Proposed legislation to make file sharing a felony

In response to this crazy news story.

This is goofy gubment at work again (see H.R 2517).  This kind of action will have a dramatic chilling effect on technology innovation.

In my humble opinion, file sharing is a fascinating innovation and might otherwise become an important collaboration tool of our hi-tech world. 
I want to be able to share my discoveries and developments with my peers so all can benefit. 
Copyright laws need to fairly serve the public first, and the producers second. 
Studios, networks, artists and their support organizations need to be in step with progress through technology and innovation -- and not suppress it!

But this is
obviously NOT about the artists. It's much more about the money-hungry associations, licensing companies, networks and studios. 
The actual artists, whom 'they' claim to serve, get almost nothing for their
trouble, winding up with a very small chunk of what the consumers pay for the materials. I'd like to see
artists getting more of the pie, even if it means pushing out the big guys, like the RIAA.

And it's too bad that Napster didn't build in a nominal fee to get
those artists paid, as they should.  I want to help artists and encourage them through my payments. 
But alas, Napster didn't want to do that, so we all have to pay for it.  Legislators ought to take note that people like me want to pay, and in fact would spend more on P2P file sharing than would normally spend on CDs. 
But not $1 a song. More like $3/mo or $100/yr.  At a buck a song, I'd have gone broke! 
And what I want is older music, the stuff that doesn't make money any more. 
60s, 70s and 80s music.  And I'd gladly pay for it -- if there was a way to
do so!

Making criminals of good people here is taking the easy way out.  I suggest to RIAA and others, get creative, do your homework and embrace technology, not thwart it.

-- Danny

Call for all area Wireless Internet Service Providers

The Wise Guys want to know! Who in central Iowa provides wireless access to the Internet? If you are a provider, please email us and let us know. We'll publish your contact information here. Please give us consumer pricing including setup fees. We will also take WiFi Hotspot providers and locations for use on another list.

Users: How do you get your Internet? We also want to know how our listeners are getting connected to the Internet, whether you use a cable modem, DSL, ISDN, T1, dialup, wireless, or whether you only get online at work.

Our "Legal Eagle" weighs in...

Richard writes:

"My Dad had a stroke about two months ago and he has no short time memory. He is able to do what has to be done to live. But he owns cattle and they need to be sold. Is there anyway his wife can get anything on paper that will let here to do this or is she able to do that now. I worry about it because I have two greedy sisters, one of them takes care of cattle. I think they [might] take advantage of dad's problem and sell them for their own profit. Whatever you can tell me would be great."

WHO Radio's own George Davison is an attorney and he has this general advice for our
listeners in a similar situation:

• A conservatorship can be established to take care of the assets of the individual.
  
  


• The individual could grant a power of attorney to someone he trusts to act for him.
  
  


• A trust could be created by the individual to own and to manage his assets. The trustee would be a person named by the individual.
  
  


• This is a situation in which both husband and wife need to
  consult with an attorney to prepare the appropriate plan to deal with the situation in which the husband becomes incapacitated.
  
  


• It is very important that all of the facts of the situation be
  discussed with the attorney and that options and alternatives be weighed.
  
  


• This is a situation which can be ripe with complications,
  unintended consequences, and conflicts. This situation emphasizes the need for planning and addressing problems and situations that can arise.
  
  


• At this point, Richard needs to be very careful about his role
  and involvement. There is a potential allegation, if he arranges for the mother and father to see the lawyer, and especially if he accompanies the mother and father to the lawyer and participates in the conference, that he unduly influenced his father's actions.
  
  


• Again, facts are very important to the decisions which need to
  be made and the potential solutions. This is why an in-person conference with a lawyer of mother and father's selection is critical. The selection of the lawyer must be made by mother and father to meet their needs and their situation.
  
  


• The observations that I have made are based upon the
  information that I have and are an attempt to provide basic information.
  The solution to this family's issue must be addressed only after all of the facts have been ascertained and options, based upon those facts, analyzed.

George F. Davison, Jr.,
Board Certified Civil Trial Advocate by the National Board of Trial Advocacy

Live on the bridge

The WHO Radio Wise Guys returned to Taste of Des Moines with a live broadcast
from the Court Avenue Bridge from 11:00 AM until 2:00 PM Saturday.  Recipe
Lady Diane Roupe and Chris Lockergnome's Chris Pirillo joined us fr some fun
chat about food and technology.

Recipe Lady Returns

Food expert and author of "The Blue Ribbon Country Cookbook, The New Standard of Ameican Cooking" will return to The Wise Guys live from the Court Avenue Bridge this Saturday at 11:00 AM. It's your chance to meet her in person -- or if you can't make it to Taste of Des Moines, to listen to her on the radio.

Diane Roupe (ROOP) is a tradition in the Ag Building during the Iowa State Fair, and continues to be an official judge there. We'll talk about her upcoming cookbook, which will feature meals in an hour (the working title is secret for now); USDA standards for safe canning; and midwest cooking in general.

Diane reported record book sales at the fair last year, following her appearances on our show. For information about the Blue Ribbon Country Cookbook, contact Diane by mail: The Blue Ribbon Country Cookbook, 904 12th St., West Des Moines, IA 50265. Call (515) 267-1188.

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