Sunday, December 30, 2007

RIAA becomes more & more like a crazy old uncle.

Or a mad scientist building a time-machine in the basement. Really gone 'round the bend now.

Does the RIAA really want to make itself this irrelevant? Hey, good luck with this one. You're going to need it. Fair is one thing, but desperate and intrusive is another.

Download Uproar: Record Industry Goes After Personal Use

Despite more than 20,000 lawsuits filed against music fans in the years since they started finding free tunes online rather than buying CDs from record companies, the recording industry has utterly failed to halt the decline of the record album or the rise of digital music sharing.
...
Now, in an unusual case in which an Arizona recipient of an RIAA letter has fought back in court rather than write a check to avoid hefty legal fees, the industry is taking its argument against music sharing one step further: In legal documents in its federal case against Jeffrey Howell, a Scottsdale, Ariz., man who kept a collection of about 2,000 music recordings on his personal computer, the industry maintains that it is illegal for someone who has legally purchased a CD to transfer that music into his computer.

The industry's lawyer in the case, Ira Schwartz, argues in a brief filed earlier this month that the MP3 files Howell made on his computer from legally bought CDs are "unauthorized copies" of copyrighted recordings.

more here ---->
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/12/28/AR2007122800693.html




Thursday, December 27, 2007

Looking back over 2007, a picture stands out.


In January 2007 I went with others to the March for Peace in DC. A picture I took still haunts me and when I think of 2007, the picture above stands out in my mind. This man looked to be at least 70 years old, walking slowly along with his flag. I wish I'd gone up to him and ask him his story, and that tattered flag's story, but I didn't want to intrude. I regret now that I didn't ask him.

Peace on Earth.

Tuesday, December 25, 2007

'Twas the Night Before Christmas (in Durham)

Twas the night before Christmas,
and all through the city,
everything was quite dry,
and that was a pity.

All the citizens implored Santa,
that jolly old elf,
"Please send rain, for we only
have 20 days left."

The moms and the dads, all
snuggled in bed,
dreamed of long, hot showers
and not 2 minute ones instead.

Once Santa arrived,
with his ruby red cheeks,
he installed showerheads, low-flush
toilets, and fixed all the leaks.

And as he departed,
and flew down the lane, he said,
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL
and I'LL BE SURE TO SEND RAIN!

Monday, December 17, 2007

The Real Reason for the Season

My SO on The Real Reason for the Season whilst shopping tonight:

The real reason for the season is the 23 degree tilt of the earth's axis in relation to the sun. In fact, that's reason for all the seasons.

I can't argue with that.

While he wasn't my favorite, Dan Fogelberg

did write these beautiful words, which should speak to us all right now. RIP, Mr. Fogelberg.


A Voice for Peace
by Dan Fogelberg

You know that everybody has a voice
And how they use it is their own free choice
In your glory I will not rejoice
If you choose the ways of war
If you choose the ways of war

Ashes to ashes and dust to dust
My country tis of thee, in God we trust
But how much longer will he shelter us
While we choose the ways of war
While the winds of war rage on

Let mine oh let my small voice be a voice for peace
Oh let mine oh let my small voice be a voice for peace
Oh let mine oh let my small voice be a voice for peace
Let it start here with me, oh let mine be a voice for peace

The good book tells us thou shalt not kill
The truth came shining and its shining still
But how much blood upon this earth must spill
Before we lay our weapons down
Let us lay our weapons down

Let mine oh let my small voice be a voice for peace
Oh let mine oh let my small voice be a voice for peace
Oh let mine oh let my small voice be a voice for peace
Let it start here with me, oh let mine be a voice for peace

And in the face of the beast, oh let mine be a voice
Until the breaths in me cease, oh let mine be a voice for peace

Let mine oh let my small voice be a voice for peace
Oh let mine oh let my small voice be a voice for peace
Oh let mine oh let my small voice be a voice for peace
Let it start here with me, oh let mine be a voice for peace

Raise your voice up, raise your voice up
Raise your voice up and sing for the promise


(Thanks to RR for that.)

Sunday, December 16, 2007

Fishmonger's Renovating?

While at Brightleaf Square tonight doing a little Christmas shopping, I think I noticed pretty big renovations happening inside Fishmonger's. Maybe I missed that in "Business Buzz" or whatever it's called.

Offbeat and Morgan Imports were both full of great gifts for Christmas, by the way. And it was all quite festive.

Saturday, December 15, 2007

Heavy Rain?!


Oh sweet merciful baby jeebus, the TV weatherbots aren't just saying the Bull City might get some rain--which would be sweet enough--but heavy rain!

Maybe the scary cracked earth in my backyard will close up again? I'm not going to stop hoarding bottled water in my basement, however. Not just yet.