Before I get to the Politics of the night, I feel the need to do something here. I recently came across a rather stupid story about the associated press and Fair use. I am going to quote, before I do anything else, a portion of a wikipedia article on fair use, just in case any of those idiots at the ap are reading.
Amount and substantially
The third factor assesses the quantity or percentage of the original copyrighted work that has been imported into the new work. In general, the less that is used in relation to the whole, e.g., a few sentences of a text for a book review, the more likely that the sample will be considered fair use. Yet see Sony Corp. v. Universal City Studios for a case in which substantial copying—entire programs for private viewing—was upheld as fair use. Likewise, see Kelly v. Arriba Soft Corporation,where the Ninth Circuit held that copying an entire photo to use as a thumbnail in online search results did not weigh against fair use, “if the secondary user only copies as much as is necessary for his or her intended use.”
For the entire wiki passage on Fair use, click here.
Now I am not going to defend lifting entire copyrighted articles, there is no use in defending the indefensible, but if i want to quote a piece of a story for a blog that I am doing, I’ll be DAMNED if I’m gonna run and hide from these damned white collar tweakers who think they can intimidate me and keep me from quoting a story of theirs. I will not be stupid or unfair, mind you, I do think they are being a bit unfair themselves saying what they are saying here.
I won’t treat anyone unfairly, but, with the exception of this section of today’s blog, all other story’s will have quotes from the Associated press.
I Will Not go Quietly. Screw the AP!
In a story from the associated press, about the above mentioned story, there is apparently going to be a meeting between Jim Kennedy, the associated press’ director of strategic planning, and Robert Cox, president of the Media Bloggers Association.
I, prior to this, have not heard of this organization before, this media bloggers association, but I tell you this, just because these two fine gentlemen come to some agreement, does not mean in any way shape or form that I have to live by the standard proposed for quoting.
I have to agree with Michael Arrington here, quoting an ap story which is in turn quoting his TechCrunch blog:
The Ap “doesn’t get to make its own rules about how its content is used, if those rules are stricter than the law allows.”
I will follow the rule of law, as I interpret it, and in truth I will try my best to not go overboard with it, after all, if they are going to be that big of a bunch of assholes about it, then I don’t want to have anything to do with them. well….as little as possible, The organization itself does great work on a journalistic level, but if there gonna be douche bags about it, I can just as easily go elsewhere to get my news.
That’s it for the Anti AP Rant. Onto Politics.
The Obama campaign has named several new top advisors today Including former Hillary Rodham Clinton campaign manager Patti Solis Doyle. Quoting the AP report about this:
The campaign is beefing up for the general election. Other posts being filled include a national field director, which went to by Jon Carson, who was director of voter contact during the primaries. Another post – battleground states director – will be filled by Jen O’Malley, who directed John Edwards’ Iowa operation.
Solis Doyle, who stepped down as Clinton’s campaign manager in February, is the only former high-profile Clinton staffer to join Obama’s camp so far. Clinton replaced Solis Doyle with longtime aide Maggie Williams after she and Obama essentially split the 22-state Super Tuesday contests on Feb. 5.
It’s good to see that Patti has a job in the Obama campaign. I thought she got the raw end of the deal when she got canned by the Clinton Campaign in February. It wasn’t her fault that the Obama campaign was as good as it was super Tuesday. It wasn’t that the Clinton camp did poorly, they didn’t. It was the Obama camp that was surprisingly good that day, and it was that day that stuck a fork in poor Patti.
Also of interest is the fact that Stephanie Cutter, Comm. Director for John Kerry in 2k4 has been tapped as Michele Obama’s chief of staff, as well as a senior advisor to Sen. Obama. Good move here by the Obama Campaign. This woman has been a Deputy communications director for President Bill Clinton, and Comm. Director for Sen. Ted Kennedy, Sen. Harry Reid and the DNC. An impressive person to be handling the prospective first lady.
The Story for me today tho is this. Al Gore’s endorsement of Barack Obama. Quoting the AP Story:
“It means a lot, obviously,” Obama said of Gore’s support, as he greeted workers outside the General Motors Flint Engine South plant. “He’s somebody who is a visionary, not just for the party, but for the country.”
Gore also asked for donations to help fund Obama’s effort – the first time he’s asked members of his Web site AlGore.com to contribute to a political campaign.
“Over the past 18 months, Barack Obama has united a movement. He knows change does not come from 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue or Capitol Hill. It begins when people stand up and take action,” Gore wrote. “With the help of millions of supporters like you, Barack Obama will bring the change we so desperately need in order to solve our country’s most pressing problems.”
Thanks Al. I’ve been waiting for you to back someone here. I am a big fan of yours. I hope that your backing of Sen. Obama convinces those who were backing Hillary and who, when she gave up her bid for the Nomination, said they would back McCain, brings them back into the fold. We are all democrats after all. Our vision for the future is a stronger and clearer one than the Republicans have.
And now for something completely different…..
A Video or two here on METAL MONDAY.
First up, A video I’ve never seen before, Metallica, Whiskey in a jar:
Next Up: No viddy, just an album cover, but this needs no viddy. Venom, Countess Bathory. Nothing but love here dammit.
That’s it from here. Have a Good night.
Today’s Nuggets: If we are to be morally and ethically responsible, there can be no turning back once we find, as we have found, that some of the most basic presuppositions of these values are mistaken. Playing God is indeed playing with fire. But that is what we mortals have done since Prometheus, the patron saint of dangerous discoveries. We play with fire and take the consequences, because the alternative is cowardice in the face of the unknown. Ronald Dworkin
You can approach the act of writing with nervousness, excitement, hopefulness, or even despair–the sense that you can never completely put on the page what’s in your mind and heart. You can come to the act with your fists clenched and your eyes narrowed, ready to kick ass and take down names. You can come to it because you want a girl to marry you or because you want to change the world. Come to it any way but lightly. Let me say it again: you must not come lightly to the blank page. Stephen King
