Quote: zooo @ September 16 2009, 12:34 AM BSTHe'll probably never take me to a chip shop again.
He will. He just won't allow you to handle the condiments again. 
Grrr. http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2009/sep/16/filesharing-music-industry
Things that piss you off Page 511
Mmmnn... It's interesting that only this year Gordon Brown (in a speech) actually identified having internet access as "a human right". Seems Mandelson has persuaded him otherwise.
And who persuaded Mandelson, I wonder?
Music companies have only themselves to blame. They've run a preposterously short-termist business strategy for the last 20 years (not anticipating changes in technology until it was already upon them), charging what they can get away with, and now they're amazed to see they sky falling in on them. They had little concern for what crap music they were force-feeding the public so long as it made them money. To be fair to bands and musicians, they've been far more creative in using new methods to gain an audience and market their work. Now that playing live has again become one of the most important ways for them to earn money, what exactly do record companies do to justify their profits?
Quote: Leevil @ September 16 2009, 1:28 PM BST
I don't judge...only film.
Quote: Tim Walker @ September 16 2009, 2:32 PM BSTMusic companies have only themselves to blame. They've run a preposterously short-termist business strategy for the last 20 years (not anticipating changes in technology until it was already upon them), charging what they can get away with, and now they're amazed to see they sky falling in on them. They had little concern for what crap music they were force-feeding the public so long as it made them money. To be fair to bands and musicians, they've been far more creative in using new methods to gain an audience and market their work. Now that playing live has again become one of the most important ways for them to earn money, what exactly do record companies do to justify their profits?
Profits? It's their existence that needs justifying. Record companies are now merely promoters (arguable that they were ever any different though). Artists are making MORE money these days, because the companies take so much cash that their only real source of income are gigs and merchandising, sales of which are all way up, despite the recession. The industry has backed itself into a corner where it is no longer relevant. Totally misguided and hell-bent on punishing the people they should be reaching out to. They've never understood the consumers, and seem to be growing even further detached by the month. It's quite pathetic, and depressing that the authorities are falling for their lies.
Quote: Tim Walker @ September 16 2009, 2:02 PM BSTMmmnn... It's interesting that only this year Gordon Brown (in a speech) actually identified having internet access as "a human right". Seems Mandelson has persuaded him otherwise.
Even if you're locked without charge for 40 days (or whatever arbitrary number the government invented to 'fight terrorism')?
Quote: youngian @ September 16 2009, 2:44 PM BSTEven if you're locked without charge for 40 days (or whatever arbitrary number the government invented to 'fight terrorism')?
I know, I know... it's not like Gordon to be inconsistent is it? Must have been having an "off" day. 
Quote: Tim Walker @ September 16 2009, 2:46 PM BSTI know, I know... it's not like Gordon to be inconsistent is it? Must have been having an "off" day.
Leave the poor bugger alone. All his life he dreamt of being PM, then when it finally happened he was shit at it, really shit, and will almost certainly lead Labour to as big an election defeat as John Major led the Tories to in 1997.
Quote: chipolata @ September 16 2009, 2:48 PM BSTLeave the poor bugger alone. All his life he dreamt of being PM, then when it finally happened he was shit at it, really shit, and will almost certainly lead Labour to as big an election defeat as John Major led the Tories to in 1997.
Thank you, Jeremy Paxman.
Quote: john lucas 101 @ September 16 2009, 2:49 PM BSTThank you, Jeremy Paxman.
Well there are things I like a lot about Brown, mainly that he isn't Tony Blair.
But it's him who got us (UK plc) into the economic state we're in now. If he hadn't squandered the coffers on crackpot schemes with little payback, we might be in a position to weather this recession without putting my generation into a lifetime's worth of staggering national debt to be repaid. Typical Labour tax and spend - pity they forgot the former, in proportion to the latter.
Still, we're not as f**ked as Iceland I suppose.
Quote: Aaron @ September 16 2009, 9:24 PM BSTStill, we're not as f**ked as Iceland I suppose.
Well at least they got rid of Kerry Katona.
Heh heh heh.