You claim I ignore reality just because I do not agree with you.
Your opinion does not equate to reality, and I do not jump on the bandwagon of "Capitalism is the root of all evil".
It is like any other system, a tool, that gets used for good, and gets abused for bad. Every system has benefits and flaws.
Please do not falsely claim that your opinion represents reality. I am not a figment of your imagination, and therefore I am not subject only to your reality. It just makes you look foolish.
I understand you are being half sarcastic, half serious (As in looking at what is happening in reality, not what is suppose to happen), but I will note that we actually live in a republic, not a capitalist, given that a republic is a form of government, and a capitalist is a form of person who is involved in a capitalistic marketplace.
That influence is bought and sold is of no doubt, but there is a limit to how much people will stand before it is stopped (Maybe not as a whole, but on individual basis: ie. Politicians that have went to far loosing their re-elections, people calling for impeachments, boycotts causing company hardships and possibly even collapse, etc).
Even if there is some control, find out how many businesses can exist when the very people who keep them going decide to eliminate them by voting against them with their dollars. In the short term, money can buy much, but in the long term, it will fail.
Do not believe me? Look at China, and what the internet and spread of information has done there. Before, if you spoke out against the government, you were found dead (What they call "Suicided"), arrested, or would just dissapear (What they call "Harmonized"). Now, more and more people are criticizing, and getting away with it more and more often, because of the revolution of the internet.
If the one technology can bring about so much change in a place that has been oppressed for so long by the powerful, do you honestly believe that the US will go the exact opposite way as more and more people become informed and educated about what is really happening?
I have reflected on this question much lately, enough to wonder if someone like me, who could care less about laws, but does properly understand the world we live in today, should run for president.
No, I am not here to announce a move to try to become president, I am just highlighting the question of: What is the purpose of government?
Many people try to discuss how piracy is evil, and many others discuss how it exists because customer demands are not being met. Every side has some validity, some more than others, but in the end, does any of this address governments role in society and laws?
Given that our US government is created "For the people, by the people", we seem to forget the "for the people" aspect.
Why does the government exist? To watch over the public good. To provide for the public benefit. To inact laws that the public wants and needs in order to allow the public to operate in order, not in chaos, at the publics will.
The interesting part is, government is not there to create, judge, or protect any business models. This problem has only arose because some entity within the government decided to allow a corporation to be a "Citizen", but even then, that single corporation is 1 single voice out of all the citizens.
If you took the three biggest record companies, their "voice" should be 3. So, that would be equal to me, my mom, and my dads voice. This is how it should be, but instead we, the people, have let the government officials, who are suppose to look out for our interests, dictate based on how they feel about something. This allows corruption. Fill my pockets, I will help you get your laws passed.
Tell me, at what point does Copyright, IP, any of this become invalid because society chooses to ignore it? Is not the purpose of government to follow the peoples will? If they do not follow our will, then can we say they are even our government, our spokesmen, anymore? So they criminalized my copying an MP3. I guess they have that power, but is it their right? Should I be forced to submit to their will even when their will has been proven to not follow their mandate, to enact the publics will?
Some on here defending things like SOPA, PIPA, DMCA, seem to forget that, yes, our government can pass this, but if the government is acting outside of the realm of public consent, for their good instead of the good of the citizens, does that then means that we are obligated to follow that law?
If the government made a law saying you must shoot black people that you saw on the street after dark (This is part of an old law in Idaho that was never removed from the books, although it was "Could" not "should"), that we have the right and need to shoot them just because someone made a bad law?
Me, I feel if we do not stand against corporate backed censorship, than we will loose our voice. Even if this passes, people will still dictate our rules, and choose to ignore theirs, because it is our will, and the government should be governing for that.
Yes, some will be made examples of. Some will go to jail. Some will decide to go out of their way to follow the rules out of fear of loosing something, be it their freedom (incarceration), their money (Fines and litigation), or even their life. Ultimately though, if it is the will of the people, it will not stop. It will not be silenced. It will instead be bypassed, ignored, attacked. What RIAA and MPAA forget when they do this is, unjust laws will not turn people to them, but instead will create a backlash that will ultimately hurt them more than what they seek to prevent.
