If you're looking to book Sarah Palin for your next event, make sure you read the rider carefully - you'll need to do a bit of work. I quote from the local press:

" ...first-class transport should be provided for Palin, including return trips to and from Anchorage, Alaska, a private jet that "MUST BE a Lear 60 or larger (as defined by interior cabin space) for West Coast Events; or a Hawker 800 or larger (as defined by interior cabin space) for East Coast Events", one suite and two single rooms be booked in a "deluxe hotel", "laptop computer and printer (fully stocked with paper) and to provide access to high-speed internet and WiFi".

For her actual speech, "unopened bottled still water (2 bottles) and bendable straws are to be placed in or near the wooden lectern", while questions had to be screened.

"For Q&A, are to be collected from the audience in advance, pre-screened and a designated representative ... shall ask questions directly of the Speaker to avoid delay time with a roving microphone in the audience," the contract stated. "

I particularly like the reasons for pre-screened questions - the art of spin has even reached the Rider. Nothing about pens to write on hands or wardrobe requirements, although Mrs Palin is allowed to conduct personal business using the transport and facilities provided and reserves the right to meet the local Head of State. As would we all.

Full text here: http://abcnews.go.com/images/Blotter/ht_palin_contract_215_100413.pdf

The New Yorker is celebrating its eighty-fifth anniversary (a somewhat odd number to be commemorating, perhaps), and in a fit of nostalgia is publishing an article from their archives each day for the next eighty-five week-days. Each piece is available to non-subscribers for a day here:

http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/backissues/eighty-five-from-the-ar...

Not only is there the chance to read some excellent pieces I never even suspected existed, but there's also the opportunity to marvel at the magazine layout of yesteryear. I'm aware that much of this stuff pre-dates television advertising and obviously the market is radically different now than it was even ten years ago, but it's still a bit of a jolt to see the sheer amount of material crammed into the pages. Lovely stuff.

According to an Australian judge, ISPs can't be held responsible for people illegally downloading copyrighted material.

http://www.theage.com.au/technology/technology-news/iinet-slays-hollywoo...

My prediction: the only thing that will change is the respective sizes of the bank accounts belonging to "entertainment corporations" and their legal representatives. Given the bad press that corporates have received for going after individual consumers, M'Learned Friends may stay away from that option for a while. But not forever.

Vanity Fair currently have a piece about Michael Jackson’s aborted auction, with a gallery of some of the stuff that was due to go under the hammer:

http://www.vanityfair.com/online/culture/2009/05/01/dont-stop-til-you-ge...

With regards the content, I can’t do better than the description on the VF site. I assume I’m not the only one thinking, “You’ve got to be kidding.” Or something slightly more colourful.

Most things that appear in the media about Jackson seem to be somewhat disturbing – even the more pedestrian material (details of concert ticket sales, etc) is tinged with the feeling that there’s something wrong here. The power of history and all that.

I remember reading a report that said Jackson’s financial problems stemmed from the fact that he was a millionaire that lived like he was a billionaire. The stuff that was up for sale would suggest a more complex problem – a breathtaking self absorption with few parallels and no restraint. What drives a man to commission paintings like these?

My own take on Jackson is that he found himself surrounded by people telling him he was wonderful, he started believing them and eventually went on to get rid of anyone who didn’t tell him what he wanted to hear. Regardless of the truth of the molestation accusations, don’t you think there’d be someone in his organisation that might say, “Ah Michael, do really think having the kid in your bedroom is a great idea?” With no-one to keep him grounded and everyone protecting him from anything that might disturb Planet Jackson, he’s just spun off into another plane of reality.

But the basic question: How does someone (anyone?) get this way? Can we even pretend to analyse a man that is this far gone?

For a statistical analysis of Bob Dylan's radio show, might I direct your attention here (Vanity Fair, of all places):

http://www.vanityfair.com/ontheweb/blogs/daily/2008/04/dylan.html

Do we need more analysis of the thoughts of Mr Zimmerman? Is this taking the obsession with his persona too far? I don't really care - I'll be making a mint julep when I get home from work though...