Thinking of converting that old motorized wheel chair into a lawn robot. Checkout these sites!
Analog (PWM) or Digital Dual Motor Controller
http://www.dimensionengineering.com/Sabertooth2X5.htm
PWM Pal
http://www.parallax.com/StoreSearchResults/tabid/768/List/0/SortField/4/ProductID/67/Default.aspx?txtSearch=pwm+pal
Control Anything
http://www.controlanything.com/
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Sunday, December 4, 2011
Wopular - MSM News Aggregation
What is Wopular?
Wopular is a news aggregation site, giving a summary view of the top headlines from the top news sites. The search box searches sites like CNN, NY Times, Digg, Google News, Twitter, YouTube, Flickr, Yahoo, Bing, Wikipedia, and many more, all on one site.The most amazing MSM (mainstreamedia) aggregation site.
Sound Cloud
Looking for some new alternative tunes for your MP3 collection? Check out Sound Cloud.
It's social networking for music and sound. Really interesting idea, I am taking the tour right now....
It's social networking for music and sound. Really interesting idea, I am taking the tour right now....
Friday, May 27, 2011
Week 4: Publishing/Leadership Presentation
For the publishing leadership project in week 4 of MAC I presented my project to four of my peers: David Hotler, Virginia Holm, Michael Hood, and Dennis Woodward. We facilitated this presentation using this Google Document and iChat. We met at 7:30PM on May 26th, 2011 and each shared the links to our presentations. After reviewing each presentation we met in an Audio iChat and shared for 5-7 minutes about our work. We each took notes about the others' project and then shared our comments in the Google Document.
Here is the feedback from my fellow-educators:
David Hotler says: What an interesting topic. It is quiet clear from your research methods that this research was empirical based and you found real working results. I love to see that you came to concrete conclusions about immediate feedback, reduction of stress, and testing as a re-teaching tool. It was very interesting to hear you talk about testing styles available in Moodle and about testing engagement. I have always thought of tests as very flat and only do one thing; assess. You have shown that testing can be more than as assessment and can actually engage and re-teach students about the topic. You have also shown, quiet well, that student prefer the online testing to the traditional scan tron or paper test.
I would be interested to see a deeper study about test anxiety and online testing. I have taken several tests online and I am still stressed to/while I take them. What I do not know is if I am just less stressed out or have the same stress level. I would love to see a blind study over the course of a year of high school to actually prove this claim and further support your research. Obviously in the case of Action Research you have shown a positive result and have gotten students and hopefully teachers excited about using online testing for learning.
Virginia Holm says: Michael - I think this type of response system would be great in tests and quizzes, but would be difficult in projects and papers. I like the idea of the second attempt. Students seem to gain confidence when given another try. It also helps to promote their recall on the topic.
I wonder if you only had one question per page on traditional testing methods, if that would decrease anxiety to the extent that the online assessment did? Perhaps it’s not so much the test but the amount of information on the test that causes stress. Did you attempt an online assessment with multiple questions on each screen? How does the online assessment increase or decrease student confidence while the traditional keeps them neutral?
Your presentation was well designed and easy to follow. On the Immediate Feedback slide, I would consider changing the bolded font to another color - perhaps a light golden yellow for further emphasis. I couldn’t really tell it was bold - but then again I am practically blind. Overall I enjoyed your presentation. You kept the audience engaged with questions and were very clear and direct. I look forward to learning what your further evaluation brings to the topic.
Dennis Woodward says: Great job Michael. I, too, think that many of our teachers tend to get into drone mode and feel that the testing or assessment part of the unit is the finale and that information is either retained or lost afterward.
What you are doing with Moodle’s quiz module is amazing. Most teachers would not put the effort that you do into this type of assessment. You clearly are taking every opportunity available to make sure that your students are retaining the information (even at a partial point loss). The fact that your interactive assessments are done online, you have an advantage of getting immediate feedback from the students but also have the ability to give immediate feedback through this interactive quiz or test.
While the platform that you chose (Moodle) is not the trendy content management systems of today, you have proven that this CMS does have features that are superior to most. The results that you have proven through your action research provide valuable data that will hopefully persuade your administration to retire the Scantron type testing scenarios and adopt a system that promotes education through the entire process.
Michael Hood says: Michael, I liked the direction of your research. Scantron responses leave little room for student engagement. You read the test and then mark your answer. Online assessment is an improvement over this. I know I would rather take a test online over a Scantron test. I guess the real challenge is to leverage online assessment’s strength to truly improve student engagement. I know from personal experience that some online assessment actually encourages guessing I had a student that would work on an online math course that allowed the student to retry the problems over and over again until he got it right. Eventually he would guess the right answer and go on to the next problem. Granted, if the program detected a certain pattern of guessing it would re-teach those concepts. But in reality he had learned how to game the system and really wasn’t learning the math. So online assessment is a method that requires a certain amount of vigilance.
Scantron testing and to a certain degree online testing leaves little room for judging the degree of student engagement. There are no essays to grade and no teacher response to them. I feel a lot of teachers rely on Scantron to relieve them of the burden of reading through and grading every students test. Who can blame them? Teachers have an incredible amount of work to do and it seems like every year they just get more responsibilities added to their workload.
