Blog, blog, blog your blog,
Gently change your theme.
Bloggity, bloggity, bloggity, bloggity,
Life is but a meme.

I’ve been trying to do two posts a day for the past little while, but in these forthcoming days, it will most likely be one a day (and that will be tough) as I try to finish my major project. And, maybe finish a smaller project, if I hear back from the people whose product has the potential to make short work of it.

In the meantime, here are some nifty blogs and posts to check out:

“Networking Tips from the White House” from Tim Ferriss, author of The 4-Hour Workweek.

Kiva.org, where you can provide loans to assist people in Third World countries. I think I will probably give them a more prominent link somewhere on my blog, because it sounds like such a good idea. (I learned of this one from today’s Yahoo’s People of the Web.)

WebbAlert.com, where you can get daily tech news in under five minutes.

Also, be sure to visit Joanne of The Laidback Buddhist fame and encourage her to get her own domain name before her blog gets too popular and makes a move that much harder! She currently only has a Technorati Authority of 11, but most of her link love has come in the past week, so she’s growing fast! And, I think if I can help get her up to 15 by the weekend, I should earn a point.

ChrisBloczynski.com has a good post to “Create a System for Success.”

And, if you feel like a scream, check this out, which I found by way of the Voiceovers by Tim McLaughlin Blog, which is where I also found the link to the Tim Ferriss post, though I should be a regular reader of his blog, being that I have a copy of his book and all…

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If you have a slow Internet connection, or dial-up, or just aren’t connected all the time, you might want to download the entire Internet to your hard drive.

That way, you can browse the web at your leisure, even when you’re not connected. Or, print it all out and you can still read your favorite blogs when the power’s out.

Download the Internet Here

Don’t forget to make a back-up!

Seriously, though, I don’t know how long that’s been around, but it’s fun to pass along to your unsuspecting friends.

You might also want to let them know about the last page on the Internet.

And, after reading the last page, remind them to shutdown the Internet.

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Does this look like a car blog to you?

Come to think of it, I don’t think I have ever even mentioned cars or automobiles or anything along those lines. And, I know I have not written any posts on the topic.

Yet, the majority of the comment spam I get is for car-related stuff. Car racing, brake pads, car wash, regional car sales, rental cars, different car brands, etc.

If you are going to spam, might you think of targetting a little better? Granted, they have bots that probably just hit every blog they can find. But, if they targetted better, they might be able to slip a few through.

Not that I want to encourage or assist comment spammers, but you’d think that they’d be smart enough to be a little more sneaky about slipping in their spam.

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Get a Blog Sparring Partner

At this point, it’s more theory than substantiated fact, but, I think it can be a helpful technique.

If you use it wisely and have fun with it, and don’t get too serious about it.

Based on the idea that competition can lead to improvement and what does not kill you will make you stronger, having a blog sparring partner can help you better your blog, while increasing readership by creating a game that (hopefully!) readers will want to follow.

That’s the theory anyway. Time will show how this all pans out.

My Blog Sparring Partner

As has been mentioned before, my new sparring partner is Joanne, the Laidback Buddhist. (She really needs to get her own domain name before her blog gets too popular!)

And, her name rhymes with mine. Whether that’s important or not in a blog sparring partner, I don’t really know.

At last count, I was ahead by 4 to 2. But, now she has linked to 3 of my posts and quoted me.

That brings the score to 4 to 6. But, in this post, I linked to her post, so that brings me up to 5 to 6.

All I need to do is quote her and link to the post with the quote and I’ll retake the lead!

Easy enough! You see, when I first found her blog exactly two weeks ago, I read more of her blog (beyond the post I linked to in my “Are You Free?” post) and saw that she was pretty smart. Specifically, there was a particularly cogent comment that (I think–if I remember right) would have been worth quoting.

Ha! Just need to find that quote and I’m in the lead again.

