Here’s to beginnings.
Random:
We were watching TV on New Year’s Eve when the newscaster mentioned it was already the new year in Moscow. Our little 5 year old asked, “Poppi, how can it be a different year anywhere?” I said it had to do with the rotation of the earth. She asked, “But, Poppi, isn’t it now everywhere?” We just fell about the place. Talk about the emperor’s new clothes!
I have high hopes for the new year. Not necessarily things I expect to come to pass. For instance, I don’t think celebrities are going to quit writing “non-fiction” books about themselves, although the world would be a better place if they did, fewer trees would die, fewer really crappy gifts would land under $mas trees. My example for today is Alan Alda’s Things I Overheard While Talking to Myself. This is definitely a book which doesn’t need to exist, let alone be read. Of course, it will doubtless be a best-seller. You know, I find my life experiences quite instructive enough without being even slightly interested in the travails of ham actors and such like folks (or even first tier actors, I don’t care). N.B.—I hold no animus against Mr. Alda, who to all appearances seems to be less obnoxious than most celebrities.
I read on the internet today (Fox News) that the record industry is suing a guy (in a multi-count complaint) for the usual on-line file sharing stuff, and that they apparently are this time including a count for the simple act of ripping songs from CDs he owns onto his computer/mp3 player. What?! What the Fucking Fuck?! One industry lawyer was quoted as saying this is a license violation and arguing against it is like saying it is okay to make just one illegal copy. What?! So, they are arguing that a pretty much moribund technology/business model (the business model being forcing the public to buy a bunch of songs bundled together as an “album” to get the music they actually want) is worth defending in Court? Worth burdening an under-resourced legal system by hassling slobs like us over, basically, nothing? Let’s analyze this. I buy a CD (as if I still would!). As long as I am handy to a CD player, any CD player, I can play this thing as often as I want. Hundreds of thousands of times if I want. Whoever is in my presence can also hear it. However, say they, if I listen to it any other way, like on my computer or mp3 player, I’m stealing something from them (and the artist), some intellectual property. Hmmm. I thought I had purchased a license to listen to the music for myself and my personal friends/relatives. These same business geniuses have apparently agreed with Apple (iTunes) and perhaps other legal purveyors of copyrighted music online, that I can spend my fee downloading this music, can play it on up to 5 computers, and, as far as I know, copy it onto as many iPods and other mp3 as I own. And, I forgot to add, I can burn CDs!!!!I gotta admit, I’m lost. There is a wonderful latin phrase that lawyers use (rarely): de minimus non curat lex, this basically means the legal system is not for dealing with stuff so insignificant as to be, well, insignificant. Check this Motley Fool piece out, too.
Another news bit today (Fox News again). A PhD biologist at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution has sued in federal court saying he was fired because of his religious beliefs. Apparently, they were working on a project which necessarily involved the subject of evolution. He said he couldn’t work on that part because he didn’t accept evolution (apparently an “intelligent design” adherent). What?! The MA employment board (whatever it is called) rejected his claim so he decided it was a federal matter. How does a biologist working at this level deny evolution? Evolution is a “theory” in name only. The amazing thing is that an employee thought he could take a job, then refuse to do any portion of it he imagined was at odds with his religious views, and keep the job! Do your G-D job, jerk!
And so it goes. Happy New Year.
