Dirty Red Commie

Guess what, I got a girlfriend, well like 2 weeks ago.  What can I say, I'm pretty excited about the whole deal too.  Brian's met her and can account for her awesomeness.  I think you all like her.  There's not a lot to say other than yay. 

Also, I'm headed to Billings sometime in the realitively near future is there a weekend that you (Billings) guys plan on not being there?

According to an article from the International Herald Tribune, record labels may be thinking of selling DRM-free music in an attempt to restore sluggish online music sales.  If true, this is very, very good news. 

This could be an excellent way for some company to steal the online music lead from Apple's iTunes.  Like many customers of AllOfMP3.com, I shopped there because I could get music in the format I wanted, and the crazy-low prices were just a bonus.  I think it could be very interesting to see what happens if someone starts offering mainstream music in an un-crippled format, even if they charge more than iTunes.  

I'll certainly buy music from them as long as the selection is good, the price is lower than that of a CD, and the encoding is good, (or configurable like AllOfMP3).  What do you folks think?

 Music labels, if you're reading this, please please please sell me un-crippled music.  I won't buy it any other way.  Ever.

Most regular readers of DirtyRedCommie should know that my wife and I have moved to Helena, MT. I plan to write more about the move and new job soon, but a rather disturbing event occurred the other night. Friday night, a bit before we were preparing to go to bed, Jess and I noticed flashing lights outside our window. We saw this scene:

Apparently a law clerk was stabbed on his way home a mere 100 feet or so from where I was sitting. You can read more about it in the Helena Independent Record or Billings Gazette .

I didn't hear or see anything.  I feel a little guilty that I was so absorbed in a video game at the time.  My heart goes out to the victim's family.