iTunes is bogus???

According to the guy at “downhillbattle.org” iTunes is bogus. What’s that? Come again? How so you say?

“People are paying for songs on the iTunes Music Store because they think it’s a good way to support musicians. But by giving musicians just a few cents from each sale, iTunes destroys a huge opportunity. Instead of creating a system that gets virtually all of fans’ money directly to artists– finally possible with the internet– iTunes takes a big step backwards. Apple calls iTunes “revolutionary” but really they’re just letting record companies force the same exploitive and unfair business model onto a new medium.”

Wow. Staggering. I though iTunes was a good thing. Let’s be realistic though. I mean – seriously – does Apple need to get beat up for trying to push the recording industry in the direction we all wanted them to go? A year or so ago, the major labels were talking about serious crippling of CDs, in fact some were starting to trickle into the market (yeah it didn’t take long for people to find hacks) and I think we all agree they were heading in the opposite direction they needed to. The iTunes store may not be perfect, but its a step in the right direction. In time , I’m willing to bet, you will find more and more independent labels… AND independent artists selling their music on iTunes (check out CDbaby.com). Essentially what you’re telling me is until the industry changes… what else is there… ‘cept thieving. Your telling me to throw a brick through the CIRCUIT CITY window and take what I want, because the record industry is unfair and corrupt? C’mon – I’ve thrown my share of bricks… and spent my share of time using Acquisition… but the industry is not gonna change over night…

UPDATE: Read This Article

Aaaargh!!! I Want One Bad!!!

Sony’s latest MiniDV Handycam is the industry’s first single-CCD, 3.31-megapixel consumer model, offering both digital video and still camera optics in a single device. The new DCR-PC330 model has a Advanced HAD CCD imager, a 10x optical zoom, a Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T lens, and a new advanced primary color filter, which together create outstanding video and digital photographs. It is expected to be available in October for about $1,700.

“The PC330 Handycam model eliminates any compromise that digital still photographers might feel when looking for a combined digital video and still unit,” said Linda Vuolo, Sony Electronics’ director of camcorder product management. “The new CCD imager plays double-duty by enhancing the already stellar quality of the MiniDV format, by bringing it up to 530 lines of resolution, while producing outstanding, print-quality still images.”

In addition to standard its Super NightShot infrared system for shooting video in total darkness and the Super SteadyShot system for image stabilization, this new model also has a new smooth interval record feature, enabling smooth time-lapse recording. It also features a 2.5-inch SwivelScreen hybrid touch panel LCD for an easy-access, easy-to-see menu, and a customizable 3-D user menu. The DCR-PC330 camcorder weighs just over a pound with its battery.

The new three-color filter uses proprietary technology that quadruples the area for each primary color resulting in what Sony says is “more true-to-life photographs and video.” Other features include an intelligent pop-up flash, its Hologram AF focus system, and its NightFraming system, which uses infrared technology to frame and capture a still shot with no or low lighting. Digital still photos are captured as JPEG files directly to Memory Stick media (16MB Memory Stick Included), while video can be saved in the MPEG Movie EX format with audio onto the Memory Stick media or to the MiniDV tape.

NASCAR Power Rankings

NASCAR.com :: features :: Power Rankings

Jeff Gordon – “Unless you were under a rock on Friday, it was announced that an alleged former girlfriend of Jeff Gordon will appear in Playboy. If officials at the magazine wanted to make some money, they’d make the magazine available in a 1:24 diecast. $159.99. Plus shipping.”

Jimmie Johnson – “He’s the only driver with more than $4 million in earnings. That would buy exactly 25,001 of those diecasts we just talked about.”

Jimmy Spencer – “Heck, we’ll put you in here anyway. Did you know that Spencer, even with the suspension, has scored more points in the last six races than Jeff Gordon? As if Jeff Gordon’s week couldn’t get any worse.”

Wow. Someone needs to give the writers at NASCAR.com a pay raise.

The Inevitable…

We all knew this product was gonna die right? Microsoft has now confirmed that Virtual PC is not compatible with the new G5 Power Macs:

“Virtual PC relies on a feature of the G3/G4 processors called ‘pseudo little-endian mode’ for increased performance when emulating a Pentium processor…. Because the new G5 processor does not support this feature, large portions of the VPC for Mac program must be rewritten and carefully tested to work properly on the G5 CPU.”

Uh… yeah. Right. And “HALO” wasn’t compatible with Macs anymore either. Stupid M$.

This is Hilarious….

WorldNetDaily: 22 things about the Bible that drives the left crazy

“Moses parted the Red Sea without first performing an environmental impact study.

Jesus gave a Sermon on the Mount where he talked of giving to the poor, and spoke out against greed, and all without charging attendees $300 per ticket. (Barbra Streisand only).

