bailout
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Today, Sapphire pulled Tucker from her site, as compliance with my recent request (conform to the license or remove Tuck). Sapphire said in an open letter on her site that "...I've found I can't really let the visual quality of the site be compromised..."

Which is fine - I don't make her artistic judgements for her, and she doesn't make mine for me.

It's the rest of the open letter that pisses me off.

Maybe I'm supposed to respond in kind, or maybe I'm supposed to apologize and come meekly back and ask her to forgive and forget... or maybe I'm just supposed to ignore it all and continue on in silent dignity. I'd ask my grandmother, but she's dead, and I'd rather not talk to her any more; it creeps me out.

I don't know what I am 'supposed' to do, so I'll do what I feel is best.

One of the things I devoutly hate about hearing other people's divorce stories is that it's usually unmitigated evil on the part of the other person, and you never hear what the teller actually did or didn't do to provoke such a response - you get one side only. Sometimes you can get stories from both sides, but the memories of both people are distorted so badly you wonder if they were talking to each other, or evil shapechanging faeries out to casue discord.

So here's both sides. I don't know Sapphire in person, nor do I have a phone number; email is the only way we've communicated.

Starts here: 
-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
Hash: SHA1

Someone has Complained that your site is not sticking to 
my licensing requirements, requiring that the PGP digital
signature be intact and the file remain unmodified.

Please either correct this by re-acquiring the original
files and making them available unaltered, or remove Tucker 
from your site altogether.

Compliance will be checked within one week from estimated
receipt of this letter.


Ellen

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Version: PGPfreeware 6.5.8 for non-commercial use 

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VO+APVOUb6a1EyZ+GK9nGiMp
=LBJi
-----END PGP SIGNATURE-----

X-Sender: sapphire@pop.sapphireplace.com
Date: Tue, 08 Oct 2002 10:17:27 -0400
To: Ellen Hayes 
From: sapphire 
Subject: Re: Tuck and licensing
In-Reply-To: 
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed
X-UIDL: g5/"!N9+"!#3`"!H(W!!

Ellen,

I am confused by the tone of your letter.  You seem angry with me.

I have been following the permission you gave me before, and re-affirmed in 
an email dated March 21 of last year.

---------------------------------------------------------
X-Sender: barkingduck.net/ellen@sun.he.net
X-Mailer: QUALCOMM Windows Eudora Pro Version 4.0
Date: Thu, 29 Mar 2001 00:55:14 -0800
To: Sapphire 
From: Ellen Hayes 
Subject: Re: Tuck on Sapphire's Place

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
Hash: SHA1
At 12:43 PM 3/28/01 -0500, you wrote:
>Can we compromise with me adding your PGP Sig at the bottom of each
>page...? It's just that it's taken me so long to get them in the format
>....
>and they really "look nicer" this way!
Ask a marketing exec about what looks nicer. I don't know.
You do whatever you want to about it, Sapphire. I said you have
an exemption from long ago, and I meant it.

Ellen
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------------------------------------------------------------------------


Are you telling me that you are revoking permission to host Tuck in this 
way, the way I have presented it from the beginning, even before you had 
your own web site?

Again, I am confused by the tone and seeming anger in your letter.

Sapphire

X-Sender: sapphire@pop.sapphireplace.com
X-Mailer: QUALCOMM Windows Eudora Version 5.1.1
Date: Tue, 08 Oct 2002 10:37:36 -0400
To: Ellen Hayes 
From: sapphire 
Subject: Re: Tuck and licensing 2
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed
X-UIDL: PSI"!)k7"!!_("!RdC"!

Ellen,

As an expression of support, I have added the complete Tuck Saga Zip to the 
webpage for downloading. The zip is hosted off of my server and NOT linked 
to yours ( using my bandwidth and not yours ).

I hope that helps!

Sapphire

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
Hash: SHA1

At 10:17 08-10-02 -0400, you wrote:
>I am confused by the tone of your letter.  You seem angry with me.

I'm not, especially.  I was trying for a businesslike tone,
because I want this done.


>I have been following the permission you gave me before, and 
>re-affirmed in an email dated March 21 of last year.
[...]
>Are you telling me that you are revoking permission to host Tuck 
>in this way, the way I have presented it from the beginning, even 
>before you had your own web site?

Yep.  I am revoking that exemption.


>As an expression of support, I have added the complete Tuck 
>Saga Zip to the webpage for downloading. 
>I hope that helps!

No.
This has actually bugged me for a long time, and I've gritted
my teeth and let it be... but it's gotten irritating enough
that I'd like it fixed to conform with the rest of the world.


Ellen

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Here's the link to Sapphire's open letter.

And a correction:

Many years ago, a first time author tried to start a new series of
stories posting each chapter and yielding no response from it's
readers.  At the time, she was going to give up on her idea.
Not as I recall it - I was just having trouble finding a place to host it before I got my own website. I do remember a great lack of reader response in the early days, but that was while it was on Sapphire's place, because I distinctly remember threatening the general populace during the trilogetic (I made that up) episodes 6-7-8 that if I didn't get X number of fan letters, I would not post the next part.

Sad, the lengths I'll go to.

Anyway... 

In an email sent just last year Ellen assured me " You do whatever you
want to about it, Sapphire. I said you have an exemption from long ago,
and I meant it."
[there were italics on the original page in that sentence]

Let's go look. 

X-Sender: ttc16686@mail.taconic.net
X-Mailer: QUALCOMM Windows Eudora Version 5.0.2
Date: Tue, 27 Mar 2001 12:20:08 -0500
To: ellen@barkingduck.net
From: Sapphire 
Subject: Tuck on Sapphire's Place
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed
X-UIDL: I3Y"!L2^"!)a,!!X\"#!

