I’ve been pirated!

I have a bunch of ego searches set up for things like my name and links back to this blog. One of those searches is for my name on Twitter. Last week, this result appeared:

“ Interesting” I thought, especially since there was no e-book version of that title I was aware of. So, I clicked the link and found this:

Turns out someone took the time to completely scan and create a PDF of my 2006 book. The site shown above is like a torrent tracker in that it doesn’t host the files, just points to them. According to the site they will remove any pointers at the request of a copyright holder. So, I of course downloaded each of the three copies it pointed to. (Hey, it’s my book, I’m not breaking the law by doing so am I?)

Turns out all three copies are the same, just hosted on different servers. And, I must admit, it’s a really good electronic copy too. Here’s a screenshot of the cover…

…of the copyright page. (Nothing like being a little ironic.)

Looking at the document’s properties I must also say that the quality of the metadata in this file is much better than most PDFs I’ve ever downloaded. (Did they really have to create the file using a Mac? ;-)

Since this first find, I’ve seen two other Tweets pointing to the downloadable version of my book and in all three cases I’ve replied to the tweets and received no responses back.

I’ve has mixed feelings this whole thing. On the one hand, they’re giving away my content for free without my permission. On the other, someone thought my book was worthy of the time and effort it must have taken to scan and convert 289 pages of content. Really, how many other “librarian” titles have you seen pirated? (Then again you may notice that I’m not giving out the URL to the download sites either.)

So, in the end I guess I’m not all that upset. It’s actually kind of flattering. I’m also starting to wonder how I can leverage this into sales of the second edition that I’ll be starting work on hopefully soon. In the end, given how I get most of my TV these days, to complain would be mighty hypocritical of me at least.

I can totally relate to today’s Unshelved

Our wedding blog

Those interested in following along can do so @ http://mmweddingblog.blogspot.com/. I’ll try to keep the wedding news over there for those not interested in reading it here.

Could this be Windows 8?

Copenhagen User Experience from Copenhagen Concept on Vimeo.

JAYDIOHEAD: Minty Fresh Beats

Here’s a new album mashing up Jay-Z and Radiohead. Download it while you can.

Get Inspired in 7 minutes 30 seconds

I don’t usually go for posting the sappy stuff but this was amazing.

Susan Boyle - Singer - Britains Got Talent 2009
by moovieblog

Are You a 2.0 Library?

Presented online for METRO (www.metro.org) on 13 April 2009.

View more presentations from Michael Sauers.

St Francis de la Sissies

Thanks Diane!

Home network update

First I’d like to thank all of those that assisted me in helping with my switch problem. Turns out, it wasn’t the switch at all, it just seemed like it at the time. The real problem with the DSL resetting is our DSL service. A tech was her on Saturday and did determine it was them and not us. For now, they’ve moved us down from our normal 6MB/sec connection to a 3MB/sec one and that seems to have stabilized things. However, my torrents are now downloading at a snail’s pace. (You’d think that it wouldn’t be noticeable but it sure as hell is.)

As for the living room setup, there’s a few snags. Snag one is the need for a USB-to-Ethernet adapter for the Wii. (Since the Wii WiFi will only support the worthless WEP security which I will not run on my network. Besides, that’s why we put the CAT-6 in the walls.) It’s been ordered and should arrive this week. Once that’s here, the Wii will be online.

The other snag is related to F***ing DRM. The HDMI cable from the computer to the HDTV is giving us a crystal clear 1080p signal and it looks amazing. The plan was to install a Blu-Ray drive in the computer and move the Sony standalone Blu-Ray player to the bedroom. Well, the Blu-Ray player is installed but the new HDTV “supports” (read “has”) HDCP (High Definition Content Protection, i.e. DRM) and the video card in the computer doesn’t “support” HDCP. Therefore the drive will not play a Blu-Ray disc as long as the computer is connected to my HDTV.

The solution is to get a new graphics card that “supports” HDCP. There’s another $60 I’m going to have to shell out just to make it do what it’s supposed to do. (If someone wants to recommend a different card for less than $100 I’m all ears. All I know is this is the cheapest one that’s on the “list of supported cards” from the creators of the Blu-Ray playing software installed on the computer.)

Herein lies the problem with DRM. It keeps honest people honest. I’m just trying to play the content I legally purchased and my equipment won’t let me. Yeah, great way to make your customers happy.

DRM image CC BY-SA Alfredo Daniel Rezinovsky.

K-9 Trailer

Keep in mind these two important points: First, the voice of K-9 in this trailer is not the one that will be used in the final show. (Though don’t expect it to be John Leeson either.) Second, this is a show for kids. Enjoy!

Searching 2.0 presentation

Thanks to everyone who attended either via EI or PEN today. Here’s the presentation for those that missed it.

Searching 2.0 (EI & PEN)

View more presentations from Michael Sauers.

This band doesn’t exist

They’re all individual, totally unrelated, YouTube videos that have been remixed into a complete whole. Be impressed, then read more over on Lessig.org.

Try Google Voice

Having signed up for Grand Central many years ago I’d totally forgotten I had an account. Now that it’s been turned into Google Voice I was given the opportunity to “upgrade” my account to the new system. So, want to try it out? Just click the icon below and leave me a message.

Video Highlights from CIL2009

My name is Michael Sauers and I’m a Shover and Maker

If you’re reading this blog and you don’t know who I am by now, I have just one question for you: why are you reading this blog?

I’m back from CIL2009 and I’m declaring myself a Shover & Maker!

Ok, for the record, I’m the Technology Innovation Librarian for the Nebraska Library Commission. Yes, I’m one of those “state workers” (say it like it’s gum stuck on the bottom of your shoe if you want to say it right.) Great title right? But what does it mean? Well to me it means that I get to play and investigate then pass on what I’ve learned to other librarians.

Does this get me in trouble sometimes? Of course it does but if I’m not frustrating someone, I’m not doing my job right. Change breeds frustration. Some cope well, others… not so much.

As for a project I’m proud of that would be the WiFI Connectivity Grants I ran last year. IN the end more than 50 libraries now offer free public WiFi that didn’t before. I’ve been training for almost 15 years now but I’d finally run a project from beginning to end that has a direct effect on libraries and their patrons. This year is getting Nebraska Libraries on Plinkit. (What have I gotten myself into?)

I make. I shove. Sometimes in that order. Sometimes not.

Jim Henson’s Resident Evil 5

Doctor Who: Planet of the Dead (1st trailer)

IL2009

Will you be there?

"Find Out at I L 2009" from Kaygraphic on Vimeo.

Hot Brazilian Librarians

I’m going through the e-mail that I put off dealing with ‘till after CIL2009 and here’s an interesting one I found. Turns out one biblio-blogger held an “open election” for the hottest librarians in Brazil. There’s a ladies list and a gentleman list. The pages of course aren’t in English bit I’m sure you can find a way to translate the pages.

Imagining a Smithsonian Commons

I’m back from Computers in Libraries 2009 and I’ve got a lot to share. The first is Wednesday’s keynote talk from Michael Edson, Director of Web and New Media Strategy at the Smithsonian Institution. It was streamed live online (a first for CIL) and was recorded. Listen to him and then go read all the books he mentions in his talk. (I’ve read all but one of them and I’m on the list at LCL for it now.)

Online TV Shows by Ustream

He also put up a text version of his presentation in SlideShare. I've embedded it here for you.

CIL 2009 Michael Edson (text version)

View more documents from edsonm.

He also put up a text version of his presentation in SlideShare. I've embedded it here for you.

CIL 2009 Michael Edson (text version)

View more documents from edsonm.