Reshared from Tim O'Reilly

I'm very appreciative that most computer science papers are available free online. It goes against the ideals of research, especially publicly-funded research, to lock papers away.

Regulatory Capture At Work

I was appalled to see the AAP congratulating itself (http://www.publishers.org/press/56/) on the new legislation introduced by Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA) (@darrellissa), Chairman of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and Committee member Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY). The AAP and the authors of the bill claim that this bill is to prevent "government interference" in the activities of scholarly and research publishers.

What doublespeak!

What the bill actually targets are efforts by agencies such as the NIH to mandate open access to research that is funded by the government. In other words, stop the government from "interfering" with our privatization and monopolistic exploitation of government-funded research. You, the people, paid for it, but let's make sure you don't own what you paid for.

Here's my letter in opposition:

https://www.popvox.com/bills/us/112/hr3699/comment/263013

timoreilly’s Comment on H.R. 3699: To ensure the continued publication and integrity of ... - POPVOX.com

Reshared from Hitherby Dragons

http://imago.hitherby.com/2004/08/a-succession-of-magical-fish/

. . . Ellen sits on the shore of Lake Tahoe.

There’s a splash. A fish lands on the beach next to her. It wriggles in the sand.

“Fish,” Ellen says. She raises an eyebrow.

“I am a magic fish,” the fish says. “If you throw me back in, I’ll grant you your heart’s desire.”

“I don’t have one,” Ellen says.

“Oh.” The fish thinks. “I could give you a free ice cream.” . . .

**

I've always been fond of this one. I figured out eventually that it's a metaphor for the djinn.

Hitherby Dragons - A Succession Of Magical Fish