Wednesday, June 19, 2002

On Jesse Ventura and the Problems of Politics I've written a longer story on the recent decision of Jesse Ventura not to run for a second term as governor of Minnesota. As part of the opening ceremonies all of the attendees were shown a short video from Governor Ventura welcoming them to Minnesota and encouraging them to visit other attraction while they were in the city; it was one of the basic ceremonial functions of the governor that few people see except for those who are in the audience.  Undoubtedly Ventura had delivered similar messages to other conventions that had taken place across the state.  But there was one thing Jesse said that made this speech stand out for me.  He said, "I don't know much about computers."  Most of the audience laughed and smiled at this comment from our eccentric ex-wrestler turned governor.  But the more I think about this simple statement the more odd it seems and the more emblematic it becomes of what I think the critique of politics as usual the election of Ventura represented. - - - - Read More - - - - 12:32:25 AM     Michale Fraase hits it on the head again in his analysis of the music industry trying to legislate and sue its way out of immanent demise or transformation.  Read the whole story and be treated to tasty quotes from David Bowie and Michael Wolff from New York magazine. Music piracy not hurting recording industry after all. The Grateful Dead were among the first to figure it out more than 30 years ago. Authorize your fans to trade non-commercial copies of your performances. Encourage them even. What goes around comes around and you’ll make millions on their interest and loyalty. You just won’t sell that many commercial recordings. Or maybe you will. Either way, you’ll have to work your butt off touring. The entertainment industry’s collective desperation and paranoia perennially keeps them from figuring it out. Read more.... [ARTS & FARCES internet] 12:12:11 AM

© Copyright 2002 Todd Suomela. Last update: 6/27/2002; 12:36:49 AM.