Interesting link I just received. If you want to read about one persons trials and tribulations with the RIAA, go to http://suedbytheriaa.com
It's interesting to read her account of what happened. If you feel so inclined, donate a little of your speare change to this girl, share some of the burden that I think is being unfairly placed on a few scapegoats. And as always, comments are welcome and appreciated.
Peace
JC
Tuesday, September 30, 2003
Friday, September 19, 2003
Yesterday, while discussing the Pariot Act's ability to empower the Government to access Library records of it's citizens to find out what books people have been checking out, as well as a myriad of other things, our fearless Attorney General John Ashcroft has stated that the Government has never used this ability. Because they've never used it, people who are angry about it, and claim that it's a violation of our first amendment rights are Hysterical in their paranoia. In fact here is a quote from his website on what he thinks people who are fighting this are thinking.
""Your local library has been surrounded by the FBI." Agents are working round-the-clock. Like the X-Files, they are dressed in raincoats, dark suits, and sporting sunglasses. They stop patrons and librarians and interrogate everyone like Joe Friday. In a dull monotone they ask every person exiting the library, "Why were you at the library? What were you reading? Did you see anything suspicious?"
According to these breathless reports and baseless hysteria, some have convinced the American Library Association that under the bipartisan Patriot Act, the FBI is not fighting terrorism. Instead, agents are checking how far you have gotten on the latest Tom Clancy novel. "
Mr. Ashcroft, we are not dumb. The simple threat of this type of behavior is enough to cause people concern whether or not the Government actually ever uses it. I mean, you could just as easily say that "we are passing a law that restricts your right to free speech in situations where your speaking might influence the decision of voters" yet come out and say, "It doesn't really matter because the FBI neither has the resources or the time to regulate what people say in their own homes, so in reality, free speech is not threatened."
The fact is, the law is there, and whether you choose to enforce it or not is irrelevant. The fact is that you can enforce it if you want to and this is a severe infraction into the freedoms that we cherish as Americans. Whether you choose to enforce or enact the laws you pass does not make them any less legal. The fact is you can do it, and whenever the need arises you will do it, regardless of what the publics perception of "need" happens to be.
Perhaps this is the reason that Missouri chose to vote a deceased person into office rather than you.
On Another front...
Michael Moore was recently quoted as saying that in a confrontation with George W. Bush (notice that I omit his appointed title), GW told Michael to "Get a real Job." I think in this economy, GW should be happy that Michael has a job at all, since He's responsible for almost 3 million Americans being put out of work since 2001. And the even funnier thing is that the only solution that GW has is to tell people to go out and get a job. Maybe he thinks finding a job is that simple since every position he's held in his life was handed to him on a silver freakin platter. So anyway, come election time, I'm going to do everything in my power to make sure that GW gets his walking papers, and hangs his head in shame for the trip back to Crawford TX. I think you all should do the same too.
""Your local library has been surrounded by the FBI." Agents are working round-the-clock. Like the X-Files, they are dressed in raincoats, dark suits, and sporting sunglasses. They stop patrons and librarians and interrogate everyone like Joe Friday. In a dull monotone they ask every person exiting the library, "Why were you at the library? What were you reading? Did you see anything suspicious?"
According to these breathless reports and baseless hysteria, some have convinced the American Library Association that under the bipartisan Patriot Act, the FBI is not fighting terrorism. Instead, agents are checking how far you have gotten on the latest Tom Clancy novel. "
Mr. Ashcroft, we are not dumb. The simple threat of this type of behavior is enough to cause people concern whether or not the Government actually ever uses it. I mean, you could just as easily say that "we are passing a law that restricts your right to free speech in situations where your speaking might influence the decision of voters" yet come out and say, "It doesn't really matter because the FBI neither has the resources or the time to regulate what people say in their own homes, so in reality, free speech is not threatened."
The fact is, the law is there, and whether you choose to enforce it or not is irrelevant. The fact is that you can enforce it if you want to and this is a severe infraction into the freedoms that we cherish as Americans. Whether you choose to enforce or enact the laws you pass does not make them any less legal. The fact is you can do it, and whenever the need arises you will do it, regardless of what the publics perception of "need" happens to be.
Perhaps this is the reason that Missouri chose to vote a deceased person into office rather than you.
On Another front...
