Jesse Townley 's Techdirt Comments

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  • On the post: Led Zeppelin 'Stairway To Heaven' Copyright Case Will Go To A Jury… Meaning Band Will Almost Certainly Lose

    Jesse Townley ( profile ), 13 Apr, 2016 @ 01:31pm

    Re: Re:

    100% insightful.

    During the lawsuit between my boss Jello Biafra & 3 other ex-Dead Kennedys, their lawyer made the claim that since JB can't read sheet music, it's impossible for him to have written any music for the band. (This was a way for the other 3 to claim writing credits for the music)

    Now, ANY musician can tell you that reading sheet music is NOT required in order to write a song, from a member of a garage band to the highest level classical player.

    However, they felt confident enough in the jury's experience or lack thereof to state this.

    (I doubt it was a deciding factor in the case which JB ultimately lost, but who knows?)

  • On the post: Montana Newspaper Announces Plans To Reveal The Names Of All Previous Commenters, Despite Promises To Keep Them Secret

    Jesse Townley ( profile ), 30 Nov, 2015 @ 05:52pm

    Re: Re: Re: I think it's a good move, except for...

    I'd rather shine light on the cockroaches then let them hide.

    I agree that real name commenters can be jerks too, hence my previous sentence.

    You may have picked up some ambivalence about all of this in my posts. That's accurate. I don't feel strongly enough about it to do more than strongly lobby my local media outlets to add real-name comment systems.

    I habitually use my real name on those sites because, in part, I'm an elected official so I am ALWAYS thinking about what I'm writing on-line. (okay ALMOST always, ha ha ha)

  • On the post: Montana Newspaper Announces Plans To Reveal The Names Of All Previous Commenters, Despite Promises To Keep Them Secret

    Jesse Townley ( profile ), 29 Nov, 2015 @ 03:30pm

    Re: I think it's a good move, except for...

    For instance, on non-news message boards (or even this site), I've no problem with anonymous accounts. I choose not to use them often, but that's my choice.

    Yes, I know the immediate response to this is "it should be my choice on a mainstream media news site too" and, well, I guess I see that as a different context.

    I don't know, I wish more news sites would do this going forward (not retroactively, as much as I'd love to see who some of these dickwads are).

  • On the post: Montana Newspaper Announces Plans To Reveal The Names Of All Previous Commenters, Despite Promises To Keep Them Secret

    Jesse Townley ( profile ), 29 Nov, 2015 @ 03:23pm

    I think it's a good move, except for...

    I think it's a great move. If you can't stand behind your comments on-line, then why are you making them?

    In our local news sites, trolls who are NOT representative of the general population run rampant while most sane people don't bother. It gives the impression that their opinions are representative, while every election and other expression of public opinion proves the opposite. (It's unclear how many are actually local as well)

    It's a shame because there are such possibilities to these news sites for a community to have honest conversations about politics, development, and local government, but we're drowned out by assholes who hide behind an alias.

    The only downside is the reversal. They should institute real names from January 1st-on, not retroactively, in recognition of their earlier policy.

    Let me make clear that I'm not against being anonymous at times at your choosing, but for me I'd rather read honest open opinions from my community, not snarky hate from cowardly racists.

  • On the post: U2 Still Insists No Value In 'Free' Music, Despite Making Millions From It

    Jesse Townley ( profile ), 11 Sep, 2014 @ 12:54pm

    Re: I'm pissed too...

    I've spent about an hour off and on since yesterday trying to remove this crap from my iTunes and iPhone- all I can do so far is "hide" it, but it doesn't remove it from my "cloud."

    A gift is not a gift if it's forced on the recipient.

    The real reason I'm pissed is because it's as if my clothes dryer started adding polka dotted undershirts to my loads of laundry without warning.

    I like polka dots. I don't like U2.

    I'd rather choose whether or not I get either from my consumer items that I've purchased, instead of having the manufacturer of that consumer item deciding to "give" me something I do not want.

