James, I appreciate that, but it doesn't convey any information about the government's role. You're expecting the consumer to make quite a leap.

These might be more effective on your tax return documents. Slap 'em on before you mail 'em to the IRS.... If you think record store clerks are whiners for not wanting to scrape these stickers off their stores' property, perhaps you shold have the gumption to make your statements in a non-anonymous manner.

So... this sends a negative message to potential buyers of musicians' work, while the musicians have had no say in the (ab)use of their songs. To the shopper who finds the stickers, what information do they convey? Not enough. They give the impression that the record label or artist condoned or promoted the use. They also say to the local record shop, "I like to vandalize and harm your business." The record store, the recording artist, and the record label all are potentially harmed when they've done nothing wrong. Make your statements in places where it makes sense.

Oooh, part of me really hoped this was a still from a film version of Will Self's The Book of Dave....

He's not McCain's VP, he's McCain's health care plan.

In your case, Cory and Mrs., you have wisely added the security of "nobody picks up our daughter unless they know her entire name, and how to pronounce it correctly."

Set phasers on Yum.

Beautiful on the outside, gobbledegook on the inside. Much like the homeowner.

Is there a way to isolate the music for download?

Swing by Portland, please. I hear the people likes books there.

#39, Marcus' dad is a librarian who consults for dataminers. Pretty odd considering how most real-life librarians feel about the PATRIOT Act.

Okay, Cory, I'm a librarian and I'm halfway through the book. (I was completely jittery the morning after I started reading it, thanks for the paranoid dreams!) I just have to ask, does this giveaway have anything to do with the just-say-yes-to-government-datamining attitude that the librarian character clings to in the beginning of the story? Because most in my profession like data, like datamining, but even more than that we like our - and our patrons' - privacy. The giveaway is certainly appreciated, but I wonder if this stems from a wee bit of author's guilt?

Does it come with the crash helmet? And how do you get the hamster to keep it on?

To make a family that resembles mine, I'd have to nab Modern Mom, Ethnic Dad (who is Asian, but not 'Plan Doll' Asian) and soak the ethnic kiddies in a little bit of bleach.

I love toystores that have figured out that dollhouse family members need to be selected one by one. I always compliment the store manager when I see a store that has made individual dolls available.

Robobuddha! (look at the ears)

That laptop tent.... don't leave your laptop on it, lest your kitty get confused and think it's a new covered litterbox. (Or, save yourself about sixty bucks, and get a new covered litterbox instead.)

There is something really wonderful about these. And so much better than the tradition of cigars, now replaced by chocolate cigars.

Note to self: Do not plan wedding while watching ST:TNG reruns.

There is a fascinating knitting book by Norah Gaughan titled "Knitting Nature" (2006; ISBN 1584794844) which features patterns based on fractals and other natural shapes. I'm currently knitting a sweater that spirals up the torso. Well worth a look if fractals and DIY both pique your interest.

Wait a second. There is no legal problem with the charity selling or not selling the CDs. We still have the legal right to sell used CDs to music shops, and music shops still have the legal right to sell used CDs.

Cory is donating the original, purchased materials - not ripped copies. He has the right to dispose of these as he wishes, and he has chosen to do so in a considerate manner.

There may be copies of the material on his harddrive. He is not distributing ripped copies, and he is not profiting from owning a ripped copy. Yes, owning a personal ripped copy while disposing of the original may be contrary to the EULA - which he only entered into by buying a legal copy instead of downloading someone else' rip. But that's Cory's legal issue. It has no effect on the charity.

Personally, I can see the argument that copyright holders have against those who distribute or download rips, as there are financial interests possibly being damaged. But I personally can't grasp the argument against keeping a personal copy after disposing of a legally purchased original item. How does one propose enforcing this? Do we register the entire contents of our harddrives and all other data storage to an overseeing body? Truly scary.

As for the donation only keeping them out of the landfill a little longer, unless Cory is immortal (Is there something you're not telling us, Mr. Doctorow?), they will eventually require disposal.