Me, I will fight against it. The harder they push, the more I pirate. The more they try to silence me, the more I will speak. Those who want to defend them, remember, you can cry about the illegality whatever you wish, but just remember. The government is for us, and our will is going to either triumph, or they will need to become the very communistic, fascistic, or tyrannical government they claim to be against to stop us.
So for me, the battle over things like SOPA is not against those nasty pirates. It is part of a whole. We saw freedom eroded with the patriot act. We see our public domain eroded by companies like Disney because they do not want someone else using Mickey Mouse. We see the attacks against Wikileaks for giving the people back the information their government has tried to hide from them. SOPA is just another step to erode the freedoms we live under, those that are left, and I will fight as long as possible to keep it.
So keep crying about nasty pirates. Keep trying to hide behind the artists that you claim to protect, while screwing them every way you possibly can. Keep trying to tell me how it is "For the children" and "For the soldiers" (PS I was in the Military, and that is a bunch of shit). It falls on deaf ears because we know the BS you spew, and will fight you until all dissent is ground into poverty, jailed for daring to be free, or so scared because you have become the tyrants our government was formed to protect us from.
Occupy Wallstreet protesters cleared out, Chinese reactions
You know, I read an English blog daily that shows popular stories in China, and this was one of them.
There are some interesting points:
American officials always say China doesn’t have human rights, but them arresting people like this means they have human rights?? Americans are complete liars.
By, do not boast of democratic freedom!
Americans really powerful, forced evictions have the name of the slogans of democracy and freedom!
Driving ah, arrest, ah, ah true freedom! !
This is the human rights of the United States advertised
Americans really powerful, forced evictions have the name of the slogans of democracy and freedom!
If you want to see the original Chinese, and their full thoughts. I am just showing you how, even the Chinese are beginning to question the US ideal of "Freedom" as something that even Americans do not have anymore.
And people think censoring the internet for big money is a better solution? It will backfire worse on the US than a simple removal of protesters...
To be honest, I do not think they could pursue individuals, but as the technology gets better, they may find more Shen Zai (fakes), and then we would be back on counterfeit arguements.
I also think this could start new business models around "digital models" for use, which would then start bringing content and IP together.
Imagine of every Tom Dick and harry could "manufacture".
We already see private individuals being charge with corporate level copyright infringement. Now Joe Q Public could face IP infringement
I agree as this starts developing to consumer level, we could see major issues.
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Techno-geeks can never see a down side to technology.
I think others below have quite well elaborated my point.
You claim that because others are not in the US, they have no rights to it at all, and then the industries whine because they cannot stop those pesky "foreign rogue sites" from being pirates.
You just made my argument for me, thanks.
The others were also right, it is not "legal" issues that surround most of the distribution channel, it is the industries own fault. No one forced industry to put regional encoding. They made it, they chose it, and, they have to live with the pesky pirates that chose to get their content in ways not offered to them.
Guess until industries wake up to the demands of customers, they will just have to put up with the pesky pirates, because you will not stop them, period. It's a reality thing, maybe you should wake up to it.
In my mind, piracy is acceptable when no other options are being available, and your "Move to the US or don't watch" is not a viable option. Could care less if you agree with this or not, since this is not a "fact" matter, but your opinion against mine on what is morally right and wrong, and since it is not illegal where I live, that means that my moral compass is all that matters.
Re: IF I say "yes", will you explain China's growth despite oppression?
Dear Mr. Out Of The Blue,
You just lost any and all right to speak to anyone of sensibilities, because you just proved that you do not in fact understand China and the way it works.
So, lets start off by letting you know who I am.
I am an American, currently working in Taiwan for a Taiwanese company. Because other parts of my company are also in China, I too travel to China and regularly interact with Chinese nationals.
So, lets review how flawed your argument is.
You claim the economic growth in China represents a flourishing of China, even with a repressive government.
While you can point to the GDP for this information, you are not looking at the entire picture.
The average Chinese does in fact live like they are still in the 19th century.
