07.21.08
is it protected by copyright?
Don’t know if something is protected by copyright? Check out this handy little sliderule, it may answer your questions.
07.08.08
best practices for fair use of video
Kami Huyse has an easy-to-understand list of best practices for fair use of video. Where did she get it? “Today, the American University’s Center for Social Media released its code of six best practices (pdf) for fair use of online video.”
What are they?
- Commenting on or critiquing of copyrighted material
- Using copyrighted material for illustration or example
- Capturing copyrighted material incidentally or accidentally reproducing, reposting, or quoting in order to memorialize,
- Preserve, or rescue an experience, an event, or a cultural phenomenon
- Copying, reposting, and recirculating a work or part of a work for purposes of launching a discussion
- Quoting
in order to recombine elements to make a new work that depends for its
meaning on (often unlikely) relationships between the elements
06.28.08
Photo effects
Looking to add some “bling” to your photos? Try BlingEasy.com. According to ShoeMoney, the “site lets you add some really fun and cool effects to your pictures very easily.”
I haven’t tried it yet, but it’s going on my list.
05.02.08
I want a new toy
I know the signs. I keep magazine tear-outs in my tote. I bookmark product pages I don’t share with anyone. I mentally start running numbers in my head to see what I can afford when.
I am lusting after a new toy.
And I haven’t chosen the toy yet.
I want a cross between a Smartphone and a UMPC. Something that will run more than Windows Mobile, but will fit in my tote comfortably, won’t take forever to boot, can run several things at once, and will allow me to be functional on the go.
I want it to play games, music, have a webcam, Skype, memory, access to the Internet (anywhere, would be nice). I want it to be affordable.
Where do I find a toy like that?
I keep reading the reviews of the Asus eee pc, the new HP, the Fujitsu (which is still out of my price range). I read about the new crop of cell phones expected to come out this year, many of which sound really really nice.
But I am the woman who resisted the urge to buy an iPhone, despite wanting it more than any other toy that entire year. I still haven’t bought one.
I don’t just go out and spend money on expensive toys. I do my homework. I work my budget. I think about it. I think about it. I think about it.
Then, maybe, I buy something.
I want a new toy. Something to replace the Palm Treo+portable Targus keyboard I use to write these blog posts. Something with a battery that will last more than two hours. Something that won’t require that I learn an entirely new language to use.
I want a new toy, but know, absolutely know, that I’m not getting one. I’m just too practical.
04.20.08
personal
One of the benefits of blogging, even with the highly erratic blogging schedule that I keep, is the outlet for things about which I want to vent. There are things I don’t want to talk about, things I don’t want to be questioned about, that still need to be aired.
Sometimes things happen that I know I need to share, that for mental health I need to share. But I don’t really want to engage in conversation, not real face-to-face discussions with people I know. I don’t want the daily questions and follow-ups and well-intentioned support.
For these issues, weaknesses, awkward confessions, I need the anonymous support network of the two or three readers I have. Just getting the words out and knowing that someone, somewhere, is reading them… Well, that’s enough for me.
My weight loss is one of these topics. I appreciate the words of encouragement I get from friends and coworkers, but I hate answering questions about my diet.
What do you do? What do you eat? How are you maintaining your commitment? Aren’t you tempted?
The same questions over and over abiout how I can resist temptation and the daily challenges of staying on track. The truly intrusive tell me about their own weight loss failures and give me their best wishes that I have better luck (with some adding that my kind of weight loss is always followed by weight gain).
My brother being in a warzone is another topic. What’s the adequate response to someone asking you “aren’t you worried about him?” Am I supposed to show tears each time I talk about him? I try and stay upbeat, positive, but that’s not good enough for the masses.
On my blog, via Twitter or whatever other tool I happen to be using, I can just ignore the responses I don’t want to deal with, and embrace those I do. What a wonderful thing.
02.27.08
“how to” network with bloggers
For anyone who needs help, of thinks they need help, ProBlogger has compiled “The Ultimate Guide To Networking With Bloggers” to point you in the right direction.
02.23.08
how to make friends online
Tiffany Monhollon has a good post with 7 tips on making friends with bloggers, etc.:
The short list:
- Leave insightful comments on their blog.
- Write great content and link to them.
- Befriend them in their social networks.
- Communicate with them personally.
- Nominate them for awards (and tell them about it).
- Offer to work or write for them for free.
- Follow their advice (especially on relationship building.)
For details and more information, read the post.
02.10.08
how to kill your blog readership
From BloggingTips:
- Don’t blog for three weeks in a row.
Do absolutely nothing on your blog for three weeks. Moderate no comments, post no new articles. - Write nothing innovative, instead write about the same things you’ve written already.
- Don’t respond to comments. People will ask you questions, but never reply. After all, they don’t pay you for it.
- Promote affiliate products. If possible, promote only affiliate products. Don’t write on anything else.
- Write about your personal life. Write about all the things you did morn to night.
- Don’t offer full feeds to your readers. They should not get free information you see.
- Write about that guy you don’t like.
- Never, ever link to anyone else. Your google juice is hard earned. Never pass it to someone else.
- If you don’t get any ideas to blog about, don’t blog. Wait for any idea to strike you.
- Often apologize for not writing frequently. Say sorry to readers every time you don’t blog.
Sounds about right to me.
12.20.07
Workshop: Got Social Media?
I can’t go to this, but recommend it to anyone who can. The list of presenters looks very interesting.
Got Social Media?
A Conference About CommunicationWhere?
Houston Technology Center
410 Pierce Street
Houston, TX 77002When?
January 24th, 2008
10:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Resources: