SOPA/PIPA; They Must Be Stopped

Posted on January 12, 2012 by Myles Patrick

This is off-topic for our blog but both these laws being considered in Congress right now, SOPA (Stop Online Piracy Act) and PIPA (Protect IP Act), must be stopped. If these acts were to be signed into law they would dramatically change the Internet as we know it, putting in jeopardy a countless number of (legitimate) websites and businesses which thrive on the openness and innovation of the internet.

The gist of these bills is that they would put the US behind a firewall much like China, allowing the government to order internet service providers (ISP’s) to block websites and charge individuals with a felony plus fine for linking or showing copyrighted materials (regardless of whether the copyright holder wished to pursue either of these actions against someone). This will criminalize a huge swath of the internet which is currently legal under the DMCA and expose these sites to the same kind of ridiculous lawsuits that the MPAA and RIAA have been bringing against websites and individuals.

Both of these bills were considered a slam dunk to be signed into law not even a month ago until a whole host of companies, organizations, individuals, and legal and internet experts created enough publicity to make our lawmakers reconsider these bills. I would urge everyone to contact their elected representatives to express their displeasure with both of these bills.

Another effective way to combat this is to check the list of companies (link here; thanks to Gizmodo for the link) and contact them to let them know you will be boycotting their products.

Every voice is needed. These bills were created and are supported, sponsored, and guided by a ridiculous amount of corporate money and influence.

Wednesday Roundup

Posted on October 26, 2011 by Myles Patrick

This week we’ll start with a great science fiction resource, BestSFBooks. It’s a very hand reference for listing best sellers and award winners.
There is a great interview with Mike Judge (creator of Beavis and Butthead) over at Vice.com.
Q magazine is releasing a U2 tribute album to their Achtung Baby album, which is – gasp! – 2o years old now. Cover artists include Nine Inch Nails, The Killers, and Jack White. Check it out here. Physicists at CERN working on the Large Hadron Collider are already studying ways in which they can reduce the size of U2’s ego by colliding the band members heads together at high speeds.
Only for St. Louisans, STL Today.com offers a great site to keep track of where your favorite St. Louis lunch trucks will be next.
Next up we have some more fan made live action mini-movie coolness, this time in the Voltron world:
Last but not least we have excerpts of the commentary by Arnold Schwarzenegger and John Milius (John Goodman is mistakenly pictured) on the classic ‘Conan the Barbarian’ movie. Even though I don’t have a blu-ray player I now feel compelled to get one and purchase the movie just for the commentary. Enjoy.

What’s He That Wishes So? Saint Crispin’s Day

Posted on October 25, 2011 by Myles Patrick

Hail and well met on this Saint Crispin’s Day! It’s as good a day as any and better than most to raise a glass with your brother (or sister). Drink and repeat after me:

What's he that wishes so?
My cousin Westmoreland? No, my fair cousin:
If we are mark'd to die, we are enow
To do our country loss; and if to live,
The fewer men, the greater share of honour.
God's will! I pray thee, wish not one man more.
By Jove, I am not covetous for gold,
Nor care I who doth feed upon my cost;
It yearns me not if men my garments wear;
Such outward things dwell not in my desires:
But if it be a sin to covet honour,
I am the most offending soul alive.
No, faith, my coz, wish not a man from England:
God's peace! I would not lose so great an honour
As one man more, methinks, would share from me
For the best hope I have. O, do not wish one more!
Rather proclaim it, Westmoreland, through my host,
That he which hath no stomach to this fight,
Let him depart; his passport shall be made
And crowns for convoy put into his purse:
We would not die in that man's company
That fears his fellowship to die with us.
This day is called the feast of Crispian:
He that outlives this day, and comes safe home,
Will stand a tip-toe when the day is named,
And rouse him at the name of Crispian.
He that shall live this day, and see old age,
Will yearly on the vigil feast his neighbours,
And say 'To-morrow is Saint Crispian:'
Then will he strip his sleeve and show his scars.
And say 'These wounds I had on Crispin's day.'
Old men forget: yet all shall be forgot,
But he'll remember with advantages
What feats he did that day: then shall our names.
Familiar in his mouth as household words
Harry the king, Bedford and Exeter,
Warwick and Talbot, Salisbury and Gloucester,
Be in their flowing cups freshly remember'd.
This story shall the good man teach his son;
And Crispin Crispian shall ne'er go by,
From this day to the ending of the world,
But we in it shall be remember'd;
We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;
For he to-day that sheds his blood with me
Shall be my brother; be he ne'er so vile,
This day shall gentle his condition:
And gentlemen in England now a-bed
Shall think themselves accursed they were not here,
And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks
That fought with us upon Saint Crispin's day.
- Henry V, Shakespeare

What’s More Surprising Than the Cardinals Making It To the World Series?

Posted on October 19, 2011 by Myles Patrick

A positive article on St. Louis City, and on MLB.com no less. From the article:

In keeping with the 2011 theme of comebacks, this Missouri city matches the historic comeback of its beloved ballclub with a downtown comeback that belies today’s economic hardships. The Cardinals are representing their surroundings as much as the National League.

Go Cardinals!