Michael Moore was recently quoted as saying that in a confrontation with George W. Bush (notice that I omit his appointed title), GW told Michael to "Get a real Job." I think in this economy, GW should be happy that Michael has a job at all, since He's responsible for almost 3 million Americans being put out of work since 2001. And the even funnier thing is that the only solution that GW has is to tell people to go out and get a job. Maybe he thinks finding a job is that simple since every position he's held in his life was handed to him on a silver freakin platter. So anyway, come election time, I'm going to do everything in my power to make sure that GW gets his walking papers, and hangs his head in shame for the trip back to Crawford TX. I think you all should do the same too.
Thursday, September 18, 2003
...So you're saying Jesus was made out of crackers?...
Anyone else think the communion wafer "body and Blood of Christ" thing is a bit weird?
Just curious.
Yes, I am still alive and kicking.
And No, I am not having fun yet.
BTW, someday soon, I'm gonna update my crappy webpage, but I'm not sure when. Jeez I am never satisfied with the thing.
I like toast, especially with margarine.
I am way too old to enjoy the type of entertainment that I do. I think that Disney Channel rocks, I love staying up late to watch Even Stevens and Boy Meets World. I am a sick and twisted individual
In other news: The Beatles are re-releasing Let it Be without all of the Phil Spector production crap on it. and are calling it "Let It Be...Naked." With the age of both Sir Paul, and Ringo, and the lack of life present in John and George, I certainly hope naked only refers to the music. Anyway, I am highly anticipating this release in November, and hope the RIAA reverses it's decision on suing small children and old men so that I can drop my boycott and buy it. Otherwise, I suppose it would make a great stocking stuffer (HINT HINT!) :)
So like this Hurricane Isabel thing is hitting the east coast right now. Good luck to all of ya out there, remeber it can't rain all the time.
I'm bored. I'll jot more later.
Oh yeah, the Sox better win today, or they can kiss it all goodbye!
JC
Anyone else think the communion wafer "body and Blood of Christ" thing is a bit weird?
Just curious.
Yes, I am still alive and kicking.
And No, I am not having fun yet.
BTW, someday soon, I'm gonna update my crappy webpage, but I'm not sure when. Jeez I am never satisfied with the thing.
I like toast, especially with margarine.
I am way too old to enjoy the type of entertainment that I do. I think that Disney Channel rocks, I love staying up late to watch Even Stevens and Boy Meets World. I am a sick and twisted individual
In other news: The Beatles are re-releasing Let it Be without all of the Phil Spector production crap on it. and are calling it "Let It Be...Naked." With the age of both Sir Paul, and Ringo, and the lack of life present in John and George, I certainly hope naked only refers to the music. Anyway, I am highly anticipating this release in November, and hope the RIAA reverses it's decision on suing small children and old men so that I can drop my boycott and buy it. Otherwise, I suppose it would make a great stocking stuffer (HINT HINT!) :)
So like this Hurricane Isabel thing is hitting the east coast right now. Good luck to all of ya out there, remeber it can't rain all the time.
I'm bored. I'll jot more later.
Oh yeah, the Sox better win today, or they can kiss it all goodbye!
JC
Tuesday, September 16, 2003
Oh yeah, on another note that I just remebered:
I will never again purchase a new Compact Disc, Cassette, DVD, or whatever other format they throw out, from a major label recording company, unless these frivilous lawsuits against file sharing stop. Ya wanna know who should be sued is the RIAA, for defamation of character, for false and illegal representation of a product (CD's) and for unjust and illegal harassment. Bottom line in this story, and multi-billion dollar industry who thinks it's appropriate to extort two-thousand dollars from a 12 year old girl, and her family is not worthy of my or anyone elses hard earned cash for their substandard product anyway. In my life I have personally purchased well over 1000 cd's, and have in my collection close to 2000 complete sound recordings on various formats including LP, Cassette, 8-Track. In weighted price value, It could easily be argued that i have between 20-40 thousand dollars wrapped up in music products. So I have been a regular and good customer of the music industry for the past 30 years of my life. However, it has come to the point where I can no longer support the business practices of the giant conglomerates who don't really care anymore about music, rather they just care about money. So as I have stated, I am boycotting all major label products until they reverse their position on actively pursuing all persons who share files. I personally do not actively share files on Kazaa, or whatever other services you can think of. I do have a few posted on my website, which hopefully will not cause any stir, and rather are meant to influence record sales. I think though, with this stand that I am taking, I will no longer provide any samples of music from major label artists that is currently in print. Rarities, and unreleased songs will continue to be featured, as well as independent label artists.
