if one was busy, again, I'd understand. But there was no checking in and the guy had 3-4 tables including us. If you're weeded with 3-4 tables, you need another job.

We also did a bottle of wine: there is nothing really middle of the road. There is Echlon PN and Merlot, which are ok at roughly $23...then the prices jump to $80-100 for something decent. Cmon...

All in all-I don't think I'll be back. Maybe for a seat at the bar for a beer and a few pieces of sushi, but a full on dinner....nope. 126 before tip is way too much for bland and just ok. I'll travel to Rays in Arlington first and deal with the crazy seating because I know I'll the steak will be worth the hike.

The one upside was that they had a satellite (or something) because they had the NESN network and I got to watch the sweeeeeet Papi then Manny shots. But while it was nice, it wasn't worth $150 when I can watch the replays someplace, yeesh.

Labels: Red Sox, restaurants

| posted by BetweenLoveandLike 4:33 PM

 

Any jail time is good time


From today's NY Post: VICK ACCEPTS PLEA DEAL IN DOGFIGHTING CASE; FALCONS QB WILL LIKELY SERVE TIME. He wishes to "apologize to everyone he may have hurt"??? Sorry Michael, those dogs are either dead from your fighting them or on their way to being euthanized because typically shelters can't let former fighting dogs get adopted for safety reasons (and you'd know this too if you watched Puppy Cops). This apology is the speech of an assclown because prior to everyone turning on him, he was claiming he was "not guilty".

August 20, 2007 -- Michael Vick’s lawyer said today the Atlanta Falcons quarterback will plead guilty to federal dogfighting conspiracy charges and will be subject to a possible prison term.

The offense is punishable by up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine, although federal sentencing guidelines most likely would call for less.

"After consulting with his family over the weekend, Michael Vick asked that I announce today that he has reached an agreement with federal prosecutors regarding the charges pending against him," lead defense attorney Billy Martin said in a statement.

"Mr. Vick has agreed to enter a plea of guilty to those charges and to accept full responsibility for his actions and the mistakes he has made. Michael wishes to apologize again to everyone who has been hurt by this matter."

Vick's plea hearing will be Aug. 27, Martin said.

Federal investigators filed an indictment July 17 against Vick, Purnell Peace, 35, of Virginia Beach, Va.; Quanis Phillips, 28, of Atlanta; and Tony Taylor, 34, of Hampton. The indictment stated that a grisly dogfighting operation called "Bad Newz Kennels" was run on property he owned in Surry, Va.

All four pleaded not guilty July 26, but Taylor became a government witness four days later after changing his plea. Peace and Phillips have scheduled hearings to enter plea agreements on Thursday and Friday, respectively.

Falcons general manager Rich McKay declined comment when asked about Vick's future with the team.

Vick was the NFL's No. 1 overall draft choice in 2001. A three-time Pro Bowl selection, he last year became the first quarterback to rush for 1,000 yards in a season. In December 2004, Vick signed a 10-year, $130 million contract, then the NFL's richest.

Labels: animal abuse, dogs, things that baffle

| posted by BetweenLoveandLike 4:14 PM

Tuesday, August 14, 2007

 

My new favorite show


So I watched some of the first episode of Flight of the Conchords and was like "eh" but then I was told to check out the "Bowie" episode and well....I think the show may be worth it, if only for the video clips alone.

Bowie's Dream:




Bowie's In Space

Labels: Flight of the Conchords, humor

| posted by BetweenLoveandLike 12:06 PM

 

Daaaah, Jeb go too, Jeb go too


"Spend time with the family..." I love that excuse.

The Mark of Rove' (from WSJ)
By PAUL A. GIGOT
August 13, 2007; Page A15

Washington

These are the days of Republican doubt, with President Bush fighting an unpopular war, Congress in opposition hands, and a 2008 presidential field trailing Democrats in nearly every poll. But don't tell that to Karl Rove, Mr. Bush's political alter ego, who even as he prepares to resign from the White House after six and a half years sees recovery ahead.


