Why I think buying music the new digital way is dangerous…

UPDATE:
SEEMS LIKE I COULD SAY "TOLD YA SO"...
http://forums.macrumors.com/archive/index.php/t-724302.html
Once again, a topic I raised on Jan 3, 2012 is back in the blogasphere...
Apple and Amazon refused to comment.
Be sure to put your user name and password in your will. Now this extends to your book library too!

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/1569481?threadID=1569481
----------


Greetings! This is another one of my tech reminders, this time to convert any/all DRM music files you may have bought NOW to avoid losing any of your music. I want to make sure you can continue to enjoy all your music for as long as you please.
DRM stands for digital rights management (basically copy protection).
Here are a few examples of how things change if your not prepared:

1. On November 7th, 2011 Rhapsody/Real Networks quit supporting DRM music files you purchased before July 2008. These songs will NOT continue to play after November 7th, 2011.
2. Prior to 2009, Apple's iTunes Store utilized the FairPlay DRM system for music at $0.99. Apple did not license its DRM to other companies, so only Apple devices could play iTunes music. Currently the iTunes store does NOT have any DRM, but many songs can cost $1.29 each. (presumably to cover piracy lost profits)
3. Napster offers a subscription-based approach to DRM alongside permanent purchases. Users of the subscription service can download and stream an unlimited amount of music transcoded to WMA while subscribed to the service. But when the subscription period lapses, all of the downloaded music is unplayable until the user renews his or her subscription.
4. Wal-Mart Music Downloads charges $0.94 per track for all non-sale downloads. All Wal-Mart, Music Downloads are able to be played on any Windows PlaysForSure marked product but they rarely play on other players, like SanDisk’s Sansa player.

We used to buy our records, tapes and CD’s, now you never know what will happen with your music collection. Its no longer hand-me-down, inheritable or even something to garage sale. The industry has got the best deal over us. Unless you have made non DRM CD burns of all your music, (not just a .mp3 or .aac copies on CD), you may be out of luck. I strongly recommend you back up these tracks to both formats to ensure you can continue to enjoy your music. Each generation has to repurchase their MUSIC COLLECTIONS if we’re not careful…
Or, just buy the CD!
www.RogerChilds.com

Interesting Story I Wanted to Share …

Thanks to the Rocky Mountain ALSA newsletter for this interview.
Advice from the Trenches
Sandra Lesher Stuban is an RN who was a 38-year old Lieutenant Colonel in the Army when she was diagnosed with ALS. She's the author of "The Butcher's Daughter: The Story of an Army Nurse with ALS," in which she describes her journey openly and honestly. Although she is completely paralyzed and uses a ventilator, she lives an active life as a writer and nursing leader.

Q: Do you have any suggestions about how to enjoy the holidays? I find myself sad that I cannot do things the way I used to and feel a little overwhelmed, but I want to do all I can to enjoy my family and friends and to help them have a good time, too.
A: With the holidays fast approaching, it's a time for family get-togethers, giving thanks and sharing fun times. But with ALS intruding in our life and lifestyle, it's easy to fall into a mindset of believing that this year will never be the same as last year which leads to disappointment and unfulfilled expectations. It's necessary to change this way of thinking from being consumed with the negative to taking a more positive approach. Here are several things to consider and think about as the holidays draw near.

• First, you should acknowledge, accept and adapt to the fact that the holiday will be different. But know that celebrating a holiday in a different way is not necessarily a negative experience; it can be very satisfying, if you approach it with the right attitude.
• Speaking of attitude, ALS may take our strength and movement, but it can never take our approach to things. The way we deal with our limitations and obstacles is unique to each of us. Personally I refuse to allow ALS to define who I am.
• As you prepare for the holidays, incorporate your new lifestyle in a meaningful way into new traditions. That means figuring out how you will transition from your physical role during the holidays to one that involves more planning, coordinating and delegating. For example, you can plan the menu, invite the guests, share recipes, assign food to bring, delegate duties, make someone in charge of games and activities, and much more. There is really no need for you to be physically in the thick of the bustle, your presence is felt in everything everywhere because of your planning.

So, there is really no reason why this holiday season can't be as memorable and enjoyable as any!

ALS Clinical Trials: Cytokinetics, Neuralstem Advance

ALS Clinical Trials Briefs: Cytokinetics, Neuralstem Advance

CK-2017357 is being tested in combination with riluzole, and Neuralstem will test delivery of its stem cells into the cervical region of the spinal cord

Article Highlights:

• Two human clinical trials to test experimental therapies in ALS are moving forward.
• After having tested its experimental therapy CK-2017357 in people with ALS who weren't taking riluzole, biotechnology company Cytokinetics has now begun the second part of its phase 2 trial, in which the two drugs will be tested in combination.
• Biotherapeutics company Neuralstem will begin testing the safety of transplanting its neural stem cells into the cervical (neck) region of people with ALS.

To learn more, read the full ALS News Online article.

Researchers Say They've Found Common Cause of All Types of ALS

• Yahhhh!

SUNDAY, Aug. 21 (HealthDay News) -- The apparent discovery of a common cause of all forms of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) could give a boost to efforts to find a treatment for the fatal neurodegenerative disease, a new study contends.

Scientists have long struggled to identify the underlying disease process of ALS (also known as Lou Gehrig's disease) and weren't even sure that a common disease process was associated with all forms of ALS.

In this new study, Northwestern University researchers said they found that the basis of ALS is a malfunctioning protein recycling system in the neurons of the brain and spinal cord. Efficient recycling of the protein building blocks in the neurons are critical for optimal functioning of the neurons. They become severely damaged when they can't repair or maintain themselves.

This problem occurs in all three types of ALS: hereditary, sporadic and ALS that targets the brain, the researchers said.

