Sunday, October 6, 2002

Newsweek: Glitterati vs. Geeks. Steven Levy. Now Lessig has his chance to shift the momentum by overturning the 1998 Sonny Bono Copyright Term Extension Act. The most recent of 11 extensions of copyright terms, it stretches exclusive control of a work from 50 to 70 years after the creator's death. [Tomalak's Realm] 9:03:26 PM

Anyone Seen Any Democrats Lately? At the moment, the Bush team is leading the nation much more by fear than by hope. The Democrats can only win, or only deserve to win, if they can offer a bold alternative. That would be a program for strengthening America based on hope not fear, substance not spin, a program that addresses the primary concern of Americans now: the future for the kids whose pictures they carry around in their wallets. [Daypop Top 40] 8:54:12 PM

Justice, Interrupted - Why Winona Ryder will do time for O.J.'s crimes. Steve Cooley may well go down in history as the guy who put a shoplifter behind bars by publicly mischaracterizing the evidence, diverting scarce resources, and refusing to plea bargain in good faith. [Daypop Top 40] 1:13:21 PM

When Jeb Bush speaks, people cringe. The governor's lesbian joke about the women arrested in the Rilya Wilson case is the latest example of his mean sense of humor -- when he thinks the media isn't listening. [Salon.com] 1:08:11 PM

Music Industry Targets Net Swappers. Music companies tried to persuade a judge on Friday to let them obtain the names of people suspected of trading music files online without going to court first. By The Associated Press. [New York Times: Technology] That's right, due process doesn't matter when someone's swapping music online -- it's a crisis right up there with terrorism, apparently. I'm sure if you gave Jack Valenti the setup, he'd make the comparison, as predictable as the sunrise... 1:07:37 PM

Antitrust Sellout Architect Leaves; Nothing Changes I still believe, nonetheless, that more was going on in the Microsoft case than mere nonfeasance, or even political paybacks (Microsoft has given millions to the Republicans lately, to obviously good effect). The timing of the sellout settlement was too suspicious, coming as it did right after the Sept. 11 attacks last year. Side deals, perhaps, having to do with "national security" or other such stuff? Maybe this is one reason foreign governments and companies are getting more nervous about using Microsoft software. Maybe it's a reason you should, too. [Dan Gillmor's eJournal] 1:04:56 PM

© Copyright 2003 Michael Alderete.