Piracy in the Digital Age

Like music, movies and software, digital books have a piracy problem.  E-books are being uploaded to file-sharing sites, torrents and what have you.  When downloaded, someone may or may not make a profit, but if there is an exchange of money, the author of the book does not get his or get fair share.  While a lot of people who download digital files know that the book publisher, music company, software publisher, etc, lose revenue via illegal downloads and file sharing, most don't care as they see these entities as big evil greedy corporations that make too much money to begin with.  Others think that the "little guy" shouldn't have to pay for digital content and that only big companies should (those who trade illegal copies of Adobe Photoshop believe this is the way it should be).

Most people probably have at least a few pirated files on their hard drive.  Even those of us who generally purchase our software, music, books and movies, have likely accepted copies of such content from well meaning friends who like to share.  While sharing a few files with friends does not seem to be such a big deal, and may even help the artist by introducing their work to new fans who will then purchase more of their work, file sharing has become a big business and just about every piece of digital content published is now available for "free" on pirate sites.  (Note - if you aren't required to pay a fee to become a member of such sites, you are likely downloading files containing malware).

If you enjoy books, movies, music, etc, then think twice about where you get your digital content from.  When artists are not paid, many of them give it up and we all lose out.  As reported in The Trichordist, "Not everyone aspires to work a day job, make music as a hobby and allow internet corporations to profit from their labor, illegally."  This is basically what is happening.  The artists, writers, etc are not making a dime from their work while others are profiting big time.  (Read "How Musicians are (not) Making Money and Who is..."  for detailed information.

In Digital Trends, Jeffrey Van Camp reports that the Dutch have found a solution for pirated e-books.  This is not the type of solution I think most people want to see implemented.  According to Van Camp,  "Legally purchasing an ebook may soon make you responsible for anything that happens to it. Thanks to a new digital distribution agreement publishers are making with ebook platforms, all ebooks may soon come with a digital watermark that’s specifically linked to a person’s account, so if a copy of that book somehow ends up on a pirating or torrent website, they know who to blame. So yes, even if you don’t pirate a copyrighted book yourself, if something you buy somehow ends up being given away to others, you could be punished.

Read more: http://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/ebook-piracy-safer-than-purchase/#ixzz2cEdAA1kk
Follow us: @digitaltrends on Twitter | digitaltrendsftw on Facebook

Not good, is it? The best way to avoid extreme solutions such as this is to purchase your digital content from legitimate sites and stay away from pirate sites. I know everyone likes their digital content to be free, but take a few minutes and put yourself in the creator's shoes. How would you feel if all your hard work benefited everyone but yourself? How would you feel if you favorite band, writer, actor etc called it quits as he or she had to get a day job and no longer had time to create works for you to enjoy? Think about it that way rather than thinking its all corporate greed and therefore you are entitled to have it all for free.

The Media History Digital Libray

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Loving Lemons - Edgar Cayce

Over half of the medical readings that Edgar Cayce gave in his lifetime cite poor elimination as the root cause of disease and illness.  In order to remain healthy, human cells need to eliminate toxins and waste products as well as take in nutrients.  One of the easiest ways to help the body eliminate toxins and waste, according to Cayce, is to drink a cup of hot water with fresh squeezed lemon juice in the morning before eating any food.  A simple cup of hot lemon water helps the body eliminate toxins thrown off during sleep. In addition, Cayce recommended doing some deep breathing exercises to eliminate toxins in the lungs.  These two simple morning activities can add years to one's life.

In addition to drinking lemon water to help the body eliminate toxins, Cayce sometimes recommended fresh lemon juice in order to improve circulation and assimilation as well as elimination.  In reference to using lemon juice as a therapy, Cayce advised the following:

"Immediately on arising [in the morning] roll a lemon and cut in two.  Eat a portion of it - without salt - half of it - all the juice from same - then walk just as far as possible, AWAY FROM THE HOUSE - not so far that the body is not sure of making it back, see?  When the body has returned, sprinkle salt on the other half of lemon and eat it.  Then drink ALL the water POSSIBLE following same.  Not before, but AFTER the last half is eaten.  Then sit down, or lie down, and rest until the body feels entirely relaxed before the first meal is taken.  Add only that.  We will find this acid, combining with that as is created in system and as is being eliminated from system, will reduce not only the pulsation as caused from the reaction to the heart's forces, but will assist in CLEANSING system of the poisons from same."   (4999-2)

I find that drinking hot lemon water in the morning is refreshing and makes you feel clean inside.  I also found that after drinking hot lemon water in the morning I have little or no desire for coffee or cigarettes.  As a matter of fact, lemon water is a great aid for quitting cigarettes.  After drinking lemon water, you lose the desire to smoke as your mouth feels fresh and clean and the taste of cigarettes just seems so unappealing.  If you want to quit, drink a little lemon water every time you start getting a crave.  It just may work for you too!

An updated version of this article can be found at Ancient Wisdom

The Ghost Inside My Child

The Ghost Inside My Child is a new series on the Biography Channel.  The show is about children who remember their most recent past life.  These children were people who died violently in their most recent past life and quickly reincarnated.  According to the show's webpage, "The Ghost Inside My Child shares stories that are often inexplicable and confounding. These young children are having very real memories and very real experiences…that belong to someone else."

This is the type of show that makes me wish I had cable! Video clips are available.  The first episode is about a boy named Cade whose past life memories make his mother, Molly Curnutte, think he was killed during 9/11.  The video clips show one of his drawings which is a plane heading for two tall buildings looking very much like the towers.  

With any luck, these episodes will be available to view on-line someday.  

Reincarnation and Biology - an interesting article about children who remember past lives.

The Ghost Inside My Child Facebook Page

Update:  Full Episodes Available for Viewing

Government Permission Required When Reincarnating

This is a little old,  but I love it.  A few years back the Chinese banned Tibetan Monks from reincarnating without government permission. In addition, they specifically banned the Dalai Lama from reincarnating.  Eventually they had a change of heart and ordered the Dalai Lama to reincarnate in Tibet.  This all sounds like a page out of Saturday Night Live but its not!  This is serious stuff!

Pain

Much of your pain is self-chosen.

It is the bitter potion by which 

the physician within you heals your sick self.

Therefore trust the physician, and drink

his remedy in silence and tranquility:

For his hand, though heavy and hard, 

is guided by the tender hand of the Unseen.

-Kahlil Gibran, The Prophet