Filed under: disinfo reporting, new media, tv | Tags: Bill C-61, Canadian copyright law, Canadian DMCA, Michael Geist, Steven Page
This post is really just a “shout out” to the naysayers of my previous posting on this topic. I knew that it wouldn’t receive as warm a welcome as the posts on trying to speak “truth” to a union on Copyright Law. Thank you for the e-mails. I appreciate hearing your feedback even when you’re saying, “you’re nuts, man!”.
I may be nuts, but I do read articles top to bottom…
Maybe I’m nuts because I actually do read the news. But I’m not so sure that it makes me a conspiracy theorist. All the same, for the record… the implications of Steven Page’s arrest, and the subsequent media coverage does shine a light on a couple of topics that are *not* being covered.
Do I think that the cops in NY “had it in” for Page?
No. More precisely, I don’t know. From the information that we have, the police were investigating a car in a driveway that had its driver’s side door open. That is the pretext that they have used for approaching the house.
Now, not to go off on a tangent here, but while I say that the actual cops may not have had anything personal against Page, I’ll be sure to close the door to my car next time I go back into the house. Not that the Patriot Act and a general sense of Homeland Insecurity wouldn’t stop any U.S. official from entering your house *whenever* they wanted…
Remember… he’s pleading NOT GUILTY to the charge of possession. Page and his friend Stephanie Ford “invited” the officers in when they knocked on the door. I have a hard time believing that the BNL frontman said, “Yeah, come on in…. we’re snorting cocaine.”
A note on “conspiracy theories”…
I’m certainly no stranger to the pejorative term “conspiracy theorist”, but since I have hinted at the possibility of “conspiracy” behind the negative coverage of one of the leading voices in Canada against major label monopoly and the the industry cartel that drives support for Bill C-61, I’ll indulge in a quick look at “conspiracy”.
“Conspiracy” is a cornerstone of our legal ability to charge someone for a crime. “Conspiracy to commit…” is a fairly common bit of language heard in legal cases all over the world. (Note: I’m not a lawyer, but I have played one in summer stock theatre….I’m lying…that’s a bad joke….I’ve never even played a lawyer…)
I’m sure that Steven Page (and no doubt, his lawyers) will not be entering my blog into the record as evidence. I doubt that they’ll fight this on the grounds of conspiracy (I’ll even take a wild guess that even Page himself doesn’t agree with me…).
BUT – to think that “conspiracies” to take out opposition, or to “take down” opposition in the corporate world do *not* exist, is just foolishness. If I had the time, I’d post a list of current Wall St. Execs that are currently under investigation or being prosecuted for “conspiracy” crimes. Think Enron….
Do I think that Page is a “big enough” target for the Copyright Cartel to focus on?
Yes.
In fact, I think that he’s just about as big a target as one can be in Canada. He’s not just a vocal opponent…he’s a *very* vocal opponent.
I realize that this is supposition on my part, and I’m only putting it out there as an “alternate take” on what’s happening. I doubt very much that even Page himself would condone my point of view, but then again…. he’ll probably let his lawyers do all of the talking.
It’s a “hot” time for Canadian Copyright law and considering that Michael Geist has just announced the C-61 in 61 Seconds Competition (for which Page is listed as a judge), it’s just *brilliant* timing to have Steven Page’s credibility called into question.
Now, before you jump to the conclusion that Industry Canada is f****** with Fair Copyright For Canada’s Youtube Competition (that’s not *at all* what I’m saying), I’ll just gently remind you that when you look at the “story” of Steven Page’s arrest on the news, or on-line….just check to see if Page’s words (in “quotes”) match up with the claims that are being made by the news-wires or news-readers.
I’m no expert on Occam’s Razor…
…but I for one find it easier to believe that the media runs stories that they’re *told* to, as opposed to believing that Steven Page is an “out of control” coke-fiend who’s charges are equitable to alleged “sex crimes”.
Call me crazy, but I just see more evidence for the former as opposed to the latter.
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Barenaked Ladies, Bill C-61, BNL, Canadian copyright law, Canadian DMCA, privacy, Steven Page
It’s a media whack job, folks…in other words, “Character Assasination”…
Yes, a rock-star got caught with some blow and a younger woman. Pardon me while I go put on my “surprise face” …OK…I’m back…see my shocked look?
I’ll admit, I’m a *huge* BNL fan, and when this story first broke, I wanted to watch the “facts” get reported from the get-go and see how the story “progressed”. The story has dominated our media for the past week with scant attention paid to the actual words printed, versus what is being put in bold headlines that are used to buy influence with those who only have a “headline” knowledge of the news.
BARENAKED LADIES SINGER ADMITS TO SNORTING COKE!!
I’ve been hearing this repeated on TV, Radio, Internet and Newspaper. Not to argue semantics here, but his actual quote from the court trancripts (at least, the one that they run halfway through the articles) was:
I’m not saying that he *didn’t* snort it or have the intention to snort it, but answering in the affirmative to a police officer if the substance in question is or isn’t cocaine is a hell of a lot different than answering that same cop with, “Yeah, it’s cocaine….and I was snorting it!“.
If he admitted to snorting it….why is he pleading NOT GUILTY?
If you’ll pay close attention to any of the articles that are being written about Steven Page, you’ll notice that he isn’t talking. The band has said that they stand behind him as he fights the charges. That’s all they’re saying for now since he goes in front of a judge next month.
But, what we do know is that he’s pleading “not guilty” to the charge of possession. It was in Stephanie Ford’s (the girl he was with), testimony that they “snorted” with a “Canadian bill”.
I can think of another Canadian Bill that may want Page snuffed out…
Yep…I think that Steven Page is getting “knee-capped” on purpose. He’s in a one of the biggest bands out of Canada and he’s a very vocal critic of Bill C-61. The fact that articles are even mentioning him in the same sentence as the Eric Nagler case or Pee-Wee Herman is proof enough to me that the PR-machine has been kicked into high gear on this for a reason (and let’s remember that Nagler was actually *innocent*…).
Never let the facts get in the way of a good opinion…
There are some serious privacy issues that have been over-looked throughout the telling and re-telling of Steven Page’s arrest. I’m sure he’s wishing that they hadn’t “invited” the officer in, though… I’ll bet they didn’t think that cops were wandering around the place checking on the car with the open door in the driveway (the premise for their arrival).
Isn’t ironic that the man who is a public critic about the proposed changes to the Canadian Copyright Act has found himself fighting for his credibility? I wonder if the “Ladies” had stayed with and supported the major labels and CRIA (and RIAA), if they would have access to “protection” for charges like this (meaning: corporate lawyers).
Don’t let the bastards get you down, Steve!!
***UPDATE: A LITTLE MORE ON STEVEN PAGE GET’S “WHACKED”…****
