In most cases if a site wasn’t blowing things up too much, most industry folks didn’t trip. in talking with label heads they note that in most cases if a song or material was being highlighted prematurely or jeopardizing upcoming promotions a letter, email would be sent out or a phone call made asking for the files or links to be removed. Most sites comply without too much fanfare. It’s the way things have been done for years. It’s the symbiotic relationship that has long existed with record labels and media.

It’s important to note this practice of labels asking media outlets to stop playing or highlighting material has been around long before the internet. Working at a major radio station and several large music outlets, the name of the game was for us to get material way ahead of its release date. Sometimes we managed to get a hold of a ‘press copy’ of a song given to magazines months in advance. Other times it was someone inside the label ‘leaking us a song’ which we would play for a couple of days only to get a letter from the record labels lawyers ordering us to cease and decease playing their material. Many of these stations including ours would post those letters up on the wall and even frame them. It was a source of pride and demonstrated your ability to have impact.

Granted the internet and us being in a digital world has allowed for unlimited copies of material to be distributed and there has definitely been rough patches with digital media and record labels, but at the end of the day all this boils down to relationships and the rule of thumb has been-know the people who run the sites and ask them to remove anything that was causing problems.

All these popular music sites were seized w/o warning
In the case of these Hip Hop sites, no warning was given. Not only that, but the entire websites were seized. In some cases we’re talking about hundreds of thousands of message board postings, articles etc. This wasn’t a shut down of a website. It was the shut down of a community and no matter how one feels about copyright law and how vigorously it should be enforced shut downs without due process should be disturbing to every last one of us.

What should be even more disturbing is how those shut downs took place. Who in Homeland Security was up on Onsmash.com enough to sit down and make a sound decision to shut down the site and seize its domain? How did they know the sites were in violation of any copyright? Was it the word of copyright owner? Did DHS check to get the other side of the story? Did the owners get arrested? Had they been fined or in trouble for any of this in the past?

Let me paint out a couple of scenarios that folks should consider before people start puffing out their chest and acting all righteous about websites breaking the law. First as mentioned earlier take down notices should be given thus allowing one the opportunity to straighten anything out. Thats first and foremost.

Second, oftentimes you have artists and even promotional folks at labels that will come along and give you material and a greenlight. I could show you at least half a dozen emails that I’ve gotten in the past two weeks with folks asking how I can get material on my site. two have offered to pay. What many of us who do this work have discovered is that what the promo guys and the artists want may not always be in lockstep with what the lawyers or the trade organization for major labels (note I said labels not artists-remember that) the RIAA is pushing. The relationship with the artists and labels are fluid and informal while the relationship with the RIAA and lawyers for the label may be strictly by the book and to the letter of the law. One often has no idea what the other is doing. End game mass confusion.

The RIAA has railed against copyright infringement before there was an internet. They were mad about cassette tapes, then DATs, then CDS and now the web. This powerful lobbying group has always been a presence up on Capital Hill pushing for laws that would protect the interests and intellectual property rights of MAJOR record labels. They definitely been up on the hill pushing and many say help right some of these new copyright laws, which leaves one wondering are they pointing out offending websites to Homeland Security?

That’s not a far-fetched notion and should have all concerned. Corporations sitting along side law enforcement to protect whose interest? All of our interests or just theirs? Are the police and law enforcement following the dictates of corporations at everyone else’s expense. At the end of the day that’s called Fascism.

days after this photo was taken, editor Jason Chen got a vist from REACT
We saw blatant display of this earlier this year when a task force consisting of several police agencies called (REACT) California’s Rapid Enforcement Allied Computer Team went banging on the door of Gizmodo editor Jason Chen entered his house and took his computers to see if he was behind the leaking of Apple’s next-gen i-phones. The task force claimed they were investigating to see if a law was violated.

Initially some clapped and felt the police were doing their job, until it was discovered that Apple sat on the board that oversaw the new task force that took Chen’s computers. Did the police do this because of Apple’s initial complaints or because they sat on the board?

