RIAA Boycott: Out To Destroy Webcasts

The RIAA struck again over the weekend, helping push a new royalty rate that is retroactive to January 2006 that requires webcasters to pay a fee for RIAA protected music. The fee of course is moronic in scope and goes up in double-digits each year.

TechDirt.com has the details:

RIAA Pushes Through Internet Radio Royalty Rates Designed To Kill Webcasts

It's been quite some time since we last heard about arguments between internet webcasters and SoundExchange (a group spun off from the RIAA to handle royalty collection). Back in the summer of 2003, there was even a lawsuit over the royalties being set, that were pretty clearly designed to put smaller, independent webcasters out of business. From the RIAA's point of view, this is perfectly typical. They still view the world (especially the internet) as a broadcast medium. Therefore, they want at small number of "professional" content producers who create the content for everyone else. Then they can just sign a few ridiculously large licenses with those large players, and "the people" get to consume it. It's a fundamental misunderstanding of the internet as a communications medium -- a medium where people express themselves back and forth to each other, rather than a place we go sit back and "consume." While the fight had gotten quiet lately, the good old RIAA was hard at work making sure that things were happening in the background. A bunch of folks submitted stories this weekend noting that late Friday (making it less likely to make news), the Copyright Royalty Board announced that it was adopting the royalty rates SoundExchange put forth, and making them effective retroactively to the beginning of 2006 -- meaning that many small independent webcasters are now facing a tremendous royalty bill they're unlikely to be able to afford (thanks to everyone who sent this in).

That last link goes through the impact of all of this on various players -- and it's not pretty. The new rates pretty much decimate a large portion of the industry. And, it's only going to get worse, as the royalty rates increase at incredible rates ("2007's rate is a 37.5% increase over 2006; 2008 and 2009's annual increases are about 28% per year; and 2010 adds another 5.5% increase.") Of course, this is utterly backwards and damaging to the industry itself. A webcaster (especially the smaller, independent ones) is a great means of promotion for artists. It tends to attract more loyal and well-targeted audiences, who are more likely to want to later go out and buy a CD, a t-shirt or attend a concert. It lets the industry better promote material from a wider range of artists. However, in the industry's desperate need to charge for every single use, they're effectively killing off yet another wonderful promotional vehicle. The industry continues to think that it needs to do this because it wants to own all distribution and promotional avenues in order to be able to continue to take its large cut. However, that's no reason for the Copyright Royalty Board to put in place these artificial barriers that only serve to protect the recording industry's outdated understanding of its own business model.

Ann Coulter Drops the F-Bomb!

In what can only be called a crime against humanity, Ann Coulter dropped the f-bomb at a speech Saturday during an address to the Conservative Political Action Conference where she said "I was going to have a few comments on the other Democratic presidential candidate, John Edwards, but it turns out that you have to go into rehab if you use the word 'faggot,' so I'm - so, kind of at an impasse, can't really talk about Edwards, so I think I'll just conclude here and take your questions."

Of course, this isn't the first time that Ann uses gays as a way to bash Democrats. She has done it many many times in the past. She did it on July 27, 2006 when she called All Gore a "total fag".

Nevermind though that she has called for the deaths of judges, seems OK with the idea of killing Bill Clinton, spoke of Muslims as ragheads, and just generally has made her fortune and career on hate. She simply exists to create and spread hate. Everyone knows this, yet her use of the word faggot is what gets spread on the front stories of CNN, USAToday and Fox News (Fox's pro-Ann slant is amusing btw) and probably headline the Sunday political shows. Are you shitting me? This is what finally gets people's attention and even gets flip flop master John "will sell my soul for office" McCain to even comment calling it "wildly inappropriate."

But then again this is a new age, the post Grey's Anatomy Isaiah Washington's use of the word. The f-bomb heard round the world, if you will. Yep, somehow 'faggot' has become the new n-word. Not sure how this happened but since the press has decided to treat it as an evil, so too has the politicians and then the people. If the media calls it bad then it must be.

The dreaded f-bomb. Its no longer the one having to do with sex. Its evil I tell you. Pure unmitigated evil. Can the human race, can American make it to the next day knowing this event has occurred? And what of the children? Those poor children. Think of the children!! Oh the humanity!

Boycott the RIAA In March

Gizmondo.com has decided to declare March as RIAA Boycott Month due to simply being sick and tired of the RIAA's anti-consumer, anti-freedom, anti-free expression, and just anti everything that doesn't feed dollars to mega corporations.

