Exactly. There are certain bands who no matter what I will always buy their albums (Tool, Aphex Twin, etc.). Also, any internet radio stations that I listen to on a regular basis (destroyer.net, jungletrain.net, bluemars.org) I ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS donate to them. Same goes for independent artists exactly like who you described. In this way, I know that those musicians are getting 100% of the money that they have earned (minus their own costs), instead of just fattening the wallet of some music exec while he tosses a few pence at the very people who helped make him rich.
While I fully agree with your entire post, perhaps I wasn't clear with the beginning of mine...I meant as people turn from payers to pirates (which I have nothing to back up or prove with...it's more of a "what if" kind of deal) That of course brings up the question "would they have bought it anyway?" That is something that only the downloader can answer...
...even if a far-fetched one. Say this trend continues...illegal downloading of music, movies, books, games, etc. There will ALWAYS be people that will buy their media, or at least some of it. What happens when the number of people stealing outnumbers those buying to the point where these corps are actually losing money? I don't just mean their sales have gone down, I mean to the point where they are in the red, no longer making any profit.
I think what will happen is already happening. People are figuring out that hey, for only a few thousand dollars, I can BUY the equipment to make my own music or movie, and release it independently.
Consider this. I invest $15,000 in some very respectable music equipment. I write all the songs, perform all the instruments, record it all, and master the mix. I then put up a website on a domain that costs me 10 bucks to register and only 15 bucks to host. I sell the music in multiple no-DRM formats on my website. In addition, I upload it onto various torrent sites, and include in the file a readme with a link to my website asking that people buy it. I upload a link to the site on Digg, Stumbleupon, Reddit, etc. I post the link in forums, in newsgroups. I submit my stuff to internet radio stations, post it on MySpace/Facebook...I even spend a little bit more money to get some advertising on various gaming and independent music websites. Let's assume that with all of this, my costs are now sitting right around $20,000 for total amount invested (not including time, of course.)
Assuming that my work is good and that people like it, I have the potential to make more money than I would with a record deal. Not only that, but I would OWN the equipment that I had made the album with, which I could then either sell, or I could keep and record another album thus making more money (especially since it would be a one time investment)
I'm not saying it would be easy, but the potential to earn far more than I invest is definitely there. By putting the album up on torrent sites and such with a link to my website, I am building an empire. I am getting free advertising. I am getting word of mouth. I am getting EXPOSURE, and it's not really costing me much of anything.
THIS is what will eventually be the downfall of the music industry (the movie industry not so much...equipment has definitely come a long way, but it's still very expensive compared to producing an album). The music industry won't be driven out of business by people downloading their crap for free...it will be little old me with full creative and distributive control over MY creation. It will be people KNOWING they can download my album because they don't have to worry about any lawyers running after them. It will be people SUPPORTING an artist like me, because I am doing the same thing they are: looking for new musicians who are doing it all on their own.
(Note: I am not actually doing this...I can barely play the nose whistle, much less any other instrument)
...that these news stories about cut cables comes merely weeks after the big hoopla the government made about needing to strengthen our country against cyberwarfare?
And not once in my post did you see me say anything about what other candidates were or weren't saying or doing. Hillary was the topic of my discussion, so she was who I talked about.
If you read through any of my previous posts concerning politics on Slashdot (including in this same thread), you will see that close to all politicians are off-putting to me due to the nature that they go about saying and doing things. What I hate the most is that they have to talk like politicians for anyone to listen to them...and because they talk like politicians, they get shit upon (and rightly so. The way politicians talk nowadays trying to get my vote is positively sickening. And, like I said, if they DIDN'T talk that way, they wouldn't get votes. I'm not sure who is worse: the politicians of America, or the people who won't vote for them if the don't talk like one.)
...my step fathers Toshiba notebook (the correct name eludes me at the moment...I believe it is the ToughBook or something similar) has taken quite a beating. Multiple drops, multiple times walked on, etc.