Sitting in the book-lined living room of his townhome on Saturday afternoon, a relaxed, cheerful and typically rambunctious Mr. Rove hands over two sheets of paper on which he has tapped out a pair of outlines. One says "Up to Now," and summarizes what he thinks are the achievements to date of the Bush presidency. The second, "Months Ahead," lays out an agenda for the next year and a half.

"He will move back up in the polls," says Mr. Rove, who interrupts my reference to Mr. Bush's 30% approval rating by saying it's heading close to "40%," and "higher than Congress."

Looking ahead, he adds, "Iraq will be in a better place" as the surge continues. Come the autumn, too, "we'll see in the battle over FISA" -- the wiretapping of foreign terrorists -- "a fissure in the Democratic Party." Also in the fall, "the budget fight will have been fought to our advantage," helping the GOP restore, through a series of presidential vetoes, its brand name on spending restraint and taxes.

As for the Democrats, "They are likely to nominate a tough, tenacious, fatally flawed candidate" by the name of Hillary Rodham Clinton. Holding the White House for a third term is always difficult given the pent-up desire for change, he says, but "I think we've got a very good chance to do so."

If that quinella pays off, however, Mr. Rove will have to savor it from somewhere other than his West Wing office. He's resigning effective Aug. 31 -- 14 years after he began working with Mr. Bush on his campaign for Texas governor, 10 years after they began planning a White House run, and after 79 months in the political cockpit of a tumultuous presidency.

"I just think it's time," he says, adding that he first floated the idea of leaving to Mr. Bush a year ago. His friends confirm he had been talking about it with others even earlier. But Democrats took Congress, and he didn't want to depart on that sour note. He then thought he'd leave after the State of the Union, but the Iraq and immigration fights beckoned. Finally, Chief of Staff Josh Bolten told senior White House aides that if they stayed past a certain point, they were obliged to remain to Jan. 20, 2009.

"There's always something that can keep you here, and as much as I'd like to be here, I've got to do this for the sake of my family," Mr. Rove says. His son attends college in San Antonio, and he and his wife, Darby, plan to spend much of their time at their home in nearby Ingram, in the Texas Hill Country.

Mr. Rove doesn't say, though others do, that this timing also allows him to leave on his own terms. He has survived a probe by a remorseless special counsel, and lately a subpoena barrage from Democrats for whom he is the great white whale. He shows notable forbearance in declining to comment on prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald, who dragged him through five grand jury appearances. He won't even disclose his legal bills, except to quip that "every one has been paid" and that "it was worth every penny."

What about those who say he's leaving to avoid Congressional scrutiny? "I know they'll say that," he says, "But I'm not going to stay or leave based on whether it pleases the mob." He also knows he'll continue to be a target, even from afar, since belief in his influence over every Administration decision has become, well, faith-based.

"I'm a myth. There's the Mark of Rove," he says, with a bemused air. "I read about some of the things I'm supposed to have done, and I have to try not to laugh." He says the real target is Mr. Bush, whom many Democrats have never accepted as a legitimate president and "never will."

It is his long and personal relationship with Mr. Bush that has made Mr. Rove arguably the most influential White House aide of modern times. The president calls him to chat about politics on Sunday mornings, and they have a contest to see who can read the most books. (Mr. Rove is winning.) I've known Mr. Rove for 19 years and spoken to him hundreds of times. Yet I can't recall a single instance where he disclosed how his views differed from Mr. Bush's. Mr. Bolten hasn't decided on a replacement, and Mr. Rove's duties may yet be divided up.

Mr. Rove's political influence has been historic, notwithstanding the rout of 2006. His crucial insight in 2000 was recognizing that Mr. Bush had to be both an alternative to Bill Clinton's scandalous behavior and "a different kind of Republican." In 2002, the president's party gained seats in both the House and Senate in a first midterm election for the first time since 1934.

