The Daily Loper – October 4, 2006

Today’s links of interest:

• Robert Anton Wilson Needs Our Help
  Bob Wilson is a living legend. It’s just too bad he’s living in a time and place that doesn’t value counter culture heros. After a long period of bad health, Wilson is now having trouble paying the rent. It’s a sad story.
• Tom Waits Describes His New 3-Disc Set, "Orphans"
  I once knew someone who was physically afraid of Tom Waits’ voice. She used to freak out when she heard his version of "Heigh-Ho." My guess is that this album could quite possibly kill her.
• Capable Replacement
  Paul Westerberg is back, with songs on the soundtrack of "Open Season." And battling Axl Rose for the soul of Tommy Stinson.
• Online music comes of age – and now fans are getting in on the act
  MySpace is creating a new democratic process in the music business. Lucikly, the music business refuses to have anything to do with reality…they’ll keep on doing what they’re doing.
• One more reason to get kids to turn off the TV
  Turns out video games aren’t good for kids after all. Who can keep up?
• ‘NewsHour’ faulted for lack of diversity
  Too white, male, and Republican. Also, not as interesting as you’d hope.
• FCC gets earful blasting at media limits hearing
  This just in: media consolidation is hurting independent programming. Turns out the FCC is the only entity on the planet who couldn’t figure that one out.
• Vista to take hard stand against piracy
  Slowly but surely, you will lose access to useful features on your computer if Vista decides you’re running a pirated version of the software. Anyone else see this as a disaster in the making?
• "Studio 60" on the Blink
  Apparently, it’s been a rough start to the new fall season. Who would’ve thunk it with all the new programs vying for viewer attention?
• Exploding Hello Kitty toys recalled
  Another Medialoper public service announcement.
• Best view of ‘Mars’ isn’t found during first episode of season
  What does that mean? Don’t just watch it tonight, but set your DVR to record "Veronica Mars" all season!
• TV: More Bang for More Bucks
  The cost of making a television show has dramatically increased — the good news is that television distribution avenues have also dramatically increased.
• Online scoops
  It turns out that it’s hard to scoop "news" in the age of the Internet.
• Web-Video Spots Present Dilemma For Advertisers
  In a world where people can choose advertising-free video, advertisers struggle with the notion of prepending commercials onto web-based programming.
• Technology Outruns Law in Digital Media
  Which, unfortunately, sometimes makes for hurried, 1.0 versions of law.
• Citigroup downgrades Apple on iPod worries
  It’s the delay of the new video iPod that’s causing the problems.
• Around The World With Slate
  Slate and Fodor’s send two fake women around the world and let them blog about it. We like this idea, but, as always, reserve the right to withhold judgment on the execution (meaning, Slate’s servers were too busy to receive us..they thought maybe we shou
• Facebook Frozen By Microsoft Link
  In what has to be an amazingly naive business deal, the fine folks behind Facebook decide they love Microsoft so much that they’ll need to pay a fee if they start going steady with someone else.
• FCC Is Set to Revisit Rules on Ownership
  Coming to a town near you (hey, L.A., today it’s your turn!), the FCC. They’re finally holding public hearings about media ownership. Call it too little, too late.