The Public Opinion Soapbox

AnonyMouse · Joined: 22 Oct 2007 Posts: 527

Has anyone heard of pandora.com? I love it!

You type in the name of a musical artist or a song and they create a "radio station" that plays similar music. You rate the songs as they come up and Pandora makes adjustments for future selections.

It just plays and plays. In addition to Paul Simon and Simon and Garfunkel, my "Paul Simon Radio" has played Edgar Winter, James Taylor, Fleetwood Mac, Pablo Cruise, Donald Fagan, Ted Hawkins, Steely Dan, The Doobies, Van Morrison, Crosby, Stills & Nash, Cat Stevens, Traffic, Neil Young, and on and on this evening.

This is just awesome!
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Now, go spread some peace, love and understanding. Use force if necessary.

Coppy · Joined: 28 Oct 2007 Posts: 2617 Location: Chambersburg

Ah, yet another Pandora convert. I've been using Pandora for a little over a year now and it has literally transformed my appreciation for music. I have built up my own station, which I am constantly adding to, and discovering new music constantly. It's funny how nothing seems more relaxing on a lazy weekend afternoon than when I say to my girlfriend "want to just sit around and listen to pandora?" It's truly awesome, particularly for those of more than willing to branch out from the typical, radio garbage they forcefeed us.

However, online radio, particularly Pandora, is in extreme danger of being shut down for copyright violations. This is a great tragedy and undermines the free and open content of the Internet.

I'd encourage everyone to go to SaveNetRadio.org and pledge your support for an important medium which encompasses much, much more than a "series of tubes" as Senator Ted Stevens (R - Alaska) has pointed out so foolishly.

AnonyMouse · Joined: 22 Oct 2007 Posts: 527

We've been listening to Christmas jazz this evening too. Very nice, and like you said, already expanding my music horizons.

As for Ted Stevens...I just can't say enough bad things. He embodies everything that's wrong with our government.

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Now, go spread some peace, love and understanding. Use force if necessary.

Coppy · Joined: 28 Oct 2007 Posts: 2617 Location: Chambersburg

Ah, now net neutrality is one of the most important causes worth fighting for yet one so few people even know about. Do you really want your ISP to decide what websites you can and can't visit?

.45chel · Joined: 26 Oct 2007 Posts: 3068 Location: Chambersburg

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Nevermind.

ZiggyStardust · Joined: 07 Nov 2007 Posts: 62 Location: Chambersburg

I just started using Pandora last night. I'm considered by a lot of my friends to be a "music encyclopedia" and discovered at least two bands I'd never heard of. Pretty neat.

Bratwurst · Joined: 23 Oct 2007 Posts: 29

That site it GREAT!

I now have five Stations ranging from Hair Band Metal to Baroque/Chamber Music! Very Happy

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Life is short, but there is always time enough for courtesy.
~Ralph Waldo Emerson~

Coppy · Joined: 28 Oct 2007 Posts: 2617 Location: Chambersburg

Bratwurst · Joined: 23 Oct 2007 Posts: 29

I'm more the grilled peppers and onions type! (and yes, ketchup too!)
_________________
Life is short, but there is always time enough for courtesy.
~Ralph Waldo Emerson~

Coppy · Joined: 28 Oct 2007 Posts: 2617 Location: Chambersburg

springhill · Joined: 09 Dec 2007 Posts: 177

pandora is great. so were a lot of other "radio stations until the riaa shuts them down.

pandora has a shot though. under their moniker "the music genome project", they are attempting to archive every piece of music ever recorded.

maybe a govt grant will help them stay on. i hope so.

Coppy · Joined: 28 Oct 2007 Posts: 2617 Location: Chambersburg

The RIAA is trying desperately shut Pandora down.

Again, sign the petition to save net radio!

springhill · Joined: 09 Dec 2007 Posts: 177

i won t sign the petition. it is adressed to congress, and that is like preaching to the enemy. congress is behind the riaa, they are behind the harry fox agency (royalties distribution), they are behind the "airways" radio stations.
you won t find many fans of the intenet broadcasting business in congress because internet broadcasting doesn t have deep enough pockets to fight.

maybe those kids who made a bundle on youtube could throw a few dollars in the lobby pot.
im not holding my breath.

what needs to be done is more open disobedience.

Coppy · Joined: 28 Oct 2007 Posts: 2617 Location: Chambersburg

Wow, I pretty much agree with that. I feel that petitions to congress are about as effective as peeing on an electric fence.

Which, I suppose, can be pretty productive given what your desired outcome is.

That said, ok... but if you don't do anything at all, then you might as well let it die because there isn't a lot of civil disobedience the average citizen can do when it comes to Internet radio.

The Internet (or "series of tubes") is a scary thing to those old fart sin Congress. It's new, and it's out there and people are using it and it's 100% free and open information. And they're scared. They're planning, daily, weekly, constantly... how can we regulate this!!!!!????

They regulate what we see on TV. They regulate what we hear on the radio. They regulate how we have sex, how we protect our homes, how we raise our children and how we spend our free time. OH, but that Internet... it's NOT A TRUCK!

.45chel · Joined: 26 Oct 2007 Posts: 3068 Location: Chambersburg