The European Union today agreed to extend royalty protection for music performers and producers from 50 to 70 years. Opera singer Placido Domingo welcomed this as “great news for performing artists” and said, “Established artists can benefit from their work throughout their lifetimes.” Bono replied to the news saying, “I dunno who the fuck this Placido bloke is, but I do like him.”  

The Tea Party is super duper pissed after Teamsters President Jimmy Hoffa (not that Jimmy Hoffa!) called on union supporters unhappy with congressional Republicans to “take these son-of-a-bitches out.” The Tea Party Express called the comments “inexcusable,” saying the comments amounted to “a call for violence on peaceful Tea Party members.”  

Local artists will literally leave their mark on Clifton Saturday and Sunday at the eighth annual StreetScapes: A Street Painting Festival. The two-day festival allows artists to showcase their talents by recreating famous works of art from the Renaissance, Modern and Contemporary Art periods in chalk on the asphalt and in paint on five lucky cars.   

There are very few consumer goods that sell themselves these days. Cigarettes (gross), hookers (grosser) and beer (deliciousest) are the first three that come to mind, and only one of those deserves any sort of commemoration. That's exactly why there's the Cincinnati Beer Festival this weekend at Fountain Square. The beerstravaganza kicks off Friday with more than 200 different flavors of beer provided by big beer names like Guinness, Mt. Carmel, Christian Moerlein, Leinenkugel, Left Hand and Thirsty Dog.  

If you're wondering how to properly kiss summer goodbye, free up your Sunday. Riverfest kicks off with musical guests that perform from noon until the hotly anticipated firework show commences at 9:05 p.m. Live acts include Flaregun (a Matchbox 20 tribute band?), Big Rock Club (an actual cover band), One Man Electrical Band and local blue-collar rockers Rootbound.  

My asthma hates that Cincinnati’s air is filthy. My open-mindedness is frustrated by how conservative this place is. And something unidentifiable inside me is irked by the segregation. But if I close my eyes real tight and hold my nose so I’m not able to smell the Ohio River, I can place myself back home in Columbus.  

What do this weekend? Maybe some summer cleaning? Go to the pool? It is going to be 90 degrees outside but I’m not gonna shell out $8 to wade in urine while a bunch of tots scream their heads off. I think I’d rather get jiggy to some good, old Rock music. For free. The MidPoint Indie Summer music series continues with an all-local lineup on Friday night.