The workers are grossly underpaid compared to the cost of living. In Shanghai, the most developed and international city in China, the cost of living is more expensive than most cities around the world, and the income level is much lower (Average of about 2,000 RMB per month, equivalent to $315 USD).
Most companies will employ severe methods to control workers. Please feel free to do some research in the Foxconn suicides. Companies use threat and coercion to deal with employees, and some (Normally those for the lowest level of labor) at times fail to pay employees or pay them less then owed.
In China, you will find that the socio-economic gap between the wealthy and poor are even worse than those found in the US. Even if you do a per capita breakdown of the second largest economy in the world, you will find that the per person breakdown, if wages were actually evenly split among all, is still lower than every other first world country. Remember, they have 1.3 billion people, not the US 300 million.
The average employee, in fact, due to their poor pay rates, cannot afford things such as health insurance and quality housing.
If you want to see this information first hand, from China, please feel free to go to the translate engine of your choice and read how Chinese actually live. I will avoid the "repression" of the great firewall of China for now because I have already pointed to enough with this post:
Housing prices have caused many "Migrant workers" (Migrant workers are those who come from rural areas or smaller areas in China to the major cities like Shanghai) http://tt.mop.com/read_4941616_1_0.html
I could keep going if you wish, but it gets rather depressing when you actually understand what you are talking about and the truth of what is going on. The truth that the great firewall of China tries so hard to block.
Currently, our prison population is made up of about 70% drug offenders, in our "War on Drugs".
We then followed up with the "War on Terror", so now people are being thrown in jails and not even allowed due process for this.
Here, we see right to action starting, so now you can be criminalized from being "Accused". So I guess we are starting our "War on Piracy".
So, if you can now be locked up without a judicial hearing for terrorism, how long before "Piracy promotes Terrorism" (Haven't we already heard that before?) so now, all these nasty pirates will be able to be thrown in jail just for posting a link to an MP3 file based on an accusation, without due process?
Not saying this is what is happening, just pointing out hyperbole to make others think rationally.
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Techno-geeks can never see a down side to technology.
Your model-T comes in any color you want, as long as you want black.
Spot on, and I, an American living overseas, engage in downloading content because apparently, if your not in the US, they do not want your money, so it is the only way I can get it.
Sadly, my father is one of the victims of the high unemployment rate.
And didn't you know? If you are from the US, your white face is part of the "privileged" class in China. You could be a US popper, but in China you would be a prince.
Just ask the young men who come over just to chase Chinese tail...
I found this entire article not only amusing, but also quite personal to me.
The ironic part was, I was one of those who one day logged on to Napster and got the "You have been banned by Metallica".
Sadly, I was a huge Metallica fan, and had all of their CDs. The reason I was banned was because I had ripped my CDs into MP3s. I did not know that Napster went through and scanned your hard drive and selected MP3 files, so I did not even know I was sharing. Eh, now I know more then I once did. Of course, after that, I stopped listening to their newer music, and never again purchased anything having to do with them.
Now Ian's story, and part of his rant, especially strikes a cord with me:
Everyone can say that, "I just wanted to check it out," or "There's no way for me to get music where I live."
In my case, this is absolutely, 100% true. See, I live in Taiwan, but am an American. As an American living here, I am not able to make online purchases because the bank does not allow foreign nationals to use their card beyond a limited scope. As for picking it up locally? Anyone who has been to Taiwan for a long duration can probably attest that the only international bands albums to be found here are the big pop sensations. I can find Michael Jackson, Britney Spears, etc. Any metal albums? Yeah right. So should I have my family in the US pony up the dough for the album because I want to listen to it?
Of course, since I am not a fan of Anthrax, well, guess I don't have to worry about it. But, this does tempt me to go illegally download all of their songs, just to tweak his nose that much more...
My thoughts are:
Since his name is so close to Stephen King's, he felt the need to write his own horror.
Since he is a congressman though, all he can write is laws.
Hence, he merged the two, and wrote a horror law.
This should now be referred to as (Pick one):
Kujo's law, one mans rabid affair.
We could also go with: Misery
The green ($$$) mile, brought to you on behalf Hollywood?
