Category: Uncategorized

Last night I attended a talent show at the local gradeschool. Some kids danced, some played piano or guitar, heck some of them even sang. One little girl sang what is commonly know as “Happy Birthday” and that’s where the trouble began…

First off, I realized that she was publically performing the song, which is fine, I mean, I assume the little girl (or her parents) paid the neccessary royalties to allow her a public performance of the song, right?

But what happened next was unthinkable! She encourage everyone in the audience to sing along! Now, I don’t know if this kid’s royalty payment covered everyone in attendance so I sat quiet, and told my kids to do the same, expecting the ASCAP lawyers, or the Thought Police, or someone to come busting in at any minute.

Am I making this up? Am I being extreme? Let’s check with Snopes, and a page titled Happy Birthday, We’ll Sue:

…royalties are due for public performance, defined by copyright law as performances which occur “at a place open to the public, or at any place where a substantial number of persons outside of a normal circle of a family and its social acquaintances is gathered.”

See? I’m not making this stuff up. Sorry, but you gotta protect yourself these days, you can’t just go around willy nilly singing “Happy Birthday” without expecting some consequences.

(Of course you shouldn’t do anything willy nilly, right?)

I think the only thing that makes me more sad than not implementing (or just plain ignoring) standards is when someone comes just that close to actually implementing standards, or even does implement some standards, and then completely ignores others, or does 90% of the work, or adds in their proprietary crap on top that makes it non-standard, and makes little babies cry.

And then there’s the whole lock-in thing, don’t get me started on that one!

Ok, you can’t actually be an “Eccentric Weirdo” and do you know why? Because while an eccentric and a weirdo may seem quite similar (and indeed they are) there is one big difference that separates them.

Money.

Yup, if you are weathly and act strange, you are eccentric, while those of us without overflowing bank accounts are considered weird.

It really is that simple. Are you an eccentric and want to become a weirdo? Just get rid of all your money! Any further actions that deviate from the norm will gain you the ‘weirdo’ label. Are you a weirdo wishing to become an eccentric? Find a way to get money! Once you have money any quirks in your behavior will be attributed to the fact that you are eccentric.

If anyone doubts me on this just send me large sums of cash and watch how I transform from weirdo in eccentric almost instantly…

So how do you decide which VoIP ATA to get?

(You know, besides the fact that you want one not locked to a specific company/service…)

There are ATA’s from voipsupply.com, and SIPhardware has a few as well. I’m sure there are others sources too…

I suppose much research is in order!