In my experience though, the most indestructible piece of hardware was my buddy's old Sprint cellphone. That thing was dropped in a toilet 3 times (don't ask), run over twice, stepped on god knows how many times, and dropped on hard pavement even more times than that. Other than a couple of minor scratches, it worked flawlessly until my friend switched from Sprint to Verizon and got a new phone. Nearly 3 years of service, and it still turns on (and the original battery still holds a charge!)
There was actually a movie in which the main character had the same phone and made passing comments about its durability.
I know, and I agree. All natural-based drugs (plants/fungi/etc) should be made legal. Heroin is a terrible drug, but people are going to do it whether it is illegal or legal.
Would you rather those billions of dollars a year go to the middle east (more specifically, Afghanistan, who accounts for roughly 90% of the world's poppy production) or staying in the US in the form of taxes and into the pockets of American farmers?
I'd just love to have one debate/interview here that didn't involve, whatever your position, a pot question
When you consider it is essentially the biggest revolution in history (i.e. people knowingly breaking the law in a loosely combined effort), I feel it SHOULD be in every debate/interview that deals with politics.
Not to mention the standard arguments why it should be legalized (taxes, safety, less people in prison for growing/smoking a PLANT, medical use, traffic accidents compared to alcohol, etc.)
It's just like Bill Hicks said when he was talking about how god made pot. "Let's see...everything looks good. Wait...oh my god...I left fuckin' pot everywhere!"
You seriously think she's the only candidate who talks negatively about their opponents?
Not at all. Of course most of the candidates talk badly about one another...but she was the topic of the discussion I was engaged in, so she was the one I talked about.
In response to your (baseless) assumptions, this is a copy and paste from another post that I made:
Personally, there is not a single candidate that I have found running this year (yes, that includes independents and such) that I agree with enough to want them running my country. I daresay I may not even vote this year, if I am unable to find someone.
Many people get pissed off about that, but come on. I'm not going to vote for someone that I don't want running my country. And don't give me that "you have no right to complain" crap. I have every right to complain because A. people died for my right to CHOOSE to vote, and B. because I am showing my opinion that none of the people running are who I would want for president. I'm not going to just "pick an independent" to steal votes from the primary parties. I'm sorry, but I refuse to say to someone "I want you to run my country" if I really don't.
I never said that they did. Personally, there is not a single canidate that I have found running this year (yes, that includes independents and such) that I agree with enough to want them running my country. I daresay I may not even vote this year, if I am unable to find someone.
Many people get pissed off about that, but come on. I'm not going to vote for someone that I don't want running my country. And don't give me that "you have no right to compain" crap. I have ever right to complain because A. people died for my right to CHOOSE to vote, and B. because I am showing my opinion that none of the people running are who I would want for president. I'm not going to just "pick an independent" to steal votes from the primary parties. I'm sorry, but I refuse to say to someone "I want you to run my country" when I really don't.
Anyone else get the feeling from Microsoft lately that they are acting like a cornered and scared animal?
I'm not saying Microsoft is on it's way out or anything, but I think in the past couple of years they have finally realized "hey...if we aren't careful, we WILL become a moot point in this industry." Scared animals always make uncalculated and rash decisions.
Listening to Hillary speak is really frightening, to be honest. Come on, you aren't the least bit worried about someone who ONLY speaks about what they think will win them the most votes? That should have you scared shitless.
Yes, I am aware that most people that run for president do that...but Hillary does it in such a way that to me says "I'm feeding you bullshit, I KNOW I'm feeding you bullshit, and whether you like it or not you WILL eat it."
Because the other nut jobs are your standard nut jobs. They have ideas (i.e. evolution is false) that fall right in line with what you would expect by religious wackos.
Ron Paul is just plain crazy. It's one thing if you have a book and religion that has made you crazy...it's another thing entirely to be nuts on your own. That said, I don't actually feel that Ron Paul is as crazy as the other candidates...but listening/watching him speak just sets off warning signals in my head...I have nothing to base this on, nor do I have any examples to give you. He just makes me uneasy.
Have you actually watched the woman talk for more than 2 minutes? That's all the example that you need.
Hillary is the epitome of saying whatever it takes to get the most votes. Running to become the next leader of the free world while spouting off boilerplate sayings just to look good in the polls is frightening. I don't know about you, but I don't want my leader to do their best to appeal to the masses...I want them to focus on running the fucking country.
