When Did Arizona Become Ground Zero for the Nation's Crazies?

Family Pictures Taken With Santa, Machine Guns: MyFoxPHOENIX.com

Is this the Largest Wave ever Ridden?

Garrett McNamara rides a wave measured at 90 feet high in Portugal earlier this week.

BMI Screws the Artists it's Supposed to be Helping

BMI stands for Broadcast Music Incorporated, which along with ASCAP and SoundScan are responsible for collecting and distributing royalty payments primarily to musicians, with other artists such as actors and voiceover folks too. These agencies are among the worst dinosaurs in terms of failing to adapt their business models to the reality of modern wired civilization.  Add to that outright accusations of corruption, highly overcompensated employees at most levels, and collection/shakedown tactics designed to buffalo small businesspeople into vastly overpaying for such innocuous acts as having a radio playing in the background in their store, and you have a slow motion train wreck, or an idea of what it was like to be a dinosaur stuck in the La Brea Tar Pits.
Here's a post from our friends at www.techdirt.com


For many years, we've written about how, for all their talk of "helping" artists, ASCAP and BMI are often harming up-and-coming musicians. That's because many musicians get their start playing local gigs at coffee shops and restaurants and the like, who often don't pay ASCAP or BMI. That should be fine, so long as the artists play only original songs, but ASCAP and BMI usually tell venues that they need to pay anyway, just in case someone plays a single covered riff. TorrentFreak has yet another such story, of a restaurant that stopped having a local band perform every Friday night after BMI demanded $3,000:

"I said the hell with it! We only have music on Friday nights. It’s not worth $3000. How is a neighborhood restaurant running on a razor-thin margin in this economy supposed to afford an extra $3000? So I cancelled the band. Net result? Our customers suffered, local music suffered. A complete lose-lose situation."

The bottom line to BMI and other collective rights organizations? Your customers are not your enemies. Promoting live music is good for BMI and the artists they collect royalties for. Working together with local businesses rather than trying to bully and intimidate them will leave all parties better off.

Of course, BMI and ASCAP don't really care. In the end, they're not there to protect the up-and-coming guys, but the huge acts who get the large checks.

Okay-that part's done...

I've migrated everything I wanted/could keep from my MySpace blog over to here...from now on, I'll try to post odd things I find on the web, articles about freedom, discussions of how the dinosaur gatekeeper industries (recording, movie, and publishing especially) keep thrashing in the tar pits, and the occasional music video.  You can also see my Youtube channel by searching for djnightowlx, my photobucket pictures by searching for djniteowlx, and my I Can Haz Cheezeburger/Very Demotivational account at mr bad example.

Thanks for visiting!

From January 19, 2011

Why Facebook Took Down MySpace

Adam Hartung recently wrote an extensive article for Forbes magazine about why Facebook supplanted MySpace as the most-used social networking service.  as you read this outtake, you might want to keep in mind that the folks at FB have already started to exhibit some of the same behaviors that soured users on MySpace...

Adam Hartung recently wrote a long story for Forbes magazine about “How Facebook Destroyed MySpace”.  Here’s a very interesting outtake.......

What went wrong? A lot of folks will be relaying the tactics of things done and not done at MySpace. As well as tactics done and not done at Facebook. But underlying all those tactics was a very simple management mistake News Corp. made. News Corp tried to guide MySpace, to add planning, and to use “professional management” to determine the business’s future. That was fatally flawed when competing with Facebook which was managed in White Space, letting the marketplace decide where the business should go.....

"White Space" is a relatively new management term that Hartung advocates in his book, Seizing the White Space. Wikipedia describes White Space as the area in a business' hierarchy that exists between functions within the hierarchy, much like the unused space in your kitchen cupboard. White Space is the "handoff between functions where misunderstandings and delays occur", where "things often fall between the cracks or disappear into black holes". Hartung also calls White Space "a location for new thinking, testing and learning" in order to "evolve new formulae for business success free from the existing Defend and Extend culture." ....

.. ..

Hartung then offers up the meat of his argument -- that Facebook conquered Myspace not because Facebook offered better features, but because it looked to its users for ideas and then created those features:....