Here is the feedback from my fellow-educators:
David Hotler says: What an interesting topic. It is quiet clear from your research methods that this research was empirical based and you found real working results. I love to see that you came to concrete conclusions about immediate feedback, reduction of stress, and testing as a re-teaching tool. It was very interesting to hear you talk about testing styles available in Moodle and about testing engagement. I have always thought of tests as very flat and only do one thing; assess. You have shown that testing can be more than as assessment and can actually engage and re-teach students about the topic. You have also shown, quiet well, that student prefer the online testing to the traditional scan tron or paper test.
I would be interested to see a deeper study about test anxiety and online testing. I have taken several tests online and I am still stressed to/while I take them. What I do not know is if I am just less stressed out or have the same stress level. I would love to see a blind study over the course of a year of high school to actually prove this claim and further support your research. Obviously in the case of Action Research you have shown a positive result and have gotten students and hopefully teachers excited about using online testing for learning.
Virginia Holm says: Michael - I think this type of response system would be great in tests and quizzes, but would be difficult in projects and papers. I like the idea of the second attempt. Students seem to gain confidence when given another try. It also helps to promote their recall on the topic.
I wonder if you only had one question per page on traditional testing methods, if that would decrease anxiety to the extent that the online assessment did? Perhaps it’s not so much the test but the amount of information on the test that causes stress. Did you attempt an online assessment with multiple questions on each screen? How does the online assessment increase or decrease student confidence while the traditional keeps them neutral?
Your presentation was well designed and easy to follow. On the Immediate Feedback slide, I would consider changing the bolded font to another color - perhaps a light golden yellow for further emphasis. I couldn’t really tell it was bold - but then again I am practically blind. Overall I enjoyed your presentation. You kept the audience engaged with questions and were very clear and direct. I look forward to learning what your further evaluation brings to the topic.
Dennis Woodward says: Great job Michael. I, too, think that many of our teachers tend to get into drone mode and feel that the testing or assessment part of the unit is the finale and that information is either retained or lost afterward.
What you are doing with Moodle’s quiz module is amazing. Most teachers would not put the effort that you do into this type of assessment. You clearly are taking every opportunity available to make sure that your students are retaining the information (even at a partial point loss). The fact that your interactive assessments are done online, you have an advantage of getting immediate feedback from the students but also have the ability to give immediate feedback through this interactive quiz or test.
While the platform that you chose (Moodle) is not the trendy content management systems of today, you have proven that this CMS does have features that are superior to most. The results that you have proven through your action research provide valuable data that will hopefully persuade your administration to retire the Scantron type testing scenarios and adopt a system that promotes education through the entire process.
Michael Hood says: Michael, I liked the direction of your research. Scantron responses leave little room for student engagement. You read the test and then mark your answer. Online assessment is an improvement over this. I know I would rather take a test online over a Scantron test. I guess the real challenge is to leverage online assessment’s strength to truly improve student engagement. I know from personal experience that some online assessment actually encourages guessing I had a student that would work on an online math course that allowed the student to retry the problems over and over again until he got it right. Eventually he would guess the right answer and go on to the next problem. Granted, if the program detected a certain pattern of guessing it would re-teach those concepts. But in reality he had learned how to game the system and really wasn’t learning the math. So online assessment is a method that requires a certain amount of vigilance.
Scantron testing and to a certain degree online testing leaves little room for judging the degree of student engagement. There are no essays to grade and no teacher response to them. I feel a lot of teachers rely on Scantron to relieve them of the burden of reading through and grading every students test. Who can blame them? Teachers have an incredible amount of work to do and it seems like every year they just get more responsibilities added to their workload.
Wk 4: FREE POST
Since this is the last week, I thought it was time to have a little bit of fun share a YouTube video. This video clearly demonstrates the Art of Possibility. You can clearly see the spark of creativity, the flame of passion, and some really amazing robo dancing and dub-stepping. The dub-stepping by the gentleman (at 1:16) is beyond amazing. I am not sure if dub-stepping is actually a the correct term, but that is what we call it here. Enjoy and kick the bass!
Wk4: Response #2 to Marty
Source: http://martydenson.blogspot.com/2011/05/wk4-reading-art-of-possibility-chp-9-12.html?showComment=1306548564631#c7996719269829056957
Marty.
I can see that your teaching style truly matches what we see in the text, "The Art of Possibility." Your blog post illustrates how your students make assumptions about what is possible and come to you with limits already set. After getting to know them you find their interests and look for a shared passion then help them fan that little spark inside into a flame. As you noted, once you do that your students become "eager" to get started and do things at levels that you didn't expect. That is really cool.
Great thoughts. It is evident that you are a great teacher. Glad I got to make your acquaintance in this program. Keep up the great work!
Marty.
I can see that your teaching style truly matches what we see in the text, "The Art of Possibility." Your blog post illustrates how your students make assumptions about what is possible and come to you with limits already set. After getting to know them you find their interests and look for a shared passion then help them fan that little spark inside into a flame. As you noted, once you do that your students become "eager" to get started and do things at levels that you didn't expect. That is really cool.
Great thoughts. It is evident that you are a great teacher. Glad I got to make your acquaintance in this program. Keep up the great work!
Wk4: Response #1 to Terrance
Source: http://thescopetm.blogspot.com/2011/05/week-4-art-of-possibility.html?showComment=1306547606057#c295611465818991557
Terrance,
I really liked your last paragraph where you discussed taking time for personal reflection and some analysis of the measure of your life. That is really powerful stuff. The best teachers, managers, and human beings are those that take time every now and then to reflect.