Desperation.
The dark half (of politics)
Dreamcatcher, catch the Hollywood dream
Faithful (To those paying me so much)
The dead zone (Where America is heading if stupid laws keep passing....)
The ironic part is, I am an American living in Taiwan currently. People wonder why I do not wish to go back to the US.
Lets see, I would probably be criminalized for all the movies, music, and books I download, but then again, since the ones I download are not available for purchase here, how else can I enjoy them? The good part is, here, I do not worry at all, seeding torrents to give as I have received, for those like me, who have no other option, to be able to get the media they want and may not otherwise have access to.
So, I benefit here by being an American, and I can avoid the stupidity currently going through congress, the courts, the bi-lateral trade agreements, and everything else, because I am here, not in America.
It just works. The entertainment industry is a parasite who is trying to suck the lifeblood out of it's artists, not helping them, and is now trying to cripple e-everything.
They are the ultimate e-parasites, and the bill is aimed at helping these parasites suck more blood, so the bill is aptly named.
One of the school board members tried to push for more computers in classrooms, and a change to the traditional teaching model that forced kids to learn about computers and also learn on computers.
Part of his plan was a certain amount of credits required through online learning, because in the current generation, computers will pretty much be at almost every stage of your life.
The ironic part? Parents had such a fit about this that they tried to have him removed from the board. Guess not everyone understands or believes in actually being modern...
I am seriously beginning to question how I want to approach this issue.
See, my wife is trying to become a singer, and is still in the process of trying to prove her worth to the company involved.
My problem is, the more I read, the more I begin to think that a record deal for her might actually be one of the worst decisions she could make (even with me, who is familiar with contracts, since that is part of my normal job, and a lawyer, which if she gets a contract, I will hire to look over it in full for us, no matter the costs, so I will not have to worry about this kind of BS).
I have started to think on other ways of getting her known and out there, including going via youtube, youku (Chinese version of Youtube, since we live here and she will be singing Chinese language songs), tudou (Similar to youku).
I am worried more about exposure, since we know how good record labels push their artists, but it is harder when you don't have the money on your side to push it.
So, basically, here is what I am wondering:
1. It seems that if you use a record company, you have to go over every detail of contracts with a fine tooth comb
2. Even if you go over the details, they may still find other ways to not pay you (not responding to challenges, finding other clauses that will prevent payments, etc)
3. Exposure is difficult in the main consumer arenas without the big money that the labels have
4. How would one go about self publishing music content without the money and marketing to back it up?
Suggestions would be wonderful, and given that I am immersed in the new technology daily, I understand it's use, but I am not as good at figuring out the strategy.
My love for Microsoft waxes and wanes. Sometimes MS listens to what customers want (windows 7) and sometimes they piss us off (windows Vista). It's the name of the game.
Same with Google. I currently love them for their leading edge innovation, but it is a slippery slope. Trust gained is easily lost. Look at those, like me, who jumped off the Facebook bandwagon when someone gave us what they failed at, privacy. Now my co-workers do not relive my family gatherings simply because they are both my social network friends.
I have grew up with the tech industry from the days of the commadore 64. I completely agree with here Mike.
On the post: Senators Rand Paul, Jerry Moran And Maria Cantwell All Warn That PROTECT IP Will Kill Jobs
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: What is government for?
I just tend to be wordier in my writings.
On the post: Senators Rand Paul, Jerry Moran And Maria Cantwell All Warn That PROTECT IP Will Kill Jobs
Re: Re: Re: Re: What is government for?
Your opinion does not equate to reality, and I do not jump on the bandwagon of "Capitalism is the root of all evil".
It is like any other system, a tool, that gets used for good, and gets abused for bad. Every system has benefits and flaws.
Please do not falsely claim that your opinion represents reality. I am not a figment of your imagination, and therefore I am not subject only to your reality. It just makes you look foolish.
As they say: The truth will out.
On the post: Senators Rand Paul, Jerry Moran And Maria Cantwell All Warn That PROTECT IP Will Kill Jobs
Re: Re: What is government for?
