Adam

Back in Philadelphia

Up at home for the weekend. Getting to see my brother, dad and extended family takes center-stage. Also on the itinerary were getting a haircut and getting my car fixed/inspected (the mechanic got  the "service engine soon"-light-of-death to go away for just under $700, but apparently I need another $1000 in repairs - replacing the cam-shaft. joy.)

I still have some office-work to do - I left early to get a jump on traffic - but that can wait until tomorrow. Today I'm kicking back.

Last night I caught up with family from far & wide at my Aunt/Uncle/Grandmother's place. It was great to have everyone together. I had a tuna sub the size of a small dog (well, half of it) and we recounted everyone's recent travels/activities.

The best part of the weekend so far has to have been just sitting on the front porch with my dad discussing a range of things. Our front yard is nearly a forest - be proudly boast not a blade of grass -  with underbrush of various flowers and shrubs. This sanctuary of green makes the air fresh and the shade ubiquitous. We only retreated inside after a Citronella candle wafted over;  can't stand that smell.  Anyway, now I'm just putting off doing anything until it's time to go to a BBQ at 4pm.

The YouTube effect

While doing research on a term paper (really) I visited Youtube. On the frontpage was a music video by Dan Le Sac, Thou Shalt Always Kill (your TV). I thereafter spent $.99 purchasing the song (though I wish I could have instantaneously gotten my hands on a DRM free version, but that would be a longer post.) I'm curious how much Le Sac's sales have jumped since putting his video online? One blogger made this connect regarding a jump in OK GO sales on the Amazon.com ranking chart. Others think Youtube hurts sales.

My guess is that iTunes sales jump. Dan Le Sac isn't listed on Amazon, and I don't believe Amazon offers downloads.

UNRELATED NOTE:

Amazon.com gave me a limited AmazonPrime account (free  2-day shipping). My credit card info changed prior to an attempt to charge me for beginning the service. Interesting part: "Please note that if your preferred payment method is declined, we might try to charge other cards you have on record with us." Now that just seems sneaky - I didn't ok the use of alternate credit cards (unless this is snuck in somewhere in the TOS boilerplate. Maybe I'll check...update: can't find it in the 'conditions of use' - wonder where they inserted it or if this is just a huge abrogation of consumer rights?)

Don't forget to vote

The Democratic Primary is on May 15!

I just heard C. Darnell Jones speak. He's running for PA Supreme Court. He requested that we all take a look at the credentials of the candidates before making a decision. You've gotta respect someone who appreciates transparency.

It was an informal upbeat stump speech. He has good cause to be in good spirits; he was recently endorsed by Rendell.

The state party thinks Jones needs to spend a little more time proving himself before they are ready to endorse him (two others got the party nod instead). I respectfully disagree. Having seen him speak, one can tell he's ready for prime-time.

I've met McCaffery and he's a great guy; who wouldn't love the Eagle's Court Judge. He also has a distinguished career as a peace officer (policeman), Marine, lawyer and judge.

Judge Todd also looks to be an outstanding choice; she's a Pitt Law alum, so she's gotta be top notch.

It looks as though Jones & Todd are both 'Highly Recommended' by the PA Bar Assoc, while McCaffery is 'recommended'. You can even read the judges questionnaires.

I'm really excited that the field's so well represented. This is going to be a really tough choice, but I'm leaning towards Jones. What are your thoughts?

Books on a Bus

Not a less action action packed Samuel L. Jackson film. Nope, it's me having forgotten to bring my books (which I was carrying along with my brown bag lunch & my backpack, while listening to a podcast of Monday's Talk of the Nation [analysis of the Edwards's decision to remain in the race after her diagnosis. My pick is still Obama/Edwards '08). There are worse things than temporarily being without books, so I didn't stress - just opened up my laptop, googled "pittsburgh transport" and found the Port Authority website.Their Customer Service Number is 412.255.1356 (Lost & Found is option #1 - guess I'm not the first).

The bus is headed back to an out of town depot, so I'm calling again at 11:15, as soon as I get out of the first class for which one of the books would have been handy.

