Just read this on IMDB: “CBS on Thursday yanked a commercial for Gateway Computers that showed consumers how to copy music legally over the Internet and called for them to urge their representatives to vote against rules requiring computer manufacturers to include anti-piracy devices in their products. CBS favors such devices.”I find that quite disturbing. Not only because it suggests CBS picks and chooses commercials which serve it best, but that this is another reminder of how television, when it goes digital, will no longer be a public property but will be under the complete control of the broadcaster. They will be able to decide which programs we are allowed to copy — not for “rebroadcast”, as they say during MLB games, but just to view at a later time. Our basic right of “fair use” and “time-shifting”, which had been upheld by the Supreme Court in the Betamax v Disney case, have already been taken away from us. But we won’t know it until we upgrade TVs.
The Gateway commercial ends with a link to website, Rip, Burn, Respect, that, in the words of a Gateway spokesman, “aims to deter piracy while educating consumers about their rights.”
“We believe it’s more important than ever,” says the site, “that the rights of music fans and artists alike be understood and respected.” But instead of allowing people to be educated, CBS has quashed the ad. To quote Stephen Colbert (from Comedy Central’s The Daily Show), “There’s a word for that; but, ironically, it escapes me.”
According to the Detroit News‘s article, “Dana McClintock, a spokesman for CBS, said the network is still reviewing the Gateway commercial […] and hasn’t ruled out the possibility of airing it later.” The ad is reportedly being shown on cable outlets and also NBC. You can read about broadcast flags in digital television at EFF.org
I was wondering if any of our fighting men and women overseas had web pages. I got my answer from CNN, which had an article about 
If I’m going to insist on writing entries on the Iraq war, perhaps it would be more appropriate to confine things in the narrow scope of this site: namely, what our soldiers are eating. Evidently they are eating quite well. Meals Ready to Eat, or MREs, were derided as “Meals Rejected by Ethiopians” during the first Gulf war, but today’s MRE and the new improved MRE-Plus are 
One of my favorite non-food-related days is underway. Oscar Sunday. I’ve already watched five hours of E!’s coverage and am all set for more. I guess I’m required to list my picks, but I really don’t want to. There are a couple (supporting) categories where the competition is so strong I simply want to let the drama play out on its own.
I might perhaps appear to be web savvy — having my own domains and a seldom-used message board and all — but I’m really not. There’s a ton of stuff about which I’m quite cluefree. One thing I’m curious about is why some of my junk e-mail has gibberish in the subject header. It will start by saying something like “How to Pay Less Taxes Legally” which will then be followed by “rrBx”. Anybody know why that is? For example, here’s a sampling from today’s junk mail.
I’m glad to read that the Senate backs the House in supporting our troops. That’s a relief to all concerned, I’m sure. I’m glad our elected leaders took the time to write up that resolution, since their stance was so uncertain. I find it quite bizarre how “We Support Our Troops” is the counter-response to the “No War” contingent. As if those who are opposed to the war are incapable of supporting the troops too. In fact, I’d say those opposed have the best interests of the troops at heart, since they’re the ones who don’t want to put troops in harm’s way to begin with.
