Ah, copyright; my first legal love. Great story on Ars Technica yesterday about how the NFL's lawyers sent a cease-and-desist to probably the worst possible target: a law professor and staff attorney for EFF.
The NFL, as any football fan knows, is a big fan of telling people that their telecast is copyrighted and that pictures, descriptions, or accounts of the game are prohibited if done without the NFL's permission.
Any 1st year law student can tell you the NFL is full of crap. You know, legally speaking. Their broadcast is copyrighted; accounts of a football game are facts and you can't stop someone from giving an account of anything. Same goes for descriptions. If I "describe" the movie 300 on my blog, the producers can't sue me for copyright infringement. Pictures are a bit murkier; if you take a picture at a game, it's probably yours, but the uniforms and logos are all trademarked so you probably can't go around selling it. The NFL is tough that way.
None of this matters to fair use, though, which allows small excerpts of ANY copyrighted material, if done for specific uses (like education; professors of law easily fall into this category).
One of the reasons I've been interested in copyright is because I believe that copyright holders--especially monolithic entities like the NFL, Disney, or Viacom--are almost criminal in their misuse of copyright law to strong-arm content users into stopping what is actually perfectly legal "fair use" of a copyrighted work.
And that's why this is so perfect; I hope that Seltzer (the professor, if you didn't click the link) pushes them all the way to court on this one. My real motive: the NFL stopped using a 4-second clip of Barry Sanders during their copyright spiel, and since he's one of the greatest runningbacks to play the game, I feel their copyright message no longer has any meaning.
No, that doesn't make sense. But it was Barry!
March 21, 2007
March 19, 2007
When Everything You Do is Totally Awesome
or, Why Spartans Are Better Than You At Everything
I'll come right out and say it: 300 was pretty fantastic. Not
fantastic in the same way that say, an actual quality piece of cinema
might be fantastic; but rather, it was a fantastic movie to watch that
I may not watch again for a long, long time.
I've read "300" by Frank Miller, and it's pretty good. It's not up to
his Sin City level as far as storytelling goes (perhaps because the
story isn't his alone) but it was entertaining enough. The movie, as
it turns out, is like a slower-paced version of the book -- complete
with more slo-mo shots than I have ever seen.
Everything a Spartan does, if this movie is historically (ha!)
accurate, was so damn cool that immortalizing it on film requires
super-slow motion and a get-pumped soundtrack. This includes the
obvious, such as stabbing people with spears, or leaping through the
air, as well as the less obvious -- such as crouching. I know that
when I crouch, I do not feel all that awesome, but then (as my
girlfriend pointed out**) I probably would have been tossed off that
very morbid cliff onto the pile of baby bones were I born a Spartan.
And a word on homoeroticism in film: after reading a few reviews, I
went into 300 expecting to chuckle at the blatantly tongue-in-cheek
gayness of the movie; after all, it's 300 sweaty mens with awesome abs
hanging out at the beach. I was actually surprised that there really
isn't much in that area to "make fun of". Xerxes was a bit effeminate,
but he was also 10 feet tall and had a voice like an idling mack
truck.
My point is, if you were uncomfortable with and/or amused by the movie
because of gay undertones, you need to examine your own head out
first, because the undertones were few and far between.
Not every movie has a great deal of meaning or symbolism behind it;
those that look for it in the films of Zack Snyder (previous credit --
yes there is really only one -- being Dawn of the Dead) are probably
plumbing the depths of their own imaginations more than those of the
movie.
** She assures me, with an unintentional nod to Bridget Jones, that she loves me just the way I am.
*** whoops, comments are good now. posting by email has some bugs.
I'll come right out and say it: 300 was pretty fantastic. Not
fantastic in the same way that say, an actual quality piece of cinema
might be fantastic; but rather, it was a fantastic movie to watch that
I may not watch again for a long, long time.
I've read "300" by Frank Miller, and it's pretty good. It's not up to
his Sin City level as far as storytelling goes (perhaps because the
story isn't his alone) but it was entertaining enough. The movie, as
it turns out, is like a slower-paced version of the book -- complete
with more slo-mo shots than I have ever seen.
Everything a Spartan does, if this movie is historically (ha!)
accurate, was so damn cool that immortalizing it on film requires
super-slow motion and a get-pumped soundtrack. This includes the
obvious, such as stabbing people with spears, or leaping through the
air, as well as the less obvious -- such as crouching. I know that
when I crouch, I do not feel all that awesome, but then (as my
girlfriend pointed out**) I probably would have been tossed off that
very morbid cliff onto the pile of baby bones were I born a Spartan.
And a word on homoeroticism in film: after reading a few reviews, I
went into 300 expecting to chuckle at the blatantly tongue-in-cheek
gayness of the movie; after all, it's 300 sweaty mens with awesome abs
hanging out at the beach. I was actually surprised that there really
isn't much in that area to "make fun of". Xerxes was a bit effeminate,
but he was also 10 feet tall and had a voice like an idling mack
truck.
