Where can I get some dummy/discarded panels? I want to replace all the walls in my room with them, and wire up some LED's to blink randomly/illuminate when I press the buttons.
Well...a couple places I'd look for starters would be Fair Radio Sales:
Or, hey...you could actually get something that actually works plus looks cool as heck. How about an IMSAI computer ala 1975? Here's an updated but still vintage-appearing IMSAI (Series 2)..plus, who wouldn't want the computer that had a brief spot in the movie "Wargames"? (Check the pic at the bottom.) How geek-cool is that???
Not the DOJ so much as the President -- recall that the MS antitrust case pretty much went away after Bush was elected.
To the point that prosecutors were instructed to drop the case.
Quite true, but there's more than enough culpability to go around in both sides of the Senate and House also. If anyone had raised a big enough stink about it on either side of the House or Senate, things might have gone differently. Maybe not as differently as we'd all like to see, I'm sure, but still more than what was allowed by Senators and Representatives of both sides with only token lip service.
I think what this all boils down to is the judge, wanting to assist the MPAA in shutting TorrentSpy down, finding a way to do an end-run around the rules of discovery that prevents requiring generating new documents/evidence, as well as possibly also rules against self-incrimination. TorrentSpy might be able to appeal this decision. However, I don't think in the end it will matter. The outcome has already been determined, the court and the judge will just find another means to the same end if this particular route is blocked.
Their best move would be to locate both their servers as well as themselves in a country with more sane/favorable laws, as well as no extradition agreements, because the money and powers involved will always find a judge and court willing to stretch legal definitions and laws to meet their ends in the USA.
"It also requires all 245 million license and state ID holders to visit their local departments of motor vehicles and apply for a Real ID by 2013. Applicants must bring a photo ID, birth certificate, proof of Social Security number and proof of residence, and states must maintain and protect massive databases housing the information."
"I don't think I've ever seen a target more tempting for hackers..."
Hackers? Who needs hackers? It's no secret that one can easily find a low-paid Secretary of State clerk that will give you practically any information you want for a few hundred dollars, and for a few hundred more, get you an ID/drivers license with whatever name and information on it you'd like. All nice and official-like, with the hologram/stamp/mag strip and everything. Besides, if all that fails, you'll probably be able to just use a Mexican Consular ID (Matricula) to obtain a state ID/drivers license just about anywhere soon anyway, if certain groups get their way. This will be another typical government program, in that many billions will be spent to accomplish exactly zero, except to cost/inconvenience/harass/expose to crime law-abiding and/or poor people.
Hmm...OK. Just for a little background, this fellow has done soundtracks for the "Dragonball Z" animated series, as well as the "Along The Blues Highway" Blues compilation CD series. Just Google "Dale Kelly"+"Along the Blues Highway" and "Dale Kelly"+"Dragonball Z". He has also recorded/produced the blues artist "Little Milton" on the "Varese Sarabade" label.
Dale Kelly Animated Music Inc 2745 N Collins St Ste 111, Arlington, TX 76006-7108, United States
I hesitate to give out a phone number or e-mail here. Those with a reason can find contact details from the info above. Please be respectful. This fellow is a really good guy, as well as being a true pro when it comes to recording/engineering/producing. He tends to specialize more towards the blues genre. You couldn't find a nicer guy, and his knowledge and abilities are second to none.
This is the way my band is doing it. We're recording our new CD ourselves in our home studios, and the wonders of online distribution (MySpace, Purevolume, etc) allow us to sell the tracks. We're still going to print up some CD's to sell at shows though (for old times sake)
Ah, a fellow musician! Greetings from an old bluesman! My band is going somewhat the same route. What we've decided to do is take advantage of the offer of assistance (for about $1500 for a mastered CD..about half what he normally charges due to his and my bass players' friendship) of an acquaintance of our bass player, (who works as artist relations for a major string company) who is a professional producer/engineer who contracts regularly with UMG (Universal Music Group) to do "Live Album" type recordings and soundtracks, that also does independent projects. He travels the country with a recording truck, recording national and regional acts. He has well over $500,000USD in recording and editing equipment in said vehicle, which is way above what we poor blues players would be able to afford, as well as 30+ years experience recording, editing, mastering, and producing.
Going this route, we'll end up with a professional-level CD, and total ownership of all the material, including the masters, with all our options open. He's even willing to help us shop it around to various major and indie labels. Any deal we make will be on our terms, as we already have the product ready to distribute, and all we'll need is basic marketing and distribution. Meanwhile, we can do our own online sales via the usual outlets, as well as sales at shows (and the more unit sales you can show a prospective label, the better position you're in negotiation-wise). Even if you had to pay the full $3K or so for similar services, it's still very worth it, IMHO.
If we invert your argument, you have no objection to the UK monitoring communications between two US citizens. After all, the rights of folk in the UK aren't being violated, so it's OK.
And you think this *doesn't* already happen, why?
Newsflash! Countries already do this, even between allies. France regularly spies on the US with every means at their disposal, both for political/diplomatic, as well as industrial intelligence reasons. Israel does also. As does the UK. Basically every country spies on every other country to as great an extent as practically/politically feasible and possible.
Um, no. The old law, while it does require a warrant, DOES NOT require that the warrant be obtained before the wiretap. There is a 48 hour window AFTER THE WIRETAP HAS OCCURRED to request the warrant.
