... like an old fool.
It may very well be that a higher court will proffer a broader interpretation of "Fair Use" than what is given in United Sates Code. But as for the specifics at hand, with respect to the law, I'd say the right decision was made.
re: "Google Patents can't seem to find the new Google patent for Google Patents."
If it did, the gates of hell would be flung open and chaos would reign.
Sure, I remember all that stuff too, but what I really had in mind was a very well-mastered Steely Dan LP (i.e. Pretzel Logic), playing through a McIntosh tube amp into speakers about as big as a refrigerator. (no snaps, crackles or pops)
Well I sure-as-hell can tell the difference, but I'm almost 50, so I remember what real high fidelity is supposed to sound like.
"long load that eventually led them to the creation of Guitar Hero and Rock Band."
Heh. At first I thought that said "bong load."
... can I then sue him for illegally possessing my sensitive data?
But yes, I do remember well: using Red Ryder terminal software on my Mac Plus, 1985, to connect to CompuServe. Would work great until someone picked up an extension line, then...
^&($*$%&
NO CARRIER
Eventually they had a graphical front-end, which was faster, but not as pretty as their arch-rival, America Online.
Ahh, such simpler times...
...over the years, thousands upon thousands of dollars for CDs, LPs, cassettes and even 8-tracks, for God's sake (yes, I'm old). My feeling is (as someone else expressed above) if I bought it once, I can download it as often as I like. I have no idea how close or far away that is from "the law" or fair use, etc. But I really don't care.
In fact, for most of my older favorites over the years I've bought both the LP and CD versions. In which case I really, really don't lose any sleep over downloading a clandestine MP3, FLC, SHN or WAV version of the same.
RIAA? Come and get me, f*ckers.
You think respectable companies are just trying to steal your money?
Absolutely.
Unquestionably a modern, high-speed rail system connecting major cities would be a wonderful thing to have. But are we even capable of such massive, national projects anymore? Especially with a government that basically dances to the tune of big labor unions?
Imagine Boston's "Big Dig" project to submerge I-95 through that city, with all its corruption, delays and cost overruns -- times a thousand. Hell, times a million. That's what it would be like to build a national high-speed rail system in the U.S. It would be a complete clusterfuck.
Truly I say unto you: we'll see the damn Twin Towers rebuilt before anything like this gets done.
Happiness is twin floppies.