That influence is bought and sold is of no doubt, but there is a limit to how much people will stand before it is stopped (Maybe not as a whole, but on individual basis: ie. Politicians that have went to far loosing their re-elections, people calling for impeachments, boycotts causing company hardships and possibly even collapse, etc).
Even if there is some control, find out how many businesses can exist when the very people who keep them going decide to eliminate them by voting against them with their dollars. In the short term, money can buy much, but in the long term, it will fail.
Do not believe me? Look at China, and what the internet and spread of information has done there. Before, if you spoke out against the government, you were found dead (What they call "Suicided"), arrested, or would just dissapear (What they call "Harmonized"). Now, more and more people are criticizing, and getting away with it more and more often, because of the revolution of the internet.
If the one technology can bring about so much change in a place that has been oppressed for so long by the powerful, do you honestly believe that the US will go the exact opposite way as more and more people become informed and educated about what is really happening?
On the post: Senators Rand Paul, Jerry Moran And Maria Cantwell All Warn That PROTECT IP Will Kill Jobs
What is government for?
No, I am not here to announce a move to try to become president, I am just highlighting the question of: What is the purpose of government?
Many people try to discuss how piracy is evil, and many others discuss how it exists because customer demands are not being met. Every side has some validity, some more than others, but in the end, does any of this address governments role in society and laws?
Given that our US government is created "For the people, by the people", we seem to forget the "for the people" aspect.
Why does the government exist? To watch over the public good. To provide for the public benefit. To inact laws that the public wants and needs in order to allow the public to operate in order, not in chaos, at the publics will.
The interesting part is, government is not there to create, judge, or protect any business models. This problem has only arose because some entity within the government decided to allow a corporation to be a "Citizen", but even then, that single corporation is 1 single voice out of all the citizens.
If you took the three biggest record companies, their "voice" should be 3. So, that would be equal to me, my mom, and my dads voice. This is how it should be, but instead we, the people, have let the government officials, who are suppose to look out for our interests, dictate based on how they feel about something. This allows corruption. Fill my pockets, I will help you get your laws passed.
Tell me, at what point does Copyright, IP, any of this become invalid because society chooses to ignore it? Is not the purpose of government to follow the peoples will? If they do not follow our will, then can we say they are even our government, our spokesmen, anymore? So they criminalized my copying an MP3. I guess they have that power, but is it their right? Should I be forced to submit to their will even when their will has been proven to not follow their mandate, to enact the publics will?
Some on here defending things like SOPA, PIPA, DMCA, seem to forget that, yes, our government can pass this, but if the government is acting outside of the realm of public consent, for their good instead of the good of the citizens, does that then means that we are obligated to follow that law?
If the government made a law saying you must shoot black people that you saw on the street after dark (This is part of an old law in Idaho that was never removed from the books, although it was "Could" not "should"), that we have the right and need to shoot them just because someone made a bad law?
Me, I feel if we do not stand against corporate backed censorship, than we will loose our voice. Even if this passes, people will still dictate our rules, and choose to ignore theirs, because it is our will, and the government should be governing for that.
Yes, some will be made examples of. Some will go to jail. Some will decide to go out of their way to follow the rules out of fear of loosing something, be it their freedom (incarceration), their money (Fines and litigation), or even their life. Ultimately though, if it is the will of the people, it will not stop. It will not be silenced. It will instead be bypassed, ignored, attacked. What RIAA and MPAA forget when they do this is, unjust laws will not turn people to them, but instead will create a backlash that will ultimately hurt them more than what they seek to prevent.
Me, I will fight against it. The harder they push, the more I pirate. The more they try to silence me, the more I will speak. Those who want to defend them, remember, you can cry about the illegality whatever you wish, but just remember. The government is for us, and our will is going to either triumph, or they will need to become the very communistic, fascistic, or tyrannical government they claim to be against to stop us.
So for me, the battle over things like SOPA is not against those nasty pirates. It is part of a whole. We saw freedom eroded with the patriot act. We see our public domain eroded by companies like Disney because they do not want someone else using Mickey Mouse. We see the attacks against Wikileaks for giving the people back the information their government has tried to hide from them. SOPA is just another step to erode the freedoms we live under, those that are left, and I will fight as long as possible to keep it.
