The Japanese seem to have decided to just combine the two! Ice Cream flavors from Japan include Squid, Chicken Wing, and Wasabi. Think I'll just stick to my chocolate chip, thank you.

Some Friday Racing Fun! Build your own Slot Car track and race your car! They even jump off the track just like the real ones!

So MEOW MIX is going to startTV show for cats!?! Not quite sure what to think of this one. No network has yet been named to air the show. Guess it couldn't be any worse that most of the stuff they're putting on TV.

I had an interesting conversation with a good friend of mine from NY about the music biz the day after that Janis Ian post. He was, until AOLTW cutbacks a month ago, an asst. to the President of Atlantic Records. He knows just how tight the relationship acutally is between the labels and the radio/live venue operators (i.e. Clear Channel) and how there's virtually no way for somebody not connected with a major label to get any airplay. The whole pay-for-play is back.

My friend doubted my thoughts about artists using the internet as their primary promotion venue because he thought only certain segments of musicians have enough of a following who are comfortable downloading music, but I argued that that could rapidly change. While a band like Phish or Dave Matthews might be able to do it today, it won't be long before all segments of the population will be comforable with downloading music, particularly if it were legal and easy.

And I believe that the whole Cluetrain effect could have an impact. Music is really something passed by word-of-mouth and any human contact with the band really seems to have a bonding effect with fans. I remember how cool it was when I got an acual email back from a member of moe. after seeing their show at Variety Playhouse in Atlanta a few years back. Helps to explain why some bands keep loyal fans for years while others come and fade in no time.

I also intrigued by the potential for satallite radio to open up a new market for bands that haven't been picked up my labels or who want to bypass the labels. Kind like how cable TV allowed for new programming that allowed viewers to bypass the networks' programming designed to appeal to the broadest possible audience.

9-time Grammy nominee Janis Ian strongly refutes most of the claims by the record industry that free downloads are ruining the music biz. She makes many good points and pretty clearly articulates how the record companies are doing their best to hurt themselves while at the same time taking advantage of the musicians.

I have to agree that it's not Napster, etc. that have hurt music sales but the limited access to new and interesting music. The consolidation of the radio industry has left all major cities with very genre-specific, narrow-playlist stations playing only those that have been "chosen" by the record labels.

But I don't have the time to attend a bunch of live shows to find new bands, and I am not going to spend $15 for a CD that I've heard good things about but never actually heard. Maybe a friend can loan it to me, but maybe I don't know anyone who has it. Am I going to buy it? Probably not! But if I can hear it, then I just might.

I am waiting for the day in which the Internet and other technologies allow future musicians to completely bypass the traditional distribution channels, allowing the artists to profit more from their work while at the same time getting the music to the fans for less money. Everyone is happy (except for the record execs)!

Baseball lost another of its great legends today, as Ted Williams passed away at 83. Williams was probably the best all around hitter the game ever saw. And his career accomplishments are even more amazing when one realizes that the Splendid Splinter game up nearly 5 years in his prime ('43-'45 and '52-'53) to fly combat missions in World War II and Korea.