Since moving, I’ve had a hard time adjusting to the time-of-year solely because it’s not grey, rainy and cloudy. The sunshine throws me off – even as cold as it has been, the fact that it’s SUNNY just confuses my internal system. I’ve not been a huge fan of Christmas since I was very young, but this year might have changed my feelings a bit.

I spent Christmas Eve in my pajamas, in front of the TV, with multiple cups of my new favorite tea, working for WEGO Health and doing what I wanted to do. It was good for me. TheMister (@Obfuscius in case you still haven’t heard), and I had good Thai food (mmmm pumpkin curry) and watched Elf while sharing a bottle of wine. We stayed up too late talking about important things and snuggled ourselves to sleep.

For the first Christmas in 27 years, I did not get to spend it with my parents. I woke up missing some very important people in my life (Mom, Dad, Bubba @SaraMD & @bxd, @Ewokmama, @WhoIsDaveT) and thinking about those who celebrated the day without their significant others (Gramps always misses Grams terribly at Christmas, and it was Gwen’s first Christmas without Russ). I did wake up in the arms of the man I love, though; it was a fantastic solace.

I celebrated Christmas day with TheMister’s family. His mom has the most infectious laugh, his dad is so laid back and easy to talk to, and his little (taller-than-him) brother’s dancing and singing were quite entertaining. Seeing TheMister interact with his family only made me love him more – he is goofy, so loving towards those he loves and he worked so hard to make me feel welcome in his family’s space. I ate too many cookies, had a couple glasses of wine, laughed loudly and freely and truly felt comfortable with his family.

I received some very heartfelt and personal gifts this Christmas that will stick with me, too. It was a relatively low-key gift-giving experience, but I really want to share what I got because it’s important to me.

My parents got me a new Oregon State sweatshirt, a Target giftcard (yay!), candy (Smarties! SweeTarts! Pixie Stix!), chapstick and pens. Then randomly my Dad ordered a year’s worth of Sirius Satellite radio that he didn’t want (he thought it was coming as a stand-alone player but actually goes in the car) and so I “inherited” that but am considering it a Christmas gift! The two OSU sweatshirts that I have are both going on ten years old and are definitely starting to show their age so it was super excited to get a brand new one.

TheMister’s mom gave me a coupon for an adventure day with her, which I’m stoked on. She knows San Francisco well and so I’m hoping to learn some cool stuff about my city with her. Plus, she’s awesome and spending time with her will only give me more insight to his awesome personality.  TheMister’s dad gave him two sets of tickets that were done in mind to share with me. Tickets to Beach Blanket Babylon (which I am totally intrigued by) and tickets to Yoshi’s Jazz Club and Japanese Restaurant. I’m excited to spend some time with @Obfuscius and see some shows (both of which are 110 in 2010 goals)!

@SaraMD and @bxd sent me the most amazingly filled box for Christmas! I got Lush stuff, a new WaterBox bottle, some fantastic shampoo and conditioner and a great family picture card! The Lush-part of the box included a Silver Cloud bath bomb, a Butterball bath bomb, a Sugar Babe sugar scrub, a Two Timing Tart bubble bar, a Wiccy Magic Muscles massage bar, a Dreatime Solid bath oil bar and a sample of the Waylander soft and creamy soap. I am totally excited to throw some of the bubbles or oils in my hot bath water an drift off into relaxation!

TheMister totally hit the nail on the head with my gift, though. The man pays attention to my physical and emotional needs and the mental break that he knows I am craving. (I can’t believe how alert and attentive he is even when I don’t actually voice my needs.) He presented me with a hand-drawn (I need to take a picture and POST it, it’s frickin’ hilarious) coupon for a total day of relaxation at a spa with him! Not only did he meet a significant need to relax, he made it better by including himself in that day. We briefly talked about massages, mud baths, an overnight stay in a room with a jacuzzi (oh yeah!) and possibly even some wine tasting. My super-awesome boyfriend definitely spoils me.

I have gifts to give to @Ewokmama and TheMister still, but neither showed up in today’s mail so they’ll have to wait for me to talk about them … though I’m excited to give ‘em both because they both expressed a want for them! I’m vowing to get better about buying gifts for the people in my life who I love this year.

Sirius Satellite Radio – Bringing Back The Independence

Sirius satellite radio is sometimes compared to cable TV, and in a way that comparison is valid. While cable opened up new channels, new programming, and eventually channels that could go around the censorship imposed by networks, satellite radio has to be received via subscription, and so has independent shows. Like the best of cable channels, many boast no commercials. One of Sirius’ favorite advertisements is the claim of “100% commercial free music,” which is made possible because of the monthly subscriptions paid by users.

Sirius satellite radio was previously known as CD radio, but changed their name in 1999. The way Sirius works is that there are three satellites in a constant orbit above North America to ensure coverage, and as of this writing Sirius provided a minimum of 69 different channels for music, and another 60 for sports, news, entertainment and other miscellaneous channels. Business wise, they work very much like cable. There are monthly subscriptions, low activation fees, and even a one time ‘rate for a lifetime’ subscription (around $500 as of this article).

