Yippies' Answer to Smoke-Filled Rooms

Fred R. Conrad/The New York Times

In her younger days, Ms. Slick once tried to take Mr. Hoffman as her date to a White House tea party, at which they planned to put LSD in Richard Nixon's tea. Though she had been invited to the event — she attended the same small women's college as Patricia Nixon — she and Mr. Hoffman were intercepted at the door.

Steal this brain cell! It's a lucky thing that Jerry Rubin cashed in his stocks when he did... Hey man, call me ridiculous, but given the current scene in D.C., Iwrack, Detroit, Kabul, etc. - this article gently lifted my spirits.

Daniel Lanois says that the pedal steel driven "JJ leaves LA" is the loneliest song he has ever written. This is the last track on "Shine", his stunning new album after a ten year pause during which he's produced several works that are destined to become timeless classics. These include "Wrecking Ball" by Emmylou Harris, U2's "All That You Can't Leave Behind", and Dylan's "Time Out Of Mind".

Five stars.