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*PunkTiger steps on to his soapbox* Good people, it's not often that I use this site to air my opinions, but this is one time where I feel passionate enough to speak out. I am sick to death of the draconian policies and procedures of the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and the complete raping of people's privacy laws that has been employed to gather names and addresses of people who use file-sharing (P2P) services for a self-righteous witch hunt. Their tactics are overly broad and sweeping, their theories flawed, their ability to think their way out of a wet paper sack completely absent, and their ability to listen non-extant. Using the horribly vague abomination of a law that the RIAA lobbied down the politico's throats known as the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DCMA), they are subpoenaing people left and right for the SUSPICION of them sharing copyrighted music and movie files, calling them pirates. File sharing is NOT piracy. At worst, under today's copyright laws, it's Copyright Infringement. If people turned around and sold those MP3's and made a profit, then that would be piracy. But that's not what the RIAA wants you to believe. If you agree that something should be done about the horribly excessive measures taken by the RIAA, I encourage you to refrain from buying any music released on a major label, or one that is directly associated with the RIAA. Yes, that means boycott. Instead, look for music by independent artists. There are many people and bands out there that produce some great music. There are even some names from the past who you thought were gone that are still making music. Start your search for new sounds by going to sites like DMusic, IUMA or CD Baby. If you like their music, consider buying a CD directly from the artist. You'll be helping them out directly instead of having a Big Label getting all the money. If you absolutely HAVE to get a CD from your favoured Major Label artist, then buy it used! That way, you don't fuel the corporate juggernaut any more than it already is. Second Spin and Amazon are two good places for used music. Or check the local independent record stores (not a chain record store like Virgin, Tower or HMV) in your neighbourhood. You can also search for releases from groups and labels that aren't RIAA associated. Above all, educate yourself. For starters, visit http://www.boycott-riaa.com. The RIAA will only tell one side of the story: THEIRS. They have radio stations and major news channels on their side, and they generate enough spin to make a tornado dizzy. As a common catchphrase said from years gone by: Don't believe the hype. Thank you and good night. *PunkTiger steps down from his soapbox and walks off, humming something by Super Furry Animals.*