The LA Times [free registration required] has a sober look at the state of things in Seattle [here].

Now, as the rest of the country sees what looks like the tail end of the recession, Seattle and the Pacific Northwest are stuck in the worst economic downturn in 20 years, with the highest unemployment in the country. There are dark predictions that Boeing, which has shed 18,700 workers in the Puget Sound region, could be looking at even more layoffs. State government this year closed a $1.6-billion budget shortfall with smoke and mirrors and is looking at another big gap next year.

Well, if things get any worse, I might strike out of the country. I wouldn't mind getting a job teaching English in Mexico, Italy or Brazil. It would be a nice change of pace. Another option would be to move to one of the other US cities that I've always liked. How are things in Boston, Miami or San Diego?

On the brighter side sometimes it take a forest fire to keep the forest healthy.

...the impression lingers that somebody is already figuring a way out of [the current slump], somebody who got laid off and had a great idea while kayaking yesterday morning.

I think this will turn out to be the case. However, I don't want to sit doing nothing until that day. On the other hand, maybe I will come up with a great new idea while writing in my weblog.
11:07:10 PM    

The New York Times online published this article about Stephen Wolfram and his new book "A New Kind of Science."

"A New Kind of Science" may be the scientific publishing event of the season, but whether it is a revolution in science as well must await the judgment of Dr. Wolfram's peers. So far, some seem amazed by his courage, others by his chutzpah. In the book Dr. Wolfram argues that the ability of such a simple system to engage in complicated-looking behavior means that scientists have underestimated nature, seeking complex reasons where simple ones will do.

He is certainly arrogant, but even if much of what he has put forward in ANKOS is already known, he is the first to bring these findings to a larger audience. The high level concepts presented in ANKOS show a very different way of viewing natural phenomena than what most scientists are accostumed to. Whereas most science today looks for formulas to constrain phenomena in nature, ANKOS presents mathematical systems that show how to construct phenomena in nature. In other words, science has historically taken a top-down approach to explaining nature and ANKOS suggests using a bottom-up approach.

Over the next year, more and more voices will enter the discussion. Even if ANKOS turns out not to be "a revolution in science," this expanded dialogue about the role of simple systems in science will qualify ANKOS as a success.
6:41:40 PM    

Back in May, the recording artist Janis Ian wrote this article for Performing Songwriter Magazine. She intentionally took a controversial stance against the current practices of the recording industry. She also made this point that has been made again and again.

One other major point: in the hysteria of the moment, everyone is forgetting the main way an artist becomes successful - exposure. Without exposure, no one comes to shows, no one buys CDs, no one enables you to earn a living doing what you love. Again, from personal experience: in 37 years as a recording artist, I've created 25+ albums for major labels, and I've never once received a royalty check that didn't show I owed them money. So I make the bulk of my living from live touring, playing for 80-1500 people a night, doing my own show. I spend hours each week doing press, writing articles, making sure my website tour information is up to date. Why? Because all of that gives me exposure to an audience that might not come otherwise. So when someone writes and tells me they came to my show because they'd downloaded a song and gotten curious, I am thrilled!

The reaction to her article has huge and here is a follow up she wrote to her original article.

Do I still believe downloading is not harming the music industry? Yes, absolutely. Do I think consumers, once the industry starts making product they want to buy, will still buy even though they can download? Yes. Water is free, but a lot of us drink bottled water because it tastes better. You can get coffee at the office, but you're likely to go to Starbucks or the local espresso place, because it tastes better. When record companies start making CD's that offer consumers a reason to buy them, as illustrated by Kevin's email at the end of this article, we will buy them. The songs may be free on line, but the CD's will taste better.

This is a topic that needs some traction. Most people buy and/or listen to music and it affects all of us. People need to join and say "no" to the recording industry and their disrespect of the consumer.
2:42:52 PM