First, from CNET, we have the confirmation of the long-awaited and long-rumoured Lord of the Rings on Blu-Ray. Woot. This excites me on so many levels. The actual report is about the boom in Blu-Ray sales which are, no matter what anyone says, the result of HD-DVD’s collapse which caused player prices to plummet.
Second, also from CNET, is a story about how PirateBay was convicted today for piracy. That is to say the people who operated the site were convicted to both jail and subjected to multi-million dollar fines. I have mixed feelings. On the one hand I am vehemently anti-piracy despite the fact the RIAA and MPAA deserve everything bad that happens to them. I believe artists should be compensated for the work and as an ex-software author, I also believe those who create software are entitled to recompense. On the other hands, posting a list of links enabling people to download stuff doesn’t make you a criminal. The logic is faulty. If I link to PirateBay, then doesn’t that, by the court’s logic, make me just as guilty? It’s foolish because I know where to buy a gun, know where to get information to build an atomic weapon, that doesn’t mean I will. The information is on Wikipedia. The sole people they need to go after are the people actually serving up the files. Going after users fails (see previous posts) — they’re never going to win this battle, nor should they. I hate to be on the side of PirateBay but ultimately, I have to be. They are not offering files but rather telling you where you can get the files. Get the ones offering the files: those are the criminals — and make no mistake it’s theft. (And if you download that stuff, you’re a thief too: it’s stolen property.)
I’m excited that both Jace and Grant are coming for a visit: YAY — it’s been too long, guys. Someone’s mad at me for the last post but I stand my ground. Twittering is interesting but I am not sure how I feel about it.
I’m sad that I probably will miss Sunday skating but at least it’s a good reason. I have a headache. And I’m trying to clean my house before my guests arrive. I re-did my MySpace page after not signing in for ages.