My point is, if you were uncomfortable with and/or amused by the movie
because of gay undertones, you need to examine your own head out
first, because the undertones were few and far between.
Not every movie has a great deal of meaning or symbolism behind it;
those that look for it in the films of Zack Snyder (previous credit --
yes there is really only one -- being Dawn of the Dead) are probably
plumbing the depths of their own imaginations more than those of the
movie.
** She assures me, with an unintentional nod to Bridget Jones, that she loves me just the way I am.
*** whoops, comments are good now. posting by email has some bugs.
March 13, 2007
"12" of 12
Well, I started off with good intentions: to finally revisit 12 of 12. I remembered the night before, but not the morning of, thus forgetting my camera. I bought a new cell phone between the last 12 and now, and used it to take... 4 pictures.
They are largely boring. A picture of a building near where I work (ooh!), a perspective shot of the conference room in which I work job #2 (ahh!), and a sunset.
The sunset, which was pretty, is what you get. And a promise to try again next month!
They are largely boring. A picture of a building near where I work (ooh!), a perspective shot of the conference room in which I work job #2 (ahh!), and a sunset.
The sunset, which was pretty, is what you get. And a promise to try again next month!
March 4, 2007
1,000
I have seen one thousand movies.
Awhile ago, during the job hunt and at blogging "low tide", my movie list--you do know I have a list of every movie I've seen, don't you?--finally topped 1,000.
I am unsure as to what movie is exactly number 1,000; this is because I occasionally remember a movie from my past that somehow escaped inclusion on the list. For example, right as I was approaching the century mark, I realized "Silence of the Lambs" wasn't on the list. "WTF!" I said to myself.
So I am pretty sure that the milestone was reached with this movie; though it's quite possible it was actually this one.
I'm not really sure whether 1,000 movies is something to be proud of or something to be pitied. I definitely have to thank my parents, for giving us HBO when I was in middle school and socially leprous; Netflix, for making it oh-so-easy to fill out my list with movies I would otherwise be too ashamed to rent if I had to do it in person; and of course, the job market for keeping me only partially employed during the last 18 months.
Awhile ago, during the job hunt and at blogging "low tide", my movie list--you do know I have a list of every movie I've seen, don't you?--finally topped 1,000.
I am unsure as to what movie is exactly number 1,000; this is because I occasionally remember a movie from my past that somehow escaped inclusion on the list. For example, right as I was approaching the century mark, I realized "Silence of the Lambs" wasn't on the list. "WTF!" I said to myself.
So I am pretty sure that the milestone was reached with this movie; though it's quite possible it was actually this one.
I'm not really sure whether 1,000 movies is something to be proud of or something to be pitied. I definitely have to thank my parents, for giving us HBO when I was in middle school and socially leprous; Netflix, for making it oh-so-easy to fill out my list with movies I would otherwise be too ashamed to rent if I had to do it in person; and of course, the job market for keeping me only partially employed during the last 18 months.
February 11, 2007
Job
The problem with promising a big post is, life rarely ever affords me those "aha!" opportunities that would allow such conclusive presentations. That is, unlike most people who get a job offer, sign on the dotted line, and a paycheck all in a few short days, I get news that a job is available and that they want me, then a week goes by, then they say can we meet next week, and then we do meet and they say looks good, call me in three days, so in three days I call and we agree to meet the next day, where we agree on pay and hours and what I'll be doing.
But they're not quite ready for my closeup yet. So while I've had two days of work, I have no place to "sit" and I don't have a "computer", so you can see why I'm still hesitant to go around celebrating. No taking out mortgages, buying term life insurance, or other various adult things just yet.
Don't be mistaken, though; I'm confident it's the start of great, big things. But it has been too long a journey to announce a true end to joblessness without being sure--sign on the dotted line sure, for one thing, and paycheck sure, for another--so I am not giving details.
Not that I could anyway. It's a law firm, and I bet they frown on extracurricular blogging. But it seems to pay well and seems like interesting work.
So there you have it, oh dwindling stock of readership. I am hoping that this post will slate some of the thirst the previous posts may have caused, but also that I will, having "broken the seal" (to use the popular beer-drinking parlance) be able to post on all sorts of flippant topics. I mean, seriously, it's been almost a month! Celebrities have died, my sisters are practically engaged and/or joining convents as we speak.
But they're not quite ready for my closeup yet. So while I've had two days of work, I have no place to "sit" and I don't have a "computer", so you can see why I'm still hesitant to go around celebrating. No taking out mortgages, buying term life insurance, or other various adult things just yet.
Don't be mistaken, though; I'm confident it's the start of great, big things. But it has been too long a journey to announce a true end to joblessness without being sure--sign on the dotted line sure, for one thing, and paycheck sure, for another--so I am not giving details.
