No Rock And Roll Fun

FACTFINDING: James Sensenbrenner, the Congressman behind some of the webcasting fee-legislation floating about in the US, appears out to have accepted eighteen thousand for a trip overseas lobbying on behalf of the RIAA. Unfortunately, of course, this is against House Rules. ("Members and staff may not accept expenses from a private source for travel the primary purpose of which is to conduct official business.")

And you have to wonder, if the record companies are really in the dire straits they claim, how can they afford to fund so lavishly overseas trips of this sort anyway? You could buy a CD single instead of downloading the track for free, but when you know the money is going to be wasted on sending portly congressmen to eat lobster and quaff wine in sunny climes, you might find the calls to do the moral thing and pay for your music seems strangely less compelling. "BUY THIS CD - OR SENSENBRENNER WILL HAVE TO FLY CLUB."