p2pnet – last post
p2pnet view P2P:- Hi everyone: This will be p2pnet’s last post because, to borrow a phrase from Wikileaks, I can’t “meaningfully continue operations until costs are covered”.
I’m closing down. And so is Wikileaks.
“To concentrate on raising the funds necessary to keep us alive into 2010, we have reluctantly suspended all other operations, but will be back soon,” it says. “We protect the world — but will you protect us?”
I can’t claim p2pnet has been protecting the world, but I’ve done my best to unspin some of the vested interest corporate spin, and expose a few of the lies and corruption.
I launched p2pnet close to 10 years ago and in that time I’ve published thousands of pages on topics ranging from Big Music’s black-hearted persecution of its own customers, through the CBC’s amazing new US licensing plan to Is Michael Bublé a pot head? and The Wonder that is iPad!, to quote from some of today’s posts.
But that was the gloss. For the meat, I believe I’m the only person who’s consistently covered the stories of the victims of the RIAA sue ‘em all campaign from the beginning. And I know I’m the only one who’s stressed how the entertainment (and software) industries are corrupting the minds of our children in and out of their classroms. And all in the name of the bottom line.
I’ve also broken what I believe are important stories such as Google’s censorship in China, traffic throttling in Canada and the first mention of the Hollywood / Big Music ‘graduated response’ (three strikes) plans.
Please don’t misunderstand me. I’m not comparing myself to Wikileaks, but I truly believe sites such as p2pnet are absolutely essential for freedom of speech, and the health of the internet generally.
I’ve tried various offline ways to raise money to keep p2pnet going but half-an-hour ago I learned my last hope had gone down the tubes.
Wikileaks says its yearly budget is $600,000. Mine is about $40,000 (give or take, and with no room for frills).
If anyone’s interested in either buying in to p2pnet for up to 49%, or perhaps merging with me, please let me know.
Thanks to my host, Cliff Haerden over in Belgium, p2pnet will at least stay online and if anyone is interested in contributing posts, please send them to me – p2pnet @ shaw dot ca. If you do, please include sources, and let me know if you want to be named or anonymous. I’ll do my best to see they go up reasonably quickly.
For myself, my first priority will be to find a way to pay the mortgage and keep food on the table. When I’ve done that, I’ll turn to what I believe is a unique on- and offline communications project — p2pnet on steroids, in effect.
Of course, if I can pull any rabbits out of any hats, I’ll reboot p2pnet, even if it’s only on a limited basis.
Thanks to everyone who’s made p2pnet what it is and who’ve become my friends. Thanks to the people who’ve posted readers’ writes, and sent me tips. Thanks to the people who’ve allowed me to re-run their articles. And thanks to the advertisers and my anonymous sponsor who allowed me to keep p2pnet going for as long as this.
Truly.
Cheers! And all the best …
Jon Newton
[PS - if anyone's looking for a writer with online experience ... ]
Also see Me again 
Cheers! And thanks …
February 1, 2010
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February 1st, 2010 at 4:11 pm
sad
February 1st, 2010 at 4:31 pm
I am sorry Jon, I don’t have sufficient funds to keep you afloat, otherwise I would help. If I manage to come into funds, I will do what I can.
I hope you can find something to pay the bills.
February 1st, 2010 at 4:32 pm
This is most distressing news, whilst the format hasnt always been as good as it could be the content has been of benefit and a scope many other sites are unable or unwilling to match. P2p news is a site I have watched over for as many years as I have been on the net and has aided me in making useful decisions based on reading salient but little known facts, for this I thank you Jon.
I dont think we have heard the last of you Jon but for now once again my thanks for all the hard work and effort you have put in and I hope those folks who know of a way to fund p2pnet and keep it aloft of corrupt influence contact you pretty dam soon.
Is there anything normal folks like myself can do to help ?
February 1st, 2010 at 4:36 pm
Hi Jenna, Robert and Quartz.
Thanks. I have, as they say, a huge lump in my throat, but one can’t run on empty. I did what I could for as long as I could.
Cheers!
February 1st, 2010 at 4:39 pm
ah :/
You knocked them dead Jon!
February 1st, 2010 at 4:45 pm
Shit. This is bad, bad news.
February 1st, 2010 at 5:01 pm
This will wil be very good news for some.
February 1st, 2010 at 5:05 pm
your home and family has to remain your no1 priority mate. Well done for a great achievement, and if it is meant to come back it will do. No one can ever take away what you have done. kudos.