Not to mention she is a backstabber. Did she or did she not agree with Obama to not sling crap at each other any more? And what is she doing now? Slinging shit again. Fuck that. I do NOT want the leader of my country to be trying to make others look bad so I will vote for them. You tell me why I should vote for YOU, not why I SHOULDN'T vote for someone else. This applies to all the other candidates as well.
Bush leaving isn't enough if his cronies stay. Radically new policies are needed, not just a new individual. We desperately, desperately need the US to stop fueling terrorism and generally messing everything up.
A good way to stop fueling terrorism is to make all drugs (including heroin) legal. ESPECIALLY drugs like heroin. People are going to do it whether it is illegal or not. Would we rather those billions of dollars a year go to the middle east (where they produce over 90% of the world's poppy) or into the hands of American farmers?
I feel about this subject and Ron Paul the same way I feel about my room mate. He was adopted as a kid because his parents couldn't afford to raise him, so instead of an abortion they put him up. As a result, he is vehemently against abortion. However, he still thinks that it should be up to an individual state whether they want to honor Roe v. Wade...just like Ron Paul. He thinks it's an abomination that should be stopped, but thinking about what would be "best" for the country as opposed to what they personally would prefer to see happen. This is one of the things about Ron Paul that I really like.acknowledges that it should be the states decision, not the federal governments. Regardless, he still thinks it isn't the morally correct thing to do, but doesn't think it should be made outright illegal.
I like that. They both have a very strong opinion about a touchy subject, but are
For what it's worth, I am pro-choice but against late-term abortions (unless the mother's life is threatened)...by that time, you should have been able to figure out if you wanted the kid or not.
Slashdot Mirror
Exactly. There are certain bands who no matter what I will always buy their albums (Tool, Aphex Twin, etc.). Also, any internet radio stations that I listen to on a regular basis (destroyer.net, jungletrain.net, bluemars.org) I ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS donate to them. Same goes for independent artists exactly like who you described. In this way, I know that those musicians are getting 100% of the money that they have earned (minus their own costs), instead of just fattening the wallet of some music exec while he tosses a few pence at the very people who helped make him rich.
While I fully agree with your entire post, perhaps I wasn't clear with the beginning of mine...I meant as people turn from payers to pirates (which I have nothing to back up or prove with...it's more of a "what if" kind of deal) That of course brings up the question "would they have bought it anyway?" That is something that only the downloader can answer...
...even if a far-fetched one. Say this trend continues...illegal downloading of music, movies, books, games, etc. There will ALWAYS be people that will buy their media, or at least some of it. What happens when the number of people stealing outnumbers those buying to the point where these corps are actually losing money? I don't just mean their sales have gone down, I mean to the point where they are in the red, no longer making any profit.
I think what will happen is already happening. People are figuring out that hey, for only a few thousand dollars, I can BUY the equipment to make my own music or movie, and release it independently.
Consider this. I invest $15,000 in some very respectable music equipment. I write all the songs, perform all the instruments, record it all, and master the mix. I then put up a website on a domain that costs me 10 bucks to register and only 15 bucks to host. I sell the music in multiple no-DRM formats on my website. In addition, I upload it onto various torrent sites, and include in the file a readme with a link to my website asking that people buy it. I upload a link to the site on Digg, Stumbleupon, Reddit, etc. I post the link in forums, in newsgroups. I submit my stuff to internet radio stations, post it on MySpace/Facebook...I even spend a little bit more money to get some advertising on various gaming and independent music websites. Let's assume that with all of this, my costs are now sitting right around $20,000 for total amount invested (not including time, of course.)
Assuming that my work is good and that people like it, I have the potential to make more money than I would with a record deal. Not only that, but I would OWN the equipment that I had made the album with, which I could then either sell, or I could keep and record another album thus making more money (especially since it would be a one time investment)
I'm not saying it would be easy, but the potential to earn far more than I invest is definitely there. By putting the album up on torrent sites and such with a link to my website, I am building an empire. I am getting free advertising. I am getting word of mouth. I am getting EXPOSURE, and it's not really costing me much of anything.
