Do you have a problem with clutter? (Yeah, I mean YOU!)

[Katsunami]

Originally Posted by Anthem

My ebooks are an utter embarrassment. Some are in Calibre (and Calibre related directories). Some are in Adobe Digital Editions (and related directories). Some are in my Kobo library. Some are in my Nook library. A bunch are in my Kindle library (and related directories).

It's a gigantic mess.

My suggestion would be to first get all the books from ADE into Calibre for de-DRM-ing. Call this library "Workspace", and create a seperate one called "Main". Then move all of your ebooks into a DUMP-folder. Import a batch into the Workspace, and fix them up (metadata, CSS, etc). When you're done, move them to the main library. Rinse... repeat.

[Anthem]

Originally Posted by Katsunami

My suggestion would be to first get all the books from ADE into Calibre for de-DRM-ing. Call this library "Workspace", and create a seperate one called "Main". Then move all of your ebooks into a DUMP-folder. Import a batch into the Workspace, and fix them up (metadata, CSS, etc). When you're done, move them to the main library. Rinse... repeat.

It's a good suggestion. And I have been tempted to do just such a thing. But I'm worried about the potential legal issues where I live.

I'm probably just too paranoid but what are you going to do?

[cfrizz]

Originally Posted by Anthem

It's a good suggestion. And I have been tempted to do just such a thing. But I'm worried about the potential legal issues where I live.

I'm probably just too paranoid but what are you going to do?

Unless you plan on reporting yourself to someone who can get you in trouble, then YES you are being paranoid.

I know some are scared to death of supposedly big brother watching them, but that's only because the forgot to take their medication.

So do yourself a favor and Alf yourself into a cleaned up ebook directory!

[eschwartz]

Originally Posted by Anthem

It's a good suggestion. And I have been tempted to do just such a thing. But I'm worried about the potential legal issues where I live.

I'm probably just too paranoid but what are you going to do?

Thousands of people are doing it already, and it's technically legal under the Fair Use Doctrine. Practically speaking, it's just one of those things that cannot be realistically enforced in any way, shape or form, unless you start posting offers for your books online, that is.

I mean, they haven't even gotten to having the tools taken down from distribution!

[GA Russell]

When I moved in 2010, I disposed of a great deal of books and VHS video tapes. It broke my heart, but it had to be done.

I still spend money on a storage closet, and I would rather not. One month's rent is not a problem, but when you multiply that figure by 12, there just aren't that many items in the closet that justify the sum total.

I have put on my Amazon wishlist a few books about hoarding and how to overcome the habit. I realized while researching the books that there is a difference between organizing a mess and disposing what you don't need.

By the way, last month I celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of my buying my first record album, Meet the Beatles, and there is no way that I will voluntarily get rid of my LP's and CD's!

[frahse]

My definition of clutter is when you have piles of stuff on the floor, even if it is in storage bins, and it gets in the way and you nave to move it to get to other stuff you want.

Yes. I do have clutter!

[Anthem]

Originally Posted by cfrizz

Unless you plan on reporting yourself to someone who can get you in trouble, then YES you are being paranoid.

So if there is a grey area in the law (or just nobody will see you do it) it is given a pass? Interesting interpretation. Unless there is a glaring legal problem that needs to be explored I tend to wait until the laws change. My approach may be conservative, but it is reasonable.

I know some are scared to death of supposedly big brother watching them, but that's only because the forgot to take their medication.

I don't worry about this.

Originally Posted by eschwartz

Thousands of people are doing it already, and it's technically legal under the Fair Use Doctrine. Practically speaking, it's just one of those things that cannot be realistically enforced in any way, shape or form, unless you start posting offers for your books online, that is.

The number of infractions doesn't comfort me and I'm aware of the fuzzy-ness of the Fair Use interpretation.

I'm not even saying that it is right or wrong. The music industry came around. Hopefully, the draconian practices of the book world will do so as well. They are way behind.

I await that day, when our rights are asserted, rather than sneaked out because no one is looking or having been accomplished in a fog of uncertainty. (Although that may be a positive way to protest.)

[Grace Elliot]

Nope - not me....unless collecting cats counts.

[jeremy young]

My issue is not with clutter, it with stuff and space.... oh, and the kids lego which is constantly trying to give me gangrene.

[Lin2412]

My CDs are cluttered and stuffed in our old home, this article gives me an idea to give them away. I think I already have a digital copy of those CDs and would like the people who appreciate/collect CDs to have it (as it would truly be more meaningful to let them have it as compared to me.)

My hardbound books and magazines however, will never be disposed of, and will forever be organized in my shelf. Those are my babies.

[Tarana]

I eliminated all the novels, but still have too many cookbook and craft books. Some of the craft books (ok, many of them) I keep because there is ONE THING I'd like to maybe make someday. So, I am scanning that ONE THING, and then selling the book. My chances of doing most of these projects is virtually zero, but I can give up the book if I know I have that single pattern.

[Namekuseijin]

I used to clutter my home with all the things I love. I got rid of it as soon as my freedom was lost among all the women...

[Tarana]

I'm probably just too paranoid but what are you going to do?

Fair use DOES include making copies for yourself. Ebooks are not software and even a judge has ruled that way. However, if you choose not to Alf your stuff into Calibre, then you will just have to suck it up the books don't work with your latest ereader.

My clutter consists of many craftbooks where there is only ONE project that I want to do. My chances of ever doing most of them in the next 10 years is near zero, so I'm just going to scan that one project and sell the book.

[BookCat]

When I moved house I got rid of load of old clothes (binned) and classic novels in paperback (charity) and anything which I could bin. I considered that each thing I threw out, whether to charity or bin was another triumph over STUFF.

In my new house, I'm rapidly accumulating more stuff to fill the void.
Oh well, so long as the cats don't mind - all five of them!

[Grace Elliot]

Originally Posted by jeremy young

My issue is not with clutter, it with stuff and space.... oh, and the kids lego which is constantly trying to give me gangrene.

I can empathise with that. Is there anything more painful than standing on a lego block in bare feet in the middle of the night - unless it's an upturned plug.