Thursday, November 22, 2007

Rights - A Look

I did some research on copyrights. What prompted this was a desire to form my ideas in a book at some point in time. I have been working on an autobiography for some time now and have been toying with the idea of put this and other blogs and my website content into this medium.

This is what the government says:

Copyright protects “original works of authorship” that are fixed in a tangible form of expression. The fixation need not be directly perceptible so long as it may be communicated with the aid of a machine or device. Copyrightable works include the following categories:
1) literary works;
2) musical works, including any accompanying words
3) dramatic works, including any accompanying music
4) pantomimes and choreographic works
5) pictorial, graphic, and sculptural works
6) motion pictures and other audiovisual works
7) sound recordings
8) architectural works


These categories should be viewed broadly. For example, computer programs and most “compilations” may be registered as “literary works”; maps and architectural plans may be registered as “pictorial, graphic, and sculptural works.”

And this is the cool part:

The use of a copyright notice is no longer required under U.S. law, although it is often beneficial. Because prior law did contain such a requirement, however, the use of notice is still relevant to the copyright status of older works.


This is the part that lets me live forever:

A work that was created (fixed in tangible form for the first time) on or after January 1, 1978, is automatically protected from the moment of its creation and is ordinarily given a term enduring for the author’s life plus an additional 70 years after the author’s death. In the case of “a joint work prepared by two or more authors who did not work for hire,” the term lasts for 70 years after the last surviving author’s death. For works made for hire, and for anonymous and pseudonymous works (unless the author’s identity is revealed in Copyright Office records), the duration of copyright will be 95 years from publication or 120 years from creation, whichever is shorter.

So I am not going to worry too much today, or tomorrow either.

Green Does Me Well

Your results:
You are Green Lantern










Green Lantern
85%
The Flash
80%
Iron Man
80%
You have strong
will power and a good imagination.


Click here to take the "Which Superhero am I?" quiz...

How My Thanksgiving Ended


What more can I ask for?
(To watch it would have been nice. I know I am reaching.)

Changes for Fun

I have been doing some more changes to this blog,little things, really. I have added some charities that have helped in a magnitude that I cannot express in words. Should be the third thing down the side there. I am sure there are many others, but these were the ones that directly impacted my life and the lives of my Marines.

I changed my aviator(the picture associated with my user name) to a logo that one of the Marines here drew and painted with is hung by a tori(it sounds like that, not sure of the spelling). The tori is made out of anti-aircraft gun barrels, in which some more Marines made possible. I am sure you can't tell, but the picture is of two separate wolverines. You may have to cock your head a bit to get the idea.

It may sound stupid but I am trying to get people to write a comment in my guestbook on my website. This is why I think it may be stupid, I have a blog and you can comment here. I try to consider the two separate, which is the "why" and people visit the blog or the website for usually completely different reasons. I link both of them together, but the website is really the true story of my life via pictures. This is the story with words and interactions with words. Maybe I just confused my audience here, bottom line is I want a comment for the website.

Wednesday, November 21, 2007

Some Things I am Thankful For.

My list is inspired by the generation that has more than four channels of television to choose from.

A Charlie Brown Christmas

A Christmas Story (1983 film)

DR. SEUSS' HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer

Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town

I know his list is Christmas type shows, but they all start today and will run until Christmas.

Between Letters Being Written

If you remember, I said I was behind on my thank yous on a previous post, I still am. I wrote a few more then found a new way to procrastinate, for a little while anyway.

I have church questions, these questions have popped up by reading "my" church newsletter. (The one I grew up with.)

What is an associate pastor? - Is that like a secondary or like a safety?

What is a supply pastor? - Do they just handle rations?

When the church says they are looking a senior pastor, does that mean he or she is in the emerald club? - In other words, what is a senior pastor?

In this letter, there is a section with finances and a big box around a negative number, but there is no negative numbers in the actual logbook area. I just don't understand, what is the point?