February 1st, 2010 at 5:09 pm
shit, shit, shit!!!!
the one and only p2pnet, has come to a close.
maybe its the end, or maybe not.
the only of its kind, its only for existance.
jon, singing his song for all to see.
spreading his words of truth, and cutting the corporate crap.
February 1st, 2010 at 5:19 pm
I know Joni Mitchell is one of your favourites Jon. As she sang, ‘You don’t know what you’ve got ’til it’s gone.’
I truly hope you won’t be gone for long and that someone somewhere will figure out a way to keep you going.
February 1st, 2010 at 5:33 pm
Good night sweet Prince!!
February 1st, 2010 at 5:40 pm
No p2pnet.net on iPad? = FAIL!
February 1st, 2010 at 5:54 pm
Could you add a (paypal?) donation link to the article?
I at least want to buy you a coffee for all your great articles. Maybe with something like this, but using your face instead of mine (and english text): http://draketo.de/bilder/Spende.png
It reads (translated) “if you liked my article, please give my what it is worth to you”
February 1st, 2010 at 5:58 pm
this might be the time for…
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/70/HWW_The_Last_Post%2BRouse.ogg
February 1st, 2010 at 5:58 pm
Hi Arne:
Thanks, mate. That’s really nice of you. I’ve added a button as you suggested.
Cehers!
February 1st, 2010 at 6:00 pm
@ Cody:
Thanks. But I’m not dead! 8)
Cheers!
February 1st, 2010 at 6:24 pm
Jon, I hate to hear this. Yeah, I understand, those little frills one grows used to like, a roof over the head, food on the table, and the ability to turn on the heat or a light at night count a lot for keeping momma happy. If momma ain’t happy, no one is.
I followed you here from the previous site. It seemed to fit me better. Beyond the passing interest in the guitar, it was never something that was going to pay the bills as I needed cash on a regular basis and not once in a while.
I wish I had the money to donate to worthwhile causes; your’s would be at the top of the list. Alas, lost the job 5 years ago and haven’t worked since. Plus a move came into the picture this year that wasn’t planned for but such is what life is made of.
The latest year has not been good news for any of us it seems, except for the rich and those corporations that are riding out the storm while trying to sit on everyone elses pocket books.
This has been my homepage for ages it seems. Always came here first to find out the what was cooking in the world. Other places I went to always seemed amazed when the occasional article came up about this or that shenanigan that the entertainment industry was pulling and I happened to be informed.
I will miss you until you make it back on line again. Yeah, times are hard but it’s in your blood. If you have the money, you gotta do it. I wish more than once I could have been that source.
February 1st, 2010 at 6:29 pm
@Jon: Your “coffee” is on its way. I hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoyed your articles!
February 1st, 2010 at 6:30 pm
@ RW: I kept going as long as I could and I have no regrets at all. Not even the court cases and legal threats.
And I’ve had only one nasty email so far. heh.
Cheers! And all the best …
February 1st, 2010 at 6:32 pm
@ Arne:
Thanks. And you know what? That’s exactly what I’m going to do. Next time I’m in the village I’ll have a coffee with you.
Cheers!
February 1st, 2010 at 6:39 pm
damn.
I’ve been looking at this site for years. A shame it has to end like this, out with a wimper.
Hope something eventually happens to change this fate.
February 1st, 2010 at 6:40 pm
@ iwoods:
Out with a wimper? I resent that.
Cheers!
February 1st, 2010 at 6:41 pm
What would it take to keep you online right now?
February 1st, 2010 at 6:45 pm
@ Paulus
Hmmm. I’d want to know I was OK for at least three months without having to worry about it.
We could probably squeeze by on about $10.5K Canadian, which might give me time to get something else happening.
Cheers!
February 1st, 2010 at 6:59 pm
If you are able to find other employment but work on this site as per donations (ads won’t cover cost thousands of page views a day?) it may be for the better. What I mean by this is that it will allow you to save up funding and you can still do some articles on the site but just not as many as for time allows. Not all p2p sites post many articles a day and some will go a day or so and then focus on certain events/articles. Many people return to the site for the comments section and to help/post/ect others. I know that hosting a site doesn’t cost that much as torrentfreak posted out (site).
February 1st, 2010 at 7:02 pm
I wish all for the best and why can’t you talk to tpb about having a support cost etc thing on their page like they did for wikileaks at least a few days ago? That would definitely raise funds. I don’t see why this would be a problem at all as if torrenters can support wikileaks, they cans support p2p news (just as important) .
February 1st, 2010 at 7:11 pm
Jon, sorry to hear funding has dried up. Hopefully there are enough better funded organisations out there that can see the same writing on the wall that you can and recognise the value of your news production to those who need to understand the future of online commerce and why it’s critically destined to be far more humane and liberal, and far less corporate and draconian (though it may not seem like that).
