Great audio for 3rd/4th year?

[alwaysaangel]

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Hey everyone,

Is there any really good audio books or lectures that someone would recommend for 3rd/4th year. Goljan, Buzzwords for boards, pharm recall were great for listening to while driving. And I figure I will be driving WAYY more in the upcoming years (probably 40-60 min/day).

So is there anything anyone would recommend?

 

[Pinkertinkle]

Kaplan USMLE Step II videos + MP3 conversion.

 

[Law2Doc]

Kaplan USMLE Step II videos + MP3 conversion.

I don't know if you can purchase these legally -- they used to be exclusively for in center use, and certainly can't convert them to mp3 legally. If you are advocating copyright infringement please stop doing so on SDN.

 

[Pinkertinkle]

I don't know if you can purchase these legally -- they used to be exclusively for in center use, and certainly can't convert them to mp3 legally. If you are advocating copyright infringement please stop doing so on SDN.

I'm not too clear on the history of kaplan videos.

 

[Keg]

mcmumbi podcasts

 

[Law2Doc]

I'm not too clear on the history of kaplan videos.

Then you should please stop advocating (on multiple threads on SDN now) that people "get" these then.

I agree -- the Mcmumbi Step 2 tapes are the only thing I've seen that is free and legal on the web. Not great, but you get what you pay for and some people find them useful. Or you can buy the "Recall" series which usually comes with a code so you can download those texts in audio format.

 

[Pinkertinkle]

Then you should please stop advocating (on multiple threads on SDN now) that people "get" these then.

In that case there are experiences threads with Goljan in every other post that you may want to have shut down. Oh and come to think of it the OP mentioned Goljan in this thread too, perhaps you should similarly advise him/her.

 

[Chuck's Right Foot]

We've started to move from physical media to streaming in-center only to deal with piracy issues. In the meantime, acquiring copies of the lectures is illegal.

 

[Law2Doc]

In that case there are experiences threads with Goljan in every other post that you may want to have shut down. Oh and come to think of it the OP mentioned Goljan in this thread too, perhaps you should similarly advise him/her.

We actually do shut down the threads explicitly advocating that others should obtain Goljan and/or saying where to get it, and in fact more than a few people have gotten TOS infactions for their posts. There's a huge difference between saying you used Kaplan (which could be legally at their centers) and found it helpful, versus telling people they should "get" it, and further, that they should convert it to mp3 (both copyright violations). Much as you can get away with saying you found Goljan helpful (as the OP did) without advocating that anyone else get it (which I suggest is still foolish on the OP's part because s/he is admitting on an open forum that s/he has illegally obtained bootlegs). But for you to advocate copyright infringement on multiple threads (as you have now done over the past few months) is really pushing the issue. Sure, there are semantics at work, but you are on the wrong side of the line that has been drawn quite some time ago on here.

 

[Pinkertinkle]

We actually do shut down the threads explicitly advocating that others should obtain Goljan and/or saying where to get it, and in fact more than a few people have gotten TOS infactions for their posts. There's a huge difference between saying you used Kaplan (which could be legally at their centers) and found it helpful, versus telling people they should "get" it, and further, that they should convert it to mp3 (both copyright violations). Much as you can get away with saying you found Goljan helpful (as the OP did) without advocating that anyone else get it (which I suggest is still foolish on the OP's part because s/he is admitting on an open forum that s/he has illegally obtained bootlegs). But for you to advocate copyright infringement on multiple threads (as you have now done over the past few months) is really pushing the issue. Sure, there are semantics at work, but you are on the wrong side of the line that has been drawn quite some time ago on here.

I've heard that some people used kaplan videos which were converted to mp3 and have found them to be helpful. I don't know where anyone can get them legally, however.

 

[alwaysaangel]

that they should convert it to mp3 (both copyright violations).

Quick off topic question on this. You've said this a couple of times, now obviously it would be illegal to take something you got illegally and convert it to an mp3. But is it illegal to do it in general? I mean I put my CDs onto my itunes - thats legal. So if I really felt the need to take a movie that I own and convert it to an mp3 because I really wanted to listen to that movie on my ipod (for my own use only). Is that really illegal? I mean people take their digital movies (legally obtained digital discs included with a movie they bought) and compress it down so they can watch it on an ipod. Is that illegal?

I'm honestly curious and since you mention it you seem to know.

