Setback For DSL Competition

The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals yesterday directed the FCC to reexamine and rewrite rules aimed at increasing DSL service competition with the four regional phone companies. [Via Law.com] The full opinion is available here.

7 Of 12, And Surprised It Wasn't Worse

"Below we have a list of titles of Star Trek: The Next Generation episodes, along with names of Christian Heavy Metal bands. Your job is to tell them apart. Praisers or phasers? You make the call."

[Via The Brunching Shuttlecocks and The Screen Savers]

Treasures Of The Midwest

Carhenge, via Eric Hallstrom.

Preserving Creativity

Ernest Miller of LawMeme has an excellent response to William Adkinson's critique of Larry Lessig's positions on copyright reform.

"Moreover, it seems that Adkinson has a very limited conception of the engine of creativity. He does not consider the argument that the wellspring of creativity is not simply the ability to transform existing works, but the ability for individuals to make use of creative works in their own lives in the manner they choose. To become a good author, one should read a lot of books. To become a good musician, one should listen to a lot of music. If I can listen to more music while driving (because I was able to rip mix and burn), this is a good thing. To the extent that people can use copyrighted works as they see fit, creativity will bloom."

It was difficult to selectively quote from Ernest's article because the whole thing deserves attention. So go give it.

Can We Sue Our Own Fat Asses Off? Yes, And Our Feet

Ernie points to yesterday's Salon story about plans underway to "sue companies like McDonald's for misleading advertising, for failure to warn about the health dangers of their products and, if public opinion swings [that] way, for, well, making us fat."

Reminds me of the time I spent close to an hour trying to explain to a well-intentioned soul (in a non-professional capacity) the trouble with launching a similar attack against the makers of high-heeled shoes, which admittedly can be hell on your feet and back. People are becoming conditioned - you mean, this thing common knowledge says is no good for me really isn't? Well, how on earth is it for sale? I'll sue! I for one would rather live in a world where I can savor the dubious thrill of teetering into a McDonald's on my Manolo Blahniks and ordering a Big Mac, than one where I can't.