Here's a fun story. After sending my Xbox 360 back for repairs a second time, I finally got it back earlier this week. I plugged it in, fired it up, and you guessed it...it DOES NOT work. This time, instead of "repairing" it, they're sending me a new one. Seems I'm not alone.

According to the NY Times, The MPAA now says it was wrong to blame illegal downloads by college students for 44% of the film industry's domestic losses. Apparently, they say college students are only responsible for 15% of the losses. I'd like to suggest that the studios are partially responsible because they're making stuff like this.

U23D

I had the chance to see an advance screening of the new 3D Imax film U23D (thanks Best Buy!). Despite some "ghosting", it was by far the best 3D I've yet seen. It wasn't overly gimmicky, in fact the film focused mainly on accurately reproducing the performance space and so I got wrapped up in the music, much as I did when I saw the band perform in Memphis years ago. Great setlist, so if you're a fan of the band, definitely take the kids and go to the Imax.

By the way, these Irish kids are an incredibly tight and expansive band. If you didn't see it, read Springsteen's Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction speech here. There's no better description of who they are and what they do.

Watchmen

I just finished reading Watchmen and I'm really interested to see how the film will develop. The little bit that I've read and seen online leads me to believe that it will be a pretty faithful interpretation. I like the casting I've read about (Billy Crudup as Dr. Manhattan and Jackie Earl Haley as Rorshach) although I wonder how well some of the younger actors will portray "retired" superheroes.

Ferrell on Broadway

I would give my left elbow for tickets to this

Rent to Own music

I've been thinking alot lately about the future of music sales and how this will change with technology. Folks like Rick Rubin, David Geffen, and my friend Josh, believe the subscription model is the future of the industry. They say you'll pay a certain amount each month to gain access to virtually any music you're interested in hearing. It sounds great, but I'm not thrilled about having to pay yet another monthly bill. And since the beginning of recorded music sales, we've owned our music. I just can't believe that we'll all be content to pay $19.95 per month (Rubin's figure, not mine) to essentially RENT music. If I decide I can't afford it anymore, I'm stuck with...NO music. We're collectors of music. That's part of the fun of it, right?

What about a "rent to own" option? Say you've rented for 12 months and you decide you can't afford it anymore. You decide you'll stop paying, but you'll get to keep a portion of the music you've downloaded equal to the amount you've paid. For example, you've spent $239.40 for the year ($19.95 per month) and you've downloaded 500 songs. When you leave the rental agreement you get to keep 239 of those songs (you didn't think the record companies would round up to 240 did you?). You choose which ones you want.

Has this been proposed anywhere? Your thoughts?

UPDATE: PLEASE SEE THE COMMENT BELOW. THERE'S AN IMPORTANT CLARIFICATION MADE BY ONE OF THE THREE PEOPLE REFERENCED IN THE FIRST PARAGRAPH. OBVIOUSLY I APOLOGIZE FOR THE MISREPRESENTATION.

Here's a great article about my friend and co-worker Srdjan Plecas, in today's Chattanooga Times Free Press.

NPR - Source for Great (free) Music

There's an amazing group of free concerts (Jose Gonzales, Iron & Wine, Rilo Kiley, Bjork) from NPR's All Songs Considered podcast.
Click here to go to the iTunes page.

Also, check out their new NPR Music site.

Every episode of Lost is now streaming online for free

I was talking to a friend the other night who had never watched Lost and I suggested that he should rent the first three seasons on DVD and catch up before we get too far into the fourth season which begins on Jan. 31st. I just discovered that all three seasons of Lost are streaming "in HD" on abc.com. Forget renting the DVDs. The quality's pretty good, so if you wanna save a few bucks and don't mind watching on your computer (I know, that's the dealbreaker), check it out.