Congress is doing some other stuff you may care about

Besides the big financial bailout package, Congress is doing some other things you may be interested in. One of those things is the descriptive and oh so eloquently named Webcaster Settlement Act of 2008. The short version this story, is that SoundExchange, a subsidiary of the much-maligned RIAA that collects royalties, decided to double the royalty that Internet radio stations would have to pay to play their music. This would pretty much destroy Internet radio, by either putting all the companies out of business or by forcing them to add so much advertising to their websites that you'd never want to go to them. The deadline for the talks between SoundExchange and the Internet radio companies has been coming up pretty fast and with no compromise in sight, SoundExchange's new rate (as ratified by the Copyright Royalty Board) would stand. ...more.

Hill Watch - Ep 1: Firearm Training for Kids

If you thought The Melon had a "facination" with Robert "The Traveller" Hill, maybe you were right. The Melon is proud to present a new segment recording the work of one of our favorite Tacoma activists Robert "The Traveller."

In this week's episode, Jesse Hill, candidate for Pierce County Sheriff, addresses the Tacoma School Board about firearm safety training for students. For more information about Jesse Hill's stance on gun control, check out our interview with him.

Tacoma School Board Meeting 09/25/08

This week's agenda: http://www.tacoma.k12.wa.us/information/schoolboard/Documents/20080925-A-1.pdf

Our apologies for the delay.

Bailout Protesters in Tacoma

Yesterday, on my way to film the Tacoma School Board, I stopped to talk with some individuals in a group of twenty or so demonstrators who were protesting the proposed $700 billion bailout by the Bush administration. Here's what I found out...

Tacoma Bailout Demonstrators from The Melon on Vimeo.

World War Me - Up, up and away

Here's another selection from my recently printed chapbook "World War Me." I've got a good 20 copies left so if anyone would like a free copy (plus S&H), send an email to etrotter(at)themelononline(dot)com.

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Dana Gioia Stepping Down from NEA Chair

Poet and politician, Dana Gioia announced last Friday that he plans to step down from chairman position of the National Endowment for the Arts in hopes to write more poetry. In stepping down he will be taking up a part-time position as an Arts director at the Aspen Institute.

Gioia's announcement is being closely followed by praise for the 57 year-old's triumphant work as the NEA Chairman. Under his leadership the NEA saw dramatic funding increases as well as the initiation of many well-received programs such as the Poetry Out Loud contest.

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The Melon Interviews: Life of Elle

In our sponsorship of the 22nd Frost Park Chalk Offs, The Melon vowed to film an exclusive interview with the winner. That sunny Friday, when the chalk-dust cleared, one woman stood strong. A woman who only needs a monosyllabic name and paintbrush power to claim victory.

The Melon proudly presents our exclusive interview with the 22nd Best Artist in the Universe of Tacoma, Lisa "Elle" Lindholm.

The Melon Interviews: Life of Elle from The Melon on Vimeo.

Updates: Elle talks about video on Life of Elle.

Tacoma School Board Meeting 09/11/08

As part of The Melon's continuing coverage of the Tacoma School Board Meetings, here's Thursday's meeting for your viewing pleasure.

This week includes a brief board meeting then an extended study session.

For more information on this meeting's AGENDA go to http://www.tacoma.k12.wa.us/information/schoolboard/Documents/20080911-A-1.pdf

Tacoma Buzz

Greetings Melonites,

I'd like to update everyone on a few things that are going on in Tacoma tomorrow but first, thank you to everyone that participated in the 9/11 narratives. Everyone produced some outstanding pieces that helped remember September 11th, 2001.

Onto business:

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Do Men Volunteer?

Last week the University of Puget Sound brought the current mayor of Newark, Cory Booker, to speak about his life and particularly his well-publicized and successful social justice work. He jumped from doing community organizing as a lawyer in Newark to running for city council (and defeating the political machine in the process) and, finally, winning the title of mayor in 2006. Throughout his life he has committed personally and politically to improving the problems of society: running a crisis hotline, mentoring young men (both formally through Big Brothers Big Sisters and informally), building bridges between the African-American and Jewish communities in times of hostility and race riots, living in crime-ridden apartment complexes and public housing projects, and much more. Last night he spoke particularly of a hunger strike he went on as city councilman in order to bring attention and help to a housing complex that struggled with drug-related gang violence. Since becoming mayor, Booker has constantly worked to reduce the crime rate and rehabilitate released prisoners; in 2007 murders dropped by 40%.

So Booker is a very hardworking and social justice-minded man, and the secret, as he saw it, was community support. Convincing people to come together and to problem-solve, to essentially change local culture, is the key to improving the world in Booker’s eyes. So I got up and posed this question to him: How do we encourage more young men to volunteer? I had the idea that, as someone who worked with young men and who was experienced at effectively changing cultural ideas to encourage community-mindedness, Booker would have some idea of how to appeal to (young) men as a group. However, his answer was a bit disappointing.

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