Mac Music Downloading? Options

[better]

What is the best recommended place to download music for mac? itunes is just too expensive even though it will be so convienent I just can't pay it. Is there anything better than Limewire? Is there anything that has a flat monthly rate or anything? This is so annoying.

[Mac Daddy]

pushtobreak. I've heard it before, although your Post was/is presented in an articulate manner are you saying:

Even though I spent 40 years learning music, paying dues, composing original musical ideas, lyrics, spentd my hard earn cash purchasing Hardware and Legal Software. It's alright for someone to just take it FREE?

Tell you what. If I found one of my songs were stolen and on someones iPod or whatever, I would take and keep that iPod. I'm very "Street" when it comes to justice. I would not take the thief to court, I would take their iPod. If they protested they would either have to kick my butt to get it back or take me to court. If the court sided with them, I would do time for assault. I will give or share what is mine, but if you take/steal from me, I feel 100% justified in bringing pure physical pain. I think I'm either going to jail or I'll have plenty of iPods for sale...

"Grasshopper San, foul-play would prove hazzardous to your health, especially when dealing with an angry opinionate elder. I would rather die than continue living knowing someone ripped me off. I don't negotiate with Music Terrorist. Om" (I'm joking about the Om, but nothing else)

[pushtobreak]

Mac Daddy,
It's quite funny, I was actually arguing for exactly the opposite. I too have spent many years now as a professional musician, spent a lot of money on gear and other peoples music. ('79-93 non-prof, '93-present pro, major label releases and last year, incredibly, a Grammy nomination). I hate the idea of people stealing music, which is what I believe it is unless the author has decided to give it away. I guess my argument was so obtuse that it was unclear (I can understand why as I have always been fairly anti-establishment.) But, as you pointed out and was my original point, the law of the "streets" is what is reality, or maybe that should be "jungle" or "might is right". Something I learned growing up in the streets of Brooklyn: someone always has a meaner older brother or crazier uncle or bigger baseball bat or even a gun that will change your mind. Law enforcement is nothing more than an extension of that concept but, it is there to serve the citizens, who hopefully have helped elect and push for laws that protect their interests. It is also an extension of the human contract. I do believe that if people who have a stake in losing their property continue to fight for what is theirs they will win...after all what is the argument for the other side? "music should be free"? How can anyone expect us to accept that? Yes, I believe my music is my property just like the owner of a patent, the author of a book or creator of software etc...our entire society is based on this. (At this point I could go on about the flaws of capitalism and the benefits of socialized medicine etc..but let's just say we deserve fair compensation for creative and technical achievements that benefit mankind. So, if someone could create enough funding for the arts that I didn't need to "sell" my music that would be fine by me too...but, until then...)

Taking a persons iPod isn't going to stop illegal downloading. The law is a much better threat. Hell, we pay taxes so laws will be enforced so, we don't have to go to jail to have justice... and while I don't necessarily like the idea, the government could kill or even Nuke someone for us and get away with it. Okay there I go again...anyway, read the last paragraph of what I wrote again, I think at least that's clear.