  • On the post: Los Angeles Police Develop Sudden Privacy Concerns When Someone Flies A Drone Over Their Parking Lot

    Jesse Townley ( profile ), 13 Aug, 2014 @ 03:54pm

    Re:

    Are you a troll or are you just pulling our legs? (It's been a while since I've posted here so I'm not clear on who's who anymore)

    There's national security implications with the White House and flight pattern/aircraft safety issues with airports.

    Police stations? Not so much for either.

  • On the post: Dead Kennedys Guitarist Joins Crusade Against Ad Networks & YouTube Despite Understanding Neither

    Jesse Townley ( profile ), 21 Feb, 2013 @ 11:39am

    Re: Pure asshole

    Actually, those lyrics were written by one of the DKs drummers (Bruce/Ted) and their original, iconic singer, Jello Biafra.

    East Bay Ray is the original guitarist.

    The band reformed without Jello Biafra in 1999 or 2000 and have been playing live with a series of replacement singers ever since. There was a nasty, extended legal fight between Jello and the other 3 key members of the DKs that involved my day job, Alternative Tentacles Records, which is owned & operated by Jello. (I don't want to get into the details of that nightmare- there's all kinds of info on-line and I've been having this conversation for the past decade, ha ha ha)

  • On the post: Controversy Over Anne Of Green Gables Cover Is Way Overblown, And That's A Great Sign For Indie Publishing

    Jesse Townley ( profile ), 08 Feb, 2013 @ 10:26am

    Self-published books in 2013

    I review a lot of novels for Maximumrocknroll, long-running punk zine, and more and more of them are self-published through 3rd party companies as opposed to writers starting up their own publishing companies (analogous to bands starting their own record labels).

    It's become super-common, and nowadays a vanity press does NOT mean a crap book. Who knew?

  • On the post: Amazon Wipes Customer's Account, Locks All Ebooks, Says 'Find A New Retailer' When She Asks Why

    Jesse Townley ( profile ), 22 Oct, 2012 @ 11:00am

    Re: Re: "If you didn't take the hint [fill in latest corporate policy]"

    That makes no sense. Not to insult your child, but the logical string you put forward (more gov't reg, more corp power versus less gov't reg, less corp power) sounds like your 3 year old came up with it.

    Reality shows that corps will move to a monopoly/maximize profits when there are no reins on their activities. Gov't isn't perfect (to put it politely) but to extrapolate from the involvement of gov't regulation with corps that if there were less regulation the corps would be less powerful is insane when you look at history.

    Look at the Great Depression, the government's regulatory reactions in the 1930s, and what happened as soon as the 1990s/2000s government lifted many of those regulations. Less regulation, more powerful corporations, and whammo, the current recession.

  • On the post: Why Tragedies Result In Overreactions: 'Our Brains Aren't Very Good At Risk Analysis'

    Jesse Townley ( profile ), 04 Aug, 2012 @ 10:17am

    Stories versus data

    "People tend to base risk analysis more on stories than on data. Stories engage us at a much more visceral level, especially stories that are vivid, exciting or personally involving."

    This is a key point in politics that frustrates a lot of grassroots candidates who are challenging the status quo. They don't realize that you can't just have facts, you have to have an engaging narrative that touches voters' emotions.

    It can be really really frustrating, but the only way to counteract the asinine emotional anecdote is to build a more persuasive one grounded in facts.

  • On the post: If This Is What Big Publishers Call Promotion, No Wonder They're In Trouble

    Jesse Townley ( profile ), 01 Aug, 2012 @ 05:24pm

    Re: Re: Are you surprised?

    There are also imprints- like the Black Lizard that was originally indie and bought by Random House a few years back- that showcase particular sub-genres, usually of unknown/obscure authors.