Fast forward to a troubling news story a few weeks ago here in the Bay Area where a young man had a computer stolen from his office. He had a tracking chip inside that took a picture of the thief, however local police did not immediately follow-up with an investigation. The man resorted to taking his story to local news stations and even then there was no action. Talk about an imbalance of power and influence.

We did an interview earlier this week with Peter Eackersly of Electronic Frontier Foundation which has been in the forefront of protecting internet freedoms. He noted that what took place was far reaching and will continue to be so, because now the US is shutting down sites overseas. he also noted that what took place here without due process appeared to be the first step in the government with the assistance of corporate interests seeing how far they can go before they get push back.

While following these cases keep a close eye on the types of steps and reaches made around the Wikileak saga. Whatever the government is allowed to get away with is gonna set a precedent. Thus far we’ve seen shut down attacks and seizures take place. Even more disturbing has been American companies like Amazon taking down the Wikileak cables. They officially say it was because of terms of service violations, but most experts are noting they got pressured.

Senator Joe Lieberman has been threatening websites without due process
To show you just how far the government is going, look what Senator Joe Lieberman just did. He threatened a Seattle-based company called Tableau to take down information that was legal and not classified, but reported on and issued charts about who and what countries were discussing Wikileaks.. His actions prompted a scorching response from commentator Glenn Greenwald.

“Those are the benign, purely legal documents that have now been removed from the Internet in response to Joe Lieberman’s demands and implied threats. He’s on some kind of warped mission where he’s literally running around single-handedly dictating what political content can and cannot be on the Internet, issuing broad-based threats to ‘all companies’ that is causing suppression of political information.”
You can read the story HERE

Today its Wikileaks being taken down which one might accept it because arguments can made about sensitive material being revealed and national security at stake could be argued. But what happens tomorrow when its you or me, because we represent competition or hold political beliefs that aren’t agreed upon? What happens when its you or me and the justification is that we’ve always allowed government to take down websites without a day and court, why complain now?

During our interview with Eackersly he noted that it was important for artists and others in the Hip Hop community to stand up, be aware of what transpired and come to the aid of those Hip Hop websites and communities that were shut down especially if they meant something to you.

After our interview Eackersly wanted to know the type of support the seized websites were getting. In his mind, he knew such large outlets would have throngs of artists ready to go to war for them. I think he was a bit surprised to see that more of us were talking about Lil Kim vs Nicki Minaj then the undue processed seizure of music websites. Even sadder is that many have callousesly moved onto other sites as if the shut downs of Onsmash and RapGodfathers was no big deal and was just another day in the life. Mark my words not understanding this and being dismissive will come back to haunt folks.

Understand this.. the seizure of websites without due process, corporate interests lobbying and then writing laws that allow them to be the police and t personally enforce, the battle over net neutrality is all about concentrating power in the hands of a few. This is about controlling the flow of information and being a gate keeper in the communications arena. Its the first step in moving a democracy toward a dictatorship. The next step is getting a population to endure fianacial upheavels and hardships.

The internet was the most democratizing tool we’ve had in a long time and now those who hate having to share and be accountable are trying to shut things down.It’s a power grab of the highest order. Don’t ever get used to being oppressed..It’ll be your undoing for years to come..Stay alert be ready, because they coming for you next.

You can peep the full interview we did on Hard Knock Radio with Peter Eackersly of EFF right HERE

http://www.swift.fm/mrdaveyd/song/81785/

Also be sure to peep this excellent article on alternet about this topic..Here Comes the Homeland Security Internet Police

SOURCE – HIPHOPANDPOLITICS.COM

Paterson said working with the Pink Floyd legend “seemed to make sense”.

“We started off with him doing a single, and it ended up being an album he gave us so many vivid guitar parts.

“It was kind of a slow process because halfway through we didn’t know if it was going to come out or not. But we regained our impetus, and bob’s your uncle!”

The deluxe version of Metallic Spheres was recorded using technology known as ’3D60TM, which Paterson describes as ’3D for ears’.

