Topic: Something interesting from IGN's M$'s Zune review.

[Pugnate]

http://gear.ign.com/articles/746/746470p2.html

In a highly precedent setting move (we wish it weren't), Microsoft has agreed to give a cut of it's (thin) profit margin to Universal, owner of about a third of all published music. Universal, and the other major music labels, have long asserted that they deserve a cut of profits associated with mp3 players. Universal's CEO, Doug Morris, justified the demand rather absurdly: "We felt that any business that's built on the bedrock of music we should share in." The logic of such a statement is idiotic, as any parallels drawn between that supposed connection and any other relationship between intellectual property and the medium upon which it's conveyed, like movies and TVs, or literature and paper, can only be seen as laughable.

The major music labels have previously tried to force this connection upon hardware manufacturers by claiming the need for restitutions for music piracy, drawing a different, but equally tenuous assertion that mp3 players endemically generate piracy. The logic of this argument pre-supposes guilt on the part of every consumer, and leverages punishment without trail. No matter what the justification, the costs of these agreements are passed to the consumer, and their existence stand as monuments to the ongoing mistreatment of the general consumer the music studios and RIAA apparently feel justified in pursuing.

That is bullshit. Why the hell does Universal feel they deserve some free money? For what? For just being?

[Quemaqua]

You've got to be fucking kidding me.

That's it.  I'm buying a sniper rifle.

[Xessive]

Que walks into my Rebel Haven..

Que: Hi, I'd like a sniper rifle, what ahve you got that might suit my needs?
X: Well, we got some new H&K rifles rangin' from the classic PSG1 to the M50 series to some prototypes. What kinda game ya huntin'?
Que: Well I wanna take down a corporation.
X: Oh! In that case you best be needin' a tag rifle! It's not exactly a "Sniper Rifle" per se, but it'll get yer work done for ya.
Que: What do you mean? What does it do?
X: Well, ya got yer scope on it an' all but ll it does is "tag" yer mark and the real gun's a floatin' in space. Beams that sucker out!
Que: No, that's a little overkill. I'm looking for something simple, although that would be helpful for my next assignment.
X: Okey dokey, here ya go: one Barrett M82 sniper rifle. Psst, it's technically illegal to use these on personnel but seein' as how you're takin' down the corp they're barely human anyway. Good huntin'!

[Pugnate]

Why do all your stories take place in the wild west? 

[Xessive]

Why do all your stories take place in the wild west? 

Haha I don't know I think the cold air makes me think of the next hottest stereotype in North America

[idolminds]

Do your next story gansta style.

[Xessive]

Do your next story gansta style.

Haha duly noted

[WindAndConfusion]

Someone at IGN wrote that? Wow, that doesn't sound like it was written by a 20-year-old high school drop-out.