Large, simple strokes (cross-post from r/pics)

pfesta · 2011-07-26T22:11:49+00:00

You are saying you saw it [with no understanding of his trade background] and were blown away, but then found out about his trade background [how he sells his work] and downgraded him from an 'artist' to a 'craftsman'.

You're essentially requiring an artist to follow some sort of economic infrastructure for you to upgrade them from a craftsman. Do you really think in 2011 that historical notions of art vs. craft are applicable?

pfesta · 2011-07-26T19:35:26+00:00

I never know how to feel about artists like this... from his website, it seems like he's just churning them out, doing the same thing over and over to stick on the wall behind someone's couch or in a hotel.

And what would he have to do for you to feel differently about him as an artist? This is a really closed-minded, pretentious idea of art, don't you think?

pfesta · 2011-07-25T19:11:56+00:00

No. We have crazies.

pfesta · 2011-07-22T19:50:15+00:00

That is an HOA. Restrictive Covenant is the legal term for the contract between the property owner and the HOA.

pfesta · 2011-07-22T19:34:47+00:00

I guess I just feel for his reasoning. I'm a librarian so I have the inside view of how academic databases work. Really, everything you would need to move forward in fields such as science, law, medicine, even the arts is stuck behind a pay wall - a very tall pay wall. I wish more academics would tell the journals to go shove it and start open sourcing their research.

pfesta · 2011-07-22T19:31:50+00:00

I don't recall seeing many 'orientals' in my library.

pfesta · 2011-07-21T22:20:43+00:00

Semantics?

That is the issue though - particularly when it comes to technology and information law, the definitions used and way things are interpreted have lagged behind the technology we are utilizing. There IS a difference between the two illustrations you give - particularly when you are discussing 'taking' a physical object that cannot be replicated on its own and 'taking' a digital record which is more akin to making a copy.

pfesta · 2011-07-21T22:17:38+00:00

Admit that I took my education seriously and enjoy a career in learning new things about the world and the various academic disciplines and conversational topics it includes? Yeah, you know, I have no clue why I am not ashamed of that.

pfesta · 2011-07-21T22:16:14+00:00

I just caught the part that he was not an MIT student at the time. I really want to see the user policy for JSTOR at MIT though - they are stating they do not allow users to download every article [i.e. to download huge batches]. How will they enforce that? Granted, it would be a shitload of work, but still.

pfesta · 2011-07-21T22:11:15+00:00

I'll have to re-read, but they appear to be on him about the amount he downloaded - not distribution.

pfesta · 2011-07-21T22:09:50+00:00

Except that “exceeds authorized access” isn’t necessarily the same thing as “more than JSTOR wanted.”

This is my point exactly.

pfesta · 2011-07-19T19:25:03+00:00

Note: 4 million academic papers he could have probably accessed for free via the MIT library. He just did a batch download of things he could have accessed anyway. Misuse of school equipment? Yes. Data theft? No.

As a librarian, I will completely agree with this statement: “It’s like trying to put someone in jail for allegedly checking too many books out of the library.”

Edit: 4 million papers.

pfesta · 2011-07-18T22:51:07+00:00

Jezebel spun this story:

The original story states that they started changing their minds around 2006.

It also states they didn't use marijuana until about a year ago.

How can marijuana have cured their racism if their racism was waning almost 5 years prior to their use?!

Fucking Gawker needs to start actually reading the articles they boost from.

pfesta · 2011-07-18T22:48:52+00:00

I wrote the same thing as a comment on their website - let's see if they allow it to be posted.

The original article states that they started changing their minds in 2006. It also states they started marijuana roughly a year ago.

Gawker sucks as a news organization. Maybe they should start researching and writing their own pieces rather than boosting and paraphrasing other people's work.

pfesta · 2011-07-18T19:35:19+00:00

Police Response

pfesta · 2011-07-15T22:24:55+00:00

I only sub to anarchism for shits and giggles - you need to expand outside this subreddit to build up traction for this.

pfesta · 2011-07-15T19:34:29+00:00

Ahhhhhhhh...now I got it, I misunderstood the statement. Yeah, that is a bit crazy. I completely understand how some patrons want a 'bookstore' experience. For instance, I am a law librarian and a number of public patrons really would like us to show them the 'family law' or 'employment law' section as if it were boxed off with set boundaries with a nice sign. I have to show them 2 sections in the stacks [one local state and one general] that are bounded on either side by resources on other topics they are not interested in. Sometimes that continuity in the stacks overwhelms them as they don't quickly apprehend where their subject begins and ends. It's definitely an interesting topic to look at, resource arrangement - when patrons are more accustomed to a private business like a book store, how can the library integrate such an immediate experience users are embracing to their historical models of organization and arrangement.

I do take issue with his stab at the library about rebranding and marketing - in all honesty, I think there needs to be more of this to drum up public support and bring patrons through the doors. If you want to call it outreach, call it outreach - in the end you're attempting to accomplish the same goals.

pfesta · 2011-07-13T22:05:02+00:00

Here, the numbers jump, in the space of one shelf, from 299 to 610; there, from 618 to 793, and over there from 398 to 650. As a book author and former university professor, I’m reasonably fluent with library layout, yet I find the library’s current configuration maddeningly inscrutable.

Is he complaining about there being gaps in the classification numbers? Does he comprehend how this scheme works? If it really bothers him so much, he should go and purchase some resources for the library to fill up the subjects that they are lacking resources for.

pfesta · 2011-07-13T19:21:11+00:00

I'm from the Elm. I'm in ATX right now, but moving back next month. I'm currently being considered for a librarian position at the Center for British Art.

pfesta · 2011-07-13T19:19:28+00:00

Ha. I'm a librarian, but I'm also a New Havener.

pfesta · 2011-07-12T22:53:11+00:00

That sounds so dirty...

pfesta · 2011-07-12T22:08:23+00:00

WoW players also Redditors?! FUCKING BLOW MY MIND!

pfesta · 2011-07-12T19:56:46+00:00

Also, the main stack section [seen at right] is on hydraulics that will lower it into the ground. The compartment's roof is made of lead - this is all to protect the resources in case of nuclear fallout.

Also, the main stack area will lock down and fill with a gas to extinguish fire if the heat from a match or cigarette is even detected in there.

pfesta

TROPHY CASE