Tuesday, January 30
One million Mule-sic downloads
 Sure beats a flashback: Gov’t Mule offers a slew of live recordings to their one one millionth online music customer. |
In the post-Napster lawsuit world, bands are making bank on the appetites of insatiable fans. Gov’t Mule, who released their 2006 album, High & Mighty, on locally owned ATO Records, is no exception. After launching its “Mule Tracks” site (www.muletracks.com) in October 2004 via locally run Musictoday, Mule Tracks is nearing its millionth song download, according to band management. Rather than wait for the group’s next local stop, buy Gov’t Mule’s 2006 live set at the Charlottesville Pavilion, or a show from the Martin Luther King, Jr. Performing Arts Center from 2005. The fan that nabs the millionth tune will receive the band’s entire live catalogue from 2007 for free.
Wednesday, January 31
Fewer liberal profs?
A bill proposed by delegate Steve Landes (whose district includes precincts in Albemarle) to ask state colleges to report on “intellectual diversity” was killed in committee yesterday, the Hampton Roads Daily Press reports. Though one might think the “intellectual diversity” at colleges, of all places, is pretty good, apparently “political diversity” is a different matter. A student from a public university in Virginia said he received better grades in a writing class after he adopted a more liberal viewpoint. A House education subcommittee tabled the measure, saying the issue was too broad, which is bureaucrat-speak for “a non-issue.”
Thursday, February 1
Duke, defeated!
Around here, Cavalier fans know it’s all about Sean Singletary. For those outside the UVA bubble, The Washington Post’s sports section today more than adequately introduces the apparently lesser-known guard in the UVA-Duke matchup (Blue Devil Greg Paulus gets more press). Singletary contributed 17 points to the ’Hoos’ upset of 8th-ranked Duke at the JPJ arena tonight, trailing only J.R. Reynolds, who scored 25 points. The Cavalier defense came off strong, but Virginia trailed Duke the entire game until an unlikely one-handed floater shot from Singletary with one second left in overtime sealed it for the Cavs at 68-66. The win interrupted a nine-game winning streak for the Blue Devils against Virginia.
Friday, February 2
We mean it, man!
 "Old Virginia" versus the old lady: Virginia races to find a state song in time to greet Queen Elizabeth, not played here by Helen Mirren. |
Members of the General Assembly return focus to finding that most elusive of tunes, the Virginia state song, the Associated Press and The Washington Post report this week. We haven’t had one since “Carry Me Back to Old Virginia,” circa 1940, was deemed racist. The reason the independent Commonwealth of Virginia is suddenly scrambling, after 10 years of songlessness? Why, the Queen of England is coming, of course, and we risk having no ditty with which to serenade her! Nothing like the head of Britain visiting for the 400th anniversary of the Jamestown settlement to get us Colonials back on task. Senator Emmett W. Hanger, Jr. (R-Augusta) is heading a committee that has heard song contributions from constituents, but none of the amateurish compositions have stuck. May we suggest something to the tune of “God Save the Queen?”
Saturday, February 3
He’s with the band!
 What would you pay? According to the Virginia Public Accountability Project, $55 per ticket for Governor Kaine’s trip to see Dave. |
The Virginia Public Access Project continues to stress the “account” in “accountability” with the release of the political gift totals for 2006: More than $374,000 was spread among State legislators and the offices of the governor, lieutenant governor and attorney general. But that ringing in Governor Tim Kaine’s ears isn’t the “ca-ching” of a register. The Richmond Times-Dispatch reports that New York-based pharmaceutical company Barr Laboratories Incorporated funded Kaine’s tickets to the Dave Matthews Band at the John, a value of $440 for eight tickets. Meanwhile, Weekly Davespeak reports that Matthews and company plan to release their latest album in July, and Kaine seems to be a fan, so remember: If the gift is under $50, it doesn’t need to be reported.
Sunday, February 4
UVA students get fired up
Despite freezing temperatures, this weekend was a real scorcher for some UVA students when three unrelated fires broke out at student residences. The first occurred Friday night, according to WCAV, at a house on the corner of 14th Street and Grady Avenue. A Charlottesville police officer happened to be nearby when it was reported and helped the four female students inside leave the house unscathed. The cause? An unattended candle. The Cavalier Daily reports a blaze took place early Saturday night and caused more than $1,000 in damages at Jack Jouett Apartments on University Way, thanks to an incident with a stove. The same night, police and fire squads responded to a trash fire at the Chi Phi frat house on Rugby Road, where, apparently, someone ignited a stuffed animal and threw it into a pile of trash. Talk about your party hot spots!
Monday, February 5
Ole role model
Charlottesville is serving as an exemplar of economic revitalization for at least one other Southern city. The Board of Aldermen, mayor and other officials from Moss Point, Mississippi, are planning a trip to our fair city in March, according to the Sun Herald of South Mississippi. While they’re here, they’ll learn about leadership at UVA’s Weldon Cooper Institute for Public Service and meet with local powers-that-be to gather ideas on development, especially of the mixed-use variety. Presumably, they’ll also dine at Downtown restaurants, pop into a gallery or two, and spend wildly on fancy stationery—all while keeping an eye out for happy condo residents walking to work. Please, no whining about a lack of affordable housing while they’re here.
