Back to Black!

Ok, so I got some money to spend on myself for christmas... and it didn't even last me more than a DAY! I have been browsing on Newbury Comic's website and noted that they sell tens of thousands of new and older titles on vinyl.

Why would I want to buy music on LP (Long Play) records? Well for starters, the sound quality is outstanding, and I must have the best if I'm gonna bother listening to anything. Add to that, the fact that vinyl records can also be transferred to digital media such as CD, MP3, etc for portability. There is also something enjoyable and fulfilling about the physical act of playing a record as well. It is almost like a celebratory ritual. When you hear the pure sound of the needle slipping on pure black newly acquired vinyl, it is almost mindblowing. Of course, to get such a fulfilling experience, you should have an audiophile quality turntable, amp, and speakers (which I have), otherwise you will not get all the sonic subtleties and nuances in your music, and you'd not really get the full benefit other than the physical experience of playing the record. There is also the almost magical first crackle when you put the needle on the beginning of the record, which a CD just can't duplicate. Compared to CDs, MP3, and other digital forms, LPs have a much wider dynamic range and outstanding stereo separation that attempts to recreate the musical experience as close to a live performance as you can get without actually sitting in the recording studio. Did I mention the AWESOME artwork, liner notes, and lyrics that ALSO come with LPs? WOW! you get a WHOLE lot more out of the LP format than any CD or MP3 download could ever dream to provide. Photographs of the band/artist, and even some newer titles also ship with a CD for portable listening (Coldplay - La Vida Loca).

So I walked into a new Newbury Comics store location in Norwood, MA and low and behold there was a HUGE section of vinyl records! and there seemed to be a LOT of people buying them as well. Apparently, there is hope for the world and seeing people actually care about quality and the experience was a wonderful thing. I was very happy to be there shopping and looking at many titles with other fellow audiophiles.

I also noted that Best Buy has now seemingly responded to this upward trend in the audio market and now stocks over 8 thousand vinyl titles on their website and also now some Best Buy stores now are stocking vinyl releases, though nowhere near as many as Newbury Comics.

Needless to say, I blew all my Christmas money on records! When i got home, I blissfully played and listened to each and every one. (see my Mobile Uploads photos for a picture of the records I bought).

If you or someone you know is seeking the utmost in audio listening experience, I suggest you check out Best Buy's or Newbury Comics' websites and buy your music on LPs. From an LP you can make a CD or MP3 as well so you have the best of all worlds here.

I shall vote with my wallet and purchase a vinyl record whenever I buy music, it would be good to see records come back as a standard audio offering in stores everywhere.

Free Radio Movement gets VICTORY against FCC!

With great pleasure I am proud to say that I am one of many RADIO PATRIOTS! Today, I read that Free Radio Berkely has made an historic victory against the FCC attempting to silence community free radio. For years, I have been operating a small unlicensed radio station at a public event for the purpose of trying to change the popular mindset that free radio is illegal. When our country was in it's early days, did they require licenses for newspapers to "broadcast" in their communities? Why should community radio be any different? I do not buy the FCC's "planes will fall from the sky" argument... everyone with a dose of knowledge on the subject, KNOWS that's a load of bullshit.

I call upon everyone to take a moment and consider supporting free access to the airwaves by INDIVIDUALS who wish to service the communities in which they live. Today, with ever-increasing government corruption and distrust, free access to common media is ever more crucial to shine a spotlight on this increasing threat to our democracy. If the founding fathers were familiar with radio, just like they were with newspapers, it's very likely they would have protected the right to this common media. Free Radio Berkely also publishes this legal guide to help best protect your rights and keep your legal risk to a minimum. It also arms you with VERY useful knowledge should you ever gaid paid a visit which is usually unlikely. If anyone is interested in becoming active and defending this right that should be protected, I invite you to read this informative document from Free Radio Berkely. It outlines the basic concepts of HOWTO and reasons for joining the movement. If you believe in preserving the democracy this country was intended to maintain, I call upon everyone to do their civic duty and join in this VERY important movement with us. It doesn't take much, but it is direly necessary! Please consider doing your part. Let's have a RADIO TEA PARTY!

USA: a country of herded sheep!

