Inspired by I-57

<ring ring>
<silence>
Me: Hello?pause
Hello?pause
Last chance for the computer to connect me to the caller?
Them:
“Sir! We’d like to upgrade your Chicago Tribune delivery service TOTALLY FREE to include the saturday edition of the tribune! Free!”
Forever?
Yes
No change in my price? Ever?
Never! Same price!
May we record this call?
this isn’t right. noone’s ever needed to record that they gave away something free Uh, Sure.
We just want you to understand that in 24 weeks, you will get a renewal notice, and if you want to discontinue sat service, just note that on the renwal.
Wouldn’t that mean it’s not free forever?”
No sir! It’s totally free!
Why would it require me to change my service at renewal time?
Well, the price might have changed.
Isn’t that a change in price? Didn’t I just ask if the price would change?”
Your price won’t change. If you want to discontinue saturday service, just note it on the form.
If discontinuing service is what i need to do to keep the price the same, doesn’t that mean the price is changing?
No, sir! The price is the same as you’re paying now.
Ok, I withdraw my consent.

And all this just because we don’t want to drive out every sat to get the sunday ads.

Bigger, more interesting sources than mine have reported on this, but this is an awesome idea and I’ve already donated.

After hearing Ted Stevens (R-AZ, recently famous for threating to never return to the senate if they cut out the 50M to build a bridge to an island with < 200 inhabitants. Small government? what’s that) suddenly turn into an angel on the topic of DRM (He was given an Ipod, used it, and realized that all these restrictions being proposed to be mandated by RIAA and MPAA would make it useless), Ipac wants to give more senators Ipods. The idea is that if they actually USE some of the technology that innovation makes possible, they might be a little slower to enact legislation that prevents innovation.

And lest ye think this is hyperbole, the latest proposal from RIAA/MPAA actually says that any form of use of media that has not been “customary historic use” will not be legal unless they pre-approve it.

Anyway, please, give a few dollars here. This may be the most effective way possible to slow the big money of the RIAA and MPAA– give them something personal to associate the problem with.