When people share whole albums, or burn bootleg copies of commercially availible material for selling purposes, I believe that is wrong. But to threaten charges of up to $750 per song is not only ridiculous, it has no basis in reality. Maybe the RIAA should examine it's altered sense of reality, start producing music people actually want to buy, and stop threatening their customers, otherwise they may truly have a crisis on their hands.
Anyone wishing to join my boycott please e-mail me and I will include your name, or alias on my webpage.
Comments and questions should be e-mailed to me.
I will never again purchase a new Compact Disc, Cassette, DVD, or whatever other format they throw out, from a major label recording company, unless these frivilous lawsuits against file sharing stop. Ya wanna know who should be sued is the RIAA, for defamation of character, for false and illegal representation of a product (CD's) and for unjust and illegal harassment. Bottom line in this story, and multi-billion dollar industry who thinks it's appropriate to extort two-thousand dollars from a 12 year old girl, and her family is not worthy of my or anyone elses hard earned cash for their substandard product anyway. In my life I have personally purchased well over 1000 cd's, and have in my collection close to 2000 complete sound recordings on various formats including LP, Cassette, 8-Track. In weighted price value, It could easily be argued that i have between 20-40 thousand dollars wrapped up in music products. So I have been a regular and good customer of the music industry for the past 30 years of my life. However, it has come to the point where I can no longer support the business practices of the giant conglomerates who don't really care anymore about music, rather they just care about money. So as I have stated, I am boycotting all major label products until they reverse their position on actively pursuing all persons who share files. I personally do not actively share files on Kazaa, or whatever other services you can think of. I do have a few posted on my website, which hopefully will not cause any stir, and rather are meant to influence record sales. I think though, with this stand that I am taking, I will no longer provide any samples of music from major label artists that is currently in print. Rarities, and unreleased songs will continue to be featured, as well as independent label artists.
When people share whole albums, or burn bootleg copies of commercially availible material for selling purposes, I believe that is wrong. But to threaten charges of up to $750 per song is not only ridiculous, it has no basis in reality. Maybe the RIAA should examine it's altered sense of reality, start producing music people actually want to buy, and stop threatening their customers, otherwise they may truly have a crisis on their hands.
Anyone wishing to join my boycott please e-mail me and I will include your name, or alias on my webpage.
Comments and questions should be e-mailed to me.
By the way, does the fact that many of Emily Dickenson's poems can be sung to the tune of Yellow Rose Of Texas imply an endorsement of the Lone Star State by the late poet? Curious.
I know I haven't been living up to my wolfly duties of keeping many wonderful and enlightened visitors filled to the brim with Daily RedWolf quips. actually, I haven't even been providing weekly quips. I have no excuse for this, other than I am merely mortal, though my words may trick you into believing that I am divine. :) See folks, that there was a joke :)
Anyhoo, I gots me a job finally doing something that I never thought I would do. I'm sitting behind a desk answering phone calls. Suxxx to be me huh. Well at least its money.
So It seems the Chicago Cubs And Sox are making a legit run for the playoffs this year. First time since 1907 that both teams were this close at this time of the year. Amazing, the Ying-Yang of sports finally threw a lil karma Chicago's way. Now I know that we got more than our fair share with Michael Jordan's 6 Championships (cause y'all know that Jordan was the only reason the Bulls won those, any doubters should be silenced with the dreadful record the Bulls will post this year with Scottie Pippen). But Alas, I was never much of a hoops fan, so while it was mildly entertaining, it just didn't satisfy the way a good Superbowl would. Hell I would trade all 6 championships for one more Superbowl ring for the Bears, which sure the hell ain't gonna do nothin this year. How dismal can a football team be, I mean ESPN.com ranked the bears lower than the BENGALS this week. AAAAAAARRRRGGGHHHHH!!!!! So the only hope for me is that the wonderful ChiSox sweep the lowly Twins in the series that starts tonight, and slide their way into another AL Central Pennant!!! Of course This is Chicago we're talking about, so I have no doubt they will find a way to blow it. The ChiCubs are pretty close themselves as well, with a relatively easy schedule and a record which has them one game out of first, will the First Chicago v. Chicago World Series in almost 100 years become reality? Hey If the Mets and Yankees can do it, so can we. Of course there will be millions of New Yorkers calling Chicago copycats, and saying how they've already done that years ago.
OK Nuff said on sports.
Heres your political weblink of the moment:
http://misleader.org
an excellent site on the misstatements of our current administration and the truth that needs to be told. While it holds a definite liberal bias, most of the facts presented are plain and simple truth, with clear references of support. Check it out.