 

[Chuck's Right Foot]

Quick off topic question on this. You've said this a couple of times, now obviously it would be illegal to take something you got illegally and convert it to an mp3. But is it illegal to do it in general? I mean I put my CDs onto my itunes - thats legal. So if I really felt the need to take a movie that I own and convert it to an mp3 because I really wanted to listen to that movie on my ipod (for my own use only). Is that really illegal? I mean people take their digital movies (legally obtained digital discs included with a movie they bought) and compress it down so they can watch it on an ipod. Is that illegal?

I'm honestly curious and since you mention it you seem to know.

You can only use the Kaplan videos in center. You do not own them. Your contract with the company explicitly states that they are for in-center use only. your contract also requires you to use only in-center computers. There is no lawful way to acquire mp3s of the Kaplan videos. I know i'm not L2D, but Kaplan pays my bills.

 

[alwaysaangel]

You can only use the Kaplan videos in center. You do not own them. Your contract with the company explicitly states that they are for in-center use only. your contract also requires you to use only in-center computers. There is no lawful way to acquire mp3s of the Kaplan videos. I know i'm not L2D, but Kaplan pays my bills.

Like I said that was an off-topic question. The question had nothing to do with Kaplan videos. I was just honestly curious if it was breaking a law when a person took a digital copy of a movie they legally owned and put it on their ipod. And law2doc was talking about it so I thought he would know.

To be honest, I've been to Kaplan sales pitches, and heard enough from classmates who took the step 1 course here in Irvine and I have absolutely no interest in them - I don't think they're THAT good or would benefit me.

 

[Chuck's Right Foot]

Like I said that was an off-topic question. The question had nothing to do with Kaplan videos. I was just honestly curious if it was breaking a law when a person took a digital copy of a movie they legally owned and put it on their ipod. And law2doc was talking about it so I thought he would know.

To be honest, I've been to Kaplan sales pitches, and heard enough from classmates who took the step 1 course here in Irvine and I have absolutely no interest in them - I don't think they're THAT good or would benefit me.

As to your question about copying stuff you own, the RIAA and MPAA want you to think it is illegal, but that is a grey area of the law.

 

[Law2Doc]

As to your question about copying stuff you own, the RIAA and MPAA want you to think it is illegal, but that is a grey area of the law.

Well, to avoid it being a gray area, virtually all companies now simply put in language in their licensing agreements making it illegal for end users to convert it in this way. Your rights to rip CDs and the like generally are wiped out by the fine print on the CD jacket, making it illegal to do this. FWIW, there is some gray area in terms of being allowed to make a "back-up copy" for your own use in some situations (esp in terms of computer software), but changing formats (from video to mp3 is not nearly as gray -- you are typically violating a copyright agreement when you do this). And since the Kaplan videos, as mentioned aren't even legally allowed to leave the premises, they don't even need to have such a licensing agreement -- it is two copyright violations, one when you obtain it, and another then you convert it to mp3. And the digital copyright laws are no joke -- you can get a $500k fine and up to 5 years imprisonment simply for doing this. It's a very draconian punishment and not one that's worth the few hours of audio time in your car.

 

[alwaysaangel]

Well, to avoid it being a gray area, virtually all companies now simply put in language in their licensing agreements making it illegal for end users to convert it in this way. Your rights to rip CDs and the like generally are wiped out by the fine print on the CD jacket, making it illegal to do this. FWIW, there is some gray area in terms of being allowed to make a "back-up copy" for your own use in some situations (esp in terms of computer software), but changing formats (from video to mp3 is not nearly as gray -- you are typically violating a copyright agreement when you do this).\

Good to know. I haven't bought CDs in years and have been just buying off itunes for ages. I didn't know it had changed so much. I know when I first got my ipod I put all my CDs on it - itunes came with software and instructions to do so. Interesting that its changed so much.

 

[Chuck's Right Foot]

Good to know. I haven't bought CDs in years and have been just buying off itunes for ages. I didn't know it had changed so much. I know when I first got my ipod I put all my CDs on it - itunes came with software and instructions to do so. Interesting that its changed so much.

It is legal to copy music you own. The RIAA tried to say that it wasn't a while ago, but there hasn't been any movement to make it so AFAIK, maybe L2D has more recent rulings to reference than I do...

