Amazon Isn't Evil (But…)

Unlike with Amazon, it's easy to understand what Kleo wants...

Amazon isn’t evil. Amazon isn’t good. Amazon is a company, and morality isn’t something that a company can partake of. The individuals who work for the company, yes. The company itself, no.

This article is aimed at Small Press publishers, and Self Published writers, but the general terms will fit any industry where there is one dominant company.

iPad Failures

Me and my junior editor, Kleopatra

I have a confession to make. Kleo and I own an iPad.

The New World of Publishing: The Big Hurry – A Different Look

Dean Wesley Smith

Dean Wesley Smith has been writing an excellent series of articles titled The New World of Publishing. I highly recommend them. The only problem is that Dean knows his subject so well, that sometimes his presentation isn’t clear. I came at this from Sales, and while I was considered lousy at presentations, I think I can do a little something to make his one article, which consists of a horde of numbers, a bit easier to understand. Let’s look at The New World of Publishing: The Big Hurry in a different way.

John Degen's Article – The Attack On Creativity

John says this is Free Culture's opinion of him

John Degen is terrified. He’s scared of the future. I can’t blame him. Change is scary. It has John ranting about all the people who want to steal from him, and not looking at all the people who want to buy…

The Real Reason for Bill C-11/ACTA/SOPA/PIPA

One of the major complaints from the Motion Picture Association of America has been how can you budget a high-priced thriller, if you can’t charge huge amounts of money for tickets? They keep asking this question, even though they know the answer. Make less expensive movies.

The folks who made Iron Sky spent only 7.5 million Euros on it. Watch the trailer. Looks pretty good, doesn’t it? Compare it to these other movies, some of which had smaller, and some far larger budgets.

The MPAA doesn’t like competition. The MPAA companies are mostly distributors. Energia doesn’t have to use them for distribution. They can cut their own deals, do things their own way. And that terrifies the MPAA. That’s why the push for the ability to shut down websites. So they can prevent competition from forming.

Regards

Wayne Borean

Monday February 13, 2012

A Primer for Law Enforcement: How To Tell if Someone is a Member of Anonymous

Guy Fawkes Mask

It has been hilarious watching Law Enforcement and the Mainstream Media trying to get a handle on Anonymous. After watching both demonstrate that The Peter Principle is alive and well, most especially Law Enforcement, which seems dedicated to out Pythoning Monty Python.

As a public-spirited citizen, I’ve decided to help them out. There’s a set of  fairly simple indicators to help decide if the target of Law Enforcement might be a member of Anonymous. Use of this list can help Law Enforcement Personal prioritize their resources in the fight against Anonymous.

While the list is extensive, it is by no means complete. It does however offer a means to make an immediate decision.

1. Person has carried out a DDOS attack
2. Person has a copy of the Low Orbit Ion Cannon Software
3. Person has ever spent time in Anonymous IRC
4. Person has ever spent time editing Encyclopedia Dramatica
5. Person has ever spent time in /b on 4Chan
6. Person has more than one computer
7. Person owns a smart phone and/or tablet computer
8. Person owns more than one mobile phone
9. Person owns more than one firearm
10. Person has been involved in a real life protest(s)
11. Person has an unusual interest in Law Enforcement
12. Person has an unusual interest in Politics
13. Person has an unusual interest in the Military
14. Person is involved politically
15. Person writes letters to the editor
16. Person writes comments to online articles
17. Person has a post-secondary education
18. Person makes disparaging comments about the Government
19. Person is opposed to Firearms registry legislation
20. Person has an interest in Freedom of Speech issues
21. Person has an interest in Freedom of Religion issues
22. Person has an interest in Prevention of damage to the Ecosystem
23. Person has an interest in Control of Money in Political Campaigns
24. Person has in interest in Political Corruption
25. Person has ever taken part in an on-line protest, like the web site blank outs protesting the American SOPA legislation
26. Person advocates for registering Firearms
27. Person uses Social Media Sites for communications
28. Person shows no respect for authority figures
29. Person is artistic (i.e. writer, singer/songwriter) and their publishers
30. Person creates platform(s) for communications
31. Person uses any form(s) of Intellectual Property Law

As I’ve said, the above list is hardly complete, but it should help Law Enforcement in their fight against Anonymous.

Regards

Wayne Borean

Thursday February 9, 2012

Book of Honor – Urbema – First Draft – Being Published Online

Me and my junior editor, Kleopatra

Kleo and I have been working on a novel. Actually Sam and I started it before he died, and Kleo has helped me work on it since.

Outback Zack's Australian Animal Fire Victims Appeal

Outback Zack's Australian Animal Fire Victims Appeal

I’m looking for a video. Does anyone have on VHS, Beta, PVR, or whatever, a copy of Outback Zack’s Australian Animal Fire Victims Appeal that they could send to me? If so, you’ll earn my undying gratitude for all of five minutes (I have a short attention span).

Regards

Wayne Borean

Sunday February 5, 2012

 

Corporate Copyright Scofflaws 0012 – Sony Corporation

The largest copyright pirates are the large corporations, particularly in the content distribution business. Yes, those companies who scream the loudest that their customers are ‘pirating’ movies, songs, books, etc. In this series, we are going to look at cases where these companies have engaged in large scale copyright infringement, or in other ways have been ripping off artists.

Teachers

I’ve got this strange blonde woman…