Last night we had the TV on PBS (the show was ‘Nature’ and was all about the Himalaya’s and it’s inhabitants - animal, human etc.) Cherie and I were watching while the kids brushed their teeth and got themselves ready for bed. It mentioned how some of the Tibetan people, after passing, would be carried to a top of a mountain to be laid out to rest. Once there, they would eventually/ultimately be ‘returned to nature’ via the digestive tract of the local vulture population.
I commented something to the effect of thinking that this was a pretty good idea in my opinion. Cherie, however, ran with the topic a little more and went into a little more detail about how she would much prefer that to the gruesome autopsy and embalming process. Continuing on with how she would rather be fed to vultures in a mountain setting than to the worms six feet underground. A few more preferences for her remains were peppered in there in her somewhat typical subtle-as-a-sledgehammer fashion but, apparently, the damage had already been done.
In the meantime, the kids had finished up in the bathroom and gone to downstairs to get ready for their bedtime story - and, apparently, discuss the ‘final wishes’ my wife had inadvertently just made known to them.
I came down the stairs a few minutes later to read to them for the night - only to find two bawling children huddled under the covers who, in unison, emphatically told me that: “WE DON’T WANT MOM TO BE FED TO VULTURES!!!”
So… In one fell swoop they were not only just made aware of their parent’s mortality but also the seemingly macabre process of decay (or, in some cases, animal ingestion) that follows. And it took me SEVERAL minutes to convince them that:
1) Don’t worry. Mom probably isn’t going to die anytime soon.
2) No… I don’t personally have access to any Vultures to feed her to when she does.
3) No… Not everybody gets fed to vultures when they die.
4) Yes… Worms do help return stuff that dies back into the earth.
5) No… We aren’t planning any trips to Tibet.
I am amazed we didn’t end up sleeping 4 wide in our bed last night and think I’m going to block PBS for a little while…
-----------------------
The copyright saga.
There have been a couple people asking now about the Stapp thing. In case you didn’t know, here is a brief synopsis:
Early last year a painter used my design as the basis for his paint job on the TV show ‘Car Warriors’. The judges said repeatedly that they won the competition because of this design - the prize being able to keep (and sell) both cars they’d built. I had let it slide as stuff like this just devours enormous amounts of time,
costs a lot of money and just completely sucks the life outta me.
Anyways… Last week it was brought to my attention that this painter was using a promotional card with my image on it. (not a ‘rendition’ - his version on the car appearing in front of my actual image in the background.) He has acquired sponsorship(s) and fairly high-profile job opportunities on the basis of using this design (as well as one of Dru’s.) I even have pictures of him painting it on the Iwata wall at SEMA, which might not be criminal, but sure is douchey!
So… We are going to go ahead and go after him.
We are now in the process of grouping and registering our images (officially copyrighting them is a formality but essentially it rules out any debate as to who created what) - then we will write a ‘demand letter’ to Stapp. My cousin will proof it and their response will be routed back through him (I'm essentially saying "You used my copyrighted design without permission. This is what we are demanding - call my lawyer with your reply.")
Because my cousin works at a firm he will have to charge me just to read the letter (+/- 20-30 minutes = $75-125.) But, upon gaining his 'stamp of approval', he will essentially mediate any discussion from there on out. He has been exceedingly generous with his time and assistance so far... But we’ve used up all of the free guidance he was able to offer.
We are considering extending the action to include the producers of 'Car Warriors'. My cousin figures they probably had Stapp sign a waiver before doing the show and are pretty much immune now. But they are using that design to advertise their new season which makes me curious enough to at least send a letter/notification to them as well.
All of this will cost us quite a bit before a letter even gets in the mail so we are doing what we can in increments. We’ll take care of business here eventually… On the bright side - this should better educate and prepare us for any future instances/actions should the need arise (unfortunately.) I sure do appreciate all the support we’ve been shown!!!!!!!
PHEW! I wonder if anyone is actually gonna make it this far?!?!? Thanks for the interest - sorry for the slow read…
Hope you’ve had a good week!!!
Rod
I commented something to the effect of thinking that this was a pretty good idea in my opinion. Cherie, however, ran with the topic a little more and went into a little more detail about how she would much prefer that to the gruesome autopsy and embalming process. Continuing on with how she would rather be fed to vultures in a mountain setting than to the worms six feet underground. A few more preferences for her remains were peppered in there in her somewhat typical subtle-as-a-sledgehammer fashion but, apparently, the damage had already been done.
In the meantime, the kids had finished up in the bathroom and gone to downstairs to get ready for their bedtime story - and, apparently, discuss the ‘final wishes’ my wife had inadvertently just made known to them.
I came down the stairs a few minutes later to read to them for the night - only to find two bawling children huddled under the covers who, in unison, emphatically told me that: “WE DON’T WANT MOM TO BE FED TO VULTURES!!!”
So… In one fell swoop they were not only just made aware of their parent’s mortality but also the seemingly macabre process of decay (or, in some cases, animal ingestion) that follows. And it took me SEVERAL minutes to convince them that:
1) Don’t worry. Mom probably isn’t going to die anytime soon.
2) No… I don’t personally have access to any Vultures to feed her to when she does.
3) No… Not everybody gets fed to vultures when they die.
4) Yes… Worms do help return stuff that dies back into the earth.
5) No… We aren’t planning any trips to Tibet.
I am amazed we didn’t end up sleeping 4 wide in our bed last night and think I’m going to block PBS for a little while…
-----------------------
The copyright saga.
There have been a couple people asking now about the Stapp thing. In case you didn’t know, here is a brief synopsis:
Early last year a painter used my design as the basis for his paint job on the TV show ‘Car Warriors’. The judges said repeatedly that they won the competition because of this design - the prize being able to keep (and sell) both cars they’d built. I had let it slide as stuff like this just devours enormous amounts of time,
costs a lot of money and just completely sucks the life outta me.
Anyways… Last week it was brought to my attention that this painter was using a promotional card with my image on it. (not a ‘rendition’ - his version on the car appearing in front of my actual image in the background.) He has acquired sponsorship(s) and fairly high-profile job opportunities on the basis of using this design (as well as one of Dru’s.) I even have pictures of him painting it on the Iwata wall at SEMA, which might not be criminal, but sure is douchey!
So… We are going to go ahead and go after him.
We are now in the process of grouping and registering our images (officially copyrighting them is a formality but essentially it rules out any debate as to who created what) - then we will write a ‘demand letter’ to Stapp. My cousin will proof it and their response will be routed back through him (I'm essentially saying "You used my copyrighted design without permission. This is what we are demanding - call my lawyer with your reply.")
Because my cousin works at a firm he will have to charge me just to read the letter (+/- 20-30 minutes = $75-125.) But, upon gaining his 'stamp of approval', he will essentially mediate any discussion from there on out. He has been exceedingly generous with his time and assistance so far... But we’ve used up all of the free guidance he was able to offer.
We are considering extending the action to include the producers of 'Car Warriors'. My cousin figures they probably had Stapp sign a waiver before doing the show and are pretty much immune now. But they are using that design to advertise their new season which makes me curious enough to at least send a letter/notification to them as well.
All of this will cost us quite a bit before a letter even gets in the mail so we are doing what we can in increments. We’ll take care of business here eventually… On the bright side - this should better educate and prepare us for any future instances/actions should the need arise (unfortunately.) I sure do appreciate all the support we’ve been shown!!!!!!!
PHEW! I wonder if anyone is actually gonna make it this far?!?!? Thanks for the interest - sorry for the slow read…
Hope you’ve had a good week!!!
Rod
