links for 2008-10-01

• SCI-FI STORY: Extraction, published at Aphelion, by Ryan Somma
  A webzine published one of Ryan’s short science-fiction stories… I just read it, and it’s really good! Lots of time travel. And evolution. And very dark. So dark.
  (tags: media stories sci-fi TimeTravel time RyanS byRyanS)
• TECHNOLOGY WAR: Hollywood studios sue to stop distribution of RealNetwork’s “RealDVD” software, which lets you copy DVDs to your computer
  Gee, imagine the horror if people copied their netflix movies to their harddrive!

  It’s nice to see a *corporation* take up the fight for Fair Use, and for DeCSS (dvd decrypting) not being a violation of DMCA.

  (tags: politics TechnologyWar technology copyright GeekPolitics media video movies DVDs software RealDVD legal lawsuits corporations RealNetworks MPAA Hollywood RobGlaser Kaleidescape)
• RELIGION, OVERLY-HARSH PUNISHMENTS, WAR ON DRUGS: Religious dickhead parole officer Mitch Crofoot sends man back to prison on a parole violation — for wanting a secular drug treatment program that doesn’t force you to answer to a higher power you don’t believe in!
  The 12 Step Programs are essentially a religious cult of their own, telling people to be helpess, and to surrender themselves to a higher power. Yet, the First Amendment guarantees us the right to practice religion as we see fit: including NOT practicing it (freedom FROM religion).

  BTW, he was 3rd-offense arrested for having whiskey! WTF.

  Yet, when an atheist on parole for drugs submitted a formal complaint asking for a secular rehabilitation program instead of a religious one — dickhead christian warrior constitutional-hating parole officer Mitch Crofoot sent him back to jail.

  This is a taxpayer-funded, government organization forcing religion down the throats of people who have already lost their freedoms. A lawsuit inevitably ensues, and the system should lose. Mitch Crofoot should be fired.

  (tags: politics religion OverlyHarshPunishmments drugs WarOnDrugs methamphetamine prisoners parole rehabilitation atheism 12-Step lawsuits rights ConstitutionalRights FreedomOfReligion FreedomFromReligion 1stAmendment FirstAmendment Christians God YourTaxDollarsAtWork BarryA.HazelJr. paroleOfficers mitchdaniels California CaliforniaParoleBoard MichaelScheibli CaliforniaCourtOfAppeals whiskey alcohol WarOnAlcohol Redding news articles OverlyHarshPunishments)
• CENSORSHIP VS. RELIGION: Salman Rushdie defends books that challenge religion
  It looks like Rushdie’s next book has been canceled by fears of Islamic reprisals. Even the translaters for his last book were attacked, and the publisher firebombed.

  This is the real culture war. The War On Terror may only kill people on the battlefield, but the real war of ideals is indeed taking away our freedoms one at a time. Now we can’t even criticize religion, because at some point we lost the ability to say anything that offends anyone. That’s pretty much an effect of Islamic violence taking away our freedom via fear, causing self-censorship.

  Don’t appease them. (And don’t appease the Christians either.)

  And screw Random House — You’re a publisher. So PUBLISH, goddamnit, you fucking cowards.

  (tags: politics religion censorship books authors SalmanRushdie Islam Muslims violence self-censorship fear terrorism RandomHouse JewelOfMedina USA)