Where Chester Lives

Before I begin, I need to wave to Anne. Hi Anne! *waves*

Okay, that's out of the way...

This article sparked a conversation this week with a close friend of mine. It is a conversation we have had before, but I might as well make it public. Well, sort of public anyway. In the faint, misty hopes that someone will actually have a COMMENT.

So, I sent him the above link (you really need to read the article first), and here is his response:

• I am honest so I buy my copyrighted material. Once I buy a song or movie, I want to be able to watch it on whatever device I want. The current “piracy prevention” practices prevent this (except if I buy a CD I can rip it to whatever form I want, which is why I still buy CD’s). In my case with movies “piracy prevention” hurts me (the honest guy).
• When I was younger I would borrow albums all the time. If I liked them, I would buy them and transfer them to tape because that is how I could get the best sound and make it portable. Plus there was some “cool” factor associated with owning the album (a
  real store bought item). Though there were some albums that I would copy and never buy. I suppose it is the same way today, the high quality rips are hard to find on torrent sites (I don’t know I have never really tried looking). So I might see myself using the torrent sites to download songs to see if I like them, but then purchase a higher quality copy if I want to keep it. I dunno though what if I wasn’t into the high quality music? I bet it is cool now for kids (especially ones with out strong ethics) to get as much music for free as you can. That can’t be a good thing for the industry. Bottom line is, I think there is a problem with free music and movies being available. However, the current tactics are not working.
• Another problem is that the content industry is not owning up to the fact that the delivery method is changed. They used to sell content AND media (album art, CD’s, Video Tapes). The media was (effective) in some ways to help to deter piracy. Who wanted the movie taped off of TV, if you liked the movie you bought the tape (better quality and packaging). However, media is gone. The content companies sell ONLY content
  now. Unfortunately that content is easily distributed, cheaply stored, and easy for everyone to get. A first in the history of the world. This problem has never been faced before. Think about a gallon bucket of wall board mud. It costs $8 or so at Home Depot. I’d bet that 70% or more of the cost of that mud is tied up in delivery and handling costs (since it is really heavy). You are paying for the gas and space on the truck it took to get it to you, not for the value of the mud.
• The solution? I dunno. Piracy is bad. It hurts the industry. However, the current prevention tactics are not working and are hurting the good guy. The question is: If the content industry opens the doors (removes all piracy prevention) would there be enough “honest” people still buying content to support the industry? People say the way to test this is to drop the prices and take off all piracy protection. I hope someone tries this. Another solution is to only release the content in controlled environments (only show movies on film at theaters). I doubt this would generate enough income.
• I also wish there was a way to “upgrade” my content to better quality without paying full price. I own movie “A” on VCR tape. I want DVD quality. So instead of buying a DVD, I buy an “upgrade” at a lower cost than a full DVD. Yea right on this ever happening, but if they could build that feature into their new distribution model, I think people would be much quicker to embrace a new format and would be much more willing to spend a bit more money. If you could do this digitally all the better, no waste of packaging (other than some old HDDs). Again, good luck on this ever happening.

It is a mess. However, for now, I will keep buying my CDs and waffling on when to start buying my next collection of movies on HD DVD or BLU RAY and in the mean time still buy DVDs. Sigh.

Wow. That was a wordy response. Here was my reply.

All very true…but there is one other point that, I believe, the author missed.

The weavers and button-makers were allowed to get away with this because of the system of government in which they existed. They were members of guilds that wielded a lot of political power and wealth, wealth that the monarchy required in order to fund its agendas/lifestyle. In short, an imperialistic monarchy that benefited the privileged few.

I think the RIAA and MPAA get away with this for the VERY SAME REASON. America is not a democracy…it is barely a republic. We have elected officials, sure, but those guys do the same things that the last guys did…everyone has their pet projects that they want funded, and their campaigns to think about, and they get there money from corporate conglomerates. our nation isn’t about individual freedoms anymore…it’s about the imposition of government will on ourselves and
others. and our government benefits the privileged few. those few being the corporations and the wealthy that pay to keep the status quo alive.