“It’s like having someone eating breakfast in front of you while you listen to music – that gives you some idea of the curves and the density within the soundwaves.”

The Orb are better known for their copious use of samples on their albums but Paterson says that’s not the case on Metallic Spheres.

“People might be shocked at how little sampling there is on the latest album.”

“We’ve got an App so you can play Metallic Spheres yourself.”

Paterson admits that it’s nice to get more attention but is quick to point out that he’s been keeping busy behind the scenes.

“The last album we did last year was for an Austrian-German film about plastic and the dangers of it and it got to number one in the German charts.”

He was also recently nominated for a Bafta award for his work with the band High Frequency Bandwith on the video game PixelJunk shooter.

“I’ve been happy doing what I’ve been doing for the last ten years, away from that circuit of having records in the charts, it’s not the bee all and end all.

The Orb has just announced a series of concerts in the UK but Paterson says it’s too early to say if there will be plans to play over this side of the world.

“I’d love to head back to New Zealand, I’ve been there a couple of times, but who knows what will happen. I’ve got some feelers out.”

Next up for Paterson is the three-CD Impossible Oddities which will feature remixes of The Orb’s earlier works and collaboration with the Royal Opera House.

Ad Feedback “We all came into this world with nothing and we’ll all leave this world with nothing, so let’s make the most of it in-between,” Paterson muses.

The US has said it “deeply regrets” the leaks, calling them an attack on the international community.

Buckingham Palace has not responded to the reports about Prince Andrew.

In the cable, written in October 2008 and published on the Guardian newspaper’s website, Ms Gfoeller recounts details of a brunch in the Kyrgyzstani capital Bishkek with British and Canadian business people.

Summing the event up, she writes: “Astonishingly candid, the discussion at times verged on the rude (from the British side).”

She said Prince Andrew, who is a UK special representative on trade, criticised the Serious Fraud Office for its probe into a £43bn arms deal between BAE Systems and Saudi Arabia.

Under the sub-heading “Rude language a la British”, she wrote that “he railed at British anti-corruption investigators, who had had the ‘idiocy’ of almost scuttling the Al-Yamama deal with Saudi Arabia”.

She said he also criticised Guardian journalists – “who poke their noses everywhere” – for investigating the deal.

Ms Gfoeller said Prince Andrew told her that the UK, Western Europe and the US were now “back in the thick of playing the Great Game” – a reference to the 19th centrury struggle between the British and Russian Empires for control of Europe.

The Guardian has defended its decision to publish leaked material “More animated than ever, he stated cockily: ‘And this time we aim to win!’ she wrote.

Those at the meeting were discussing potential investment in Kyrgstan, but the ambassador reported that Prince Andrew used the comments of one of the participants to criticise France.

She wrote: “Emboldened, one businessman said that doing business here is ‘like doing business in the Yukon’ in the 19th century, i.e. only those willing to participate in local corrupt practices are able to make any money…

“At this point the Duke of York laughed uproariously, saying that: ‘All of this sounds exactly like France.’”

The Guardian has defended its publication of information from Wikileaks, but the Foreign Office has said that it puts national security at risk.

Despite this, the Foreign Office insisted its relations with Washington would not be damaged and the US ambassador in London, Louis Susman, said he was confident the relationship would remain close.

The report taps into the potency of social issues like same-sex marriage in American politics. Several of the groups in the report supported a successful effort to oust state Supreme Court judges in Iowa because of a ruling that legalized same-sex unions.

The Family Research Council has been at the forefront of political activism against same-sex marriage.

In explaining the decision to put the council on its list, the law center highlighted comments by Peter Sprigg, a senior fellow for policy studies at the council, who told MSNBC’s Chris Matthews that he thinks “homosexual behavior” should be outlawed.

Council President Tony Perkins called the designation a political attack.

The question to be argued before some 2,600 audience members is a chance to hear two important voices debate religion’s impact in an era of globalization, said moderator Rudyard Griffiths.

“With Tony Blair we’ve got someone who has wielded power at the highest levels but also has an enduring belief that faith can make the world a better place,” said Griffiths.

