a2f2a

Hi everyone: I’ve just posted 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, even if it’s bare of posts. But I’ll have to put a2f2a.com to one side, at least while I get myself organised. I can’t say I’ve contributed much in the past little while, so I don’t think I’ll be any great loss.

All the best …

Truly.

Cheers!

Jon Newton

[PS - if anyone's looking for a writer with online experience ... ]

February 1, 2010