February 1st, 2010 at 7:32 pm
@ ed2k/kad:
Do you by any chance have a reliable email address for tpb?
Cheers! And thanks …
February 1st, 2010 at 7:52 pm
You will be missed Jon.
February 1st, 2010 at 8:03 pm
@ Crosbie:
Run that by me again?
Cheers!
February 1st, 2010 at 8:37 pm
Hi all:
My ISP, Shaw.ca, is having major email probs – nothing in or out. So if you’ve emailed me and I haven’t answered, that’s why. From the look of it, service won’t be resumed any time soon. Also, it’s unlikely that I’ll be able to retrieve it. So if it’s important, please wait until tomorrow and try again.
Stay tuned.
Cheers! And thanks …
February 1st, 2010 at 9:18 pm
I’m really sorry to see you forced to stop p2pnet, Jon. Thanks for everything – you have made a difference to the world and perhaps will again.
I’ve PayPal’d you a thankyou donation with a message. As your email is down, please log into PayPal to see it. I’ve signed it off as Cynix and you’ll recognize my email address.
What a time for Shaw to fall over.
February 1st, 2010 at 9:20 pm
Meanwhile the fat cats keep on getting fatter.
February 1st, 2010 at 9:21 pm
Jon, just saying I hope there are other sources of funding to step in and keep p2pnet going.
February 1st, 2010 at 9:29 pm
@ Crosbie:
I’m working on it. But first, got to feed the dog and cats. And Emma, of course.
Cheers!
February 1st, 2010 at 9:38 pm
Goodluck Jon on all your future endevors, you were a hero to some due to your loyalies for the people and not to corporate media. I’ve been a loyal fan reading many of your articles, I wish I had the same knowledge as you do about copyright and the fight against corporations.
Than you for all your hardwork, perhaps you should do one more final post directing people to other blogs about filesharing?
~Z
February 1st, 2010 at 9:44 pm
@ Zammy:
With TechDirt you won’t go wrong.
http://techdirt.com/
Cheers!
February 1st, 2010 at 10:38 pm
What Jenna said.
Thanks for all your work, Jon.
February 1st, 2010 at 10:51 pm
And thanks to you, Dorothy, for your support. You’ve been very generous.
Cheers!
February 1st, 2010 at 11:23 pm
It’s a sad day in the history of the internet, for a site like this to wind to a stop.
As an ex-editor, I understand the difficulties and the costs in keeping a web site going, it’s just a shame that I am not in a position to help much on my end.
P2Pnet was a site in which I felt that I could direct friends, fellow workers, on the atrocity toward network users, and how governments are being duped into working for the **AAs, the IFPAs, and JASRACs of the world. People who hide a large contempt towards the people that they are trying to dump their “product” on, as well as the artists, and look only toward supplying their own pockets, in a time of global recession.
I once wrote “I wonder what our present day would be like, if present day draconian copyright monopolies were in place in the 15th~
16th Century. Where our knowledge would be, if people had to pay for a look of a book in a library, if we went not allowed to “humm” the famous phrase from Mozart or Wagner. Which of these works would have survived until now?”
I still feel this is very true.
Culture must be shared and newly created, to avoid stagnation.
No matter how “great” a music, movie, picture, etc… is, if you’ve never seen it, it doesn’t exist. The reason that you can see it, is through the sharing of information. The main people who suffer through sharing, is those who try to peddle off lousy excuses for a product.
Avatar is living proof, that something well done, and innovative, can still bring money into the hands of the creators, even if there are hundreds of copes out on the net.
P2Pnet was one of the few venues that gave an intuitive report on people and corporations that are trying to Kill this innovation, to attempt to fill their own pocket, until they move to another hand-out job, and let the present market die, and it will be missed.
Best of luck to you Jon, and if you are ever in this neck of the woods (Tokyo), look me up.
Andrew Smith
aka Just my two cents
February 1st, 2010 at 11:32 pm
Thanks, Andrew. I’ve always wanted to see Japan.
Cheers!
February 2nd, 2010 at 12:23 am
Best of luck to you. I understand about the need to find gainful employment, bills have to be paid. Hopefully once you find new employment you’ll be able to make an occasional post here and there, just to keep in touch.
February 2nd, 2010 at 12:33 am
@ Monkey:
As long as p2pnet is still online, there’s still a chance …
Cheers!
February 2nd, 2010 at 12:42 am
Good luck Jon, maybe someday soon you can ramp it back up!
Best of luck to you and the family, I know what it’s like to struggle with theses things.
