Copying music

Traviers Herndon

The thousands of people being sued for file sharing are as the cliché is stated “stuck between a rock and a hard place”. It is unfortunate for these individuals that the Record Industry Association of America is cracking down on this issue because file sharing rather it is burned music CD’s or downloading free music seems to be done everywhere today. I was surprised to find that it is illegal to transfer music that is legally purchased on a CD to a computer. One Sony lawyer called the method stealing one copy of the CD. I don’t agree because you cannot steal a copy of something that has already been purchased. The only way I see this method as illegal is if the person is indeed using the files to share them on illegal free music download sites. The recording industry is using the courts as a primary source to protect a business model that is falling apart just as all other old media of the past. I don’t believe any of the file sharing will cease despite the thousands of dollar fines that the RIAA are dishing out. The RIAA’s primary targets are college students, whom I know do the most file sharing of any age group. I also know that college students will not stop sharing music but maybe some will stop after a huge fine. I don’t think the legal authorities can’t crack down on everyone. I have no solution proposal for either party but I do believe that now that file sharing is out there, is will be virtually impossible to stop it.

The Story of Stuff

Traviers Herndon
The Story of Stuff breaks down the process of production that we as consumers tend to not think about, not know or not care to know as long as the production of the latest goods are out on the market. The “Materials Economy” as the video called it consists of the process of extraction, production, distribution, consumption and disposal. The first three steps in the process are the most detrimental to our planet. It is not shown to consumers when natural resource exploitation occurs but this fact will by no means slow down capitalism. I think the only thing that really gets humans’ attention is disastrous reality that is in the immediate future. The video presented some really disturbing facts that would seem to take precedent over capital but the government would rather accommodate big business. Brominated flame retardants are used in production of computers, appliances, couches, mattresses and pillows. The retardants are harmful to the brain and I would think that the protection of the workers and the potential harm it has on consumers would concern the higher powers. The emitting of four billion toxic chemicals in the atmosphere is a big mess and to continue to burn trash and create Dioxin, the most toxic man-made toxin seems like it doesn’t really matter at this point. Nonetheless, I am unaware of any solutions to these issues but I think capitalism will live on as long as there are no immediate posed threats to the world as we see it today. Producers will produce overabundant products and consumers will continue to buy more than they really need.