While to some it seems like all these advertisements on television for Sirius Satellite Radio may have come from nowhere, in fact this company is based on a steady and smart business philosophy that has allowed them to grow rapidly. One of the main strategies to attract people to this new technology has been to obtain contractual deals with some big-name entertainers, both in music and in other subjects. For example, Martha Stewart and Lance Armstrong are both signed on Sirius Satellite Radio. One channel caters to the domestic crowd, the other to sports. These two shows bring in two different demographics of people, both of which will hopefully find enough other channels they like to keep re-subscribing.

Big name musicians often have their own shows. Jimmy Buffett, Bruce Springsteen, and the Rolling Stones are just a few of the major examples of stars who have their own shows or specials. In addition to this, it has also created specific niche channels like “Underground Garage” for garage rock, and “Outlaw Country” for alternative country music. This helps bring in the niche groups that may have smaller, but much more devoted, followings.

Of course nothing compared to the historical deal that Howard Stern signed which made headlines and forced his millions of listeners to grab a subscription to continue to listen to his show, something that millions were apparently ready to do. This huge shift has resulted in a giant base of listeners that guarantees that this is not a flash in the pan advance like the 8-track, but is a form of radio entertainment that is around to stay. For those who haven’t tried it, Sirius Satellite radio has a wide variety of channels for just about everyone, and it might just be time to see what it has to offer you.

Music Sounds Great With A Sirius Satellite Radio

Are you a music
fanatic? Do you love your tunes? Do you hate interruptions by commercials, news and other public service announcements while you are trying to enjoy your favorite music? With Sirius Satellite Radio, you can have the best of the music world. A constant stream of your favorite music presented free of commercial interruption brought to you by satellite.

Whether you want to listen at home, or if you spend a lot of time in your car, the Sirius Satellite Radio is perfect. This radio can either be hardwired into your car’s stereo system
or it can be set up in your home. Either way, you will have an antenna that will receive music signals from a network of satellites.

Be aware, however, that if you install your radio in your car, you will temporarily lose programming when driving through an underground tunnel or parking under an awning at a business such as a bank or gas station. This is because the awning temporarily interrupts the satellite signals.

You may wonder why satellite radio is better than traditional FM radio. One of the first bonuses of satellite radio is the service. Because satellite radio is broadcast through a variety of satellites, you can pick up each and every radio station where ever you may travel. In traditional radio, the signals are transmitted from a single tower.

Once you drive out of that tower’s range, you lose your radio station. Also, FM radio stations feature a variety of commercials, news programs and other fillers in an attempt to make enough money to pay to keep their stations on the air. Satellite radio, on the other hand, is funded by its members who pay a fee in exchange for the services. This way the music and programming is not interrupted with information and commercials you are not interested in.

Another selling point for satellite radio is the wide variety of music and information channels you can subscribe to. You can listen to almost any genre of music you wish. This includes jazz, classical, hard rock, Christian, contemporary or bluegrass music. The packages also include music from any particular decade you like best. For example, if you like 80s music, Sirius Satellite Radio allows you to listen to it 24 hours a day.

Satellite radio also offers programming other than music channels. For instance, you can listen to up to the minute news and weather. You can also tune into public radio, religious discussions or political stations. Programming also includes comedy channels as well as music channels geared primarily toward children. Like sports? You can listen to games offered by the NHL, NFL, NBA or NASCAR. Coverage also includes college games, horse racing and soccer.

If you like your music and your radio, you might forever give up your FM receiver for a satellite radio once you try it. These radios, such as the Sirius Satellite Radio, offer uninterrupted music and programming in exchange for a small fee. You can listen to a wide variety of programming when ever you want regardless of where you may travel.

Sirius Satelite Radio

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Stivers and Cagle (center) with M.S. in Publishing students at Entertainment Weekly

“You’re never done,” said Cyndi Stivers, managing editor of EW.com about career trajectories and the importance of staying current.   “Get comfortable with that idea and keep learning. The stuff that comes easily to you may actually be a rare and marketable skill.” Next to her, Jess Cagle, managing editor of Entertainment Weekly (all Time Inc. top editors have this title instead of Editor-in-Chief), nodded in agreement. Both editors had agreed to sit down with NYU’s Master of Science in Publishing students to talk about careers, publishing, and the challenges of entertainment journalism.

Stivers certainly knows what she’s talking about: she began her career during the “hot type” (also known as mechanical typesetting) printing era,  taught her bosses to use computers, and stood at the forefront of the transition to desktop publishing. After launching Time Out New York, she moved to Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia and helped found Martha’s 24-hour Sirius satellite radio channel. Now, as top web editor of one of the most popular entertainment reporting brands in the business, Stivers is enmeshed in publishing’s current shift to digital media. In other words, she’s seen the industry in transition and had an active role in those changes. “That’s why I’m not freaked out,” she said. Indeed, the current moment is an exciting one for Stivers, Cagle, and the brand they manage.