(been outta work over a year now)
May the Lord bless you and keep you!
Alan :AKA:
NO1UNO
February 2nd, 2010 at 12:57 am
Such a bummer that more funding can’t come your way. I cant understand why some companies wastes millions of advertising dollars on things no one cares about but doesnt bother to put it towards things that actually matter to people. This site was a site I go to every day more then once and am sad that I may not be able to read new articles. There really isnt a place to get all the information you provide. The local papers on the island or even Vancouver dont even have a technology section. If the newsprint media thinks the iPad is such a great thing you would think that they would have tech type storyies for information geeks to read about. Nope they dont. Id rather read p2pnet with my breakfast then the Province.
February 2nd, 2010 at 2:35 am
This is very sad news. You have made a difference with this site. Thank you.
February 2nd, 2010 at 3:46 am
jon,
i emailed early in the day, but in case you didn’t recieve it – thanks for a great job. It is much appreciated. p2pnet has been a valuable resource and platform. I’ll drop some lunch money (as much as I can afford) in the tip jar. Thanks again.
-bill glahn-
February 2nd, 2010 at 4:18 am
Just wondering… everyone has a hobby. So is it possible that you might want to do the odd story every now and then? Perhaps on the most major developments. That would leave you time to earn money for living.
February 2nd, 2010 at 4:19 am
@jon message sent 2m. Hope4ly will g3t soon.
Post when you get your mail up & well talk more then.
February 2nd, 2010 at 4:48 am
@Jay: That’s what I thought.
Then I thought “and hell, I pay 20 Euro a month for an independent german newspaper (independent from advertising through a ‘Genossenschaft’ of 9000 people who put in their money as well as many subscribers: http://www.taz.de/zeitung/genossenschaft/) – since yesterday for the online-version instead of the dead-tree-version – so I can also give Jon some money for his articles.
If we want high quality journalism which is independent from big companies, we can’t wait for companies to discover that independent and critical voices are necessary for a free society.
February 2nd, 2010 at 9:28 am
@ ed2k/kad:
The mail is back – p2pnet @ shaw dot ca.
Cheers!
February 2nd, 2010 at 10:54 am
@ Bill:
Thanks for the lunch money.
Cheers!
February 2nd, 2010 at 12:45 pm
I may be able to get much of the my news via sites like TechDirt, EFF DeepLinks, TorrentFreak, and the like, but I’ll miss the P2PNet experience. Good luck.
I also have a question for any other readers who see this. Can anyone recommend any feeds that would do a good job of making up for the loss of the Kids and Kartels category?
February 2nd, 2010 at 12:58 pm
^^ I think I’m the only one paying any serious attention to how the kartels are mind-raping kids (at least as far as P2P sites are concerned). But if there’s another one, I’d like to learn about it.
Cheers!
February 2nd, 2010 at 3:53 pm
I’ll keep it simple ‘so long and thanks for all the fish’
February 2nd, 2010 at 6:22 pm
@RW2 posts up:
“I also have a question for any other readers who see this. Can anyone recommend any feeds that would do a good job of making up for the loss of the Kids and Kartels category?”
Nope. Nothing dug up the dirt like p2pnet & exposed it for what it is. Even then, no one stated it the way Jon has.
That aside, I personally think Jon should take a break from this. I think he’s been going about 19-months now non-stop (been about that since he last went on vacation) and increased his writings by 2 days during that time (prior to that it used to be 5 days a week, then he pushed 7 for 19 months about). CrAzIE guy.
February 2nd, 2010 at 7:33 pm
@Zammy
“Than you for all your hardwork, perhaps you should do one more final post directing people to other blogs about filesharing?”
A caveat on this one – I don’t think Jon and Tom got along very well, IDK why. Having said that, besides the afore mentioned techdirt, there really aren’t a lot of sites discussing p2p from the file sharer side of the issue as opposed to corporate propaganda, so with that I give to you: http://www.slyck.com/
February 2nd, 2010 at 8:59 pm
Slycks is mostly a paid advertiser for news groups these days, many folks come away from their disillusioned by the attitudes of the moderators and I myself stopped using it after just such an event, Tom is very savvy about not calling the cartel what they really are and does not bother to turn out many original stories these days instead prefering to let the site act mostly as a news aggregator, if you like the news spoon fed to you like that then yes indeed head over to there, if however you like it raw and throwing punches rather than taking them then put your hands in your pockets to keep Jon here afloat.
February 2nd, 2010 at 9:05 pm
Well, shit.
