To Thread - Forum Home

The Mudcat Café TM
https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=122156
11 messages

What a privilege it is to know you

08 Jul 09 - 07:46 PM (#2675265)
Subject: What a privilege it is to know you
From: nutty

Reading the OBIT threads on Mudcat at present particularly the one for Johnny Collins, I am again struck by the 'family' of folkies that I have the privilege of knowing.

All the sentiments expressed and particularly the email from Jim Mageean are examples of the love and care shown.

A similar thread is that for Kendall Morse.

Although sad things happen, I can't help thinking that I live in a wonderful world,

09 Jul 09 - 04:38 AM (#2675465)
Subject: RE: What a privilege it is to know you
From: My guru always said

You're so right nutty, this Folk Family makes a wonderful world!

09 Jul 09 - 05:02 AM (#2675486)
Subject: RE: What a privilege it is to know you
From: GUEST,.gargoyle

It IS a wonderful world and many are working to make it better.

I have embraced the EFF (Electronic Freedom Foundation) and am happy to see them move into hard-ball politics to protect the "Folk Family" from those who would confine our community.

Excerpts - Financial Times of London
July 07, 2009

Copyright Laws Threaten Our Online Freedom

By Christian Engström
(the Pirate party's member of the European parliament)

What we think of as our common cultural heritage is not "ours" at all.

On MySpace and YouTube, creative people post audio and video remixes for others to enjoy, until they are
replaced by take-down notices handed out by big film and record companies. Technology opens up possibilities; copyright law shuts them down.

This was never the intent. Copyright was meant to encourage culture, not restrict it.

Despite the crackdown on Napster, Kazaa and other peer-to-peer services over the past decade,
the volume of file-sharing has grown exponentially.

Whenever there are ways of communicating in private, they will be used to share copyrighted material.
If you want to stop people doing this, you must remove the right to communicate in private.

In the former East Germany, the government needed tens of thousands of employees to keep track of the
citizens using typewriters, pencils and index cards. Today a computer can do the same thing a
million times faster, at the push of a button. There are many politicians who want to push that button.

But where technology opens up new possibilities, our intellectual property laws do their best to restrict them.

Our manifesto is:
~ to reform copyright laws
~ abolish the patent system
~ oppose mass surveillance
~ oppose censorship
~ make the EU more democratic and transparent.

Sincerely,
Gargoyle

I like these people - perhaps they will replace a few narrow bridges.

Did you know that in the state of Maine (USA) everyone who has received ANY state funds has a record on the web? Excellent transparancy in government ! ! !

09 Jul 09 - 05:14 AM (#2675495)
Subject: RE: What a privilege it is to know you
From: alanabit

The abolition of patent would seem to me to inevitably lead to the abolition of copyright. As a songwriter, I quite like the institution of copyright. However, I am not blind to its contradictions and absurdities in the modern world. Technology also threatens to make the concept redundant. I think you have raised an important issue here Gargoyle, but perhaps there is a good case for transferring this and your post to a new thread?

09 Jul 09 - 05:15 AM (#2675496)
Subject: RE: What a privilege it is to know you
From: alanabit

In response to nutty, I can add a wholehearted yes.

09 Jul 09 - 05:27 AM (#2675504)
Subject: RE: What a privilege it is to know you
From: Pistachio

Nutty mentions "the 'family' of folkies that I have the privilege of knowing."
and I would like to mention the "friends I don't yet know on MUDCAT"

It seems that whatever the joy, sorrow or situation 'one' has there is a crowd of helpful caring Mudcatters ready to assist.

What a wonderful world - united by songs and music - bringing smiles, comfort, love and compassion.
Thank you.

Hazel, The other nut! x x

09 Jul 09 - 05:53 AM (#2675518)
Subject: RE: What a privilege it is to know you
From: Banjiman

Yes, you're right it's a Privilege.

Paul

09 Jul 09 - 05:58 AM (#2675520)
Subject: RE: What a privilege it is to know you
From: Georgiansilver

The ones we don't know well are just the friends we have not yet met!!

09 Jul 09 - 06:27 AM (#2675534)
Subject: RE: What a privilege it is to know you
From: theleveller

A privilege, indeed. And when you meet 'catters in person you realise that, even if they do have two heads, it's only so they can sing beautiful duets with themselves.

09 Jul 09 - 07:08 AM (#2675564)
Subject: RE: What a privilege it is to know you
From: oldhippie

Tom Paxton pretty much sums it up in "The Pleasure of Your Company".

09 Jul 09 - 07:32 AM (#2675574)
Subject: RE: What a privilege it is to know you
From: Willa

I agree with nutty and Pistachio.

It's been a real pleasure recently to open threads and find so many of them without any backbiting (which in any case is usually a small part of what goes on here).