For Cagle, who has  been a writer, editor, and reporter both in print and on television, “There’s nothing more gratifying than working on a magazine—that tactile thing that you hold. It was always my first love,” he says. His writing start came during his college stint as an intern and fact checker for People. His secret to success? Barging endlessly into the managing editor’s office and asking to write—until he was finally assigned a music review of a group called Run DMC. Cagle’s take on the emerging rap scene impressed his editors, and he eventually landed key writing, reporting, and editing gigs at People, Entertainment Weekly, and Time.

These days, along with Stivers, Cagle presides over a brand that has kept the pulse of the entertainment industry since the magazine’s launch in 1990, when Time Inc. spun off the popular review section of People into a full-fledged magazine of its own. With just over 12 million readers per month (total paid and verified circulation stands at 1,796,560; the pass along rate is more than six readers per copy; and 60% of readers are female), the magazine today boasts unparalleled access to celebrities. The staff of 80 people includes bureaus in both New York and Los Angeles. Entertainment Weekly does not maintain separate editorial staffs for online and print editions, though the debate over which content shall appear online is an ongoing one. Until recently, the website contained everything the print edition did “day and date,” but now the brand caters to its different audiences more precisely. (Indeed, according to Stivers, there is only an 11% overlap between print readers and those who read the site religiously.)

As savvy editors, Stivers and Cagle maximize every opportunity: with a conference room full of opinionated, eager publishing students, naturally the editors decided to turn the tables and conduct an informal mini focus group. “Tell us what covers you like best and worst,” they said, gesturing at the wall of Entertainment Weekly covers.  Perceptive publishing students quickly came to a pretty clear majority: strong single images (David Letterman with his pants dangling around his knees and Robert Downey, Jr. in costume as Sherlock Holmes or Ironman) won out over cluttered preview covers. Excessive digitization (such as the cover of a manipulated-looking Megan Fox) turned students off; iconic, natural closeups like the Patrick Swayze cover intrigued them.

After Cagle and Stivers headed off to their afternoon meetings, editorial assistant Archana Ram gave students a tour of the offices. Books, albums and CDs of films and TV shows were everywhere, waiting to be reviewed.  Archana showed students one staple of a magazine office that never seems to disappear: the mock-up wall. Editors gather each day for “wall meetings,” a tradition of analyzing and perfecting the order and placement of stories and ads. The wall—a space that existed for editors long before Entertainment Weekly’s launch—was our reminder that tactile, print visuals are still a key element of the media world.

Students on tour at E.W. with editorial assistant Archana Ram (right)

Stivers and Cagle have clearly done a great job of refining entertainment journalism and creating a promising synergy between the magazine and website. For all those who disparage the current fate of the magazine world, Stivers has this strong and clear message: “It is still a very vibrant and exciting space to work in.”

Laura De Silva

What do an openly gay harmonica player and a formerly alcoholic guitarist have in common?  Their struggles and victories are helping to define blues music into the future…

Eclecto Groove Recording artists Jason Ricci & New Blood and Mike Zito are making quite an impact on the national and international blues scene.  They bring the blues to Cleveland, Ohio in a big way at The Winchester on Monday, November 16th, 2009.  Showtime is 9:00pm.  Admission is $15.00.  Visit www.thewinchester.net for more information and directions.

The following is from Jason Ricci & New Blood’s website bio (www.jasonricci.com):

Jason Ricci (left) with Shawn Starksi (right)

“Although the openly gay (Jason) Ricci may appear and often sound as unorthodox as his punk and Gothic inspired clothing and hair, make no mistake, Ricci spent plenty of time firmly rooted in the blues…”

“By the age of 21 Ricci had won the Sonny Boy Blues Society contest, performed at The King Biscuit Blues Festival, LIVED and played with Big Bad Smitty, David Kimbrough, and RL Burnside as a member of those bands…Ricci was a devout student of the traditional harmonica masters like Little Walter, Sonny Boy Williamson and George Smith.”

“(Jason) Ricci on his own is consistently considered and referred to in print, with awards and in harmonica circles as one of the best and most important harmonica players to have ever picked up the instrument. Shawn Starski (Guitarist in New Blood) is garnering similar attention alike with Guitar Player Magazine naming him within “The Top Ten Hottest New Guitar Players” in 2008.”

Mike Zito

The following is from Mike Zito’s website bio (www.mikezito.com):

“In 2007, (Mike) Zito’s path has crossed with Randy Chortkoff of Delta Groove Music.  Within months he’s penned a deal and gained full support with Chortkoff’s label Eclecto Groove Records…”

“His journey has lead him to a critical point in his life and career to a larger audience and sharing the stage with national recording artists such as Chuck Berry, Fabulous Thunderbirds, Tab Benoit, Walter Trout, Bernard Allison, Coco Montoya, Joe Bonamassa and many more.”

