DRM and trying to explain it to those who have no clue, part 2: a rope of sand

read the origianal post asking for help

If you are not a viddler user, or don't want to comment on the video, feel free to leave a text comment those are just as good

DMCA idiocy slideshow: explaining the DMCA to info-civilians

I found this posting by Cory Doctorow on Boing Boing, check it out!

Wellington Grey has a great little slideshow about the idiocy of the DMCA's "anti-circumvention" measures, which prohibit breaking the digital locks off the stuff you own. In it, Grey recounts how offended he was when he bought a TomTom GPS that came with a CD in a sealed envelope, the seal on which read, "By breaking this seal, you agree to our contract," but the contract itself was on the CD, behind the seal. In other words, the CD said, "By breaking this seal, you agree to a bunch of secret stuff."

http://www.wellingtongrey.net/miscellanea/archive/2007-12-04--DMCA/2007-12-04-on-the-digital-millenium-copyright-act.html

DRM and trying to explain it to those who have no clue

A couple of moths ago I was stopped by a wal*martian who was asking about the sticker that was on my iPod. The sticker reads "WARNING DRM Product restricts usage or invades privacy. DefectiveByDesign.org". I had no idea how to explain it to them. I stumbled through with a terrible example and left briskly feeling like a loser, and ultimately a failure.

How do you describe DRM? That's like going give me a definition of Evil, or what is air? So I started looking for talking points or some help on educating people. And I have to say that I came up fairly dry.

I think I'm okay arguing with people who know about it and are just on the wrong side, but when it comes to the unwashed masses I have no clue. I really wish someone like Cory Doctorow would write a "how to teach the unteachable about evil and DRM" (Cory feel free to use that title;) )

please post ideas in the comments

Why In The Hell Write When You Can Link #1

Some cool bouncy stuff from BoingBoing.net

"Science Fiction Writers of America abuses the DMCA"[and pisses off Cory in the process]
http://www.boingboing.net/2007/08/30/science-fiction-writ-1.html

From the story, "The Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America has used the Digital Millennium Copyright Act to fraudulently remove numerous non-infringing works from Scribd, a site that allows the general public to share text files with one another in much the same way that Flickr allows its users to share pictures."

"Boing Boing Boing Podcast"
http://odeo.com/channel/126064/rss.xml

Why didn't anyone tell me that there was a Boing Boing Podcast?

"Confessions of a College Callgirl"
http://www.boingboing.net/2007/08/31/confessions-of-a-col.html

"Midwest Teen Sex Show: comedy podcast on teen sexuality"
http://www.boingboing.net/2007/08/31/midwest-teen-sex-sho.html

This is a really funny show, a definite watch

"Hoodies with faces"
http://www.boingboing.net/2007/09/01/hoodies-with-faces.html

"Google Earth flight simulator"
http://www.boingboing.net/2007/09/01/google-earth-flight.html

Does anyone know how to get this working on a non-mac platform, I have no command key :(