Rivers Cuomo Was Scared

Rivers Cuomo, the lead singer, guitarist and songwriter of the rock band Weezer, has released a solo set of at-home demos called Alone and Alone II. The CDs feature demo versions of songs from Weezer’s albums, as well as a few original songs and outtakes not heard before.
In March 2008, Cuomo asked fans to submit song ideas via a collaborative project on YouTube called “Let’s Write A Sawng.” The project featured YouTube videos of Cuomo walking fans through his process of songwriting as he worked with submissions from fans.
NPR‘s Terry Gross interview’s Cuomo…listen HERE

PETA Renames Fish ‘Sea Kittens’

“Sea kittens” is the new term being used by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, for the creatures they believe are in dire need of an image makeover: fish.
The PETA campaign boasts a colorful, interactive Web site aimed at children and their parents. It offers sea kitten bedtime stories and a design-your-own sea kitten in hopes it will build compassion in families.
NPR story & podcast HERE

…isn’t it cruel to drown cats?

Porn Stimulus

The Adult Video Network will hand out long-awaited awards at its Adult Entertainment Expo Thursday in Las Vegas. But even a popular trade show can’t hide the fact that adult entertainment is slumping. Profits are down for porn, prompting industry mogul Larry Flynt and Joe Francis, creator of the “Girls Gone Wild” videos, are asking Congress for a $5-billion bailout for the porn industry.
more HERE

Related:
NPR‘s Alex Cohen talks with Monty McMahon, publisher of AVN’s online magazine.

Homeland Security : Unreal

The Department of Homeland Security may bring to mind bright interrogation lights rather than the lights of Hollywood. But Tuesday night, ABC debuts a new reality show that takes viewers behind the scenes as border guards, Secret Service agents and patrol officers protect the nation.
The show, called Homeland Security USA has the look of a documentary, but its producers stay clear of politics and deliver a fast-paced show that’s more COPS than Frontline.
NPR report & podcast HERE

…join the customs team, border patrol or TSA and you too can be a television celebrity…

Reporter Reports Her Own Layoff

Last week during the final segment of her series on how the economy is affecting Americans, entitled “American Moxie: How We Get By” NPR reporter Ketzel Levine finished off by announcing to listeners that she herself had lost her job as part of the sweeping layoffs that hit NPR earlier this month.
My name is Ketzel Levine. I’m a senior correspondent for National Public Radio — and as a direct result of the current economic crisis, I have been been laid off from my job. I was told almost two weeks ago, but it’s only today that I’m sane enough to tell you. I’ve been spending most of my time careening around the five stages of grief — doing each of them a disservice, I might add. But I figure there’ll be time enough later to revisit each one at least a few more times.
NPR morning programming director said, “…it was kind of eerie…The whole concept that one person in the story would lead to another, and then it would all end with her, was not something any of us anticipated.”
You can listen to the entire piece HERE

Sugar Mountain

A spectacular live recording of Neil Young performing in 1968, made just before the release of his very first solo album, is about to be made available for the first time ever. Sugar Mountain won’t be out until December, but NPR has the title track for you HERE as a sneak preview.
pre-order CD HERE