HOW RUDE! Rules of Conduct (we'd LIKE to see) on the Internet - Episode 29

We've been so lucky on Views from the Coop that the Coop Crew isn't shy and jumps right into our discussions. Today was even better because Kristi and I opened up the floor for everybody's opinion of courtesy (or lack of) on the Internet. To download your copy of our presentation, visit the 2 Smart Chix website.

Any time you communicate with another person, you risk offending them. Sometimes that's not your fault, but sometimes, well, it is. The same thing goes for communication on the Internet. It could be that the anonymity of the Internet makes it easier for us to be less than our usual courteous selves. For one thing, nobody's gonna knock your lights out. We've all wanted to be the one to come up with that snappy comeback that's not always sweet. Some of the Internet communication methods we discussed were:

• E-mail
• Instant Messaging
• Online Forums
• Chat Rooms
• Websites

Each has it's own informal set of rules for courtesy but that doesn't mean that everyone always follows those rules. We had a lively discussion about our own personal pet peeves (and found out that Fritz is awfully easy-going and non-judgemental) and we'd love to hear about yours, so leave us a comment! To listen to our discussion, just click on the headphones!

[And the Views continue...]

Copyright on the Internet - Is it or Isn't it? - Episode 28

We all know how easy it is to "snatch" or "steal" images from the Internet for our own use. Has it ever occurred to you that the terms "snatch" and "steal" don't sound like we really want to use those images for legitimate reasons? Well, maybe we do, but do we have the right to use them? Probably not. According to the Berne Convention, copyright begins when any literary, scientific, or artistic work (published OR unpublished) is put down in tangible form.It's also not necessary to label the works as copyrighted. Websites are definitely tangible since we can print them. What that means is that you're better off assuming that everything you see on a website is copyrighted, so if you want to use it, ask permission!

We had a great discussion and shared several links with our Coop Crew. You didn't miss out, however, because you can download the presentation for this show from the 2 Smart Chix website (which DOES have a Copyright notice). Feel free to link to this presentation, but if you'd like to republish it on your own website, PLEASE contact 2 Smart Chix first!

[And the Views continue...]

I Know...it's been awhile since you've heard from us!

Kristi and I have both been on vacation during the month of July, but we're back now and ready to get started with a new episode of Views from the Coop this Friday, July 21. We'll be discussing Internet Copyright and Intellectual Property Laws. A lot of us (and I say us because this includes me) have been confused as to just what was and wasn't copyrighted on the web. Well, after a TON of research, I think I'm a lot more clear on the issue now and feel compelled to share my findings with you, our faithful listeners! Since Kristi and I are both rested up now, we'll be ready to delve into a lively tech chat with you this Friday!

I also want to share plans for an upcoming show with you. I recently had the pleasure of meeting Allison Sheridan, a co-podcasting tekkie chick, through the Tech Podcasts network. Allison does a solo podcast called NosillaCast (she's posted 52 episodes as of this writing!) that you really have to check out at www.podfeet.com. Besides being a true tekkie chick, she's a MAC tekkie chick! Not only that, but she's as good as double-jointed....she runs parallel operating systems (Mac, Windows and Linux) on her Apple MacBook Pro! Is that cool, or what? Kristi and I have both been hankering for a Mac but haven't been real sure how to go about making the transition without leaving our Windows behind. Enter Allison! She'll be on-hand for the August 18th show to talk with us about how she runs those parallel operating system and has even agreed to answer our questions about being a Mac Chick! I have to tell you that even though she is a faithful Mac user, her podcast has information that's valuable to us Windows users, too. I listened to my first episode and took notes on at least 3 cool tools that are available for Mac AND Windows users. Allison admits to a "slight Mac bias" to her podcast but believe me, she does a great job of sharing info cross-platform. Check her NosillaCast out. It's well worth a listen. Make sure you mark your calendars to join us on August 18th, too, when we pick her brain! Be gentle with her....she'll be returning from vacation and speaking as someone who was still on a houseboat 4 days after I got home, that can be quite a transition!

[And the Views continue...]