Category Archives: Free speech, censorship, copyright law, etc.

Failed Censorship of NSA Parody Shirt: Either the NSA or Zazzle Is Lying

So this is a disturbing story: A t-shirt producer who made an NSA parody T-Shirt (“The only part of government that actually listens”) incorporating the NSA logo was told by Zazzle that s/he couldn’t sell the shirt because the NSA … Continue reading

Posted in Free speech, censorship, copyright law, etc. | 14 Comments

CNBC Uses Copyright Claim To Block Viral Elizabeth Warren Video

From AmericaBlog: Earlier this week, Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) went on CNBC last Friday to debate the Glass-Steagall banking regulations that were adopted in 1933, and her proposal to update and strengthen the law in a way that would … Continue reading

Posted in Economics and the like, Free speech, censorship, copyright law, etc. | 20 Comments

Against Boycotting Orson Scott Card

There are a lot of boycotts I’d support. But artists shouldn’t be boycotted for their political views. Three quick disclaimers: 1) I think it’s fine if you’re skipping the movie because you don’t want to support a vicious homophobe like … Continue reading

Posted in Free speech, censorship, copyright law, etc., Lesbian, Gay, Bi, Trans and Queer issues | 79 Comments

I suspect James Cameron Did Swipe From Roger Dean, And I Hope Dean Loses His Lawsuit

Here’s an image from the James Cameron movie “Avatar”: Now here’s a painting by painter Roger Dean, who is perhaps most famous for his album covers for “Yes”: And now Dean is suing: Iconic cover artist Roger Dean has filed … Continue reading

Posted in Free speech, censorship, copyright law, etc. | 10 Comments

Why I Oppose The Petition To Have Orson Scott Card Canned By DC Comics

So DC comics has hired Orson Scott Card, a famous sci-fi author, to write a couple of issues of Superman. Orson Scott Card is also an activist who has said that “gay rights is a collective delusion,” and has called … Continue reading

Posted in Cartooning & comics, Free speech, censorship, copyright law, etc., Lesbian, Gay, Bi, Trans and Queer issues | 26 Comments

Cartoon: Copyright Vs. Shakespeare

This cartoon was inspired by a Huffington Post article by Jennifer Jenkins, in which she quoted Judge Richard Posner: What happens if these underlying sources are copyrighted? As Judge Richard Posner pointed out, “Romeo and Juliet itself would have infringed … Continue reading

Posted in Cartooning & comics, Free speech, censorship, copyright law, etc. | 19 Comments

When it comes to free speech, the anti-gay-marriage movement is much, much worse

A quick summery of the “Gallaudet vs McCaskill” story: Angela McCaskill, the Chief Diversity Officer at Gallaudet University (a university for Deaf students), signed a petition asking for Maryland’s marriage equality law to be put to a repeal vote. Months … Continue reading

Posted in Class, poverty, labor, & related issues, Free speech, censorship, copyright law, etc., Same-Sex Marriage | 25 Comments

Anti-SSM Politician In Baltimore Asks Boss To Order Pro-SSM Employee To Shut Up

Brendon Ayanbadejo, a football player for the Baltimore Ravens, has been outspoken in support of marriage equality. Maryland state Delegate Emmett Burns, a Reverend and a Democrat, wrote to Ayanbadejo’s boss (Ravens owner Steven Disciotti) on government letterhead (emphasis mine): … Continue reading

Posted in Free speech, censorship, copyright law, etc., Same-Sex Marriage | 5 Comments

Copyright, Comics, and Compulsory Licensing

[In 2008, I wrote a few posts on the blog “The Art Of The Possible.” I just noticed that “The Art Of The Possible” no longer exists, but I found a copy of one of my posts on the wayback … Continue reading

Posted in crossposted on TADA, Free speech, censorship, copyright law, etc. | 63 Comments

Poised behind my closet door

[Edited to add context: I am a trans woman. I have not yet publicly transitioned, so I still present as male. And I am a police officer.] In “Milk”, the movie starring Sean Penn, there is a scene which haunts … Continue reading

Posted in About the Bloggers, Free speech, censorship, copyright law, etc., Gender and the Body, Gender and the Economy, Transsexual and Transgender related issues | 33 Comments