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Raw Bytes Computer News KPBX FM 91.1 Radio National Public Radio Network Frank Delaney Producer Broadcast on Thursday Morning 7:35 AM During Morning Edition Support Public Radio ! The Theater Of the Mind |
In computer news this week 6/07/2006 |
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Political
correctness, the movie industry, the
computer industry, and the Boy
Scouts
I was a
boy scout when I was a boy, and it was one of the most enjoyable experiences
of my youth. I went to
boy scout camp for an entire summer in the woods of the state of Maine, and
it was my most pleasurable camping experience, despite the fact that I also
had attended expensive private camps. At Boy
Scout summer camp, I earned merit badges for canoeing, rifle shooting, and camping . I later
earned a radio merit badge which involved building a crystal radio from a
wood block with copper wire wrapped around it, an electronic device called a
cat’s whisker from an electronics store, a tiny earphone, a clamp that attached to a water pipe
in our house to act as a ground, and an antenna made from a section of a
Campbell’s soup can. You could actually hear local radio stations
through the scratchy sound. As an
adult I’ve been an advisor to the boy scouts, and I also was a
Scoutmaster. I believe in the Boy Scout Oath: On my honor I will do my best To do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout Law; To help other people at all times; To keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight..... and not to download pirated software ........ What ?? not to download pirated software – what’s that
got to do with helping old ladies across the street ? Yes,
there actually is a new boy scout anti-piracy patch – Respect Copyrights. A recent AP wire story described it: A Boy Scout is
trustworthy, loyal, helpful, etc., etc. He is also respectful of copyrights. Boy Scouts in the Los
Angeles area will now be able to earn a merit patch for learning about the
evils of downloading pirated movies and music. The patch shows a film
reel, a music CD and the international copyright symbol, a "C"
enclosed in a circle. The movie industry has
developed the curriculum. "Working with the
Boy Scouts of Los Angeles, we have a real opportunity to educate a new
generation about how movies are made, why they are valuable, and hopefully
change attitudes about intellectual property theft," Dan Glickman, chairman of the Motion Picture Association of
America, said. Scouts will be instructed
in the basics of copyright law and learn how to identify five types of
copyrighted works and three ways copyrighted materials may be stolen. Scouts also must choose
one activity from a list that includes visiting a movie studio to see how
many people can be harmed by film piracy. They also can create public service
announcements urging others not to steal movies or music. I have a personal problem with
this. As a programmer and developer, I
have been a member of the Washington Software Association, and I believe in
not pirating software, music, movies, or anything. But I
don’t think we should allow the Movie Industry to influence a national
institution like the Boy Scouts. This
actually isn’t a merit badge, it’s a patch that troops in the LA area can earn,
but personally - I’d rather my kid earned one in canoeing or radio. For Raw Bytes This is Frank Delaney (C) 2006 MTA Micro
Technology Associates http://www.mtamicro.com/kpbx.html PO Box 31522 Spokane, Wa 99223-1522 (509)624-7230 |
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