RIAA showing the "Love" at the Avalon

RIAA showing the "Love" at the Avalon

As an iPod owner, an mp3 music lover, and a supporter of p2p networking it pained me to attend a party hosted by the RIAA. The invitation stated "absolutely no cameras, camera phones, or recording devices allowed inside." Even the free cd's handed out by the RIAA representatives were locked down with security protections. But, I also want to thank them for the free food and drinks at the open bar, the constant barrage of bass from the speakers while the Black Eye Peas busted out their hit tunes, and the hotties in the VIP rooms.

While I may not have pictures from the event, Terry McAuliffe knows how to work a packed house. The RIAA showed the love, does this make me support them, hell no! Does this make me support any legislation which has the RIAA's support, no (I'm totally against the INDUCE act and Senator Hatch can kiss my ass!). The party was essentially payback for all of the times they music industry has made my life difficult when I want to listen to music. Just listening to the Black Eye Peas sing "Where is the Love?" in a room packed with Democrats (and ones who know the words) just made the evening.

Today, I am going to try and meet with the Bloggers on Bloggers Row just to say hi and to tell them to enjoy the show. I had an opportunity to attend the bloggers breakfast (thanks to my contact in communications) but I couldn't make it. It's nice reading the various blogs as they are writing with the excitement of first time visitors to a political convention. This being my second convention (my first was Los Angeles in 2000) I'm focusing more on the work instead of the sideshows and chatter. Governor Gary Locke is just outside my cubicle prepping for his speech tonight!

There is a lot more I would like to post about here, but I am going to refrain from providing any thing outside of what is already in the public domain.