The boycott calls for you to simply stop buying any product that helps fund the mafia outfit of the RIAA. This includes anything produced by Warner Music, EMI, Vivendi Universal, and Sony BMG and any of their subsidiaries. Now before doing the whole "but the artists" bit, just remember that part of the RIAA's functionality is to help screw over the artists and keep as much royalties out of their pockets as they can. Again, remember, the RIAA exists to benefit the corporations and the higher ups bonuses. Giving money, earned or otherwise, to artists would be counter to that goal.

Gizmondo issued an Anti-RIAA Manifesto:

In case you missed it, last Friday we declared the month of March Boycott the RIAA Month. We've gotten sick and tired of always seeing the RIAA pulling deplorable moves and decided it was time for us to do something about it. We're kicking the month off with this, our manifesto. We want to be absolutely clear about what this fight is about and why it's so important. This is an overview of what the RIAA does, why it's damaging, and what we need to do to stop it. Consider this our planted flag.

First off, we want to be clear that this battle won't be over on March 31st. We declared March the Boycott the RIAA month to draw a line in the sand and to make a strong statement, but this is merely the beginning. Everything we're going to lay out here will still be true in April, in May, in June, and in the months that follow. March will be not the entirety of our efforts, but rather a kick off of our organized campaign to make a difference. We'll be posting tips for how to get the word out, ways to support artists without supporting the RIAA, and keeping you updated with everything that's going on throughout the entire month. With your help, we can educate people about how important this issue is and really make a difference.

Who We're Up Against
The RIAA is the industry group that represents the four major record labels — Warner Music, EMI, Vivendi Universal, and Sony BMG — and all of their subsidiaries. They work on behalf of their members, and they have been accused of a wide range of offenses, from price-fixing to stifling innovation. They're able to perpetuate these crimes due to their huge bankroll, but that happens to be the one aspect of their organization we have control over. As consumers, we are the ones who stuff their coffers. By buying albums released by RIAA labels, we're giving them the money they use to sue our peers, stifle innovation, and force DRM down our throats. By cutting off their income stream, we can help make the RIAA less effective and therefore less damaging.

We're huge music fans here at Gizmodo, and that's why it's really hard to advocate not purchasing albums from artists we love. However, what everyone needs to understand is that we are in no means advocating piracy or not supporting musicians. The fact of the matter is, the RIAA's practices do not, in the end, support musicians or put money into their pockets. A fraction of the money from album sales actually makes it to artists, and not a single penny that the RIAA has received from their series of lawsuits has actually made it back to the artists that had their "copyrights infringed" in the first place.

Piracy Lawsuits: Extortion and Privacy Invasion Under the Guise of Copyright Enforcement
The goal of the RIAA's lawsuits is to make people so afraid of being sued that they will stop downloading music. However, in their lawsuits they circumvent the law and extort money from people who haven't been given the benefit of a legal trial.

The process that the RIAA has in place to find and sue plaintiffs is designed not to provide a fair trial and prove guilt, but rather to confuse and intimidate people into settling out of court. What exactly happens is too detailed and lengthy for me to go into here, but Grant Robertson's Layperson's Guide to Filesharing Lawsuits is a must-read for anyone interested in what exactly happened in the 20,000+ lawsuits (so far) the RIAA has brought upon the citizens of this country.

Recently, the RIAA began looking to streamline the entire lawsuit process by cutting courts, lawyers, and any semblance of due process out altogether. Their new plan is to have ISPs point people to p2plawsuits.com (catchy!) and offer to discount their settlement by $1,000 if they pay up without going to court at all. By avoiding the court system, the RIAA can avoid paying those pesky lawyer's fees. Even better for them, they plan to require ISPs to retain all of their customer records for at least 180 days in order to be eligible for the $1,000 discount. This would make everyone's surfing and downloading history available to a non-governmental organization in order to make it easier for them to gather evidence for their intimidation lawsuits.

Smothering Innovation: If You Can't Access the Internet, You Can't Pirate Music
Beyond the harassment, extortion, and privacy invasion that the RIAA commits under the guise of lawsuits, they also stifle innovation by treating any open Internet source as a potential way for people to violate their copyrights. Recently, they filed a "motion for reconsideration" in a suit claiming that anything downloaded via an Internet connection is the responsibility of the owner of said connection. While the RIAA is trying to make it easier for them to get money out of the parents of kids they sue, the precedent that it would set would make it difficult, if not impossible, for open WiFi hotspots to exist. That means that the RIAA would make it impossible for you to connect to the web for free while out in a city that provides Internet access merely because you might use it to download music.

