2 posts tagged “uw”
Two recent events are likely to touch us significantly here at the UW Streaming Media community.
One is the recent decision by the University to cooperate with the RIAA as they sniff out file sharing. The penalties by the RIAA are outrageous, and clearly represent a desperate act by an organization that is not only becoming irrelevant to the musicians, but is unable to recognize the potential of new distribution opportunities. By cooperating the University has created a defacto opening of its database of users to the RIAA and will reveal not only how students are using the network, but who is using the network.
It is a difficult decision because these are public monies, and sharing music without permission is patently illegal. But privacy and the opportunity to freely pursue academic issues free from prying eyes and pressures of social fashion have always been a hallmark of this fine institution. Opening up who is using the internet and how sets a precedent that could impact research far beyond music sharing. What if I am dong research on late term abortion, or pornography, or imigration, or social drug use, or voting patterns, or lobbyists, or any other controversial subject? If someone in power says, "Hey, I don't want tuition or tax dollars going to that sort of thing, you have to stop it," the University would be hard pressed to say, "Oh, no. We don't cooperate with those sorts of witch hunts." Hey, they have agreed to do it with the RIAA. This precedent risks setting a pernicious benchmark, and how can you close the door once you have made this exception? I can see the logic of the University’s position, but it smells of corporate lawyers and the lack of a spine. Sad really.
The other news from the RIAA is the recent arbitration victory against Internet Radio sites. Because an arbitration committee in Washington DC drastically increased the licensing fees Internet radio sites must pay to stream songs, radio sites chose today, June 26th, as a day of silence. Sites like my personal favorite, Pandora, will see their fees will triple, and are retroactive for eighteen months. You can find more information here on the day of silence.
It was a great day today. One I have looked forward to for the past two years. Graduation has meant a lot to me, not just for the degree, but for the opportunity to show my kids what it means to set a goal and work really hard for it, sticking to the task until you finish it. As dopey as it sounds, over the past few years whenever my energy would flag I would visualize myself in cap and gown getting my masters, with my kids looking on (I never went so far as to imagine them looking on approvingly, they are 9 and 11. That would be way too much to expect.) Today was the day I worked towards, the day I saw in my mind's eye when the going got tough. And it was worth it.
Granted, it was a little different than I imagined. I didn't plan on the toilet backing up this morning and having to unclog it before I could go. I didn't plan on the hideous traffic and parking at the U. And I didn't plan on my lovely wife getting so sick Monday night that we spent all day Tuesday in the hospital. We barely got her well enough to drag her to the ceremony (you may notice in the photo below I am holding her up. She was trashed.)
I also never expected to be given the honor to speak at commencement. It was humbling, really. I had worked on my speech for a few days, and even practiced it in front of a few understanding folks. But I really underestimated the size of the event. I figured only a few hundred at most would be there. It looked more like 2-3,000 people from the stage. I was so nervous I had a hard time keeping my place on the page. It was not as smooth, and my timing was off from my rehearsals, but I think I got my message across. At least I hope so. I am not sure why they chose me. Really, there are equally deserving members in my cohort. I chose not to tell any of them about me speaking because I was embarrassed that I was chosen and they were not. When the time came they were very supportive and even teased me a little that I had not said anything. The bottom line is that I would not have passed up the opportunity for anything.
I also love that my presence on stage with all the regalia that a post graduate degree brings embarrassed my kids. I love that they had that great mix of pride that their dad was at the podium, and humiliation that their dad was at the podium. I think they really understood that this day was important to me, and ultimately, to them. College is in their future... whether they like it or not. There are a few other photos in the collection. One of me speaking and one that typifies just how excited I was to greet the day. Life is good.
