Normal people v. RIAA

I love it when rich groups decide that they need just a little more money. They get those dollar signs in their eyes, and you know what they're after. Greenbacks, baby!

It seems to me that the RIAA has gone completely crazy with their lawsuits. Charging people $750 per illegal downloaded. Wow. I thought I should just pay for my download not 749 other people's downloads as well (based on iTunes being $0.99 per song).

I intend to document interesting (or even ridiculous) cases brought against downloaders.

Answer Filed in Arista v. Greubel in Texas. Defendant argues that since Kazaa coughed up $115 million to the RIAA his downloads are already covered.

Judge Grants Marie Lindor's Motion... Judge is allowing the defendant in this case to argue that $750 per song is too high.

We need more taser

Is it just me, or have law enforcement officers gone mad with taser guns lately? In a town near where I live, a man was disturbing the peace. (He'd been drinking.) The neighbors phoned the police department. A deputy sheriff showed up at his house minutes later and taser gunned him to death. What actually happened is that the deputy stunned him near a hot-water heater. The man fell backwards onto the hot water heater and it snapped his back.

It seems that every time I'm reading the news online, I run across an article about some cops or security officers going crazy with the taser guns (see: UCLA cops taser ID-less student).

My take on the situation: Just because taser guns are "non-lethal" doesn't mean that they should be the first line of defense. Maybe verbal communication should be tried first. Heck, maybe even mace 'em before breaking out the taser.