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The Failures of the FCC
Few people in America realize the breadth of FCC control in their lives. For all most people know, the FCC is the agency responsible for obliterating the use of naughty words on television and that1s about it. The magnitude of the agency1s power has always been concealed. A simple trip to the FCC home page reveals a few of the things that the agency regulates. The Federal Communications Commission is an independent United States government agency, directly responsible to Congress. The FCC was established by the Communications Act of 1934 and is charged with regulating interstate and international communications by radio, television, wire, satellite and cable. The FCC's jurisdiction covers the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. possessions.2 Stop and reread that sentence. Consider what it means. The FCC is responsible for regulating radio, print journalism, television, wireless communications (this includes all cellular devices), telephones, cable and satellite broadcast. Simply put, the FCC is the first step for about 95% of the information that you, as an American, recieve as well as the first step for all the information brokers. For the first time in far too long, the voice of America was resoundingly heard when, on September 3rd, a federal court blocked the FCC from implementing their new, astonishingly pro-corporate, deregulations on media monopolies. Had the FCC gotten away with their new plan, single companies would be able to control newspapers, television stations and radio stations in specific markets. It doesn1t seem to sound so menacing, until you stop and consider that that is all your non-Internet local media-- and the government is working on the Internet next. The plan the FCC proposed would put in place new regulations that would permit the largest corporations companies such as Clear Channel and CBS to own an even larger share of the radio stations and television stations across the country than they already own. Some companies already own more than the federally mandated 35%, and the FCC, far from cracking down on them, is attempting to loosen their regulations even further so that single corporate entities can control nearly half of all regional stations! That means up to half your information sources are coming from one group. It also means that we can commence the swan song of the last bastions of independent programming. The implications of this are staggering. An organization supposedly designed to prevent blatant monopolization is in fact encouraging it, and if it were not for the public outcry that has occured recently, they would have gotten away with it. Right now, there is an injunction against the new FCC regulations, but that is only a temporary solution. The Republicans in power right now have a vested interest in deregulating the FCC it creates more opportunities for their corporate cronies to consolidate their power but the American people have roared their disapproval. Right now, lobbyists for both sides are competing neck and neck to determine what could realistically be the future of our 3free press2. Right now, you, the American populace, have a responsibility to yourselves. You must stop the FCC from succeeding with their deregulations. If the FCC succeeds with their plans, here is how it will affect your life, whether you realize it or not. If you are an independent artist, whether it be in television or music, your chances of exposure already slim in this streamlined marketplace will be reduced to nil, or limited severely to college and local outlets. Gradually the viability of these alternative outlets will diminish as corporations consolidate their properties and their choice of programming. Everything will sound the same, as if it didn1t already. If you1re not an artist, however, and you don1t see how this will affect your life, consider how you would feel now if you turned on every single radio station in your local area to hear exactly the same three pieces of news, or the same three songs.I know it feels like that already, but if you want it to stop, you must stop the FCC and the corporate takeover. -cgg
NASA'S Stairway to Heaven
It may sound like science fiction, but scientists now predict that every day we grow closer to the reality of a space elevator. No pesky rockets or shuttles, just a smooth cable connection between the Earth and the Moon-- and other targets-- capable of shunting at least 50 tons into space daily. This astonishing advance in technology was made theoretically reachable by advances in nanotechnology-- namely ³carbon nanontube composite ribbon². U.S. and Japanese firms are curently seeing the commerical potential of this new technology and scientists speculate its wide availability within five years-- making fifteen years an actual reasonable goal to obtain our space elevator. Compared to other proposals, the $5 billion research price tag is also reasonable, especially with a production cost estimated under $15 billion. To put that in perspective, we have exceeded $87 billion in our spending in Iraq. Less than 25% of that cost would get us travelling through space in a way we havenıt seriously considered except in science fiction. Scientists and investors are both salivating over the possibilities. So perhaps in the next twenty years, we have expedient mass-market space travel to look forward to, in addition to potential colonization of other worlds. I canıt wait. While the majority of the worldıs population are keeping their feet firmly on the ground, I have my head in the stars. So, who wants to join me for a steak dinner on the moon? -cgg
Independent Label Blues
We received a mass email recently from some colleagues who work like Buckyball, artists running their own label. They were very appreciative of the people who have wanted to be added to their email list, and who come out to shows and love the music. At the same time, however, they aren1t selling many cds. They received one email from a big fan who loves what they do and has all of their music- downloaded for free off the Web. The guy has never purchased one cd. Now here1s the dilemma: how are artists supposed to keep making music if nobody wants to pay for it? The Web is a double-edge sword in that labels like ours depend on 3word of mouth2 to get our music into the ears of potential fans. But the costs of running a business where the main income is from CD sales makes us question our future. David Bowie said recently that he foresees artists doing away with publishing rights, and all their income will come from live shows. That1s great if you are David Bowie, who has been around for 30+ years and has an art collection worth enough to feed several small nations. But for growing artists it1s much more of a challenge to get people to come out to hear you and pay for it if they aren1t sure what they1ll get for their money. At least with cds they can sample one of the tunes on the web, and then they have an idea what they are getting, which is music that they can hear over and over again for a little more than a single viewing of a film. (Percy Jones or The Hulk2....You decide.)
