AGirlNamedMe's Profile

The artist is being protected - the artist who took the original picture. If someone wants to use a piece of art that is not in the public domain to create a "derivative" work, permission is required. My guess is that the AP is involved because they have an exclusive license to the picture.

Some have asked how else would someone get a picture of Obama. The answer is that artists can use other images for inspiration - but artists cannot take and use without permission.

In this case, the artist stole from the AP/photographer and is now earning money from this theft. At some point, the artist realized this was wrong and falsified documents - and now he's in trouble.

In a lot of these cases, the "punishment" is giving up all of the money earned to the rightful owner of the work. Intentionally stealing art, though, is punishable by jail time - as is trying to cover it up. My guess is that there will be a settlement.

It's a shame - because the derivative work is a lot more interesting than the original.

Here's a link to a longer article: http://acn.liveauctioneers.com/index.php/features/crime-and-litigation/6680-artist-shepard-fairey-pleads-guilty-in-obama-hope-poster-case

If you're going to use shoe polish, be careful about what gets set down on it - you could end up with a stain.

If you can clean up the edges a bit so they do not look as rough, the whole thing will be a bit less noticeable. But..really..embrace the imperfect nature of it or you'll be driven crazy by it.

When I moved into my condo, I took forever to decide on living room furniture. I measured, remeasured, searched, and finally settled on a brown velvet sectional from Pottery Barn.

It was wrong. While it fit into the space, it didn't fit. It was - just wrong.

Three months after living with it and hating it every day, I called PB to see if they could offer me any help.

They took it back. Issued me a credit. I ended up with new pieces that I absolutely love.

And..I love PB customer service. Not many places would have taken it back.

Decidedly not loving this.

we're going to be putting privacy film over our windows on our screened in patio - the frosted film will let light in from the sun, but is opaque enough that no one can see in

if you love your view, this isn't an option for you

Price to change locks: $150
Peace of mind: Priceless

Why wouldn't you do this? There's no harm on erring on the side of caution here.

The primary issue here is one of control and struggling to find the balance in the relationship.

My guess is that both partners in this relationship feel out of control in other areas of their lives.

Trying to sneak her things into the trash is controlling. Her holding onto all of these things is controlling.

Relationship counseling for sure. Anyone who thinks the problem is hers and hers along is mistaken.

Short term....I like the idea of, "Let's go through this drawer together and see what we don't need." I also like the idea of asking her to help you decide which five things can be tossed out each day.

Good luck to both of you.
xoxo

I cannot say enough good about Pottery Barn's customer service.

I've ordered a lot from them since buying my condo two years ago and not every piece was perfect (manufacturing issues). They were quick and kind about taking things back and issuing refunds or credit for merchandise.

About a year after I bought a sectional from them, I started having problems with the brackets snapping. I was so worried they wouldn't help me. But! The rep asked me to send pictures of the problems - as soon as he saw the pictures, he was able to issue a pick-up order. A month later, I had new pieces!

So...while not everything went smoothly with all of my furniture (and, really, I did have so many more problems than I thought I would), I would do it all over again to have such excellence in customer service from Pottery Barn!

(I sound like a commercial!)

I had the Pottery Barn Square Arm sectional sofa for about ten months. I'm 5'4", and just was not deep enough to get my lounge on. It was never comfortable. Ends up that there were some major manufacturing issues and the sofa had to go back -- they gave me a merchandise credit and I got the Manhattan leather sofa and chair-and-a-half (which is really the size of a love seat). Very happy with the new pieces...but they were expensive.

All of this is to say that I would stay away from some of the PB pieces.

Restoration Hardware has a super-wide leather sofa, I have to say, though, that I intensely dislike the way their leather wears. Even tiny fingernail scratches are apparent and over time, the pieces end up looking quite worn -- not the look I want.

Good luck on your search.

Think of this, also, from the viewpoint of the wonderful photographers who are having their works lifted and republished.

I work in the publishing industry -- what a glorious day it would be if we could just taken any ole thing we find any ole where and publish it. We'd be glad to give credit, of course, but we wouldn't have to pay for it. Nice for us, but independent artists, photographers, and writers would suffer terribly.

And while some people see the NYTimes as a huge entity, the photographers whose works are appearing on this site are likely people who are struggling a bit (especially in this lovely economy), and not being paid a penny while AT makes money (lots or little, it doesn't matter) in part because of these photographers.

I love AT . . . NYT could have been more tactful.

I hope it get resolved.