I saw a guy running for the bus; I was really hoping the bus would stop for him, but I did nothing. I should have told the driver to wait. Karma.

Three (somewhat) related matters:

First, a friend let me check out his copy of Banksy's Wall and Peace. His 'surveillance' photo has been my background for a couple months. I highly recommend the book, and checking out his artwork. While searching for the  address, I have across this blog on surveillance. Pretty neat. I'm glad I'm taking Information Privacy Law this semester...no doubt it could come in handy later...

Second, Kenneth Doroshow, Sr VP of Legal Affairs for the RIAA, is speaking Thursday at 12:30 by way of our Sports & Entertainment Law Society. Maybe He'll discuss the proposed settlement letters (EFF article | recent article) that are being sent out.

Third, I'm looking forward to several panels to b held this Thursday at the Jurist's Law as a seamless web|site conference. I'm particularly interested in the panel on Law & Media in the Age of the Internet and Legal Education, Technology and Public Service. Now that the school's wifi works throughout, perhaps I'll blog it ;).

Was Yoda Chinese?

Part of tomorrow's Chinese lesson:
Yǐ yuèdéěr chàng [= to yodel], wǒ xiǎng tā xuédehuì   (I think he/she can learn to yodel.)

Closer to literal translation:
Yodeling, I think he can learn.

or would the Jedi master say: "Learn to yodel, I think he can"

Changing tides

I won't bore you with the train of thoughts that led to this discovery, but I ended up at Sergey Brin's Stanford site, current as of 1998. In addition to listing over 15,000 of his favorite books, he talks about his interest in a program called COPS which is a COpyright Protection System. Kind of ironic given Google's current projects. Aren't you glad he hung out with Larry Page and worked on Google instead?

Spring (for the moment)

Today was a beautiful day in Pittsburgh: people were in shorts and I enjoyed the walk in between buildings. Sadly we're anticipating snow on Saturday. Phil's prognostication was somewhat correct I suppose.

What stumps me at moment (as I'm wasting away beautiful outdoor weather in the library) is why the air conditioning is on? This is friggin' nuts. The temperature outside is perfect and we're pumping (too much) cold air into a near windowless concrete block.

Earlier today there was a administrator-student meeting where it was stated that having free printing in the law school would be an expense. Specifics weren't given, but I vote for a no AC until May policy and say we use the proceeds to purchase printers...

My favorite Canadian...

Michael Geist puts together a daily eNewsletter (BNA Highlights) on subjects of internet related legal interest (telecom, IP matters, privacy, etc...).

I get it everyday and have time to skim it over probably every other day. One of the articles in today's list was written by him, published in the Toronto Star (article). It covers Open Journals:

In Canada, federal funding agencies in the sciences, social sciences and health sciences doled out hundreds of millions of dollars each year to support research at Canadian universities.

University researchers typically published their findings in expensive, peer-reviewed publications, which were purchased by those same publicly funded universities.

The model certainly proved lucrative for large publishers, yet resulted in the public paying twice for research that it was frequently unable to access.

Cancer patients seeking information on new treatments or parents searching for the latest on childhood development issues were often denied access to the research they indirectly fund through their tax dollars.

The same of course applies in the US . Here's to more open journals, and here's to Michael Geist.

(to sign up for the newsletter I wish I read every day, go to http://ecommercecenter.bna.com)

BitTorrent to compete with iTunes

Netgear is attempting to best AppleTV with its new HD BitTorrent box (MSRP $200 vs. Apple's $299) Both are hoping that viewers want internet content to be viewable on their TVs.

Apple CEO Steve Jobs said he wishes Apple could sell content without restrictive Digital Rights Management (DRM - the stuff that makes moving iTunes songs a real headache), but BitTorrent is putting their money where his mouth is and offering DRM-free content through their site.

BitTorrent has over 10,000 offerings (some for free, such as Romero's, now Public Domain, Night of the Living Dead). Backers include:

BitTorrent's hoping to convert users who currently pirate into purchaser.

I think they have a decent shot.

Co-Ceo of BitTorrent discusses the proposition on WSJ.com