Ellen,

I just read the cyberboard messages on Crystal's StorySite about posting 
your "Tuck" chapters.

I wanted to be sure that I still had permission to host "Tuck" on 
Sapphire's Place.

Currently, the site is undergoing a major overhaul, and I am "late" in 
posting your chapters, But the page with your chapter links does have a 
direct URL link to your site. I am planning on "catching up" within the week.

It would sadden me if after all this time I had to remove Tuck from it's 
position here at Sapphire's Place, but if you request it, I will.

Sincerely,
Sapphire

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
Hash: SHA1

At 12:20 PM 3/27/01 -0500, you wrote:
>It would sadden me if after all this time I had to remove Tuck from it's 
>position here at Sapphire's Place

In the dustbin, apparently!
*falls down sobbing*




More seriously.... I'd REALLY REALLY prefer it if you could 
dump your versions (which you reformatted) and use mine as just
plain lame text files.
But I granted you an exemption long ago, since you were the first
to publish Tuck.  =)
I'd just rather you don't use it.


So did anyone say anything nasty about me after I left IRC?
*eager grin*


Ellen

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X-Sender: ttc16686@mail.taconic.net
X-Mailer: QUALCOMM Windows Eudora Version 5.0.2
Date: Wed, 28 Mar 2001 12:43:34 -0500
To: Ellen Hayes 
From: Sapphire 
Subject: Re: Tuck on Sapphire's Place
In-Reply-To: 
References: <5.0.2.1.2.20010327121326.0370f050@mail.taconic.net>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: multipart/alternative;
	boundary="=====================_2010470==_.ALT"
X-UIDL: N0:!!KBI!!;K1!!Ro\"!

At 12:22 AM 3/28/01 -0800, you wrote:

>More seriously.... I'd REALLY REALLY prefer it if you could
>dump your versions (which you reformatted) and use mine as just
>plain lame text files.
>But I granted you an exemption long ago, since you were the first
>to publish Tuck.  =)
>I'd just rather you don't use it.

Can we compromise with me adding your PGP Sig at the bottom of each page...? 

It's just that it's taken me so long to get them in the format .... and they really "look nicer" this way!

>So did anyone say anything nasty about me after I left IRC?
>*eager grin*

I wouldn't know, I left about two minutes after you did!

Sapphire 

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
Hash: SHA1

At 12:43 PM 3/28/01 -0500, you wrote: 
>Can we compromise with me adding your PGP Sig at the bottom of each
>page...?  It's just that it's taken me so long to get them in the format
>.... 
>and they really "look nicer" this way!

Ask a marketing exec about what looks nicer. I don't know.
You do whatever you want to about it, Sapphire.  I said you have
an exemption from long ago, and I meant it.


Ellen

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X-Sender: ttc16686@mail.taconic.net
X-Mailer: QUALCOMM Windows Eudora Version 5.0.2
Date: Thu, 29 Mar 2001 12:36:29 -0500
To: Ellen Hayes 
From: Sapphire 
Subject: Re: Tuck on Sapphire's Place
In-Reply-To: 
References: <5.0.2.1.2.20010328123944.040740b0@mail.taconic.net>
 
 <5.0.2.1.2.20010327121326.0370f050@mail.taconic.net>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: multipart/alternative;
	boundary="=====================_72414784==_.ALT"
X-UIDL: *2,#!\<:!!*6("!H=Z"!

At 12:55 AM 3/29/01 -0800, you wrote:
-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
Hash: SHA1

At 12:43 PM 3/28/01 -0500, you wrote: 
>>Can we compromise with me adding your PGP Sig at the bottom of each
>>page...?  It's just that it's taken me so long to get them in the format
>>....
>>and they really "look nicer" this way!
>
>Ask a marketing exec about what looks nicer. I don't know.
>You do whatever you want to about it, Sapphire.  I said you have
>an exemption from long ago, and I meant it.
>
>
>Ellen

Ellen,

I don't care what that all say!  You ARE a WONDERFUL Person!!!

I will add the PGP code to the bottom of every page.

THANK YOU ! THANK YOU ! THANK YOU !!

oh yea....... thanks!

Sapphire

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
Hash: SHA1

>At 12:36 PM 3/29/01 -0500, you wrote: 

>I don't care what that all say!  You ARE a WONDERFUL Person!!!

Yeah yeah yeah, stop kissing my ass.

>I will add the PGP code to the bottom of every page.

NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO
NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO
NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO

Or is this not clear enough?


IF YOU ALTER THE ORIGINAL FILE BY ONE CHARACTER, THE DIGITAL
SIGNATURE TESTS OUT AS *BAD*.  IT IS USELESS AFTER THAT.


Sapphire, dear, if you don't know what a cryptographic hash is 
or a digital signature, then just put a link on the 
table-of-contents page for me, pointing to my site, please.



Ellen

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I sure did give permission for an exemption. And just this week revoked that permission. Reading the old emails tells me that as of 18 months ago I was already not-happy with her HTML-izing of Tuck. It's been building, like I said, for quite a while.

So there you go. That's not all the correspondence I've ever had with Sapphire, but I think it's the relevant emails.

Now you can make up your own mind as to who is right and in which proportions.

Sapphire offered me some advice:
Remember who your friends are, they are not the ones who heap you with praise, but the ones that stick with your from the beginning, through all the changes life brings. The Fans are fickle and fleeting, but it's the long term friends that stay the course. I was mistaken in my belief that we have such a long term relationship, and that is the reason I am sorry.

And I will toss a comment back.
I think that anyone who thinks that acceeding to a wishes of a 'friend' is enough to destroy the relationship, is not using the same definiton of the word 'friend' as I do.