caffeine and curiosity

'Digital Skills Divide' Emerging

2008-03-25T09:54:00.000-05:00

National Library Week: Reference Desk | AL Focus

2008-03-25T09:36:00.004-05:00

National Library Week: Reference Desk | AL Focus

I heard about this video from the Shifted Librarian and it's really sparked a lot of thought in my cluttered brain. One problem I have with it is that I can't really determine who the audience is - if it's intended for librarians, then, yes, it's cute and funny - but if it's intended for patrons/publicity purpose (which is what I suspect it is), then it makes me cringe.

As a reference and instruction librarian, I spend a lot of time trying to convince students (I deal mainly with undergraduates, particularly freshmen) that the reference desk is a resource they should use. I'm afraid that the impression given by this video is that reference questions are stupid and annoying. It focuses solely on the questioner and no answers are presented. I just don't see how the take-away message from this is supposed to promote reference services to patrons.

I don't want to sound Pollyanna-ish, humorless, or overly critical, and the librarian side of myself certainly did laugh at some of the questions, but I think this attempt at irreverent humor landed a little too far on the insulting side for my tastes.

YouTube - Stephen King Presents the 2007 Red Sox

2008-03-19T09:43:00.000-05:00

YouTube - Stephen King Presents the 2007 Red Sox

City Council raises fine for loud car stereos- al.com

2008-03-19T09:42:00.000-05:00

City Council raises fine for loud car stereos- al.com: "The council also changed a clause in the law that had inadvertently made it illegal to listen to an iPod or a Walkman while on streets, sidewalks or parks. It's now only illegal to listen to music if can be heard from 25 feet away. Flo Kessler, a city attorney, said she noticed the original wording because her husband often listens to music while he walks their dog. 'It was a concern to me because walking the dog is the only useful thing my husband does,' she said at a council pre-meeting Tuesday morning."

LOLBooks and a Shout Out to Mobile, Alabama

2008-03-17T16:11:00.001-05:00

The Official Site of The Boston Red Sox: News: Manny finds wisdom with touch of gray

2008-03-12T19:42:00.000-05:00

The Official Site of The Boston Red Sox: News: Manny finds wisdom with touch of gray: "Ramirez's has a passion for reading, which he never did as a kid. 'That's all I do is read, read, read, read, read,' Ramirez said. 'I love it. I haven't finished [the book yet], but I don't need to. I love it. I already know what it's all about."

Trading Vows in Montana, No Couple Required - New York Times

2008-03-10T16:33:00.000-05:00

Trading Vows in Montana, No Couple Required - New York Times: "The three principals get down to the business of solemnizing this marriage. And when they are done, they will have another to solemnize, and another, and another, and another, because this is Montana, the only state to permit that strange and sacred ceremony, the double-proxy wedding, wherein the presence of neither the bride nor the groom is required."

This is fun!

2008-03-10T14:58:00.001-05:00

Beckett's first trip to the beach, Dauphin Island, Alabama

Dumb and Dumber: An Essay and Its Editors - washingtonpost.com

2008-03-07T13:51:00.000-06:00

Dumb and Dumber: An Essay and Its Editors - washingtonpost.com Oh, hells YES!

Fallout From a Literary Fraud - Love and Consequences - Margaret Seltzer - Margaret B. Jones - New York Times

2008-03-05T10:51:00.000-06:00

Fallout From a Literary Fraud - Love and Consequences - Margaret Seltzer - Margaret B. Jones - New York Times: "Despite editing the book in the aftermath of the scandal surrounding James Frey, author of a best-selling memoir, "A Million Little Pieces," who admitted making up or exaggerating details in his account of drug addiction and recovery, Ms. McGrath said she did not independently check parts of Ms. Seltzer’s story or perform any kind of background check. She said she relied on Ms. Seltzer to tell the truth.

"In the post-James Frey world, we all are more careful," Ms. McGrath said. "I had numerous conversations with her about the need to be honest and the need to stick to the facts.""