There is so much constant noise in our lives like cell phones, text messages, iPods that people never give themselves enough space to reflect and think. We live is a word full of distraction and noise. It seems sometimes that people are too distracted to even be present in their own life.
Really good thoughts! Keep living the life of possibility and I am sure that great things will follow!
Terrance,
I really liked your last paragraph where you discussed taking time for personal reflection and some analysis of the measure of your life. That is really powerful stuff. The best teachers, managers, and human beings are those that take time every now and then to reflect.
There is so much constant noise in our lives like cell phones, text messages, iPods that people never give themselves enough space to reflect and think. We live is a word full of distraction and noise. It seems sometimes that people are too distracted to even be present in their own life.
Really good thoughts! Keep living the life of possibility and I am sure that great things will follow!
Wk4: Think OutLoud Posts 1&2
Part #1 - Publishing Options
After the week #3 Wimba session , I was left to ponder about my publishing/leadership project for week 4. What form would it take? A website, video, journal, conference? What would it be? I am off to discover my options and will report in part #2.
Part #2 - Publishing Decisions
I have decided that a conference performance is the best way to communicate my research. Just last week someone told me that books would be a 'blip' in human history, so I have decided to present at a Summer Institute for Educators and then apply to present at a TED/x conference. After presenting to my FSO team (David, Ginny, David, and Mike) I am encouraged that this is a good topic and useful for educators. I plan to put together a powerpoint based on the advice in Ginny's action research project and create a compelling and entertaining performance to accompany it. Showmanship!
Wk4 Reading: Art of Possibility Chapters 9 – 12
The author wrote: "Enrollment is the art and practice of generating spark of possibility for others to share." As teachers this is what we try to do on a daily basis. Sometimes we look for latent talent that is buried deep inside a student and then connect that student what is already inside them. This is the spark. This is the magic. Helping students see possibility and become invested or enrolled in what they are doing. Sometimes it's hard for people to see beyond the reality that they have constructed, but we can choose to reject any reality and substitute our own (Just like on MythBusters).
Chapter 10. - Being the Board
I have to be honest, after reading chapter 10, I really didn't understand what the author was trying to communicate. The closest I can come to understanding the message is "accept things as they are and do not judge or blame." It seemed like a really long road to get to that message. For teaching this concept, I prefer the Zen story of the two monks... It goes like this:
A senior monk and a junior monk were traveling together. At one point, they came to a river with a strong current. As the monks were preparing to cross the river, they saw a very young and beautiful woman also attempting to cross. The young woman asked if they could help her. The senior monk carried this woman on his shoulder, forded the river and let her down on the other bank. The junior monk was very upset, but said nothing.
The junior monk replied, “As monks, we are not permitted a woman, how could you then carry that woman on your shoulders?”
The senior monk replied, “I put the woman down long ago, why are you still carrying her?”
The senior monk was able to free his mind and see all the possibilities on "the board".
Chapter 11.- Frameworks
This chapter opens with Martin Luther's famous "I have a dream speech" to support the claim that dreaming can make a difference. The author frames this speech as if it was prepared in advance and created to stir the human spirit. This was not the cae. Martin Luther departed from his speech after reading paragraph one of his written speech and decided to speak extemporaneously at the urging of Mahalia Jackson. Mahalia was Dr. King's favorite gospel singer and in the middle of his speech she shouted: 'Tell them about the dream Martin! Tell them about the dream!" at which point history was made.To me, this is the true framework of possibility. Departing from the prepared remarks and talking passionately about your dream. People will respond and resonate at a much deeper level as we saw in the case of Dr. King. As the author pointed out, "a personal vision can become the framework for a life of possbility."
Chapter 12. - The We Story
Henry Truman said... "It is amazing what you can accomplish if you do not care who gets the credit." and this is how I tend to operate. Our egos often get in the way of us helping or supporting others because we selfishly want credit, but does it really matter? We are trained to be individual performers, rugged individualists who can pull ourselves up by our own bootstraps. The reality is that we all need a helping hand and a friend to go on the journey with us. I see teachers as fellow sojourners on the educational path and we need to help and support our students to help them achieve all that is possible.
Coda: Now what do we do?
Accept things as they are, ignite sparks and develop frameworks for possibility.
Saturday, May 21, 2011
Week 3: FREE POST - Warner Bros. Forced To Fight For Fair Use
Sorry, I just can't let the copyright issue die. I was reading the New York Times today and this headline made me so happy. :)
Apparently, the tattoo artist that designed and inked Tyson is claiming copyright infringement. Here is an excerpt from the New York Times Story which helps frame his claims:
Warner Bros. Forced To Fight For Fair Use
For a visual gag in an upcoming movie, Warner Bros. copied the tribal art tattoo from Mike Tyson's face
 Tyson's Tribal Tattoo (Linked from NYTIMES) |  Copy of Tyson's Tattoo on Movie Actors Head in a Sequel Movie Called Hangover II (Link from NYTIMES) |
Apparently, the tattoo artist that designed and inked Tyson is claiming copyright infringement. Here is an excerpt from the New York Times Story which helps frame his claims:
“One of the things that the copyright law gives you as an artist is control over your work — and he lost control here,” said Michael A. Kahn, the lawyer who is representing Mr. Whitmill. The complaint includes a photograph of the tattoo being inked and a statement from Mr. Tyson agreeing that “all artwork, sketches and drawings related to my tattoo and any photographs of my tattoo are property” of Mr. Whitmill’s business.
