The MPAA and RIAA have submitted their master plan for enforcing copyright to the new Office of Intellectual Property Enforcement. As the Electronic Frontier Foundation’s Richard Esguerra points out, it’s a startlingly distopian work of science fiction. The entertainment industry calls for:
* spyware on your computer that detects and deletes infringing materials;
* mandatory censorware on all Internet connections to interdict transfers of infringing material;
* border searches of personal media players, laptops and thumb-drives;
* international bullying to force other countries to implement the same policies;
* and free copyright enforcement provided by Fed cops and agencies (including the Department of Homeland Security!).
April 16, 2010 archive
Apr 16 2010
Intellectual Property Is Theft
Apr 16 2010
My Magic Marker Finally Paid Off
Cross-posted at DailyKos and Firefly-Dreaming.
After it was announced this week that New York City would make a “first major changes to the city’s recycling laws since 1989” and “require the Department of Sanitation to recycle all rigid plastic containers,” I know I played a small part.
I’d like to think that waiting my turn at public hearings and constant letters to elected officials had something to do with keeping “more than 8,000 tons of plastic out of landfills annually.” I wish my low impact DKos diaries played a part but I’m pretty sure that my graffiti had some serious impact.
For about a year whenever I found myself in the privacy of a public men’s room stall, I just scribbled some message on the wall. I also think that so many New Yorkers assuming that the city accepted all sorts of plastic played a role in the new legislature but a few saw my message.
Protest NYC’s limited plastic recycle program. Place all plastic in the Blue Bag!
I wrote other messages. Too many to remember but here are a few more.
Apr 16 2010
The Gangster Economy
(Cross-posted at Wild Wild Left)
I’m told that discussing the issues is important. I’m told it matters. But what good does discussing the issues do when the politicians in Washington don’t give a damn about the issues? All they care about is expanding corporate power so the corporate thugs they work for will reward them. It doesn’t matter what the issue is, they twist and distort it until it can be used as a pretext and justification for maximizing corporate profits and increasing corporate control over everything.
If you’re one of the few Americans who has a dollar left in your pocket, take a look at it . . .
I hope that clarifies the issues for you.
Apr 16 2010
Translator must be losing his mind. I agree with Beck 20100415
I feel that I am going insane. Glenn Beck actually said something with which I agree. I have a bad feeling in the bottom of my heart, but what he said actually made sense tonight.
He advocated bringing our troops back home, and reducing the size of our military footprint, worldwide. I have been advocating that for some time, but for him to come into communion with me makes me sort of nervous.
Apr 16 2010
The Week in Editorial Cartoons – Confederate History Month
Crossposted at Daily Kos
THE WEEK IN EDITORIAL CARTOONS
This weekly diary takes a look at the past week’s important news stories from the perspective of our leading editorial cartoonists (including a few foreign ones) with analysis and commentary added in by me.
When evaluating a cartoon, ask yourself these questions:
1. Does a cartoon add to my existing knowledge base and help crystallize my thinking about the issue depicted?
2. Does the cartoonist have any obvious biases that distort reality?
3. Is the cartoonist reflecting prevailing public opinion or trying to shape it?The answers will help determine the effectiveness of the cartoonist’s message.
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Nate Beeler, Washington Examiner, Buy this cartoon
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