Dear Mr. Tapscott,

It was my pleasure to hear you on public radio on Jan 2. Also, to read of your interest in mental health.

As a 67 year old homemaker (real estate broker, investor, widow)
I have advocated since cable TV entered my home town of Appleton, WI. 36 years ago for:

“credit for education” rather than “credit for time”
i.e. 3rd. grade is 180 days , 4th grade is 180 days, etc.

Monies from the federal level have come into Wisconsin for Charter schools, however all still have the bottom line of time.

My daughter home schools 3 children and I advocate for an upgrade from home schooling….a charter student status
a third choice for parents .

I continue to be an active advocate of “one”. It is lonely.

Our schools K-12, and churches continue to be:
authoritarian, military, indoctrinating, very similar to 80 years ago.

I wrote a book draft over 2 years ago. It is at http://www.chieffinc.org

I do not know how to write on such large subjects as money, education, culture, etc. in a manner to be understood by readers who are accustomed to dialogue about TV, and football. That is not to be negative about the people, but about our closed down, separated, cultural style of living.

The second theory, I advocate for is: we need to develop more “social capital”. A term made famous in the book BOWLING ALONE, from a study by monies of large non-profits.
“Social capital is the human energy, etc. of co-operating, networking, mentoring, bartering, supporting, etc.

I need help. Our culture does not take advice of little old ladies, even if I could get my head out of depression long enough to accomplish more than I do. The book ideas, if they were to come out under your name
might be heard. I would give up all rights to anything I have written.

Many of our children are being indoctrinated into depression, hopelessness, mental drop out, etc.by these antique education and religeous practices. We have produced a passive peoples, that feel that they can have no effect so they don’t try. When the electricity goes off, the people to people networking is not here. With the computer and money (an abstract) , we can be controlled from any swamp, anywhere. There are few if any places to “hang out”, without a specific time, place, agenda. There is not a community conversation of continuity that allows us to know about our teachers, doctors, politicians, etc. We are in the “information age” doing a “rat race” to create information that is in overload. Soon we will be in a “medical age” along with that, and that is becoming an abstract, third party, nightmare.

Thank you I am at your service.
Janet E. Van Asten 1035 S. Kernan Ave. Appleton, WI. 54915
920-734-0376 cell 920-850-6530 e-mail jan@intsol.net

Although not an expert in all forms of digital distribution, as a royalty free music website owner I am only too aware of the copyright issues surrounding my product. The systems and laws initially setup to protect composers rights and income streams are, in some cases limiting how a composer can offer their music and therefore limiting their income potential.

The royalty collecting societies are in this situation primarily through lack of understanding about new delivery formats and old school thinking continually fails to offer a suitable solution and in my opinions just continue to make the whole situation less clear for composers and music users.

I welcome movements like Creative Commons, where content can be shared with certain restrictions applied. It enables composers to offer free use of their music for personal use whilst protecting their rights to earn an income from their talent.

I think the whole music situation needs a serious rethink and that the most valid opinions in this area are those of the music user and music creator with the draconian institutions and corporations needing to listen to the people who are using and understanding the new technologies.

Lee Pritchard
Media Music Now