February 2nd, 2010 at 10:04 pm
I wasn’t saying Slyck was awesome, I was just pointing out that if this site becomes inactive, which it looks like it will, there really aren’t a lot of other sites out there that I’m aware of. Techdirt was mentioned, and sometimes slashdot has p2p news sans RIAA spin. I’d love to see this site remain active, but I have a feeling a lot of the posters are by no means wealthy and can’t afford to keep it afloat. Can’t speak for any other country but the U.S. economy has been going through a suck a thon since Bush with no sign of improving.
February 3rd, 2010 at 6:45 am
Maybe I,m being a bit harsh Monkey, my apologies, its a real shame all of us are in the same boat and if things continue others may be joining us, forget 3 strikes, war and economic costs are going to cut down on the amount of folks using p2p and the net.
I will be looking at my pay packet at the end of this week however to see what I can divert to Jon and I ask all of you to do the same, many mice can become an army but we all need to share our cheese if we are to stand united.
February 3rd, 2010 at 12:14 pm
Dear Jon Newton, There is no need for this site to close down. Simply “being” online is usually enough. Why not just run an Apache webserver from home and host the site? Or have a small webhosting company host it for next to nothing a year. Learn some web page development and have some volunteers help run the show. You don’t need 40k a year to run this site, much less 40$. If you really want to keep the site up, you can. Take out a few of the bandwidth sensitive stuff on the page, or cut back on some content? You can keep it up and running if you want to.
February 3rd, 2010 at 12:24 pm
Rvx, this isn’t Jon’s ‘spare time hobby’ that he does in a couple of hours when he gets home from a highly paid job in the city. And as for the hosting, that’s sorted (could be self-hosted as you suggest – at a push), but that’s not the problem. The funding is to pay Jon to produce p2pnet INSTEAD of finding employment elsewhere. Up until now Jon has found funding from savings/advertising/sponsorship/patronage, but it has run out.
February 3rd, 2010 at 12:39 pm
Jon
You are not grasping the truth.
Guys like you, dreamers, artists can never stop doing what they believe in or telling the truth.
That is human nature.
Thus, I think you will continue or be back.
We will all benefit from that.
In the “we” included are artists who never get their royalties from the music industry and music lovers that are treated as criminal by that same music industry.
No matter what, good luck in your endeavors.
If you ever come by Puerto Rico, look me up.
February 3rd, 2010 at 12:58 pm
@ Rafael:
“If you ever come by Puerto Rico, look me up.”
I will.
Thanks.
Cheers!
February 3rd, 2010 at 5:43 pm
Jon, are you serious? Well, if you are, I’m sorry it had to be this way. I really loved P2P.Net and I’m sorry I didn’t offer support sooner. So I’ll tell you what: I was really inspired by Quartz’s message about ‘sharing the cheese’ and I will see what I can donate. But you have to promise that you’ll come back, okay? I don’t mean to pressure you, but a lot of people need more of the truth and the world truly needs people like you to wake it up. So thanks for everything.
February 3rd, 2010 at 6:02 pm
@ kcb19892000:
I know this is probably going to generate a few more accusations of me trying to ‘scam’ people by saying I’m closing down and then I start posting again, but as of tomorrow, I’m going to try to resume pretty much as-was. This isn’t because I’ve suddenly come into some $$$. It’s because I’ve just agreed a trial with a new advertiser and to earn anything, I’ll need to have posts up.
This is OK with me because I have to tell you, I really miss doing what I’ve been doing for all these years.
So we’ll see how it goes.
Cheers!
February 3rd, 2010 at 8:23 pm
The only group with more farewell tours is the Eagles.
February 3rd, 2010 at 8:51 pm
@ Sam I Am:
I’m not a group. If I was, I could organise a benefit concert for myself.
Anyhow, I really thought this was the end, but I’ll be very happy to be wrong. We shall see.
One thing’s for sure. A lot of your friends will be well and truly pissed off if p2pnet does make it out alive.
8)
Cheers!
February 4th, 2010 at 3:22 am
Put a notice for some indie artists that might be willing to do a benefit concert. I would imagine the bands would love the publicity, and find a skilled publicist that is willing to donate to your efforts.
You can do it.
February 4th, 2010 at 4:45 pm
Thanks jon for all you have done! Please Keep P2pnet Up !! Find the path to success, we really need you in are community. Hope the new advertiser works out for you because P2PNET can’t not go offline!! Please STAY UP!!
February 14th, 2010 at 4:50 am
Jon I do not have a reliable (meaning they will listen to) email addressee (or other way of contact). I can contact them but that does not mean that they will always respond/etc. Sometimes they do, sometimes they don’t when I messaged them about you they didn’t. Sorry