Blog - /Personal

I found out that I received a 5 out of 100 on my first programming project. I emailed my TA, but since he probably doesn't check email at odd hours of the night like I do, I'll have to wait until tomorrow for an explanation. I have a hunch that it might be because they didn't realize that I had turned in several files instead of just one big file, and their automated grading system choked on it. I will argue strenuously for my grade. though, since I followed the directions on their website as per citing the names of my source files in the header part of the main C file.

I got my first anime series in the mail on Tuesday! It's Website: Haibane Renmei. I bought a colorful poster with the Haibane Renmei characters to hang on the wall. It made Jimmy happy, since he wanted me to get something interesting to put on the wall. Apparently black and white computer printouts from my background gallery aren't good enough for him ;^) .

Now to explain the rather strange title of this post. Another item that arrived in the post (mmm, post, ... what a nice alternative to mail) is my Lawrence Lessig: Free Culture book. I was somewhat disappointed to note the following notice in the copyright page.

The scanning, uploading, and distribution of this book via the Internet or via any other means without the permission of the publisher is illegal and punishable by law. Please purchase only authorized electronic editions and do not participate in or encourage electronic piracy of copyrighted materials. Your support of the author's rights is appreciated. [Emphasis mine]

Arr, so ye be callin' me a pirate if I share with me friends, then? Heaven forbid that we should share information and be improved by the exchange. Especially if the material in the book uses scare quotes in referring to "piracy" in order to emphasize how stupid it is to call sharing that. Whatcha gonna do if I abide by the spirit of the book instead of the publisher's copyright notice, make me walk the bloody plank?