explodedlibrary.info

how academic libaries are under pressure to exclude the general public from basic services

One of the things that I like about TypePad is its draft posts feature. If I see something worth writing, I can paste in the reference from Net NewsWire and jot down a few ideas. If I don’t have the time or energy to make it into a full post, I can save it as a draft. Then nobody can see it except for me. It’s easy to locate in case I want to revisit the topic later.

The following is from something I read in September on the Virtual Chase.

The problem mentioned in that Scientific American article is just one symptom of a greater disease. Our academic libraries are becoming less open and friendly to people who are not in the inner circle of patrons. Libraries, usually coerced by their vendors and campus IT departments, are under pressure to lock down all their electronic collections and equipment so that they can only be used by that academic institution's students, faculty and staff.

$15 for the Fifteen

Jason Lefkowitz has also been following the story about how the Bush administration outmaneuvered opponents of the Patriot Act II by incorporating some of its elements into Intelligence Authorization Act for fiscal 2004 and so avoid public debate about its controversial changes. Jason hasn't just got angry about it - he's set up a fund to reward the 15 House Republicans who crossed the floor and voted against this legislation. He is using PayDemocracy host the $15 for Fifteen campaign.

With Republicans in control of the Presidency, Congress and Supreme Court (most of the time), it is important to realize that they are not a monolithic group and that not all Republican members of Congress are like Tom DeLay.

how I changed my iBook's DVD player into a region-free player

I decided to do a little more research into how I might be able to turn my iBook’s DVD player into a region free DVD player. Then on an impulse, I implemented what I learned – and it worked!

So in case I forget what I did, I’m going to write down the steps involved in this.

updated version of Why Copyright Today Threatens Intellectual Freedom

From the Free Expression Policy Project, an updated version of Marjorie Heins's policy report, "'The Progress of Science and Useful Arts': Why Copyright Today Threatens Intellectual Freedom." It's worth a read. Also available in PDF format. [commons-blog]

One quote from the cited source: "Like copyright term extension, the DMCA has been defended as necessary to harmonize U.S. with international law. Two treaties crafted by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) oblige member countries to "provide adequate legal protection and effective legal remedies" against circumvention of electronic locks on copyrighted works. ... But the head of the Patent and Trademark Office acknowledged that the treaties do not require the DMCA's "device-oriented" approach – as opposed to the more traditional "conduct-oriented" approach that targets copyright infringers and not the researchers who create new technologies."

poetry and prose published on the web at three candles

This isn't something that I usually write about here, but I just found out that a friend and co-worker of mine has had three of her poems published on three candles. The last time I looked for creative writing being published on the web, I was quite overwhelmed by the number of sites. But I assume that three candles is worth a look, because my friend is very discerning about where she sends her work, and they had the good taste to publish her.