“2008 heralded the national debut of Zito’s album “Today” on Eclecto Groove Records. Boasting top notch production values with the guidance of producers David Z. (Prince, Buddy Guy, Etta James, Jonny Lang) and Tony Braunagel (Eric Burdon, Taj Mahal, Phantom Blues Band)…”Today” garnered high praise and critical acclaim for Zito’s strengthened focus on songwriting and his resulting efforts landed his album on the Billboard Blues charts for six weeks, in addition to daily rotation on Sirius Satellite Radio over the past year.”

A great video of Jason Ricci & New Blood performing in Holland:

A video of Mike Zito performing “Holding Out For Love“:

Get 130 channels, including 100% Commercial-Free Music from every genre, plus Sports, News, Talk and Comedy – all with crystal-clear, coast-to-coast coverage! You can find top entertainers like Martha Steward, Howard Stern & Oprah.

*Free ground shipping on orders $50 and over.

*Save $30 on Starmate 5 w/vehicle kit.

*Save 50% on the portable XMp3 with home kit.

*Sign up now and get the best of Sirius FREE for 3 months!

Shaba is a toy I made for my friend, Tim,who owns the domain www.distortedview.com. This is an adult-oriented comedy podcast hosted by Tim Henson and broadcast weekdays. Tim Henson began experimenting with Web-based comedy in 1996, and began producing episodes of the Distorted View Show in 2000 through telephony company Tellme, under the name Distorted View Daily. The show was broadcast over telephone to listeners. As its popularity increased, the show was soon featured on several Internet radio broadcasts and on FM radio. The show moved to Mp3NewsBreak in 2002, but the company ultimately collapsed. In 2003, Distorted View partnered briefly with Sirius Satellite Radio.On December 6, 2004, Distorted View began as a podcast and has continued ever since, resulting in over 1,000 episodes of the show. The politically incorrect show is not for people under the age of 18 or the faint of heart. It deals with sophmoric humor, parodies, musical fails and beyond.

In 2005 I created a purse to help Tim earn extra money to help him with his podcast. I posted it on ebay and Tim and I split the profits. Since that time, Tim told me he wishes he had held on to the purse, so I made him this love doll even though I have never made a sex toy before. This is a green love doll because it is 100% biodegradable and if you listen to this podcast, you’d know how appropriate the doll is(inappropriate anywhere else). It is either a gag gift or a sado-masochistic toy as it is made of balsa wood and will cause splinters.

Hard rock radio – Hack a Day

Part of why I had this as a two question poll, rather than a one question poll, was to try to tease apart the believe that intent is required from the belief that racism must depend only on race but might be unconscious. …

Rachel Starr – Crazy Big Tits #2.

Having already updated the Games on Demand lineup once this week, with Saints Row, Microsoft have announced the addition of two more games to the 360&s digital delivery service.

Recently on a Rachael Ray show called the Human Lab Segment, she had her audience members test out several anti-aging creams and devices and had them report back in a few weeks with their results. She also had a guest panel that …

[Guus] sent in his project where he put a radio inside of a rock. He started with a 1970&s car stereo and encapsulated it in cement by wrapping it in duct tape, building a wooden form around it, and pouring in the wet cement. …


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A while back, Sirius Satellite Radio canned “Backspin,” its old-school Hip Hop station.  Sirius hasn’t been the same since.  I know they still play some of the old songs on other hip-hop channels at Sirius, but it isn’t the same.  The only justification I can think of is that Sirius wanted to unload salaries of deejays such as former rappers Kurtis Blow and Dana Dane, but they still could have had someone else play the tunes.  Secondly, maybe they came under some criticism for Gangster Rap, but Backspin played stuff from the 80s through the 90s, so there was some Gangster Rap after that that wasn’t in their playlists.  They could have easily taken out songs that had offensive lyrics.  I personally would agree with that because there were some songs by Snoop Dog, Ice Cube, and Dr. Dre that I did think were unacceptable.  But for the most part, that was only a small segment of the music they played on Backspin, which in fact harkened back to a more fun style of music.

There were the songs that helped start the rap genre – “Rapper’s Delight” by the Sugar Hill Gang and “The Message” by Grand Master Flash.  I’ll never forget when I first heard “Rapper’s Delight.”  It was amazing – a totally new type of music.  I had never heard anything like it before.  Who can forget the “King of Rock” by Run DMC, which fused rap with guitars?  There were militant rappers such as Public Enemy, possibly the greatest rap group of all time, and rap artists who told stories or were educational like KRS-One/Boogie Down Productions.  Try these lyrics on for size from BDP’s “You Must Learn.”