But, I cannot find it! So, perhaps she deleted the post in anticipation of my needing to find it. Sneaky. I have skimmed through every entry on her blog, and even utilized the Find feature to locate words I thought were in the quote, and no luck.

Is she devious enough to have anticipated my need to quote her and thus removed the prime quote material from her blog? She admits in one post that she’s an HTML neophyte, so I doubt she coded the blog to hide those particular entries just from me.

Devious, this one is.

On the other hand, for all the single guys out her way, if you grab your bow and arrow, a pack of sparklers and a bouquet of flowers, and don’t act like a twit, you have a good chance of winning her over. Bonus points if you can sing like a Belgium Bing Crosby.

I will have to do a more thorough read for a good quote. She cannot have hidden them all. Maybe I’m just overlooking it. But, the Find feature should have found it. Hmmm.

I’m still not really sure why I started keeping track of points, but, to quote Joanne, “it’s so on.” Indeed. (Hey, does that count?)

Choosing a Blog Sparring Partner

Even though my blog sparring partner was by accident and not design, it is probably best if you and your partner share some similarities, but also have some differences. (My “dueling reviews” are probably a good example of similar yet different blogs.)

At any rate, in searching her blog for the quote she has so stealthily hidden from me, I have found some similarities and differences.

1. Our names rhyme.

2. She likes to quote Henry David Thoreau. My quote files have several quotes from Thoreau, as well as Ralph Waldo Emerson.

3. She procrastinates. I procrastinate.

4. She admits being a nerd. I don’t admit to that.

5. She likes sparklers. I once tried to make my own fireworks.

6. She likes a Belgian singer. I like Belgian waffles.

7. She quotes Voltaire. I read Candide. My high school psychology teacher would be so proud, “in this, the best of all possible worlds.”

8. She writes, “Whoever said it is better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all is delusional.” I don’t agree with her on that, but that’s a subject for another post.

So, where was I? Oh, yes, gotta find that quote. But that’ll have to be a job for later…

In the meantime, find yourself a blog sparring partner and see the benefits for yourself (and report back here with your results!)

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For everyone who enjoys a good quote, here are some inspiring ones. You’re sure to find at least one you’ll enjoy.

Four Things That Never Return
“Four things that come not back,–the spoken word, the sped arrow, the past life, and the neglected opportunity.”
–Anonymous

Growth of the Individual
“The less government we have, the better–the fewer laws, and the less confided power. The antidote to this abuse of formal government is the influence of private character, the growth of the individual.”
–Ralph Waldo Emerson

The One Sole Necessity
“I realize more and more the truth that love is the one sole necessity of earth and heaven, all else can be dispensed with.”
–J. G. Whittier

One or the Other
“A man must be one of two things, either a reed shaken by the wind, or a wind to shake the reeds.”
–T. W. Handford

Mind and Money
“It is the mind that makes us richer and happy, in what condition soever we are, and money signifies no more to it than it does to the gods.”
–Seneca

I Will Not Be Unhappy
“If it be my lot to crawl, I will crawl contentedly; if to fly, I will fly with alacrity; but, as long as I can avoid it, I will never be unhappy.”
–Sydney Smith

Great and Little Men
“The real difference between men is energy. A strong will, a settled purpose, an invincible determination, can accomplish almost anything: and in this lies the distinction between great men and little men.”
–Andrew Fuller

The Cost of Idleness
“Many a young man is utterly ruined by wealth and want of occupation. It does not cost much to live a happy, honorable life, but it costs a mint of money to live and do nothing.”
–T. W. Handford

Knowledge Will Govern Ignorance
“Knowledge will ever govern ignorance, and a people who mean to be their own governors must arm themselves with the power which knowledge gives.”
–James Madison

Desperate Masses
“The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation.”
–Henry David Thoreau

Bliss
“Follow your bliss.”
–Joseph Campbell

Don’t Waste Time
“Time and tide melt the snowman.”
–7th Doctor, Doctor Who

The Crazy Ones
“…the ones who are crazy enough to think that they can change the world, are the ones who do.”
–Apple Computer, Think Different ad campaign

Don’t forget about my “$15 for Fame” drawing!!!

