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Sometimes it's actually quite similar: elsewhere:

The way it's supposed to work is that the political system is supposed to be in the hands of private tyrannies, private power [...]

the best way to keep people's attention away from what you're doing to them is to frighten them

...The humble dildo is legally verboten in the state of Texas. According to the Texas Penal Code, which details what devices good, law-abiding Texans may and may not purchase for their personal pleasure, dildos (and all other items made specifically to stimulate the genitals) can't be collected, bought, or sold in the state.

The law is a harsh, unforgiving mistress, but what it says is fairly simple: "Obscene devices" -- defined as anything, including a dildo, vibrator, or artificial vagina, "designed or marketed as useful primarily for the stimulation of human genital organs" -- can't be sold in the state of Texas (or in Georgia, for those keeping track), except for "a bona fide medical, psychiatric, judicial, legislative, or law enforcement purpose." If you can prove you're using those models to demonstrate how to put on a condom, that's fine. If you're thinking about using them for a more personal sort of education, that's not. (Oddly, the law doesn't prevent people from owning sexual devices; it just makes selling them illegal. But don't let your collection get out of hand: If you're hiding more than six dongs in your closet, that's intent to "promote" -- a class A misdemeanor.)

Super-tight movie. Very SF, but very social studies, as well.

If you liked Pi, you might like Cube (they even have it in blockbuster)

Also, ANGEL DUST.
Ohhh, soo good! It truly lives up to the phrase "phsychological thriller"

Seriously, it looks like that the current system fails both the fans and the artists. Paul Westerberg just released an album recorded in his basement. Unfortunately this link does not include the full interview in which Westerberg complains that while he got $1 million advance on his last big studio album, all of it was spent before the record was shipped. About half of my music money is spent on local artists like Salaam, and most of the other half is spent on used CDs.

A large part of it is a simple issue of economics. Peer to peer distribution would seem to be a great way to promote albums without paying thousands of dollars for radio air time. In addition it would satisfy people like me who have a serious trouble finding a radio outlet where I can hear cool new music like Yann Tiersen(heavy flash page) or the Tosca Tango Orchestra (review, I could not find a band web page). Quite honestly, the only major label albums that I purchased new in the last year have been movie soundtracks ( Waking Life, Amelie, and Oh Brother, Where Art Thou).

I think it will we need is a radical shift in the way that we buy, promote and distribute music parallel to the rise of microbreweries. An alternative market of music favored by those who know better. Just as you have the Budweiser's of the world selling large quantities of watered down whiz, the major labels can keep doing what they do. Meanwhile there are good outlets for the good stuff. (Insert gratuitous beer snob flame of mass-produced American beer drinkers here.)

I do feel that there is a good place for traditional hardcopy distribution, partly some gate keeping regarding the quality of the audio distributed, but also to provide brand recognition for particular genres.

The rules for books are quite different, and a publishing company generally does not take ownership of the music. They simply have exclusive publishing rights for some period of time.

Actually, thanks to a rider in the Satellite Home Viewer Improvement Act of 1999, contracts for audio recordings now default to work for hire. Several people made a big stink about it, but not until it was already passed. In fact, it consists of 4 words added quietly by a person who now works for the RIAA. So, yes they have "exclusive publishing rights for some period of time". Forever.

I think you make the mistake of assuming that most signed artists are selling the same amount as Ms. Spears.

The truth is most artists signed by major labels sell in the 10's of thousands of records.

For an interesting read on the whole record label scene, check out this article .