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Copyright Wrong
03.28.09 (9:04 am)   [edit]

I have been writing music under the project name Null Factor for 10 years.  July of 2009 will mark the 10 year anniversary of my first release, "Re: modulated".  Over this 10 year period, I have released 4 full-length albums:

  • 1999 - Re: modulated
  • 2001 - Calculating The Human Form
  • 2003 - Purity
  • 2007 - Human Analog

All 4 albums have been self-released, with the exception of "Purity" which saw the help of Ballistic Test Productions of Canada helping with promotions and distribution.  "Purity" happens to be the most successful of my releases, because of the help of Ballistic Test Productions.

Now that I am out of contract with Ballistic Test, I decided to post "Purity" on my last.fm profile to help promote the Null Factor name.  When I finished uploading the "Purity" album to last.fm, I received the following error:  "Unable To Add Album, 'Purity'.  This Album Has Been Added By A Different Label."

Confused, I did a little research.  As it turns out, the very famous Industrial music label, Metropolis Records, added my "Purity" album under THEIR label.  I have never been a part of the Metropolis Records roster, so the fact that my album was under their last.fm profile surprised me (as well as succeeding in pissing me off).  What really got my ears hot was the fact that this line was present under MY album's title:  "©Metropolis Records".

I sent Metropolis Records an e-mail asking why my album was under their profile and why THEY put THEIR copyright under MY album.  In my message to them, I left them with this choice:  "If you wish to work with Null Factor, as a unit, then I would be more than happy to discuss a contract with your A&R Department.  However, if Metropolis is not interested in a working relationship, then I will have to ask you to cease and desist."

Luckily, I am a registered member of BMI, so I should have some good resources available to me, if I need them.  The entire "Purity" album is registered with BMI, so I am covered.  But that doesn't help my feelings of complete shock that a label as reputable as Metropolis Records would do something like this.  What are they trying to accomplish by claiming my album as one of their owned copyrights?

More to come as this unfolds...

+ruined

 
Would I Be Rude If I Called You A Flaming Moron?
03.04.09 (9:20 pm)   [edit]

In my first post of this, my blog version 3.0, I said that I would write frequently of human stupidity.  If for no other reason, than just to laugh at how dumb we, as a species, can be.  Well, here is a prime example.

As part of a web site that I am creating, I needed a JavaScript snippet that would do a simple check of a point in time in comparison to the current time (the current time obtained by a PHP line).  I couldn't get the JavaScript to work, so I turned to a programming forum for a little assistence. 

At the end of my plea for help, I posted, "Thank you in advance for your help."

The guy who helped me (some bloke from the UK) gave me a bit of additional advice after the JavaScript code.  The advice was that it was rude of me to say, "Thank you in advance."  He said that my thanking people in advance showed that I was ungrateful for their FREE advice.  That I took that FREE advice for granted.  Yes, he would say FREE in all caps, just as I just did.

I assured him that by thanking people in advance, I was sincerely thanking people for taking the time to read my problem and taking additional time to reply.  That was not good enough for him.  He continued to private message me to further tell me how rude I am for thanking people in advance and that he would no longer be helping me.

Apologizing in advance for my rude reply, I told him that if I needed further assistance from him, I would check the local looney bin to see if he was available.

What is your take?  Is it rude to thank people in advance?

+ruined

 
Animal Control - Heroes or Zeros?
03.02.09 (10:02 pm)   [edit]

For several months, our neighbors have been running a puppy mill.  For those not familiar with puppy mills, they are exactly what they sound like.  A place where puppies are bred for profit.  A concept that is not too bad, until the mill has more puppies than they can handle and no client to buy the puppies.

These puppies and the dogs used to breed them have been escaping the confines of our neighbors back yard.  Concerned about the safety of the wandering animals, we contacted our county's Animal Control.  Each call was answered with either an excuse as to why Animal Control was unable to respond, or an excuse as to why nothing could be done.  Either way, the dogs remained unCONTROLLED.

The lack of response by Animal Control eventually resulted in the death of the adult female dog.  She was hit by a vehicle.

Animal control was notified and the neighbors were served a warning to keep their dogs under control, or the dogs could be removed.  The warning was largely ignored by the neighbors as there were anywhere from 1 to 5 dogs at any given time roaming, freely.  

More calls to Animal Control were made.  More excuses were given.  A call was made by me to the Animal Control.  Since they close at NOON, I left a rather frank voicemail expressing my displeasure with all of their excuses and lack of action.  I received a call back by them expressing their displeasure at my thinking that they were in the business of making excuses.

Today, 2 March, 2009, our neighbor's adult male dog was in our yard (loose), limping.  We captured the dog and brought him into our home (locking our 2 dogs away to avoid confrontation).  Our inspection of the dog revealed that he had sustained a serious injury to the left, rear leg.  A visible deformation was present - possibly a broken bone, or a displaced hip.  Either way, the dog was in so much pain that he would not use the leg to walk.

We contacted Animal Control to have the dog taken and examined.  They came up with an excuse as to why they were unable to come, today, to get the dog.  With some heated convincing, the Animal Control guy finally agreed to get the dog.

It is obvious that our Animal Control department does not have an interest in performing their duties.  Because of this, an e-mail was sent to the County Administrator, outlining all problems explained, above.  I wonder how many excuses the Administrator will have to defend the Animal Control department?

+ruined 

 
In Debt To Get Out Of Debt
03.01.09 (9:31 pm)   [edit]

If I were president of the USA, here's what I would do:

I would take three-quarters of a trillion dollars - money that we don't really have, but it'll come from somewhere, I'm sure - and bail out all of the corrupt banks, insurers, and Wall Street.  After all, doesn't it make sense?  Help those who carelessly spent money they didn't have with government money that the country doesn't have? 

Perfect solution.  I'm sure my grand children will thank the government for the bill that is left behind.

+ruined