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ALL OF MP3.COM

AllofMP3.com Responds to RIAA Lawsuit
December 27, 2006
Thomas Mennecke
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The legal wranglings of various file-sharing developers has created several common response patterns from those unfortunate enough to face litigation from the RIAA (Recording Industry Associate of America.) If you're of the LimeWire ilk, your response may be to stay and fight. If you're from the BearShare clan, you may wish to settle. Then there's the Ares Galaxy option; a tactic that focuses on apathy in the face of potential litigation and carrying on business as usual.

AllofMP3.com appears to have chosen the third option in response to a lawsuit filed by the RIAA on behalf of its member companies. The complaint was filed on December 21, 2006, against Media Services (the company which owns AllofMP3.com) in a lawsuit of unprecedented value in the file-sharing realm.

The RIAA charges that AllofMP3.com is an illegal service and infringes on their member company's copyrights because they have yet to see any of the fees collected by the Russian music store. AllofMP3.com has quickly become one of the most successful music stores online, namely because of its ability to sell music for less than 10 cents per download. The addition of a DRM-free (Digital Rights Management) environment has also helped bolster this service as one of the few viable alternatives to P2P networking - at least in the eyes of the file-sharing community.

AllofMP3 countered the music industry’s claim, stating the service is completely legal in Russia as all necessary fees have been forwarded to the Russian royalty collection firm, ROMS. From there, AllofMP3 feels it is the responsibility of ROMS to divvy up the royalties to the copyright holders. AllofMP3 has managed to obtain a certain level of de facto legality, as the Russian authorities have yet to successfully force the site off line.

AllofMP3’s argument has not impressed the music industry, or the RIAA. The December 21 lawsuit argues that 11 million songs were allegedly pirated, and seeks damages totaling $150,000 per violation. That's a $1.65 trillion lawsuit - a value slightly less than the Gross Domestic Product for the United Kingdom in 2005.

In an odd game of reverse "oneupmanship", where in this case each side is less impressed with the argument of the other, AllofMP3 has responded coolly and with indifference to the staggering dollar amount of the RIAA's lawsuit.

"AllofMP3 understands that several U.S. record label companies filed a lawsuit against Media Services in New York," an unnamed "senior company official" stated. "This suit is unjustified as AllofMP3 does not operate in New York. Certainly the labels are free to file any suit they wish, despite knowing full well that AllofMP3 operates legally in Russia. In the mean time, AllofMP3 plans to continue to operate legally and comply with all Russian laws."

The big question of course will be whether AllofMP3, or Media Services, will show up at any legal proceeding based in New York. Although Media Services has legal counsel based in the United States, the tone of the statement suggests a very defiant approach. A representative of Media Services told Slyck.com that a decision on their future legal tactics has yet to be formulated - pending the review of a yet unreceived $1.65 trillion complaint.

NHRA in TEXAS

September 20-23

O’Reilly NHRA Fall Nationals
Info Tickets Dallas, TX

Daytona Beach OfficialBikeWeek.com

Daytona Beach OfficialBikeWeek.com
March 01, 2007 through March 31, 2007

Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta 2007

Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta 2007
2007 Schedule
Exit


Friday, October 5
7:00am - 8:00am Albuquerque Aloft more...


Saturday, October 6
5:45am - 6:45am Dawn Patrol Show more...

6:45am - 7:45am Opening Ceremonies
7:00am - 8:00am Mass Ascension more...

10:00am - 11:00am Fiesta del Vino - Wine Festival separate admission required more...

2:00pm - 3:00pm America's Challenge Gas Balloon Race Inflation
6:00pm - 7:00pm America's Challenge Gas Balloon Race Launch more...

8:00pm - 9:00pm Twilight Twinkle Glow more...

8:00pm - 9:00pm AfterGlow™ Fireworks Show presented by Albuquerque Journal

Sunday, October 7
5:45am - 7:45am Dawn Patrol Show more...

7:00am - 8:00am Mass Ascension more...

9:00am - 10:00am Fiesta of Wheels Car Show
12:00pm - 1:00pm Fiesta del Vino - Wine Festival separate admission required
5:45pm - 6:45pm Balloon Glow more...

8:00pm - 9:00pm AfterGlow™ Fireworks Show presented by Albuquerque Journal

Monday, October 8
WELLS FARGO BALLOON DISCOVERY CENTER DAY
5:45am - 6:45am Dawn Patrol more...

7:00am - 8:00am Flying Competition - Balloon Fiesta Hold'em

Tuesday, October 9
PEPSI DAY
5:45am - 6:45am Dawn Patrol more...

7:00am - 8:00am Flying Competition - Balloon Fiesta Hold'em more...


