I like to blog about writing. I like to read about writing. In general, I like writing.
This isn’t about writing.
Well, not directly.
It’s about something writers have to do. Writers should read.
I like to blog about writing. I like to read about writing. In general, I like writing.
This isn’t about writing.
Well, not directly.
It’s about something writers have to do. Writers should read.
Wow. It’s a real good thing I didn’t make any New Year’s resolutions. If I had, those resolutions would already be shattered and I’d be feeling terrible right about now. As it is, I still feel bad, but I can dust myself off and move on. Look I’m posting! See?
I’m two weeks into the Writing Workshop I signed up for at the Thomas More institute and in general it’s working pretty well. The workshop that is, personally, I’ve got to step up my game!
Read on…
This site isn’t actually blocked. Don’t worry.
But it could be.
Under PIPA and SOPA, sites which contain or even only link to copywrited materials can be blocked indefinitely without trial or notice (or even possibly any legal recourse).
Here’s the thing. The folks who decide to block a site using PIPA or SOPA don’t even have to be right. It’s that whole without trial or notice.
Here’s another thing, it doesn’t stop piracy at all. You’d still be able to access blocked sites directly using their IP address. Pirates would not be slowed down. The only thing these bills do is put huge censorship powers in the hands of a few. Those few are determined to control what you do on the net. Those few insist that, whether you infringe or not, they have a right to determine what you see and to have their hands in your wallet.
You’ll hear a lot of “These bills aren’t meant for censorship. We will only use them to fight piracy, we promise”. We’ve heard that before. Heard of the Digital Millenium Copyright Act? That was meant to fight piracy, it hasn’t much, and it’s mostly mis-used to unfairly stiffle competition among corporations.
Remember, these bills don’t really do much to fight piracy, but they DO allow for a whole lot of censorship, without trial or legal recourse.
I eventually want to make my living from my writing, so I’m sympathetic to copyright issues but this isn’t the way to deal with them.
If you live in the US, write to your representatives NOW. The mainstream media is mostly ignoring this issue and the narrative that is there is being led by big money lobbyists and corporations, the opposition is mostly online. It’s up to you to pick up the ball and make sure your voice is heard. The PIPA and SOPA supporters, up until very recently, denied there was any significant opposition. Show them there is!
If you do not live in the US, stay aware and informed. There is reason to believe that the US is putting pressure on other countries to pass similar legislation. Do not let them.
It’s up to you.
This infographic summarizes things pretty well
Addendum:
I’m a big fan of Cory Doctorow and I found this quote on the Make The Light blackout page (unfortunately it does not adequately source it):
“Big Content haven’t just declared war on Boing Boing and Reddit and the rest of the “fun” Internet: they’ve declared war on every person who uses the net to publicize police brutality, every oppressed person in the Arab Spring who used the net to organize protests and publicize the blood spilled by their oppressors, every abused kid who used the net to reveal her father as a brutalizer of children, every gay kid who used the net to discover that life is worth living despite the torment she’s experiencing, every grassroots political campaigner who uses the net to make her community a better place — as well as the scientists who collaborate online, the rescue workers who coordinate online, the makers who trade tips online, the people with rare diseases who support each other online, and the independent creators who use the Internet to earn their livings.
The contempt for human rights on display with SOPA and PIPA is more than foolish. Foolishness can be excused. It’s more than greed. Greed is only to be expected. It is evil, and it must be fought.”
Woo! Tonight is the start of the writer’s workshop I signed up for.
I’m psyched.
I’m optimistic this will help me in many ways. My wife says that it’s impossible for it to be wasted since I’m already befitting from it in new ideas, renewed interest in writing and such.
I am lucky.
On the plus side, there’s a big slice of time between the end of my workday and when the class starts, so I’m charging up my eeePC and will spend that time working on my Capricornucopia script. The angst, stress and worries have finally kicked in. It’s only a matter of hours before my script becomes reality, judging by past experiences. Like I told my wife (who is always blown away by my procrastination skills), last year I wrote the damn thing the morning OF, and it was some of my best work! Here’s hoping for a repeat of those results!
Now to figure out where near Atwater street I can grab a coffee and type away quietly!
I’m not sure I want to live in a world without Twinkies. If they sold the damn things here in Montreal, I assure you they would not be filing Chapter 11.
Speaking of world endings, my Capricornucopia script is moving apace. I’d say more, but we try to keep things under wraps until the actual day. The themes are a mildly open secret but the scripts themselves are kept under more security than the Colonel’s secret recipe of 11 herbs and spices (I think one of them is crack). So, there’s no way you’ll ever find out what the scripts are about. There’s nothing…nothing you can do. Muhahaha.
Unless you ask…then maybe.
Actually, the main reason no one usually knows much about the scripts themselves ahead of time is that it seems to have become a Capricornucopia tradition to procrastinate with superhuman effort until the last minute (With the exception of Chris, who is an inspiration to us all).
It sounds bad, but if I go by previous years and the fun we’ve had, it usually works.
My own personal tradition is to agonize over the thing, fight it, avoid it, hate it and worry about it and think it’s the most horrible boring thing ever put to paper…
And then it’s fine, people laugh and have fun.
So…seems like I’m right on track for 2012!
In other news….2 more days til I start my writer’s workshop! I’m excited!
The Munchkin wishes all of you a Happy New Year! (As do I!)
First of all, I apologize for the lack of updates (since late November, yikes! Sorry!). There are more excuses than reasons for this I’m afraid. I can only say, the year starts anew and it’s a good time for a fresh start!
Read on for a recap of 2011 (the good, the bad, the ugly) and some non-resolutions!