A few weeks ago at Drinking Liberally someone asked me to explain my Skull & Crossbones armband so I gave my rap:

I don't believe in Intellectual Property. Intellectual Property is for Intellectuals. I am a man of action.

And I got some flack. "You don't believe in Intellectual Property?" The lawyers are incredulous. What? That's nonsense! You're an anarchist!

No. I'm a realist, and I understand the purpose of copyrights and patents.

The term "Intellectual Property" is fundimentally a mis-framing of how to understand laws that governs ideas, knowledge and information. You cannot "own" an idea in the same way you can own a thing; you can't "own" an mp3 in the same way you own a CD. Accept this and stop trying to fight reality.

Information, as far as human beings are concerned, is non-thermodynamic. There is not a fixed amount of it, as there is with matter and material items. You don't loose your idea when you transmit it to someone else, and when a new one is created it doesn't mean that some other resource is consumed.

Moreover, attempts to own or control the spread of ideas have always failed in the long run, even when massive amounts of effort are expended to do so. The British tried like the dickens to keep the US from getting the technical knowledge to build our own textile mills. More contemporarily, the nuclear powers that be are confronting the fact that it is impossible to control the spread of the know-how to make atomic weapons. Is it any wonder that the RIAA is having problems keeping the music industry locked down?

In contrast to the flawed model of "Intellectual Property," what does work with relation to ideas and information is creating a legal structure that gives innovators, artists and inventors the opportunity to have a limited monopoly (aka a patent) on their idea, or a copyright over the publication of their creations.

This suggests the model of Information Policy. That is: under what circumstances do we recognize the rights of creators and innovators to monopolize their ideas and how long do we grant them for?

These are legitimate questions. Copyright is in need of reform, as the ulgy realities of our governing process here in the US mean that whenever Mickey Mouse comes up against the limit of a copyright term, the timeframe is extended thanks to the lobbying power of Disney. Copyright now stands at the lifetime of the Author plus 70 years, 95 years if the author was working under the auspices of a corporation. That's just ridiculous.

There's a compelling public interest in having a large commons of information and content which is grist for the creative mills of the next generation. The constitutional mandate for Congress to manage copyright is as follows:

To promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts, by securing for limited Times to Authors and Inventors the exclusive Right to their respective Writings and Discoveries.

Copyright exsists to promote progress. That's what Information Policy is all about. Promoting creativity and progress. That means making sure that entrepreneurs and individuals who make can turn that into a living, and even maybe get rich if they strike gold.

However, the current corporatization of our Information Policy serves to prevent competition, cement existing business models and practices, and ensure that business institutions -- which are effectively immortal -- retain a perpetual monopoly over the creativity of the people they've employed, even long after those people have died. It makes perfect sense for businesses to be able to profit from their employees in a limited context. Corporations sometimes support important research and can provide stable employment for a lot of creators, and that's cool; but life-of-author plus 95 years? That's not progress.

One of the largest current frontiers of human endeavor is all about information. It is a revolution, just like industrialization. In this context, it's imperative that we start thinking seriously about what kind of 21st Century we want to have, culturally, economically, and politically. Information Policy is deeply tied to all these questions, and it's high time that the next generation made its voice heard.

At Drupal Camp in SF. Nice to be out here. It's familiar and comfy and it's the West Coast and that's nice. Should be an interesting weekend.

Also, there's a new port coming out you should be aware of: Drupus.

America's history of immigration is a history of illegal immigration.

Irish? Illegal immigrants, many fleeing famine.

Italians? Illegal immigrants; the slur "wop" is for With-Out Papers.

Chinese? Illegal immigrants, many aided and abetted by railroads and mining interests operating in the western frontiers.

Polish and post-Soviet? Lots of illegals there too.

The truth is that part of what makes America so vital is that it is a multi-ethnic society where people who are truly hungry for a better life have a shot, paperwork or not. These are the sorts of folks who are driven, who are risk-takers, who are in a very real sense entrepreneurs.

