This makes me sick, but that's not the point.

Who decides what is obscene? Who decides? If nobody liked what this guy does he wouldn't be in business.

And prosecuting using the "well they didn't really consent to THAT" brings the rest of tamer porn into question as well. If the actors are being blackmailed or otherwise railroaded into doing this stuff then prosecute that.

The problem with prosecuting "obscenity" is that it opens the door to anything being considered obscene.
I'll be surprised if the ACLU doesn't jump on this one.

#7, CCTV in public places is one step closer to a police state. This is more prevalent in UK, where Cory lives: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/6108496.stm
1 CCTV camera for every 14 people, as of 2006.
Facial recognition software improvements mean automated tracking of citizens going about their lawful business.
Being under constant surveillance by my government would make me uncomfortable. You?

Pleasantly surprised by the 2-dollar words and interesting thoughts, but it kinda reminds me of the intellectual bs around minimalist "paintings".. e.g. how can I make this simple thing seem complex?

Nothing really wrong with that, philosophers do that, but to say that watching cops cruise around and arrest pathetic people should be seen as some sort of art form or social critique... Bit of a stretch IMHO.

#11, Yeah, he's shooting for the observer effect there I think, the act of filming(observing) changes what happens. I think throwing a few physics references into pop culture isn't so bad..

Are you people seriously saying you can't do creative work on a PC? Really?? Seriously?

A pretty box and pimped-out Unix does not a creative person make.

Having also been lucky enough to get ahold of a pre-release copy, I have a few things to add:

The jargon is frustrating for the first 20 pages, but stay with it and use the glossary, the payoff is one of Stephenson's best. I struggled through the Baroque cycle (but finished it), but this is more in the style of Cryptonomicon. I'll end up buying this again because I had to return the pre-release copy before I could read it again.

#6 Sorry to disappoint, but there's no tie-in to the Baroque Cycle in Anathem. Agree with #14 on all counts..

I'm another that just finished their advance copy, and it's like Cryptonomicon with philosophy and theoretical physics. Generalization of course, but don't want to ruin it for anyone.
I will say this, it comes with a glossary in the back, and you'll need it for the first 100 pages, but IT'S WORTH IT :)

Some great surprises, mind-bending brain food, seemingly random digressions (though some are pulled out and put in the back), and funny too, the humor being the thing I missed most in the Baroque cycle, though the last two books of it redeemed (to some extent) the slog that was quicksilver.

This is coming from someone who's read all of Stephenson's stuff and think's its all worth reading, though quicksilver was 1000 pages of dry lead-in IMHO ;)

The presentation was interesting, but ultimately unfulfilling as she attempted to pass off art as reality. It could be summed up with: did you ever look at a real sunrise and say "hey this looks like a video game... weird how technology has replaced nature as a reference for nature... cool."

She seems to pass off bs as fact:
metalosis maligna is not real. http://www.we-make-money-not-art.com/archives/2006/11/-via-next-natur.php

the skeletons "found in north korea" which look like cartoon characters could be found on boingboing in 2006 (and no they aren't real either): http://www.boingboing.net/2006/08/31/artificial-cartoonch.html

Certainly seen better