Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Reactable Sound Device
We’ll see many applications of surface computer interfaces in the near future. Here’s one that’s used for music.
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Katherine Jenkins
I came across this lady while looking for music on various download sites. I checked out a few of her tracks and became a fan. She does some really great versions of classic songs, including some pop. She’s not well known over in the US, but I hear she’s fairly big in the UK.
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Saturday, April 26, 2008
The Woman Who’s Beating the RIAAThe RIAA’s indiscriminate legal tactics against downloaders has caused many innocent people to get sued in court. One of them fought back and won. Now she is still fighting to take them down.
After being sued by the music industry for stealing songs and winning the case’s dismissal, Andersen is now taking the record industry to court. Her case is aimed at exposing investigative practices that are controversial and may be illegal, according to the lawsuit. One company hired by the record industry, she claims, snoops through people’s computers, uncovering private files and photos, even though it has no legal right to do so. A different industry-backed company uses tactics similar to those of debt collectors, pressuring people to pay thousands of dollars in settlements even before any wrongdoing is proven. In Andersen’s case, the industry’s Settlement Support Center said that unless she paid $4,000 to $5,000 immediately, it would “ruin her financially,” the suit alleges.
Andersen is going after the recording industry under conspiracy laws. She argues the Recording Industry Association of America, the industry’s trade group, and its affiliates worked together on a broad campaign to intimidate people into making financial payoffs. The defendants “secretly met and conspired” to develop a “litigation enterprise” with the ultimate goal of preserving the major record companies’ control over the music business. Andersen is requesting class action status for her case, seeking at least $5 million in compensation for the class.
It’s bad enough government is destroying our privacy. We can’t let corporations do it too. This is an important case. And an important step towards digital sovereignty.
In other music news, Phil Collins is retiring.
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Friday, April 25, 2008
Reuben’s Tube
Mythbusters even did a spot on it
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Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Heavy Metal in BaghdadPermalink
Sunday, March 23, 2008
The Fall of the JacksonsAn interesting article in the NY Post about how the Jackson clan is impoverished. This part is especially interesting.
The King of Pop used his vast power and influence to prevent his siblings from plying the trade that led to such mega-hits as “I Want You Back,” “The Love You Save” and “ABC.”
Jackson, riding high in the music world, signed his brothers to his personal record label, MJJ, and refused to release any of their music.
“Michael’s mission was to make sure his family was broke, and he accomplished that through the industry, which mostly kowtowed to him,” said Bob Jones, former longtime director of communications for Jackson and the author of “Michael Jackson: The Man Behind the Mask.”
“We were always ordered by Michael to keep his family away from his offices and out of his business,” he said. “He hated them. He wanted them broke. Michael even refused to allow Jermaine, who had come over to Europe to see one of Michael’s concerts about a decade ago, to guest on ‘I’ll Be There.’ Jermaine was devastated.”
I used to see them around Encino, Ca when I lived there. I was waiting for my car at a car wash on Ventura Blvd, and sat next to Randy as he was waiting for his. I also saw Joe Jackson in the supermarket one time, buying some antacids. He was in front of me in line. And, of course, I’ve met Michael Jackson as I recounted on my old blog a few times. That was an interesting story.
Anyway, this family is rather sad. When you read teh whole thing, you realize Michael may or may not be a crazed pedophile, but he is certainly a creep. But he learned it from Dad, because the Jackson family has run several charity shows where they kept all the money and didn’t pay any of the bills..
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Saturday, March 22, 2008
Mongolian Folk RockPermalink
Friday, March 21, 2008
The Beatles Come to Town (1963)
Before and After
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Thursday, March 13, 2008
Hey, Look! It’s Phil Stacy!
Last season’s Idol finalist has a video out
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Sunday, March 09, 2008
Space Age Pop Music Permalink