So keep crying about nasty pirates. Keep trying to hide behind the artists that you claim to protect, while screwing them every way you possibly can. Keep trying to tell me how it is "For the children" and "For the soldiers" (PS I was in the Military, and that is a bunch of shit). It falls on deaf ears because we know the BS you spew, and will fight you until all dissent is ground into poverty, jailed for daring to be free, or so scared because you have become the tyrants our government was formed to protect us from.
On the post: Does Congress Really Want To Give China & Other Oppressive Regimes A Blueprint For Internet Censorship?
Occupy Wallstreet protesters cleared out, Chinese reactions
There are some interesting points:
American officials always say China doesn’t have human rights, but them arresting people like this means they have human rights?? Americans are complete liars.
By, do not boast of democratic freedom!
Americans really powerful, forced evictions have the name of the slogans of democracy and freedom!
Driving ah, arrest, ah, ah true freedom! !
This is the human rights of the United States advertised
Americans really powerful, forced evictions have the name of the slogans of democracy and freedom!
Please feel free to visit:
http://comment.news.163.com/photoview_bbs/PHOT0I7C000100AN.html
If you want to see the original Chinese, and their full thoughts. I am just showing you how, even the Chinese are beginning to question the US ideal of "Freedom" as something that even Americans do not have anymore.
And people think censoring the internet for big money is a better solution? It will backfire worse on the US than a simple removal of protesters...
On the post: NY Times Discovers The Coming Legal Battle Over 3D Printing
Future business models
I also think this could start new business models around "digital models" for use, which would then start bringing content and IP together.
Imagine of every Tom Dick and harry could "manufacture".
We already see private individuals being charge with corporate level copyright infringement. Now Joe Q Public could face IP infringement
I agree as this starts developing to consumer level, we could see major issues.
On the post: SOPA And Its Broad Regulation Of VPNs, Proxies And Other Important Tools
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Techno-geeks can never see a down side to technology.
You claim that because others are not in the US, they have no rights to it at all, and then the industries whine because they cannot stop those pesky "foreign rogue sites" from being pirates.
You just made my argument for me, thanks.
The others were also right, it is not "legal" issues that surround most of the distribution channel, it is the industries own fault. No one forced industry to put regional encoding. They made it, they chose it, and, they have to live with the pesky pirates that chose to get their content in ways not offered to them.
Guess until industries wake up to the demands of customers, they will just have to put up with the pesky pirates, because you will not stop them, period. It's a reality thing, maybe you should wake up to it.
In my mind, piracy is acceptable when no other options are being available, and your "Move to the US or don't watch" is not a viable option. Could care less if you agree with this or not, since this is not a "fact" matter, but your opinion against mine on what is morally right and wrong, and since it is not illegal where I live, that means that my moral compass is all that matters.
On the post: Does Congress Really Want To Give China & Other Oppressive Regimes A Blueprint For Internet Censorship?
Re: IF I say "yes", will you explain China's growth despite oppression?
You just lost any and all right to speak to anyone of sensibilities, because you just proved that you do not in fact understand China and the way it works.
So, lets start off by letting you know who I am.
I am an American, currently working in Taiwan for a Taiwanese company. Because other parts of my company are also in China, I too travel to China and regularly interact with Chinese nationals.
So, lets review how flawed your argument is.
You claim the economic growth in China represents a flourishing of China, even with a repressive government.
While you can point to the GDP for this information, you are not looking at the entire picture.
The average Chinese does in fact live like they are still in the 19th century.
The workers are grossly underpaid compared to the cost of living. In Shanghai, the most developed and international city in China, the cost of living is more expensive than most cities around the world, and the income level is much lower (Average of about 2,000 RMB per month, equivalent to $315 USD).
Most companies will employ severe methods to control workers. Please feel free to do some research in the Foxconn suicides. Companies use threat and coercion to deal with employees, and some (Normally those for the lowest level of labor) at times fail to pay employees or pay them less then owed.
