Dave Winer is not happy about a rather clever parody of Don McLean's American Pie. I am not enough of an insider to catch all the references, but apparently the author touched a few nerves. Unlike Mr. Winer, I do not think that "paying your dues" is a prerequisite to writing a satire. Some authors, like Pope and Swift, basically wrote nothing but satires, and Byron lauched his career with "English Bards and Scotch Reviewers." This little blogger doggerel is not in the same class, but the same principle applies: satire should be judged on its wit not its antecedents.