If we all pretend this works, it will!

Well done, Idiots Who Seem To Be In Charge Of Everything! Another winner!

Three strikes–a present from The Ghost of Christmas Clinton

One of the things I find so frustrating about “three strikes and you’re out” is the lack of creativity it displays. A bright idea from the Clinton years that didn’t work for crime and here it is popping up in the digital Britain debate like a middle-aged, overweight boxer trying out for the Olympic team.

In tumultuous times like these, the Government should not be throwing ropes to flailing David Geffens as they sink into the mud. David Geffen thinks that it is vitally important to the future of capitalism that he and his business model be kept alive indefinitely. Why? Because the vast majority of people, including many musicians, still believe that there is no alternative to that business model.

This would obviously be a terrible thing if it were true. But it’s not true.

The advances we’ve made because of technology have suddenly given consumers a dizzying, disproportionate amount of power, and everyone’s still trying to find their feet. But my instinct is that the new connectedness of the world means that there are a million new ways to address the new reality, if only we can calm down enough to bring to the matter a bit of creativity and actually set about finding them.

The importance of creativity is the reason politicians are the LAST people on earth who should be anywhere near this debate, and it’s why I’m always amazed to see artists siding with Mandelson on it.

Anyway, I didn’t mean to rant. I just wanted to provide a link to this excellent post on the subject by Dave Allen. It is a very inspiring read, obviously. Don’t forget to sign the petition.

(thanks, @TomDavenport!)

Comment of the year!

This is from the comment thread on Boing Boing’s story about Peter Mandelson’s awful broadcast bill.

“I am the very model of a Pirate Finder General
My remit runs from a to z, from animal to mineral
The government has issued me with pow’rs plenipotentiary
To seize you and to pack you off to any penitentiary

I’m perfectly remorseless in pursuit of things piratical
I’m always in the office and I never take sabbaticals
You’d be amazed at all the powers that are vested in this entity
To compromise your systems and reveal your identity.

The doctrine of Fair Use I condemn as quite erroneous
And probably harmful if not actively felonious
And though my own position may in time prove quite ephemeral
For now I am the model of a Pirate Finder General

I’m not above resorting to intrusive tricks and hackery
If I chance to be confronted by a lock to which I lack a key
I recognize no boundaries either moral or international
At times my hate for piracy approaches the irrational

I interpret legal precedents with admirable latitude
For which my true employers never fail to show their gratitude
I’m a salaried employee of a corp’rate aristocracy
In fact, my mere existence makes a nonsense of democracy

I exist to serve the interests of a privileged minority
By whom I have been granted quite extraordinary authority
My jurisdiction ranges from the local to the federal
In short, I am the model of a Pirate Finder General

My attitude to human rights is simply reprehensible
I prosecute whole familes for reasons indefensible
I terminate connections be they wired or ethereal
And consider all objections to be strictly immaterial

Although you may deplore the fact and label it regrettable
I find the rule of law to be entirely forgettable
If it has any virtues, I must confess I’ve never known ’em
For I’ve always held that capital’s the only summum bonum

I’m answerable to no one, I enjoy complete autonomy
In my tireless crusade against foes of the Economy
And though my own position may in time prove quite ephemeral
For now I am the model of a Pirate Finder General”

by Angus McIntyre

Angus, YOU RULE!

PIRACY!

Don’t worry! I actually know that guy, and I’m pretty sure he doesn’t have any Lily Allen in there.

(thanks, @mystacon!)

How To Throw a Windows 7 Party

I’m still recovering from the Vista party.

(apologies to @mattround for slightly changing his joke).

Terence Blacker meets the internet

To see how Terence has been getting on since then, have a read of his enlightened take on Twitter.

(also from Everything is Terrible)

He’s in for one wild ride, baby!

Wait’ll that kid gets a load of all the great games available for the Wii! Like the one where you excercise! Or the one where you take out the bins!

(via the indispensible Videogum)

Says it all

Just got a new computer today. The rumours are true, Vista is a freaking nightmare.