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| Op-Ed |
It's a discussion site, so tell us what *you* think.
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The Consolidation of Radio in America (Op-Ed)
By The Baptist Death Ray
Thu May 29th, 2003 at 07:38:14 PM EST
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On his (relatively) new website, Travis Morrison argues that radio has had quality problems long before the recent trend of a few mega-corporations owning the majority of radio stations out there. His article is a mild critique of the commonly-held belief that if we could break up these companies, we would hear more diverse music being played on the radio. His critique, as far as I'm concerned, is spot on... but it's a critique of an irrelevant position. The consolidation of radio stations is a serious problem, but not for the reasons most people who oppose it claim.
Full Story (160 comments, 2591 words in story)
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Frankenfood: Burn the Monster? (Op-Ed)
By circletimessquare
Thu May 22nd, 2003 at 11:07:37 AM EST
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Europeans and Americans are at loggerheads over a very contentious issue. There are street protests. Diplomatic squabbles play out. Emotions run deep.
No, it's not some recent war that will go unnamed. The issue is Frankenfood. So what gives with the Transatlantic contrast?
Like the mob hysteria of the peasants who wanted to burn the monster in Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, there is much simple fear of the unknown at work here. But caution is still warranted. I say that the proper approach on GM crops is that where there are errors and arrogance, chastise the corporations, and not the tech.
Full Story (439 comments, 1644 words in story)
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Could Australia be a nuclear power? (Op-Ed)
By martman
Sun May 18th, 2003 at 02:27:51 PM EST
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Australia is sometimes called 'the lucky country'. "Our land abounds in nature's gifts," as the national anthem goes. Our national anthem, when compared to that of America or France, is decidedly tame. It's not about wars or honour. It's basically about how we're pretty lucky to live in a nice country. Our nationhood was gained by a vote, rather than a gun.
As a nation, we've occasionally made bad choices and picked up a few friends and enemies along the way. But on the whole we feel that noone's really out to get us. We're generally a peripheral player on the world stage, not a great political or military power.
So why has an Australian pledge never to acquire nuclear weapons come under recent debate?
Full Story (177 comments, 714 words in story)
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US Soldier Defies Order, Upholds Principle of Free Speech in Iraq (Op-Ed)
By greenrd
Fri May 16th, 2003 at 12:38:36 AM EST
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According to the Wall Street Journal, in Iraq last week, "The U.S. Army issued orders for troops to seize Mosul's only television station", after the station began rebroadcasting al-Jazeera for short periods.
I'm pleased to report that an officer charged with implementing this order, one Major Charmaine Means, refused to follow orders, arguing that it would be intimidating to the station and would therefore undermine free speech. Good for her.
Unfortunately, as might be expected, the Major was relieved of her command, and therefore it seems the order was carried out anyway.
Full Story (615 comments, 614 words in story)
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Bars: A patron's guide. (Op-Ed)
By sophacles
Tue May 6th, 2003 at 12:06:59 AM EST
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As a bartender, I have experienced all sorts of customers. The good ones and the terrible ones, usually in the same shift. The terrible customers are uncommon, and the good ones are even less common. The normal customers unfortunately tend to be closer to bad customers than good customers. I present to you a guide for making your experience at a bar more pleasant.
Full Story (525 comments, 1609 words in story)
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RIAA vs. Chicken Little (Op-Ed)
By RobotSlave
Sat May 3rd, 2003 at 09:16:28 PM EST
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Last month, a minor uproar was raised in response to the news that four college students had been sued by RIAA for various copyright infringement activities.
Those cases have now been settled out of court for sums regarded by almost all observers as a pittance.
In any other case involving potential damages in the millions or even billions of dollars, a wrist-slap of $12k-$18k would be regarded as a major victory for the defendants. This settlement, however, is being viewed by most as a victory for RIAA.
What happened?
Full Story (116 comments, 607 words in story)
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Judge demonstrates Sanity, Respect for Law (Op-Ed)
By Wah
Sat Apr 26th, 2003 at 08:25:11 PM EST
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Outstanding news coming down about a court case involving Grokster and Morpheus. We'll cut to the chase and quote for the judge.The judge wrote: "Grokster and Streamcast are not significantly different from companies that sell home video recorders or copy machines, both of which can be and are used to infringe copyrights". And it gets better from there.
Full Story (108 comments, 734 words in story)
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The Paradox of Fetal Homicide Laws (Op-Ed)
By catseye
Sat Apr 26th, 2003 at 02:47:52 AM EST
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Fetal homicide has been brought back into the spotlight, now that the bodies
of Laci Peterson and her unborn
child have been found. How can one reconcile the paradox of fetal rights with
the right to have an elective abortion? How can a fetus be both a person and a
non-person?
Full Story (386 comments, 928 words in story)
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