Wednesday, October 10
5:45am - 6:45am Dawn Patrol Show more...

7:00am - 8:00am Flight of the Nations & Mass Ascension Flying Competition more...


Thursday, October 11
5:45am - 6:45am Dawn Patrol more...

7:00am - 8:00am Wells Fargo Special Shape Rodeo™ more...

8:00am - 9:00am Flying Competition & Prize Grab more...

5:45pm - 6:45pm Wells Fargo Special Shape Glowdeo™ more...

8:00pm - 9:00pm AfterGlow™ Fireworks Show presented by Albuquerque Journal

Friday, October 12
5:45am - 6:45am Dawn Patrol more...

7:00am - 8:00am Wells Fargo Special Shape Rodeo™ more...

8:00am - 9:00am Key Grab Competition more...

5:45pm - 6:45pm Wells Fargo Special Shape Glowdeo™ more...

8:00pm - 9:00pm AfterGlow™ Fireworks Show presented by Albuquerque Journal

Saturday, October 13
5:45am - 6:45am Dawn Patrol more...

7:00am - 8:00am Mass Ascension more...

5:45pm - 6:45pm Night Magic™ Glow more...

8:00pm - 9:00pm AfterGlow™ Fireworks Show presented by Albuquerque Journal

Sunday, October 14
PROPANE DAY presented by Valley Gases LLC
5:45am - 6:45am Dawn Patrol Show more...

7:00am - 8:00am Farewell Mass Ascension

Cast of "cars" - Omaha Auto Show

Cast of "cars" - Omaha Auto Show
Originally uploaded by thegabester.

Tow Mater - Omaha Auto Show

Tow Mater - Omaha Auto Show
Originally uploaded by thegabester.

The foolish act

The foolish act
Originally uploaded by Di P'anna.

Help me !!

Help me !!
Originally uploaded by k.Akagami.

Sharks Above

Sharks Above
Originally uploaded by jaxsonc.

Khewra Salt Mines

Khewra Salt Mines
Originally uploaded by khalilshah.

The Loser

John Kerry,
the losing 2004 presidential candidate, on Wednesday said he would not seek the Democratic nomination in 2008 but would instead remain in the Senate to fight George W. Bush's "misguided" war in Iraq.

In an emotional speech on the Senate floor, Mr Kerry, 64, who lost the White House by a narrow margin, admitted he had made a mistake in voting for the 2002 congressional resolution authorising the invasion of Iraq.

F O R D

Polar Bear Tours

WorldWild Tours: Polar Bear Adventure

For itineraries, brochures, and registration information for all WorldWild Tours call (619) 231-1515, ext. 4245, or contact us using our online form.

Polar bear capital of the world!

Churchill is known as the “polar bear capital of the world,” where polar bears and humans congregate each fall. The annual movement of polar bears along the western shore of Hudson Bay creates one of the greatest wildlife viewing spectacles on Earth. World travelers agree that this gathering equals the great animal gatherings in Africa and Antarctica. Churchill is the only place in the world where, from the safety and comfort of a Tundra Buggy, you can see polar bears up close and personal.

Tundra Buggy sleepover

A Tundra Buggy is a roomy bus mounted on huge all-terrain tires in which you travel safely over snow and ice in fall or on a set of established trails during summer. As you ride in comfort over the frozen tundra, you can search for wildlife, including polar bears, arctic foxes, arctic hares, and ptarmigans. During the excursion, you will learn about this unique northern region from knowledgeable driver/interpreters.

The Tundra Buggy Lodge is comprised of a number of specialized vehicles. When fully assembled on the tundra, the Lodge is more than 300 feet (91 meters) long. Hitched together are two sleeper cars, the lounge car, a dining car, and two utility cars. The sleeper cars are shared accommodations featuring upper and lower berths with privacy curtains. Photographers utilize open decks between cars as shooting platforms. When the Northern Lights dance across the clear, Arctic sky, our Tundra Buggy Lodge is the perfect place to get an unobstructed view of this exciting phenomenon!

Itinerary

(B=breakfast, L=lunch, D=dinner)

October 15, 2007 • Travel to Winnipeg
Travelers will arrive in Winnipeg on their own. Check into the Sheraton Four Points Airport Hotel, located adjacent to Winnipeg International Airport. You will meet with your San Diego Zoo escort later that evening to learn more about the polar bear adventure.