 

[pseudoknot]

Well, to avoid it being a gray area, virtually all companies now simply put in language in their licensing agreements making it illegal for end users to convert it in this way. Your rights to rip CDs and the like generally are wiped out by the fine print on the CD jacket, making it illegal to do this. FWIW, there is some gray area in terms of being allowed to make a "back-up copy" for your own use in some situations (esp in terms of computer software), but changing formats (from video to mp3 is not nearly as gray -- you are typically violating a copyright agreement when you do this). And since the Kaplan videos, as mentioned aren't even legally allowed to leave the premises, they don't even need to have such a licensing agreement -- it is two copyright violations, one when you obtain it, and another then you convert it to mp3. And the digital copyright laws are no joke -- you can get a $500k fine and up to 5 years imprisonment simply for doing this. It's a very draconian punishment and not one that's worth the few hours of audio time in your car.

There really hasn't been a definitive ruling on this, but there is a strong argument that the right to fair use is not something that can be waived by shrinkwrap licensing. (This would apply to DVDs or CDs legally purchased, not to the Kaplan stuff.)

It's a marvelous state of affairs when the legal system is more concerned with copying a Britney Spears CD than rape, if I may say so.

 

[Law2Doc]

It is legal to copy music you own. The RIAA tried to say that it wasn't a while ago, but there hasn't been any movement to make it so AFAIK, maybe L2D has more recent rulings to reference than I do...

I don't think there are any really recent rulings (but a lot of settlements by folks the music industry went after and made examples of), but as I mentioned, the companies have now put language in the packaging making it an end user license violation to copy or rip the CDs. As pseudoknot suggests, this probably could be tested in court down the road, if you get caught and want to front the potentially hundreds of thousands of dollars it will take to make a federal case out of it, but for now you are looking at HUGE potential liability if you get caught doing this. And as mentioned above, this only is for CDs you own that you might have a shot at fighting in court and prevailing. Copying other people's CDs/DVDs is indefensible and pirating things over the internet is indefensible under US copyright law.

 

[Chuck's Right Foot]

I don't think there are any really recent rulings (but a lot of settlements by folks the music industry went after and made examples of), but as I mentioned, the companies have now put language in the packaging making it an end user license violation to copy or rip the CDs. As pseudoknot suggests, this probably could be tested in court down the road, if you get caught and want to front the potentially hundreds of thousands of dollars it will take to make a federal case out of it, but for now you are looking at HUGE potential liability if you get caught doing this. And as mentioned above, this only is for CDs you own that you might have a shot at fighting in court and prevailing. Copying other people's CDs/DVDs is indefensible and pirating things over the internet is indefensible under US copyright law.

None of the CDs I have have that language, but i haven't bought one in the last 6 months or so. Audio Home Recording Act of 1992 suggests that to say otherwise is not Kosher. Is this only on some labels? Do you have a copy of the text on the CDs? I haven't been able to google it.

 

[pseudoknot]

I don't think there are any really recent rulings (but a lot of settlements by folks the music industry went after and made examples of), but as I mentioned, the companies have now put language in the packaging making it an end user license violation to copy or rip the CDs.

I should also point out that an end user license violation is simply a civil (contract) matter, not copyright (criminal). There actually was a ruling recently that you can't prosecute someone criminally for an EULA violation (studying for boards now so I don't have time to find it).

The settlements have been for people who were file sharing (which involves transferring movies or music to or from people who don't own them).

Anyway, it sounds like we agree the state of fair use is up in the air, and that the scumbags in the entertainment industry would like to end it altogether. I certainly am going to continue to rip my legally purchased CDs into iTunes and do not believe anyone will come after me for it.

And of course I completely agree with the main thrust of the conversation, which is that pirating Kaplan or Goljan stuff is illegal and shouldn't be discussed here.

 

[Chuck's Right Foot]

I should also point out that an end user license violation is simply a civil (contract) matter, not copyright (criminal). There actually was a ruling recently that you can't prosecute someone criminally for an EULA violation (studying for boards now so I don't have time to find it).

The settlements have been for people who were file sharing (which involves transferring movies or music to or from people who don't own them).

Anyway, it sounds like we agree the state of fair use is up in the air, and that the scumbags in the entertainment industry would like to end it altogether. I certainly am going to continue to rip my legally purchased CDs into iTunes and do not believe anyone will come after me for it.

And of course I completely agree with the main thrust of the conversation, which is that pirating Kaplan or Goljan stuff is illegal and shouldn't be discussed here.

Thanks both of you for chiming in!

 

[CBG23]

What Kaplan audio/ videos are you guys talking about? Step 2 CS or CK?