Um, yes. You're referring to a different part of the law, concerned with a different scenario. It has different requirements for intercepts that are carried on physical wire within the US borders, and was written without consideration that the participants could *both* be foreign nationals, and *both* be located outside the country. It assumed that communications carried on wires within our borders would only contain communications where at least one party was likely to be a US resident/citizen, and/or originate or terminate within the US.
There should be no warrant needed to intercept communications occurring between two parties outside US borders, whose signal path just *happens* to pass through the US on its' way. It should be no different than current intelligence monitoring done on worldwide communications outside the US.
What, do you think these foreign nationals go around, wearing t-shirts, saying, "Hi, I'm a foreign national engaged in terrorism against America!"?
Oh, I don't know...maybe the fact that the call is originating in a foreign country, and that it terminates in the same or a different foreign country?
Also, just to be clear...the "suspected enemy/terrorist" qualifier tag is just to save the NSA time and narrow things down. *All* countries have *always* reserved the right to eavesdrop at their discretion, to the extent they are able, on foreigners outside their country for whatever reason suits them.
Even countries that are our allies eavesdrop on our communications for a multitude of reasons, from military intel to industrial and tech espionage and identification/suppression of dissenters in their home country..sometimes directly from their embassies in this country. This has always been true.
The entire point of FISA is to provide oversight of surveillance involving foreign parties. Internal US wired calls is entirely outside the scope of FISA, for a very good reason: They are already covered elsewhere.
The purpose of FISA is to provide oversight to wiretapping of communications between *known and suspected enemy foreign nationals outside the country* and US citizens. If a foreign terrorist is calling someone in the US, it would be stupid to *not* be listening.
This bill is to bring an old law up to date. What it concerns is eavesdropping on the communications between two suspected enemy foreign nationals, whose communications *happen* to be routed over wires that *pass through* the US.
The way the law was worded before, required a warrant to listen to two foreign parties because it didn't make any distinction on *who* the parties were, or *where* they were, only the fact that the communication occurred on wires that were inside the US.
I agree with other posters that are of the opinion that this is really a non-issue as far as the rights of US citizens are concerned. US citizens never had the right to expect that communications to/from parties *outside* the country would *not* be monitored. This has been the status quo for decades.
In a strange way, the fact that they are attempting to make this criminal may actually work out for the better. This kind of crap frequently doesn't get a jury. Criminal trials get juries. As long as juries can be educated that they can agree that they can declare laws unjust and kill the mess.
Actually, you're correct, but I think for a few additional, possibly more important reasons. I think making it a criminal matter would help in one of the stickiest areas..guilt beyond a reasonable doubt as opposed to more likely guilty than not, and also rules of discovery, to a lesser extent. One other thing that might make a difference also, is the standard for evidence in a criminal trial as opposed to a civil action, as well as the defendant being made aware of legal action immediately, as opposed to the filing of "John Doe" Ex-Partum actions.
I think the situation with Gary McKinnon is more akin to strolling through a park, minding your own business, when suddenly, you're confronted with a tactical assault team. "What the!!..what did I do!?!?" The officer in charge says, "See that patch of grass right there?" You respond: "Yes, it's just like all the other patches of grass I've been walking across in this park all afternoon!" He responds: "No it isn't! That's a Federal High-Security Zone, and you just willingly violated it! You're going to jail for 30 years, you miscreant!" You incredulously respond: "That's ridiculous! There's no signs, no warnings, nothing to distinguish it at all from all these other patches of grass that are perfectly OK to cross in this public park!" He responds: "That doesn't matter! You willingly violated it, and the law is the law! Off to federal prison with you, you terrorist!"
If I type some random URL into a browser, and it pulls up a webpage with no warnings, passwords required, or even a "Authorized Personnel Only!" notice, and it happens to be some restricted confidential government website, I guess McKinnon would gain a cellmate.
Well kiddies, I guess everyone from now on had better never typo any URLs, and you'd better check with any web site or ftp site admins first by snail-mail and get an authorization in writing first before visiting said sites...just in case they screwed up, and they actually meant that to be restricted-access only.
Might this be the first step towards legislating mandatory adoption of Trusted Computing as a way of controlling the internet and content, using the tried-and-true "think of the children!" method of bulldozing reasoned opposition by those that prefer their computers do what *they* want, instead of what corporations and the government wants?
For those unfamiliar, here's a link to an EFF page on Trusted Computing.
Not trying to be all tinfoil-hat-like, but it seems these days that it's trumped-up issues like this that precede an attempt to limit freedoms and increase control of the population. Awareness of these possibilities is the first and most important step to preventing a world none of us wants to live in.
* Whistle blowing: but, that could be done by pay phone or snail mail
* Police informant: but, that would be abused by false reports, plus police usually have less faith in anonymous reports, although anonymous child abuse reports are taken seriously
* Political message: ok, I understand that if you're living in a restricted country.
* Embarrassing stuff: sex diseases, sexual assault support, teen pregnancy, GLBT
* Illegal stuff: lots of potential for that
OK. So, do any of you have any reasons not on my list?
Well, here's a very good one off the top of my head: current/potential employer snooping.
It seems to be a growing trend for employers to check up on employees and applicants by doing searches on the web. I can imagine all sorts of scenarios where one might not want to have things one might voice on the web to be tied back to you by a current or future employer. Insurers might be another, considering current trends.
