Colbert on O'Reilly:

O'Reilly on Colbert:

Colbert meets O'Reilly

The Federal Communications Commission thinks you have the right to use software on your computer only if the FBI approves.

No, really. In an obscure "policy" document released around 9 p.m. ET last Friday, the FCC announced this remarkable decision.

According to the three-page document, to preserve the openness that characterizes today's Internet, "consumers are entitled to run applications and use services of their choice, subject to the needs of law enforcement." Read the last seven words again.

Thankfully the FCC doesn't have that kind of power.

FBI to get veto power over PC software?

The American Library Association (ALA) today welcomed the Department of Justice's decision to rescind its request that the Government Printing Office Superintendent of Documents instruct depository libraries to destroy all copies of five Department of Justice publications addressing forfeiture. The Justice Department claimed that the documents are "training materials and other materials that the Department of Justice staff did not feel were appropriate for external use." ALA disagreed with this categorization of the public documents, two of which are texts of federal statutes, and with the instruction to destroy them. ALA trusts that there will be no repetition of such unjustified instructions to destroy government information.

This is a fairly questionable decision.

ALA welcomes Department of Justice decision to rescind destruction request

The 155-mm shells containing sarin gas that exploded in Iraq May 17 were manufactured before 1991, a senior U.S. official said Wednesday. That was a pre-Gulf War shell, a different category than the weapons being sought by the Iraq Survey Group, Brig. Gen. David Rodriguez, the joint staff deputy director for operations, told a Pentagon news briefing.

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For what it's worth in the debate over the shells.

Sarin Shells Made Before 1991 War

METHODOLOGY: The numbers on this page are based on contributions from PACs, soft money donors, and individuals giving $200 or more. (Only those groups giving $5,000 or more are listed here.) In many cases, the organizations themselves did not donate, rather the money came from the organization's PAC, its individual members or employees or owners, and those individuals' immediate families. Organization totals include subsidiaries and affiliates. All donations took place during the 2003-2004 election cycle and were released by the Federal Election Commission on Monday, March 29, 2004.

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Shows the breakdown of contributions to Democrats and Republicans from major broadcasters. Of interest, Sinclair is #9 on the list. 2% to the Democrats, 98% to the Republicans.

I'd like to see ABC's donations as well, guess I'll be Googling tomorrow.

Top Contributors: TV/Radio Stations

Showcase of Nashville electronic music at The End Oct. 11th 9PM. Link goes to this week's Nashville Scene write-up about the local electronic musicians.

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In short, Area 615 is a fine survey of what gets called electronic music these days. Contributors like Satellite City and Callisto (both side projects featuring members of local band Venus Hum) bring an appreciation for recent trends and ideas--e.g., the "glitch" style of clicking and popping noises promulgated by the German label Mille Plateaux. Notably different, but hardly out of place here, is Mr. Natural, who uses contact microphones, guitar pickups and the surfaces of objects to create what could appropriately be called sound explorations. His approach shares a kinship with a totally different group of musicians, among them San Francisco's Loren Chasse and the UK's Jonathan Coleclough, who electronically process field recordings to create pieces that can be at once gentle and disorienting.

Props to all the people on this CD....this is a truely great thing, and I can't wait to buy my copy (aKa, sell some at PN and reserve one for me damnit:))

New compilation CD and upcoming live show survey Nashville's electronic musical underground

"An attack on the software license behind the Linux operating system has stirred up a free software controversy in Washington."

This is getting a lot of coverage and I want to comment on it.

1. This is the right letter for the wrong reasons. The goverment SHOULDN'T release GPLed code. GPL is not public domain. BSD is public domain. GPL forces you to distribute your source code if you develop tools on top of GPLed code. Many organizations cannot distribute source code because they are trying to protect trade secrets. The BSD license makes code available for use by the broadest set of interests, with both open and closed source models. The government shouldn't be imposing a particular perspective on how software is supposed to work, especially when the matter is far from closed in the private sector. We can revisit this in the future if most organizations are releasing GPLed code.

2. "Why don't we also reject any software patents and copyrights that could discourage the adoption and use of software developed under federal funds?" Spafford asked. What is important is what is not being said. Federal funds should not be used to develop technology which is not placed in the public domain. This is just as important on the copyright side as it is on the copyleft side.

A more balanced statement about the need for government research to be placed in the public domain would have been much more effective. Its unlikely that Smith's constituency was not influential in the nature of this statement. Furthermore, a lot of the funding for major GPLed projects comes from the federal government, so attacking this funding serves an obvious interest. As a result the general outrage about the letter is not misplaced. However, I agree. Government research should not be GPLed.

Wired News: Letter: Free Software Hurts U.S.

Silent J

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This one was too good not to meme :)

'...not so you could throw light switch raves!!!'

Q: Out "president" [That's "resident" Bush -- Ed.] appears to be prepared to "kick some Iraqi ass." What would Jesus do?

A: Ye have heard that it hath been said, thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you and pray for them that despitefully use you and persecute you. (Matt. 5: 43–44)

Q: While the governor of Texas, George Bush signed 140 death warrants, and granted no pardons to condemned prisoners. What would Jesus do?

A: Blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain mercy. (Matt. 5:7)

The HTML on this page is baddly broken, but I enjoyed the content.

What would Jesus do?

In an interview with CBS MarketWatch, 'gonzo' journalist Hunter Thompson talks about how Friday's live TV reports of a Florida highway shutdown because of a suspected terrorist threat shows what's wrong with today's media and political climate.

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:) HUNTER! HUNTER! Nice to hear a voice of sanity cutting through the fray these days. Live long and prosper Mr. Thompson. Two part audio interview available in Real and some other format...

Hunter Thompson is still all-Gonzo