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How cool is that? To save energy Google decides to use a black screen
on it's welcome page in honour of upcoming earth day on 29 march 2008.
check it out www.google.co.il.
There has been some controversy on how much energy this really
saves...but whatever the critic may say it does indeed raise the
awareness level a notch.
Michael Stipe did his coming out on Youtube on March 20, 2008. He makes a statement that says his band mates Mike Mills and Peter Buck are straight and hetero. He goes on to say that he supports them and stands beside them in their difficult yet liberating decision... It is a real hoot and a great way for him to communicate what he has to say. A good laugh. Here is the video.
By the way R.E.M. has a new album coming out soon and judging from the first single it is going to be a blast from the past.
P.S. the timing of his coming out should help raise the visibility of his new album...
I was like so many people a big fan of Billy Bragg when I saw him live in 91 tell a crowd of students to vote left. No surprise there as he has always been very vocal on social issues and an outspoken opponent of fascism, racism, bigotry, sexism, etc.
Recently he published in the New York times this article which basically says that he wants his cut of the web 2.0 money pie and that he is upset with social networking sites like BEBO for cutting out artists...He goes on to say that BEBO founder Michael Birch had reached out to him a couple of years ago to get his thoughts on how to make an artist centered model where musicians could post original songs without fear of losing control over their work... Well Billy Bragg is kind of upset because Bebo sold for over 850 million dollars and he did not get a cent. Fair enough..but for someone who has been such an outspoken person on the working class and the less advantaged just one thing comes to mind... Look at how many people can afford to hear you sing now!!!
Perhaps the message here is give your music for free (the less fortunate thank you), try and sell related advertising around your music, license your product, but more importantly do more concerts because your fans with money would pay the entry fee and would buy your music at the show because they do support "the real thing".
