Standing On Boxes » Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of freedom

Don’t Bend Over for the SOPA

jacs — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 19:20:02 +0000

So, I’m not shutting down this blog for SOPA protest day, obviously. Looking at the traffic stats for this site, I don’t think I have a lot of influence to peddle. But if you’re curious about SOPA, click the little SOPA link in the upper right corner (assuming it shows up. Which it doesn’t on my iPad.)

A quick note –

Okay, so I write fan fiction. If SOPA/PIPA is ever enacted/becomes law (remotely possible that it or something like it will in the next few years), someone who doesn’t like that could get my blog/fic site shut down. Fan fiction is one of those copyright grey areas.

But online piracy? If you’ve been on the internet long enough (2 decades in my case) it’s impossible to not have downloaded something iffy. But Piracy – Not a huge fan. But the kill the messenger (aka internet) SOPA approach is not the answer. And it’s a slippery slope downhill to censorship from there. To say nothing of the emasculation of “due process” it would enshrine into our justice system, just so Hollywood (the so called Liberal Media Elite aka MPAA) can make MORE money.

What I am surprised at, is that the Republicans aren’t using this “Attack on our basic freedoms” by the MPAA and RIAA as a campaign point. Of course, that might be why the POTUS and Co. have come out against SOPA. They don’t want the “enemy” to go there first.

Seasonal Randomness

jacs — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 22:50:21 +0000

Sitting in traffic, on the way home from work tonight, a thought suddenly occurred to me. I drive a car in a very festive, seasonal color ( jump to my Flickr account if you need an example ).

In fact, one might say it’s decidedly Christmassy.

And, shouldn’t it be decorated to more celebrate the season?

But what, exactly, is considered appropriate holiday car decoration?

Ribbons?

Bows?

Reindeer?

In a non-gaudy fashion?

To the Research-mobile!

Make it stop!

jacs — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 23:58:48 +0000

Someone decided that 9AM, on a Saturday moring, was the perfect time to re-roof (re-tile?) the apartment building I live in. Very loudly (there are only 3 floors to the building and they were VERY loud.) Until approx. 3:00PM, at which time they left so they could get to their favorite sports bar or home and watch the local university football team lose. Badly. Football is huge around here.

Rain, rain, go away!

jacs — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 18:57:54 +0000

It’s been raining out since last night, at least 18 hours. It isn’t quite at the level, remotely even, to the quantity that hit the Northeast with Hurricane Irene last weekend but the Weather Service has put out flash flood warnings for this area.

But certainly too much wetness to inspire me to get outside and run the few errands I had planned for the last day of this 3 day weekend. Who wants to go shopping in the pouring rain? Even if it’ll help the economy.

(Would it be cynical to say that I suspect if a Republican gets elected in 2012 that the name of the holiday (Labor Day) will change to something to celebrate our corporate overlords? And why don’t those union hating types (libertarians/conservatives) work on Labor Day, the holiday brought to us by the dreaded socialist leaning unions?)

Happy 4th of July

jacs — Mon, 04 Jul 2011 17:40:28 +0000

Time to get out the Declaration of Independence and read it around the campfire while enjoying picnic food.

(Assuming you’re in a certain country on the North American continent, of course.)