Letters to the Editor
speeder
Published Letters: 130 Editor's Choice: 12
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response
[Read the article: Apple's iTunes beats Wal-Mart to become top U.S. music store]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]First to Obi. I actually agree, it's not a "problem" with downloads. But, it is the end result of offering single downloads. And as I said, I think it is great from a consumer standpoint. I'm simply saying when given the choice between buying a CD and buying only the songs they want, many people will choose to simply buy the songs they want, resulting in lost revenue. Now, I probably should make clear when I say "lost revenue" that I don't mean that the company has lost out on revenue that it somehow "deserves," I simply mean that there will be less revenue under the new model than under the old model. Additionally I think there is at least potential for more revenue based on this model long term, but it will necessitate a real hit on revenue short term, and the problem is that these are publicly traded companies, and the market isn't particularly interested in long term benefits that come at the expense of short term losses.
Second, to the above, you are right, most CD's don't sell, but even at their lower runs, they still come in under a dollar as the major labels get such good rates. My point was that as a complete indy, I could walk in and get an under a buck rate, and I was estimating high because I do not have any replication catalogues handy. The major labels can get a hell of a lot better, even with their limited runs.
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shining a light
[Read the article: Don't blame YouTube, MySpace for teen beating video]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I'm more likely than most to want to hold myspace youtube etc. responsible for certain things, but this isn't of them. This has been going on for years and years and no one has really ever paid attention because there was no evidence. I think psychologically a large number of adults feel a need to blame the internet, because they can not deal with the reality that this has been going on for a long time and they have done nothing about it.
Youtube is, in essence shining a light on their failures, and many simply just get angry at the light.
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Double Jeopardy?
[Read the article: "Deferred prosecutions" clear way for corporate crimes]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Since they are using the word deferred, does this mean future Justice Departments could turn around and prosecute them (assuming there are no statute of limitations issues), or would this fall under Double Jeopardy? Or is this more a case where no one really knows and should a future Justice Department attempt to take it up it will be a battle of Lawyers and a judge will have to decide?
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Missed communication is always possible
[Read the article: Who put this feminism in my porno?]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]even the most sensitive and thoughtful pornography, created by feminists with the best of intentions, can be consumed by misogynists in a way that ultimately undercuts feminist goals.
This is putting way too much responsibility on the part of the filmmaker/pornographer etc. No person can ever create something that might not be misinterpreted or even used in exact opposite of how it was intended. I am sure there are scenes in Schindler's List that neo-nazi's watch for exactly the wrong reason. I am sure that their are some people who get aroused by the rape scene in The Accused. But if every time an artist or filmmaker or even a pornographer simply interested in making fun and sexy stuff had to question whether or not certain images viewed by a minority might be taken in a very different way, it would be almost impossible to ever do anything new or provocative, and anyone wishing to create any form of art or entertainment would find themselves in a spiral of self censorship.
Communication is a two way street and you can only be responsible for your 50 percent. While all creators have a certain level of responsibility, it can only go so far. An extreme case I think everyone can agree on is this; Paul McCartney is not responsible for Charles Manson's crimes. But even on a less extreme note, I do not think any real feminist pornography should be held responsible for the misogynistic thoughts that some viewers may have while viewing it.
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Criminal Conspiracy
[Read the article: Polygamists' progeny]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]The state had not only a right but a duty to remove the children form the compound, just as they would from any other group of people engaged in a criminal conspiracy. While it often makes sense to keep children with their parents even when abuse is possible, do not forget that this is a closed community where every adult is knowingly complicit in the actions of the group. If the compound was that of a mafia group, or other organized crime, no one would be having a problem with this. The FLDS engages in welfare fraud, child rape and abandonment of children under the age of 18. They do this as a group. removing children from the group is the only way to protect most of them.
These children are American Citizens, and they were having their rights trampled on by the adults in their community. The State must act to defend the civil rights of its citizens.
The local authorities did not rush in because of one random tip. They had been aware of, and keeping taps on the community for years, they had a general idea of what was going on there, but had no direct evidence to act on. Again, much as law enforcement will know about certain members of organized crimes, and what crimes they most likely have committed, they must wait until a witness makes a direct complaint or they have enough evidence to go before a judge and get a warrant.
Finally, the sad question is, we keep talking about the mothers, and we keep talking about the children as if they are completely separate. Given what we know about the FLDS, there are most likely many mothers who are also children.