Month: October 2014

It hardly seems like 8 years since I last spoke with Professor Junger. Lately, I’ve been thinking about him.
He was a true mentor. There were others who pushed me forward toward freedom, but Professor Junger was always available and we had many private conversations in addition to our activity on the Berkman Center list. He was not arrogant. He was not unavailable or “too busy”. He was not narcissistic. There was no ego that I experienced. Perhaps, he was so wonderful to me because at the time I was a computer science major interested in law. As a female computer science major, I felt alone a lot. I really was in so many ways. That didn’t matter. What mattered was freedom and justice!

His last blog post was October 15, 2006. By November, he had passed away.

I don’t know why I’ve been thinking about him recently.
For so many years after his passing, I floated around, drifting here and there, barely working on anything really relevant. There was the book – A Decade of the DMCA – only because it was already in progress prior to 2005.

Professor Junger was an amazing individual. His insight into code and functional speech were in depth. We had many amazing exchanges relating to copyright, law, computing and how to pronounce his last name. In a way, I clung to him as a support. He was one expert in the area of code and speech. He was one of the few at the time who was highly technical, yet had an understanding of the law. He was, as Rick Moen, might refer to as a “double threat” – computing and law.

April 4, 2000. I get chills just writing down that date. This was the day the decision came in that source code was protected under the first Amendment, we congratulated him. He was gracious. I knew it was a special moment but looking back, I didn’t realize the impact this decision would really have down the line. I speculated. I am so glad to have been a part of that time in computing law. I am so glad to have known Prof. Junger.

I suppose my friend, adrenaline, is right. When people pass away, others do miss them dearly. I really miss Professor Junger now. I only hope that what I learned from him – his insight, his patience, his grace will live on.
He was a true gentleman.

I am looking for the qart.pdf – I’m sure it’s on a hard drive somewhere but if someone has a handy copy… please let me know. Often, I wonder how our conversations would go about particular cases. I don’t have him to discuss topics with but now there are so many people well versed with law and computing/technology. Still, there will never be anyone like Professor Junger!

Image- Professor Junger
http://www.mccullagh.org/db9/d30-28/peter-junger.jpg

Professor Junger’s blog
http://samsara-blog.blogspot.com/

References
http://www.linuxtoday.com/infrastructure/2001053100420NWCY

http://archive09.linux.com/feed/12496

Share in the good works:
https://w2.eff.org/campaigns/stickers/#html

I think the one thing I wanted to really express here to people who may be working remotely or are somewhat isolated as I was recently, is Get out.

I didn’t realize exactly how terrible I was being treated until I saw how nice some other people treated each other and treated even me. Actually, it’s like a shock to the system for someone who is in such pain.

Inside, somewhere, you may know or think,
“I deserve to be treated better.
Why am I hurting all the time?”

However, if you are always home, how can you see the baseline?

Story Time!

When I was married in college (undergrad years), my husband of about 2 days was at the campus with me. He was a big guy – about 6’2. He came from a good family from Connecticut or so it seemed. His prior college was WPI. We didn’t go out much as we had everything we needed at home – internet, printer, computers, etc. On this particular day, we needed to drive all the way to the main campus in Tempe.

As we entered the Commons, he was ahead of me. I was carrying books and a water bottle. So he rushed up to the door to open it. For another lady. She went through. Then, he let himself in, and the door slammed in my face. I tried not to cry right then and there. I was stunned. I don’t know why my life is not only devoid of love but simple courtesy. Did I mention I was pregnant at the time?

I’m really not one to ask or expect someone to open a door for me. In fact, it was quite the opposite. Usually, as an independent woman, I can open my own door.
However, consider that circumstance for a moment. My hands were full. He was my husband. Not for much longer after that anyway…

To be honest, I don’t even know what motivates me to move forward in this world except that I think maybe I can help someone or make the world a shiny or brighter place. I know stuff… However, as many people who have come in and out of my life, I just don’t connect. I don’t really get emotionally close to people. Less pain that way.

The pain is almost too much some days and then, I noticed my friend was such a gentleman. What a great person! However, I never find the words to say “By GOD Thank YOU!”. I was thinking for a long time that guys were just totally jerks. I suppose someone might think that about women too. Individual people can be mean.

When I meet good people like this (and oh how the not so good outnumber the good), my faith in humanity is restored. I also wish I could have experienced this type of consideration. This type of caring. I am very lucky to have a friend like this. And he doesn’t want anything. I know he has a good heart. It was clear in a few ways and then, I noticed something at dinner.

First, I realize I may not have been as gentle or kind with his feelings and he didn’t deserve that.
Second, he didn’t laugh at me when he could have. He could have snickered and he didn’t. In fact, I was expecting his snicker.

I couldn’t reach the knives. They weren’t passed around. I didn’t ask. It was obvious I needed one. I was trying to cut some tough fish. He didn’t ask me if I wanted a knife. He gave me one. I know, it seems so minimal.

How this is so different from what I am accustomed to. I didn’t get mad, like “I can do this myself” which is pretty much how I might have acted years ago. I wasn’t scared of the knife.

My heart jumped just a bit, as if it were squealing like a little girl’s heart when she sees sparkly glitter and bubbles. However, writing about it, trying to see the screen through the warm salty tears, my heart sinks. No words could ever properly express what I feel at this very moment. There is a combination of pain, sorrow, regret and joy. How could I have been so careless with his feelings when he was so careful to observe my struggle and give enough of a shit about me to do something about it.

Get out of the house. Find good friends to associate with. Feel loved. Love. Share yourself. Care.
Whatever reason you might be avoiding love, life, learning – abandon those fears or concerns.

Live…

I’m so scared.