Which isn't to say there aren't differences in 21st Centiry immigration patterns. Refugees aside, it's usually an economic thing, and these days you really have to look at it within the context of a globalized economy: as capital moves more freely, labor wants to do the same.

Conservatives who rail against the erosion of the nation (language, culture and borders all becoming more muddled) are reactionary, yes, but not completely paranoid either. Especially where physical geography connects nations, tighter economic integration means more human immigration and eventually closer legal coordination. I for one see this as sort of inevitable, and something we aught to embrace and try to manage rather than ignore or leave up to the whimsical providence of "market forces."

I say let's accept the natural end of post-cold-war Pax Americana -- it wasn't going to last, even without Iraq -- and let more global security fall to the broader G8/UN-Security Council folks. At the same time we should be working towards a more robust and energy-independent economy, and looking to improving things in our own hemisphere for a spell. Let the Empire expire; long live the Republic!

America's history of immigration is a history of illegal immigration.

Irish? Illegal immigrants, many fleeing famine.

Italians? Illegal immigrants; the slur "wop" is for With-Out Papers.

Chinese? Illegal immigrants, many aided and abetted by railroads and mining interests operating in the western frontiers.

Polish and post-Soviet? Lots of illegals there too.

The truth is that part of what makes America so vital is that it is a multi-ethnic society where people who are truly hungry for a better life have a shot, paperwork or not. These are the sorts of folks who are driven, who are risk-takers, who are in a very real sense entrepreneurs.

Which isn't to say there aren't differences in 21st Centiry immigration patterns. Refugees aside, it's usually an economic thing, and these days you really have to look at it within the context of a globalized economy: as capital moves more freely, labor wants to do the same.

Conservatives who rail against the erosion of the nation (language, culture and borders all becoming more muddled) are reactionary, yes, but not completely paranoid either. Especially where physical geography connects nations, tighter economic integration means more human immigration and eventually closer legal coordination. I for one see this as sort of inevitable, and something we aught to embrace and try to manage rather than ignore or leave up to the whimsical providence of "market forces."

I say let's accept the natural end of post-cold-war Pax Americana -- it wasn't going to last, even without Iraq -- and let more global security fall to the broader G8/UN-Security Council folks. At the same time we should be working towards a more robust and energy-independent economy, and looking to improving things in our own hemisphere for a spell. Let the Empire expire; long live the Republic!

Dude, the Others as holdovers from some wierdo freakout hippie ("the Dharma initiative?") psychological experiment? It's one of the better possibilities in terms of plot explanations...

Flying to Cali tomorrow, a week in SF and then a weekend in Weshaven. Looking forward to a change of scenery.

Boing Boing had this on monday, but I've been busy with work. This is interesting and important. Everyone's been casually aware for some time that social networking will be a big part of how the next generation will organize. Seeing it happen is exciting.

Also, your social networking technology isn't worth anything. The userbase is worth something, but good luck trying to keep them. These groups who are doing big-money deals for these tools are going to end up disappointed, unless there's some sort-term payoff (like datamining the user database for marketing information) that I'm missin.

It's hard, sometimes. Communication is difficult, and people really do see the world pretty differently, even when they're allies. Trying to get anything going on is really an effort, but stuff's starting to happen.

People have to just get over their fear a little more, and things might start to get really good.

Talkin' about the cat in Afghanistan who's under the gun for apotasty -- converting from Islam to Christianity -- here's the American Enterprise Institute's Richard Coehn, spoiling for the clash of civilizations in a column. Unfathomable Zealotry:

Now, though, this awful thing returns and it is not just a single country that would kill a man for his beliefs but a huge swath of the world that would not protest. There can be only one conclusion: They were in agreement.
...
I can embrace an Afghan for his children, his work, even his piety -- all he shares with much of humanity. But when he insists that a convert must die, I am stunned into disbelief: Is this my fellow man?