The artist is clearly claiming ownership of the design and has proof that it is his. This is consistent with Copyright law since he has recorded it in multiple fixed/tanglible works, including Mike Tyson's head.
However, Warner Bros. has made three arguments: 1. You can't copyright a tattoo, 2. Not being able to use this would harm their company since they already spent money to make the film, and 3) the use of this tattoo is "fair use" under the parody exception of copyright law. Here is another excerpt from the New York Times.
Warner Brothers in its brief also invoked the “fair use” defense for “Hangover Part II,” namely the right to parody what has become a well-known tattoo since it first appeared on Mr. Tyson’s face in February 2003.“That’s the real question: the copyright act balances the copyright owners’ rights and not stifling the creativity of the owners — it would stifle creativity to not be able to make a parody,” Mr. Harkins said.
Warner Bros. is about to help us all with new case law and answer some burning questions like: Can you copyright a tattoo? Can you copyright a tattoo placed on another human being? Can you use a copyrighted tattoo and claim "fair use?"
My money says that Warner Bros. settles out of court so that there is no ruling in this case. It is just nice to know that Warner Bros. does recognize the concept of "fair use" and "parody" and I will remind them of that next time I use one of their works in accordance with "fair use" and they send me a DMCA takedown notice.
It is nice to know that big movie studios like Warner Bros. actually understand copyright law and have no intention of stifling creativity.
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Wk 3 Comment #2 - The Holm Front
Source: http://vholm.blogspot.com/2011/05/week-3-reading-blog-post.html?showComment=1305685547423#c3410738738408125870
Ginny, this is excellent for teachers to remember. We are experts in our respective fields and our students are just learning, so we must endeavor to scaffold and support them without making them feel inferior. As you pointed out, if you make students believe they are inferior or stupid, they will tend to perform up to expectations. If you convince them that they can do it with practice and keep encouraging them, eventually they will become proficient.
I find that good teaching is more like being a good consultant. You help the students over the rough spots and give them encouragement and advice to make the journey forward more rewarding.
Great insights!
Ginny, this is excellent for teachers to remember. We are experts in our respective fields and our students are just learning, so we must endeavor to scaffold and support them without making them feel inferior. As you pointed out, if you make students believe they are inferior or stupid, they will tend to perform up to expectations. If you convince them that they can do it with practice and keep encouraging them, eventually they will become proficient.
I find that good teaching is more like being a good consultant. You help the students over the rough spots and give them encouragement and advice to make the journey forward more rewarding.
Great insights!
Wk 3 Comment #1 - Hotler's $.02
Source: http://hotler.blogspot.com/2011/05/week-3-art-of-possibility-5-8.html?showComment=1305684005784#c8583099080431005396
David, great thoughts on Rule Number six. Teachers can not take herself/himself too seriously. Like you, I look at teaching as a shared journey between the student and teacher. One of our jobs is to try and help uncover talent and develop talent in our students. If we can help students connect with their passion, both school and life become a very different place for those kids.
I have seen it happen time and time again. It is almost magic.
I see so many courses where students just grind out worksheets or workbooks. No passion, no learning, just the bare minimum to get a decent grade and keep the teacher off their back. How sad and depressing this must be for both the student and teacher.
I also agree with you that passion is the most powerful motivator. It reminds me of this quote:
"When work, commitment, and pleasure all become one and you reach that deep well where passion lives, nothing is impossible."
Great thoughts and insight, as always.
David, great thoughts on Rule Number six. Teachers can not take herself/himself too seriously. Like you, I look at teaching as a shared journey between the student and teacher. One of our jobs is to try and help uncover talent and develop talent in our students. If we can help students connect with their passion, both school and life become a very different place for those kids.
I have seen it happen time and time again. It is almost magic.
I see so many courses where students just grind out worksheets or workbooks. No passion, no learning, just the bare minimum to get a decent grade and keep the teacher off their back. How sad and depressing this must be for both the student and teacher.
I also agree with you that passion is the most powerful motivator. It reminds me of this quote:
"When work, commitment, and pleasure all become one and you reach that deep well where passion lives, nothing is impossible."
Great thoughts and insight, as always.
Monday, May 16, 2011
Wk3 Reading: Art of Possibilities Chapters 5 – 8
Chapter 5. Leading from Any Chair: We’re all leaders. How can we make a difference in the people will influence each day? How do we listen to those who help us make our dreams become reality?
I have only been an educator for a handful of years and when I started I didn’t clue into to the social pecking order. Some teachers outright abused support staff and aides and didn’t treat them as valuable team players. Just like chapter 5 illustrates, anyone can lead and have an influence.
At my school, I refer to everyone as fellow educator, from the lunch lady to the principal. Each of us influences students each and every day and has an impact. We all (hopefully) help students with their hopes, dreams, and achievements.
Chapter 6. Rule Number 6: Don’t take yourself so seriously. Life is a journey–enjoy and learn along the way. Live, laugh, and love!!
There is an old Yiddish proverb, מענטש טראַכט, גאָט לאַכט and since most of you don’t speak Yiddish, myself included, it translates into: “Man plans, God laughs.”
Control is an illusion.
Each and every one of us has limited control over our life and we should treat it as a serendipitous journey then learn to “be present” and “be loving.” So many try to will things in life, everything from relationships to having children to job promotions. Seemingly unattainable goals make us unhappy in life and ruin the gifts that are present all around us.