DRM: Pay More, Get Less
Digital Rights Management, or DRM, is the software that makes it so music you buy from the iTunes Music Store can't play on any other player other than the iPod, such as a Zune or Sansa. In an effort to keep people from sharing legally purchased music, DRM actually goes much farther than copyright law dictates, denying paying customers the fair use of the music they buy. You should be able to do what you want with an album once you've paid for it; like a CD or a record, you now own it for life.

However, music wrapped in DRM software cannot be played on devices other than those explicitly tied to the store you brought it from. Furthermore, listening to your music across multiple computers, or moving your music to a new computer when you upgrade, is often a huge headache that ends with you needing to repurchase your songs.

In effect, the RIAA's insistence on strict DRM takes value away from legally purchased music. People have a choice: they can either pirate unrestricted MP3 files that will let them use them however they'd like, or they can pay for files that won't allow them the freedom to listen where and how they choose. It only makes sense that many tech-savvy people choose to download MP3s rather than pay for crippled files. The RIAA wants people to pay for restrictions and like it.

Rescuing Artists From Those Claiming to Support Them
As we're a technology website, we're most in touch with the RIAA's actions in response to music downloading as opposed to their history of poor artist management and unfair retail tactics. However, it's worth noting that issues such as the underpayment of artists and album price-fixing are quite serious and should be considered as good a reason as any to keep your money from going to their pockets. Two articles worth reading to study up on how major labels screw over the artists they claim to represent are Courtney Love's speech to the Digital Hollywood online entertainment conference and The Problem with Music by Steve Albini. Both are written by artists who have first-hand knowledge of just how badly major labels take advantage of musicians, and both are guaranteed to change how you view the music industry.

Out With the Old, In With the New
So what would we like to see happen? First and foremost, we want the lawsuits to stop. Treating normal people like common criminals and using fear tactics and intimidation to extort thousands of dollars from them goes against everything that this country stands for. Secondly, we want them to stop insisting that DRM software be used on all of their music being sold online. People are willing to pay for their music, but they deserve to be able to own that music and use it however they'd like once they purchase it. And lastly, we want the RIAA to stop trying to stifle innovation and control the future of the Internet merely because the possibility exists for piracy to happen using upcoming technologies.

But all these things, in the long run, are temporary solutions to a problem that will eventually end with a permanent solution. The fact of the matter is, the RIAA is becoming more outdated and unnecessary by the day. Their seeming inability to grasp the reality of today's music industry has doomed them, and there will come a time when they will cease to exist.

That's because the era of the major label is over. Why should a new band want to sign with one? They no longer need a $50,000 recording budget; more sophisticated and powerful home recording equipment and software is released every day. Music videos are cheaper to shoot and edit as well due to the lowered costs of cameras and computers. Promoting for radio is increasingly unnecessary, as more and more bands are discovered via blogs rather than through traditional channels. And manufacturing is slowly being erased from the picture altogether, allowing artists to distribute their music online with little overhead costs.

While twenty years ago a band needed a record label to discover them, help them record, help them shoot a video, manufacture and then distribute their album, a resourceful band can do all of those things themselves. Eventually, bands will be able to sell their music online direct to fans with minimal reliance on a record label. The RIAA is teetering on the edge of irrelevance, and it's our job to give it a hearty shove. They can still do a hell of a lot of damage on their way down, and that's what we need to try to stop. Stay tuned. –Adam Frucci

Dow Jones Take A 416 Point Tumble

The Dow Jones took a 416 point tumble, the biggest one day loss since 9/11. The cause seems to be related to various inconsistent economic reports such as a drop in housing prices, but increase in consumer confidence. This despite a recent report that more then 16 million Americans are living below the poverty line. The highest number in US history. Oil is going up, but gold is going down. Then there is a possible recession coming towards end of 2007 according to former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan.

Another factor, for reasons I don't understand, is the failed attack on Dick Cheney by a suicide bomber during a visit in Afghanistan. Why this would have an impact isn't explained. Best guess is because Cheney has instrumental in the military spending and funds that are going to multiple military contractors he is friendly with. His death would more then likely hit their bottom lines hard.

