Boing Boing is reporting that Napster isn't quite the success story it used to be. Maybe it's because of the II after its name, or maybe it's because it's littered with DRM. Whatever the case, reinvented Napster is nothing like it's former self.
Wasn't it free?

Since I have nothing better to do (I have tons -- go procrastination), I've been roaming the web and adding to Sage like a fiend. Lucky for me I discovered this appalling little story, but when it comes to insurance that's to be expected. Actually, I thought that's how lawyers behaved.
I guess we're not all depraved and vulgar individuals. But we knew that. 😉

Crip.
I am a crip.
Actually, no I'm not.
I'm a unique individual that will not be assimilated and who's probably watched too much Star Trek. I like saying dissABLED more than can't. I was born into it, so I don't miss it. Frankly, I spend more time ranting about able bodied people who waste their life because I can do ten times more than they can and they can walk! Who gets screwed? Moi.
The very word "crip" makes me recoil, and I'm utterly confused why the majority of the people listed on the Ragged Edge Magazine website refer to themselves as something that's so negative. Is it a play on words, a designation, or just a "here I am, crippled, now stop staring and back off?"
It sucks to live in a world where the minute I step outside I'm the first thing everyone will notice whether they want to or not because I'm different. It happens to all of us. I just happen to make sure that my scooter is a nifty shade of hunter green bearing a heart on the basket (in reality I'm a speed demon and everyone always wants to know how fast it can go), and if I get stares, I'll either invite conversation with a smile or stick my tongue out. There's no circus act here, but if you're nice enough to me I will sing for you.
Crip. I just can't accept that one though I am curious as to why many in the disABLED blog community do use it. What's the purpose behind it?
And here's another good one courtesy of a nice bus driver, handycapable. I might use that one.

I crashed and burned this weekend. I've also found that as much as I would like to forget this law crammed in my brain, it keeps popping out at the weirdest moments. That and I keep waking up in the middle of the night questioning whether I identified all the issues in this essay or that essay.
Seriously, this must stop.
Of course this has not prevented real life from spilling in. It made me realize that I kind of didn't miss it that much. Only a tiny bit. It's the stress, ya see. Alright, alright, anything is better than barzam. But methinks the general concensus is I need a vacation!

The Justice Department just sued the city of Boston for failing to provide translators and other materials that would assist individuals in voting here in the United States, especially when English happens not to be their native tongue.

Under the Voting Rights Act, if more than 10,000 of a city's voting-age citizens are members of a single-language minority with limited English skills, all elections materials must be available in their first language. The city is required to offer all ballots and instructions in Spanish for the 34,000 Hispanic citizens of voting age in Boston. The federal law also forbids officials from imposing any requirement or procedure that denies or abridges the rights of minority citizens to vote.

Why are they voting, again?
No, really. You want to be a United States citizen, enjoy what this country reaps and sows, yet you can't bother to learn the language? I realize voting is a constitutional right, and yes, strict scrutiny would probably apply in this case, but it's ridiculous. I don't know how many years it takes to become a citizen, but it's long enough to learn and understand the language. There shouldn't be a need for translations or instructions in Spanish, Chinese, or French. If they're necessary then maybe you have no business voting.
Via Wizbang

I have thoughts about Harry Potter. I started it yesterday after the bar and finished it this afternoon. I would love to ramble on and on about what I thought except:
a. I can't see straight.
b. I'm exhausted.
c. I'm surprised I've mustered enough energy to write a blog entry.
d. I think I'm going to keel over and sleep all weekened.
Pick the best answer.
I really do want to chat about the book, though I think my thoughts will parallel pretty much everyone else's. That, and I'm afraid of a lack of coherence. Tomorrow then.

Ok, I'm in panic mode. I won't deny it. So please, ignore this little ramble of mine as I try to convince myself that these next three days of hell will actually be worth it this time.
I should be leary of the migraine I'm going to get thanks to the stress. Stress. Bad.
I should be looking foward to Harry Potter 6, but thanks to Prof. Yin and his lovely rss feed, the book was just spoiled for me. Hello.
Thursday is almost here. On Thursday I will be an attorney. I may have to wait for the official announcement in November, but still. I have a good feeling about this, which isn't to say that I'm not dreading the difficulty of this exam. It's a bitch. The hours, the opening of pages, reading the questions and thinking, "what the fu..." Then reason steps in and the answer pops into my head. I'm determined not to be nervous, or anxious. It's not a conspiracy, and no, the court reporter and procter don't know the answers, so they don't know I'm an idiot. I can do b.s. And, I am going to own the MBE.
Tomorrow, Day 1 will pass me by and I'll go see a movie, maybe look over some flashcards and outlines, and just keep thinking about how smashed I'm going to get on Thursday. It will be a celebration.
Buena Suerte, all ya bar bloggers.

Visiting some of the Battlestar Galactica forums can be an experience all to its own. I just have one thing to say: Starbuck and Lee 4Eva!!!!!
All girlie fantasies aside, last night's episode, which I saw today, made me jump out of my seat. And the music!!!! Stephen, if you are reading this you would be drooling over it like I was. They used a composition by Philip Glass, and now I have to go digging through my cd collection, and hope I can find The Truman Show. It's not confirmed, but rumor has it that it's from there.

is now officially broke for this month! Painfully so, but ya know what? I'm going to see Nine Inch Nails in concert in October, and it looks like the accessible seating is right in the center. Oh yeah!
::does the happy dance::

It's never a good thing to wake up, turn on the news, and suddenly have a breaking report cut in saying that there's been yet another "incident" in London. Part of me wants to stay glued to the tv set, but the other part, the hysterical, panic-stricken, reasonable part, knows that if I want to pass next week, I should at least get some essays done.
Regardless, the news is horrific, and the only thing that kept creeping into my head was, when are we next? It's such a horrible thought, but I couldn't help it. That, and I seriously hope that Londoners continue to not be afraid. Scumbags who do horrible things like that deserve to be locked away, the key mysteriously lost.
Anyway, Wizbang has the latest.