This article is not really technology related, but I considered the topic important enough to write about. We've all heard about the $700 Billion Bailout plan that has been passed by the Senate twice, and blocked by the House already... Now it seems the plan has been passed by the house the 2nd time around, and ultimately signed by President Bush! I'll let you know that I did my part by phoning AND writing my representative Barney Frank (D, MA), to express my disapproval of such a plan. My reasoning for not agreeing with the bill was simple: WHY SHOULD MY TAX DOLLARS BE USED TO BAIL OUT CROOKED BANKS who obviously were engaged in executing irresponsible decisions? It is interesting to note that much public opinion seemed to be against it (opinions expressed online versus what the mainstream media reports), while the mainstream media seemed to issue a totally different spin on the matter!

It is clear that we need another Tea Party! Congress does not seem to decide matters on behalf of the people, but lately seems to act like a WHORE to the Wall Street Fat Cats. Sorry if I offend anyone by saying this, but fuckit: How I now WISHED they flew those planes right into the heart of Wall Street! Wall Street needs to be totally leveled! I think the country would be far better off without these clowns!

So now, you, me, and everyone's child has far more personal tax debt hung around their necks. It's time to start asking WHY congress does not seem to act on behalf of it's "Main Street" constituents anymore. All I can say is that come this November, I'll know which clowns NOT to vote for!

This all boils down to nothing more than a money grab for the elite. Do you REALLY think they are going to put that $700 Billion into the credit market to help small businesses and homeowners? Let's not kid ourselves, I suspect they will sit on much of it, and suck juice off any interest generated - I'm not a financial expert by any means, but who are we kidding here - this STINKS.

Obama mentions those who started this "fire" will eventually be punished... wait! how about punishing them NOW!!! Let's start with Bush: he was so quick to jump on this bill before it was even finalized in the senate, how about launching an investigation starting with him?

What I don't understand: if Bill Clinton can get impeached for a simple blow job, why the hell aren't we calling for an investigation into the Bush Administration, and a possible move to impeachment? Why are we not making sure these banks aren't operating in ways that set us up for a financial meltdown? simple: because with each passing day, this country becomes more and more a country of herded sheep!

It's time for this to stop!

This is why Microsoft is so big...

Recently I purchased a Dell laptop at my local Mansfield, MA Best Buy. Of course, like all new computers, it came with Windows Vista Home Premium pre-installed. Simply, one cannot buy an off-the-shelf computer without paying a "required" tax to Microsoft Corporation. When I purchased this machine, the moment I turned it on, I was greeted with the Windows EULA (End User License Agreement). The first page of the EULA states that if one does not agree with the terms and conditions stated in the EULA, that one should return the product (this case the Windows Software, not the laptop) to the store for a refund, else if the store would not grant such a refund, that one should seek the refund and arrange for return of the windows product to Microsoft.
I had intentions of immediately clearing the hard drive of the worthless Microsoft OS and installing my favorite flavor of Linux OS: Ubuntu Which is ready for desktop prime time. Once I had a nice Ubuntu Desktop installed, thereby removing Windows Vista completely, I walked into Best Buy with a printed copy of the EULA, the unopened Windows OS Restore DVD, receipt, and laptop. I immediately asked for the store manager, who was kind enough to listen to what I had to say and allowed me to present my case and discuss the reason why I was seeking to return and refund the Windows OS. I also booted the laptop up to demonstrate that windows had been completely removed and offered to allow her senior tech to inspect the unit and also remove the windows product key which was also affixed to the bottom of my laptop. The manager was impressed that there was a viable alternative to windows, and had told me that she had never heard of it, and even that she welcomed the idea of an alternative to the overly common Microsoft OS.
She then went on to explain how she could not authorize a return for me because the corporate office would not allow her to do so because the Windows product came preinstalled on the laptop, even though she agreed with my point about the 1st page in the EULA stating that I should seek a refund because it's terms were not agreeable by me. I explained to her how unfair this was and that Best Buy (and any other retailer) should be aware of all covenants that accompany or are embedded within their products (in this case Windows on a Dell laptop). She gave me 3 possible alternatives; call Microsoft and hash it out with them, call Dell to do the same, or return the entire laptop to the store. I re-iterated to her that I was quite happy with the laptop hardware and that is what I desired to purchase, but that I did not approve of purchasing the force-fed Microsoft product. I told her how upset I was and that this essentially boils down to Microsoft being given the power to dictate who gets to purchase, and own a personal computer, and how I viewed that as a gross violation of consumer rights and free choice. Retailers/merchants should be REQUIRED to offer computers without windows for a reduced price (basically less the cost of the OS), so buyers have the freedom to pick and choose their own OS software. We're buying the HARDWARE and the key word here is HARDWARE!!! Why should Microsoft get a cut of this sale if I want nothing to do with their SOFTWARE??????!!!!!!

