Elliptical has a live performance coming up in Cleveland in a couple of weeks. I love to perform before a live crowd. I also see blogging as a performance, although it is not “live” in the same sense: I can’t sneeze on you from here. Performers “play” when they work. …

If you have been reading this site carefully, you may have noticed that I have been going through the archives of my old site for material that deserves a another look over here (all Blogcritics are encouraged to do the same). In June Doc Searls wrote a brilliant essay on …

I took my son to his bass guitar lesson a couple of months ago. I was sitting there looking at the NY Times Sunday Book Review section, and I turned to page 12 for part 2 of the review of the new Primo Levi biography. My eye drifted over to …

According to the LA Times, Microsoft is introducing technology that greatly reduces consumer choice as to copying, burning, sharing: Studios and record labels want their products protected from the widespread thievery popularized by services such as Napster. Spurred by the threat of federal legislation, technology companies such as Microsoft Corp. …

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According to PW Daily, publishers are hoping to “join the debate” with books on the potential war with Iraq: this year, houses are taking fewer chances. Anticipating a war on Iraq – or at least a long debate over the need for one – some are coming out with books …

Ford pissed about ride sharing, Congress responsive: William Ford Jr., CEO of the Ford Motor Company testified before Congress about the nationwide problem of ride sharing. Ford cited ride swapping as the number one reason for the the company’s declining revenue. “These ‘pool pirates are depriving Ford of rightful income. …

John Borland writes in CNET: “From our perspective, CD copy protection is unfortunately not as good as we’d all like it to be,” said Christa Haussler, vice president of new technology at music label BMG Entertainment. Though the labels are slowing their drive for the technological locks, their desire for …

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A bankruptcy judge blocked the sale of Napster Inc. to Bertelsmann AG, killing a deal that might have revived the former song-swap service as a legitimate music-sharing network. Judge Peter J. Walsh made the ruling Tuesday in Wilmington, Del., according to spokeswomen for both Bertelsmann and Napster. Bertelsmann had sought …