You must learn. I believe that if you’re teaching history

Filled with straight-up facts, no mystery
Teach the student what needs to be taught
‘Cause black and white kids both take shots
When one doesn’t know about the other one’s culture
Ignorance swoops down like a vulture
‘Cause you don’t know that you ain’t just a janitor
No one told you about Benjamin Banneker

Can’t you see where KRS is coming at
With Eli Whitney, Haile Selassie
Grand Bill Woods made the walkie-talkie
Lewis Latterman improved on Edison
Charles Drew did a lot for medicine
Garrett Morgan made the traffic lights
Harriet Tubman freed the slaves at night

Ice-T’s songs were parodies and served as warnings to kids not to live certain lifestyles. There were fun songs such as Biz Markie’s “Nobody Beats the Biz,” and Kurtis Blow’s “Basketball.”  Check it out:

Bill Russell didn’t take no junk
and Darryl Dawkins got a monster dunk
Tell me, were you in the joint?
The night Wilt scored 100 points
Or when Celtics won titles back-to-back
And didn’t give nobody, no kind of slack
Or when Dr. J shook the whole damn team
With moves that came right out of a dream
Or when, Willis Reed stood so tall
Playing D with desire, it’s Basketball

They’re playing Basketball
We love that Basketball
They’re playing Basketball
We love that Basketball

How about reflective anthems like “Old School” or “Dear Mama” by Tupac?

More fun stuff like Eric B. and Rakim’s “Paid in Full” or “La Di Da Di” by Doug E. Fresh. There were artists that changed music like De La Soul, a Tribe Called Quest, and Arrested Development.  How about “911 is a Joke,” a song by Public Enemy that is funny but also chronicled the problems that ambulances had in responding to problems in poor neighborhoods?  ”I’m Bad” or “Don’t Call It a Comeback” by L.L. Cool J.

The music was fun, it had the roots of Hip Hop, and Sirius should bring back Backspin.

Kate Langenburg/A&E Groove

I believe I’ve already posted three separate blog pieces about Woodstock, but hey, can you blame me? The fest was awesome and we’re celebrating its 40th birthday this weekend.

Probably one of the most famous posters of all time. Photo from solarnavigator.net.

In yet another attempt to pay tribute to the great all-mighty 1969 Woodstockers, Sirius satellite radio has begun an epic task — playing just about every show from the entire three day concert.

One of the classic rock channels, called Deep Tracks, has been taken over by Woodstock performers this weekend! (They even renamed it the Woodstock Channel just for this special programming event.) The celebration of music and arts started on Friday and will end today (Sunday).

Not only will the Woodstock Channel be playing music, but it will also be showcasing interviews with performers about their experiences playing on Yasgur’s Farm, and will also be discussing the new movie about the festival, Taking Woodstock.

Just sitting here this morning watching the Woodstock movie has brought fond feelings to this weekend. That is my own tribute. It was truly a time of happiness and carefree lives. Hopefully the folks attending this weekend’s 40th reunion concert will be able to recreate some of those good natured feelings. I’m sure they will.

Which reminds me, if any of you original Woodstockers have any memories or experiences you’d like to share from the 1969 concert, please share them with me! I’d love to hear about them.

Dee Vazquez is this week’s featured Hip Hop Diva.  Check out the feature article on the Spotlight on Hip Hop Diva Dee Vazquez page. 

You can check Dee out weekly hosting The Fuse Network’s “The #1 Countdown: Hip-Hop”.

You can also hear her on New York’s Hot 97 and Sirius Satellite Radio.

Also, check out www.deevazquez.com

Kate Langenburg/A&E Groove

I know I recently did a post about Sirius Satellite radio and it’s celebration of “Jerry Week,” but today just wouldn’t be the same without some acknowledgement of the anniversary of his death. (By the way, Jerry Week ends today.)

Thank you, Jerry, for so many years of wonderful music. Photo from cuckoobird.net.

On this date, 24 years ago, Jerry Garica suffered a fatal heart attack while he was at a drug treament center. He was only 53 years old. Not incredibly young, but young enough to declare that “only the good die young.”

Now he lives on through the thousands of recordings of his music. Also in the spirit of Dark Star Orchestra, a Grateful Dead tribute band, and Phil Lesh and Bob Weir, two of the remaining members who still tour the country regularly.

Many Grateful Dad fans paid their respects yesterday (and I’m sure more will today) by visiting Jerry’s hometown near San Francisco, CA.

Of course, Jerry has generated so much business since his death, it’s a real shame he couldn’t have been around to witness it. Think about all the commercial products available to consumers — Cherry Garcia ice cream, the Jerry Garcia necktie, t-shirts, photographs, Grateful Dead bears, books, music, and guitar picks. His family, I’m sure, is doing well in the horrible economy of today.

As the years go by, I can only hope that this important musician will stay as remembered as he is today. The Grateful Dead may not be one of the most recognizable bands in the world, but they are certainly one of the most loved. Deadheads are like no other fans around. They are loyal and always see the music for what it truly is.