Frankly I am surprised it took this long for the Dow to take a hit as the US market is in some odd bubble where the rich and large corporations are benefiting but pretty much everyone else isn't. Considering its the lower and middle class that do the spending that keep the economy engine going, the growth of the Dow Jones hasn't made much sense. The stock market is saying the economy is strong while every other indication is saying there is a problem. Something had to give and it looks like it was the stock market first.

Reading First Program Under Scrutiny

The Reading First program, apart of Bush's No Child Left Behind Act, is under scrutiny for cronyism that benefited the Oregon professors that initially helped Bush create the law and the program. Its been discovered that the consultants used to help in various programs approved for funding were headed by top Bush administration donors. In other words, the consultants where pushing their own products while preventing any other competitors from entering the market.

This shouldn't be a surprise as there is literally no law, no action, that the Bush administration has taken that doesn't benefit his friends in some form or fashion. The Bush admin is the very definition of cronyism. Knowing he and his friends are willing to corrupt the education of our next generation is just further proof that there is nothing he isn't willing to do.

The Education Inspector General report on the Reading First program and also an AJC article regarding this corrupted program.

Quickie Movie Reviews

I have been on a small movie spree these last few weeks so figured will write quick reviews of the movies, on the assumption people know what they are about, just don't know if worth seeing.

Amazing Grace - Typical historical film, not that is a bad thing as the film is very entertaining and well done. Recommend sooner rather then later.

Breach - Another typical historical film, also very well done. Great acting all around and also worth seeing.

Bridge To Terabithia - The movie sadly didn't get good until towards the end when a tragic turn finally added the drama the otherwise boring movie desperately needed.

Ghost Rider - Typical popcorn movie. If you go in with the right mindset, don't try to hard to pick it apart, it does the job of entertaining you for two hours.

Music and Lyrics - Boring film, not very funny. The memorable part is the introduction of Haley Bennett, who is going to be a hell of a star if she picks the right roles. Her beauty just popped off the screen and was quite breathtaking. Sadly the film does little to indicate if she has any singing or acting skill (but didn't hurt either), hopefully her skills beyond looks will be highlighted in future work.

Reno 911!: Miami - Silly but amusing as hell. In no way shape or form try to take anything about it seriously and you will have a good time.

RIAA Wants To Ban Wi-Fi

The RIAA, the recording industries mafia enforces, have filed a motion that basically says that Internet Service Providers should be held responsible for all activity of its customers including possible violations of copyright. If such a ruling occurred in their favor, it would in effect eliminate the possibility of any open wi-fi wireless networks such as those being considered by San Francisco and Atlanta and those that already exist in many restaurants and locations throughout the US. Considering that such a ruling would make anyone from companies to major corporations liable for whatever floats the boat of the RIAA, the MPAA and really anyone that wants a quick infusion of cash, the net result is it make it very expensive for any company to provide Internet connectivity. It never ceases to amaze me how a company claiming to protect the rights of its artists (bullshit, its really their corporations) seems to have no problem running roughshod over everyone and anything in that effort. This is just another example of why citizens need to flat out boycott any and all corporations that are apart of the RIAA and refuse to by any music if any artists that support them and their behavior.

Oscar Predictions?

The Oscars should be starting right about now and everyone is throwing around predictions. Usually I don't mind trying the same thing except for that most of the nomoniees I haven't see. Actually this is one of those years where I could care less who wins as most of the movies that I have seen just don't resonate with me in any way.

Part of my indifference may be due to the fact that the Oscars don't so much as cover the year 2006 in movies as more covers the months of November and Decemeber in movies. Its hard to care when knowing 10 months of the year don't really count. Then there is the huge advertising campaign that pretty much desolves the Oscars from "who deserves it" to "who spent the most money". Anyway just for giggles, based mostly on chance and lots of guessing, here are my wins for the main categories of the Oscars.

