Open Access – Mach II

The reason I called this Mach II is not due to the fact that this is what I posted to the L&I discussion list. But because it was accidently saved as a draft and I have spent the last two hours trying to get this published to this blog — without success. Changed “status” a zillion times. Updated. Published. But it always reverted to draft. Might have something to do with the theme change and timing. So I copied and pasted…and here it is:

As our Music Director handed me an invoice today for our online music license reporting website – onelicense.net – I asked him what he thought about public domain / open access songs and music. Since he is a composer, who has donated both recorded and written music to different websites (for free), companies (for pay), churches and the archdiocese – he believes that in his current position as Director, open access or public domain items are a wonderful asset for everyone, especially non-profits.

[However as a composer, who gets an incredible small compensation annually from the companies that hold the right to sell usage of his copyrighted music, he feels for those composers who are taken advantage of.  His complaint is all the “people, churches” etc. who do not report the usage of copyrighted material. I’m thinking that comment was meant for me since I do the reporting to the license companies.]  Bill is overly concerned about the absolute correct information about the copyright information typed into worship books. And it’s okay for him to forget to tell me that he made 50 copies of a song that was sung six months ago and has to be reported… I would think it would be more important to acknowledge the use of the music, number of copies made, and make a payment if we don’t have an annual license.

At Christmas many of the songs that are sung at church, in concerts, and in large choirs are considered public domain because of their age and openly available on the internet. That is a good thing. We do not have to report its use. As our Director said, it’s the creative person (s) behind the music who do not benefit from open access, especially if their material is not copyrighted.

I would argue that open access could be used as a marketing tool for the composer if he wants to get his name out there — especially in Liturgical music, which is shared by so many denominations. Like Christian artwork and photography, it is a limited number of “new” sacred items available that once a name is known, I would think it would make sales increase.

Of course I also argue that when he uses his own music in the liturgy, it should be considered a donation by the composer.

Grocery checkout line

its not as easy as it seemed…texting while in line.  got to go.

NOBODY gets in …

NOBODY gets in to see the WIZARD. Not nobody. Not nohow.

Wizard of Oz Memorial

Outside of City Hall, downtown Oconomowoc, is this Memorial to the Wizard of Oz. It is little known that the premiere of the movie took place at the Strand Theatre in Oconomowoc — not Hollywood.

Mobile Computing – Life Mimics Class

This week our assignment was articles on mobile computing. Let me start by telling you I recently upgraded to a smart phone from A.T.T., a free one from Sharp. It came with the minimum in directions. In setting it up without directions, which are available on the internet I might add, I made a small mistake.  I’m one of those people who start setting things up and then reach for the directions only if there is a problem.

It seemed very basic (the set-up). I moved my contacts and photos to the ATT Cloud, and then downloaded them on my new sim card. Played with the camera and gallery options. And here’s where I made my mistake (note: I haven’t corrected it yet)…I named the phone administrator: “Me” – not my name, just “Me”.  So when I send a text, it comes from…you guessed it, Me. Hopefully you will  recognize my phone number. So it’s not too much of a problem – yet.

Then there’s the world of apps. Free ones aren’t really free – are they? They consume power, data, and even if you are not using them – some of them are still active in your background. I still haven’t learned to plug my phone in every day, so I’m constantly almost out of battery and have to shut it down completely.

Until I discovered the app Task Killer. The icon looks like a little alien bug, but it does the trick. After playing with a few apps, installing and then uninstalling them, I feel like I have a basic set-up that I can use.  Google Maps, Adobe Reader, ATT Code Scanner, ATT Navigator, Fox6Now, Google Search, UWM Mobile, Spider Solitaire (not an angry bird fan), Twitter, and Youtube.  Oh… and YPMobile.

And this “old mother” stumbled upon the capability to do a google search by voice. I don’t consider it useful but it does impress my mother.

With all the apps available a smart phone can be a recreational internet browser, similar to an IPad. I especially enjoy the little extra “easter eggs”  on some q codes (ATT code scanner app).

