MP3 :: essays research papers fc

Executive summary It's only been about three years since a little known extension of an audio compression technique-MPEG-2 Audio Layer-3 or MP3-opened the door to being able to send large volumes of CD-quality music over the Internet by pack the equivalent of several commercial compact disks onto the equivalent of one CD platter (Lange 01). It also initiated the veritable floor of pirating activity by an underground community students and hackers. Hundreds of MP3 Internet sites sprung up overnight. At these sites, everything in music from Mozart to Marilyn Manson is being reproduced (Lange 01). Of course, it's illegal, but it's free, which has a huge appeal. Two men summarize the battle that is still raging over this new technology. On one side there's Val Azzoli, co-CEO of the Atlantic Group, which has numerous popular artists signed to their label; and on the other is the CEO of the website MP3.com, which gives away digitized songs by new artists that no one has heard of yet (Mardesich 96). While this may not sound like much of a threat, what lies at the heart of this conflict is the concern of recording industry that this new technology may chance the balance of power and if allows the shipment of music directly to the consumer (Mardesich 96). The five giant corporations that contr ol 80% of the global music industry-worth roughly $60 billion a year-have taken notice (Wood; D'arcy 42). The following discussion will explore more fully why the record companies, despite their obvious power, are scared. Pros and Cons It is the impressive 12:1 compression ratio of the MP3 that has made it so popular. While 60 or so Mbytes are needed to store a typical song, once it is converted to MP3 format it becomes a single 5 Mbyte file (Lange 01). "The advantages are obvious," commented one executive, "CD-quality sound in a small package" (Lange 01). The drawbacks are all felt by the record companies. Artists are likely to benefit, eventually, if they take advantage of the new technology and deliver their songs to their fans directly via the Internet (Mardesich 96). They'l l no longer have record companies making money off from their work and by eliminating this "middle man" could conceivably earn a great deal more then they do now. However, for the large record labels, this new technology could mean real trouble in the future. Right now, the loss are negligible. For example, Americans spent almost nothing on downloaded music in 1998, but they spent nearly $14 billion on music from stores (Mardesich 96). Nevertheless, the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) said that MP3 piracy may have contributed to a

I Am America, Too

The poem I, Too is a reflection of the nature of American society during the time it was written by Langston Hughes. It does not only speak for the feelings and insights of the writer himself but also to all people subjected to discrimination, especially the â€Å"black† people, who were the I in the poem. â€Å"They send me to eat in the kitchen, when company comes†¦Ã¢â‚¬  speaks of the inconsiderate treatment to black people being sent away every time they got near or in close contact with them. â€Å"But I laugh, and eat well, and grow strong†¦Ã¢â‚¬  shows the writer’s positive thought on being discriminated – getting enough courage and resources to be stronger, and finally be recognized as part of America. The visions of Hughes on a bright future for the black people in America and be at the table when company comes came true with the emergence of Condoleeza Rice, Oprah Winfrey, Michael Jordan, Denzel Washington, Beyoncà © Knowles, Williams sisters, among others. They already made themselves big in every aspect of American life. The Americans have finally recognized how beautiful the black people are and nobody could just tell them to â€Å"eat in the kitchen† because they, too, are Americans. Reference: Hughes, L. 2006. I, Too. In Concise Anthology of American Literature. G McMichael & JS Leonard. 6th ed. New Jersey: Pearson Prentice Hall. 1086.      

PBS Special The Great Works of Charles Darwin - 821 Words

In the PBS special several people came together to marvel in the great works of Charles Darwin and the scientific advancements that have really put his theory to the test. Many things have come about since Darwin proposed his ideas that both challenged and strengthened his ideas. Things like DNA and scientific technologies. Even though Darwin got the ball rolling for the theory of evolution he really did not fully grasp everything. He didn’t know exactly how it all worked mechanically. He was very good with his observations of changes that took place, but why these changes took place he just didn’t yet understand. DNA technology and advancements in technology in general, advancements in scientific discoveries and scientists who shared†¦show more content†¦Diversity among species begins at the embryo stage of development. Scientists have found that many of the reasons that species vary, why some fly’s had wing spots and why others did not is because DNA has the genius mechanism of switches. The switches have the ability to turn genes on or off. Finding the exact reason for why some genes are turned on or off is still being studied. Scientists are beginning to see that much of the reason there is such great diversity among species, ones that are similar and those that are completely different, lies in what happens during the growth of the embryo. By studying the Galapagos finch eggs Cliff Tabin was able to view the growth of the finch beaks and see that the exact same gene is responsible for the beak size in the smaller beaked finches and the larger beaked finches. The difference came solely from the degree that the switch was turned on, whether barely on or all the way on, when it is turned off and the precise moment when was the exact indicator for the beak size the finch would receive. It is known however that the body plan switches are the driving force behind what genes get turned on and what genes get turned off. It is amazing that we can find genes that target specific body parts and find genes that are responsible for certain duties, or even why certain genes cause certain disabilities. It isShow MoreRelated Creation and Evolution Essay3027 Words   |  13 Pagesbeliefs or scientific theory. History The controversy over biological evolution began in 1859 when Charles Darwin published his monumental book On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection. Throughout most of the nineteenth century religious people rebelled against Darwins theory. There were, however, some theologians and even some priests who saw no threat in Darwins work (PBS, 1998, paragraph 2). The more recent history of this debate came to the forefront in the early 1900s withRead MoreWal-Mart Good or Bad for America6224 Words   |  25 PagesWal-Mart employees, paid enough? According to the Business insider, Wal-Mart employees 1.4 million Americans, roughly 1% of the working class Americans, this is another indicator that Wal-Mart is good to its employees, and is bringing forth a strong work environment for the U.S citizens. The average American working in retail makes $12.07 an hour (Young, 2004). With Wal-Mart being far and away the leader in big box retail, it is natural to think that their employees would be making slightly overRead MoreMultiple Intelligences Seminar and Workshop14464 Words   |  58 Pagesstarted? 4. What are some of the challenges I may face? 5. How do I assess students progress? 6. How does M.I. curriculum align with state and national standards? 7. How does technology complement the M.I. approach? 8. How do I work with my school, the parents, and the community? PART IV – Implementation 1. Key principles 2. Three types of implementation exercises 1. Learning centers 2. Simulations 3. Presentation 3. Step-by-step M.I. lesson plan guide Read MoreStreet Light16880 Words   |  68 Pagesthe  World Solar Challengewhere solar cars like the Nuna3 race through a 3,021  km (1,877  mi) course from Darwin to Adelaide. Development of a solar powered car has been an engineering goal since the 1980s. The  World Solar Challenge  is a biannual solar-powered car race, where teams from universities and enterprises compete over 3,021 kilometres (1,877  mi) across central Australia from  Darwin  to  Adelaide. In 1987, when it was founded, the winners average speed was 67 kilometres per hour (42  mph)