FUCK YOU Best Buy, Dell, and Microsoft! You've pissed off the wrong guy! I intend to do my best to put this concept out there and to promote the fact that people HAVE choices... they HAVE the ability to CHOOSE a competing software OS product and YOU are unfairly interfering with that competition! WHY!!?!?!

After I walked out of the store, I contacted Best Buy corporate offices and spoke with the supervisor of customer relations, she was good about taking my call and she also was unaware that Linux was a viable desktop alternative and mentioned that this was the first time she ever heard of someone calling them for a refund (as permitted by the EULA), but she did make an effort to find out what was possible. She opened a conference call with reps from Microsoft and Dell, both whom also refused to process the Windows OS refund for me because it was an "OEM preinstall" and not a retail version. Furthermore, Dell declined to assist at all because I was "not their customer" because I had purchased the notebook from Best Buy and not direct through Dell, yet Dell is the OEM that PREINSTALLED the Windows product and should therefore be bound by the EULA right? NO! according to them! So here's the situation, I was now stuck with this copy of Windows which I would never use, and I am unable to get proper restitution per the terms and rights granted on the 1st page of the EULA. In order to protect my rights as a consumer (at least my right to not give Microsoft $240.00 of my hard earned money) I had NO CHOICE but to return the notebook to Best Buy and now I'm without a laptop computer. How is this fair? This is NOT ethical, and should NOT be legal. I was happy with my Ubuntu Desktop which installed beautifully on the Inspiron Notebook and recognized ALL the hardware including the wireless card! Ubuntu also does not come with the nasty restrictive 14 page EULA that Microsoft FORCES you to accept the moment you hit the POWER switch on your NEW HARDWARE!

I call on everybody who reads this article to fight with me and make some noise; contact your state representatives and the Federal Trade Commission to get this practice STOPPED and FORCE Microsoft to compete fairly in the market like everybody else, based on the MERITS of the products they develop, not because system integrators and OEMs get kickbacks to forcefeed their software on the market by bundling it with every computer purchase. I know I'm not the only one who wouldn't mind paying less for a machine and interested in using a more open and competitive product: LINUX!

New England Amateur Radio Festival

Coming this October, on Friday the 10th and Saturday the 11th, we'll be attending Near-Fest in Deerfield, NH. If you're going, tune in your radio to 95.1FM to take part in our unique flavor of programming and live information.

I am pleased to announce that our Classic Vinyl show in the Spring was such a smashing success, that we will bring it back in October! Yes! you read right: there WILL be actual HUMAN BEINGS spinning vinyl records on TURNTABLES instead of pushing buttons and clicking a mouse!

So get ready to tune in the warm sound of some classic rock, album cuts, and some good ol' 80s as we drop the needle in the cut once again.

Also, the NF Jam Session in the spring was such a huge success and we were able to bring it to the FM dial via our "WokFi" linkup to the entertainment building. You can view pictures from our Spring setup including the Jam/WokFi that was in use to air the event live on 95.1FM.

We even have old time radio commercials from back in the golden days of radio on vinyl. Our Classic Vinyl Cuts show couldn't be better this time around!

Like in the spring, we'll signal the opening of the gates at 9AM sharp with the Song: Radio Waves, by Roger Waters off the Radio K.A.O.S. vinyl album! Of course, we'll also air important announcements, information, memorials, and entertainment while you wait at the gates, so be sure to lock your dial on 95.1FM. Be sure to download and print our radio program at: http://www.pirateshipradio.com/program.htm that way, if you're camping or staying overnight with us at NearFest IV, you'll know what to expect and won't miss some of our special program features this fall!

Yes, REAL HUMAN BEINGS spinning records on a radio near you!