Local Rhythms – Ditch The Arenas

People will line up to see Bob Seger until the day he can’t remember the words to “Rock and Roll Never Forgets.” Why wouldn’t they? He’s a working class hero who can play guys half his age under the table.
The fifth song Seger performed last Saturday night in Boston was “Old [...]

Robert Dubac’s “The Male Intellect”

According to Robert Dubac, man’s struggle to understand women – and vice versa – will never end.
“Women are a paradox,” says the comedian, who performs his one-man show, “The Male Intellect,” February 8 at the Claremont Opera House. “They want us to figure things out. But once we do, they want us to [...]

FCC Franchise Ruling Off Base, Locals Say

A growing number of critics claim the FCC’s ruling mandating a 90-day negotiation perfod for local cable franchises is unfair to muncipalities. One critic called some of the evidence cited in support of the decision “complete and abject fiction.” From the AP:
Opponents of the FCC’s action say the new rules amount to a [...]

FCC Ignored “Inconvenient Facts” On Franchise Ruling

John Dunbar of the AP updates ongoing investigation into a 2003 study spiked by the FCC because it didn’t reach the pre-appoved conclusion:
When the government decided to take a hard look at how well broadcasters were serving the needs of the communities where they operated, two economists at the Federal Communications Commission got a [...]

With Ruling, FCC Levels the Cable TV Franchising Field?

A little late on my part, but very relevant to the discussion about FairPoint Communications’ entrance into the NH/VT/ME cable television market via IPTV.
Thanks to The Benton Foundation for posting this, and gathering a bevy of coverage and reaction links. Rather than paraphrase them, I’ve re-posted all of their excellent discussion here:
From The Benton [...]

The PC in the Family Room

Ten years ago, slow dial-up access limited most Internet use to e-mail and text-based web browsing. Now, with over 56 million broadband customers in the United States alone, the experience of watching video online has moved from the computer screen to the television. A wide range of consumer choices have sprung up [...]

Competition Fuels Local TV Growth

Digital convergence – the media trinity of voice, video and broadband – could be coming soon to Claremont, Newport, Springfield and other towns. Two companies, Comcast and FairPoint Communications, recently revealed plans to offer a combination of digital television, telephone and Internet access to their newly acquired customers in New Hampshire, Vermont and Maine. [...]

Zune Faces Competition In Sansa Connect

With the announcement of the Sansa Connect at the recent CES, Microsoft faces serious competition to the the much-hyped Zune. Two key differences in the Wi-Fi player are the focus on Internet radio, and a less DRM-crippled version of Microsoft’s much-hyped song sharing feature.
Microsoft doomed the so-called “community” aspect of the Zune at [...]

Local Rhythms – Finding the Sweet Spot

I don’t envy tavern owners faced with the task of booking talent to their establishments. How do they know what their clientele want? From what I’ve gleaned, it’s a hit and miss affair where “learn from your mistakes” tends to be the operative phrase.
Sophie & Zeke’s, the downtown Claremont hot spot du [...]

Working Class Gully Boys Celebrate 13 Years

The Gully Boys, a ragtag group of friends who found common ground in the music of the Grateful Dead, Phish, Little Feat and other jam bands, celebrate 13 years together next Friday. “Together,” however, doesn’t quite describe their many permutations.
Says leader and vocalist Bill Temple, “there’s been at least 20 guys that have [...]