joshsisk - Slashdot User

+ - Explaining the Soul With Quantum Theory, and Woo-> 1

Submitted by everydayelk on Monday August 16, 2010 @04:29PM

everydayelk writes "Maybe you’ve heard the name Deepak Chopra. Chopra’s a medical doctor, a noted cheeseball writer, buddy of the late Michael Jackson, and huge champion of woo. He’s made some pretty impressive incursions into the mainstream talking about theoretical physics, advancing basically the kind of stuff advanced by the What the Bleep Do We Know? crowd. Specifically, quantum mechanics is going to scientifically prove or fundamentally connect to spirituality.

Did I mention that New Age people love quantum mechanics? Like, quantum mechanics is the biggest New Age hard-on since the rhythm method. And the quantum mechanics-as-New-Age-woo movement is getting real mainstream traction. It’s really easy to take complicated things and twist them around for the public (like economics). And the thing is that quantum mechanics is really hard to understand. It doesn’t have a simple mainstream-friendly sound bite. Which means that dudes like Chopra—who is no more a physicist than I am—can spin it every which way they like to the mainstream. Like, hey, quantum entanglement proves that we have a soul."
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Comment: Re:Have you read this? (Score 1) 268

by joshsisk on Wednesday July 08, 2009 @01:05PM (#28624579) Attached to: Pandora Stabilizes, No Longer Completely Free

Buying a CD isn't purchasing a license. It's purchasing a physical product. (I used to run a record label so I know a bit about this.) You actually have more rights when purchasing a physical product (IMHO) - such as you are guaranteed the right to resell the physical product (First Sale Doctrine).

However, you are limited in other ways. For example, you are not allowed to distribute a copy of a copyrighted work, even one you purchased a physical copy of. I believe you can legally make a copy of a physical copy that you purchased - for yourself. However, you are NOT allowed to sell your physical copy you purchased and keep your copy. So, it's okay to make a backup of a CD. But not okay to copy the CD then sell it to someone and keep the copy.

Also, since, like I said, you didn't buy a license, your purchase of that physical copy doesn't give you any right to download anything from anyone... you have the right of ownership of the physical copy you bought.

This is my understanding, based on my previous business experience... I am not a lawyer, so I am sure I am a little off, but hopefully that gives you an idea of how the law generally works with physical copies. Also, everyone ignores all these rules these days, of course, and very few people buy physical copies anyway... so I imagine these laws will be updated in a few years, as they really don't reflect the reality of how people use media today.