...the brilliance of Mark Zuckerberg was his willingness to allow Facebook to go wherever the market wanted it. Farmville and other social games -- why not? Different ways to find potential friends -- go for it. The founders kept pushing the technology to do anything users wanted. If you have an idea for networking on something, Facebook pushed its tech folks to make it happen. And they kept listening. And looking within the comments for what would be the next application -- the next promotion -- the next revision that would lead to more uses, more users and more growth. ....

.. ..

And that's the nature of White Space management. No rules. Not really any plans. No forecasting markets. Or foretelling uses. No trying to be smarter than the users to determine what they shouldn't do. Not prejudging ideas so as to limit capability and focus the business toward a projected conclusion. To the contrary, it was about adding, adding, adding and doing whatever would allow the marketplace to flourish. Permission to do whatever it takes to keep growing. And resource it as best you can -- without prejudice as to what might work well, or even best. Keep after all of it. What doesn't work stop resourcing, what does work do more. ....

.. ..

Contrarily, at NewsCorp the leaders of MySpace had a plan. NewsCorp isn't run by college kids lacking business sense. Leaders create Powerpoint decks describing where the business will head, where they will invest, how they will earn a positive ROI with projections of what will work -- and why -- and then plans to make it happen. They developed the plan, and then worked the plan. Plan and execute. The professional managers at News Corp looked into the future, decided what to do, and did it. They didn't leave direction up to market feedback and crafty techies -- they ran MySpace like a professional business. ....

.. ..

And how'd that work out for them?....

From Dec. 19, 2010

So You Think You Know Geography?

The 2010 San Francisco Chronicle Geography Quiz, from www.sfgate.com
The answers are in the comments section below.

If they awarded the Medal of Honor for maintaining a straight face despite almost unbearable provocation, Navy Adm. Robert Willard, head of the Pacific Command, would be a lock.

Earlier this year, during a congressional hearing about a planned military buildup on Guam, Willard managed to maintain his composure as Rep. Hank Johnson, D-Ga., brought up an unusual concern.

"My fear," said Johnson, "is that the whole island will become so overly populated that it will tip over and capsize."

"Uh," replied the admiral in a heroically even tone, "we don't anticipate that."

Johnson later claimed he was joking.(Right-sounds like your standard know-nothing Southern Republican.-Jon)

 The exchange is on YouTube. Judge for yourself. (Georgia voters apparently don't mind the occasional geographic blunder: In the recent midterm elections, Johnson won easily.)

Still, we're glad to report that there is nothing about capsizing islands on this year's Geography Quiz, merely 50 questions we hope will illuminate some fun facts about the crazy, mixed-up planet we call home.

It's less a serious test of knowledge than a way to convince you that our world is a captivating and wonderfully eccentric place, and well worth getting to know better.

There are no prizes for getting all, or most, of these questions right, merely the quiet satisfaction that you're less of a geographic dunce than at least one member of Congress.

Tune in next week for the inevitable clarifications and corrections. There's nothing like having an army of a million fact-checkers on Sunday morning.

THE QUESTIONS

1. Approximately how many countries are there in the world? Count yourself correct if you guess within 20.

2. True or false: Two countries with at least one McDonald's franchise apiece have never gone to war with each other.

3. If you felt like having your toe bitten off by a Komodo dragon on its home turf, to which country would you book your flight?

4. Which western European nation's name originally meant "land of the rabbits"?

5. Where would you find the Spanish Steps? Hint: It's not Spain.

6. Where would you find the Swiss Guard? Hint: It's not Switzerland.

7. What animal are the Canary Islands named for? Hint: It's not a bird.

8. Where would you find the Luxembourg Gardens? Hint: It's not Luxembourg.

9. Where is Tabasco Sauce made? Hint: It's not Tabasco, Mexico.

10. Where would you find Harry's New York Bar? Hint: It's not New York.

11. Where would you find Waterloo Station? Hint: It's not in Waterloo, Belgium.

12. If you were being pompous in the pampas, where would you be?

13. Lake Tahoe is considered to be the second-largest alpine lake in the world. What's the largest?

14. It's the home of Queen Maud Land and Vinson Massif, and the entire continent is covered by a single international dialing code: 672. What continent are we talking about?