I do understand what a "Stephen Minister" is, but who was Stephen?

~~~~~~

These newsletters have come along way, now it is colorful and printed on nice paper and have an advertising page in the back (which I don't understand either), but with all this fancy stuff doesn't it get in the way of the point?

I am not trying to make fun in anyway. I just don't understand some of these things listed in the letter. It must be important, or they wouldn't have put it in there.

One Possible Outcome in the States, Part III

I need to go check on my house and do something with "The Truck" that is still sitting there. So, when I go I will have plenty of time to visit with those of you on this side of the hemisphere. This trip most likely will not occur until summer, just because I will be doing my Resident course in late spring.

One Possible Outcome in the States, Part II

I highlighted some places that are a possible venues for early spring. I would love to visit some of you when I get back. I figure since I will be travelling north through some of those areas anyway, there is some definite possibilities.


Me being Me

Sometimes while writing I tend to be a little cryptic and do not say exactly what I was thinking. ( I know few of you are going "duh.")
Some of the outcomes(comments) on what I expect others to respond is not even close to what I was talking about. When things like this occur, I worry that maybe my communications skills are lacking somewhere. It really should not bother me, but it does.

Now, after reading this, do not try to find a hidden meaning in my posts. There really isn't one. I just can't tell you everything about me for two main reasons,

A) OPSEC - Operation Security - There are bad guys and gals out there wanting to do bad things to other people.

B) Self Worth - Wanting to get to know me, for me. If I tell you everything, then why would you want to meet me? It is better to keep a few secrets for the encounter.

On another note(Mi maybe La),
Well Wishes for everyone's Thanksgiving.

Tuesday, November 20, 2007

Friends and Friends of Friends

This blog world is quite cool.
I really do not know how I managed to find so many great friends by use of this blog. (Or other blogs that I read.)

My coping mechanism or my intellectual curiosity has been best spent involving myself in each small way amongst the fellow bloggers and internet perusers.

"They" bring me laughs, make me mad and give me sadness. It is a drama unto itself that I control how much or how little I want to involve myself in.

If this is not therapy for the masses, I do not know what is.

The Holidays

Hate is such a strong word.
Displeased, unsatisfied, unfulfilling, or something like that.

I really "hate" the time period between mid-November to late December. I am supposed to be happy, in theory. It is not the time period really, it is the presumption that spending time with families, having time off at "work," the giving and receiving, the birth, the Puritans, the shopping, the whatever is going to make me feel better.

I am not a grouch, I am not the guy who goes "bah humbug." That is not me. I give. I don't really want anything. I can "buy" for myself if I need it.

I am really opening up a can of worms with this post. I know it. There is many issues revolving this. I just haven't decided yet if I am going to share it with all of you.

Just know, that I don't like these next few holidays.

Takes a Lick'n and Keeps On....

I have this watch that has a leather wrist strap, gold bezel, white face, has the day and date, indiglo, and is analog. My current watch I bought from Wally World for about thirty five bucks just before coming out here. Here is the funny part, this is the fourth time I bought this watch. It seems I "re-buy" this watch ever year or so.

I have never really liked digital watches. I believe that having an analog watch says something about a person. Maybe it really doesn't mean anything is different about another person , but I think it does.

My watch is bent in funny spots and the wrist strap is dying a slow horrible death. So when I get back, I will probably go back to the World of Wally and buy this watch again for thirty five bucks.

Monday, November 19, 2007

Was I the Only One?

Was I the only one saddened that Frank decided to wait to post until later this week?

Small Dilemmas

It appears I may have hurt something near my femoral artery on my strong leg. My opinion and the doctor's varies on what is really wrong. It does not matter much it still hurts to move.

I cannot get a hold of Chase, in which I have credit card. I have been unable to reach them via the phone, Internet, or mail. I think they forgot where I am. ( No other credit card do I have this problem with.)

I am very behind in writing thank you(s). Slow start, but progress is forward.

I have some packages that the mail room seems to be "holding hostage," hopefully tomorrow I will retrieve them.

~~~~~~~

Nothing major, just minor goings on.

A Kennedy???

Did anyone see this one coming?


Sunday, November 18, 2007

Reading the News and Shaking my Head

I was reading the news and saw that a 1st grader was suspended for drawing a picture with a gun.
Before I go into my opinion, let's go back twenty years. Would this same drawing offend anyone?

I think the world is nuts, crazy, loco and is trying to make our children the same. I have to look at my own experiences and say there is nothing wrong with a drawing that has guns in it. Think, today, what kind of TV shows do "we" watch at Prime Time?

Something has reversed, maybe.

My belief is if "we" continue down this backward path, we won't need to save the world, we need to save ourselves.

Different Shades of Gray

Well, I still did not pass the sustainment portion of the test. So for now I will remain a gray belt in MCMAP. I am not as pissed at myself today, for a few reasons:

1) I am still going to get paid
2) There is no adverse action
3) There is no reason that I can't go over the moves for a few days/weeks and take another test
4) Motrin
5) Naproxen
6) I am still the boss of my crew
7) I know that I have Marines willing to help me in my struggles
8) As far as I know nothing is broken
9) This deployment is almost over
10) I did my best

Makes Perfect Sense...

Some more fun I swiped from Hot Cup. It figures doesn't it?

Saturday, November 17, 2007

No Pressure

I failed.


I get to retake the test tomorrow night.

Funny, I didn't even get to the green belt part.

I really don't have anything nice to say about myself, it was all stupid(like "duh") mistakes.

Friday, November 16, 2007

One Possible Outcome in the States

I might get back find a permanent place to stay with a week or so. I do my job for the first few weeks, which is really catching up on all the training I didn't do in Iraq. Most of it is not my favorite things to do, but it must be done. Go on a leave period of 15 days.

While on leave travel north through DC to Baltimore and visit an old friend from when I was stationed in Yuma. Then skirt over and through PA to Youngstown, Ohio and visit with another friend from my days in Millingtion. Take a break in Chicago and shoot north and visit with my folks in Valders. While there I will probably renew my driver's license and find some of my old things that are no doubt collecting dust in the basement. After five or six days it will be time to head south again.

I might stop in Rockford and say hello to a friend I went to boot camp together, we reconnected on MySpace of all places. Then head cross ways through Ohio so I can take the mountains in West Virginia and see if the corridor is finished on I-77. On my way down, I may stop in Asheville and tour the castle there.

Once arriving back to base, I will most likely pick up my uniforms fro the dry cleaners and inspect them since it will be a month away and I will proceed to my Resident course.

Once I am done with that I will most likely take leave again and head to Yuma and probably donate my truck that is there.

Then again, I may do something completely different.