A Fair(y) Use Tale

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Eric Faden, professor at Bucknell, has created a video to explain copyright to the beginner. What makes this unusual is that it’s all told by Disney characters. . . in extremely small snippets so as not to violate copyright. The film is very funny, very informative and very subversive. If you’ve ever wondered just “what” “is” “copy” “right” (or if you enjoy the discomfiture of Disney), check the video after the jump. [GT]

AMAZING video cuts up Disney to explain copyright

Pouchlink: vending machine forms packages on demand

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Instead of having to fill vending machines with pre-set volumes of particular drinks, Pouchlink would allow the contents of plastic envelopes to be mixed and dispensed on the spot. Since the machines would be hooked up to mains water supplies, water wouldn’t have to be trucked around, and the plastic pouches could be made of biodegradeable materials, allowing the entire process to become much more efficient as well as eco-sound. Further refinements could let you program what drink you like into your mobile so you could upload it to the machine on the spot. [GT]

Drinks vending machines can form pouches on demand [via Core77]

"Slidingly engaging fasteners" to replace zippers, velcro

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Annoyed a decade ago when his zipper broke on the way to the airport, architect and inventor Leonard Duffy decided to design a replacement. The result: “slidingly engaging fasteners” which are quiet, carry a bigger load than velcro or zippers, don’t wear down with use, and can replace anything from butterfly clips which hold tensor bandages together, to shoelaces. Over 150 companies have contacted Duffy to investigate the product further, so it’s likely coming soon to a foot, chest, or bandage near you. [GT]

The New Velcro [via TechEBlog]

Hasan Elahi blogs himself to prove he's not a terrorist

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At TrackingTransience.net you can watch Hasan Elahi’s updates multiple times a day, as he posts about his activities and constantly uploads camphone shots of himself to establish that, whatever he may be, it is not a terrorist. The project began about 3 years ago when he was mistakenly added to the US government’s terrorist watch list, and to prove his total innocent, Elahi, Rutgers professor and artist, decided to make his entire life completely open. Art project or testimonial of innocence, his site has had hits from the Pentagon, the Secretary of Defense, and the Executive Office of the President. [GT]

The Visible Man: An FBI Target Puts His Whole Life Online

Web censorship more widespread than expected

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A study carried out by the OpenNet Initiative shows that at least 25 countries around the world block websites for what are usually political or social reasons. China, Iran, Myanmar, Syria, Tunisia and Vietnam had the most extensive filters for political sites. Iran, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen had the strictest social-filtering practices, blocking pornography, gambling and gay and lesbian sites. The study was limited in its scope It didn’t include any countries in North America or Western Europe on grounds that filtering practices there have been better known than elsewhere, and they wanted to study something new. [GT]

Web censorship more widespread than expected: study

Spare your brain in morning and evening

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Multitasking is great for computers, but not so much for humans generally, and multitasking is hardest in early morning and late evening, making sophisticated tasks from computer programming, to driving, more difficult. Nor is it simply about being tired; the study assessed melatonin levels in the blood, which related to time of day rather than exhaustion. More studies will indicate precisely why early morning and late evening correlates to impaired behaviour, but until then, sleep late, and watch cartoons at midnight. Works for me. [GT]

Multitasking is hardest in the early morning

iSave water saving faucets

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Guoqun Yu’s iSave faucet concept is a plumbing attachment that provides up-to-the-second reports on how many liters have been sprayed in the shower. It is powered by water (naturally) and can be installed in the shower or the sink. Yes, it does make you feel guilty, but is that so wrong? Don’t you feel bad about not wanting to be made to feel bad about wasting water? As guilt-tripping devices go, though, it’s pretty stylish. [GT]

iSave [via inhabitant