In China, you will find that the socio-economic gap between the wealthy and poor are even worse than those found in the US. Even if you do a per capita breakdown of the second largest economy in the world, you will find that the per person breakdown, if wages were actually evenly split among all, is still lower than every other first world country. Remember, they have 1.3 billion people, not the US 300 million.
The average employee, in fact, due to their poor pay rates, cannot afford things such as health insurance and quality housing.
If you want to see this information first hand, from China, please feel free to go to the translate engine of your choice and read how Chinese actually live. I will avoid the "repression" of the great firewall of China for now because I have already pointed to enough with this post:
Teachers in rural areas make less than 1000 RMB per month (Less than 160 USD per month)
http://news.bjnews.com.cn/2011/0911/131111.shtml
Housing prices have caused many "Migrant workers" (Migrant workers are those who come from rural areas or smaller areas in China to the major cities like Shanghai)
http://tt.mop.com/read_4941616_1_0.html
A young Chinese girl working in a brick factory to help support her family:
http://bbs.tiexue.net/post_3756263_1.html
A 16 year old girl will be married to a 32 year old man when she reaches the age of 18 so their families can better cope with their poverty by combining resources:
http://www.cqwb.com.cn/NewsFiles/201012/16/20100016120000411848.shtml
I could keep going if you wish, but it gets rather depressing when you actually understand what you are talking about and the truth of what is going on. The truth that the great firewall of China tries so hard to block.
On the post: SOPA And Its Broad Regulation Of VPNs, Proxies And Other Important Tools
Prison
Currently, our prison population is made up of about 70% drug offenders, in our "War on Drugs".
We then followed up with the "War on Terror", so now people are being thrown in jails and not even allowed due process for this.
Here, we see right to action starting, so now you can be criminalized from being "Accused". So I guess we are starting our "War on Piracy".
So, if you can now be locked up without a judicial hearing for terrorism, how long before "Piracy promotes Terrorism" (Haven't we already heard that before?) so now, all these nasty pirates will be able to be thrown in jail just for posting a link to an MP3 file based on an accusation, without due process?
Not saying this is what is happening, just pointing out hyperbole to make others think rationally.
On the post: SOPA And Its Broad Regulation Of VPNs, Proxies And Other Important Tools
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Techno-geeks can never see a down side to technology.
Spot on, and I, an American living overseas, engage in downloading content because apparently, if your not in the US, they do not want your money, so it is the only way I can get it.
On the post: Rep. Steve King Decides American Consumers Should Pay For Chinese IP Violations
Re: Re: Re:
And didn't you know? If you are from the US, your white face is part of the "privileged" class in China. You could be a US popper, but in China you would be a prince.
Just ask the young men who come over just to chase Chinese tail...
On the post: Is Anthrax Trying To Become The New Metallica? Guitarist Wants To Kick 'Pirates' Off The Internet
Personal notes
The ironic part was, I was one of those who one day logged on to Napster and got the "You have been banned by Metallica".
Sadly, I was a huge Metallica fan, and had all of their CDs. The reason I was banned was because I had ripped my CDs into MP3s. I did not know that Napster went through and scanned your hard drive and selected MP3 files, so I did not even know I was sharing. Eh, now I know more then I once did. Of course, after that, I stopped listening to their newer music, and never again purchased anything having to do with them.
Now Ian's story, and part of his rant, especially strikes a cord with me:
Everyone can say that, "I just wanted to check it out," or "There's no way for me to get music where I live."
In my case, this is absolutely, 100% true. See, I live in Taiwan, but am an American. As an American living here, I am not able to make online purchases because the bank does not allow foreign nationals to use their card beyond a limited scope. As for picking it up locally? Anyone who has been to Taiwan for a long duration can probably attest that the only international bands albums to be found here are the big pop sensations. I can find Michael Jackson, Britney Spears, etc. Any metal albums? Yeah right. So should I have my family in the US pony up the dough for the album because I want to listen to it?
Of course, since I am not a fan of Anthrax, well, guess I don't have to worry about it. But, this does tempt me to go illegally download all of their songs, just to tweak his nose that much more...
