Time to get into the Scanner, so turn off the part of your brain that asks too many questions, and get on some headphones just in case. Also, remember kids, there's a shiny new podcast to take a listen to down in the NXT Pod Center™ ... for some reason I don't think that branding is catching on.

One of the more interesting news items this week comes out of Winslow, where the principal of Winslow High School has been ordered to pay $15,000 in damages to the family of a girl who was strip searched by school officials in 2006. The principal believed the girl had drugs on her, and she did not. Now he and the district are apologizing, but there are bigger questions - how far can schools go in trying to protect students? Also, was the $15,000 settlement too little?

Please, please, please It's time for the fall Begathon over at WMPG, Portland's community radio station at the University of Southern Maine Portland campus, running all the way through Sunday. Now, aside from offering a ton of local programing, a place for local music of all stripes, and giving the aspiring DJs a chance to get on air, you have to give WMPG credit for telling it like it is. This isn't some NPR pledge drive (and don't get me wrong, I enjoy NPR) this is a begathon, as in, we need this money or the lights don't come on for a little bit. They're trying to raise $31,000 to keep things running the next six months. If you donate there are rewards, and not just a kind thank you. If you want in, head over to wmpg.org.

Award tour The crew over at WePushButtons.com is doing it their way, and by "it" I mean throwing an awards show. This should come as no surprise, as the WPB team is nothing if not adamant about the lack of respect crate diggers, beat heads and laptop kids get in this town. So they're doing for themselves. Nov. 10 is the first annual WPB Awards, honoring local hip-hop, electronica, house and pop music makers. Head over to the website to vote for artists like DJ Mayonnaise, SayLove!, Miss Fairchild, Bread, Jason Keith among others ... including me? As it turns out, I was nominated for "Best Non-Musical Contribution" along with Bull Moose Music, Mark Curdo at WCYY and uber promoter/superfan Lauren Wayne.

Something to keep an eye on Music pirates and other people who casually "borrow" music online may want to pay attention to the Recording Industry Association of America's lawsuit against a Duluth woman, which should have a verdict today. Also of note, the RIAA says it's not going to stop suing people regardless of how the case turns out. You may remember the RIAA has handed out more than a few lawsuits to Mainers in the last several months.

Busted. So let me ask this, you say you are an artist Mr. "I built an apartment in the Providence Place Mall parking lot," but why did your little illegal pad have a Playstation? Seriously?

Full hearts can't lose Tomorrow is the season premire of NBC's "Friday Night Lights," a show I'm not ashamed to say I think is the best on TV right now, but very much in danger of disappearing this year. (Just to be fair I put comedies like "30 Rock" and "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" in a different category ... otherwise I would be a liar.) Bill Simmons - love him or hate him - has a great write-up about why people who like good televsion or sports or just good storyteling should check out the show. I could not agree more. Just give it a watch, or head to Videoport or Netflix season 1 on DVD.

Brains? What if zombies were real? Or more importantly, what if there was a a zombie-drug? That kills, or makes the user completely lose free will? Get the cricket bats ready...

But it happens in movies So this has been news for about a week, the Linux users club at Washington State University is hoping to auction off its geeks to sororities, for makeovers and in-kind nerd services. But so far as I can tell, there does not seem to be any takers.

Start your day the pledge way So we all remember that first few minutes of the morning in elementary school were devoted to the pledge of allegiance. But did you know in Texas they say "one state, under God?" Talk amongst yourselves.

Change the world This one may only be fun to fans of NBC's "Heroes," Entertainment Weekly has a "Which hero are you" test. I rolled Seresh. Twice. The one guy on the show without powers. Great. Thanks a lot EW. (Hat Tip: Pop Candy)

More than wordsThis site was sent to me last week and I can't stop going back to it. One of the more annoying inventions of the Internets (aside from LOLCATS and emoticons ;o) has been e-cards. Finally, some e-cards that have practical uses and really help you find the right thing to say, when you care enough not to buy a real card. (Note, if you puruse the general site be aware that some of the cards are NSFW...unless your office is cool like that.)(Thanks to NXT reader AC)

Fitter. Happier. So much happier. Radiohead's decision to sell its new album online ... for whatever you feel like paying. Yes, the British band will release the new album, "In Rainbows," online eight weeks before the physical album hits stores. The news actually crashed caused Radiohead's site for a few hours. And let us now proceed into a discussion of better album - "The Bends" or "OK Computer?"

Snubbed Doing some research for an upcoming story, I came across Snubster.com, the anti-Facebook, which lets people know you don't particularly care for them, and in Colbert-esque fashion, allows you to put them on notice.

Bizarro graffiti This is quite possibly one of the coolest things I have seen in a long time. We've had many a conversations about graffiti, but never reverse graffiti. I was unaware of it too, until I saw this video and my mind was blown. And in the end, the cops still had to get the last word. Technically, wasn't he cleaning? (Hat tip: Neat-o-rama)

Popozao Triumphant! I said it before, I'll say it again, how weird is it to be rooting for K-Fed? Earlier this week a judge granted the Popo temporary custody of the two boys he and Britney Spears
brought into this world.

That about does it, some questions to get the ball rolling - is there any possibility the RIAA just really enjoys suing people? If the city was overrun with zombies, where would you hole yourself up? Who would you send a someecards card to? Which "Hero" are you? And honestly, isn't it weird to be on the side of K-Fed?

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