The online music rip-off and the failure of DRM

PC Pro: Blogs & Analysis: Features: The online music rip-off [This Post Continues after the jump...]

ABC News: Grandma Refuses to Return Library Book, Could Face Jail Time

ABC News: Grandma Refuses to Return Library Book, Could Face Jail Time

Books like this should not be in the public library. Banning something from the public library is not the same as totally banning the book. But a library should only keep books that an overwhelming majority (maybe even 100%) of the community supports.

It simply should not be a place for controversial children's books. I shouldn't have to keep my kids away from the library over one or two books. It should be a "super" safe environment for kids. I'm not worried about adults, but kids view the library as authoritative. If it's in the library then it's true, factual, appropriate, etc. Unlike an adult, they don't realize that a book can be in the library and still be wrong or incorrect.

For people that say it's unfair for my beliefs to taint the public library. I would argue that a library without this book is not tainted, even if you like the book, the library is still a good, safe but maybe "incomplete" library. However a library WITH this book, the library become UN-good and UN-safe to me and my kids. Which is more unfair? All libraries are "incomplete" because it's impossible to have every book. But not all libraries are UN-safe. And I'm willing to bet that every adult in the contry could find at least one book that they thought would make a library unsafe for children. So think think about that before you give away your right to limit your own public library.

If stocking ONE book keeps on parent from allowing their kids to come to the libaray, then stocking that book needs to be seriouly reconsidered. For any given community there are 1000's of books that literall NO ONE (in that community) would question. Libraries should focus on those books first. [This Post Continues after the jump...]

Obama's confusing blend of left-right economics.

Commentary: Obama's confusing blend of left-right economics - CNN.com

[Paraphrasing Obama] "Simply put: You have to do what you can for yourself, but that you also have to do for others."

There is the rub: If everyone were to adhere to the first part, there will be no need for the second. Besides, even if we buy the idea that, as Obama said, "I am my brother's keeper, I am my sister's keeper," there is still the question of whether government should do the keeping.

My answer is NO, government is not anyone's keeper. But the democrats fatal flaw is that they think Government should be everyone's keeper.

As far as the confusing "left/right" blend on any subject, what else would you expect. Obama presents himself as the savor of America. How else can he say that unless he says he's do BOTH liberal and conservative things? It doesn't matter that he contradicts himself constantly, people tend to hear what they want to hear. If he says "People should help themselves" that's what some hear. It doesn't matter that later he says essentially that government should help those who ignore this first statement. And that's what others hear. So it's a win-win for Obama but we still have no idea what he will REALLY do once elected. [This Post Continues after the jump...]

Avoiding a Lieberman Disaster

Avoiding a Lieberman Disaster by Robert D. Novak on Creators.com - A Syndicate Of Talent

I'm one that kind-of-sort-of thinks picking Lieberman as VP would be a good idea. Obama "talks" about unity and coming together, but McCain/Lieberman would actually be DOING it. Bringing both parties (or at least parts of them) together to some extent. I have no idea if it would work, but on paper it would undermine a large part of Obama's playbook.

But this idea about Secretary of State is also good.... probably better... [This Post Continues after the jump...]

Not Above My Pay Grade - Are the Dems Dodging Abortion?

Opinion: Are the Democrats Dodging Abortion? | Newsweek Religion | Newsweek.com: "'Human development begins at fertilization when a male gamete or sperm (spermatazoon) unites with a female gamete or oocyte (ovum) to produce a single cell—a zygote. This highly specialized, totipotent cell marked the beginning of each of us as a unique individual.' That is the science. It's quite specific, and understanding the science here is surely not above the 'pay grade' of a president who will be making public-policy decisions based on that science." [This Post Continues after the jump...]

The Truth About Russia in Georgia

Michael J. Totten: The Truth About Russia in Georgia [This Post Continues after the jump...]

Joe Biden's Tech Voting Record

Joe Biden's pro-RIAA, pro-FBI tech voting record | Politics and Law - CNET News.com

It's not like I had any chance of liking this guy... but dang if it isn't worse than I thought!! [This Post Continues after the jump...]

Prosperity & Its Discontents

Jonah Goldberg on Prosperity & Its Discontents on National Review Online:


"Capitalism is the greatest system ever created for alleviating general human misery, and yet it breeds ingratitude.

People ask, “Why is there poverty in the world?” It’s a silly question. Poverty is the default human condition. It is the factory preset of this mortal coil. As individuals and as a species, we are born naked and penniless, bereft of skills or possessions. Likewise, in his civilizational infancy man was poor, in every sense. He lived in ignorance, filth, hunger, and pain, and he died very young, either by violence or disease.

The interesting question isn’t “Why is there poverty?” It’s “Why is there wealth?” Or: “Why is there prosperity here but not there?”"


read the whole article.... [This Post Continues after the jump...]

Travelers' Laptops May Be Detained At Border

This is disturbing on so many levels. I personally just bought a laptop and one of the first thing I did was to install "whole disc encryption" on it. I have nothing illegal to hide, but I do have private info on the laptop. I'm more concerned about the laptop being stolen than the "authorities" looking at it.

but now the authorities might "steal it" for an undetermined amount of time. And it's going to be longer since they will try and break the encryption on it. My concern now is that the mere present of encryption software might make them think they are all the more justified to violate my privacy in this manner. So it become a vicious circle feeding on itself.

Travelers' Laptops May Be Detained At Border (washingtonpost.com)


PS - Although I would never vote for Obama, just the thought that he might change this policy is a good reason not to be upset if he should get elected. It's THAT significant to me. [This Post Continues after the jump...]