  • On the post: If This Is What Big Publishers Call Promotion, No Wonder They're In Trouble

    Jesse Townley ( profile ), 01 Aug, 2012 @ 05:16pm

    Re: badge of quality

    That's exactly what record labels now are:

    Gatekeepers. We filter out the crap and if our track record is to the customer's liking, they're gonna take a chance on a new band (especially since they can check out some of the tunes for free on our website or the band's website).

  • On the post: How Copyright Extension Undermined Copyright: The Copyright Of Parking (Part I)

    Jesse Townley ( profile ), 22 May, 2012 @ 10:58am

    Fascinating analogy

    It rings true. Food for thought, I like it!

  • On the post: Bad Lawsuit, Worse Timing: Beastie Boys Sued Over Infringing Samples On Seminal Albums

    Jesse Townley ( profile ), 09 May, 2012 @ 01:06am

    This is yet another example...

    ... Of why the issue of sampling drives me crazy.

    I get that "Ice Ice Baby" & "Can't Touch This" rely on complete melody lines (Queen & Rick James), but smaller samples should be fair use without a question based on the changing of the context of the sample.

    I'm showing my age when I admit that it took me years after hearing "Licensed To Ill" & "Paul's Boutique" before I found even a handful of the original songs. It's been like an Easter egg hunt- "Oh, that's from War!" and "Tower Of Power, of COURSE!"

  • On the post: Bad Lawsuit, Worse Timing: Beastie Boys Sued Over Infringing Samples On Seminal Albums

    Jesse Townley ( profile ), 09 May, 2012 @ 12:51am

    Re: Re:

    Trouble Funk are pretty crucial- if they used a sample I've no doubt that the Beastie Boys were paying tribute to them.

  • On the post: Metal Band Chimaira's Frontman Talks DIY Versus 'Label Hell'

    Jesse Townley ( profile ), 09 May, 2012 @ 12:39am

    Re:

    Tape trading.

    That's how Metallica, Slayer, Megadeath, Exodus, you name it got ginormous in the 80s.

  • On the post: Police Officer Fired Over Questionable Confrontation, Would Have Gone Unnoticed Without YouTube Video

    Jesse Townley ( profile ), 30 Apr, 2012 @ 11:12am

    Re: Re:

    The reason they're held to a higher standard is because, like the character Judge Dredd, they ARE the law.

    They have the power of immediate life and death, and can seriously screw up someone's life, so when it's appropriate (say, catching a rapist or murderer) they go forward and do their job.

    The problem happens when it's *not* appropriate, as in this case.

  • On the post: Police Officer Fired Over Questionable Confrontation, Would Have Gone Unnoticed Without YouTube Video

    Jesse Townley ( profile ), 30 Apr, 2012 @ 09:46am

    Wait a minute...

    ... Did the system just work in favor of justice?

    Fuckin' A-alright!

  • On the post: Why Do We Celebrate The 'Solitary' Experience Of Books But Decry The Social Experience Of Online Social Media?

    Jesse Townley ( profile ), 28 Apr, 2012 @ 08:49am

    Re: Insight Free?

    100% back this comment. I read a *lot* of trashy novels (spy thrillers and mysteries) but there's always a ton of commentary about human interactions, human motivations, the state of society, geo-politics, you name it.

    On the flip side, a buddy is currently posting about being scared of a group of loud Germans in his local cafe because "whenever a bunch of Germans start getting loud, it usually ends in an event with a "I" or a "II" at the end"- leading to comments comments from others referencing WW2.

    Totally innocuous fb post from a cafe turns into a historical back & forth, sort of.


    Conclusion: this whole argument is based on a false equivalency. Don't feed into it.

  • On the post: Why Do We Celebrate The 'Solitary' Experience Of Books But Decry The Social Experience Of Online Social Media?

    Jesse Townley ( profile ), 28 Apr, 2012 @ 08:22am

    Re: Re: Re:

    So if other people, like say the stereotypical computer geek, also suffer from this, then maybe it's a moot point for your argument.

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