I changed my home page to a black background to mark the occasion of the Eldred vs Ashcroft ruling. I expected the result, but it doesn't diminish the perspective this event gives on the entire tragedy that marks the modern concept of "intellectual property". Personally, I think that almost every other policy issue in play in the world today is of less moment than this particular struggle. This is not a facile thought, but I haven't the time right now to expand upon it in the length it deserves. Luckily, others have touched on the importance of an even pitch for the intercourse of ideas. I hope to put forth my own thoughts in good time. For now, I count myself lucky that so many of my areas of close interest are beyond the grasp of Big Media. My literary interests mostly cover works that predate even the most outrageous exaggerations of copyright term. The software I use and write is almost all open source, and licensed so as to encourage free use. My main weakness is my fondness for some of the contemporary music controlled by major labels.

I'm watching Band of Brothers for the second and a half time. Such a brilliant series it is (probably the best TV miniseries I've watched) that I suppose I'll have to find some good books chronicling the "Currahee", the Screaming Eagles. I've already heard the raves for the books by Burgett and Ambrose. I also wonder whether the soundtrack of the miniseries is good on the whole. The main theme is certainly very moving.