Um...

BostonHerald.com - Blogs: Clubhouse Insider� Blog Archive � How cold was it?

2008-02-28T12:15:00.000-06:00

BostonHerald.com - Blogs: Clubhouse Insider� Blog Archive � How cold was it?: "“I froze my (expletive deleted) (body parts) off,’’ said Ortiz of his ride in the sidecar of the lead motorcycle escort the team received between the airport and the White House, and from the White House to Walter Reed Army Hospital."

Boston Red Sox - Red Sox honored at White House for second time in 4 years - Boston.com

2008-02-27T16:48:00.000-06:00

Boston Red Sox - Red Sox honored at White House for second time in 4 years - Boston.com: "Then there was Jonathan Papelbon, the relief pitcher who danced in the Fenway Park infield in his underwear when the Red Sox when the pennant. 'Thanks for wearing pants,' Bush told him."

The Truth About Autism: Scientists Reconsider What They Think They Know

2008-02-27T08:28:00.000-06:00

The Truth About Autism: Scientists Reconsider What They Think They Know

McSweeney's Internet Tendency: Abstinence-Only Driver's Ed.

2008-02-25T13:55:00.000-06:00

McSweeney's Internet Tendency: Abstinence-Only Driver's Ed.: "The ONLY 100 percent effective method for avoiding car accidents is to ABSTAIN from driving until marriage."

Higher Education Gap May Slow Economic Mobility - New York Times

2008-02-21T16:06:00.000-06:00

Higher Education Gap May Slow Economic Mobility - New York Times: "Someone born into a family in the lowest fifth of earners who graduates from college has a 19 percent chance of joining the highest fifth of earners in adulthood and a 62 percent chance of joining the middle class or better."

America's Fastest-Growing Metros - Forbes.com

2008-02-12T13:40:00.000-06:00

America's Fastest-Growing Metros - Forbes.com: "It's no secret that the Southeast and Western United States are booming. The costs of living and doing business there are often cheaper there than in big coastal cities. But where and how much those cities are thriving might surprise you.

Take Alabama. The state has some of the fastest growing metro areas in the country, including Mobile, which is projected to have the greatest change in 'gross metropolitan product (GMP),' 34% between 2007-2012, according to research forecasts done for us by Moody's Economy.com." REPRESENT!

Kimberle Crenshaw and Eve Ensler: Feminist Ultimatums: Not In Our Name - Politics on The Huffington Post

2008-02-11T09:51:00.000-06:00

Kimberle Crenshaw and Eve Ensler: Feminist Ultimatums: Not In Our Name - Politics on The Huffington Post: "Young feminists have been vocal and strong in critiquing the claim that a vote for Obama represents some form of youthful naiveté, a desire to win the approval of men, or a belief that sexism no longer factors into their lives. While paying respect to those women who carried the banner for so many years, these young women have reminded us that feminism is not static but evolutionary, changing in content, scope and tenor as new generations elevate their concerns and aspirations."

Marry Him!

2008-02-11T09:41:00.000-06:00

Marry Him!: "And despite growing up in an era when the centuries-old mantra to get married young was finally (and, it seemed, refreshingly) replaced by encouragement to postpone that milestone in pursuit of high ideals (education! career! but also true love!), every woman I know—no matter how successful and ambitious, how financially and emotionally secure—feels panic, occasionally coupled with desperation, if she hits 30 and finds herself unmarried." Um... obviously Lori Gottlieb doesn't know me.

