Thursday, June 30, 2005

My battle against the music industry

OK, it's been about 5 years since the music industry declared war on file sharing and piracy. And I admit, I may have downloaded some MP3's. I've used Napster, Scour, Audiogalaxy. FTP servers. But there was a big difference between me and the 95% of people who were using such services to amass as much music as possible. I was using Napster for it's intended purpose. I downloaded music, found the stuff I liked, then went out and bought the albums.

My school started fighting the bandwidth issue caused by such programs in February 2000. After my main sources dried up, and repeated warnings from Dick Jacobsen to dorm residents, I stopped. I haven't illegally downloaded an MP3 in about 2 years (I think).

I spend quite a bit of time in front of my PC. Coding, gaming, surfing. Even just listening to music. My MP3 collection wasn't very big until recently. I usually just ripped the songs I liked from an album. Only about 600. When I got my iPod, I ripped all the songs (except duplicates). Even the horrible evil shit like faggoty *NSync (I never listen to it). About 2300 now.

However, I get sick of most of it often. So, I need new music. And I can't download it. Well, I could, but I won't. I'm trying to stay clean. I'd rather spend a few bucks on CD's every month than pay an RIAA fine of thousands.

CD's ain't cheap. The MSRP for a music album is $18.98. I ain't paying $19 bucks for a 12-song disc. No matter how good it is. I hunt for bargains. Look for sales in Best Buy. Check out Amazon.com and CDNow for $10 discs. Even visit a used music store for cheap CD's (in very good condition). And I try to get as many good songs as possible. I won't buy a CD for a single song. And even just two good tracks won't convince me sometimes. I try to get my average price low. Under $12 is decent. Under $10 is great. And you know those CD's with only one good song on it? Free iTunes from underneath 20 oz. bottles of Pepsi helped me save a ton. My time was worth the constant search for savings.

So, that's how I fight the system. Do what I can to prevent all parties involved from taking my money. You should take this approach too.

Thursday, June 23, 2005

Are you happy now?

My friend Dave Boll was whining because I haven't mentioned him in my blog yet. This should shut you up, Dave!! :)

Tuesday, June 21, 2005

How the mighty have fallen...

OK, forgive me. It is a phrase I use quite often, but in this case, it's so true.

David E. Kelley was once the King Midas of Hollywood. Everything he touched was gold. Producing great shows like L.A. Law; Doogie Howser, M.D.; Picket Fences; Chicago Hope; Ally McBeal; The Practice; and Boston Public. Some of the best one-hour dramas. On top of the freakin' world. Unstoppable.

Then he threw it all to hell. He decided to make that piece of crap "Girls Club". Never heard of it? Doesn't surprise me. It was basically an "Ally McBeal" x 3. Only lasted a few episodes before FOX cancelled it.

In the words of New Found Glory, "And it's all downhill from here". After that one, they started dropping like flies. After 2 seasons, his shows were practically gone from all the networks.

Now, he's resorted to an Apprentice-style show about lawyers. Trying real cases.

You should have quit while you were ahead, buddy. It's only a matter of time before your wife Michelle leaves you.

Friday, June 17, 2005

OK, most people are probably going to tell you that Driven was not a very good movie. I don't think it's that bad. I find it very watchable. Decent. My only real problem with it is how buddy-buddy everyone is at the end of the movie. Over the course of 2 races and a few weeks, everyone becomes best friends after several months of passionate disdain.

Let's face it, Ashton and Demi are for real. There's no trickery involved. However, I don't buy Katie and Tom. My question is: Who's going to be Punk'd? No, seriously. I wonder if Vegas has odds on this.

Nearly two and a half months have gone by. And those damn Pale Hosers are still leading the A.L. Central. They're winning on luck, not skill. Playing way above their expected win-loss ratio. Just crash and burn already. Then we can end the formality of the regular season and move on to October, so we can crown the eventual A.L. Central champion Minnesota Twins.

Solve for X: Apple + Intel = X.

Whoever went to town on Lindsay Lohan with the ugly stick should be shot.

Is it just me, or is McAfee releasing a new DAT file for their VirusScan program every day now? Damn virus writers. I hope they get a virus. Preferably Ebola.

Saturday, June 11, 2005

Go team!

If they haven't already done so, the University of Wisconsin should make this rockin' tune their school fight song. Or at least play it ad naseum at their home games.

Friday, June 10, 2005

A great warrior has fallen

Goodbye, my Champion Eagle. You served me well. Your stories of conquest on the courses of Fargo-Moorhead will live on forever.

Tuesday, June 7, 2005

Random acts of mindless blogging

You should never complain about a friend's wedding. There's a very good chance that you'd come off as self-centered. It's about them, not you.

Teal'c does not make a very good cowboy. In fact, he looks quite gay (as in homosexual) dressed as such.

For the record, Darth Vader said, "No, I am your father."

A.J. Foyt has been reading my blog...

OK, I'm going to assume you're familiar with how the uvula is normally shaped. A little round thing at the end. Mine is not shaped that way. It's more of a stalagtite.

I'm almost rid of this damn cold I've had for the last two weeks, but now I think my taste buds are all FUBARed from the many cough drops I was sucking down.

Sunday, June 5, 2005

Answer #1

Boston Red Sox manager Terry Francona does indeed own a jersey. #47. He just chooses to wear a jacket or pullover instead. Many thanks to Fenway Ambassador Nick for responding to my e-mail query.

No news on Ron Gardenhire.

Friday, June 3, 2005

Waiting for the answers to life's greatest questions...

OK, I've sent e-mails to the Minnesota Twins and Boston Red Sox, asking if their respective managers, Ron Gardenhire and Terry Francona, own jerseys. Every time I see Gardenhire on TV, he's wearing a jacket, with appearently no jersey on underneath. Francona is usually in some sort of turtleneck or sweatshirt or something.

When I know something, you'll know something.
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