Wednesday, January 31, 2007
Sunday, January 28, 2007
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.
December 27, 2006
Thomas Mennecke
Font Bigger Font Smaller
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.
Saturday, January 27, 2007
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
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
Thursday, January 25, 2007
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.
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.
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
Polar Bear Tours
WorldWild Tours: Polar Bear Adventure
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.
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.
Sunday, January 21, 2007
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