Forgive the metablog post, but I was looking at some trackbacks and such, which led me down the road of Technorati, and then back to the mothership: Google.
I’m not sure how, but I made the first page of results for “Pattern Recognition” on Google, at least for now. Given that it’s a phrase that is not only the title of a bestselling book by one of my favorite authors, but is an entire academic field of study, I didn’t expect to be there.
But there I am.
While flying back from Detroit on Monday, I snapped this picture of the TSA security gate. I would have used a better camera, but of course I had that packed away so I wouldn’t have to put it in a bin. The phone captured the moment, though:
If you can’t make it out, here’s a closeup:
Yep…that’s a windows memory error screen on a TSA monitor. The irony of this knows no bounds.
Talk about cool data visualization! I’m delighted by interesting ways to present data, and this one is just great…it’s a video of housing prices from 1890 to present, graphed, and then turned into a rollercoaster. Yes, a rollercoaster.
Huh.
So I noted yesterday that I had attended Wrestlemania 23. I took a bunch of photos and a handful of video at the event, as cameras were allowed at the venue. In order to share the videos (two of them) I uploaded them to YouTube. The two videos were < 30 seconds long, and were taken from my seat, faaaaar up on the second level of the arena.
Not 12 hours later, I recieved a DMCA takedown notice for them.
My question now is: are they actually a violation of copyright? I'm not certain...I checked the back of my ticket for a contract notice, and found this gem:
"By using this ticket, the ticket holder agrees that he or she will not directly or indirectly transmit or aid in transmitting any picture, account or description (whether text, data, or visual) in any media now or hereafter existing of all or any part of the football game or related events."
I didn't see a football game, nor any events related to one...but I suppose there is an argument that this is a general prohibition for "events at Ford Field." But that is not what it says. As well, as I read it, that agreement prohibits everything...even talking about the game afterwards with your friends. As I noted, cameras were allowed at Wrestlemania...they even sold cameras at the merch tables. So clearly that can't be the case for still pictures.
There is also the warning they broadcast inside the venue before the show...which I didn't see. We didn't arrive until a bit after the first match, so I missed it. However, there's a photo on flickr:
But that is the warning that is intended for the viewers-at-home so to speak…and again, they clearly allowed for photography within the arena.
So, copyright peeps: did YouTube (and thus Google) jump the gun on this? I think they did, and my inclination is to send a counter-notice to them. What say you all?
Just a question for the intertubes: is anyone else having problems with Firefox and Flash on OSX? I’m having this REALLY weird issue where flash content (Youtube, blog badges, etc) doesn’t display except when it is near the top/bottom of the Firefox window. Yes, you read that right…if the content overlaps the bottom/top edge, it displays. Get off the edge, and it doesn’t display (the content just goes invisible, it doesn’t un-render or anything, just goes away/becomes invisible).
WTF?
I am so outing myself right now.
Hi…my name is Jason, and I watch professional wrestling.
Not only do I watch pro wrestling, but I have for years. I even do some work for a company that makes the WWE Collectible Card Game. I realize this ups my geek-score into the stratusphere, but I can no longer commit this lie of omission to you, my readers.
So, I spent this last weekend helping to run the 6th World Championship of Raw Deal, and then went to Wrestlemania 23 on Sunday, April 1. Had a phenomenal time, got to see a ton of friends I only see once or twice a year, but am now so far behind I can barely see the horizon.
If there’s radio silence the rest of the week, that’s why. In the meantime, enjoy this wonderful youtube video.
Just an idea that others might find useful…after participating in the remarkable 5 Weeks to a Social Library course offered by my heroes, I began to think of ways to re-use all of the incredible content.
As you may have noted, at MPOW we’re hiring two new librarians. Hiring new librarians is always accompanied by some type of orientation process. The Head of Reference and I are going to collaborate on the orientation process, and the plan is to use some of the 5 weeks presentations as introductions to tools we’re using and concepts we’re interested in pursuing. Here at UTC we’re using WordPress, Joomla, RSS, del.icio.us, GAIM, and the plan is to implement other things discussed during 5 weeks…why reinvent perfectly good introductions and explanations of those tools?
I’m thrilled with the thought that all of this content can be used for free, and for any number of things…learning takes many forms. I know that it’s going to save me enormous amounts of time at MPOW. Thanks to the organizers, and also to the participants who graciously allowed your work to be licensed for reuse.
In one of my few recent real musical finds, I give you Silversun Pickups (or sspu as they’re known online). I picked up their album Carnavas after randomly hearing Melatonin while browsing in a record store (yeah, they still have those!). I recommend you head over to amazon or youtube and give them a listen, because I’m not sure that I can give their sound a good description. It’s like….Smashing Pumpkins meets Toad the Wet Sprocket, or what Coheed & Cambria might sound like if they partied with The Doors. Melody and guitar effects merge with cosmic keyboards and a great sense of rhythm to create a wall of sound that I’m finding addictive.
The amazon reviews all talk about how they’re part of some grunge revival (ummm….ok, now I feel really old). That I’m not so sure of, but I do know that I’m digging on them more than any band I’ve heard in some time.
Here’s some more info on them from their label. Evidently I’m just not plugged in to pop culture anymore, since they’ve played the Tonight Show and Carson Daily. But even so, they’re really great…check them.
Woot! I finally got my hands on a Wii, and I must say, I’m enjoying the heck out of it. Nintendo has completely revolutionized living room gaming with this thing.
I’ve got a lot to say about the interface and the control system (short form: they ROCK) but for now I just need Wii friends. Anyone out there wanna be my Wii buddy? If so, I’m:
4523 9501 6905 5000
Add me as a friend, and leave your number in the comments and I’ll add you.