And in 2004, for only the second time in history, a president won re-election while helping his party gain seats in both houses of Congress; the other time was 1936. Much has been made of John Kerry's ineptitude, but the senator won some eight million more votes than Al Gore did in 2000, and Mr. Rove claims Democrats outspent Republicans by $148 million thanks to billionaire donations to "527" committees. Yet amid a difficult war, Mr. Bush won by increasing his own vote by nearly 25% over 2000, winning 81% of U.S. counties. The Rove-Ken Mehlman turnout effort was a spectacular achievement. If it did nothing else, that 2004 victory put John Roberts and Samuel Alito on the Supreme Court.

A big debate among Republicans these days is who bears more blame for 2006 -- Messrs. Bush and Rove, or the behavior of the GOP Congress. Mr. Rove has no doubt. "The sense of entitlement was there" among Republicans, he says, "and people smelled it." Yet even with a unified Democratic Party and the war, he argues, it was "a really close election." The GOP lost the Senate by its 3,562 vote margin of defeat in Montana, and in the House the combined margin in the 15 seats that cost control was 85,000 votes.

A prominent non-Beltway Republican recently gave me a different analysis, arguing that the White House made a disastrous decision to "nationalize" the election last autumn; this played into Democratic hands and cost numerous seats.

"I disagree," Mr. Rove replies. "The election was nationalized. It was always going to be about Iraq and the conduct of Republicans." He says Republican Chris Shays and Independent-Democrat Joe Lieberman survived in Connecticut despite supporting the war, while Republicans who were linked to corruption or were complacent lost. His biggest error, Mr. Rove says, was in not working soon enough to replace Republicans tainted by scandal.

What about that new GOP William McKinley-style majority he hoped to build -- isn't that now in tatters, as the country tilts leftward on security, economics and the culture? Again, Mr. Rove disagrees. He says young people are if anything more pro-life and free-market than older Americans, and that, despite the difficulties in Iraq, the country doesn't want to be defeated there or in the fight against Islamic terror. He recalls how Democrats thought driving the U.S. out of Vietnam would also help them politically. "Instead, Democrats have suffered ever since on national security," he says.

Mr. Rove also makes a spirited defense of this president's policy legacy, sometimes more convincingly than others. On foreign affairs, he predicts that at least two parts of the Bush Doctrine will live on: The policy that if you harbor a terrorist, you are as culpable as the terrorist; and pre-emption. "There may be a debate about degree," he says, "but it's going to be hard for any president to reverse that."

He's less persuasive on Medicare, where he insists that market reforms and health savings accounts are building a "critical mass" of popular support that will make them unrepealable. Yet Democrats are even now trying to kill Medicare Advantage, blocked only by the promise of a veto. If Mrs. Clinton wins in 2008, the Medicare drug expansion may prove to have been all spending and no reform.

He also insists that Social Security reform was worth the failed effort, and that Mr. Bush's ideas will be adopted inevitably by some future president. I ask if, given Mr. Bush's falling approval ratings in 2005 due to Iraq, he shouldn't have pushed for something less ambitious. Not a chance. "You cannot advance on the fronts you want to advance if you're playing mini-ball," he says, once again sounding like Mr. Bush.

As for 2008, he says, Americans "do want change," but "every election is a change election"; even in 1988, when Ronald Reagan was popular, the Gipper famously said at the nominating convention for George H. W. Bush that, "We are the change." Adds Mr. Rove, "I don't want to be Pollyanish about it, but if we keep our nerve and represent big things, we'll win." He won't cite a favorite, if he has one, among the GOP candidates, though he has friends in the various campaigns. He'll offer advice, if asked, but at 56 years old says he is done with political consulting.

He'd like to teach eventually, but he has no specific job plans, save to write a book on the Bush years, which "the boss," as in Mr. Bush, "has encouraged me to do." As for what his own White House mistakes have been, Mr. Rove winces and says, "I'll put my feet up in September and think about that."

And what about Jeb Bush in 2012? Mr. Rove first says with a tone of skepticism, "Ask Jeb." Then he adds, "You better get a younger man. My wife would kill me."

