CJ, I'm talking in code here so we can keep the trolls guessing.

You have the x5000 package, right? The huge cost is the 2K royalty payment right?

If you've answered yes to both of these questions, let me ask you this: other than the effort to change the bit rate and up it to 64kbs pro, would one see a substancial jump in TLH as a result of the added benefits from the x5000 package?

I wouldn't mind giving this a try, but the I really don't have much more time to give to this effort at this time other than to make the switch.

I'd be interested in hearing your comments.

And if I was to get the x5000, would it be effective in neutralizing trolls? Or would a bump up to 128kbs be needed to root out things like their home addresses and phone numbers? This does include sending a neutralizer to the perps' isp for monitoring? my choice would be betty of course.

Yes.

And.

Yes. But not because of the X5000 package ( well maybe a little ) but it was the iTunes listing that caused the jump in TLH. I'm glad we can talk about this because it may help me artiuculate my own feelings about it and help me decide to renew or not.

So sit back and let me tell you a tale;

So the X5000 was offered at the end of 2005 for the 2006 season. Betty and I were very close at the time. Talked every single day. Had been doing that for years. But when the X5000 was offered for sign-up, I had a TON of questions. The gist I got was that my desire and expectation for exposure would be met. Yes, to be fair, there was a SMALL emphasis placed on it not being guaranteed. As it turned out, there should have been MUCH more emphasis placed on that. Because, from Jan. 1 through about May, all I had to show for being an X5000 was a Pro designation tag ( which looked nice on the searches ) and 10 gig of space ( of which I have never used more than 5 ) and no thrid party listing ( No iTunes, no Motorolla, none of the others that were pumped up as being " on board " to help give exposure - EVERYONE is on TiVo. So there is no X5000 exclusivity regarding TiVo ) but my SL cap was now 500. ( which, again, would have meant a LOT more had I been granted the semi-promised exposure ). Then sometime in May I got one station listed on iTunes. The reasons for the delays were stupid, misleading, insulting and outright lies. AND, if you couple that with the fact that as an X5000 I was given TWO stations to run under this package, less than half of the exposure promised had been delivered.

I was livid. Insane with anger. Really felt burned. So much so that Betty and I traded nasty barbs back and forth I said some really shitty things. I told her that she was messing with childhood dreams and to dangle those carrots like she did and not deliver fuckin' KILLED me inside. ( By the way, all this time I gave my other station to Red101 for her to have and love and run ).

There is another sticky issue about all this that I'm not going to address here as it may turn out to be a legal thing and I just don't know my options about it all.

Anyway, so finally, in October, my second station ( chickenjuggler2 = Red101. She had to use my name to broadcast but could do with it whatever she wanted other than change the broadcaster name ) was listed on iTunes. I was grateful, but it was waaay too late for me to be all happy about it. I had given that station to Red so she could enjoy the benefits. It was totally my choice and no extra weight should have been given to rush that listing just because I gave it to her. And believe me, there was no rush.

So what I have now are two stations, both listed on iTunes. Each station has 10 gig locker and 500 SLs. You can only go live 10% of the time in any given week. And I have to make a choice on whether or not they are going to deliver on the still dangling carrot of thrid party platform exposure. I don't care about the space, SLs or LIVE vs. BASIC ratio. What I needed was the exposure. 2006 was NOT a groud-level opportunity. It was the actual BUILDING of the package. I was led to believe that I would enjoy the benefits of a fully engaged product. It does not exist - yet. Even after a full year ( almost ) ther are still no iron-clad agrements between H.Q. ther and any other thrid party. Sure, there are " things in the hopper " - but they said that in October of 2005 when this was all introduced. Oh and the no need to log in turned out to be a better thing than expected.

So here is my summation;

If you want the space, SLs and two stations - the X5000 holds great value. If you are counting on help for exposure, you just cannot count on that. This year they are more clear about that. But I had to force Bluemonty ( Betty's replacement [ You know she's gone, right? ] ) to say a few things out loud in the green room that may have not been in image he wanted to paint, but it was important to me to hear it finally admitted. ( It had to do with labels supplying content to X5000'ers - they aren't anymore. They never really did. )

So I don't know, man. There is value there. But it all can be done without being an X5000.

And to address your 128kbs question - and you already may know this - but unless you go full-on Pro, you cannot go higher than 64. Even if you are an X5000.

The happy ending for Betty and I came this summer thoguh as she left to go to another job and the day after she left, she came to my house for a day. Flew in just for my birthday and then had to leave the same day. Bamman, Lonelyradio, Toastradio and Red were there for the weekend too. Barter showed up and so did Humbolt. We had fun and all is fine.

Now I just have to decide what to do for 2007.

Oh and what do you mean by " neutralizing trolls "? I could guess, I suppose. But I'd like clarification.

You guys are make me feel all schmoopy inside!

I just threw up in my mouth a little...

I just woke Baby M. up from laughing so lous, see I cna't even type right...

LOL! at mrs m.


Anyway, CJ sez: "If you are counting on help for exposure, you just cannot count on that."

I believe you answered my question right there. I'm not so much looking for higher caps, storage, et al, but exposure.

Its a bummer all that crap had to happen -- but glad you were able to work it out with betty before you left.

Yes, I knew Betty left, in fact on the day she announced I happened to have checked in. Also read the postings/pixs about the mini summit in Salem. Looks like y'all had a ball -- sort of a bummer for me to miss it all.

I'm not so much looking for higher caps, storage, et al, but exposure. It just doesn't look quite there yet.

The $2k+ is a bit of dough -- so I suppose you have to ask if you're having the kind of fun where the money doesn't matter (to a limit, of course). In my case the $500/yr to operate 3 stations is well worth it, and since we're not on their board, I'd say is rather on the low side for what I get out of it!

Are you aware that they've waived the sign-up fee for x5000? (still have to pay the 2k)

Is there anything in it for you for being a X5000 ground level station? Sort of like the Grandfather station price reduction (which I have one!)? Just wondering if they're treating you guys well during the start up period.

As for neutralizing, perhaps it ought to be neuterized as lord knows we don't want that kind of offspring on the planet. I thought I'd talk over his head so he'd get paranoid and maybe (and finally) crack!

Yeah, they waived the sign-up for existing broadcasts(ers), I think. I thought it was poorly timed to be ADDING fees at all - but what can you do?

There is an X5000 forum too. That has been helpful. And Skep, not to sound too ungrateful, but I still get a vibe of " less than forthcoming. Too many open ended issues at hand."

PLUS, and this is where I feel I have a legitimate right to be slightly indignant; If I don't renew, iTunes will still list me, but if you click it, it will be a dead link. And thinking back to how long it took to actually get listed vs. how quickly J.T. ( SFND ) will make my link inactive, well, it's really out of balance.

Look, the service provided at ALL is wonderful. But to have it get so messy has been disappointing. I have no colorful way of expressing it in a metaphorical way - but it is messy.

Schmoopy.

Good word.

And googling it ( as I had never heard it before ) I have to admit, you're right.

Now come here and let me hold you 'till I die - when we both break down and cry. I wanna hold you, 'till the fear in me subsiiiiiiiides.

( And you are welcome, in advance, for making that song stick in your head for a while ).