The term ‘The Three Wise Men’ is insensitive to the intellectually challenged. That should be changed to the ‘Trio of educationally advantaged amateur astronomers.’

Instead of gold, frankincense and myrrh, they should have brought hummus, incense and a representative from Child Protective Services.

The Virgin Mary didn’t first meet with consultants from Planned Parenthood.

Ten plagues and still not a single person thought of nationalizing health care?

Adam didn’t ask Eve for verbal as well as written consent before touching her.

Of course Cain killed Abel. He was obviously suffering either from bipolar disorder, low blood sugar, emotional abuse as a child, or societal neglect.

‘The trials of Job’ were nothing. Try getting a job with nothing but a masters degree in Norwegian Art History – that’s a test!

Too bad Greenpeace didn’t have their own ark so they could have rammed Noah’s Ark. You just know that, after the flood, Noah sold those animals to the circus.

The destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah could have easily been prevented if they would have passed hate-crime legislation sooner.

Jesus is one of the greatest teachers in history, but isn’t a member of the National Education Association. In other words, God uses scab labor.

David slew Goliath simply because he was unfortunate enough to have been stricken with gigantism.

‘The Last Supper’ didn’t offer an option for people on gluten-free diets, and the fat content on the food was not labeled.

The part about Jonah and the whale becoming entangled in tuna nets is conveniently passed over in the Old Testament.

God should have spent the seventh day not resting, but rather going around putting warning stickers on all potentially dangerous, really pointy things.

What’s the big deal about Nebuchadnezzar spending seven years ingesting grass? Heck, Woody Harrelson’s done it longer than that.

The Bible mentions nothing about obtaining the necessary permits to build the Tower of Babel.

People lived to be hundreds of years old without prescription-drug coverage? I don’t think so.

Jesus turned water into wine, which was not very mindful of those who happened to be teetering on the brink of plunging down the stairs of their 12-step program.

Of all the wealth possessed by King Solomon, the amount he donated to environmental causes: $0.

And the thing about the Bible that drives the left the most crazy? People can find salvation without their assistance.”

Cash May Attend MTV VMAs

Country Legend Cash May Attend Video Music Awards

NEW YORK — This week’s MTV Video Music Awards, celebrating a medium that usually oozes youth and invincibility, would seem like the last place to celebrate a somber video with a frail, 71-year-old Johnny Cash.

Yet the extraordinary clip for “Hurt” — one that its creator feared would never be seen on television — is up for six awards, making Cash third only to Missy Elliott (search) and Justin Timberlake (search) in nominations.

I may have to sit down and watch them now… I can always mute Missy and Justin.

Microsoft to boost R&D…

Microsoft plans to boost R&D, jobs | CNET News.com

At a meeting with financial analysts here, Gates said the company plans to boost research spending by more than 8 percent in its new fiscal year, to $6.8 billion. “We believe we are just at the beginning of what we can do with software,” he said.

Besides, they have a lot of catching up to do and Panther hasn’t even shipped yet.

Macromedia MX 2004

Macromedia has finally unveiled its Macromedia MX 2004 product family for building web sites and applications. It includes new versions of Dreamweaver, Flash, and Fireworks as well as its new Macromedia Flash MX Professional 2004 (with advanced tools), new building blocks called the MX Elements for Flash and the MX Elements for HTML, and a unique look and feel for Internet applications called Halo. I can’t wait till September so I can get my hands on a copy and see how well they work. I love the current MX offerings, just very annoyed with all the little quirks that they never fixed.

This Could Max My VISA Fast

iTunes Music Store Player – Great for background iTMS browsing, this script plays all the tracks listed in the Music Store window without having to click on each one manually. The author suggests: Go to the Music Store (in iTunes 4) and do a search on “jazz”. It will spit out a list of some 250 songs. With this script you can automatically play them all, do some work, and if you like a song that is playing you switch to itunes and buy it…

Written by Phillip Ringli – Download It Here >>

This Could Be Very Cool… iGuess

iCal Calling iChat! 1.0 lets you schedule iCal Events as messages in your iChat AV status message, which can be seen in other iChat users’ Buddy Lists and allows users to notify others of current events. Registration ($5) adds support for recurring events, clearing of status message at end of scheduled event,a special ‘countdown message’ feature, and the ability to use more than a single iChat Calendar.

iCal Calling iTunes! v3.1 is an application that lets you use iCal to schedule iTunes music playlists to play. Users can schedule the start and stop times of playlists, set playlists to shuffle before playing, and schedule Internet radio stations. Registration ($5) adds support for setting iTunes volume by event, recognition of recurring events, and the ability to use more than a single iTunes Calendar”

Now all I need is a little free time to play with these, and to start actually using iCal again. I tend to be a little iLazy.