Archive for November, 2000

Can a Hobby Make It as an Art Form?

Posted November 2, 2000 By Dave Thomer

We read a lot of comics in my family; my brother and I have been collecting pretty much continuously for the last eleven years or so, and my wife is quite the Batman fan. So it makes sense that This Is Not News should have an area where we can talk about comics as an […]

I Brake for Criminals

Posted November 2, 2000 By Kevin Ott

Aside from being able to perform tasks pantsless, the best thing about working at home is that you don’t have to drive anywhere. I hate driving. If it weren’t for the amount of time I spend on the road, I would very likely be one of those sedate Pete Seeger-type bearded individuals who always seem […]

The RIAA Doesn’t Want My Money

Posted November 2, 2000 By Dave Thomer

All right, we’re required by federal law to have a discussion of the whole Napster fiasco, so let’s get it done and move onto more enjoyable musical topics. I really want to discuss the issue, though, because not only are there plenty of interesting intellectual-property-in-the-Internet-era questions to try and answer, but the Recording Industry Association […]

Important Crimes, Important Victims

Posted November 2, 2000 By Kevin Ott

We’ve got to do something about these people that are afraid that federal hate crime legislation will somehow curb everyone’s rights. One of the biggest proponents of this idea is syndicated columnist Charley Reese, a Pat Buchanan cheerleader who writes a weekly column for King Features Syndicate. Reese has done a pretty good job of […]

Exploring the Culture of Debt

Posted November 2, 2000 By Pattie Gillett

Note to anyone who may be near a college campus anytime soon, chances are that you’ll see at least one representative from a credit card company at some point. He or she will be armed will be easy to spot: armed to the gills with CD wallets, pens, T-shirts, whatever might be remotely interesting to […]

Philosophers Wanted

Posted November 2, 2000 By Dave Thomer

If This Is Not News, what is it? (I will answer that, but it’ll take a while.) And why is its first cover story an article about philosophy? (I can answer that one now.) Because, in a very real way, This Is Not News is all about philosophy. (That’s right, even the comics section.) Not […]

So Much to Say

Posted November 2, 2000 By Pattie Gillett

It has been my experience that most cab drivers have not read Emily Post. At least not the ones that I’ve met. Because if they had, they’d know that most basic rule about conversation in “polite society.” No politics and no religion. One gentleman in particular comes to mind. He was a middle-aged driver named […]

Apples to Apples

Posted November 2, 2000 By Dave Thomer

There seems to be little disagreement in America that urban public schools are in trouble. Test scores are dropping, students are dropping out, and a general sense of hopelessness seems to be pervading the system. You won’t find a candidate for public office who isn’t decrying the state of the schools, and saying that by […]