Yes it's part laziness, both on the posters part, and their hope that no one will fact-check them. But it's also a poor attempt at getting this (IMHO) useless karma. Say what the audience wants to hear? Free karma. Playing to people's prejudices has never been more rewarding.
Actually, it's simply being overwhelmed and un/misinformed, and I was *hoping* someone could "correct" me, so that I might get some clearer understanding in how this all works, since I *am* in an independent music group that *does* get play on internet radio stations. I know I should be better informed, but playing music full-time while also writing and recording new material leaves little time for extended reading and research.
As far as karma whoring, I laugh at that. My karma is about as high as it gets, as I don't troll or flamebait. A quick look at my posting history will bear me out.
Thanks to the other informative posters that have responded to my post with corrections and additional information. Despite what some have said about it being little trouble to keep licensing agreements between ourselves and webcasters current in regard to SoundExchange, this will be a nightmare to keep straight, as to which stations have what recordings, the dates for each, which agreements have been registered with SoundExchange, etc etc.
My band has no intention of registering with SoundExchange, we don't want any royalties collected for us, we release it all under Creative Commons. This just adds a whole layer of BS to us getting our music heard.
Ah well..if it keeps going this way, I've heard the EU loves blues. Maybe we'll just start promoting ourselves there, or anywhere else that's not so indie-artist-hostile, possibly even give up on the USA altogether, even gigging. Just move to where we can play our music and have it heard in the same area without having to jump through hoops to not have ourselves and anyone who dares play our songs on a small internet radio station beaten over the head with regulations.
I wonder if I can learn to speak another language well at my age? This might cause me to find out. I've always wondered why someone would want to become an ex-patriot..unfortunately, I'm beginning to understand with help from Congress , the US music industry, and the laws they buy.
So why don't the net radio guys and these independent unsigned bands get together and come up with their own terms for royalties?
Simple answer, the Copyright Royalty Board gave SoundExchange a legal monopoly which prevents it, so I understand. The broadcasters, in order to avoid paying standard royalties to SoundExchange for some unsigned indie band or artist, must obtain an individual license from each band or artist. They must then register this license with SoundExchange. I can see an administration nightmare for a small webcaster to attempt to track all the individual licenses, and keep SoundExchanges' database on their stations' licenses current.
If the artist and broadcaster doesn't file (hmm..filing fees?) a license, the broadcaster must pay standard royalty to SoundExchange, and the artist or band may collect it, *if* they pay a fee and join SoundExchange.
Not sure if the band or artist can find out how much has been collected in their name before registering and paying the fee, though. Seeing the way things have been so far, I wouldn't doubt that the band or artist wouldn't be allowed to know what funds were collected before paying. I could imagine a scenario like this:
SoundExchange to band/artist: "Congratulations! We've received your payment of $XXX.XX, you are registered and now eligible to receive the royalties we've collected for you, totaling, minus administrative fees, taxes, handling, and surcharges, of $0.0X.!"
This whole fiasco only applies to the "artists" and "music" that is under the thumb of the RIAA, correct? Examples being Metallica and Avril La-fake-punk. Say I were to have my own internet radio site, playing my own original tracks and mixes of acid-techno and acid-house, as well as my dozens of contacts and Live PA partners and their music, would I be safe from this? Mostly, I don't give a damn about music that is controlled or even touched by the RIAA with a ten foot pole. Real musicians don't need those jerk-offs, anyways. Long live independent labels and artists! 3
I've not seen anyone reply to your post, so as an "indie" artist myself, let me respond. Yes, in the example you give, you would have to pay SoundExchange royalties for your own music..and then, pay them a fee to get a fraction of that royalty back..after they take their cut, of course. The only way to avoid this is to sign a contract with yourself (artist w/ broadcaster) to allow free play.
Even with a contract between the broadcaster and artist, I'm still unsure of the costs to register said contracts' existence with the RIAA/SoundExchange to avoid the royalty payments being collected. It wouldn't surprise me if some sort of "administrative fee" of an excessive nature would have to be paid, effectively making it a non-option, if the RIAAs' and politicians' history of past behavior is any indication. Welcome to politics and the music industry, eh?
The greatest thing that can happen for this world now is that somebody puts a bullet in your head.
Just...wow. I guess when you lose a debate, the only thing left for you is to kill the messenger. Way to make your point. I'm sure it will be taken with all the...ummm...'seriousness' it deserves.
With brilliant, reasoned, factual debate like yours I'm sure you'll go far. I can see I'm done here..there's no use continuing this battle of wits with the unarmed.
Yup, ad-hominum attacks. The last resort of those without facts or reason on their side. FYI I'm *well* over 50, and I *did* do my share of actual real killing on the battlefield, watched my buddies die beside me, and along the way, got a dose of real-world life-and-death reality along with memories that haunt my dreams every single night. All so you could be free to voice rants against "the man" on slashdot.
Also, just so you know, I've voted independent in every single election. Just because you are blinded by ignorance and ideology doesn't mean you can pigeon-hole everyone that disagrees with you, just to make yourself feel better about your own lack of a grasp on history, war, religious fanaticism, basic human nature, and reality.
If you, with these fantasies, are an average example of what's in store for this country as its' citizens and leaders, then I'm glad my age and the injuries and sickness I've suffered in defense of this country will mean, hopefully, I won't be around to see your and this countries' demise. The saddest part is, if people like you inherit the leadership of this country, the enemies of this country won't need to fire a shot, as you'll be too busy finding things to try to appease them to notice until it's far too late and tens of thousands, even hundreds of thousands or millions die, all so you can feel righteous.