Labels: politics, Rove

| posted by BetweenLoveandLike 11:54 AM

Thursday, July 19, 2007

 

If some little kid ever tells me Michael Vick is his football hero, I will immediately box that child's ears right there and then


I knew about this story before, that Michael Vick was under animal abuse charges for running a dog fighting ring, but The Smoking Gun today has the full indictment listing. This dude makes HOW MANY MILLIONS A YEAR and yet, engages in crap like this for something like 5000 a fight. I gotta say, I'm so disgusted and filled with rage over this I could just scream. Honestly, I'm trying to write thoughtfully but all I can think of is "cocksuckermotherfuckingdouchebag, howthefuckcouldyoudosuchathing, praytogodineverseeyouonthestreetbecauseevenifiamsmall, awoman'srageisnothingtofuckwith" and the like. Wait, I don't even need to say anything, any rational human being with a fucking conscience can read the following and shudder:

On or about April 2007, Peace, Phillips, and Vick executed approximately 8 dogs that did not perform well at 'testing' sessions at 1915 Moonlight Road by various methods, including hanging, drowning, and slamming at least one dog's body to the ground.

Vick was also involved with the electrocution of one female dog who was losing by "wetting her down and electrocuting the animal."

He's been indicted....if the fucking NFL does not suspend this fucking piece of trash, something seriously needs to be done. Already, the US Humane Society is rallying support:

The outrage is unprecedented, and for good reason: Two days after a federal grand jury indicted NFL star quarterback Michael Vick and three cohorts on felony dogfighting charges, more than 100,000 people have called on the NFL to suspend Vick immediately.

You can add your voice today. Please urge the NFL to suspend Michael Vick immediately.

The NFL expressed “disappointment” and said Tuesday that “we believe that all concerned should allow the legal process to determine the facts.”

Well, that’s just not good enough. These alleged acts were not petty or harmless; they were nothing short of gruesome and barbaric. And there is precedent for a suspension: Other NFL players, such as Pacman Jones and Chris Henry, have been suspended while they awaited trial and before they were convicted. Please contact the NFL today and urge the league to suspend Michael Vick.

For more on why the NFL must act now, please read my latest blog posting. For details about the case and The HSUS’s role in assisting federal prosecutors with the investigation and the care of 52 pit bulls taken from Vick’s property, click here.

And if you are able, please make a special donation today to help us care for those animals while the case is being pursued by federal authorities.

I just....I think....I can't even form a sentence properly here. All I can say is I hope that the NFL fucking kicks his ass in the place it seems Michael Vick runs his life, his conscience, and his integrity from, his wallet, and suspends him. Because he not only was the money behind these fights but he was also trying to gather other teammates to join in. And if you think I'm being overly dramatic, look into the eyes of any dog you pass today and you tell me, would you stand by and watch that animal die for 5000?



If you said no, please please add your name to the petition above. If you said yes, do not ever come read my blog again.

Update: The Humane Society site also lists the following you can do:

Leave a message with NFL Public Relations at (212) 450-2000 and ask the NFL to suspend Michael Vick immediately.

Labels: animal abuse, dogs, Emma

| posted by BetweenLoveandLike 2:28 PM

Thursday, June 28, 2007

 

Jason Isbell


I came across a new track called "Dress Blues" from ex-Drive By Truckers guitarist and songwriter Jason Isbell on the great I Am Fuel, You Are Friends site last week and wow...pretty great stuff. He really weaves a hell of story in song, one that doesn't need a music video because you see it all in your head as you hear the song (fucking love that stuff). The way he turns a phrase ("You get your chance to make piece with the man/fore he sends down his angels for you" and "Last night I heard a siren's song and I followed it into the ditch"). But reading it here takes it out of context and doesn't do his lyrics justice. Isbell's streaming 4 tracks, "Dress Blues", "Grown" (another one I really like), "Try", and "When the Well Runs", on his Myspace page. New record, "Sirens of the Ditch", comes out July 10 and catch him July 18th at the Rock and Roll Hotel over on H St. It's a school night sure, but 10 bucks says he rocks yer face off. However if your bedtime is 8 pm after you put your curlers in and yell at kids to get off your lawn, Isbell's old band, Drive By Truckers plays 2 days later on a Friday (July 20) at the 930 Club.