I noticed WordPress is available on many types of mobile units – even Android.  I may check it out. Future posts might be made while I’m in the checkout line at the grocery store. 🙂

CMS – Drupal vs. Joomla

This is a comparison of two content management systems for my L&I class. I was pleasantly surprised to learn about these two CMS. After giving up MS Frontpage years ago due to incompatibility with the web host server (or maybe it was my manipulation of it that was the problem), I opted for using the free software provided with both of my web hosts: in-motion hosting and yahoo.business.com.

One thing I learned, if you don’t keep up with the changes in the internet, everything does pass you by. So when we were asked to evaluate two CMS, I decided it was time to learn them (or one of them) and use their capabilities to update the websites I am responsible for.

If I had more knowledge of PHP, etc. I would definitely choose Drupal. I like the idea of being able to manipulate the modules and change them to reflect what I want. Drupal has a large community of programmers who do just that. But I don’t have the time to learn everything from scratch again.

So…I have opted to learn Joomla. It is easier to use…so far. Doesn’t take a programmer, although there are plenty of them out there changing and adding to the modules available (some commercially sold). But time will tell.

My first attempt at a Prezi Presentation.

How to follow the family tree from Mahnke to Sprague to Schaefer in easy photos.

Well, it could have been worse — maybe.

http://prezi.com/qaqqv3hqjmnm/first-try/

I definitely need more practice. I won’t tell you how many re-edits this took. The idea came to me as I was moving my office furniture back into the den. I finally had the remaining carpet replaced (part of my 3-part carpet project). Since I’m 5 feet and one inch tall, and the room is a cathedral ceiling, I painted the room “square” to the height I could reach. Anyway, while waiting for the carpet installers, I started putting family photos back up on the wall. This prezi comes from the Mahnke side of the family, my mother’s side. Just photos from the wall, and a youtube that may or may not work. It didn’t work on my older computer but worked on the laptop.

So here it is my first try, but NOT my first draft.

UPDATE…After seeing Kurt Beaver’s Prezi presentation, that looks like an actual slide show — I really want to master this software and create something usable in my genealogy research.  More later…

Matt’s Nickelodeon Commercial

Matt had the opportunity to film a commercial for Nick at Universal Studios. No pay, just enjoyment.

Model Trains at the Oconomowoc Historical Society

Sometimes everything clicks at the right time.

Last Sunday, as I was docenting with my cousin, Pat Bouton, at the Oconomowoc  Area Historical Society & Museum (OAHSM), a young man came in to look at our model trains. He had recently moved to the area, heard we had a model train village and came to see it. Taylor had inherited his grandfather’s HO model trains and was very conversant on the subject. I was not. After telling him my expertise was limited to turning it on and off, I suggested he sign up to work with the volunteers on the train.

He seemed a little worried and asked if older men were on the committee. I told him that yes, usually it ‘s run by a group of model train enthusiasts, but they would probably welcome his interest and help. He didn’t think some older guys would want a “kid” helping them out. When he said that, I thought I had lost him (for volunteer work)…but at that same time, our “head” engineer, Harry came in with his grandson. I introduced them, and Harry talked to Taylor for about 15 minutes. Then he invited him to join the model train enthusiasts. He let him know when the next meeting was at the museum and they parted.

As he was leaving, he stopped over and thanked me for my help…and said “I’ll see you around the museum. He let me know when they meet, just like you said.”

What a great day.

And the Packers won too!

QOTW – Cloud Computing: Advantages v. Disadvantages

This question has come at an interesting time. Peachtree Non-Profit Accounting, now known as Sage 50, is contemplating Cloud access for the updated software. ( SaaS)

Advantage: Our accountant, and myself, could access the software from our homes. Not a real advantage for me, since I still need the documentation in front of me to input the information (and that can’t be taken away from the church office); however, our accountant is very happy with the future of Cloud computing, since she wouldn’t have to drive all the way in to the parish, just to balance the checking accounts, trial balance, and run the financials and spreadsheets.

Disadvantage: Any work done from home would still need to be documented and stored at the parish. (Like Journal Entries) She may get to limit her trips in to work, but will still have to come in for approvals, and to file the documentation.

I also use the Cloud through Charter Communications for Storage. I work on the church bulletin at home every week. Then send it to the Cloud, where I can pick it up at work, for editing. Then send it back to the Cloud. Definite advantage.

(Sorry that’s two. But different forms of Cloud usage.)