Since I'm posting this at work, and probably will do so many times in the future, The NP feature has disappeared, considering that I feel lucky enough to surf the internet, and get paid while doing so, I don't think bringing a radio here would be a good idea. Anyhoo, I need to hear my phone ring, so I guess music is out of the question.
So to sum up: New Job, Chi-Town Championship, Football Blues, No Tunes, Misleader.
Have a Nice Day :)
Peace
JC
I know I haven't been living up to my wolfly duties of keeping many wonderful and enlightened visitors filled to the brim with Daily RedWolf quips. actually, I haven't even been providing weekly quips. I have no excuse for this, other than I am merely mortal, though my words may trick you into believing that I am divine. :) See folks, that there was a joke :)
Anyhoo, I gots me a job finally doing something that I never thought I would do. I'm sitting behind a desk answering phone calls. Suxxx to be me huh. Well at least its money.
So It seems the Chicago Cubs And Sox are making a legit run for the playoffs this year. First time since 1907 that both teams were this close at this time of the year. Amazing, the Ying-Yang of sports finally threw a lil karma Chicago's way. Now I know that we got more than our fair share with Michael Jordan's 6 Championships (cause y'all know that Jordan was the only reason the Bulls won those, any doubters should be silenced with the dreadful record the Bulls will post this year with Scottie Pippen). But Alas, I was never much of a hoops fan, so while it was mildly entertaining, it just didn't satisfy the way a good Superbowl would. Hell I would trade all 6 championships for one more Superbowl ring for the Bears, which sure the hell ain't gonna do nothin this year. How dismal can a football team be, I mean ESPN.com ranked the bears lower than the BENGALS this week. AAAAAAARRRRGGGHHHHH!!!!! So the only hope for me is that the wonderful ChiSox sweep the lowly Twins in the series that starts tonight, and slide their way into another AL Central Pennant!!! Of course This is Chicago we're talking about, so I have no doubt they will find a way to blow it. The ChiCubs are pretty close themselves as well, with a relatively easy schedule and a record which has them one game out of first, will the First Chicago v. Chicago World Series in almost 100 years become reality? Hey If the Mets and Yankees can do it, so can we. Of course there will be millions of New Yorkers calling Chicago copycats, and saying how they've already done that years ago.
OK Nuff said on sports.
Heres your political weblink of the moment:
http://misleader.org
an excellent site on the misstatements of our current administration and the truth that needs to be told. While it holds a definite liberal bias, most of the facts presented are plain and simple truth, with clear references of support. Check it out.
Since I'm posting this at work, and probably will do so many times in the future, The NP feature has disappeared, considering that I feel lucky enough to surf the internet, and get paid while doing so, I don't think bringing a radio here would be a good idea. Anyhoo, I need to hear my phone ring, so I guess music is out of the question.
So to sum up: New Job, Chi-Town Championship, Football Blues, No Tunes, Misleader.
Have a Nice Day :)
Peace
JC
Monday, September 01, 2003
Just wanted to comment on the 10 Commandments thing in Alabama.
Well I won't tell you all my opinion, cause that should be obvious. However, an unlikely scribe waxing poetic about football known simply as TMQ on espn's Page2 (At http://espn.go.com/page2/s/tmq/030826.html), provided what I feel is an excellent insight given by a good Christian boy :)
anyway here's an excerpt:
Judge Roy Moore, the publicity-seeker who put the 2.5-ton Ten Commandments in the Alabama state courthouse, declared Monday that he could disobey the direct order of a federal judge because "judges do not make laws, they interpret them." Since, Moore continued, an interpretation can be wrong, therefore he may defy a judicial order. So presumably Judge Moore also thinks that if he sentences a man to prison, the man can declare that the interpretation might be wrong and walk free? It's exactly the same logic.
Moore further said that the First Amendment precept, "Congress shall make no law respecting the establishment of religion," does not apply to him because "I am not Congress." Drag this incompetent lunatic out of the court quickly, please. Anyone with entry-level knowledge of Constitutional law knows that the 14th Amendment, ratified in 1868, was intended to extend the Bill of Rights to state governments; that a 1937 Supreme Court decision specifically declared that the First Amendment binds state officials like Judge Moore.
As a church-going Christian -- TMQ was in church on Sunday -- I find it deeply embarrassing when Christianity is associated, in the public eye, with hucksters like Moore. I find it embarrassing, too, when Christians supporting Moore's hunk of stone suggest that a big object in a public square is what matters, rather than the power of God's message itself. Anyone who needs to look at a big object in order to believe, doesn't really believe.