Chapter 7. The Way Things Are: Sometimes settling for the way things are is a lowering of expectations, sometimes it’s finding a starting point so that one can make things better. Where are you in this continuum?
Often times when we are presented with overly complex stimuli, we shutdown and accept things as they are. Acceptance can be a good thing since it reduces stress and anxiety in our lives. However, there are some situations in life where complexities need to get sorted out. The only way to change these situations is by taking baby steps.
If you had to clean up 10 square miles of garbage, would you try to do it all in one day? Certainly not, you would set smaller goals and maybe work on 100 square yards per day. This is a baby step. An attainable goal, and this is how I tend to work to make things better.
Chapter 8. Giving Way to Passion: Control says that the only way to avoid disappointment and frustration is to not care at all. No hits, no runs, but most importantly, no errors. What are you doing in your daily life that expresses your passion or the things you are passionate about?
What does it mean to care? Is caring an outward act? Is it an emotion? Is it both? In my daily life I express my passion by showing that I care through outward acts. Spending time with a person, or idea, or project and focusing on it to help change it for the better are how I show that I care.
I have only been an educator for a handful of years and when I started I didn’t clue into to the social pecking order. Some teachers outright abused support staff and aides and didn’t treat them as valuable team players. Just like chapter 5 illustrates, anyone can lead and have an influence.
At my school, I refer to everyone as fellow educator, from the lunch lady to the principal. Each of us influences students each and every day and has an impact. We all (hopefully) help students with their hopes, dreams, and achievements.
Chapter 6. Rule Number 6: Don’t take yourself so seriously. Life is a journey–enjoy and learn along the way. Live, laugh, and love!!
There is an old Yiddish proverb, מענטש טראַכט, גאָט לאַכט and since most of you don’t speak Yiddish, myself included, it translates into: “Man plans, God laughs.”
Control is an illusion.
Each and every one of us has limited control over our life and we should treat it as a serendipitous journey then learn to “be present” and “be loving.” So many try to will things in life, everything from relationships to having children to job promotions. Seemingly unattainable goals make us unhappy in life and ruin the gifts that are present all around us.
Chapter 7. The Way Things Are: Sometimes settling for the way things are is a lowering of expectations, sometimes it’s finding a starting point so that one can make things better. Where are you in this continuum?
Often times when we are presented with overly complex stimuli, we shutdown and accept things as they are. Acceptance can be a good thing since it reduces stress and anxiety in our lives. However, there are some situations in life where complexities need to get sorted out. The only way to change these situations is by taking baby steps.
If you had to clean up 10 square miles of garbage, would you try to do it all in one day? Certainly not, you would set smaller goals and maybe work on 100 square yards per day. This is a baby step. An attainable goal, and this is how I tend to work to make things better.
Chapter 8. Giving Way to Passion: Control says that the only way to avoid disappointment and frustration is to not care at all. No hits, no runs, but most importantly, no errors. What are you doing in your daily life that expresses your passion or the things you are passionate about?
What does it mean to care? Is caring an outward act? Is it an emotion? Is it both? In my daily life I express my passion by showing that I care through outward acts. Spending time with a person, or idea, or project and focusing on it to help change it for the better are how I show that I care.
Wk3 Discussion Deeper: Video Use in Education
Here is a list of four or more video podcasts/streaming video/live video that you believe can help you or your students.
I use useful videos in education all the time.
- The Independent Variable Song (YouTube)
- Speed is Distance Over Time Song (YouTube)
- Unit Dimensions and Scaling (OCW.mit.edu)
- How to Solder (YouTube)
I use useful videos in education all the time.
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Wk 2 - Free Post - Richard Stallman
According to Richard Stallman, the original freedom fighter. Copyright law in the US is far too strict. He believes that copyright on art should expire in 10-years and that users should have minimally rights to freely redistribute works non-commercially. Check out this video which runs that gamut of copyright of software art, freedom, and privacy.
Stallman is not as eloquent as Larry Lessig and sees the world in a very black and white manner. Stallman is a man who lives his principals to the core. He is a a genius, philosopher, and rejects what he terms the American Corptocracy in which the USA based on core democratic values is actually run by mega-corporations. He may seem a bit radical but listen to him and compare his thoughts on how we should govern ourselves as a free and prosperous people. Most people compromise or shift their positions as they wander through life. Stallman is steadfast and holds to his convictions, especially on free software, copyright, and privacy.
Stallman is not as eloquent as Larry Lessig and sees the world in a very black and white manner. Stallman is a man who lives his principals to the core. He is a a genius, philosopher, and rejects what he terms the American Corptocracy in which the USA based on core democratic values is actually run by mega-corporations. He may seem a bit radical but listen to him and compare his thoughts on how we should govern ourselves as a free and prosperous people. Most people compromise or shift their positions as they wander through life. Stallman is steadfast and holds to his convictions, especially on free software, copyright, and privacy.
Wk 2 Comment #2 - CK Binkley Blog
Source: CK Binkley Blog
CK, I agree with you about teacher workload. It seems as it things are constantly added but nothing is taken away. As a teacher you can call me, leave voicemail, send email, or put a note in my mailbox. I am not against any of these methods of communication, but it just takes more and more cycle time.
I am elective teacher as well and it is not uncommon to have 4-preps per day and I too run multiple disciplines or classes in the same physical classroom. Sometimes it can be hard to keep the intricacies of multiple specialties on instant recall. I too feel like everything is spinning fast.