Try studying a little history before it's too late for you and this country. Please, for your own and anyone you loves' sake. I truly, despite your personal attacks, have the love for you of a fellow countryman.
I'm not of your generation, I've spent a long time seeing the real world in action, and *living* the history you've probably only read about in books or seen in old documentaries, if at all. So please take this in earnest: You've been lied to by *both* extremes, but there *is* a very real life-and-death worldwide struggle for power over the earth by the west and the east.
There are *no* rules or morality or mercy or surrender the enemy recognizes. If too few people come to grips with this reality too late, the slaughter will exceed anything ever dreamed of. From this point in time forward, there is no avoiding a very nasty and prolonged struggle, and many many people *are* going to die. No matter what. At this point, it's inevitable.
The only thing left is to try to win the struggle as fast as possible, hopefully before WMDs are used, and attempt to keep the number of deaths as low as practically possible.
"He started it!" and "That's not fair!" is for the playground, and not for facing a death-struggle for world domination with those that recognize no rule of law, mercy, morality, or surrender. Not playing is not an option. It's a death sentence for many millions.
Yup, just as I expected. No cites to verifiable facts, just conspiracy theories and wild claims from left-wing rumour mill websites that love to make wild claims with no actual, provable facts to back them up.
As to what the rest of the world may say, quite frankly they'd rather surrender to the terrorists in the hopes they'd be the last to be killed. They hate the U.S. no matter what we were to do anyways, as their countries are no longer relevant on the world stage, and they would rather blame the big evil U.S., than to admit they made their own bed.
Make no mistake, there is a war that was declared by an entire wing of Islam against all infidels. There is no diplomacy or negotiation with such religious fanatics. They will go to any extremes necessary to kill anyone that stands in the way of making all western countries into Islamic states.
You whine about how we treat people that are *known* to have committed atrocities, caught in the act of terrorism, while saying nothing about the atrocities they have, and continue, to commit every day. Where is your anger and vitriol for the acts committed by these fanatics against innocent men, women, and children by the hundreds or more every month?
Waterboarding?? Oh, please! If *you* were captured by a terrorist group and about to be the star in yet another beheading, I'd bet you'd have no problem with the military doing whatever it took to extract the location you were being held at, and if you deny that, you're full of it.
As long as there are people like you around to defend, protect, and enable these monsters, they know their chances are excellent to murder you, me, our families, and our children.
P.S.- I am not, and never have been, a Republican. I hold equal contempt for the Democrats and the Republicans. They are both cowardly, self-serving panderers with only their own interests at heart.
To be fair the US has also killed many people instead of jailing them, particularly terrorists. I don't know what a typical chinese jail looks like but I think I would choose any jail over a torture chamber in gitmo.
To be fair, with regard to killing terrorists instead of jailing them, what terrorists and where were they killed? As far as I'm aware, the only ones that are/have being/been killed are on the battlefield, in the act of killing soldiers and innocent civilians.
To be fair, as to the 'torture chambers in gitmo', cite please? The Red Cross and other humanitarian organizations have been over gitmo with a fine-toothed comb, and no 'torture chambers' or anything even close exists at gitmo.
As to any claims by the detainees, if *I* were a dedicated jihadist captured and sent to gitmo, if some do-gooder organization came asking, I'd wail and cry and gnash my teeth about all sorts of horrible conditions, daily torture, and my innocence, with the goal of creating as much trouble as I could for the hated unbelievers. Possibly even forcing them to release me, so I could go back to strapping bombs on to men women and children to kill more unbelievers, were they so stupid as to free me.
I wonder if Chinas' lower reported numbers of prisoners might have anything to do with the fact they tend to simply shoot a large percentage of those other countries would otherwise jail, and that they probably don't report those in various political 're-education' camps as 'prisoners' as such? Besides, China would never lie about how many they imprison, in any case.
The U.S. justice system is quite screwed up, no doubt. Still, given a choice, if I had to go to prison, I still think I'd much rather get sent to Gitmo, nevermind a normal U.S. prison, as opposed to a Chinese prison. That is, if my family didn't simply end up with a bill for a bullet as many Chinese families have.
Remember kids, there are lies, damn lies, and statistics.
Slashdot Mirror
Where can I get some dummy/discarded panels? I want to replace all the walls in my room with them, and wire up some LED's to blink randomly/illuminate when I press the buttons.
. html
:P
Well...a couple places I'd look for starters would be Fair Radio Sales:
http://www.fairradio.com/
They carry a wide range of varied military and commercial electronics.
Also might try Uncle Sams' own surplus sales through the DRMS (Defense Reutilization and Marketing Service):
http://www.drms.dla.mil/
Or, hey...you could actually get something that actually works plus looks cool as heck. How about an IMSAI computer ala 1975? Here's an updated but still vintage-appearing IMSAI (Series 2)..plus, who wouldn't want the computer that had a brief spot in the movie "Wargames"? (Check the pic at the bottom.) How geek-cool is that???
http://www.retrothing.com/2005/08/the_imsai_serie
Hey, wait!!! There's the answer right there!! All they need is to buy a few of these puppies, and problem solved!!
Cheers!
