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Censorship

New TN Law Forces Universities To Patrol For Copyright Violations 331

Posted by timothy
from the skipping-the-monkey-trial-entirely dept.
CSMatt points with this excerpt from the EFF's page: "Last week, the RIAA celebrated the signing of a ridiculous new law in Tennessee that says: 'Each public and private institution of higher education in the state that has student residential computer networks shall: [...] [R]easonably attempt to prevent the infringement of copyrighted works over the institution's computer and network resources, if such institution receives fifty (50) or more legally valid notices of infringement as prescribed by the Digital Millennium Copyright Act of 1998 within the preceding year.' While the entertainment industry failed to get 'hard' requirements for universities in the Higher Education Act passed by Congress earlier this year, the RIAA succeeded in Tennessee (and is pushing in other states) with this provision that gives Big Content the ability to hold universities hostage through the use of infringement notices. Moreover, the new rules will cost Tennessee a pretty penny — in the cost review attached to the Tennessee bill, the state's Fiscal Review Committee estimates that the new obligations will initially cost the state a whopping $9.5 million for software, hardware, and personnel, with recurring annual costs of more than $1.5 million for personnel and maintenance."

Comment: McCain Bumper Sticker (Score 1) 11

by Aumaden (#25071433) Attached to: First McCain Bumper Sticker Sighted
I saw a McCain/Palin bumper sticker the other day. At least I figured out that's what it was supposed to be when traffic stopped for a light. Most unfortunate choice of font and kerning. The horizontal strokes were about 50% of the size of the vertical, making the the foot of the "L" in "PALIN" disappear. The "I" in "PALIN" was offset to the right causing it to appear to be part of the "N". As a result, when viewed from a distance it read: MCCAIN PAIN
User Journal

Journal: Me Me Me ... Ahem ... Meme

Journal by Aumaden
A - Accent: Yes, you all talk funny.

B - Breakfast: Weekdays - poptart, weekend bacon and eggs (Damn the cholesterol and full speed ahead)

C - Chore you hate: Raking leaves. Note: when possible, determine this before buying a quarter acre with 25 trees. Did I mention they're all different species? "Fall" effectively runs from labor day to christmas. Ugh.

D - Dad's Name: Jay Alexander
User Journal

Journal: Global warming ? Or just Weird weather?

Journal by Aumaden
Poor Bethanie is camping out in a shopping mall while she waits for electricity to be restored after an ice storm. Meanwhile, some 600 miles north, we had some rain and now it's sunny and warm. Yes, after a few sub-20 days, mid forties is considered warm. We lost power in last week's storm, but only because a plow driver turned too sharply and took out a pole. The driver gets extra points for also taking out the cable and phone lines. A
User Journal

Journal: Oh sweet memestery of life...

Journal by Aumaden
( ) smoked a cigarette Ugh
(x) crashed a friend's car Nah, <sigh>, just my own
( ) stolen a car
(x) been in love
(x) been dumped
( ) shoplifted - Ah, misspent youth
(x) been fired - Does laid off count? Been laid off twice, never actually fired
(x) been in a fist fight - As a 6'2", large bodied introvert I was every bully's preferred punching bag
(x) snuck out of your parent's house - All too often
(x) h
Spam

Journal: 419 Scams - almost good for a laugh.

Journal by Aumaden
I received this, er, interesting, bit of spam:

Sir/ma,

I am Dr. Abdul MADJID, the director, Auditing and Accounting unit of the Continental Bank, and the account officer to Brochem Bereau, a multi million and multi dimensional Lebanese Firm based here in Benin Republic,

Television

Journal: My new "Gotta See" TV show 3

Journal by Aumaden
Have you seen "Hit Me Baby, One More Time"?

No, not that Brittney crap, the new show on NBC. Groups with hits in the 70s & 80s perform their original hit, then their adaptation of a current hit. The studio audience votes and the winner gets $20,000 donated to the charity of their choice.

Here's who's been on so far, their original hit, and the current hit they played:

Episode 1:

Wine

Journal: On the mend 1

Journal by Aumaden
Wow, what a bruised and dinged bunch we make.

SW, all scraped and sprained,
TL, a bit scorched and seeing stars, and
me and my Technicolor shoulder.

Things learned:

User Journal

Journal: Election Day 2004

Journal by Aumaden
Well I went out and did my civic duty. Did you? If you can't get off your ass to vote, don't expect me to listen to yer bitchen when you don't like the results.

Altogether, I'm feeling rather introspective after this morning. Overall, I think ketchup will beat the shrub. It looks like I have some company in that: the FBI apparenlt feels confident enough that shrubby's out that they're actually investigating Haliburton.

"Whoever undertakes to set himself up as a judge of Truth and Knowledge is shipwrecked by the laughter of the gods." -- Albert Einstein