Sunday, March 10, 2002

Ok maybe I won't go to college.  According to the local paper, due to budget cuts the UW system is freezing all enrollment for the fall semester.  On top of the $51 million worth of cuts to the system the governor has proposed due to the state deficit another $20 million are to be added on.  To make sure all the current students are provided for they're halting enrollment until they can figure out how exactly they will be able to accomadate current classmen and the freshman class.   This is just what I need.  I finally get the ability to go to college this year and the entire system starts breaking down.  Anyone wanna hire a would be philosophy student? comment [] 10:50:17 AM

I just had a thought while reading the post about the RIAA.  Monopolies in a government restriction free market place are not a problem.  They come, they go as competitors change.  The only way they stay around, or get as powerful as they are is with the help of the government.  The RIAA could never have achieved so much power without its lobby in Washington to push along it's agenda.  It would still be just as big as it was, but without the protection or backing it is recieving now.  In today's mixed economy the government does more to hurt the consumer than any company, even Evil Old Microsoft ever could.  Just a thought. comment [] 9:42:58 AM

Ok after reading about 90 pages of that report it seems to me that the Internet Only stations are expected to pay over 4x as much as the RIAA initially wanted.  According to the report the RIAA's "sweetspot" was $.04 per performance, whereas the panel decided on a rate of $.14 per performance.  I think I must just not be smart enough to understand this goverment anymore.  They were trying to establish a rate equivilent to what a willing buyer/seller would pay in a compulsion free market place.  The rates of $.04 were made before it was compulsory to do so and the court concluded those were a little high, then comes out with a $.14 rate...someone wanna explain this too me? comment [] 3:32:53 AM

Sorry the text on that last post was so small...PDF's aren't the easiest doc types to work with. comment [] 2:43:40 AM

Reading the CARP Report right now.  This thing is amazing.  The government and the RIAA have gotten incredibly bold in their assumptions these days.  For example, "We recognize that an antitrust exemption was required to enable RIAA to act as a non-exclusive, common agent in negotiating agreements under the statutory license at issue here.  "   That sounds to me like they recognize the fact that the RIAA is a monopoly and just don't care.  I highly suggest you read this report if you're at all concerned with the state of the goverment or the internet...it just might wake you up to what's really going on. comment [] 2:31:17 AM

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