Tactical Highlighter #21

LibriVox is one of my favorite organizations ever. They take public domain work and record audio versions which are also in the public domain. Their work overlaps with another one of my favorite organizations, Project Gutenberg.

LibriVox and Project Gutenberg are rescuing our literary heritage and preserving it for all time in a form that can be enjoyed and benefited from for all the generations to follow.

Unfortunately, thanks to U.S. Congress’s willingness to be purchased by the big media industry (and the health insurance companies, and anyone else who has the money), nothing new will pass into the public domain. Essentially, most of our literary heritage after 1923 will be lost forever, excepting only the parts which are profitable enough for companies to keep in print.

I’m getting a little off track now.

Back on the subject, LibriVox needs our monetary support to keep running. They’re not public access radio or television and they can’t interrupt our lives to annoy us until we give in. They have to rely on people like me pestering you.

Consider yourself pestered. I donated 25 USD and plan on donating more in the months to come.

Please send a little their way.

• Spark 101. Spark is a bit like a morning show … that’s a podcast, and focuses on technology. This episode is packed with interesting stuff, including analysis of the iPad, user interfaces in movies and their relationship with real life user interfaces, and workplace monitoring of internet usage. The segments on internet filtering and workplace monitoring are absolutely critical listening.
• Princess of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs (LibriVox). In Tactical Highlighter #19, I linked to Mike Resnick’s story, A Princess of Earth. Thanks to public domain laws in the U.S. working at one point and the hard work of the folks over at LibriVox, you can listen to the story that started off the John Carter of Mars series that A Princess of Earth was based on … for free. Since they’re making a movie of A Princess of Mars, this is the perfect time to listen to the work that started it all. And it’s also the perfect time to look at my introduction and donate a few dollars to help keep LibriVox running.
• Three Skeleton Key adapted from a story by George Toudouze (Final Rune Productions). A classic horror story adapted to a marginally more modern recording which took place in an actual lighthouse like the story did.
• When Shakko Did Not Lie by Eugie Foster (PodCastle). I linked Eugie’s phenomenal Sinner, Baker, Fablist, Priest; Red Mask, Black Mask, Gentleman, Beast (not safe for kiddies, seriously) back in Tactical Highlighter #5 and I’m really happy to have another awesome story of hers to link to. This one plays with fox legends and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.