An interesting thing I have noticed here in DC. When I get into a conversation with someone working for the Administration (either in the White House or for a Department) at some social event, at some point in the conversation I hear the following.

Administration Staffer: You know I knew I would have long days when I took this job, but I am working 12-14 hour days every single day. I mean, I am not really complaining, because my boss is putting in the same hours, but I didn’t expect it really.

I am left wondering, is this normal for past administrations? Or is this a unique case? These people have generally worked in Congress and know the long hours there, so it’s not like it’s just some kid straight from college. When I heard it last summer I wasn’t all that surprised, I knew that the Administration was playing catchup and so it made sense. Even as recently though as this week, I heard this comment.

Interesting….not sure what to make of it.

"Why are we proceeding? I have to go to the bathroom!"

Quotes like this are the reason I am following the Traficant trial. Thanks to the AP Wire.

Micro$oft wants to dismiss the states who don't want to accept settlement. Okay let's remember in the finding of facts they were guilty, and now they want to set the terms of their punishment? Arrogant? I think the best part is the following quote

The states' remedies include creating a version of the Windows operating system stripped of any middleware applications.

"This would destroy Windows desktop operating systems as a stable and consistent development platform," said Microsoft.

Obviously who ever wrote it either
A Had a great sense of humor
B Never actually used Windows (especially 98)
Stable and consistent, that's funny!

Imagine your the President of Recording Industry at your years biggest celebration event. You get 2 minutes to talk to everyone watching on television. You could talk about the achivements or new opportunities, but instead you only talk about peer to peer services and blame them for for crappy content, bad year of sales, and everything else under the sun. The problem is the artists know better, the consumers are slowly getting to know better and you are starting to resemble a bit of history.

I think we have their attention and they are scared.

Been busy working, yes I do actually work. Traficant trial is on a break, but the coverage continues on...
Readers can submit their opinions and get posted at the Business Journal. Not many posted yet, but I do rather like this one

Since the government has to pay for Mr. Traficant's trip to Florida and there is a scheduled launch at the Cape at that time, maybe they can arrange for Scotty to finally beam him up!

There is also kind of a wrap up story of the trial thus far here.

Mark Gillispie has another article on the trial here Mr. Gillispie has pretty detailed coverage of Robert Bucci testimony from yesterday.

Ken Layne has a great post on Fox News website about the Music industry, I just wish I was as eloquent. Also this NY Times story on the subject.

There is an interesting thread over on Kottke site on blogging well worth the read. The interesting thing that got me thinking is Jason Beaumont says

webloggers casually bandying about the term "personal journalism"

I know I perhaps have even done so in my Bio page, perhaps personal broadcasting is a better term? (Thinking aloud)

The truth is, these web publishing tools like blogger, give us not just the opportunity to express, but more accurately broadcast to a world people our thoughts, dreams, rants, and stories. How your cat is acting strange, Ben Brown's hobbies to keep himself (and us) entertained, my obsession with reporting on a weird Congressman from Ohio, it's all here and more, perhaps it is uniting consciousness and the Gaia theories. I don't know, but it is powerful, a soapbox for all, and most of the time fun....

Stories like this do more than show that Clear Channel doesn't respect nor listen to it's listeners, it also serves to demostrate their lack of understanding of the power of technology. Fundamentally, the Internet and technology will (and perhaps already is) push(ing) radio into a smaller and smaller market, with Satellite radio services developing and increasing wireless internet, we will see people going to niche radios that are driven by individual tastes rather than corporate playlists. It's funny actually how these companies may be slitting their own throats and not even realize it.

As an example, a friend has added a mp3 playing stereo to his car, he bragged to me how it could hold 7 hours of music on one disk, that is generally longer than most people need for a roadtrip, but all he has to do is change discs every once in a while, that is not a whole lot of work. The music is his favorite, not Clear Channels market demographics.

Granted there is nothing to stop them from plugging into the niches, but honestly I don't think they are that smart. And unless they develop their employee voices, I don't think any efforts by these companies will not do them any good.

If we let the Roof Rats win in Arizona then the terrorists have already won! (Hey, I thought it was funny)

Boat Repairs, Horse Breeding ­- Even a 'Girlfriend' Traficant trial story or Title of the next episode of Sally Jesse Raphel...you be the judge.

The Plain Dealer mentions Tom Sawyer will be running for election, same district as Traficant, the interesting point is it mentions a few other competitors for the seat before Traficant, granted the man will likely be sitting in jail by time of the election in November, but a sitting member of the House should be afforded alittle dignity ahead of a state senator or two. No class Mark Naymik, why would be so disrespectful? You don't want to be starting a donnybrook with JimmyT.

At least Craig Webb of the Beacon Journal can give Traficant his due in a similar article the Beacon is running today. Imagine a member running in 60% new district and Mr. Naymik barely mentions Traficant the current holder of the seat, I wonder why he doesn't like JimmyT? (BTW, Good article Mr. Webb)

One last Traficant story this morning, the Beacon Journal has an article on if the Jurors think they can be fair to him. "Traficant, who is representing himself, asked the prospective jurors if the fact that he was once drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers reflected negatively on his character." I will forgive him this which is tough as I am a Brown's fan, but I will do my best ;-) After all nobody is perfect...

Alot of hearsay going on at the Traficant trial, and it is being allowed for now. Rather odd that they would allow it, but then again, I am not a lawyer so don't ask me to explain. Evidently the reasoning is that..

Judge Wells says Bobby's hearsay testimony about O'Nesti is admissible, because there is no question that O'Nesti is unavailable to testify. But unless the government proves DiBlasio is also unavailable (he lives in Florida and is said to be in ill health), hearsay testimony regarding statements he allegedly made will not be heard by the jury.

Judge Wells issued her ruling in favor of admitting the testimony today, although Bobby's testimony about DiBlasio's statements is conditional pending his formal refusal to testify.

As I said I am not a lawyer, but doesn't this implicitly taint the jury?

Neither snow, nor rain, nor heat, nor gloom of night stays Traficant from his appointed duties, that's right folks he's running for re-election. Come on you didn't think 10 federal charges would slow him down now did you? The story also has segments of Traficant's cross examination of his former office manager.