I agree with everything about this article except for this phrase, "I'd like to think that law enforcement is above attempting such tricks". There's no reason why that release should be considered extra dirty or lacking in some moral high ground. It's classic misinformation AKA social engineering. What we need is OTR for smartphones.
Since the government signed the DMCA into law and it's hard up for cash, I think it should collect penalty fees for invalid takedown request. I mean come on, it's a cash cow just waiting to be milked and barreled with artisan pork!
Exactly, DDoS attacks stifle speech, it's the equivalent of shouting someone down or muzzling them. If a government agent started DDoS-ing it would be a clear cut case of a violation of the freedom of speech (or at least would be in my eyes).
I'm not sure if there is a digital equivalent of a sit-in since hacking a site and butting up your own banner compromises the remote system in a way that the owner can no longer trust it and would also shut them down. I suppose putting up informational and parody sites would be good. I did like Anonymous' real world tactics of picketing sites and putting up informational posters.
Though I do agree with Anon on having no problem with them wrecking pedo sites. And yes that is in essence me preferring my own personal moral code over that of others'. But I think the vast majority of the world would agree that things go to farm when yo victimize the innocent.
The lack of Schroeder's Internet records/footprints is a testament to his computer genius. In today's age of ubiquitous tracking by both governments and corporation and the explosion of user generated content and social networking, this man is the ultimate techno-stealth-ninja-master. I for one praise Mr. Schroeder's ability to seem completely irrelevant even when filing a lawsuit.
Bitcoin is interesting in that it is a decentralized P2P digital currency. I kind of like the idea but I don't trust it in practice. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bitcoin
Though thinking about it, I do have an extra computer sitting around and it is cold in the house. Maybe I should try mining Bitcoins and warm up the room at the same time.
Wow Notch can afford to donate $250k for a cause? I knew he was making bank off of Minecraft but wow. I guess I'm not so surprised to find out there was a Minecon. I'm just woefully out of touch.
How about buying it and only playing the pirate version, a lot of people do that too. I guess it's on principal of not wanting to support their shitty method. In that case, why not forget playing altogether. Because, fuck them and we shouldn't be justifying their methods in the eyes of the business community, lawmakers, law enforcement and general community as a protest to thise very same methods.
We're always looking for someone to blame other than ourselves for our problems. This is exacerbated by media sensationalism and the current political climate of demonizing anyone who even thinks a little differently. I don't understand how it became "law" that everyone had to be in lockstep agreement on all issues. That's obviously not how we are on a personal level when interacting with each other.
I suppose this has always been a long standing culture war.
The problem is the ever loving quest for dollars vs. artistic innovation.
It's hard for monolithic corporations to react to today's faster moving trends. They're too entrenched in demographics and their tried and true methods of market manipulation. Not to mention that for the moment it's still working for them.
Despite all the great new music out there they still choose to flex their power over the media industries. Music is a powerful medium and when coupled with visuals they still have a huge stick to beat people with. Look at all these music reality TV shows, or the integration of pop music into network television soundtracks. They don't have to listen to the underground... yet.
They still have the powers of money, market saturation and fame. There will always be artists, DJs and celebrity endorsers willing to compromise themselves for a piece (for some there was never a goal of self expression but to cash in). It all works well with manipulating herd mentality and envy.
When the underground finally bubbles up to the surface with something that's so intriguing and exciting that the mainstream has to pay attention they can cherry pick what they want, package it and sell it to the masses. (I find great irony in the way marketers can take the DIY nature of punk and hip hop then turn it into slogans like "Be original, drink Sprite.")
A recent ridiculous example is DJ Shadow getting booted off the decks at The Mansion nightclub in Miami. This high profile club booked him on his broad reaching fame. Then kicked him off 20 minutes into his set to appease their bottle service crowd. They feasted on his street cred and make a few bucks off his fans. This is the 2nd high profile DJ they did this to this year and the word is now out. I'm not sure if their loss of underground attendees and DJs boycotting them will hurt much. But it's a start.
But all is not lost, their greed is their downfall. If they keep ignoring the creative class, they will continue to become incrementally irrelevant. They can't stop the march of progress, they can't stifle innovation. Technology is leveling the playing field in terms of distribution and publicity.
I urge everyone to go out and support your favorite musician/producer/DJ by going to their shows and seeing them in person whenever you can. Seeing actual smiles and hearing praise in person can do a lot to keep them motivated. Not to mention keep them fed. Keep spreading the word and welcome new people into your scene because everyone has to start somewhere.
(untitled comment)
I agree with everything about this article except for this phrase, "I'd like to think that law enforcement is above attempting such tricks". There's no reason why that release should be considered extra dirty or lacking in some moral high ground. It's classic misinformation AKA social engineering. What we need is OTR for smartphones.
(untitled comment)
Interesting, robots growing flu vaccines via transgenic tobacco plants. So this is how the machines launch their sneak attack.
