http://www.cjthomas.org under the wire Fri, 22 Feb 2008 23:21:09 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en I've been debating for some time whether to get one of  Amazon's Kindle devices - I love the concept, but have held back because this is Version One, and it's just plain ugly. Any first-hand experience out there? http://www.cjthomas.org/index.php/2008/02/22/amazon-kindle/ Rumor is that our good friend Dallas Wayne is working hard in the studio recording a new album. Well, it's more than rumor - I hear that it's getting pretty darn close to being done. That's really cool - although Dallas hasn't had a new release since Koch Records ... http://www.cjthomas.org/index.php/2008/01/18/dallas-wayne/ I'm really excited about the progress being made on the Chattahippie Music Festival - the public enthusiasm has been great, and many of the details are falling into place.  We are close to announcing our marketing partners, and several bands/performers have been booked. I can't wait to announce the next round ... http://www.cjthomas.org/index.php/2008/01/15/festival-plans-continue/ http://www.cjthomas.org/index.php/2008/01/12/chattahippie/ There's nothing like gloom & doom to start your New Year out right. The news is filled with tidy gifts of depression, ranging from the stock market meltdown, driven by the prospect of a U.S.-led recession, to the continued demise (death?) of the music business - poor Warner Music ... http://www.cjthomas.org/index.php/2008/01/06/welcome-to-2008/ Interesting article this morning: FCC Commissioner Jonathan Adelstein was interviewed on NPR today, and in that interview a caller asked the Commissioner a question about the proposed merger between Sirius and XM. In his answers, Adelstein indicated that a DOJ decision may be coming soon, and that an FCC decision may ... http://www.cjthomas.org/index.php/2007/12/20/xmsirius-merger-approved/ One of my favorite bands, Eleven Hundred Springs, has just finished up their next release: Country Jam.  We're working on the artwork and scheduling now, but the timing looks good for a Spring, 2008 release. (A sneak preview of the cover art) http://www.cjthomas.org/index.php/2007/12/19/eleven-hundred-springs-country-jam/ Now there is a newswire headline that caught my eye, and the article itself is fairly interesting: U.S. lawmakers on Tuesday introduced legislation to undo a 50-year-old exemption that lets big radio companies like Clear Channel Communications Inc and CBS Corp air songs without paying record labels or performers any royalties. For ... http://www.cjthomas.org/index.php/2007/12/18/us-legislators-propose-new-royalties-for-big-radio/ I know that this is pretty serious stuff (these are really bad guys, no doubt), but doesn't everyone have just a hint of admiration for the Escape from Alcatraz plot? Two jail inmates used photos of bikini-clad women to hide holes they used to escape and left behind a thank-you note, ... http://www.cjthomas.org/index.php/2007/12/18/inmates-tunnel-escape/ There was a lot of great music released in '007, but some stood out more than others. This is my year-end recap of what I enjoyed the most. NOTE: this list excludes anything released on Palo Duro Records, which of course would be at the top of my ... http://www.cjthomas.org/index.php/2007/12/17/best-music-of-2007/