For those who don't see the Internet as a destructive force in intellectual property protection, I present this story on how the new Harry Potter book is available on P2P sites, in its entirety. As far as I can tell (because I certainly won't be downloading it), these are simple scans.
Just imagine if (when) books go digital in a big way. Then, authors will have the same concerns as musicians and movie producers. Maybe even bigger problems, because there are no conversion quality issues to contend with. There are just words.
Update: And, here we have Boing Boing excusing the theft, because "the kind of person who downloads a series of photos of the pages of a giant novel is also the kind of person who'll line up and buy a copy the night it comes out." The temerity of the anti-intellectual property crowd astounds me. This is a completely unjustifiable and unprovable assumption, and it's completely irrelevant to the issue of the theft.
The owner of the property is the only person (or people) with the right to determine if, when, and how that property will be made available, at what price and under what terms. That's what ownership of property means. To so blithely dismiss such a theft demonstrates Boing Boing's inherent disdain for the very concept of intellectual property (and, from some of their posts on how to circumvent it, for the law itself).
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
Bad News on Putin Continues to Roll In
More damning information on Putin, from the Wall Street Journal. I hope everyone's reading this stuff. It's going to really, really matter one day (hopefully not too) soon.
Update: Some more, from The Spectator.
Update: Some more, from The Spectator.
A Glimpse of the Chinese Military
Some info on the Chinese military. It's big, but it's mainly a threat to Russia (who China seems to be cozying up to lately) and, primarily, Taiwan. The chances of one of those 2.3 million Chinese regulars ever setting foot on American soil is about nil.
And honestly, I was sure that they had more troops. But, I did read a recent story that showed that they have far more nukes than I'd thought. So, I suppose the two balance each other out.
And honestly, I was sure that they had more troops. But, I did read a recent story that showed that they have far more nukes than I'd thought. So, I suppose the two balance each other out.
China Sentences Another Government Official to Death
Say what you will about the Chinese, when middle management screws up, there's a serious penalty. In this case, the guy running the kiln accused of using slave labor is to be put to death.
It seems like the Chinese are easier with the death penalty than the US, which doesn't seem to be mentioned often when the issue comes up here in the States. Maybe the Chinese government sees it as a viable means of population control. And, I'm not too sure that I'm joking about that.
It seems like the Chinese are easier with the death penalty than the US, which doesn't seem to be mentioned often when the issue comes up here in the States. Maybe the Chinese government sees it as a viable means of population control. And, I'm not too sure that I'm joking about that.
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
Digg Report
Digg Report: Today's #1 Digg, at an astounding 11,261 Diggs (the most since the Report began), is a link to a... ahem... comparison between the iPhone and the Nokia E70. Now, I'm no fan of the iPhone, and I'm no prude, but there are better ways to compare products.
But that E70 does look nice...
But that E70 does look nice...
UK and Russia Getting Heated Up
Things are getting heated between the UK and Russia over the Litvinenko affair. I can't imagine this going farther than the pending diplomatic breaks, but one never knows.
A Russian Diary, by Anna Politkovskaya, R.I.P.
Here's a short review of "A Russian Diary," by Anna Politkovskaya, one of 13 journalists who have been killed in Russian since Putin came to power. It sounds like a harrowing account of what it's like under Putin, and will be on my list of books to read.
Bush to Hold Another Worthless "Peace" Conference
This story requires so much suspension of disbelieve that it could be a Stephen King novel:
1. Bush has announced another in a long line of failed, worthless, counterproductive conferences between Israel (the only legitimate player), the Palestinian Authority (who's proven it corrupt nature), and "their Arab neighbors" (who don't want to solve the issue, because it gives them something to hold against Israel and the West).
2. He's also promised $190 million in "aid" to the Fatah government, who are essentially elected terrorists.
3. One of the goals of the conference will be to "review progress in building democratic institutions." I would expect this session to last, oh, about five minutes.
I pity Israel, I really do. After studying the history of the region, I find it a miracle (and, I'm an atheist) that the poor little country still exists. I know, I know, they receive plenty of aid from the US themselves, and I'm sure that helps. But as far as moral support: ours is a double-edged sword, in that we support their right to exist, but not their right to fully secure their existence.
1. Bush has announced another in a long line of failed, worthless, counterproductive conferences between Israel (the only legitimate player), the Palestinian Authority (who's proven it corrupt nature), and "their Arab neighbors" (who don't want to solve the issue, because it gives them something to hold against Israel and the West).
2. He's also promised $190 million in "aid" to the Fatah government, who are essentially elected terrorists.
3. One of the goals of the conference will be to "review progress in building democratic institutions." I would expect this session to last, oh, about five minutes.
I pity Israel, I really do. After studying the history of the region, I find it a miracle (and, I'm an atheist) that the poor little country still exists. I know, I know, they receive plenty of aid from the US themselves, and I'm sure that helps. But as far as moral support: ours is a double-edged sword, in that we support their right to exist, but not their right to fully secure their existence.
What Happens After Just Now Being Considered
I'm really quite amazed at a quote in this MSNBC.com story about Iraq:
"Increasingly, the Washington debate over when U.S. forces should leave is centering on what would happen once they do."
That's really quite remarkable. If the debate is only now starting to center on what happens if we leave, then what was the debate about before?
"Increasingly, the Washington debate over when U.S. forces should leave is centering on what would happen once they do."
That's really quite remarkable. If the debate is only now starting to center on what happens if we leave, then what was the debate about before?