For those who feel they shouldnıt have to pay for music will have to accept the responsibility of losing some of their favorite artists down the road....I can always switch careers; itıs the quality of our musical culture which is at stake. SP
Buckyball News
Sarah Pillow and Tunnels are going on their fall tour right now through North America and theyıre probably coming to your neck of the woods.
Starting October 14th and running until November 8th, Sarah and the Tunnels gang will be travelling willy-nillly all over the place to promote Sarahıs fabulous new album (see left column for details). Hereıs a list of concert dates so far, so you can be sure to see us there. Updated information will always be available on our website. Hope to see you at the shows!- cgg
TOUR DATES
October 14-- Ann Arbor
October 15-- Dayton
October 16-- Chicago
October 17-- Milwaukee
October 19-- Des Moines
October 21-- Cincinnati
October 22-- Indianapolis
October 23-- Louisville
October 24-- Nashville
October 25-- Atlanta
October 28-- Birmingham
October 29-- Tampa
October 30-- Ft. Lauderdale
October 31-- Ft. Lauderdale
November 1-- Columbia
November 2-- Wilmington
November 4-- Chapel Hill
November 5-- Pittsburgh
November 6-- Columbus
November 7-- New York City
November 8-- Baltimore
The well fed starving artist
Thatıs right, folks- some of you have even experienced this Swiss delicacy from the Master himself...thought itıs time to share it with you.
Needed: 20 minutes of Patience
if you donıt have a traditional Swiss fondue pot, use a heavy saucepan- gas heated stove only.
Serves 4
Swiss Fondue
28 oz. Swiss Gruyere cheese, grated
12 oz. dry white wine (chardonnay a good choice)
1 tbsp. cornstarch
3 oz. cherry brandy (kirsch)
good white bread, preferably sliced by You in about 1-inch thick slices
fresh pepper and more kirsch for plunging
*PLEASE NOTE* Hot cheese mixed with cold water or carbonization do not a happy digestive system make. Only drink wine (white), kirsch (of course) or hot tea with and up to at least 4 hours after your Happy Meal.
(Normally one would also include a clove of garlic to this recipe, but in deference to one of our Patrons, this is a garlic-and-onions-free meal.)
Mix the cornstarch w/ the cherry brandy in a small glass. Set aside.
Heat the wine in the saucepan, until it gets close to but not boiling. Heat should be at medium to med-high.
Add cheese, and over a steady flame stir the cheese into the wine with a figure-8 pattern, to make sure cheese and wine mix thoroughly. This is very important, itıs compared to going into the solo and either knowing or not knowing the changes.
When wine and cheese is thoroughly melted together, add the brandy/cornstarch mixture until everything is mixed in. Add some fresh pepper on top. Eat over a low flame (that Coleman stove can come in handy off season!) with torn pieces of bread stuck on a fork and plunged into fondue. Make sure you keep stirring the fondue with your forks. If you are really feeling adventurous you can have a small glass of kirsch on standby: dip bread first into kirsch and then into fondue for a small oral explosion similar to Too Much Wasabi on my California Roll.
Enjoy! S.P..
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