I’m not being anarchist, or socialist. I would like to see a return to the original American
dream…the dream that benefits the individual, and the innovator. And massive corporations are forced to produce a product that is in their customer’s best interest, or they die because someone else has invented a better mousetrap.

To sum up: Piracy is bad, regardless of who owns the content or how much the artist makes or doesn't make from the sell of that content. I do not agree with DRM or the current methods employed to control content, but that doesn't give me the right to steal it. I used to use that philosophical argument to justify downloading music on a pretty large scale. I don't do that anymore. For the price of a CD, you can download unlimited songs from napster.com, or rhapsody.com, or emusic.com...you get the picture. it isn't lossless audio, but it suits my purposes just fine...with the exception of allowing me the portability between devices that I require. There are also labels out there that don't buy into the RIAA mafia, like magnatune.com. You have to be willing to listen to something that isn't "popular," but I stopped caring about popularity a LONG TIME AGO.

I'm just waiting for someone to make a better button...A button that I can use in the way I deem fit for my expenditure.

That's a direct quote from Mom. You have to play it back with full Southern accent to really appreciate it.

Anyway, I am kind of proud of myself this week. I have been to the gym no less than 4 times, and will go again tomorrow to the morning spin class. I wish I could say that the pounds are melting off, but that isn't how it really works...

I had the opportunity to catch up with a good friend this week. Here is his blog. I'd like to spend a moment to discuss this entry. I agree with John, almost 100%. However, intimidation is very real in a gym environment, and a huge factor for those who are new to the whole thing, or aren't in shape, or both. John and I are blessed with being above-average-height guys. Granted, he is younger than me, and in better shape as well. However, beecause of our height (I'm 6-3, he's 6-5 or something freakish like that), it is more difficult to cow us. Not that it can't be done, it just isn't as easy. I cannot say the same thing for my wife. She is below average height and, obviously, female. I think, because of that, she has a much more difficult time going to the gym and working out, because it is much easier to discourage her. Gyms, by their very nature, are intimidating to the uninitated. They are filled with complex pieces of specialized machinery. There are always, ALWAYS, people behaving as if they own the place. There are people in there that are incredibly fit, and dress to enhance that fitness, to show it off. This is MUCH MORE the case with women than men in gyms (men in lycra, no matter the level of fitness, just look ridiculous unless they are on a bike). I agree with John that these shouldn't be factors in your own fitness goals, but that's easier said than done. I think gyms can do a better job of facilitating those that are intimidated, nervous, or both.

Here's a list of some of the things I would like to see at a gym.

• An enforced dress code. There is no reason that a guy must be shirtless to work out, or a women to be in lycra shorts and a sports bra. There is clothing out there that will not restrict movement and will wick sweat away from the body. This will go a long way towards helping those who are not as comfortable with their body image to continue their fitness training, and will probably garner more memberships.
• Every new member gets 4 free weeks with a TRAINED personal trainer. Too many gym personal trainers are just lunk-heads who are fit, and that's it. A real personal trainer would tailor your workout to you, taking into consideration any health risks you are assuming when you begin exercising. And 4 weeks is enough time to establish a routine as well as see results.
• An on-staff dietician. Your diet is a big part of how you establish fitness, and can help you reach goals that you felt were unattainable. Also, it provides a level of accountability that the weak-willed (read: me) might need.
• Real shower amenities. Luckily, my gym has a nice facility in this respect, but many don't. This includes working showers with privacy curtains and more than enough hot water, clean towels, soap, shampoo, and conditioner in every shower stall, a respectable state of cleanliness, cotton swabs, hair care products, etc. You get the idea.
• Facilites for kids of all ages, not just daycares. This would include a play room with video game systems, ping pong, etc.
• Disinfectant wipes available all around the facility for equipment wipe-down.

Many of the things on my list are being done in gyms across the country. Many are not. I have a good friend who is opening a gym soon near my place of residence. I will certainly move my membership to his gym...the only thing that is keeping Teresa from doing so is the lack of a pool (she likes to swim). I know that he's going to include most of the things on my list, especially the dress code. He's also going to have a rock climbing tower in his gym, which is VERY VERY COOL.

If you are not interested in any of this, I apologize. Methinks today is going to be a two-entry day anyway. Stay tuned!