A quick thank you to our Iron Curtain pals.

[dropzone]

Despite constantly strengthening ties with the West, our ex-commie chums continue to have an open mind toward copyright laws. Therefore, I am able to download text files of my favorite William Gibson books (which I ALSO own in print form, so it's almost legal) for use in my tablet computer. The amusing misscans and spelling errors don't bother me much, as I cut them some slack as non-native English speakers. I'd like some more variety--one doesn't live on William Gibson and Douglas Adams alone--but they're doing a bang-up job.

So hats off to our Russian and Czech brothers!

[Smeghead]

I've heard tell that some of them Napster alternatives, that won't be named due to how they don't want them named here, are also good for finding such things. So I hear.

[mobo85]

There are many things you can claim the Russians and Czechs are. Having a Communist government is no longer one of them.

{The Czech Republic joined NATO for cryin' out loud...)

[mobo85]

Oh, you did say they weren't Communist. But you still believe there's an Iron Curtain. I think that's an oxymoron.

[dropzone]

Yes, but their charmingly cavalier disregard for Western property laws is SO retro!

[dropzone]

Oh! I get it! The name mobo85 would suggest that you were born in '85 and don't REMEMBER the Iron Curtain! So an ironic remembrance of MY slightly-earlier adulthood is ancient history to you!

Sorry, I try to remember the age range here.

[Sterra]

Didn't you mean to post this in the pit?

[mobo85]

Oh, irony. I understand now. (My grandmother has the strange belief that Russia is secret still communist. I imagine the black helicopters will come for her soon.)

If there are two things the Russians are known for, it's being communist and counterfeiting stuff. At least, that's the stereotype in my mind.

[Chas.E]

Originally posted by mobo85
There are many things you can claim the Russians and Czechs are. Having a Communist government is no longer one of them.

As well I know. Time for a short anecdote.
I was personally asked by the newly appointed US Ambassador from the newly created Czech Republic to set up the new government's computer network. But alas, I could not get an export license for the equipment because the State Dept did not yet recognize it as an independent non-communist country, and forbid shipping advanced products (i.e. DBase IV !!) to them. Damn. I could have made twice my annual salary in one month.

[dropzone]

Originally posted by Sterra
Didn't you mean to post this in the pit?

Heavens, NO! No Flamage intended. I have this old "tablet" computer that I use like an ebook and was getting sick of being limited to what Gutenberg has (mostly pre-1925 and mostly SERIOUS stuff). Thanks to the former Warsaw Pact I can download recent books (mostly ones I own so the copyright infringement gets gray) and read them in bed with only the glow from the screen. AND carry a substantial library with me.

Chas.E, that's the saddest story I've heard all day.