Strat
Not the DOJ so much as the President -- recall that the MS antitrust case pretty much went away after Bush was elected.
To the point that prosecutors were instructed to drop the case.
Quite true, but there's more than enough culpability to go around in both sides of the Senate and House also. If anyone had raised a big enough stink about it on either side of the House or Senate, things might have gone differently. Maybe not as differently as we'd all like to see, I'm sure, but still more than what was allowed by Senators and Representatives of both sides with only token lip service.
Cheers!
Strat
It looks like M$ didn't grease the Governator's palm thoroughly enough...
It seems they *did* do a thorough job on the DOJ and congress, though.
I think what this all boils down to is the judge, wanting to assist the MPAA in shutting TorrentSpy down, finding a way to do an end-run around the rules of discovery that prevents requiring generating new documents/evidence, as well as possibly also rules against self-incrimination. TorrentSpy might be able to appeal this decision. However, I don't think in the end it will matter. The outcome has already been determined, the court and the judge will just find another means to the same end if this particular route is blocked.
Their best move would be to locate both their servers as well as themselves in a country with more sane/favorable laws, as well as no extradition agreements, because the money and powers involved will always find a judge and court willing to stretch legal definitions and laws to meet their ends in the USA.
Cheers!
Strat
"It also requires all 245 million license and state ID holders to visit their local departments of motor vehicles and apply for a Real ID by 2013. Applicants must bring a photo ID, birth certificate, proof of Social Security number and proof of residence, and states must maintain and protect massive databases housing the information."
"I don't think I've ever seen a target more tempting for hackers..."
Hackers? Who needs hackers? It's no secret that one can easily find a low-paid Secretary of State clerk that will give you practically any information you want for a few hundred dollars, and for a few hundred more, get you an ID/drivers license with whatever name and information on it you'd like. All nice and official-like, with the hologram/stamp/mag strip and everything. Besides, if all that fails, you'll probably be able to just use a Mexican Consular ID (Matricula) to obtain a state ID/drivers license just about anywhere soon anyway, if certain groups get their way. This will be another typical government program, in that many billions will be spent to accomplish exactly zero, except to cost/inconvenience/harass/expose to crime law-abiding and/or poor people.
Cheers!
Strat
Darn it! Typo'd that label name. Should have been "Varese Sarabande". Yes, I previewed, too.
D'OH!!
Hmm...OK. Just for a little background, this fellow has done soundtracks for the "Dragonball Z" animated series, as well as the "Along The Blues Highway" Blues compilation CD series. Just Google "Dale Kelly"+"Along the Blues Highway" and "Dale Kelly"+"Dragonball Z". He has also recorded/produced the blues artist "Little Milton" on the "Varese Sarabade" label.
Dale Kelly
Animated Music Inc
2745 N Collins St Ste 111, Arlington, TX 76006-7108, United States
I hesitate to give out a phone number or e-mail here. Those with a reason can find contact details from the info above. Please be respectful. This fellow is a really good guy, as well as being a true pro when it comes to recording/engineering/producing. He tends to specialize more towards the blues genre. You couldn't find a nicer guy, and his knowledge and abilities are second to none.
Cheers!
Strat
This is the way my band is doing it. We're recording our new CD ourselves in our home studios, and the wonders of online distribution (MySpace, Purevolume, etc) allow us to sell the tracks. We're still going to print up some CD's to sell at shows though (for old times sake)
Ah, a fellow musician! Greetings from an old bluesman! My band is going somewhat the same route. What we've decided to do is take advantage of the offer of assistance (for about $1500 for a mastered CD..about half what he normally charges due to his and my bass players' friendship) of an acquaintance of our bass player, (who works as artist relations for a major string company) who is a professional producer/engineer who contracts regularly with UMG (Universal Music Group) to do "Live Album" type recordings and soundtracks, that also does independent projects. He travels the country with a recording truck, recording national and regional acts. He has well over $500,000USD in recording and editing equipment in said vehicle, which is way above what we poor blues players would be able to afford, as well as 30+ years experience recording, editing, mastering, and producing.
Going this route, we'll end up with a professional-level CD, and total ownership of all the material, including the masters, with all our options open. He's even willing to help us shop it around to various major and indie labels. Any deal we make will be on our terms, as we already have the product ready to distribute, and all we'll need is basic marketing and distribution. Meanwhile, we can do our own online sales via the usual outlets, as well as sales at shows (and the more unit sales you can show a prospective label, the better position you're in negotiation-wise). Even if you had to pay the full $3K or so for similar services, it's still very worth it, IMHO.
Cheers!
Strat
If we invert your argument, you have no objection
to the UK monitoring communications between two
US citizens. After all, the rights of folk in the
UK aren't being violated, so it's OK.
And you think this *doesn't* already happen, why?
Newsflash! Countries already do this, even between allies. France regularly spies on the US with every means at their disposal, both for political/diplomatic, as well as industrial intelligence reasons. Israel does also. As does the UK. Basically every country spies on every other country to as great an extent as practically/politically feasible and possible.
Cheers!
Strat
Um, no. The old law, while it does require a warrant, DOES NOT require that the warrant be obtained before the wiretap. There is a 48 hour window AFTER THE WIRETAP HAS OCCURRED to request the warrant.