Monday, July 16, 2007
A Quiet Hero
Here's the story of Shannen Rossmiller, a woman from Montana who's spent considerable time and energy using the Internet to dig up information on terrorists and the radical Islamic movement. She did some good (read the link, it's inspiring), and is now under permanent security after she was required to testify in court in the bust of an American serviceman who was selling military secrets.
I call her a hero.
I call her a hero.
Non-Air War in Iraq
Some interesting statistics about the air war in Iraq. Or, as it would seem, the lack of one. Iraq is so unlike previous American wars in how it's being conducted that it doesn't seem like the same country fighting it.
Boing Boing - Yet Another Way To Avoid Prosecution
My golly, but Boing Boing just loves to show how to avoid criminal prosecution. This time, it's how to escape from plastic handcuffs.
How. to. escape. from. plastic. handcuffs. Because there are so many instances where perfectly law-abiding citizens might need to know such a trick.
How. to. escape. from. plastic. handcuffs. Because there are so many instances where perfectly law-abiding citizens might need to know such a trick.
Google Wants to Listen to Your Home
Speaking of privacy, it looks like Google wants to violate it as much as government, only not for quite the same reasons. And actually, comparatively speaking, this idea of listening to my surroundings as I use my computer and using that to direct ads and such seems far more damning than anything I've seen government want to do.
So far, I haven't seen any government proposals for placing microphones and video cameras in all of our homes. But, then again, I'm sure Google will make it an opt-in service, and easy to shut off. In which case, I see no problem with it.
So far, I haven't seen any government proposals for placing microphones and video cameras in all of our homes. But, then again, I'm sure Google will make it an opt-in service, and easy to shut off. In which case, I see no problem with it.
Tiny Yellow Dots Create Privacy Firestorm
There's a new brouhaha over the embedding of yellow dots in prints by certain color printers. It's not a new thing--having worked in the printer industry for a few years, I can say that this has been going on for some time, ever since color printing technology advanced to the point where it was possible to print passable currency. In a similar vein, some color copiers (particularly high-end units) will shut down if a user attempts to copy currency.
Personally, I don't see this as any sort of real privacy violation (which, along with the right to steal intellectual property, seems to be the only thing some people really care about). In spite of people's hatred of Bush, and the rampant conspiracy theories that surround him, I don't really believe that the checks and balances that have kept us relatively secure from oppression have entirely disappeared.
I see this as a viable method to provide evidence of wrongdoing, where technology has passed by other forms of evidence. Once, pages typed with old-style typewriters could be traced by the minute differences in how a given typewriter made each keystroke. Hasn't anyone ever watched a suspense movie where the ransom note was made from newspaper clippings? With laser and inkjet printing, that method of investigation is no longer available.
Finally, there are a thousand ways for government to trace you. While I don't trust my government completely, or in some ways at all, I don't really believe that it's out to get me.
And about the Secret Service visiting the guy who called his printer company to ask how to turn off the dots? Doesn't that sound like the Secret Service was just doing its job?
Personally, I don't see this as any sort of real privacy violation (which, along with the right to steal intellectual property, seems to be the only thing some people really care about). In spite of people's hatred of Bush, and the rampant conspiracy theories that surround him, I don't really believe that the checks and balances that have kept us relatively secure from oppression have entirely disappeared.
I see this as a viable method to provide evidence of wrongdoing, where technology has passed by other forms of evidence. Once, pages typed with old-style typewriters could be traced by the minute differences in how a given typewriter made each keystroke. Hasn't anyone ever watched a suspense movie where the ransom note was made from newspaper clippings? With laser and inkjet printing, that method of investigation is no longer available.
Finally, there are a thousand ways for government to trace you. While I don't trust my government completely, or in some ways at all, I don't really believe that it's out to get me.
And about the Secret Service visiting the guy who called his printer company to ask how to turn off the dots? Doesn't that sound like the Secret Service was just doing its job?
AllofMP3.com Wins Case Against Visa - ?
It's odd that the folks behind the Internet download site AllofMP3.com, which was recently shut down by the Russian government as a prerequisite for joining the WTO, has just won a judgement against Visa for the latter's refusing to do business with the illegal site. And, it means that Visa will now have to do business with the new site by the previous owners of AllofMP3.com, even though it follows the same business model (as far as I can see) and so is just as illegal.
Government Data Mining: Checks and Balances?
I'm all for our law enforcement and military agencies having all the tools they need to protect us from criminals and foreign threats. Data mining is one such tool, and ultimately I don't find it any different than any other form of investigation. It's just faster.
But, there do need to be the same checks and balances in place to make sure that any information that's mined is used for appropriate purposes. And frankly, I don't know if these checks and balances are in place. This story doesn't say.
Probably worth some investigation.
But, there do need to be the same checks and balances in place to make sure that any information that's mined is used for appropriate purposes. And frankly, I don't know if these checks and balances are in place. This story doesn't say.
Probably worth some investigation.
Sunday, July 15, 2007
Digg Report: Today's #1 Digg, at a surprising 3947 Diggs (surprising both for a weekend and for such an insipid topic), is about a Japanese pool with a TRICK!
Yegads, but sometimes I fear for the future.
Yegads, but sometimes I fear for the future.
N. Korea Shuts Down Reactor - For Now
What's shut down can be easily started up again. North Korea gets what it wants, as in the past, and when that runs out... I give it six months, and we'll be right back where we started.
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