THIS is what will eventually be the downfall of the music industry (the movie industry not so much...equipment has definitely come a long way, but it's still very expensive compared to producing an album). The music industry won't be driven out of business by people downloading their crap for free...it will be little old me with full creative and distributive control over MY creation. It will be people KNOWING they can download my album because they don't have to worry about any lawyers running after them. It will be people SUPPORTING an artist like me, because I am doing the same thing they are: looking for new musicians who are doing it all on their own.
(Note: I am not actually doing this...I can barely play the nose whistle, much less any other instrument)
...that these news stories about cut cables comes merely weeks after the big hoopla the government made about needing to strengthen our country against cyberwarfare?
Best defense is a good offense, anyone?
And not once in my post did you see me say anything about what other candidates were or weren't saying or doing. Hillary was the topic of my discussion, so she was who I talked about.
If you read through any of my previous posts concerning politics on Slashdot (including in this same thread), you will see that close to all politicians are off-putting to me due to the nature that they go about saying and doing things. What I hate the most is that they have to talk like politicians for anyone to listen to them...and because they talk like politicians, they get shit upon (and rightly so. The way politicians talk nowadays trying to get my vote is positively sickening. And, like I said, if they DIDN'T talk that way, they wouldn't get votes. I'm not sure who is worse: the politicians of America, or the people who won't vote for them if the don't talk like one.)
Right name, wrong company...it is a ToughBook and it is a Panasonic. Thanks for clearing that up, it was really bugging me.
I'm sorry...it's just that...well...Timecop kinda sucked...and...well...maybe you should worship someone else?
You know...like the fonz?
http://digilander.libero.it/spaziowebceskino/img/griffin.png
I mean...Peter Griffin completely had it right. Timecop? What the hell were you thinking?
I rarely respond to trolls, but...what the hell is that ASCII art supposed to be?
...my step fathers Toshiba notebook (the correct name eludes me at the moment...I believe it is the ToughBook or something similar) has taken quite a beating. Multiple drops, multiple times walked on, etc.
In my experience though, the most indestructible piece of hardware was my buddy's old Sprint cellphone. That thing was dropped in a toilet 3 times (don't ask), run over twice, stepped on god knows how many times, and dropped on hard pavement even more times than that. Other than a couple of minor scratches, it worked flawlessly until my friend switched from Sprint to Verizon and got a new phone. Nearly 3 years of service, and it still turns on (and the original battery still holds a charge!)
There was actually a movie in which the main character had the same phone and made passing comments about its durability.
I know, and I agree. All natural-based drugs (plants/fungi/etc) should be made legal. Heroin is a terrible drug, but people are going to do it whether it is illegal or legal.
Would you rather those billions of dollars a year go to the middle east (more specifically, Afghanistan, who accounts for roughly 90% of the world's poppy production) or staying in the US in the form of taxes and into the pockets of American farmers?
Yeah. I thought so.
When you consider it is essentially the biggest revolution in history (i.e. people knowingly breaking the law in a loosely combined effort), I feel it SHOULD be in every debate/interview that deals with politics.
Not to mention the standard arguments why it should be legalized (taxes, safety, less people in prison for growing/smoking a PLANT, medical use, traffic accidents compared to alcohol, etc.)
It's just like Bill Hicks said when he was talking about how god made pot. "Let's see...everything looks good. Wait...oh my god...I left fuckin' pot everywhere!"
Worst. Movie. Ever.
Not at all. Of course most of the candidates talk badly about one another...but she was the topic of the discussion I was engaged in, so she was the one I talked about.
Anyone else tired of the phrase "next-gen", even when it is warranted?
Not that kind of spring up on us...although I wouldn't put it out of the possibility that Huckabee has something like that planned ;-)
You must be new here.
I expect them to speak truthfully to the American people, not trick them into becomming a bigger herd.
In response to your (baseless) assumptions, this is a copy and paste from another post that I made:
Personally, there is not a single candidate that I have found running this year (yes, that includes independents and such) that I agree with enough to want them running my country. I daresay I may not even vote this year, if I am unable to find someone.
