James Conrad

How A.I. Killed The Dead Boys
Jake Hout has left the Dead Boys due to internal tensions and disagreements over the use of artificial intelligence to replicate the voice of late lead singer Stiv Bators, with Cheetah Chrome defending the decision and criticizing Hout for his stance.

Broke-Ass Recipes: Johnny Marzetti
By James Conrad. The rich, creamy comfort casserole á la Johnny Marzetti was invented in 1896 by Teresa Marzetti, an Italian-born cook and restaurant co-owner then living in Columbus, Ohio, who named the dish after her brother-in-law. Before long, it became the flagship dish of the Marzettis’ namesake restaurant, and

Broke-Ass Recipes: Egg Drop Soup
By James Conrad. Egg drop soup is commonly associated with Chinese culture and may have been known to the ancients. According to archaeological evidence, keeping fowl for eggs has been documented in China as early as 1400 B.C.E. It is also a quick and easy dish to make, and a

Broke-Ass Recipes: How to Make Picadillo
By James Conrad. Picadillo, pronounced “peek-a-dee-yo,” is a traditional dish native to the Spanish-speaking world, particularly Central and South America, as well as the Philippines. Though its age and specific origin is unclear, the name derives from the Spanish verb “picar,” meaning “to mince.” Though it can be eaten alone,

Broke-Ass Recipes: Beer Dogs
by James Conrad. Legend has it that the phrase “hot dog,” referring to the sausage usually made of beef and/or pork and commonly served on an oblong roll, was coined by newspaper cartoonist Thomas Aloysius “Tad” Dorgan around 1900. As the story goes, he observed this delicacy being sold during

Famed Musicians Weigh In on AI-Generated Music
With the very recent controversy surrounding the possible release of AI-generated recordings of deceased Small Faces and Humble Pie singer Steve Marriott, it has become apparent that a tipping point in the evolution of music has been reached and breached. As the old joke goes, the difference between a drum

AI-Generated “Remasters” Fail to Replicate Musical Talent, Originality
by James Conrad Though he only stood 5’4, the British musician Stephen Peter Marriott had a deceptively and indescribably powerful singing voice. Artists like Robert Plant, Paul Stanley and Steve Perry view him as a role model. As a child, he started on ukulele and later moved on to guitar,

Hackers Target Plasma Donation Center
BY JAMES CONRAD In a place and time where most people are short of money, especially in the Bay Area during the post-Reagan epoch, selling plasma can make the periods between paydays easier to navigate. The company I do business with is Octapharma. Founded in Switzerland in 1983, they operate