An Afghan might ask if you are in fact his fellow man if you insist that wedding parties must be anniahlated so that freedom can march. It's a messy world, and we shouldn't pretend that we're not brutal people too. Stripping away the humanity of the Other just makes it easier to kill.

Sorta makes me mad, this cycle. It is how wars perpetuate, with sweeping generalizations and demonization. It's the same story, and I can't really fathom why people like Cohen or orgs like the AEI (a prominent cheerleader for invading Iraq) really do these things, but the intent is clear.

I've got a feeling Iraq is going to command more attention. The balance of power there seems to be in flux, with US Forces looking to regulat/ban ethnic militias (good luck) and popular Shias calling for an end to the US control over security. While this may or may not be resolved in a face-saving way, it's a bit of a rubicon:

Iraq's security minister accused US and Iraqi forces of killing 37 unarmed civilians in the mosque after tying them up.

That's Iraq's Security Minister, as in part of the new government. The "legitimate" occupation isn't too long for this world. We should have gotten out when we had the chance.

Also, welcome to the new Media Paradigm. It's a little depressing, but it's kind of interesting and important that we can get this kind of amateur/unfiltered view.

Lots of kids on YouTube. The commentary on a lot of these videos is pretty depressing too. Got a long way to go.

I won't be going to this, but I think it's worth posting.

Brecht Forum’s Database Computers Stolen in Suspicious Robbery

Two principal computers at the Brecht Forum were removed on the night of Thursday, March 16, in what appears to be a politically targeted theft. The Brecht Forum is a 30- year old education and cultural center that offers seminars and classes in political organizing and progressive analysis, and serves as a meeting space for scores of local activists, organizers, students and the public.

According to Brecht Forum Executive Director Liz Mestres, there are strong indications that this was a political theft.

• The two computers stolen held important information on the organization and its constituency.
• There were several other computers of the same kind in easy reach that were not touched.
• All the computers were old and not worth much for resale.
• Audio and media equipment were in plain sight in the next room.
• There were no signs of forced entry, so it is likely that whoever took these machines not only had access but knew exactly what they were after.

The Brecht Forum recently relocated from a loft in mid-town to a larger space in the Westbeth complex on the far west side of Manhattan. A similar theft of a single computer holding the database occurred about 6 years ago at the old location.

Throughout its existence, the Brecht Forum has been an open meeting space for analysis and discussion within the left and progressive community, and we have never shied away from controversial issues. For example, in the last month alone, we sponsored panels on developments in Venezuela and the elections in Palestine, as well as classes in Marxist theory and an exhibit of Artists Against the Death Penalty.

In the current political climate, when peace groups and dissenters are labeled as terrorist and covertly spied on, the Board of the Brecht Forum believes this has all the earmarks of an act of intimidation. Moreover, because we are a center where people across the left come together, the impact is aimed not just at the Brecht Forum, but against all groups engaged in social change organizing across issues, from supporting immigration rights, improving education, and promoting health care and affordable housing, to opposing the Iraq War and imperial foreign policy.

Because we believe this is not an isolated incident, we would like to hear from other groups and individuals that have had similar suspicious occurrences or overt acts of intimidation.

• We know we are not the only group being targeted or harassed for our political activities.
• We need to act together, firmly and fast, to show we won’t be frightened by such strong-arm tactics.

We need to challenge the Patriot Act and the atmosphere of repression that is growing against activists!

Come to an Emergency Community Meeting at the Brecht Forum
Tuesday, March 28 – 7:30p – 451 West St, [Between Bethune & Bank]

Join us to share information about what is happening.

Let us know if similar incidents have happened to your organization.
Call us at 212-242-4201 or email us at mail@brechtforum.org

Founded in 1975, The Brecht Forum is an educational and cultural center dedicated to advancing social justice and equality. Each year, more than 6,000 people attend over 200 public events that are a mix of political panels, classes, lectures, book signings, music and performances. www.brechtforum.org