Best Picture: Babel
Best Actor: Forest Whitaker
Best Actress: Helen Mirren
Best Supporting Actor: Eddie Murphy
Best Supporting Actress: Cat Blanchett
Best Dirctor: Martin Scorsese
Foreign Film: Pan's Laybrinth
Adapted Screensplay: The Departed
Orginial Screenplay: Babel
Animated Feature Film: Cars
Art Direction: Pan's Labyrinth
Cinematography: Pan's Labyrinth
Sound Mixing: Pirates of the Caribbean
Sound Editing: Flags of Our Fathers
Originial Score: Babel
Originial Song: Love You I Do
Visual Effects: Pirates of the Caribbean

Support The Troops...Unless Its Too Much Trouble

With malice toward none; with charity for all; with firmness in the right, as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in; to bind up the nation's wounds; to care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan — to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace, among ourselves, and with all nations
- Abraham Lincoln; March 4th, 1865 Second Inaugural Address

Support The Troops. Its the catch phrase of the moment. Used as an excuse for war. Its used as a defense. Its used for offense. Its used to increase a financial cost the country can scarcely afford. Its used to funnel more money to the corporate entities that waste it. Yet that phrase doesn't seem to apply when its the troops, our soldiers, that need the support.

The Bush Administration and his republican cronies whip out this phrase on a constant basis when it comes to the Iraq War. The try to use it to fan the flames of patriotism and quash any dissent. Yet time and time again, when supporting the troops will cost money that will not go into the coffers of the Haliburtons and other Bush corporate cronies, suddenly the cost is simply too high. If it goes to a corporation, the money is always there. No expense is spared. If the money is going to the soldiers, the injured or the families of the dead, lets pause and reconsider. Apparently the money can be spent better elsewhere.

The Bush administration on camera cries out that we must support the war so that we can support the troops. Yet privately, he screws over the veterans, those no longer able to help with his legacy agenda. In the line of fire, he likes you. After you have made your sacrifice and your family is left to pick up the pieces, he simply has no use for you. This is evidenced by his repeated health care budget cuts and other cuts to reduce the support the veterans and their families receive. This attitude is no more evidenced by the recently exposed conditions for out-patient care at Walter Reed Hospital.

The Washington Post recently reported on the abysmal conditions at Building 18 used to house out-patients of the hospital. The care is top notch while coming from the field of battle but during recovery, the soldiers are basically treated as refuge. A burden, a cost that isn't worth paying. As if a stitch, some surgery and maybe a prosthetic limb (or two) with a few weeks of bed rest and the soldier should be ready to return back to civilian life as good as new.

Of course we know that's not the case. Recovery is a long, arduous, and expensive process. A process that Bush claims he supports whenever he goes for the photo-op in the Ward 57, the amputee unit. Instead though there is disintegrating buildings, complicated paperwork, confused staffers, un-trained supervisors, in-capable databases and pretty much any error you can name, the soldiers have to deal with on a constant and regular basis.

They sacrificed elsewhere just to start a new fight here at home. A battle against the bureaucratic machine. A battle they cannot hope to win without help from a leadership that simply doesn't care. They got what they wanted out of the troops, the rest is just a burden they are not interested in carrying. For a fraction of the funds handed to the Haliburtons for Iraq this new frontline at home could be over before it began.

The reality of Walter Reed is simply inexcusable. The politicians claim they support the troops yet their inaction's and voting records often show the opposite. The voters slap on yellow ribbons on their SUVs yet continue to vote for the person whose actions do not support their words. You claim to support the troops? Prove it. Write and tell your congressmen to get his shit together and make sure the troops get the support and care they deserve. Remind them that families sent their family over their to "protect our freedoms" and whether they come home injured or in a body bag, they and their families will be taken care of.

As President Lincoln said "to care for him who shall have borne the battle". The troops have already borne one battle, they shouldn't have to fight another and nor should their families.

(image source)

Joe Rogan vs Carlos Mencia

According to Joe Rogan ("Fear Factor"), Carlos Mencia's ("Mind of Mencia") entire career is based upon the stealing of other comics material. Apparently a norm of the industry that everyone knows is happening but does nothing about. Well Joe had enough and decided to confront Carlos directly about it. Oh and he recorded it.

You can see the video here or here or here.

In the edited confrontation, notice that Carlos doesn't really so much as defend against the accusation as basically just call Joe an ass for confronting him on stage. In and of itself, not exactly damning but Joe did do a comparison of Carlos jokes to other acts jokes to prove his point. Wish he had done more of that during the video but it does help to make a convincing case.

You would think the story would end there, but nope. Carlos Mencia is clearly pissed at the online embarrassment has returned a few volleys back by getting Joe banned from the comedy club and costing him his agent.