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Sorry for the lack of posts today. I have been busy with other projects.

I had hoped to get a review up today, but I haven’t yet found a sparring partner for the blog I have selected.

And, another post I had hoped to do died for lack of the source material, which I have been unable to find, despite sorting through about 50 of my archive CDs.

I’ll have something for Sunday, even if it may be short!

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Are you a nerd? Are you a nerd and proud of it?

Let’s see how nerdy you are. Using Weird Al’s “White & Nerdy” as a general guide to nerdiness, I’ve developed this list of questions:

Are/were you first in your class at school? +5
Are/were you first in a class at school? +3

Ever played D&D? +3

Own any M.C. Escher art or books? +3

Do you drink hot tea? +3
Do you drink Earl Grey tea? +2

Still have your action figures in their original packaging? +3
On display? +3

Own a book by Stephen Hawking? +3

Have a page on MySpace? +2

Know pi to ten places? +3
A hundred places? +3
A thousand places? +3

Play Minesweeper instead of Solitaire? +3

Download and run the latest new software? +3

Do you know Pascal? +3

Do you do Calculus or any math for fun? +3

Ever used a soldering gun (or iron)? +3

Can you beat your friends and family in trivia games? +3

Are you fluent in JavaScript? +3

Are you fluent in Klingon? +5

Do you own a Segway? +5

Do you collect X-Men comics? +5
Do you collect any comics? +3

Have you ever worn a pocket protector? +5

Do you edit Wikipedia? +5

Can you quote any lines from Monty Python’s The Holy Grail? +3

Do you know HTML? +3

Do you have a webpage for your pet? +3

Do you own a fanny pack? +3
Do you wear it? +3

Were you in the AV Club? +1
Were you in the Glee Club? +2
Were you on the Chess Team? +3
Were you in the Math League? +3
Were you a member of any honor society? +2

Do you prefer Picard over Kirk? +5
Or, can’t decide between Kirk and Picard? +3

Do you own a copy of the Star Wars Christmas Special? +5
Do you wish you did? +3

Have you ever been bowling? +3
Did you go willingly? +3

Scoring

Highest possible score: 124.

What’s your score?

Mine is 43. That makes me about 35% nerdy.

I haven’t determined what different percentages should mean, but I welcome your ideas in the comments!

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How many digits of pi do you remember? Do you know pi to a thousand places? Whatever you know, write it down right now, before reading any further. I’ll wait…

Still waiting…

Can’t you write faster?

Done? Okay.

This will be our first memory challenge for all who want to participate!

Now, since this is for personal growth, and no prizes will be awarded, please don’t cheat!!!

Here is how much of pi I can remember: 3.14159265358. I’ve only recently been able to count the last 8, as for a long time, I ended at 5. I used to remember it to more places.

Here it is to 25 decimal places:
3.1415926535897932384626433

If you want to go further, here is pi to a billion digits.

In the comments, enter pi as you wrote it down earlier.

For the next ten days, use the techniques mentioned in my Improving Your Memory in Just Minutes a Day post and see to how many digits you can memorize pi.

We’ll check back again in ten days and see how everyone is doing!

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Thank you to those that have contributed soda so far.

There will be something special for you at the end of the month.

Oh, and the more people that contribute, maybe the more special it will be!

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Imagine that your neighbor leaves his lawn mower in his front yard. Maybe he ran inside to get a drink or maybe he had to go get more gas. In any case, it’s just sitting there.

Would you assume that because he left it in his front yard, it is free for the taking? Would you walk over and take it?

Most people (I hope!) would realize that doing so would be stealing. Yet, many of those same people wouldn’t hesitate to do a similar thing online.

I see (too many!) bloggers suggesting that other bloggers use resources like Google Images to find images to use on their blogs.

