Mp3 Controversy
Picture this: It's spring of 1999, and your day couldn't have gone better.
You woke up on schedule for the first time this semester, and hit absolutely no traffic on
the way to school. You aced your last final with the ease and grace of a champion. Life is
going well, almost too well. As you step into your 1979 rust-colored Chevy Nova, it
starts on the first try, something that it hasn't done since 1984. As you drive down the
highway, you hear an amazing song on the radio. At no time in your life have you heard
anything so remarkable, so astonishing, so unbelievably inspiring! You drive as fast as you
can to the nearest record store. As you run inside, you notice a colossal sized display, for
none other than the exhilarating tune you heard a mere five minutes ago. You dash up to
the display, seizing one of the shiney, brand-new CD's. Proudly, you saunter up to the
cashier, and announce your intentions to buy the CD. She responds with the kindness of
an angel: "Thank you, sir. That'll be $16.99 plus tax." You smile as you reach into your
pocket where you find an old movie stub, last week's gum wrapper, and exactly fifty-six
cents. You begin to panic, fearing that you may not be able to find enough money for
your newest prized possession. You delve into your other pocket and find nothing but
lint. Alas, the magic CD cannot be yours, and your flawless day is shattered. You
dejectedly walk out the store, your head in your hands. Without warning a mind boggling
revelation comes over you. "I can get it on my computer!" you shout. Everyone around
you starts to look at you awkwardly as you run through the mall shrieking : "My
computer! I can download it in the form of an MP3 file on my computer!" You proceed
to go home to download an MP3 file format, along with your inspiring song, right off the
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