Labels: music

| posted by BetweenLoveandLike 3:03 PM

 

Apparently wine grapes love the classics...and bluegrass!


Wired magazine had an interesting article today on how a vinter in CA is testing out the theory how music improves plant growth, so much so that he wired his field for sound and piped in "Mozart, Haydn, Vivaldi and Mahler" then later added "country, blues, and nature sounds". Read the article in full Grape Expectations: Vines May Love Vivaldi

Labels: music, science, wine

| posted by BetweenLoveandLike 2:42 PM

Tuesday, June 26, 2007

 

National Day of Silence


Listen to Internet radio? Wondering why you aren't getting any "reception" today? It's on purpose, it's a National Day of Silence.

Internet Radio Silently Protests Royalties
by Felix Contreras

Morning Edition, June 26, 2007 · Many fans of Internet radio will be tuning in to nothing on Tuesday, as many Webcasters participate in "A National Day of Silence."

It is a protest against what Webcasters call excessive royalties on the music they stream. New royalty rates are set to take effect in little more than three weeks.

Organizers of SaveNetRadio, a coalition of Webcasters protesting the hikes, say Internet radio outlets — big and small — will be participating.

Pandora, Rhapsody, AccuRadio, one of Yahoo's free radio streams and many smaller outlets will all go black for all or part of the day.

In between the silence, many outlets will be playing announcements explaining the protest and asking listeners to write their senators or representatives.

That is what Live 365 will be doing. It is an Internet radio site that aggregates ten thousand independently programmed channels.

Johnnie Floater is Live 365's general manager of media. He says listeners have supported the fight against the rate hikes. He also says Live 365 is willing to forego its advertising revenue because the royalty increases do not take into consideration the value Web radio offers the music industry.

"We have to look at what Internet radio does for the music industry. Beside coming up with royalties, it comes out with an immense amount of promotion for a wide amount of artists that are not heard anywhere else," says Floater. "You're going to silence one of the most powerful tools for music and that's what you're going to hear tomorrow- silence."

Several public radio stations will also shut down their music streams to protest the rate hikes that are set to take effect July 15.

The new rates were imposed by the Copyright Royalty Board, a three-judge panel established by the Library of Congress to oversee royalties in the digital domain.

The new rates are based on a per song, per listener formula. The old rates were based on a percentage of Webcasters' revenue.

The burgeoning Internet radio industry has collectively argued that those rates will put many Webcasters out of business.

At a recent conference on digital media, Kurt Hanson, executive director of the Digital Music Association, says silence is what listeners can expect if the new rates go into effect.

"Silence may become pervasive on the Internet if the royalty rates stay in effect or go into effect on July 15," says Hanson. "I think the goal is to do get people to do something to get the Webcasters to stay on the air."

Those supporting the royalty increases say the money goes to musicians who are creating the content for the Webcasters.

John Simson is the executive director of SoundExchange, the organization created by the recording industry to collect royalties from Internet radio outlets.

"The absence of music will happen when performers are not adequately compensated fairly for creating," Simson says. "I think in their own back-handed way they are proving our point, which is performers need to compensated so we will have wonderful works being created.

Congress has already gotten involved in the royalty fight. There are two bills making their way though the House and Senate to roll back the rates.

Webcasters and National Public Radio, on behalf of its member stations, have also asked the Circuit Court in Washington, D.C. for an emergency stay of the Copyright Royalty Board's decision.

Both sides say they are open to a negotiated settlement to the royalty issue outside of the courts and Congress.

Listen to NPRs story on it for more info....

Labels: music, politics

| posted by BetweenLoveandLike 11:33 AM