Social Injustice Is Rampant

What's the difference between a human being born in Africa and another one in Europe?
Supposedly none.
Biologically speaking we  are the same, the color of our skin and race shouldn't really matter.
But apparently it does and a lot.
Right now on the news, the topic of the Syrian refugees is quite popular.  The painful and sorrowful images seen on TV of people, making the journey to Europe from their ancestral lands.
It's just heartbreaking. According to the news.
Actually all they care about is ratings and on how much money they are making.
The crisis in Syria it started maybe 3 or 4 years ago, back then  people were already being displaced and killed.  But until now, when large numbers of refugees start making their way to Europe.
Finally it became a news item worth mentioning.
Perhaps it was not politically acceptable to talk about it 3-4 years ago? Now there is a different agenda and now it's allowed?
In the end it's always the same, humans don't care much about tragedy and calamity until it personally starts to affect them.
Now that there are thousands of refugees arriving in Europe, now it became a problem that everybody has to acknowledge.
Okay what about all those homeless people, living right in front of you, in your city or town?
Can't they also be considered refugees? For what ever reason they are on the street, they also have no home and they are constantly being displaced.
The whole point of this post is, to say that. Most people are hypocrites, only willing to accept  the harsh reality when it's convenient for them.
My advice, don't be passive. Do something that really matters.

Autumn Is Coming

Got your umbrella and rain boots ready?

The season when magical red and yellow leafs fly in the air. The chilling wind blows in the night, whispering promises of a passionate winter. It's all coming to you soon!

What's good food for winter? I'm thinking of something very fatty and caloric. Winter in Russia is tough you know. Survival of the fittest, or the ones with the biggest hamburgers to eat.

Where's a good place to travel to in this season? If you want to escape to a pleasant place, I'd say Spain! It's always good! The Spa with running fountains and steamy sauna, Oh yea.



Perhaps it's not a bad idea at all. Spa in Spain, or perhaps Spa in the Alps.  That defeats the purpose of getting away from the cold. I guess it's Spain then.

Today, the magical topic is:

The very much hated, Direct Rights Management DRM.

Using DRM as a, "safe guard" for your digital content is absurd and detrimental for several reasons.

• It's usually hard to implement
• It creates a restrictive  user experience
• It's expensive for the creator to implement
• DRM does absolutely nothing to tech-savvy users
• Instead of encouraging purchases, it does the opposite. 
• It's just not cool
• Tech-savvy users, literally use DRM as toilet paper. ( This is just fun to mention.)
• DRM creates only wealth for companies, not for authors. 

Why did I decide to rant about DRM? I'll give you one very recent example, of how stupid and absurd it is. 

Yesterday I bought an ebook online.  I went to my account, I downloaded the file.  It's an Adobe DRM EPUB or .ACSM so, what happened?

I clicked on it, my computer opened the file using some adobe program. I didn't set up this program, didn't even have an account.  So I clicked, and bam, this file is FOREVER! Linked to this anonymous account.  I can only open and read this ebook on this computer , using only this adobe program with this account! No other way to fix it!

Complete doom I say, now I can't read it on my mobile nor tablet! It's a tragedy. 

Well, it would be a tragedy if, I was not tech-savvy. There is always a way around for technology. 

What's the solution? Remove the DRM and do what ever you want with your rightfully bought digital content!

You can download software, there's lots of it.  You have to transform/convert the DRM EPUB file, in to a new DRM free file of what ever kind you want, you can make it EPUB, MOBI, PDF. What ever your choice. 

The whole point of this is that,  DRM creates a very restrictive user experience that just annoys people. If people really want to get around DRM, they can do it. It's not difficult. 

That's why I personaly choose, to make all my content DRM free.  If you like it , you'll buy it. 

If you want to support artists and creators of whatever. You'll buy their product because you know that it's your obligation to support them. 

DRM is a puny attempt at babysitting adults. DRM is just digital fascism!! Throughout history, oppression has never worked. People never learn. 

Need some green tea now, to rant some more.

Be happy, be free. 

Mr. R