On the paperwork and especially the survey front I agree with you. It seems that each week there is a new form or survey that we are required to complete along with our students. Last week I processed 4 forms, 4 surveys, and 2 recommendation letters. Some of the surveys take as long as 15 minutes. It is crazy.
All this is done in the name of higher standards and accountability, but just serves to burn out teachers and keep them from their primary task of educating and inspiring young minds.
Old retired teachers tell me that text book choice was the biggest stress every couple of years. Think of all the choices that need to made now in a school, it is mind boggling. Can we ever get back to simplicity?
CK, I agree with you about teacher workload. It seems as it things are constantly added but nothing is taken away. As a teacher you can call me, leave voicemail, send email, or put a note in my mailbox. I am not against any of these methods of communication, but it just takes more and more cycle time.
I am elective teacher as well and it is not uncommon to have 4-preps per day and I too run multiple disciplines or classes in the same physical classroom. Sometimes it can be hard to keep the intricacies of multiple specialties on instant recall. I too feel like everything is spinning fast.
On the paperwork and especially the survey front I agree with you. It seems that each week there is a new form or survey that we are required to complete along with our students. Last week I processed 4 forms, 4 surveys, and 2 recommendation letters. Some of the surveys take as long as 15 minutes. It is crazy.
All this is done in the name of higher standards and accountability, but just serves to burn out teachers and keep them from their primary task of educating and inspiring young minds.
Old retired teachers tell me that text book choice was the biggest stress every couple of years. Think of all the choices that need to made now in a school, it is mind boggling. Can we ever get back to simplicity?
Wk 2 Comment #1 - Ginny Holm on the Holm Front II
Source: The Holm Front II
Ginny, I like your "man on the street" rule. That is a great way to explain copyright. If you think about it, if it were to go to court, a jury would have to decide if the work was infringing and I always think of the Vanilla Ice vs. Queen where Vanilla Ice and DJ Earthquake allegedly sampled the bass-line from "Under Pressure."
Even though there was a one note difference, the jury or "man on the street" thought it was close enough to be an infringing work.
Like you, I support the CC but I also feel that we need a healthy public domain. CC is a second best solution and Copyrights and I am against allowing Copyrights to be handed down to generations of family members. This discourages the creation of new works and promotes the idle rich class.
Ginny, I like your "man on the street" rule. That is a great way to explain copyright. If you think about it, if it were to go to court, a jury would have to decide if the work was infringing and I always think of the Vanilla Ice vs. Queen where Vanilla Ice and DJ Earthquake allegedly sampled the bass-line from "Under Pressure."
Even though there was a one note difference, the jury or "man on the street" thought it was close enough to be an infringing work.
Like you, I support the CC but I also feel that we need a healthy public domain. CC is a second best solution and Copyrights and I am against allowing Copyrights to be handed down to generations of family members. This discourages the creation of new works and promotes the idle rich class.
Monday, May 9, 2011
Wk2 Reading: The Art of Possbility Chaps. 1-4
The Art of Possibility.............
After reading the first four chapters and taking notes, I wonder to myself, “should I write what the instructor wants to hear?” or fully embrace the spirit of the risk-taking improvisational soloist?
In my view as a self-help book or book of enlightenment it is a re-hash of other works but it does contain good insights into human nature, specifically:
- Challenge all your assumptions
This is really hard for us to do. Just like the frog, we make decisions to survive and spend little time in mediation or reflection regarding our assumptions. Being able to question everything is a gift. As a physicist I always append everything with a disclaimer that reads: “As far as we know” and it drives my peers crazy. They often ask me how I can say that since we just observed or measured particular phenomena. I remind them that as a species, we know very little and haven’t even answered the universes top ten big easy questions yet somehow we feel educated by performing and experiment or solving a math equation. I always think of what Pontius Pilate asked, “What is truth?”
- Ask yourself “What is possible?”
This is truly powerful. Being able to dream and visualize and conceive of possibilities truly taps into the human spirit. Dreaming unleashes potential and sometimes allows us to do more that we ever thought possible. This idea of having students write a letter from the future starting with, “Why I got an A…..” was an excellent idea presented in the book.
- Be Present
Being present is something that people do not often do in their own lives. They are focused on the voice in their head or focusing on a little screen of pixels. Someone recently said that we need to switch from human-doers to human-beings. Instead of constantly being distracted by our own thoughts or desires we need to be present in our lives. We need to connect with those around so that we can truly see, listen, and resonate with those around us.
- People will do a great thing, but begrudge a small thing
This concept reminds of a quote from Napoleon,
“A man does not have himself killed for a half-pence a day or for a petty distinction. You must speak to the soul in order to electrify him.”
Every human being wants their existence to matter. If you have no purpose, why get out of bed in the morning. We need a reason to drive us forward or as Napoleon put it ‘electrify us’ or ‘speak to our soul’. If you ask someone to do something simple like take out the garbage they will groan, but if you ask them to organize the cleanup and trash collection for a benefit dinner for the parents of kids killed in Afghanistan, they will willingly do it because they feel it matters. Just like the parent that groaned at giving their child $2000 but happily gave all of her children $20,000 each. That parent saw an opportunity to make a difference and embraced it.
