Archive for May, 2008

Entering the world of free music downloads can be a daunting prospect. The software – that is clearly critical to your success – could well be the recipe of your downfall. Pick the wrong download client and you may be put off filesharing for life.

Ares Ultra is the user friendly software that aims to put new users in control from the start. Not only is the clean interface uncluttered and easy to use, the entire software package has been designed from the start to work with a minimum of fuss. Ares Ultra is refreshing in its no nonsense approach.

Ares Ultra’s wonderful simplicity is also its minor downfall. While it hides the uncommon functions from the causal user, so it hides them from the expert or power user. The functions are there, somewhere, but if you’re someone who likes to test the software to its limits you may find the jumping between hidden functions in large menus a little tedious. Other than this Ares Ultra is definitely a winner.

Salvia Divinorum, the hallucinogenic native to Mexico, has been subject to a lot of media coverage lately. The focus of this interest has largely centered around the dangers – real or perceived – that campaigners are associated with the substance. Salvia has, until now, largely been able to travel under the radar and is still legally available in most states and in most countries throughout the world.

Assemblyman Anthony Adams has introduced legislation to restrict the sale of Salvia to those under the age of 18; the drug, he says, can be very dangerous and possibly even life-threatening.

A small dose of the concentrated form of salvia induces a unique hallucinogenic state unlike that caused by other hallucinogens, says Dr. Charles Grob of the Harbor-UCLA Medical Center. Grob goes on to state that, in his opinion, making the sale of the drug to under 18s illegal will simply drive it underground, with possibly even more dangerous consequences.

The music industry has been rocked in a number of ways recently, and not least because of the quantity of free music downloads being offered by various artists and organisations. Pleasant surprises in the form of Peter Gabriel’s We7 and Sony’s full-on (and new-found, AND very surprising) commitment to free music downloads really do promise to turn around an industry that was in danger of stagnating.

Some groups are leaping on the free music downloads bandwagon (excuse the pun) and offering entire albums for free – or at least very close to it. Last year Radiohead’s “In Rainbows” allowed fans to pay as much as they wanted for the download version; Nine Inch Nails’ latest album “The Slip” is being offered on the band’s website for free. The band’s leader, Trent Reznor, said, “Thank you for your continued and loyal support over the years – this one’s on me.” Free music downloads is alive and well.

Salvinorin A is the active ingredient in Salvia Divinorum, a substance that is quickly gaining popularity – and notoriety – as one of the strongest known naturally occurring hallucinogenic drug. Some states have already banned the use of Salvia Divinorum with many others beginning slow process to legislate against it.

Studies have shown that Salvia Divinorum works on the same area of the brain as morphine and other drugs derived from opium. Says Dr. Bryan Roth, a eminent scientist in the field: “This compound seems to have absolute specificity for a single receptor site on the brain.”

Salvia Divinorum is widely available on the internet and at some specialist outlets throughout the United States – the country in which it seems to be gaining most attention – and legislation to make it a controlled substance has failed twice in that country’s Congress. Why? Salvia Divinorum is a member of the sage family and is a very close cousin of flowing salvia plants that just may appear in your garden.

Finally the big players in the media world are realizing that the business model of selling CDs in the high street is no longer sustainable. This has been on the horizon since unlimited music downloads became available through media such as torrents and file sharing. Businesses such as Sony could do nothing except attempt to sue their way to profit, and it was clear that their attempts were nothing short of desperate.

Now Sony appear to have seen the light somewhat and have joined forces on a number of fronts to offer, on the back of a variety of different services music downloads of its substantial back catalogue. Partnerships with Nokia will see unlimited music downloads being offered to its customers.

This comes at the same time as Vodafone’s and O2s recent talks with sharing demi-god Napster. To what extent these talks will result in music downloads to users is unclear but it would be advisable to keep your eyes peeled.

What others are saying:
Music downloads
music downloads are catching on!