Lessig talks a bit about the Public Domain Enhancement Act and about the Reclaim the Public Domain petition and about whether or not the act is too much of a compromise.

[Lessig/promoting progress]: ... for most of our history, the public domain was no more than 30 years old. If ordinary people could see the creativity that would be inspired if the 1960s were in the public domain, they would understand again the importance of limiting the regulation that copyright law has become.

They will only understand it if we build it. They will only get it when they see the creativity it would inspire, and the knowledge it will spread. We need to show them why the public domain is important, by building it again.

The Public Domain Enhancement Act would do this.

10:23:46 AM   permalink: []   feedback:   comments: []  

Great Album!

There's cheap gas to be had on South Lamar. Right now it's in the $1.30s for midgrade. Friday evening I drove home that way. I pulled into Racetrack with my windows down and sunroof open, light pouring in, music playing loudly.

I stopped at the pump but left the key turned to let the song play out to the end. It was a comic book moment:

• a Jetta pulls up to the pump,
• the driver nods his head, jamming to the tunes,
• little black notes stream from the windows and escape out the top of the car.

When the song ended, I turned the key, got out and walked around to the pump.

Was that your music? a man asked me, peering around from the other side where he was filling up his silver Jaguar.

Excuse me?

Was that your car that was playing the blues? he asked.

I smiled and laughed and nodded. Yes.

Stevie Ray! Great album!

I smiled and laughed and nodded. Yes!

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South Lamar Blvd., Austin TX

9:43:48 AM   permalink: []   feedback:   comments: []