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A recent study funded by the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) found that America’s Public Libraries are increasingly costing movie studies millions of dollars in lost sales. According to the report, which was released yesterday, public libraries across America are offering hundreds of top movie titles to its patrons at no cost. Even new titles just recently released on DVD are often found in the libraries shortly after release thanks to special contributions of so-called ‘friends of the library’. MPAA chief Dan Glickman, who took over the job two months ago from Jack Valenti, said that “these public libraries are, in effect, taking away millions of dollars in revenue each year by allowing anyone with a library card to just take these movies home and watch them, without paying a cent to compensate the hundreds of workers who put their sweat into these films.” In order to compensate for what the MPAA calls “blatant intellectual property theft” of its studio’s content, the MPAA will begin a storm of litigation against those libraries who offer movies to its patrons. “It’s one thing for libraries to let people borrow books on educational stuff like sharks and astronomy and stuff,” commented Glickman. “But its an entirely different game alltogether when they just give away our intellectual property. It’s time to let these libraries know that giving people free access to copyrighted material is just wrong, and that it hurts everyone.”

Public Library Association officials were unavailable for comment.

Religious customs that may seem ordinary to some may seem odd to others. Even between different denominations of Chritians in the U.S, small differences are reason enough for some to stay away from some churches and embrace others. To the unaquainted, some traditions can appear a little odd to just plain, well, silly. I never liked chanting the creeds growing up in church, especially the Nicene Creed simply because it was way too long. If you’ve never heard the Nicene Creed chanted before, then boy are you in for a treat today.

Download Audio: Nicene Creed

After months of speeches, promises, controversies, and incredible amounts of spinning, it’s finally my turn to have a say in things. Candidates spoke of their own greatness, news personalities and bloggers spoke of the wonders of their personal favorite. Millions upon millions of dollars were spent in the attempt to influence and convince voters nationwide. Money was poured into predicting the outcome for today. But after all the hype, all the shouting, all the name calling, all the talk of better or worse things to come, I get to make up my own damn mind. It’s just me and a handful of choices. The only person who gets to make that decision is myself. And that feels really good. Don’t let anyone else make that decision for you: get out and vote.

I had some Tangerine Dream and Celtic Cross queued up to play this morning and happened to notice a similarity between TD’s No Man’s Land and CC’s Hicksville. Pointless to notice, perhaps, but interesting nontheless.

Download Audio: Tangerine Dream vs. Celtic Cross

I’ve been really into listening to Jean Sibelius’ symphonies recently. This exerpt is from the middle of the final movement of his fifth symphony.

Download Audio: Exerpt from Sibelius’ Fifth Symphony