Bits and Pieces – USB Keys, Twitter, Book Piracy

Worth passing on…

TWITTER TIPS FROM NEW YORK TIMES

On May 6, the global online edition of the New York Times carried an article providing new users of Twitter with insight into some of the more advanced capabilities of the applications and some of its various spinoffs.  Even I learned a few new tricks, even after using Twitter for several months now.  As Twitter’s reach expands, this facility will become increasingly useful to writers, whether you are only in the research phase for a new book or or the pomotional stages of winning readers to your work.

USB KEYS

Have you ever lost a USB flash drive?  I have — and it’s made me very conscious how easy it is to do.  LaCie, a hardware storage company, has come up with an ingenious solution.  It offers a 4-gig and 8-git USB drive in the shape of a door key, perfect for lincluding right on your key chain.  Well, I’ve lost keys too — but only once in my lifetime, so I’d feel more secure with this USB key.  Someday I’ll get around to writing a series about setting up a special USB key for writers — and then you will truly understand why a design like LaCie’s can be so valuable.

NYTIMES FEATURE ON PIRACY OF BOOKS

The New York Times [and IHT for international readers ] today carried an interesting piece about the increasing problem of current printed books being digitized and uploaded to various document sharing sites.  Now with the Kindle and Sony Reader stoking interest in digital books, such piracy is growing.  This will, I think, lead to anguish among writers similar to that experienced by musicians and film-makers, who got very steamed up about piracy before finally discovering that people are willing to pay for online product, if it is reasonably priced.  The article concluded with a reference to writer Cory Doctorow, who normally releases free digital versions of his books on the same day that his prnt books come out.  Doctorow observes:  “I really feel like my problem isn’t piracy.  It’s obscurity.”  Sage advice, in my view.

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    Comment by
    Mike Munsil
    14 May 2009

    >>Someday I’ll get around to writing a series about setting up a special USB key for writers —,<<

    This little carry-along wiki, or one like it, would be very handy: see http://wiki.libertyhallwriters.org/doku.php?id=tiddlywiki

    I modified the basic Tiddlywiki to be more useful to writers. I’m sure you can make it even better.

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    Comment by
    tomcolvin
    14 May 2009

    Thanks, Mike, for that tip. I\\'ll certainly download it and add it to my USB stick for writers notes. No way can I improve on your work — php code is about all I can handle.

    Comment by
    tomcolvin
    14 May 2009

    Thanks, Mike, for that tip. I\\'ll certainly download it and add it to my USB stick for writers notes. No way can I improve on your work — php code is about all I can handle.

    Comment by
    tomcolvin
    14 May 2009

    Mike, your link does not take me to the program itself. Is it available for download and evaluation?

    Comment by
    Jon Bard
    14 May 2009

    Because the record industry took its lumps, other media producers will, hopefully, have learned the lesson; don't fight 'em, join 'em. If the RIAA had joined forces with napster, rather than shutting them down, everything would be different today. The bottom line: no, you may not get every penny for every piece of content of yours that's out there, but the notoriety that added exposure will provide can pay off handsomely down the road.

    Just ask the Grateful Dead if allowing generations of fans to record and trade their concerts paid off for them. they're still out there — without their leader — selling out arenas after 40 years.

    Jon
    http://cbiclubhouse.com, the community for children's book writers

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    Comment by
    tomcolvin
    15 May 2009

    Very well said, Jon. I concur wholeheartedly.

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