How is it that there are so many Judges who are placed in a position where Partisan politics should never play a role, and where personal agendas should not factor in, yet seem to not be concerned with the letter of the law, rather only be concerned with furthering their own agenda? What scares me more is how so many judges are in power today without even a rudimentary understanding of Constitutional law. Its funny that the BBC can have the knowledge to call the U.S. Constitution "Secular", yet many politicians and Judges, Including our wonderful appointed leader G.W. seem to have trouble understanding this. Here's a challenge for y'all, show me just one instance of God being mentioned in the Constitution. Just one. Hmmm, having problems? Of Course you are! Cause it isn't there. Not once. The closest reference to God is at the very end, there is a mention of "in the year of our lord" referring to the practice of dating things using the terms B.C. and A.D. (Which means "anno Domini" translated to "the year of our Lord" not "After Death" like many people foolishly believe) Here's the actual quote:
Done in Convention by the Unanimous Consent of the States present the Seventeenth Day of September "in the Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and Eighty seven" and of the Independence of the United States of America the Twelfth IN WITNESS whereof We have hereunto subscribed our Names
Hardly the smoking gun linking the Constitution to religion. But hey, to each his own I suppose. I mean after all you can sing any Emily Dickenson poem to "The Yellow Rose of Texas" And some people claim that the bible is written in code, and by reading every twelfth word, you can learn how to build a spaceship to Mars or something like that.
I'm thinking about asking Canada to grant me exile....
Peace
JC
Well I won't tell you all my opinion, cause that should be obvious. However, an unlikely scribe waxing poetic about football known simply as TMQ on espn's Page2 (At http://espn.go.com/page2/s/tmq/030826.html), provided what I feel is an excellent insight given by a good Christian boy :)
anyway here's an excerpt:
Judge Roy Moore, the publicity-seeker who put the 2.5-ton Ten Commandments in the Alabama state courthouse, declared Monday that he could disobey the direct order of a federal judge because "judges do not make laws, they interpret them." Since, Moore continued, an interpretation can be wrong, therefore he may defy a judicial order. So presumably Judge Moore also thinks that if he sentences a man to prison, the man can declare that the interpretation might be wrong and walk free? It's exactly the same logic.
Moore further said that the First Amendment precept, "Congress shall make no law respecting the establishment of religion," does not apply to him because "I am not Congress." Drag this incompetent lunatic out of the court quickly, please. Anyone with entry-level knowledge of Constitutional law knows that the 14th Amendment, ratified in 1868, was intended to extend the Bill of Rights to state governments; that a 1937 Supreme Court decision specifically declared that the First Amendment binds state officials like Judge Moore.
As a church-going Christian -- TMQ was in church on Sunday -- I find it deeply embarrassing when Christianity is associated, in the public eye, with hucksters like Moore. I find it embarrassing, too, when Christians supporting Moore's hunk of stone suggest that a big object in a public square is what matters, rather than the power of God's message itself. Anyone who needs to look at a big object in order to believe, doesn't really believe.
How is it that there are so many Judges who are placed in a position where Partisan politics should never play a role, and where personal agendas should not factor in, yet seem to not be concerned with the letter of the law, rather only be concerned with furthering their own agenda? What scares me more is how so many judges are in power today without even a rudimentary understanding of Constitutional law. Its funny that the BBC can have the knowledge to call the U.S. Constitution "Secular", yet many politicians and Judges, Including our wonderful appointed leader G.W. seem to have trouble understanding this. Here's a challenge for y'all, show me just one instance of God being mentioned in the Constitution. Just one. Hmmm, having problems? Of Course you are! Cause it isn't there. Not once. The closest reference to God is at the very end, there is a mention of "in the year of our lord" referring to the practice of dating things using the terms B.C. and A.D. (Which means "anno Domini" translated to "the year of our Lord" not "After Death" like many people foolishly believe) Here's the actual quote:
Done in Convention by the Unanimous Consent of the States present the Seventeenth Day of September "in the Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and Eighty seven" and of the Independence of the United States of America the Twelfth IN WITNESS whereof We have hereunto subscribed our Names
Hardly the smoking gun linking the Constitution to religion. But hey, to each his own I suppose. I mean after all you can sing any Emily Dickenson poem to "The Yellow Rose of Texas" And some people claim that the bible is written in code, and by reading every twelfth word, you can learn how to build a spaceship to Mars or something like that.
I'm thinking about asking Canada to grant me exile....
Peace
JC
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