In closing, since I was lukewarm on the readings, here are my picks for your reading list:
- The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle
- Ecclesiastes by King Solomon
Here is a small clip from Eckhart Tolle. It is not easy to understand on the first pass.
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Wk 1 comment #2 - The Artistic Meghan Basset
"Good Artists Copy and that Great Artists Steal."
I know that on its face sounds horrible. However, this is what made the Mac platform what it is today. The incorporation and emulation of all the best ideas available. In the art and computer programming world when you see something amazing, elegant, or efficient it is just human nature to try and understand the technique and incorporate it into your own style.
We are all influenced by someone or something. Sadly, "there is nothing new under sun" and in the computer world we have a saying, "better emulate than never" which is a play on "better late than never".
Somehow we have to find a way to balance emulation, remixing, and copyright. It is the only way will be able to the next golden age of expression. And, it has to be open to everyone, not just those that can afford costly copyright attorneys.
Good thoughts, thank you for sharing!
Wk 1 comment #1 - The Amazing Marty Denson
- Marty, I agree with you on the "Techo Brega" comment that it is just outright theft. They add injury to insult by then selling their mix CDs on the street which is clearly copyright violation. However, it just underscores how arcane and archaic copyright system. Even if the "Techno Brega" guys wanted to go legit and try to get the rights to the song samples, it would be impossible. I wish iTunes would lead the way and start selling songs as tracks then allowing remix uploads. This would create more works for sale and likely benefit all involved from a revenue standpoint. As for remixers and DJs while they may or may not possess any classical musical skill, some of them have a true gift for remixing. For example, check this one out: ACDC - Shook Me All Night Long (Remix feat. Bon Jovi, Metallica, Nirvana, Def Leppard, Van Halen, and Guns N' Roses) all in one remixed techno song.
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Wk1: Free Post - Apple Jam Packs / Tracks for Sale
An alternate solution to the Copyright and Creative Commons solution is what Apple is doing by selling Jam Packs for Garage Band. You can purchase royalty free music and clips that you can freely use, remix, and distribute. This is an excellent concept.
What about taking it one more step. Instead of just buying a song on iTunes, you could buy a song in tracks (vocals, percussion, bass) with a remix license. You could then remix the song and upload it back to iTunes for resale. This would benefit all involved especially if the remixer got a small cut on the remix as an incentive to create new culture.
Until the current big media copyright holders give up their strangling death grip on copyrighted works all the good remix work will be underground and never monetized. It would be nice to see some new experimental models appear and see if a new system can be created that benefits both our culture and content creators.
In closing I leave you a link to DUBSTEP HOUSE MIX 2011 by (DJ CASBYK).
What about taking it one more step. Instead of just buying a song on iTunes, you could buy a song in tracks (vocals, percussion, bass) with a remix license. You could then remix the song and upload it back to iTunes for resale. This would benefit all involved especially if the remixer got a small cut on the remix as an incentive to create new culture.
Until the current big media copyright holders give up their strangling death grip on copyrighted works all the good remix work will be underground and never monetized. It would be nice to see some new experimental models appear and see if a new system can be created that benefits both our culture and content creators.
In closing I leave you a link to DUBSTEP HOUSE MIX 2011 by (DJ CASBYK).
Wk1 Reading: Copyright Issues Part 1: Intro to Copyright
The current state of copyright law in the USA makes me very angry. As pointed out in the videos and reading, copyright law is specifically mentioned in the Constitution. However, Copyright was meant to provide the owner a ‘limited monopoly’ so that they could benefit financially from their creation. However, Copyright law now extends to 100 years for corporations or the authors life + 70 years. This makes absolutely no sense.
The reason our forefathers created a system where copyright expired was to encourage authors to make the next cultural contribution. This is the key. As a copyright holder, in exchange for benefiting our culture you receive a limited monopoly on your work as payback. However, in our current system, you can pass your copyrights onto your grandchildren and they can generate license fees. Are we creating a class of ‘idle rich’ that produce nothing? Limiting copyright length would also benefit the remix culture because copyright would actually expire on older works and they would be freely usable.
At the rate we are going, Copyright can soon be renamed to forever-right since congress continues to extend its length.
The reason our forefathers created a system where copyright expired was to encourage authors to make the next cultural contribution. This is the key. As a copyright holder, in exchange for benefiting our culture you receive a limited monopoly on your work as payback. However, in our current system, you can pass your copyrights onto your grandchildren and they can generate license fees. Are we creating a class of ‘idle rich’ that produce nothing? Limiting copyright length would also benefit the remix culture because copyright would actually expire on older works and they would be freely usable.
At the rate we are going, Copyright can soon be renamed to forever-right since congress continues to extend its length.
Wk1 Reading: Copyright Issues part 2: What the Heck is Fair Use?
Don’t even get me started on ‘fair use’. One thing that really irks me about copyright law is that ‘fair use’ is a defense but not a right. Lawyers and copyright holders do not respect ‘fair use’ exemptions like parody. For example, I create original parody videos and post them to YouTube like this one:
Mein Superintendent
Each time I post a parody video on Youtube, I get hit with a DMCA (Digital Millennium Copyright Act) takedown notice by the copyright owner. This is clearly not the full-length movie. It is clearly subtitled. It is clearly a very short excerpt. It is clearly not something that could be confused with the original work or diminishes its value. Yet, every single time I post a parody, I get threatened for infringement.
YouTube labs has a great video on challenging a takedown notice under the “fair use” provisions to copyright like parody (in case this should ever happen to you.)