Um, yes. You're referring to a different part of the law, concerned with a different scenario. It has different requirements for intercepts that are carried on physical wire within the US borders, and was written without consideration that the participants could *both* be foreign nationals, and *both* be located outside the country. It assumed that communications carried on wires within our borders would only contain communications where at least one party was likely to be a US resident/citizen, and/or originate or terminate within the US.
There should be no warrant needed to intercept communications occurring between two parties outside US borders, whose signal path just *happens* to pass through the US on its' way. It should be no different than current intelligence monitoring done on worldwide communications outside the US.
Cheers!
Strat
What, do you think these foreign nationals go around, wearing t-shirts, saying, "Hi, I'm a foreign national engaged in terrorism against America!"?
Oh, I don't know...maybe the fact that the call is originating in a foreign country, and that it terminates in the same or a different foreign country?
Also, just to be clear...the "suspected enemy/terrorist" qualifier tag is just to save the NSA time and narrow things down. *All* countries have *always* reserved the right to eavesdrop at their discretion, to the extent they are able, on foreigners outside their country for whatever reason suits them.
Even countries that are our allies eavesdrop on our communications for a multitude of reasons, from military intel to industrial and tech espionage and identification/suppression of dissenters in their home country..sometimes directly from their embassies in this country. This has always been true.
Cheers!
Strat
The entire point of FISA is to provide oversight of surveillance involving foreign parties. Internal US wired calls is entirely outside the scope of FISA, for a very good reason: They are already covered elsewhere.
The purpose of FISA is to provide oversight to wiretapping of communications between *known and suspected enemy foreign nationals outside the country* and US citizens. If a foreign terrorist is calling someone in the US, it would be stupid to *not* be listening.
This bill is to bring an old law up to date. What it concerns is eavesdropping on the communications between two suspected enemy foreign nationals, whose communications *happen* to be routed over wires that *pass through* the US.
The way the law was worded before, required a warrant to listen to two foreign parties because it didn't make any distinction on *who* the parties were, or *where* they were, only the fact that the communication occurred on wires that were inside the US.
I agree with other posters that are of the opinion that this is really a non-issue as far as the rights of US citizens are concerned. US citizens never had the right to expect that communications to/from parties *outside* the country would *not* be monitored. This has been the status quo for decades.
Cheers!
Strat
In a strange way, the fact that they are attempting to make this criminal may actually work out for the better. This kind of crap frequently doesn't get a jury. Criminal trials get juries. As long as juries can be educated that they can agree that they can declare laws unjust and kill the mess.
Actually, you're correct, but I think for a few additional, possibly more important reasons. I think making it a criminal matter would help in one of the stickiest areas..guilt beyond a reasonable doubt as opposed to more likely guilty than not, and also rules of discovery, to a lesser extent. One other thing that might make a difference also, is the standard for evidence in a criminal trial as opposed to a civil action, as well as the defendant being made aware of legal action immediately, as opposed to the filing of "John Doe" Ex-Partum actions.
Cheers!
Strat
I think the situation with Gary McKinnon is more akin to strolling through a park, minding your own business, when suddenly, you're confronted with a tactical assault team. "What the!!..what did I do!?!?" The officer in charge says, "See that patch of grass right there?" You respond: "Yes, it's just like all the other patches of grass I've been walking across in this park all afternoon!" He responds: "No it isn't! That's a Federal High-Security Zone, and you just willingly violated it! You're going to jail for 30 years, you miscreant!" You incredulously respond: "That's ridiculous! There's no signs, no warnings, nothing to distinguish it at all from all these other patches of grass that are perfectly OK to cross in this public park!" He responds: "That doesn't matter! You willingly violated it, and the law is the law! Off to federal prison with you, you terrorist!"
If I type some random URL into a browser, and it pulls up a webpage with no warnings, passwords required, or even a "Authorized Personnel Only!" notice, and it happens to be some restricted confidential government website, I guess McKinnon would gain a cellmate.
Well kiddies, I guess everyone from now on had better never typo any URLs, and you'd better check with any web site or ftp site admins first by snail-mail and get an authorization in writing first before visiting said sites...just in case they screwed up, and they actually meant that to be restricted-access only.
Cheers!
Strat
I for one welcome our new Hungarian-Microsoft-raiding overlords!
In Soviet Russia, Microsoft raids Hungarian officials!
Nope, looks like there were some left.
-----------
Just imagine a Beowulf Cluster of those...
Yes, but will it run...
Oh, wait...
Cheers!
Strat
Might this be the first step towards legislating mandatory adoption of Trusted Computing as a way of controlling the internet and content, using the tried-and-true "think of the children!" method of bulldozing reasoned opposition by those that prefer their computers do what *they* want, instead of what corporations and the government wants?
n g/20031001_tc.php
For those unfamiliar, here's a link to an EFF page on Trusted Computing.
http://www.eff.org/Infrastructure/trusted_computi
Here's another link to an excellent piece by Ross Anderson.
http://www.cl.cam.ac.uk/~rja14/tcpa-faq.html
Not trying to be all tinfoil-hat-like, but it seems these days that it's trumped-up issues like this that precede an attempt to limit freedoms and increase control of the population. Awareness of these possibilities is the first and most important step to preventing a world none of us wants to live in.
Cheers!
Strat
Why do you need an anonymizer? Just curious.
All I can think of is...
* Whistle blowing: but, that could be done by pay phone or snail mail
* Police informant: but, that would be abused by false reports, plus police usually have less faith in anonymous reports, although anonymous child abuse reports are taken seriously
* Political message: ok, I understand that if you're living in a restricted country.
