So I was pondering some copyright issues. With the proliferation of user-created content there is all sorts of potential copyright infringement going on. The most obvious use (or misuse) seems to be music. So if I’ve got a podcast and I want to play a U2 song to open it, can I do that? Or do I need to track down the appropriate permissions or pay for the appropriate licenses? Or is that only necessary if I’m making money off the podcast? Same goes for online video. Let’s say I make a video of my daughter, and run a song in the background. Do I need permissions or liceneses for that? Does it matter if it’s for personal use or if I put it online? Does it matter if I’m making money it?

And it seems like everybody’s doing it. That doesn’t make it OK, but it does mean there’s a need for some helpful answers.

But I can never find those answers–at least not basic answers. Creative Commons has a Podcasting Legal Guide that may have the answer, but I got lost and bored before I found it.

So does anybody have the answer? Or are all the podcasters and online video people just infringing left and right and inviting lawsuits?

I love looking at number and stats. That’s part of why iTunes is so cool. My top 5 most played songs are:

1. “All Because of You” by U2
2. “Vertigo” by U2
3. “City of Blinding Lights” by U2
4. “Surf Champion” by Coach Said Not To
5. “Trolly Wood” by Eisley

Which of course shows my obvious bias for U2. But it also reflects the fact that I listened to “Vertigo” nonstop for an hour and a half the day it came out and the fact that I played How To Dismantle an Atomic Bomb on repeat for the first few days after it came out. And it came out two years ago.

So here’s the question, iTunes geeks: How can I set up a smart playlist that will show me the most played X songs in the past X days? I want to see what I’ve been listening to in the last month, not simply since I started using iTunes.

We finally crossed over to the darkside and got a cell phone. We ended up with a Cingular family plan (mmm… rollover) and sharp looking Motorola RAZR phones (mine’s black, Abby’s is pink). I want to say we’re the last people on earth to get cell phones, but that’s certainly not true. We are among the last people our own age in the U.S. who don’t have cell phones. Most of our friends only have cell phones.

The convenience factor finally pushed us over the edge. With a baby it’s just that much more of an issue. Which basically means I’m able to blame every one of our big purchases lately on Lexi. Sorry, kid.

As reluctantly as I’ve entered the cell phone world, I am loving it. The ability to call from the grocery store or while you’re on the way somewhere is just great. Now I just have to work on my cell phone etiquette.

The one thing I’m not impressed with is the phones themselves. The RAZR is great, but it and every other cell phone I tried have serious usability issues. I guess I expect too much from my technology. It just doesn’t seem like sorting my address book by last name or keeping the same categories my computer has is asking too much. Apparently it is. At least the 37signals guys agree with me. They think Apple is the solution, and maybe we’ll find out if they are this week.

More than two years ago I switched from PC to Mac (yes, I’m still loving it) and I think it may be time to upgrade my system. Actually it was time five months ago, but the money wasn’t there. First we had a baby and I didn’t want to be surprised by the hospital bills (which, by the way, come in small, slow installments so you don’t realize how much you’re really paying). Then our tax bill was approaching, and well, that’s a big one. Then I had to wait for a few projects to come through and make sure our cash flow was good. But finally, I think it’s time.

So what should I buy?

Continue reading Time to Upgrade My Computer →