October 16 • Winnipeg to Churchill
After a continental breakfast, depart for the airport to catch a mid-morning, 2-hour and 40-minute flight to Churchill. Luggage will immediately be transferred to your hotel. You will embark on a tour of Churchill and the surrounding area, which includes Cape Merry National Historic Site, the Polar Bear Compound, and many other sites of historic, cultural, and ecological interest. After lunch, visit the Eskimo Museum, which is home to one of Canada’s most extensive collections of Inuit carvings and artifacts. We check into our hotel (to be determined) in late afternoon. (B, L, D)

October 17 • Churchill to the Tundra/Polar Bear Country
After breakfast at a Churchill restaurant, we will be transferred at 8 a.m. to the Tundra Buggy launch where we will board a private, 40-passenger Tundra Buggy. We will tour the tundra for the rest of the day, followed by our check-in at the Tundra Buggy Lodge around 4:30 p.m. During our short orientation, we will be assigned our sleeping berths. (B, L, D)

October 18 –19 • The Tundra/Polar Bear Country
After breakfast, we will head out again in our own private Tundra Buggy for a full-day tour. Lunch will be served on the Tundra Buggy. When we return to the Lodge in late afternoon, we will be treated to wine and appetizers. An education program will be featured following dinner. (B, L, D)

October 20 • The Tundra to Churchill to Winnipeg
After breakfast we board a Tundra Buggy for our 90-minute trip back to the Tundra Buggy launch, where we will be transferred by bus to the Northern Studies Centre for a morning dogsledding program. The dogsledding program will consist of a one-hour slide presentation followed by an opportunity to experience the thrill of northern dogsledding at its best as we travel by sled through Churchill’s boreal forest. We return to the town of Churchill for lunch and a video presentation at Parks Canada Interpretive Centre about the history, wildlife, and culture of the Churchill area. Then, there will be time for last-minute shopping or sightseeing on your own. Following an early dinner, we will be transferred to the airport for our trip back to Winnipeg. In Winnipeg, we will stay at the Sheraton Four Points Airport Hotel. (B, L, D)

October 21 • Winnipeg to Home
You will depart Winnipeg on your own for your trip home.

Adventure escort

In her 18 years at the San Diego Zoo, senior keeper JoAnne Simerson has specialized in animal behavior with an incredible array of animals including mandrills, drills, big cats such as tigers and cheetahs, Cretan goats, sea lions, giant pandas, Bornean sun bears, and many other species. But it’s the polar bears that have ignited a passion in JoAnne, inspiring her to become intimately involved in conservation efforts to protect these magnificent animals and their tundra habitat. In addition to her work with the Zoo’s animals, JoAnne serves on the advisory council of Polar Bears International, one of the Zoological Society’s conservation partners. Every fall, JoAnne spends a month in the “polar bear capital of the world,” Churchill, Manitoba, Canada, where she studies polar bear behavior, lectures to groups about the far north and the status of polar bears, and collaborates with the wildlife biologists on projects. JoAnne’s travels have also taken her to Africa nearly a dozen times. She is an avid photographer and her spectacular pictures are her favorite way of sharing the magic and beauty of the Earth’s magnificent wildlife and ecosystems.

Daddy-Coley-Mommy

Daddy-Coley-Mommy
Originally uploaded by jaxsonc.

Halloween

Sharks Above

Sharks Above
Originally uploaded by jaxsonc.

Sharks in Dallas

Coolest Ping Pong Table ever

Clinton...

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton greets fans in New York, in this Dec. 18, 2006, file photo. Democratic officials say Hillary Rodham Clinton is forming a presidential exploratory committee, and that the senator will make the long-awaited announcement today on her Web site.
Democratic Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton launched a trailblazing campaign for the White House on Saturday, a former first lady turned political powerhouse intent on becoming the first female president. "I'm in, and I'm in to win," she said.
GIVE ME A FREAKIN’ BREAK

RUSH NEWS

Thursday, January 18, 2007, Posted at 10:10 AM
Rush in LA putting final mixes on the new album

Former Max Webster frontman and longtime Rush friend Kim Mitchell is now a DJ on Canadian radio station Q107. Yesterday Andy Curran of the Toronto-based 80s-era band Coney Hatch - who is now with Rush's management - came into the studio. Kim put the following post on his blog regarding the visit:

just spoke with andy curran..with rush's management ...bands in LA mixing ...yahoo!!!!...says the band sounds 20 years younger ... totally rawked out!!! kool!!!

So he seems to be repeating the this will sound like an old Rush record theme that producer Nick Raskulinecz spoke about. The good news keeps pouring in.

If you don't know already, the rumored working title for the album is Snakes and Arrows. Also, Alex Lifeson stated in a recent interview that the album is slated for a late April or early May release; the recording process was filmed for a possible future in-studio DVD; and the tour will start in June and include North America and Europe with a break for Christmas then onto South America.