I’d like to take this one opportunity to say “Thank you Jerry” for creating such an immense number of recordings and providing so many of us with a sense of good feeling and peacefulness.

We will always remember you.

Visit the New York Times for a very nice story on the anniversary of Jerry’s death.

Kate Langenburg/A&E Groove

For those of you who don’t know, Sirius satellite radio is the best thing since sliced bread. It lets you listen to any kind of music…or talkshow…or comedy sketch or routine any time of the day with no commercial breaks.

It specializes in unique stations, like Radio Margaritaville, a channel devoted entirely to the musical likings of Jimmy Buffett. Or there’s a channel called Jam On, which plays only jam bands. Or how about a channel for all you classic rockers out there? Classic Vinyl will suit you. (Ok, enough. If I go on like this, I won’t ever get to my point.)

There he is...MY man, Jerry Garcia. Photo from jerryfest.com.

But for all you deadheads out there, the best channel by far just might be the Grateful Dead station. All GD, all the time, no commericals. They play live shows in their entirety!

All this week, the Grateful Dead channel is paying homage to its leader — THE man, Jerry Garcia. Welcome to Jerry Week, folks.

Since it’s already the middle of the week, I won’t dwell on what we already missed. Today and every day for the rest of the week, the channel will be playing three Jerry shows per day. Some are with the Dead, some are with other artists.

You can view a schedule of the shows programmed on the Grateful Dead Channel website. Tonight will feature a show from the Jerry Garcia Band in Columbia, MD, 9/2/89. That starts at 9 pm. If you’re a newbie to the GD channel, they also have listings of their regular programming, too.

If you have Sirius, go ahead and pay your respects to one of music’s greatests. If not, sign up!

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There’s no free lunch.

Unless you want all the Mojo Nixon you can eat.

Prior to this morning, I was the proud owner of zero Mojo Nixon songs. Didn’t have a single track in my iTunes menagerie. Never downloaded even one of his songs, legally or otherwise.

I had heard of Mojo Nixon, just never much paid attention. My familiarity with him was mostly as a result of occasionally listening to him on the Outlaw Country channel on Sirius Satellite Radio. Truth be told, he’s not even my favorite there. As far as Outlaw Country goes, I’d have to go with Dallas Wayne and the fetching Elizabeth Cook as my favorite hosts.

Who is Mojo Nixon? According to Wikipedia:

“Mojo Nixon (born Neill Kirby McMillan, Jr., August 2, 1957 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina) is an irreverent American musician, known for playing psychobilly music. He has officially retired from playing live and recording, though he does host several radio shows on Sirius Satellite Radio and has come out of retirement for one-off events, such as an event to support fellow irreverent musician Kinky Friedman’s candidacy for Texas governor.”

A little farther down in the Wikipedia article is this:

“In October 2009, he announced his “unretirement” on his website with the release of his album Whiskey Rebellion, a collection of previously unreleased tracks he claims he had found in “an old shoe box full of cassette tapes” under his front porch.[2]. To promote the CD, he announced the temporary free downloads of the CD tracks and several of his solo albums (and albums with Skid Roper) on Amazon.com, along with a tour of several Texas locations. In a press release, Mojo stated,

“Can’t wait for Washington to fix the economy. We must take bold action now. If I make the new album free and my entire catalog free it will stimulate the economy. It might even over-stimulate the economy. History has shown than when people listen to my music, money tends to flow to bartenders, race tracks, late night greasy spoons, bail bondsman, go kart tracks, tractor pulls, football games, peep shows and several black market vices. My music causes itches that it usually takes some money to scratch.””

You can’t beat FREE. No one in my family ever met a good deal they didn’t like. It doesn’t matter if you don’t need it. It doesn’t matter if you don’t want it. It’s the thrill of the bargain. If the price is right, you take it. You might find a use for it later. Cheap Thrills might be the name of an old Janis Joplin album, but its also the mantra I grew up with.

Did I mention that Mojo Nixon has made a ton of his albums available on Amazon for FREE?

Anyway, it’s a new day here as far as my collection of Mojo Nixon tunes goes. As stated, my Momma didn’t raise no fool. If its free, hand it over. I downloaded all of Nixon’s stuff I could from Amazon this morning. Haven’t listened to any of it yet, but the song titles are certainly intriguing:

How about “Debbie Gibson Is Pregnant With My Two Headed Love Child”?

Or “Jesus At McDonalds”?

Or “”What’s Up Judge Judy’s Ass”?

Or “Stuffin’ Martha’s Muffin”?

Then there’s one apparently written specially for me, “Destroy All Lawyers”.

You thought only Warner Brothers put out Looney Tunes? Guess again. I’m not sure you can dance to this stuff, but you might laugh your ass off.

Giving everything away free seems awfully anti-capitalistic. If this were the 50’s, Uncle Joe would no doubt be seeing Red and brand this Nixon a communist. But I suppose there is a method to Mr. Nixon’s madness.

