Show Your Hate: Our representatives in Washington D.C. did something right. Show your hate for telemarketing and sign up for the National Do Not Call Registry. It won't stop the calls 100%, but it's still a good thing.

National Do Not Call Registry

From the Small World Archives:
Phone Abuse, May 4, 2003

Big Music versus the Little Guy: The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), the primary opponent of peer-to-peer file swapping services, is making plans to sue individuals for illegally distributing copyrighted music files. This is for PR impact, not practical results.

From USA Today:
RIAA goes after the little guys

From the article: "But potential fines are a whopping $150,000 a song, which would make a person who shares as few as 10 songs online accountable for $1.5 million. "

From the Small World Archives:
Music Industry Blues, August 16, 2002
Free Music, July 29, 2000

Lighter Subjects: Hatred of cats is not as serious a subject as we usually deal with here. However, let's not minimize the importance of such feelings. From the Small World archives:

8 Reasons to Hate Cats
8 More Reasons to Hate Cats
Yet Another 8 Reasons to Hate Cats

Advances in Advertising: Pizza company hires homeless to hold ads

Danger in The Matrix: Watch out! It might make you think. It might contain dangerous religious ideas. Inciting others into thoughtcrimes is a punishable offense.

From BBC News: Egypt bans 'too religious' Matrix

Thanks to John Dowell for highlighting this article.

Militants or a Mob? You may not have noticed this as it doesn't appear to be a "top story" in the mainstream press. The AP reports Iranian authorities stood aside and even supported "pro-cleric militants" who attacked fellow citizens protesting Iran's government. The Associated Press' characterization is seemingly neutral. Quoting the AP article:

"The militants — often referred to as vigilantes — pledge loyalty to Khamenei and his hard-line clerics and act voluntarily to break up protests without government approval."

This description borders on the absurd. Perhaps the AP is going to great lengths to avoid appearing as anti-Islamic. But since when can a group of citizens "voluntarily" attack another group of citizens and it not be called a mob? Doublespeak at its best.

From the Associated Press: Fourth Night of Clashes Erupts in Tehran

Thanks to the Little Green Footballs weblog for highlighting this news.

Middle East News Reruns: Ever feel like you've seen the news coming out of Israel and the Palestinian territories before? The names change but the events are the same. Sad, but true.

From the Small World Archives:
Middle East Wheel-o-News, September 27, 2002

Is your car making you fat? Some "experts" are making a link between a city's urban sprawl, greater driving commutes and increasing obesity in its citizens. Sounds plausible. Good urban design doesn't win out as often as it should. We drive more, we walk less. But let's not blame external forces for our personal excesses, shall we?

From Francesca Lyman on MSNBC: Battling the bulge in the burbs

From the Small World archives: The Fat Economy, June 28, 2002

Multiple media, one voice? The Federal Communications Commission opened the door to further "media consolidation" this week. Bottom line, it means more of your local television, radio and newspapers could be owned by the same company. Some think any step further in this direction is a bad idea.

I'm still thinking about this one. A cartoon on the subject could be in the making.

From Wired News: FCC Relaxes Media Ownership Rules

Fools for fame: The article below confirmed my suspicions about many "reality television" shows. They're full of aspiring actors who otherwise can't find work in Los Angeles. Poor folks. These shows are now regularly making fools of the would-be stars and so reality TV isn't the best career move anymore.

From Fox News: Help Wanted: Reality Stars by Catherine Donaldson-Evans

I wouldn't mind my 15 minutes either. But I'll make a fool of myself on my own terms, thank you. Watch it in progress right here.

Divorce can be easy and cheap. Got $300? You can get a divorce. Given societal trends and the potential market, the online divorce makes a disturbing amount of sense. But can they make the psychotherapy bills for you and your children to cope with the aftermath that cheap as well? Let's hope an inspired entrepreneur jumps on that one, too.

From Wired News: Divorce, Online Style