EFF: Lawyer Trademarks "Cyberlaw" Threatens Legal Action

"I wish I could say I was surprised by this one, but such overreaching invocations of IP rights are all too common -- even where, as in this case, there are no actual "rights" to speak of. But an IP lawyer should know that courts...."

Yes the trend continues, some businesses want to own language and prevent others from speaking by misusing trademark law -- from freecycle to cyberlaw. See also: http://www.baltimoresun.com/business/bal-bz.cyberlaw21feb21,0,1813223.story

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Obama: America must talk with enemies; Clinton won't budge

As the Democratic CNN/Univision debate kicked off Thursday night, Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY) and Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) faced off over Cuba, with Obama reiterating his position that America "has to talk with its enemies," with Clinton holding to an earlier position that no president should meet with Cuba's new leader unless conditions are met.

I believe that everyone should be willing to talk and keep talking. It is the only way to understand each other's position so that war, bloodshed, and terrorism can be averted.

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Wikileaks shutdown causes opposite effect

In an ironic twist, the "shutdown" of Wikileaks.org by Judge Jeffrey S. White and the company Julius Baer Bank to reduce distribution of certain documents has probably caused more publicity, focus, and re-publication of the alleged infringing documents than if the site had been left alone. Oooops!

For more details please read:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/19/us/19cnd-wiki.html
and
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080219/ap_on_hi_te/wikileaks_shutdown_2

Tour of California Prologue Was a Hit!

The prologue in Palo Alto, CA for the Tour of California bicycle race was very popular with large crowds, bell ringers, and even valet bicycle parking. Bicycling is obviously very popular in California. See the longer story from the "read more" link.

I was there in person too. I helped park bikes at the SVBC bike parking facility in down town Palo Alto and then watched the race itself and got a cowbell to clang for the racers. It was an amazing time.

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Consumer Reports

The magazine and web site provide the best independent expert advice for consumers in North America -- from money to health care to cars to consumer products. Their articles are not always perfect but they are far, far better than advice from just about any source (especially better than random anecdotes from friends). And when they make a mistake, they admit it and publish a correction.

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Sheldon Brown R.I.P (1944-2008)

Sheldon Brown, a legend in the bicycling community, passed away on February 3, 2008. He was a friend and will be greatly missed.

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The Universe Is Conspiring to Help Us

Kevin Kelly is a guy who really understands the nature of giving. He says "I've only slowly come to realize that good givers are those who learn to receive with grace as well. They radiate a sense of being indebted and a state of being thankful." Please read his essay for more.

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