On the post: Rep. Steve King Decides American Consumers Should Pay For Chinese IP Violations
Re:
Since his name is so close to Stephen King's, he felt the need to write his own horror.
Since he is a congressman though, all he can write is laws.
Hence, he merged the two, and wrote a horror law.
This should now be referred to as (Pick one):
Kujo's law, one mans rabid affair.
We could also go with: Misery
The green ($$$) mile, brought to you on behalf Hollywood?
Desperation.
The dark half (of politics)
Dreamcatcher, catch the Hollywood dream
Faithful (To those paying me so much)
The dead zone (Where America is heading if stupid laws keep passing....)
I could keep going >.>
On the post: Rep. Steve King Decides American Consumers Should Pay For Chinese IP Violations
Re:
Lets see, I would probably be criminalized for all the movies, music, and books I download, but then again, since the ones I download are not available for purchase here, how else can I enjoy them? The good part is, here, I do not worry at all, seeding torrents to give as I have received, for those like me, who have no other option, to be able to get the media they want and may not otherwise have access to.
So, I benefit here by being an American, and I can avoid the stupidity currently going through congress, the courts, the bi-lateral trade agreements, and everything else, because I am here, not in America.
On the post: New Video On How PROTECT IP Act Breaks The Internet
E-PARASITE makes sense
They are the ultimate e-parasites, and the bill is aimed at helping these parasites suck more blood, so the bill is aptly named.
On the post: Innovation In Education: Changing The Pace
Not all people get it...
One of the school board members tried to push for more computers in classrooms, and a change to the traditional teaching model that forced kids to learn about computers and also learn on computers.
Part of his plan was a certain amount of credits required through online learning, because in the current generation, computers will pretty much be at almost every stage of your life.
The ironic part? Parents had such a fit about this that they tried to have him removed from the board. Guess not everyone understands or believes in actually being modern...
On the post: The Pavlovian Response To Seeing Birthday Announcements On Facebook
Happy (un)birthday Mike
On the post: EMI Doesn't Pay Royalties, Or It Does, But To The Wrong People, Or It Doesn't, Or Maybe It Does...
My wife wants to become an artist
See, my wife is trying to become a singer, and is still in the process of trying to prove her worth to the company involved.
My problem is, the more I read, the more I begin to think that a record deal for her might actually be one of the worst decisions she could make (even with me, who is familiar with contracts, since that is part of my normal job, and a lawyer, which if she gets a contract, I will hire to look over it in full for us, no matter the costs, so I will not have to worry about this kind of BS).
I have started to think on other ways of getting her known and out there, including going via youtube, youku (Chinese version of Youtube, since we live here and she will be singing Chinese language songs), tudou (Similar to youku).
I am worried more about exposure, since we know how good record labels push their artists, but it is harder when you don't have the money on your side to push it.
So, basically, here is what I am wondering:
1. It seems that if you use a record company, you have to go over every detail of contracts with a fine tooth comb
2. Even if you go over the details, they may still find other ways to not pay you (not responding to challenges, finding other clauses that will prevent payments, etc)
3. Exposure is difficult in the main consumer arenas without the big money that the labels have
4. How would one go about self publishing music content without the money and marketing to back it up?
Suggestions would be wonderful, and given that I am immersed in the new technology daily, I understand it's use, but I am not as good at figuring out the strategy.
On the post: Stop The Scourge Of Illegal 'Downwriting'
Re: fair use.
Do we have a doctor here who can call the time of death?
On the post: Tech Titans Shift And Change: Worrying About Dominance Is A Fool's Game
I love Google
My love for Microsoft waxes and wanes. Sometimes MS listens to what customers want (windows 7) and sometimes they piss us off (windows Vista). It's the name of the game.
Same with Google. I currently love them for their leading edge innovation, but it is a slippery slope. Trust gained is easily lost. Look at those, like me, who jumped off the Facebook bandwagon when someone gave us what they failed at, privacy. Now my co-workers do not relive my family gatherings simply because they are both my social network friends.
I have grew up with the tech industry from the days of the commadore 64. I completely agree with here Mike.
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