Month: January 2011

What Could Have Been if we didn’t pull a Bono

January 30, 2011 / Jack / 0 Comments

(With thanks to Bill Hollweg from Broken Sea for passing this gem on)

From the Duke Law site:

http://www.law.duke.edu/cspd/publicdomainday/pre1976

This site celebrates “Public Domain Day” the first of every year – Unfortunately, since the advent of the Sonny Bonno Public Domain Deprivation Act, there has been little to celebrate.

And those who attempt to rein in the few morsels of PD which escaped the net receive labels such as “Pirate” by others who may not consider this status relevant.

A thought for the group:

As the end of the Bonno extension approaches at the end of this decade, it may be worth anticipating that plans may be afoot to effectuate a further extension. Perhaps such plans may be opposed by drawing attention to the politicians who deprive a deserving public of their cultural heritage.

Another worthy step: Plant more trees.

Real Estate Crunch

January 28, 2011 / Jack / 6 Comments

Remember the show Realtor and the CEO by Larissa Naples? Well, in the latest example of Corporate Copyright buffoonery it looks like her show has been shut down by threatening litigation over the question of whether the word “realtor” is in the public domain or not.

Where’s our elected officials to protect us when these kinds of attempts to own the language are committed?

Do your part and say something about it.

Slashdot

Boingboing

Maybe you will be the extra voice to fight back at this and show we won’t be bullied. Please Help!

Dial Oh for Edict- Episode 232

January 25, 2011 / Jack / 0 Comments

1. Sonic Society 6 Theme- by Sharon Bee

2. Introduction with Jack and Barney

3. Feature Presentation- Edict Zero – Episode 1 (AD-PG-13 RATED)

Written by Jack Kincaid

4. Serial- The Witch Hunter Chronicles– “Episode 5″ (AD-PG-13 RATED)

Written and Produced by Domien De Groot

5. Sonic Society End with Jack and Barney

6. Sonic Society 6 Theme Credits

The Ward Christmas Tradition

January 21, 2011 / Jack / 0 Comments

The Library always seems to be open for special hours during the Christmas season. Jack brings us the current collection of the Ward Father Christmas Letters. Through the years, the Ward children (Aedan, Colm, and Rory) have found a letter waiting for them with their stockings and half eaten cookies and carrots.

With their permission, Jack presents the collected Ward Father Christmas Letters with a few absent years- from 1999-2010.

Age of Adventure Graphic

January 20, 2011 / Jack / 0 Comments

With grateful thanks to our Matt Leong who delivered this piece of awesome artwork for Jack’s book “The Age of Adventure- The Signet”

Go rush out and buy your piece of original work from Matt while you still can at Draw Something Cool. I have to gush as well, about Matt who is another of a short list of artists that I can never say enough about. Matt seems to have an endless imagination for drawing and not to mention comes up with some fantastic Audio Dramas. Please go check out and buy some of his work today!

The Towns of Angus and Alora

January 20, 2011 / Jack / 0 Comments

When writing the Age of Adventure series, I leaned heavily upon my memories of my home towns, “Fergus” and “Elora” that was the source for Willard’s home towns of “Angus” and “Alora”.

Here’s what Wikipedia has to say about Fergus

Here’s Wikipedia’s description of “The Grand” river, inspiration for “The Divine” river.

Willard’s public school “James Black Elementary” was a mix of my public school James McQueen and my sister’s school John Black PS.

The Swimming Pool Will sneaks around that’s just situated on the banks of “The Divine” is based on the old swimming pool in Fergus. Unfortunately its been closed down. It needs a transfusion of funds, if anyone is a multi-millionaire looking at this.

Some other pictures of the town.

Groves Mills

The Grand

Another of the old Pool with the bridge where I lost my bathing suit. Since watching it fall, I’ve always had a desire to jump off of heights. Scary!

This is a small picture of my High School before it got knocked down. Centre Wellington District High School (always called CWDHS)

Elora Quarry. Lots of movies filmed here. Inspiration for the caves that Willard takes first Kyann and then Hellen. And another shot here.

Downtown Elora from the Grand perspective.

One of my jobs I kept in university was working security nights at this Inn. They have a waterfall, and generate their own power and sell it back to the town for a profit!

Can you see Kyann and Willard playing in the Elora Gorge? Maybe here?

Yes, I had a stupidly idyllic childhood.

Thanks so much for walking with me down memory lane, and seeing a little of where Willard came from!