15. This Ecuadoran island chain's official name is the Archipiélago de Colón, but nobody calls it that. What do we know it as?

16. The family of Henry Haversham Godwin-Austen must have been proud as punch when one of the world's largest objects was named for the British explorer. But, pretty much from the start, the public has refused to call it that, preferring a surveyor's original alpha-numeric designation. What is it?

17. "Providence Plantations" is part of the official name of one U.S. state, although virtually no one calls it that. Which one?

18. Nobody seems to agree on the name for this large body of water, although of its three most common names, the Vermilion Sea is the, well, least common. What are the other two?

19. What independent nation's name derives from "White Russia?"

20. Where do Panama hats come from? Hint: It's not Panama.

21. Mexico's capital is Mexico City. Three other world capitals are similarly named (the name of the country plus "city"), and a fourth sort of qualifies. How many can you name?

22. What name did Europeans give to the smallish oranges shipped from the Moroccan port of Tangiers?

23. What state celebrates the California gull as its official state bird? Hint: It's not California.

24. Rank these three places in size, from smallest to largest: the island of Manhattan, Orlando's Disney World, and the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport.

25. What is the only continent without an active volcano?

26. If a Parisian described you as gauche, on which side of the River Seine would you presumably be?

27. In the names of the 50 states you can find every letter in the alphabet - except one. Which one?

28. Bernardo O'Higgins was one of the founding fathers of what nation? Hint: It's nowhere near Ireland.

29. What's further north? Venice or Vladivostok, Siberia?

30. Every planet in out solar system is named for a figure from Roman or Greek mythology - except one. Which?

31. In Venice, all gondolas - except those belonging to high-ranking officials - are legally required to be painted a certain color. Which one?

32. If you wanted to travel between the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul by river boat, what river would you use?

33. In what city would you find the neighborhood known as Elephant and Castle?

34. In what national park would you find Fairy Falls, Hellroaring Creek and the Firehole River?

35. If you desired to donate blood in Transylvania, to what country would you travel?

36. Place these capitals in order of altitude, from lowest to highest: Guatemala City, Nairobi, Kathmandu.

37. Which part of New York City was originally given a name by the Dutch that means broken land?

38. The nations of East Timor, El Salvador and Ecuador all use the same currency. Which one?

39. One country occupies almost half of South America. Which one?

40. What, exactly, is a Hoosier?

41. Into which sea does the Crimean Peninsula jut?

42. One end of the Hoover Dam is in Nevada. In which state is the other end?

43. At Khartoum, in Sudan, the white and blue versions of this geographic feature meet. What are we talking about?

44. If you wanted to mellow out in the Most Serene Republic of San Marino, where would you find it?

45. Nigeria, Niger: Which one is landlocked?

46. The Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe, a Portuguese-speaking island nation, is just off the coast of what continent?

47. What mountain range separates China from Pakistan?

48. North Korea shares borders with South Korea, China - and one other country. Which one?

49. Is New Zealand's capital, Wellington, at the north end of the South Island or the south end of the North Island?

50. The Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador didn't join Canada until 1949; previously it belonged to Great Britain. Which part is an island, and which part is on the mainland?

From Dec. 16, 2010

How Spam and Malware Work-a Flowchart

From December 10, 2010

Feliz Navidad, y'all!

From November 18, 2010

News Fail from Youtube!

From September 10, 2010

TSA Security Theater

Taken verbatim from a blog by the author,  J. Paul Lukacs, at www.blogspot.com

Mr. Lukacs is a native-born citizen of the United States and California, and the following post details what happened on his return from a business trip to China.

SATURDAY, APRIL 24, 2010

I Am Detained By The Feds For Not Answering Questions

Sherman Oaks, California

I was detained last night by federal authorities at San Francisco International Airport for refusing to answer questions about why I had travelled outside the United States.

The end result is that, after waiting for about half an hour and refusing to answer further questions, I was released – because U.S. citizens who have produced proof of citizenship and a written customs declaration are not obligated to answer questions.

