While on the face of it this article at DesignTechnica titled “Who’s In Control?” appears to be another rant on the idiotic patchwork of laws on protection of intellectual property, there is a pointer to an undercurrent that runs through almost all aspects of our federal government. Read this section and think about it in broader terms than ripping CDs or watching HD-DVDs on older technology televisions:

What worries me is that the rules are literally being rewritten as you read this. Dolly back, as they say in the film industry, and three patterns become clear: What was once legal and “fair use??? of existing gear is being redefined, criminalized, and copy-protected out of existence under new laws and regulations. Your existing gear, including your HDTV and your PC, is also being directly sabotaged by software. And gear you buy in the future may not have the functionality you’ve always taken for granted.

Here’s another threesome for you: The forces responsible for this tectonic shift in consumer electronics are partly private, partly public, and partly a combination of the two. That combination is a particularly deadly one. When government colludes with business, to whom can you turn?

I am not anti-business, but the business of America is NOT business, it is protecting the freedoms of our citizens and making possible the pursuit of happiness and prosperity. Pro-business policies should not be oriented towards the success of particular companies. Unfortunately the golden rule overwhelms all. Those who have the gold make the rules.

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I’m back in Memphis to finish up some affairs related to my late father’s estate and to finish setting up stuff for my Mom. Posting may be irregular or completely out of control; unfortunately my Mom decided to turn off her cable modem two days before I got here, and unfortunately I need the Internet access. I need to find a Starbucks near here.

Sigh…