Eight Items or Less: R.E.M., Yelle and Happy Thanksgiving!

1. Attention R.E.M. fans: Michael Dorf is presenting a tribute to the band at Carnegie Hall on March 11, 2009. The event will benefit music education programs for underprivileged youth and features 20 artists (Throwing Muses, Apples in Stereo, Patti Smith, Calexico etc.) who will perform songs from the R.E.M. catalog. Go here (http://www.carnegiehall.org/article/box_office/events/evt_13221.html?sel
ecteddate=03112009) for tickets.

2. WTF? The president of General Motors in Brazil told the Latin American Herald Tribune that he is getting $1 billion from GM's anticipated "bailout" money to invest in Brazil "to avoid the kind of problems the U.S. automaker is facing at home."

3. Merriam-Webster's online dictionary says that "bailout" is its 2008 Word of the Year. On the other hand, the New York Times reported today that Washington Democrats have stopped using the words "bailout" and "stimulus" because of their bad connotations and will henceforth use "economic recovery."

4. We are almost too embarrassed to admit it, but once again we must tell you that the band scheduled to perform for free in Miami on Wednesday, December 3, is French trio Yelle, not the other bands previously mentioned. We promise to inflict some pain on our source when we see him next week.

5. Go here to see celebrities on steroids.

6. Have a great Thanksgiving!