Well, Rolling Stone certainly got my attention when I saw this cover headline in the checkout line at Earth Fare yesterday:
Why
The
Beatles
Broke Up
THE INSIDE STORY
So I immediately resolved to look up the piece and read it when I got to my laptop.
But I couldn’t, because they didn’t post the actual article. Oh, they posted all sorts of teasers and promotional material, such as the 
“story behind the story,” and gallery after gallery of fab pics of the lads back in the day.
But not the actual story.
We can debate from now until the last newspaper closes the relative wisdom of posting one’s precious content online for free. Maybe Rolling Stone’s got it going on teasing us to distraction this way. But I wonder: Which approach sells more magazines — this, or the Vogue approach? No, I didn’t go out and buy a copy of the Vogue with the Jenny Sanford piece; I was satisfied with what I found online. But I’ll bet the fact that bloggers were able to read, and then tout, the contents did lead to at least some people who are more in Vogue‘s demographic to go out and buy the slick dead-tree version.
I don’t know. But I know I’m not shelling out $4.99 to read the piece about the fall of The Beatles. Hey, I lived through the time, and I know why The Beatles broke up — because the ’60s ended. Duh.
Now there was a time when I would have shelled out the money. But not anymore. I guess that shows how old I am. And that the ’60s really are over…
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As I said on your Facebook page, that issue of Rolling Stone is worth the $4.99. I bought it at the Charlotte airport while on my way to Dallas and got my money’s worth. The Beatles article didn’t really break any new ground but it was a nice refresher. I won’t spoil it for you because you can probably already guess who comes out as the “villain” (or villainess).
Since everything has to do with money, the reason for the cover story is to coincide with the release of a re-mastered box set of Beatles albums and the Rock Band Beatles video game (for $250, you get a plastic version of John’s guitar and Ringo’s drums — and for $100 more you can get a plastic replica of John or George’s guitars as well).
The real reason anyone should pick up the issue is for Matt Taibbi’s take on the healthcare reform bill. He skewers everyone involved and provides all the gory details that show just how money influences everything in Washington.
There’s at least an hour’s worth of interesting reading in that issue. That makes it a good value in my opinion.
p.s. I’m 99% sure the local library will have a copy of the issue. I’ve shifted nearly all of my book reading to what’s available in the Richland Public Library inventory. That is one tax expenditure that I have no problem with. It makes sense and provides value to all residents and they seem to do the job well.
Although why I must pay more for the library service than others do based on the value of my home is something only a politician could dream up…
Could the Wicked One (She Who Must Not Be Named) be in the photo above?