The End of Boycott the RIAA Month, Not the End of the Fight

Today, March 31, is the end of Gizmodo’s Boycott the RIAA Month, but it is certainly not the end of the fight against the RIAA and other strong arm groups like them (MPAA, etc). Gizmodo asked the EFF to speak to the issue, and this is the EFF’s reply:

Standing Up to the RIAA

Our first tip: be magnanimous about your impending victory.

The biggest trick the RIAA pulls is to convince legislators, the media and technology users that it’s viewpoint is so compelling that there’s no valid (or even legal) opposition to their behavior, and the general public should give up, and suck down burdens like DRM, endless lawsuits, patronizing anti-piracy warnings and consumer-unfriendly legislation.    

Big Brother Wants the Master Key to the Internet

So in today’s news, The Homeland Security Department has decided to try and get it’s hands on the master key to the entire Internet universe. What is the master key? The quick and simple way to explain it it that this is the signing key that controls DNS all the way back to the root server for any account. I would say definitely not to that request, but it isn’t something that will come to a vote, so it’s up to the internet powers that be to stand their ground here. It pains me to think of one governmental department having total access to the Internet as a whole, especially in this time of growing paranoia and persecution, not to mention our current war-hungry administration still being in office.

Think of the damage this could do! Not only to the internet itself – that would be bad enough – but to our relations with others? I am working on the assumption that at some level we still car about the way we relate to the rest of the world and to out citizens, but I could be wrong. If you, like me, do not want the Internet handled by the same people who brought us the Patriot Act and Presidential Signing Statements, among others things, then read this article and contact the powers that be to let them know how you feel.

Now Listening: The Nails

Tags: ICANN Homeland Security DNS

Are you kidding me??

I have to admit that I keep my head down for much of the blog world’s “office politics”. I have a tiny little blog with a handful of readers, and don’t really go out of my way to get it recognized around the blogopshere. I’m happy when I get a new reader, I love when I get a new commenter, and I like it even more when those commenters and readers turn into Net Friendz, but that’s about it.

I have my handful of favorite “A List” bloggers, like Ze Frank, that I follow religiously. Many other “A List”ers, like Scobleizer and Dooce for example, just don’t ring any bells for me, so I don’t read them. I don’t dislike the bloggers themselves, I just don’t read their blogs because they aren’t to my taste or don’t engage me, and I have limited time for surfing the net. No big deal, right? Be a grown up and read something else you like better sounds simple, doesn’t it?

Apparently, it isn’t that simple. Just ask this blogger, who has received several threats in the blogosphere that are quite graphic. Normally, when I hear a story like this my first thought is “It’s just the Internet, come on, get over it.” Then I clicked the link, because two of my favorite bloggers, one of them being Ze Frank, mentioned the story on their blogs. Neither of these two bloggers wastes blog space – if they type it, it caught their interest. So I clicked. And I was dismayed at the lengths people would go to make someone experience fear online.

So I’m doing my part by blogging about it also, and letting my little corner of the blogosphere know I think this is unacceptable. I hope you blog about it too. Perhaps more exposure will help stop this kind of stalker/scare tactic behavior stop.

Now Listening: Punk Mix on iTunes

Tags: Kathy Sierra Death Threats Ze Frank BlogHer MeanKids

FBI Abuses Patriot Act Powers

In this article on CNN, it is revealed that a recent investigation found the FBI to be abusing the powers granted them by the passing of the Patriot Act. What a surprise. Not.

A Senate panel wants to know if the Patriot Act needs to be revised to keep the FBI from illegally or improperly gathering telephone, e-mail and financial records of Americans and foreigners while pursuing terrorists.

Will the Senate come through and narrow the scope of the Patriot Act? I certainly hope so. Of course, if Bush continues the way he has for the last few years, he’ll just use Presidential Signing Statements to make the pesky changes go away. The Great Decider indeed. You ca probably tell that I’m a bit jaded in the hope for checks and balances department lately, but who can blame me? If you’ve been paying attention, you probably are also. I know I’ll be following this story anyway in hopes that the terrible Patriot Act will be set on the road to being dismantled.

Tangentially related article I was too lazy to blog about individually here.