(untitled comment)
Since the government signed the DMCA into law and it's hard up for cash, I think it should collect penalty fees for invalid takedown request. I mean come on, it's a cash cow just waiting to be milked and barreled with artisan pork!
Re: Who cares about CBS?
Craig Furguson is worth watching.
Re: The solution to bad speech
Exactly, DDoS attacks stifle speech, it's the equivalent of shouting someone down or muzzling them. If a government agent started DDoS-ing it would be a clear cut case of a violation of the freedom of speech (or at least would be in my eyes).
I'm not sure if there is a digital equivalent of a sit-in since hacking a site and butting up your own banner compromises the remote system in a way that the owner can no longer trust it and would also shut them down. I suppose putting up informational and parody sites would be good. I did like Anonymous' real world tactics of picketing sites and putting up informational posters.
Though I do agree with Anon on having no problem with them wrecking pedo sites. And yes that is in essence me preferring my own personal moral code over that of others'. But I think the vast majority of the world would agree that things go to farm when yo victimize the innocent.
Schroeder IS a computer and social networking genius and this is why.
The lack of Schroeder's Internet records/footprints is a testament to his computer genius. In today's age of ubiquitous tracking by both governments and corporation and the explosion of user generated content and social networking, this man is the ultimate techno-stealth-ninja-master. I for one praise Mr. Schroeder's ability to seem completely irrelevant even when filing a lawsuit.
Re: Bitcoin
Bitcoin is interesting in that it is a decentralized P2P digital currency. I kind of like the idea but I don't trust it in practice.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bitcoin
I don't know if I would tust BItcoin to secure my funds as Bitcoin exchanges have been hacked in the past. Some have replaced missing Bitcoins but they can't do that forever.
http://www.dailytech.com/Inside+the+MegaHack+of+Bitcoin+the+Full+Story/article21942.htm
Though thinking about it, I do have an extra computer sitting around and it is cold in the house. Maybe I should try mining Bitcoins and warm up the room at the same time.
(untitled comment)
Wow Notch can afford to donate $250k for a cause? I knew he was making bank off of Minecraft but wow. I guess I'm not so surprised to find out there was a Minecon. I'm just woefully out of touch.
Why bother pirating it?
How about buying it and only playing the pirate version, a lot of people do that too. I guess it's on principal of not wanting to support their shitty method. In that case, why not forget playing altogether. Because, fuck them and we shouldn't be justifying their methods in the eyes of the business community, lawmakers, law enforcement and general community as a protest to thise very same methods.
(untitled comment)
We're always looking for someone to blame other than ourselves for our problems. This is exacerbated by media sensationalism and the current political climate of demonizing anyone who even thinks a little differently. I don't understand how it became "law" that everyone had to be in lockstep agreement on all issues. That's obviously not how we are on a personal level when interacting with each other.
I suppose this has always been a long standing culture war.
On DJ autonomy, gatekeeper & major label pop music
The problem is the ever loving quest for dollars vs. artistic innovation.
It's hard for monolithic corporations to react to today's faster moving trends. They're too entrenched in demographics and their tried and true methods of market manipulation. Not to mention that for the moment it's still working for them.
Despite all the great new music out there they still choose to flex their power over the media industries. Music is a powerful medium and when coupled with visuals they still have a huge stick to beat people with. Look at all these music reality TV shows, or the integration of pop music into network television soundtracks. They don't have to listen to the underground... yet.
They still have the powers of money, market saturation and fame. There will always be artists, DJs and celebrity endorsers willing to compromise themselves for a piece (for some there was never a goal of self expression but to cash in). It all works well with manipulating herd mentality and envy.
When the underground finally bubbles up to the surface with something that's so intriguing and exciting that the mainstream has to pay attention they can cherry pick what they want, package it and sell it to the masses. (I find great irony in the way marketers can take the DIY nature of punk and hip hop then turn it into slogans like "Be original, drink Sprite.")
A recent ridiculous example is DJ Shadow getting booted off the decks at The Mansion nightclub in Miami. This high profile club booked him on his broad reaching fame. Then kicked him off 20 minutes into his set to appease their bottle service crowd. They feasted on his street cred and make a few bucks off his fans. This is the 2nd high profile DJ they did this to this year and the word is now out. I'm not sure if their loss of underground attendees and DJs boycotting them will hurt much. But it's a start.
But all is not lost, their greed is their downfall. If they keep ignoring the creative class, they will continue to become incrementally irrelevant. They can't stop the march of progress, they can't stifle innovation. Technology is leveling the playing field in terms of distribution and publicity.
I urge everyone to go out and support your favorite musician/producer/DJ by going to their shows and seeing them in person whenever you can. Seeing actual smiles and hearing praise in person can do a lot to keep them motivated. Not to mention keep them fed. Keep spreading the word and welcome new people into your scene because everyone has to start somewhere.
Updated version of the video (original removed)
Updated version of the video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NcwgdB0NltY