Know Your Meme: Challenging a YouTube Take Down with Fair Use
I have never lost on challenge, but it is just another hassle under our current system. YouTube must respond to all DMCA notices and remove potentially infringing material to comply with the Safe Harbor provisions.
Yet another thing that bothers me about copyright is there is no clear registry of ownership like in the patent system. This is a huge problem in the software industry. As companies file bankruptcy and have their assets parted out to creditors ownership becomes murky. Even if you wanted to legally use or re-release old games or software, it is nearly impossible to track down who even own the rights. I feel that in copyright law that if a product is not offered for sale after a period of 10-years than it automatically falls into the ‘public domain’. This would solve so many problems and we could then play all those 8-bit video games again from our childhood.
Copyright was put in place to develop our culture, but instead it starting to stifle us because we can’t re-use, re-mix, and even resurrect software that has long been abandoned. It’s just like the videotape library shown in the movie Good Copy/Bad Copy. Piles and piles of historical footage locked up forever because of copyright. A new balance needs to be struck and fair use needs to become a clearly articulated cultural right.
Mein Superintendent
Each time I post a parody video on Youtube, I get hit with a DMCA (Digital Millennium Copyright Act) takedown notice by the copyright owner. This is clearly not the full-length movie. It is clearly subtitled. It is clearly a very short excerpt. It is clearly not something that could be confused with the original work or diminishes its value. Yet, every single time I post a parody, I get threatened for infringement.
YouTube labs has a great video on challenging a takedown notice under the “fair use” provisions to copyright like parody (in case this should ever happen to you.)
Know Your Meme: Challenging a YouTube Take Down with Fair Use
I have never lost on challenge, but it is just another hassle under our current system. YouTube must respond to all DMCA notices and remove potentially infringing material to comply with the Safe Harbor provisions.
Yet another thing that bothers me about copyright is there is no clear registry of ownership like in the patent system. This is a huge problem in the software industry. As companies file bankruptcy and have their assets parted out to creditors ownership becomes murky. Even if you wanted to legally use or re-release old games or software, it is nearly impossible to track down who even own the rights. I feel that in copyright law that if a product is not offered for sale after a period of 10-years than it automatically falls into the ‘public domain’. This would solve so many problems and we could then play all those 8-bit video games again from our childhood.
Copyright was put in place to develop our culture, but instead it starting to stifle us because we can’t re-use, re-mix, and even resurrect software that has long been abandoned. It’s just like the videotape library shown in the movie Good Copy/Bad Copy. Piles and piles of historical footage locked up forever because of copyright. A new balance needs to be struck and fair use needs to become a clearly articulated cultural right.
Wk1 Reading: Copyright Issues Part 3: The Creative Commons Solution
"Useless laws weaken the necessary laws." -Montesquieu
First off, I want to disclaim that Lawrence Lessig is one of my heroes. This man stood before the Supreme Court in a famous case ‘Eldred v. Ashcroft’ also known as the Sonny Bono Copyright Term Extension Act, Sonny Bono Act, or pejoratively as the Mickey Mouse Protection Act and argued against extending the length of copyright any further which is effectively becoming perpetual copyright.
As of 1976, the length of copyright was the authors life + 50 years. After that the copyright expired and the work entered the public domain for all to use for FREE. Walt Disney died in 1966 and as you know 1966+50=2006 so the Walt Disney Corporation was in danger of having all the old Disney characters fall into the public domain. This sent shockwaves through Disney and lobbyists to congress.
Walt Disney has been making good money off the public domain by repacking stories for years. Snow White and the Seven dwarves is a repacking of a public domain story by the Grimm Brothers. Disney has been turning a profit on public domain stories (Hercules, Moses, Robin Hood, Aladdin, Pochahontas, Tarzan, The Hunchback of Notre Dame) for years, but when it came time to contribute back their solution was to lobby congress to extend copyright effectively destroying the public domain. In another 20 years when it comes time for Mickey Mouse to face entering the public domain they will lobby congress again to extend the copyright act.
As you can guess, Lessing lost the Supreme Court Case, but he didn’t take it sitting down. He decided to found the Creative Commons. This is a new area where authors can select various types of copyrights and grant rights for different uses. These type of licenses have been working out really well in the software world, but the entertainment industry is not on board.
Just to give you an idea of how twisted the thinking of the entertainment industry is in their thinking, imagine a device that cleans up movies on DVD so you can watch them with your kids and not have to cringe a F-bombs, graphic violence, and sex. A device exists called ClearPlay. You stick a regular DVD into the ClearPlay DVD player and it will skip over the trash and mute foul language. Even though the consumer bought the DVD, the copyright owners (movie studios) claim that the consumers are violating copyright law when they use Clearplay to skip and mute trash in the movie because this is an altered copy.
Big media has made it very clear that the customer is the enemy and they reserve all rights to do whatever they want and control how you consume their content. Just put in a DVD or Blue-Ray disc and see how long it takes to get to the movie. They lockout the controls to keep the consumer from skipping ahead and force them to watch ads and FBI warnings.
The Creative Commons is a nice start to fixing the copyright mess we are currently in, but it isn’t the final solution since it is essentially a contract. The concept of the Creative Commons needs to have the full force of law so that it can be upheld in court. The Creative Commons is no substitute for a healthy public domain. It makes you wonder what Disney will do when they run out of material to repackage from the public domain.
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