LOS ANGELES—The Recording Industry Association of America filed a $7.1 billion lawsuit against the nation's radio stations Monday, accusing them of freely distributing copyrighted music.
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http://www.theonion.com/content/news/riaa_sues_radio_stations_for

This is asinine beyond description. This *defies* asininity and distorts it beyond an extreme length!

'It's criminal,' RIAA president Hilary Rosen said. 'Anyone at any time can simply turn on a radio and hear a copyrighted song. Making matters worse, these radio stations often play the best, catchiest song off the album over and over until people get sick of it. Where is the incentive for people to go out and buy the album?' .......blah blah blah...... 'If this radio trend continues, it will severely damage a musician's ability to earn a living off his music,' Frackman said. '[Metallica drummer] Lars Ulrich stopped in the other day wondering why his last royalty check was so small, and I didn't know what to say. How do you tell a man who's devoted his whole life to his music that someone is able to just give it away for free? That pirates are taking away his right to support himself with his craft?'"

So in that case, might as well sue Goodwill and Salvation Army because they sell used records and CDs second-hand. Hell, close down Mermaid Music, E-Bay Network and all the others for that matter. Slap handcuffs and leg-irons on the millions of kids who trade CDs and swap audio files between their "IRockboxRiverPods" in the school yard because God knows the performer might have to settle for the smaller private jumbo jet that has a DVD Video machine *without* a universal remote control. Silence Muzak, DMX, Music Choice etc. because anyone with a satellite receiver, a little technical know-how who's good with software (*cough*CAMemulation*cough), a computer and a few hours in their day can get free songs off the satellites and make it so Lars Ulrich will have to settle for the medium-sized shark tank instead of the larger one! Just get 'em all out of here!

Fascist bastards.

I want each of us to locate a nearby RIAA suit. Could be at the local branch (if there is one), could be passing you walking on the street, could be in the food court at the mall. They're everywhere, like radioactive decay particles and fungal spores. I want each of us to walk right up to said suit, grab him by the lapels of his jacket, and yell directly into his face: HEY! I'M AS MAD AS HELL AND I'M NOT GONNA TAKE THIS ANYMORE! Repeat this until his ears bleed!

If it were me I'd gather each of them up and place them into a nerve gas chamber, but that's way too quick and not as much fun (and it's *expensive*..........)

Ahem, its The Onion, and the piece is dated October 2, 2002.

I don't want to discourage people from starting offbeat threads, but Vern, what's up with that?

*without* a universal remote control.

I don't think you'll ever see a universal remote control allowed on newer jets because, for one thing, the passenger could find himself flying the plane. Not cool. (Especially if one knows pressing #'s 2, 6 & 7 at the same time deploys the reverse thrusher. Email me for other codes!)

"I don't want to discourage people from starting offbeat threads, but Vern, what's up with that?

Well, you have to admit that, while barring the fact that the article Vern linked to is almost eight years old, it still shines quite a bit of light on the questionability of some of peoples' mental status.

Sidebar:
Here's what the Jargon File says about suits:
Ugly and uncomfortable 'business clothing' often worn by non-hackers. Invariably worn with a 'tie', a strangulation device that partially cuts off the blood supply to the brain. It is thought that this explains much about the behavior of suit-wearers.

When you realise music has been played on the radio for decades and then someone declares it criminal, there's obviously brain damage playing into that declaration somewhere.

Honestly folks, you just can't make that kind of stuff up!

(Let it also serve as a rather pungent reminder of what can happen to us if we don't get some exercise every now and again. Get away from your computer, go out and go for a nice, long run! ;o)

"Hello, you're on the Phil Hendrie show..."

I did it to see who would notice the source!
LOL! Pretty good writing anyway!
I read some terrestial stations will stop streaming music soon. The riaa is raising rates on them also.

What's my prize then, Vern? Not an opportunity to have my favorite song played on your station I hope as my favs are already being played here:

http://www.live365.com/stations/skeptical