Law Librarian Blog

The Perfect Thing: How the iPod Shuffles Commerce, Culture, and Coolness

The Perfect Thing: How the iPod Shuffles Commerce, Culture, and Coolness
by Steven Levy

List Price: $25.00
Hardcover: 304 pages
Publisher: Simon & Schuster (October 24, 2006)
ISBN: 0743285220

Book Description: Steven Levy, the chief technology correspondent for Newsweek magazine and a longtime Apple watcher, is the ideal writer to tell the iPod's tale. He has had access to all the key players in the iPod story, including Steve Jobs, Apple's charismatic cofounder and CEO, whom Levy has known for over twenty years. Detailing for the first time the complete story of the creation of the iPod, Levy explains why Apple succeeded brilliantly with its version of the MP3 player when other companies didn't get it right, and how Jobs was able to convince the bosses at the big record labels to license their music for Apple's groundbreaking iTunes Store. (We even learn why the iPod is white.) Besides his inside view of Apple, Levy draws on his experiences covering Napster and attending Supreme Court arguments on copyright (as well as his own travels on the iPod's click wheel) to address all of the fascinating issues -- technical, legal, social, and musical -- that the iPod raises.

Podcastng News review: "The Perfect Thing is an easy read and offers several well-researched chapters that reveal interesting histories of the development of the iPod. The book would have benefited, though, from a bit less raving and bit more critical analysis."

[JH]

Top 10 Wired Colleges

According to PC Magazine, the top 10 wired campuses are:

1. Villanova University
2. M.I.T.   
3. Indiana University Bloomington   
4. Swarthmore College   
5. Creighton University   
6. University of Illinois   
7. Michigan Tech University   
8. University of Southern California   
9. Quinnipiac University   
10. University of Oklahoma

One trend every IHE IT staffer would like to see adapted is that all students have the same brand and configured laptop at some of the ranked colleges. At Indiana University Bloomington and St. Johns (ranked 13) Lenovo laptops are included with tuition, and at Villanova and West Point (ranked 11th) students receives Dell laptops that is replaced ever two years.

A very positive development is that webcams are installed in all classrooms at USC. Also "many lectures" are available as podcasts at Creighton. Two additional steps in the right direction. [JH]

From Surplus to Deficit: Legislation Enacted Over the Last Six Years Has Raised the Debt by $2.3 Trillion Source

New report from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities:

"The adjournment of the 109th Congress provides an opportunity for a broad look at the budget legislation enacted since a new Administration and Congress took office at the start of 2001.  This review finds that the national debt at the end of fiscal year 2006 (which ended September 30) was nearly twice as large as it would have been if Congress had left the budget on automatic pilot since 2001."  [RJ]

Congress and Tech: Little Progress Made by 109th Congress

From CNet News:

"Politicians in Washington, D.C., spent the last two years promising new laws on everything from Net neutrality to computer security and social-networking sites.

But when the 109th Congress finally adjourned over the weekend, ending 12 years of Republican rule of the U.S. House of Representatives, few technology-related bills had actually made it through the legislative process."  [RJ]

Recent CRS Reports on Congressional Procedures

Recent CRS Reports on Congressional Procedures include the following:

• AMENDMENTS BETWEEN THE HOUSES
• HOW MEASURES ARE BROUGHT TO THE HOUSE FLOOR: A BRIEF INTRODUCTION
• GENERAL DEBATE IN THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

AMENDMENTS BETWEEN THE HOUSES   
CRS Publication Date:  12/06/2006
Document No.:  98-812
Author(s):  James V. Saturno, Government and Finance Division

Abstract:  The House and Senate must approve an identical version of a measure before it may be presented for the President's approval or veto. If the House and Senate approve differing versions of a measure, the differences must first be resolved. One way to do this is through an exchange of amendments between the houses.

HOW MEASURES ARE BROUGHT TO THE HOUSE FLOOR: A BRIEF INTRODUCTION   
CRS Publication Date:  12/06/2006
Document No.:  RS20067
Author(s):  James V. Saturno, Government and Finance Division

Abstract:  This report presents a description of the five methods used to bring proposed legislation to the House floor for consideration. These methods allow for consideration as a privileged matter, under the limited privilege of a special calendar or day, under suspension of the rules, under the terms of a special rule, or by unanimous consent.

GENERAL DEBATE IN THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE   
CRS Publication Date:  12/06/2006
Document No.:  RS20200
Author(s):  James V. Saturno, Government and Finance Division

Abstract:  General debate is a period of time set aside for debating the merits of the bill as a whole, the state of current law on the subject of the bill, the need for new legislation, the various provisions of the bill, and possible amendments to it. This is a time for debate only. No amendments to the bill are in order, nor can Members offer any other motions that can affect the content of the bill or its fate.

CRS Reports can be obtained from GalleryWatch.com. Individual reports are available from www.pennyhill.com. [RJ]

Epstein on the Structural Unity of Real and Intellectual Property

In The Structural Unity of Real and Intellectual Property, Chicago Law Prof Richard Epstein identifies four principles that create a basic framework for understanding physical property law. He argues that all four can be applied to intellectual property with the main difference being transfer of such property is only absolute in the case of physical property. [JH]

From the White House: Barney's Holiday Extravaganza

Check it out. Hat tip to my wife Lynette, a rabid Republican who, luckily for me right now, doesn't read this blog. (Yes, we cancel each other's vote every election year.)

Also my wife's doing: Merry Christmas to all. [JH]

More Judges Packing Pistols in Courtrooms

Interesting article from the National Law Journal: "Despite increased security at courthouses following shootings in Chicago and Atlanta about one year ago, many judges are bringing their own guns into their courtrooms for protection."  [RJ]

Editor's Note: "Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night." [JH]

CSPAN Cameras on the House Floor? No

CNN is reporting that incoming House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-California, denied a request by CSPAN to install its own cameras on the House floor because the "dignity and decorum ... are best preserved" by maintaining the status quo, namely, leaving the operation of cameras in the House under the discretion of the Speaker. The GOP turned down a similar CSPAN request in 1995.

File under "so much for transparency." [JH]

America’s Most Literate Cities, 2006

"This study attempts to capture one critical index of our nation’s social health—the literacy of its major cities (population of 250,000 and above). This study focuses on six key indicators of literacy: newspaper circulation, number of bookstores, library resources, periodical publishing resources, educational attainment, and Internet resources (introduced in the 2005 study)."  [RJ]

State Fiscal Conditions Strong

From the National Governors Association:

"In The Fiscal Survey of States, NGA and NASBO found increased revenues and strong budget reserves, which enabled states to offer tax cuts, increase funding for programs and replenish budget stabilization funds. States remain mindful, however, of projections for more modest growth in 2007 and expenditure pressures that include the pent-up demand of previously cut programs, budgetary strain imposed by Medicaid and issues such as pensions, demographic shifts and infrastructure."  [RJ]