What do Lou Pearlman and Chris Stokes have in common this month? Now before you say "duhhh Gene, we all heard about those molestation allegations", think about what the other shoe is sounding like as it drops to an unclean and nasty floor; the victims are said to be the ones who will be punished. Huh? Welcome to the music Industry! That cuddly, do-gooder business that really takes care of its young artists!!

Yes, yes y'all. Forget what some fat and greasy dudes are accused of doing, let's vilify the chirdrens! The only thing you hear after these stories is how these youngsters careers will be over, how unmarketable they will be. Isn't that just cozy? So very warm and fuzzy? Some families would be running to the nearest counseling office and police precinct, but this being about record sales and all, let's just move on, especially if we want to continue seeing opportunities Industry pedophiles offer! And one more thing....notice how this talk about Pearlman is coming out only now, at a time when he can't do anything further for these little boys and their stage mothers and dads (Lou's facing federal charges for the missing 400 Million dollars he's been floating, in jail without bail).

What would happen to Americans if we had an opportunity to buy a new $2,500 car called the Tata Nano, from India??!! I think we would be some Tata driving fools, that's what! This is a recession buster if I've ever heard one. Somehow I think certain business forces will see to it this doesn't happen.

Seattle may not be the center of the hip-hop universe just yet, but it sure knows a thing or two about web 2.0 . Take for example the latest entry in Seattle hip-hop blogging, posting, promotion, humor, politics and general clowning of the status quo. It's called www.206Proof.com and if you haven't joined in, it's because you simply don't fit the profile of Early Adopter! Some of the threads on this site are Falling Down LOL material. One in particular had me crying for a week just thinking about it. Check out Hip-Hop look-a-likes and see what I mean.

So I'm in back of one of the expanding fleet of Ghetto Prez' party buses, and he's playing this hot new record out of the 206 by J-Steelz. Just as I'm settling into this cut called Aw Naw, we jump out and into the SeaSound Lounge, where Mr. Supreme is pounding the same record in a packed room. Now I'm raising an eyebrow. But wait, it gets better. Prez then drags me down to Twilight to catch up with one our favorite bartenders, Zar, and sure enough, J-Steelz himself along with his manager David Long are walking out the door with a preview copy in hand for me to review! The project is called Now Or Never, and I couldn't agree more.

It's official. I'm signed up as the restaurant reviewer for Night Efx magazine. I'm calling the column The Epicurean, and it's going to cover the places I think will be next before they're next. Check it out once per issue/month. For my special Crazy Pinoy readers only, a secret: I'm sneaking into Kurrent (Capital Hill), Purple (downtown) and Vertigo (Bellevue) restaurants for my beginning efforts. They won't know what hit 'em!

BUZZ FOR JANUARY: Slocal food movement, Atlanta real estate meltdown, Xtube, Ace Hotel NY opening, Lupe Fiasco, Speed Racer (the film), Kenya, Cool Kids, Villa (L.A.).

WANKSTER FOR JANUARY: TMZ. People getting into their cars after dinner or the club is not news.

SHOUT-OUTS: The chirdrens.

"Don't Wait Until A Funeral To Hear Good Music"
-- Pastor Wayne Perryman

Gene Dexter, Urban Engineer
Crazy Pinoy Promotions