Internet radio helps Hawaiian music sales

Please do not let Internet Radio Hawaii fade off into the sunset. IRH is our only direct connection to the Land of Aloha from here on the mainland. As frequent visitors to the Big Island, my wife and I are ever grateful for the 24-hour Hawaiian music that Webcaster Robert "Rabbett" Abbett supplies for free to us and others like us around the world.

Now our access to IRH is threatened by the Digital Millennium Copyright Act passed by Congress, which will force Webcasters to pay royalties in excess of 100 percent of their revenues.

The record industry complains about losing sales because of the free music Internet radio provides. On the contrary, Internet radio generates CD sales. How else could people who do not live in Hawaii hear your beautiful music and know what CDs to buy? I have purchased several hundred dollars' worth of Hawaiian music CDs from an online source based in Hilo.

The politicians in Hawaii have one of the best ways to promote tourism right under their noses, but they don't seem to recognize it. If the people in the state government had a clue as to how beneficial Internet radio is to the people and economy of Hawaii, they would support Internet radio and not let the DMCA kill it.

If our lawmakers allow Internet radio to be killed, they'll have done a disservice to the countless people who love and support Hawaiian music for the sake of a privileged few.

Ron Wilson
Valrico, Fla.

Hawaiian music lovers should support IRH

Though a long way from the islands, my heart is always there and Hawaiian music, in all its forms, is part of the joy. But without Internet radio -- and specifically Internet Radio Hawaii -- I'd be musicless.

Because of exposure to new music on IRH, I buy CDs that I would otherwise never even hear of. I would like to encourage all Hawaiian musicians to support free Internet radio by giving IRH permission and waivers of performance royalties. Free Internet radio provides artists with worldwide exposure and the best advertising possible, the music. Time is short, so please act now.

Dan Bowman

Make the inmates sleep in shifts

Ronald L. Edmiston was right about the fact that the idea of building a prison seems to come up only in election years (Letters, Star-Bulletin, Aug. 15). Maybe our politicos are vying for the criminal vote.

We should not spend one more penny on building more prisons, but instead try to make what we have more efficient.

The article Edmiston references (Star-Bulletin, Aug. 13) asks for millions to fund a new, 1,100-bed facility in Halawa Valley, which looks like $240 million-plus to me after the lease is up. Then we buy it for some undisclosed amount. Sounds like a Bishop Estate transaction.

My plan is: Keep the existing facilities and have the convicts sleep in shifts. It's good enough for our fighting men serving on submarines and other vessels, so why should the incarcerated have it any better?

Here are some benefits:

>> no additional capital outlay;
>> more jobs, as additional staff would be needed to handle the 24/7 operation;
>> lower crime rate, as maybe, just maybe, someone will think twice about having to share beds with some uku-laden predecessor.

The downside:

>> lower political campaign contributions from companies wanting to capitalize on our social woes.

Larry Solomon

Catholic church needs better legal advice

The Catholic church desperately needs to rid itself of its current attorneys and hire some decent ones. Perhaps the current team misinterpreted the expression "a good defense is a good offense" by construing it to mean that they should be offensive instead of being on the offensive. Someone should explain the difference to them, and then fire them.

The Catholic church must not participate in any defense that lays blame on victims and their parents for the reprehensible behavior of a very few of its priests.

Robin Makapagal
Kaneohe

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