Apparently only the brain damaged and people who get iTunes gift cards pay for music these days. The music industry (and others) has fought a losing battle with the internet. People expect virtually everything on the internet to be free. The trick is to monetize free.

From what I gather, most musicians don’t make money off their records these days. They do make money touring and selling t-shirts and coffee mugs. Mojo probably wasn’t going to sell a whole lot records anyway. By giving it all away free, people (like yours truly) who otherwise weren’t going to buy a cd might take one free. If they like what they hear, they may become fans. And they might go to a concert. And buy a t-shirt. Or actually pay for an album down the road somewhere. The first hit is free, but if you get hooked you’ll pay later.

So giving away his stuff free doesn’t make Mojo a communist. He’s just a capitalist with some new marketing tricks up his sleeve. Sounds like a win-win situation.

While it lasts you can get your free Mojo here.

I was listening to Pete Dominick at POTOUS on ‘Sirius’ Radio the other day. He was having a conversation with some guy who was in Islamabad about something that was profound and missing in the United States dialog with Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan…..

That is…the fact that American is not just foot soldiers looking for combat , unmanned drones and bombers from the unseen jets in the sky……

The guy in Islamabad caught Dominic’s attention when he made that point…he explained  since he had spent time in the United States studying, he came top know that this society was not lockstep with the its leaders every policy…and that there was those who wanted to go one with the war and those who didn’t…..that very thought was inconceivable to other people’s out there who would think that the US just wanted tell everyone what to do…and interfere in every sovereign state…..

The fact that we have wants, needs rich and poor people was a good place to let other people’s know that we all share this trip thru here together…..and that fact alone could be huge difference in how people view each other…The speaker applauded the recent US military policy of having the troops work hard at establishing communication with the local populations in war area’s…..and brought up the fact that even the military itself has been asking for more help in dealing with the nation building that civilians need to carry on, in deference to their military mission…….

The awarding to President Obama of the Noble Prize was a step in that direct by acknowledging the difference in his dealing with the world, which has been 180 degree’s different from his predecessor……which is a giant step forward……And his administration has tried to jump start a cooperative process of military and civilian outreach in the country…..

Let’s hope it works…

In the end, the fight is for the hearts and minds of the peoples…..Where have we heard that before?

Watching these guys reunited for one show yesterday made me realize how good of a duo these guys were. Nobody could ever match what these guys had together. If you didn’t tune in yesterday, than you should check this stuff out:

Mike and the Mad Dog Reunion Show – October 16, 2009

Mike Francesa Wishes Chris “Mad Dog” Russo a Happy 50th Birthday on SIRIUS XM

Craig Carton & Gregg Giannotti did a little Mike and the Mad Dog roleplay. It’s hilarious. Here is My favorite Chris Russo impersonation. This is complete audio of the M&TMD Reunion Show.

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 Yankee castoff Abreu boosts Angels / ALCS meant to be Yankees-Angels

ALCS Preview: The Infields / Yankees not afraid to play from behind

Yanks rotation far from set in stone / Insider Intel: Angels vs. Yankees

On field and at home, A-Rod is happy / Jeter inspires family of hospitalized boy

Fresh cup of Joe: Girardi embraces unity / ALCS Preview: The Bullpen

Strange but true: Baseball ratings slipped in ‘09 / What a game / Q&A Swisher

Weather May Affect Game, but Bad Calls Shouldn’t / CC is the king of chill in Yanks’ win

Value of CC continues to pay off / Damon’s ALDS woes an afterthought

A-Rod none the worse for wear after play / Close call at first goes Yanks’ way

NYCC! Sabathia dominates Halos in Game 1 / Will weather cooperate for Game 2?

Kate Langenburg/A&E Groove

Well, gee. I didn’t know Willie Nelson had his own Sirius satellite radio station. The old timer’s radio spot is called Willie’s Place and you can find all of his favorite music, including his own.

Help Willie Nelson in his campaign to save farms. Photo from 1019rxp.com.

Tomorrow, Willie will be playing all of Farm Aid 2009 in its entirety on the station. The event will kick off at 2 pm, so make sure you’re near your satellite radio (or your friend’s or family member’s). Some of the featured performances will be from Willie himself, along with Neil Young, John Mellencamp, Dave Matthews, and Wilco.

So what is Farm Aid, you may ask. The concert is put on every year to promote awareness for farming communities and local farms. Too many farmers are forced to sell their land or cannot farm during hard times, especially like the hard times we have experienced this year. 

This will be the twenty-fourth concert since the idea was first brought to light in 1985. The concert was originally started by Willie, Neil Young, and John Mellencamp.

Willie Nelson also has his own thoughts on Farm Aid. Give his Farm Aid letter a read.

