Broadcast flag, again...

The basic rule of the entertainment industry (which includes broadcasters and the news media) is to restrict the options available to their customers. Moreover, as technology creates numerous options for consumers, the entertainment industry grows apoplectic, not because they are against options, per se, but because they're not getting a piece of the action.

The so-called "broadcast flag" is a "counter-technology," if you will, basically designed to allow broadcasters the on-the-fly ability to grant or withhold permission for viewers to record televised content. It nips a lot of technologies - such as Tivo - in the bud.

The flag has been introduced many times in Congress, sometimes openly by congresscritters who apparently rely on entertainment industry contributions for their continued political health, and more recently by stealth, as it has become clear that this idea is a real stinkeroo with broader implications than merely the silk-lined pockets of entertainment industry moguls.

The latest attempt to implement the flag is in a telecom bill that is apparently under discussion today. I would ask that interested LJers please go visit the Public Knowledge web site to learn more and to learn if they can help sway the Seante's Commerce Committee ('tis my understanding that congresscritters really only listen to people in their constituency, and even then, that's only in theory).

Cheers...

What did I accomplish today?

It's hard to say.

I started the day by taking a slice out of the big job due in July, but soon decided to put a dent in the packing end of the world.

Not packing, per se, though, as Galina and I had had words a couple of days ago to the effect that she wanted all my stuff out of the way before we left, and words yesterday to the effect that she wanted all my stuff to be "dealt with" before I left, meaning a few steps past merely "out of the way."

"Deal with" all my stuff? In two days?

I probably couldn't drive it all to the dump in two days.

And while I started on the job, I got a call from the client sending me to Kazakhstan... Could I please...

"No! " I said, explaining that I needed to pack and drive and unpack, etc.

"Please?" said the client.

I relented, and have invoiced another nearly 5,000 words.

The next two callers weren't as lucky.

In a way, the assignment was a release, since if the issue of dealing with all my stuff was all-but-hopeless before doing the job, it is well-and-truly-past-hopeless now. I'll be lucky to move a bunch of stuff into the side room tomorrow.

On the "good news" side of things, I've started to load the truck. Washer. Dryer. King size bed. One box of books.

My Kazakh kit is still in work, I think. I can't imaging it's near complete, but I can't think of anything else to include.

Ah, well. I'm sure ideas will occur to me.

Cheers...