The discovery, published Aug. 21 in the journal Nature, shows that all forms of ALS share an underlying cause and offers a common target for drug therapy, according to the researchers.

"This opens up a whole new field for finding an effective treatment for ALS," study senior author Dr. Teepu Siddique, of the Davee Department of Neurology and Clinical Neurosciences at Northwestern's Feinberg School of Medicine, said in a university news release. "We can now test for drugs that would regulate this protein pathway or optimize it, so it functions as it should in a normal state."

This finding about the breakdown of protein recycling in ALS may also prove useful in the study of other neurodegenerative diseases, specifically Alzheimer's and other dementias, the Northwestern researchers said.

ALS afflicts an estimated 350,000 people around the world. About 50 percent of patients die within three years of the first symptoms. They progressively lose muscle strength until they're paralyzed and can't move, speak, swallow and breathe, the researchers said.

More information

The U.S. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke has more about ALS.

Security Now 318 | TWiT.TV

Security Now 318 | TWiT.TV

I watch Security Now... fun, geeky and educational (if u like computers)

Continuing to Work on Disability?

When unexpected medical retirement comes your way, what should you do? Something you love of course! Continuing to work for my aerospace employer for more than two years after ALS diagnosis was a great choice. I loved my job very much. When it became more difficult to drive to work, carry my laptop to meetings, get a fresh cup of coffee or even keep my energy up throughout a full workday, I had to make a decision. Stay at work and use the time still available while my muscles are working at their best to be in the office or to spend more time with family traveling or playing games around the house with the kids. It did not make sense to continue working until I could no longer function and "then" go home to be with family and not be able to do much.
It soon became clear that my progression would be slower than normal. I did not know this of course, when I was making the decision to quit work and be home. Even though I loved my job, in hindsight, I would still recommend quitting work ASAP when given a diagnosis of ALS. Some may disagree and have significant reasons to continue working, this is just my opinion. (Some significant reasons to continue going to the office would be financial, insurance coverage or it may be best if you do not have family around and would only be sitting at home becoming more depressed.)
After a few years, primarily spent promoting ALS awareness and fund raising, I wanted to continue doing things that I enjoyed. I continued with many of my hobbies, but almost all of them became impossible except for computers. Spending most of the day on my many computers as well as answering so many tech questions for neighbors, friends and family, I thought, why not make some money while doing this?
Not being able to speak very well and performing computer tasks at a slower pace, I knew that my advertisement and pricing structure would have to be customized. Much lower prices and word-of-mouth would be the only way to acquire customers. Only remote support would work, as even if I could get to a customers house, I wouldn't be able to perform hard drive upgrades or memory increases without help.
Then, the question became whether I could earn a small amount of money on disability. Were there any legal or tax implications? The answer is simply, yes, you can do it! I would encourage anyone in similar situations to go for it and use their free time to continue hobbies that they can still do. Even if I didn't make money, helping people out doing something that I love adds joy to my every day activities.
So, I started Roger’s Computer Tech Support at www.rogerchilds.com
Get to it PALS, live!

ALS and Keeping Active: Geo-caching

I thought that I would post a quick note about geo-caching and how much fun Connor, Brandon, and even Julie and I have been having doing this with the boys. Connor has even added a simple geo-caching page to his website HERE
Geo caching is a global treasure hunt with term aim and finding difficulties rated on a scale from 1 to 5. A rating 1/1 could theoretically be found by someone in a wheelchair having both accessibility of reach and terrain suitable for a wheelchair. On the other hand, a 4/4 may require extreme climbing, difficult puzzle solving, a long hike, underwater searching or possibly a few hours or overnight stay. A 5/5 includes difficulties at the top of mountain peaks, scuba diving, technical mountaineering and the like. I'd say that the majority of our findings are approximately 2/2 as is the case with most of the tens of thousands of geo-cachers.

Caching intro Video

It has also been fun to purchase travel bugs or geo-coins in order to keep tabs on where our collectables have been or are going. Some examples of collectibles or tracking bugs are shown below.
These trackables can log thousands of miles and hop from cache to cache for years to come .
Geo-cache hides can range from a simple microcapsules to a large 5 gallon Bucket. They can be disguised to blend in with their environment. One geo-cache we found required flashlights in a cave. Another required us to lift rocks and search near a river. Another was a very dangerous climb to the top of a tree and yet another was not a geo-cache at all, but a trash removal event called "Cache in, Trash out" CITO.


Of course, I watch my boys perform all of the aforementioned tasks. It's just fun to be out there with them and sometimes I help suggest hiding locations for them to look or help in solving the coordinate puzzles. Mom drives…
There is always something to learn when geo-caching. For instance, some geo-caches are called "Earth Caches". They may require you to observe a certain geological formation or other natural phenomena.

Here are pictures of NCAR in Boulder near the Flat Irons and also formations in granite that you need to identify while geo-caching. This is a xenolith. A xenolith is a rock fragment embedded in, and distinct in texture and composition from, a surrounding mass of igneous rock.
______________________________________________________
I am frustrated by my progression and some days feel as though my life is heading toward days of computer and Netflix all day. But I urge myself and you to get out there and find something that keeps you busy and most importantly, keeps you having fun with your family and friends.
Please check out this sport/hobby for ages 2 through 100 at www.geocaching.com. Accounts are free and you can even download a free app on your iPhone or android device. Connor purchased a geo-caching GPS made by Magellan with his own money, but it is not necessary.
If you join, send us a note @ user Agressor7. We have found over 150 geo-caches and have hidden 11 geo-caches five of which are very custom designed or puzzles. We even have a trackable on our car, so if you see such an emblem like the one shown left, be sure to log it on your account. Ours is 813K1Q
We have even used geo-caching to promote ALS awareness.  See our trackable below.

Have fun PALS !


.