Lowering the Bar

Egypt Says It Will Copyright Pyramids

The head of Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities told reporters on December 25 that the country's parliament would likely pass a law requiring anyone who reproduces one of its famous monuments to pay royalties.  Zahi Hawass said that the law was necessary to help pay for maintenance.  "If the law is passed," he said, "then it will be applied in all countries of the world so that we can protect our interests."

I'm not so sure about that last part.

The most problematic issue would probably be the treatment of the Pyramids themselves.  Under U.S. copyright law, at least, the design of a building can be copyrighted, but only if it was created on or after December 1, 1990.  Experts disagree on the exact completion date of the various pyramids, but it seems fair to say that this exception won't help.  Even if it did, there is still the problem that the design of a pyramid involves making it shaped like -- well, like a pyramid, and I don't think you can copyright a geometric shape, either.  (If you can, let me know, because I'm going to claim "circle.")

Possibly aware of these problems, the Egyptians have said that only "exact copies" of their monuments would be covered by the law.  That ruins my plan to build an "exact copy" of the Great Pyramid of Khufu in my backyard, which will really bum out the guys at Home Depot, but it does let the Luxor Hotel in Las Vegas off the hook.  Hawass was specifically asked about the Luxor on Tuesday and he said it would not be covered because it is "not an exact copy of pharonic monuments despite the fact it's in the shape of a pyramid."

In fact, the Luxor's website claims that the hotel is "the only pyramid shaped building in the world" (emphasis added), although that appears to be a false statement.  It would be true to say that it is "the only pyramid shaped building in the world in which Carrot Top performs six nights a week."  So that might be a solution to any possible consumer confusion between the Luxor and the Great Pyramid -- the Great Pyramid is the one without Carrot Top in it.

Link: AFP (December 25, 2007)

Another Football-Related Trial Continuance Granted

Last season, a judge agreed to continue a trial date after counsel pointed out that the date would impair the parties' ability to watch the New Orleans Saints play for the NFC championship.  Now a judge in Baton Rouge has granted a similar motion, this time based on a college bowl game.

Specifically, the national championship game, to be played this year in the Superdome between LSU and Ohio State.  Steven Babcock, who is defending an insurance company in the lawsuit, and who has tickets to the game, moved to continue the trial's start date because of the conflict.  The motion was unopposed.

"All counsel to this matter unequivocally agree that the presence of LSU in the aforementioned contest of pigskin skill unquestionably constitutes good grounds [for the continuance]," Babcock stated in his motion.  This unequivocal agreement may have been in part because plaintiff's counsel also have tickets to the game.

"We might disagree on the merits of the case," Babcock told reporters, "but everyone was in agreement on this, for sure."

Babcock said he didn't know if the judge who granted the motion, Judge Alvin Batiste of West Baton Rouge Parish, was an LSU fan.  "[M]ost people around here are," though, he said.  Even if he isn't, it seems unlikely there are many Ohio State fans in the area.

Link: CBS News
Link: Motion to Continue (and order granting same)

Gang of Drunken Santas Attack Theatre

Witnesses estimated the crowd of drunken Santas numbered about 50, and said that they rushed in through the front door of Hoyts Cinema in Christchurch, New Zealand, and began ripping down movie posters and smashing things.

"They were all dressed as Santa and shouting 'Ho f___ing ho'," said Kate Gorman, who was waiting to see the film "Enchanted" with her two young children when the Kringle onslaught began.  Gorman said her children were confused by the event.  "They asked me, 'Are they Santa's helpers gone crazy?' and I said 'No, they are just idiots.'"

Police were called to the scene but the Santas had already fled.  Theater manager Derek Rive called the attackers "hooligans."  "How often do a bunch of Santas just go and wreak havoc?" he asked.

More often than you might think.  For example, in one incident that I reported on in 2005, another group of drunken Kiwi Santas went rampaging through Auckland.  Some threw beer bottles, others reportedly robbed a convenience store, and one climbed the mooring line of a cruise ship.  The New Zealand groups do not appear to be affiliated with the main Santarchy movement, which says that it is a peaceful organization that exists only to have fun and spread holiday cheer.

Link: Stuff.co.nz
Link: Santarchy.com

Warrant Issued for Formerly Naked SF Mayoral Candidate

San Francisco's slate of mayoral candidates is frequently very colorful (including perennial candidate "Starchild"), and only infrequently naked.  Even less frequently are candidates naked in public, although guitar-playing is common.

Sources reported on December 21 that a warrant had been issued for the arrest of Grasshopper Alec Kaplan, a candidate in the most recent election.  Grasshopper failed to appear to answer charges that he had played his guitar in the nude while sitting on top of his van outside the San Mateo County Events Center.  Grasshopper was in San Mateo on October 21 for the county's Democratic presidential straw poll.

According to a San Mateo deputy district attorney, Grasshopper told police that "he was from San Francisco and that he was extremely hot and he just got naked.  He said that type of action is encouraged in San Francisco."  I can tell you that it is tolerated, depending on the circumstances, but is not encouraged.

He had a good explanation for failing to appear in court last week, as it turned out.  Grasshopper, who in addition to being a politician is a homeless taxi driver, was already in jail in San Francisco for charges of battery and false imprisonment of a passenger.  (That type of action is also not encouraged.)  He is serving a nine-month sentence for that and could get another six for the naked strumming.

Link: Inside Bay Area (Oakland Tribune)