On top of that, Carlos has decided that the video of the confrontation is infringing his copyright. In what can only be the move of a moron, he forced YouTube to take down the video and probably will have emails sent to other sites therefore guaranteeing this video pops up anywhere and everywhere since preventing the online community from seeing something is a sure fire way to make sure they will see it. Its also is the behavior of a guilty person.

In addition, I don't even know what makes him think he has copyright ownership of anything in the video. To my knowledge jokes can't be copyrighted. The footage used came from other sources not under the ownership of Carlos (did he buy Comedy Central recently?). Maybe he thinks his name or his face is copyrighted. He would be wrong, but its the only explanation I have for attempting to enforce his non-existent copyright.

At this point I am not sure who is winning the war. Carlos is still getting paydays from Comedy Central for his shows and probably will continue to do so but has gotten a major online embarrassment. Joe remains more or less unemployed with no hangout and no agent. In the end, I am going to call it a wash as I doubt this will effect either career's since the Carlos will continue to do what he wants due to other comedians he has stolen material from are doing nothing about it.

Anna Nicole Smith Will and Legal Mess

The story that will not die continues to onward with more legal wrangling as everyone tries to figure out where the $88 million will go. At first everyone thought that whoever is the father (from 5 candidates now) is will get the 8 month old daughter. Whoever gets the baby becomes the custodian of the fortune. By becoming custodian of the fortune they in effect get to live the life of luxery and wealth. Hire a couple nannies and enjoy the lifestyles of the rich and famous.

A new wrinkle has come up though with the will. Probably to the suprise of no one, Anna Nicole Smith neglected to update her will to keep up with the recent developments of her life, in this case the death of her son and birth of the daughter. The result is will gives her fortune to her dead son, so as of now, no one knows where the money will go. California law would have given the fortune to the daughter by default but Anna had recently moved, bought, or borrowed a house in Bermuda. Even that is unknown and undetermined. So depending on where her official place of residence is could decide to who the money goes. Long story short, its a gigantic FUBAR of a legal mess.

Ironic considering her lover, maybe husband, possible father of the little girl, was the lawyer that drew up the orginial will and its current executor. In theory you think he would know better. Of course this whole thing stinks to high hell and I still have to wonder what involvement Howard Stern has in the death of the Smith family. Its seems like a lot of the actions in the last year have helped create a legal mess that will give him sole custody of the girl and therefore full control over the Smith fortune. Being a lawyer, you think he would have figured out a better way to work this out as something like this could be fought in court for years.

Easy Solution To Avoid Tangled Headphones

Found this video through Gizmodo that demonstrates an easy way to track your headphone cards with your MP3 player and not have to worry about the wadded knot that occurs when shoving the cords into pockets.

Lego Star Wars Millennium Falcon

In the "if money wasn't an object" department comes this 5,000 plus piece of Lego-tastic fun that probably will cost in the neighborhood of $300 or more to get when it comes out. More pics here.

Dixie Chicks Win Five Grammys

Maybe it "revenge" against Bush and the republican establishment, maybe it was the lack of competition, or maybe it was because the album was that good, but the Dixie Chicks reigned supreme at the 07 Grammy Awards with wins in the biggest Grammy categories of Album of the Year, Song of the Year, Record of the Year, Country Album of the Year, and Country Performance of the Year for "Not Ready to Make Nice" single and album Taking the Long Way.

These wins came despite the abandonment of the country genre they once ruled over due to comments by Natalie Maines that criticized Bush on the eve of the Iraq War claiming she was ashamed that Bush was from Texas. This kicked off a campaign in country music to basically destroy the careers of the Dixie Chicks with fans and country music radio stations refusing to play their music. An apology days later did little to stop the backlash.

The wins yesterday, especially the two country wins are probably not going over well for the fans of country music as the boycott by fans and radio against the Chicks continue despite and 70%+ of the country not satisfied with the Iraq War and about the same not please with Bush. In effect, the comments Maines had made in 2003 have become the common sentiment for most of the country. As the Chicks pointed out during one of their award wins, they don't really have a genre as country has rejected them and pop/top 10 hasn't made up its mind. The awards will probably help many stations get off the fence on playing their music. So congrats to the Dixie Chicks for standing tall and getting the chance to give a collective finger to all those that tried to destroy them three years ago.