Many people get pissed off about that, but come on. I'm not going to vote for someone that I don't want running my country. And don't give me that "you have no right to complain" crap. I have every right to complain because A. people died for my right to CHOOSE to vote, and B. because I am showing my opinion that none of the people running are who I would want for president. I'm not going to just "pick an independent" to steal votes from the primary parties. I'm sorry, but I refuse to say to someone "I want you to run my country" if I really don't.
I never said that they did. Personally, there is not a single canidate that I have found running this year (yes, that includes independents and such) that I agree with enough to want them running my country. I daresay I may not even vote this year, if I am unable to find someone.
Many people get pissed off about that, but come on. I'm not going to vote for someone that I don't want running my country. And don't give me that "you have no right to compain" crap. I have ever right to complain because A. people died for my right to CHOOSE to vote, and B. because I am showing my opinion that none of the people running are who I would want for president. I'm not going to just "pick an independent" to steal votes from the primary parties. I'm sorry, but I refuse to say to someone "I want you to run my country" when I really don't.
Anyone else get the feeling from Microsoft lately that they are acting like a cornered and scared animal?
I'm not saying Microsoft is on it's way out or anything, but I think in the past couple of years they have finally realized "hey...if we aren't careful, we WILL become a moot point in this industry." Scared animals always make uncalculated and rash decisions.
Listening to Hillary speak is really frightening, to be honest. Come on, you aren't the least bit worried about someone who ONLY speaks about what they think will win them the most votes? That should have you scared shitless.
Yes, I am aware that most people that run for president do that...but Hillary does it in such a way that to me says "I'm feeding you bullshit, I KNOW I'm feeding you bullshit, and whether you like it or not you WILL eat it."
Because the other nut jobs are your standard nut jobs. They have ideas (i.e. evolution is false) that fall right in line with what you would expect by religious wackos.
Ron Paul is just plain crazy. It's one thing if you have a book and religion that has made you crazy...it's another thing entirely to be nuts on your own. That said, I don't actually feel that Ron Paul is as crazy as the other candidates...but listening/watching him speak just sets off warning signals in my head...I have nothing to base this on, nor do I have any examples to give you. He just makes me uneasy.
Have you actually watched the woman talk for more than 2 minutes? That's all the example that you need.
Hillary is the epitome of saying whatever it takes to get the most votes. Running to become the next leader of the free world while spouting off boilerplate sayings just to look good in the polls is frightening. I don't know about you, but I don't want my leader to do their best to appeal to the masses...I want them to focus on running the fucking country.
Not to mention she is a backstabber. Did she or did she not agree with Obama to not sling crap at each other any more? And what is she doing now? Slinging shit again. Fuck that. I do NOT want the leader of my country to be trying to make others look bad so I will vote for them. You tell me why I should vote for YOU, not why I SHOULDN'T vote for someone else. This applies to all the other candidates as well.
A good way to stop fueling terrorism is to make all drugs (including heroin) legal. ESPECIALLY drugs like heroin. People are going to do it whether it is illegal or not. Would we rather those billions of dollars a year go to the middle east (where they produce over 90% of the world's poppy) or into the hands of American farmers?
Yeah. I thought so.
I feel about this subject and Ron Paul the same way I feel about my room mate. He was adopted as a kid because his parents couldn't afford to raise him, so instead of an abortion they put him up. As a result, he is vehemently against abortion. However, he still thinks that it should be up to an individual state whether they want to honor Roe v. Wade...just like Ron Paul. He thinks it's an abomination that should be stopped, but thinking about what would be "best" for the country as opposed to what they personally would prefer to see happen. This is one of the things about Ron Paul that I really like.acknowledges that it should be the states decision, not the federal governments. Regardless, he still thinks it isn't the morally correct thing to do, but doesn't think it should be made outright illegal.
I like that. They both have a very strong opinion about a touchy subject, but are
For what it's worth, I am pro-choice but against late-term abortions (unless the mother's life is threatened)...by that time, you should have been able to figure out if you wanted the kid or not.