:: Event Horizon ::

:: Saturday, January 18, 2003 ::

Thousands Rally in U.S. Against Iraq War
I don't understand the war protests. The war just is. No one wants war, but whether they want it or not, it just is. The Gulf War began in 1991 and a ceasefire agreement was negotiated after the liberation of Kuwait. The U.S. signed for the UN forces and the Iraqi's agreed to abide by the terms of the agreement. They didn't. If we look to historical precedent we find that when the terms of a ceasefire are violated, hostilities are said to have resumed until new terms are agreed upon. Those new terms are the UN resolutions regarding Iraq's disarmament and declaration of WMD. To date, Iraq has not complied with UN resolutions. So, let's be clear about one thing, the Gulf War is not over. That conflict needs to be brought to a legal conclusion with a formal peace treaty. That can be accomplished in one of two ways, either Iraq complies with UN resolutions and that compliance is certified by inspectors and sanctions lifted by the Council, or Saddam Hussein is forcibly removed from power and the war concluded with an allied victory.

:: Joel 6:59 PM [+] ::
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The United States of America has gone mad
Ok, everyone, don't panic. He is as spy novelist, not a political commentator, so get a grip. And please, I know you are all well intentioned, but stop e-mailing me his fiction, I've received so many copies already, I'll wait for the movie. Thanks.

:: Joel 2:54 PM [+] ::
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China Blocks Internet 'Blog' Site
China has blocked access to Blogger.com, the service that I'm using right now to compose this blog entry. There was a time when human rights workers, aid workers and missionaries hoped that the Internet would be a tool to evade the gaze of governments while meeting the needs of oppressed peoples. China has proved that even the decentralized Internet is not beyond the control of a totalitarian government.

:: Joel 3:25 PM [+] ::
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MPAA Spurns Digital Copyright Plans
New developments in the battle to preserve the fair use doctrine. According to this AP news report, Hollywood and the technology companies are trying to come up with a compromise in their shared effort to limit the choices available to consumers. The reports notes that, “They [technology companies] also will argue against efforts in Congress to amend U.S. laws to broaden the rights of consumers, such as explicitly permitting viewers to make backup copies of DVDs for personal use or copy downloaded songs onto handheld listening devices.” So, even as music companies are lining up to sell the latest in portable music players, they want to prevent consumers from being able to load their music onto the players. Can you imagine how ripped off consumers will feel about buying a new music player and not being able to transfer their favorite songs to it? This is an example of an industry shooting itself in the foot. Last I heard, sales of new music are declining. They need to be encouraging consumers to purchase music that they can use in every area of their life, to create their own personalized soundtrack that will follow them from home, to the car, to the office, to the gym, and to the grocery store. Instead, they are working to make sure your music and digital data are stored only in your den or your bedroom, wherever your computer is. Now that is a huge step toward the past.

:: Joel 3:35 PM [+] ::
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