boingboing_net

http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/boingboing/iBag/~3/73YEYLouy2E/what-shall-we-do-wit-1.html

Paul Spinrad will be guest blogging here this week and next. 

If it's true that British Naval history is written in rum, sodomy, and the lash, one can't help but imagine what colorful fates have befallen drunken sailors early in the morning. Like many folk songs, "What Shall We Do With A Drunken Sailor," is a great template for verbal improvisation. For each verse, you just need four counts of lyrics, which you repeat between choruses. This provides ample time to set down your mug and gesture to your buddies, "Hey-- I've got a good one!" so they will give you the floor next time around.

I wish we could all be together now, singing sea chanties in some friendly tavern. That's not possible, but I think we can still have some fun coming up with and sharing new verses for What Shall We Do With A Drunken Sailor. I'll start, and if you have any, please post them in the comments:

Ream his bunghole with a rusty scupper (repeat)

Wring his sack in the starboard windlass (repeat)

Soak his cheeks in the Devil's bath, now (repeat)

Coat his mizzen-mast with tar and feathers (repeat)

(Obligatory Distancing Comment: Yes, this is totally immature.)

Photo: Lewis Walpole Library, Yale University  

boingboing_net

http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/boingboing/iBag/~3/puO3_GOBL1M/spanish-activists-is.html

A group of journalists, bloggers, professionals and creators want to express their firm opposition to the inclusion in a Draft Law of some changes to Spanish laws restricting the freedoms of expression, information and access to culture on the Internet. They also declare that:

1 .- Copyright should not be placed above citizens' fundamental rights to privacy, security, presumption of innocence, effective judicial protection and freedom of expression.

2 .- Suspension of fundamental rights is and must remain an exclusive competence of judges. This blueprint, contrary to the provisions of Article 20.5 of the Spanish Constitution, places in the hands of the executive the power to keep Spanish citizens from accessing certain websites.

3 .- The proposed laws would create legal uncertainty across Spanish IT companies, damaging one of the few areas of development and future of our economy, hindering the creation of startups, introducing barriers to competition and slowing down its international projection.

4 .- The proposed laws threaten creativity and hinder cultural development. The Internet and new technologies have democratized the creation and publication of all types of content, which no longer depends on an old small industry but on multiple and different sources.

5 .- Authors, like all workers, are entitled to live out of their creative ideas, business models and activities linked to their creations. Trying to hold an obsolete industry with legislative changes is neither fair nor realistic. If their business model was based on controlling copies of any creation and this is not possible any more on the Internet, they should look for a new business model.

6 .- We believe that cultural industries need modern, effective, credible and affordable alternatives to survive. They also need to adapt to new social practices.

7 .- The Internet should be free and not have any interference from groups that seek to perpetuate obsolete business models and stop the free flow of human knowledge.

8 .- We ask the Government to guarantee net neutrality in Spain, as it will act as a framework in which a sustainable economy may develop.

9 .- We propose a real reform of intellectual property rights in order to ensure a society of knowledge, promote the public domain and limit abuses from copyright organizations.

10 .- In a democracy, laws and their amendments should only be adopted after a timely public debate and consultation with all involved parties. Legislative changes affecting fundamental rights can only be made in a Constitutional law.

manifiesto en defensa de los derechos fundamentales en internet

(Thanks, Javier!)

(Image: ARTICLE 1, a Creative Commons Attribution image from art makes me smile's photostream)

Previously:

• Finland makes broadband a right - Boing Boing


• European Internet sinking fast under 3-strikes proposals - Boing Boing

whedonesque

http://whedonesque.com/comments/22528

http://www.pajiba.com/guides/the-ten-best-television-shows-of-the-aughts.php

Firefly (of course) makes the list.

whedonesque

http://whedonesque.com/comments/22527

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AJRMEnBocNY

A wonderfully done fan-tribute Youtube-vid that captures the docile aspects of an Active's life.

