Chapter 80.6: Google and Books

I meant to post something about Google's resolution about making the content of many books widely available, but life was simply too busy.

So I've decided to call attention to what Peter Osnos has to say about this matter. As he notes, this is a complicated matter and still has many moving parts.

What you think about Google's agreement? Leave a comment :-)

Chapter 56.65: The 'I Forgot' Defense

According to today's reports, Scooter Libby will not testify. Nor will Vice President Cheney. Some are speculating that it means they're confident the prosecution has not made its case. Others are writing that Libby's memory is notoriously bad.

Did Steve Martin write this? In his old stand-up routine, Steve Martin had a bit where he would say "I forgot" to explain any transgression. It was as pathetically amusing in the late 1970s as it is today, but today we've got political operatives up on perjury charges doing it.

This man -- Libby -- is ruined. Either he's completely full of it and is covering for someone higher (his former boss perhaps?) or he actually is that forgetful. Would you hire someone who doesn't have the mental capacity to remember his potential political imbroglios? How effective an advocate can he be? Add to that his significant legal bills and his only option would be to write a memoir of life in the Bush-Cheney administration. Best seller? Possibly. But by the time it comes out, this country will be so happy they are out of office that its sales might be less than stellar.

Chapter 52: Smoking Gun on Health Insurance

If a story from the Boston Globe is to be believed, then at least one company is on the way to destroying health insurance in America. Lawncare giant, Scott's, apparently has a policy that precludes any employee from smoking -- including off the job. Why are they acting as Big Brother? I can only surmise that they know what smoking does for the health of an employee and they don't want to pay for a smoker's health care, especially as they get older and the problems persist.

I'm not in favor of smoking, but I'm less in favor of legislating a person's private life. If the company is allowed to maintain such draconian policies, the measures will be replicated elsewhere. There's no telling where such actions would stop. Do you eat eggs? Well, you can't anymore because the cholesterol contributes to heart disease. Work somewhere else? It's not our problem no one else will hire you either. If that's Scott's policy, then they should simply not offer health coverage at all. Then, only employees who can afford to self-insure would work there. Competitive disadvantage? Of course, but that's they're bed. If smoking were illegal, that would be a different story. Drinking alcohol is legal, but driving while intoxicated isn't, and if I were to do that and get caught, an employer has a right to be concerned. But I wouldn't want to work for a company that is dictating my legal actions outside of the office.