Tuesday, January 16, 2007, Posted at 08:44 AM
New album working title: Snakes and Arrows?

As was mentioned in the previous post, the working title for the new Rush album is rumored to be either Snakes and Arrows or Snakes and Ladders. To put this in the context of the rumored spiritual theme of the album, I'll provide this quote from InnerTraditions.com which is in reference to a book titled The Yoga of Snakes and Arrows.

Chutes and Ladders, the popular children's game, is derived from the ancient Hindu game Leela, or Snakes and Arrows, which charts the ups and downs of the soul's path toward reunion with the Infinite. Snakes and Arrows was designed by the seers and saints of India as a tool for understanding the relationship of the individual self to the Absolute Self. For thousands of years the 72 spaces on this game board have enabled players to chart the paths that represent the course of their lives. Each space represents a virtue or a vice, an aspect of consciousness, or a plane of reality and is accompanied by a commentary explaining its meaning. The player's progress on the board is dictated by the fall of a die corresponding to the forces of karma. Repeated encounters with the snakes and arrows on the board reveal the full meaning of the commentaries and can give shape to habitual patterns of the player, resulting in greater self-understanding and even a gradual detachment from the ego's delusions.

Monday, January 15, 2007, Posted at 09:44 AM
Alex Lifeson confirms tour and possible in-studio DVD!

UPDATE - 1/15@10:00AM: I've also just heard a couple rumors that Lerxst mentioned that the working title for the album is Snakes and Arrows or possibly Snakes and Ladders? No idea if this is for real or not. I don't place much stock in working titles, since they usually don't end up being what is used. Either way, that's what I heard. :)

Alex Lifeson recently called in to Jeff Burrows' (The Tea Party) radio show on Canadian radio station 95.1 The Rock and had some very cool news regarding the new album and the tour. I didn't hear the interview but saw the highlights posted on the various messageboards. From what I read, Alex mentioned that the new album is set for a late April or early May release - but we already knew that. And ... he said that a lot of the studio work was video taped for a dvd! As far as the tour goes, it's currently scheduled to start in June and will include North America and Europe with a break for Christmas then onto South America. So this would seem to be the first official confirmation from a band member that they will tour and, as reported earlier, they will hit South America again. What I'm particularly excited about is the possibility of a documentary-style in-studio DVD! The station is supposed to be posting the interview at some point. If/when they do I'll link to it.

Running From The Camera

http://runningfromcamera.blogspot.com/

This is a very cool set of photos. Fun idea

The perfect landing strip

the pattern

need a lift

[ RIP ] Rest In Pieces

[ RIP ] Rest In Pieces
Originally uploaded by pedro vidigal.

[ RIP ] Rest In Pieces

Liberals are turning California into a Nanny State

Liberals are truly turning California into the Nanny State! State Assemblymember Sally Lieber (D) will be introducing a bill that would make it illegal for parents to spank their children. This from a woman who has no children.

Media News Service Sacramento Bureau released the following story:

SACRAMENTO - The state Legislature is about to weigh in on a question that stirs impassioned debate among moms and dads: Should parents spank their children?

Assemblywoman Sally Lieber, D-Mountain View, wants to outlaw spanking children up to 3 years old. If she succeeds, California would become the first state in the nation to explicitly ban parents from smacking their kids.

Making a swat on the behind a misdemeanor might seem a bit much for some -- and the chances of the idea becoming law appear slim, at best -- but Lieber begs to differ.

``I think it's pretty hard to argue you need to beat a child 3 years old or younger,'' Lieber said. ``Is it OK to whip a 1-year-old or a 6-month-old or a newborn?''

The bill, which is still being drafted, will be written broadly, she added, prohibiting ``any striking of a child, any corporal punishment, smacking, hitting, punching, any of that.'' Lieber said it would be a misdemeanor, punishable by up to a year in jail or a fine up to $1,000, although a legal expert advising her on the proposal said first-time offenders would probably only have to attend parenting classes.

The idea is encountering skepticism even before it's been formally introduced. Beyond the debate among child psychologists -- many of whom believe limited spanking can be effective -- the bill is sure to face questions over how practical it is to enforce and opposition from some legislators who generally oppose what they consider ``nanny government.''

``Where do you stop?'' asked Assemblyman Chuck DeVore, R-Irvine, who said he personally agrees children under 3 shouldn't be spanked but has no desire to make it the law. ``At what point are we going to say we should pass a bill that every parent has to read a minimum of 30 minutes every night to their child? This is right along those same lines.''

One San Jose mother of three said she believes spanking is a poor way to discipline children, but she also wondered whether a legislative ban makes sense. Should a mom who slaps her misbehaving kid in the supermarket, she asked, be liable for a crime?