[ edited by wiesengrund on 2009-12-02 11:09 ]

whedonesque

http://whedonesque.com/comments/22526

http://www.fancast.com/blogs/friday-night-lights/the-big-tease-scoop-on-bones-greys-v-and-more/

Spoilers for other shows as well.

found_mag

http://www.foundmagazine.com/find/13224

found_mag

http://www.foundmagazine.com/find/14248

boingboing_net

http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/boingboing/iBag/~3/ERzgxfooPKM/mechanical-flapping.html

Flapping Push Toy/Игрушка-толкалка, крыльями махалка

boingboing_net

http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/boingboing/iBag/~3/l5prcXVpqzk/business-software-al-2.html

I was guest-lecturing for a week at a master class on issues related to international copyright to grad students at Budapest's Central European University. The speaker following me was the lawyer who ran the Hungarian division of the Business Software Alliance. He described the many means by which the BSA tried to combat piracy, and then he mentioned this paid informant program.

There was an audible intake of breath, emanating primarily from the Eastern Europeans in the room. They'd lived through the Soviet era. They knew how corrosive it is to pay people to snitch on their neighbors. They know that it leads to score-settling, axe-grinding, and blackmail.

The BSA man instantly recognized his mistake and held his hands up placatingly.

"Oh, we don't use paid informants in Eastern Europe! That would be culturally inappropriate.

"No, we use paid informants in England."

I get the funniest looks when I tell that story here in London.

Narc on Your Boss, Get Cool Cash

boingboing_net

http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/boingboing/iBag/~3/9Cjz53BKANo/dane-who-ripped-his.html

However, in the period up to today, Henrik heard nothing from Antipiratgruppen, although their lawyer Thomas Schlüter did speak to the Danish press, saying that it was a political matter but had nevertheless reported the issue to the Association of Danish Videodistributors for consideration. In response, their chairman, Poul Dylov, said they would have a meeting to decide whether to report the matter to the police. Antipiratgruppen said it would reply to Henrik by they date he requested. It seems they have broken their promise and strangely are insisting that they never received the email that Henrik sent them on the issue...

Henrik told us: "But who should I follow? Those that determine the laws in this country? Or those who are lawyers for the companies that i'm committing a crime against?"

But Henrik has a solution to their inaction. "I decided to try to see if I can report myself directly to the police, for the case must be resolved," he told us.

boingboing_net

http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/boingboing/iBag/~3/0ZnCcJs175Y/somali-pirate-stock-.html

It is a lucrative business that has drawn financiers from the Somali diaspora and other nations -- and now the gangs in Haradheere have set up an exchange to manage their investments...

"Four months ago, during the monsoon rains, we decided to set up this stock exchange. We started with 15 'maritime companies' and now we are hosting 72. Ten of them have so far been successful at hijacking," Mohammed said.

"The shares are open to all and everybody can take part, whether personally at sea or on land by providing cash, weapons or useful materials ... we've made piracy a community activity."

(Image: File:MV-Faina-Pirates.jpg, Public Domain, Wikimedia Commons)

boingboing_net

http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/boingboing/iBag/~3/nc4zB4SkE2A/your-world-of-warcra.html

PrintWarcraft Custom Prints (Thanks, Ted!)

boingboing_net

http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/boingboing/iBag/~3/nNahIs30sLc/500-years-of-golden.html

Magic 1400s-1950s (Amazon)

Magic, 1400s-1950s (Taschen, lots of interior images) (Thanks, PeaceLove!)

whedonesque

http://whedonesque.com/comments/22525

http://www.iontelevision.com/shows.php?id=291

Nick stars in "A Golden Christmas" Dec. 13 on ION Television. There's also a preview for the movie off the network's homepage.

boingboing_net

http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/boingboing/iBag/~3/YyJGMAZw6xo/obamas-afghanistan-e.html

xkcd_rss

http://xkcd.com/670/