Dirty Red Commie

The Free Software Foundation (FSF) has a petition regarding the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA).

ACTA is an attempt to regulate pretty much everything electronic. It has been drafted behind closed doors and has, for the most part, been kept completely secret. It attempts to, among other things, require countries to impose a 3 strikes law (if you're accused of an illegal file copy 3 times, you're in trouble, regardless of guilt). It also attempts to require DRM for just about everything.

I urge everyone to sign the FSF petition on ACTA.

Here are some links to more information:
FSF on ACTA
has some information on ACTA
Wikipedia ACTA page
Public Knowledge ACTA page
Office of the US Trade Representative on ACTA
Intellectual Property Office (UK)

I've been noticing a logo on a number of food products lately.  When I first saw it, I though it was strange that Cheerios had a cute little red sylized demon logo on their box, but didn't actually take the time to examine it further until much later. 

It's a cute little demon with a heart for an eye.  Or maybe a ghost, since it doesn't have legs.  Ok, a half-ghost, half-devil.  But he loves you.

Imagine my shock when I discover that it's supposed to be a little red dress .  I think I liked it better before.

When the world's gone crazy, let Mad Magazine be your guide.

The secret reason for War, Pestulance, and the other riders is a million monkeys, which is something we all knew anyway, but monkeys rule, right?  Cracked.com explains the Monkeysphere, which is all around us, even now in this very room.  

(Oh, warning: some swearing, but well worth the read.)

According to an article from the International Herald Tribune, record labels may be thinking of selling DRM-free music in an attempt to restore sluggish online music sales.  If true, this is very, very good news. 

This could be an excellent way for some company to steal the online music lead from Apple's iTunes.  Like many customers of AllOfMP3.com, I shopped there because I could get music in the format I wanted, and the crazy-low prices were just a bonus.  I think it could be very interesting to see what happens if someone starts offering mainstream music in an un-crippled format, even if they charge more than iTunes.  

I'll certainly buy music from them as long as the selection is good, the price is lower than that of a CD, and the encoding is good, (or configurable like AllOfMP3).  What do you folks think?

 Music labels, if you're reading this, please please please sell me un-crippled music.  I won't buy it any other way.  Ever.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-869183917758574879

It's a little over 25 minutes.   Colbert makes fun of Bush with him sitting two people away.

What did you get?  I got a Marshmallow Shooter, a Red Swingline Stapler, Zip-It Socks, and Caffeinated Lip Balm.