Author Archives: debmcalister

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About debmcalister

I'm a Dallas-based marketing consultant and writer, who specializes in helping start-up technology companies grow. I write (books, articles, and blogs) about marketing, technology, and social media. This blog is about all of those -- and the funny ways in which they interesect with everyday life. It's also the place where I publish general articles on topics that interest me -- including commentary about the acting and film communities, since I have both a son and grandson who are performers.

Recovering from Social Media Typos and IRS Headaches

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I’ve been busy lately writing for other blogs published by clients, and I’ve been neglecting this one.  But it occurs to me that some of the stuff I’ve been writing elsewhere might be of interest to those who read this … Continue reading

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The World at Night

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Ever since I visited New Zealand for the first time, I have been obsessed with the night sky in the southern hemisphere. This video shows the winning entries in the 2013 The World at Night photo contest. One of my … Continue reading

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Copyright Myths from the World of Fan Fiction

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If you’ve never experienced the uniquely creative and often surreal world of Internet fan fiction, then you’ve missed out on one of the most creative offshoots of the online revolution. Fan fiction, for the uninitiated, is just what it sounds … Continue reading

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The Copyright Lobotomy


TechDirt blogger Leigh Beadon wrote a brilliant analysis of the basic problem with intellectual property law titled, The Copyright Lobotomy: How Intellectual Property Makes Us Pretend to be Stupid. I’m not going to attempt to summarize the excellent article, because … Continue reading

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Copyright Infringement…or Racial Stereotyping?

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Our 11-year-old is reading a series of young adult fantasy novels called The Adventurer’s Wanted Series, by Utah-based author M.L. Forman. Kameron and I often read the stories aloud to each other — I read to him while he’s practicing juggling, … Continue reading

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Who Works for Free? Too Many People!

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My in-box is bursting with “job offers”. Well, at least “offers” for me or my 11-year-old to perform work. Here’s a list of the “offers” from just one week: A national magazine wanted to pick up a post from this … Continue reading

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Is Apple Changing its iTunes on Copyright, Resale?

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In December of last year, I published a blog post about the issue of digital asset ownership after the original owner dies. For years, Apple has insisted that the license to access content purchased on iTunes ends with the death of … Continue reading

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Parents of Would-be Child Actors: Beware of Scammers!

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I met a neighbor recently, and we were exchanging contact information when one of my grandson’s business cards fell out of my purse. She was very excited to meet “a working child actor”, and told me that her daughter has an upcoming … Continue reading

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Pink Slime Makers Sue Diane Sawyer for $1.2 Billion

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Few of us will forget the images plastered on the nightly news last year of “lean finely textured beef” (better known as “pink slime” after the news report). But did you remember that it was veteran newswoman Diane Sawyer who broke the story? I … Continue reading

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Facebook’s Scary New Button

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Ever wonder just how much information Facebook is really collecting about you? The social networking giant just made it easier to tell, with a new button at the top of your profile page. This is what it looks like, in … Continue reading

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