A Different Spin

Fresh Oranges in the main market (Shuk) in Tel Aviv

I'm going to try something new here at CSVMAD, and I hope that it will go over well with you, the readers (however many there may be). Every week, perhaps we'll do it every tuesday (the day may change), we're going to have a segment called "A Different Spin" which will feature random musings, opinions, thoughts, etc. that may or may not pertain to music. Of course, there will always be some kind of plug to the music with which we surround ourselves. A Different Spin will always feature some of my original photography (see above).

1) I have beef with ESPN. Around 10 years ago, they were at the peak of their domination of sports culture-coining phrases and making useful commentary. Their anchors were top notch and they managed to deliver sports in a humorous and entertaining way. But now, I feel that they are starting to deteriorate. Or rather, they are getting too big for themselves. Their sports coverage is biased (East Coast Bias), they don't have the same anchors they did 10 years ago (most of them have their own radio show or MSNBC show or something like that), and they still have Stuart Scott. Stuart Scott's phrases are getting old and repititive. You can see him desperately looking for a new catch phrase. I'm just waiting for the molerat (have you seen his new look-he's a molerat) to say, "And the White Sox pitching has been more volatile than an internet stock!" I mean, seriously.

Also, since ESPN committed to Monday Night Football, I've been really excited. I think they're going to revive it and make it something cool again. But, it's cable!! You automatically take out a significant viewer base from the get-go. And on top of that, that means Chris Berman and Tom Jackson are going to get extra camera time. If I have to hear Chris Berman say "Da Raiders" in his Darth Vader voice or "J-E-T-S, Jets, Jets, Jets" or a wisecrack naming like "Drew 'When I wipe my crack I get a nice cool' Brees", I'm going to have to hurt someone. Enough.

2) Katie Couric debuted on CBS News Tonight tonight, and I can't say that she was god awful but there is a part of me that just can't stand her. I know I'm not alone. From her incredibly left-wing bias that infests everyone of her sentences to the way she basically ASKED HER VIEWERS TO TELL HER HOW TO SIGN OFF HER BROADCAST, I just plain don't like her that much. How long can this last? I just don't know.
How about this one Katie Couric:
I'm Katie Couric and you can suck it, America.

3) The RIAA has been cracking down on illegal file sharing over the past few years and I think they have finally gotten to the point where they can be considered "The Man". Look, it isn't right for people to cop an album or an mp3 file, because many artists don't make the money that they should. If the RIAA had taken the guilt-trip route, they would've succeeded in their efforts a great deal more. But instead, they've responded to criticism by declaring that even uploading a CD's audio files to your computer for your own use is a violation of copyright laws. I'll tell you-I'm friggin' scared-not of the RIAA but of the political correctness and government regulation that is happening. I don't know what the answer is. But I'm pretty sure this isn't it. Also, tell iTunes and Napster and whatever other music stores use Digital Rights Management (they restrict your use of the file) to kick the DRM.

Check out Charlotte Gainsbourg, daughter of famous Serge Gainsbourg.
Mp3 of Good Weather for Air Strikes
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