The disease has spread everywhere. When Shoreline Amphitheatre first opened, you had to look pretty hard to find an indication that the city of Mountain View, or Bill Graham, had sold out to moneyed interests. The place looked like a general-purpose civic event locale. As laughable as it seems today, rock'n'roll used to pride itself on its independence from the forces of greed and advertising. Our public spaces, it seems, have been sold.
Any flat surface can act as canvas for an advertising message.
Any pair of streetlights can support a banner exhorting us to drink this beverage and use that bank as we enjoy this city's annual arts festival. More on the decline of public spaces in next month's column. DM DownerMan, DownerMan, does whatever a downer can. Catches thieves just like flies, crushing them 'tween his thighs. Com is published on the 15th of every month.