Recently in quotes Category

“…the larger the mob, the harder the test. In small areas, before small electorates, the first-rate man occasionally fights his way through, carrying even the mob with him by force of his personality. But when the field is nationwide...the force of personality cannot so readily make itself felt, then all the odds are on the man who is, intrinsically, the most devious and mediocre… The presidency tends, year by year, to go to such men. As democracy is perfected, the office represents, more and more closely, the inner soul of the people… On some great and glorious day the plain folks of the land will reach their heart's desire at last, and the White House will be adorned by a moron.”

—H.L. Mencken, writing in The Baltimore Evening Sun, July 26, 1920

"A monster is a creature with no consciousness."

-- God

Since corporations are legally considered "people", and they have no consciousness, then what does that say about them?

pakgwei: "do you feel like an adult?"
sunfl0wersara: "not really. i feel like a fraud, most of the time."

What about you?

"No, I will not crochet you an angora vibrator cozy for Christmas. Christmas is evil and bad."

-- Suzannah Breslin

"a heavily made-up woman whose affections seem to be negotiable."

-- Natalie MacLean

Human relationships are about communicating. Business jargon should be banished in favour of simple English (or French or Spanish or Chinese or whatever). Simplicity is a sign of truth and a criterion of beauty. Complexity can be a way of hiding the truth.

-- Helena Rubinstein, CEO, www.labgroup.com

Theories of management don't much matter. Endeavors succeed or fail because of the people involved. Too often, people are assumed to be empty chess pieces to be moved around by grand viziers, which may explain why so many top managers immerse their calendar time in deal making, restructuring and the latest management fad. How many immerse themselves in the goal of creating an environment where the best, the brightest, the most creative are attracted, retained and, most importantly, unleashed?

-- General Colin Powell

The only cats worth anything are the cats that take chances. Sometimes I play things I never heard myself.

-- Thelonious Monk

best comic discussion comment ever:

"I've never put out for comics before...

...but if someone would give me a full run of "Hitman," I'd give'em a big sloppy blowjob."

Every so often the people fighting sharing slip up and tell us what they really think. Ed Felten points to an article about a program that lets you copy DVDs. "It's like somebody selling a digital crowbar," said Patricia Benson, an attorney for the studios.As Felten points out, crowbars are available at the local hardware store, even though they can be used to break into private property and actually steel things, as well as attacking people. Last time I checked, you didn't need a license to get one."

-- Aaron Swartz: The Weblog

"(1) The most important first indication that was absolutely clear from the argument is that our fear was misplaced. The Court clearly got it. Though the other side had written literally 300 pages trying to show all the good CTEA did (and pronounce it like it is a disease -- sateeeya), the Court hadn't bought any of it. Congress was not acting to promote progress, it was acting to reward "court favorites." The only question the Court was struggling with is whether it has the power to do anything about it. "

-- Lawrence Lessig

You have been living in a cave the last few years if you've heard nothing about Copyright. Wether it is the record companies useing it as a bully club, or the now famous Eldred case, everyone want's to own something.

This past week, the Supreme Court heard arguments for and against the reversal of the Copyright Extension Act. No matter what side you're on, this article by the lawyer for the People is in depth, interesting, and strangely enough, optimistic.

Read it.

NOW!

“There has grown in the minds of certain groups in this country the idea that just because a man or corporation has made a profit out of the public for a number of years, the government and the courts are charged with guaranteeing such profit in the future, even in the face of changing circumstances and contrary to public interest. This strange doctrine is supported by neither statue or common law. Neither corporations or individuals have the right to come into court and ask that the clock of history be stopped, or turned back.”

-- Robert Heinlein, Life Line, 1939

October 9th, 2002

Eldred v. Ashcroft

Fuck the mouse. If you cannot make a profit off your creation in the entire span of your life, PLUS 75 years after you are dead and rotting (as is the already ridiculous copyright standard), then just maybe no one gives a shit about what you have to say.