Thumbs up

To organizers of the Operation Boots On camp that helps children of soldiers have fun with other kids in the same boat and helps them express feelings associated with having a parent in the military.

The camp held for the first time this year was organized by the U.S. Army with help from groups including 4-H and the Minnesota National Guard’s Beyond the Yellow Ribbon program. Children can participate in activities that give them a sense of some of the things their military parents use like global positioning systems. They sample the military Meals Ready to Eat dishes made in bags with portable heaters.

There is even a “shooting range” with marshmallows blown out of plastic pipes. The camp also just provides a lot of routine summer camp activities as well like camping, hiking and boating. They can hear real soldiers tell their stories in their own words, and just talk with other kids who may be having the same feelings as they are with parents in the military.

Operation Boots On is just another solid way to help children of soldiers understand military operations and the military life, be educated about it and have a chance to express their feelings. It should be a win-win for the kids, their parents and the community at large.

Fine not tied to reality

Thumbs down

To the ridiculous verdict in the song-sharing case in which a Minnesota woman has been fined $1.92 million for sharing 24 songs over the Internet.

The songs would have gone for 99 cents on iTunes, coming to a grand total of about $24.

The recording industry, of course, wants to stop people from giving their products away for free. And that makes sense, but the punishment should fit the crime. The jury had a range of $750 to $30,000 to choose as a fine per copyright infringement. It decided on $80,000 per song.

This is the second time Jammie Thomas-Rasset of Brainerd has been tried on this matter. The case will be appealed, and it really has to be with such an outrageous outcome. (Other people threatened with copyright infringement typically have settled the cases for $3,000 to $5,000.)

But the amount of money spent on the case would provide a lot of music libraries and schools with loads of material if the industry wanted to do some good.

Good idea, but will it work?