Not that I could anyway. It's a law firm, and I bet they frown on extracurricular blogging. But it seems to pay well and seems like interesting work.
So there you have it, oh dwindling stock of readership. I am hoping that this post will slate some of the thirst the previous posts may have caused, but also that I will, having "broken the seal" (to use the popular beer-drinking parlance) be able to post on all sorts of flippant topics. I mean, seriously, it's been almost a month! Celebrities have died, my sisters are practically engaged and/or joining convents as we speak.
January 16, 2007
Big Things...
...are happening. I am ever-so-sorry about the complete lack of updates (this year, even) but hopefully a more meaningful and news-filled update will grace us soon.
And by that I mean before Friday. Of this week.
UPDATE: It is a little known fact that the phrase "of this week" means, in the original Portugese, "sometime during this calendar year."
The more you know!
Seriously, these things usually do take longer than they mean to. But I will try and post something brilliantly illuminating today or tomorrow, if the gods allow.
And by that I mean before Friday. Of this week.
UPDATE: It is a little known fact that the phrase "of this week" means, in the original Portugese, "sometime during this calendar year."
The more you know!
Seriously, these things usually do take longer than they mean to. But I will try and post something brilliantly illuminating today or tomorrow, if the gods allow.
December 19, 2006
The Poker Gods Have Forgiven Me
The first time I played poker, with real people and real (albeit coin) money, I was hosed. Not necessarily because I am bad at playing cards--I am not excellent but I can do okay--but because my luck was exceptionally poor. The second time I played was not much different, though I did manage to reach the bottom of my change dish slower.
But on Saturday, the Gods finally let me go. I got good hands (I was dealt an Ace high straight in 5-card!) and managed to come away with more money than I had entered with. At least, I think. It's hard to tell when you play with a big pile of uncounted change.
It was a fun evening, full of surprising hands and excellent pizza. And, above all, a clean slate of gambling karma.
Now it's off to DC and then Michigan for a few (nine) days! I may post while away, but clearly there are no promises.
But on Saturday, the Gods finally let me go. I got good hands (I was dealt an Ace high straight in 5-card!) and managed to come away with more money than I had entered with. At least, I think. It's hard to tell when you play with a big pile of uncounted change.
It was a fun evening, full of surprising hands and excellent pizza. And, above all, a clean slate of gambling karma.
Now it's off to DC and then Michigan for a few (nine) days! I may post while away, but clearly there are no promises.
December 7, 2006
If It Were In The Onion...
Once again, the Washington Post hands us a story that is so full of deranged quotes that it feels like it should be a satire of some kind. But no, the House really is going to work 5 days a week. The horror.
It's not so much the workload (out by 2pm on Monday and Friday!), which is eerily similar to my own schedule, but the reaction from the Congresspersons who dislike the plan. I'm not assuming they're all GOP, but that's all the Post quotes (though a Dem Rep from Florida says she has a Brownie troop conflict). Roy Blunt (R-MO) says its a strategy to screw freshman Democrats, but even funnier are Rep. Jack Kingston's (R-GA) thoughts:
Oh Jack, you stupid SOB, I'm sorry if you thought being voted into one of the highest positions in the free world would require only a half-hour of your time every 3rd weekend of the month, but it turns out this isn't the National Guard.
But he's right, though. I could care less about his family. Because millions of Americans see their kids and spouses far less often than good ol' Jack Kingston and his ragtag bunch of freeloading representatives. The article also mentions that this year's GOP-led Congress--the 109th--worked for a whopping 103 days (and how many of those were out-at-2pm days?) this year.
But I guess that's fine, what with there being nothing at all to legislate about these days.
It's not so much the workload (out by 2pm on Monday and Friday!), which is eerily similar to my own schedule, but the reaction from the Congresspersons who dislike the plan. I'm not assuming they're all GOP, but that's all the Post quotes (though a Dem Rep from Florida says she has a Brownie troop conflict). Roy Blunt (R-MO) says its a strategy to screw freshman Democrats, but even funnier are Rep. Jack Kingston's (R-GA) thoughts:
"Keeping us up here eats away at families. Marriages suffer. The Democrats could care less about families -- that's what this says."
Oh Jack, you stupid SOB, I'm sorry if you thought being voted into one of the highest positions in the free world would require only a half-hour of your time every 3rd weekend of the month, but it turns out this isn't the National Guard.
But he's right, though. I could care less about his family. Because millions of Americans see their kids and spouses far less often than good ol' Jack Kingston and his ragtag bunch of freeloading representatives. The article also mentions that this year's GOP-led Congress--the 109th--worked for a whopping 103 days (and how many of those were out-at-2pm days?) this year.
But I guess that's fine, what with there being nothing at all to legislate about these days.
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