Boston Red Sox - Manny in motion - The Boston Globe

2008-02-08T14:07:00.000-06:00

Boston Red Sox - Manny in motion - The Boston Globe: "It's 8 a.m., and Red Sox left fielder Manny Ramirez is already sweaty. He looks ripped and ready to defend the world championship. He shouts 'Ohio Gozaimasu' - Japanese for 'good morning' - above the rock music blaring in the Athletes' Performance weight room. He runs sprints and agility drills on the Arizona State football field and signals touchdowns. He fetches bottles of water for his workout mates, Sox first baseman Kevin Youkilis and Minnesota Twins third baseman Nick Punto. He then does a lefty weight resistance exercise and announces he's going to bat lefthanded this year. He's only kidding. When Youkilis is temporarily challenged by a 100-pound dumbbell, Ramirez stands over him and starts a 'Youk' chant that would make a Fenway bleacherite proud. The football players training for the upcoming NFL Combine think he's crazy."

Why sadness can blow your budget - CNN.com

2008-02-08T12:47:00.000-06:00

Why sadness can blow your budget - CNN.com: "If you're sad and shopping, watch your wallet: A new study shows people's spending judgment goes out the window when they're down, especially if they're a bit self-absorbed." Have they never heard of retail therapy?

‘An Intolerable Fraud’ - New York Times

2008-02-08T09:11:00.000-06:00

‘An Intolerable Fraud’ - New York Times: "There is very little regulation in the charity game, and if someone like Roger Chapin, the “nonprofit entrepreneur” who founded the Coalition to Salute America’s Heroes and Help Hospitalized Veterans, wants to mismanage your money, he has great leeway in doing so. His veterans’ charities raised more than $168 million from 2004 to 2006, but spent only a pittance — about 25 percent — to help veterans. The rest, nearly $125 million, went to fund-raising, administrative expenses, fat salaries and perks. Mr. Chapin gave himself and his wife $1.5 million in salary, bonuses and pension contributions over those three years, including more than $560,000 in 2006. The charities also reimbursed the Chapins more than $340,000 for meals, hotels, entertainment and other expenses, and paid for a $440,000 condominium and a $17,000 golf-club membership."

Vera Wang-Maria Cornejo-New York Fashion Week - New York Times

2008-02-08T08:40:00.000-06:00

Vera Wang-Maria Cornejo-New York Fashion Week - New York Times: "Come fall, if professional women are taking their fashion cues from “Lipstick Jungle,” they will be wearing gauzy princess dresses that emphasize their breasts. If they are watching the runways, however, they will be dressing like Hillary Clinton." Um, ewww... on both counts!

Gwen Knapp / NEW LEASH ON LIFE / Raiders' Cooper dedicates himself to care of abused and mean dogs at animal shelter

2008-02-06T16:56:00.000-06:00

Gwen Knapp / NEW LEASH ON LIFE / Raiders' Cooper dedicates himself to care of abused and mean dogs at animal shelter: "As a college student, Cooper wanted to train for veterinary school, but the workload didn't fit with his football schedule. He now is certain that his future outside sports will be devoted to animal welfare. Working with Bad Rap, a nonprofit that promotes proper treatment of pit bulls, he has committed himself to helping pet owners understand and fulfill their responsibilities. He started an organization called Code 597, named for the California penal code against cruelty to animals, and recruited seven other Raiders to help, including Nnamdi Asomugha and Justin Fargas."

San Jose Mercury News - Stanford to get papers of paleontologist Gould

2008-02-06T16:06:00.000-06:00

San Jose Mercury News - Stanford to get papers of paleontologist Gould: "Famed Harvard paleontologist Stephen Jay Gould never taught at Stanford - and rarely visited. He referenced the university only once in his vast writings, and it wasn't flattering. And the campus doesn't even have any dinosaur bones. But the late science historian has bequeathed to Stanford his priceless collection of books, papers and artifacts - a gift not only to the university but also to the public, which someday will be invited to visit the treasure trove." PWND, Harvard! (I would LOVE to work on that project, and I can't wait till I can visit.)

Former fighting dogs get a second chance - Pet health- msnbc.com

2008-02-06T15:43:00.000-06:00

Former fighting dogs get a second chance - Pet health- msnbc.com: "An underdog’s second chance Saved from Michael Vick’s property, pit bulls now in loving homes"