2010 Music Downloading Survey Results
This survey was created for a class where I was debating the efficacy of copyright legislation; the survey allowed me to get a current and relevant data source. This is in no way a pier-reviewed journal study, but I think it’s a powerful tool for those who wish to further study the problem of music piracy, copyright infringement and social norms for both issues.
This survey was created through the freeware LimeSurvey and was installed on the domain ‘brandonplank.com/survey’; it ran from September 17 to November 19, 2010.
The survey consisted of threw question groups: DEMOGRAPHICS (3 questions), ATTITUDES (11 questions), DOWNLOADERS (6 questions) and CONCLUSION (1 question); questions for ‘DOWNLOADERS’ were conditional and only presented to survey takers that chose ‘Yes’ to the question “I DOWNLOAD MUSIC OFF THE INTERNET.”.
The survey recorded the taker’s IP address and blocked anyone that attempted to take the survey more than once from the same IP address; other than the IP address, the survey did not request or retain any distinguishing information that can be tracked back to the survey taker.
Invitations for the survey were distributed through posts on Facebook, MySpace, on several music-based message boards and through the Depth Recordings mailing list.
Flashback Review: Dieselboy – A Soldier’s Story
Dieselboy – A Soldier’s Story – A Drum And Bass DJ Mix
Label: Moonshine Music
Catalog#: MM 80109-2
Format: CD, Mixed, Compilation
Country: US
Released: 29 Jun 1999
Style: Drum n Bass
I remember when I first heard this CD, because I immediately thought: Damian is either a robot or from the future. I met him shortly after I heard this mix because he was in Denver all the time and his sets were as flawless as this CD, but I still wasn’t convinced he wasn’t a robot or a Terminator, sent back in time through some crazy time vortex. Sadly, it’s 10 years later and this isn’t what all Drum N Bass sounds like; we went hard as nails, to deep as the oceans blue, then for some reason we got fucking clown shoes for a year or two… but I digress.
The glory of this CD is not the tracks themselves, but the way in which they are melded together to form this rich, dark tapestry. The crazy thing about the tunes is that they harken to the mid-90s hard step, with the slightly distorted snares and while the songs themselves are dark, they’re not over powered by layers and elements. I’m a percussion whore, so the whole hardstep movement was right up my alley: hard and clear percussion with the occasional ‘amen’ break. The icing on the cake is that all the tracks are pitched up +8-+10, so if/when you ever find some of these tracks, you’ll find they were pressed A LOT slower. I’d have to say the key tunes to try to snag off this CD are: Konflict – The Beckoning, Jonny L – The Bellz and Technical Itch & Dieselboy – Atlantic State.
The mixing is razor-sharp, the tracks are mean as fuck and the speed is just fast enough to make you want to punch something, but not so fast that you get confused of the beat timing; remember kids, bob your head 1/2 time for optimal performance.
The CD is a classic still 10 years later and one of the best DnB CDs ever released, IMO.
10/10
Copyright protected by Digiprove © 2010 Brandon Plank
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Christmas on TV; You Happy O’Reilly?
It seems like only yesterday we were listening to the daily rantings from Bill O’Reilly about how ‘the liberals have a war on Christmas‘.
Well, it seems Bill’s dreams have come true; Walmart and the rest of the American retail market has decided that 2009 is the year that Christmas came back. On November 1, Walmart and many other retailers started to run holiday ads and shortly after, the Christmas ads came on TV and in print.
This week’s Walmart ad:
So it would seem that Bill and the Christians of America can rejoice; the evil Liberal media have relinquished their power and ‘allowed’ Christmas back on TV. Yet, I don’t recall seeing any specials from Bill rejoicing in the newly shifted focus of marketing. I wonder if it’s because Bill and his followers are gracious winners… or if it’s because people never really gave a shit to begin with?
This country is a melting pot and although we have Puritanical roots and a Christian majority, it is respectful for marketers and others to embrace all the holidays of the season. Regardless of the roots of the Liberal PC movement that makes people feel they need to recognize all faiths, all those faiths are an important part of our past and future; it’s only fair we show them all respect.
You know, Jon Stewart made this quote when Bill and others went on their rampage and I think it still rings true:
“Does anyone know…does the Christian persecution complex have an expiration date? Because…uh…you’ve all been in charge pretty much since…uh…what was that guys name…Constantine. He converted in, what was it, 312 A.D. I’m just saying, enjoy your success.”
We all know we live in a Christian majority… all I’m saying is that we don’t need Christmas shoved down our throats; we have enough of your Jesus fish and crosses to remind us.
Copyright protected by Digiprove © 2010 Brandon Plank
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Recycling In San Antonio- A ‘How To’
If you’re a San Antonio transplant from the West Coast, like I am, you probably noticed the lackadaisical approach to recycling this city has. You’ve also, no doubt, noticed how difficult it is to find solid, accurate information on the internet to tell you where to recycle things!
I’m going to give you all the best info possible, so you can continue to recycle and you won’t have to throw away those things which we’re so used to recycling. Keep in mind that the recycling centers are only open on weekdays, which is pretty inconvenient, but you gotta work with whatcha got!
More Idiotic Politicians
Measure to Expand Gun Rights Falls Short in Senate
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/23/us/politics/23guns.html?_r=1&hp
Posted in Politics | No commentsThe Senate on Wednesday turned aside the latest attempt by gun advocates to expand the rights of gun owners, narrowly voting down a provision that would have allowed gun owners with valid permits from one state to carry concealed weapons in other states.
A group comprising mostly Republicans, along with some influential Democrats, had tried to attach the gun amendment to the annual defense authorization bill, a must-pass piece of legislation. But the provision got only 58 votes, two short of the 6o votes needed for passage under Senate rules.
