In a previous post I mentioned the DRM that Sony installs on Windows PC. Now it appears Sony CDs also account for Mac OS X and installs some form of copy-protection. Now, I’m against piracy, but this move is not the right way to go, in my opinion.
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Via Claire Wolfe’s blog, a link to a story about MPAA thuggery at a movie-plex. The author seems to think “movie studios are losing revenue because of the increasingly poor movie-going experience and general low-quality of the movies they are making.” Perhaps. In my case, I hate rude fellow patrons, and inevitably I have people right behind me talking through the movie. That makes me prefer viewing a DVD at home. The last movie I saw, Wallace & Gromit and the Curse of the Were-Rabbit, was a matinee. As the lights dimmed, I seemed to be the only person in the theatre. But then, a moment later, two older women hobble in, both talking. They proceeded to talk through-out the entire movie, despite loud comments and muttered curses from me, thereby ruining the movie. Yes, I probably could have alerted the manager, but would that have stopped them/ probably only for a few minutes, and I would have lost screen-time in the time it would have taken to find a person. No, I prefer to watch the movie on my own time, at home, although the screen is smaller, and I have to keep the volume down to not wake the infant.
From CNET News, an article about SonyBMG loading spyware on your PC. Turns out some copy protected CDs, such as Van Zant’s Get Right with the Man, will implant a copy-prevention utility on your Windows PC. I use a Mac, but just the same, once you buy a CD you should be able to copy this for you own use without any restrictions. Amazon does warn buyers: [CONTENT/COPY-PROTECTED CD]. I’m going to think twice before purchasing any SongBMG product from now on.
Chalk this entry under Personal, of little interest to liberty per se. Kate Bush releases Aerial, her first new album in 12 years. A noted perfectionist, Bush released the album on her own schedule, and bowed to no one. She’s a far cry from manufactured artists and media vampires. Three cheers from this fan.
Not only will sf writer Vernor Vinge’s latest novel appear in early 2006, but at least one of his long out of print books will see light again. Tatja Grimm’s World
The Lew Rockwell Center posts a bestseller list compiled from Amazon.com referral sales, and two Prometheus Award nominated novels made the list. A third novel, John Twelve Hawks’ The Traveler,
Since 1986 I have subscribed to Carl Watner’s The Voluntaryist. I own every published issue of this fine publication, which I find to be the most consistent form of libertarianism ever expressed. A short while ago Watner published a “best of” book entitled I Must Speak Out, an anthology containing 70 essays from the first 100 issues. This book now is available online as a free PDF download. I highly recommend spending a few minutes of your time reading this book. You might agree or disagree with the premises and conclusions of Voluntaryism, yet also I believe you’ll be intellectually challenged.
Previously I mentioned the Liberty Film Festival. Jesse Walker of Reason magazine actually attended the events, and details his experiences here. As I expected, rather than deal with pro-liberty issues, Hollywood’s Conservative Film Festival (as it called itself) is more about taking on the left, especially Michael Moore and anti-war ideas. As Walker muses, “If these movies represent contemporary conservatism, then conservatism today has little room for libertarian ideas.” An excellent article that covers many of the films from the festival.
From Russel Madden, a detective story set in a world where liberty is taken for granted. Yet, “Even in a fully free society danger abounds.” The novel is published through Lulu, which was founded by Bob Young, co-founder of open source company Red Hat, and touts itself as “the web’s premier independent publishing marketplace for digital do-it-yourselfers.” Death is Easy is available as print paperback and download, with a 51 page PDF preview. Support libertarian fiction and check it out.
Two writers have already made mention of their book being nominated for the 2006 Prometheus Award. Below is a preliminary list of the current nominees. Additional books are still being considered, and in early 2006 this list will be whittled down by a judges panel to five finalists. As of August 25, eight novels have been nominated for the 2006 Best Novel category. This is by no means the final list, but since I printed this list in the fall issue of Prometheus, I wanted to make it available online as well, with links to Amazon for those who wish to buy (or read more about) the books.
Chainfire
Reflex
Noble Vision
The Black Arrow
Accelerando
Infernal
RebelFire: Out of the Gray Zone
The Mists of Everness