The Farm Aid website (linked above as “Farm Aid 2009″) also has information on how you can donate, if you’re so inclined to do so. What these musicians are doing is a great thing to help give back to a community that needs help. Without farms, where would we get our delicious fruits and veggies, milk and cheese, hamburgers and hot dogs? (OK, I’m going a little overboard, but you get the point.)

Tune in to Willie’s Place tomorrow at 2pm for a great bunch of performances. It’s all for a good cause!

Toronto’s Fucked Up have certainly come a long way from their days opening for local bands in the small room of the Croatian Cultural Centre, bleeding for the assorted 30 hardcore kids (half of which were in the other bands). Indeed, having successfully avoided the splatter on multiple occasions, I would never have dreamed that Fucked Up would take home what is rapidly becoming one of Canada’s most prestigious music prizes.

But take it home they did.

The 2009 Polaris Music Prize Gala was presented by Sirius Satellite Radio and hosted by Much Music’s Sarah Taylor and CBC Radio 3 Vancouver’s very own Grant Lawrence, while it streamed live at muchmusic.com and cbcradio3.com/Sirius channel 86. The fourth annual prize also marked the first ever pairing of the two media outlets.

This was a year of firsts for the Polaris Prize. Patrick Watson, who won for his 2007 album Close To Paradise, was again nominated for his latest Wooden Arms along with Joel Plaskett and Chad Vangaalen. K’NAAN, Malajube and Metric were also nominated in 2006. And for the first time in Polaris history, no debut albums made the cut.

Each year, a jury of 182 music journalists, broadcasters and bloggers from across Canada submit their top five Canadian albums released between June 1, 2008 and May 31, 2009. These picks are then condensed into a top 40 Long List. From there, it gets whittled down to a Short List of 10. 12 of those Jurors are sequestered when the Gala begins, deliberating on who will win the $20,000 prize. The prize is then awarded based solely on artistic merit, and not record sales or marketing.

All 10 Short List nominees performed at the star studded gala. Toronto radio station 102.1 the Edge’s Alan Cross (also of the Ongoing History Of New Music as well as Explore Music) introduced Toronto’s Metric, who were nominated for their album Fantasies and kicked off the evening with a rousing acoustic rendition of their hit single “Gimme Sympathy.” Next was Toronto’s Great Lake Swimmers, nominated for their album Lost Channels. Montreal’s Malajube played from their latest Labrinthes, before Montreal’s Patrick Watson performed in the middle of the crowd, CBC’s Jian Ghomeshi providing auxiliary percussion reminiscent of his MoFru days before introducing Toronto’s K’NAAN, whose album Troubadour was recorded in Bob Marley’s original home studio. Halifax’s most famous son, Joel Plaskett performed songs with triad’s for names from his latest triple offering Three, which he recorded with his father. Chad Vangaalen, nominated for Soft Airplane (b-sides now available for free download at softairplane.com), was introduced by legendary author of the Canadian Music Bible, Michael Barclay. Elliott Brood nominated for their rootsy album Mountain Meadows were next in the stunning showcase of Canadian talent, introduced by the CBC’s Amanda Putz. St. John’s Hey Rosetta!, nominated for their album Into Your Lungs, which was produced by Hawksley Workman, performed just before Fucked Up closed the night with a spirited set.

Fucked Up’s enigmatic front man, Damian “Pink Eyes” Abraham, stripped on stage, his gruff vocals providing an interesting contrast to the more pleasant music atypical of the hardcore punk genre. If the Chemistry Of Common Life proves anything, it proves that it is definitely not what you’d expect from a hardcore punk album.

Following a food fight started by Malajube and Patrick Watson and ended by Chad Vangaalen, last year’s Polaris winner, Caribou announced the final results to torrents of applause. Pink Eyes and co graciously accepted the award after first kissing Grant Lawrence on the lips and thanking him for being such an influence with his band the Smugglers.

The win marks an interesting turning point in the Canadian music industry, and truly shows why the Polaris Prize is so different from any other and so vital.

Expect a compilation of Fucked Up’s singles early next year titled Couple Tracks: Singles 2001-2009 on Matador Records.

You can find the full gala at muchmusic.com or cbcradio3.com in both audio and video podcast form.

-Kristina Mameli (Broadcast Journalism Alumni)

Here is a sampling of songs I heard on Sirius Satellite Radio the first week of September as I started a new venture.  Great for inspiration. There is something about hearing a song on the radio that is better than hearing it on a CD, etc., because of the spontaneity of it. Here they are in order starting with the best.

• The Waiting by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers*
• Killing Moon by Echo and the Bunnymen
• Long December by Counting Crows
• Rapper’s Delight by Sugar Hill Gang
• Jumper by Third Eye Blind
• Where the Streets Have No Name by U2
• Eyes without a Face by Billy Idol
• Back for More by Ratt
• Seek and Destroy by Metallica

*This has to be one of the greatest songs of all time.  The video is very plain – it was the very early days of music videos. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GLCJEYLIBQY