shouting loudly

My name is Jason, and I occupy the chair next to Bill’s in our lovely office (with a couch). I kept sending Bill links I thought he would find interesting, so he invited me to post on his blog. I said no because I am busy and wary about taking on more responsibility. Then I [...]

So the bassist from the Christian band Switchfoot is apparently giving instructions on how to disable the technological protection measures (TPM), aka digital “rights” management (DRM), on the band’s new CD. It’s not the band that decided to lock down their art in a way that keeps many people from using the lawfully-acquired CDs they [...]

Another interesting art on CNet News.

As explained here on CNet News, China is still awash in pirated movies despite WIPO and promises from high-level politicos. This is an example of trying to export our own cultural expectations onto the Chinese: There are cultural issues as well. Many Chinese see strict intellectual property-rights enforcement as a zero-sum game in which foreigners [...]

Could this be the beginning of the end (or at least the end of the beginning) for wire-dependent internet communication? If the lobbying efforts by Comcast and Verizon in Pennsylvania are any indicator, I somehow doubt that the incumbents will let their position go so easily.

The RIAA is pushing to roll back your right to record music at home. As part of the switch to digital radio broadcasting, they’re pushing to mandate that devices capable of recording digital radio feature a host of crippling features. As reported here by the EFF, the RIAA is hoping to mandate the following: recordings [...]

In light of the continued success of illegal P2P networks, Rep. Rick Boucher has called for technology-neutral licensing. This would will allow legal downloading services to offer all recorded music and pay legally-defined royalties rather than haggling with record companies and therefore missing out on lots of songs. It’s hard enough to compete with “free”; [...]

As explained here on P2P.net, Garrison Keillor, the comedian host of the NPR variety show “A Prarie Home Companion,” has issued a cease-and-decist letter demanding the end to a parody of the phrase. A t-shirt vendor, selling shirts that say “A Prarie Ho Companion,” has publicized the letter in its entirety. Garrison: I’m a fan [...]

About.com has compiled a list of the top 25 dumbest Katrina quotes. Most are from politicians, but a few are from the press. See, e.g., # 10, by the normally top-notch Wolf Blitzer. Props again to J Tocci for the link. (Notice the pattern here?) This is what happens when something tears the shellack of [...]

Even though the FCC gave a low-power FM license to Houston volunteers, FEMA will not allow those volunteers to set up a radio station from the Astrodome. See the Village Voice story here. Props to Ken for this one.