[re; Music Labels, Search Engines, software vendors, etc.]

Sure, that sounds like a radical statement or suggestion, especially coming from a jellyfish like me who would rather let the currents take me where they will. But as the straw mounts, things appear to have reached and unsustainable level; I'm sure they've been this way for quite some time but I'm still shaking the sand out of my ears so please forgive me.

There are hundreds (thousands?) of topics that I speak of here but one acted as the catalyst for this post and that is the craziness associated with pricing for net-based radio. I won't pretend to be an expert in this area but the hints are stained with the same blood type as Patents, Trademarks and many other special interest areas.

I'm all for patents and trademarks, copyright and other earned assurances for creators; I don't want you to go all crazy on me. But we (the general public) have been betrayed in the worst ways over recent years by our legislators and the judges who "interpret" the laws by patronizing the very groups who would bind our wrists, filling their war chests for battle against our own selves. Where laws ought to be written and interpreted in a narrow manner, in the interest of the general public, they are often provided quite a wide berth in the interest of those who would protect their "right" to force us all to carry a horse whip in our automobiles.

Let's look briefly at recent events in "online radio" as it relates to licensing and royalties. A very small group of entities who *claim* to represent artists have [seemingly] persuaded the department in charge of approving such things to dramatically increase fees. That specific topic is for a different time, and hopefully from a person who knows what the heck s/he is talking about. For now I'm discussing the last bastion we have in front of us, our dollars. They (the dollars) are very powerful but the lazy amongst us (myself dreadfully included) far outnumber those who would help keep us on the right bearing.

It's all so simple. If the RIAA/MPAA abuses their position in the world, stop buying music and visiting movie theaters. Do it in earnest; I know it's difficult but we need to show them that our 'finger' is much bigger than theirs.

I know what you're thinking: "If I protested every little thing that I found to be unfair I would have to go back to growing every bit of food I eat and creating every comfort I crave by my own two hands". I'm not suggesting such a thing because I don't think it is entirely necessary. I think if the big, overt offenders are addressed first you'll find that there are less areas to protest because others will fall inline.

An important piece is, we musn't focus on the things that "only affect us directly, right now", because a principle itself can be an extremely important thing. For example, letting the music industry get away with its atrocities may not affect you but the groundwork they're laying now may impact the television you watch some day. I know you Jerry Springer fans (you know, the ones who go to work on Wall St.) would be up in arms if the same sort of fees caused your station to go off the air. We need to combine our strengths and tell those fuckers that they'll not get a dime of ours if they make an egregious move. More...

If Microsoft would hijack our fat fingers in the browser for their own financial gain rather than give us what we're looking for, move to Firefox. And if the Mozilla Foundation colludes with Google for the same, send them the same message; Someone will fill in the gap. Keep 'em straight on a regular basis and we'll find that most will play straight in the future.

Sure, it might take a decade or two for fruit to peek out but in as much time we *will* find ourselves in tighter chains if we do not start the process now.

I'll leave my similar rant on our government "Representatives" for a later date, when I'm well informed. That means: Never.