* Embarrassing stuff: sex diseases, sexual assault support, teen pregnancy, GLBT
* Illegal stuff: lots of potential for that
OK. So, do any of you have any reasons not on my list?
Well, here's a very good one off the top of my head: current/potential employer snooping.
It seems to be a growing trend for employers to check up on employees and applicants by doing searches on the web. I can imagine all sorts of scenarios where one might not want to have things one might voice on the web to be tied back to you by a current or future employer. Insurers might be another, considering current trends.
Cheers!
Strat
Yes it's part laziness, both on the posters part, and their hope that no one will fact-check them. But it's also a poor attempt at getting this (IMHO) useless karma. Say what the audience wants to hear? Free karma. Playing to people's prejudices has never been more rewarding.
Actually, it's simply being overwhelmed and un/misinformed, and I was *hoping* someone could "correct" me, so that I might get some clearer understanding in how this all works, since I *am* in an independent music group that *does* get play on internet radio stations. I know I should be better informed, but playing music full-time while also writing and recording new material leaves little time for extended reading and research.
As far as karma whoring, I laugh at that. My karma is about as high as it gets, as I don't troll or flamebait. A quick look at my posting history will bear me out.
Thanks to the other informative posters that have responded to my post with corrections and additional information. Despite what some have said about it being little trouble to keep licensing agreements between ourselves and webcasters current in regard to SoundExchange, this will be a nightmare to keep straight, as to which stations have what recordings, the dates for each, which agreements have been registered with SoundExchange, etc etc.
My band has no intention of registering with SoundExchange, we don't want any royalties collected for us, we release it all under Creative Commons. This just adds a whole layer of BS to us getting our music heard.
Ah well..if it keeps going this way, I've heard the EU loves blues. Maybe we'll just start promoting ourselves there, or anywhere else that's not so indie-artist-hostile, possibly even give up on the USA altogether, even gigging. Just move to where we can play our music and have it heard in the same area without having to jump through hoops to not have ourselves and anyone who dares play our songs on a small internet radio station beaten over the head with regulations.
I wonder if I can learn to speak another language well at my age? This might cause me to find out. I've always wondered why someone would want to become an ex-patriot..unfortunately, I'm beginning to understand with help from Congress , the US music industry, and the laws they buy.
Strat
So why don't the net radio guys and these independent unsigned bands get together and come up with their own terms for royalties?
Simple answer, the Copyright Royalty Board gave SoundExchange a legal monopoly which prevents it, so I understand. The broadcasters, in order to avoid paying standard royalties to SoundExchange for some unsigned indie band or artist, must obtain an individual license from each band or artist. They must then register this license with SoundExchange. I can see an administration nightmare for a small webcaster to attempt to track all the individual licenses, and keep SoundExchanges' database on their stations' licenses current.
If the artist and broadcaster doesn't file (hmm..filing fees?) a license, the broadcaster must pay standard royalty to SoundExchange, and the artist or band may collect it, *if* they pay a fee and join SoundExchange.
Not sure if the band or artist can find out how much has been collected in their name before registering and paying the fee, though. Seeing the way things have been so far, I wouldn't doubt that the band or artist wouldn't be allowed to know what funds were collected before paying. I could imagine a scenario like this:
SoundExchange to band/artist: "Congratulations! We've received your payment of $XXX.XX, you are registered and now eligible to receive the royalties we've collected for you, totaling, minus administrative fees, taxes, handling, and surcharges, of $0.0X.!"
Strat
This whole fiasco only applies to the "artists" and "music" that is under the thumb of the RIAA, correct? Examples being Metallica and Avril La-fake-punk. Say I were to have my own internet radio site, playing my own original tracks and mixes of acid-techno and acid-house, as well as my dozens of contacts and Live PA partners and their music, would I be safe from this? Mostly, I don't give a damn about music that is controlled or even touched by the RIAA with a ten foot pole. Real musicians don't need those jerk-offs, anyways. Long live independent labels and artists! 3
I've not seen anyone reply to your post, so as an "indie" artist myself, let me respond. Yes, in the example you give, you would have to pay SoundExchange royalties for your own music..and then, pay them a fee to get a fraction of that royalty back..after they take their cut, of course. The only way to avoid this is to sign a contract with yourself (artist w/ broadcaster) to allow free play.
Even with a contract between the broadcaster and artist, I'm still unsure of the costs to register said contracts' existence with the RIAA/SoundExchange to avoid the royalty payments being collected. It wouldn't surprise me if some sort of "administrative fee" of an excessive nature would have to be paid, effectively making it a non-option, if the RIAAs' and politicians' history of past behavior is any indication. Welcome to politics and the music industry, eh?
Strat
The greatest thing that can happen for this world now is that somebody puts a bullet in your head.
Just...wow. I guess when you lose a debate, the only thing left for you is to kill the messenger. Way to make your point. I'm sure it will be taken with all the...ummm...'seriousness' it deserves.
With brilliant, reasoned, factual debate like yours I'm sure you'll go far. I can see I'm done here..there's no use continuing this battle of wits with the unarmed.
Good day, sir.
