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PROGRAMMING NOTE from the Author and Archivist


So obviously I just stopped blogging on this platform. I'll get back to it eventually. Or not. I'm taking a break from all social media. It seemed necessary for my mental health.

The last few years have been busy and … challenging:

- 2015 Happened.
- 2016 Let's call it The Lost Year. (Obviously words failed me.)
- 2017 about broke me. Literally. Mentally.
- 2018 was ridiculous, proving 2017 was just a warm up. (Good thing I was already broken so it couldn't hurt as much.#2018TrashCanFire I thought things were going okay, but maybe not?)

- 2019 was such a blur. I know there were highlights, but then stuff happened and carried into the next year...

- And then in March#2020 really took a turn. Who can even categorize 2020? Do we dare?


I kinda want a do-over of some of the last few years. But life doesn’t work that way.


So for now, I'm hunkering down. Regrouping. Trying to stay safe and sort some stuff out.


Stay safe everyone. Stay well.

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Tuesday, October 7, 2008

A Fair(y) Use Tale

In this age of computers, copiers, scanners, video and sound clips, and photo and file sharing, the rights of the author and/or copyright holder are challenged as never before. This was most recently brought to light with the distribution of unauthorized materials written by Stephenie Meyer. She basically stopped writing a novel because someone else posted materials they weren't authorized to share and wrecked it for the rest of us. (THANKS A LOT!)

Most libraries have notices near their copy machines warning patrons NOT to abuse the copyright law. Patrons are allowed to copy portions of materials for study use only, but not allowed to make copies if materials are going to be used for financial purposes. Students in library school are taught about the copyright law, as it is a tricky area and hard to police. As users, we may not even think about it when we paste pictures into blogs and e-mails or create multimedia videos to share on the 'Net. There have been lawsuits galore over the scope of copyright and the fair use concept. Companies, like Disney for example, are known to sue small businesses, like daycares, when they use Disney's trademarked images without authorization.

To help us understand the copyright law and the fair use concept, Eric Faden, a Bucknell professor, has produced an amazing video -- A Fair(y) Use Tale -- which cuts together thousands of extremely short clips from dozens of Disney cartoons, lifting individual words and short phrases to spell out an articulate, funny, and thoroughly educational lesson on how copyright works.

It's an entertaining AND informative 10-minute video. Check it out and keep this in mind the next time you make a copy or post that picture on your blog.