How I Spent My Sandy Vacation (Part 1)

Although I live in Brooklyn, my section was largely spared by Hurricane Sandy.  I have friends who continue to be without power and heat, so I am deeply aware of how lucky I am, especially as the weather dips into the 40s.

Because I anticipated being stranded in my apartment because of Sandy, I decided to get started on a number of little projects I’ve been meaning to work on but never found the time for.  First up was this painting project, which I found here.  The instructions on her web site are fairly easy (if a little sparse), but it was actually fairly simple.  Which it would have to be because I am an artistic dum dum.  Now, is this going in the Louvre?  Only if I smuggle it in and throw it on a wall when no one is looking.  That having been said, I think it turned out OK!  I think it’s an easy day project for anyone, and I’d recommend it with a couple of suggestions:

  1. Don’t get semi-opaque gold paint and figure you’ll work it out.  You’ll end up doing three coats and still thinking it looks ‘meh.’  Spring for gold spray paint.  Also spray your finger and then walk around Park Slope telling people you’re Goldfinger.  They may not laugh, but I think they’ll totally appreciate it.  Someday.
  2. Get 3/4” painters tape or smaller.  I don’t know where to get the Japanese tape the lady mentions in the tutorial, but this worked out just fine.  
  3. Don’t forget to buy the stuff you use to clean oil-based paintbrushes.  Or you’ll end up trying to wipe paint off the only brush you have every time you switch colors.  It will be annoying/ineffective.
  4. Peel off the tape after about 1-2 hours.  If it dries all the way, it’s more likely to rip off paint with it.
  5. Let that bitch DRY.  It’s been 2 days, and the oil paint is still wet.  I probably used too much paint or something, but I’m surprised it’s taking this long.  
  6. Don’t tell your boyfriend you got the idea off Pinterest.  You’ll never hear the end of it.

Total cost: $30ish, although I have a ton of paint and tape left, so I could conceivably do this project again.  Worth it!

Old Person Feelings About Pinterest

I just joined, and I can’t get the hang of it.  It’s driving me bananas because I can tell that people like it and that it could be useful to organize project ideas and such.  But all I see is an overwhelming wall of pictures with little content, and every time I try and explore it I get frustrated with the user interface and close the browser window.  I’ll figure it out eventually, but it’s making me feel like an old fuddy duddy.  

There’s also a content problem for me because I have rather strong negative feelings about the modern wedding complex, and it does seem to be the case that 50% of the stuff I’m seeing is wedding-related.  Now, does that mean that I have to use Pinterest for that purpose?  Of course not.  But I need to figure out how to edit the content I’m seeing because if I have to be bombarded every day with pictures of “Updo Ideas for the Big Day” or “Dream Engagement Rings,” I am going to put my fist into the monitor.  

I’m sure I’ll work it out and be obsessed in 3 weeks, so this is a stupid post.  Whatever, I’m old.

Laywer's Take on DELETE YR PINTEREST

adriennes:

megwhat:

“You agree to defend, indemnify, and hold Cold Brew Labs, its officers, directors, employees and agents, harmless from and against any claims, liabilities, damages, losses, and expenses, including, without limitation, reasonable legal and accounting fees, arising out of or in any way connected with (i) your access to or use of the Site, Application, Services or Site Content, (ii) your Member Content, or (iii) your violation of these Terms.”

Basically, if a photographer sues you for pinning an image illegally on Pinterest, the user must not only pay for his or her lawyer, they must also pay for Pinterest’s lawyer.  In addition, the defendant must pay all charges against him or herself, along with all of Pinterest’s charges.

Hmmm. What’s your take on this, infinitezest?

Thanks for the legal hat tip!  With the caveat that I’m not an IP lawyer, and specific facts will change the analysis, my take is that it is very very very unlikely that anyone using Pinterest in a casual (read: non-commercial) manner would face any sort of legal obstacle.  I took a look at the Pinterest Terms of Service, and it has a process through which copyright owners can submit a DMCA claim to have their pirated content removed from the website.  It’s my understanding that this is how Youtube operates—with much success despite an overwhelming amount of pirated content.  So, the most likely thing that would happen is that you would get a DMCA notice, and the content would be removed.

What about the really really totally unlikely event that you get sued by a litigious photographer?  First off, you’ll be in federal court, so you’ll need to hire a lawyer.  (You’re set on that front, Adrienne.  Chicks before dicks, ya’ll.)  You’ll be guilty of infringement (in this scenario), so you’ll want to admit liability and argue about damages.  Trials are way too expensive (and you’ll lose).  

Copyright damages are either (1) actual damages or (2) statutory damages between $750 and $30k.  The photog will go for the statutory damages because unless the photo was of a Kardashian love child, it’s not going to be worth more than the statutory damages.  Assuming it’s a fairly generic shot, the judge will award something in the neighborhood of $750.  

Now, what about attorney’s fees?  You’re going to be liable for your own, but the other side has to request that their fees be paid, and the judge will award a reasonable amount only if he feels like it in his discretion.  In this scenario, you are a poor non-commercial user who didn’t maliciously or repeatedly steal copyrighted work, so my best guess is that the judge is going to deny damages.  

So, in short, it’s reallllly unlikely that you will be subject to legal action.  Pin away.  But there’s a minute possibility you’ll get sued for copyright infringement.  But even in this worst case scenario, your life’s not going to be over.  That’s what the RIAA is for.

Source: megwhat

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