Strat
Yup, ad-hominum attacks. The last resort of those without facts or reason on their side. FYI I'm *well* over 50, and I *did* do my share of actual real killing on the battlefield, watched my buddies die beside me, and along the way, got a dose of real-world life-and-death reality along with memories that haunt my dreams every single night. All so you could be free to voice rants against "the man" on slashdot.
Also, just so you know, I've voted independent in every single election. Just because you are blinded by ignorance and ideology doesn't mean you can pigeon-hole everyone that disagrees with you, just to make yourself feel better about your own lack of a grasp on history, war, religious fanaticism, basic human nature, and reality.
If you, with these fantasies, are an average example of what's in store for this country as its' citizens and leaders, then I'm glad my age and the injuries and sickness I've suffered in defense of this country will mean, hopefully, I won't be around to see your and this countries' demise. The saddest part is, if people like you inherit the leadership of this country, the enemies of this country won't need to fire a shot, as you'll be too busy finding things to try to appease them to notice until it's far too late and tens of thousands, even hundreds of thousands or millions die, all so you can feel righteous.
Try studying a little history before it's too late for you and this country. Please, for your own and anyone you loves' sake. I truly, despite your personal attacks, have the love for you of a fellow countryman.
I'm not of your generation, I've spent a long time seeing the real world in action, and *living* the history you've probably only read about in books or seen in old documentaries, if at all. So please take this in earnest: You've been lied to by *both* extremes, but there *is* a very real life-and-death worldwide struggle for power over the earth by the west and the east.
There are *no* rules or morality or mercy or surrender the enemy recognizes. If too few people come to grips with this reality too late, the slaughter will exceed anything ever dreamed of. From this point in time forward, there is no avoiding a very nasty and prolonged struggle, and many many people *are* going to die. No matter what. At this point, it's inevitable.
The only thing left is to try to win the struggle as fast as possible, hopefully before WMDs are used, and attempt to keep the number of deaths as low as practically possible.
"He started it!" and "That's not fair!" is for the playground, and not for facing a death-struggle for world domination with those that recognize no rule of law, mercy, morality, or surrender. Not playing is not an option. It's a death sentence for many millions.
Strat
Yup, just as I expected. No cites to verifiable facts, just conspiracy theories and wild claims from left-wing rumour mill websites that love to make wild claims with no actual, provable facts to back them up.
As to what the rest of the world may say, quite frankly they'd rather surrender to the terrorists in the hopes they'd be the last to be killed. They hate the U.S. no matter what we were to do anyways, as their countries are no longer relevant on the world stage, and they would rather blame the big evil U.S., than to admit they made their own bed.
Make no mistake, there is a war that was declared by an entire wing of Islam against all infidels. There is no diplomacy or negotiation with such religious fanatics. They will go to any extremes necessary to kill anyone that stands in the way of making all western countries into Islamic states.
You whine about how we treat people that are *known* to have committed atrocities, caught in the act of terrorism, while saying nothing about the atrocities they have, and continue, to commit every day. Where is your anger and vitriol for the acts committed by these fanatics against innocent men, women, and children by the hundreds or more every month?
Waterboarding?? Oh, please! If *you* were captured by a terrorist group and about to be the star in yet another beheading, I'd bet you'd have no problem with the military doing whatever it took to extract the location you were being held at, and if you deny that, you're full of it.
As long as there are people like you around to defend, protect, and enable these monsters, they know their chances are excellent to murder you, me, our families, and our children.
P.S.- I am not, and never have been, a Republican. I hold equal contempt for the Democrats and the Republicans. They are both cowardly, self-serving panderers with only their own interests at heart.
Strat
To be fair the US has also killed many people instead of jailing them, particularly terrorists. I don't know what a typical chinese jail looks like but I think I would choose any jail over a torture chamber in gitmo.
To be fair, with regard to killing terrorists instead of jailing them, what terrorists and where were they killed? As far as I'm aware, the only ones that are/have being/been killed are on the battlefield, in the act of killing soldiers and innocent civilians.
To be fair, as to the 'torture chambers in gitmo', cite please? The Red Cross and other humanitarian organizations have been over gitmo with a fine-toothed comb, and no 'torture chambers' or anything even close exists at gitmo.
As to any claims by the detainees, if *I* were a dedicated jihadist captured and sent to gitmo, if some do-gooder organization came asking, I'd wail and cry and gnash my teeth about all sorts of horrible conditions, daily torture, and my innocence, with the goal of creating as much trouble as I could for the hated unbelievers. Possibly even forcing them to release me, so I could go back to strapping bombs on to men women and children to kill more unbelievers, were they so stupid as to free me.
Cheers!
Strat
The "land of the free" (USA) also has over 2 million of it's population in prison, vs a figure of 1 million for China.
t ion_statistics
The US also has the largest *percentage* of it's population in prison of any country in the world.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prison#Prison_popula
I wonder if Chinas' lower reported numbers of prisoners might have anything to do with the fact they tend to simply shoot a large percentage of those other countries would otherwise jail, and that they probably don't report those in various political 're-education' camps as 'prisoners' as such? Besides, China would never lie about how many they imprison, in any case.
The U.S. justice system is quite screwed up, no doubt. Still, given a choice, if I had to go to prison, I still think I'd much rather get sent to Gitmo, nevermind a normal U.S. prison, as opposed to a Chinese prison. That is, if my family didn't simply end up with a bill for a bullet as many Chinese families have.
Remember kids, there are lies, damn lies, and statistics.
Cheers!
Strat