I voted, and...

So, I went and voted today. I chose to vote on the Democratic ticket because Democrats tend to wind up in control of much of the state machinery around here and there are a number of Democrats I want to vote against, so...

I pulled out the ballot, marked my preference for Democrats (not really, I'm just a Republican who's ashamed of the party), and scanned the roster of names. And as my first-pass scan is going through, a name registers on the ballot with more than mere recognition. For there, at the bottom of the ballot, it reads:

[ ] D. Omaha Sternberg.

I stop, double-check. Yes, my wife has her name on the ballot. Apparently, all that machination with the Democratic party earlier this year resulted in her receiving a nomination for precinct captain, and apparently someone thinks she accepted. Okay, so it's a minor step on her way to World Domination, but we all must start somewhere.

A bit freaked out, I voted for my wife today...

[Politics] Save the Betamax decision

In 1910, the publishing industry of America tried to outlaw libraries and used bookstores. In 1975, the movie and television industries, which now depend on VCRs and DVDs for their very survival, tried to outlaw the VCR, and sought the right to sue VCR manufacturers on the grounds that VCRs might bu used to make illegal copies of movies.

The INDUCE Act currently before Congress would reverse thirty years of law, and overturn what is now known as "The Betamax Decision." The Supreme Court ruled that VCRs have "substantial non-infringing uses" and are therefore legal products. Congress seeks to overturn that decision.

Please, if you care about your IPods, your TiVo, your right to tape stuff off the air, your Fansubs and your ability to mix tapes for your next party, go to Save Betamax and participate in today's congressional call-in. I've already called my Senator and Congresscritters.

New Story,

Well, someone anonymously pointed out to me that Nudes Defending a Staircase hadn't been posted automatically as I'd expected. I'd made a mistake with the version control system and the wrong index, without the entry for that story, had wound up in the autoposter. Sorry about that.