Friday, January 04, 2008

Die, DRM, Die

I predicted this would happen, and so it goes. I believe this was one of my predictions last year, or something like that.

In a move that would mark the end of a digital music era, Sony BMG Music Entertainment is finalizing plans to sell songs without the copyright protection software that has long restricted the use of music downloaded from the Internet, BusinessWeek.com has learned. Sony BMG, a joint venture of Sony (SNE) and Bertelsmann, will make at least part of its collection available without so-called digital rights management, or DRM, software some time in the first quarter, according to people familiar with the matter.

Sony BMG would become the last of the top four music labels to drop DRM, following Warner Music Group (WMG), which in late December said it would sell DRM-free songs through Amazon.com’s (AMZN) digital music store. EMI and Vivendi’s Universal Music Group announced their plans for DRM-free downloads earlier in 2007.

The music business will make a lot of money off downloads, once they get some 20th century notions out of their heads. Make the songs cheaper. Support the sales of the songs with advertised sites. Other models will be thought up. It’ll work just like free sports on TV didn’t kill the NFL. It made them richer. 

Not a Smart Thing to Say, McCain

I understand what he means. But that will not go over well. 

Little Men Inside Your Monitor

When you click this link, don’t be alarmed when your browser shrinks. Just watch the show. 

Thursday, January 03, 2008

Hillary’s Reaction to the Iowa Votes

Now I Know Who Huckabee Reminds Me Of

Well, he won Iowa handily. We’ll see how he does in New Hampshire.

I was happy to see Thompson win third place. Hopefully he will do even better next week. And Hillary came in third after Obama and Edwards. Yesss!!!

Of course, she will probably win the nomination in the end, but I think it will be hard won.

UPDATE: CNN isn’t news.

Wednesday, January 02, 2008

Plastic Woman

The Unfriendly Skies

Another story showing how out of control airport security has gotten. When you give people too much power, they start abusing it. And you have little recourse if a “flight attendant” (I hate that term. What’s wrong with steward or stewardess? Nothing.) decides they don’t like you. You can’t talk back to them or they can punish you. What kind of nonsense is that? hen I was a kid, stewardesses were attractive women in short dresses who always put on a pleasant demeanor. Now you get grumpy matrons in pants suits and gay men and service is almost non-existent.

Now, for any excuse they choose, they can have you arrested and put on a no fly list. This is another example of the US becoming a lot less free due to the Patriot Act nonsense.

Shop Dropping

Instead of shoplifting, some people are doing the opposite. They are adding things to stores.

There are several reasons for this: some are just being pranksters, some are promoting themselves, some are doing a kind of consumer activism.

Oh, to have so much free time. Well, I’d rather be doing what I’m doing anyway. 

Tuesday, January 01, 2008

15 Amazing Coincidences

I’ve only heard a couple of these. They’re all pretty incredible. 

Predictions 2008

Hillary Clinton will win the Democrat nomination, but lose the presidency.

Ron Paul will lose the Republican nomination but run as a third party candidate.

Paul ends up drawing more Democrats away than Republicans, helping insure Hillary’s defeat.

But a Republican wins in November. I am leaning toward Thompson defying expectations of the pundit class, and winning the nomination. However, if he doesn’t, Romney will.

The Republican nomination will be a roller coaster not a cake walk.

The housing slump lasts into the fall.

The Iraq surge will inspire an Afghan surge.

Pakistan turmoil will result in martial law and perhaps the fall of the current government.

Global Warming skepticism grows after a cold winter.

Global Warming laws will continue to be passed, fueling a backlash.

The Hollywood writer’s strike will last till late February/early March.

Iraq will continue to cool down.

Many Democrats frustrated by their party’s performance since the last election will form a new party.

Despite the attempts by some, Cheney and Bush will not be impeached.