Chatterbox's campaign on plagiarism brought fascinating expert replies. The State of the Union address was another big issue, but the strongest views came on cell phones, unsurprisingly.

Subject: The Difference Between Us and Them
Re: "International Papers: Hate of the Union"
From: Loran
Date: Thu Jan 31 10:32 a.m. PT

This "rogue nation" thing is a touchy subject in my mind. ... To the average citizen of most foreign countries, our military capability must seem as threatening as any developed by N. Korea or Iraq. That reasonable people can imagine a difference between them and us is a leap of faith most Americans may take for granted, but my experience is that it is not necessarily so for many outside of our great land.

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Subject: Taxing Talking
Re: "Everyday Economics: Click, Clack, and Car Talk"
From: Mfbenson
Date: Wed Jan 30 1:58 p.m. PT

A total ban on cell phones while driving, or a total disregard for public safety, are not the only two choices … I am advocating a Tax on Talking and Driving. [New] technology can be used to tell if the phone in use is stationary or in a moving vehicle. If it is [moving], apply a tax. There are certain situations where this won't be totally fair … but then again, innocent people being killed by inattentive drivers aren't in a fair position either.

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Subject: A Copybook Case
Re: "Chatterbox: How To Curb the Plagiarism Epidemic"
From: Barbara Hudgins
Date: TueJan 29 8:40 p.m. PT

As someone who had whole sections of her book plagiarized and began preliminary action for copyright infringement, let me tell you that the first thing the other lawyer told my lawyer was that he would sue for libel if I said anything publicly. After months of haggling … I settled out-of-court (actually pre-court). I signed a paper saying I never sued, nothing ever happened, etc., etc., and cleared all of $5,000 … [You can't] expect an author to brave threats of libel by aggressive lawyers (who apparently take "Don't Give an Inch 101" at Harvard Law) and pay for the defense of such suits out of her own pocket (because no lawyer is going to take contingency on that one). ... It is easy for an offending plagiarist to yell "Fair Use,"… and the publishing houses don't give a damn about plagiarism.

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