``If my 6-year-old doesn't put his clothes in the hamper, I'm not going to whack him. He just won't get his clothes washed,'' said Peggy Hertzberg, 38, who teaches parenting classes at the YWCA. ``I think instead of banning spanking, parents need to learn different ways of disciplining and redirecting their children.''

Lieber conceived the idea while chatting with a family friend and legal expert in children's issues worldwide. The friend, Thomas Nazario, said that while banning spanking might seem like a radical step for the United States, more than 10 European countries already do so. Sweden was the first, in 1979.

Nazario said there's no good rationale for hitting a child under 3, so the state should draw a ``bright line'' in the law making it clear.

``Why do we allow parents to hit a little child and not someone their own size?'' asked Nazario, a professor at the University of San Francisco Law School. ``Everyone in the state is protected from physical violence, so where do you draw the line? To take a child and spank his little butt until he starts crying, some people would define that as physical violence.''

It's unclear how a spanking ban would be enforced. Most slapping, after all, happens in the confines of a home, and most children up to age 3 aren't capable of reporting it.

Doctors, social workers and others who believe a child has been abused are required by law to report it to authorities. Nazario said he and Lieber are still debating whether to treat slapping the same way, or simply to encourage those who witness it to report it. But in either case, said Lieber, the law ``would allow people who view a beating to say, `Excuse me, that's against the law.' ''

Experts in child psychology disagree over whether spanking is a legitimate or effective way for parents to discipline their children. Professor Robert Larzelere, who has studied child discipline for 30 years, said his research shows spanking is fine, as long as it's used sparingly and doesn't escalate to abuse.

``If it's used in a limited way,'' the Oklahoma State University professor said, ``it can be more effective than almost any other type of punishment.'' He added that children 18 months old or younger shouldn't be spanked at all, because they can't understand why it's happening.

As for Lieber's proposal, the professor said: ``I think this proposal is not just a step too far, it's a leap too far. At least from a scientific perspective there really isn't any research to support the idea that this would make things better for children.''

But Lieber is optimistic that lawmakers will find her proposal hard to resist. For the record, she does not have children and says she was not slapped as a child. But she does have a cat named Snoop, which her veterinarian told her never to hit.

``And if you never hit a cat,'' Lieber said, ``you should never hit a kid.''

I guess this would put Irma Brown's A** Whuppin Academy out of business

Build on the shipjard

Build on the shipjard
Originally uploaded by Solvi Hrafn.

Ft Worth Airshow

Ft Worth Airshow
Originally uploaded by jaxsonc.

Lemon Heads

Lemon Heads
Originally uploaded by jaxsonc.

Cole and Katie

Cole and Katie
Originally uploaded by jaxsonc.

s e a ~ l e v e l

s e a ~ l e v e l
Originally uploaded by zerajera.

great colors and light

r e g i s ~ s e t s

r e g i s ~ s e t s
Originally uploaded by zerajera.

Rush 24/7

https://members.premiereinteractive.com/store/28566/41841.html
https://members.premiereinteractive.com/store/28566/41841.html

Originally uploaded by razorbern.

Post-Industrial Evening

Post-Industrial Evening
Originally uploaded by Shervane.

from the corner

from the corner
Originally uploaded by trentroche.

Hey Guys

Hey Guys
Originally uploaded by jaxsonc.

RUSH R30

Willy Wonka 2112

http://home.i1.net/~bytor/willywonka2112.html

NEARLY 30 YEARS AGO A BELOVED CHILDREN'S FILM WAS MADE...

IN A 25+ YEAR SPAN SINCE THEN, ONE BAND HAS CREATED SOME OF THE GREATEST MUSIC EVER MADE...

SOMEWHERE IN SPACE AND TIME THESE TWO ICONS OF POPULAR CULTURE CROSSED PATHS...

LAST WEEK, I FOUND THEIR FOOTAGE...

Est. 9/14/99

---

What began innocently enough as a small experiment soon turned into a full blown project. It all started with my original idea of 'syncing' up Rush's classic album "2112" with the film "Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory". The results were quite stunning to say the least! I then made it my mission to track the entire movie with nothing but Rush songs, featuring "2112" as the centerpiece.

The resulting 100 minute video can only be described as
beautifully strange.

---

UPDATED
9/24/99

If you really want to see this filmic endeavor without knowing its contents
(which is my personal recommendation)
then you probably don't want to click the link given below.
Contact me via email to learn of a possible alternative.

However, if you must know, then proceed...

A COMPENDIUM OF SORTS

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bytor@i1.net

Originally uploaded by razorbern.