But, many of those images are protected by copyright. There is even a notice stating as such, though probably many people don’t bother to read the text–they just grab the image they want.

Here is an easy rule of thumb: If you didn’t make it, you can’t take it.

Just because you find something on the Internet does not mean that it is public domain. Under current copyright law (in the U.S.–check your own laws in other countries) a copyright notice is not even required any more for copyright protection. Registration is also not required, though it is recommended for greater protection, which includes the recovery of legal fees.

So, just because you see something on a web page or in Google Images, doesn’t mean that you can take it and use it for your own purposes.

What Can You Take?

You can use public domain images (and text). But, you have to be careful.

First of all, note that many people don’t realize what public domain is. As I have stated, just because something is on the Internet does not mean that it is public domain.

However, because there are people who mistakenly believe that it is, you will find websites offering free public domain images for you to use. You’ll frequently see notices like, “These images are believed to be in the public domain.” If you don’t know for sure, don’t use it!

A content creator (whether an author, a photographer, an illustrator, etc.) can release a work into the public domain with a statement of such. If you do not see such a statement, assume that the work is protected by copyright. Do not use it unless you obtain permission from the copyright holder!

Some content creators may release their work under a Creative Commons or other license. In many cases, you can probably use that work on your own website. Just be sure to carefully read and follow the terms of the license agreement and make sure that your usage is in compliance with the terms of the license.

What About Expired Copyrights?

In the U.S., works first published in the United States before 1923 are now in the public domain. You are free to use them.

Foreign works published before 1909 are in the public domain, in the U.S. They may still be protected in their countries of origin, so be mindful of this when using such materials on the Internet. It is best to investigate the copyright status of the work in its parent country before using it on the Internet so as not to run afoul of copyrights that may still be in effect.

Also be mindful of the Crown Copyright in Great Britain, where works by the British Crown are protected under a perpetual copyright. This includes such works as the King James Version of the Bible. So, be aware of this, especially if you are planning any commercial website utilizing materials that may still be under such copyright protection.

Works published in the U.S. between 1923 and 1963 whose copyright was not renewed are now in the public domain. However, you will need to carefully research such materials to be sure that the copyright has expired as there is no central database where you can look up a work and check its copyright status. In some cases, it may take a lot of research (and even some legwork!) to determine whether or not something was renewed.

Also, be aware that derivative works of public domain works can be protected by copyright for the new or revised material. So, if someone produces an eBook based on public domain materials, it may be protected by copyright, if they have done substantial work on it to merit new copyright protection. For this reason, it is best to get your hands on the source material (or a trusted source with a copy) rather than to try to utilize someone else’s version.

Government Works

Works created by the Federal Government or federal agencies are generally in the public domain. But, be aware that such works may contain materials provided by contractors that may be protected by copyright.

Be aware that this only applies to works created by the federal government or agencies, and not state or local governments. Works by state or local governments may be protected by copyright.

Trademarks and Rights of Publicity

You should also be aware that trademarks are different from copyrights. For example, seals used by various government divisions and agencies may be protected by trademark or other laws. So, even if you find such a seal on a public domain work, you cannot use the seal, especially (especially!!!) in instances where it may appear that said agency is endorsing your website. That can get you in very big trouble!

Also, be aware of an individual’s right of publicity. Just because a person (actor, actress, historical figure, etc.) may appear in a public domain work does not mean that you can use them to “endorse” your product. People have a “Right of Publicity” that can be passed on to their heirs. This is a state and local right, and not a federal one, so the actual terms may vary from place to place. Generally speaking, you are safe to use people who have been dead for more than 100 years. This is why you’ll see Abraham Lincoln, but not Elvis, selling used cars.

More Info

A good source of information is Stephen Fishman’s book, The Public Domain: How to Find Copyright-Free Writings, Music, Art & More. It also includes worksheets you can use to help you keep track of your public domain materials.

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