Now Listening: Punk Playlist on iTunes

Tags: Presidential Signing Statements FBI Patriot Act

College Students Response to RIAA Blackmail Lukewarm

Recently the RIAA sent blackmail pre-litigation letters to college students on several campuses alleging that they had downloaded music and trying to scare them into settling, but the plan is backfiring on them. Far less than half the students have taken the bait and payed online. Most have this attitude about the letters (as should anyone who gets an RIAA notice):

A student who received a pre-litigation letter told Ars that he refused to engage their offer because they offer zero proof of what is alleged. “It’s like receiving blackmail. ‘We know what you did, pay us’ is the message, but they don’t really know me or what I have done,” he wrote. The student wishes to remain anonymous.

Also from the article:

Yet the RIAA offers no proof of their claims, while sometimes trying to make students feel like they’re getting a deal.

Wonder when the RIAA and MPAA and the rest will get with the times and embrace the changing technology and use it to help sagging music sales, instead of fueling sagging music sales by continuing to treat the customer as the enemy. Probably not soon, more’s the pity.

Now listening: silence

Tags: RIAA College Students

Score One For Digital Radio, Zero RIAA

In this article it is revealed that the FCC struck a blow to the RIAA by NOT approving the broadcast flag they were lobbying for that would impede digital radio. RIAA, typically behind the curve and lost in the 50s mentally, are afraid users will wantonly record from the digital radio stations instead of buying CDs. The RIAA is painful to watch, but we must continue to keep a vigilant eye on them because of just such behind the times mentality as this.

The big problem with the RIAA’s demand for a broadcast flag was that they missed the boat. While radio stations were prepping for this move for years, the RIAA twiddled its thumbs. Only at the 11th hour did they step in and then ask for changes. A broadcast flag solution would have required end-to-end encryption, which would have required significant changes to digital radio broadcasting equipment. To make matters worse, there are already digital radio players on the market, and a move to a broadcast flag would have rendered them useless.

Now Listening: silence

Tags: RIAA Digital Radio FCC

Television Melding with Internet

Whether the RIAA, MPAA and other gatekeeper organizations are ready for the changes in how media is delivered or not, media delivery is changing. In a fantastic example of embracing the new way to experience media, Al Gore has started a new television channel called Current TV. In this channel he combines a full television and web experience by showing short videos both on the cable channel and online.

He is quoted as saying his channel offers television programming you can “snack on”. Each video is  around 3 – 8 minutes long. Some of the videos are professionally done, though many are amateur video reminiscent of web sites like YouTube. The target audience for this channel is in the 18 – 34 year old age group. Gore’s new channel is not the only one to merge television and Internet these days. More importantly, videos are not the only way to experience a merging of web and television.

Just look at most television shows now, especially reality shows like American Idol, and you’ll often see scrolling text messages and chat at the bottom of the screen. There will periodically by a flash of a web site address where you can enter contests online related to the show, or find out more about the episode and characters at the moment you’re watching. Shows like Lost and Heroes have broadened their audience base and increased loyalty by offering expanded content online. They both have continued the story line on the web site, offering background and other information on the plot and characters.

How will the Internet, downloads, wireless networking and interactive audience experience change how you watch television? TiVo and DVR technology has already expanded the possibilities of your viewing choices – in my opinion the internet can only make it even better.

Find video online by searching at beeline.tv and wwitv.com, for starters, or go to the end of this article for a quick list of up and comers.

Now Listening: Smashing Pumpkins Melancholy and the Infinite Sadness

Tags: internet television tivo dvr al gore current tv

U. Nebraska Strikes A Blow Against RIAA

University of Nebraska, you just made my happy list. Along the lines of others we’ve blogged about before, the University is fighting back against the strong arm tactics of the RIAA Music Mafia. How so? Excellent question. Get this: they are billing the RIAA for wasting their time. How much do you just love that? It’s like music to my ears.

You can read more about it here, here, and here. You can read more about the RIAA under our Music Category in the sidebar as well.

Tags: University of Nebraska Bills RIAA

Network Neutrality And The FCC

The FCC likes to have its fingers in every pie, even pies that belong in the kitchen of other people, like Network Neutrality. They have launched yet another “study” on various aspects of Network Neutrality. I can’t decide if the purpose of this “study” is to find a reason to be involved where they aren’t needed, to make sure Network Neutrality is here to stay (that would be good) or to make sure Network Neutrality is done away with (that would be bad).

Regardless of their ultimate motive, you can read more about the study and form your own opinion here. You can read more about Network Neutrality by clicking the Network Neutrality Category on this blog in the sidebar, or by visiting Save the Internet.

Tags: Network Neutrality FCC

The History of Blogging

Thanks to Peter at Mashable for this post and the graphic below, which made me laugh today.