This is a topic that I feel very close to, since I depend on my work as a disk jockey as I would a second job. My work is done using a program called SAM Broadcaster to send streaming audio to a large server that then streams my broadcast to listeners all over the world. This is achieved using the internet in a way that I never dreamed possible as an intern at K-LITE radio at the age of 15.

Back then, the same process was achieved using satellite signals and a rather large dish. When sun spots would interfere with the transmission, we relied on someone constantly at the station to run the board should the signal die down. Internet radio has been around for years, though now more than ever it is a possibility for virtually anyone to pick up the hobby and share their mixes, creations, and shows with the world.

Thanks to Second Life, musicians are also finding themselves suddenly able to perform in front of an audience of 40-100 people with a moment’s notice. These performances allow music lovers to enjoy a virtualized feeling of going to a live show without the expense to both the artist and the listener of traveling to concert locations. An artist can share their music in a live way with people all over the world at a cost near zero.

Musicians can share their music on websites like The 61, and sell their work on iTunes and through other online vendors. Total costs to the artist again, next to nothing.

Whatever your feelings on virtual worlds, online music sales, DRM, or music in general is, there is no question that creativity and the independent artists are beginning to see the benefits of the internet in several ways.

I will admit I am somewhat disappointed at the difference between internet-based polls and site traffic and the real-world voting booths. According to the almighty internet, Ron Paul should be the candidate of choice, followed closely by Obama and Mike Gravel. Though Obama seems to be the only of the three that this writer has noticed generating serious internet buzz, the fact remains that the canidates with the most hits are the ones that appear to be striking out in the field of politics.

Ron Paul’s online backing has been described as nothing less than a revolution (Yes, coining the phrase from his own campaign slogan), while he takes a meager 1% during voting. Does this mean that the “mass online community” is just too busy or unwilling to take their effort to the polls, or that the online masses may still be in such a minority that a seemingly immense community is actually a very small number of the overall population.

Perhaps when voting goes online we will see a change in the process, but at least for now we have a median of getting information out that endless campaign commercials and billboard ads can’t provide.

Consider this somewhat unrelated and unresearched spill for what it is. I’m not a political expert, nor am I a Republican or a Democrat. I’m an observer that is caught off guard by what I view as a significant backing resulting in insignificant results at the polls.