Good and bad emails to start the day

Last Monday my day got off to a pretty good start when I checked my email and got a news alert message from the New York Times that Paul Krugman had won the Nobel Prize in economics. While I'm not that familiar with Krugman's academic economic work, I'm a huge fan of his Times column, to the point that a few years ago I subscribed to the ill-fated Times Select for a year. I rationalized this that with 2 columns a week it was about $0.50 a column, which seemed reasonable, plus the added value of the other columnists and access to the Times archives, which I remember using a lot during my subscription, although I've rarely used it since. One recent column that I particularly enjoyed was this one from a couple weeks ago:

Health Care Destruction by Paul Krugman

Krugman's recent popular book The Conscience of a Liberal is incredibly illuminating about the current political landscape, how we got here over the last 70 years or so, and where we might and should go from here. Definitely one of the better political books I've read. And finally I'd be remiss if I didn't post this hilarious column after Krugman won the Nobel:

Krugman Could Turn into Massive Douchebag, Colleagues Fear by Andy Borowitz

Ok, so that was a good email to start the day. This morning I got a bad one:

Hooverphonic newsletter

Hooverphonic is sad to announce you that Geike will leave the band by the end of 2008.

Alex and Raymond will definitely go on with Hooverphonic!
They are therefore looking for a new singer (male or female).

If you're interested, please send us your updated CV, as well as an MP3 and a recent picture of yourself

Candidates do not necessarily have to come from Belgium, we are open to cross-border collaborations.

God. Damn. It.

Hooverphonic is one of my 5 favorite current bands, and this news is the worst. I have no problem with Arnaert pursuing her solo career, but why couldn't she continue singing for Hooverphonic as well?

Hooverphonic's first album, A New Stereophonic Sound Spectacular, which featured singer Liesje Sadonius (I wonder if they've considered bringing her back...), was very good and shows that they can make great music without Arnaert, but every one of Hooverphonic's subsequent 6 albums (5 studio and 1 acoustic) with Arnaert have been better. I'm not at all optimistic that they can find another singer nearly as good as Arnaert, and while I guess a mass email to their fans might turn up some possibilities, although I'm sure they're searching through a variety of ways, it does seem kind of unseemly considering their accomplishments. And the idea of Hooverphonic having a male singer is nothing short of scary.

As far as Arnaert's solo career goes, I don't really know what to expect. She obviously has an amazing voice, but since I can only assume she's leaving Hooverphonic in order to do a different style of music, then who knows. The 2 non-Hooverphonic songs I've heard from her are hit and miss: Strange Lit Star with Ozark Henry is fantastic, but Comin' Back For More with New Cool Collective is unimpressive, because I don't care for the musical style.

Considering how great a match Hooverphonic with Arnaert is, and also Arnaert with Hooverphonic is, unless they've had a big falling out or something, I hope that they'll find a way that Arnaert can do her solo stuff and still be able to sing for Hooverphonic's albums.

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I was just getting ready to post this and I got another good email this morning:

Breaking News Alert
The New York Times
Sunday, October 19, 2008 -- 9:25 AM ET
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Former Secretary of State Colin L. Powell Endorses Obama

In an appearance on NBC's "Meet the Press" on Sunday, former
Secretary of State Colin Powell endorsed Senator Barack Obama
for president.

Not a total surprise like the other two messages, but welcome news nonetheless.