Today's New Blawg

Diana Foss is among the majority of Californians in the upcoming gubernatorial race, and writes Pig-Biting Mad About The Recall. Diana is not running for governor so much as against the recall, according to her Web page and blog. One can learn much from Diana, such as that anger can lead to irrational cravings for pork products, and that it took only until August 26 for someone to come out with a California Governor Candidate Deck of Cards. I learned of Diana's blog from Chris Heilman's Ultimate California Gubernatorial Recall Candidate List, courtesy of a link from Dave Winer (geshunteit!). Also blogging her way through her recall election candidacy is Georgy Russell.

[Update] Oops, almost missed two more blogging Sacramento hopefuls, also from Chris's list: Dan Feinstein (distant relation) and Marc Valdez.

Driving Home The Point

Larry Bodine reproduces some unusually compelling law firm advertising.

Secondhand iTune For Sale (But Not For Long)

c | net News.com reports that George Hotelling is selling a legally purchased iTunes song on eBay (current bid, with proceeds to be donated to the EFF = $860). Better click quickly, because eBay listing policies prohibit the sale of "products delivered electronically through the Internet," and according to the c |net article the auction is likely to be removed for that reason:

Here are examples of items that may not be listed on eBay because of the downloadable media policy:

• A copy of a software program which the successful high bidder can download from your Web site


• Music or video files that you will deliver through a peer to peer file-sharing community or network


• A copy of a downloadable eBook


• A secret URL address where the high bidder can download "freeware" or "shareware" software programs

(From the eBay Prohibited, Questionable & Infringing Item Policy.) At least until Congress can act on H.R. 1066, Hotelling might also want to consider allocating some of the proceeds to a legal defense fund in light of the following portion of his listing:

Because this is a legally purchased song, it has some weird licensing stuff (called Digital Restriction Management, or DRM). This means it may be tough to get it to work on your system. Still, I'm a geek and will do my best to make sure you can listen this fine song. If we cannot get the song to play on your system, I will refund your purchase price.

(Emphasis Hotelling's.) What Hotelling has in mind is one of the things the proposed Lofgren legislation seeks to address. (More from BNA and Tech Law Journal.) Though the DMCA is conspicuously absent from the c | net article, it's unlikely to remain in the shadows for long if the auction closes and Hotelling proves true to his word. (All this for a song from a Dana Carvey movie soundtrack?)

[Update]: George Hotelling's blog; related Technorati link cosmos. I should add I assumed from George's listing he intends to use his technical know-how to circumvent Apple's DRM.

Dean-amo

LA Weekly's current cover story is a lengthy look at Howard Dean ("Out of Left Field: Rolling with people-powered Howard Dean from the highs and lows of spring to the triumphs of summer"):

The most impressive thing about Howard Dean, and what seems genuinely to distinguish him from his fellow candidates, is his ability to think in three dimensions, to connect disparate ideas and concepts and problems in a remarkably intelligent and compelling way. It's a doctor's way of thinking: puzzling things out.

I've been thoroughly enjoying the Lydon/Winer audio bundle, which includes all three of Chris's Dean segments.

Set Courtroom (And Classroom) On "Stun"

Genie
Tyburski points to an interesting article by href="http://www.lls.edu/academics/faculty/manheim.html">Karl Manheim,
"Technology is Nine Points of the Law:"

Educating future lawyers isn't what it used to be. Technology in the
courtroom is becoming the standard for legal proceedings and Loyola's new
$10 million Albert H. Girardi Advocacy Center is a prime example of how law schools are preparing
their students for the future of litigation.

(Link added.) And from href="http://www.cnn.com/2003/EDUCATION/09/03/sprj.sch.mindset.list.ap/index
.html">CNN, the Beloit College
annual href="http://www.beloit.edu/%7Epubaff/releases/2003/03mindsetlist.html">Mindset List: "For this year's class, 'Ctrl+Alt+Del' is as basic as ABC, and the Osmonds have never been more than talk show hosts."