* * *

“Why were you in China?” asked the passport control officer, a woman with the appearance and disposition of a prison matron.

“None of your business,” I said.

Her eyes widened in disbelief.

“Excuse me?” she asked.

“I’m not going to be interrogated as a pre-condition of re-entering my own country,” I said.

This did not go over well. She asked a series of questions, such as how long I had been in China, whether I was there on personal business or commercial business, etc. I stood silently. She said that her questions were mandated by Congress and that I should complain to Congress instead of refusing to cooperate with her.

She asked me to take one of my small bags off her counter. I complied.

She picked up the phone and told someone I “was refusing to cooperate at all.” This was incorrect. I had presented her with proof of citizenship (a U.S. passport) and had moved the bag when she asked. What I was refusing to do was answer her questions.

A male Customs and Border Protection officer appeared to escort me to “Secondary.” He tried the good cop routine, cajoling me to just answer a few questions so that I could be on my way. I repeated that I refused to be interrogated as a pre-condition of re-entering my own country.

“Am I free to go?” I asked.

“No,” he said.

The officer asked for state-issued ID. I gave him my California Identification Card. I probably didn’t have to, but giving him the ID was in line with my principle that I will comply with an officer’s reasonable physical requests (stand here, go there, hand over this) but I will not answer questions about my business abroad.

The officer led me into a waiting room with about thirty chairs. Six other people were waiting.

The officer changed tack to bad cop. “Let this guy sit until he cools down,” the officer loudly said to a colleague. “It could be two, three, four hours. He’s gonna sit there until he cools down.”

I asked to speak to his superior and was told to wait.

I read a book about Chinese celebrities for about 15 minutes.

An older, rougher officer came out and called my name. “We’ve had problems with you refusing to answer questions before,” he said. “You think there’s some law that says you don’t have to answer our questions.”

“Are you denying me re-entrance to my own country?” I asked.

“Yes,” he said, and walked away.

I read for about five more minutes.

An officer walked out with my passport and ID and handed them to me.

“Am I free to go?” I asked.

“Yes,” he said.

But we weren’t done.

I picked up my checked bag and was told to speak to a customs officer. My written declaration form had been marked with a large, cross-hatched symbol that probably meant “secondary inspection of bags.”

The officer asked if the bags were mine; I handed him my baggage receipt.

He asked if I had packed the bags myself. I said I declined to answer the question.

He asked again, and I made the same reply. Same question; same response. Again; again.

“I need you to give me an oral customs declaration,” he said.

“I gave you a written declaration,” I said.

“I need to know if you want to amend that written declaration,” he said. “I need to know if there’s anything undeclared in these bags.”

I stood silently.

Visibly frustrated, he turned to a superior, who had been watching, and said that I refused to answer his questions.

“Just inspect his bags,” the senior officer said. “He has a right to remain silent.”

Finally! It took half an hour and five federal officers before one of them acknowledged that I had a right not to answer their questions.

The junior officer inspected my bags in some detail, found nothing of interest, and told me I could leave.

* * *
Principal Take-Aways
1. Cops Really Don’t Like It When You Refuse To Answer Their Questions. The passport control officer was aghast when I told her that my visit to China was none of her business. This must not happen often, because several of the officers involved seemed thrown by my refusal to meekly bend to their whim.
2. They’re Keeping Records. A federal, computer-searchable file exists on my refusal to answer questions.
3. This Is About Power, Not Security. The CBP goons want U.S. citizens to answer their questions as a ritualistic bow to their power. Well, CBP has no power over me. I am a law-abiding citizen, and, as such, I am the master, and the federal cops are my servants. They would do well to remember that.
4. U.S. Citizens Have No Obligation To Answer Questions.Ultimately, the cops let me go, because there was nothing they could do. A returning U.S. citizen has an obligation to provide proof of citizenship, and the officer has legitimate reasons to investigate if she suspects the veracity of the citizenship claim. A U.S. citizen returning with goods also has an obligation to complete a written customs declaration. But that’s it. You don’t have to answer questions about where you went, why you went, who you saw, etc.

Of course, if you don’t, you get hassled.

But that’s a small price to pay to remind these thugs that their powers are limited and restricted.