2004 will be remembered for many things. History will show us that it is the year the entertainment industry went to the wall in an all-out bid to wipe out internet file sharing. It will also mark the beginning of the end for the RIAA and MPAA.

The very evil RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America) has been hammering file sharers since September, 2003, and has so far sued 6,191 people. Learning from their comrades in arms,  the Wall Street Journal recently reported that the equally evil MPAA (Motion Picture Association of America) has just mounted its own RIAA-style sue 'em all attack.

The entertainment industry finds it highly cost effective to sue normal people (like old ladies and students) with no financial or legal resources. They have no choice but to accept the entertainment industry's offer to 'settle'. (Where is David Bois now?)

Now, instead of running separate actions, the RIAA and MPAA will merge their resources and staffs to become the World Recording and Motion Picture Industry Association (WRAMPIA, pronounced 'wrampia').

Look at iTunes and MSN Music and the newest formation of Napster. THAT is a business model. Why did the RIAA reject this business model in the late 1990s? Now they are afraid of being left out and exposed for the expensive middle men that they are.

The movies are afraid that now with broadband the same thing will happen to them. They can’t fight the technology so they decided to merge. The last act of desperation by dying industry trade organizations.

Instead of suing your customers, figure out a way to make money with file sharing. It is easy. Apple figured it out. Microsoft figured it out. Napster figured it out. But you are too greedy.

Mt. Rainier had a 3.2 earthquake yesterday-one mile below the surface of the crater. Mt. St. Helens had a similar earthquake before is started to spew last month, but scientists say the two events are not linked. But five quakes greater than magnitude 2.0 were recorded Oct. 25-31-the same kind of activity on Mt. St. Helens.

I am just glad that I got to the top of Rainier this summer since if it goes, it will go big. I think it may go soon, it has been waiting 150 years. You heard it here first....

More bad news from this climbing season. The 7th person died on Mt. Rainier this year on October 25th. What is worse is that this is the first person do die this season on the Camp Muir side of the mountain. Two locals were hiking across a crevasse on Ingraham Glacier, 11,000 feet up the 14,411-foot mountain, near Disappointment Cleaver, when an avalanche hit. One guy had only his had free and dug himself to safety, but could not help his buddy at all. I camped at Ingraham Glacier at the foot of Disappointment Cleaver. :(

I am so glad that the election is finally over. Media overload the last few months. Now we can all get on with our jobs, lives, etc.

I won't comment on the election anymore except to say that the protesters are gone from Union Square and that is the most welcome development.

Legondary BBC Radio 1 DJ John Peel died today, the music industry has lost a great man.

I remember as a teenager listening to The Smiths, The Cure and New Order on the “Peel Sessions”.

RIP John, you will be missed.

Successful summit of Kili. Stay tuned for more details. :)

The trek starts tomorrow!

Airbus filed a petition in late August supporting Microsoft's appeal to overturn the EU's decision fining MSFT some $605 million (and use the money to subsidize French Farmers) over the Media player flap. Airbus said that, by the same logic, it could one day be forced to allow makers of galleys and seats other than its choice to outfit its new planes. The problem was that this was done in private. Only a few days ago it was made public.

Well yesterday Airbus said “oops we don't believe this was a good idea” and withdrew its petition.”

Yea Right. Mark my words, the European Commission pressured Airbus using the anti-US European governments that prop up Airbus to drop its brief via pressure from Airbus'  parent the (heavily subsidized) European Aeronautic Defense and Space Company.

These strongarm measures have to go. The EU should look up capitalism in the dictionary.  

Aiming to reconquer Wall Street's heart after a 2 year long nosedive (and promote its new Solaris 10 operating system) , Sun Microsystems President and Operating Chief Jonathan Schwartz FINALLY took direct aim at rival Red Hat Inc.

Speaking today here at a conf in New York, Schwartz said Sun Microsystems is offering a 50% discount on a Solaris right-to-use license for customers who are frustrated with Red Hat's Linux operating system.

Sun has to embrace Linux, not try to fight it. Game over.