The Earth, The Sky and Everything In Between

Last week, I was struck by an epiphany of magnanimous proportion. (Magnanimous means generous, noble, and/or high-minded).

Why should I pay for something that is free? Herein is perhaps my only monetary peeve greater than paying for a good more than once (lost CDs, tolls on existing roads). 

There is an evil afoot. 

Ignorant consumers like myself have long paid for a good that is free. Forget TINSTAFL - we're past lunch time. I'm talking about legit freedom. Corporations took this free good, repackaged it, and sold it to us at what must be a staggering markup. So what exactly am I talking about?

Books.

That's right, books. In my forementioned ignorance, I had not until this past week considered the magnanimous law of public domain. Even the stingiest of nations (I'm looking at you, Russia) recognizes public domain circa 80 years following an author's death. Thus, the question(s) is posed:

- Is your favorite author dead?

- Did said author 'kick it' pre-1930?

- Do you enjoy non-exempt charitable donations?

If you find yourself drawn in by soothing color tones, matte finishes, and the artistic, pastoral cover images of the Barnes and Noble Classics series, your answer to the above is a resounding yes. 

Better idea - go to fullbooks.com. Find an old book. Read an old book. Enjoy your right to do so freely, given to you by every government on earth. You don't need Barnes & Noble. You don't need a Kindle or that oversized bad idea they call an iPad. 

I myself am on Chapter 5 of War and Peace. It's quite good.