“In Christopher Hitchens, arguably the world’s most prominent atheist and someone who in many ways has dedicated his intellectual life, his writing, to making the case for why he thinks religion poisons everything.”

When the event, part of the Munk Debates, was announced last month, Blair said he had a “formidable opponent” in the British-born turned American journalist, author and Vanity Fair columnist.

“Understanding religion and people of faith is an essential part of understanding our increasingly globalized world,” said Blair, who released his memoirs in September.

“Challenging the myths that are born out of the actions and words of a controversial few is incredibly important.”

Blair’s Faith Foundation, created in 2008, promotes understanding between religions. His speaking fee — which Griffiths wouldn’t divulge — will be donated to his foundation.

Votes will be taken at the beginning and end of the debate Friday at Roy Thomson Hall to determine who had the more convincing argument. Results will be posted on the Munk Debates website.

But even before the pair take to their podiums, their debate is causing a stir online among atheists.

“We really haven’t had any criticism emerging from religious groups. But the atheists have been very vocal in their support for Christopher Hitchens and their kind of condemnation of Tony Blair,” said Griffiths.

Hitchens’s cancer diagnosis in June — which forced him to cancel a tour to promote his new book “Hitch-22: A Memoir” — has fuelled interest from atheists in hearing his perspective, said Griffiths.

Carleton University professor Jonathan Malloy, who teaches political science and religion, called both men a good choice for the debate, especially with Hitchens facing his own mortality.

But he’s skeptical anyone’s opinion will be changed by the discourse.

“I think people that hear this debate… will still probably have fairly firm ideas of what they mean by religion and whether it’s a force for good or evil in the world,” said Malloy.

The $20 to $80 tickets for the event were snapped up in hours. Some tickets can be found on Craigslist for $500.

Thousands of people from around the world, including those from the United Kingdom, Indonesia and Saudi Arabia, have paid $4.99 to view the event, which will be streamed live onwww.munkdebates.com.

Previous Munk Debates have focused on foreign aid, climate change and health care. Previous participants include Stephen Lewis and actress Mia Farrow.

The ministry, which is led by a close ally of Berlusconi, 74, said in a statement that the hand added to Venus and the penis added to Mars are attached by magnets and can be removed without damage, the New York Post reported.

According to La Repubblica, Vatican Museums director Antonio Paolucci, one of Italy’s top restoration experts, said “it’s a pity” restorers did not say no to Berlusconi’s request to add parts to the second century statues in Chigi Palace.

For decades, restorers have widely agreed that missing parts of ancient statues should not be recreated, but Berlusconi’s personal architect insisted that the restoration was justified.

Mario Catalano said the restoration of the missing parts was based of scans of “other works with similar poses and with the agreement of the ministry’s restorers”.

He said the statues were among many ancient treasures relegated to the storerooms of Rome’s museums because there just isn’t enough space to display everything.

Catalano added the sculptured pair “would have never seen the light of day” had Berlusconi not decided to have them taken from the storerooms and put in the palace courtyard. (ANI)

I never thought about it ever before. But it was a reply to a comment from Brother Michael B below, and there in front of me in black and white –

Bro. Michael B
November 12, 2010 at 11:28 pm · Edit I don’t understand, this is Christian website right, if so, what a joke, you guys have a curse word on your site, makes no sense. These days people just want to be called Christian, but don’t want to take on the responsibility of a Christian.

Humans are not from primates, monkeys, etc. If so we humans would be walking across roads naked. there’s a creation for everything, such as a pepsi can, there’s a creator its the pepsi plants. there’s a maker of computers. thus a maker for Humanity, it sure wasn’t a big bang, consisting of a temperature twice the heat of the sun.

Reply

pigeonproject
November 14, 2010 at 9:35 pm · Edit Michael

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void…. God said, Let there be light!”

If it wasnt a big bang then when was the world created. Creationists think it happened between 6000 – 10,000 years ago.

We would be interested to find your thoughts?

]]>