Autopsy Results on Anna Nicole Smith Inconclusive

The autopsy of Anna Nicole Smith has so far not explained the cause of death for the former Playmate. The results indicate she had not taken drugs, no evidence of long term drug use and no evidence of a crime. Basically the whole thing has that same mysterious what happened vibe that the odd death of her son last year had. One person dying is strange, but both, in the same family is very suspicious to me.

I am starting to wonder what is up. A possible suspect if a crime has been committed is Smith's sorta husband and lawyer who is probably very familiar with the terms of her will and with the oldest son and Anna herself gone, is probably set to inherit all the money she herself got as a result of her previous marriage.

It makes me think of all the Black Widows that get caught now and then using poison and they like to murder their husbands. They don't get caught the first or second time, but by the third the chance of coincidence goes away and you really have to wonder what's up. When things go wrong, its often smart to go to the common denominator be it a computer, car or in this case mysterious deaths. Hopefully there is no crime, its just a tragic event and her little girl will be taken care of but I am thinking this is just the beginning of a long and bizarre story.

Anna Nicole Smith Found Dead

Anna Nicole Smith, 39, collapsed at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Florida and died probably at the hotel was brought to a hospital and declared dead there. Cause of death is unknown. She recently had remarried shortly after the birth of her second child and death of her first. She is probably most famous for her multiple Playboy appearances and her long fight for the estate of her rather old husband several years ago. Earlier this week she was also named in a class action lawsuit against TrimSpa X32 that she was spokesperson for.

She was basically the Paris Hilton of the 90s. To be blunt, Anna Nicole existed for two reasons - to get attention for looking good and to find a rich man to take care of her. She succeed at both but for some reason still didn't seem to find happiness. At most you could use her as an example that money can't buy happiness but as her life showed, it can buy many good times. My best guess of cause of death is going to be accidental overdose on drugs. I find it hard to believe it was suicide. If she was going to do that, it would have been after the death of her son, not after being involved in another lawsuit, something she already has much experience in.

Anna Nicole Smith 1967-2007

Viacom Forces YouTube to Remove Clips

Viacom, in response to failed negotiations with YouTube, ordered the removal of 100,000 video clips from the website. Viacom is the owner of MTV, VH1, Nickelodeon, Comedy Central, Paramount Pictures and lots of other things. All of which could only benefit from the free advertising that YouTube provides.

In a time where an attempt at viral marketing resulted in un-intentional bomb scare in Boston, you would think companies would be trying to make better use of the safe and free advertising sites such as YouTube provides especially to bloggers, commentators and other means used to disseminate the interesting bits of info that occur still on television and movies. In others words, the ultimate in viral marketing, and even better its free.

Now Viacom just gets to spend millions of dollars to do the exact same thing only because its a pain to get and use clicks on their websites, most will simply pass on talking about whatever content their properties produce. As a negotiation tactic, Viacom did nothing to hurt YouTube and did everything to shoot itself in the foot. As decisions go, this is one of the stupidest committed in a while.

Harry Potter 7 Released 12:01pm 7/21/07

Author J.K. Rowling has announced that the last of the Harry Potter books, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, will be released on July 7th, 2007 at midnight. The book is rumored to kill at least one if not more of the main characters of the series, including possibly the boy wizard himself. Already many sites are offering pre-orders as will be retail sites if they are not already. In fact, my library has already allowed me to reserve the book so if interested in the reading but not the buying check out your library as soon as possible to be low in the book queue.

The release of the book messes nicely with the movie release of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix out July 13th.

Super Bowl XLI Predicted by Tecmo Super Bowl

Orginial NES game Tecmo Super Bowl has predicted that the Bears defeat the Colts 28-24. Now that is known, what will you be doing Sunday instead of watching the game?

Teen Accuses RIAA of Collusion

A 16 year old boy, whose family has been under constant legal siege by the RIAA who has filed cases against his mother and sister, has apparently had enough and decided to fight back by accusing the RIAA of collusion and defrauding the courts of the United States. In short, he is accusing the recording industry of being a cartel. Which actually is pretty much accurate. The industry may compete for talent but they don't compete for consumer dollars where the price of pretty much everything is agreed upon by all the companies making up the RIAA. Afterall when was the last time you saw Sony Music try to out price say Virgin? I just hope his lawyers have kept up and also attempt to get the RIAA to reveal the values and numbers they use to prove how much copyright violations are costing them as those numbers are clearly exaggerated for their own benefit. I wish him the best of luck because I am simply disgusted with the RIAA's bullying tactics.