I am planning on using my blog as a personal research [pdf] tool. I am hoping to tackle some issues around the DMCA, however, being Random Mumblings just about anything could show up here.

I'm still off kilter, although I may start working on being a writer. I will not quit my day job, cause then I'd be unemployed. I still find this page useful for putting down thoughts and culling information from the tidbits I find. However, my Google rank is plummeting, and I am not finding the time or content to inspire me.

November 1st, 2005 The government is once again considering selling out the public to the RIAA and MPAA. I sent my congressman the following:

I am a computer programmer, and a father, who happens to be married to a music teacher. The "broadcast flag" or "radio protection legislation offered in response to the recent U.S. Appeals Court decision to strike down the FCC's Flag Order, will not only destroy my industry it will also deprive my wife and stunt my daughter's future.

This legislation is broad, and in fact implementing it will make general purpose computers impossible. By definition a computer runs on the ability to copy bits around, and any implementation of a "broadcast flag" would require a hobbling of that capability. You can find more information regarding this aspect of the technology on the World Wide Web, which the "broadcast flag" would make impossible for you to use, since every page loaded is copied to your computer.

Next my wife, who also composes music, would be further deprived of long standing and proven fair use rights. Even if a song has fallen into the public domain, the "broadcast flag" would be used to keep people from using the music. As the May 11, 2005 Congressional Research Service report noted, the flag will prevent important fair uses, like the ability of teachers to engage in distance learning and the ability of individuals to email fair use portions of works to themselves and others. Making excerpts for public criticism of television media is critical, yet it will be severely limited as a result of this legislation.

Lastly, the flag will also hinder educational use of copyrighted content, and will stifle the design, operation, and further development of innovative consumer electronics. This combined with the earlier creative restrictions will seriously damage my daughter's future.

We already live in a difficult time for innovators, artists, and citizens, please do not add this onerous weight in favor of the RIAA and MPAA.